In 1861, James Franklin enlisted in Company 1, King's Regiment and was in the Battle of Prarie Grove, Helena, Little Rock, after which he went to Louisiana. Later he returned to Arkansas and was in the Battle of Jenkins Ferry and several other skirmishes. He surrendered at Marshall, Texas.

In 1868 he married Mary Jane Hearn, daughter of J.A. Hearn, a pioneer settler of Pope County. They were the parents of nine children: Lafayette Eugene, John Elliot, William Edwin, James Lee, Roy Walter, Alva Clyde, Carl and Irl R. They lived in his mother's home and he farmed until 1874 when they moved to Adkins. He engaged in a general merchandise business and bought cotton there until his death August 7, 1894, and is buried in the Darr Cemetary which is on a part of his mother's homestead.

In 1884 he built a two story home, one of the largest in the area. It was sold and razed in 1956 and was the last of the Darr brothers' homes to go. Mr. Darr was the first mayor of Atkins, a member of Knights of Pythias, Arcadia Lodge #44 and was Counselor - Commander. On May 6, 1889, J.F. Darr with his two brothers and other business leaders organized the Atkins Printing Company which published a weekly paper "The Pope County Mail". There is no record of how long it was publiched and only one known copy is in existance. It is a four page paper dated June 14, 1893.

The Darr brothers were closely identified with the early life and development of the Atkins Community. One or more members of the Darr family were in business in Atkins from 1973 to 1934. There is probably no other town in Arkansas that can point with as much pride of value higher the influence that three brothers had upon their community that the Darr brothers had upon Atkins. Their many children and grandchildren have carried on this tradition until today.

Living Grandchildren of J.F. Darr are Alta Darr Watkins (Mrs. Thomas A.) of Searcy, Arkansas, Janice Darr Satterfield (Mrs. Leon) of Russellville, Mary Emma Darr Prince, of Ponca City, Oklahoma, and Robert Irl Darr of Adkins.
by Alta Darr Watkins.

As can be seen Mary Jane Hearne Darr named one of her sons James Lee after her slain older brother, James Lee Hearne, who died 14 years before. Mary Jane's son, James Lee, lived a short life also, passing away at age 35.

Following is the obituary of James Franklin Darr:

James Franklin Darr
Aug. 9, 1894- A gloom was cast over this communtiy Tuesday morning,
when the announcement was made that Mr. Jas.F. Darr, one of the pioneers
and most successful and enterprising merchants and planters of this
place had been found dead at his residence. A coroner's inquest was
held, and the verdict was that he came to his death by a dose of poison,
administered by his own hands. He had been in very poor health for some
time past and to this cause is his death attributed. He left a note
stating that his reason for committing the rash act was that his
suffering were more than he could bear. His financial condition was
good.
He leaves a wife, six sons, and a large circle of relatives and friends
to mourn his death.
The remains were interred Wednesday morning at nine o'clock at Bells
Chapel cemetery under the auspices of Arcadia Lodge K. of P. His death
is an irreparable loss to this community.

People buried at the Darr Cemetary:
Same laocation as Bell's chapel, as they are side by side, Copied by B
w & Mary Jones, June 7, 1970
Bailey, Ora M., dau. of E A & L A) June 8, 1878 April 27, 1900
Bell, Marion E Feb. 1880 March 17, 1941
Bell, Jennings, son of W M & S E) Feb 17, 1872 July 5, 1903
Darr, E A ( C.S.A. Iron Marker) Oct. 22, 1835 June 18, 1912
Darr, Lucinda A. wife of E A) Died Jan 21, 1892, age 45 years 4 mo 10da
Darr, son of E A & L A0 Dec 24, 1874 Aug 10, 1875
Darr, Ida G. dau of E A & L A) June 29, 1873 Sept 7, 1889
Darr, son of E A & L A) Sept 11, 1885 Apr 6, 1886
Darr, Guy L Died Mar 24, 1896, 85 yrs 11 days
Darr, Ann Died Feb 19, 1879, 71 yrs 8 mos, 11 da mother of J. F. Darr
Darr, Lafayett Eugene Apr 5, 1868 Jan 9, 1879
Darr, Carl Jan 30, 1884 Oct 2, 1884
Darr, James F June 3, 1841 Aug 7, 1894
Darr, Mary Jane, wife of J F) Dec 5, 1849 May 21, 1920
Darr, Dr. Roy W, son of JF & M J) July 16, 1878 Dec 31, 1923
Darr, Alva Clyde July 2, 1881 Aug 26, 1898
Darr, Jame Lee Feb 23, 1875 Jan 6, 1911 (son of Mary Jane Hearne) aged 35 years, 10
months 13 days Darr, Claud Wilson Oct 12, 1877 Feb 13, 1956
Darr, Sallie D., wife of John C) (Maiden name Wilson)
Dec 9, 1841 May 11, 1883
Darr, Anna Darthula, dau of John C & Sallie D. Darr
Mar 1, 1883 Oct 6, 1883
Darr, Infant dau of J C & S D Darr) Born & Died Sept 23, 1873
( Buried in Hot Springs Cemetery)
Darr, Infant son of I W & Fannie) Born & Died July 18,1907
Darr, Leona Mae Barker Nov. 29, 1872 July 12, 1901
Darr, W E 1873 1938
Darr, Letacer T Aug 18, 1890 June 21, 1901
Darr, John G. Dec 6, 1833 (C.S.A.) June 3, 1919
Darr, Margaret E., wife of John C) ( Maiden name Scarlett)
Sept 4, 1842 Oct 28, 1910
Gillette, Orville R. Dec 17, 1876 Oct 28, 1912
Love, Susan Saloma Darr, wife of C M Love) Jan 29, 1838 Jan 14, 1929

Hearnes' buried at Pisgah cemetary, Pottsville, Arkansas.

Hearne, Clarence Homer
b. 24 Aug 1877 d. 11 Oct 1880
Fa: M.G. Hearne Mo: Greselda J.

Hearne, James Lee
b. 18 Jan 1841 d. 24 Jan 1861
Fa: Joshua A. Hearne Mo: Jane Campbell Hearne

Hearne, Jane Campbell
b. 05 Nov 1811 d. 23 Mar 1891
Fa: Gunn Mo: Campbell
Sp: Joshua A. Hearn

Hearne, Joshua A.
b. 30 Oct 1808 Lincoln County, NC
d. 24 Feb 1889 Russellville, Pope County, AR
Fa. Moses Hearne Mo. Mary Froneberger
Sp/1: Jane Campbell Gunn
Ch/1: Twin Babes, James Lee, Marcellus Greene, Pernell Finley, Mary Jane, Joshua Orr, Moses Allan, John A.

Sp/2: Margaret R. (Hoffman) Harris Md: O5 Dec 1872 Pope
Ch/2: Ella

By 1892 there was only one Hearne living in in Pope County Arkansas, Mary Jane Darr. All the others: James Lee and John were dead, M.G. and brother Pernell Finley had moved off to Ellis Co., Texas, brother Moses was living in Warm Springs, Ark., brother Joshua Orr and wife Mattie and children had moved off to Choctaw Nation, Okla.