James Fleming Fagan - Early Life and Career

Early Life and Career

James F. Fagan was born in Louisville, Kentucky. When he was ten years old, his family moved to Little Rock, the capital of the recently created State of Arkansas. His father had been hired to work on the Old State House. His father died during his youth and his mother, Catherine A. Fagan, in 1842 married Samuel Adams, who became Governor of Arkansas two years later.

After his stepfather's death, Fagan took control of the family farm along the Saline River in southern Arkansas. Though he was a member of the Whig Party, he represented the heavily Democratic Saline County for one term in the Arkansas state legislature. Fagan served in the United States Army during the Mexican-American War in the 1st Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry under General Archibald Yell and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.