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 o o OF o o 
 
 NORTHEAST ARKANSAS, 
 
 COMPRISINO 
 
 A Condensed History of the State, a Number of Biographies of D'stinguished Citizens ^f 
 
 the sanqe, a Brief Descriptive History of eacl^ of the Counties named herein, and 
 
 numerous Biograpl^ical Sketches of the Prominent Citizens of such Counties. 
 
 ILLUSTRATBD. 
 
 Chicago, Nashville and St. Louis : 
 THE GOODSPEED PUBLISHING CO. 
 
 1889 
 

 "NKEY, BiNDKR. 
 
 ^n^ 
 
M 
 
 M^^"r 
 
 J 
 
 ^ ^ 
 
 "HIS beautiful volume has been prepared in response to the popular demand 
 for the preservation of local history and biography. The method of prep- 
 aration followed is tiie most successful and the most satisfactory yet devised 
 — the most successful in the enormous number of volumes circulated, and 
 tlie most satisfactory in the general preservation of personal biograpliy 
 and family record, conjointly with local history. The number of volumes 
 now being distributed seems fabulous. Careful estimates place the number 
 circulated in Ohio at 50,000 volumes; Pennsylvania, 00,000; New York, 75,000; 
 Indiana, 40,(100; Illinois, 40,000; Iowa, 30,000; Missouri. 25,000; Kansas. 
 20,000; Tennessee, 20,000; Kentucky, 25,000; Georgia, 20,000; Alabama, 20,000, 
 and all the other States at the same proportionate rate. The entire State of 
 Arkansas has as yet scarcely been touched by the historian, but is now being 
 rapidly written. 
 
 The design of the present extensive biographical and historical research is to 
 gather and preserve in attractive form, while fresh with the evidence of tiuth, tlie enormous fund 
 of perishing occurrence. In gathering the matter for the historical sketches of tlie counties, it 
 was thought wisest, owing to the limited space, to collate and condense only the most valuable 
 items, by reason of which such sketches are a credit to the book, and of permanent worth. 
 
 In the preparation of this volume the Publishers have met with nothing but courtesj- and 
 assistance from the public. Nothing promised is omitted, and much not promised is giv#Ji. 
 About fifty pages of State history were guaranteed; over twice that number are given. Special 
 care was employed and great expense incurred to render the volume accurate. In all cases tlie 
 personal sketches wei-e submitted by mail, and in most instances were corrected and returned 
 by the subjects themselves. Coming as they do from the most illustrious families of the State 
 — all worthy citizens from the upper, middle and lower classes — they form in tiiemselves tlie 
 most complete account of the Northeast Counties ever written, and their great value to future 
 generations will be warmly acknowledged by all tlioughtful people. With many thanks to their 
 friends for the success of such a diflicult enterprise, the Publishers res|)ectfully tender tliis fine 
 volume to their patrons. 
 
 THE PUBLISHERS. 
 
 October, 18«y. 
 
 I 
 
 
-^ 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 (ieolog-y — Importance of (iculofjio Stiidj—Ari-a aud Cli- 
 mate — Bouudarii's — Primiijal Streams of the State — 
 The Mountain Systems — The Cfreat Springs — Diversity 
 of Soils — Caves — The Mines, their Wonderful Deposits 
 and Formations !»-] S 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Archajology — Kemains of Flint Arrow and Spear Heads, 
 and Stone and Other Ornaments — Evidences of Prehis- 
 toric People along the Mississippi — Mounds, etc., in 
 Other Portions of the State — Local Archaeologists and 
 tlicir Work — The Indians — Tribal and Race Character- 
 istics — The Arkansas Tribes — The Cession Treaties — 
 The Removal of IhcCherokecs, Creeks and Choetaws — 
 An Indian Alarm — Assassination of the Leaders, etc., 
 etc 19-2.3 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Discovery and Settlement — De Soto in Arkansas — Mar- 
 quette and Joliet — La Salle, llenncjiin and Tonti — 
 French and English Schemes of Conquest and Dreams 
 of Power — Louisiana — The "Bubble" of .Tohn Law— 
 The Early Viceroys and tiovernors — Proprietary Change 
 of Louisiana — French and Spanish Settlers in .Vrkansas 
 — English Settlers— .\ Few First Settlers in the Counties 
 — The New Madrid Earthquake — Other Items of Inter- 
 est 34-34 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Organization — The Viceroys and tiovernors — The Attitude 
 of the Royal Owners of Louisiana — The District Divided 
 — The Territory of Arkansas Formed from the Territory 
 of Missouri — The Territorial Government — The First 
 Legislaturi' — The Seat of Government — Other Legisla- 
 tive Bodies — The Due''. i— Arkansas Admitted to Slate- 
 luiod — The Constitutional Conventions — The .Memor 
 able Reeonstriietion Period— Legislative Attitude on 
 the Question of Secession — The War of the Governors, 
 etc., etc .34-44 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 .Vdvunceinent of the State — .Misconceptions Removed — 
 Effects of Slavery upon .\griculture — Extraordinary 
 Improvements Since the War — Important Suirirestions 
 
 — Comparative Estimate of Products — (irovvtii of the 
 Manufacturing Interests— Wonderful Showing of Ar- 
 kansas — Its Desirability as a Place of Residence — State 
 Elevations 4.5-53 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Polities — Importance of thi^ Subject — The Two Old Scliouls 
 of Politicians — Triumph of the Jaeksonians — Early 
 Prominent State Politicians — The Great (inestion of 
 Secession — The Slate Voles to .Join the Confederacy — 
 Horror of the War Period — The Rt^construelion Distress 
 — The Baxter-Brooks Embroglio. . ,V.' :,.-, 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Societies, Stale Institutions, etc. — The Kn Klii\ Klan — 
 Independent Order of Odd Fellows — Ancient, Free and 
 Accepted Masons — Grand Army of the Republic — Bu- 
 reau of Mines — .\rkansas .\gricultural .Vssoeiatious — 
 State Horticultural Society — The Wheel — The Slate 
 Capital — The Capitol Building — State Libraries — State 
 Medical Society— State Board of Health— Deaf Mute 
 In.stitutc — School for the Blind — Arkansas Lunatic 
 .Asylum — Arkansas Industrial University — The State 
 Debt 56-(H 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 The Bench and Bar — -Vn Analytic View ..r ilie Profession 
 of Law — Spanish and Freni'h Laws — English Comii<yii 
 Law — Th» Legal Circuit Riders — Territorial Laiv ami 
 Lawyers — The Court Circuits- Early Court Odiecrs — 
 The Supreme Court — Prominent Members of the Slate 
 Bench and Bar — The Standard of the Execution of Law 
 in the Stale ." «5-73 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The Lat.- Civil War— ^lualytieal Vi.w ..f the Troublous 
 Times — Passage of the Ordinance of Secession — The 
 Call to .\rms — The First Troops to Take the Field— In- 
 vasion of the State by the FcdiTal .\rmy— Sketch of (he 
 Regiments — Names of OHIeer — (lutliue of Field Oper- 
 ations— Cleburne and Yill — KxtracUi from Privale 
 Memoranda— Evacuation of the Stale — Re-oceupation 
 —The War of ISl'i— The Mexican War— Standard of 
 American Generalship 7!V-X1 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 '^ 
 
 CHAFTEB X. 
 
 I'lililii- KiiUTi>risi'» — Till- Kijal Kstate Bank nf Arkiin^iis — 
 S(ati; Koiuls and Ollur Ui:;liH!iys — Tlio Milihiiy Knads 
 — NaviK.itiou within tlic Stale frcmi tlie Kiirliisl Tinus 
 to the Piesrut — Dcmdrucf of Stale Navigation — Stfani- 
 hout Kaoiujr — Ai-c-idcnt» to Boats— The Rise and (irowlli 
 of tlie Itailroad Systems — A Sketeli of the Diflferi'nt 
 I/iM'-:, — otijer I in port lint Conflideration» s:J-8T 
 
 CHAPTEK XI. 
 
 The Counties of Hie State— Tlieir Foriniitii>n and I'liaiiires 
 of Boundary Lines, ete. — Tlieir C'ciiinty Seats and Otlier 
 Items of Interest Coneernin:; them — Defunel C"ouu(ies 
 — New Counties — I'opulalion of all Hie Counties ol the 
 Stale at every fieiieral Census S7-!ia 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Kiliieatiou — Tile Mental I'yiu- I 'oiisi4lere<l — Territorial 
 Siliools, Laws and Funds — Coiistilutiunal Provisions 
 for Kdiieation — l.ejrislntive Provisions — Projrrcs.s sinee 
 the War — Tlie State Superintendents — Statistics — 
 Vrkansas Literature — The Arkan-iiw TravliT f»H-'.l7 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The Chiirelii's of Arkansas'^ .\ppearnnee of (lie Mission 
 uries— Chiireh Missions Kstaldislied in the Wilderness 
 —The Leadin;;- Protestant Denominations — Eeelcsiasti- 
 eal Statisties— General Outlook from a Relij^ious 
 Standpoint 98-101 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 Names Illustrious in Arkansas History— Prominent Men- 
 tion of Noted Individuals- .\inhiiise H. Sevier— Will- 
 iam K. WoodnitT — .lohii Wilson— .hdin Hemphill — 
 .laeol. Barkniaii— Dr. Bowii — Sandy Faulkner— Samuel 
 11. Ileinpstead— Trent, Williams, Sliiiin Families, and 
 I »i hers— The Coiiways— Koherl Crittenden— Arehiliald 
 Yell — .JiidiCe David Walker— Gen. G. D. Koyston — 
 .Iiulf;c James W. Bates 103-112 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 <ireene County— Physical Features— Slreams—ForesLs— 
 
 Iv'ndof Soil — AK'rieulturnl Proihiets — Stock Interests 
 
 Keiil and Personal Property— Population— Railways — 
 Kra of Settlement — .\ Noted Hunter— .\els of the Coun- 
 ly Board— County Seat and Biiildinj,'s—Offieers— Polit- 
 ical Outlook— Lejfal Matters- Military Affairs— Mnnic- 
 ipalities— Schools— Chnrches-Bi.ijrraphy 113-188 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Clay I'ounty — Location and Description — Drainaire — Tim- 
 
 her— Soil — Natural Kcsources— Live Stock — Taxation 
 
 Population— Railroads— Set tleiiienl— County Orsraniza- 
 lion— Chause of Name— The County Divided— Piililic 
 Huildinss — County Olllcers — Politics— The Courts— 
 i-ettal Kxeciitioiis— The Civil War— Towns and Villajjes 
 —Newspapers— Edurallon and Keligion— Bioirrapliical 
 .Sketches 18»-26!S 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Fulton County — Us Foriuatiou, Oi';;;uni/'.atiou and OHiccrs 
 — Its Capital and Biiildinv:.* — P(ditical Record — The 
 Bench and Bar — Situation of the I'ouuty — Important 
 Statistics for the Instruction of Imtniirrants — Real and 
 Personal Taxation — Airirrcijatc Pojinlation — Educa- 
 tional and Rcliirioiis .Vdvanccmcnl — Selected Family 
 Rciords — The (ireal Keliellion — .Municipal Ortfaniza- 
 tions 2,59-30» 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Craighead County — Location ami l)e>eri|ition — Streams 
 and Drainage — Timlier and Soil — Resources- and Pro. 
 ductions — Live Stock— Properly, Rial and Personal — 
 Population — Railroads — Settlement — County Organiza- 
 tion—County Scut — County Buildings — Local Olticers 
 —Politics — The Courts — The Civil War— Towns and 
 Villages — County Biograjihy — Education — Religion — 
 I ither Items . . ;W.»-:«a 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Randoljih County— The Pioneers— The County Formed and 
 Organized — Seal of .Justice — Buildings — Local Officer- 
 — Elections — Natural History — Wafer-courses — Miner 
 als. Soil, etc.— Wood Supply -Vegetable and Other 
 Products — Statisties — Taxables— The Censius- Public 
 Highways — The Great War — Law and Lawyers — In- 
 struction — Morals — Towns and Villages — Selected 
 Biography 384^^145 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Mississigipi County — Location, Boundary, Topography, 
 etc.— The Expedition of De Soto into Mississipjii 
 County — Towns— Settlements by Local Names — Secret 
 Societies— Military .\ffairs of the County— The Lpris- 
 ing of the t'olored People — Offlcers of the County — 
 Public Buildings— Popnlation— Local Statistics— Coun- 
 ty Organization— Levies-Schools and Churches — Se- 
 lected Biographical .Sketches 445-570 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Poinsett County— Tile Re<-ords of the Courts— Formation 
 of the County and Selection of the Seal of Law— List 
 ofLocal Officers- Election Statistics— Centers of Popii 
 lation — Societies, etc. — Local Instruction — Moral Or 
 gaMizalions- The Soiitlieni Confederacy— The County 
 Bounded — Its Topograjihy and Geology — Its Wonderful 
 Soil and its Products— Population— Railroads— Names 
 of Early Settlers- Private and Family Records .S7(M;-il 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Indeiieudence County— Formation and Organiziition— 
 Public Structures— Catalogue of Officials— The Fran- 
 chise— Administration of Law— The Coming of the Pio. 
 neers- Location of the County- Its Water-courses- 
 Numerous Personal and Business Sketches— Timber 
 and -Mines— Lands and Crops- Census Returns — Rail- 
 roads— Religion- (irow 111— Towns— Popular Instruction 
 — War Record— Facts and Statisties 62I-72« 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 Shiirp County — Loiatiou and Toi)oyrai>liy — Tlic Walir 
 Supply — MiiHTuN, Tiiiihcr and Soil — Products — Valua- 
 tion of Property — Piil)lic' i[i?;liways — Population — 
 Erection of tlie County — TlU' Leyal Center — County 
 Buildiujfs — Days of the Pioneers — Law and Equity 
 Practiced — Tlie Strvif^ffle ovi'r Slavery and Secession — 
 Villages Located and Ueseribed — Sclmol Statistics— 
 Cliureli Peo])Ie — Catalogue of County Officers — Per- 
 sonal and Business Meuuiranrta — Elections 739-761 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Lawrence County — Period of Settlenu^nt — The Mound 
 Builders — Boundary of the County — Topography — 
 Rivers orCreeks — Tiuiiier, Soil and Products — Minerals 
 and Other Resources — Live StocU — Taxaliles — Popula- 
 tion — Railroads — Legal Matters — The Civil War- 
 School Affairs — Church Strengtli — The County Cre- 
 ated — Its Otiicers, Buildings and Seat of .fustici — 
 Political Statistics — Towns and Villages — Personal 
 Notices 763-831 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 •Taikson Counly— Act of Creation— Seat of .lusliee Lu 
 cated— County Structures- OHlcial Catalogue— Voli's 
 and Voters— The War of 18l)l-er.— The Administration 
 of .lustice — Church Deuoniinalions Represented — 
 School Matters Outlined— Names oftlic Early Settlers— 
 Tlie County Located— Topography— Streams— Tiniher 
 —Soil— Resources — Property Valuation — Railroads- 
 Population— Towns and Villages — Personal Memoirs 
 
 h:«-!M(1 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 Izard County— The Arrival of Ihe Selller.s— Circuit and 
 Probate Courts — Military Memoirs— The County 
 Formed— The County Seat Located— Public Buildings 
 Erected— Election 'Returns— Church Organizations- 
 Towns and Village?— Educational Development— The 
 County Bounded— Statistics Showing its Desirability 
 as a Place of Residence — Population— Biography. .'.II7-!»K| 
 
 mMMMIM- 
 
 -4-+- 
 
 Elisha Baxter 
 
 .lohu B. Driver 
 
 W. II. Cate 
 
 S. S. Semmes 
 
 G. W. Hurley 
 
 II. C. Dunavant. . 
 
 J. A. Lindsay 
 
 Oapt. Dan Matthews. 
 
 J. L. Aberncthy 
 
 A. L. Cissell 
 
 .1. W. Parish 
 
 L. .V. Morris 
 
 •lames Rutherford . , 
 
 W. K. Harrison 
 
 D. C. Montgomery. . . 
 
 W. D. Jones 
 
 T. D. Culberhouse . . 
 Dr. Elliott Hickman 
 
 K. M. Wayland 
 
 .lames K. Jernigan.. 
 
 . between 
 
 H7-i>8 
 133-l'i;i 
 14(;-147 
 170-171 
 I'.l4-ia5 
 31K-319 
 242-343 
 •2tit^3U7 
 3!tO-3tll 
 314-31.T 
 3;i8-339 
 3(;3-3(>3 
 3'.Mi-;W7 
 43(1-431 
 444-145 
 4ti,s-4t);t 
 4(l3-4!t3 
 .5II>-517 
 .540-541 
 
 John K. (iihsou 
 
 H. M. McVeigh 
 
 James T. Henderson.. 
 
 B. A. Bugg. 
 
 T. L. Musgrave .... 
 William T. lluddleston 
 
 J. W. Rhodes 
 
 F. G. McOavock 
 
 B. F. Jone.s 
 
 W. J. Erwlu. 
 E.J. McGavock 
 J. H. MeGavovk . 
 
 1). L. Ferguson 
 
 V. Y. Cook 
 
 R. W. Friend 
 
 J. F. Davis 
 
 Lieut. E. M. Ayres 
 
 J. W. I'zzell 
 
 Elliot H. Fletcher 
 
 W. A. Townsend 
 
 .between .iii4-.)0.. 
 .5HK-r)Sfl 
 tlia-613 
 63(>-«37 
 (J(KMi6I 
 l»m5S.5 
 70»rO!l 
 T.V2-'iXi 
 7.54J-757 
 780-781 
 804-805 
 838-829 
 .K53-853 
 870-877 
 !HX)-901 
 m.^-'.lUi 
 !l30-il31 
 !<4.V1M« 
 WiO-mil 
 iC.VW'O 
 
>^. 
 
 ^Pv 
 
A 
 
 ISTORY o OF 
 
 ANSflS.e^ 
 
 • > ♦ < » 
 
 iiitf 11 1. 
 
 Geology-Impoutance of Geologic Study— Area and Climate— Boundakies-Piuncipal Streams 
 OF THE State— The Mountain Systems— The Great Springs- Diversity of Soils- 
 Caves— The Mines, theiu WoNDf:RrrL Deposits and Formations. 
 
 Such Iik'ssings Nature pours, 
 O'erstocked mankiml enjoys bin half her stores.- 
 
 -Young. 
 
 HE matter of first iinpor- 
 tancG for every civilized peo 
 pie to know is tbo economic 
 geology of the country they 
 inhabit. The rocks and the 
 climate are the solution in 
 the end of all problems of 
 life, as they are the prime sources 
 from which all that human beings 
 can possess comes. The measure of 
 each and every civilization that has 
 adorned the world is in exact de- 
 gree with the people's knowledge 
 ^r^ )iC?l^oi the natural laws and the envi- 
 t- S/^\ii ronments about them. 
 jj^ /^v^tfiTj, The foundation of civilization 
 
 ^ ^ rests upon the agriculturists, and 
 
 nothing can be of more importance to this class 
 than some knowledge of what materials plants are 
 composed, and the .source from whence they de- 
 rive existence; the food upon which plants live 
 and grow; how they are nourished or destroyed; 
 what plant food is ajipropriated by vegetation 
 itself, without man's aid or intorveutiun, through 
 the natural operations in constant action. The 
 
 schools will some day teach the children these use- 
 ful and fiiiulainental lessons, and then, beyond all 
 peradventure, they will answer very completely 
 the lately propounded question: " Are the public 
 schools a failure?" Tiie knowledge of the ele- 
 mentary principles of the geology of this country 
 is now the demand of the age, made upyon all na- 
 tions, in all clinies. 
 
 The character of vegetation, as well as the 
 qualities of the waters and their action upon vege- 
 table and animal life, is primarily determined 
 by the subjacent rocks on which the soil rests. 
 Earth and air are but the combinations of The 
 original gases, forming the solids, liquids and the 
 atmosphere surrounding the globe. The soil is 
 but the decomposed rocks — their ashes, in other 
 words, and hence is seen the imperative necessity of 
 the agriculturist understanding something of the 
 rocks which lie beneath the laud he would success- 
 fully cultivate. He who is educated in the simple 
 fundamental principles of geology — a thing ea-sier 
 to learn than is the difference in the oaks and pines 
 of the forest — to him there is a clear comprehension 
 of the life-giving qujilities stored in the surface 
 rocks, as well as a knowledge of the minerals to be 
 
 
 -*fv*" 
 
10 
 
 HISTOKY OF ARKANSA.S. 
 
 found in their compauj'. A youth so educated 
 possesses incomparable advantages over his school 
 companion in the start of life, ^ho has coneeui rated 
 his energies on the classics or on metaphysical sub- 
 jects, whether they enter the struggle for life as 
 farmers, stock raisers, miners or craftsmen. It 
 is as much easier to learn to analyze a rock, min- 
 eral or soil, than to learn a Greek verb, as the one 
 is more valuable to know than the other. All true 
 knowledge is the acquirement of that which may 
 aid in the race of life, an education that is so prac- 
 tical that it is always helpful and useful. 
 
 The geology of Arkansas therefore, so far as 
 given in this chapter, is in fact but the outline of 
 the physical geography of one of the aiost interest- 
 ing localities of the continent, and is written 
 wholly for the lay reader, and attempted in a 
 manner that will reach his understanding. 
 
 Within the boundary lines of the State are 53,- 
 045 square miles, or 33,948,800 acres. It haa 
 3,868,800 more acres of land than the State of 
 New York, and multiplies many times the com- 
 bined natural resources of all the New England 
 States. It has 2,750 miles of navigable rivers. 
 
 It had a population in 1880, as shown by the 
 census, of 802.525. Of these there were 10,350 
 foreigners and 210,606 colored. In 1820 the Ter 
 ritory had a population of 14,255; in 1830, of 30,- 
 338; in 1840, of 97.554; in 1850. of 209,897; in 
 1860, of 435,450; in 1870, of 481,471. (This 
 was the Civil War decade.) In 1885 the popula- 
 tion had advanced about 200,000 over the year 
 1880, or was near 1,000.000. In 1887 it reached 
 the figures of 1,260,000, or an increase of more 
 than a quarter of a million in two years, and there 
 is reason to believe this increa.sed ratio will pass 
 beyond the two million mark in the next census. 
 At least, an increase of one hundred per cent in 
 the ten years is indicated. Keeping in miud that 
 there are no great populous cities in the State, it 
 will be known that this has been that healthy in- 
 crease of population which gives glowing promises 
 for the future of the State. Here the agricultural 
 districts, and the towns and cities, have kept even 
 pace, while in some of the leading States of the 
 Mississippi Valley the gi-eat cities have grown 
 
 while the rural population has markedly decreased. 
 These are serious problems to reflective minds in 
 those States where the cities are overgrowing and 
 the country is declining. Happily, Arkansas is 
 troubled with no such indications of the disturbed 
 natural distribution of its people. The State, 
 since it emerged from the dark and evil days of 
 civil war and reconstruction, has not only not been 
 advertised in regard to its natural resources, but 
 has been persistently slandered. The outside world, 
 more than a generation ago, were plaiTsibly led 
 to believe the energy of its citizens was justly 
 typified in the old senseless ballad, "TheArkan- 
 saw Traveler," and the culture and refinement of 
 its best people are supposed to be told in the 
 witty account of Judge Halliburton's " Fir.st Piano 
 in Arkansas." The ruined hopes, the bankrupted 
 fortunes and the broken hearts that are the most 
 recent history of the Western deserts, form some of 
 the measure the poor people are jiaying for the de 
 ceptions in this regard that have been practiced 
 upon them. These silly but amusing things have 
 had their effect, bat they were pleasant and harm- 
 less, compared to tli ■ latest phase of pretexts for 
 persistent publications of the cruelest falsehoods 
 ever heaped upon the heads of innocent men. But, 
 in the end, even this will do good; it is to be seen 
 now among the people. It will put the people of 
 the State upon their mettle, resulting, if that is 
 not already the fact, in giving it the most orderly, 
 law abiding, peaceful and moral people of any 
 equal district of the Union. 
 
 The State is in the central southern portion of 
 the great Mis.sissippi Valley, and in climate, soil, 
 rocks, minerals and water may well bo designated 
 as the capital of this " garden and granary of the 
 world," with resources beneath the surface that 
 are not, taken all together, surpassed on the globe. 
 Its eastern line is the channel of the Mississippi 
 River "beginning at the parallel 36" of north lati- 
 tude, thence west with said parallel to the middle 
 of the main channel of the St. Francois (Francis) 
 River; thence up the main channel of said last men- 
 tioned river to the parallel of 36° 30' of north lati 
 tude; thence west with the last mentioned parallel, 
 or along the southern line of the State of Missouri, 
 
 ^ 
 
^ 9 
 
 >_ 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 11 
 
 to the southwest corner of said State; thence to be 
 bounded on the \v((st to the north bank of Red 
 River, as designated by act of Congress and treat- 
 ies, existing January 1, 1837, defining the western 
 limits of the Territory of Arkansaw, and to be 
 bounded west across and south of Red River by 
 the boundary line of the State of Texas as far as 
 the northwest corner of the State of Louisiana; 
 thence easterly with the northern boundary line of 
 said last named State to the middle of the main 
 channel of the Mississi])|n River; thence up the 
 middle of the main chHUU(>l of said last mentioned 
 river, including an island in said river Imown as 
 Belle Point Island, and all other land as originally 
 surveyed and included as a part of the Territory, or 
 State of Arkansas, to the 36° of north latitude, to 
 the place of beginning."* 
 
 The State includes between its north and south 
 boundary lines the country lying between parallel 
 of latitude 33° north, and parallel of latitude 36° 
 30 ' north, and between its east to west lines the 
 country between longitude 90° and a little west of 
 longitude 94° 30'. Its geographical position on 
 the continent assures the best conditions of tem- 
 perature, salubrity and rainfall, this being shown 
 by the absence of the intense heat and the cold 
 storms of the higher latitudes and the drouths of 
 the west. 
 
 From the meteorological reports it is learned 
 that the average rainfall in the State during June, 
 July and August is sixteen inches, except a narrow 
 l)elt in the center of the State, where it is eighteen 
 
 *Tlie above dpscriptivo boundary lines are in the au- 
 thoritative language of lUe 8tate Constitutional Conven- 
 tion. To understand the south and west lines necessitates 
 a referencelo tlie treatiesand acts of Congress. The fol- 
 lowing would simplify the descriptive part of the west 
 and south lines: Beginning at the southwest corner of 
 jNIissouri, or in the center of Section 19, Township 31. 
 Range 34 west of the fifth principal meridiiin line, thence 
 in a straight line south, bearing a little east to strike the 
 cast line of Section 4. Township 8 nmlli, liange 32 west; 
 thence in a straight line south, bearing a little west to 
 where the line strikes Red River in Section 14, Townshi)) 
 13 south, Range 33 west; thence along said river to the 
 southwest corner of Section 7, Township 14 south. Range 
 28 west; thence south lotlie northwest corner of thcnortli- 
 east quarter of Section 18, Township 20 south. Range 28 
 west; thence east along the 33-' of latitude to the middle 
 of the channel of the Jlississippi River; thence up said 
 river to the place of beginning. The State lines run 
 with the lines of latitude and I he meridional lines, and 
 not with the government suivcy lines. 
 
 inches, and a strip on the western portion of the 
 State, where it is from eight to fourteen inches. 
 Accurate observations covering fifteen years give 
 an average of seventy-five rainy days in the year. 
 
 Of twenty-three States where are reported 134 
 destructive tornadoes, four were in Arkansas. 
 
 The annual mean temperature of Los Angeles, 
 Gal., is about 1° less than that of Little Rock. 
 
 The watershed of the State runs from the 
 north of west to the southeast, from the divide of 
 the Ozark Mountain range, except a few streams 
 on the east side of the State, which flow nearly 
 parallel with the Mississippi River, which runs a 
 little west of south along the line of the State. 
 North of the Ozark divide the streams betir to a 
 northerly direction. 
 
 Of the navigable rivers within its Ijorders the 
 Arkan.sas is navigable 505 miles; Bartholomew 
 Bayou, 68 miles; Black River, 147 miles; Current 
 River, 63 miles; Fourche La Favre River, 73 
 miles; Little Missouri River, 74 miles; Little Red 
 River, 48 miles; Little River, 98 miles; Missis- 
 sippi River, 424 miles: Ouachita River, 134 miles; 
 Petit Jean River, 105 miles; Red River, 92 miles; 
 Saline River, 125 miles; St. Francis River, 180 
 miles; White River. 619 miles. 
 
 These streams flow into the Mississippi River 
 and give the State an unusual navigable river 
 frontage, and they run so nearly in parallel lines 
 to each other and are distributed so e(juiilly as to 
 give, especially the eastern half and the southwest 
 part of the State, the best and cheapest transjjorta- 
 tion facilities of any State in the Union. These 
 free rivers will in all times control the extortions of 
 transportation lines that are so oppressive to the 
 people of less favored localities. 
 
 The Arkansas River passes diagonally across 
 the center of the State, entering at Fort Smith, and 
 emptying into the Mississippi at Napoleon. 
 
 South of this the main stream is the Ouachita 
 River and its tributaries; the Saline River, which 
 divides nearly eqtially the territory between the 
 Arkansas and Ouachita Rivers; and the Little Mis- 
 souri on the southwest, which divides the territory 
 between the Ouachita and Red Rivers. North of 
 the Arkansas, and about equally dividing the ter 
 
 "~® 
 
 to 
 
12 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ritory between tbe Mississippi and the Arkansas 
 Rivers, is White River, running nearly southeast. 
 Its main tributary on the west is Little Red River, 
 and on the northeast Black River, which enters the 
 State from Missouri, and flows southwesterly and 
 empties into the White at Jacksonport, Jackson 
 County. Another important tributary is Cache 
 River, which flows a little west of south from Clay 
 County, emptying into the White near Clarendon. 
 
 Eel River is in the northeast comer of the 
 State and partially drains Craighead County. 
 Eleven Points, Currant, Spring and Strawberry 
 Rivers are important tributaries of Black River. St. 
 Francis River flows from Missouri, and from 36° 
 30' north latitude to 30° north latitude it forms 
 the boundary line between Missouri and Arkansas, 
 and continuing thence south empties into the Mis- 
 sissippi a few miles above Helena. 
 
 Main Fork of White River rises in Madison 
 County and flows northwest in and through ^\■ash- 
 ingtou County iuto Benton County; thence north- 
 east into Missouri, returning again to Arkansas in 
 Boone County. Big North Fork of White River 
 rises in the south central part of Missouri, flows 
 southward, and forms its junction in Baxter County, 
 Ark. La Grue River is a short distance south of 
 White River; it rises in Prairie County and joins 
 the White in Desha County. Middle Fork of 
 Saline River rises in Garland County and flows 
 southeast. Rolling Fork of Little River rises in 
 Polk and passes south through Sevier County. 
 Cassatot River also rises in Polk and passes south 
 through Sevier County. Clear Fork of Little 
 Missouri rises in Polk County and passes south- 
 east. East Fork of Poteau River rises in Scott 
 County and runs nearly due west into the Indian 
 Territory. L'Augnille River rises in' Poinsett 
 County and flows through Cross, St. Francis and 
 Lee Counties, and empties into the St. Francis 
 within a few miles of the mouth of the latter. Big 
 Wattensaw River rises in Lonoke County and runs 
 east into Prairie County, and empties into White 
 River. Muddy Fork of Little Missouri River rises 
 in Howard County and runs southeast. Yache 
 Grass River runs north through Sebastian County 
 and empties into the Arkansas River east of Fort 
 
 Smith. Terre Noir River runs from northwest to 
 the southeast in Clark County and empties into 
 Ouachita River. Sulphur Fork of Red River en- 
 ters the State fi-om Texas, about the center of the 
 west line of Miller County, and running a little 
 south of east empties into Red River. Sabine River 
 flows south through the central southern portions of 
 the State, and empties into the Ouachita River near 
 the south line of the State. 
 
 There are numerous creeks forming tributa- 
 ries to the streams mentioned, equally distributed 
 over the State, which are fully described in the re- 
 spective counties. Besides these water-courses 
 mention should properly be made of the nineteen 
 bayous within the State's borders. 
 
 The Ozark Mountains pass through the north- 
 ern portion of Arkansas, from west to east, and 
 form the great divide in the watersheds of the 
 State. Rich Mountains are in tbe central western 
 part, and run east from its west line, forming the 
 dividing line between Scott and Polk Counties, 
 and also between Scott and Montgomery Counties, 
 and run into Yell County. 
 
 South and east of the Rich Mountains are the 
 Silver Leaf Mountains, also running east and west 
 fi'om Polk County, through Montgomery to Gar- 
 land County. These are the mountain formations 
 seen about Hot Springs. Sugar Loaf Mountain 
 is in Cleljurne County, and receives its name from 
 its peculiar shape. It is in the northern central 
 part of the State. Another mountain of the same 
 name, containing the highest point in the State, is 
 in Sebastian County, and extends into the Indian 
 Territory. Boston Mountains are in the northwest- 
 ern part of the State, running east and west in 
 Washington, Crawford and other counties. These 
 include the main mountainous formations. There 
 are many points in these ranges that have local 
 names. 
 
 It would require volumes to give a complete 
 account of the variety of the innumerable springs 
 which I^urst forth with their delicious waters — 
 warm, hot and cold, salt, mineral and medicated. 
 The fame of some of the medical, and the Hot 
 Springs of Arkansas, are known throughout the 
 civilized world, and pilgrims from all nations come 
 
 -^ 
 
J, 
 
 HISTORY OF AliKANSAS. 
 
 13 
 
 to be washed aiul healed iu them. They were 
 known to and celebrated by the prehistoric peoples 
 of America; and the migrating buffaloes, ages and 
 ages ago, came annually from the land of the Da- 
 kotas to the spring waters of Arkansas. The in- 
 stincts of the wild beasts antedate the knowledge 
 of man of the virtues and values of the delicious 
 waters so bountifully given to the State-. Nearly 
 all over its territory is one wonder after another, 
 tilling every known range of springs and spring 
 waters, which, both in abundance of flow and in 
 medicinal properties, mock the world's previous 
 comprehension of the possibilities of nature in this 
 
 respect. 
 
 af,rU 1-T- l\ 
 
 'ft,()^m:C- 
 
 When De Soto, in June, \'i\:'l, discovered the 
 Mississippi River and crossed into (now) Arkansas, 
 and had traveled north into the territory of Mis- 
 souri, he heard of the "hot lakes" and turned 
 about and arrived in time where is now Hot Springs. 
 Even then, to the aborigines, this was the best- 
 known spot on the continent, and was, and had 
 been for centuries, their great sanitarium. The 
 tribes of the Mississippi Valley had long been in 
 the habit of sending here their invalids, anci even 
 long after they were in the possession of the whites 
 it was a common sight to see the camp of repre- 
 sentatives of many different tribes. The whites 
 made no improvement in the locality until 1807. 
 Now there is a flourishing city of 10,000 inhab- 
 itants, and an annual arrival of visitors of many 
 thousands. The waters, climate, mountain air and 
 grand scenery combine to make this the great 
 world's resort for health and pleasure seekers, and 
 at all seasons of the year. The seasons round, with 
 rarest exceptions, are the Mav and October months 
 of the North. 
 
 In the confined spot in the valley called Hot 
 Springs there are now known seventy -one springs. 
 In 1800 the State geologist, D. D. Owen, only 
 knew of forty. Others will no doubt be added to 
 the list. These range in temperature from 93° 
 to 150° Fahrenheit. They discharge over 500,000 
 gallons of water daily. The waters are clear, taste- 
 less and inodorous; they come from the sides of the 
 ridge pure and sparkling as the ])ellucid Neva; holjl- 
 ing in solution, as they rush up hot and bubbling 
 
 from nature's most wonderful alembic, every valua- 
 ble mineral constituent. In the cure, especially of 
 nearly all manner of blood and chronic diseases, 
 they are unerjualed, and their wonders have be- 
 come mainly known to all the world by the liv- 
 ing and breathing advertisements of those who 
 have proven in their own persons their wonderful 
 curative powers. To reach Hot Springs and be 
 healed, is the hope and aspiration of the invalid, 
 when all other remedies have failed. And it is 
 but just now that the pleasure seeker, the tourist, 
 the scientist, and the intelligence and culture of 
 the world are beginning to understand that this 
 is one of the world's most inviting places to see 
 and enjoy. 
 
 But the marvels of the district are not confined 
 to the immediate locality of Hot Springs. Here 
 is indeed a wide district, with a quantity and variety 
 of medical springs that are simply inapproachable 
 on the globe. Going west from Hot Springs are sys- 
 tems of springs running into Montgomery County 
 a distance of forty miles. As continued discov- 
 eries of other springs in Hot Springs are being 
 made, and as these widely distributed outlying 
 springs are comparatively of recent disclosure, it 
 may be assumed that for many years to come new 
 and valuable springs will become celebrated. 
 
 In Carroll County, in the northwest part of 
 the State, are Eureka Springs, only second to Hot 
 Springs in the wide celebrity of fame as healing 
 waters. They, too, may well be considered one of 
 the world's wonders. There are forty-two of these 
 springs within the corporate limits of the city that 
 has grown up about thorn. They received no pub- 
 lic notice until 1879, when with a bound they 
 became advertised to the world. Their wonderful 
 cures, especially in cases of rheumatism, cancer, 
 dyspepsia and other, if not nearly all, chronic 
 diseases, have bordered on the marvelous, if not 
 the miraculous. 
 
 In White County are the noted White Sulphur 
 Springs, at Searcy, and the sulphur and chalyb 
 eate springs, known as the Armstrong and the 
 Griffin Springs, and the medical springs — Blan- 
 chard Springs — in Union County; the Ravenden 
 Springs, in Randolph County, and the Sugar Loaf 
 
•* 4— 
 
 14 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Springs, in Cleburne County; the very recently dis- 
 covered Lithia Springes, near Hope, in Hempstead 
 County, pronounced by a leading medical journal, 
 in its January issue, 1889, to be the most remark- 
 able discovery of this class of medical waters of 
 this century. These are some of the leading springs 
 of the State which possess unusual medicinal 
 properties. By a glance at the map it will be seen 
 they are distributed nearly equally all over its ter- 
 ritory. Simply to catalogue them and give accom- 
 panying analyses of the waters would make a pon- 
 derous volume of itself. In the aliove list have 
 been omitted mention of the fine Bethseda Springs 
 in Polk County, or the fine iron and chalybeate 
 springs near Magnolia; Bussoy's Springs, near 
 Eldorado, Union County; Butler's Saline Chalyb- 
 eate Springs, in Columbia County; the double 
 mineral spring of J. I. Holdernist, in Calhoun 
 County; a large number of saline chalyljeatc 
 springs in Township 10 south. Range 23 west, in 
 Hempstead County, called Hubbard's Springs; or 
 Crawford's Sulphur Springs; or those others in 
 Section 16, Township 12 south, Range 10 west; or 
 Murphy's or Leag's Mineral Springs, all in Brad- 
 ley County; or Gen. Royston's noted chalybeate 
 springs in Pike County, and still many others that 
 are known to possess mineral qualities, though no 
 complete examination of them has yet been made. 
 
 Si)(>cial mention should not be omitted of the 
 Mountain Valley Springs, twelve miles northwest 
 of Hot Springs. The fame of these springs has 
 demanded the shipment of water, lately, to distant 
 localities in vast and constantly increasing quan- 
 tities. The knowledge of them is but compara- 
 tively recent, and yet their wonderful healing 
 qualities are already widely known. 
 
 Innumerable, apparently, as are the health 
 springs of Arkansas, they are far surpassed by 
 the common springs found nearly all over the 
 State. 
 
 Mammotli Spring is in J^ilton County, and is 
 unrivaled in the country. The water boils up 
 from an opening 120 feet in circumference, and 
 Hows uninterruptedly at the rate of 9.001) barrels a 
 minute. From the compression of so large an 
 amount of carbonic acid held in solution, the whole 
 
 surface of this water basin is in a continual state of 
 effervescence. Spring River, a bold stream, is 
 produced by this spring, and gives an unlimited 
 amount of water power. 
 
 The general division of the surface of the State 
 is uplands and lowlands. It is a timber State, 
 with a large number of small prairies. East and 
 near Little Rock is Lonoke Prairie, and other 
 small prairies are in the southwest part. In its 
 northeast portion are some large strips of prairie, 
 and there are many other small spots bare of tim- 
 ber growths, but these altogether compose only a 
 small portion of the State's surface. 
 
 The variety and excellence of soils are not sur- 
 passed by any State in the Union. The dark 
 alluvial prevails in nearly all the lowlands, while 
 on many sections of the uplands are the umber red 
 soils of the noted tobacco lands of Cuba. About 
 two-thirds of the State's surface shows yellow pine 
 growth, the great tall trees standing side by side 
 with the hardwoods, walnut, maple, grapevines, 
 sumac, etc. A careful analysis of the soils and 
 subsoils of every county in the State by the 
 eminent geologist, Prof. D. D. Owen, shows this 
 result: The best soils of Iowa, Wisconsin and 
 Minnesota are inferior to the best soils of Arkan- 
 sas in fertilizing properties. The following re- 
 ports of State geologists tell the story: 
 
 
 Ark. 
 
 Minn. 
 
 Iowa. 
 
 Wis, 
 
 Organic ami Volatile Matter. . 
 
 Alumnia 
 
 Carbonate Lime 
 
 14,150 6,334 
 
 8.7151 5.585 
 21.865 fiflO 
 
 6,028 
 
 3.288 
 
 940 
 
 6.580 
 
 4,610 
 
 665 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 In fertilizing qualities the only comparative 
 results to the Arkansas soils are found in the blue 
 limestone districts of Central Kentucky. 
 
 Analysis of the soils shows the derivative geo- 
 logical formation of soils, and their agricultural 
 values; their losses by cultivation, and what soils 
 lying convenient will repair the waste. Arkansas 
 County, the mother of counties in the State, lying 
 in the southeast, shows the tertiary formations. 
 Benton County, at the opposite northwest corner, 
 has the subcarboniferous. The tertiary is found 
 
 ^ Kj 
 
A 
 
 It. 
 
 HISTORY OF AKKAXSAS. 
 
 15 
 
 in Newtou County; Chirk, Hempstead and Sevier 
 show the cretaceous; Conway, Oawlord, Johnson, 
 Ouachita, Perry, Polk. Pope, Priiirie, Pulaski, 
 Scott, Van Bureu, White, Garland and Montgom- 
 ery, the novaculite, or whetstone grit; Greene, 
 Jackson, Poinsett and Union, the quaternary. In 
 addition to Benton, given above, are Independence, 
 Madison, Monroe, Searcy and Washington, subcar- 
 boniferous. The lower silurian is represented in 
 Fulton. Izard, Lawrence, Marion and Randolph. 
 These give the horizons of the rock formations of 
 the State. The State has 28, 000, 000 acres of 
 woodland — eighty-one and one-half per cent of her 
 soil. Of this twenty-eight per cent is in cleared 
 farms. 
 
 If there be drawn a line on the map, beginning 
 a few miles west of longitude 91°, in the direction 
 of Little Koek, thence to the north boundary line 
 of Clark County, just west of the Iron Mountain 
 Railroad, then nearly due west to the west line of 
 the State, the portion north of this line will be the 
 uplands, and south the lowlands. The uplands 
 correspond with the Paleozoic, and lowlands with 
 the Neozoic. 
 
 The granitic axis outbursts in Pulaski, Saiine, 
 Hot Springs, Montgomery, Pike and Sevier Coun- 
 ties, and runs from the northeast to the southwest 
 through the State. In Northern Arkansas the dis- 
 turbance shows itself in small faults, gentle folds 
 and slightly indurated shales; but nearer the gran- 
 ite axis, greater faults, strata with high dip and 
 talcose slate, intersected with quartz and calcite 
 veins, become common. These disturbances are 
 intimately connected with, and determine to some 
 extent, the character of the mineral deposits of 
 the State. The veins along the granite axis were 
 filled probably with hot alkaline waters depositing 
 the metalliferous compounds they contained. 
 
 Almost every variety of land known to the 
 agriculturist can be found, and, for fertility, the 
 soils of the State arc justly celebrated. Comj)Osed 
 as they are of uplands and lowlands, and a variety 
 of climate, Ihey give a wide range of products. 
 In the south and central portions are produced the 
 finest cotton in the markets, while the uplands 
 yield fruits in abundance and variety. No place | 
 
 in the great valley excels it in variety of garden 
 vegetables, small and orchard fruits, grasses, 
 grains, and other field crops. Among agriculturists 
 in Arkansas, truly cotton has been king. It is 
 grown upon lands that would produce a hundred 
 bushels of corn to the acre. All over the State a 
 bale of cotton to the acre is the average — worth at 
 this time $50. Per acre it is about the same labor 
 to raise as corn. In the varied and deep rich 
 soils of the State are produced the vegetation - 
 fruits, vegetables and plants — of the semi-tropic re 
 gions, and also the whole range of the staple prod- 
 ucts of the north. Cereals, fruits and cotton 
 grow as well here as anywhere. In the uplands 
 will some day be raised grapes and tobacco that 
 will be world famous. 
 
 That j)ortioii of the hilly lands in Clay, Greene. 
 Craighead, Poinsett, St. Francis, Lee and Phillips 
 Counties, known as Crowley's ridge, has a soil and 
 vegetable growth distinctive from any other por- 
 tion of the State. Its principal forest growth is 
 yellow poplar, which is found in immense size. 
 With this timb(>r are the oak, gum, hickory, wal- 
 nut, sugar and maple. The soil is generally of a 
 light yellowish or gray color, often gravelly, very 
 friable and easily cultivated, producing abundant 
 crops of cotton, corn, oats, clover, timothy and rett 
 top, and is most excellent for fruits. 
 
 The prevailing soil is alluvial, with more or 
 less diluvial soils. The alluvial soils, especially 
 along the streams, are from three to thirty feet 
 deep, and these rich bottoms are often miles in 
 width. There are no stronger or more producUve 
 lands than these anywhere, and centuries of cul- 
 tivation create no necessity for fertilizers. 
 
 The swamp lands or slashes as a general thing 
 lie stretched along between the alluvial lauds and 
 second bottoms. They are usually covered with 
 water during the winter and spring, and are too 
 wet for cultivation, though dry in the summer and 
 fall. They can be easily reclaimed by draining. 
 
 The second bottoms are jjrincipally on the east- 
 ern side of the State, extending from the slashes to 
 the hills. The soil is mostly gray color, sometimes 
 yellowish, re.sting u]>on a subsoil of yellowish or 
 mulatto clay. The rich, black lauds prevail largely 
 
 r'^ 
 
."^^^—^ 
 
 ll£ 
 
 lu 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ill Hempstead, Little River. Sevier, Nevada, Clark, 
 Searcy, Stone, Izard and Independence Counties. 
 
 In the mountainous range of the Ozarks, in 
 Independence County, are remarkable cave forma- 
 tions. They are mostly nitre caves and from these 
 and others in the southeast and west of Batesville, 
 the Confederacy obtained much of this necessity. 
 Near Cushman, Independence County, are the won- 
 derful caves. The extent and marvelous beauty of 
 formations are in the great arched room, the 
 "King's Palace." This cave has been explored 
 for miles under the earth, and many wonders and 
 beauties are seen on every hand. On the side of 
 the mouth of one of the caves in this vicinity a 
 strong spring leaps fi'om the mountain's side and 
 into the cave, and the rumbling of the rushing 
 waters beneath the earth can be heard quite a dis- 
 tance. The notable saltpetre caves are in Marion. 
 Newton, Carroll, Independence, Washington and 
 Benton Counties. 
 
 There are gold mines in Arkansas, yet no re- 
 markable tinds that is, no marvelous wonders have 
 as yet been uncovered. The universal diffusion 
 of milky quartz in veins, seams and beds, as well 
 as all the other geological tokens which lead on to 
 fortune, are recent discoveries, and the intelligent 
 gold hunters are here in abundance. Who can 
 tell what the future may have in store? But 
 should no rich paying gold fields ever be found, 
 still in the resources of the State are ores of silver, 
 antimony, zinc, iron, lead, copper, manganese, 
 marble, granite, whet and honestone, rock-crystal, 
 paints, nitre earths, kaolin, marls, freestone, 
 limestone, buhr and grindstone and slate, which 
 may well justify the bold assertion of that eminent 
 geologist. Prof. D. D. Owen, in 1860, after care- 
 fully looking over the State, ' ' that Arkansas is 
 destined to rank as one of the richest mineral 
 States in the Union." Its zinc ores compare 
 favorably with those of Silesia, and its argentif- 
 erous galena far exceeds in percentage of silver the 
 average of such ores of other countries. Its 
 novaculite (whetstone) rock can not be excelled in 
 fineness of texture, beauty of color, and sharpness 
 of grit. Its crystal mountains for extent, and 
 their products for beauty, brilliancy and transpar- 
 
 ency, have no rivals in the world. Its mineral 
 waters are in variety and values equalled only by 
 its mineral products. 
 
 Anticipating the natural questions as to why 
 the mines of Arkansas are not better developed, it 
 will be sufficient to condense to the utmost Prof. 
 Owen's words in reference to the Bellah mine in 
 Sevier County: "It is the same vein that is found 
 in Pulaski County, and runs northeast and south- 
 west nearly through the State. Some years ago 
 the Bellah mine was explored and six shafts were 
 sunk. Three of the principal shafts were about 
 thirty feet deep. The work was done under the 
 supervision of Richard ^^'. Bellah, afterward of 
 Texas. There was a continuous vein, increasing 
 in thickness as far as he went. On the line other 
 shafts were sunk from six to twelve feet deep, all 
 showing the ore to be continuous. About five tons 
 of ore were taken out. A portion of this was 
 sent to Liverpool, England, to be tested, and the 
 statement in return was ' seventy -three per cent 
 lead, and 148 ounces of silver to the ton.' " Mr. 
 Bellah wrote to Prof. Owen: "I am not willing 
 to lease the mines: but I will sell for a reasonalile 
 price, provided my brother and sister will sell at 
 the same. I have put the price upon the mines, 
 and value it altogether [4r)0 acres of land] at 
 $10,000." Such was the condition of affairs at 
 this mine when the war came. Substantially, this 
 is the ante-bellum history of the Arkansas mining 
 interests. Prof. Owen reports picking up from 
 the debris of these deserted shafts ore that anal- 
 yzed seventy-threo per cent lead and fifty-two and 
 ono-lialf ounces of silver to the ton of lead. 
 
 That these rich fields should lie fallow-ground 
 through the generations can now be accounted for 
 only from the blight of slavery upon the enter- 
 prise and industry of people, the evils of a great 
 civil war, and the natural adaptation of the soil and 
 slavery to the raising of cotton. 
 
 On the line of this vein, in Saline County, 
 from very superficial explorations, were discovered 
 veins bearing argentiferous lead and copper. 
 
 Lead is found in about every county in North- 
 ern Arkansas. These are a continuation of the 
 Missouri lead ores. The richest argentiferous lead 
 
3>>. 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 17 
 
 ores reported are in Pulaski, Saline, Montgomery, 
 Polk, Pike, Ashley and Sevier Counties, being 
 found in the quartz and calcite gangues. It is as- 
 sociated in the north of tho State with zinc, cop- 
 per, and with antimony in Sevier County. 
 
 One of the latest discoveries is the value of the 
 antimony mines of Polk and Sevier Counties. A 
 mine is being worked successfully for antimony, 
 and the increase of silver is improving as the 
 shaft goes down. At any hour in the progress of 
 the work, according to the opinions of the best 
 scientific mining experts, this shaft may reach one 
 of the noted silver deposits of the world. In the 
 Jeff Chirk antimony mine, at a distance of 100 
 feet down, was found a rich pocket of silver. In 
 every particular, so far, this mine is a transcript of 
 that of the noted Comstock mine. The Comstock 
 mine showed silver on the surface; so did the Sev- 
 ier County mine; then it passed down 100 feet, 
 following a vein of antimony; so has the Sevier 
 mine; then in each has silver been found. 
 
 There is an unchanging law which governs the 
 rock and mineral formations. Nature never lies, 
 and there is no doubt that the Arkansas mineral 
 belt, through Montgomery, Polk, Howard and Sev- 
 ier Counties, will prove to be one of the richest 
 mining districts of the world. 
 
 The antimony mine has been quite successfully 
 worked the past two years. The Bob Wolf mine, 
 Antimony Bluff mine, and Stewart Lode are being 
 profitably worked. Capital and the facilities for 
 reducing ores by their absence are now the only 
 drawback to the mineral products of the State. 
 
 Iron is found native in the State only in meteor- 
 ites. The magnatite ore is found plentiful in Mag- 
 net Cove. Lodestones from this place are shipjied 
 abroad, and have a high reputation. This is one 
 of the best iron ores, and the scarcity of fuel and 
 transportation in the vicinity are the causes of its 
 not being worked. The limonite iron ore is the 
 common ore of all Northern Arkansas; immense 
 deposits are found in Lawrence, where several 
 furnaces are operated. In the southern part of the 
 State is the bog iron ore. The brown hematite is 
 found in Lawrence, Randolph. Fulton and other 
 counties. Workable veins of manganese are found 
 
 in Independence County. This valuable ore is im- 
 ported now from Spain; it is used in making Spie- 
 gel iron. 
 
 Bituminous and semi- anthracite coal is found 
 in the true coal measures of the uplands of Ar- 
 kansas. That of the northwest is free from sul- 
 phur. The semi -anthracite is found in the valley 
 of the Ai-kansas River. These coal fields cover 
 10,000 acres. There are four defined coal hori- 
 zons — the subconglomerate, lower, middle and up- 
 per. The coal fields of this State belong to the 
 lowest — the subcarboniferous — in the shale or 
 millstone grit less than 100 feet above the Archi 
 medes limestone. In the Arkansas Valley these 
 veins aggregate over six feet. The veins lie high 
 in the Boston Mountains, dipping south into the 
 Arkansas Valley. Shaft mining is done at Coal 
 Hill, Spadra and many other points. It is shipped 
 down the river in quantities to New Orleans. 
 
 Aluminum, corundum, sapphire, oriental ruby, 
 topaz and amethysts are found in Howard and 
 Sevier Counties. Strontianite is found in Mag- 
 net Cove — valuable in the purification of sugar. 
 In the synclinal folds of Upjjer Arkansas common 
 salt is easily obtained. Good salt springs are in 
 Sevier County, also in Dallas and Hot Springs 
 Counties. Chalcedony, of all colors, cornelian, 
 agates, novaculite. honestone, buhrstone, varieties 
 of granite, eight kinds of elegant marble, sand 
 stones, white, gray, red, brown and yellow, are 
 common in the grit horizon; flagstones, roofing 
 and pencil slates, talc, kaolin, abound in Saline. 
 Washington, St. Francis and Greene Counties. The 
 potter's clay of Miller, Saline and Washington is 
 extensively worked. "Rock oil" has been dis- 
 covered in large pockets in Northwest Arkansas. 
 
 In the development of its mineral resources the 
 State is still in its infancy, so much so, indeed, 
 that what will prove yet to be the great sources of 
 wealth are not even now produced as a commer- 
 cial commodity. In some respects this is most re- 
 markable. For instance, Arkansas might supply 
 the world, if necessity required, with lime and 
 cement, can produce the best of each at the least 
 cost, and yet practically all these consumed are 
 imported here from other States. Years ago Prof. 
 
18 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 D. D. Owen called attention to the valuable marls 
 in the southwest part of the State, but the great 
 beds lie untouched and cotton planters send off for 
 other fertilizers. So also of the great beds of 
 gypsum that lie uncovered and imtoucbed. The 
 outside world wants unlimited supplies of kaolin, 
 fire-clays and such other clays as the State pos- 
 sesses in ine.stimable quantities, and yet the thrifty 
 people seem to be oblivious of the fact that here is 
 the way to easy sources of wealth. 
 
 People can live here too easily it seems. In 
 this way only can a reason be found for not strik- 
 ing boldly out in new fields of venture, with that 
 vigor of desperation which comes of stern and 
 hard necessity. Where nature is stubborn and uu 
 yielding, man puts forth his supremest efforts. 
 
 Magnet Cove probaljly furnishes more remark- 
 able formations than any other district in the world. 
 The "Sunk Lands" in the northeast part of the 
 State, the result of the disturbance of the New 
 Madrid earthquake 1811-12, present features of 
 interest to both lay and scientific investigators. 
 The curious spectacle of deep lakes, beneath which 
 can be seen standing in their natural position the 
 great forest trees, is presented: and instead of the 
 land animals roving and feeding among them are 
 the inhabitants of the deep waters. 
 
 The natural abutments of novaculite rocks at 
 Rockport, on the Ouachita River, with the proper 
 outlying rocks on the opposite side of the river, are 
 a very interesting formation. 
 
 Cortes Mountain, Sebastian County, as seen 
 from Hodges Prairie presents a grand view. The 
 bare hard rock looks as though the waves in their 
 mighty swells had been congealed and fixed into 
 a mountain. It is 1,500 feet high. Standing Rock, 
 Board Camp Creek, Polk County, is a conspicious 
 and interesting landmark. It rises from out the 
 
 crumbling shales, like an artificial piece of masonry, 
 to the height of ninety feet. 
 
 The Dardanello Rock as seen from the Arkan- 
 sas River, opposite Morristown, is composed of fer- 
 ruginous substance, and the great column dips at 
 an angle of 40° toward the river. From one point 
 on the southeast is the wonderful Dardanelle Profile. 
 All the features of the face, with a deep-cut mouth 
 slightly open as if in the act of listening to what 
 one is going to say to it, and the outlines of the 
 head, neck and shoulders, are faithfully produced. 
 Its faithfulness of detail and heroic proportions 
 are its strong characteristics. 
 
 Sandstone Dam across Lee Creek, Crawford 
 County, is a curious instance of nature's perfect 
 engineering. The formation here possesses as 
 much interest to the scientist as the noted Natural 
 Bridge. 
 
 Investigations of the Mammoth Spring lead to 
 the conclusion that it has underground connection 
 with Ha veil's Valley, Mo; that here the waters 
 from many springs, some rising to the surface and 
 others not rising, are as the head of a vast funnel, 
 which pour down the subterranean channel and, 
 finally meeting obstructions to further progress, are 
 forced up through the solid rock and form the 
 Mammoth Spring, a navigal)le subterranean river 
 in short, whose charts no bold seaman will ever 
 follow. 
 
 North of Big Rock are the traces of a burnt 
 out volcano, whose tires at one time would have 
 lighted up the streets of Little Rock even better 
 than the electric lights now gleaming from their 
 high towers. 
 
 The track of the awful cataclysm, once here 
 in its grand forces, is all that is left; the energies 
 of nature's greatest display of forces lost in the 
 geological eons intervening. 
 
 D X# 
 
^1 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 19 
 
 ;iliif 1-R 11. 
 
 • > ■♦ < « 
 
 Archaeology-Remains of Flint Aituow and Spear Heads and Stone and Otiikk Ornaments- 
 Evidences OF Pre-iiistoeic People Along the Mississippi— Mounds, etc., in Otiikk Poiitions 
 of The State— Local Archaeologists and their Work— The Indians-Ti;ii!ai, 
 AND Race Characteristics- The Arkansas Tribes— The Cession Treaties 
 —The Removal of the Cherokees, Creeks and Choctaws— An 
 Indian Alarm— Assassination ok the Leaders, etc., etc 
 
 
 
 Some lazy ages, lost in sleep and ease, 
 
 No actions leave to busy chronicles; 
 
 Such whose superior felicity but makes 
 
 In story chasms, in epochas mistakes. — Drydeti. 
 
 1^ 
 
 
 ^SJtW N the long gone agea, 
 te'l'^^f reaches of time perhaps 
 i^^W'i: ^"^'^ *° '°® measured by 
 ^■^ii geological periods, races 
 of men have been here, 
 grown, flourished, declined 
 and passed away, raaiay not 
 even leaving a wrack behind; others 
 transmitting fossil traces, dim and 
 crumbling, and still later ones, the suc- 
 cessors of the earlier ones, who had no 
 traditions of their predecessors, have 
 left something of the measure of their 
 existence in the deftly cut flints, broken 
 pottery, adobe walls, or gi-eat earth- 
 works standing in the whilom silent 
 wilderness as mute and enduring mon- 
 iimentsto their existence; man, races, civilizations, 
 systems of religion passing on and on to that 
 eternal silence — stormfully from the inane to the 
 inane, the great world's epic that is being forever 
 written and that is never writ. 
 
 Arkansas is an inviting field for the iavestiga- 
 tion of the archreologist, as well as the geologist. 
 Races of unknown men in an unknown time have 
 swarmed over the fair face of the State. Their 
 
 restless activities drove them to nature's natural 
 storehouses and the fairest climes on the continent. 
 Where life is easiest maintained in its best form 
 do men instinctively congregate, and thus commu- 
 nities and nations are formed. The conditions of 
 climate and soil, rainfall and minerals are the 
 controlling factors in the busy movements of men. 
 These conditions given, man follows the great 
 streams, on whose bosom the rudest savages float 
 their canoes and pirogues. 
 
 Along the eastern part of the State are the most 
 distinct traces of prehistoric peoples, whose hiero 
 glyphics, in the form of earthworks, are the ii\pst 
 legible to the archseologist. Here, earthworks in 
 greatest extent and numbers are found, indicating 
 that this section once swarmed with these barbaric 
 races of men. 
 
 In Lonoke County, sixteen miles southeast of 
 Little Rock, and on the Little Rock & Altheimor 
 branch of the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Rail- 
 road, is a station called Toltec. It is located on 
 the farm of Mr. Gilbert Knapp, and is near 
 Mounds Lake. This lake is either the line of what 
 was a bor.se-shoe bend in Arkansas River long ago, 
 or is the trace of a dead river. The lake is in the 
 form of a horse-shoe, and covers a space of abont 
 
^ 
 
 20 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS 
 
 three miles. The horse- shoe points east of north, 
 and the heels to the southwest. Here is a great 
 field of larfj^o and interesting mounds and earth- 
 works. A little east of the north bend of the lake 
 are two great mounds — one square and the other 
 cone shaped. The cone shaped is the larger and 
 taller, and is supposed to have been 100 feet high. 
 while the other was about seventy-five feet in ele- 
 vation. About them to the north and east are 
 many small mounds, with no apparent fixed method 
 in their location. These have all been denuded of 
 their timber and are in cultivation, except the larger 
 one above mentioned. Upon this is a growth of 
 heavy timber, elms, hickory, and oaks with as high 
 as 500 rings, and standing on an alluvial soil from 
 eight to fifteen feet deep. Those large mounds 
 are enclosed with an earth wall starting out from 
 the bank of the lake, and circling at a considerable 
 distance and returning to the lake, and keeping 
 nearly an equal distance from the larger mound. 
 The sloping base of each mound reaches the base 
 and overlaps or mingles with the base of its neigh- 
 bor. Around this big wall was once an outside 
 ditch. The humus on the smaller mounds shows, 
 in cultivation, a stronger and deeper alluvial .soil 
 than the surrounding land. 
 
 There are evidences in these mounds that while 
 they were built by one nation, for objects now 
 problematical, they have been used by other suc- 
 ceeding peoples for other and different purposes, 
 much after the manner that are now found farm- 
 ers with well-kept gardens on the tops of the 
 mounds, or stately residences, or on others grow- 
 ing cotton and corn. In them human and ani- 
 mal bones are seen, and there are indications that, 
 while they were built for purposes of worship or 
 war, when the builders passed away more than 
 one race of their successors to the country used 
 them as convenient bui'ial grounds. They were 
 skillful stone workers and potters, and their mason's 
 tools are frequently met with. Nearly every im- 
 plement of the stone age is found in and about 
 the mounds. 
 
 M'-. Knapp, who has given the sul^ject consid- 
 erable intelligent study, is so convinced that these 
 works were made by the Toltec race that he has 
 
 named the new station in honor of that people. 
 On the line of this earth-wall mentioned are two 
 deep pools that never are known to become dry. 
 
 East of Toltec thirty or more miles, in Lonoke 
 Prairie, are mounds that apparently belong to 
 the chain or system which runs parallel with the 
 river, through the State. The small mounds or 
 barrows, as Jefferson termed the modern Indian 
 burial places, are numerous, and distributed all 
 over Arkansas. 
 
 Wbat is pronounced a fortified town is found 
 in well marked remains on St. Francis River. It 
 was discovered by Mr. Savage, of Louisville. He 
 reports "parts of walls, built of adobe Ijrick and 
 cemented." On these remains he detected trees 
 growing numbering 300 rings. He reports the 
 brick made of clay and chopped or twisted straw, 
 and with regular figures. A piece of first-class 
 engineering is said to be traced here in a sap- 
 mine, which had passed under the walls of the 
 fortification. 
 
 The bones and pottery and tools and arms of 
 the prehistoric peoples of Arkansas are much more 
 abundant than are found in any other spot in the 
 United States. 
 
 Mrs. Hobbs, living four miles southeast of 
 Little Rock, has a very complete collection of the 
 antiquities of the State. It is pronounced by 
 antiquarians as one of the most valuable in the 
 country. The Smithsonian Institute has offered 
 her every inducement to part with her collection, 
 but she has refused. It is hoped the State will 
 some day possess this treasure, and suitably and 
 permanently provide for its preservation. 
 
 When the white man discovered and took pos- 
 session of North America, he found tbe red man 
 and his many tribes here, and under a total mis- 
 apprehension of having found a new continent, he 
 named this strange people Indians. The new world 
 might have been called Columbia, and the people 
 Columbians. Again, instead of being sparse tribes 
 of indivitluals fringing the shores of the Atlantic 
 Ocean there were 478 tribes, occupying nearly the 
 whole of the north half of this western hemis- 
 phere; some in powerful tribes, like the Iroquois; 
 ' some were rude agricultural and commercial peoples, 
 
 5 "fy 
 
A 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 21 
 
 somo living in houses of logs or stone, permanent 
 residents of their localities; others warriors aiul 
 hunters only, and still others migratory in their 
 nature, pirates and parasites. One characteristic 
 strongly marked them all — a love of liberty and 
 absolute freedom far stronger than the instinct 
 of life itself. The Indian would not be a slave. 
 Proud and free, he regarded with contempt the 
 refinements of civilization. He breathed the same 
 free air as did the eagle of the crags, and would 
 starve before he would do manual work, or, as he 
 believed, degrade himself in doing aught but paint 
 himself, sing his war songs and go forth to battle, 
 or pursue the wild game or meet the savage wild 
 beasts in their paths and slay them in regular com- 
 bat. To hunt, fish and tight was the high mission 
 of great and good men to his untutored mind, 
 while the drudgery of life was relegated to the 
 squaws and squaw-men. His entire economic 
 philosophy was simply the attainment of his de- 
 sires with the least exertion. In a short time he 
 will have tilled his earthly mission, and passed 
 from the stage of action, leaving nothing but a 
 dim memory. From their many generations of 
 untold numbers has come no thought, no inven- 
 tion, no action that deserves to survive them a 
 day or an hour. The Indians of to day, the few 
 that are pure blood, are but the remnants, the use 
 less refuse of a once numerous people, who were the 
 undisputed possessors of a continent, but are now 
 miserable, ragged and starving beggars at the 
 back doors of their despoilers, stoically awaiting 
 the last final scene in the race tragedy. And, like 
 the cheerful sermon on the tombstone, who shall 
 say that white civilization, numbers and power, will 
 not in the course of time, and that not far distant, 
 be the successors of the residue of wretches now 
 representing the red race ? "I was once as you 
 are, you will soon be as I am." A grim philos- 
 ophy truly, but it is the truth of the past, and the 
 great world wheels about much now as it has for 
 ever. 
 
 What is now Arkansas has been the possession 
 of the following Indian tribes; no one tribe, it seems, 
 occupied or owned the territory in its entirety, 
 but their possessions extended into the lines, cov- 
 
 ering a portion of the lands only, and then reach- 
 ing many degrees, sometimes to the north, south 
 and west: The Osages, a once numerous tribe, 
 were said to own the country south of the Mis- 
 souri River to Red River, including a large por- 
 tion of Arkansas. The Quapaws, also a powerful 
 nation, were the chief possessors, and occupied 
 nearly the whole of the State, "'time out of mind;" 
 the Cherokees were forced out of CJeorgia and 
 South Carolina, and removed west of the Missis- 
 sippi River in 183ft: the Hitchittees were removed 
 from the Chattahouchee River to Arkansas. They 
 speak the Muskogee dialect — were 600 strong when 
 removed ; the Choctaws were removed to the west, 
 after the Cherokees. In 1S12 they were 15.000 
 strong. 
 
 The Quapaws, of all the tribes connected with 
 Arkansas, may be regarded as the oldest settlers, 
 having possessed more of its territory in well de- 
 fined limits than any of the others. In the early 
 part of the eighteenth century they constituted a 
 powerful tribe. In the year 1720 they were deci- 
 mated by smallpox: reduced by this and other 
 calamities, in 1S20, one hundred years after, they 
 were found scattered along the south side of the 
 Arkansas River, numbering only 700 souls. They 
 never regained their former numerical strength or 
 warlike importance, but remained but a liand of 
 wretched, ragged beggars, about whose hunting 
 grounds the white man was ever lessening and 
 tightening the lines. 
 
 January 5, 1819, Gov. Clark and Pierre Chou- 
 teau made a treaty with the tribe by which was 
 ceded to the United States the most of their terri- 
 tory. The descriptive part of the treaty is in the 
 following words: "Beginning at the mouth of the 
 Arkansas River; thence extending up the Arkansas 
 to the Canadian Fork, and up the Canadian Fork 
 to its source; thence south to the big Red River, 
 and down the middle of that river to the Big 
 Raft; thence in a direct line so as to strike the 
 Mississippi River, thirty leagues in a straight 
 line, below the mouth of the Arkansas, together 
 with all their claims to lands east of the Mississippi 
 River and north of the Arkansas River. With the 
 exception and reservation following, that is to say, 
 
 « ^ 
 
 r 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ik 
 
 that tract of country bounded as follows: Begin- 
 ning at a point on the Arkansas River opposite the 
 present Post of Arkansas, and running thence a 
 due southwest coiuse to the V^'ashita River; thence 
 n]i that river to the Saline Fork, to a point fi-om 
 whence a due north course would strike the Arkan- 
 sas River at the Little Rock, and theuce down the 
 right bank of the Arkansas to the place of begin- 
 ning. '' In addition to this a tract was reserved 
 north of the Arkansas River, which the treaty says 
 is indicated by ' ' marks on the accompanying 
 map." This west line of the Quapaw reservation 
 struck the river about where is now Rock Street. 
 
 In November, 1824, Robert Crittenden, the first 
 Territorial secretarj-, effected a treaty with the 
 Quapaws at Harrington's, Ark., which ceded the 
 aliove reservation and forever extinguished all title 
 of that tribe to any portion of Arkansas. The 
 tribe vsras then removed to what is now the Indian 
 Territory. 
 
 The other original uccujjauts or claimants to the 
 Arkansas Territory were the Osages. Of these 
 there were many tribes, and in 1830 numbered 
 I. (100 strong, but mostly along the Osage River. 
 Tlieir claim lapped over, it seems, all that portion 
 of the Quapaw lands lying north of the Arkansas 
 River. 
 
 The title of the Osages was extinguished to 
 what is now Arkansas by a treaty of November 10, 
 1808, made at Fort Clark, on the Mis.souri River. 
 By this treaty they ceded all the country east of a 
 line running due south from Fort Clark to the Ar 
 kansas River, and down said river to its confluence 
 with the Mississippi River. These Indians occu- 
 j)ied only the country along the Missouri and 
 Osage Rivers, and if they were ever on what they 
 claimed as their southern boundary, the Arkansas 
 River, it was merely on expeditions. 
 
 About 1818, Georgia and South Carolina com- 
 menced agitating the subject of getting rid of the 
 Indians, and removing them west. They wanted 
 their lands and did not want their presence. At 
 tirst they used persuasion and strategy, and finally 
 force. They were artful in representing to the In- 
 dians the glories of the .\rkansas country, both for 
 game and rich lands. During the twenty years of 
 
 agitating the subject Indians of the tribes of those 
 States came singly and in small bands to Arkansas, 
 and were encouraged to settle anywhere they might 
 desire north of the Arkansas River, on the Osage 
 ceded lands. The final act of removal of the In- 
 dians was consummated in 1839, when the last of 
 the Cherokees were brought west. Simultaneous 
 vrith the arrival of this last delegation of Indians 
 an alarm passed around among the settlers that the 
 Indians were preparing to make a foray on the 
 white settlements and murder them all. Many 
 people were greatly alarmed, and in some settle- 
 ments there were hasty preparations made to flee 
 to places of safety. In the meantime the poor, 
 distressed Cherokees and Choctaws were innocent 
 i of the stories in circulation about them, and were 
 i trying to adjust themselves to their new homes 
 and to repair their ruined fortunes. The Chero- 
 kees were the most highly civilized of all the tribes, 
 as they were the most intelligent, and had mingled 
 and intermarried with the whites until there were 
 few of piire blood left among them. They had 
 men of force and character, good schools and 
 printing presses, and published and edited papers, 
 as well as their own school books. These condi- 
 tions were largely true, also, of the Chickasaws. 
 The Cherokees and Chickasaws were removed west 
 under President Jackson's administration. The 
 Cherokees were brought by water to Little Rock, 
 and a straight road was cut out from Little Rock 
 to the corner of their reservation, fifteen miles 
 al)ove Batesville, in Independence County, over 
 which they were taken. Their southeast boundary 
 line was a straight line, at the point designated 
 above Batesville, to the mouth of Point Remove 
 Creek. 
 
 The nistory of the removal of the Cherokee 
 Indians (and much of the same is true of the re- 
 moval of the Chickasaws and Creeks), is not a jileas- 
 ant chapter in American history. The Creeks of 
 Florida had waged war, and when conquered Gen. 
 Scott removed them beyond the Mississippi River. 
 When the final consummation of the removal of the 
 Cherokees was effected, it was done liy virtue of a 
 treaty, said to have been the work of traitors, and 
 unauthorized by the proper Indian authorities. At 
 
 "*t^]« 
 
 9 ^ 
 
<<j (a_ 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 28 
 
 all events the artful whites had divided the head- 
 men of the tribe, and procured their signatures to 
 a treaty which di-ove the last of the uation beyond 
 the Mississippi. The chief men in making this 
 treaty were the Ridges, Boudinot, Boll and Rogers. 
 This was the treaty of 183"). In June, 1839, the 
 Ridges. Boudinot and Bell were assassinated. 
 About forty Indians went to Ridge's house. Inde- 
 pendence County, and cruelly murdered younc 
 Ridge; they then pursued the elder Ridge and, over- 
 taking him at the foot of Boston Mountains, as he 
 was on his way to visit fi-iends in Van Buren, Ark., 
 shot him to death. It seems there was an old law 
 of the nation back in Georgia, by which any one 
 forfeited his life who bartered any part of their 
 lands. 
 
 The Choctaws by treaty ceded to the United 
 States all their claim to lands lying within the 
 limits of Arkansas, October 20, 1820. 
 
 On the 6th of May. 1828, the Cherokees ceded 
 all claim to their lands that lay within the Territo- 
 rial limit of Ai'kansas. 
 
 This was about the end of Indian occupation 
 or claims within the State of Arkansas, but not 
 the end of important communication, and acts of 
 neighborly friendship, between the whites and the 
 Cherokees especially. A considerable number of 
 Indians, most of them having only a slight mix- 
 ture of Indian blood.remained in the State and be- 
 came useful and in some instances higlily influ- 
 ential citizens. Among them were prominent farm- 
 ers, merchants and professional men. And very 
 often now may be met some prominent citizen, 
 who, after even an extended acquaintance, is found 
 to be an Indian. Among that race of people 
 they recognize as full members of the tribe all 
 who have any trace of their blood in their veins, 
 whether it shows or not. In this respect it seems 
 that nearly all races differ from the white man. 
 With the latter the least mixture of blood of any 
 other color pronounces them at once to be not white. 
 
 The Cherokee Indians, especially, have always 
 held kindly intercourse with the people of Arkan- 
 sas. In the late Civil ■\^'ar they went with the 
 
 State in the secession movement without hesitation. 
 A brigade of Cherokees was raised and Gen. Albert 
 Pike was elected to the command. The eminent 
 Indians in the command were Gen. Stand W'aitie 
 and Col. E. C. Boudinot. Until 1803 the Indians 
 were unanimous in behalf of the Southern cause, 
 but in that year Chief Ross went over to the Fed- 
 eral side, and thus the old time divisions in the In 
 dian councils were revived. 
 
 Col. Elias C. Boudinot was boi-n in Georgia, in 
 August, 1835, the same year of the treaty remov- 
 ing the Indians from that State. Practically, 
 therefore, he is an Arkansan. He shows a strong 
 trace of Indian blood, though the features of the 
 white race predominate. He is a man of educa- 
 tion and careful culture, and when admitted to the 
 bar he soon won a place in the splendid array of 
 talent then so greatly distinguishing Arkansas. A 
 born orator, strong enough in intellect to think 
 without emotion, morally and physically a hero, he 
 has spent much of his life pleading for his people 
 to be made citizens — the owners of their individ- 
 ual homes, as the only hope to stay that swift de- 
 cay that is upon them, but the ignorance of his 
 tribe and the scheming of demagogues and selfish 
 "agents," have thwartedhis efforts and practically 
 exiled him from his race. 
 
 A few years ago Col. Boudinot was invited to 
 address Congress and the people of Washington 
 on the subject of the Indian races. The masterly 
 addi'ess by this man, one of the greatest of all the 
 representatives of American Indians, will be fixed 
 in history as the most pathetic epilogue of the 
 greatest of dramas, the curtain of which was raised 
 in 1492. Who will ever read and fully understand 
 his emotions when he repeated the lines: 
 
 Their liglit canoes have vanished 
 From off the crested waves — 
 Amid the forests where I hey roamed 
 There rings no hunter's shout. 
 And all their cone-like cabins 
 Thai clustered o'er the vale. 
 Have disappeared as withered leaves. 
 Bc-f(ire the autumn gale. 
 
 ^^"T. 
 
Illicit HI. 
 
 Discovery and Settlkjikxt— Ok >-ot<) in Akkansas— Marquktte and Joliet— La Salle, Hennepin 
 
 AND TONTI— 1-KENClI AND ENGLISH SCHEMES OF CONQUEST AND DREAMS OF POWEU— LOUISIANA 
 
 —The •• Hubble" of John Law— The Early Viceroys and Governors— Proprie- 
 tary Change of Louisiana— French and Spanish Settlers in Ark- 
 ansas—English Settlers— A Few First Settlers in the 
 Counties— The New Madrid Earthquake- 
 Other Items of Interest. 
 
 Hail, memory, bail! In Uiy e.\haiistle.ss mine 
 From age to age unnumbered treasures shine! 
 Thought and her shadowy brood thy call obey. 
 And place and time are subject to thy svmy.— Rogers. 
 
 ERDINAND DE SOTO, the 
 "' discoverer of the Missis- 
 ..o sippi, was the first civilized 
 white man to put foot upon 
 any part of what is now the 
 State of Arkansas. He and 
 ?;!^-9^hi8 band of adventurous 
 -^ % followers had forged their 
 
 \ way over immense obstacles, through 
 ' the trackless wastes, and in the pleas- 
 l^ ant month of June, 1541, reached th(> 
 ' Mississippi River at, as is supposed, 
 Chickasaw Bluffs, a short distance be- 
 low Memphis. He had sailed from 
 San Lncan in April, 1538, with 600 
 men, twenty officers and twenty four priests. He 
 represented his king and church, and came to 
 make discoveries for his master in Florida, a coun- 
 trj' undefined in extent, and believed to be the 
 richest in the world. 
 
 His expedition was a daring and dangerous 
 one, and there were but few men in the tide of 
 time who could have carried it on to the extent 
 that did this bold Spaniard. The worn and deci- 
 
 mated band remained at the Chickasaw Bluffs to 
 rest and recuperate until June 29, then crossing 
 the river into Arkansas, and pushing on up the 
 Mississippi River, through brakes and swamps and 
 slashes, until they reached the higher prairie lands 
 that lead toward New Madrid; stopping in their 
 north course at an Indian village, Pacaha, whose 
 location is not known. De Soto sent an expedition 
 toward the Osage River, but it soon returned and 
 rejiorted the country worthless.* He then turned 
 west and proceeded to the Boston Mountains, at 
 the head- waters of White River; then bending 
 south, and passing Hot Springs, he went into camp 
 for the winter on the Ouachita River, at Autamqua 
 Village, in Garland County. In the spring he 
 
 *It is proper to here state the fact that some local in- 
 vestigators, and others wlio have studied the liistory of 
 De Soto's voyaging thnnigli .Arkansas, do not believe that 
 he reached and discovered the river as high up as Mem- 
 phis. They think lie approached it a short distance above 
 the moutli of Red Kiver. and from that point made his 
 detour around Id Red River. Other.s in the State, who 
 have also studied the sid)ject thoroughly, find excellent 
 evidence of his presence in Arkansas along the Mississippi, 
 particularly in Missi-ssippi County. See "History of 
 Mississippi County. Ark." After examining the testi- 
 mony carefully I incline to the account as given in the 
 context as being the most probable. — Ed. 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 25 
 
 floated down the river, often lost in the bayous 
 and overflows of lied Kivor, and tiually reached 
 again the Mississippi. Halting here he made dil- 
 igent inquiries of the Indians as to the month of 
 the great stream, but they could give him no infor- 
 mation. In June, one year from the date of his 
 discovery, after a sickness of some weeks, he died. 
 As an evidence of his importance to the expedition 
 his death was kept a secret, and he was buried at 
 night, most appropriately, in the waves of the 
 great river that gave his name immortality. But 
 the secrecy of his death was of no avail, for there 
 was no one who could supply his place, and with 
 his life closed the existence, for all practical pur- 
 poses, of the expedition. Here the interest of the 
 historian in De Soto and his companions ceases. 
 He came not to possess the beautiful country, or 
 plant colonies, or even extend the dominions of 
 civilization, but simply to find the fabled wealth 
 in minerals and precious stones, and gather them 
 and carry them away. Spain already possessed 
 Florida, and it was all Florida then, from the At- 
 lantic to the boundless and unknown west. 
 
 The three great nations of the old world had 
 conquered and possessed — the Spaniards Florida, 
 the English Virginia and New England, and the 
 French the St. Lawrence. The feeblest of all 
 these colonizers or conquerors were the English, 
 and they retained their narrow foothold on the 
 new continent with so little vigor that for more 
 than a century and a half they knew nothing of 
 the country west of them save the idle dreams and 
 fictions of the surrounding savages. The general 
 world had learned little of De Soto's gi-eat western 
 discoveries, and when he was buried in the Missis- 
 sippi all remained undisturbed from the presence 
 or knowledge of civilized men for the period of 
 182 years. 
 
 Jacques Marquette, a French Jesuit priest, had 
 made expeditions along the Northern lakes, pros- 
 elyting among the Indian tribes. He had con- 
 ceived the idea that there was a great western 
 river leading to China and Japan. He was joined 
 in his ambition to find this route, and the tribes 
 along it. l)y Joliet, a man fired with tlie ambition 
 and daring of the hold explorer. These two men. 
 
 with five employes, started on their great adven- 
 ture May 17, 1673. They found the Upper Mis 
 sissippi liiver and came down that to the mouth 
 of the Arkansas River, thence proceeding up some 
 distance, it is supposed to near where is Arkansas 
 Post. Thus the feet of the white man pressed 
 once more the soil of this State, but it was after 
 the lapse of many years from the time of De Soto's 
 visit. Marquette carried into the newly disco veretl 
 country the cross of Christ, while Joliet planted 
 in the wilderness the tricolors of France. France 
 and Christianity stood together in the heart of the 
 great Mississippi Valley; the discoverers, founders 
 and possessors of the greatest spiritual and tem- 
 poral empire on earth. From here the voyagers 
 retraced their course to the Northern lakes and 
 the St. Lawrence, and published a report of their 
 discoveries. 
 
 Nine years after Marquett(> and Joliet' S expe- 
 dition. Chevalier de La Salle came fi-om France, 
 accompanied by Henry de Tonti, an Italian, filled 
 with great schemes of empire in the new western 
 world; it is charged, by soin(> historians of that 
 day, with no less ambition than securing the whole 
 western portion of the continent and wresting 
 Mexico from the Spaniards. When Canada was 
 reached. La Salle was joined by Lduis Hennepin, 
 an ambitious, unscrupulous and daring Franciscan 
 monk. It was evidently La Salle's idea to found 
 a military government in the new world, reaching 
 with a line of forts and military possession from 
 Quebec, Canada, to at least the Gulf, if not, as 
 some have supposed, extending through Mexico. 
 He explored the country lying between the North- 
 ern lakes and the Ohio River. He raised a fgrce 
 in Canada and sailed through Green Bay, and, 
 sending back his boat laden with furs, proceeded 
 with his party to the head waters of the Illinois 
 River and built Fort Creve Cceur. He detached 
 Hennepin with one companion and sent him to hunt 
 the source of the Mississippi. He placed Tonti in 
 command of Creve Cceiu', with five men, and him- 
 self returned to Canada in the latter part of 1681, 
 where he organized a new party with canoes, 
 and went to Chicago: crossing the long portage 
 from there to the Illinois River, he floated down 
 
that stream to the Mississippi and on to the Gulf 
 of Mexico, discovering the mouth of the Mississippi 
 River April T). 1082, and three days after, with 
 becoming pomp and ceremony, took possession, in 
 the name of France, of the territory, and named it 
 Louisiana, in honor of his king, Louis XIV. The 
 vast region thus acquired by France was not, as it 
 could not be, well defined, but it was intended 
 to embrace, iu addition to much east of the 
 Mississip])i River, all the continent west of that 
 current. 
 
 After this expedition La Salle returned to 
 France, fitted out another expedition and set sail, 
 ostensibly to reach the mouth of the Mississippi 
 River and pass up that stream. He failed to find 
 the river, and landed his fleet at Metagordo Bay, 
 Texas, where he remained two years, when with a 
 part of his force he started to reach Canada via 
 Fort St. Louis, but was assassinated by one of his 
 men near the Trinity River, Texas, March lU, 
 1687, and his body, together with that of his 
 nephew, was left on the Texas prairie to the beasts 
 and buzzards. La Salle was a born commander 
 of men, a great explorer, with vast projects of 
 empire far beyond the comprehension of his 
 wretched king, or the appreciation of his country- 
 men. Had he been supported by a wise and strong 
 government, France would never, perhaps, have 
 been dispossessed of the greatest inter-continental 
 colonial empire on earth — from the Alleghanies to 
 the Rocky Mountains. This was, in fact, the 
 measure of the territory that La Salle' s expedition 
 and military possession gave to France. The two 
 great ranges of mountains, the north pole and 
 South America, were really the boundary lines of 
 Louisiana, of which permanent ownership belonged 
 forever to France, save for the weakness and inef- 
 ficiency of that bete noire of poor, beautiful, sunny 
 France — Louis XIV. In the irony of fate the his- 
 torian of to-day may well write down the appella- 
 tion of his toadies and parasites, as the grand 
 monarque. La Salle may justly be reckoned one 
 of the greatest founders of empire in the world, and 
 had poor France had a real king instead of this 
 weak and pompous imbecile, her tri-colors would 
 have floated upon every breeze from the Allegha- 
 
 nies to the Pacific Ocean, and over the islands of 
 more than half of the waters of the globe. 
 
 The immensity of the Louisiana Territory has 
 been but little understood by historians. It was 
 the largest and richest province ever acquired, and 
 the world's history since its establishment has 
 been intimately connected with and shaped by its 
 influence. Thus the account of the Territory of 
 Louisiana is one of the most interesting chapters 
 in American history. 
 
 Thirteen years after the death of La Salle, 
 1700, his trusty lieutenant, Tonti, descended the 
 Mississippi River from the Illinois, with a band of 
 twenty French Illinois people, and upon re;iching 
 Arkansas Post, established a station. This was 
 but carrying out La Salle's idea of a military pos- 
 session by a line of forts from Canada to the Gulf. 
 It may be called the first actual and intended per- 
 manent possession of Arkansas. In the meantime, 
 Natchez had become the oldest settled point in 
 the Territory, south of Illinois, and the conduct of 
 the commandant of the canton, Chopart, was laying 
 the foundations for the ultimate bloody massacre 
 of that place, in November, 1729. The Jesuit, Du 
 Poisson, was the missionary among the Arkansans. 
 He had made his way up the Mississippi and 
 passed along the Arkansas River till he reached 
 the prairies of the Dakotahs. 
 
 The Chickasaws were the dreaded enemy of 
 France; it was they who hurried the Natchez to 
 that awful massacre; it was they whose cedar bark 
 canoes, shooting boldly into the Mississippi, inter- 
 rupted the connections between Kaskaskia and 
 New Orleans, and delayed successful permanent 
 settlements in the Arkansas. It was they who 
 weakened the French empire in Louisiana. They 
 coUeagued with the English, and attempted to 
 extirpate the French dominion in the valley. 
 
 Such was Louisiana more than half a century 
 after the first attempt at colonization by La Salle. 
 Its population may have been 5,000 whites and 
 half that number of blacks. Louis XIV had 
 fostered it by giving it over to the control of Law 
 and his company of the Mississippi, aided by 
 boundless but transient credit. Priests and friars 
 dispersed through tribes from Biloxi to the Da- 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 •li 
 
 kotahs, and propitiatpd the favor of the savages. 
 But still the valley of the Mississippi remained a 
 vcilderuess. All its patrons — though among them 
 it counted kings and high ministers of state — had 
 not accomplished for it in half a century a tithe 
 of that prosperity which, within the same period, 
 sprung naturally from the benovolouce of William 
 Penn to the peaceful settlers on the Delaware. 
 
 It required the feebleness of the grand mon- 
 arque to discover John Law, the father of in- 
 flated cheap money and national financial ruin. 
 In September, 1717, John Law's Couij)any of the 
 West was granted the commerce and control of 
 Louisiana. He arrived at New Orleans with 800 
 immigrants in August of that year. Instead of 
 coming up the Mississippi, they landed at Dau- 
 phine Island to make their way across by land. 
 The reign of John Law's company over Ltmisiana 
 was a romance or a riot of folly and extravagance. 
 He was to people and create a great empire on 
 cheap money and a monopoly of the slave trade. 
 For fourteen years the Company of the West con- 
 trolled Louisiana. The bubble burst, the dreams 
 and illusions of ease and wealth passed away, and 
 but wretched remnants of colonies existed, in the 
 extremes of want and suffering. But, after all, a 
 permanent settlement of the great valley had been 
 made. A small portion of these were located at 
 Arkansas Post, up the Arkansas River and on Red 
 Rivei% and like the most of the others of Law's 
 followers, they made a virtue of necessity and re- 
 mained because they could not get away. 
 
 John Law was an Englishman, a humbug, but 
 a magnificent one, so marked and conspicuous in 
 the world's history that his career should h&ve 
 taught the statesmen of all nations the simple 
 lesson that debt is not wealth, and that every at- 
 tempt to create wealth wholly by legislation is sure 
 to be followed by general bankruptcy and ruin. 
 
 The Jesuits antl fur traders were the founders 
 of Illinois; Louis XIV and privileged companies 
 were the patrons of Southern Louisiana, while 
 the honor of beginning the work of colonizing the 
 southwest of our republic belongs to the illustri- 
 ous Canadian. Lemoine D'II)erville. He was a wor 
 thy successor of La Salle. He also sought to find 
 
 the mouth of the Mississippi, and guided by floating 
 trees and turbid waters, he reached it on March 
 2, 1099. He perfected the line of communication 
 between Quebec and the Gulf ; extended east and 
 west the already boundless possessions of Franco; 
 erected forts and carved the lilies on the trees of 
 the forests; and fixed the seat of government of 
 Louisiana at Biloxi, and appointed his brother to 
 command the province. Under D' Iberville, the 
 E'rench line was extended east to Pascagoula 
 River; Beinvillo, La Sueur, and St. Denys had 
 explored the west to New Mexico, and had gone 
 in the northwest beyond the Wisconsin and the 
 St. Croix, and reached the mouth of and followed 
 this stream to the confluence of the Blue Earth. 
 D'Iborville died of yellow fever at Havana, July 
 9, 1700, and in his death the Louisiana colony 
 lost one of its most able and daring leaders. But 
 Louisiana, at that time, possessed less than thirty 
 families of whites, and these were scattered on 
 voyages of discovery, and in quest of gold and 
 gems. 
 
 France perfected her civil government over 
 Louisiana in 1689, and a|)pointed Marquis de San- 
 ville, royal viceroy. This viceroy's empire was as 
 vast in teri'itory as it was insignificant in popula- 
 tion — less than 300 souls. * By regular appoint- 
 ments of viceroys the successions were maintained 
 (including the fourteen years of Law's supremacy) 
 until by the treaty of Fontainbleau. November 3, 
 17G2, France was stripped of her American pos- 
 sessions, and Canada and the Spanish Florida; 
 everything east of the Mississippi except ^he 
 island of New Orleans was given to England, 
 and all Louisiana, including New Orleans west of 
 the Mississippi River and south of the new .southern 
 boundary line of Canada, was given to Si)ain, in 
 lieu of her Florida possessions. Hence, it was No- 
 vember 3, 1702. that what is now Arkansas passed 
 from the dominion of France to that of Spain. 
 
 The signing of this treaty made that day the 
 most eventful one in the busy movements of the 
 
 *The title of France to tlip t)Oiin<llcss contint's of 
 Louisiana were conlirrneil by t'lc treaty of Utri'cbt. The 
 contenlions l)etwtcn ICnitland anil France over the Ohio 
 iinintry. afterward, are a pari of the aunals of the gen- 
 eral history of the ciiMnirv. 
 
iu 
 
 28 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 human race. It re- mapped the world, gave the 
 English language to the American coutjuent, and 
 spread it more widely over the globe than any that 
 had before given expression to human thought, 
 the language that is the alma mater of civil liberty 
 and religious independence. Had France perma- 
 nently dominated Ameiica. civil liberty and repre- 
 sentative government would have been yet unborn. 
 The dogmatic tyranny of the middle ages, with all 
 its intolerance and war, would have been the herit- 
 age of North America. 
 
 Thus re-adjusted in her domain, Louisiana re- 
 mained a province of Spain until October 1, 1800, 
 when the Little Corporal over-ran Spain with his 
 victorious legions, and looted his Catholic majesty's 
 domains. Napoleon allowed his military ambition 
 to dwarf his genius, and except for this curious 
 fact, he was the man who would have saved and 
 disenthralled the French mind, and have placed 
 the Gaul, with all his volcanic forces, in an even 
 start in the race of civilization with the invincible 
 and cruel Anglo-Saxon. He was the only man of 
 progressive genius that has ever ruled poor, un- 
 fortunate France. The treaty of St. Ildefonso, 
 secretly transfeiTing Louisiana from Spain again 
 into the possession of France, was ratified .March 24, 
 1801. Its conditions provided that it was to re- 
 main a secret, and the Spanish viceroy, who was 
 governor of Louisiana, knew nothing of the trans- 
 fer, and continued in the discharge of his duties, 
 granting rights, creating privileges and deeding 
 lands and other things that were inevitable in 
 breeding confusions, and cloudy land titles, such as 
 would busy the courts for a hundred years, inflict- 
 ing injustice and heavy burdens upon many inno- 
 cent people. 
 
 In 1802 President Jefferson became possessed 
 of the secret that France owned Louisiana. He 
 at once sent James Monroe to Paris, who, with the 
 resident minister, Mr. Livingston, opened negotia- 
 tions with Napoleon, at first only trying to secure 
 the free navigation of the Mississippi River, but to 
 their great surprise the Emperor more than met 
 them halfway, with a proposal to sell Louisiana to 
 the United States. The bargain was closed, the 
 consideration being the paltry sum of $15,000,000. 
 
 This imj)ortant move on the great chess-board of 
 nations occurred April 30, 1803. The perfunc 
 tory act of lowering the Spanish ensign and hoist- 
 ing the flag of France; then lowering immediately 
 the tri colors and unfurling the stars and stripes, 
 it is hoped never to be furled, was performed at 
 St. Louis March 0, 1804. Bless those dear old, 
 nation-building pioneers! These were heavy drafts 
 upon their patriotic allegiance, but they were equal 
 to the occasion, and ate their breakfasts as Span- 
 iards, their dinners as Frenchmen, and suppers as 
 true Americans. 
 
 The successful class of immigrants to the west 
 of the Mississippi were the French Canadians, who 
 had brought little or nothing with them save the 
 clothes on their backs, and an old flintlock gun 
 with which to secure game. They colonized after 
 the French mode of villages and long strips of 
 farms, and a public commons. They propitiated 
 the best they could the neighboring Indian tribes, 
 erected their altars, hunted, and frolicked, and 
 were an honest, simple minded and just people, 
 but little vexed with ambitioiis pride or grasping 
 avarice. The mouth of the Arkansas River was 
 the attractive jioint for immigrants on their way to 
 the Ai'kansas Territory, and they would ascend that 
 stream to Arkansas Post. There were not 500 
 white people in the Territory of (now) Arkansas in 
 1803, when it became a part of the United States. 
 In 1810 the total population was 1,0(52. So soon 
 as Louisiana became a part of the United States, 
 u small but never ceasing stream of English speak- 
 ing people turned their faces to the west and 
 crossed the ' ' Father of Waters. ' ' Those for Ar- 
 kansas established Montgomery Point, at the mouth 
 of White River, making that the transfer place for 
 all shipments inland. This remained as the main 
 ship{)ing and commercial point for many years. 
 By this route were transferred the freights for 
 Arkansas Post. The highway from Montgomery 
 Point to the Post was a slim and indistinct bridle 
 path. The immigrants came down the Cumber- 
 land and Tennessee Rivers to the Ohio in keel- 
 boats and canoes, and were mostly from Tennes- 
 see; beckoned to this fair and rich kingdom by its 
 sunny clime, its mountains and rivers, and its pro- 
 
 -rv" 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 2y 
 
 ductive valleys, all enriched with a flora and fauna 
 surpassing the dream of a pastoral poem. 
 
 The French were the first permanent settlers 
 of Arkansas, and descendants of these people are 
 still here. Many bearing the oldest French names 
 have attained to a position among the most emi- 
 nent of the great men of the trans- Mississippi. 
 Sometimes the names have become so corrni)ted as 
 to be unrecognizable as belonging to the early illus- 
 trious stock. The English-speaking people speak- 
 ing French names phonetically would soon change 
 them completely, The Bogys and Lefevres, for 
 instance, are names that go back to the very first 
 settlements in Arkansas. ' ' Lefevre ' ' on the maps 
 is often spelled phonetically thus : ' ' Lafaver. ' ' 
 Representatives of the Lefevre family are yet 
 numerous in and about Little Rock, and in other 
 portions of the State. 
 
 Peter L. Lefevre and family were among the 
 very first French settlers, locating in the fall of 
 1818 on the north side of the river on Spanish 
 Grant No. 497, about six miles below Little Rock. 
 His sons were Peter. Enos, Francis G. , Ambrose, 
 Akin, Leon and John B. , his daughter being Mary 
 Louise. All of these have passed away except 
 the now venerable Leon Lefevre, who resides on 
 the old plantation where he was born in the year 
 1808. For eighty- one years the panorama of the 
 birth, growth and the vicissitudes of Arkansas 
 have passed before his eyes. It is supposed of all 
 living men he is the oldest representative surviving 
 of the earliest settlers; however, a negro, still a 
 resident of Little Rock, also came in 1818. 
 
 The first English speaking settlers were Ten- 
 nesseeans, Kentuckians and Alabamians. The ear- 
 liest came down the Mississippi River, and then 
 penetrating Ai'kansas at the mouths of the streams 
 from the west, ascended these in the search for 
 future homes. The date of the first coming of 
 English speaking colonists may be given as 1807, 
 those prior to that time being only trappers, 
 hunters and voyagers on expeditions of discovery, 
 or those whose names can not now be ascertained. 
 
 South Carolina and Georgia also gave their 
 small quotas to the first pioneers of Arkansas. 
 From the States south of Tennessee the route was 
 
 overland to the Mississippi River, or to some of its 
 bayous, and then by water. A few of these from 
 the Southern States brought considerable property, 
 and some of them negro slaves, but not msmy 
 were al)le to do this. The general rule was to 
 reach the Territory alone and clear a small piece 
 of ground, and as soon as possible to buy slaves and 
 set them at work in the cotton fields. 
 
 In 1814 a colony of emigrants, consisting of 
 four families, settled at Batesville. then the Lower 
 Missouri Territory, now the coimty seat of Inde- 
 pendence County. There was an addition of fif- 
 teen families to this colony the next year. Of the 
 first was the family of Samuel Miller, father of 
 (afterward) Gov. William R. Miller; there were also 
 John Moore, the Magnesses and Beans. All these 
 families left names permanently connected with 
 the history of Arkansas. In the colony of 1815 
 (all from Kentucky) were the brothers, Richard, 
 John, Thomas and James Peel, sons of Thomas 
 Peel, a Virginian, and Kentucky companion of 
 Daniel Boone. Thomas Curran was also one of 
 the later colonists from Kentucky, a relative of the 
 great Irishman, John Philpot Curran. In the 1815 
 colony were also old Ben Hardin — hero of so many 
 Indian wars — his brother, Joab, and William 
 Griffin, Thomas Wyatt, William Martin, Samuel 
 Elvin, James Akin, John Reed, James Miller and 
 John B. Craig. 
 
 Alden Trimble, who died at Peel, Ark., in 
 April, 1889, aged seventy-four years, was born in 
 the Cal Hogan settlement, on White River, Marion 
 County, June 14, 1815. This item is gained 
 from the obituary notice of his death, and indicates 
 some of the very first settlers in that portion of the 
 State. 
 
 Among the oldest settled points, after Arkan- 
 sas Post, was what is now Arkadelphia, Clark 
 County. It was first called Blakelytown, after 
 Adam Blakely. He had opened a little store at 
 the place, and about this were collected the first 
 settlers, among whom may now be named Zack 
 Davis, Samuel Parker and Adam Highnight. The 
 Blakelys and the names given above were all locat- 
 ed in that settlement in the year 1810. The next 
 year came John Hemphill, who was the first to dis- 
 
30 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 cover and utilize the valuable waters of the salt 
 sprin<js of that place. He engaged in the suc- 
 cessful manufacture of salt, and was in time suc- 
 ceeded by his son- in law, Jonathan O. Callaway. 
 Jacob Barkman settled in Arkadelphia in 1811. 
 He was a man of foresight and enterprise, and 
 soon established a trade along the river to New 
 Orleans. He commenced navigating the river in 
 canoes and pirogues, and finally owned and ran in 
 the trade the first steamboat plying from that 
 point to New Orleans. He pushed trade at the 
 point of settlement, at the same time advancing 
 navigation, and opened a large cotton farm. 
 
 In Arkansas County, among the early promi- 
 nent men who were active in the county's affairs 
 were Eli I. Lewis, Henry Scull, O. H. Thomas, 
 T. Farrelly, Hewes Scull, A. B. K. Thetford and 
 Lewis Bogy. The latter afterward removed to 
 Missouri, and has permanently associated his name 
 with the history of that State. In a subsequent 
 list of names should be mentioned those of Will- 
 iam Fultony, James Maxwell and James H. Lucas, 
 the latter being another of the notable citizens of 
 Missouri. 
 
 Carroll County: Judges George Campbell and 
 William King, and John Bush. T. H. Clark, Abra- 
 ham Shelly, William Nooucr, Judge Hiram Davis, 
 W. C. Mitchell, Charles Sneed, A. M. Wilson, 
 Elijah Tabor, William Beller, M. L. Hawkins, 
 John McMillan, M. Ferryman, J. A. Hicks, N. 
 Rudd, Thomas Callen, W. E. Armstrong. 
 
 Chicot County: John Clark, William B. Patton, 
 Richard Latting, George W. Ferribee, Francis 
 Rycroft, Thomas Knox, W. B. Duncan, J. W. 
 Boone, H. S. Smith, James Blaine. Abner John- 
 son, William Hunt, J. W. Neal, James Murray, 
 B. Magruder, W. P. Reybiu-n, J. T. White, John 
 Fulton, Judge W. H. Sutton, J. Chapman, Hiram 
 Morrell, Reuben Smith, A. W. ^^'ebb. 
 
 In Clark County, in the earliest times, were 
 W. P. L. Blair, Coll)ert Baker, Moses Graham, 
 Mathew Logan, James Miles, Thomas Drew, 
 Daniel Ringo, A. Stroud, David Fisk and Isaac 
 Ward. 
 
 Clay County: John J. Griffin, Abraham Rob- 
 erts, William Davis, William H. Mack, James 
 
 Watson, J. G. Dudley. James Campbell, Single- 
 ton Copeland, C. H. Mobley. 
 
 Conway County: Judge Saffold, David Bar- 
 ber, James Kellam. Reuben Blunt, James Barber, 
 James Ward, Thomas Mathers, John Houston, E. 
 W. Owen, Judge B. B. Ball, J. I. Simmons, T. S. 
 Hayaes, B. F. Howard, William Ellis, N. H. 
 Buckley, James Ward, Judge Robert McCall, W. 
 H. Robertson, L. C. Griffin, Judge W. T. Gamble, 
 D. D. Mason, George Fletcher and D. Harrison. 
 
 Craighead County: Rufus Snoddy, Daniel 
 O'Guinn, Yancey Broadway, Henry Powell, D. R. 
 Tyler, Elias Mackey, William Q. Lane, John Ham- 
 ilton, Asa Puckett, Eli Quarles, William Puryear. 
 
 In Crawford County were Henry Bradford, 
 Jack Mills, G. C. Pickett, Mark Beane, J. C. Sum- 
 ner, James Billingsley. 
 
 Crittenden County : J. Livingston, W. D. Fer- 
 guson, W. Goshen, William Cherry, Judge D. H. 
 Harrig, O. W. Wallace, S. A. Cherry, Judge 
 Charles Blackmore, S. R. Cherry, John Tory, F. 
 B. Read, Judge A. B. Hubbins, H. O. Oders, J. 
 H. Wathen, H. Bacon. 
 
 Fulton County: G. W. Archer, William Wells, 
 Daniel Hubble, Moses Brannon, John Nichols, 
 Moses Steward, Enos C Hunter, Milton Yarberry, 
 Dr. A. C. Cantrell. 
 
 Greene County: Judge L. Brookfield, L. 
 Thompson, James Brown, J. Sutfin, G. Hall, 
 Charles Robertson, Judge W. Hane, Judge George 
 Daniel, G. L. Martin, J. Stotts, James Ratchford, 
 Judge L. Thompson, H. L. Holt, J. L. Atkinson, 
 J. Clark, H. N. Reynolds, John Anderson, Ben- 
 jamin Crowley, William Pevehouse, John Mitch- 
 ell, Aaron Bagwell, A. J. Smith, Wilej' Clarkson, 
 ^\■illiam Hatch. 
 
 In Hempstead County: J. M. Steward, A. S. 
 Walker, Benjamin Clark. A. M. Oakley, Thomas 
 Dooley, D. T. Witter, Edward Cross, William 
 McDonald, D. Wilbui-n and James Moss. 
 
 Hot Springs Coiuity: L. N. West, G. B. 
 Hughes, Judge W. Durham, G. W. Rogers, T. W. 
 Johnson, J. T. Grant, J. H. Robinson. H. A. 
 Wliittington, John Callaway, J. T. Grant, Judo-e 
 G. Whittington, L. Runyan, R. Huson, J. Bank- 
 son, Ira Robinson, Judge A. N. Sabin. C. A. Sa- 
 
 i) ^T 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 :'l 
 
 bin. W. W. McDaiiiel, W. Dimham, A. B. McDon- 
 ald, Joseph Loranee. 
 
 Independence County : R. Searcy, Robert Bean, 
 Charles Kelly, John Reed, T. Curran, John Bean, 
 I. Curran, J. L. Daniels, J. Redmon, John Rud- 
 dell, C. H. Pelbam, Samuel Miller, James Micham, 
 James Trimble, Henry Engles, Hartwell Boswell, 
 John H. Ringgold. 
 
 Izard County: J. P. Houston, John Adams, 
 Judge Mathew Adams, H. C. Roberts, Jesse Adams, 
 John Hargrove, J. Blyeth, William Clement, 
 Judge J. Jeffrey, Daniel Jeffrey, A. Adams, J. A. 
 Harris, W. B. Carr, Judge B. Hawkins, B. H. 
 Johnson, D. K. Loyd. W. H. Carr, A. Creswell, 
 H. W. Bandy, Moses Bishop. Daniel Hively, 
 John Gray, William Powell Thomas Richardson, 
 William Seymour. 
 
 Jackson County: Judge Hiram Glass, J. C. 
 Saylors. Isaac Gray, N. Copeland, Judge E. 
 Bartley, John Robinson, A. M. Carpenter, Judge 
 D. C. Waters, P. O. Flynn, Hall Roddy. Judge 
 R. Ridley, G. W. Cromwell. Sam Mathews, Sam 
 Allen, Martin Bridgeman, John Wideman, New- 
 ton Arnold. Joseph Haggerton. Holloway Stokes. 
 
 Jefferson County: Judge W. P. Hackett, J. T. 
 Pullen, Judge Creed Taylor, Peter German, N. 
 Holland. Judge Sam C. Roane, William Kinkead, 
 Thomas O'Neal. E. H. Roane. S. Dardenne, Sam 
 Taylor, Judge H. Bradford, H. Edgington, Judge 
 W. H. Lindsey, J. H. Caldwell. 
 
 Johnson County: Judge George Jameson, 
 Thomas Jenette, S. F. Mason, Judge J. P. Kessie, 
 A. Sinclair. William Fritz, W. J. Parks, R. S. 
 McMicken, Augustus Ward. Judge J. L. Cravens, 
 A. M. Ward, M. Rose, A. L. Black, W. A. Ander 
 son. Judge J. B. Brown, A. Sinclair, William 
 Adams. W. M. H. Newton. 
 
 Lafayette County: Judge Jacob Buzzard, Jesse 
 Douglass, Jo.shua Morrison. I. W. Ward, J. T. 
 Conway, W. E. Hodges, J. Morrison, George Doo- 
 ley, J. M Dorr, J. P. Jett, W. B. Conway, W. 
 H. Conway, T. V. Jackson. G. H. Pickering, 
 Judge E. M. Lowe, R. F. Sullivan, James Ab- 
 rams. 
 
 Lawrence County: Joseph Hardin. Robert 
 Blane. H. Saridford. John Reed, R. Richardson, 
 
 J. M. Kuykendall, U. R. Hyn.sou, James Camp- 
 bell, 'D. W. Lowe, Thomas Black, John Rodney, 
 John Spotts, William J. Hudson. William Stuart, 
 Isaac Morris, William B. Marshall, John S. Fick- 
 lin. 
 
 Madison County: Judge John Bowen, H. B. 
 Brown, P. M. Johnson, H. C. Daugherty, M. 
 Perryman, T. McCuiston. 
 
 In Miller County: John Clark. J. Ewing. J. H. 
 Fowler. B. English, C. Wright, G. F. Lawson. 
 Thomas Polk, George AVetmore, David Clark. J. 
 G. Pierson, John Morton. N. Y. Crittenden, 
 Charles Burkem, George Collum, G. C. Wetmore. 
 D. C. Steele, G. F. Lawton and Judge G. M. 
 Martin. 
 
 Mississippi County: Judge Edwin Jones, J. 
 W. Whitworth, E. F. Loyd, S. McLung, G. C. 
 Bartield, Judge Nathan Ross, Judge John Troy, 
 J. W. Dewitt, J. C. Bowen. Judge Fred Miller, 
 Uriah Russell, T. L. Daniel, J. G. Davis, Judge 
 Nathan Ross. J. P. Edrington. Thomas Sears. 
 A. G. Blackmore, William Kellums, Thomas J. 
 Mills, James Williams. Elijah Buford, Peter G. 
 Reeves. 
 
 Monroe County: Judge William Ingram, J. C. 
 Montgomery, James Eagan, John Maddox, Lafay- 
 ette Jones, Judge James Carlton, M. Mitchell. J. 
 R. Dye, J. Jacobs. R. S. Bell. 
 
 Phillips County: W. B. R. Horner. Daniel 
 Mooney, S. Phillips, S. M. Rutherford, George 
 Seaborn, H. L. Biscoe, G. W. Fereby, J. H. 
 McKenzie, Austin Hendricks, W. H. Calvert, N. 
 Righton, B. Burress, F. Hanks, J. H. McKe»l, 
 J. K. Sandford, S. S. Smith, C. P. Smith. J. H. 
 McKenzie. S. C. Mooney. I. C. P. Tolleson. Emer 
 Askew, P. Pinkston, Charles Pearcy, J. B. Ford, 
 W. Bettiss, J. Skinner. H. Turner and M. Irvin. 
 
 Pike County: Judge W. Sorrels. D. S. Dickin- 
 son, John Hughes, J. W. Dickinson. Judge W. 
 Kelly, Isaac White, J. H. Kirkhan. E. K. Will 
 iams, Henry Brewer. 
 
 Poinsett County: Judges Richard Hall and 
 William Harris. Drs. Theophilus Griffin and John 
 P. Hardis, Harrison Ainsworth, Robert H. Stone, 
 Benjamin Harris. 
 
 Pope County: Judge Andrew Scott. Twitty 
 
32 
 
 HISTOUY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Pace. H. Stinnett, W. Garrott. AV. Mitchell. 
 Judge S. K. Blythe, A. E. Pace, J. J. Morse, F. 
 Heron, Judge Thomas Murray, Jr., S. M. Hayes, 
 S. S. Haye.s, R. S. Witt. .Judge Isaac Brown, R. 
 T. Williamson, W. W. Rankin, Judge J. J. Morse, 
 J. B. Logan, W. C. Webb. 
 
 Pulaski County: R. C. Oden, L. R. Curran, 
 Jacob Peyatte, A. H. Renick, G. Greathouse, M. 
 Cunningham, Samuel Anderson, H Armstrong, T. 
 W. Newton, D. E. McKiimey, S. M. Rutherford. 
 
 A. McHenry, Allen Martin, J. H. Caldwell. Judge 
 S. S. Hall, J. Henderson, William Atchinson, R. 
 N. Rowland, Judge David Rorer, J. K. Taylor, 
 R. H. Callaway. A. L. Langham, Judge J. H. 
 Cocke, W. Badgett, G. N. Peay, J. C. Anthony, 
 L. R. Lincoln. A. Martin, A. S. Walker, Judge 
 R. Graves, J. P. and John Fields, J. K. Taylor, 
 W. C. Howell, J. Gould, Roswell Beebe, William 
 Russell, John C. Peay. 
 
 Randolph County: Judge P. R. Pittman, B. J. 
 Wiley, William Black, R. Bradford, J. M. Cooper, 
 
 B. J. Wiley, B. M. Simpson, John Janes, James 
 Campbell, Samuel McElroy, Edward Mattis, 
 Thomas S. Drew, R. S. Bettis. James Russell. 
 
 St. Francis County: Andrew Roane, William 
 Strong, S. Crouch, Judge John Johnson, T. J. 
 Curl. G. B. Lincecum, William Lewis, Judge 
 William Strong, Isaac Mitchell, David Davis, 
 Isaac Forbes, Judge William Enos, N. O. Little, 
 W. G. Bozeman, H. M. Carothers, Judge R. H. 
 Hargrove, H. H. Cur], Cyrus Little. 
 
 Saline County: Judge T. S. Hutchinson, Samuel 
 Caldwell, V. Brazil, C. Lindsey, A. Carrick, Judge 
 H. Pruddeu, G. B. Hughes, Samuel Collins, J. J. 
 Joiner, J. R. Conway, R. Brazil, E. M. Owen, 
 George McDaniel. C. P. Lyle. 
 
 Scott County: Judge Elijah Baker, S. B. 
 Walker, James Riley, J. R. Choate, Judge James 
 Logan, G. Marshall, Charles Humphrey. A\'. Cau- 
 thorn, G. C. Walker. T. J. Garner, Judge Gilbert 
 Marshall, W. Kenner. 
 
 Searcy County: .Judge William \\oi)d, William 
 Kavauaugh, E. M. Hale, Judge Joseph Kea, Will- 
 iam Ruttes, Joe Brown, V. Robertson, T. S. Hale, 
 Judge J. Campbell. 
 
 Sevier County: Judge John Clark, R. Hart- 
 
 field, G. Clark, J. T. Little, Judge David Foran, 
 P. Little, William White, Charles Moore, A. 
 Hartfield, Judge J. F. Little, Henry Morris, 
 Judge Henry Brown, George Halbrook, Judge 
 R. H. Scott, S. S. Smith. 
 
 Sharp County: John King, Robert Lott, Nich- 
 olas Norris, William Morgan, William J. Gray, 
 William Williford, Solomon Hudspeth, Stephen 
 English. John Walker, L. D. Dale. John C. Gar- 
 ner. R. P. Smithee. Josiah Richardson, Judge A. 
 H. Nunn, William G. Matheny. 
 
 Union County: John T. Cabeen, John Black, 
 Jr., Judge John Black, Sr. , Benjamin Gooch, 
 Alexander Beard, Thomas O'Neal, Judge G. B. 
 Hughes, John Cornish, John Hogg, Judge Hiram 
 Smith, J. R. Moore, John Henry, John Stokeley, 
 Judge Charles H. Seay, W. L. Bradley, Judge 
 Thomas Owens. 
 
 Van Buren County: Judge J. L. Laferty, P. 
 O. Powell, N. Daugherty, Philip WaU, L. Will- 
 iams, Judge J. B. Craig, Judge J. M. Baird, J. 
 McAllister, Judge William Dougherty, A. Mor- 
 rison, George Counts, A. Caruthers, W. W. Trim- 
 ble, R. Bain, J. O. Young. George Hardin, A. W. 
 McRaines, Judge J. C. Ganier. 
 
 Washington County: L. Newton, Lewis Evans, 
 John Skeltou, Judge Robert McAmy, B. H. 
 Smithsou, Judge John Wilson, James Marrs, V. 
 Caruthers, James Coulter, J. T. Edmonson, Judge 
 J. M. Hoge, James Crawford, John McClellan, 
 Judge W. B. Woody, W. W. Hester, Judge John 
 Cureton, L. C. Pleasants, Isaac Murpliy, D. Calla- 
 ghan, Judge Thomas Wilson, W. L. Wallace and 
 L. W. Wallace. 
 
 White County: Judge Samuel Guthrie, P. W. 
 Roberts, P. Crease. Michael Owens, M. H. Blue, 
 S. Arnold, J. W. Bond, William Cook, J. Arnold, 
 Milton Saunders, Jaues Bird, Samuel Beeler, 
 James Walker, Martin Jones. Philij) Hilger, James 
 King, L. Pate, John Akin, Reuben Stephens, Sam- 
 uel Guthrie. 
 
 Woodruff County: Rolla Gray, Durant H. 
 Bell, John Dennis, Dudley Glass, Michael Hag- 
 gerdon, Samuel Taylor, James Barnes, George 
 Hatch, John Teague. Thomas Arnold and Thomas 
 Hough. 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 33 
 
 The above were all prominent men in their lo- 
 calities during the Territorial times of Arkansas. 
 Many of them have left names and memories inti- 
 mately associated with the history of the State. 
 They were a part of those pioneers ' ' who hewed 
 the dark, old woods away," and left a rich inheri- 
 tance, and a substantial civilization, having wealth, 
 refinement and luxuries, that were never a part of 
 their dreams. They were home makers as well as 
 State and Nation builders. They cut out the roads, 
 opened their farms, bridged the streams, built 
 houses, made settlements, towns and cities, render- 
 ing all things possible to their descendants; a race 
 of heroes and martyrs pre-eminent in all time for 
 the blessings they transmitted to posterity; they 
 repelled the painted savage, and exterminated the 
 ferocious wild beasts; they worked, struggled and 
 endured that others might enjoy the fruits of their 
 heroic sacrifices. Their lives were void of evil to 
 mankind; possessing little ambition, their touch 
 was the bloom and never the blight. Granted, 
 cynic, they builded wiser than they knew, yet they 
 built, and built well, and their every success was 
 the triumphant march of peace. Let the record of 
 their humble but great lives be immortal! 
 
 The New Madrid earthquake of 1811-12, com- 
 mencing in the last of December, and the subterra- 
 nean forces ceasing after three months' duration, 
 was of itself a noted era, but to the awful display 
 of nature's forces was added a far more important 
 and lasting event, the result of the silent but 
 mighty powers of the human mind. Simulta- 
 neously with the hour of the most violent convul- 
 sions of nature, the third day of the earthquake, 
 there rode out at the mouth of the Ohio, into the 
 lashed and foaming waters of the Mississippi, the 
 first steamboat that ever ploughed the western 
 waters — the steamer "Orleans," Capt. Roosevelt. 
 So awful was the display of nature's energies, that 
 the granitic earth, with a mighty sound, heaved 
 and writhed like a storm-tossed ocean. The great 
 river turned back in its flow, the waves of the 
 ground burst, shooting high in the air, spouting 
 sand and water; great forest-covered hills disap- 
 peared at the bottom of deep lakes into which 
 thev had sunk; and the "sunk lands" are to 
 
 this day marked on the maps of Southeast Mis- 
 souri and Northeast Arkansas. The sparse popu- 
 lation along the river (New Madrid was a flourish- 
 ing young town) fled the country in terror, leav- 
 ing mostly their effects and domestic animals. 
 
 The wild riot of nature met in this wilderness 
 the triumph of man's genius. Where else on the 
 globe so approjiriately could have been this meet- 
 ing of the opposing forces as at the mouth of the 
 Ohio and on the convulsed bosom of the Father of 
 Waters? How feeble, apparently, in this contest, 
 were the powers of man; how grand and awful the 
 play of nature's forces! The mote struggling 
 against the "wreck of worlds and crush of mat- 
 ter." But, "peace be still," was spoken to the 
 vexed earth, while the invention of Fulton will go 
 on forever. The revolving paddle wheels were the 
 incipient drive-wheels, on which now ride in tri- 
 umph the glories of this great age. 
 
 The movement of immigrants to Arkansas in 
 the decade following the earthquake was retarded 
 somewhat, whereas, barring this, it should and 
 would have been stimulated into activity by the 
 advent of steamboats upon the western rivers. The 
 south half of the State was in the possession of 
 the Quapaw Indians. The Spanish attempts at 
 colonizing were practical failures. His Catholic 
 majesty was moving in the old ruts of the feudal 
 ages, in the deep-seated faith of the "divinity of 
 kings,"' and the paternal powers and duties of 
 rulers. The Bastrop settlement of "thirty fam- 
 ilies," by a seigniorial grant in 1707. had brought 
 years of suffering, disappointment and failure. 
 This was an attempt to found a colony on*he 
 Ouachita River, granting an entire river and a 
 strip of land on each side thereof to Bastrop, 
 the government to pay the passage of the people 
 across the ocean and to feed and clothe them one 
 year. To care for its vassals, and to provide 
 human breeding grounds; swell the multitudes for 
 the use of church and State; to "glorify God" 
 by repressing the growing instincts of liberty and 
 the freedom of thought, and add subjects to the 
 possession and powers of these gild(>d toads, were 
 the essence of the oriental schemes for peopling 
 the new world. Happily for mankind they failed, 
 
and the wild beasts returned to care for their young 
 in safety and await the coming of the real pioneers, 
 they wlio came bringing little or nothing, save 
 
 a manly spirit of self-reliance and independence. 
 These were the successful founders and builders 
 of eui]iirp in the wilderness. 
 
 f mwii rw. 
 
 — >.r-«^J^i.:e7'<JI9'^9{<#:/vl-■»->•«- 
 OuGA^•IZATION.— The Viceroys ani> Goveknous— The Attiti de ov the Royal Owners of Louisiana- 
 The District Divided— The Territory of Arkansas P'ormed from the Territory of Missouri 
 —The Territorial Government— The First Legislature— The Seat of Government 
 -Other Legislative IJodies— The Deullo— Arkansas Admitted to Statehood 
 —The Constitutional Conventions— The Memorable Reconstruction 
 Period— Legislative Attitude on the Question of Secession 
 — Tni: War of the Governors, etc.. etc. 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 \t^<t ^- "^ *'^^ preceding chapter are 
 .^.jk, - briefly traced the changes 
 
 +■ i- < 
 
 the 
 
 the government of the 
 Territory of Louisiana from 
 its discovery to the year 
 1803, when it became a 
 part of the territory of 
 United States. Discovered by 
 
 the Spanish, possessed by the French, 
 divided and re-divided between the 
 French, Spanish and English; set- 
 tled by the Holy Mother Church, 
 in the warp and woof of nations it 
 was the flying shuttle-cock of the 
 great weaver in its religion as well 
 as allegiance for 2(51 years. This 
 foundling, this waif of nations, was 
 but an outcast, or a trophy chained to the 
 triumphal car of the victors among the warring 
 European powers, until in the providence of God 
 it reached its haven and abiding home in the 
 bo.som of the union of States. 
 
 As a French province, the civil government of 
 Louisiana was organized, and the Marquis de San- 
 ville api)oiuted viceroy or governor in 168U. 
 
 UNDER FRENCH KDLE. 
 
 Robert Cavelier ile La Salle (April 9. 
 
 formal) 1683-1688 
 
 Marquis de Sanville 1689-1700 
 
 Bienville 1701-1712 
 
 Lamolhe Cadillar 1713-1715 
 
 De F/Epinay 1716-1717 
 
 Bienville 1718-1723 
 
 Boisbrianl (ad interim) 1724 
 
 Bienville 1732-1741 
 
 Baron de Kelerec 1753-1762 
 
 DAI)badie 1763-1766* 
 
 UNDER SPANISH RULE. 
 
 Antonio <le Ulloa 1767-1768 
 
 Alexaiuier O'Heilly 1768-1769 
 
 Louis de Uiizaga 1770-1776 
 
 Bernaiido de Galvez 1777-1784 
 
 Estevar Miio 1785-1787 
 
 Francisco Luis Hortu, Baron of Caron- 
 
 delet 1789-1792 
 
 Gayoso de Lemos 1793-1798 
 
 Sebastian de Cosa Calvo y O'Farrell. . .1798-1799 
 .luan Manual de Salcedo 1800-1803 
 
 From the dates already given it will be seen 
 that the official acts of Salcedo duiing his entire 
 
 * Louisiana west of the Mississippi, altliougli ceded 
 to Spiiiii in 1762, remained under French jurisdiction 
 until 1766. 
 
 i) fy 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 3r> 
 
 term of office, under the secret treaty of Ildefonso, 
 wen^ tainted with irre<:falarity. Thousands of land 
 grants had been given by him after he had in fact 
 ceased to be the viceroy of Spain. The contract- 
 ing jjowers had affixeil to the treaty the usual ob- 
 ligations of the fulfillment of all undertakings, but 
 the American courts and lawyers, in that ancient 
 spirit of legal hypercritical technicalities, had 
 given heed to the vicious doctrine that acts in good 
 faith of a de facto governor may be treated as of 
 questionable validity. This was never good law, 
 because it was never good sense or justice. 
 
 The acts and official doings of these vice-royal- 
 ties in the wilderness present little or nothing of 
 intere.st to the student of history, because they 
 were local and individual in their bearing. It 
 was the action of the powers across the waters, in 
 reference to Canada and Louisiana, that in their 
 wide and sweeping effects have been nearly omnip- 
 otent in shaping civilization. 
 
 Referring to the acquisition of Canada and the 
 Louisiana east of the Mississippi River, Bancroft 
 says that England exulted in its conquest;* 
 enjoying the glory of extended dominion in the 
 confident expectation of a boundless increase of 
 wealth. But its success was due to its having 
 taken the lead in the good old struggle for liberty, 
 and it was destined to bring fruits, not so much to 
 itself as to the cause of freedom and mankind. 
 
 France, of all the States on the continent of 
 Europe the most powerful, by territorial unity, 
 wealth, numbers, industry and culture, seemed 
 also by its place marked out for maritime ascend- 
 ency. Set between many seas it rested upon the 
 Mediterranean, possessed harbors on the German 
 Ocean, and embraced between its wide shores and 
 jutting headlands the bays and open waters of the 
 Atlantic; its people, infolding at one extreme the 
 offspring of colonists from Greece, and at the 
 other the hardy children of the Northmen, being 
 called, as it were, to the inheritance of life upon 
 the sea. The nation, too, readily conceived or aj)- 
 propriated great ideas and delighted in bold re- 
 solves. Its travelers had penetrated farthest -into 
 
 *Bniicroft. vol. iv.— l.'iT; (layiirre's Histoire de la 
 Loiiisiane, vol. ii.-131. 
 
 the fearful interior of unknown lands; its mission 
 aries won most familiarly the confidence of the 
 aboriginal hordes; its writers described with 
 keener and wiser observation the forms of nature 
 in her wildness, and the habits and languages of 
 savage man; its soldiers, and everj' lay Frenchman 
 in America owed military service, uniting beyond 
 all others celerity with courage, knew best how to 
 endure the hardships of forest life and to triumph 
 in forest warfare. Its ocean chivalry had given a 
 name and a colony to Carolina, and its merchants 
 a people to Acadia. The French discovered the 
 basin of the St. Lawrence; were the first to ex- 
 plore and possess the banks of the Mississippi, and 
 planned an American empire that should unite the 
 widest valleys and most copious inland waters in 
 the world. But over all this splendid empire in 
 the old and the new world was a government that 
 was medieval^mured in its glittering palaces, 
 taxing its subjects, it would allow nothing to come 
 to the Louisiana Territory but what was old and 
 worn out. French America was closed against even 
 a gleam of intellectual independence; nor did all 
 Louisiana contain so much as one dissenter from 
 the Roman Church. 
 
 " We have caught them at last,'' exiiltingly e,\- 
 claimed Choiseul, when he gave up the Cauadas 
 to England and the Louisiana to Spain. ■" Eng 
 land will ere long repent of having removed the 
 only check that could keep her colonies in awe. * 
 * * She will call on them to support the Inn- 
 dens they have helped to bring on her, and th(>y 
 will answer by striking off all dependence, '' said 
 Vergennes. 
 
 These keen-witted Frenchmen, with a pene- 
 tration far beyond the ablest statesmen of Eng 
 land, saw, as they believed, and time has con- 
 firmed, that in the humiliation and dismember- 
 ment of the territory of France, especially tlie 
 transfer to England of Canada, they had la d the 
 mine which some day wouM destroy the British 
 colonial system, and prolmbly eventuate in tlie 
 independence of the American colonies. The in 
 tellect of France was keeping step with the spirit 
 of the age: it had been excluded of course from 
 the nation's councils, but saw what its feeble 
 
1^ 
 
 36 
 
 HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 government neither could see nor prevent, that the 
 distant wilderness possessed a far greater impor- 
 taueo on the world's new map than was given it 
 by the f^old and gems it was supposed to contain; 
 and that the change of allegiance of the colonies 
 was the great step in the human mind, as it was 
 slowly emerging from the gloom and darkness of 
 tht< middle ages. Thus it was that the mere Terri- 
 tory of Louisiana, before it was peopled by civilized 
 man, was playing its important part in the world's 
 greatest of all dramas. 
 
 The first official act of our government, after 
 the purchase of Louisiana, was an act of Congress, 
 March 20, 1 SO-t, dividing Louisiana into two dis- 
 tricts, and attaching the whole to Indiana Terri- 
 tory, under the government of William Henry 
 Harrison. The division in Louisiana was by a line 
 on the thirty-third parallel; the south was named 
 the District of Orleans; that north of it was named 
 the District of Louisiana. This is now the south 
 line of the State of Arkansas. 
 
 In 1805 the District of Louisiana was erected in- 
 to the Territory of Louisiana. It was however a terri- 
 tory of the second class and remained under the gov- 
 ernment and control of Indiana Territory until 1812. 
 
 By act of June 4, 1812, the name of Louisiana 
 Territory was changed and became the Missouri 
 Territory, being made a territory of the first class, 
 and given a territorial government. Capt. William 
 Clark, of the famous Lewis and Clark, explorers of 
 the northwest, was appointed governor, remaining 
 as such until 1819, when Arkansas Territory was 
 cut off from Missouri. 
 
 The act of 1812, changing the District of 
 Louisiana to Missouri Territory, provided for a 
 Territorial legislature consisting of nine members, 
 and empowered the governor to lay ofF that 
 part where the Indian title had been extinguished 
 into thirteen counties. The county of New 
 Madrid, as then formed, extended into the Arkan- 
 sas territorial limits, "down to the Mississippi to 
 a point directly east of the mouth of Little Red 
 River; thence to the mouth of Red River; thence 
 up the Red River to the Osage purchase," etc. 
 In other words it did not embrace the whole of 
 what is now Arkansas. 
 
 December 13, 1813, the County of Arkansas, 
 Missouri Territoiy, was formed, and the county 
 seat was fixed at Arkansas Post.* 
 
 Besides Ai-kansas County, Lawrence County 
 was formed January 15, 1815, and Clark, Hemp- 
 stead and Pulaski Counties, December 15, 1818. 
 
 Missouri neglected it seems to provide a judi- 
 cial district for her five southern or Arkansas 
 counties. Therefore Congress, in 1814, authorized 
 the President to appoint an additional judge for 
 Missouri Territory, ' ' who should hold office four 
 years and reside in or near the village of Arkan- 
 sas," — across the river from Arkansas Post. 
 
 March 2, 1819, Congress created the Territory 
 of Arkansas out of the Missouri Territory. It was 
 only a territory of the second class, and the ma- 
 chinery of government consisted of the governor 
 and three judges, who constituted the executive, 
 judicial and legislative departments, their offi- 
 cial acts requiring the consent of Congress. Pres- 
 ident Monroe appointed James Miller, governor; 
 Robert Crittenden, secretary; Charles Jouett, 
 Andrew Scott and Robert P. Letcher, judges of the 
 superior court. The act designated Arkansas Post 
 as the temporary seat of government. In the ab- 
 sence of the Governor, Robert Crittenden, "act- 
 ing governor," convened the first session of the 
 provisional government on August 3, 1819. The 
 act continued the new territory under the laws of 
 Missouri Territory. The five counties designated 
 above as formed prior to the division of Arkansas, 
 had been represented in the Missouri Territorial 
 legislature. Elijah Kelly, of Clark County, was a 
 representative, and he rode on horseback from his 
 home to St. Louis. The se.ssion was probably not 
 a week in length, and the pay and mileage little 
 or nothing. 
 
 This first Territorial legislature appointed a 
 treasurer and auditor, provided a tax for general 
 purposes, and divided the five counties into two 
 judicial circuits: First. Arkansas and Lawrence 
 Counties ; Second, Pulaski, Clark and Hempstead 
 Counties. 
 
 * During the latter purl of the eighteenth century, 
 something of the same municipal division was made, and 
 called " Arkan.sas Parish," the name being derived 
 from an old Indian town called Arkausea. 
 
 
 n Xj 
 
HISTORY Ol' AKKANSAS. 
 
 37 
 
 April 21, 18"i0, CoQgress passed aa act per- 
 fecting the Territorial organization, and applying 
 the same provisions to Arkansas that were contained 
 in the act creating Missouri into a Territory of the 
 tirst class. 
 
 The first legislative body elected in Arkansas 
 convened at Arkansas Post, February 7 to 24, 1820. 
 In the council were: President, Edward McDonald; 
 secretary, Richard Searcy; members, Arkansas 
 County, Sylvanus Phillips; Clark County, Jacob 
 Barkmau; Hem^jstead County, David Clark; 
 Lawrence County, Edward McDonald; Pulaski 
 County, John McElmurry. la the house of rep- 
 resentatives: Speaker, Joseph Hardin (William 
 Stephenson was first elected, served one day and 
 resigned, on account of indisposition); J. Cham- 
 berlain, clerk; members, Arkansas County, W. B. 
 R. Horner, \V. O. Allen; Clark, Thomas Fish; 
 Hempstead, J. English, W. Stevenson; Lawrence, 
 Joseph Hardin, Joab Hardin; Pulaski, Radford 
 Ellis, T. H. Tindall. This body later adjourned to 
 meet October following, continuing in session until 
 the 25th. 
 
 At this adjourned session the question of the 
 removal of the Territorial seat of government from 
 Arkansas Post to "the Little Rock," came up on 
 a memorial signed by Amos Wheeler and others. 
 "The Little Rock" was in contradistinction to 
 ' ' the Rocks, ' ' as were known the beautiful bluffs, 
 over 200 feet high, a little above and across the 
 river from "the Little Rock." In 1820 Gov. 
 Miller visited the Little Rock — Petit Rocher— 
 with a view to selecting a new seat of government. 
 The point designated was the northeast corner of 
 the Quapaw west line and Arkansas River. Im- 
 mediately upon the formation of the Territory, 
 prominent parties began to look out for a more 
 central location for a capital higher up the river, 
 and it was soon a general understanding that the 
 seat of government and the county seat of Pulaski 
 County, the then adjoining county above Arkansas 
 County on the river, would be located at the same 
 place. A syndicate was formed and Little Rock 
 Bluff was pushed for this double honor. The 
 government had not yet opened the land to pub- 
 lic entry, as the title of the Quapaws had just been 
 
 extinguished. These parties resorted to the expe- 
 dient of locating upon the land "New Madrid 
 floats," or claims, under the act of February 17, 
 1815, which authorized any one whose land had 
 been " materially injured " by the earthquake of 
 1811 to locate the like ijuantity of land on any of 
 the public lands open for sale. Several hundred 
 acres were entered under these claims as the fut- 
 ure town site. The county seat of Pulaski County 
 was, contrary to the expectation of the Little Rock 
 syndicate, located at Cadron, near the mouth of 
 Cadron Creek, where it enters the Arkansas River. 
 
 On the 18th day of October, 1820, the Terri- 
 torial seat of government was removed from the 
 Post of Arkansas to the Little Rock, the act to 
 take effect June 1, 1821. The next Territorial 
 legislature convened in Little Rock, October 1 to 
 24, 1821. The council consisted of Sam C. Roane, 
 president, and Richard Searcy, secretary. In the 
 house William Trimble was speaker, and A. H. 
 Sevier, clerk. 
 
 The third legislature met October '5 to 81. 
 1823. Sam C. Roane was president of the coun 
 cO, and Thomas W. Newton, secretary; while T. 
 Farrelly was speaker, and D. E. McKinney. clerk 
 of the house. 
 
 The fourth legislature was held October 3 to 
 November 3, 1825. Of the council, the president 
 was Jacob Barkman; secretary, Thomas W. New 
 ton. Of the house, Robert Bean was speaker; 
 David Barber, clerk. 
 
 The fifth Territorial legislature was held Octol)er 
 1 to 31, 1827, and a special session held October 
 G to October 28, 1828; E. T. Clark served as presi 
 dent of the council, and John Clark, secretary ; 
 J. Wilson was speaker of the house, and Daniel 
 Ringo, clerk. 
 
 In the sixth legislature, Charles Caldwell was 
 president of the council, and John Caldwell, secre- 
 tary; John Wilson was speaker of the house, and 
 Daniel Ringo, clerk. 
 
 The seventh legislature held October 3 to 
 November 7, 1831, had Charles Caldwell as presi- 
 dent of the council, and Al)salom Fowler, secre- 
 tary; William Trimble was speaker "f tin- Imu^t., 
 and G. A\'. Ferebee, secretary. 
 
In the eighth legislature, October 7 to Novem- 
 ber 16, 183:5, John Williamson was president of the 
 council and William F. Yeomans, secretary; John 
 Wilson was speaker of the bouse, and James B. 
 Keatts, clerk. 
 
 The ninth legislature met October 5 to Novem- 
 ber 10. 1885. The president of the senate was 
 Charles Caldwell; secretary, S.T.Sanders. John 
 Wilson was speaker of the house and L. B. Tully, 
 clerk. 
 
 This was the last of the Territorial assemblies. 
 James Miller was succeeded as governor by George 
 Izard, March 4, 1825. and Izard by John Pope, 
 March 9, 1829. William Fulton followed Pope 
 March 9, 1835. and held the o£&ce until Arkansas 
 became a State. 
 
 Robert Crittenden was secretary of State 
 (nearly all of Miller' s term ' ' acting governor ' ' ), 
 appointed March 3, 1819, and was succeeded in 
 office by William Fulton, April 8, 1829; Fulton 
 was succeeded by Lewis Randolph, February 23, 
 1835. 
 
 George W. Scott was appointed Territorial 
 auditor August 5, 1819, and was succeeded by 
 Richard C. Byrd, November 20, 1829; Byrd was 
 followed by Emzy Wilson, November 5, 1831; and 
 the latter by Milliam Pelham, November 12, 1833, 
 his successor being Elias N. Conway, July 25, 1835. 
 James Scull, appointed treasurer August 5, 
 1819, was succeeded by S. M. Rutherford. Novem- 
 ber 12, 1833, who continued in office until the 
 State was formed. 
 
 The counties in 1825 had been increased in num- 
 ber to thirteen: Arkansas, Clark, Conway, Chicot, 
 Crawford, Crittenden, Lawrence, Miller, Hemp- 
 stead, Independence, Pulaski, Izard and Phillips. 
 The territory was divided into four judicial cir- 
 cuits, of which William Trimble, Benjamin John- 
 son, Thomas P. Eskridge and James Woodson 
 Bates were, in the order named, the judges. The 
 delegates in Congress from Arkansas Territory were 
 James W. Bates, 1820-23; Henry W. Conway, 
 1823-29; Ambrose H. Sevier, 1829-36. 
 
 The Territorial legislature, in common with all 
 other legislatures of that day. passed some laws 
 which would have been much better not passed, and 
 
 others that remained a dead letter on the books. 
 Among other good laws which were never enforced 
 was one against duelling. In 1825 Whigs and 
 Democrats allowed party feelings to run high, and 
 some bloody duels grew out of the heat of cam- 
 paigns. 
 
 Robert Crittenden and Hemy W. Conway 
 fought a duel October 29, 1827. At the first fire 
 Conway fell mortally wounded and died a fortnight 
 thereafter. 
 
 December 4, 1837, John Wilson, who, it will 
 be noticed, figured prominently in the preceding 
 record of the Territorial assemblies, was expelled 
 from the house of representatives, of which body 
 he was speaker, for killing J. J. Anthony. 
 
 A constitutional convention, for the purpose of 
 arranging for the Territory to become a State in the 
 Union, was held in Little Rock, in January, 1836. 
 Its duty was to jii-epare a suitable constitution and 
 submit it to Congress, and, if unobjectionable, to 
 have an act passed creating the State of Arkan- 
 sas. John AVilson was president, and Charles P, 
 Bertrand, secretary, of the convention. Thirty- 
 five counties were represented by fifty-two members. 
 
 June 15, 1836, Arkansas was made a State, 
 and the preamble of the act recites that there was 
 a population of 47,700. 
 
 The first State legislature met September 12 to 
 November 8, 1836, later adjourning to November 
 6, 1837, and continued in session until March 5, 
 1838. The president of the senate was Sam C. 
 Roane; secretary, A. J. Greer; the speaker of the 
 house was John Wilson (he was expelled and 
 Grandison D. Royston elected) ; clerk, S. H. Hemp- 
 stead. 
 
 The second constitutional convention, held 
 January 4 to January 23, 1864, had as president, 
 John McCoy, and secretary, R. J. T. White. This 
 convention was called by virtue of President Lin- 
 coln's proclamation. The polls had been opened 
 chiefly at the Federal military posts, and the major- 
 ity of delegates were really refugees from many of 
 the counties they represented. It simply was an 
 informal meeting of the Union men in response to 
 the Pi'esident's wish, and they mostly made their 
 own credentials. The Federal army occupied the 
 

 
 HIST(JI{V OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 39 
 
 Arkansas River and points north, \vhik> the south 
 portion of the State was held by the Confederates. 
 It is said the convention on important legal ques- 
 tions was largely influenced by Hon. T. D. W. 
 Yonly, of Pulaski County. The convention prac- 
 tically re-euacted the constitution of 18ii6, abolished 
 slavery, already a fact, and created the separate 
 office of lieutenant-governor, instead of the former 
 ex-officio president of the senate. The machinery 
 of State government was thus once more in oper- 
 ation. The convention wisely did its work and 
 adjourned. 
 
 The next constitutional convention was held 
 January 7 to February 18, 1868. Thomas M. 
 Bowen was president, and John G. Price, secretary. 
 The war was over and the Confederates had re- 
 turned and were disposed to favor the constitution 
 which they found the Unionists had adopted in 
 their absence, and was then in full force in the 
 State. Isaac Murphy (Federal) had been elected 
 governor under the constitution of 1864, and all 
 the State offices were under control of the Union- 
 ists. His term as governor would expire in July, 
 1868. 
 
 This convention made sweeping changes in the 
 fundamental laws. The most prominent were the 
 disfi-anchisement of a large majority of the white 
 voters of the State, enfranchising the negroes, and 
 providing for a complex and plastic system of reg- 
 istration. This movement, and its severe character 
 throughout, were a part of the reconstruction 
 measures emanating from Congress. Arkansas 
 was under military rule and the constitution of 
 1864, and this condition of affairs, had been ac- 
 cepted by the returned conquered Confederates. 
 But the Unionists, who had fled to the Federal 
 military posts for protection, were generally eager 
 to visit their vanquished enemies with the severest 
 penalties of the law. A large part of the intel- 
 ligence and tax payers of the State were indis- 
 criminately excluded from the polls, and new vot- 
 ers and new men came to the front, with grievances 
 to be avenged and ambitions to be gratified. The 
 unusual experiment of the reversal of the civic 
 conditions of the ex-slaves with their former mas- 
 ters was boldly undertaken. Impetuous men now 
 
 prevailed in the name of patriotism, the natural 
 reflex swing of the pendulum — the anti-climax was 
 this convention of reconstruction to the convention 
 of secession of 1861. The connection between 
 these two conventions — 1861-1868 — is so blended 
 that the convention of '61 is omitted in its chro- 
 nological order, that the two may be set properly 
 side by side. 
 
 March 4, 1861, a State convention assembled 
 in Little Rock. The election of delegates was 
 on February 18, preceding. The convention met 
 the day Abraham Lincoln was inducted into oflice 
 as president of the United States. The people of 
 Arkansas were deeply concerned. The conserva- 
 tive minds of the State loved the Union as sin- 
 cerely as they regretted the wanton assaults that 
 had been made upon them by the extremists of the 
 North. The members of that convention had 
 been elected with a view to the consideration of 
 those matters already visible in the dark war-clouds 
 lowering upon the country. The test of the un- 
 ion and disunion sentiment of that body was the 
 election of president of the convention. Judge 
 David Walker (Union) received forty votes against 
 thirty-five votes for Judge B. C. Totten. Hon. 
 Henry F. Thomasson introduced a series of con- 
 servative resolutions, condemning disunion and 
 looking to a convention of all the States to ' ' settle 
 the slavery (juestion " and secure the perpetuation 
 of the Union. The resolutions were passed, and 
 the convention adjourned to meet again in May fol- 
 lowing. This filled the wise and conservative men 
 of the State with great hopes for the future. Bul^ 
 most unfortunately, when the convention again 
 met war was already upon the country, and the 
 ordinance of secession was passed, with but one 
 negative vote. The few days between the adjourn 
 ment and reassembling of the convention had not 
 made traitors of this majority that liad so recent- 
 ly .condemned disunion. The swift-moving events, 
 everywhere producing consternation and alarm, 
 called out determined men. and excitement ruled 
 the hour. 
 
 The conventions of 18()1 and iSOb- sece.ssion 
 and reconstruction I When the long - gathering 
 cloud-burst of civil war had passed, it left a cen- 
 
40 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 tury's trail of broken hearts, desolated homes, 
 ruined lives, and a stream of demoralization over- 
 flowiug the beautiful valleys of the land to the 
 mountain tops. The innocent and unfortunate ne- 
 gro was the stumbling-block at all times. The con- 
 vention of 1861 would have founded an empire of 
 freedom, buttressed in the slavery of the black man; 
 the convention of 1868 preferred to rear its great col- 
 umn of liberty upon the ashes of the unfortunate 
 past: in every era the wise, conservative and patriotic 
 sentiment of the land was chained and bound to 
 the chariot-wheels of rejoicing emotion. Prudence 
 and an intelligent insight into the future alone 
 could prevent men from " losing their reason." 
 
 The constitution of 1868, as a whole, was not 
 devoid of merit. It opened the way for an age of 
 internal improvements, and intended the establish- 
 ment of H liberal pulilic free school system, and at 
 the same time provided safeguards to protect the 
 public treasury and restrain reckless extravagance. 
 
 Then the legislatures elected under it, the State 
 officers, and the representatives in the upper and 
 lower Congress, were in political accord with the 
 dominant party of the country. Gen. Grant was 
 president; Powell Clayton, governor; Robert J. L. 
 M'hite, secretary of State; J. R. Berry, auditor, 
 and Henry Page, treasurer. The first legislature 
 under the constitution of 18(kS passed most lilieral 
 laws to aid railroads and other internal improve- 
 ments, and provided a system of revenue laws to 
 meet the new order of affairs. During 1869 to 
 1871 railroad aid and levee bonds to the amount of 
 $10,419,778.74 were issued. The supreme court 
 of the State in after years declared the railroad 
 aid. levee and Halford bonds void, aggregating 
 $8,604,773.74. Before his term of governor had 
 expired. Gov. Clayton was elected United States 
 senator (1871-77), and in 1873 Hon. Stephen W. 
 Dorsey was elected to a like position. 
 
 The climax and the end of reconstruction in 
 Arkansas will always be an interesting paragraph 
 in the State' s history. Elisha Baxter and Joseph 
 Brooks were the gubernatorial candidates at the 
 election of 1872. Both were Repulilicans. and 
 Brooks was considered one of the most ardent of 
 that i)arty. Baxter was the nominee of the party 
 
 and on the same ticket with Grant, who was can- 
 didate for president. Brooks was nominated on a 
 mixed ticket, made up by disaffected Republicans, 
 but on a more liberal platform toward the Demo- 
 crats than the regular ticket. On the face of the 
 first retiu-ns the Greeley electors and the Brooks 
 ticket were in the majority, but when the votes 
 were finally canvassed, such changes were made, 
 from illegal voting or bulldozing it was claimed, 
 as to elect the Grant and Baxter tickets. Under 
 the constitution of 1868, the legislature was de- 
 clared the sole judge of the election of State officers. 
 Brooks took his case before that body at its Jan- 
 uary term, 1873 — at which time Baxter was in- 
 augurated — but the assembly decided that Baxter 
 was elected, and, whether right or wrong, every 
 one supposed the question permanently settled. 
 
 Brooks however, went before the supreme 
 court (McClure being chief justice), that body 
 promptly deciding that the legislature was by law 
 the proper tribunal, and that as it had determined 
 the case its action was final and binding. Bax- 
 ter was inaugurated in January, 1873; had been 
 declared elected by the proper authorities, and 
 this had been confirmed by the legislature, the 
 action of the latter being distinctly approved 
 by the supreme court. The adherents of Brooks 
 had supposed that they were greatly wronged, 
 but like good citizens all acquiesced. Those 
 who had politically despised Brooks — perhaps 
 the majority of his voters — had learned to sym- 
 pathize with what they believed were his and 
 their mutual wrongs. Baxter had peacefully ad- 
 ministered the office more than a year, when 
 Brooks went before Judge John Whytock, of the 
 Pulaski circuit court, and commenced quo warranto 
 proceedings against Baxter. The governor's at- 
 torneys filed a demurrer, and the case stood over. 
 Wednesday, April 15, 1874, Judge Whytock, in 
 the absence of Baxter's attorneys, overruled the de- 
 murrer, giving judgment of ouster against Baxter, 
 and instantly Brooks, with an officei', hastened to 
 the State house, demanded the surrender of the 
 office, and arrested Baxter. Thus a stroke of the 
 pen by a mere circuit court judge in banc plunged 
 the State into tumult. 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 41 
 
 Couriers sped over the city, and the flying news 
 gave the people a genuine sensation. Indeed, not 
 only Baxter but the State and the nation received 
 a great surprise. 
 
 As soon as Baxter was released, though only 
 under arrest a few minutes, he fled to St. John's 
 College, in the city, and from this headquarters 
 called for soldiers, as did Brooks from the 
 State house, and alas, poor Arkansas! there were 
 now again two doughty governors beating the 
 long roll and swiftly forming in the ranks of war. 
 Brooks conv^Vted the State bouse and grounds 
 into a garrison, while Baxter made headquarters 
 at the old Anthonj' Hotel, and the dead-line be- 
 tween the armed foes was Main Street. Just in 
 time to prevent mutual annihilation, though not 
 in time to prevent bloodshed, some United States 
 soldiers arrived and took tip a position of armed 
 neutrality between the foes. 
 
 If there can be anything comical in a tragedy 
 it is furnished just here in the fact that, in the 
 twinkling of an eye, the adherents and voters of the 
 two governors had changed places, and each was 
 now fighting for the man whom he had opposed so 
 vehemently. And in all these swift changes the 
 supreme court had shown the greatest agility. 
 By some remarkable legerdemain, Brooks, who was 
 intrenching himself, had had his case again placed 
 before the supreme court, and it promptlj' leversed 
 itself and decided that the circuit court had juris- 
 diction. The wires to Washington were kept hot 
 with messages to President Grant and Congress. 
 The whole State was in dire commotion with • ' mus- 
 tering squadrons and clattering cars. ' ' The fre- 
 quent popping of picket guns was in the land; a 
 steamboat, laden with arms for Baxter, was at- 
 tacked and several killed and many wounded. 
 Business was again utterly prostrated and horrors 
 brooded over the unfortunate State; and probably 
 the most appalling feature of it all was that in the 
 division in the ranks of the people the blacks, led 
 by whites, were mostly on one side, while the 
 whites were arrayed on the other. Congress sent 
 the historical Poland Committee to investigate 
 Arkansas affairs. President Grant submitted all 
 legal questions to his attorney-general. 
 
 The President, at the end of thirty days after 
 the forcible possession of theofiice, sustained Bax- 
 ter— exit Brooks. The end of the war. the cli- 
 max of reconstruction in Arkansas, had come. 
 Peace entered as .swiftly as had war a few days be 
 fore. The sincerity and intensity of the people's 
 happiness in this final ending are found in the fact 
 that when law and order were restored no one was 
 impeached, no one was imprisoned for treason. 
 
 The report of the Poland Committee, 1874. 
 the written opinion of Attorney- General Williams, 
 the decision of the Arkansas supreme court by 
 Judge Samuel W. Williams, found in Vol. XXIX of 
 Arkansas Reports, page 173, and the retiring mes- 
 sage of Governor Baxter, are the principal records 
 of the literature and history of the reign of the 
 dual governors. The students of law and history 
 in coming time will turn inquiring eyes with 
 curious interest upon these official pages. The 
 memory of "the thirty days" in Arkansas will 
 live forever, propagating its lessons and bearing 
 its warnings; the wise moderation and the spirit 
 of forbearance of the people, in even their exult 
 ing hour of triumph, will be as beacon light.s 
 shining out upon the troubled waters, transmit- 
 ting for all time the transcendent fact that in the 
 hour of supreme trial the best intelligence of the 
 people is wiser than their rulers, better law- 
 givers than their statesmen, and incomparably 
 superior to their courts. 
 
 The moment that President Grant officially 
 spoke, the reconstruction constitution of 180S was 
 doomed. True, the people had moved almost in 
 mass and without leadership in 1873, and had 
 repealed Article YIII of the constitution, disfran- 
 chising a large part of the intelligent tax- payers 
 of the State. 
 
 The constitutional convention of 1874, with 
 the above facts fresh before it, met and promul- 
 gated the present State constitution. G. D. Roy- 
 ston was president, and T. W. Newton, secr(>tary. 
 The session lasted from July 14 to October 31, 
 1874. From the hour of its adoption the clouds 
 rolled away, and at once commenced the present 
 unexampled prosperity of the State. Only here and 
 there in Little Rock and other points in the State 
 
■I'i 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 may one see the mute but eloquent mementos of 
 the past, in the dilapidated buildings, confiscated 
 during the lifetime of some former owner, may- 
 hap, some once eminent citizen, now in his grave 
 or self expatriated from a State which his life 
 and genius had adorned and helped make great. 
 Municipalities and even small remote districts are 
 paying off the last of heavy debts of the "flush 
 times. ' ' Long suffering and much chastened State 
 and people, forgetting the past, and full of hope for 
 the future, are fitly bedecking (though among the 
 youngest) the queenliest in the sisterhood of States. 
 In this connection it will bo of much interest to 
 notice the names of those individuals, who, by 
 reason of their association with various public 
 affairs, have become well and favorably known 
 throughout the State. The term of service of each 
 incumbent of the respective offices has been pre- 
 served and is here given. The following table 
 includes the acting Territorial and State governors 
 of Arkansas, with date of inauguration, party pol- 
 itics, etc: 
 
 
 
 
 -= c = — 
 
 
 c 
 
 a 
 
 .3^' = 
 
 Sh 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Ten iiory 
 
 a 
 
 Dale of E-i 
 
 -1 •§! 
 
 2= 
 
 and State. 
 
 "S 
 
 Inauguration. 
 
 a 
 
 I-. I's 
 
 >2 
 
 
 
 
 be 
 
 &S 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 
 .2 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 -^ 
 
 James Miller... 
 
 App't'd 
 
 March 3, 1810 
 
 
 
 George Izard... 
 
 .\pp'ld 
 
 March 4, 1825, 
 
 
 
 
 Johu Pope 
 
 App t'd 
 
 March 9, 182'.i 
 
 
 
 
 Wm. Fulton.... 
 
 Appi'd 
 
 March i>. 18;j5 
 
 
 
 
 J. S. Coiiway.... 
 
 1836 
 
 .Septeuilier 13, 18:i6 4 yrs. 
 Novemher 4,184ii4 yrs. 
 
 Dem. 
 
 I,I02M 
 
 7,716 
 
 Archibald Tell. 
 
 184t 
 
 Dem. 
 
 
 
 Samuel Adams. 
 
 Acting 
 
 Apr. 29 to Nov. 9, 1844 
 
 
 
 
 T. S. Drew 
 
 1H4 
 
 Novenihi-r .'i, IH44 .'» yrs. 
 
 Dem. 
 
 1,731 P 
 
 17,.387 
 
 J. WUIiamson. 
 
 Acting 
 
 Apr. 9 to May 7, 1S40; 
 
 
 
 
 R, C.Kyid 
 
 .\ciing 
 
 Jan. 11 to A|ir. 19, 1»4<J| 
 
 
 
 
 J. S. Roane 
 
 1849 
 
 April 19, 1849*1 
 
 Dem. 
 
 163 
 
 6,809 
 
 R. C. Byrd 
 
 Acting 
 
 1S49 
 
 
 
 
 J. R. Hamptou 
 
 Acting 
 
 1851 
 
 
 
 
 E. N. Conway.. 
 
 185a 
 
 November l.'i, l»;>a'4 yrs. 
 
 Dem. 
 
 3,027 
 
 27,867 
 
 E. N. Conway.. 
 
 1864 
 
 November 17, IS.'ifi 4 yrs. 
 
 Dem. 
 
 12,363 
 
 43,861 
 
 H. M. Rector... 
 
 1861, 
 
 November l.i, 1860 2 yrs. 
 
 1. D. 
 
 2,461 
 
 61.198 
 
 T. I'letcher 
 
 Acting 
 
 Nov. 4 to Nov. 1,1, 1863 
 
 Con. 
 
 (no re 
 
 cord ) 
 
 11. Flannagin.. 
 
 IKBi 
 
 Noveiiiber 15,1863.3 yrs. 
 
 Con. 
 
 10,013 
 
 2ii,2<;6 
 
 I. Murphy 
 
 1864 
 
 April 18, 18C,4| 
 
 led. 
 
 (no re 
 
 cord) 
 
 P. Clayton 
 
 1868 
 
 July 2, 186SI4 yr.s. 
 
 Rep. 
 
 (noie 
 
 cord 1 
 
 0. A. Hadley... 
 
 Acting 
 
 January 17, 1871,2 yrs. 
 
 Rep. 
 
 (no re 
 
 cord ) 
 
 E. Ha.xter 
 
 1871! 
 
 January 6, 1873)2 yrs. 
 
 Rep. 
 
 2,948 
 
 80,721 
 
 A. H. (iarland. 
 
 1874 
 
 November 13, 1874 2 yrs. 
 
 Dem. 
 
 76,4.53 
 
 
 W. R. Miller.... 
 
 1876 
 
 January 11, I877|2 yrs. 
 
 Dem. 
 
 32,315 
 
 108,633 
 
 W. R. Miller.... 
 
 1878 
 
 January 17, 1879|2 yrs. 
 
 Dem. 
 
 88,7311 
 
 
 T. .1. Churchill 
 
 1880 
 
 .lanuary 1.1,1881 
 
 3 yrs. 
 
 Dem. 
 
 .52,761 
 
 115,(119 
 
 .T. 11. Herry 
 
 1882 
 
 January 1.3. I88;j 
 
 2 vrs. 
 
 Dem. 
 
 28,481 
 
 147,169 
 
 n. T. Emiiry... 
 
 Acting 
 
 .Sep, 25 to Sep. 30,1883 
 
 
 
 
 
 S. P. Hughes... 
 
 1884 
 
 January 17, 1885 
 
 2 yrs. 
 
 
 45,236 
 
 166,310 
 
 J. W. Staylon.. 
 
 Acting 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 S. P. Hugl.es... 
 
 1886 
 
 
 2 yrs. 
 
 Dem. 
 
 17,411 
 
 163,889 
 
 D. E. Barker... 
 
 Acting 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 J. P. Eagle 
 
 1888 
 
 
 2 yrs. 
 
 Dem 
 
 15.O0C 
 
 187,.-!97 
 
 *fiperiiil plection. 
 
 The secretaries of Arkansas Territory have been : 
 Robert Crittenden, appointed March 3, 1819; 
 "William Fulton, appointed April 8, 1820; Lewis 
 Randol|>h, appointed February 23, 1835. 
 
 Secretaries of State: Robert A. Watkins, 
 September 10, 1836, to November 12, 1840; D. 
 B. Greer, November 12, 1840, to May 9, 1842; 
 John Winfrey, acting. May 9, to August 9, 1842; 
 D. B. Greer, August 19, 1840, to September 3, 
 1859 (died); Alexander Boileau, September 3, 1829, 
 to January 21, 1860; S. M. Weaver, January 21, 
 1860, to March 20, I860; John I. Stirman, March 
 24, 1860, to November 13, 1862; O. H. Gates, 
 November 13, 1862, to April 18, 1864; Robert J. 
 T. White, Provisional, from January 24, to January 
 6, 1873; J. M, Johnson, January 6, 1873, to No- 
 vember 12, 1874; B. B. Beavers, November 12, 
 1874, to January 17, 1879; Jacob Frolich, January 
 17, 1879, to January, 1885; E. B. Moore, January, 
 1885, to January, 1889; B. B. Chism (present in- 
 cumbent). 
 
 Territoriiil auditors of Arkansas: George W. 
 Scott, August 5, 1810, to November 20, 1829; 
 Richard C. Byrd, November 20, 1829, to Novem- 
 ber 5, 1831; Emzy Wilson, November 5, 1831, to 
 November 12, 1833; William Pelham, November 
 12, 1833, to July 25, 1835; Elias N. Conway, 
 July 25, 1835, to October 1, 1836. 
 
 Auditors of State: Elias N, Conway, October 
 
 I, 1836, to May 17, 1841; A. Boileau, May 17, 
 1841, to July 5, 1841 (acting); Elias N. Conway, 
 July 5, 1841, to January 3, 1849; C. C. Danley, 
 January 3, 1849, to September 16, 1854 (resigned); 
 W. li. Miller, September 16, 1854, to January 23, 
 1855; A. S. Huey, January 23, 1855, to January 
 23, 1857; W. R. Miller, January 23, 1857, to March 
 5, 1860; 11. C. Lowe, March 5, 'i860, to January 24, 
 1861 (acting); W. E. Miller, January 24, 1861, to 
 ApiillS, 1864; J. R. Berry, April 18, 1864, to Oc- 
 tober 15, 1866; Stephen "Wheeler, January 6, 1873, 
 to November 12, 1874; W, R. Miller, October 15, 
 1866, to July 2, 1868: John Crawford, January 
 
 II, 1877, to January 17, 1883; A. W. Files, Jan- 
 uary, 1883, to January, 1887; William R. Miller 
 (died in office), January, 1887, to November, 1887; 
 W. S. Dunlop, appointed November 30, 1887, to 
 
,k 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 43 
 
 January, 1889; W. S. Dunlop, January, 188U 
 (present incumbent). 
 
 Territorial treasurers: James Scull, August 15, 
 1819, to November 12, 1833; S. M. Rutherford, 
 November 12, 1833, to October 1, 1836. 
 
 State treasurers: W. E. Woodruff. October 1, 
 1836, to November 20, 1838; John Hutt, November 
 20, 1838, to February 2, 1843; John C. Martin, 
 Febriiary 2, 1843, to January 4, 1845; Samuel 
 Adams, January 4, 1845, to January 2, 1849; Will- 
 iam Adams, January 2, 1849, to January 10, 1849; 
 John H. Crease. January 10, 1849, to January 26, 
 1855; A. H. Rutherford, January 27, 1855, to Feb- 
 ruary 2, 1857; J. H. Crease, February 2, 1857, to 
 February 2. 1859 ; John Quindley, February 2, 1859, 
 to December 13, 1860 (died); Jared C. Martin, 
 December 13, 1860, to February 2, 1861; Oliver 
 Basham, February 2, 1861, to April 18, 1864; E. 
 D. Ayers, April 18, 1864, to October 15, 1866; L. 
 B. Cunningham, October 15, 1866, to August 19, 
 1867 (removed by military); Henry Page, August 
 19, 1867 (military appointment), elected 1868 to 
 1874 (resigned); R. C. Newton, May 23, 1874, to 
 November 12, 1874; T. J. Churchill, November 
 12, 1874, to January 12, 1881; W. E. Woodruff, 
 Jr., January 12, 1881, to January, 1891. 
 
 Attorneys-general: Robert W. Johnson, 1843; 
 George C. Watkins, October 1, 1848; J. J. Critten- 
 den, February 7, 1851; Thomas Johnson, Septem- 
 ber 8, 1856: J. L. Hollowell, September 8, 1858: 
 P. Jordon, September 7. 1861; Sam W. Williams, 
 1862; C. T. Jordan, 1864; R. S. Gantt, January 
 31, 1865; R. H. Deadman, October 15, 1866; J. R. 
 Montgomery, July 21, 1S6S; T. D. W. Yonley, Jan- 
 uary 8, 1873; J. L. Witherspoon, May 22, 1874; 
 Simon P. Hughes, November 12, 1873, to 1876; W. 
 F. Henderson, January 11, 1877, to 1881; C. B. 
 Moore, January 12, 1881, to 1885; D. W. Jones, 
 January, 18S5, to 1889; W. E. Atkinson. January, 
 1889 (present incumbent). 
 
 Commissioners of immigration and of State 
 lands: J. M. Lewis, July 2. 1868; W. H. Grey, 
 October 15, 1872; J. N. Smithee, June 5, 1874. 
 
 These officers were succeeded by the commis- 
 sioner of State lands, the first to occupy this position 
 being J. N. Smithee, from November 12, 1874, to 
 
 November 18, 1878; D. W. Lear, October 21, 1878, 
 to November, 1882; W. P. Campbell, October 30, 
 1882, to March, 1884; P. M. Cobbs, March 31, 
 1884, to October 30, 1890. 
 
 Superintendents of public instruction: Thomas 
 Smith, 1868 to 1873; J. C. Corbin, July 6, 1873; 
 G. W. Hill, December 18, 1875, to October, 1878; 
 J. L. Denton, October 13, 1875, to October 11, 
 1882; Dunbar H. Pope, October 1 1 to 30, 1882; 
 W. E. Thompson, October 20, 1882, to 1890. 
 
 Of the present State officers and members of 
 boards, the executive department is first worthy of 
 attention. This is as follows: 
 
 Governor. J. P. Eagle; secretary of State, B. 
 B. Chism; treasiu-er, William E. Woodniff, Jr.; 
 attorney-general, W. E. Atkinson; commissioner 
 of State lands, Paul M. Cobbs; superintendent 
 public instruction, W. E. Thompson; State geolo- 
 gist, John C. Brauner. 
 
 Board of election canvassers: Gov J. P. Eagle, 
 Sec. B. B. Chism. 
 
 Board of commissioners of the common school 
 fund: Gov. J. P. Eagle, Sec. B. B. Chism, Supt. 
 W. E. Thompson. 
 
 State debt board: Gov. J. P. Eagle: Aud. W. 
 S. Dunlop, and Sec. B. B. Chism. 
 
 Penitentiary board — commissioners: The Gov- 
 ernor; the attorney -general, W. E. Atkinson, and 
 the secretary of State. 
 
 Lessee of penitentiary: The Arkansas Indus- 
 trial Company. 
 
 Printing board: The Governor, president; W. 
 S. Dunlop, auditor, and W. E. Woodruff, Jr., 
 treasurer. 
 
 Board of railroad commissioners (to assess and 
 equalize the railroad property and valuation within 
 the State): The Governor, secretary of State and 
 State auditor. 
 
 Board of Trustees of Arkansas Medical College: 
 J. A. Dibrell, M. D., William Thompson. M. D.. 
 William Lawrence, M. D. 
 
 The Arkansas Stiite University, at Fayetteville. 
 has as its board of trustees: \\. M. Fishback, Fort 
 Smith; James Mitchell, Little Rock; W. B. 
 Welch. Fayetteville; C. M. Taylor. South Bend; 
 B. F. Avery, Camden; J. W. Kessee. Latour; Gov. 
 
44 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Eagle, ex -officio: E. H. Murfree, president, A. I. 
 U. ; J. L. Cravens, secretary. 
 
 Of the Pine Bluff Normal, the president is J. 
 Corbiu, Pine Bluff; the board is the same as that 
 of the State University. 
 
 Board of dental surgery: Dr. L. Augspath, 
 Dr. H. C. Howard, Dr. M. C. Mar.'^hall. Dr. L. O. 
 Roberts, and Dr. X. N. Hayes. 
 
 State board of health: Drs. A. L. Brey- 
 sacher, J. A. Dibrell, P. Van Patten, Lorenzo K. 
 Gibson, W. A. Cantrell, V. Bruusou. 
 
 Board of municipal corporations: Ex-officio — 
 The Governor, secretary of State and State auditor. 
 
 Board of education: The Governor, secretary 
 of State and auditor. 
 
 Board of review for donation contests: The 
 Governor, auditor of Slate and attorney-general. 
 
 Board of examiners of State script: The Gov- 
 ernor, secretary of State and auditor. 
 
 Reference to the presidential vote of Ai'kansas, 
 fi'om the year 1836 up to and including the elec- 
 tion of 1888, will serve to show in a general way 
 the political complexion of the State during that 
 period. The elections have resulted as follows:* 
 
 1836— Van Buren (D), 2,400; Harrison (W), 
 1,162; total 3,638. 
 
 1840— Harrison (W), 5,160; Van Buren (D), 
 6,049; Birney (A), 889; total 11,209. 
 
 1844 Polk (D), 8,546; Clay (W), 5,5C4; 
 total 15,050. 
 
 1848— Taylor (W), 7,588; Cass (D), 9,300; 
 total 16.888. 
 
 * Scattering votes not given. 
 
 1852— Pierce (D). 12,170; Scott, 7,404; 
 total 19,577. 
 
 1856— Buchanan (D), 21,910; Fillmore, 10,787; 
 total 32,697. 
 
 1860 — Douglas (D), 5,227; Breckenridge, 
 28,532; Bell, 20,297. 
 
 1864 -No vote. 
 
 1868-Grant (K), 22,112; Seymour, 19.078: 
 total 41.190. 
 
 1872— Grant (R), 41.377; Greeley, 37.927; 
 total 79,300. 
 
 1876— Tilden (D), 58,360; Hayes (R). 38.669; 
 total 97,029. 
 
 42,435; Hancock (D), 
 72,927; Blaine, 50,895; 
 58,752; Cleveland (D), 
 
 1880— Garfield (R), 
 60,475; total, 107,290. 
 
 1884— Cleveland (D). 
 total, 125,669. 
 
 1888— Harrison (R), 
 88,962; Fisk, 593; total, 155,968. 
 
 In accepting the vote of Arkansas, 1876, objec- 
 tion was made to counting it. as follows: "First, 
 because the official returns of the election in said 
 State, made according to the laws of said State, 
 show that the persons certified to the secretary 
 of said State as elected, were not elected as 
 electors for President of the United States at 
 the election held November 5, 1876; and, sec- 
 ond, because the returns as read by the tellers 
 are not certified according to law. The objec- 
 tion was sustained by the Senate but not sus- 
 tained by the House of Representatives." 
 
 * "^KS-)ii2V^* * 
 
 f- 
 
 -|^ 
 
A 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 45 
 
 '-^ 
 
 lifttmi ¥. 
 
 Advancement of the State— Misconceptions Removed— Effects of Slavery upon AoiticrLTURE- 
 
 EXTRAOKDINARY IMPROVEMENT SINCE THE War— ImPOUTANT SUGGESTIONS— COMPARATIVE 
 
 Estimate of Products— Growth of the Manufacturing Interests- 
 Wonderful Showing of Arkansas— Its Desirability as a 
 Place of Residence— State Elevations. 
 
 Look forwaril what's to ooiiie, and l)ack what's past; 
 Thy life will be with praise and prudence graced; 
 What loss or gain may follow thou may'st guess, 
 Then wilt thou be secure of the success. — Denham. 
 
 EFORE entering directly up- 
 on the subject of the mate- 
 rial life and growth of Arkan- 
 sas, it is necessary to clear 
 away at the threshold some 
 of the obstructions that have 
 lain in its pathway. From 
 the earliest settlement slav- 
 ^M WT^ P^^ ^^y existed, and the nergo 
 
 slave was brought with the 
 tirst agricultural communities. Slave 
 labor was profitable in but two things 
 — cotton and sugar. Arkansas was 
 north of the sugar cane belt, but was a 
 splendid field for cotton growing. Slave 
 labor and white labor upon the farms 
 were never congenial associates. These 
 things fixed rigidly the one road in the 
 agricultui'al progress of the State. 
 What was therefore the very richness 
 of heaven's bounties, became an incubus upon the 
 general welfare. The fertile soil returned a rich 
 reward even with the slovenly applied energies of 
 the slaves. A man could pay perhaps $1,000 for 
 a slave, and in the cotton field, but really nowhere 
 else, the investment would yield an enormous profit. 
 
 The loss in waste, or ill directed labor, in work 
 carelessly done, or the want of preparation, tools 
 or machinery, or any manner of real thrift, gave 
 little or no concern to the average agriculturist. 
 For personal comfort and large returns upon invest- 
 ments that required little or no personal attention, 
 no section of the world ever surpassed the United 
 States south of the 36° of north latitude. Wealth 
 of individuals was rated therefore by the number 
 of slaves one possessed. Twenty hands in the cot- 
 ton field, under even an indifferent overseer, with 
 no watchful car« of the master, none of that saving 
 frugality in the farming so imperative elsewhere 
 upon farms, returned every year an income whicn 
 would enable the family to spend their lives trav- 
 eling and sight-seeing over the w'orld. The rich 
 soil required no care in its tilling from the owner. 
 It is the first and strongest principle in human na- 
 ture to seek its desires through the least exertion. 
 To raise cotton, ship to market and dispose of it, 
 purchasing whatever was wanted, was the inevi- 
 table result of such conditions. This was by far the 
 easiest mode, and hence manufactures, diversity of 
 farming or farming pursuits, were not an impera- 
 tive necessity — indeed, they were not felt to be ne- 
 cessities at all. The evil, the blight of slavery 
 
 :7- 
 
46 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 upon the whites, was well understood by the intel- 
 ligence of the South, by even those who had learned 
 to believe that white labor could not and never 
 would be prolitable in this latitude; that — most 
 strange! the white man who labored at manual 
 lal)or, must be in the severe climate and upon the 
 stubborn New England soil. It was simply effect 
 following cause which made these people send off 
 their childi'en to school, and to buy their every want, 
 both necessaries and luxuries — importing hay, corn, 
 oats, bacon, mules, horses and cattle even from 
 Northern States, when every possible natural ad- 
 vantage might be had in producing the same things 
 at ho-ne. It was the easiest and cheapest way to do. 
 In the matter of dollars and cents, the destroying 
 of slavery was, to the farmers of the Upper Missis- 
 sippi Valley, a permanent loss. Now the New South 
 is beginning to send the products of its farms and 
 gardens even to Illinois. The war, the abolition 
 of slavery, the return of the Confederates to their 
 desolated homes, and their invincible courage in 
 rolling up their sleeves and going to work, and the 
 results of their labors seen all over the South, form 
 one of the grandest disjalays of the development of 
 the latent forces of the great American people 
 that can be found in history. 
 
 There is not a thing, not even ice, but that, in 
 the new social order of Arkansas, it can produce 
 for its own use quite as well as the most favored 
 of Northern States. The one obstruction in the 
 way of the completed triumph of the State is the 
 lingering idea among farmers that for the work of 
 raising cotton, black labor is better than white. 
 This fallacy is a companion of the old notion that 
 slavery was necessary to the South. Under proper 
 Huspices these two articles of Arkansas — cotton 
 iuul lumber — alone may make of it the most pros- 
 perous State in the Union ; and the magician's 
 wand to transform all this to gold is in securing the 
 intelligent laborer of the North, far more than the 
 Northern capital prayed for by so many. The North 
 lias its homeless millions, and the recent lessons 
 in the opening of Oklahoma should be promptly 
 appreciated by the people of this State. For the 
 next decade to manufacture every pound of cotton 
 raised in the State, as. well as husbanding and man- 
 
 ufacturing all the lumber fi-om these grand old for- 
 ests, is to solve the questions in the race of State 
 prosperity and general wealth among the people. 
 When free labor supplanted slave labor what a won- 
 derful advance it gave the whole section; when in- 
 telligent skilled labor supplants ignorance and un- 
 skilled labor, what a transcendent golden epoch 
 will dawn. There is plenty of capital to-day in the 
 State, if it was only jjut in proper co-operative 
 form, to promote the establishment of manu- 
 factories that would liberally reward the stock- 
 holders, and make them and Arkansas the richest 
 people in the world. Such will attract hundreds of 
 thousands of intelligent and capable wage workers 
 from tlie North, from all over the world, as well as 
 the nimble-witted farm labor in the gardens, the 
 orchards, the fields and the cotton plantations. This 
 will bring and add to the present profits on a bale 
 of cotton, the far richer dividend on stocks in fac- 
 tories, banks, railroads and all that golden stream 
 which is so much of modern increase in wealth. 
 The people of Arkansas may just as well have this 
 incalculable abundance as to not have it, and at the 
 same time pay enormous premiums to others to come 
 and reap the golden harvests. Competent labor- 
 ers — skilled wage workers, the brawn and brain 
 of the land — are telling of their unrest in strikes, 
 lockouts, combinations and counter combinations; 
 io short, in the conflict of labor and capital, they 
 are appealing strongly to be allowed to come to 
 Arkansas — not to enter the race against ignorant, 
 incapable labor, but simply to find employment and 
 homes, where in comfort and plenty they can rear 
 their families, and while enriching themselves to 
 return profits a thousand fold. Don't fret and 
 mope away your lives looking and longing for capi- 
 tal to enter and develop your boundless resources. 
 Capital is a royal good thing, but remember it is 
 even a better thing in your own pockets than in 
 some other piu-sou's. Open the way for proper, 
 useful labor to come and find emj)loyment ; each 
 department, no matter how small or humble the 
 beginning, once started will grow rapidly, and the 
 problem will have been solved. Onlj^ by the North 
 taking the raw product of the South and putting it 
 in the hands of skilled labor has their enormous 
 
k_ 
 
 -—4-^.. 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 47 
 
 capital been secured. The protits on high priced 
 Labor will always far excel that oa ignorant or cheap 
 workmen. The time is now when this kind of 
 labor and the small farmers and gardeners are 
 awaiting a bidding to enter Arkansas. When the 
 forlorn hope returned from the late war, they met 
 the stern necessity, and demonstrated the fact that 
 here, at least, the people can create their own capi- 
 tal. Let them now anticipate the future by this 
 heroic triumph of the past. The Gods help those 
 only who help themselves. 
 
 "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, 
 
 but in ourselves." 
 
 To the Northern home- seeker the thing of tirst 
 importance is to tell of the temperate climate at all 
 seasons, and its extraordinary healthfulness, cur- 
 ing him of the false idea spread so wide that the 
 topography of the State is seen from the decks 
 of steamers, or on the lines of railroad which are 
 built along the .swamps and slashes, mostly on ac- 
 count of the easy grades on these lines. Then show 
 from the records the low rate of taxation and the 
 provisions of the law by which high taxation is for- 
 ever prevented. From this preliminary may be 
 unfolded to him some of the wonderful natural re- 
 sources which are awaiting development. Here 
 both tongue and pen will fall far short of telling all 
 or nearly all. In climate, health, soil, timber, 
 minerals, coal, rocks, clays, marls, sand, navigable 
 streams, mineral and fresh waters, Arkansas may 
 challenge any similar sized spot on the globe. It 
 has more miles of navigable streams than any other 
 State in the Union, and these are so placed as to 
 give the whole territory the advantages thereof, as 
 though the engineers had located them. It has 
 unequaled water power — the Mammoth Spring 
 alone furnishing enough water power to propel all 
 the machinery west of the Mississippi River. The 
 topograj)hy of the State is one of its most inviting 
 features. Its variety in this respect is only equaled 
 by the diversity of its soils. The traveler who in 
 approaching this section concludes that it consists 
 chiefly of swamp bottoms, and water-covered 
 slashes, may readily learn from the records that 
 three-quarters of the State's .surface is uplands, 
 ranging from the gentle swells of prairie and 
 
 woodland to the grandly beautiful mountain scen- 
 ery; and on the mountain benches, and at the base, 
 are as rich and beautiful valleys as are kissed by the 
 rays of the sun in his season's round. Take the 
 whole range of agricultural products of Ohio, Ind- 
 iana, Illinois and Kansas, and all can lie produced 
 (piite as well in Arkansas as in any of these States. 
 In the face of this fact, for more than a genera- 
 tion Arkansas raised scarcely any of the products 
 of these Northern communities, but importeil such 
 as it had to have. It could not spare its lands from 
 the cultivation of the more profitable crops of 
 cotton. In a word, the truth is the State was bur- 
 dened with natural wealth — this and slave labor 
 having clogged the way and impeded its progress. 
 With less labor, more cotton per acre and ])erhand, 
 on an average, has been produced in Arkansas than 
 in any other Southern State, and its quality has been 
 such as to win the prize wherever it has been en- 
 tered in competition. Its reputation as a fruit- 
 growing State is not excelled. In the New Orleans 
 Exposition, in California. Ohio and everywhere en- 
 tered, it has taken the premium over all competi- 
 tors. Its annual rainfall exceeds that of any South - 
 era State, and it cannot, therefore, suffer seriously 
 from drouths. There is not a spot upon the globe 
 which, if isolated from all outside of its limits, 
 could .sustain in health and all the civilized comforts 
 a population as large as might Arkansas. Fifty 
 thousand people annually come hither and are 
 cured, and yet a general nebulous idea prevails 
 among many in the North that the health <md cli- 
 mate of the State are not good. The statistics of 
 the United States Medical Department show the 
 mortality rate at Little Rock to be less than at any 
 other occupied military post in the coimtry. There 
 is malaria in portions of the State, but considering 
 the vast bottom stretches of timber-land, and the 
 newness of the country's settlement, it is a remark- 
 able fact that there is less of this .disease here 
 than in Pennsylvania; while all the severer diseases 
 of the New England and Northern States, such as 
 rheumatism, consumption, catarrh and blood poi- 
 son, are always relieved and generally cured in 
 Arkansas; malignant scarlet fever and diphtheria 
 have never yet appeared. That dreadful deciruator, 
 
e k^ 
 
 48 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 yellow fever, has only visited the eastern portion of 
 the State, but in every case it was brought from 
 abroad, and has never prevailed in this locality as an 
 epidemic. Therefore, the largest factories, schools 
 and universities in the world should be here. The 
 densest population, the busiest haunts of men, will 
 inevitably come where their rewards will be great- 
 est — the struggle for life less severe. Five hun- 
 dred inhabitants to the square mile will not put to 
 the full test the limitless resources of this wonder- 
 ful commonwealth. Ten months of summer with- 
 out one torrid day, with invariable cool and re- 
 freshing nights, and two mouths only of winter, 
 where a man can work out of doors every day in 
 the year in comfort, with less cost in physician's 
 bills, expense in food, clothing and housing, are 
 some of the inducements the State offers to the 
 poor man. There are millions of acres of fertile 
 lands that are offered almost without money and 
 without price; land nearly any acre of which is 
 worth more intrinsically than any other similar 
 sized body of land in the world. There are 
 5,000,000 acres of government lands in the State, 
 and 2,000,000 acres of Stiite lands. The rainfall in 
 1880 was 40.38; average mean temperature, 58.7"; 
 highest, 97.8°; lowest, above zero, 7.6°. Of the 
 33,500,000 acres in the State there are soils richer 
 and deeper than the Nile; others that excel the 
 alluvial corn belt of the Northern States; others 
 thatmay successfully compete with the noted Cuba 
 or James River, Virginia, tobacco red soil districts, 
 or the most noted vineyards of France or Italy. 
 Here is the land of wine and silk, where side by side 
 will grow the corn and the fig— the land overhung 
 with the soft, blue skies, and decked with flowers, 
 the air laden with the rich perfumes of the magno- 
 lias, on the topujost pinnacle of whose branches the 
 Southern mocking-bird by day and by night swells 
 its throat with song — 
 
 " Where all, save the spiril ol iiiau. is (iiviiio." 
 
 The artificial and local causes which have ob- 
 structed the State's prosperity are now forever 
 gone. There is yet the unsolved problem of the 
 political negi-o, but this is in Illinois, Kansas and 
 Ohio, exactly as it is in Arkansas. It is onlv the 
 
 ^^ 
 
 common problem to the Anglo-Saxon of the United 
 States, which, in the future as in the past, after 
 many mistakes and even great wi-ongs, he will for- 
 ever settle and for the best. Throw politics to the 
 winds; only remember to profit by the mistakes of 
 the North in inviting immigration, and thereby 
 avoid the ominous presence of anarchism, socialism, 
 and those conditions of social life latent in ' ' the 
 conflict of labor and capital." These are some of 
 the portentous problems now confronting the older 
 States that are absent from Arkansas^ they should 
 be kept away, by the knowledge that such ugly 
 conditions are the fanged whelps of the great 
 brood of American demagogues — overdoses of 
 politics, washed down by too much universal vot- 
 ing. It is of infinitely more importance to guard 
 tax-receipts than the ballot boxes. When vice and 
 ignorance vote their own destruction, there need be 
 no one to compassionate their miseries, but always 
 where taxes run high, people's liberties run low. 
 The best government governs the least — the freest 
 government taxes the least. 
 
 Offer premiums to the immigration of well- 
 informed, expert labor, and small farmers, dairy- 
 men, gardeners and horticulturists and small trad- 
 ers. Let the 7,000,000 acres of government and 
 State lands be given in forty-acre tracts to the 
 heads of families, who will come and occupy them. 
 Instead of millions of dollars in donations to great 
 corporations and capitalists, give to that class which 
 will create capital, develop the State, and enrich 
 all the people. Railroads and capitalists will fol- 
 low these as water runs down the hill. Arkansas 
 needs railroads — ten thousand miles yet — it needs 
 great factories, great cities, universities of learn- 
 ing and, forsooth, millionaires. But its first and 
 greatest needs are small farmers, practical toil- 
 ers, skilled mechanics, and scattered all over the 
 State beginnings in each of the various manufac- 
 tures; the beginnings, in short, of that auspicious 
 hour when it ceases to ship any of its raw mate- 
 rials. It is a law of life, that, in a society where 
 there are few millionaires, there are few paupers. 
 Where the capital of a country is gathered in vast 
 aggregations in the possession of a few. there the 
 children cry for bread — the poor constantly in- 
 
 =:x: 
 
J, 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 49 
 
 crease, wages fall, employment too often fails, and 
 the hoarse mutterings of parading mobs and bread 
 riots take the places of the laughter and the sougs 
 of the laborers to and from the shops and the 
 fields. 
 
 The following from the government official re- 
 ports of the growth and value of the manufactures 
 of the State is to be understood as reaching only 
 to 1880, when it had but commenced to emerge 
 from the old into the new life: 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DO 
 
 m 
 
 
 9) 
 
 B 
 
 n 
 
 n 
 
 S 
 
 a 
 
 00 
 
 
 3 
 
 Year. 
 
 x: 
 
 'S. 
 
 13 
 
 
 •o 
 
 S 
 
 sQ 
 
 £ 
 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 S 
 
 & 
 
 ja 
 
 fe 
 
 
 0) 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 w 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 > 
 
 ^ 
 
 1860 
 
 261 
 
 $ 305,045 
 
 812 
 
 30 
 
 
 $150,876 
 554,240 
 fi73,96i 
 925,358 
 
 8 215 789 
 
 $ 537,908 
 2,880,-578 
 4,629,234 
 6,756,159 
 
 1860 
 
 518 
 
 1,316,610 
 1,782,913 
 2,953,130 
 
 1,831 
 3,077 
 4,307 
 
 46 
 
 
 1/280.M3 
 2,506,998 
 4,392,080 
 
 1870 
 
 1,070 
 
 47 
 
 fi? 
 
 1880 
 
 1,202 
 
 90 
 
 160 
 
 
 Ideas of values are most easily reached by com- 
 parisons. The following figures, taken from offi- 
 cial government reports, explain themselves: 
 
 Value of 
 Farms. 
 
 Machinery 
 
 Live Stock. 
 
 Producls. 
 
 
 $ 74,249,6.55 
 105,932.541 
 507,430,227 
 235,178,631 
 193,724,260 
 
 $ 4.637,497 
 7,8211,915 
 
 29,371,884 
 9,734.6.34 
 
 13,089,783 
 
 8 20.472,426 
 3.3,440,26.1 
 124.71,5,103 
 
 S43 796 ''6* 
 
 
 31,708,914 
 36,103.073 
 
 
 
 Minnesota , 
 
 31,904,821 49,468,967 
 
 The products are the profits on the capital in- 
 vested. Words can add nothing to these figures 
 in demonstrating the superiority of Arkansas as 
 an agricultural State, except the explanation that 
 Southern farming is yet more or less carried on 
 under the baneful influences of the days of slavery, 
 unintentional indifference and the absence of 
 watchful attention by the proprietor. 
 
 Cotton grows finely in all parts of this com- 
 monwealth and heretofore in two-thirds of its terri- 
 tory it has been the main crop. In the fertile 
 bottoms the product per acre has reached as high 
 as 2,000 pounds of seed cotton, while on the 
 uplands it runs fi-om 600 to 1,000 pounds. The 
 census of 1880 shows that Arkansas produces more 
 cotton per acre, and at less expense, than any of 
 the so-called cotton States. In 1880 the yield 
 was TjOS. 256 bales, grown on 1,042,970 acres. That 
 
 year Georgia raised 814,441 bales, on 2,617,138 
 acres. The estimated cost per acre of raising cot- 
 ton is $0. It will thus be seen that it cost 
 $9,444,972 in Georgia to raise 256,185 more bales 
 of cotton than Arkansas had grown — much more 
 than double the land to produce less than one- 
 fourth more cotton. Less than one-twentieth of 
 the cotton land of the latter State has been brought 
 under cultivation. 
 
 The superiority of cotton here is attested by 
 the fact that the greatest cotton thread manufact- 
 urers in the world prefer the Arkansas cotton to 
 any other in the market. The product has for 
 years carried off the first prizes over the world's 
 competition. 
 
 The extra census bulletin, 1880, gives the yield 
 of corn, oats and wheat products in Arkansas for 
 that year as follows: Corn, 24,156,517 bushels; 
 oats, 2,219.824 bushels; wheat, 1,269,730 bushels. 
 Remembering that this is considered almost ex- 
 clusively a cotton State, these figures of the cereals 
 will be a genuine surprise. More wheat is grown 
 by 40, 000 bushels and nearly three times as much 
 corn as were raised in all New England, according 
 to the official figures for that year. 
 
 From the United States agricultural reports are 
 obtained these interesting statistics concerning the 
 money value of farm crops per acre: 
 
 
 Corn. 
 
 Rye. 
 
 0at«. 
 
 Potatoes.! 
 
 Hay. 
 
 Illinois 
 
 1 6 77 
 
 8 80 
 
 11 52 
 
 6 44 
 
 7 52 
 7 91 
 
 11 SI 
 
 $ 6 64 
 
 7 30 
 9 08 
 5 98 
 5 16 
 7 32 
 9 51 
 
 $ 6 46 $30 32 
 
 5 92i ;«) 08 
 7 90 34 4S 
 
 6 12 37 40 
 5 34 43 .50 
 5 78i 28 08 
 
 11 07 78 631 
 
 1 7 66 
 7 66 
 
 Ohio 
 
 9 85 
 
 
 17 TO 
 
 
 
 14 95 
 
 Arkansas 
 
 33 94 
 
 The following is the average cash value per 
 acre on all crops taken together: 
 
 Maine $13 51 
 
 New Hampshire.... 13 .56 
 
 Vermont 11 60 
 
 Massachusetts 26 71 
 
 Hhoile Island 29 32 
 
 Connecticut 10 82 
 
 New York 14 15 
 
 New Jersey 18 05 
 
 Penns3'lvania 17 68 
 
 Delaware 15 80 
 
 Maryland 17 82 
 
 VirC'inia 10 91 
 
 Xorlh Carolina $10 79 
 
 Soiilh Carolina 10 Oil 
 
 Georf;ia 10 35 
 
 Florida 8 52 
 
 Alabama 13 49 
 
 Mississippi 14 76 
 
 Louisiana 22 40 
 
 Arkansas 20 40 
 
 Tcnne.ssee 12 39 
 
 West Vir<rinia 12 74 
 
 Kentucky 13 58 
 
 Ohio 15 68 
 
 ^ ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 IZ 
 
50 
 
 HISTORY OF AKKANSAS. 
 
 Michigan Sl8 96 
 
 Indiana 14 66 
 
 Illinois 13 47 
 
 Wisconsin 13 80 
 
 Minnesota 10 29 
 
 Iowa 8 88 
 
 Missouri 10 78 
 
 Kansas f 9 11 
 
 Nebraska 8 60 
 
 Calilornia 17 18 
 
 Oregon 17 11 
 
 Nevada.Colorado and 
 
 the Territories 16 13 
 
 Texas 14 69 
 
 The advance of horticulture in the past decade 
 in the State has been extraordinary. Twenty years 
 ago its orchard products amounted to very little. 
 By the census reports of 1880, the total yield of 
 fruit was SS07, 426. This was S 1 00, 000 more than 
 the yield of Florida, with all the hitter's immense 
 orange groves. As universally as has the State 
 been misunderstood, it is probably in reference 
 to its fruits and berries that the greatest errors 
 have long existed. If one visits the apple and 
 peach regions of the North, it is found to be the gen- 
 eral belief that Arkansas is too far south to pro- 
 duce either, whereas the truth is that, especially 
 in apples, it has no equal either in the United 
 States or in the world. This fact was first brought 
 to public attention at the World's Fair, at New 
 Orleans, 1884-85, where the Arkansas exhibit was 
 by far the finest ever made, and the State was 
 awarded the first premium, receiving the World's 
 medal and a special notice by the awarding com- 
 mittee. Thus encouraged, the State was repre- 
 sented at the meeting of the American Pomological 
 Society, in Boston, in September, 1887. Sixty- 
 eight varieties of Arkansas seedling apples were in 
 the exhibit, to contend with all tlic champion fruit 
 growers of the globe. The State won the Wilder 
 medal, which is only given by reason of extraor- 
 dinary merit, and in addition to this was awarded 
 the first premium for the largest and best collection 
 of apples, consisting of 128 varieties. 
 
 The collection which won the Boston prizes was 
 then shipped to Little Rock, and after being on 
 exhibition there twenty days, was re-packed and 
 shipped to the National Horticultural meeting in 
 California, which met at Riversid(!, February 7, 
 1888. Arkansas again won the first prize, invad- 
 ing the very home of Pomona, and bearing off the 
 first honors as it had in eastern and northern sec- 
 tions of the Union. The ' ' Arkansas Shannon ' ' 
 is pronounced by competent judges to be the finest 
 apple now grown anywhere. 
 
 Strawberries are another late discovery of the 
 resom-ces of Arkansas. The yield and quality are 
 very superior. So rapidly has the industry grown 
 that, during the fruit season, the Iron Mountain 
 road runs a special daily fruit train, leaving Little 
 Rock late in the afternoon and reaching St. Louis 
 early the next morning. This luscious product, of 
 remarkal)le size, ripens about the first of April. 
 
 Of all cultivated fruit the grape has held its 
 place in poetry and song, in sacred and profane 
 history, as the first. It finds in Arkansas the same 
 conditions and climate of its native countries, 
 between Persia and India. The fruit and its wine 
 produced here are said by native and foreign 
 experts to eqiial, if not surpass, the most famous of 
 Italy or France. The vines are always healthy 
 and the fruit perfect. The wild muscadine and 
 scuppernong grow vines measuring thirty -eight 
 and one-half inches around, many varieties fruit- 
 ing here to perfection that are not on the open air 
 lists at all further north. 
 
 The nativity of the peach is the same as that 
 of the grape, and it, too, therefore, takes as kindly 
 to the soil here as does the vine. Such a thing as 
 budded jieach trees are of very recent date, and as 
 a consequence the surprises of the orchardists in re- 
 spect to this fruit are many. Some of the varieties 
 ripen in May, and fo far every kind of budded 
 peaches Ijrought from the North, both the tree and 
 the fruit, have improved by the transplanting. 
 The vigor of the trees seems to baffle the borers, 
 and no curled leaves have yet been noticed. In 
 quality and quantity the product is most encourag- 
 ing, and the next few years will see a marked 
 advance in this industry. 
 
 For fifty years after the settlement of the State 
 peach seedlings were grown, and from these, as in 
 the case of the apple, new and superior varieties 
 have been started, noted for size, flavor, abundance 
 and never failing crops. 
 
 The Chickasaw plum is so far the most sl^c- 
 cessfully grown, and is the best. It is a perfected 
 fruit easily cultivated, and is fi-ee from the curculio, 
 while the trees are healthy and vigorous beyond 
 other localities. 
 
 In vegetables and fruits, except the tropical 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 plants, Arkansas is the banner State. In the fruit 
 and vegetable kingdom there is found in luxuriant 
 growth everything in the long list from corn to the 
 
 The yield and quality of Arkansas tobacco is 
 remarkable wlieii it ia remembered that this indus- 
 try has received so little attention. Thirty years 
 ago State Geologist Owen informed the people 
 that he found here th(> same, if not better, tobacco 
 soil, than the most favored districts of Cuba. The 
 yield of tobacco, in 1880, was 970,230 pounds. 
 Yet so little attention or experiment has been given 
 the sul)ject that an experimental knowledge of the 
 State's resources in this respect cannot be claimed 
 to have been gained. 
 
 In 1880 the State produced: Barley, 1,952 
 bushels; buckwheat, 548 bushels; rye, 22,387 
 bushels; hay. 23,295 tons; Irish potatoes, 492,627 
 bushels; sweet potatoes, 881,260 bushels. 
 
 From the census reports of the same year are 
 gleaned the following: Horses, total, 146.333 
 mules and asses, 87,082; working oxen, 25,444 
 milch cows, 249,407; other cattle, 433,392; sheep 
 246,757; swine, 1,565,098; wool, 557,368 pounds 
 milk, 316,858 gallons; butter, 7,790,013 pounds 
 cheese, 26,310 pounds. All parts of the State are 
 finely adapted to stock-raising. The excellence 
 and abundance of pure water, the heavy growth of 
 blue grass, the cane brakes and abundant mast, 
 sustain the animals dui'ing most of the winter 
 in marketable condition. In respect to all domes- 
 tic animals here are presented the same conditions 
 as in nearly every line of agriculture — cheapness 
 of growth and excellence of quality. 
 
 The improvement in cattle has been retarded 
 by the now conceded fact that the "Texas fever" 
 is asserted by some to be seated in the State. 
 This affects Northern cattle when imported, while 
 it has no effect on native animals. Except for this 
 unfortunate reality there would be but little time 
 lost in developing here the great dairy industry of 
 the country. But good graded cattle are now 
 being raised in every portion, and so rich is the 
 locality in this regard that in stock, as in its fniits, 
 care and attention will ])roduce new varieties of 
 unrivaled excellence. Arkansas is the natural home 
 
 and breeding ground of animals, all growing to 
 groat perfection, with loss care and the least cost. 
 
 Taxes here are not high. The total taxation in 
 Illinois in 1880, assessed on real and personal 
 property, as per census reports, for State, county 
 and all civil divisions less than counties, was 
 $24,586,018; the same year in Arkansas the total 
 tax was $1,839,090. Farm lands are decreasing 
 in value in Illinois nearly as fa.st as they are in 
 creasing in Arkansas. The total taxation in the 
 United States in 1880 was the enormous sum of 
 $312,750,721. Northern cities are growing, while 
 their rural population is lessening. The reverse 
 of this is the best for a State. The source of ruin 
 to past nations and civilizations has all arisen 
 from an abuse of the taxing powers. Excessive 
 taxation can only end in general ruin. This 
 simple but great lesson should be instilled into the 
 minds of all youths, crystallized into the briefest 
 maxim, and written over every threshold in the 
 land; hung in the porches of every institution of 
 learning; imprinted upon every plow handle and 
 emblazoned on the trees and jutting rocks. The 
 State that has taxed its people to build a $25. - 
 000,000 State house, has given deep shame to the 
 intelligence of this age. Taxes are the insidious 
 destroyer of nations and all liberty, and it is only 
 those freemen who jealously guard against this 
 evil who will for any length of time maintain their 
 independence, equality or manhood. 
 
 The grade proiilo of the Momj)his Route shows 
 the elevations of the various cities and towns 
 along that line to be as follows in feet, the datnna 
 plane being tide water of the Gulf of Mexico: 
 Kansas City, 765; Rosedale, 825; Merriam, 900; 
 Lenexa. 1,040: Olathe, 1.060: Bonita. 1,125: 
 Ocheltree, 1,080; Spring Hill, 1.020; Hillsdale. 
 900; Paola, 800; Pendleton, 855; Fontana, 925; 
 La Cygne, 840; Barnard, 810; Pleasanton, 865; 
 Miami, 910; Prescott, 880; Fulton. 820: Ham- 
 mond, 875; Fort Scott, 860; Clarksburg, 885; 
 Garland, 865; all in Kansas; Arcadia, 820; 
 Liberal, 875; lantha, 990; Lamar, 1,000: Keno- 
 ma, 980; Golden City, 1,025; Lockwood, 1,065; 
 South Greenfield, 1,040; Everton. 1,000; Ash 
 ; Grove. l,02(t: Boisd'Arc. 1.250; Campbells, 1,290; 
 
Nichols Junction, 1,280; Springfield, 1.300; Tur- 
 ner, 1,210; Rogersville, 1,475; Fordland, 1,600; 
 Seymour, 1,680; Cedar Gap, 1,685; Mansfield, 
 1,520; Norwood, 1.510; Mountain Grove. 1.525; 
 Cabool, 1,250; Sterling, 1,500; Willow Springs, 
 1,400; Burnham, 1,360; Olden, 1,280; West 
 Plains, 950; Brandsville. 1,000; Koshkonong, 970; 
 Thayer, last point in Missouri, 575; Mammoth 
 
 I Spring. Ark., 485; Afton, 410; Hardy, 370; Willi- 
 ford, 330; Ravenden, 310; Imboden, 300; Black 
 Rock, 290; Portia, 285; Hoxie, 295; Sedgwick, 
 270: Bonnerville, 320; Jonesboro, 275; Nettleton, 
 250; Big Bay Siding, 250; Hatchie Coon, 250; 
 Marked Tree, 250; Tyronza, 240; Gilmore, 225; 
 Clarketon, 240; Marion, 235; West Memphis, 200; 
 Memphis, 280. 
 
 flllfli. 
 
 ♦^v-^* 
 
 Politics— Importance of the Subject— The Two Old Schools of Politicians— Triumph of the 
 
 Jacksonians— Early Prominent State Politicians— The Great Question of Secession 
 
 —The -State Votes to Join the Confederacy— Horror of the War Period— 
 
 The Recon.struction Distress— The Baxtek-Brooks Embroglio. 
 
 In knots tliej- sUmd, or in a rank they walk. 
 
 Serious in aspect, earnest iu their talk; 
 
 Factions, and favouring this or t'other side, 
 
 As their weak fancy or strong reason guide.— Lri/den. 
 
 N one sense there is no 
 portion of the history of 
 ^'iSrk'"^ Arkansas more instructive 
 ^&:f~ than its political history, 
 because in this is the key 
 to the character of many 
 of its institutions, as well 
 as strong indications of the trend of 
 the pulilic mind, and the characteris- 
 tics of those men who shaped public 
 affairs and controlled very largely in 
 ,^ M iy the State councils. 
 
 ^^^^ Iinmodiately upon the formation 
 of the Territorial government, the Presi- 
 dent of the United States sent to Ar- 
 kansas Post Gov. James Miller, Robert 
 Crittenden, secretary, and C. Jouett, 
 Robert P. Letcher and Andrew Scott, judges, to 
 organize the new Territorial government. Gov. 
 Miller, it seems, gave little attention to his office. 
 
 and therefore in all the early steps of formation 
 Crittenden was the acting governor; and from the 
 force of character he possessed, and his superior 
 strength of mind, it is fair to conclude that he 
 dominated almost at will the early public affairs 
 of Arkansas. 
 
 This was at the time of the beginning of the 
 political rivalry between Clay and Jackson, two of 
 the most remarkable types of great political lead- 
 ers this country has produced — Henry Clay, the 
 superb; "Old Hickory," the man of iron; the one 
 as polished a gem as ever glittered in the political 
 heavens — the other the great diamond in the 
 rough, who was of the people, and who drew his 
 followers with bands of steel. These opposites 
 wore destined to clash. It is well for the country 
 that they did. 
 
 Robert Crittenden was a brother of John J. 
 Crittenden, of Kentucky, and by some who knew 
 him long and well he was deemed not only his 
 
 ^' 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS 
 
 53 
 
 brother's peer, but in many respects his intellect- 
 ual superior. It goes without the saying, he was a 
 born Whig, who, in Kentucky's snp«r-loyal fash- 
 ion, had Clay for his idol, and, to put it mildly, 
 Jackson to dislike. 
 
 President Monroe had appointed the first Terri- 
 torial officers, but the fact that Crittenden was 
 secretary is evidence that polities then were not 
 running very high. Monroe was succeeded in 
 1824 by John Quincy Adams. It would seem that 
 in the early days in Arkansas, the Whigs stood 
 upon the vantage grounds in many important 
 respects. By the time Adams was inaugurated 
 the war political to the death between Clay and 
 Jackson had begun. But no man looked more care 
 fully after his own interests than Jackson. He 
 had large property possessions just across the line 
 in Tennessee, besides property in Arkansas. He 
 induced, from his ranks in his own State, some 
 young men of promise to come to Arkansas.- The 
 prize now was whether this should be a Whig 
 or Democratic State. President Adams turned 
 out Democratic officials and put in Whigs, and 
 Robert Crittenden for a long time seemed to hold 
 the State in his hand. Jackson's superiority as a 
 leader over Clay is manifested in the struggles 
 between the two in Arkansas. Clay's followers 
 here were men after his fashion, as were Jackson's 
 men after his mold. Taking Robert Crittenden 
 as the best type, he was but little inferior to Clay 
 himself in his magnetic oratory and purity of prin- 
 ciples and public life; while Jackson sent here 
 the Seviers, Conways and Rectors, men of the 
 people, but of matchless resolution and personal 
 force of character. No two great commanders 
 ever had more faithful or able lieutenants than 
 were the respective champions of Old Hickory 
 and Harry of the West, in the formative days of 
 the State of Arkansas. The results were, like 
 those thoughout the Union, that Jackson triumphed 
 in the hard strife, and Arkansas entered the Union, 
 by virtue of a bill introduced by James Buchanan, 
 as a Jackson State, and has never wavered in its 
 political integrity. 
 
 As an evidence of the similarity of the con- 
 tests and respective leaders of the two parties 
 
 here to those throughout the country, it is only 
 necessary to point out that Crittenden drew to 
 his following such men as Albert Pike, a genius 
 of the loftiest and most versatile gifts the country 
 has so far produced, while Jackson, ever supplying 
 reinforcements to his captains, sent among others, 
 as secretary of the Territory, Lewis Randolph, 
 grandson of Thomas Jefferson, and whose wife 
 was pretty Betty Martin, of the White House, a 
 niece of Jackson's. Randolph settled in H(>mp- 
 stead County when it was an unbroken wilder- 
 ness, and his remains are now resting there in an 
 unknown grave. 
 
 Clay, it seems, could dispatch but little addi- 
 tional force to his followers, even when he saw they 
 were the hardest pressed by the triumphant onemj'. 
 There was not much by which one could draw 
 comparisons between Clay and Jackson — unless 
 it was tiieir radical difference. As a great ora- 
 tor. Clay has never been excelled, and he lived in 
 a day when the open sesame to the world's de- 
 lights lay in the silver tongue; but Jackson was 
 a hero, a great one, who inspired other born 
 heroes to follow him even to the death. 
 
 Arkansas was thus started permanently along 
 the road of triumphant democracy, from which 
 it never would have varied, except for the war 
 times that Ijrought to the whole country such con- 
 fusion and political chaos. Being a Jackson 
 State, dominated by the blood of the first governor 
 of Tennessee — Gen. John Sevier, a man little in- 
 ferior to Jackson himself — it was only the most 
 cruel circumstance that could force the State into 
 secession. When the convention met on the 4th 
 of March, 1861, " on the state of the Union," its 
 voice was practically unanimous for the Union, 
 and that body passed a series of as loyal resolu- 
 tions as were ever penned, then adjourning to 
 meet again in the May following. The conven- 
 tion met May 0, but the war was upon the coun- 
 try, and most of the Gulf States had seceded. 
 Every one knew that war was inevitable: it was 
 already going on. bnt very few realized its immen- 
 sity. The convention did not rush hastily into 
 secession. An ordinance of secession was intro- 
 duced, and for days, and into the nights, run- 
 
 
54 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ning into the small liours, the matter was delib- 
 erated upoa — no prelimiuary test vote was forced 
 to an issue. Delegates were present in anxious 
 attendance from the Carolinas, Alabama and 
 Georgia. They knew that the fate of their action 
 largely depended upon the attitude of Arkansas. 
 If Arkansas voted no, then the whole secession 
 mov(!ment would receive a severe blow. The after- 
 noon before the final vote, which was to take place 
 in the evening, these commissioners from other 
 States had made up their minds that Arkansas 
 might possil)ly vote down secession. When the con- 
 vention adjourned for supper, they held a hurried 
 consultation, and freely expressed their anxiety 
 at the outlook. It was understood that the dis- 
 cussion was closed, and the night session was 
 wholly for the purpose of taking a vote. All was 
 uncertainty and intense excitement. Expressions 
 of deepest attachment to the Union and the old 
 flag were heard. The most fiery and vehement 
 of the secessionists in the body were cautious and 
 deliberative. There was but little even of vehe- 
 ment detestation of the abolitionists — a thing as 
 natural then for a Southern man to despise as 
 hatred is natural to a heated brain. 
 
 At a late hour in the evening, amid the most 
 solemn silence of the crowded hall, an informal 
 vote was taken. All except six members voted to 
 secede. A suppressed applause followed the 
 announcement of the vote. A hurried, whispered 
 conference went on, and the effort was made to 
 have the result unanimous. Now came the final 
 vote. When the name of Isaac Muri)hy, afterward 
 the military governor, was reached, it was passed 
 and the roll call continued. It was so far unani- 
 mous, with Mr. Murphy's name .still to call. The 
 clerk called it. Mr. Murphy arose and in an 
 earnest and impressive manner in a few words ex- 
 plained the dilemma he was in. but said, "I cannot 
 violate my honest convictions of duty. I vote 
 'No.'" 
 
 When the day of reconstruction began, at first 
 it was under the supervision of the military, and 
 it is yet the greatest pity that Congress did not let 
 the military alon(> to rehabilitate the States they had 
 conquered. Isaac Murphy was made governor. 
 
 No truer Union man lived than he. He knew the 
 people, and his two years of government were 
 fast curing the wounds of war. But he was 
 turned out of ofi&ce. 
 
 The right to vote compels, if it is to be other 
 than an evil, some correct and intelligent under- 
 standing of the form of government prevailing in 
 the United States, and of the elementary prin- 
 ciples of political economy. The ability to read 
 and write, own property, go to Congress or edit a 
 political jDaper, has nothing to do with it, no more 
 than the color of the skin, eyes or hair of the voter. 
 The act of voting itself is the sovereign act in the 
 economic affairs of the State; but if the govern- 
 ment under its existing form is to endure, the 
 average voter must understand aad appreciate the 
 fundamental principles which, in the providence 
 of God, have made the United States the admira- 
 tion of the world. 
 
 Arkansas, the Democratic State, was in political 
 disquiet from 1861 to 1874 — th? beginning of the 
 war and the end of reconstruction. When in the 
 hands of Congress it was returned at every regular 
 election as a Republican party State. The lirief 
 story of the political Moses who led it out of the 
 wilderness is of itself a strange and interesting 
 commentary on self government. 
 
 When the war came there lived in Batesville 
 Elisha Baxter, a young lawyer who had been 
 breasting only financial misfortunes all his life. 
 Utterly failing as a farmer and merchant, he had 
 been driven to study law and enter the practice 
 to make a living. An honest, kind-hearted, good 
 man, loving his neighbor as himself, but a patriot 
 every inch of him, and loving the Union above all 
 else, his heart was deeply grieved when he saw 
 his adopted State had declared for secession. He 
 could not be a diaunionist, no more than he could 
 turn upon his neighbors, friends and fellow-citi- 
 zens of Arkansas. He determined to wash his 
 hands of it all and remain quietly at home. Like 
 all others he knew nothing of civil war. His 
 neighbors soon drove him from his home and 
 family, and, to save his life, he went to the North- 
 ern army, then in Southern Missouri. He was 
 welcomed and offered a commission in the Federal 
 
 3<i; 
 
 :tz 
 
2iJf 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 55 
 
 army and an opportunity to rotiirn to his State. 
 He declined the offer; he could not turn and shed 
 the blood of his old neighbors and former friends. 
 In the vicissitudes of war this non couibatunt was 
 captured by an Arkansas command, paroled and 
 ordered to report to the military authorities at Lit- 
 tle Rock. He made his way thither, and was 
 thrown into a military prison and promptly indicted 
 for high treason. Then only ho began to under- 
 stand the temper of the times, for the chances of 
 his being hanged were probably as a thousand to 
 one to acquittal. In this extremity he broke jail 
 and fled. He again reached the Northern army 
 in which he accepted a commission, and returned 
 to his old home in Batesville, remaining in mili- 
 tary command of the place. He was actively 
 engaged in recruiting the Union men of Northern 
 Arkansas and forming them into regiments. It 
 goes without saying that Baxter never raised a 
 hand to strike back at those who had so deeply 
 wronged him, when their positions were reversed 
 and he had the power in his hands. 
 
 At the fall election, 1871, Baxter was the regu- 
 lar Republican candidate for governor, and Joseph 
 Brooks was the Independent Republican nom- 
 inee. The Republican party was divided and each 
 
 bid for the Democratic vote by promises to the 
 ex- Confederates. Brooks may have been elected, 
 but was counted out. Baxter was duly inaugu- 
 rated. ^Vhen he had served a year the politicians, 
 it is supposed, who controlled Arkansas, finding 
 they could not use Baxter, or in other words that 
 they had counted in the wrong man, boldly pro- 
 ceeded to undo their own acts, dethrone Baxter and 
 put Brooks in the chair of State. An account of 
 the Baxter-Brooks war is given in another chapter. 
 
 Thus was this man the victim of political cir- 
 cumstances; a patriot, loving his country and his 
 neighbors, he was driven from homo and State; a 
 non-combatant, he was arrested by his own friends 
 as a traitor and the hangman's halter dangled in 
 his face; breaking prison and stealing away like a 
 skulking convict, to return as ruler and master by 
 the omnipotent power of the bayonet; a non-party 
 man, compelled to be a Republican in politics, and 
 finally, as a Republican, fated to lead the Demo- 
 cratic party to success and power. 
 
 The invincible Jacksonian dynasty, built up in 
 Arkansas, with all else of pul)lic institutions went 
 down in the sweep of civil war. It has not been 
 revived as a political institution. But the Demo- 
 cratic party dominates the State as of old. 
 

 50 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 eiiiTiit ¥». 
 
 > ♦ < ' 
 
 Societies, State Institutions, etc.— The Ku Klux Klan— Independent Order of Odd Fellows- 
 .Vncient, Free and Accepted Masons— Grand Army of the Reitislic- Bureau of Mines- 
 Arkansas Agricultural Association.?— State Horticultural Society— The Wheel 
 —The State Capital— The Capitol Building— State Librarie.s— State 
 Medical Society— State Board of Health— Deaf Mute Institute 
 —School for the Blind— Arkansas Lunatic Asylum— Ar- 
 kansas Industrial University— The State Debt. 
 
 Heaven forming each on other to depend. 
 
 A master, or a servant, or a friend. 
 
 Bids each on other for assistance call, 
 
 Till one man's weakness grows the strength of all. 
 
 -Pope. 
 
 'I'.CRET societies are a form of 
 social life and expressiou which, 
 in some mode of existence, 
 antedate even authentic his- 
 tory. Originally a manner 
 of securing defense from the 
 common enemies of tribes 
 and peoples, they have developed 
 into social and eleemosynary insti- 
 tutions as advances in civilization 
 have been made. At first they 
 vpere but a severe necessity, and as 
 that time slowly passed away, they 
 became a luxury and a pleasure, 
 having peculiar and strong attrac- 
 tion to nearly all men. That part of 
 one's nature which loves to lean 
 upon others for aid, even in the social scale, finds 
 its expression in some of the many forms of 
 societies, clubs, organizations or institutions that 
 now pervade nearly all the walks of life. In every 
 day existence, in business, church, state, politics 
 and pleasure, are societies and organizations every- 
 where — for the purposes of gain, charity and 
 
 comfort — indeed, for the sole purpose of finding 
 something to do, would be the acknowledgment of 
 many a society motto. The causes are as diversi- 
 fied as the bodies, secret and otherwise, are 
 numerous. 
 
 The South furnishes a most remarkable instance 
 of the charm there is in mystery to all men, in the 
 rise and spread of the Ku Klux Klan, a few years 
 ago. Three or four yoimg men, in Columbia, 
 Tenn., spending a social evening together, con- 
 cluded to organize a winter's literary society. All 
 had just returned from the war, in which they had 
 fought for the ' ' lost cause, ' ' and found time 
 hanging dull upon them. Each eagerly caught at 
 the idea of a society, and soon they were in the 
 intricacies of the details. Together, from their 
 sparse recollections of their schoolbooks, they 
 evolved the curious name for the society. The 
 name suggested to them that the sport to be 
 derived from it might be increased by making it a 
 secret society. The thing was launched upon this 
 basic idea. In everything connected with it each 
 one was fertile it seems in adding mystery to mys- 
 tery in their meetings and personal movements. 
 
 -—-¥■ 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ■01 
 
 The initiation of a new member was made a grand 
 and rollicking affair. So complete had the mem- 
 bers occasioned their little innocent society to be 
 a mystery, that it became in an astonishingly brief 
 time a greater enigma to themselves than even to 
 outsiders. It swiftly spread from the village to the 
 county, from the county to the State, and over -ran 
 the Southern States like a racing prairie fire, 
 changing in its aims and objects as rapidly as it 
 had grown. From simply frightening the poor 
 night-prowling darkeys, it became a vast and 
 uncontrollable semi-military organization; inflict- 
 ing punishment here, and there taking life, until 
 the State of Tennessee was thrown into utter con- 
 fusion, and the military forces were called out; 
 large rewards were ofPered for the arrest even of 
 women found making any of the paraphernalia of 
 the order. Government detectives sent to pry into 
 their secrets were slain, and a general reign of 
 terror ensued. No rewards could induce a mem- 
 ber to betray his fellows; and the efPorts of the 
 organizers to control the storm they had raised, 
 were as idle as the buzzing of a summer fly. 
 Thousands and thousands of men belonged to 
 it. who knew really little or nothing about it, and 
 who to this day are oblivious of the true history 
 of one of the most remarkable movements of large 
 bodies of men that has ever occurred in this or 
 perhaps any country. It was said by leading 
 members of the order that they could, in twenty- 
 four hours, put tens of thousands of men in line of 
 battle, all fully armed and equipped. It was 
 indeed the "Invisible Empire." By its founders 
 it was as innocent and harmless in its purposes as 
 a Sunday-school picnic, yet in a few weeks it spread 
 and grew until it overshadowed the land — but little 
 else than a bloody, headless riot. The imagina- 
 tions of men on the outside conjured up the most 
 blood-curdling falsehoods as to its doings; while 
 those inside were, it seems, equally fertile in 
 schemes and devices to further mystify people, 
 alarm some and terrify others, and apparently the 
 wilder the story told about them, the more they 
 would enjoy it. Its true history will long give it 
 rank of first importance to the philosophic and 
 careful, painstaking historian. 
 
 Among societies of the present day, that 
 organization known as the Independent Order of 
 Odd Fellows is recognized as a prominent one. The 
 Grand Lodge of the order in Arkansas was organ- 
 ized June 11, 1819. Its first past grand master 
 was John J. Horner, elected in 1854. His succes- 
 sors to date have been as follows : James A. Henry, 
 1858 ; P. O. Hooper, 1859-1800 ; Richard Bragg, 
 Sr., 1802; Peter Brugman, 1807, 1868, 1871; Isaac 
 Eolsom, 1873; Albert Cohen, 1874; John B. Bond, 
 1876; E. B. Moore, 1878; James S. Holmes, 1880: 
 Adam Clark, 1881 ; W. A. Jett, 1882 ; James A. 
 Gibson, 1884 ; George W. Hurley. 1885 ; H. S. 
 Coleman, 1886, and A. S. Jett, 1887. The pres- 
 ent able ofi&cers are K. P. Holt, grand master: 
 J. P. Woolsey, deputy grand master; Louis C. 
 Lincoln, grand warden ; Peter Brugman, grand 
 secretary; H. Ehrenbers, grand treasurer; H. S. 
 Coleman, grand representative; A. S. Jett, grand 
 representative; Rev. L. B. Hawley, grand chap- 
 lain; John R. Richardson, grand marshal; J. G. 
 Parker, grand conductor; "William Mosby, grand 
 guardian ; VV. J. Glenn, grand herald. In the 
 State there are eighty-two lodges and a total mem- 
 bership, reported by the secretary at the October 
 meeting, 1888, of 2,023. The revenue from sub- 
 ordinate lodges amounts to $13,832, while the 
 relief granted aggregates $2,840. There were 
 sixteen Rebekah lodges organized in 1887-88. 
 
 The Masonic fraternity is no less influential 
 in the affairs of every part of the country, than the 
 society just mentioned. There is a tradition — too 
 vague for reliance — that iMasonry was introduced 
 into Ai'kansas by the Spaniards more than 100 
 years ago, and that therefore the first lodge was 
 established at Arkansas Post. Relying, however, 
 upon the records the earliest formation of a lodge 
 of the order was in 1819, when the Grand Lodge 
 of Kentucky granted a dispensation for a lodge at 
 Arkansas Post. Robert Johnson was the first mas- 
 ter. Judge Andrew Scott, a Federal judge in the 
 Territory, was one of its members. But before 
 this lodge received its charter, the seat of govern- 
 ment was removed to Little Rock, and the Arkan- 
 sas Post lodge became extinct. No other lodge 
 was attempted to be established until 1836, when 
 
 a) V 
 
Al 
 
 <5 w. 
 
 -^ 
 
 58 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 a dispensation was granted Washington Lodge No. 
 82, at Fayetteville, October 3, 1837. Onesimus 
 Evans, was master; James McKissick. senior wai'- 
 den; Matbew Leeper, jtinior warden. 
 
 In 1 838 the Grand Lodge of Louisiana granted 
 the second dispensation for a lodge at Arkansas 
 Post— Morning Star Lodge No. 42; the same year 
 granting a charter to Western Star Lodge No. 43, 
 at Little Rock. Of this Edward Cross was master; 
 Charles L. Jeffries, senior warden; Nicholas Peay, 
 junior warden. About this time the Grand Lodge 
 of Alabama granted a charter to Mount Horeb 
 Lodge, of Washington, Hempstead Count}'. 
 
 November 21, 1838, tliese four lodges hold a 
 convention at Little Rock and formed the Grand 
 Lodge of Arkansas. 
 
 The representatives at this convention were: 
 From Washington Lodge No. 82, of Fayetteville, 
 Onesimus Evans, past master; Washington L. Wil- 
 son, Robert Bedford, Abraham ANhinnery, Richard 
 C. S. Brown, Samuel Adams and Williamson S. 
 Oldham. 
 
 From Western Star Lodge No. 43, of Little 
 Bock, William Gilchrist, past master; Charles L. 
 Jeffries, past master; Nicholas Peay. past master; 
 Edward Cross, past master; Thomas Parsol. Alden 
 Sprague and John Morris. 
 
 From Morning Star Lodge No 42, of the Post 
 of Arkansas, John W. Pullen. 
 
 From Mount Horeb Lodge, of Washington, 
 James H. Walker. Allen M. Oakley, Josej)!] \V. Mc- 
 Kean and James Trigg. 
 
 Of this convention John Morris, of Western 
 Star Lodge No. 43, was made secretary. Mi-. 
 Morris is still living (1889), a resident of Auburn, 
 Sebastian County, and is now quite an old man. 
 Mr. John P. Karns, of Little Rock, was in 
 attendance at the convention, although not a dele 
 gate. These two are the only ones surviving who 
 were present on that occasion. 
 
 The Grand Lodge organized by the election of 
 William Gilchrist, grand master; Onesimus Evans, 
 d(»pnty grand master; James H. ^^'alker, grand sen- 
 ior warden; Wa.shington L. Wilson, grand junior 
 warden; Alden Sprague, grand treasurer, and 
 George C. Watkins, grand secretary. 
 
 The constituent lodges, their former charters be- 
 ing extinct by their becoming members of a new jur- 
 isdiction, took new numbers. Washington Lodge, 
 at Fayetteville, became No. 1; Western Star, of 
 Little Rock, l)ecame No. 2; Morning Star, of the 
 Post of Arkansas, became No. 3, and Mount Horeb, 
 of Washington, became No. 4. Of these Wash- 
 ington No. 1, and Western Star No. 2, are in vig- 
 orous life, but Morning Star No. 3, and Mount 
 Horeb No. 4, have become defunct. 
 
 From this beginning of the four lodges, with a 
 membership of probably 100, the Grand Lodge 
 now consists of over 400 lodges, and a member- 
 ship of about 12,000. 
 
 The following are the ofiBcers for the present 
 year: R. H. Taylor, grand master, Hut Springs; 
 J. W. Sorrels, deputy grand master. Farmer, 
 Scott County; D. B. Warren, grand lectui'er, 
 Gainesville; \V. A. Clement, grand orator. Rover, 
 Yell County; W. K. Ramsey, grand senior ward- 
 en, Camden; C. A. Bridewell, grand junior ward- 
 en, Hope; George H. Meade, grand treasurer. Lit- 
 tle Rock; Fay Hempstead, grand secretary. Little 
 Rock; D. D. Leach, grand senior deacon, Augusta; 
 Samuel Peete, grand junior deacon, Batesville; H. 
 W. Brooks, grand chaplain, Hope; John B. Baxter, 
 grand marshal, Brinkley; C. C. Hamby, grand 
 sword bearer. Prescott; S. Solmson, senior grand 
 steward, Pine Bluff: A. T. Wilson, junior grand 
 steward, Eureka Springs; J. C. Churchill, grand 
 pursuivant. Charlotte. Independence County: Ed. 
 Metcalf, grand tyler. Little Rock. 
 
 The first post of the Grand Army of the Repub- 
 lic, Department of Arkansas, was organized under 
 authority from the Illinois Commandery, and called 
 McPherson Post No. 1, of Little Rock. The 
 district then passed undei' command of the Depart- 
 ment of Missouri, and by that authority was or- 
 ganized Post No. 2, at Fort Smith. 
 
 The Provisional Department of Arkansas was 
 organized June 18, 1883, Stephen Wheeler being 
 department commander, and C. M. Vaughan, adju- 
 tant general. A State encampment was called to 
 meet at Fort Smith. July 11, 1883. Six posts were 
 represented in this meeting, when the following 
 State officers were elected: S. Wheeler, com- 
 
 \ 
 
mander; M. Mitchell, senior vice; R. E. Jackson, 
 junior vice; H. Stone, quartermaster, and the 
 following council: John F. Owen, A. S. Fowler, 
 W. \V. Bailey, A. Walrath, Bonton Turner. 
 
 There are now seventy- four posts, with a mem- 
 bership of 2,500, in the State. The present offi- 
 cers are: Department commander, A. S. Fowler; 
 senior vice commander, John Vaughan; junior vice 
 commander, E. A. Ellis; medical director, T. G. 
 Miller; chaplain, T. R. Early. 
 
 The council of administration includes A. A. 
 Whissen, Thomas Boles, W. S. Bartholomew, R. 
 E. Renner and I. B. Lawton. The following were 
 the appointments on the staff of the department 
 commander: Assistant adjutant-general, N.W. Cox; 
 assistant quartermaster-general, Stephen Wheeler; 
 judge advocate, S. J. Evans; chief mustering 
 officer, S. K. Robinson; department inspector, 
 R. S. Curry. Headquarters were established at 
 Little Rock, Ark. 
 
 There are other bodies in the State whose aims 
 and purposes differ materially fi'om those previously 
 mentioned. Among these is the Arkansas Bureau 
 of Mines, Manufactures and Agriculture, which 
 was organized as a State institution at the session 
 of the legislature in 1889. The governor ap- 
 pointed M. F. Locke commissioner, the latter mak- 
 ing M. W. Manville assistant. They at once pro- 
 ceeded to organize the department and open an 
 office in the State-house.- The legislature appro- 
 priated for the next two years for the bureau the 
 sum of 118,000. 
 
 This action of the legislature was in response 
 to a demand from all parts of the State, which, 
 growing in volume for some time, culminated in 
 the meeting in Little Rock of numerous promi- 
 nent men, and the organization of the Arkansas 
 State Bureau of Immigration, January 31, 1888. 
 A demand from almost every county prompted 
 Gov. Senior P. Hughes to issue a call for a State 
 meeting. The meeting was composed only of the 
 best representative citizens. Gov. Hughes, in his 
 address, stated that "the State should have an 
 agricultural, mining and manufacturing bureau, 
 which should be a bureau of statistics and immi- 
 gration, also." Hon. Logan H. Roots was elected 
 
 president of the convention. He voiced the pur- 
 poses of the meeting still further when he said, 
 "We want to educate others on the wealth-mak- 
 ing properties of our State." A permanent State 
 organization was effected, one delegate from each 
 county to constitute a State Board of Immigra- 
 tion, and the following permanent officers were 
 chosen: Logan H. Roots, of Little Rock, presi- 
 dent; Dandridge McRao, of Searcy, vice-president; 
 H. L. Remrael, of Newport, secretary ; George R. 
 Brown, of Little Rock, treasurer; J. H. Clen- 
 dening, of Fort Smith, A. M. Crow, of Arkadel- 
 phia, W. P. Fletcher, of Lonoke, additional exec- 
 utive committee. The executive committee issued 
 a strong address and published it extensively, giv- 
 ing some of the many inducements the State had 
 to offer immigrants. The legislature could not 
 fail to properly recognize such a movement of the 
 people, and so provided for the long needed bu- 
 reau. 
 
 Arkansas Agricultural Association was organ- 
 ized in 1885. It has moved slowly so far, but is 
 now reaching the condition of becoming a great 
 and prosperous institution. The entire State is soon 
 to be made into sub-districts, with minor organ- 
 izations, at least one in each Congressional district, 
 with a local control in each, and all will become 
 stockholders and a part of the parent concern. 
 A permanent State fair and suitable grounds and 
 fixtures are to be provided in the near future, when 
 Arkansas will successfully vie with any State in 
 the Union in an annual display of its products. , 
 
 The officers of the Agricultural Association for 
 1889, are as follows: Zeb. Ward, president. Little 
 Rock; B. D. Williams, first vice-president. Little 
 Rock; T. D. Culberhouse, vice-president First 
 Congressional district; D. McRae, vice president 
 Second Congressional district; W. L. Tate, vice- 
 president Third Congressional district ; J. J. Sump- 
 ter, vice-president Fourth Congressional district; J. 
 H. Vanhoose, vice-president Fifth Congressional 
 district; M. W. Manville, secretary; D.W. Bizzell, 
 treasurer. 
 
 Arkansas State Horticultural Society was or- 
 ganized May 24, 1879, and incorporated Januarj- 
 31. 1889. Under its completed organization the 
 
 » V 
 
first fair was held ia Little Rock, commencing 
 Wednesday, May 15, 1889. President, E. F. Bab- 
 cock; secretary, M. AV. Manville; executive com 
 mittee, S. H. Nowlin, chairman, Little Rock; 
 George P. C. Rumbough, Little Rock; Rev. S. H. 
 Buchanan, Little Rock; E. C. Kiuney, Judsonia, 
 and Fred Dengler, Hot Springs, constitute the 
 official board. 
 
 In 1881 three farmers of Prairie County met 
 and talked over farm matters, and concluded to 
 organize a society for the welfare of the farming 
 community. The movement grew with astonish- 
 ing rapidity. It was organized as a secret, non- 
 political society, and in matters of trade and com- 
 merce proposed to give its members the benefit 
 of combination. In this respect it advocated ac- 
 tion in concert with all labor unions or organiza- 
 tions of laborers. A State and National organiza- 
 tion was effected, and the sub-organizations, ex- 
 tending to the smallest school districts, were re- 
 quired to obtain authority and report to the State 
 branch and it in return to the National head. Thus 
 far its originators sought what they believed to be 
 the true co-operative method in their business af- 
 fairs. 
 
 The next object was to secure beneficial legis- 
 lation to farmers — each one to retain his polit- 
 ical party affiliations, and at the ballot-box to vote 
 for either farmers or those most closely identified 
 with their interests as might be found on the 
 respective party tickets. 
 
 The officers of the National society are: Isaac 
 McCracken, president. Ozone, Ark., and A. E. 
 Gardner, secretary and treasurer, Dresden, Tenn. 
 The Arkansas State "Wheel officers are: L. P. 
 Featherstone, president, Forrest City; R. H. 
 Morehead, secretary, White Chapel, and W. H. 
 Quayle, treasurer, Ozan. 
 
 The scheme was inviting to honest farmers and 
 the humble beginning soon grew to be a most pros- 
 perous society — not only extending over the State, 
 but reaching boldly across the line into other 
 States. When at the zenith of its prosperitj', it 
 is estimated there were 60,000 members of the 
 order in A rkansas. This was too tempting a pros- 
 pect for the busy political demagogues, and to the 
 
 amazement of the better men in the society, they 
 soon awoke to the fact that they were in the hands 
 of the wily politicians. It is now estimated that 
 the ranks in Arkansas are reduced to 20,000 or 
 less — all for political causes. The movement now 
 is to purge the society of politics and in the near 
 future to meet the Farmer's Alliance in St. Louis, 
 and form a combination of the two societies. It 
 is hoped by this arrangement to avoid the dema- 
 gogues hereafter, and at the same time form a 
 strong and permanent society, which will answer 
 the best interests of the farming community. 
 
 As stated elsewhere, the location of a capital 
 for Arkansas early occupied the attention of its 
 citizens. On November 20, 1821, William Rus- 
 sell and others laid off and platted Little Rock 
 as the future capital of the Territory and State. 
 They made a plat and a bill of assurances thereto, 
 subdividing the same into lots and blocks. They 
 granted to Pulaski County Lots 3 and 4 in trust 
 and on the conditions following, viz. : ' ' That the 
 said county of Pulaski within two years" should 
 erect a common jail upon said Lots 3 and 4. Out 
 of this transaction grew a great deal of litigation. 
 The fir.st jail was built of pine logs in 1828. It 
 stood until 1837, when it was burned, and a brick 
 building was erected in its stead. This stood for 
 many years, but through the growth of the city, it in 
 time became a public nuisance and was condemned, 
 and the location moved to the present site of the 
 stone jail. 
 
 The Territory was organized by Congress in 
 1819, and the seat of government located at the 
 Post of Arkansas. In the early part of 1820 
 arose the question of a new site for the seat of 
 government, and all eyes turned to Pulaski County. 
 A capital syndicate was formed and Little Rock 
 Bluff fixed upon as the future capital. The one 
 trouble was that the land at this point was not yet 
 in market, and so the company secured ' ' sunk land 
 scrip" and located this upon the selected town 
 site. The west line of the Quapaw Indian reser- 
 vation struck the Arkansas River at "the Little 
 Rock" and therefore the east line of the contem- 
 plated capital had to be west of this Quapaw line. 
 This town survey "west of the point of rocks, 
 
 9 \- 
 
M 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 r.i 
 
 immediately south of the Arkansas River, and 
 west of the Quiipaw line," was surveyed and re- 
 turned to the recorder at St. Louis as the new town 
 site and Territorial capital — called Little Rock. 
 The dedication of the streets, etc. , and the plat as 
 laid off, was dated November 10, 1821. Grounds 
 were given for a State house, and other public 
 buildings and purposes, and for " the permanent 
 seat of justice of said county (Pulaski)" was ded- 
 icated an entire half square, ' ' bounded on the north 
 by Markham Street and on the west by Spring 
 Street and on the south by Cherry (now Second) 
 Street" for court house purposes. In return the 
 county was to erect a court house and jail on the 
 lots specified for these purposes, ' ' within ten 
 years from the date hereof. ' ' A market house was 
 to be erected by the city on Lots 4 and 5, Block 99. 
 The latter in time was built on these lots, the upjjer 
 story containing a council chamber, which was in 
 public use until 1864, when the present city hall 
 was erected. 
 
 By an act of the legislature, October 24, 1821, 
 James Billingsly, Crawford County, Samuel C. 
 Roane, Clark County, and Robert Bean, Inde- 
 pendence County, were appointed commissioners, 
 " to fix on a proper place for the seat of justice of 
 the County of Pulaski;" the act further specify- 
 ing ' ' they shall take into consideration donations 
 and future divisions." Th"^ latter part of the 
 sentence is made still more important by the fact 
 that at that time the western boundary of Pulaski 
 County was 100 miles west, at the mouth of Petit 
 Jean, and the eastern boundary was a few miles 
 below Pine Bluff. 
 
 October 18,1820, the Territorial seat of govern- 
 ment was removed from the Post of Arkansas to 
 the Little Rock, the act to take effect June 1, 1821. 
 It provided ' ' that there shall be a bond » » * 
 for the faithful performance of the promise and 
 good faith by which the seat of government is 
 moved. ' ' 
 
 In November, 1821 , about the last of the belong- 
 ings of the Territorial capital at the Post were 
 removed to Little Rock. It was a crossing point 
 on the river of the government road leading to 
 Missouri, and the place had often been designated 
 
 as the "Missouri Crossing," but the French had 
 generally called it Arkapolis. 
 
 During the short time the Territorial capital 
 was at Arkansas Post, no effort was made to erect 
 public buildings, as from the first it was under- 
 stood this was but a temporary location. When 
 the capital camo to Little Rock a one-story double 
 log house was liuilt, near the spot where is now 
 the Presbyterian Church, or near the corner of 
 Scott and Fifth Streets. This building was in 
 the old style of two rooms, with an open space 
 between, but all under the same roof. In 1826 
 the log building was superseded by a one-story 
 frame. March 2, 1831, Congress authorized the 
 Territory to select ten sections of land and appro- 
 priate the same toward erecting capitol buildings; 
 and in 1832 it empowered the governor to lease 
 the salt springs. With these different funds was 
 erected the central building of the present capitol, 
 the old representative hall being where is now the 
 senate chamber. In 1836, when Arkansas became 
 a State, there was yet no plastering in any part of 
 the brick building, and in the assembly halls were 
 plain pine board tables and old fashioned split 
 bottomed chairs, made in Little Rock. 
 
 In 1886,at the remarkably small cost of $35,000, 
 were added the additions and improvements and 
 changes in the capitol buildiug, completing it in 
 its present form. And if the same wisdom con- 
 trols the State in the future that has marked the 
 past, especially in the matter of economy in its 
 public buildings, there will be only a trifling 
 additional expenditure on public Viuildings during* 
 the next half century. The State buildings are 
 sufiicient for all public needs; their plainness and 
 cheapness are a pride and glory, fitting monuments 
 to the past and present generation of rulers ami 
 law makers, testifying to their intelligence and 
 integrity. 
 
 The State library was started March 3, 1838, at 
 first solely as a reference and exchange medium. 
 It now has an annual allowance of $100, for pur- 
 chasing books and contains 25,000 volumes, really 
 more than can suitably be accommodated. 
 
 The Supreme Court library was established in 
 January, 1851. It has 8,000 volumes, including 
 

 02 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 all the reports iind tlio leading law works. The 
 fees of attorneys' license upon admission to the 
 bar, of ten dollars, and a dollar docket fee in each 
 case in court, constitute the fund provided for the 
 library. 
 
 The State Medical Society, as now constituted, 
 was formed in May. 1875. It held its fourteenth 
 annual session in 1889, at Pine Bluff. Edward 
 Bentley is the acting president, and L. P. Gibson, 
 secretary. Subordinate societies are formed in all 
 parts of the State and are represented by regular 
 delegates in the general assemblies. In addition to 
 the officers for the current year above given are 
 Z. Orts, assistant secretary, A. J. Vance, C. S. 
 Gray, B. Hatchett and W. H. Hill, vice presidents 
 in the order named. 
 
 The State Board of Health was established by 
 act of the legislature, March 23, 1881. It is com- 
 posed of six commissioners, appointed by the gov- 
 ernor, "a majority of whom are to be medical grad- 
 uates and of seven years ' practice in the profes- 
 sion. " The board is required to meet once in 
 every three months. The secretary is allowed a 
 salary of $1,000 per annum, but the others receive 
 no compensation except traveling expenses in the 
 discharge of official duties. 
 
 The present board is composed of Dr. A. L. 
 Breysacher, president ; Dr. Lorenzo R. Gibson, sec- 
 retary ; Doctors J. A. Dibrell, P. Van Patton, W. 
 A. Cantrell and V. Brunson. 
 
 The beginning which resulted in the present 
 elegant State institution for deaf mutes was a school 
 established near the close of the late war, in Little 
 Rock, by Joseph Mount, an educated mute, who 
 gathered a few of those unfortunate ones together 
 and taught a private school. The State legislature 
 incorporated the school and made a small provision 
 for it, July 17, 18(58, the attendance that year 
 being four pupils. The buildings are on the beau- 
 tiful hill just west of the Union Depot, the im- 
 provement of the grounds being made in 1869. . 
 The attendance in 1870 was 48 pupils, which in 
 the last session' s report, 1888, reached the number 
 of 109; and the superintendent, anticipating an at- 
 tendance for the current two years of 150, has 
 solicited appropriations accordingly. 
 
 The board of trustees of the Deaf Mute Insti- 
 tute includes: Hon. George E. Dodge, president; 
 Col. S. L. Griffith, vice-president; Maj. R. H. Par- 
 ham, Jr., secretary; Hon. W. E. WoodiufF, treas- 
 urer; Maj. George H. Meade and Col. A. R. Witt. 
 The officers are: Principal, Francis D. Clarke; 
 instructors: John W. Michaels, Mrs. I. H. Carroll, 
 Miss Susan B. Harwood, Miss Kate P. Brown, Miss 
 Emma Wells, S. C. Bright; teacher of articulation, 
 Miss Lottie Kirkland. Mrs. M. M. Beattie is 
 matron; Miss Luciuda Nations, assistant ; Miss 
 Clara Abbott, supervises the sewing, and Mrs. 
 Amanda Harley is housekeeper. The visiting phy- 
 sician is J. A. Dibrell, Jr. , M. D. ; foreman of the 
 printing office, T. P. Clarke; foreman of the shoe 
 shop, U. G. Dunn. Of the total appropriations 
 asked for the current two years, $80,970, $16,570 
 is for improvements in buildings, grounds, school 
 apparatus, or working departments. 
 
 The Arkansas School for the Blind was incor- 
 porated by act of the legislature, February 4, 1859, 
 and opened to pupils the same year in Arkadel- 
 phia. In the year of 1868 it was removed to Little 
 Rock, and suitable grounds purchased at the foot 
 of Center Street, on Eighteenth Street. 
 
 This is not an asylum for the aged and infirm, 
 nor a hospital for the treatment of disease, but a 
 school for the young of both sexes, in which are 
 taught literature, music and handcraft Pupils 
 between six and twenty-sis years old are received, 
 and an oculist for the purpose of treating pupils 
 is a part of its benefits; no charge is made for 
 board or tuition, but fi'iends are expected to fur 
 nish clothing and traveling expenses. 
 
 It is estimated there are 300 blind of school 
 age in the State. The legislature has appro- 
 priated $140 a year for each pupil. On this allow- 
 ance in two years the steward reported a balance 
 unexpended of $1,686.84. In 1886 was appro- 
 priated $6,000 to build a workshop, store-room, 
 laundry and bake-oven. In 1860 the attendance 
 was ten — five males and five females; in 1802, 
 seven males and six females. The year 1888 
 brought the attendance up to fifty males and fifty- 
 two females, .or a total of 102. During the last 
 two years six have graduated here— three in the 
 
 r^ 
 
industrial department, and three in the industrial 
 and literary department. Four have been dis- 
 missed on account of recovered eyesight. 
 
 The trustees of the school are: J. R. Right- 
 sell, S. M. Marshall, W. C. Ratcliffe, J.W. House, 
 and D. G. Fones; the superintendent being John 
 H. Dye. 
 
 Another commendable institution, carefully 
 providing for the welfare of those dethroned of 
 reason, is the Arkansas State Lunatic Asylum, 
 which was authorized by act of the legislature of 
 1873, when suitable grounds were purchased, and 
 highly improved, and buildings erected. The in 
 stitution is three miles west of the capitol and one- 
 half mile north of the Mount Ida road. Eighty acres 
 of ground were originally purchased and enclosed 
 and are now reaching a high state of improve- 
 ment. The resident population of the asylum at 
 present is 500 souls, and owing to the crowded 
 conditions an additional eighty acres were pur- 
 chased in 1887, making in all 160 acres. A care- 
 ful inquiry shows there are in the State (and not in 
 the asylum, for want of room) 198 insane persons, 
 entitled under the law to the benefits of the insti- 
 tution. Of the 411 patients in the asylum in 1888, 
 only four were pay patients. 
 
 John G. Fletcher, R. K. Walker, A. L. Brey- 
 sacher, John D. Adams and William J. Little are 
 trustees of the institution, while Dr. P. O. Hooper 
 is superintendent. 
 
 In 1885 the legislature made an appropriation 
 of $92, 500 for the erection of additional buildings 
 and other needed improvements. This fund was 
 not all used, but the remainder was returned into 
 the State treasury. The total cuiTent expenses for 
 the year 1887 aggregated $45, 212. 00. The current 
 expenses on patients the same year were $29, 344. 80. 
 The comfort of the unfortunates — the excellence of 
 the service, the wholesome food given them, and at 
 the same time the minimum cost to the tax payers, 
 prove the highest possible commendation to those 
 in charge. 
 
 The Arkansas Industrial University is the prom- 
 ise, if not the present fultilhnont, of one of the 
 most important of State institutions. It certainly 
 deserves the utmost attention from the best people 
 
 of the State, as it is destined to become in time one 
 of the great universities of the world. It should 
 be placed in position to be self-supporting, be- 
 cause education is not a public pauper and never 
 can be permanently successful on charity. Any 
 education to be had must be earned. This law of 
 nature can no more be set aside than can the law 
 of gravitation, and the ignorance of such a simple 
 fact in statesmen and educators has cost our civili- 
 zation its severest pains and penalties. 
 
 The industrial department of the institution 
 was organized in June, 1885. The act of incor- 
 poration provided that all males should work at 
 manual labor three hours each day and be paid 
 therefor ton cents an hour. Seven thousand 
 dollars was appropriated to equip the shops. Prac- 
 tical lalior was defined to be not only farm and 
 shop work, but also surveying, drawing and labor- 
 atory practice. Mechanical arts and engineering 
 became a part of the curriculum. The large major- 
 ity of any people must engage in industrial pur- 
 suits, and to these industrial development and 
 enlightenment and comfort go hand-in-hand. 
 Hence the real people's school is one of manual 
 training. Schools of philosophy and literature will 
 take care of themselves; thit)kof a school (classical) 
 endeavoring to train a Shakespeare or Burns! To 
 have compelled either one of these to gi-aduate at 
 Oxford would have been like clipping the wings 
 of th(f eagle to aid his upward flight. In the edu- 
 cation at least of children nature is omnipotent and 
 pitiless, and it is the establishment of such train- 
 ing schools as the Arkansas Industrial University 
 that gives the cheering evidence of the world'l 
 progress. In its continued prosperity is hope for 
 the near future; its failure through ignorance or 
 bigotry in the old and worn out ideas of the dead 
 past, will go far toward the confirmation of the 
 cruel cynicism that the most to be pitied animal 
 pell-melled into the world is the new-born babe. 
 
 The University is situated at Fayetteville, 
 Washington County. It was organized by act of 
 the legislature, based on the "Land Grant Act" 
 of Congress of 1802, and supplemented by liberal 
 donations from the State, the County of Wash- 
 ington, and the city of Fayetteville. The school 
 
 r 
 
04 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 was opened in 1872. March 30, 1877, the legisla- 
 ture passed the act known as the " Barker Bill," 
 which made nearly a complete change in the pur- 
 view of the school and brought prominently for- 
 ward the agricultural and mechanical departments. 
 "To gratify our ambitious" [but mistaken] 
 ' ' youth, ' ' says the prospectus, ' ' we have, under 
 Section 7 of the act, provided for instruction in the 
 classics." 
 
 Under the act of Congress known as the 
 '•Hatch Bill," an Agricultural Experimental Sta- 
 tion has been organized. Substantial buildings 
 are now provided, and the cost of board in the in- 
 stitution is reduced to $8 per month. The attend- 
 ance at the present time is ninety-six students, 
 and steps are being taken to form a model stock- 
 farm. The trustees, in the last report, say: " We 
 recommend that girls be restored to the privi- 
 leges of the institution." The law only excludes 
 females from being beneficiaries, and females may 
 still attend as pay students. 
 
 A part of the University is a branch Normal 
 School, established at Pine Bluff, for the purpose 
 of educating colored youth to be school teachers. 
 These Normal Schools have for some years been 
 a favorite and expensive hobby in most of the 
 Northern States. There is pi'obably no question 
 that, for the promotion of the cause of education 
 among the negroes, they offer unusual attractions. 
 
 The following will give the reader a clear com- 
 prehension of the school and its purposes. Its 
 departments are: 
 
 Mechanic arts and engineering, agriculture, 
 experiment station, practical work. English and 
 modern languages, biology and geology, military 
 
 science and tactics, mathematics and logic, prepara- 
 tory department, drawing and industrial art, and 
 music. 
 
 To all these departments is now added the med- 
 ical department, located at Little Rock. This 
 branch was founded in 1871, and has a suitable 
 building on Second Street. The tenth annual 
 course of lectures in this institution commenced 
 October 3, 1888; the tenth annual commencement 
 being held March 8, 1889. The institution is self- 
 supporting, and already it ranks among the fore- 
 most medical schools in the coimtry. The graduat- 
 ing class of 1888 numbered twenty. 
 
 The State Board of Visitors to the medical 
 school are Doctors W. W. Hipolite, W. P. Hart, 
 W. B. Lawrence, J. M. Keller, I. Folsom. 
 
 The debt of Arkansas is not as large as a cur- 
 sory glance at the figures might indicate. The 
 United States government recently issued a statis- 
 tical abstract concerning the public debt of this 
 State that is very misleading, and does it a great 
 wrong. In enumerating the debts of the States it 
 puts Arkansas at $12,029, 100. This error comes 
 of including the bonds issued for railroad and levee 
 purposes, that have been decided by the Supreme 
 Court null and void, to the amount of nearly 
 $10, 000, ()()(). They are therefore no part of the 
 State indebtedness. 
 
 The real debt of the State is 12,111,000, 
 including principal and accumulated interest. 
 There is an amount in excess of this, if there is 
 included the debt due the general government, 
 but for all such the State has counter claims, and 
 it is not therefore estimated in giving the real 
 indebtedness. 
 
 
^^ 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 65 
 
 The Bench and BAR-A^f Analytic View of the Profession of Law-Spanish and French Laws- 
 English Common Law-The Legal Circuit Riders-Territorial Law and Lawyers 
 —The Court Circuits— Early Couiit Ofkicers— Thk Supkkme Court— Promi- 
 nent Members of the State Bknch and Bar— The Standard 
 of the Execution of Law in the State. 
 
 Laws do not put the least restraint 
 Upon our freedom, but maintain 't; 
 Or it tliey do, 'tis for our good. 
 To give us freer latitude: 
 For wholesome laws preserve us free 
 By stinting of our liberty. — Butler. 
 
 HE Territory when under 
 Sjiauish or French rule 
 was governed by much the 
 same laws and customs. 
 The home government ap- 
 pointed its viceroys, who 
 were little more than nomi- 
 under the control of the 
 ^ king, except in the general laws 
 '■ of the mother country. The neces- 
 ** sary local provisions in the laws 
 *" were not strictly required to be 
 '^Q submitted for approval to the mas- 
 ,5T-ter powers before being enforced 
 in the colony. Both govern- 
 ments were equally liberal in 
 bestowing the lands upon sub- 
 jects, and as a rule, without cost. But the shadow 
 of feudal times still lingered over each of them, 
 and they had no conception that the real people 
 would want to be small landholders, supposing 
 that in the new as in the old world they would 
 drift into villanage, and in some sense be a part 
 of the possession of the landed aristocracy. Hence, 
 
 these governments are seen taking personal charge 
 as it were of the colonies; providing them masters 
 and protectors, who, with government aid, would 
 transport and in a certain sense own them and 
 their labor after their arrival. The grantee of cer- 
 tain royal rights and privileges in the new world 
 was responsible to the viceroy for his colony, and 
 the viceroy to the king. The whole was anti-doin- 
 ocratic of course, and was but the continued and 
 old, old idea of " the divine rights of rulers." 
 
 The commentaries of even the favorite law- 
 writers to-day in this democratic country ar« 
 blurred on nearly every page with that monstrous 
 heresy, "the king can do no wrong" — the gov- 
 erning power is infallible, it needs no watching, no 
 jealous eye that will see its errors or its crimes ; a 
 fetich to be blindly worshiped, indiscriminately, 
 whether it is an angel of mercy or a monster of 
 evil. When Cannibal was king he was a god, with 
 no soul to dictate to him the course he pursued. 
 "The curiosities of patriotism under adversity" 
 just here suggests itself as a natural title-page to 
 one of the most remarkable books yet to be written. 
 
 The bench and bar form a ver}' peculiar result 
 
<i k^ 
 
 Of) 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 of modern civilization — to-day fighting the most 
 heroic battles for the poor and the oppressed ; to- 
 morrow, perhaps, expending equal zeal and elo- 
 quence in the train of the bloody nsui'per and ty- 
 rant. As full of inconsistencies as insincerity it- 
 self, it is also as noted for as wise, conservative and 
 noble efforts in behalf of our race as ever distin- 
 guished piitriot or sage. 
 
 The dangers which beset the path of the law- 
 yer are a blind adherence to precedent, and a love 
 of the abstruse technicalities of the law practice. 
 When both or either of these infirmities enter the 
 soul of the otherwise young and rising practitioner, 
 his usefulness to his fellow man is apt to bo perma 
 nently impaired. He may be the "learned judge,"' 
 but will not be the great and good one. 
 
 The history of the bench and bar should be 
 an instructive one. The inquirer, commencing in 
 the natural order of all real history, investigating 
 the cause or the fountain source, and then follow- 
 ing up the effects flowing from causes, is met at 
 the threshold with the question. Why ? What 
 natural necessity created this vast and expensive 
 supernumerary of civilization ? The institution in 
 its entirety is so wide and involved, so comprehen- 
 sive and expensive, with its array of court officials, 
 great temples, its robes, ermine and wool-sacks; its 
 halls, professors, schools and libraries, that the 
 average mind is oppressed with the attempt to 
 grasp its outlines. In a purely economic .sense it 
 produces not one blade of grass. After having 
 elucidated this much of the investigation as l)e.st 
 he can, he comes to a minor one, or the details 
 of the subject. For illustration's sake, let it be 
 assumed that he will then take up the considera- 
 tion of grand juries, their origin, history and present 
 necessity for existence. These are mere hints, but 
 such as will arrest the attention of the student of law 
 of philosophical turn of mind. They are nothing 
 more than the same problems that come in every 
 department of history. The school of the lawyer 
 is to accept precedent, the same as it is a common 
 human instinct to accept what comes to him from 
 the fathers — assuming everything in its favor and 
 combating everything that would dispute "the 
 old order." It is the exceptional mind which 
 
 looks ancient precedent in the face and asks ques- 
 tions, AVhence r Why ? Whither ? These are gen- 
 erally inconvenient queries to indolent content, 
 but they are the drive- wheels of moving civiliza- 
 tion. 
 
 One most extraordinary fact forever remains, 
 namely, that lawyers and statesmen never unfolded 
 the science of political economy. This seems a 
 strange contradiction, but nevertheless it is so. 
 The story of human and divine laws is much alike. 
 The truths have not been found, as a rule, by the 
 custodians of the temples. The Rev. Jaspers are still 
 proclaiming ' ' the world do move. ' ' Great states- 
 men are still seriously regulating the nation's 
 ' ' balance of trade, ' ' the price of interest on money, 
 and through processes of taxation enriching peo- 
 ples, while the dear old precedents have for 100 
 years been demonstrated to be myths. They are 
 theoretically dead with all intelligent men, but 
 are very much alive in fact. Thus the social 
 life of every people is full of most amusing curi- 
 osities, many of them harmless, many that are not. 
 
 The early bench and liar of Arkansas produced 
 a strong and virile race of men. The pioneers of 
 this important class of community possessed vigor- 
 ous minds and bodies, with lofty ideals of personal 
 honor, and an energy of integrity admirably fitted 
 to the tasks set before them. 
 
 The law of the land, the moment the Louisi- 
 ana purchase was effected, was the English com- 
 mon law, that vast and marvelous structure, the 
 growth of hundreds of years of bloody English 
 history, and so often the apparent throes of civil- 
 ization. 
 
 The circuit riders composed the first bench 
 and bar liere, as in all the western States. In 
 this State especially the accounts of the law prac- 
 tice—the long trips over the wide judicial circuits; 
 the hardships endured, the dangers encountered 
 from swollen streams ere safe bridges spanned 
 them; the rough accommodations, indeed, some- 
 times the absence of shelter from the raging ele- 
 ments, and amid all this their jolly happy-go-lucky 
 I life, their wit and fun, their eternal electioneering, 
 for every lawyer then vras a ])olitician; their quick- 
 ened wits and schemes and devices to advantage 
 
^ s 
 
 }£. 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 (•.7 
 
 each other, both in and out of the courts, if all 
 could be told in detail, would read like a fascinat- 
 iii<>- romance. These riders often traveled in com- 
 panies of from three to fifteen, and among them 
 would be found the college and law school gradu- 
 ates, and the brush graduates, associated in some 
 cases and opposed in oth(ir8. And here, as in all 
 the walks of life, it was often found that the rough, 
 .self educated men overmatched the graduates in 
 their fiercest contests. While one might understand 
 more of the books and of the learned technicalities 
 of law, the other would know the jury best, and 
 overthrow his antagonist. In the little old log 
 cabin court rooms of those days, when the court 
 was in session, the contest of the legal gladiators 
 went on from the opening to the closing of the 
 term. Generally the test was before a jury, and 
 the people gathered from all the surrounding coun- 
 try, deeply interested in every movement of the 
 actors. This was an additional stimulus to the 
 lawyer politicians, who well understood that their 
 ability was gauged by the crowd, as were their suc- 
 cesses before the jury. Thus was it a combination 
 of the forum and "stump." Here, sometimes in 
 the conduct of a noted case, a seat in Congress 
 would be won or lost. A seat in Congress, or on 
 the "wool sack," was the ambition of nearly every 
 circuit rider. Their legal encounters were fought 
 out to the end. Each one was dreadfully in earn- 
 est — he practiced no assumed virtues in the strug- 
 gle; battling as much at least for himself as his 
 client, he would yield only under compulsion, even 
 in the minor points, and, unfortunately, sometimes 
 in the heat of ardor, the contest would descend 
 from a legal to a personal one, and then the handy 
 duello code was a ready resort. It seems it was 
 this unhappy mixture of law and politics that 
 caused many of these bloody personal encounters. 
 In the pure practice of the law, stripped of polit- 
 ical bearings, there seldom, if ever, came misunder- 
 standings. 
 
 They must have been a fearless and earnest 
 class of men to brave the hardships of professional 
 life, as well as mastering the endless and involved 
 intricacies of the legal practice of that day. The 
 law then was but little less than a mass of un- 
 
 meaning technicalities. A successful practitioner 
 required to have at his fingers' ends at least Black- 
 stone' s Commentaries and Chitty's Pleadings, and 
 much of the wonders contained in the Rules of 
 Evidence. Libraries were then scarce and their 
 privations here were nearly as great as in the com- 
 mon comforts for ' ' man and boast. ' ' There have 
 been vast improvements in the simplifying of the 
 practice, the abolition of technical pleadings es- 
 pecially, since that time, and the young attorney 
 of to-day can hardly realize what it was the pio- 
 neers of his profession had to undergo. 
 
 A judicial circuit at that early day was an im- 
 mense domain, over which the bench and bar 
 regularly made semi-annual trips. Sometimes 
 they would not more than get around to their 
 starting point before it would be necessary to 
 go all over the ground again. Thus the court was 
 almost literally "in the saddle." The saddle-bags 
 were their law offices, and some of them, upon 
 reaching their respective county-seats, would sig- 
 nalize their brief stays with hard work all day in 
 the court-room and late roystering at the tavern 
 bar at night, regardless of the demurrers, pleas, 
 replications, rejoinders and sur-rejoinders, declara- 
 tions and bills that they knew must be confronted 
 on the morrow. Among these jolly sojourners, 
 ' ' during court week ' ' in the villages, dignity and 
 circumspection were often given over exclusively 
 to the keeping of the judge and prosecutor. Cir- 
 cumstances thus made the bench and bar as social 
 a set as ever came together. To see them return- 
 ing after their long journeyings, sunburned and 
 weatherbeaten, having had but few advantages of 
 the laimdry or bathtub, they might have passed for 
 a retm-ning squad of cavalry in the late war. One 
 eccentric character made it a point never to start 
 with any relays to his wardrobe. When he reached 
 home after his long pilgrimage it would be noticed 
 that his clothes had a stuffed appearance. The 
 truth was that when clean linen was needed he 
 bought new goods and slipped them on over the 
 soiled ones. He would often tell how he dreaded 
 the return to his home, as he knew that after his 
 wife attended to his change of wardrobe he was 
 "most sure to catch cold." 
 
 r'T 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 A 
 
 On one occasion two members of the bar met 
 at a county seat where court was in session a week. 
 They had cume from opposite directions, one of 
 them riding a borrowed horse seventy miles, while 
 the other on his own horse had traveled over 100 
 miles. Upon starting home they unwittingly ex- 
 changed horses, and neither discovered the mistake 
 until informed by friends after reaching their des- 
 tination. The horses could hardly have been more 
 dissimilar, but the owners detected no change. It 
 was nearly the value of the animals to make the 
 return exchange, yet each set out, and finally re- 
 turned with the proper horse. No little ingenuity 
 must have been manifested in finally unraveling 
 the great mystery of the affair. 
 
 Surrounded as they were with all these ill con- 
 ditions, as a body of men they were nevertheless 
 learned in the law, great in the forum, able and 
 upright on the bench. Comparisons are odious, 
 but it is nothing in disparagement to the present 
 generation of courts and lawyers, to say that to be 
 equally great and worthy with these men of the 
 early bench and bar of Arkansas, is to exalt and 
 ennoble the profession in the highest degree. 
 
 Sixty years have now passed since the first 
 coming of the members of this calling to the State 
 of Arkan.sas. In 1S19 President Monroe appointed 
 James Miller, governor, Robert Crittenden, secre- 
 tary, and Charles Jouitt, Andrew Scott and Robert 
 P. Letcher, judges of the Superior Court, for the 
 new Territory of .\rkansas. All these, it seems, 
 except Gov. Miller, were promptly at the post of 
 duty and in the discharge of their respective offices. 
 In the absence of Mr. Miller, Mr. Crittenden was 
 acting governor. These men not only constituted 
 the first bench and bar, but the first Territorial offi- 
 cials and the first legislature. They were all lo- 
 cated in the old French town of Arkansas Post. 
 The lawyers and judges were the legislative body, 
 which enacted the laws to be enforced in their re- 
 spective districts. At their first legislative session 
 they established but five statute laws, and from 
 this it might be inferred that there wore few and 
 simple laws in force at that time, but the reader 
 will remember that from the moment of the Louis- 
 iana ])urchase all the new territory passed under 
 
 the regulation and control of the English common 
 law — substantially the same system of laws then 
 governing England. 
 
 It is a singular comment on American juris- 
 prudence that this country is still boasting the pos- 
 session of the English habeas corpus act, wrung 
 by those sturdy old barons from King John, — a 
 government by the people, universal suffrage, 
 where the meanest voter is by his vote also a sov- 
 ereign, and therefore he protects himself against 
 — whom? — why, against himself by the English 
 habeas corpus act, which was but the great act of 
 a great people that first proclaimed a higher right 
 than was the " divine right of kings. ' ' When these 
 old Englishmen presented the alternative to King 
 John, the writ or the headsman's ax, he very sensi- 
 bly chose the lesser of the two great inconven- 
 iences. And from that moment the vital meaning 
 of the phrase "the divine right of kings" was 
 dead in England. 
 
 In America, where all vote, the writ of habeas 
 corpus has been time and time again suspended, 
 and there are foolish men now who would gladly 
 resort to this untoward measure, for the sake of 
 party success in elections. There is no language of 
 tongue or pen that can carry a more biting sar- 
 casm on our boasted freemen or free institutions 
 than this almost unnoticed fact in our history. 
 
 One of the acts of the first legislative session 
 held in August, 1819, was to divide the Territory 
 into two judicial circuits. As elsewhere stated, the 
 counties of Arkansas and Lawrence constituted the 
 First circuit; Pulaski, Clark and Hempstead Coun- 
 ties forming the Second. 
 
 The judges of the Superior Courts were as- 
 signed to the duties of the different circuits. At 
 the first real Territorial legislature, composed of 
 representatives elected by the people, the Territory 
 was divided into three judicial circuits. The 
 courts, however, for the diffei'ent circuits, were all 
 held at the Territorial capital. There was no cir- 
 cuit riding, therefore, at this time. 
 
 Judicial circuits and judges residing therein 
 were not a piirt of judiciary affairs until 1823. The 
 judges of the First circuit from that date, with time 
 of appointment and service, were : T. P. Eskridge, 
 
 \ 
 
December 10, 1823; Andrew Scott, April 11, 1827; 
 Sam G. Roane, April 17, 1829-36. The list of 
 prosecuting attorneys includes: AV. B. R. Horner, 
 November 1, 1823; Thomas Hubbard, November 
 5, 1828, to February 15, 1832; G. D. Royston, 
 September 7, 1833; Shelton Watson, October 4, 
 1835; A. G. Stephenson, January 23, 1836. 
 
 Of the Second circuit the judges were: Richard 
 Searcy, December 10, 1823, and J. W. Bates, 
 November, 1825, to 1836; while the prosecuting 
 attorneys were R. C. Oden, November 1, 1823; A. 
 H. Sevier, January 19, 1824 (resigned); Sam C. 
 Roane, September 26. 1826; Bennett H. Martin, 
 
 January 30, 1831 ; Alssalom Fowler, ; D. L. 
 
 F. Roy.ston, July 25, 1835; Townsend Dickin- 
 son, November 1. 1823; A. F. May, March 29, 
 1825 (died in office); W. H. Parrott, April 21, 
 1827; S. S. Hall, August 31, 1831; J. W. Robert- 
 son, September 17, 1883; E. B. Ball, July 19, 
 1836. 
 
 Samuel S. Hall was judge of the Third circuit, 
 serving from December, 1823, to 1836. As pros- 
 ecuting attorneys, are found the names of T. Dick- 
 inson, January 10, 1823; A. D. G. Davis, June 
 21, 1829; S. G. Sneed, November 11, 1831; David 
 Walker, September 13, 1833; Thomas Johnson, 
 October 4, 1835; W. F. Denton, January 23, 1836. 
 
 The appointment of Charles Caldwell as judge 
 of the Fourth circuit dates from December 27, 
 1828; while E. T. Clark, February 13, 1830; J. C. 
 P. Tolleson, February 1, 1831; and W. K. Sebas- 
 tian, from January 25, 1833, served as prosecuting 
 attorneys. 
 
 The Supreme Court of Arkansas has ever com- 
 prised among its members men of dignity, wisdom 
 and keen legal insight. The directory of these 
 officials contains the names of many of those whose 
 reputation and influence are far more than local. 
 It is as follows: 
 
 Chief justices: Daniel Ringo, 1836; Thomas 
 Johnson. 1844; George C. Watkins, 1852 (re- 
 signed); E. H. English, 1854 (also Confederate); 
 T. D. W. Yonley. 1864 (Murphy constitution); E. 
 Baxter, 1861 (under Murpliy regime); David 
 Walker, 1866 (ousted by military); W. W. Wil- 
 shire, 1868 (removed); John McClure, 1871, (re- 
 
 moved); E. H. English, 1874. Sterling' R. (Jock 
 rill is present chief justi- 
 
 Associato justices: Thomas J. Lacey, 1836: 
 Townsend Dickinson, 1836; George W. Paschal. 
 1842; W. K. Sebastian, 1843; W. S. Oldham, 
 1845; Ed ward Cross, 1845; WilliamConway, 1846; 
 C. C. Scott, 1848; David Walker, 1847 and 1874; 
 Thomas B. Hanley, 1858 (resigned); F. I. Batson. 
 1858 (resigned); H. F. Fairchild, 1860 (died): 
 Albert Pike, 1861 (al.so Confederate); J. J. Clen- 
 denin, 1866 (ousted); T. M. Bowen, 1868; L. 
 Gregg, 1868; J. E. Bennett, 1871; M. L. Steph 
 enson, 1872; E. J. Searle, 1872; W. M. Harrison, 
 1874; J. T. Bearden, 1874 (appointed); Jesse 
 Tui-ner, 1878; J. R. Eakin, 1878; AV. W. Smith, 
 1882; B. B. Battle, 1885, re-elected. By law 
 three additional judges were elected April 2, 1889: 
 Simon B. Hughes, W. E. Hemingway and Mont. 
 H. Sandels. 
 
 Reporters: Albert Pike, N. W. Cox, E. H. 
 English, J. M. Moore, L. E. Barber, B. D. Turner 
 and W. W. Mansfield (present incumbent). 
 
 Clerks: H. Haral.son, L. E. Barber. N. W. Cox, 
 and W. P. Campbell (in office). 
 
 Special chief justices: William Story, F. W. 
 Compton, J. L. Witherspoon, S. H. Hempstead. 
 
 C. B. Moore, Thomas Johnson, R. A. Howard, 
 George A. Gallagher, B. B. Battle. Sam W. Will- 
 iams, A. B. Williams, G. N Cousin, Isaac Strain. 
 N. Haggard, Edward Cross, R. C- S. Brown, L. 
 A. Pindall, Sam C. Roane, George Conway, Sack- 
 field Macklinin, John Whytock, C. C. Farrelley, 
 W. W. Smith, W. I. Warwick, B. B. Morse, B. 
 
 D. Turner, George W. Caruth, S. H. Harring- 
 ton. 
 
 In this list are the names of nearly all early 
 members of the Arkansas bar. Commencing here 
 as young attorneys in their profession, many of 
 them have loft illustrious n.'imes — names that adorn 
 the history of the State and Nation, and time 
 will not dim nor change the exalted esteem now 
 given them. Not one of them but that was an ex- 
 ample of that wonderful versatility of American 
 genius — the young lawyer l>i'oomiiig great in the 
 practice of his profession in the wild wood: or cel- 
 ebrated on the bench for decisions that came to the 
 
<s »^ 
 
 70 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 world like beacon lights from the unknown land; 
 or as senators holding civilized people apell-bouud 
 bj' their wisdom and eloquence; and all, at all times, 
 listening for their country's call to play as con- 
 spicuous a part in camp and field as they bad in 
 the walks of civil life. To undertake all these 
 things is not wonderful with a people so cosmopol- 
 itan as those of the west, but to be preeminent in 
 each or all alike is most remarkable. 
 
 Of this brilliant galaxy of pioneer legal lights 
 — giants indeed- — there now remain as a connect- 
 ing link with the present generation only the ven- 
 erable Gen. Albert Pike, of Washington City, and 
 Judge Jesse Turner, of Van Buren. 
 
 Writing in a reminiscent way of the bench and 
 bar, Albert Pike says: " M'hen I came to the bar 
 there were William Cummins, Absalom Fowler, 
 Daniel Ringo, Chester Ashley, and Samuel Hall, 
 at Little Rock. I served on a jury in 183-1 where 
 Robert Crittenden was an attorney in the case; the 
 judge was Benjamin Johnson, who died in Decem- 
 ber, 1834, at Vicksburg. Parrott and Oden died 
 before I went to Little Rock. Judge William 
 Trimble was an old meml)er of the bar when I en- 
 tered it, as was Col. Horner, of Helena. Thomas 
 B. Hanley had recently come to Helena from Louis- 
 iana. I think Maj. Thomas Hubbard and George 
 Conway were practicing at Washington in 1835. 
 Judge Andrew Scott had been Territorial judge, but 
 retired and lived in Pope County. Frederick W. 
 Trapnall and John W. Cocke came from Kentucky 
 to Little Rock in 1836, and also William C. Scott 
 and his partner, Blanchard. I think Samuel H. 
 Hempstead and John J. Clendenin came in 1836. 
 John B. Floyd lived and practiced law in Chicot 
 County." Gen. Pike further mentions Judge David 
 Walker, John Linton, Judges Hoge and Sneed, 
 John M. Wilson, Alfred W. Wilson, Ai'chibald 
 Yell, Judge Fowler, Judge Richard C. S. Brown, 
 Bennett H Martin, Philander Little, Jesse Turner 
 and Sam W. Williams as among the eminent law- 
 yers of the early courts of Arkansas. 
 
 The list of those who have occupied positions 
 as circuit judges and prosecuting attorneys in the 
 various circuits, will be found of equal interest 
 with the names mentioned in connection with a 
 
 higher tribunal. It is as below, the date affixed 
 indicating the beginning of the term of service: 
 
 Judges of the First circuit: W. K. Sebastian, 
 November 19, 1840; J. C. P. Tolleson, February 
 8, 1 843 ; John T. Jones, December 2, 1842 ; Mark W. 
 
 Alexander, ; George W. Beasley, September 
 
 6, 1855; C. W. Adams, November 2, 1852; Thomas 
 
 B. Hanley, ; E. C. Bronough, August 25, 
 
 1858; O. H. Gates, March 3, 1859; E. C. Bronough, 
 August 23, 1860; Jesse M. Houks, September 17, 
 1865; John E. Bennett, July 23, 1868; C. C. Wat- 
 ers, February 23, 1871; M. L. Stephenson, March 
 24, 1871; W. H. H. Clayton, March 10, 1873; J. 
 N. Cypei-t, October 31, 1874; M. T. Saunders, 
 October 30, 1882. Prosecuting attorneys: W. S. 
 Mosley, November 14, 1840; A. J. Greer, Novem- 
 ber 9, 1841; S. S. Tucker, January 20, 1840: 
 Alonzo Thomas, August 5, 1842; W. N. Stanton, 
 December 2, 1842; N. M. Foster, December 4, 
 1843; A. H. Ringo, March 2, 1849; H. A. Bad 
 ham, March 12, 1851; L. L. Mack, September 
 6, 1855; S. W. Childress, August 30, 1856; Lin- 
 coln Featherstone, August 23, 1860; Z. P. H Farr, 
 December 1, 1862; B. C. Brown, January 7, 1865; 
 P. O. Thweat, October 15, 1866; C. B. Fitzpatrick, 
 March 16, 1871; W. H. H. Clayton, March 23, 
 1871; Eugene Stephenson, April 23, 1873; C. A. 
 Otey, October 31, 1874; D. D. Leach, October 13, 
 1876; P. D. McCulloch (three terms); Greenfield 
 Quarl^s, October 30, 1884; S. Brundridge, October 
 30, 1886. 
 
 Judges of the Second circuit: Isaac Baker, 
 November 23, 1840; John C. Murray, August 18, 
 1851; W. H. Sutton, January 11, 1845; John C. 
 Murray, August 22, 1858; Josiah Gould, Febru- 
 ary 26, 1849; W. M. Harrison, May 17, 1865; 
 T. F. Sorrells, August 22, 1853; W. C. Hazeldine, 
 April 14, 1871; J. F. Lowery, December 12, 
 1863; L. L. Mack, October 3l', 1874; William 
 Story, July 23, 1868; W. F. Henderson, April 26, 
 1874; J. G. Frierson, October 31, 1882; W. A, 
 Case, vice Frierson, deceased, March 17, 1884, 
 elected September 1, 1884; J. E. Riddick, Oc- 
 tober 30, 1886. Prosecuting attorneys: John S. 
 Roane, November 15, 1840; Samuel Wooly, Sep- 
 tember 19, 1842; J. W. Bocage, November 20, 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 71 
 
 1843; S. B. Jones, April 20, 184(5; T. F. Sorrells, 
 February 26, 1849; W. P. Urace, August 22, 
 1858; S. F. Arnett, August 23, 1850; D. W. 
 Carroll, August 30, 1860: C. G. Goddeu, May 17, 
 1865; W. F. Slemmons, October 15, 1866; D. 
 D. Leach, December 16, 1868; R. H. Black. May 
 6. 1873; J. E. Riddick, October 13, 1870; W. A. 
 Gate, October 14, 1878; E. F. Brown, May 5, 
 1870; W. B. Edrington (four terms). October 30, 
 1880; J. D. Block, October, 1888. 
 
 Judges of the Third circuit: Thomas Johnson, 
 November 13, 1840; William Conway, November 
 15, 1844; W. C. Scott, December 11, 1846; R. 
 H. Nealy, February 28, 1851 ; W. C. Bevins, August 
 23, 1856; W. R. Cain, August 23, 1860; L. L. 
 Mack. March 15. 1806; Elisha Baxter, July 23, 
 1868: James W. Butler, March 10, 1873; William 
 Byers, October 30, 1874; R. H. Powell (threo 
 terms). October 30, 1882; J. W. Butler, May, 1887. 
 Prosecuting attorneys: N. Haggard, November 30, 
 1840; S. S. Tucker, January 20, 1842; S. H. 
 Hempstead. February, 1842; A. R. Porter, Decern 
 ber 2, 1842; S. C.Walker, December 2, 1846; J. H. 
 Byers. March 5, 1849; W. K. Patter.son, August 
 30. 1856; F. W. Desha, August 30, 1860; L. L. 
 Mack, July 8, 1861; T. J. Ratcliff, July 9, 1865; 
 M. D. Baber, October 15, 1866; W. A. Inman, 
 December 8, 1868; J. L. Abernathy, October 31, 
 1874; Charles Coffin, October 14, 1878; M. N. 
 Dyer (two terms), October 30, 1882; W. B. Padgett, 
 October 30, 1886; J. L. Abernathy, October, 1888. 
 
 Judges of the Fourth circuit: J. M. Hoge, 
 November 13, 1840; S. G. Sneed, November 18, 
 1844; A. B. Greenwood, March 3, 1851; F. I. 
 Batson, August 20, 1853; J. M. Wilson, Febru 
 ary 21, 1859; J. J. Green, August 23, 1800; Y. 
 B. Sheppard, May 9, 1803; Thomas Boles, 
 August 3, 1865; W. N. May. April 24, 1868; 
 M. L. Stephenson, July 23, 1868; C. B. Filz- 
 patrick, March 23, 1871; J. Huckleberry, April 
 10, 1872; J. M. Pittman, October 31, 1874; J. H. 
 Berry, October 21, 1878; J. M. Pittman (three 
 terms), October 31, 1882. Prosecuting attorneys: 
 Alfred M. Wilson, November 13, 1840; A. B. 
 Greenwood, January 4, 1845; H. F. Thomasson, 
 September 6. 1853; Lafayette Gregg. August 23, 
 
 1856; B. J. Brown, December 1, 1802; J. E. 
 Cravens, January 7, 1865; Squire Boon, October 
 15, 1806; Elias Harrell, August 11, 18(38; S. W. 
 Peel, April 26, 1873; E. I. Stirman, October 13. 
 1876; H. A. Dinsmoro (three terms), October 14, 
 1878; J. Frank Wilson, October 30, 1884; J. W. 
 Walker, October 30, 1866; S. M. Johnson. Octo 
 ber 30, 1888. 
 
 Judges of t)ie Fifth circuit: J. J. Cleudenin, 
 December 28, 1840; W. H. Field, December 24, 
 1846; J. J. Clendenin, September 6, 1854; Liberty 
 Bartlett, November 12, 1854; E. D. Ham, July 23, 
 1868; Benton J. Brown, September 30, 1874; AV. 
 W. Mansfield, October 31, 1874; Thomas W. 
 Pound, September 9, 1878; W. D. Jacoway, Oc- 
 tober 31, 1878; G. S. Cunningham (three terms), 
 October 31, 1882. Prosecuting attorneys: R. W . 
 Johnson, December 29, 1840; George C. Watkius, 
 January 11, 1845; J. J. Clendenin. February 17, 
 1849, to 1854; J. L. Hollowell, September 8, 1858, 
 to 1860; Sam W. Williams, May 10, 1860; Pleas- 
 ant Jordan, September 7, 1861 ; Sam W. Williams, 
 July 6, 1863; John Whytock, December 19, 1865; 
 R. H. Dedman. October 15, 1866; N. J. Temple, 
 August 15, 18(38; Arch Young, August 24, 1872; 
 Thomas Barnes, April 23, 1873; J. P. Byers, Oc- 
 tober 31, 1873; A. S. McKennon, October 14, 
 1878; J. G. Wallace (two terms), October 31, 
 1882; H. S. Carter, October 30, 1886. • 
 
 Sixth circuit — judges: William Conway, De- 
 cember 19, 1840; John Field, February 3, 1843: 
 George Conway, August 1, 1844; John Quillin. 
 March 2, 1849; Thomas Hubbard, August 22, 
 1854; A. B. Smith, February 7, 1856; Shelton Wat- 
 son, September 26, 1858; Len B. Green, April 5, 
 1858; A. B. Williams, January 28, 1865; J. T. 
 Elliott, October 2, 1865; J. J. Clendenin, October 
 31, 1874; J. W. Martin. October 31, 1878; F. T. 
 Vaughan, October 31, 18S2; J. W. Martin, Octo- 
 ber 30, 1886. Prosecuting attorneys: G. D. Roys- 
 ton, November 11, 1840; O. F. Rainy, June 12, 
 1843; Isaac T. Tupper, January 18, 1844; A. W. 
 Blevins, January 11, 1847; E. A. Warner, March 
 3, 1851; Orvillo Jennings, August 23, 1853; E. 
 W. Gantt, August 22, 1854; James K. Yoimg, 
 August 30. 1800; Robert Carrigau, September 13, 
 
72 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 1865; J. F. Ritchie. October 15, 1866; T. B. Gib 
 son. January 11, 1868; Charles C. Reid, Jr., April 
 30, 1871; F. T. Vaughan, September 18. 1876; 
 T. C. Trimble, September 30, 1878; F. T. Vaughan, 
 September 30, 1880; T. C. Trimble, October 31, 
 1882; R. J. Lea. October 30, 1884; Gray Carroll. 
 October 30, 1886; R. J. Lea, October 30, 1888. 
 
 Seventh circuit — judges; R. C. S. Brown, 1840; 
 W. W. Floyd. November 30, 1S46. (December 
 20, 1849, the State was redi.stricted into six cir- 
 cuits. Hence this was abolished for the time.) 
 William Byers, July 8, 18(')1; R. H, Powell. May 
 11, 1866; John Whytock, July 23, 1868; J. J. 
 Clendenin, May 29, 1874; Jabez M. Smith, Oc 
 tober 31, 1874; J. P. Henderson (three terms), Oc- 
 tober 31, 1882. Prosecuting attorneys: John M. 
 Wilson, November 20, 1840; J. M. Tebbetts, De- 
 cember 5. 1844; Elisba Baxter, December 7, 1861: 
 W. B. Padgett. August 29, 1865; W. R. Coody. 
 October 15, 1866; E. W. Gantt, July 31, 1868; 
 J. M. Harrell, May 5, 1873; M. J. Henderson. 
 October 31, 1874; James B. Wood, October 14. 
 1878; J. P. Henderson (three terms), October 31, 
 1882: W. H. Martin, October 30, 1888. 
 
 Eighth circuit — judges: C. C. Scott, December 
 2, 1846; William Davis. July 8, 1848 (abolished 
 December 20, 1849); James D. Walker, July 25. 
 1861; Elias Harrell, May 8, 1865; William Story, 
 March 27, 1867; E. J. Earle, July 23, 1868; T. G. 
 T. Steele, February 23, 1873; L. J. Joyner. Octo- 
 ber 31, 1874; H. B. Stuart, October 31, 1878; 
 R. D. Hearn, October 30, 1886. Prosecuting attor- 
 neys: Richard Lyons, February 5, 1847; N. W. Pat- 
 terson, October 25, 1865; C. G. Reagan, January 
 7, 1865; J. C. Pratt, July 23, 1868; T. M. Gun- 
 ter, October 15, 1866; Duane Thompson. January 
 4, 1874: George A. Kingston, July 26. 1871; J. 
 D. McCabe, October 31, 1874; J. H. Howard, April 
 26, 1873; Rufus D. Hearn (three terms), July 6, 
 1874; Lafayette Gregg, November 13. 1862; W. 
 M. Green (three terms), October 30, 1884. 
 
 Ninth cireuit^udges: H. B. Stuart, Novem- 
 ber 28, 1862; W. N. Hargrave, , 1865; E. J. 
 
 Searle, February 25, 1867; G. W. McCowan, July 
 23, 1868: J.T. Elliott, April 26. 1873: J. K. Young, 
 October 31. 1874; C. F. Mitchell. October 31. 1882; 
 
 L. A. Byrne, November 4, 1884; A. B. Williams, 
 vice Mitchell, resigned. September 10, 1884; C. E. 
 Mitchell, October 30, 1886. Prosecuting attorneys: 
 
 A. J. Temple, July 8, 1861; A. T Craycraft, 
 January 7, 1865; E. J. Searle. Febraary 19, 1866; 
 R. C. Parker, October 15, 1866; N. J. Temple. 
 January 20, 1867; J. R. Page, January 9, 1869; 
 J. M. Bradley, April 26, 1873; Dan W. Jones, 
 October 31. 1874; B. W. Johnson, October 13. 
 1876; John Cook, October 14. 1880; T. F. Web- 
 ber (four terms), October 31, 1882. 
 
 Judges of the Tenth circuit: H. P. Morse, 
 July 23, 1868; D. W Carroll, October 28, 1874; 
 T. F. Sorrells, October 31, 1874; J. M. Bradley, 
 October 30. 1882; C. D. Wood. October 30. 1886. 
 Prosecuting attorneys: J. McL. Barton, March 
 
 29, 1869; H. King White, April 20, 1871; M. Mc- 
 Gehee, April 29, 1873; J. C. Barrow, October 31, 
 1874; C. D. Woods, October 30, 1882; M. L. 
 Hawkins, rnce Woods, October 10, 1886; R. C. 
 Fuller, October 30. 1888. 
 
 Eleventh circuit — judges: J. W. Fox, April 
 
 30, 1873; H. N. Hutton, July 24, 1874; John A. 
 Williams. October 31, 1874; X. J. Pindall. Octo- 
 ber 31, 1878; J. A. Williams (two terms). October 
 30,1882. Prosecuting attorneys- H. M. McVeigh, 
 April 26, 1873; Z. L. Wise, October 31. 1874; T. 
 
 B. Martin. October 10, 1878; J. M. Elliott (five 
 terms), October 10, 1880. 
 
 Twelfth circuit — judges: P. C. Dooley. April 
 26, 1873; J. H. Rogers, April 20, 1877;" R. B. 
 Rutherford, October 2, 1882; John S. Little, Octo- 
 ber 20, 1 886. Prosecuting attorneys : D. D. Leach, 
 April 26, 1873; John S. Little (three terms), April 
 2, 1877; A. C. Lewers (two terms), September 20, 
 1884; J. B. McDonough, October 30, 1888. 
 
 Thirteenth circuit — judges: M. D. Kent, April 
 26, 1873; B. F. Askew, October 30, 1882; C. W. 
 Smith, Octol>er 30. 1886. Prosecuting attorneys: 
 W. C. Langford, April 26, 1873; W. F. Wallace, 
 June 5, 1883; H. P. Snead (three terms), Octo- 
 ber 30, 1884. 
 
 Fourteenth circuit — judges: George A. King- 
 ston, April 26, 1873; R. H. Powell, May, 1887. 
 Prosecuting attorneys: Duane Thompson, April 
 26, 1873; De Ross Bailey. May, 1887. 
 
 .|^ 
 
y 
 
 ^C^--/- <--(-— 
 
I 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 L. D. Belden was appointed judge of the Fif- 
 teenth circuit April 20, 187:^ the prosecuting at- 
 torney being G. G. Lotta, elected April 23, 1873. 
 
 Sixteenth circuit— judge: Elisha Mears, April 
 2G, 1873. Prosecuting attorneys: H. N. Withers, 
 
 September 27, 1873; V. B. Shepard, April 30, 
 1874. 
 
 By an act of April 10, 1873, the Stale was di- 
 vided into sixteen judicial circuits, but two years 
 later a reduction to eleven in number was made. 
 
 » << - 
 
 lliflt IX. 
 
 The Late Civil War-An.vlytical Viisw of the Troublous Times-Passage of the Ordinanxe or 
 .SECE.SSION-THE Call to Aiims-Tiie Fiust Tkoops to Take the Field-Invasion ok the State 
 BY THE Federal Army— Sketches of the Regiments-Names ok Officers-Outline ok 
 Field Operations-Claibourne and Y ell— Extracts from Private Memo- 
 randa—Evacuation OF THE State— Re-Occupation— The War OF 1812— 
 The Mexican War— Standard of American (Jeneralsiiip. 
 
 ysiii. 
 
 Tlie cannon's hiishd! nor dium nor claiion sound; 
 Helmet and hauberk gleam upon llie giouud; 
 Horsemen and horse lie weltering in their gore; 
 Patriots are dead, and heroes dare no more; 
 While solemnly the moonlight shrouds the plain. 
 And lights the lurid features of the s\mn.— Montgomery. 
 
 \ RKANSAS was not among 
 the States that may be call- 
 ' ed leaders in inaugurating 
 the late war. It only pass- 
 ed a secession ordinance 
 'i May 6, 1861, nearly a 
 1?^ month after hostilities had 
 commenced, and Lincoln had issued 
 his call for 7-"), 000 ninety-day troops 
 ■ ' to put down the rebellion. ' ' The re- 
 liictance with which the State finally 
 joined its sister States is manifested 
 Ijy the almost unanimous refusal of 
 the State convention, which met in 
 March, 1801 — the day Lincoln was in- 
 augurated — and nearly unanimously voted down 
 secession and passed a series of conservative resolu- 
 tions, looking to a national convention to settle in 
 
 some way tlie vexed (juostion of slavery, and then 
 voting a recess of the convention. \\'hen this 
 re assembled war was upon the country, and the 
 ordinance of secession was passed, only, however, 
 after full discussion, pro and con. There was 
 but one vote against secession finally, and that wa* 
 given by Isaac Murphy— afterward the military 
 governor of Arkansas. 
 
 Local authorities received instructions to arm 
 and equip forty regiments of State troops. The 
 ruling minds of the State were averse to war, 
 and resisted it until they were forced into the po- 
 sition of siding with their neighbors or with the 
 Union cause. In the South, as in the North, 
 there were inconsiderate hot-heads, who simply 
 wanted war for war's sake — full of false pretexts, 
 but eager for war with or without a i:)retext. These 
 extremists of each party were, unconsciously, per- 
 
74 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 haps, but in fact, the two blades of the pair of 
 scissors, to cut asunder the ties of the Uuion of 
 States. Shivery, possibly not directly the cause of 
 the war, was the haudie.st pretext seized upon at 
 the time, with such disastrous results. In the dis- 
 pensations of heaven, had the fanatics of the North 
 and the tire-eaters of the South boon hung across 
 the clothes-line, as a boy sometimes hangs cats, 
 and left in holy peace to fight it out, what a bless- 
 ing for mankind it would have been! 
 
 The history of the late war cannot yet be writ- 
 ten. Its most profound effects are not yet evolved. 
 The actual fighting ceased nearly a generation ago, 
 and the cruel strife is spoken of as over. It is the 
 effects that true history observes. The chronicler 
 records the dates and statistics, and tiles these 
 away for the future historian. It is highly prob- 
 able that there is no similar period in history 
 where the truth will be so distorted as by him 
 who tells ' ' the story of the war. ' ' 
 
 Anyone can begin to see that there are many 
 things now that were unknown before the war. 
 Great changes are still being worked out, anti 
 whether or not yet greater ones are to come, no one 
 knows. The abolitionists thirty years ago hated 
 the slave owners, — the slave holders loved slavery. 
 The former thought to forever end slavery on this 
 continent by liberating the slaves, and now the 
 once alarmed slave owner has discovered that the 
 great benefits of the abolition of slavery have been 
 to the whites far more than to the blacks. 
 
 There is little idea of what the real historian 
 one hundred years from now will be compelled to 
 say of these "' blessed times." He will mo.st prob- 
 ably smile in pity upon all this self- laudation and 
 wild boast. If men could have known the effects 
 to follow in all the important movements of peo- 
 ples, it is highly probable there would have been no 
 civil war. Those who "sectionally hated" may 
 sleep quietly in their graves, because they died 
 unconscious as to whether their supposed Ijloody 
 revenge, driven hiirtling at the enemy, was a bullet 
 or a boomerang. 
 
 The Southern individual may look with envy to 
 the pension fund now being poured out in North- 
 ern States, while, instead of this, ho should only 
 
 remember that the Southern soldier is making his 
 way unaided in the world. It should not be for- 
 gotten that the rapid development of the South is 
 sadly in want of the constant labor of thousands of 
 immigrants, and that the New South is just entering 
 upon a period of surprising and unexampled pros- 
 perity, which certainly must continue. 
 
 In Arkansas, as in Illinois, when Fort Sumter 
 was fired on, instantly there was a storm of excite- 
 ment to "let slip the dogs of war." Action took 
 the place of argument. The best men in the com- 
 munity, those who had so long talked and pleaded 
 against war, closed their mouths, and with sore 
 hearts turned their eyes away from the sad outlook. 
 The young and the inconsiderate seized the power 
 to rule, and (though they knew it not) to ruin. 
 Bells were rung, drums were beaten, and fifes made 
 strident martial music, and people rushed into the 
 streets. Open air meetings for the Confederate 
 cause gathered, and songs and speeches inflamed 
 the wildest passions of men. Poor men ! they 
 little r(>cked the cruel- fate into which they were 
 plunging their country — not only themselves, but 
 generatiotis to come. A tifer and drummer march- 
 ing along the streets, making harsh and discordant 
 noises, ■\tere soon followed by crowds of men, 
 women and children. Volunteers were called for 
 by embryo captains, and from these crowds were 
 soon recruited squads to be crystallized into armies 
 with heavy tramp and flying banners — the noisy 
 prologue to one of the bloodiest tragedies on which 
 time has ever rung up the curtain. 
 
 The first official action of the State was that 
 authorizing the. raising and equipping of seven 
 regiments. These were soon ready to report with 
 full ranks. Seven regiments ! Even after the 
 war was well on foot, men were forming companies 
 in hot haste, in fear that before they could reach 
 the field of action the war would be over. And 
 after they were mustered in and at their respective 
 rendezvous, without iiniforms and with sticks for 
 guns, learning the rudiments of drill, they were 
 restless, troubled seriously with the fear that they 
 would never see or feel the glory of battle. The 
 youths of the State had rushed to the recruiting sta- 
 tions with the eager thoughtlessness with which 
 
 y-. 
 
 i) I'y 
 
-^ 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 75 
 
 they would have put down their names for picnic, 
 hunting or fishing expeditions, and the wild delights 
 of a season of camp life. Perhaps to some came 
 indistinct ideas of winning glory on the field and a 
 triumjjhant return home, to be met by the happy 
 smiles of a people saved — when the bells would 
 ring and flowers be strewn in the highway. 
 
 The seven regiments first authorized by the 
 military board (the board consisting of the gov- 
 ernor, Col. Sam W. Williams and Col. B. C Tot- 
 ten) had hardly been formed when more soldiers 
 were wanted. Ten additional regiments wore 
 authorized, and of the ten seven were recruited 
 and organized. Fourteen infantry regiments be 
 sides the cavalry and artillery had been a strong 
 demand on the people, but the calls for men were 
 increased. By voluntary eidistments twenty-one 
 infantry regiments were finally in the field. In- 
 cluding cavalry and artillery, Arkansas had about 
 25,000 volunteer soldiery. 
 
 Then came the remorseless conscription. The 
 glamour of soldiering was now all gone. Ragged, 
 hungry, wounded and worn with hard marches, 
 men had suffered the touch of the hand of the 
 angel of destruction. The relentless conscripting 
 went on. The number of years before old age 
 exempted was lengthened, and the age of youth 
 exempting was shortened, until as said by Gen. 
 Grant, they were "robbing the cradle and the 
 grave ' ' to recruit their decimated ranks in the 
 army. 
 
 There are no records now by which can be told 
 the number of men Arkansas had in the Confeder- 
 ate army, but it is supposed by those best informed 
 to have had nearly 40,000. In addition to this the 
 State furnished soldiers to the Union army. In 
 the history of wars it is doubtful if there is anything 
 to exceed this in the heroic sacrifices of any people. 
 
 The original seven regiments were authorized 
 as the first exuberant war expression of the State. 
 They were State troops, armed and equipped by 
 the State; but the fact is that the poorest men went 
 into the army at their individual expense and armed 
 and equipped themselves. This was the rule — not 
 by men only who were fighting for their slave 
 property, but largely by men who had never owned 
 
 or expected to own a slave. When the Union army 
 under Gen. Curtis was bearing down to invade Ar- 
 kansas, ten more regiments were autlmrized and 
 responded to this call, and seven additional regi- 
 ments were raised and mustered into the State's 
 service. 
 
 A military board had been provided for, con- 
 sisting of three men, the governor and two advis- 
 ors, who had a general supervision in organizing 
 and equipping the army. 
 
 The first regiment raised in the State is known 
 as the Pat Cleburne regiment. Patrick A. Cleburne, 
 colonel, was soon made a general, and took his 
 brigade east of the Mississippi River. The gal 
 lant and dashing leader was killed in the l)attle of 
 Franklin, Noveml)er 80, IHO-i. At the first call 
 to arms he raised a company and named it the Yell 
 Rifles, of which he was first captain, and on the 
 formation of the first regiment he became colonel, 
 rising up and up by rapid promotions to a major- 
 generalship. 
 
 The names of Yell and Pat Cleburne are en- 
 twined closely in the hearts of the people of Arkan- 
 sas. Yell was killed at the bloody battle of Buena 
 Vista, Mexico, at the head of his charging column. 
 The military lives and deaths of the two men were 
 much alike. Their names and fames are .secure in 
 history. There is a touch of romance about Pat 
 Cleburne's life in Arkansas. A Tipperary boy, of 
 an excellent family, born in 1828, he had, when not 
 more than sixteen years of age, joined the English 
 army, where he was for more than a year before his 
 whereabouts became known. His friends secured* 
 his release from the army, when he at once bade 
 adieu to his native land and sailed for America. 
 Stopping in 1849, a short time in Cincinnati, he 
 was for a while a drug clerk. In 1859 he came 
 to Helena. Ark. , and engaged here also as a pre- 
 scription clerk, in the meantime reading law; he 
 was made a licensed attorney in 1856. In the 
 bloody street affray soon after, betwe;>n Hindman 
 and Dorsey Rice, he was drawn into the fracas and 
 was shot through the body by a brother of Rice's, 
 who came upon tiie ground during the mel6e. The 
 latter noticed the encounter, and seeing that Cle- 
 burne stood at one side, pistol in hand, tired. On 
 
 f- 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 tvu-ning to see who had shot him, Ck^burne saw 
 James Marriott, a brother-iu-law of Dorsey Rice, 
 with pistol in hand, and imder the mistake that 
 he was the assailant, shot him dead. Cleburne 
 lingered a long time from his wound but finally 
 recovered. 
 
 In the yellow fever scourge in Helena, in 1855, 
 he was at one time about the only well person re- 
 maining to care for the sick and dying. He was a 
 strict member of the church and for some years a 
 vestryman in St. John's Episcopal Church, Helena. 
 He was engacfed to wed Miss Tarleton, of Mobile, 
 when he fell upon the battle field, and the dead 
 soldier lay upon the ground, with his arms folded 
 over his breast, as if even in death he would pro- 
 tect the sacred tokens of love that he wore next his 
 heart. 
 
 The military board elected two brigadier-gen- 
 erals — James Yell and N. B. Pierce. The latter 
 was sent to Northwestern Arkansas, where was 
 fought the first battle on Arkansas soil — Pea Ridge, 
 or as it is better known in the South, Elkhorn. 
 This was a severe engagement, and a decisive one. 
 
 There is yet some confusion in referring to the 
 respective numbers of the Arkansas regiments. 
 Gen. Pierce, supposing he had full power, gave 
 numljers Third, Fourth and Fiftli to what the 
 board, the proper and only authority, designated 
 as numbers Second, Third and Fourth. The fol- 
 lowing shows the board's numbering and names 
 of the colonels : 
 
 First, Col. P. H. Cleburne; Second, Col. 
 Gratiot; Third, Col. Dockery; Fourth, Col. Davis 
 Walker; Fifth, Col. D. C. Cross; Sixth, Col. Lyon; 
 Seventh, Col. Shaver; Eighth, Col. W. K. Patter- 
 son; Ninth, Col. John Roane; Tenth, Col. T. D. 
 Merrick; Eleventh, Col. Jabez M. Smith; Twelfth, 
 Col. E. W. Gantt; Thirteenth, Col. J. C. Tappan; 
 Fourteenth, Col. W. C. Mitchell, (never com- 
 pleted); Fifteenth, Col. Dawson; Seventeenth, Col. 
 G. \V. Lamar, Lieut. -Col. Sam W. Williams. 
 
 In the scraps of records now to be found there 
 are mentioned as the different arms in the Confed- 
 erate service of Arkansas men, in addition to those 
 above given, the following: Light artillery. Hill's; 
 batteries, Blocher's. Brown's, Etter's, Hughey's, 
 
 Marshall's and West's; cavalry battalions, Chris- 
 man's, Crawford's, Hill's, Witherspoon's; detached 
 companies. Brown's, Coarser' s, Desha's, Ranger's, 
 Fitzwilliam's, Miller's and Palmer's; regiments, 
 Carroll's, Dobbins', Newton's; infantry, regiments 
 from one to thirty-nine, inclusive. 
 
 Four regiments of infantry of Federal recruits 
 were raised in Arkansas, the First commanded by 
 Col. M. La Rue Harrison; the Fourth by Elisha 
 Baxter. The First Arkansas Light Artillery was 
 150 strong. The Arkansas Infantry Brigade was 
 under command of Col. James M. True. August 
 5, 1863, Adj't Gen. Thomas made a trip to the 
 Southwest for the purpose of gathering in all the 
 negroes possible by scouting bands, and to enlist 
 the able bodied men. The First Arkansas Battery 
 was commanded by Capt. Dent D. Stark, and the 
 First Arkansas Cavalry by Maj. J. J. Johnson. 
 The Second Arkansas Cavalry is mentioned. 
 Lieut. -Col. E. J. Searle, authorized to raise the 
 Third Arkansas Cavalry, reported 400 strong. 
 The Foui'th Arkansas Cavalry comprised nine 
 companies, commanded by Capt. W. A. Martin. 
 
 The Second and Third Arkansas colored in- 
 fantry regiments are mentioned, in addition to the 
 Second and Third white regiments. 
 
 In the spring of 1861, the Richmond govern- 
 ment authorized Col. T. B. Flournoy to raise a reg- 
 iment. It was collected in and about Little Rock 
 and Col. Fagan was elected commander. This 
 command went to Virginia. Gen. Churchill organ- 
 ized the first regiment of cavalry, with rendezvous 
 at Little Rock. Gen. T. C. Hindman organized 
 Hindman's Legion. It consisted of infantry and 
 cavalry and had fifteen companies. He took his 
 command east of the river. Under the direction of 
 the military board Col. Rosey Carroll's regiment 
 of cavalry was raised. The Second Arkansas Reg- 
 iment of Mounted Infantry was mustered at Osage 
 Springs, by Col. Dandridge McRea. James Mcln 
 tosh became colonel and Capt. H. H. Brown, major. 
 J. P. Eagle was first lieutenant-colonel and after- 
 ward colonel. Col. Mcintosh was killed at Pea 
 Ridge, but had been promoted a brigadier-general 
 a few days before his death. 
 
 The absence of war archives from the State, 
 
 r 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 77 
 
 the most of them that were proserved until after 
 the war being now in Washington, and the pass- 
 ing away of so many of tho prominent participants, 
 and a common fault of human memory, make it 
 well-nigh impossible to gather for permanent form 
 any satisfactory roster of the different Confederate 
 commands or the order of their organization. No 
 Arkansan so far, which is much to be regretted, 
 has attempted to write a history of the State in 
 the civil struggle. 
 
 Gov. J. P. Eagle happened to keep dupli- 
 cates of certain reports he made while in the ser- 
 vice, and discovered them recently where they had 
 been laid away and forgotten among old papers. 
 Fortunately when he made the reports the idea 
 occurred to him to keep a copy for himself, that 
 some day he might look over them and be inter- 
 ested. 
 
 " This is a list of the killed and wounded in my 
 regiment," he remarked, "the Second Arkansas, 
 from May 8 to August 31, 1864, and the other is a 
 report of the same from November 26, 1864, to 
 March 21, 1865." 
 
 The Second Arkansas at the beginning of the 
 war was a mounted regiment, commanded by Col. 
 James Mcintosh. It was dismounted early in the 
 conflict. Col. Mcintosh was promoted to the rank 
 of brigadier-general in the spring of 1862. He 
 led his brigade bravely into the heaviest fighting 
 at the battle of Elkhorn (Pea Ridge), where he 
 was killed. He was succeeded by Col. Embry, 
 who was soon after succeeded by Col. Flannagin, 
 afterwards the "War Governor" of Arkansas. 
 Flannagin was siicceeded by Col. James William- 
 son, who lost a leg at the battle of Resaca, Ga. , 
 May 14, 1864. Col. J. T. Smith then became 
 colonel. He was killed July 28 following, in the 
 fight at Lick Skillet Road, and J. P. Eagle, now 
 governor of Arkansas, became colonel. Col. 
 Eagle had been wounded at Moore's Mills, and at 
 the time of his promotion was not with the famous 
 regiment. He remained in command until the 
 regiment was consolidated with other regiments 
 and the whole formed into one regiment, with Col. 
 H. G. Bunn commanding. Gov. Eagle became 
 lieutenant-colonel and George Wells, major. 
 
 The battle of Elkhorn checked the advance of 
 Curtis' army into Arkansas, and the Federals re- 
 mained hovering in the southwest of Missouri and 
 northwest of Arkansas for some time. Immedi- 
 ately after the fight Van Dom's forces were with- 
 drawn and taken east of the Mississippi to resist 
 the Federal advance down the river to Vicksburg. 
 Gen. T. C. Hindman returned and took command 
 of the Confederates in Arkansas and cstablislicd 
 headquarters at Little Rock and slightly fortified 
 the place. 
 
 Gen. Curtis then moved with the Federal army 
 down the valley of White River, acting in con 
 junction with the river fleet, and when he reached 
 Cotton Plant a flank attack was made on his army 
 and the battle of Cotton Plant was fought. The 
 Confederates were repulsed, and Curtis moved on 
 and took possession of Helena, the Confederates 
 retiring. Northern and Northeastern Arkansas 
 were then in the possession of the Union army. 
 The Federals were in the possession of the Missis- 
 sippi down to a point just above Vicksburg. The 
 Confederates made a futile effort to re-capture 
 Helena, July 4, 1863, but heavy rains, swollen 
 streams and impassable roads thwarted every 
 move. 
 
 June 2, 1862, Gov. Rector issued the following: 
 
 "It being essential that but one military organization 
 shall exist within the Trans-Mississippi department, all 
 Arkansas troops are hereby transferred to the Confeder- 
 ate service." (Signed) H. M. RKCTOn. 
 
 Gov. «& Prest, Mil. Board. 
 
 The authorities at Richmond, as well as in the » 
 Trans- Mississippi district, were anxiously awaiting 
 news of the war steamer, "Arkansas," then build- 
 ing up the mouth of Red River. June 2, 1862, 
 she steamed out of that river and passed the fleet 
 guarding the river for the purpose of capturing the 
 rebel steamer. The attempt and success in run- 
 ning the fiery gauntlet was one of the most exciting 
 scenes ever witnessed on western rivers. Proudly 
 the vessel kept on her covu'se, sending volleys into 
 every vessel to the right and left, and at nearly 
 every turn of her wheels encountering new enemies. 
 A Federal surgeon of the Union fleet said that 
 wonderful trip of the "Arkansas" reminded him 
 
78 
 
 HISTOKY OF AEKANSAS. 
 
 of the Irishman's advice on going into the "free 
 tight " — " wherever you see <i hoail hit it. ' ' The 
 Confederate reports say two Federal gun-boats 
 were captured and others disabled. 
 
 August 7, following, the "Arkansas," when five 
 miles above Baton Rouge on her way down the 
 river, again encountered Federal gun -boats. Her 
 machinery being disabled, after she had fought 
 long and well, her crew "blew her up, and all 
 escaped. ' ' 
 
 January 3, 1863 Gen. J. M. Schofield wrote to 
 Gen. Curtis, from Fayetteville, Ark. : "The oper- 
 ations of the army since I left it have been a series 
 of blunders, from which it narrowly escaped dis- 
 aster * * At Prairie Grove (fought in Decem- 
 ber, 1802) Blunt and Herron were badly beaten in 
 detail and owed their escape to a false report of 
 my arrival with re-enforcements." It now is 
 revealed that Hindman did not know the extent 
 of his victory, but supposed he was about to be 
 overwhelmed by the enemy. Thus the two armies 
 were as secretly as possible running away from 
 each other. 
 
 July 13, 1863, Gen. E. Kirby Smith wrote from 
 Shreveport, headquarters of the Trans- Mississippi 
 district, to Govs. Thomas C. Reynolds, F. R. Liib- 
 bock, H. Flannagin and Thomas O. Moore, calling 
 on these, as the heads of their respective States, to 
 meet him at Marshall, Tex., August 15, following: 
 "I have attempted to irajKirtially survey the field 
 of my labor. * * j found on my arrival the 
 headquarters of Arkansas district at Little 
 Rock. * * Vicksburg has fallen. The enemy 
 possesses the key to this department. * * The 
 possession of the Mississippi River by the enemy 
 cuts off this department from all communication 
 with Richmond, consequently we must be self- 
 sustaining, and self-reliant in every respect. * * 
 With God's help and yours I will cheerfully 
 grapple with the difficulties that surround us,'' etc. 
 
 This was a gloomy but a correct view of the 
 situation west of the Mississippi River after the 
 fall of Vicksburg. 
 
 On January 11, 1863, from Helena, Gen. Fiske 
 reported to Washington : ' ' Found Gorman actively 
 organizing expedition to go up White River to 
 
 co-operate with Gen. McClernand on Arkansas 
 River. Twenty-five transports are waiting the 
 signal to start. ' ' 
 
 Fi-om "Prairie Landing, twenty-five miles up 
 Arkansas. January 13, 1863," Amos F. Eno. sec- 
 retary jjro tern of Arkansas and adjutant-general, 
 telegraphed Staunton: "Left Helena on 11th. and 
 took with me books and papers of ofiice of military 
 government of Arkansas. ' ' 
 
 January 14, 1803, the Federals captured St. 
 Charles, the Confederates evacuating the day before. 
 
 January 18, Gen. W. A. Gorman occupied 
 Devall's Bluff, which the Confederates had also 
 evacuated. 
 
 These captures and evacuations were the pre- 
 liminary movements looking toward Little Rock, 
 the Federals clearing out the small outposts, and 
 the Confederates gathering in their forces. 
 
 On August 5, 1863, Gen. Frederick Steele 
 "assumed the command of the army to take the 
 field from Helena, and advance upon Little Rock." 
 
 In his order for movement mention is made of 
 the following: First division — cavalry under 
 commandof Gen. J. W. Davidson; Second division 
 —Eighteenth, Forty-third, Fifty-fourth, Sixty- 
 first, One Hundred and Sixth, and One Hundred 
 and Twenty-sixth regiments, Illinois Infantry; 
 Twelfth Michigan, Twenty-second Ohio, Twenty- 
 seventh Wisconsin, Third Minnesota, Fortieth 
 Iowa and Forty-third Indiana Infantry regiments; 
 Third division — Twenty-ninth, Thirty-third and 
 Thirty-sixth Iowa, Forty-third Indiana, Twenty- 
 eighth Wisconsin, and Seventy-first Ohio Infantry 
 regiments; and the Fifth Kansas, First Indiana 
 Cavalry, and a brigade under Col. Powell Clayton. 
 Four batteries of field pieces — five wagons to each 
 regiment; 100 rounds of ammunition, 40 rounds to 
 each cartridge-box; 400 rounds to each j^iece of 
 artillery, and sixty days' rations for the whole 
 army, were the supplies granted these forces. 
 
 Gen. Steele was occupied in the expedition 
 from Helena to Little Rock, from August 5 to Sep- 
 tember 10. The cavalry under Gen. Davidson 
 had to scour the country to the right and left as 
 they made their slow advance. Twelve miles east 
 of Little Rock, at Bayou Meta bridge, was a heavy 
 
 "'^ ® 
 
 Tv" 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 79 
 
 skirmish, indeed, a regular battle, being the first 
 serious effort to check the Federal advance upon 
 the capital. Again there was heavy fighting sis 
 miles east of Little Rock, at what is now the 
 Brugman place. Here Confederate Col. Coffee, 
 of Texas, was killed. This was the last stand 
 made in defense of the city, and in a short time 
 Davidson's cavalry appeared in Argenta, and 
 trained their Held pieces on the city, and tired a 
 few shots, when the place was surrendered by the 
 civil authorities, September 10, 1863. The Con- 
 federates had evacuated but a few hours before 
 the Federal cavalry were galloping through the 
 streets, and posting sentinels here and there. 
 
 There was no confusion, no disorder, and none 
 of the usual crimes of war under similar circum- 
 stances. In an hour after Gen. Steele was in 
 possession of the city he had it under strict con- 
 trol, and order prevailed. Gen. Reynolds was put 
 in command of Little Rock.* 
 
 The Confederates wisely retreated to Arkadel- 
 phia. They were pursued by the Federals as far 
 as Malvern, but no captures were made and no 
 heavy skirmishing occurred. 
 
 It is said that Price evacuated Little Rock un- 
 der the impression that his force was far inferior 
 to that of Gen. Steele. Those who were Confeder- 
 ate officers and in Little Rock now believe that his 
 force was equal at least in numbers to Steele's. 
 
 *Abstract from consolidated tri-montbly report of the 
 Army of Arkansas. Maj.-Gen. Frederick Steele command- 
 ine, for September 10, 1863; headquarters, Little Rock: 
 
 Commaod. 
 
 Present for 
 duty. 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 o 
 
 
 £ 
 
 < 
 
 Aggrega 
 auu a 
 
 Pieces of 
 
 First Oivisioa (Davidson) 
 
 200 
 Mil 
 123 
 89 
 30 
 15 
 4 
 
 3,3281 5.372 
 
 2.047 2,990 
 
 1,083 2,:iI6 
 
 1,790 2,2511 
 
 445 736 
 
 495! 607 
 
 &»l 91 
 
 7,735 
 
 8,885 
 4,007 
 2,825 
 
 i.aoo 
 
 844 
 
 18 
 
 Second Division (Enyleiuann) 
 
 Third Divi-'ionfRlce) 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 6 
 
 Arlille'rv fHuvden) 
 
 28 
 
 
 12' 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 619 
 
 9,854 
 
 14,362 
 
 23,e30 
 
 57 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Gen Price liad not made a mistake of the comparative 
 strength of the two armies. The commissary informs 
 me that on the mornins of tlie evacuation he issued 8.000 
 rations — full number. 
 
 They think that Price had based his idea of the 
 enemy's numbers by allowing the usual propor- 
 tion of armies of infantry and artillery t« cavalry. 
 They believe also that the Confederates at Little 
 Rock at the evacuation had between 11,000 and 
 12,000 men present — not the number for duty — 
 basing this upon the number of rations issued 
 that day. 
 
 After the occupation of Little Rock the Federals 
 dominated all that portion of the State north and 
 east of the Arkansas River, and yet their actual 
 occupied posts were the only grounds over which 
 Confederate rangers were not frequently roving 
 with impunity. 
 
 The Confederates exercised ruling power all 
 south and west of the Ouachita River, and for quite 
 a while the territory between the Arkansas and 
 Ouachita Rivers was a kind of "No Man's Land " 
 so far as the armies were concerned. 
 
 Steele early in 1804, having been re-enforced, 
 began to move on Arkadel()hia. Price retreated to 
 Camden, where the Confederates had several fac- 
 tories for the manufacture of war materials. 
 
 Price made a stand against Steele and fought 
 the battle of Prairie D'Ann, but there was noth- 
 ing decisive in this engagement, although it was 
 a severe one. Price withdrew and fell back on 
 Rondo, in the southwest corner of the State. 
 
 In the meantime Banks' expedition was as- 
 cending Red River, the plan being to catch Price 
 between Banks and Steele, and destroy the Con- 
 federate army. Price and Gen. Dick Taylor did 
 not wait for Banks, but met and overwhelmingly, 
 defeated him. Having defeated Banks, they turned 
 and gave Steele battle at Jenkins' Ferry, and de- 
 feated him. This was the great and ili'cisiv.> bat- 
 tle of the Trans-Mississippi district. 
 
 Steele retreated and fell back on Little Rock, 
 his superior generalship lieing shown in extricat- 
 ing his badly crippled army and saving it on the 
 withdrawal. 
 
 The Federal expeditions were well plannetl for 
 "bagging' 'the whole Confederate Trans-Mississippi 
 army, but the vicissitudes of war ordained other- 
 wise. Banks' expedition and its overwhelming mis- 
 fortunes ruined him as a military man throughout 
 
80 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 the North, while the brilliaat successes of Price 
 raised the hopes of the Confederacy. Some, how- 
 ever, still criticise. 
 
 Price failed to follow up his advantage and 
 either destroy or capture Steele's entire army. 
 Had lie fully known the condition of affairs at 
 Kichiuoiid possibly he might have adopted that 
 course. The Federals were confined within their 
 fortified posts and Confederate bands were again 
 scouring over the State. 
 
 Price, losing no time, then started on his raid 
 back into Missouri to carry out his long cherished 
 hope of re-possessing that State. The history of 
 that raid and the dissolution and end of the Con- 
 federacy are a familiar part of the country's 
 history. 
 
 Other wars than that mentioned have occupied 
 the attention of people of this section, though 
 perhaps not to such an extent as the great civil 
 strife. There were not people in Arkansas to go 
 to the AVar of 181 2, and the State becomes con- 
 nected with that struggle chiefly because Archibald 
 Yell, the brave young hero, was at the battle of 
 New Orleans, and afterward l)ecame one of the most 
 prominent citizens of Arkansas. He was born in 
 North Carolina, in August, 1797, and consequently 
 was but fifteen years of age when the Ropond war 
 with England began. But the lad then and there 
 won the inalienable friendship of Gen. Jackson. 
 
 Arkansas acquired no little fame in the Mexican 
 War, chiefly, however, through the gallantry and 
 death of Gov. Yell, the leader of the Arkansas 
 forces. AVhen troops were called for in the year 
 1840, in the war with Mexico, Yell was a member 
 of Congress. A regiment of cavalry was raised 
 and he was asked to take the command, and obedi- 
 ent to this request he promptly resigned his seat 
 to assume leadership. Albert Pike was a captain 
 in the regiment. 
 
 At the battle of Buena Vista, on February 22, 
 1847, Yell led' his cavalry command in one of the 
 most desperate charges in the annals of war. In 
 his enthusiasm he spurred on his horse far in 
 advance of his men. He was charging the enemy, 
 which outnumbered his force more than five to 
 one. He reached the ranks of the enemv almost 
 
 alone, and raising himself in the saddle commenced 
 to slash right and left, totally unmindful that it 
 was one against thousands. Just as the foremost of 
 his men came up he was run through the body and 
 killed. William A. L. Throckmorton, of Fayette- 
 ville. it is agreed, was the first to reach the side 
 and catch the falling form of his loved leader. Mr. 
 Throckmorton says he saw the man who gave the 
 fatal thrust and quickly killed him, thus avenging 
 so far as the wretched greaser's life could go the 
 life of as gallant and noble a knight as ever re- 
 sponded to bugle call. He was the dashing cava- 
 lier, great in peace, superb in war. Leading his 
 trusty followers in any of the walks of life, death 
 alone could check him, nothing could conquer him. 
 
 After the war was over the government brought 
 his remains and delivered them to his friends in 
 Fayetteville, his home, who lovingly deposited 
 them beneath the cold white marble shaft which 
 speaks his fame. The burial ceremony occurred 
 August 3, 1847, and a vast concourse of people, 
 the humblest and highest in the State, were the 
 sincere and deep mourners on the occasion. 
 
 Arkansas won everlasting laurels through its 
 gallant soldiers in the Mexican A\'ar. 
 
 Omitting all reference to the Revolutionary 
 War, there are conclusions to be drawn from the 
 wars our countrymen have been engaged in since 
 the days when Gen. Jackson was the national hero. 
 None of these were significant enough to be used 
 by the philosophic historian from which to draw 
 conclusions as to the character of modern or 
 contemporary Americans as warriors, or their dis- 
 tinguishing characteristics as a warlike nation 
 The late Civil War, however, furnishes a wide and 
 aniple field for such investigation. An impartial 
 view of the late struggle presents first of all this 
 remarkable fact. In by far the longest and great- 
 est war of modern times, neither side has given 
 the age a great captain, as some call greatness, 
 though one furnished Grant, the other, Lee, both 
 men without a superior; whilst in the ranks and 
 among the sub-commands, no battles in history 
 are at all comparable for excellence and superior 
 soldiership to those of the great Civil War. On 
 both sides there were any number of great field 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 81 
 
 commanders, as great as ever drew a sword. But 
 they received orders, did not give them, and in 
 the execution of orders never were excelled. Lee, 
 Grant, Jackson, Sherman, Hancock, Johnston, 
 Sheridan and hundreds of others on both sides, to 
 the humblest in the ranks, were immortal types of 
 the soldier in the field. These men were like 
 Napoleon's marshals — given a command or order 
 they would risk life itself to execute it. But on 
 neither side was there the least exhibition of the 
 qualities of a Napoleon or Von Moltke. 
 
 Napoleon was his own secretary of war, gov- 
 ernment, cabinet, and commander in the field, and 
 for this very reason, he was Von Moltke' s inferior 
 as a great commander, whose genius saw the weak 
 point, the point of victory on the map of the 
 enemy's country, and struck it with a quick and 
 decisive blow. 
 
 Our Civil War and the Franco- German War 
 were closely together in time. War was hardly over 
 in America when it commenced in Europe. Any 
 student of German history who has studied the 
 German-Prussian war, can not but know that Von 
 Moltke was the pre-eminent captain in all the his- 
 tories of wars. Had Washington or Richmond had 
 his peer at the commencement of our struggle, the 
 high probabilities are that the war would have 
 been over before the first twelve months had ex- 
 pired. 
 
 In war, it is a fact, that it is the strategy be- 
 fore the armies meet in battle array which decides 
 the struggle. It is only thus that one man can 
 
 become more powerful than a million with guns in 
 their hands. It is in this sense — this application 
 of the science of modern warfare, that a com- 
 mander wins battles and decides victories. He 
 conquers enemies, not by di-awing his sword, but, 
 studying his maps in his quiet den when others 
 sleep, he directs the movements of his armies and 
 leaves the details of the actual fight to others. He 
 is indifferent to the actual fighting part of it, be- 
 cause ho has settled all that long beforehand by 
 his orders. 
 
 In all actual battles, as was testified by the 
 Federal commanders before Congress about the 
 battle of Gettysburg, if victory is not organized 
 beforehand, all is chance, uncertainty, and both 
 armies are little else than headless mobs — ignorant 
 of whether they are whipping or being whipped. 
 The field commander may save the day and turn 
 the tide and gain a victory, but what is it after all, 
 — so many men killed and captured on either side, 
 and then recruited up, and rested a little, only to 
 repeat the bloody carnage again and again. 
 
 Let it be assumed that the absence of great mil- 
 itary genius on both sides is the highest compli- 
 ment that can be paid to American civilization. War 
 is barbarism. The higher civilization will eradi- 
 cate all practical knowledge of the brutality of 
 warfare from men's minds. Then there will be 
 no wars, save that of truth upon the false — intelli- 
 gence upon ignorance How gi-andly divine will 
 be, not only the great leaders in this holy stmggle 
 for victory, but the humblest of all privates! 
 
 :tx: 
 
82 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ;iftiTiR X. 
 
 Public Exteuprises— The Real Estate Bank of Arkansas— State Roads and other Highways- 
 
 The Military Roads— Navigation Within the State from the Earliest TniES to the 
 
 Present— Decadence of State Navigation— Steamboat Racing— Accidents to 
 
 Boats— The Rise and Growth of the Railroad Systems— A Sketch 
 
 of the Different Lines— Other Important Considerations. 
 
 From the blessings they bestow 
 
 Our times are dated, and our eras move.- 
 
 -Prior. 
 
 *HE first session of the new 
 State legislature, among 
 other acts, incorporated the 
 State Bank, and as if fur- 
 ther determined to show 
 that the legislature was at 
 least in the front in those 
 days of wild-cat bank enterprises, 
 ))rocoeded to make money cheap 
 and all rich by incorporating the 
 celebrated Real Estate Bank of 
 Arkansas. Already John Law's 
 Missis.sippi bubble had been for- 
 gotten — the old continental money 
 and the many other distressing 
 instances of those cruel but fas- 
 cinating fictions of attempts to 
 make credits wealth. No statesman in the world's 
 history has ever yet made an ajsproach to the 
 accomplishment of such an impossibility, and still 
 nearly all financial legislation is founded upon 
 this basic idea. State and national banks have 
 been the alluring will-o'-the-wisps in this per- 
 sistent folly. All experience teaches that the 
 government that becomes a money-changer soon 
 becomes the pow(>rful robber, and the places of 
 just rulers are filled with tax bandits — there the 
 
 lordly rulers are banditti, and the people the most 
 wretched of slaves. 
 
 The State Bank was, as were all such institu- 
 tions of that day in any of the States, demoraliz- 
 ing in the financial affairs of the people, encourag- 
 ing extravagance and debt, and deceiving men with 
 the appearances of wealth to their ultimate ruin. 
 
 The Real Estate Bank, as its name indicates, 
 was for the purpose of loaning money on real 
 estate security. Up to that time the American 
 farmer had not learned to base his efforts upon any- 
 thing except his labor. To produce something and 
 sell it was the whole horizon of his financial educa- 
 tion. If, while his crop was maturing, he needed 
 subsistence he went to his merchant and bought 
 the fewest possible necessities on credit. It was 
 an evil hour when he was tempted to become a 
 speculator. Yet there were some instances in 
 which the loans on real estate resulted in enabling 
 men to make finely improved cotton plantations. 
 But the rule was to get people in debt and at the 
 same time exhaust the cash in the bank. The 
 bank could collect no money, and the real estate 
 owner was struggling under mortgages he could 
 not pay. Both lender and borrower were sufferers, 
 and the doable infliction was upon them of a public 
 and individual indebtedness. The Real Estate 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 83 
 
 Bank made an assignment in 1842, and for years 
 was the source of much litigation. It practically 
 ceased to do business years before it had its doors 
 closed and was wound up, and the titles to such 
 lands as it had become the jiossessor of passed to 
 the State. 
 
 The old State Bank building, in front of the 
 State house, is the only reminder of the institution 
 which promised so much and did so little for the 
 public. The old building is after the style of all 
 such buildings — a low, two-story brick or stone, 
 with huge Corinthian columns in front, having 
 stone steps to ascend to the first floor. Similar 
 structures can be found in Illinois, Missouri and 
 all the Western and Southern States. The one in 
 Little Rock is unsightly and gloomy and does little 
 else but cumber the ground. It is in the way, ow- 
 ing to a difficulty in the title, of such a modern 
 and elegant building as would be in keeping with 
 the rapidly advancing and beautiful "City of 
 Roses." 
 
 Roads and highways have always occupied pub- 
 lic consideration. Being so crossed with rivers 
 passing from the west toward the Mississippi 
 River, the early settlers all over the confines of this 
 State passed up the streams and for some time 
 used these as the only needed highways. In the 
 course of time they began to have bridle-paths 
 crossing from settlement to settlement. 
 
 The United States military road from Western 
 Missouri passed through Arkansas and led on to 
 Shreveport, La. This extended through East- 
 ern Ai'kansas, and Arkansas Post was an import 
 ant point on the route. It was sui-veyed and 
 partially cut out early in the nineteenth century. 
 A mimthly mail proceeded over the route on horse- 
 back, the mail rider generally being able to carry 
 the mail in his pocket. 
 
 A trail at first was the road from the mouth of 
 the White River to Arkansas Post. This portage 
 soon became a highway, as much of the business 
 and travel for the Post was landed at the mouth of 
 M'hite River and transported across to the Red 
 River. 
 
 In 1821 Congress authorized the sur^'ey and 
 opening of a public highway from Memphis, via 
 
 Little Rock, to Fort Smith. The work was com- 
 pleted in 1823. This was the first highway of 
 any importaiice in the Territory. The other routes 
 mentioned above were nothing more than trails, or 
 bridle-paths. A weeldy mail between Little Rock 
 and Memj)his was established in I82S). 
 
 In 1832 a government road leading on a di 
 rect line fi-om Little Rock to Batesville was cut 
 out, and the Indians removed from Georgia were 
 brought by water to the capital and taken over 
 this road. At that time it was the best public 
 course as well as the longest in the State, and be- 
 came in time the main traveled road from the 
 northern part of the State to its center. 
 
 Arkansas was settled sparsely along the Missis- 
 sippi River some years before Fulton invented the 
 steamboat. The first steaml)oat ever upon western 
 waters passed down that river in the latter part 
 of 1811— the "Orleans," Capt. Roosevelt. 
 
 The Indians had their light cedar bark canoes, 
 and were remarka1)ly e.xpert in handling them. 
 These were so light that the squaws could carry 
 them on their backs, and in their expeditions in 
 ascending the streams frequently saved much time 
 by traveling across the great bends of the rivor 
 and carrying their conveyances. Of course in going 
 with the current, they kept the stream, skimming 
 over the waters with great speed. At one time the 
 migratory Indians at stated seasons followed the 
 buffalo fi-om the Dakotas to the Gulf, the buffalo 
 remaining near, and the Indians on the streams. 
 The latter could thus out-travel the immense 
 herds and at certain points make forays upon 
 them and so keep an abundant supply of meat. * 
 The buffalo had the curious habit of indulging 
 in long stops when they came to a large river in 
 their course, as if dreading to take to the water 
 and swim across. They would gather on the bank 
 of the river at the selected crossing- [)lace, and 
 after having devoured everything near at hand 
 and hunger began to pinch, would collect into a 
 close circle and liegin to move, circling round 
 and round, the inside ones ever crowding the out- 
 side ones closer and closer to the water. This 
 continued until some one, crowded into the deep 
 water, had to make the plunge, when all followed. 
 
84 
 
 HISTOEY OF AKKANSAS. 
 
 These animals when attacked by other animals, 
 or when danger threatened, formed in a compact 
 circle, with the cows and calves on the inside and 
 the bulls on the outer ring. In this battle array 
 there was nothing in the lino of beasts that dared 
 molest them. 
 
 The white man came and to the canoe he added 
 the skiff, the pirogue, the raft, the keel boat and 
 the flat boat. The raft never made but one trip 
 and that was down stream always, and when its 
 destination was reached it was sold to be converted 
 into lumber. Other water crafts could be hauled 
 back by long tow lines, men walking on the banks 
 and pulling them up stream. There are those now 
 living who can remember when this was the only 
 mode of river navigation. The younger people of 
 this generation can form no adequate idea of the 
 severity of the toil and the suffering necessarily in- 
 volved in the long trij)s then made by these hardy 
 pioneers. If the people of to-day were compelled 
 to procure the simple commodities of life at such 
 hard sacrifices, by such endurance, they would do 
 without them, and go back to tig leaves and nuts 
 and roots for subsistence. 
 
 When Fulton and Livingston had successfully 
 navigated their boat from Pittsburg to New Or- 
 leans, they made the claim of a sort of royal patent 
 to the exclusive navigation of the Mississippi River 
 and its trilmtaries. This claim was put forth in 
 perfect good faith and it was a new question as 
 well as a serious one for the courts, when these 
 claimants arrested Captain Shreve upon his arrival 
 in New Orleans with his boat, and carried him be- 
 fore the court to answer in damages for navi- 
 gating by steam the river that belonged to them 
 as the first steam navigators. This curious inci- 
 dent indicates how little even the inventor of the 
 steamboat appreciated of what vast imjioitance to 
 civilization his noble invention really was. To 
 him and his friend it was but a small personal 
 right or perquisite — a licensed monopoly, out of 
 which they could make a few dollars, and when 
 they passed away probably the invention too would 
 die and be forgotten. How infinitely greater had 
 the noble, immortal originator builded than he 
 knew! The revolving paddles of the steamboat 
 
 were but the wheels now whirling so rapidly be- 
 neath the flying railroad trains over the civilized 
 world. From this strange, rude craft, the "Or- 
 leans," have evolved the great steamships, iron-clad 
 war vessels, and the palatial steamboats plying the 
 inland waters wherever man's wants or luxuries 
 are to be supplied. The genius and glory of such 
 men as Fulton belong to no age, much less to 
 themselves — they and theirs are a part of the world, 
 for all time. 
 
 In 1812 Jacob Barkman opened up a river 
 trade between Arkadelphia and New Orleans, car- 
 rying his first freights in a pirogue. It took six 
 months to make a round trip. He conveyed to New 
 Orleans bear skins and oil, pelts, and tallow se- 
 cured from wild cattle, of which there were a great 
 many; these animals had originally been brought 
 to the country by the Spaniards and French, and 
 had strayed away, and increased into great herds, 
 being as wild and nearly as fleet as the deer. He 
 brought back sugar, coffee, powder, lead, flints, 
 copperas, camphor, cotton and wool cards, etc., 
 and soon after embarking was able to' own his 
 negro crews. He purchased the steamboat ' ' Dime ' ' 
 and became one of the most extensive and enter- 
 prising men in the State. With his boat he ascended 
 rivers, and purchased the cotton, owning his cargo, 
 for a return trip. 
 
 In IS 11), James Miller, the first governor of the 
 Territory, and a military suite of twenty persons, 
 embarked at Pittsburg in the United States keel- 
 boat, ' ■ Arkansas, ' ' for Arkansas Post. The trip 
 occupied seventy days, reaching the point of desti- 
 nation January 1, 1820. It was difficult to tell 
 which excited the greatest curiosity among Ihe 
 natives — the new governor or the keel-boat. 
 
 The flood-tide of western river navigation 
 reached its highest wave soon after the close of the 
 late war. The Mississippi River and tributaries 
 were crowded with craft, and the wharves of cities 
 and towns along the Ijanks were lined with some 
 of the finest boats ever built, all freighted to the 
 water's edge and crowded with passengers. Build- 
 ers vied with each other in tuining out the most 
 magnificent floaters, fitted with every elegance and 
 luxury money could procure. The main point after 
 
 ^1 
 
M^ — ^ 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 85 
 
 elegance, in which they rivaled most, was the speed 
 of their respective craft. From the close of the 
 war to 1870, steamboatinar was the overshadowing 
 business on western waters. Of the boats of this 
 era, some will go into history, noted for their 
 fleetness. but unlike the fleet horses of history, 
 they could not leave their strain in immortal de- 
 scendants, rivaling their celebrated feats. Racing 
 between boats that happened to come togetlier on 
 the river was common, and sometimes reckless 
 and dangerous, as well as exciting. Occasionally 
 a couple of "tubs," as the boys called a slow 
 boat, engaged in a race and away they would go, 
 running for hours side by side, the stokers all 
 the time piling in the most iutlammal)le material 
 they could lay hands on, especially pine knots and 
 fat bacon, until the eager flames poured out 
 of the long chimney tops; and it was often told 
 that the captain, rather than fall behind in the 
 race, would seat a darkey on the end of the lever 
 of the safety valve, and at the same time scream 
 at the stokers to pile on the bacon, pine knots, oil, 
 anything to make steam. Roustabouts, officers, 
 crew and passengers were all afi wildly excited as 
 the captain, and as utterly regardless of dangers. 
 From such recklessness accidents of course did hap- 
 pen, but it is wonderful there were so few. 
 
 Not infrequently commanders would regularly 
 engage beforehand for a race of their boats; fixing 
 the day and time and as regularly preparing their 
 vessels as a jockey trains and grooms his race-horse. 
 The two most noted contests of this kind on the 
 Mississippi River were, first, in the early times, 
 between the ' ' Shotwell ' ' and ' ' Eclipse, ' ' from 
 Louisville to New Orleans. The next and greatest 
 of all was just at the time of the commencement of 
 the decline in steamboating, between the steamers 
 "Rol)ei-tE. Lee" and "Natchez," from New Or- 
 leans to St. Louis. The speed, the handling of 
 these boats, the record they made, have never been 
 equaled and probably never will be, unless steam- 
 lioating is revived by some new invention. The 
 race last mentioned took place in 186S. 
 
 Fearful steamboat calamities, from explosions 
 and from tires, like the awful railroad accidents, 
 have marked the era of steam navigation. 
 
 The most disastrous in history occurred in 1805, 
 in the loss of the " Sultana," on the Mississippi, a 
 few miles above Memphis, a part of the navigable 
 waters of Arkansas. The boat was on her way up 
 stream from New Orleans laden principally with 
 soldiers, some of them with their families, and 
 several citizens as passengers. There were 2,350 
 passengers and crew on the vessel. A little after 
 midnight the sudden and awful explosion of the 
 boilers came, literally tearing the boat to pieces, 
 after which the wreck took fire. Over 2,000 peo- 
 ple perished. 
 
 The early decline of the steamboat industry 
 kept even pace with the building of railroads over 
 the country. Main lines of railroads were soon 
 built, the streams being used as natural road beds 
 through the rock hills and mountains. In passing 
 over the country in trains one will now often see 
 the flowing river close to the railroad track on one 
 hand, when from the opposite window the higli 
 rock mountain wall may almost be touched. Then, 
 too, the large towns were along the navigable riv 
 ers, lakes and ocean. The sage couclusiou of the 
 philosopher when he went out to look at the world, 
 and was impressed with the curious coincidence 
 that the rivers ran so close by the big towns, is a 
 trite one: A great convenience to those who used 
 water. 
 
 The first railroad built in Arkansas was the 
 Memphis & Little Rock Railroad. ^Vork was com- 
 menced with the intention of first constructing it 
 from Little Rock to Devall's Bluff, on White 
 River, whence passengers might |)roceed by boat 
 to Memphis. It was started at both ends of the 
 lino and finished in 1859. the next year being 
 extended to St. Francis River, and then in ISflO 
 completed to the river opposite Memphis. When 
 the Federal army took possession of the Mississippi 
 River, and their forces began to possess the north- 
 eastern portion of the State, the Confederates as 
 they retired toward Little Rock destroyed the road 
 and burned the bridges. Indeed, when the war 
 ended in 1865, Arkansas was without a mile of 
 railroad. Soon after the war closed the road was 
 rebuilt and put in operation, and for some time 
 was the only one in the State. 
 
 <s~ 
 
 f 
 
8G 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 The next was the old Cairo & Fulton Railroad, 
 now the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern 
 Road. It was organized in IS'tS, and in 1854-55 
 obtained a large Congressional land grant in aid 
 of the enterprise, and built first from Fulton to 
 Beebe, in 1872: it was comi)l(>ted to Texarkana 
 in 1873, and soon came to be the most important 
 line in the State. The Camden branch, fi-om Gur- 
 dou to Camden, was comjileted in 1882. The Mem- 
 phis branch, from Bald Knob to Memphis, ninety- 
 three miles, was finished and the first passenger 
 train passed over the line May 10, 1888. The 
 branch from Newport to Cushman, a distance of 
 forty-six miles, was built in 1882. The Helena 
 branch, from Noble to Helena, 140 miles, was com- 
 pleted in 1882. 
 
 The main line of the St. Louis & Iron Moun- 
 tain Railroad enters the State on the north, at 
 Moark (combination for Missouri and Arkansas), 
 and passes out at Texarkana (combination for 
 Arkansas and Texas). The distance between these 
 two points is 305 miles. 
 
 The first section of the St. Louis, Arkansas & 
 Texas Railroad, from Clarendon to Jonesboro, was 
 built in 1882, and the next year completed to Tex- 
 arkana. It was built as a narrow gauge and made 
 a standard gauge in 1886. Its northern terminus 
 for some time was Cairo, where it made its St. 
 Louis connection over the St. Louis & Cairo Nar- 
 row Gauge Road, now a standard, and a part of the 
 Mobile & Ohio system. The Magnolia branch of 
 this road runs from McNeal to Magnolia, about 
 twenty miles, and was built in 1885. The Althei- 
 mer branch, from Altheimer to Little Rock, was 
 constructed and commenced operation in 1888. 
 The main line of this road enters the State from 
 the north in Clay County, on the St. Francis River, 
 penetrating into Texas at Texarkana. 
 
 The Little Rock, Mississippi River & Texas 
 Railroad, now in course of construction, is a much 
 needed road from Little Rock to Pine Bluff, on to 
 Wai'ren and Mississippi, and will form an important 
 outlet for Arkansas toward the Gulf. This was 
 built from Arkansas City to Pine Bluff, and then 
 completed to Little Rock in 1880. 
 
 The Pine Bluff & Swan Lake Railroad was 
 
 built in 1885. It is twenty-six miles long, and 
 runs between the points indicated by its name. 
 
 The Arkansas Midland Railroad, from Helena 
 to Clarendon, was built as a narrow gauge and 
 changed to a standard road in 1886. 
 
 The Batesville & Brinkley Railroad is laid as 
 far as Jacksonport. It was changed in 1888 to a 
 standard gauge, and is now in course of construc- 
 tion on to Batesville. 
 
 The Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis Rail- 
 road enters the State at Mammoth Spring, and 
 runs to West Memphis. Its original name was 
 Kansas City, Springfield & Memphis Railroad. It 
 now is a main line from Kansas City to Birming- 
 ham, Ala. 
 
 Work was commenced on the Little Rock & 
 Fort Smith Railroad in 1871 at Little Rock, and 
 built to Ozark; later it was fini.shed to Van Buren, 
 there using a transfer, and was completed to Fort 
 Smith. 
 
 The Hot Springs Railroad, from Malvern, on the 
 main line of the Iron Mountain Railroad, to Hot 
 Springs, was built and is owned by "Diamond 
 Joe ' ' Reynolds. Operations were commenced in 
 1874. 
 
 The line of the St. Louis & San Francisco Rail- 
 road passes near the west line of Arkansas adjacent 
 to Fort Smith. There is a branch road of this 
 line from Jensen to Mansfield, sixteen miles long. 
 
 It looks a little as though the sponsor for the 
 name of the Ultima Thule, Arkadelphia & Missis- 
 sippi Railroad intended to use the name for a main 
 track through the State. It was built in 1887 for 
 the use of the Arkadelphia Lumber Company. 
 Eureka Springs branch runs from Seligman to Eu- 
 reka Springs. Another branch goes from Rogers 
 to Bentonville. Still another, extending from Fay- 
 etteville to St. Paul, is thirty-five miles in length. 
 The branch from Fayetteville is now in course of 
 building. 
 
 The Russellville & Dardanelle Railroad is four 
 miles long, extending from the .south hank of the 
 Arkansas River to Russellville. 
 
 The Southwestern, Arkansas & Indian Terri- 
 tory Railroad indicates that there is nothing in a 
 name, as this road is but twenty-seven miles long, 
 
 ■^ 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 87 
 
 running from Southland to Okolona on tbe west, 
 and also extending east from tho main line. 
 
 A line is being surveyed and steps actively 
 taken to build a road from Kansas City to Little 
 Rock, which is to cross the Boston Mountains near 
 the head waters of White River. 
 
 Several other important lines are at this time 
 
 making preparations to l)nil(l in the near future. 
 Charters for nearly 100 routes in the State have 
 been secured siuce 1885. There is not only plenty 
 of room, but a great necessity for yet hun«lred.s of 
 miles of new roads here. They will greatly facili- 
 tate the development of the immense resources of 
 this favored locality. 
 
 ),^^_(^ 
 
 llflliPR XI. 
 
 — >*«^ 
 
 The Counties of the State— Their Formation and Changes of Boundary Lines, etc— Their 
 
 County Seats and other Items of Intere.st Concerning Them— Defunct Counties- New 
 
 Counties— Population of all the Counties of the State at every General Census. 
 
 Not chaos-like, together crush'd and bruised: 
 But as tbe world, harmoniously confused: 
 Where order in variety we see. 
 And where, thouirb all tliitis-'' differ, they agree.- 
 
 -Pope. 
 
 'ERHAPS to many, no more 
 interesting subject in the 
 history of the State can be 
 j)resented than that refer- 
 ring to the name, organiza- 
 tion, etc., of each county 
 within its limits. Careful 
 research has brought forth the fol- 
 lowing facts presented in a concise, 
 but accurate manner: 
 
 Arkansas County was formed 
 December 13, 1813. As the lirst 
 municipal formation within the 
 boundary of the State, in Lower Mis- 
 souri Territory, it was first a parish 
 under Spanish rule and then under 
 French. October 23. 1821, a part 
 of Phillips County was added to it; the line be- 
 tween Pulaski and Arkansas was changed October 
 30, 1823; Quapaw Purchase divided between Ar- 
 
 kansas and Pulaski October 13, 1827; line between 
 Arkansas and Phillips defined November 21, 1825); 
 boundaries defined November 7, 1830. County 
 seat, De Witt; first county seat, Arkansas — oppo- 
 site Arkansas Post. 
 
 Ashley, formed November 30. 1848, named for 
 Hon. Chester Ashley, who died a Tnited States 
 Senator; line between Chicot changed January 19, 
 ISfil. County seat. Hamburg, 
 
 Baxter, March 24, 1873; line between Izard and 
 Fulton defined October 10, 1875; line between 
 Marion changed March 9, 1881. County seat. 
 Mountain Home, 
 
 Benton, September 30, 183(5. named in honor 
 of Hon. Thomas H. Benton. County seat, Ben- 
 tonville. 
 
 Boone, April 9, 1809 ; named for Daniel 
 Boone; line between Marion defined December 9. 
 1875. Harrison, county seat. 
 
 Bradley, December 18, 1.S40; jjart of Calhoun 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 attached October 1 9, 1 862 ; part restored to Ashley 
 County January 1, 1859. Warren, county seat. 
 
 Calhoun, December 0, IS-iO: named for John 
 C. Calhoun; part added to Union and Bradley 
 November 19, 1862. County seat, Hampton. 
 
 Carroll, Novemlier 1, 1833; named in honor of 
 the signer of the declaration; boundary defined 
 December 14, 1838; line between Madison defined 
 January, 11, 1843, and again January 20, 1843; 
 line between Marion defined December 18, 184G; 
 line between Madison defined December 29, 1854, 
 and again January 16, 1S57: part of Madison 
 attached April 8, 1869. Berryville, county seat. 
 
 Chicot, October 25, 1823; boundary defined 
 November 2, 1835; part attached to Drew Decem- 
 ber 21, 1846; line between Ashley changed 
 January 19, 1861; line between Drew changed 
 November 30, 1875; line changed between Desha 
 February 10, 1879. Lake Village, county seat. 
 
 Clark, December 15, 1818, while Lower Mis- 
 souri Territory; named in honor of Gov. Clark, 
 of Missouri; the line between Pulaski and Clark, 
 changed October 30, 1823; divided November 2, 
 1829; line between Hot Springs and Dallas changed 
 April 3, 1868; line between Pike defined April 
 22, 1873 ; line between Montgomery changed April 
 24, 1873; line between Pike changed March 8. 
 1887. Arkadelphia, county seat. 
 
 Clay, March 24, 1873; named for Henry Clay. 
 This county, formed as Clayton County, was changed 
 to Clay on December 6, 1875. The act of March 
 24, 1873, changed the boundaries of a large num- 
 ber of counties. Boydsville and Corning, county 
 seats. 
 
 Cleburne, formed February 20, 1883; named 
 in honor of Gen. Patrick A. Cleburne. Heber is 
 the county seat. 
 
 Cleveland, formed in 1885; named for President 
 Cleveland ; was formed as Dorsey County. Toledo, 
 county seat. 
 
 Columbia, December 17, 1852; part of Union 
 County added December 21, 1858; line between 
 Nevada defined April 19, 1873. Magnolia, county 
 seat. 
 
 Conway. December 7, 1825; named after the 
 noted Con ways; the northeast boundary defined 
 
 October 27, 1827; line between Pulaski and Con- 
 way defined October 20, 1828; part of Indian pur 
 chase added October 22, 1828; line between Con- 
 way, Pulaski and Independence defined November 
 5, 1831; part added to Pope January 6, 1853; 
 part added to White January 11. 1853; act of 
 March, 1873; line between Pope defined May 28, 
 1874. County seat, Morrillton. 
 
 Craighead, formed February 19, 1850. Jones- 
 boro, county seat. 
 
 Crawford, October 18, 1820; boundary was 
 changed October 30, 1823; divided and county 
 of Lovely established October 13, 1827; part of 
 the Cherokee Country attached to, October 22, 
 1828; boundary defined December 18, 1837; line 
 between Scott defined; line between Washington 
 defined November 24, 1846; line between Frank- 
 lin defined March 4, 1875; line changed between 
 Washington March 9, 1881. Van Buren, county 
 seat. 
 
 Crittenden, October 22, 1825; named for Rob- 
 ert Crittenden; St. Francis River declared to be 
 the line between St. Francis and Crittenden Coun- 
 ties November, 1831; portion attached to Missis 
 sippi County January, 1861; act, March, 1S73. 
 Marion, county seat. 
 
 Cross, November 15, 1862, 1866, 1873. Witts- 
 burg, the county seat. 
 
 Dallas, January 1, 1845; line between Hot 
 Springs and Clark changed April 3, 1869. Prince- 
 ton the county seat. 
 
 Desha, December 12, 1838; named for Hon. 
 Ben Desha; portion attached to Drew January 21, 
 1861; part of Chicot attached February 10, 1879; 
 also of Lincoln, March 10, 1879. Arkansas City, 
 county seat. 
 
 Drew, November 26, 1846; part Chicot attached 
 December 21, 1840; part of Desha attached Jan- 
 uary 21, 1861; March, 1873; line between Chicot 
 changed November 30, 1875. Monticello, county 
 seat. 
 
 Faulkner, April 12, 1873; line defined Decem- 
 7, 1875. Conway, county seat. 
 
 Franklin, December 19, 1837; line between 
 Johnson defined December 14, 1833; line between 
 Crawford defined March 4, 1875. Ozark, countv seat. 
 
 K, 
 
HISTOR-i OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 89 
 
 Fulton, December 21, 1842; part attached to 
 Marion County January 18, 1855; part of Law- 
 rence attached January 18, 1855, March, 1873; 
 line between Baxter and Izard defined February 
 1(5, 1875. County seat, Salem. 
 
 Garland, April 5, 1873; named after Gov. 
 A. H. Garland. Hot Springs, county seat. 
 
 Grant, February 4, 1869. Sheridan, county 
 seat. 
 
 Greene, November 5, 1833; act March, 1873. 
 Paragould, county seat. 
 
 Hempstead, December 15, 1818, when this 
 was Lower Missouri Territory; Lafayette County 
 carved out of this territory October 15, 1827; line 
 between Pike defined December 14, 1838. Wash- 
 ington, county seat. 
 
 Hot Spring. November 2, 1829; certain lands 
 attached to March 2, 1838; Montgomery taken out 
 of December 9, 1842; line between Saline defined 
 December 23, 1846; line between Montgomery 
 changed December 27, 1848; line between Saline 
 changed February 19, 1859, and changed again 
 January 10, 1861 ; line between Clark and Dallas 
 changed April 3, 1869; March, 1873. Malvern, 
 county seat. 
 
 Howard, April 17, 1873. County seat. Centre 
 Point. 
 
 Independence, October 20, 1820; part of east- 
 ern boundary defined October 30, 1823; Izard 
 County formed of October 27, 1825; part of Inde- 
 pendence added October 22, 1828; line between 
 Independence and Izard defined November 5, 1831 ; 
 line between Independence and Conway, November 
 5, 1831; between Independence and Jackson, No- 
 veuiV)er 8, 1830; between Izard February 21, 1838; 
 December 14, 1840; Lawrence changed December 
 20, 1840; March. 1873; Sharp County defined Feb- 
 ruary 11, 1875. Batesville, county seat. 
 
 Izard, October 27, 1825; western boundary 
 line extended October 13, 1827; part of the Indian 
 piu-chase added October 22, 1828; between Inde- 
 pendence and Izard defined November 5, 1831; 
 between Conway and Izard, November 5, 1831; 
 southern boundary established November 1 1, 1833; 
 line between Independence defined I\?bruary 21. 
 1838, and December 14, 1838, and December 21, 
 
 1840; western boundary line defined December 24, 
 1840, March, 1873; between Baxter and Fulton 
 defined February 16, 1875; between Sharp changed 
 March 9, 1877. Melbourne, county sent. 
 
 Jackson, November 5, 1829; line between In- 
 dependence defined November 8, 1836; part of 
 St. Francis attached January 10, 1851. Jackson- 
 port, county seat. 
 
 Jefferson, November 2, 1829; boundaries de- 
 fined November 3, 1831. and again October 29, 
 1836; line changed between Lincoln and Desha 
 March 20, 1879. Pine Bluff, county seat. 
 
 John.son, November 16, 1833; southern line 
 defined November 3, 1835; east line defined Octo- 
 ber 5, 1836; line between Franklin defined Decem- 
 ber 14, 1838, 1848; between Pope Fel^ruary 19, 
 1859, again March 27. 1871; line between Pope 
 re-established on March 6, 1875; between Pope 
 changed March 9, 1877. Clarksville, county seat. 
 
 Lafayette, October 15, 1827; the line between 
 Union defined November 26, 1846. Lewisville, 
 county seat. 
 
 Lawrence, on January 15, 1815, while Lower 
 Missouri Territory; east line defined October 30, 
 1823; between Independence changed December 
 20, 1840; part attached to Fulton January 18, 
 1855; part attached to Randolph January 18, 
 1861; nearly half the county cut off the west side 
 to form Sharp County, 1868. Powhatan, county 
 seat. 
 
 Lee, April 17, 1873. Marianna. county seat. 
 
 Lincoln. March 28, 1871; part transferred to 
 Desha County, March 10, 1879. Star City, county 
 seat. 
 
 Little River, March 5, 1867. Richmond is the 
 county seat. 
 
 Logan, originally Sarber County, March 22, 
 1871; amended, Fobrnary 27. 1873; changed to 
 Logan, December 14, 1S75; line between Scott 
 changed, March 21, 1881. Pari.s, county seat. 
 
 Lonoke, April 16, 1873; named for the lone 
 oak tree, by simply spelling phonetically — the 
 suggestion of the chief engineer of the Cairo & 
 Fulton Railroad. Line laetween Prairie defined 
 November 30, 1N75, and again. December 7, 1875. 
 Lonoke, county seat. 
 
 V 
 
90 
 
 HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Lovely, October 13, 1827; abolished October 
 17. 1828.' 
 
 Madison. September 30, 1830; west bouudary 
 changed on November 26, 1838; between Carroll 
 defined January 11, 1843, and again January 20, 
 1843, 1846; between Newton, December 21, 1848; 
 between Carroll. April 8, 1869. Huntsville, county 
 seat. 
 
 Mai ion, September 25, 1836; originally Searcy 
 County; changed to Marion, September 29, 1836 
 (Searcy County created out of December 13, 1838); 
 west hounihiry defined November 18,1837; between 
 Carrol! defined December IS, 1840; part of Fulton 
 attached January 18, 1855; between Van Buren 
 and Searcy defined Jannary 20, 1855, and March, 
 1873; line between Boone defined December 9, 
 1875; line between Baxter changed March 9, 1881. 
 Yellville, county seat. 
 
 Miller, April 1, 1820; the greater portions fell 
 within the limits of Texas; county abolished there- 
 fore, 1836; re-established. December 22, 1874, and 
 eastern boundary extended. Texarkana, county seat. 
 
 Mississippi, November 1, 1833, 1859; portion 
 of Crittenden attached, January 18, 1S61. Osceola, 
 county seat. 
 
 Monroe, November 2, 1829; boundaries defined 
 December 25, 1840; line between Prairie changed 
 December 7, 1850; line changed April 12, 1869, 
 March, 1873, April, 1873, and May 27, 1874. 
 Clarendon, county seat. 
 
 Montgomery, December 9. 1842; line between 
 Yell defined January 2. 1845; between Perry, 
 December 23, 1846; between Perry re-established 
 December 21, 1848; between Hot Spring changed 
 December 27, 1848; between Polk changed Feb- 
 ruary 7,1859. March, 1873; between Clark changed 
 April 24, 1873; line between Pike defined Decem- 
 ber 16, 1874. Mount Ida, county seat. 
 
 Nevada, March 20, 1871; line between Colum 
 bia defined April 10, 1873. Prescott, county seat. 
 
 Newton, December 14, 1842; line between 
 Madison defined December 21 , 1848; between Pope 
 January 10, 1853. Jasper, county seat. 
 
 Ouachita, November 29, 1842; line between 
 Union changed January 6, 1853. Camden, county 
 seat. 
 
 Perry, December 18, 1840; line between Pul- 
 aski, Saline and Montgomery defined December 
 23, 1846; old line between Montgomery re-estab- 
 lished December 21,1848. Perryville, county seat. 
 
 Phillips. May 1, 1820; part attached to Arkan- 
 sas County October 23, 1881; west boundary 
 defined October 30, 1823; act to divide and create 
 Crittenden County October 22, 1825; divided and 
 St. Francis County created October 13, 1827; line 
 between Arkansas County defined November 21, 
 1828, 1840, March, 1873. Helena, county seat. 
 
 Pike, November 1, 1833; line between Sevier 
 defined November 15,1883; between Hempstead, 
 December 14, 1838; between Clark, April 22, 
 1873; between Montgomery, December 16, 1874; 
 between Clark denned March 8, 1877. Murfi-ees- 
 boro, county seat. 
 
 Poinsett. February 28, 1838, 1859. Harris- 
 burg, county seat. 
 
 Polk, November 30, 1844; line between Mont- 
 gomery changed February 7. 1859; part of Sebas- 
 tian County added by ordinance of convention, 
 June 1, 1861. Dallas, county seat. 
 
 Pope, November 2, 1829; part added to Yell 
 January 5, 1853; part of Conway attached Janu- 
 ary 6, 1853; line between Newton, January 10, 
 1853; part of Van Buren attached January 12, 
 1853; between Van Buren defined February 17, 
 1859; between Johnson, October 19, 1859, March, 
 27, 1871; between Conway, May 28, 1874; between 
 Johnson re-established March 6, 1875; between 
 Johnson changed March 9, 1877. Dover, county 
 seat. 
 
 Prairie. October 25, 1846; between Pulaski 
 changed December 30, 1848; between Monroe 
 changed December 7, 1850: line changed April 12, 
 1869; between White defined April 17, 1873; line 
 changed April 26, 1873, May 27, 1874; between 
 Lonoke changed November 30, 1875; separated 
 into two districts, 1885. Devall's Bluff, county 
 seat. 
 
 Pulaski, December 15, 1818, while a part of 
 Lower Missouri Territory; line between Arkansas 
 and Pulaski October 30, 1823; between Clark 
 changed October 30, 1823; divided October 20, 
 1825; Quapaw Purchase divided — Arkansas and 
 
 :rz 
 
4^^ 
 
 k^ 
 
 HISTORY OF .UtKANSAS. 
 
 91 
 
 Pulaski, October 13, 1827; uorthwost boundary 
 defined October 23, 1827; between Pulaski and 
 Conway, October 20, 1828; line between Saline 
 defined February 25, 1888, December 1-1, 1838; 
 between White changed February 3,1843; between 
 Saline defined December 21, 1846; between Perry 
 defined December 23, 1846; between Prairie 
 changed December 30, 1848; between Saline de- 
 fined April 12, 1873; again, December 7, 1875. 
 Little Rock, county seat. 
 
 Randolph, October 29, 1835; part of Lawrence 
 uttacbed January 18, 1864, March, 1873. Poca- 
 hontas, county seat. 
 
 Saline, November 2, 1835; boundaries defined 
 November 5, 1836; between Pulaski, February 25, 
 1838, December 14, 1838, December 21, 1846; be- 
 tween Hot Spring, December 23, 1846, February 
 19, 1859, January 19,1861; between Pulaski, April 
 12, 1873. December 17, 1875. Benton, county 
 seat. 
 
 Scott, November 5, 1833; boundaries defined 
 October 24, 1835; between Crawford, December 
 16, 1838; part of Sebastian attached by conven- 
 tion June 1, 1861; line between Logan changed 
 March 21, 1873. Waldron, county seat. 
 
 Searcy, November 5, 1835; boundaries defined 
 September 26, 1836; name changed to Marion 
 September 29, 1830; county created out of Marion 
 December 13, 1838; between Van Buren defined 
 October 2. 1853; between Van Buren and Marion 
 defined October 20, 1855, March, 1873. Marshall, 
 county seat. 
 
 Sebastian, January 6, 1851; part attached to 
 Scott and Polk by the convention June 1, 1861. 
 Fort Smith and Greenwood, county seats. 
 
 Sevier, October 17, 1828; boundaries defined 
 November 8, 1833; between Pike, November 15, 
 1833; southeast boundary defined October 29, 
 1836. Lockesburg, county seat. 
 
 Sharp, July IS. 1868; act March 3, 1873; be- 
 tween Independence defined February 11, 1875; 
 
 line between Izard changed March 9, 1877, 1883. 
 Evening Shade, county seat. 
 
 St. Francis, Octolier 13, 1827; St. Francis 
 River declared boundary lino between Crittenden 
 Novembers, 1831; part attached to Jackson Jan- 
 uary 1, 1851, March, 1873. Forrest City, county 
 seat. 
 
 Stone, April 21, 1873. Mountain View, county 
 seat. 
 
 Union, November 2, 1829; boundaries defined 
 November 5, 1836; line between Lafayette, 
 November 26,1846; line between Ouachita changed 
 January 6. 1853; part added to Columliia, Decem- 
 ber 21, 1851; part of Calhoun attached October 
 19, 1862. El Dorado, county seat. 
 
 Van Buren, November 11. 1833; boundaries 
 defined November 4, 1836; part attached to Po])e 
 January 12, 1853; between Searcy and Marion 
 defined January 20, 1855; between Pope defined 
 February 17, 1859. Clinton, county seat. 
 
 Washington, October 17, 1828; certain lands 
 declared to be in Washington County October 2'), 
 1831; line between Crawford defined November 
 24, 1846; line changed between Crawford March 
 8, 1883. Fayetteville, county seat. 
 
 White, October 23, 1835; line between Pulaski 
 changed February 3, 1843; part of Conway at 
 tachod January 11, 1853; line between Prairie 
 defined April 17, 1873. Searcy, county seat. 
 
 Woodruff, November 20, 1862; but vote, in 
 pui-suance to ordinance of conventions 1861, 1806, 
 1869; line changed April 26, 1873. Augusta, 
 county seat. 
 
 Yell, December 5, 1840; northern boundary, 
 December 21, 1840; line between Montgomery, 
 January 2. 1845; part Pope attached January 6, 
 1853. Danville and Dardauelle, county seats. 
 
 The following table will prove valuable for 
 comparison in noting the growth in poimlation 
 of the counties throughout the State in the various 
 decades from their organization: 
 
AGGBEQ4TE 
 
 POPULATION BY 
 
 COUNTIES 
 
 
 
 AGGREGATE POPULATION BY 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 
 
 Counties in 
 
 1880 
 
 1870 
 
 1860 
 
 1850 
 
 1840 
 
 1830 j 1820 
 :.0,388 14,255 
 
 1810 
 1,062 
 
 Counties in 
 tbe SUte. 
 
 1880 1 1870 1860 
 
 1850 I 1340 
 
 1 
 
 1830 i 1820 
 
 1 
 
 1810 
 
 the State. 
 
 802,525 
 
 484,471 
 
 485,460 209,897 
 
 1 
 
 97,574 
 
 802,525| 484,471 
 
 435,450:209,897 97,574 
 
 30,388; 14,255 
 
 1,062 
 
 
 8,038 
 
 10,156 
 
 6,004 
 
 20,837 
 
 1A146 
 
 6,285 
 
 .■i.U"! 
 
 13,337 
 
 10,117 
 
 15,771 
 
 7,213 
 
 M.O'.IO 
 
 l-.',7.'\5 
 
 7,037 
 
 ;4,740 
 
 9,415 
 
 5,030 
 
 6,5' >5 
 
 8,873 
 
 8,870 
 
 12,231 
 
 1J,7H6 
 
 14.9.il 
 
 6,720 
 
 9,023 
 
 6,185 
 
 7,480 
 
 19,015 
 
 7,775 
 
 9,917 
 
 18,086 
 
 10,857 
 
 10,877 
 
 22,386 
 
 11,565 
 
 5,730 
 
 8,782 
 
 8,238 
 8,042 
 
 8,884 
 8,690 
 
 3,245 
 :i,058 
 
 1,346 
 
 1 426 t •3(^ 
 
 1,062 
 
 Lee 
 
 Lincoln 
 
 Lilile River 
 
 13,288 
 9,255 
 6,405 
 14,885 
 12 146 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Ashley 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Baxter 
 
 
 
 
 3,246 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 13,831 
 7,032 
 8,646 
 
 6,780 
 7,214 
 11,953 
 
 9,306 
 
 3,710 
 
 2,228 
 
 
 I i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Booue 
 
 
 
 
 Lonoke 
 
 Madison 
 
 Marion 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Bradley ,... 
 
 8,.388 
 4,103 
 9,383 
 9,2.34 
 9,785 
 
 3,829 
 
 
 
 
 
 11,4,55 
 7,907 
 9,919 
 7,142 
 9,574 
 8,739 
 
 12.959 
 6,120 
 
 11,758 
 3,873 
 
 21,262 
 6,345 
 2 192 
 
 8,231 
 3,979 
 
 7,740 
 6,192 
 
 4,823 
 2,308 
 
 3,775 
 1 ,325 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 4,617 
 
 ■ 5,115 
 
 4,070 
 
 2,814 
 
 3,8U« 
 2,300 
 
 
 
 
 Miller 
 
 
 
 
 
 1,165 
 1,369 
 
 
 
 Mississippi 
 
 Monroe 
 
 Montgomery 
 
 Nevada 
 
 3,6.33 
 8,336 
 2,984 
 
 3,895 
 5.657 
 3,633 
 
 2,368 
 2,049 
 1,958 
 
 1,410 
 936 
 
 
 
 
 Clark 
 
 1.040 
 
 
 461 
 
 
 
 Clay 
 
 
 
 
 
 11,307 
 8,112 
 4,577 
 8,9,57 
 8,831 
 3,915 
 5,707 
 6,125 
 
 12,459 
 
 6,697 
 8,066 
 7,8,50 
 4,920 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 3,.583 
 
 2,892 
 
 982 
 
 
 4,374 
 12,975 
 
 2,685 
 15,372 
 
 3,788 
 
 1 790 
 
 3..393 
 12,9.36 
 2,465 
 14,877 
 4,025 
 3,621 
 4,262 
 7,883 
 8,854 
 11,699 
 6,261 
 8,672 
 6,540 
 5.142 
 .5,271 
 
 1,7.58 
 9,591 
 978 
 6,9.35 
 1,801 
 2,308 
 1,263 
 4,710 
 2,097 
 6,657 
 3,375 
 4,457 
 3,903 
 3,083 
 1,979 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7,960 
 2,648 
 
 4,200 
 1,561 
 
 2,440 
 1,273 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Phillips 
 
 3,547 
 
 969 
 
 1,.320 
 
 1,1,52 
 
 1.197 
 
 
 
 Cross 
 
 
 Pike 
 
 
 Dallas 
 
 8.283 
 6,459 
 
 6,877 
 2,911 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 Poinsett . 
 
 
 
 
 
 1,698 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 Polk 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 Pope 
 
 14,322 
 8.435 
 32,616 
 11,724 
 8.389 
 8,953 
 9.174 
 7,278 
 
 8,386 
 5,604 
 32,006 
 7,466 
 6.714 
 3,911 
 7,483 
 5 613 
 
 2,(!50 
 
 1,483 
 
 
 
 
 9,960 
 
 9,087 
 
 3,276 
 
 
 
 
 
 Prairie 
 
 
 
 
 Pulaski 
 
 5.350 
 2,196 
 2,499 
 2,061 
 1,694 
 9.3R 
 
 2,395 
 'i','56'5 
 
 1.921 
 
 
 
 9,027 
 4,843 
 
 3,943 
 7,573 
 13.768 
 
 6,877 
 
 7,898 
 4,024 
 
 "s.'si's 
 
 13989 
 5,636 
 
 3,972 
 1,819 
 
 "2,.593 
 7,672 
 3,609 
 
 2,065 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 St. Francis 
 
 Saline 
 
 
 Garland 
 
 '1,58(1 
 4,921 
 1,907 
 
 
 
 :::::::::l::::::::: 
 
 
 
 Grant 
 
 gpott 
 
 
 
 
 
 Searcy ~ 
 
 Sebastian 
 
 Sevier 
 
 Shatp 
 
 
 
 
 Hempstead 
 
 Hot Spring 
 
 2,512 
 
 4.58 
 
 2,?46 
 
 
 19 560 1 12 940 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6,192 
 9,047 
 5,089 
 13,419 
 
 4.492 
 5,400 
 
 10,516 
 
 4,240 
 
 2,810 
 
 634 
 
 
 
 Independence... 
 Izard 
 
 14,666 
 6,806 
 7,268 
 
 15,733 
 9,1.52 
 9.1.39 
 5,981 
 
 14,307 
 7,215 
 10,493 
 14,971 
 7,612 
 8,464 
 9,373 
 
 7,767 
 3,212 
 
 3,086 
 6,834 
 5.227 
 6.220 
 6,274 
 
 3,669 
 2,340 
 1,640 
 2..';66 
 3,4.33 
 2,280 
 2,835 
 
 2.031 
 
 1,266 
 
 333 
 
 772 
 
 '748 
 
 2,806 
 
 
 
 Stone 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10571 
 
 12,288 
 5,357 
 
 14,673 
 8,316 
 
 10,298 
 3,884 
 9,97(1 
 2,619 
 
 2,889 
 
 1 518 
 
 7,148 
 
 920 
 
 640 
 
 
 
 
 
 Van Buren 
 
 Washington 
 
 White 
 
 9,565 ' 6,107 
 23,884 ' 17,266 
 17,794 1 10.347 
 
 8.(146' 6,981 
 13,853 8.048 
 
 
 
 
 
 5,182 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lafayptie 
 
 Woodruff. 
 
 YpII 
 
 
 
 
 5,592 
 
 
 6,333 
 
 ... 
 3,341 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 98 
 
 ®iiAiTit xn. 
 
 o » < « 
 
 Edtjcation-The Mental Type Considered-Tekritorial Schools, Laws and Funds-Constitutional 
 
 Provisions for Education— Legislative Provisions— Progress since the War— The State 
 
 Superintendents— Statistics-Arkansas Literature— The Arkansaw Traveler. 
 
 Delightful task! to rear the tender thought. 
 To teach the young idea how to shoot; 
 To pour the fresh instructions o'er the mind, 
 To breathe th' enlivening spirit, and to fix 
 The generous purpose in the glowing breast.- 
 
 Thormon. 
 
 J^Titre^ each other 
 
 ERE is oue subject 
 at least in the economic 
 institutions of our country 
 where men do not divide 
 on political lines. To the 
 historian it is a restful 
 and refreshing oasis in 
 the arid desert. From 
 the Canadas to the Gulf commun- 
 ities and States earnestly vie with 
 
 '«&j eacn otner in the establishment of 
 the best public schools. The pres- 
 ent generation has nearly supplant- 
 ed the former great universities 
 with the free public high schools 
 A generation ago the South sent its 
 boys to the North to school; the 
 Nortli sent its boys to the old universities of Europe. 
 Oxford and Heidelburg received the sons of ambi- 
 tious, wealthy Americans of the North, while Yale, 
 Harvard and Jefferson Colleges were each the alma 
 mater of many of the youths of the South. The 
 rivalry in the schools between the two sections at 
 that time was not intense, but the educa'.ed young 
 men of the South met in sharpest rivalry in the 
 halls of Congress the typical Northern man. As 
 the highest types of the North and the South in 
 
 active political life may be placed Thomas Jeffer- 
 son and Daniel Webster. In peace or in war the 
 differences in the intellectual advancement of the 
 two sections were more imaginary than real. The 
 disadvantage the South met was tlie natural ten- 
 dency to produce an aristocratic class in the com- 
 munity. Cotton and the negro wore impediments 
 in the Southern States that clogged the way to the 
 advancement of the masses. They retarded the 
 building of great institutions of learning as well as 
 the erection of large manufactories. This applied 
 far more to collegiate education than to the com- 
 mon or public school system. The Southern man 
 who was able to send his children away from his 
 State to school realized that he gave them two ad- 
 vantages over keeping them at home; he aided 
 them in avoiding negro contact and association, 
 and provided the advantage of a better knowledge 
 of different peoples in different sections. 
 
 Arkansas may have Ligged somewhat in the 
 cause of education in the past, but to-day, though 
 young as a State, it is far in advance of many older 
 communities who are disposed to boast greatly of 
 their achievements in this direction. 
 
 When still a Territory the subject of education 
 received wise and considerate attention. March 
 2, 1827, Congress gave the State seventy-two 
 
 ^ 
 
 w 
 
 zrr^" — r * 
 -n jfv 
 
94 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 sections of land for the purpose of establishing 
 "a seminary of learning." A supplemental act 
 was passed l)y Congress, June '23, 183(5, one week 
 after it became a State, offering certain propo- 
 sitions for acceptance or rejection: 1. The six- 
 teenth section of every township for school pur- 
 poses. 2. The seventy- two sections known as the 
 saline lands. By article 9, section 4, State con- 
 stitution of 1S()9, these lands were given to the free 
 schools. 3. The seventy-two sections, known as 
 the seminary lands, given to 'the Territory in 1827, 
 were vested and conhrmed in the State of Arkansas 
 for the use of said seminary. October 18, 1836, 
 the State accepted the propositions entire; and the 
 legislature passed the act known as " the ordinance 
 of acceptance and compact." December 18, 1844, 
 the general assembly asked Congress for a modi- 
 fication of the seminary grant, so as to authorize 
 the legislature to appropriate these seventy-two 
 sections of land for common school purposes. 
 Congress assented to this on July 29, 1840, and 
 the lands were added to the free school fund. 
 These congressional land grants formed the basis of 
 the State's free school system. 
 
 The first State constitution of 1836 recognized 
 the importance of popular education, and made it 
 the duty of the general assembly to provide by 
 law for the improvement of such lands as are, or 
 may be, granted by the United States for the use 
 of schools, and to pass such laws as "shall be cal- 
 culated to encourage intellectual, scientific and 
 agricultural improvement." 
 
 The general assembly of 1842 established a sys- 
 tem of common schools in the State, which was ap- 
 proved and became a law February 3, 1853, pro- 
 viding for the sale of the sixteenth section, and 
 election of school trustees in each township, to ex- 
 pend the money from the sale of land in the cause 
 of education. The act required schools to be main- 
 tained in each township ' ' for at least four months 
 in each year, and orthography, reading, writing, 
 English grammar, arithmetic and good morals 
 should be taught." The trustees were required 
 to visit the schools once in each month, and the 
 school age was fixed at from five to twenty-one 
 years. The act also provided for the establishment 
 
 of manual labor schools. It went to the extent of 
 appropriating a sum of money for the purchase of 
 text-books. This was a long step in advance of 
 any other portion of the country at that time. To 
 the fund arising from lands the act added "all 
 tines for false impri.sonment, assault and battery, 
 breach of the peace, etc." This act of the assem- 
 bly placed the young State in the vanguard of 
 States in the cause of free schools. It is an 
 enduring monument to the men of that legis- 
 lature. Under this law the reports of the county 
 commissioners of education were ordered to be 
 made to the State auditor, but if so made none can 
 be found in the State archives. 
 
 A State board of education was provided for 
 by the act of 1843, and the board was required to 
 make a complete report of educational matters, 
 and also to recommend the passage of such laws 
 as were deemed advisable for the advancement of 
 the cause of education. By an act of January 1 1 , 
 1853, the secretary of State was made ex- officio 
 State commissioner of common schools, and re- 
 quired to report to the governor the true condition 
 of the schools in each county; which report the 
 governor presented to the general assembly at 
 each regular session. The provisions of an act of 
 January, 1855, relate to the sale of the sixteenth 
 section, and defined the duties of the school trus- 
 tees and commissioners. Article 8, in the consti- 
 tution of 1807, is substantially the same as the pro- 
 visions of the law of 1836. 
 
 From 1830 to 1807, as is shown by the above, 
 the provisions of the law were most excellent and 
 liberal toward the public schools; legislative enact- 
 ments occur at frequent intervals, indicating that 
 the State was well abreast of the most liberal school 
 ideas of the time, and large funds were raised 
 sacred to the cause. 
 
 Investigation shows that from the date of the 
 State's admission into the Union, until 1867, there 
 were many and admnable stipulations and statutes, 
 by which large revenues were collected from the 
 sale of lands, but the records of the State depart- 
 ment give no account of the progress of free 
 schools during this period, leaving the inference 
 that but little practical benefit accrued to the 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 95 
 
 cause from these wise and libonil measures put 
 forth by Congress and the State. 
 
 By act approved May 18, 1807, the legislature 
 made a marked forward movement in the cause of 
 education. Considering the chaotic conditions of 
 society, and the universal public and private bank- 
 ruptcy, the movement is only the more surprising. 
 The act stipulated that a tax of 20 cents on every 
 $100 worth of taxable pro]ierty should be levied 
 for the purpose of establishing and maintaining 
 a system of public schools. The second section 
 made this fund sacred — to be used for no other 
 purpose whatever. The fourth section provided 
 for a superintendent of public instruction and 
 defined his duties. The eighth section provided 
 for a school commissioner, to be chosen by the 
 electors of each county, who should examine any 
 one applying for a position as school teacher; 
 granting to those qualified to teach a certificate, 
 without which no one could be legally em- 
 ployed to teach. Prior to this a license as teacher 
 was not considered essential, and there was no one 
 authorized to examine applicants or grant certifi- 
 cates. The Congressional township was made the 
 unit of the school district, the act also setting 
 forth that in the event of the trustees failing to 
 have a school taught in the distiict at least three 
 months in the year, the same thereby forfeited 
 its portion of the school revenue. These wise and 
 liberal arrangements were made, it must be remem- 
 bered, by a people bankrupt by war and suffering 
 the hard trials of reconstruction. 
 
 No regular reports were made — at least none 
 can be found — prior to 1867, the date of the ap- 
 pointment of a superintendent. Though reports 
 were regularly received ^om the year mentioned, 
 the most of them were unsatisfactory and not 
 reliable. 
 
 The constitution of 1868 created some wise 
 amendments to the previous laws. It caused the 
 schools to become free to every child in the State; 
 school revenues were increased, districts could have 
 no part of the school fund unless a free school had 
 been taught for at least throe mouths. The leg- 
 islature following this convention, July 23. ISfiS, 
 amended the school laws to conform to this con- 
 
 stitutional provision. In addition to State super- 
 intendent, the office of circuit superiiitendi'iit was 
 created, and also the State board of education. 
 
 The constitutional convention of 1874 made 
 changes in the school law and provided for the 
 school system now in force in the State. The act 
 of the legislature, December 7, 187^, was passed 
 in conformity with the last preceding State con- 
 vention. This law with amendments is the present 
 school law of Arkansas. 
 
 Hon. Thomas Smith was the first State super- 
 intendent, in office from 1808 to 1873. The 
 present incumbent of that position, Hon. Wood- 
 ville E. Thoujpson, estimates that the commence- 
 ment of public free schools in Arkansas may prop- 
 erly date from the time Mr. Smith took possession 
 of the office — schools free to all ; every child entitled 
 to the same rights and privileges, none excluded: 
 separate schools provided for white and black; 
 a great number of schools organized, school houses 
 built, and etKcient teachers secured. Previous to 
 this time people looked upon free schools as largely 
 pauper schools, and the wealthier classes regarded 
 them unfavorably. 
 
 Hon. J. C. Corbin, the successor of Mr. Smith, 
 continued in office until December 13, 1875. 
 
 Hon. B. W. Hill was appointed December 18, 
 1875, and remained in office until 1878. It was 
 during his term that there came the most marked 
 change in public sentiment in favor of public 
 schools. He was a zealous and able worker in the 
 cause, and from his report for 1870 is learned the 
 following: State apportionment. §213,000; dis- 
 trict tax, $88,000; school population, ISU.OCO. 
 Through the directors" failure to report the enroll- 
 ment only shows 10,000. The total revenue of 
 1877 was $270,000; of 1878, 8270,000. 
 
 Mr. Hill was succeeded in 1878 by Hon. J. L. 
 Denton, whose integrity, earne-itnesa and great 
 ability resulted in completing the valuable work so 
 well commenced by his predecessor— removing the 
 Southern prejudices against public schools. He 
 deserves a lasting place in the history of Arkansas 
 as the advocate and chami)ion of free schools. 
 
 The present able and efficient State superin- 
 tendent of public instruction, as previou.sly men- 
 
-* 9 
 
 Vt6 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 tioned, is Hon. Woodville E. Thompson. To his 
 eminent qualificationa and tireless energy the 
 schools of Arkansas are largely indebted for the 
 rapid advance now going on, and which has 
 marked his past term of oflSce. From his bien- 
 nial report are gleaned most of the facts and sta- 
 tistics given below. 
 
 The growth of the institution as a whole may 
 be detined by the following statistics: In 1879 
 the revenue raised by the State and county tax was 
 $271,000; in 1880, $285,000; in 1881, $710,000; 
 in 1882, $722,000; in 1883, .'{;740,000; iu 1884, 
 $931,000; in 1885, $1,199,000; in 1886, $1,327,- 
 000. The district tax in 1884 was $34(3,521; in 
 1885, $343,850, and in 1886, $445,563. The dis- 
 trict tax is that voted by the people. 
 
 Arkansas to-day gives the most liberal sup- 
 port to her free schools, all else considered, of any 
 State in the Union. It provides a two mill tax, a 
 poll tax, and authorizes the districts to vote a live 
 mill tax. This is the rule or rate voted in nearly 
 all the districts, thus making a total on all taxable 
 property of seven mills, besides the poll tax. 
 
 The persistent neglect of school officers to re- 
 port accurate returns of their school attendance is 
 to be regretted. The number of pupils of school 
 age (six to twenty-one years) is given, but no ac- 
 count of attendance or enrollment. This leaves 
 counties in the unfavorable light of a large school 
 population, with apparently the most meager at- 
 tendance. The following summaries exhibit the 
 progress of the public schools: Number of school 
 children, 1869, 176,910; 1870, 180,274; 1871, 
 196,237; 1872, 194,314; 1873, 148,128; 1874, 168,- 
 929; 1875, 168,929; 1876, 189,130; 1877, 203,567; 
 1878, 216,475: 1879, 236,600; 1880, 247,547; 1881, 
 272,841; 1882, 289,617; 1883, white, 227,538; 
 black, 76,429; total, 304,962; 1884. white, 247,- 
 173; black, 76,770; total, 323,943; 1885, white, 
 252,290; black, 86,213; total, 338,506; 1886, 
 white, 266,188; black, 91,818; total, 358,006; 
 1887, white, 279,224; black, 98,512; total, 377,- 
 730; 1888, white, 288,381; black, 99,747; total, 
 388,129. The number of juipils enrolled in 1869 
 was 67,412; 1888, 202,754, divided as follows: 
 White, 152,184; black, 50,570. Number of teach- 
 
 ers employed 1869, 1,335; number employed 1888, 
 males, 3,431, females, 1.233. Total number of 
 school houses, 1884, 1,453; erected that year, 263. 
 Total number school houses, 1888, 2,452; erected 
 in that year, 269. Total value of school houses, 
 1884, $384,827.73. Total value, 1888, $705,- 
 276.92. Total amount of revenues received, 1868, 
 $300,669.63. For the year, 1888: Amount on 
 hand June 30, 1887, $370,942.25; received com- 
 mon school fund, $315,403.28; district tax, $505,- 
 069.92; poll tax, $146,604.22; other sources, 
 $45,890.32; total, $1,083,909.32. 
 
 While there were in early Territorial days great 
 intellectual giants in Arkansas, the tendency was 
 not toward the tamer and more gentle walks of lit- 
 erature, but rather in the direction of the fiercer bat- 
 tles of the political arena and the rostrum. Oratory 
 was cultivated to the extreme, and often to the 
 neglect apparently of all else of intellectual pur- 
 suits. The ambitious youths had listened to the 
 splendid eloquence of their elders — heard their 
 praises on every lip, and were fired to struggle for 
 such triumphs. Where there are great orators one 
 expects to find poets and artists. The great states- 
 man is mentally cast in molds of stalwart pro- 
 portions. The poet, orator, painter, and eminent 
 literary character are of a finer texture, but usually 
 not so virile. 
 
 Gen. Albert Pike gave a literary immortality to 
 Arkansas when it was yet a Territorial wilderness. 
 The most interesting incident in the history of 
 literature would be a true picture of that Nestor of 
 the press. Kit North, when he opened the mail 
 package from that dim and unknown savage 
 world of Arkansas, and turned his eyes on the 
 pages of Pike's manuscript, which had been offered 
 the great editor for publication, in his poem en- 
 titled "Hymn to the Gods." This great but mer- 
 ciless critic had written Byron to death, and one 
 can readily believe that he must have turned pale 
 when his eye ran over the lines — lines from an un- 
 known world of untamed aborigines, penned in the 
 wilderness by this unknown boy. North read the 
 products of new poets to find, not merit, but weak 
 points, where he could impale on his sharp and 
 pitiless pen the daring singer. What a play must 
 
 ;^ 
 
:> 
 
 \r> 
 
 DsCE QLR . 
 
 Mississippi Cdunty Arkansas . 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 i»7 
 
 have swept over his features as his eye followed 
 line after line, eager and more eager from the first 
 word to the last. To him could this be possible — 
 real — and not the day dream of a disturbed im- 
 agination. This historical incident in the litera- 
 ture of the wild west — the pioneer boy not only on 
 the outer coufines of civilization, but to the aver- 
 age Englishman, in the impenetrable depths of a 
 dark continent, where dwelt only cannibals, select- 
 ing the great and severe arbiter of English litera- 
 ture to whom he would transmit direct his fate as 
 a poet; the youth's unexpected triumph in not 
 only securing a place in the columns of the leading 
 review of the world, but extorting in the editorial 
 columns the highest meed of praise, is unparalleled 
 in the feats of tyros in literature. The supremacy 
 of Pike's genius was dulled in its brilliancy be- 
 cause of the versatility of his mental occupations. 
 A poet, master of belles leitres, a lawyer and a poli- 
 tician, as well as a soldier, and eminent in all the 
 varied walks he trod, yet he was never a book- 
 maker — had no ambition, it seems, to be an author. 
 The books that he will leave, those especially by 
 which he will be remembered, will be his gathered 
 and bound writings thrown ofP at odd intervals and 
 cast aside. His literary culture could produce only 
 the very highest type of effort. Hence, it is prob- 
 able that Lord North was the only editor living to 
 whom Pike might have submitted his " Hymn to 
 the Gods" with other than a chance whim to de- 
 cide its fate. 
 
 There was no Boswell among the early great 
 men of Arkansas, otherwise there would exist biog- 
 raphies laden with instruction and full of interest. 
 There were men and women whose genius com- 
 pelled them to talk and write, but they wrote dis- 
 connected, uncertain sketches, and doubtless often 
 published them in the columns of some local news- 
 paper, where they sank into oblivion. 
 
 The en-atic preacher- lawyer, A. W. Arrington, 
 wrote many and widely published sketches of the 
 bench and bar of Ai-kansas, but his imagination 
 
 so out-ran the facts that they became mere fictions 
 — very interesting and entertaining, it is said, 
 but entirely useless to the historian. Arrington 
 was a man of superior natural genius, but was so 
 near a moral wreck as to cloud his memory. 
 
 Years ago was published Nutall's History of 
 Arkansas, but the most diligent inquiry among 
 the olde.st inhabitants fails to find one who ever 
 heard of the book, much less the author. 
 
 Recently John Hallum pulilished his History 
 of Arkansas. The design of the author was to 
 make three volumes, the first to treat of the 
 bench and bar, but the work was dropped after 
 this volume was published. It contains a gi-eat 
 amount of valuable matter, and the author has 
 done the State an important service in making his 
 collections and putting them in durable form. 
 
 A people with so many men and women com- 
 petent to write, and who have written so little of 
 Arkansas, its people or its great historical events, 
 presents a curious phase of society. 
 
 A wide and inviting field has been neglected 
 and opportunities have been lost; facts have now 
 gone out of men's memories, and important histor- 
 ical incidents passed into oblivion beyond recall. 
 
 Opie P. Read, now of Chicago, will be known 
 in the future as the young and ambitious literary 
 worker of Arkansas. He came to Little Rock 
 from his native State, Tennessee, and engaged in 
 work on the papers at that city. He soon had 
 a wide local reputation and again this soon grew 
 to a national one. His fugitive pieces in the news 
 papers gained extensive circulation, and in quiet 
 humor and unaffected pathos were of a high order. . 
 He has written several works of fiction and is now 
 running through his paper. The Arkansaw Traveler, 
 Chicago, a novel entitled ' ' The Kentucky Colonel," 
 already pronounced by able critics one among 
 the best of American works of fiction. Mr. Read 
 is still a comparatively young man, and his pen 
 gives most brilliant promise for the futui'e. His 
 success as an editor is well remembered. 
 
 ^^ 
 
98 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 DO 
 
 The Churches ok Arkansas— Appearance of the Missionaries— Church Missions Established in the 
 Wilderness— The Leading Protestant Denominations— Ecclesiastical Statistics- 
 General Outlook from a Heligious Standpoint. 
 
 No silver saints bj' dying misers giv'n 
 
 Here bribed the rage of ill-requited Heav'n; 
 
 B\it such plain roofs as piety could raise. 
 
 And onlj' vocal with the Maker's praise. — Pope. 
 
 V<» 
 
 
 
 N all bistories of the early 
 settlers the pioneer preach- 
 ers and missionaries of the 
 Church are of first inter- 
 est. True missionaries, re- 
 gardless of all creeds, are 
 a most interesting study, 
 and, in the broad principles of Chris- 
 tianity, they may well be considered 
 ^ ■«« as a class, with only incidental refer- 
 ■^Jfe^r enees to their different creeds. The 
 ^\.^ essence of their remarkable lives is 
 ^^( i the heroic work and suffering they so 
 cheerfully undertook and carried on 
 so patiently and bravely. Among the 
 iirst of pioneers to the homes of the 
 red savages were these earnest church- 
 men, carrying the news of Mount Calvary to the 
 benighted peoples. It is difficult for us of this 
 age to understand the sacrifices they made, the 
 privations they endured, the moral and physical 
 courage required to sustain them in their vrork. 
 The churches, through their missionaries, carried 
 the cross of Christ, extending the spiritual empire 
 in advance, nearly always, of the temporal empire. 
 They bravely led the way for the hardy explorers, 
 and ever and anon a martyr's body was given to 
 
 the flames, or left in the trackless forests, food for 
 ravenous wild beasts. 
 
 The Iirst white men to make a lodgment in 
 what is now Arkansas having been Marquette and 
 Joliet, France and the Church thus came here 
 hand in hand. The Spanish and French settlers 
 at Arkansas Post were the representatives of Cath- 
 olic nations, as were the French-Canadians who 
 came down from the lakes and settled along the 
 banks of the lower Mississippi River. 
 
 After 1803 there was another class of pion- 
 eers that came in — Protestant English by descent 
 if not direct, and these soon dominated in the 
 Arkansas country. The Methodists, Baptists and 
 Cumberland Presbyterians, after the building of 
 the latter by Rev. Finis Ewing, were the pre- 
 vailing pioneer preachers. Beneath God's first 
 temples these missionaries held meetings, traveled 
 over the Territory, going wherever the little col- 
 umn of blue smoke from the cabin directed them, 
 as well as visiting the Indian tribes, proclaiming 
 Christ and His cause. Disregarding the elements, 
 swollen streams, the dim trails, and often no other 
 guide on their dreary travels than the projecting 
 ridges, hills and .streams, the sun or the polar star; 
 facing hunger, heat and cold, the wild beast and the 
 far fiercer savage, without hope of money compen 
 
3 J 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 IW 
 
 sation, regardless of sickness and even death, these 
 men took their lives in their hands and went forth. 
 Could anything be more graphic or pathetic of the 
 conditions of these men than the extract from a 
 letter of one of them who had thus served his God 
 and fellow-man more than fifty years: "Inmylong 
 ministry I often suffered for food and I spent 
 no money for clothing. * * The largest 
 yearly salary I received was $100." Were ever 
 men inspired with more zeal in the cause of their 
 Master ? They had small polish and were as rugged 
 as the gnarled old oaks beneath whose branches 
 they so often bivouacked. They never tasted the 
 refinements of polite life, no doubt despising them 
 as heartily as they did sin itself. Rude of speech, 
 what eloquence they possessed (and many in this 
 respect were of no mean order) could only come 
 of their deep sincerity. 
 
 These Protestant missionaries trod closely upon 
 the footsteps of the pure and gentle Marquette in 
 the descent of the Mississippi, and the visits to 
 the Indians amid the cane-brakes of the South. 
 Marquette's followers had been the first to ascend 
 the Arkansas River to its source iu the far distant 
 land of the Dakotas in the Northwest. Holding 
 aloft the cross, they boldly entered the camps of the 
 tribes, and patiently won upon them until they laid 
 down their drawn tomahawks and brought forth 
 the calumet of peace. These wild children gath- 
 ered around these strange beings — visitors, as they 
 supposed, from another world, and wherever a 
 ci'oss was erected they regarded it with fear and 
 awe, believing it had supreme power over them 
 and their tribes. 
 
 He who would detract from the deserved im- 
 mortality of any of these missiocaries on account of 
 their respective creeds, could be little else than a 
 cynic whose blood is acid. 
 
 Marquette first explored the Mississippi River 
 as the representative of the Catholic Church. 
 
 The old church baptismal records of the mis- 
 sion of Arkansas Post extend back to 1764, and the 
 ministrations of Father Louis Meurin, who signatl 
 the record as "missionary priest." This is the 
 oldest record to be found of the church's recog- 
 nition of Arkansas now extant. That Marquette 
 
 held church service and erected the cross of Chriet 
 nearly one hundred years anterior to the record 
 date in Arkansas is given in the standard histories 
 of the United States. Rev. Girard succeeded 
 Meurin. It may be gleaned from these records 
 that in 1788 De La Valliere was in command of 
 Arkansas Post. la 1780 the attending priest was 
 Rev. Louis Guignes. The record is next signed Ijy 
 Rev. Gibault in 1792, and next by Rev. Janniii in 
 1796. In 1820 is found the name of Rev. Chau- 
 dorat. In 1834 Rev. Dupuy, and in 1838 Father 
 Donnellj' was the priest in charge. These remained 
 in custody of the first mission at Arkansas Post. 
 The second mission established was St. Mary's, 
 now Pine Bluff. The first priest at that point was 
 Rev. Saulmier. Soon after, another mission, St. 
 Peter's, was established in Jefferson County, and 
 the third mission, also in Jefferson County, was 
 next established at Plum Bayou. In order, the 
 next mission was at Little Rock, Rev. Emil Saul- 
 mier in charge; then at Fort Smith; then Helena, 
 and next Napoleon and N(>w Gascony, respectively. 
 
 The Catholic population of the State is esti- 
 mated at 10,000, with a total number of churches 
 and mi.ssions of forty. There are twenty-two 
 church schools, convents and academies, the school 
 attendance being 1,600. The first bishop in the 
 Arkansas diocese was Andrew Byrne, 1844. He 
 died at Helena in 1802, his successor being the 
 present incumbent, Bishop Edward FitzGerald. 
 who came in 1807. 
 
 From a series of articles published in the -Vr 
 kansas Methodist, of the current year, by the emi- 
 nent and venerable Rev. Andrew Hunter, D. D. , • 
 are gleaned the following important facts of this 
 Church's history in Ai'kausas: Methodism came to 
 Arkansas by way of Missouri about 1814, a com- 
 pany of emigrants entering from Southeast Mis- 
 souri overland, and who much of the way had to 
 cut out a road for their wagons. They bad heard 
 of the rich lauds in Mound Prairie, Hempstead 
 County. In this company were John Herirey, a 
 local preacher, Alexander and Jacob Shook, broth- 
 ers, and Daniel Props. In their long slow travels 
 they reached the Arkansas River at Little Rock, 
 and waited on the opposite bank for the comple- 
 
100 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 tion of a ferry-boat then building. When these 
 people reached their destination they soon set iip 
 a church, and erected the first Methodist "meet- 
 ing-house" in Arkansas, called Henrey's Chapel. 
 "Father Henrey," as he was soon known far and 
 wide, reared sons, all preachers. This little col- 
 ony were all sincere Methodists, and nearly all 
 their first generation of sons became preachers, 
 some of them eminent. Jacob Shook and three 
 of his sons entered the ministry; Gilbert Alex- 
 ander, his sons and grandsons, became ministers 
 of God's word, as did two of Daniel Props' sons. 
 The small colony was truly the seed of the church 
 in Arkansas. 
 
 In 1838 two young ministers were sent from 
 Tennessee to the Arkansas work, and came all 
 the way to Mound Prairie on horseback. 
 
 The church records of Missouri show that the 
 conference of 1817 sent two preachers to Arkan- 
 sas — William Stevenson and John Harris. They 
 were directed to locate at Hot Springs. It is 
 conceded that these two missionaries "planted 
 Methodism in Arkansas." 
 
 In 1818 the Missouri Conference sent four 
 laborers to Arkansas, with William Stevenson as 
 the presiding elder of the Territory. The circuits 
 then had: John Shader, on Spring River; Thomas 
 Tennant, Arkansas circuit; W. Orr. Hot Springs; 
 William Stevenson and James Lowrey, Mound 
 Prairie. What was called the Arkansas circuit in- 
 cluded the Arkansas River, from Pine Bluff to the 
 mouth. After years of service als presiding elder, 
 Stevenson was succeeded by John Scripps; the ap- 
 pointments then were: Arkansas circuit, Dennis 
 Willey; Hot Springs, Isaac Brookfield; Mound 
 Prairie, John Harris; Pecan Point, William Town- 
 send. The Missouri Conference, 1823, again made 
 William Stevenson presiding elder, with three itin- 
 erants for Arkansas. In 1825 Jesse Hale became 
 presiding elder. He was in charge until 1829. He 
 was an original and outspoken abolitionist, and 
 taught and preached his faith unroservedl}' ; so 
 much so that large numbers of the leading fam- 
 ilies left the Methodist Episcopal Church and 
 joined the Cumberland Presbyterians. This was 
 the sudden building up of the Cumberland Pres- 
 
 byterian Church, and nearly fatally weakened the 
 Methodist Church. Some irreverent laymen desig- 
 nated Elder Jesse Hale's ministrations as the 
 "Hail storm" in Arkansas. Fortunately Hale 
 was succeeded by Rev. Jesse Green, and he poured 
 oil on the troubled waters, and saved Methodism 
 in Arkansas. ' ' Green was our Moses. ' ' 
 
 The Tennessee Conference, 1831, sent eight 
 preachers to Arkansas, namely: Andrew D. Smyth, 
 John Harrell, Henry G. Joplin, William A. Boyce. 
 William G. Duke, John N. Hammill, Alvin Baird 
 and Allen M. Scott. 
 
 A custom of those old time preachers now 
 passed away is worth preserving. When possi- 
 ble to do so they went over the circuit together, 
 two and two. One might preach the regular ser- 
 mon, when the other would ' ' exhort. ' ' Under these 
 conditions young Rev. Smyth was accompanying 
 the regular circuit rider. He was at first difiS- 
 dent, and ' ' exhorted ' ' simply by giving his hearers 
 " Daniel in the lion's den." As the two started 
 around the circuit the second time, on reaching a 
 night appointment, before entering the house, and 
 as they were returning from secret prayer in the 
 brush, the preacher said: "Say, Andy, I'm going 
 to preach, and when I'm done you give 'em 
 Daniel and the lions again." Evidently Andy and 
 his lions were a terror to the natives. But the 
 young exborter soon went up head, and became a 
 noted divine. 
 
 The Missouri Conference, 1832, made two dis- 
 tricts of Arkansas. Rev. A. D. Smyth had charge 
 of Little Rock district, which extended over all the 
 country west, including the Cherokee and Creek 
 Nations. 
 
 The formation of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, occurred in 1844. This is a well 
 known part of the history of our country. In Ar- 
 kansas the church amid all its trials and vicissi- 
 tudes has grown and flourished. The State now 
 has fifteen districts, with 200 pastoral charges, and, 
 it is estimated, nearly 1,000 congregations. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Church has a com- 
 fortable church in Little Rock, and several good 
 sized congregations in different portions of the 
 State. This church and the Methodist Episcopal 
 
 f 
 
 ^k 
 
 i "•V ' 
 
^ e 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 101 
 
 Church, South, are separate and wholly distinct 
 in their organization. 
 
 The Baptists are naturally a pioneer and fron- 
 tier church people. They are earnest and sincere 
 proselyters to the faith, and reach very effectively 
 people in general. The Baptist Church in Ben- 
 ton -celebrated, July 4, 1889, its fifty-third anni- 
 v(>rsary. Originally called Sjiring Church, it was 
 built about two miles from the town. The organi- 
 zation took place under the sheltering branches of 
 an old oak tree. One of the first churches of this 
 order was the Mount Bethel Church, about six 
 miles west of Arkadelphia, in Clark County. This 
 was one of the oldest settled points l>y English 
 speaking people in the State. The church has 
 grown with the increase of population. 
 
 Rev. James M. Moore organized in Little Rock, 
 in 1828, the first Presbyterian Church in Arkan- 
 sas. He was from Pennsylvania, eminent for his 
 ability, zeal and piety. For some time he was 
 the representative of his church in a wide portion 
 of the country south and west. He was succeeded 
 by Rev. A. R. Banks, from the theological sem- 
 inary of Columbia, S. C. , who settled in Hempstead 
 County in 1835-3G and organized and built Spring 
 Hill Church, besides another at Washington. The 
 next minister in order of arrival was Rev. John 
 M. Erwin. He located at Jackson, near the old 
 town of Elizabeth, but his life was not spared long 
 after coming. He assisted Revs Moore and Banks 
 in organizing the first presbytery in Arkansas. 
 
 In 1839 Rev. J. M. Moore, mentioned above, 
 removed to what is now Lonoke County, and or 
 ganized a congregation and built Sylvania Church. 
 His successor at Little Rock was Rev. Henderson, 
 in 1840. The death of Rev. Henderson left no 
 quorum, and the Arkansas presbytery became /unc- 
 tui> officio. 
 
 Rev, Aaron Williams, from Bethel presbytery, 
 South Carolina, came to Arkansas in 1842, and 
 settled in Hempstead County, taking charge of a 
 large new academy at that place, which had been 
 built by the wealthy people of the locality. He at 
 once re-organized the church at Washington, which 
 had been some time vacant. Arkansas then be- 
 longed to the synod of Mississippi. In 1842, in 
 
 company with Rev. A. R. Banks, he traveled 
 over the swamps and through the forests 400 miles 
 to attend the Mississippi synod at Port Royal. 
 Their mission was to ask the synod to allow Revs. 
 Williams, Moore, Banks and Shaw to organize the 
 Arkansas presbytery. They obtained the permis 
 sion, and meeting in Little Rock the first Sunday 
 in January, 1843, organized the Arkansas presby- 
 tery. The Rev. Balch had settled in Dardanelle. 
 and he joined the new presbytery. In the next 
 few years Revs. Byington and Kingsbury, Con- 
 gregational ministers, who had been missionaries to 
 the Indians since 1818, also joined the Arkansas 
 presbytery. The synod of Memphis was subse- 
 quently formed, of which Arkansas was a part. 
 There were now three presbyteries west of Mem- 
 phis: Arkansas, Ouachita and Indian. In lS3ft 
 Arkansas was composed of four prpsbytories — twu 
 Arkansas and two Ouachita. 
 
 Rev. Aaron Williams assumed charge at Little 
 Rock in 1843, where he remained until January, 
 1845. There was then a vacancy for some years 
 in that church, when the Rev, Joshua F, Green 
 ministered to the flock. He was succeeded iiy 
 Rev. Thomas Fraser, who continued until 1859. 
 All these had been supplies, and in 18r)9 Little 
 Rock was made a pastorate, and Rev. Thomas R. 
 Welch was installed as first pastor. Ho filled the 
 position the next twenty five years, and in 1885 
 resigned on account of ill health, and was sent 
 as counsel to Canada, where he died. About the 
 close of his pastorate, the Second Presbyterian 
 Church of Little Rock was organized, and their 
 house built, the Rev. A. R. Kennedy, pastor. He' 
 resigned in September, 1888, being succeeded by 
 James R. Howerton. After the resignation of Dr. 
 Welch of the First Church. Dr. J. C. Barrett was 
 given charge. 
 
 Rev. Aaron Williams, after leaving the synod, 
 became a synodical evangelist, and traveled over 
 the State, preaching wherever he found small col- 
 lections of people, and organizing churches. He 
 formed the church at Fort Smith and the one in 
 Jackson County. 
 
 A synodical college is at Batesville, and is 
 highly prosperous. 
 
 T' 
 
-4^ 
 
 HM 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 IfiCTlt XI¥. 
 
 Names Illl-striol's in Arkansas History— Prominknt Mention of Noted Individuals— Ambrose 
 
 H. Sevier— William K. Woodruff— John Wilson— John Hemphill— Jacob Barkman— Dr. 
 
 Bowie— Sandy Faulkner— Samuel H. Hempstead— Trent, \Villiams, Shinn Families, 
 
 AND Otheiis— The Conways— Robert Crittenden— Archibald Yell— Judge 
 
 David Walker- Gen. G. D. Bovston— Judge James W. Bates. 
 
 The gen'ial voice 
 Sounds him, for courtesy, behaviour, language 
 Aud ev'ry fair demeanor, an e.xamplc; 
 Titles of honour add not to liis worth. 
 Who is himself an honour to his lilli'. — Ford. 
 
 O history of Arkansas, worthy 
 of the name, could fail to 
 refer to the lives of a num 
 her of its distinguished 
 citizens, whose relation to 
 ■^ great public events has 
 ,-?r%^ made them a part of the 
 tine history of their State. 
 The following sketches of repre- 
 sentative men will be of no little 
 interest to each and every reader 
 of the present volume. 
 
 Ambrose H. Sevier, was one of 
 the foremost of the prominent men 
 of his day, and deserves es|)i'cial 
 mention. The recent removal of 
 the remains of Gen. John Sevier from 
 Alabama to Knoxville, Tenn. (June 19, 
 1S89), has awakened a widespread inter- 
 est in this historic family name. The re-interment 
 of the illustrious ashes of the first governor, found- 
 er and Congressman of Tennessee, by the State he 
 had made, was bttt an act of long deferred justice 
 to one of the most illustrious ;md j)icturesque char- 
 acters in American history. He founded two States 
 
 and was the lirst governor of each of them; one of 
 these States, Tennessee, he had, in the spirit of dis- 
 interested patriotism, erected on the romantic ruins 
 of the other— the mountain State of "Franklin." 
 A distinguished Revolutionary soldier, he was the 
 hero of King's Mountain, where he and four broth- 
 ers fought. He was first governor of the State 
 of "Franklin," six times governor of Tennessee, 
 three times a member of Congress, and in no in- 
 stance did he ever have an opponent to contest 
 for an office. He was in thirty- five hard fought 
 battles; had faced in bitter contest the State of 
 North Carolina, which secretly arrested and ab- 
 ducted him from the new State he had carved out 
 of North Carolina territory; was rescued in open 
 court by two friends, and on his return to his ad- 
 herents as easily defeated the schemes of North 
 Carolina as he had defeated, in many battles, the 
 Cherokee Indians. No man ever voted against 
 " Nolichucky Jack," as he was familiarly called — 
 no enemy ever successfully stood before him in 
 battle. A great general, statesman, and patriot, 
 he was the creator and builder of commonwealths 
 west of the Alleghanies, and he guided as greatly 
 and wisely as did Washington and Jefferson the 
 
 ' -^ i 
 
 V 
 
a w. 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 103 
 
 new States and Territories ho formed in the paths 
 of democratic freedom; and now, after he has slept 
 in an obscure grave for three quarters of a century, 
 the fact is beginning to dawn upon the nation that 
 Gov. John Sevier made Washington, and all that 
 great name implies, a j)Ossibilit}'. 
 
 The name, illustrious as it is ancient, numer- 
 ous and wide spread, is from the French Pyrenees, 
 Xavier, where it may be traced to remote times. 
 St. Francis Xavier was of this family, and yet the 
 American branch were exiles from the old world 
 because of their revolt against papal tyranny. 
 Sturdy and heroic as they were in the faith, their 
 blood was far more virile, indeed stalwart, in de- 
 fense of human rights and liberty, wherever or by 
 whomsoever assailed. 
 
 In France, England and in nearly every West- 
 ern and Southern State of the Union are branches 
 of the Xaviers, always prominent and often emi- 
 nent in their day and time. But it was reserved 
 to the founder of the American branch of the 
 Seviers to be the supreme head of the illustrious 
 line. He builded two commonwealths and was im- 
 j)elled to this great work in defense of the people, 
 and in resistance to the encroachments of the cen- 
 tral powers of the paternal government. 
 
 In Arkansas the Seviers, Conways and Rectors 
 were united by ties of blood as well as by the ever 
 stronger ties of the sons of liberty, independence 
 and patriotism. Here were three of the most 
 powerful families the State has ever had, and in 
 Iiublic affairs they were as one. The political 
 friend and worthy model of Gov. John Sevier was 
 Thomas Jefferson. Indeed, Gen. Sevier was the 
 fitting and immortal companion piece to Jefferson 
 in those days of the young and struggling repub- 
 lic. The Seviers of Arkansas and Missouri were 
 naturally the admirers of Andrew Jackson - cham- 
 pions of the peo[>le's rights, watchdogs of liberty. 
 
 Ambrose H. Sevier, was the son of John, who 
 was the son of Valentine and Ann Conway Sevier, 
 of Greene County, Tenn. Ann Conway was the 
 daughter of Thomas and Ann Rector Conway. 
 Thus this family furnished six of the governors of 
 Arkansas. 
 
 In 1S'21. soon after Mr. Sevier's coming to Ar- 
 
 kansas, he was elected clerk of the Territorial 
 house of representatives. In 182:^ he was elected 
 from Pulaski County to the legislature, and con- 
 tinued a member and was elected speaker in 1827. 
 He was elected to Congress in August, 1828, to 
 succeed his uncl(>, Henry W. Conway, who had 
 been killed in a duel with Crittenden. Ho was 
 three times elected to Congress. When the State 
 came into the L'nion, Sevier and William S. Fulton 
 were elected lirst senators in Congress. Sevier 
 resigned his seat in the Senate in 18-18, to accept 
 the mission of minister plenipoteutiaiy to Mexico, 
 and, in connection with Judge Clifford, negotiated 
 the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo. This was the 
 last as well as crowning act of his life. He died 
 shortly after returning from bis mission. The 
 State has erected a suitable monument to his mem- 
 ory in Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, where 
 sleeps his immortal dust. 
 
 How curiously fitting it was that the Sevier 
 of Arkansas should follow so closely in the foot- 
 steps of the great governor of Tennessee, his lineal 
 ancestor, and be the instrument of adding so ira- 
 - mensely to the territory out of which have grown 
 such vast and rich commonwealths. As builders 
 of commonwealths there is no name in American 
 history which approaches th<it of Sevier. A 
 part of the neglect — the ingratitude, possibly — of 
 republics, is shown in the fact that none of the 
 States of which they gave the Union so many besir 
 their family name. 
 
 William E. Woodruff was in more than one 
 sense a pioneer to Arkansas He was among 
 the distinguished men who first hastened here 
 when the Territory was formed, and brought with 
 him the pioneer newspaper press, and established 
 the Arkansas Gazette. This is now a flourishing 
 daily and weekly newspaper at the State capital, 
 and one of the oldest papers in the country. Of 
 himself alone there was that in the character and 
 life of Mr. Woodruff which would have made him 
 one of the historical pioneei-s to cross the Missis- 
 sippi River, and cast his fortune and future in this 
 now world. But he was a worthy disciple and 
 follower of Ben. Franklin, who combined with the 
 art preservative of arts, the genius that lays found- 
 
k. 
 
 lOJ- 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ations for empires in government, and the j'et far 
 greater empires in the fields of intellectual life. 
 
 He was a native of Long Island, Suffolk Coun- 
 ty, N. Y. Leaving his home in 1818, upon the 
 completion of his apprenticeship as printer, with 
 the sparse proceeds of his earnings as apprentice 
 he turned liis face westward. Reaching Wheel- 
 ing, Va. , he eml larked in a canoe for the falls of 
 the Ohio, now Louisville, where he stopped and 
 worked at his trade. Finding no sufficient open- 
 ing to permanently locate in this place, he started 
 on foot, by way of Russellville, to Nashville, Tenn., 
 and for a time worked at his trade in that place 
 and at Franklin. Still looking for a possible 
 future home further west, he heard of the Act of 
 Congress creating the Territory of Arkansas, to 
 take effect July 4, 1819. He at once purchased 
 a small outKt for a newspaper office and started to 
 the newly formed Territory, determined if possible 
 to be first on the ground. He shipped by keel-boat 
 down the Cumberland river, the Ohio and the 
 Mississippi Rivers to Montgomery's Point, at the 
 mouth of White River; thence overland to Arkansas 
 Post, the first Territorial capital. Montgomery 
 Point was then, and for some years after, the main 
 shipping point for the interior points of the 
 Arkansas Territory. From this place to the capi- 
 tal, he found nothing but a bridle-path. He 
 therefore secured a pirogue, and with the services 
 of two boatmen, passed through the cut off to 
 Arkansas River and then up this to Arkansas Post, 
 reaching his point of destination October 31, 1819. 
 So insignificant was the Post that the only way he 
 could get a house was to build one, which he did, 
 and November 20, 1819, issued the first paper — 
 the Arkansas Gazette. He was the entire force of 
 the office — mechanical, clerical and editorial. To- 
 day his own work is his fitting and perpetual 
 monument — linking his name indissolubly with 
 that of Arkansas and immortality. 
 
 His genius was in the direct energy and the 
 impelling forces which drove it with the sure cer- 
 tainty of fate over every opposing obstacle. Broad, 
 strong and great in all those qualities which 
 characterize men pre eminent in the varied walks 
 of life; a true nation founder and builder, his 
 
 useful life was long spared to the State, which will 
 shed luster to itself and its name by honoring the 
 memory of one of its first and most illustrious 
 pioneers — William E. WoodruU'. 
 
 Reference having been made to John W^ilson 
 in a previous chapter, in connection with his un- 
 fortunate encounter with J. J. Anthony, on the 
 floor of the hall of the legislature, it is but an act 
 of justice that the circumstances be properly ex- 
 plained, together with some account of the man- 
 ner of man he really was. 
 
 John Wilson came from Kentucky to Arkansas 
 in the earl}' Territorial times, 1820. His wife was 
 a Hardin, of the noted family of that State — a sis- 
 ter of Joseph Hardin, of Lawrence County, Ark., 
 who was speaker of the first house of representa- 
 tives of the Territorial legislature. The W'ilsons 
 and Hardins were prominent and highly respecta- 
 ble peo[)le. 
 
 When a very young man, John Wilson was 
 elected to the Territorial legislature, where he was 
 made speaker and for a number of terms filled that 
 office. He was a member of the first State legis- 
 lature and again was elected speaker. He was the 
 first president of the Real Estate Bank of Arkan- 
 sas. Physically he was about an average sized 
 man, very quiet in his manner and retiring, of dark 
 complexion, eyes and hair, lithe and sinewy in 
 form, and in his daily walk as gentle as a woman. 
 He was devoted to his friends, and except for 
 politics, all who knew him loved him well. There 
 was not the shadow of a shade of the bully or des- 
 perado about him. He was a man of the highest 
 sense of personal honor, with an iron will, and even 
 when aroused or stung by injustice or an attack 
 upon his integrity his whole nature inclined to 
 peace and good will. He was a great admirer of 
 General Jackson — there was everything in the 
 natures of the two men where the ' ' fellow feeling 
 makes us wondrous kind." 
 
 The difficulty spoken of occurred in 1836. Wil- 
 son was a leader in the Jackson party. Anthony 
 aspired to the lead in the W^hig party. At that 
 time politics among the active of each faction meant 
 personality. It was but little else than open war, 
 and the frontier men of those days generally went 
 
 "ir^ 
 
armed, the favorite weapou being the bowie 
 knife— a necessary part of a Imnter's ecjiiipment. 
 Unfriendly feelings existed between Wilson and 
 Anthony. 
 
 Upon the morning of the homicide (in words 
 the substance of the account given by the late 
 Gen. G. D. Royston, who was an eye witness) 
 Mr. Wilson came into the hall a little late, evi- 
 dently disturbed in mind, and undoubtedly ruf- 
 fled by reason of something he had been told that 
 Mr. Anthony had previously said about him in dis- 
 cussing a bill concerning wolf-scalps. A serio- 
 comic amendment had been offered to the bill to 
 make scalps a legal tender, and asking the presi- 
 dent of the Real Estate Bank to certify to the 
 genuineness of the same. Anthony had the floor. 
 When Wilson took the speaker's chair he com- 
 manded Anthony to take his seat. The latter 
 brusquely declined to do so. Wilson left the chair 
 and approached his opponent, who stood in the 
 aisle. The manner of the parties indicated a per- 
 sonal encounter. As Wilson walked down the aisle 
 he was seen to put his hand in the bosom of his 
 vest. Anthony drew his knife. Gen. Koyston said 
 that when he saw this, hoping to check the two 
 men he raised his chair and held it between them, 
 and the men fought across or over the chair. They 
 struck at each other inflicting great wounds, which 
 were hacking blows. Wilson's left hand was nearly 
 cut off in warding a blow from Anthony's knife. 
 Wilson was physically a smaller man than Anthony. 
 Royston held the chair with all his strength be- 
 tween the two now desperate individuals. So far 
 Anthony's longer arm had enabled him to give the 
 greatest wounds, when Wilson with his shoulder 
 raised the chair and jslunged liis knife into his 
 antagonist, who sank to the floor and died immedi- 
 ately. It was a duel with bowie-knives, without 
 any of the preliminaries of such encounters. 
 
 Wilson was carried to his bed, where for along 
 time he was confined. The house expelled him 
 the next day. The civilized world of course was 
 shocked, so bloody and ferocious had been the 
 engagement. 
 
 Wilson removed to Texas about 1842, locating 
 at Cedar Grove, near Dallas, where he died soon 
 
 after the close of the late war. Mrs. A. J. Gentry, 
 his daughter, now resides in Clark County, Ark. 
 The Hardins, living in Clark County, are of the 
 same family as was Mrs. Wilson. 
 
 John Hemphill, a South Carolinian, was born 
 a short distance above Augusta, Ga. He immi- 
 grated west and reached (now) Clark County, Ark. . 
 in 1811, bringing with him a large family and a 
 mxmber of slaves, proceeding overland to Bayou 
 Sara, La. , and from that point by barges to near 
 where is Arkadelphia, then a settlement at a place 
 called Blakeleytowu, which was a year old at the 
 time of Mr. Hemphill's location. He found living 
 there on his amval Adam Blakeley, Zack Davis, 
 Samuel Parker, Abner Highnight and a few others. 
 
 Mr. Hemphill was attracted by the salt waters 
 of the vicinity, and after giving the subject intel- 
 ligent investigation, in 1814 built his salt works. 
 Going to New Orleans, he procured a barge and 
 purchased a lot of sugar kettles, and with these 
 completed his preparations for making salt. His 
 experiment was a success from the start and he 
 carried on his extensive manufactory until his 
 death, about 1825. The works were continued by 
 his descendants, with few intermissions, until 1S51. 
 Jonathan O. Callaway, his sonin-law, was, until 
 that year, manager and proprietor. 
 
 There is a coincidence in the lives of the two 
 men who were the founders of commerce and man- 
 ufacturing in Arkansas, Hemphill and Barkman, 
 in that by chance they became traveling compan- 
 ions on their way to the new country. 
 
 Two brothers, Jacob and John Barkman, came 
 to Arkansas in 1811. They worked their passage 
 in the barge of John Hemphill, from Bayou Sara, 
 La., to Blakeleytown, near Ai'kadelphia. They 
 were a couple of young Kentuckians. full of cour 
 age, hope, and strong sense, seeking homes in the 
 wilderness. Their coming antedated that of the 
 first steamboat on western waters, and the history 
 of the river commerce of this State with New Or- 
 leans will properly credit Jacob Barkman with 
 being its founder. • Considering the times and real- 
 izing what such men as Jacol> Barkman did, one 
 is constrained to the belief that among the first 
 settlers of Arkansas were men of enterprise, fore- 
 
1(1(1 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 sight and ilaiiiig in commerce that have certainly 
 not been surpassed by their successors. 
 
 On a previous page the methods of this pioneer 
 merchant in the conduct of his business have been 
 noted. His miscellaneous cargo of bear oil, skins, 
 pelts, tallow, etc., found a ready market in New 
 Orleans, which place he reached by river, return- 
 ing some six months later well laden with commod- 
 ities best suited to the needs of the people. In- 
 deed his "store" grew to be an important institu- 
 tion. He really carried on trade from New Orleans 
 to Arkadelphia. In 1820 he purchased of the gov- 
 ernment aboiit 1,200 acres of land on the Caddo, 
 four miles from Arkadelphia, and farmed exten- 
 sively and had many cattle and horses, constantly 
 adding to the number of his slaves. Having 
 filled the field where he was he sought wider op- 
 portunities, and in 1840, in company with J. G. 
 Pratt, opened an extensive cotton commission busi- 
 ness in New Orleans, building large warehouses 
 and stores. Mr. Barkman next purchased the 
 steamboat "Dime," a side- wheeler, finely built 
 and carrying 400 bales of cotton. He ran this in 
 the interest of the New Orleans commission house; 
 owned his crews, and loaded the boat with cot- 
 ton from his own plantation. In 1844 his l)oat 
 proudly brought np at New Orleans, well laden with 
 cotton. The owner was on board and full of hope 
 and anticipated joy at his trip, and also to meet 
 his newly married wife (the second), when the.se 
 iiopes were rudely dashed by the appearance of an 
 officer who .seized the boat, cargo and slaves, every - 
 tiling — and arrested Mr. Barkman and placed him 
 in jail undc^r an attachment for debts incurred by 
 the commission house. His partner in his absence 
 had wrecked the house. 
 
 To so arrange matters that he might get out of 
 jail and return to his old home on the Caddo, with 
 little left of this world' s goods, was the best the poor 
 man could do. He finally saved from the wreck- 
 age his fine farm and a few negroes, and, nothing 
 daunted, again went to work to rebuild his fortune. 
 He erected a cotton factory on the Caddo River, 
 and expended some $80,000 on the plant, having 
 it about ready to commence operating when the 
 water came dashing down the mountain streams in 
 
 a sudden and unusual rise, and swept it all away. 
 This brave pioneer spent no hour of his life in idle 
 griefs at his extraordinary losses. Though unscru- 
 pulous arts of business sharks and dire visitations 
 of the elements coniViined to make worthless his 
 superb foresight and business energy, he overcame 
 all obstacles, and died about 1852, a wealthy man 
 for that time. 
 
 When Arkansas was yet a Territory, among its 
 early pioneers was Dr. William Bowie, whose name 
 has become familiar to the civilized world, though 
 not in the way that most men are emulous of im- 
 mortality. Dr. Bowie had located, or was a frequent 
 visitor, in Helena, Ark., and was a typical man of 
 his times —jolly, careless and .social, and very fond 
 of hunting and fishing. 
 
 Among the first settlers in Little Rock was a 
 blacksmith, named Black. He possessed skill in 
 working in iron and steel, and soon gained a wide 
 reputation for the superior hunting knives he 
 made. When nearly every man hunted more or 
 less, and as a good knife was a necessity, it will 
 be seen that Black was tilling a general want. 
 The material he worked into knives consisted of 
 old files. 
 
 One day while he was just finishing a superior 
 and somewhat new style of hunting knife. Dr. 
 Bowie happened to enter the shop. The moment 
 he saw the article he determined to possess it 
 at any price. Black had not really made it to 
 sell — simply to gratify a desire to see how fine a 
 blade he could make, and keep it. But a bargain 
 was finally arranged, the blacksmith to cpmplete it 
 and ]iut Bowie's name on the handle. The inscrip- 
 tion Ix'ing neatly done read: "Bowie's Knife.'" Its 
 beauty and finish attracted wide attention, and all 
 who could afford it ordered a similar one, the name 
 of which was soon shortened into " Bowie Knife. " 
 Bowie died, a patriot's death, fighting for the in- 
 dependence of Texas, by the side of David Crockett. 
 
 The one pre-eminent thing which entitles the 
 Arkansas pioneer, Sandy Faulkner, to immortality 
 is the fact that he is the real, original "Arkansaw 
 Traveler. ' ' He was an early settler, a hunter, a wild, 
 jolly, reckless spendthrift, and a splendid fiddler. 
 He was of a wealthy Kentucky family, and settled 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 HIT 
 
 first ill Chicot County iitid then on the river only a 
 few miles below Little Rock. By inheritance he 
 received two or three moderate fortunes, and spent 
 them royally. Of a roving nature, a witty and rol- 
 licking companioti. he would roam through the 
 woods, hunting for days and weeks, and then en- 
 liven the village resorts for a while. He was born 
 to encounter just such a character as he did chance 
 to dnd, playing on a three -stringed fiddle the first 
 part of a particular tune. Now there was but one 
 thing in this world that could touch his heart with 
 a desire to possess, and that was to hear the re- 
 mainder of the tune. 
 
 After meeting this rare character in the woods 
 what a world of enjoyment Sandy did carry to the 
 village on his next return! "With just enough 
 and not too much." with fiddle in his hand, the 
 villagers gathered about him while he rejjeated the 
 comedy. His zest in the ludicrous, his keen wit 
 and his inimitable acting, especially his power of 
 miniici'j' and his mastery of the violin, enabled him 
 to offer his associates an entertainment never 
 surpassed, either on or off the mimic stage. 
 
 After the war Faullaier lived in Little Rock 
 until his death in 1875, in straitened circumstan- 
 ces, residing with a widowed daughter and one son. 
 Another sou was killed in the war; the two daugh- 
 ters married and are both dead, and the son and 
 only remaining child left this portion of the coun- 
 try some years ago. 
 
 When Faulkner died — over eighty years of age 
 — he held a subordinate office in the l(»gislature 
 then in session, which body adjourned and respect- 
 fully buried all that was mortal of the "Arkansaw 
 Traveler," while the little morceau from his 
 harmless and genial soul will continue to travel 
 around the world and never stop, the thrice wel- 
 come guest about every fireside. 
 
 What a comment is here in this careless, aim- 
 less life and that vaulting ambition that struggles, 
 and wars and suffers and sows the world with 
 woe that men's names may live after death. Poor 
 Sandy had no thought of distinction; his life was a 
 laugh, so unmixed with care for the morrow and 
 so merry that it has filled a world with its cease 
 less echoes. 
 
 Though there may be in this country no titled 
 aristocracy, there are nobles, whose remotest de- 
 scendants may claim that distinction of race and 
 blood which follows the memory of the great deeds 
 of illustrious sires. It is the nobles whose lives 
 and life's great work were given to the cause of their 
 fellowmen in that noblest of all human efforts — 
 liberty to mankind. There is something forever 
 sacred lingering about the graves, nay, the very 
 ground, where these men exposed their lives and 
 struggled for each and all of us. All good men 
 (and no man can really be called good who does not 
 love liberty and independence above everything in 
 the world) cannot but feel a profound interest in 
 the lineal descendants of Revolutionary fathers. 
 "My ancestor was a soldier in the war for inde- 
 pendence!" is a far nobler claim to greatness than 
 is that of the most royal blue blood in all heraldry. 
 
 W. P. Huddleston, of Sharp's Cross Roads, 
 Independence County, has the following family 
 tree: Israel McBee was for seven years a soldier 
 in a North Carolina regiment in the Revolutionary 
 War. He died in (irainger County, Teiin.. aged 
 110 years. He was the father of Samuel JIcBee, 
 who was the father of Rachel McBee, who married 
 John Huddleston. the'grand father of W. P. Hud- 
 dleston, Jr. The McBees were originally from 
 Scotland. 
 
 Samuel S. \\'elborn. of Fort Douglas, Johnson 
 County, was the youngest son of Elias. Samuel 
 was born December 30, 1842. His grandfather. 
 Isaac Welborn, was seven years a soldier in a 
 Georgia regiment, and died at Hazel Green, Ala., 
 in 1833, aged eighty-four years. 
 
 Samuel H. Hempstead is a name illustrious in 
 Arkansas outside of the fact that it is descended 
 directly from a soldier in the war for independ- 
 ence. The above-named was born in New London, 
 Conn., iu 1814, and died in Little Rock in 18t')2. 
 He was a son of Joseph Hempstead, born in New 
 London in 1778, and died '\n St. Louis in 1N31. 
 Joseph was a son of Stephen Hempstead, born in 
 New London in 1742, and died in St. Louis iu 
 1832. Stephen was a soldier in the American 
 Revolution, serving under Col. Ledyard at the 
 l>attle of Fort Griswold, near New London, when 
 
iy£ 
 
 108 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 these towns were captured by the British under 
 Benedict Arnold, September 6, 1781. Hempstead 
 was wounded twice during the engagement — a 
 severe gunshot wound in the left elbow disabling 
 him in the arm for life. He wrote and published 
 in the Missouri Republican in 1826, a detailed ac- 
 count of the battle. 
 
 Stephen Hempstead's father was also Stephen 
 Hempstead, born in 1705 and died in 1774. The 
 records of Connecticut, Vol. VII, show that he 
 was made an ensign in a train band company, 
 by the colonial council, in October, 1737, where he 
 served with distinction through this war, known as 
 King George's War. In May, 1740, he was made 
 sui'veyor by the council. He was the son of 
 Joshua Hempstead, born in 1(378, and died in 
 1758. He was a representative in the Connecticut 
 council in October, 1709; a member of the Royal 
 council in October, 1712; ensign in train band com- 
 pany in 1721 ; lieutenant in same company in May, 
 1724; auditor of accounts in May, 1725. He was 
 the son of Joshua Hempstead, Sr., born in 1649, 
 and died in 1709; Joshua Hempstead, Sr., was a 
 son of Robert Hempstead, born in 1600 and died 
 in 1665. The last-named was the immigrant to 
 America, one of the original nine settlers of New 
 London, Conn., the founder of the town first called 
 Hempstead, on Long Island. In 104() Robert 
 Hempstead built a house at New London for a res- 
 idence, which is still standing, an ancient relic of 
 great interest. It is occupied by descendants of 
 the builder, named Gaits, from the female branches. 
 Though much modernized the old house still shows 
 the port- holes used for defense against the Indians. 
 A daughter of Robert Hempstead, Mary, was the 
 first white child born in New London, March 26, 
 1647. 
 
 Fay and Roy Hempstead, Little Rock, are de- 
 .scendants of this family. Other descendants live 
 in St. Louis, Mo. 
 
 Jesse Williams, of Prince William County, Va., 
 enlisted under Dinwiddle's call in the French- 
 Indian War on the English settlers in 1754, 
 under then Lieut. -Col. Washington, of the First 
 Virginia Regiment of 1 50 men. The command at- 
 tempted to reach where is now Pittsburg to relieve 
 
 Trent's command at that place. Two descendants 
 of the Trents now live in Washington County. In 
 this hard march to Fort Duquesne the men dragged 
 their cannon, were without tents and scant of pro- 
 visions, and deprived of material or means for 
 bridging rivers. They fought at Fort Necessity. 
 Washington cut a road twenty miles toward Du- 
 quesne. On July 3 the fight took place, and July 
 4 Washington capitulated on honorable terms. 
 
 In 1755 Jesse Williams again entered the ser- 
 vice under Washington and joined Braddock at 
 Fort Cumberland. In 1758 he was once more with 
 Washington when Forbes moved on Fort Duquesne, 
 being present at the capture, and helped raise the 
 flag and name the place Pittsburg. 
 
 In the Revolutionary War he was one of the 
 first to enlist from Virginia, and was commissioned 
 captain, and was present in nearly all the battles 
 of that long war. 
 
 The maternal ancestor of the Williams family 
 was Thomas Rowe, of Virginia, a colonel in the war 
 for independence, who was at the surrender of 
 Yorktown. 
 
 David Williams, a son of Jesse, married Betsy 
 Rowe. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and 
 served with distinction, and also in the Seminole 
 War. He settled in Kentucky, Franklin County. 
 His children were Jacob, Urban V., Betty, Mil- 
 lie, Hattie and Susan; the children of Urban V. 
 Williams being John, Pattie and Minnie. Bettie 
 married Jeptha Robinson, and had children, David, 
 Owen, Austin, May, Hettie, Ruth, Sue, Jacob, 
 Frank and Sallie. Hettie married Dr. Andrew 
 Neat, and had children, Thomas, Estelle (Brink- 
 ley), Ella (Ford), Addis and Ben. Sue married 
 George Poor, and had children, George, Lizzie. 
 Sue and Minnie. Jacob Williams, the father of 
 Mrs. Minnie C. Shinn (wife of Prof. J. H. Shinn, 
 of Little Rock), Otis Williams and Mattie Wil- 
 liams, Little Rock; Josi>])h Desha Williams and 
 Maggie Wells, Russell ville; Lucian and Virgil, 
 Memphis, are all of this family. Jacob Williams 
 was a private in the Fifth Kentucky, in the late 
 war, under Humphrey Marshall. 
 
 Among the pioneers of what is now the State 
 of Arkansas, there was perhaps no one family that 
 
 ^^ 
 
.-"it 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 lOU 
 
 furnished so many noted characters and citizens 
 jis the Conway family. Their <:fenealogy is traced 
 ' ■ Itack to the reign of Edward I, of England, in the 
 latter part of the thirteenth century, to the cele- 
 brated Ca.stle of Conway, on Conway River, in 
 the north of Wales, where the lords of Conway, 
 in feudal times presided in royal style." Thomas 
 Conway came to America about the year 1740, 
 and settled in the Virginia colony. Henry Conway 
 was his only sou. The latter was first a colonel 
 and afterward a general in the Revolutionary War. 
 His daughter, Nellie, after marriage, became the 
 mother of President Madison, and his son, Mon- 
 cure D., was brother-in-law to Gen. Washington. 
 
 Thomas Conway, another son of Gen. Henry 
 Conway, settled, during the Revolutionary period, 
 near the present site of Greenville, Tenn. He 
 married Ann Rector, a native of Virginia, and 
 member of the celebrated Rector family. To this 
 union seven sons and three daughters were V)orn, 
 and all were well reared and well educated. 
 
 In 1818, Gen. Thomas Conway mov(^d with 
 his family from Tennessee to St. Louis, in the 
 Territory of Missouri, and soon after to Boone 
 County, where he remained until his death, in 
 1835. Henry Wharton Conway, the eldest son, 
 was born March IS, 1793, in Greene County. 
 Tenn., and served as a lieutenant in the War of 
 1812-15; subsequently, in 1817, he served in the 
 treasury department at Washington, immigrated 
 to Missouri with his father in 1818, and early in 
 1820, after being appointed receiver of public 
 moneys, he immigrated in company with his next 
 younger brother, James Sevier Conway, who was 
 born in 1798, to the county of Arkansas, in the 
 then Territory of Missouri. These two brothers 
 took and executed large contracts to survey the 
 public lands, and later on James S. became 
 surveyor-general of the TeiTitory. During the 
 twenties Henry W. Conway served two terms as a 
 delegate in Congress, and received the election 
 in 1827 for the third term, but on the 29th of 
 October of that year, he was mortally wounded in 
 a duel with Robert Crittenden, from the effects of 
 which he died on the 9th of November, following. 
 [See account of the duel elsewhere in this work.] 
 
 A marble shaft with an elaborate inscription, 
 erected by his brother, James S. Conway, stands 
 over his grave in the cemetery at Arkansas Post. 
 
 James S. Conway became the first governor 
 of the State of Arkansas, upon its admission into 
 the Union, serving as such from 183(5 to 1840, 
 after which he settled on his princely possessions 
 on Red River in the southern part of the State. 
 He was a large slave holder and cotton planter. 
 He died on the 3d of March, 1855, at Walinit 
 Hill, his country seat, in Lafayette County. 
 
 Frederick Rector Conway, the third son of 
 Gen. Thomas Conway, was a noted character in 
 Missouri and Illinois. John Rector Conway, the 
 fourth son, was an eminent physician, who died in 
 San Francisco in 1868. William B. Conway was 
 born at the old homestead in Tennessee, about 1806. 
 He was thoroughly educated, read law under 
 John J. Crittenden, of Kentucky, and commenced 
 the practice at Elizabethtown in that State. He 
 moved to Arkansas in 1840, and in 1844 was 
 elected judge of the Third circuit. In December, 
 1846, he was elected associate justice of the 
 supreme court. He died December 29, 1852, and 
 is buried by the side of his noble mother, in 
 Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock. The sixth 
 son, Thomas A., died in his twenty-second year in 
 Missouri. 
 
 The seventh and younge.st son, Gov. Elias N. 
 Conway, was born May 17, 1812, at the old home 
 stead in Tennessee, and in November, 1833, he 
 !(>ft his parents' home in Missouri, and came to 
 Little Rock, and entered into a contract to survey 
 large tracts of the public lands in the northwest- 
 ern part of the State. Having executed this con- 
 tract, he was. in 1836, appointed auditor of State, 
 a position which he held for thirteen years. In 
 1852 and again in 1856. he was elected on the 
 Democratic ticket as governor of the State, and 
 served his full two terms, eight years, a longer 
 period than any other governor has ever served. 
 Much could be said, did space permit, of the emi 
 nent services this mau has rendered to Arkansas. 
 Of the seven brothers named he is the only one 
 now living. He leads a retired and secluded life 
 in Little Rock, in a small cottage in which he has 
 
 [ 
 
 
k 
 
 no 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 resided for over forty years. He has no family, 
 having never been married. 
 
 Robert Crittendon, yontif^cst son of John Crit- 
 tenden, a major in tlid Revolutionary War, was born 
 near VersailleH, Woodford County, Ky. , January 
 1, 1797. Ho was educated by and read law with 
 his brother, John J. Crittenden, in Russellville, 
 that State. Being appointed first secretary of 
 ArkaiiKas Territory, he removed to Arkansas Post, 
 the temporary seat of government, where on the 
 Sd day of March, 1819, he was inaugurated and 
 HSKUmed the duties of his office. On the same 
 day James Miller was inaugurated first gov(>rnor 
 of the Territory. It seems, however, that Gov. 
 Miller, though he held his office until succeeded by 
 Gov. George Izard, in March, 1825, was seldom 
 present and only occasionally performed official 
 duties. This left Oittenden to assume charge of 
 the position as governor a great portion of the 
 time while Miller held the office. Crittenden con- 
 tinued as secretary of the Ten'itory vintil succeeded 
 by William L'ulton, in April, 1829, having served 
 in that capacity a little over ten years. In 1827 
 he fought a duel with Henry W. Conway, the ac- 
 count of which is given clsf^whcre. According to 
 Gen. Albert Pike, with whom ho was intimately 
 associated, ' ' he was a man of fine presence and 
 handsome faoe, with clear bright eyes, and unmis- 
 takable intellect and genius, frank, genial, one to 
 attach men warmly to himself, impulsive, generous, 
 warm hearted. " " He was the first great leader of 
 the Whig party in the Territory, and continued as 
 such until his death, which occurred December 18, 
 18154, at Vicksburg, Miss., whither he had gone 
 on business. He died thus young, and before the 
 Territory, which he had long and faithfully served, 
 became a State. 
 
 Archibald Yell, not unfamiliar to Arkansans, 
 was born in North Carolina, in August, 1797, and 
 while very young immigrated to Tennessee, and 
 settled in Bedford County. He served in the Creek 
 War as the boy (ra])tain of the Jackson Guards, 
 under Gen. Ji^ckson, also under the same general 
 in the War of 1812-13, participating in the battle 
 of New Orleans, and also in the Seminole War. 
 He was a man of moderate education, and when 
 
 the War of 1812 closed, he read law and was ad- 
 mitted to the bar in Tennessee. After the close of 
 the Seminole War, he located at Fayetteville, Lin- 
 coln County, Tenn. , and there practiced law until 
 1832, when President Jackson gave him the choice 
 to till one of two vacancies, governor of Florida 
 or Territorial judge in the T(U'ritory of Arkansas. 
 He chose the latter and in due time located at 
 Fayetteville, in Washington County. Ho was a 
 man of tine personal appearance, pleasant and 
 humorous, and possessed the faculty of making 
 friends wherever he went. He was elected and 
 sei-ved us grand master of the Masonic fraternity 
 in tlu! jurisdiction of Arkansas; was a Democrat 
 in jwlitics, and the tirst member of Congress from 
 the State of Arkansas; was governor of the State 
 from 1840 to 1844; was elected again as a member 
 of Congi-ess in 1844, and served until 1S46, when 
 he resigned to accept the colonelcy of an Arkansas 
 regiment of volunteers for the Mexican War. He 
 was killed in the battle of Buena Vista, February 
 22, 1847. 
 
 In his race for Congress in 1844, he was op- 
 posed by the Hon. David Walker, the leader of the 
 Whig party, and they made a joint canvass of the 
 State. Yell could adapt himself to circumstances 
 — to the different crowds of people more freely than 
 could his antagonist. In 1847 the Masonic fra- 
 ternity erected a monument to his memory in the 
 cemetery at Fayetteville. Gov. Yell was a man of 
 great ability, and one of the great {)ionoer states- 
 men of Arkansas. 
 
 The eminent jurist. Judge David Walker, de- 
 scended from a lin(> of English (Quakers, of whom 
 the last trans-Atlantic ancestor in the male line 
 was Jacob W' alker, whose son (ieorge emigrated to 
 America prior to the war of the Revolution, and 
 settled in Brunswick County, Ya. Here he mar- 
 ried a lady, native to the manor born, and be- 
 came" the tirst American jiucestor of a large and 
 distinguished family. One of his sons, Jacob 
 Wythe Walker, born in the decade that ushered 
 in the Revolution, early in life removed to and 
 settled in what is now Todd County, Ky. Here, 
 on the 19th day of February, ISOfi, was born un- 
 to him and his wife, Nancy (Hawkins) Walker, 
 
 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 the subject of this sketcli — David Walker. Youug 
 Wiillcei's oppoitunities for obtaining a school edu- 
 cation in that then frontier country were limited, 
 but, being the son of a good lawyer, ho inherited 
 his father's energetic nature, became selfodueatod, 
 read law and was admitted to the bar in Scotts- 
 ville, Ky., early in 1829, and there practiced 
 until the fall of 1830, when he moved to Little 
 Kock, Ark., arriving on the 1 0th of October. 
 Soon after this he located at Fayetteville, Wash- 
 ington County, and remained there, except when 
 temporarily absent, until his death. From ]833 
 to 1835 he was prosecuting attorney in the Third 
 circuit. He was one of the many able members of 
 the constitutional convention of 1830. In 1840 he 
 rode "the tidal wave of whiggery " into the State 
 senate, in which he served four years. In 1844 he 
 led the forlorn hope of his party in theever memor- 
 able contest with Gov. Yell for Congress. In 
 1848, while on a visit to Kentucky, and without 
 his knowledge, a legislature, largely Democratic, 
 elected him associate justice of the supreme court 
 over strong D(>mocratic opposition, embracing such 
 men as Judges English and William Conway, both 
 of whom afterwards succeeded to the office. 
 
 He had always been a lover of the Union, but 
 when the Civil War came on, having been born 
 and reared in the South, and having become 
 attached to its institutions, he finally chose rather 
 to cast his fortunes with the proposed Confederacy 
 than with the Federal Union. In February 1861, 
 he was elected a delegate to the State convention 
 which convened on the 4th of March, and linally, 
 at its adjourned session, passed the ordinance of 
 secession. He and Judge B. C. Totten were can- 
 didates for the chairmanship of this convention, 
 the former re[>resenting the Union strength, and 
 the latter the disunion element as it was then 
 developed. Walker received forty out of the sev- 
 enty-five votes cast, and thereupon took the chair; 
 but owing to the rapid change of sentiment all ot 
 the majority, save one, finally voted with the 
 minority, and Arkatisas formally withdrew from the 
 Union, with Judge Walker as a leader. In 18(5(5 
 he was elected chief justice of the State, but in 
 less than two years was removed from the office by 
 
 military power. .\t the close of the reeonBtruction 
 period he was again elected to the supreme bench 
 and served thereon until September. 1878, when 
 he resigned at the age of seventy-two, and retired 
 to private life. He died September 30, 1879. He 
 was a pious and conscientioiis man, an able jurist, 
 a pioneer of Arkansas, highly res)>eefed liy its citi 
 zens. 
 
 (ien. Grandison D. Koyston, a ^ui\ of Joshua 
 Itoyston and Elizabeths. (Watson) Royston, na- 
 tives, respectively, of Maryland and Virginia, and 
 both of j)ure English descent, was born on the 
 9tli of December, 180it, in Carter County, Tenu. 
 His father was an agriculturist and Indian trader 
 of great en(*rgy and character, and his mother 
 was a daughter of that eminent Methodist divine, 
 Rev. Samuel Watson, one of the pioneers of 
 the Holstein conference in East Tennessee. He 
 was educated in the common neigliborhood schools 
 and in a Presbyterian academy in Washington 
 County, Tenn. In 1829 he entered the law office 
 of Judge Emerson, at Jonesboro, in that State, 
 and two years after was admitted to the bar. Sub- 
 sequently he emigrated to Arkansas Territory, and 
 in April, 1832, located in Fayetteville, Washing- 
 ton County, wh(>re he renniined only (>ight months, 
 teaching school five days in the week and practic- 
 ing law iii justices' courts on Saturdays. He then 
 moved to \\'ashington, in Hempstead County, 
 where he continued to reside until his death. In 
 the performance of his professional duties he trav- 
 eled the circuits (jf the Tenitory and Sfafe in that 
 cavalcade of legal lights composed of such men as 
 Hemijstead. Fowler, Trajmall, Cummins, Pike, 
 AValker, Yell, Ashley, Bates, Searcy and others. 
 
 In 1833 he was elected |)rosecuting attorney 
 for the Third circuit, and performed the duties of 
 that office for two years. In January. 183(5. he 
 served as a delegate from Hempsteail County in 
 the convention at Little Rock, which framed the 
 first constitution of the State: and in the fall of 
 the same year he was elected to represent his 
 county in the first legislature of the State. After 
 the expulsion of .lohn Wilson, speaker of the house, 
 who killed Representative John J. Anthony, Roy- 
 ston was on joint ballot elected to till the vacant 
 
 -* V 
 
speakership but declined the office. In 1841 
 President Tyler appointed him United States dis- 
 trict attorney for the district of Arkansas, which 
 office he held a short time and then resigned it. 
 In 1858 he represented the counties of Hempstead, 
 Pike and Lafayette in the State legislature, and 
 became the author of the levee system of the State. 
 In 1861 he was elected to the Confederate Con- 
 gress, serving two years. In 1874 he was a dele- 
 gate from Hempstead County to the constitutional 
 convention, and was elected president of that 
 body. In 1876 he represented the State at large 
 in the National Democratic convention at St. Louis, 
 and voted for Tilden and Hendricks. He was al- 
 ways a Democrat, a man of culture, refinement and 
 winning manners, and enjoyed in a large degree 
 the confidence of the people. He obtained his 
 title as general by serving on the stafF of Gov. 
 Drew with the rank of brigadier-general. He 
 died August 14, ]S89, in his eightieth year. He, 
 too, was one of the last prominent pioneers of Ar- 
 kansas, and it is said he was the last surviving 
 member of the constitutional convention of 1836. 
 Judge James Woodson Bates was born in 
 Groochland County, Va. . about the year 1 788. He 
 was educated in the Yale and Princeton Col- 
 leges, graduating from the latter about 1810. 
 \A'hen quite youug he attended the trial of Aaron 
 Burr, for treason, at Eichmond. Soon after grad- 
 uating he read law. In the meantime his brother, 
 Frederick Bates, was appointed first secretary of 
 Missouri Territory, and was acting governor in 
 the absence of Gov. Clark. About 1811) he fol- 
 lowed his brother to the West, and settled in St. 
 Louis. In 1820 he removed to the Post of Arkan- 
 sas and there began the practice of his profession, 
 but had scarcely opened his office when he was 
 elected first delegate to Congress from Arkansas 
 Territory. In 1823 he was a candidate for re- 
 
 election, but was defeated by the celebrated Henry 
 W. Conway, an able man, who commanded not 
 only the influence of his own powerful family, but 
 that of the Rectors, the Johnsons, Roanes and 
 Ambrose H. Sevier, and all the political adherents 
 of Gen. Jackson, then so popular in the South 
 and West. The influence and strength of this 
 combined opposition could not be overcome. 
 
 After his short Congressional career closed, he 
 moved to the newly settled town of Batesville, and 
 resumed the practice of his profession. Batesville 
 was named after him. In November, 1825, Presi- 
 dent Adams appointed him one of the Territorial 
 judges, in virtue of which he was one of the 
 judges of the superior or appellate court organized 
 on the plau of the old English court in banc. On 
 the accession of Gen. Jackson to the presidency, 
 his commission expired without renewal, and he 
 soon after removed to Crawford County, married 
 a wealthy widow, and became stationary on a rich 
 farm near Van Buren. In the fall of 1835 he 
 was elected to the constitutional convention, and 
 contributed his ability and learning in the forma- 
 tion of our first organic law as a State Soon 
 after the accession of John Tyler to the presidency, 
 he appointed Judge Bates register of the land 
 office at Clarksville. in recognition of an old 
 friend. He discharged every public trust, and 
 all the duties devolved on him as a private citizen, 
 with the utmost fidelity. Strange to say, whilst 
 he possessed the most fascinating conversational 
 powers, he was a failure as a public speaker. He 
 was also a brother to Edward Bates, the attorney- 
 general in President Lincoln's cabinet. He was 
 well versed in the classics, and familiar with the 
 best authors of English and American literature. 
 He died at his home in Crawford County in 1846, 
 universally esteemed. 
 
 ^i 
 
GKEENE COT'NTY. 
 
 118 
 
 Gkkkne County— Piiysioal Features— Streams— Forests— Kind of Soil— Agricultural Products 
 —Stock Interests— Real and Personal Property— Population— Railways— Era of Settle- 
 ment—A Noted Hunter- Acts of the County Board— County Seat and Buildinos- 
 Officers— Political Outlook— Legal Matters— Military Affairs 
 — MuNrciPALiTiES—SciiooLS— Churches— Biography. 
 
 Be mindful 
 With iron teeth of rakes and prongs to move 
 The crusted eartli. —Dri/den. 
 
 7'- 
 
 •■.!^ 
 
 KEENE COUNTY, Ark., 
 lies in the northeastern part 
 of the State, in latitude 3(5° 
 37 ' North, and longitude 
 91° west from Greenwich, 
 England. It is bounded on 
 the north by Clay County, 
 east by the St. Francis 
 River, which separates it from Dunk- 
 lin (Jounty, Mo., south by Craig- 
 head, and west by Lawrence and Ran- 
 dolph Counties. It has an area of 
 600 square miles, of which less tlian 
 one tenth is improved. Its boundary 
 lines are as follows: Commencing 
 where the line between Sections 21 
 and 28, Township 19, Range 9, intersects the mid- 
 dle of the main channel of the St. Francis River; 
 thence down the middle of the main channel of that 
 river to the line between Townships 15 and 16; 
 thence west on the township line to the Cache 
 River; thence up said river, with its meanderings. 
 to the line between Townships 17 and 18; thence 
 west on the township line to the line between 
 Ranges 2 and 3; thence north on the range line to 
 the northwest corner of Section 30, Township 19, 
 Range 3; thence east on the section lines, and on 
 the county line, to the place of beginning. 
 
 Crowley's Ridge, from its continuation in Clay 
 County, extends in a rather southwesterly direction 
 through Greene County, with a width varying from 
 five to ten miles, and slopes gently on either side 
 to the level of the bottom lands. This ridge in 
 the southern part of the county is more rolling 
 than elsewhere, and farms have been opened en- 
 tirely across it, though generally speaking its sum- 
 mit is not much cultivated. The early settlers, for 
 the most part, selected their homes on the foot of 
 the ridge and on ridges between the creeks. The 
 farms now extend from both slopes of the ridge 
 far out into the rich level lands. 
 
 From Crowley's Ridge the waters flow through 
 several small streams in a southeasterly direction 
 and empty into St. Francis River; and west of the 
 ridge the waters course through small streams in 
 a southwesterly direction, emptying into Cache 
 River; thus all that portion of the county lying 
 between these rivers is drained. That part north 
 west of Cache River is drained through the streams 
 tributary to Cache and Black Rivers. 
 
 "The entire county with the exception of 
 places where the forest has been cleared and farms 
 opened — is finely timbered with unequaled quality 
 of white oak, red oak, hickory, sweet gum. ash, 
 po])hir, pine, and walnut timber. The Crowley's 
 Ridge summit is timbered its entire length through 
 
,J^ 
 
 114 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 the county with pitch or red pine of the finest 
 qualit}', and the slopes with other timber named. 
 
 "The soil is varied. One discovers ])oor, thin 
 and rocky points on the summit and almost any 
 grade between sandy soil of the bottom lands. It 
 produces good crops of corn, wheat, rye, barley, 
 oats, sorghum cane, broom corn, cotton, potatoes, 
 turnips, tame grasses, clover and millet, while the 
 range for cattle from eight to ten months of the 
 year, and for hog.s through the fall, is almost in- 
 inexhaustible." * 
 
 At present lumbering is, and until the timber 
 supply becomes exhausted will continue to be, 
 one of the leading if not the principal industry of 
 the county, and a great source of income. In 
 April of the current year there were thirty-four 
 steam power saw-mills, six stave factories, one shin- 
 gle-mill, and two planing-mills, within the county 
 — all engaged in cutting the timber into lumber, 
 etc. One of these mills — that of the J. M. Reed 
 Lumber Company — has capacity for cutting 100,- 
 000 feet of lumber per day. The most profitable 
 source of revenue to the farmers consists in the 
 raising of cotton and corn, which yield probably a 
 nearly eqiial income. Most of the saw-mills have 
 cotton gins, and some grist-mills attached. 
 
 In 1880 there were, according to the United 
 States census, 1,181 farms, with 80,596 acres of 
 improved lands in the county, and from these the 
 vegetable productions were as follows: Indian 
 corn, 347,926 bushels; oats, 29, 110 bushels; wheat, 
 10,475 bushels; hay, 124 tons; cotton, 3,711 bales; 
 Irish potatoes, 5,181 bushels ; sweet potatoes, 18,989 
 bushels; tobacco, 5,785 pounds. A large acreage 
 has since been cleared, and the vegetable produc- 
 tions correspondingly increased. 
 
 The numbers of head of live stock within the 
 county, as indicated by the same census, were as 
 follows: Horses, 7,694; mules and asses, 760; 
 neat cattle, 8,975; sheep, 1,727; hogs, 16,984. 
 The following show the number of head of live 
 stock in the county as declared by the assessment 
 rolls for 1888: Horses, 2,826; mules and asses, 
 991; neat cattle, 10.125; sheep, 1,685; 'hogs, 
 16,481. The comparison of these figures is inter 
 
 * Quotations from Greene County Record. 
 
 esting. The decrease in the number of sheep is 
 probably due to the reduction in the price of wool, 
 while the decrease in the number of hogs is appar- 
 ent but not real. The census of 1880 gives the 
 number raised, sold and slaughtered during the 
 year, while the assessment rolls show only the 
 number on hand when listed for taxation; hence 
 the increase must have been large. As previously 
 stated, all parts of the county are well supplied 
 with streams, and an abundance of good well 
 water can be obtained at a depth of from thirty to 
 forty feet, without blasting through any rock, and 
 as the lands are well adapted to the raising of 
 grains, tame grasses and clover, this country must 
 eventually — after the lumber industry ceases — 
 become excellent for diversified farming, and 
 especially for the raising of live stock, the climate 
 being mild, and the shipping facilities to the great 
 commercial centers unusually superior. 
 
 The country is also well adapted to the growing 
 of all manner of fruits common to this latitude. 
 
 The assessed value of the real estate of Greene 
 County for the year 1880 was $426,685, and of the 
 personal property $254,361, making a total of 
 $681,046, and the total amount of taxes charged 
 thereon was $16,099. The assessed value of the 
 real estate of the county for 1888, including the 
 railroad j)roperty, was $1,313,392.72, and of the 
 personal property, $562,719, making a total of 
 $1,876,111.72. upon which the total amount of 
 taxes charged was $29,103.63. This demonstrates 
 that the taxable wealth of the county has about 
 doubled since 1880, but that the taxes have not 
 increased in the same ratio. The railroads, which 
 now constitute a considerable portion of the tax- 
 able wealth of the county, and pay a large percent- 
 age of the taxes, were assessed for the year 1888 
 as follows: St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern, 
 $330,750; St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas, $200,677: 
 Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis, $4,560; total, 
 $585,987. 
 
 The county has excellent public buildings, and 
 a floating debt of only about $7,000, which will be 
 canceled after another year's taxes are collected. 
 This covers the whole indebtedness — there being 
 no bonded del)t at all. Such favorable facts prove 
 
 -4-2L,- 
 
that Greene County haB many attractions for home : 
 seekers. Lands are yet cheap, and immigrants from ! 
 the over-crowded Eastern and Northern States can 
 certainly do much V^etter by coming to this country 
 than by going west to points beyond the improve- 
 ments of civilization. Capital is beiug rapidly 
 invested here, thus insuring employment to the 
 laborer. Here an industrious man with but small 
 capital may soon possess and own a home, where 
 society is good and the climate unexcelled; here he 
 may gain, by application and energy, just recogni- 
 tion, and here, too, may he avoid the tinancial 
 burdens which characterize other less- favored com- 
 munities. 
 
 The population of Greene County in 1860, in- 
 cluding what is now the Eastern district of Clay 
 County, was 5,654 — 189 of whom were colored. 
 The population of 1870, comprising the same terri- 
 tory, was 7,417 — 156 of whom were colored. The 
 population in 1880, embracing only the present 
 area of the county, was 7,405, of whom only 75 
 ' were colored. Considering the recent rapid in- 
 crease by way of immigration, together with the 
 natural accession, it is safe to estimate the popula- 
 tion of the county at the present vwiting, at more 
 than double that of 1880. 
 
 The main line of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain 
 & Southern Railroad — completed about 1872 — 
 runs in a southwesterly direction across the north- 
 western portion of the county, a distance of nine 
 and three-fourth miles. The Helena branch of 
 the same road, finished in 1882, runs through in a 
 southeasterly and southerly course across the 
 entire county, by way of Gainesville, Paragould 
 and minor points, a distance of twenty-three miles. 
 The St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad, com- 
 pleted in 1882, passes through the entire county 
 in a southwesterly direction along the eastern side 
 of Crowley's Ridge, by way of Paragould and 
 other points, a distance of twenty- four miles and 
 2,904 feet. The Kansas City, Fort Scott & Mem- 
 phis Railroad, constructed in 1883, runs in a south- 
 easterly direction across the extreme southwestern 
 corner of the county, a distance of only 2,400 feet. 
 The Paragould & Buffalo Island Narrow Gauge 
 Railroad runs eastward from Paragould to the St. 
 
 Francis River, a distance of ten miles. It was 
 built in 1888, by a local company, for the purpose 
 of shipping out timber and lumlier. The combined 
 length of the llirough lines of railroad is fifty -seven 
 miles and 3,984 feet, which added to the ten miles 
 of narrow gauge road, makes over seventy-seven 
 miles of railway in the county. 
 
 The settlement of the territory now composing 
 Greene County began almut the year 1820. Ben- 
 jamin Crowley, grandfather of Hon. Benjamin H. 
 Crowley, and his family were the first settlers, and 
 their nearest neighbors were then at Pocahontas, 
 now the county seat of Randolph County. Crow- 
 ley's Ridge was named in honor of this pioneer 
 settler. The Pevehouse family, Wiley Hutchins, 
 Jerry Gage, Samuel Willcockson, the Robertsons 
 and J. W. Gage, were among the first settlers of 
 the Crowley neighborhood, which is some twelve 
 miles west of Paragould. William Pevehouse 
 was the first child born in the county, and his 
 brother, Wiley, and Hon. Ben. H. Crowley were 
 first among the next children born. James McDan- 
 iol and Jesse Payne were early settlers on Village 
 Creek. Isaiah Hampton and Lewis Bramlet set- 
 tled in 1848, four miles east of Gainesville. John 
 Mitchell, an early settler near Gainesville, put u)) 
 the first cotton gin in the county, and Samuel 
 Wilcockson erected the first steam grist mill on 
 Crowley's Ridge, it being on Pojilar Creek in the 
 Crowley settlement. Parson William Nutt located 
 near Gainesville; and Aaron Bagwell, from whom 
 Bagwell Lake in the eastern part of the county 
 took its name, and C. G. Jones, after whom Jones 
 Ridge on the western border of the county is called, 
 were also early settlers. 
 
 The Bradshaws — noted hunters — settled on the 
 upper end of the ridge, iu what is now Clay 
 County, and A. J. Smith, "the great Arkansas 
 bear hunter." settled near the Bradshaws and mar- 
 ried into their family. He subsecpiently located 
 and cleared up a farm a few miles east of the pres 
 ent town of Paragould, where he lived until his 
 death. He was known far and near, and was the 
 most noted eccentric character in all of Northeast 
 em Arkansas, possessing many of the traits of the 
 famous Col Butv Crockett. He was a veritable 
 
'Xl 
 
 116 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 backwoodsman, not accustomed to the finer com- 
 forts of advanced civilization. He owned slaves, 
 raised large numbers of cattle, and undoubtedly 
 killed more wild animals than any other man in 
 the State. He usually went bareheaded and bare 
 footed, with his collar opened and sleeves rolled 
 up, and nearly always carried with him his rifle, 
 shot pouch and large hunting knife. Upon his ap- 
 pearance in this plight he was much feared, espec- 
 ially by those not acquainted with him. He was, 
 however, kind and benevolent, brave and generous, 
 and had but few enemies, being a firm friend to 
 those he respected, but a dangerous man in a 
 quarrel. 
 
 On one occasion after having sold a herd of cat- 
 tle to Gov. "Jack" Drew, he went, equipped as 
 usual, to the governor's residence to collect his 
 pay. The governor happened to be absent. He 
 was met at the door by Mrs. Drew, who though 
 much frightened invited him to step in and take a 
 seat at the fire. He looked down and said he did 
 not like ' ' to step on that quilt. ' ' The carpet be- 
 ing loose he took it by the edge, folded it over and 
 then sprang across and took a chair near the fire. 
 Mrs. Drew felt convinced that her unwelcome 
 guest was a horse thief, and thereupon had his 
 horse put into the stable and locked, knowing that 
 her husband would return soon. On seeing the 
 latter she went out to meet him, and related the 
 appearance of the mysterious stranger, whereupon 
 the governor, with a hearty laugh, replied, "O! 
 that is Jack Smith, it's just like him." 
 
 Angeline, his wife, was an excellent shot with 
 the rifle, and often accompanied him on his hunt- 
 ing excursions. Once while returning home upon 
 a trail, desiring to " prowl around a little longer," 
 he requested his companion not to wait for him. 
 Accordingly she rode on, but had not gone far un- 
 til the dogs — remaining with Jack — chased up a 
 huge bear, pursuing it so closely that it stopped 
 and turned its back against the roots of a fallen 
 tree, and began to cuff the dogs right and left. 
 Jack ran to their assistance, whereupon the bear, 
 having cowed the dogs, sprang forward and rushed 
 upon him. Jack in retreating, stumbled and fell. 
 Just at this critical moment, Angeline, who had 
 
 heard the confusion, wheeled her steed about, took 
 deliberate aim and shot and killed the monster 
 beast, thus saving her husband's life. Ever there- 
 after upon relating this incident, he never failed 
 to declare that Angeline was the best woman ever 
 created. 
 
 This gi-eat hunter generally wore ' ' buckskin 
 breeches." He was of a humorous disposition, 
 and on one occasion was visited by a party of well 
 dressed gentlemen from Memphis, who, upon seeing 
 the large quantity of peltry he had on hand, asked 
 how he came to be so successful in hunting. His 
 reply was that formerly when dressed in his buck- 
 skin trousers and other outfit, the animals, espec- 
 ially the deer, had become so well acquainted with 
 him that they knew him by sight, and were always 
 on the outlook for him, in consequence of which 
 he could not get near enough to shoot them. It 
 then occurred to him that he must change his 
 garb, and thus deceive the animals. So now, he 
 said, that upon approaching a herd of deer, the 
 sentinel buck seeing him would inform the rest 
 that there was no danger — that it was only some 
 finely dressed gentleman from Memphis, who was 
 harmless. In this way he claimed to delude the 
 deer, succeeding in killing a great many. The 
 numerous eccentricities, bear and deer hunts and 
 the like, of this famous hunter, if compiled would 
 make an interesting book on frontier life. 
 
 Wiley Clarkson was an early settler and hunt- 
 ing companion of Smith. The county settled very 
 slowly prior to 1855, but after that more rapidly 
 until the war period, during which time it received 
 no new comers. Soon after the war the growth in 
 population was renewed and continued gradual 
 until four years ago, since which time it has been 
 and still is very rapid. For additional mention 
 of settlers, with more specific dates, the reader is 
 referred to the biographical pages of this volume. 
 
 Greene County was organized in accordance 
 with an act of the legislature of Arkansas Terri- 
 tory, approved November 5. 1833, and was made 
 to embrace the territory it now comprises, except- 
 ing that portion lying west of Cache River, to- 
 gether with the whole of what is now the Eastern 
 district of Clay County, and a j)ortion of Craig- 
 
 5j^ 
 
head County, all formerly lielonging to Lawrence 
 County. When Clay County was formed in 1873, 
 that portion of Greene now lying west of the 
 Cache River was attached from Randolph County. 
 
 The original seat of justice was located about 
 1835, at a point five miles northeast of Gaines- 
 ville, and was named Paris. Here a log court- 
 house was erected and one or two stores opened. 
 Afterward the question of re-locating the county 
 seat was agitated, and of the different points com- 
 peting for it, the one where Gainesville is situated 
 gained the location, henco the name Gainesville. 
 To this place the seat of justice was moved about 
 the year 1840. A log court-house and subsequent- 
 ly a log jail were erected. The former was soon 
 abandoned and in its stead a three-story frame 
 court house, about thirty feet square, was con- 
 structed. The first floor of this building was 
 occupied with the county ofl[ices, the second with 
 the court-room, and the third with a Masonic hall. 
 The building, with a portion of the records, was 
 burned in 1874. A store room was then rented 
 for a court- house, and soon thereafter, in the 
 same year, it was, with all the balance of the 
 records, also burned. These buildings were sup- 
 posed to have been set on fire by certain parties, 
 that the records, noting their rather questionable 
 conduct, might be destroyed. This led to the 
 shooting and killing of Sheriff Wright, by a citizen 
 whom the people justified by not prosecuting. 
 Two other persons, supposed to bo implicated in 
 the crime of burning the buildings, were arrested 
 and placed in jail, from which they escaped and 
 were not afterward apprehended. One of them, 
 it is said, confessed his guilt. 
 
 The next court-house was another store room, 
 which, with all accumulated records, was burned 
 in 1876, presumably by an incendiary resting un- 
 der indictments for crime. A one-story frame 
 court-house was then erected, and continued to 
 be used until 1884, when the county seat was 
 removed from Gainesville to its present site, at 
 Paragould. In 1884 the one story frame build- 
 ing now standing east of the court-house square 
 was erected for a temporary court-house. In 1888 
 the present beautiful and well-proportioned two- 
 
 story brick building, with the halls and oUices on 
 the first floor and the court-room on the second, 
 was erected by Contractors Boone and Mcfxinnis, 
 at a cost of $14,700. The clock in the tower cost 
 $700 more. In 1877 the same contractors l)uilt 
 the present two-story jail, containing four iron 
 cells or rooms, and the jailer's residence, at a cost 
 of $7,000. 
 
 Following is a list of the names of the county 
 officers of Greene County from its organization to 
 the present, together with the term of service of 
 each: 
 
 Judges: I. Brooktield, 1833-35; W. Hanes, 
 1835-36; George Daniel, 1836-1838; L. Thomp 
 son, 1838-40; J. M. Cooper, 1840-42; H. Powell, 
 1842-44; N. Mmphree, 1844-46; J. M. Coopei. 
 1846^8; C. G. Steele, 1848-50; H. T. Allen, 
 1850-52; J. Bellinger, 1852-54; H. T. Allen, 
 1854-60; T. Clark, 1860-64; J. J. Wood, 1864- 
 66; H. T. Allen, 1866-68; A. Seagroves, 1868- 
 72; David Thorn. 1874-76; J. P. Culver. 1876-78; 
 J. McDauiel, 1878-80; M. C. Gramling, 1880-82; 
 J. O'Steen, 1882-88; W. C. Jones, present in 
 cumbent, elected 1888. 
 
 Clerks: L. Thompson, 1833-36; G. L. Mar- 
 tin, 1836-38; H. L. Holt, to November. 1838: J. 
 L. Atchison, 1838-44; H. L. Evans, 1844-46; H. 
 Powell, 1846-50; M. T. C. Lumpkins, 1850-54; 
 J. W. McFarlaud, 1854-56; L. B. McNeil. 1S56- 
 I 58; H. W. Glasscock, 1858-64; R. H. Gardner. 
 I 1864-68; E. R. Seeley, 1868-72; D. B. Warren, 
 j 1872-82; R. H. Gardner, 1882-88; T. B. Kitch- 
 ens, present incumbent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Sheritt's: James Brown. 1833-34; Charles Rob- 
 ertson, 1834-36; J. Stotts, 1836-38; J. Clark, 
 1838-44; J. R, Ragsdale, 1844-46; A. F. Puryer. 
 1846-48: J. Clark. 1S4S-50: William Pevehouse, 
 1850-52; W. M. Peebles, IS52-58; F. S. White, 
 1858-62; A. Eubanks. 1862-64: F. S. White. 
 1864-68; M. Wright, 1868-72; M. C. Gramling. 
 1872-74: J. P. WiUcocU.son. 1S74-76: J. A. Owen. 
 1876-77; F. S. White. 1877-80; T. R, WiUcock 
 son, 1880-84; J. M. Hightield, 1884-86; T. H. 
 Willcockson, present incumbent, first elected in 
 1886. 
 
 Treasurers: James Katchford 1S36-38: H. X. 
 
' > 
 
 118 
 
 HLSTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Reynolds, 1840-42; G. W . Hurley. 1842-44: M. 
 Carter, 1844-46; J. W. Poole, 1846-52; C. G. 
 Jones, 1852-54; W. Meredith, 1854-56: J. Payne, 
 1856-58: T. H. Wyse. 1858-62; C. Wall, 1862- 
 64; M. C. Gramling, 1864-66; Alex. Wood, 1866- 
 68; Sam Newberiy, 1868-72: R. Jackson. 1S72- 
 76; H. C. Swindle, 1876-78; G. W. Stevenson, 
 1878-80;* R. Jackson, 1880-84: J. N. Johnson, 
 1884-86; H. S. Trice, jiresent incumbent, first 
 elected in 1886. 
 
 Coroners: J. Sutfin, 1833-35; J. Fowler, 1835 
 -36; John Anderson, 1838-42: P. K. Lester, 
 1842-44; J. Lawrence, 1844-46; J. Hunt, 1846- 
 48; W. H. Mack, 1848-50; R. W. Dorsey, 1850- 
 54; J. S. Hibbs, 1854-56; M. McDaniel, 1856-58; 
 A. P. Bobo, 1858-60; H. B. Wright, 1860-64: J. 
 R. Gentry, 1864-66; H. Jackson, 1866-68: L. 
 Steadman, 1868-72; J. H. Dudley, 1872-74: E. 
 Daniels, 1874-76; J. A. Little, 1876-78: W. M. 
 McKay, 1878-80; J. W. Hardy, 1880-82: J. R. 
 Gross, 1882-84; V. Looney, 1884-86; J. M. Ham- 
 mond, 1886-88; B. Terrell, present incumbent, 
 elected in 1888. 
 
 Surveyors; G. Hall, 1833-36; William Hatch, 
 1838-40; J. J. Johusou; 1840-42; J. B. B. Moore, 
 1842-44: James Mitchell, 1844-56; E. M. Allen, 
 1856-58; W. C. Reyburn, 1858-60; R. G. Mc- 
 Leskey, 1860-62; J. P. Harris, 1862-64: R. C. 
 Mack, 1864-66; L. M. Wilson, 1866-68: J. See- 
 ley, 1870-72; R. H. Gardner, IS72-82: O. S. 
 Newsom, 1882-88; Len Merriweather, present in- 
 cumbent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Assessors: R. H. Gardner, 1859-62: T. C. 
 Murphy, 1862-64; H. W. Glasscock, 1864-66; 
 M. C. Gramling, 1866-68; D. J. Edwards, 1868- 
 70; P. G. Straughn, 1870-72; W. F. Clements, 
 1872-74; W. S. Ledbotter, 1874-76; J. Huckabay, 
 1876-78; J. F. Lytle, 1878-80; P. G. Light, 
 1880-84: J. R. Thompson, 1884-88; E. L. Bab- 
 bett, present incumbent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Representatives of Greene County in constitu- 
 tional conventions: G. L. Martin, January 4 to 
 13, 1836; J. W. Bush, March 4 to 21, and'May 6 
 to June 3, 1861; Benjamin H. Crowley, July 14, 
 to Oct ober 31, 1874. " 
 
 *R. Jackson on resignation of Stevenson. 
 
 Representatives in general assembly; Alex. 
 Tucker was the first representative of the county 
 in the State legislature, and Hon. A. P. Cos is the 
 present one. The Senatorial district, composed of 
 Greene. Clay and Craighead Counties, is repre- 
 sented in the State Senate by Hon. Ben. H. 
 Crowley. 
 
 To show the political aspect of the county the 
 vote cast therein for the candidates for governor at 
 the September election in 1888 is here given, it 
 being as follows: J.P.Eagle, Democrat, 1,378 votes; 
 C. M. Norwood, combined opposition, 841 votes. 
 
 Upon the organization of Greene County and 
 prior to the location of the original county seat, 
 courts were held at the house of Mr. Crowley the 
 first settler, as before mentioned, on Crowley's 
 Ridge. A portion of the time the sessions were 
 held in the house and. also, under the adjacent 
 trees. It is said that the judge of the circuit court, 
 after charging the grand jury, usually sent them in 
 charge of the sheriff or bailiff under a certain white 
 oak tree to make their deliberations. Since those 
 days the courts have been held in the various court 
 houses elsewhere described. The regular terms 
 of the county court commence on the first Monday 
 in January, April, July and October, and of the 
 probate court on the third Monday of the same 
 months in each year. The regular terms of the 
 circuit court have heretofore commenced on the 
 first Monday of February and August of each year, 
 but probably the last legislature has slightly 
 changed the time. This court has not been over- 
 biu'dened with murder trials, as but few murders 
 have been committed within the county. No one 
 has ever been executed in Greene County for a 
 capital offense except one person who killed an 
 individual in another county, and was brought 
 here and tried on a change of venue. 
 
 The following are the resident members of the 
 legal bar of Greene County: Hon. L. L. Mack, 
 Judge J. E. Reddick. now on the bench; Hon. 
 Ben. H. Crowley, J. B. Boykin, A. P. Mack, W. 
 S. Luna, Eugene Parrish, W. W. Bandy, S. R. 
 Simpson, A. Knox and J. F. Lytle. Mention of 
 many prominent citizens of the county is also 
 made in subsequent pages. 
 
At the outbreak of the Civil War of 1801-65, 
 the citizens of Greene County, being mostly immi- 
 gi'ants or descendants of immigrants from the 
 former slave-holding States, were found to be 
 almost to a man, in full sympathy with the South- 
 ern cause, and consequently lent their energies to 
 sustain it. As might be expected great excitement 
 then prevailed, and in the spring of 1861 Capt. 
 W. G. Bohaning raised a full company of soldiers 
 mostly in the territory now composing Cireenc 
 County, for the First Regiment of Arkansas Con- 
 federate Infantry. Soon thereafter Capt. J. L. 
 Kuykendall formed another company in the same 
 territoiy for the same regiment, and later Capt. 
 D. G. Byers recruited a company for the Twenty 
 Fifth Regiment of Arkansas Confederate Infantry. 
 In 1864 Capts. Park Willcockson, John McHenry 
 and H. W. Glasscock, each raised a company of 
 cavalry in Greene County for Maj. J. F. Davies' 
 liattalion of Col. Kitchens' regiment. The pop- 
 ulation being then small, these were the only or- 
 ganized bodies of soldiers raised in that part of the 
 county as it is now composed. Other troops were 
 obtained in that portion since set off to Clay. No 
 skirmishes or l)attles took place in the county dur- 
 ing the war, and it was but little over-run with 
 soldiers, consequently not suffering the devasta- 
 tions incident to many other counties in the State. 
 
 Only two Federal commands, together with a 
 few small scouting parties, passed through the 
 county, and as a result the people fortunately es- 
 caped the raids of foragers; owing also to their 
 unanimity of sentiment, there was but very little 
 l)ushwhacking done. In addition to the com- 
 panies above mentioned some individuals went out 
 of the county and enlisted in other commands. 
 Notwithstanding the natural preferences of the 
 people here in the war period, they are now vieing 
 with the immigrants from both North and South, 
 in developing the resources of this section. Uni- 
 versal peace and harmony prevail, and all just and 
 upright newcomers are received with a hearty wel- 
 come. The survivors of both armies have organ- 
 ized an association in Paragould known as the 
 "Blue and Gray" — there being many ex-Federal 
 soldiers among the recent arrivals in the countv. 
 
 and together they meet and rejoice that the con- 
 flict is forever settled, and that while they were 
 enemies in war they are friends in peace. 
 
 (ireene is well supplied with villages, towns, 
 postotlices. etc.. as the following facts indicate: 
 
 Bethel is a postoffice and flag station on the 
 railroad, five miles south of Paragould. 
 
 Crowley is a postoffice twelve miles northwest 
 of Paragould. 
 
 Finch is a postoffice ten miles southwest of 
 Paragould. 
 
 Gainesville, on the Helena branch of the St. 
 Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, eight 
 miles north of Paragould, formerly the seat of 
 justice for Greene County, was established about 
 the year 1840. In 184t) it contained a log court- 
 house, two store buildings and five dwelling houses 
 — all log except one dwelling house, which was a 
 frame, sided up with clapboards. The town has ever 
 been of slow growth, but situated as it is in a good 
 community far from other villages, it is a point of 
 considerable trade, containing four general stores, 
 one drug store, four family groceries, two black- 
 smith shops, one steam grist mill and cotton-gin 
 combined, two hotels, one printing office, from 
 which is published the Greene County Event, by 
 F. M. Dalton, one livery stable, two church edi- 
 fices — Cumberland Presbyterian and Methodist- 
 one public school-house, three physicians, and one 
 lawyer, the latter being the Hon. J. E. Reddiek, 
 present judge of the circuit court of this judicial 
 circuit. 
 
 Halliday, a postoffice and flag station on tlie 
 "Cotton Belt" Railroad, is six miles north of 
 Paragould. 
 
 Herndon is a postoffice in the so\ithwost part of 
 the county. 
 
 Lorado, also but a postoffice, is in the south- 
 west part of the county. 
 
 Marmaduke, a town of about 200 inhabitants on 
 the " Cotton Belt" Railroad, twelve miles north- 
 east of Paragould, contains four stores, a black 
 smith shop, cotton gin and press, church, school 
 house, a saw-mill and boarding house. From lierc 
 a tramway is run a mile out on the St. Franci.-^ 
 River, where other mills are located. The village 
 
 \ 
 
2iJ« 
 
 120 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 was first laid out in 1882 by the Railroad Company. 
 Paragould, the county seat of Greene County, 
 situated at the connection and crcssiug of the St. 
 Louis, Arkansas & Texas and the St. Louis, 
 Iron Mountain & Southern Railroads, was laid 
 out in April, 1882, by the Southwestern Improve- 
 ment Company, Willis Pruet and wife and J. A. 
 Laml)ert and wife. It was named after President 
 Paramore of the former and President Gould of 
 the latter of these routes, the name Gould being 
 substituted for the last syllable of Paramore, mak- 
 ing it Paragould. The town has grown rapidly, and 
 in the seven years of its existence has attained a 
 population of about 2,000. It contains the Greene 
 County Bank, nine general stores, five family 
 groceries, four drug stores, one hardware, saddlery 
 and farm implement store, six saloons, two baker- 
 ies, two millinery stores, four hotels and many 
 boarding houses, two livery stables, two butcher 
 shops, one shoe, four blacksmith and one foundry 
 shop, five stave factories, three saw-mills, one 
 cotton gin, a feed store, photograph galleries, bar- 
 ber shops, laundry and many other industries, four 
 church edifices --Methodist, Baptist, Cumberland 
 Presbyterian and Christian, a public school-house, 
 seven physicians, three dentists, a lodge each of 
 Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Honor, Knights 
 of Pythias and a Post of the G. A. R. ; also these 
 newspapers — the Paragould Evening Times, pub- 
 lished daily, by W. A. H. McDaniel, editor and pro- 
 prietor; the Record, published weekly, by Messrs. 
 Taylor & Carter, the Press recently being consoli 
 dated with this journal. In politics the entire 
 press of the county is Democratic, but the papers 
 are published in the interest of the people, and are 
 doing their best to promote and increase the pros- 
 perity of the county. Near Paragould on the west 
 side are situated the grounds and buildings of the 
 "Greene County Fair Association," which held 
 its second annual exhibition in October, 1888. 
 Paragould is incorporated as a city, and has a mayor, 
 recorder, marshal, and a board of five aldermen. 
 The present officers ai'e H. W. Glasscock, mayor: 
 T. P. Cole, recorder; John M. Winder, marshal. 
 A vast amount of capital is here invested. The 
 town is beautifully located, and its growth is rapid 
 
 and permanent. It is surroimded by a good agri- 
 cultural and stock-raising country, which insures its 
 future pi'osperity. The Bank of Paragould which 
 was organized on March 19, 1889, is deserving of 
 mention. It was incorporated with C. Wall, 
 president, E. S. Bray, cashier, and A. A. Knox as 
 secretary of the board of directors. The directors 
 are as follows: Dr. C. Wall, A. Berteg, A. P. 
 Mack, W. H. Jones, J. W. Crawford, D. D. 
 Hodges and A. A. Knox. They have a capital 
 stock of $30,000. The new bank building, which 
 is a neat two-story structure located on the corner 
 of Pruet and Emerson streets, was completed and 
 occupied on the 1st of July, 1889. 
 
 Stonewall, a post village on the Iron Mountain 
 Railroad, fourteen miles north of Paragould, con- 
 tains a store, saw-mill and shingle factory. 
 
 Tilmanville is a postoffice fifteen miles north 
 of Paragould. 
 
 Walcott is a postoffice twelve miles west of 
 Paragould. 
 
 As was common throughout Arkansas in early 
 days, the pioneer schools of Greene County were 
 "few and far between," and of the most inferior 
 nature. A few of the pioneer settlers employed 
 such teachers as could be obtained for what might 
 be considered ordinary laborers' wages, and thus 
 afforded some meager facilities for the educa- 
 tion of their childi'en. Though the State had a 
 school system, there were practically no free schools 
 prior to the inauguration of the present school sys- 
 tem, which has taken place since the Civil War. 
 Owing to the inadequate facilities for education, 
 many of the citizens of the county reached their 
 manhood without ever attending school. The 
 children of this generation have great advantages 
 over those of their parents. Seven years ago, as 
 shown by reports of the State superintendent of 
 public instruction, there were thirty-nine school 
 districts organized in Greene County, with only 
 seven* wood school-houses, to accommodate a 
 scholastic population of 2,191. The following 
 statistics, taken fi'om the superintendent's report 
 for the year ending June 30, 1888, will show the 
 improvements since made within the temtory: 
 
 *Tbere were perhaps others not reported. 
 
 ^. 
 
The white schoolchildren number 4,387; col- 
 ored, 14; total, 4,401. The minil)er taught in 
 the public schools is: White, 2,219; colorc'd, none; 
 number of school districts, 59; number of teachers 
 employed, males, 37; females, 14; total, 51; 
 average monthly wages paid teachers of the first 
 grade, males, $42.50; females, $37.50; second 
 grade, males, |40; females. $85; third grade, males, 
 $32.50; females, $30; frame and log school-houses 
 reported, 28, valued at $4,338. 75; revenue rai.sed 
 for the support of common schools, $18,957.09; 
 amount expended, $9,690.58; amount unexpended, 
 $9,260.51. These figures show a great increase 
 over those of seven years ago. The schools are 
 increasing in number and quality — the wages paid 
 being sufficient to secure teachers of good ability. 
 The figures show also that of the scholastic pop 
 ulation of the county only a little over one-half 
 were taught in the public schools, which is con 
 elusive that the people do not as yet fully sustain 
 and patronize the free school system. However, 
 the outlook for popular education is encouraging. 
 A. Knox is the present county examiner. 
 
 Religious meetings were held, and preaching 
 was had in Greene County soon after it was or- 
 ganized, and from the best information obtainable 
 societies of the Methodist and Baptist denomina- 
 tions were probably formed during the 40' s. The 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. South, has now at 
 least seventeen organizations within the county. 
 The Paragould circuit consists of the following: 
 Mount Carmel, Pleasant Grove, New Bethel, 
 Wood's Chapel, a congregation four miles west 
 of Paragould, and Greensboro and Pine Log, in 
 Craighead County, with Itev. W. W. Anderson, 
 pastor in charge. Lorado circuit consists of Pleas- 
 ant Hill, Shady Grove, Warren's and Owen's 
 Chapels, Old Bethel and Salem, with Rev. T. B. 
 Williamson, pastor in charge. Gainesville circuit 
 includes Friendship, Hurricane, Harvey's Chapel, 
 Starne's (Jhapol. Scatter Creek, Beech Grove and 
 Strong's Chapel, with Rev. N. W. Farrar. pastor 
 in charge. Another congregation in the eastern 
 part of the county, belongs to an outside circuit. 
 Rev. W. W. Watson is pastor of the charge com- 
 posed of Gainesville and Oak Grove, and Rev. 
 
 J. C. Ritter is pastor of the charge at Paragouhl. 
 
 The Bai>tist(*hurch has at least fourteen organ- 
 izations within th(> county, one of which is the 
 colored church at Paragould. Tin- others are 
 named New Providence, Friendship. Liberty. 
 Epsaby, Fairview, Unity, New Hop(>, Rock Hill, 
 Pleasant Grove, Cedar Hill, Mount Zion, Para 
 gould, and another, name not learned. New 
 Providence, Friendship, Fairview, New Hope, and 
 perhaps others, were organized long before the 
 Civil War. All of these organizations have an 
 average membership of about fifty, and the Meth- 
 odist denomination is about equal in strength. 
 Elders David Thorn, Lively, W. C. Jackson, 
 Faulkner, J. T. Edmonds, and Halcomb are the 
 ministers now officiating at these several churches, 
 all of which are designated as Missionary Baptists. 
 
 The several organizations of the Christian 
 Church within the county are known as Paragould, 
 Pine Knot, Sugar Creek, Gainesville and Liberty, 
 with a combined membership of nearly 400. Pine 
 Knot was organized in a very early day — long 
 before the Civil War. and has had a very large 
 membership. Liberty, which was organized in 
 1879, was composed mostly from the membership 
 of Pine Knot. The Christian Church in Para 
 gould was organized in 1885. 
 
 The organizations of the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church within Greene County are known as 
 Gainesville, Friendship and Paragould, the latter 
 having been organized in 1884. The one at or 
 near Gainesville was organized early in the 80' s. 
 In point of numbers this is probably the weakest 
 denomination in the county. There are no Roman 
 Catholic organizations here, but this sect is pre- 
 paring to build a church edifice in Paragould. 
 
 Nearly all of the church organizations named 
 have houses of their own in which to worship, and 
 all, except a few not supplied with pastors, have 
 regular preaching, and are doing good work. In 
 the summer season Sunday-schools are connected 
 with them, but only a few in the more populous 
 districts continue throughout the year. 
 
 The people of (ireene County are almost with- 
 out exception moral, law abiding, kind, generous 
 and hospitable, and welcome anil protect all de- 
 
122 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 serving immigrants that come among them. Here 
 the opportunities for securing a home in a com 
 paratively new country, where the climate is mild, 
 the railroad facilities good, churches and schools 
 numerous, all without the inconveniences of front- 
 ier lite, are unexcelled. 
 
 W. T. Allison was born on the 25th of Decem- 
 ber, 1850, in Gibson County, Tenn., being the 
 eldest of six children, two now living, born to 
 John W. and Elizabeth (Harrington) Allison, who 
 were born in the ' ' Old North State ' ' and emigrated 
 to Gibson County, Tenn., in 1828, where the 
 father engaged in cabinet making and farming, 
 and made his home until 1867, when he moved to 
 Weakley County, Tenn. , where he now resides. In 
 1802 he enlisted in the army and served imder 
 Gen. Forrest until nearly the close of the war. 
 He is a Democrat. His wife died in 1801. W. 
 T. Allison attended the schools of Gib.son County, 
 and in his youth also followed the plow, which 
 occupation has been his chief calling ever since. 
 In January, 1876, he removed to Stoddard County, 
 Mo., and for a number of years was engaged in 
 teaching school in Dexter and other places. While 
 there he was married on the 8th of May, 1879, to 
 Miss Minnie A. Walker, a native of Carroll County, 
 Tenn. , and a daughter of John and Sarah (Gib- 
 bons) Walker, also Tennesseeans and farmers by 
 occupation; after residing in Stoddard County, 
 Mo., for five years, the father died in 1877. The 
 mother is still a resident of that county. Remain- 
 ing in Stoddard County until the 5th of Sep- 
 tember, 1882, Mr. Allison and wife then moved 
 to Craighead County of this State, and after work- 
 ing as salesman in that county until March, 1888, 
 he came to Greene County, Ark., and i)urchased 
 two years later eighty acres of improved land, 
 to which he has since added 122 acres, making 
 202 acres in all, of which forty are under culti- 
 vation. He has taken an active part in politics, 
 and votes the Democratic ticket, being the present 
 justice of the peace and is filling his second term. 
 Socially, ho is a member of the Agricultural Wheel 
 at Halliday, and he and wife belong to the Baptist 
 
 Church. Three of the four children born to their 
 union are living: Clyde Eugenia, Dero Dean, and 
 Vernie Pearl. Adolphus Burdette died in 1881 at 
 the age of six months and three weeks. Mr. Alli- 
 son is still engaged in teaching, having followed 
 that occupation a part of four years in Greene 
 County, and is considered one of the successful 
 educators of his district. 
 
 T. J. Archer. Among the many sturdy "sons 
 of the soil ' ' of Greene County, Ark. who have 
 attained wealth and prominence in their calling by 
 the sweat of their brow, and who command an en- 
 viable social position, is Mr. Archer, the subject of 
 this biograpliy. He was born in Alabama in 1S47 
 and is the youngest in a family of nine children 
 born to the marriage of Eev. Philip Archer and 
 Artemisa Maxwell. The father, in connection with 
 his ministerial duties, was engaged in farming, 
 and followed these two occupations until his death 
 which occurred on the 10th of August, 1808, his 
 death being preceded by that of his wife by 
 twenty-one years. The paternal grandfather left 
 Alabama and settled in Arkansas during the early 
 history of that State, being an extensive farmer for 
 many years. His death occurred very suddenly. 
 T. J. Archer was reared to farm labor, and at the 
 age of twenty-one years married Miss Lenora 
 Amorine, of Alabama, and two years later came to 
 Arkansas, settling first in Polk County, remaining 
 one year, and then went to Monroe County, where 
 he stopped five years. Since 1875 he has resided 
 in Greene County, and the first few years was 
 engaged in tilling rented land, and since 18S5 has 
 been the owner of 160 acres of land near the 
 Cache bottoms, which was at first wild land but is 
 now well improved, with seventy-five aci-es under 
 fence and cultivation. His land is among the best 
 in this section and is devoted principally to raising 
 corn and cotton. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Archer have been born the following children: 
 Philip William Thomas, who is married and resides 
 on his father's place; Benjamin O. , Adolphus, 
 Osceola, Thome and Moses Ray, living; and Jolin, 
 Ida, Eldora and Daniel, deceased. 
 
 H. L. Ayers, a wealthy farmer of Greene 
 County, Ark., was born in Bedford County, Tenn., 
 
 ^^ 
 
 V 
 
U^r. 
 
 Craibhcao Couhty, Arkansas. 
 
♦ 
 
GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 123 
 
 in 1858, jitul is the second in a family of four chil- 
 li ion born to the miirriage of Frank and Loddie 
 (^\'illiams) Ayers, tho former a native of Pennsyl- 
 vania and the latter of Tennessee. At the early 
 age of eight years H. L. Ayers loft home and 
 began depending on his own resources for obtain- 
 ing a livelihood, and up to the age of seventeen 
 years worked on farms and did teaming. In 187U 
 he was married in Gibson County, Tenn., to Miss 
 Addie Rosson, who was born, reared and educated 
 in that State, being a daughter of Joiin Rosson, 
 who was known as one of the best farmers in West 
 Tennessee, his farm of 300 acres being valued at 
 |i),000. After his marriage, Mr. Ayers worked 
 with his father-in-law until 1883, when he made a 
 trip to Arkansas and traveled over the greater ]X)r- 
 tion of that State, as well as Missouri, the Indian 
 Territory, Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana and 
 Mississippi. After one year he returned to M'est 
 Tennessee, and at the end of one year went to 
 Fulton County, Ky., where he resided two years. 
 In August, 1886, he moved his family to Greene 
 County, Ark. , where he engaged in the teaming 
 business, which he followed for two years, and then 
 acted as stave inspector for J. F. Hasty & Son for 
 one year. He next began farming on a tract of 
 IfiO acres of land in Greene County in December, 
 1S88, and on this he immediately began to make 
 improvements, and has introduced many new 
 methods of farming. He has thirty-five acres in 
 corn, fifteen in oats, thirty-five in rye and oats for 
 pastiu'e, and two in |)otatoes. On this farm is a 
 tine orchard of 540 trees, mostly peach, beside a 
 tine assortment of other fruit. He is doing well 
 in his calling and promises to become in time a 
 wealthy man. He and wife are the jjarents of one 
 daughter, Lizzie May. 
 
 Josej>h Bleier, proprietor of the Vienna Bakery, 
 at Paragould, was born in Bohemia, Austria, 
 December 17, JS4f5, and is the son of Ignatz and 
 Anna (Freitle) Bleier, also natives of Austria. 
 The parents are still living in their native country, 
 and the father follows the occupation of a farmer. 
 In their family were eight children: Joseph, 
 Frank, Robert, Ignatz. John and Otto (twins), 
 Barbara and Anna. Joseph Bleier received his 
 
 education in Austria, and remained on the farm 
 with his father until fourteen years of age, when 
 he began learning the baker's trade. In 1807, 
 when in his twc'ntieth year, he took i)a8sage from 
 Bremen to America on the steamer ' ' Ocean, ' ' 
 which was stranded one year later, and lauded at 
 New York City. He came on to Cincinnati, where 
 he worked for about eight years itj and around the 
 city. He then went to Chicago, remained there 
 about three years and then engaged in business 
 for himself at Joliet, 111. In 1880 he came to 
 Paragould and immediately engaged in his present 
 business, at which he has been very successful. 
 He is an excellent Ijaker and keej)8 a good stock of 
 everything carried in his line. He was married in 
 October, 1873, to Miss Mary Gaker, a native of 
 Hamilton County, O. , and a daughter of John and 
 Rosa (Schleer) Gaker, who were natives of Ger- 
 many and early settlers of Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. 
 Bleier have been born five children, three now liv- 
 ing: John K. , Frank and Joseph E. The two 
 deceased were Robert and Mathew. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Bleier are members of the Catholic Church. 
 
 E. M. Bobo. Among Greene County's self- 
 made, enterprising and successful citizens, none 
 deserve more favorable mention than the subject 
 of this sketch, E. M. Bobo, who was born in South 
 Carolina in 1840. His father, A. P. Bobo, came 
 from the Palmetto State to Arkansas in 1857, and 
 entered 160 acres of land, upon which he lived 
 engaged in farming and stock raising until his 
 death in 1S86. He was held in favor by his fel- 
 low farmers, and was for two years coroner of^ 
 Greene County. Of his family of seven children, 
 two sons and five daughters, four are still living, 
 one in North Carolina, two in Texas, and one in 
 Arkansas. They are Mary (Bobo) Prince, E. M. 
 Bobo, Virginia (Bobo) Swindle, and Spotana 
 (Bobo) Love. E. M. Bobo was seventeen years of 
 age when he came with his father to this State, 
 where he has since made his home. He has about 
 154 acres of laud, with eighty under cultivation, 
 forty of which he has cleared himself, and his farm 
 is well stocked with horses, cattle, hogs and fine 
 sheep. October 2. 1861, Mr. Bobo enlisted in 
 the Fifth Arkansas Infantrv, and though twice 
 
124 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 wounded, continued in service during the entire 
 war. He and wife have reared a family of nine 
 children: M. A., horn in 1862: Matilda, horn in 
 186(3; G. M., born in 1867; Olive, horn in l«6y, 
 Victoria, born in 1871; Arthur E., born in 1872; 
 J. E.. born in 1874; Alice, horn in 1875, and Ada, 
 in 1878. Mr. Boho belongs to the Agricultural 
 Wheel, and he and wife and family are active 
 members of the Methodist Church. 
 
 M. W. Boyd (deceased) was an enterprising 
 and industrious farmer of Greene County, Ark. 
 He was born in Tennessee on the l'2th of October, 
 1846, and came to Arkansas with his father when 
 a child, where the latter died shortly after. In 
 1868 M. W. Boyd was united in the bonds of 
 matrimony to Miss M. J. McMillin. who was born 
 in the "Palmetto State" and came to Arkansas 
 with her parents, W. P. and Adaline (Cooley) Mc- 
 Millin in 1853, settling on what is known as the 
 old Willcockson estate, consisting of 500 acres. 
 Here Mr. McMillin greatly improved his farm, 
 became a well-known citizen of the county, and 
 died on the 19th of May, 1862. After his marriage 
 Mr. Boyd began improving his farm on an exten- 
 sive scale by erecting good buildings, setting out 
 orchards, etc., and did considerable in the way of 
 stock raising. He was interested in all things that 
 promised to promote the welfare of his section, and 
 was a liberal contributor to churches and schools. 
 He died on the 27th of May, 1885, leaving his 
 wife and children one of the beat farms in the 
 county, on which is a roomy and substantial 
 dwelling-house, surrounded by ornamental trees 
 and shrubbery. Mrs. Boyd is ably managing the 
 farm, and besides the usual crops is engaged in 
 raising cotton. She and Mr. Boyd became the 
 parents of the following childi-en; Onie, Alice, 
 Clara and Selma. 
 
 E. S. Bray, postmaster at Paragould, and cash- 
 ier of the Bank of Paragould, is classed among 
 the prominent and successful business men of that 
 town. He was born in Chatham County, N. C, 
 and is the son of Solomon and Sarah (Brooks) 
 Bray, natives of North Carolina, where they passed 
 their entire lives. They were the parents of nine 
 children, seven now living, three in North Carolina, 
 
 two in Tennessee, and two in Arkansas. E. S. 
 Bray was but a lad when his parents died, and he 
 went to live with an elder brother in Tennessee, 
 where he remained until grown. He received his 
 education in that State and remained engaged in 
 assisting on the farm until 1878, when he came to 
 Arkansas. Previous to this, in 186U, he married 
 Miss Margaret E. Cox, a native of Tennessee, and 
 after coming to Arkansas he located three miles 
 from Paragould and followed agricultural pursuits 
 until July 14, 1885, when he was appointed post- 
 master. He is the owner of 440 acres of good 
 land with about fifty acres under cultivation, and 
 has made many improvements since purchasing 
 the farm. He has been magistrate for a number 
 of years, and was one of the enumerators of the 
 census of Greene County in 1880. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic Fraternity, and represented 
 his lodge at the Grand Lodge. He is also a 
 member of the K. of P. He and wife belong to 
 the Baptist Church. 
 
 William B. Breckenridge. Few men in the 
 county have made agricultural pursuits such a de- 
 cided success, or have kept more thoroughly apace 
 with the times, than has the above mentioned 
 gentleman, Mr. Breckenridge, who was lioru in 
 Missouri, on Castor River, March 13, 1843, and 
 who is the son of James Harvey and Susan (Huff- 
 stettler) Breckenridge, the parents of European 
 descent. In 1844 Mr. and Mrs. Breckenridge left 
 Missouri and located in Arkansas near the farm 
 where their son, William B. , is now residing. 
 Here the father tilled the soil until his death, 
 which occurred in 1888, the day he was sixty-sis 
 years old. He enlisted in the Confederate service 
 in 1864, and was with Gen. Price on his raid 
 through Missouri. He was a member of the Metho 
 dist Episcopal Church, South. He had been mar- 
 ried three times, his second marriage being to Miss 
 Maggie Light, a native of Missouri, who died one 
 year later. He then married Miss Mary Ann Batto, 
 and the result was a large family of children. One 
 child was born to the second union, l)ut it died in 
 infancy. William B. Breckenridge was but ten years 
 of age when his mother died, and he was the eldest of 
 five children: William B., A. (t., Eli Greene, James 
 
 ^ 
 
Jd- 
 
 l^ 
 
 GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 125 
 
 Franklin, and Jane (deceased). The mother of these 
 children was a worthy member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South. The eldest of the above 
 mentioned family reached manhood on the farm, 
 and at the age of nineteen years began tilling 
 the soil for himself, which occupation he has 
 carried on ever since. At the beginning of the 
 war he enlisted in the Confederate army, was at 
 the battles of Corinth, luka and Port Hudson, and 
 was soon after paroled and returned home. In 
 1S63 he married Miss Sarah E. Mielar, a native of 
 Tennessee, born in 1S43, and who came to Arkan- 
 sas with her parents, John and Ann Mielar, in 
 1 851 , when a child. Both her parents are deceased. 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Breckenridge were born twelve 
 children, four of whom are deceased. The chil- 
 dren are named as follows: James Henry, William 
 Lee. Mary Jane (wife of Ezekiel Williams), Sarah A. 
 (wife of James Branch), Minnie A., Edward Jef- 
 ferson, Eli Blanton, Arra Frances, and Charles 
 McCarsy. Those deceased were named James Hen- 
 ry, Samantha, Vira and Joseph R. The family are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South. Mr. Breckenridge is an active worker in 
 school matters, and a liberal contributor to all public 
 enterprises reflecting credit on the community in 
 which he has made his home. His father had live 
 brothers and three sisters : John I. , Thomas 
 W.. James H., Mary (Chrits), a widow, Sarah, 
 David I., Andrew J. (who moved to Wright 
 County, Mo., in 1879, and died in 1880), Anne, 
 (Taylor), a widow, and Jackson. Those not liv- 
 ing were active, enterprising farmers of Northeast 
 Arkansas, and m\ich esteemed. They left a 
 large number of cousins, among whom is W. B. 
 Breckenridge, our subject. His wife's brothers 
 and sisters are: Nicholas M. Mielar, Sarah E. , 
 Milliam H. , Neuben R., James R.. Louisa A.. 
 Lucy A., Nancy C, Arra S., and Mary E. 
 
 Daniel W. Breckenridge. who is one of the 
 sturdy sons of toil of Crowley Township, and the 
 son of David and Caroline (Yoekum) Breckenridge. 
 was born in Greene County, Ark., in 1856, and 
 grew to manhood in that county. His parents 
 were natives of North Carolina, where they re- 
 mained until about 1838, and then moved to Mis- 
 
 souri, coining from there to Arkansas, where the 
 father died in 1877 at the age of fifty-five years. 
 He was a soldier in the late war, on the Confed- 
 erate side, and served until cessation of hostilities. 
 He took an active part in church and school affairs. 
 He was married four times; first to Miss Kinder, 
 who bore him four children, all deceased, and after 
 her death he married Miss Caroline Yoekum, and 
 by her became the father of six children, three 
 now living: James D., Daniel W. and Sarah C, 
 now Mrs. Taylor. Those deceased were named 
 Malinda Ann, Nancy J. and Julia Aim. After his 
 second wife's death Mr. Breckenridge married 
 again, and five children were the result of this 
 union: One deceased, Parthenia, Amelia J., Elihu 
 and Parris. The one deceased was named George 
 W. Daniel W. Breckenridge, the fourth child by 
 the second marriage, attained his majority in his 
 native county, and commenced working for himself 
 at the age of twenty-one. He followed tilling the 
 soil on the farm given him by his father at the 
 time of his death, and there he has remained ever 
 since. He was man'ied in 1878 to Mrs. Maria 
 Spain, a native of Tennessee, born in 1848, and 
 who came to Arkansas when twenty-two years of 
 age. She is the daughter of Hugh Spain, now de- 
 ceased, but her mother is still living and is a 
 resident of the ' 'Lone Star" State. To Mr. and 
 Mrs. Breckenridge were born six children: Rufus 
 W., Victoria A., Ezra E. and Willie P. Two are 
 deceased (unnamed). Mr. Breckenridge is active 
 in school matters, having been school director for 
 ten or twelve years, and is a Democrat in politics. 
 He is the owner of a tine farm, well under cultiva- * 
 tion. 
 
 M. D. Bridges. In giving a brief sketch of 
 the life of Mr. Bridges it can with truth be said 
 that he is one of the foremost men of his county, 
 and has become one of the wealthy planters of his 
 region by honest toil and good management and 
 by the aid and advice of his admirable wife. He 
 was born in Dunklin County, Mo., in 1804, and 
 was the sixth in a family of ten children born to 
 Amherst D. and Charlotte (Russell) Bridges, who 
 were also born in Kentucky and at an early day 
 emigrated to Dunklin County, Mo., where they 
 
 -^-^ 
 

 126 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 are now residing. Here M. D. Bridges was born, 
 
 reared and educated, and as his father was a mer- 
 chant and farmer by occupation, he first worked 
 on the farm and then clerked in his store. Later 
 he engaged in the saloon business at St. Francis, 
 Mo., and after following that calling for about 
 eighteen months sold out, and on the 15th of 
 March, 1887, came to Greene County, Ark. The 
 same year he was married, in Clay County of 
 this State, to Mrs. Theodocia Nolen, widow of 
 David Nolen, and soon after moved to his present 
 farm, which consists of 280 acres of arable land, 
 with about 160 under cultivation. In addition to 
 this he has forty acres under cultivation in Clay 
 County, the most of which he devotes to the rais- 
 ing of cotton. This year (1889) he had seventy- 
 five acres in cotton, and also raises considerable 
 stock. He has never been very active in politics 
 but usually votes the Democratic ticket; he is ever 
 deeply interested in the proper education of the 
 youth of this country, and has always been a 
 patron of education, being now a member of the 
 school board. Socially he is a member of Four 
 Mile Lodge No. 412, A. F. & A. M., and also be- 
 longs to Pittsburg Lodge No. 273, I. O. O. F., at 
 Campbell, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Bridges are the par- 
 ents of one son, Andy Lee. 
 
 C. J. Brinkman, a member of the firm of John 
 F. Brinkman A Son, manufacturers of tight bar- 
 rel staves, Paragould, is a native of Batesville, 
 Ripley Co. , Ind. , and the son of John F. Brink- 
 man, who is also of Indiana nativity. The mother, 
 Catharine (Kipper) Brinkman, was born in Ba- 
 varia, Germany, and was married to Mr. Brink- 
 man April 28, 1863. The fruits of this union 
 were eleven children, seven of whom yet survive. 
 John F. Brinkman engaged in the lumber busi- 
 ness in his youth, and bought walnut lumlier for a 
 large furniture factory. In the fall of 18()8, he 
 embarked in the manufacture of staves at James- 
 town, Ind., and there remained until 187"), when 
 he removed to Indianapolis to educate his children, 
 at the same time running his factory at Jamestown. 
 He made his home in Indianapolis until 1879, and 
 in April of that year, moved to Terre Haute, Ind., 
 where he put up a stave factory and ran it until 
 
 1889, when he sold out and is now living a retired 
 life. His wife died in May. 1889. C. J. Brink- 
 man was but four years of age when he moved with 
 his parents to Jamestown. He received a good 
 education in the schools of Indianapolis and Terre 
 Haute, and graduated at the Notre Dame Univer- 
 sity in 1881. He then started in the stave busi- 
 ness with his father, and has since been a member 
 of the firm of John F. Brinkman & Son. In Feb- 
 ruary, 1888, they began the erection of their pres- 
 ent factory, and commenced working in the same 
 May 2, since which time they have continued the 
 business successfully. The foreman is W. W. 
 AMlson, who has been with this firm for eighteen 
 years. Mr. Brinkman was married in September, 
 1888, to Miss Marie C. Vesque, a native of Frank- 
 lin County, Ind., and both he and wife are mem- 
 bers of the Catholic Church. 
 
 Charles Brock, another prominent and success- 
 ful agriculturist of Cache Township, and one 
 whose name is synonymous with the farming inter- 
 ests of the county, was born in Georgia in 1825, 
 and is the son of Thomas and Jemima (Kinzie) 
 Brock, both natives of South Carolina. The father 
 grew to manhood in his native state, and was there 
 married to his first wife, who bore him four chil- 
 dren. He then removed to Alabama and there 
 married Miss Kinzie, with whom he returned to 
 Georgia in 1834. He died in that State three 
 years later. The mother then married again and 
 died in Georgia, in 1855, at the age of fifty years. 
 She was a member of the Methodist Episoojial 
 Church, South. Charles Brock, the eldest of the 
 three brothers and sisters, attained his majority in 
 the State of Georgia, receiving very little education 
 aside from home study, and at the age of fourteen 
 began working for himself. After a few years he 
 learned the blacksmith trade, and in 1851 immi- 
 grated to Morgan County, 111., where he remained 
 three years. From there he went to Polk County, 
 Mo., resided there several years and was then in 
 New Madrid County for two years. In 1 866 he came 
 to Greene County, settled in Cache Township, im- 
 proved a large tract, and moved to several places 
 where he made many improvements. He was first 
 married in Georgia to Miss Cynthia Walker, a 
 
_il- 
 
 GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 127 
 
 iiiit.ivc of Kentucky, who died in Vernon County, 
 Mo., in 185"), and the result of this union was 
 three children, two now livin<^: John R., and 
 Martlia, who is now the wife of Frank (irauil)linu', 
 and who resides in Boone County, Ark. The one 
 deceased was named James. Mr. Brock was mar- 
 ried the sec^ond time to Miss Elizabeth AValker, a 
 native of Alabama. She died in 1870. The fol- 
 lowing; children were born to this union: William, 
 at home; Margaret, now Mrs. Jones; Nancy, now 
 Mrs. Johnson; Catherine, now Mrs. Beaty; Re- 
 becca. Mrs. Belk; Triphena and Tri{)hocia (twins, 
 and the latter deceased); Charles (deceased); 
 Lizzie, at home; Lee (deceased), and Jesse (de- 
 ceased). For his third wife Mr. Brock took Mrs. 
 Luemma Israel, nee Cooper, in 1879. Three 
 children wore born to this marriage, Mary, and 
 two deceased. The family are memlsers of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Brock is 
 steward and trustee in the same at tiie present 
 time. He has held the office of school director 
 for many years, and is liberal and generous in 
 his contributions to all meritorious enterprises. 
 He is a Democrat in politics but is not an active 
 partisan. He has a tine farm of thirty acres in 
 cultivation, owning 160 acres of laud. 
 
 L. H. Case, real estate and loan agent, also 
 attorney, of Paragould, is a native of Licking 
 County, Ohio, born August 7, 1833, being the son 
 of Ra])hael and Rosetta (Hayes) Case, the father 
 a native of Ohio and the mother of New York, and 
 both families of old Puritan stock. The mother 
 was a tirst cousin of Rutherford B. Hayes. The 
 paternal grandfather, Frederick Case, was from 
 Simsbury, Conn. , and the maternal grandfather 
 was a native of the Green Mountain State. The 
 latter was a captain in the War of 1812 and was in 
 command of Vermont troops. Grandfather Case 
 was also a captain in the War of 1812, and was at 
 Hull's surrender, but escaped. They both died in 
 Ohio, whither they had emigrated at ijuite an early 
 date. Raphael Case was born in Licking County, 
 Ohio, and was a farmer by occupation. He was 
 county treasurer one term and tilled that position 
 with credit and honor. He died in 18*50, in his 
 fiftieth year. The mother died previously to this. 
 
 In their family were si.\ children, four now living: 
 Leonus H., Frederick, in Missouri; Sylvester, also 
 in Alissonri; Jason, in Ohio; Wilbur, killed at 
 the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, and 
 Fannie (deceasert). wife of Rev. W. M. Mullin. 
 L. H. Case attained his growth and received his 
 education in Licking County, Ohio, attending the 
 Ohio Wesleyan University. At the age of twenty- 
 one he began the study of law and was admitted to 
 the bar in 1858. He then commenced jiracticing at 
 Bloomfield, Ind., remained there a short time, and 
 on the breaking out of the late war he went home 
 and enlisted in Company D, First Ohio Cavalry, 
 and served three years. He was at the battles of 
 Pittsburg Landing, Perryviile, Stone River, Chick- 
 amauga. Missionary Ridge, and particijmted in 
 many minor engagements. He was discharged at 
 Washington, D. C, and afterward went to St. 
 Joseph, Mo., raising a company of his own, after 
 which ho went to Cape Girardeau where he had 
 command as captain of six companies. He re- 
 mained there about seven months, when they were 
 mustered out and he went to Maysville, Mo., where 
 Cajit. Case practiced his profession until 1885. 
 Locating at Norfolk, Neb., where he had a good 
 farm, he remained there for about two years, and 
 then settled in Little Rock. Ark., forming a jiart- 
 nership with an old planter, William Field, in the 
 real estate and loan business. This they carried 
 on imtil October, 1888, when Mr. Case came to 
 Paragould, bought property and located here. He 
 has since been engaged in the practice of his pro- 
 fession, and has also lieen occupied in the real es- 
 tate and loan business. He is agent for about 
 200,000 acres of wihl land and some good pine 
 land. He also owns considerable land and prop- 
 erty in Greene County. He is ]>roj)ared to loan 
 money in almost any amount from $250 u|>ward. 
 Mr. Case was married, first, in 1857, to Miss Mary 
 \\'arner, by whom he had one child, Willard. He 
 was married the second time, in 180l'>. to Miss 
 Amanda Terhune, of Missouri, and two children 
 were the result: Cora and Harry. Mr. Case's third 
 marriage was to Miss Mattie McDowell, of Mis- 
 souri, in 187<i. He is a member of the I'.piscopal 
 Church. 
 
:\>^ 
 
 Dr. R. C. Cavitt. Oue of the most familiar 
 and welcomed faces in the home of the sick ami 
 afflicted of Greene County, is that of Dr. Cavitt, 
 who administers to the physical wants of his fellow- 
 man, in a highly satisfactory and successful man- 
 ner, as his many patients, now living, can testify. 
 The Doctor was born in Henry County. Tenn. , 
 but was reared in Obion County, of the same 
 State, where he lived with his father on a farm. 
 At a very early age he commenced learning the 
 blacksmith trade which he completed, and, al- 
 though he has not worked at his trade for over 
 nineteen years, still thinks that his hand has 
 not lost its cunning, and that he can do as good a 
 piece of work in that line as he ever could. At 
 the age of twenty-seven he commenced the study 
 of medicine with his brother, B. H. Cavitt, then 
 of Obion County, Tenn., and graduated at the ex- 
 piration of two and a half years' study at the 
 Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. He then 
 moved to Greene (bounty, Ark., locating near Til- 
 man ville, two' miles west of Marmaduke (then not 
 in existence), and here the Doctor, after twelve 
 years of -iabor, has built up an enviable practice. 
 After coming to this State he was married to Miss 
 N. E. Jones, a native of Clay County, Ark., and 
 the daughter of John Jones, who came from Ten- 
 nessee about 1830. To this marital relation 
 were born two children: Vera Ethel and Her 
 Myrtle. Dr. Cavitt has about 120 acres of land 
 in cultivation where he lives, and which he has 
 had improved to such an extent that it is one of 
 the finest farms in the county. The Doctor says 
 he' intends it to be the best in the county within 
 a year or two at the most. He has always, since 
 living here, been dealing in cotton, and by care, 
 and by closely watching the market, has man- 
 aged to benefit himself very much in that line. 
 He is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge at Til- 
 manville, is also a member of the Masonic fra- 
 ternity, and in each has tilled many of the chairs, 
 holding one position at the present time. He and 
 Mrs. Cavitt are members of the Methodist Epis 
 copal Church, South, near Tilmanville. 
 
 A. T. Chaffin is one of the energetic and pro- 
 gressive farmers and stockmen of Cache Township, 
 
 Greene County, Ark., and was born in Georgia in 
 1832. being the eldest of a family of ten children 
 belonging to Elias and Sarah (Yearwood) Chaffin, 
 who were born in North Carolina and Georgia, re- 
 spectively; the former, besides his association with 
 farming, is a Missionary Baptist minister, and is 
 actively engaged in preaching the gospel at the 
 present time, although eighty-three years of age. 
 His wife died in 1872 at the age of sixty- four 
 years. Both grandfathers were soldiers in the War 
 of 1812. A. T. Chaffin was reared on a farm in 
 Georgia, and in his youth received very limited 
 educational advantages, but managed to attend the 
 common schools to some extent. When but nine- 
 teen years of age he bought a farm and began till- 
 ing the soil, the same year marrying Miss Nancy 
 E. Gosa, who was born in Alabama. They lived 
 on this farm for ten years, then sold out and came 
 to Arkansas, and soon located in Greene County, 
 where he bought forty acres of slightly improved 
 land, and in time cleared thirty acres and erected 
 buildings. He continued to purchase other tracts 
 of land from time to time, on which he also made 
 improvements, and at one time owned 800 acres 
 of land. He sold off a portion of this, however, 
 and on the remainder has erected six dwellings, 
 with out-buildings, and on all these places has set 
 out good orchards of well assorted fruits. His home 
 farm is a fine tract at the foot of Crowley's Ridge, 
 of which sixty acres are under cultivation. In 
 1861 Mr. Chaffin enlisted in the Confederate army, 
 and was mustered into the service at Little Rock, 
 being assigned to Bragg' s division; and was in the 
 battles of Oak Hill, Corinth, Murfreesboro, Chat- 
 tanooga, Chickamauga, Cross Roads, Shiloh, where 
 he was wounded, and was mustered out of service 
 at Columbus, Miss. He then returned home and 
 resumed farming, which occupation has since re- 
 ceived his attention. He is a Democrat politically, 
 and takes considerable interest in the political 
 affairs of the county. In 187S Mrs. Chaffin died, 
 leaving these children: Calvin, who is married 
 and resides in Mississippi; Benjamin (deceased); 
 Catherine and Roxana, residents of Mississippi; 
 and John Walter, who lives at home. In 1881 
 Mr. Chaffin wedded Mrs. Susan (Croft) Shoe- 
 
maker, who was bora in Kentucky, being the 
 daughter of Logan Croft, an early immigrant to 
 Arkansas. By her first husband Mrs. Chafiin was 
 the mother of three sons; Peter, Thomas and 
 John. Mr. ChafSn is active in j)romoting the 
 welfare of schools and churches, as well as the 
 county in which he resides. 
 
 ^^■illiam H. Cothren. No matter in what busi- 
 ness a man may engage, if he is industrious and 
 fair in his dealings with his fellow men, he is sure 
 sooner or later to win their confidence, respect and 
 liking, and to become in time well -to do in worldly 
 goods. Mr. Cothren possesses these qualities, and 
 as a conse(juence stands remarkalily high in the 
 estimation of all who know him. He was born in 
 South Carolina in the month of February, 1842, 
 and at an early day began to tight his own way in 
 the world. When the Rebellion broke out he left 
 his labors to enlist in the Southern army, joining, 
 June 10, 18()1, the Fifth Arkansas Regiment, and 
 was sent east of the Mississippi, taking part in the 
 battles of Farmington, Shiloh, Perryville, Mur- 
 freesboro (where his shoulder was broken by a 
 minie ball), Chickamauga, and other engagements 
 of that campaign. He was also at Atlanta, Jones- 
 boro, Franklin, Nashville, Tupelo, and Smithville, 
 N. C , after which engagement the army surren- 
 dered and Mr. Cothren soon I'eturned home. He 
 was married a short time afterward to Miss Mary 
 Gregory, a native of South Carolina, a daughter of 
 William Gregory, who came from South Carolina 
 in IHOH and engaged in farming. In 18()V* Mr. 
 Cotliren bought a farm of eighty acres, slightly 
 im])roved, and on this land he began an extensive 
 scale of improvement, continuing to add to his 
 original purchase until he became the owner of 
 240 acres, with about ninety acres cleared. He 
 has excellent buildings and orchards, and has taken 
 great pride in b(>autifying his home besides putting 
 his land in good tillable condition. He is engaged 
 in general farming and gives his attention to rais- 
 ing cotton, corn, wheat, oats, grasses, etc He is 
 a Democrat in politics, a patron of education, and 
 has served as school director for eight years. He 
 and family attend the Methodist Church, of which 
 himself and wife are members. They are the , 
 
 parents of the following children: Nancy E. , wife 
 
 of Harve Spain; Reuben M., Richard V., and 
 
 James W. Mr. Cothren is the eldest of seven 
 
 I children born to the man-iage of Jackson Cothren 
 
 and Sarah Gnimling, who were born in South 
 
 , Carolina, and were engaged in farming in that 
 
 j State until the father's death in 18r>7. after which 
 
 the mother came to Arkansas and resided with her 
 
 father, Reuben Gramling, who, with his sons, was 
 
 among the earliest settlers of the west side of 
 
 Crowley's Ridge. 
 
 Alfred T. Craig, farmer and stock raiser, was 
 born in Tennessee, in 1847, being the second of 
 five children liorn to Andrew and Jane (Lambeth) 
 Craig, the former a native of Tennessee, and the 
 latter of North Carolina. The maternal grand- 
 father was born in the "Old North State," and 
 came to Tennessee at a very early day, settling in 
 the western part of the State, where he was en- 
 gaged e.vtensively ni farming, and died in 1888, at 
 the age of eighty-three years. His father was a 
 soldier in the Revolution, and served throughout the 
 entire war. The paternal grandparents were Vir- 
 ginians. Andrew Craig was also an extensive 
 farmer, and died in 1863. His widow still sui'vives 
 him and lives on the old homestead in Tennes.see. 
 Alfred T. Craig worked on the home farm in his 
 youth and received but little schooling. At the age 
 of seventeen he left home and went to North and 
 Middle Tennessee, where he resided for over a 
 year, then went to Texas and was engaged in the 
 distilling Imsiness for one year, after which he re 
 turned to Tennessee, and soon after married Miss 
 Martha Brown, a native of Tennessee, and a 
 daughter of Hiram Brown, of the same State, a 
 well known farmer in his section. In 18(58 Mr. 
 Craig purchased a farm on which he lived for three 
 years, and on the ^M of December. ISTl, came to 
 Arkansas and settled in Greene County, where he 
 bought 120 acres of wild land. On this he imme- 
 diately began making improveu)ents. and up to the 
 present time lias opened up some seventy -five acres, 
 aliont all of which is under fence and in a high 
 state of cultivation. He has two acres in orchard. 
 His stock is of a good grade, his hogs being Jersey 
 Reds and Berkshires, and his cattle |iart Jersey. 
 
 ^^f. 
 
, 4^ — ^ 
 
 ,(^ 
 
 130 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Mr. Craig is a Democrat, and has held the office 
 of school director for eight years. To him and 
 wife were born fourteen children, twelve of whom 
 are living: Andrew, who died in infancy; Fannie 
 Ella, wife of John Jones; William Charles, James 
 Alfred, Mary Elizabeth, Lucy, John, who died at 
 the age of nine months; Rosa Lee. Eli, Van, 
 Winston, Francis Clyne and Frances (twins), and 
 James Adaline. In 1886 Mr. Craig bought eighty 
 acres of land on Eight Mile Creek, which is a choice 
 piece of bottom laud, and is improved with two 
 good houses. Forty acres are under cultivation. 
 His son William resides on and tills this farm. 
 
 J. W. Craven, a successful planter residing 
 near Paragoukl, was born in Randolph County, of 
 the "Old North State," February 22, 1834, being 
 the fourth of eleven children born to Andrew R. 
 and Elizabeth W. (Garner) Craven, who were also 
 born in that State. In 1840 the father emigrated 
 to Georgia, and two years later to Mississippi, 
 where he ojDened up a large plantation on which he 
 resided thirteen years, moving then to Tennessee. 
 In January, 1855, he came to Greene County, 
 Ark., and settled near where his son now resides, 
 on 640 acres of land, 1 00 acres of which he cleared 
 and improved, and here lived until his death, 
 March 30, 1807, at the age of sixty-tive years. 
 His wife died in Mississippi in the fall of 1845. 
 J. W. Craven received a common education in the 
 schools of Mississippi, and besides becoming famil- 
 iar with the details of farm work, learned the 
 blacksmith's trade, which occupation he followed 
 for some years. He assisted in clearing the home 
 farm, and was married in Hardeman County, Tenn. , 
 in 1853, to Miss L. M. Daniel, a native of that 
 State, and a daughter of Ephraim and Penelope 
 (Mundou) Daniel, who were born in North Caro- 
 lina, and emigrated to Tennessee in 1840, and in 
 1855 to Greene County, Ark. Here the father 
 died on his farm, in 1876, his wife's death having 
 occurred four years earlier. After his marriage, 
 Mr. Craven settled down to farming in Tennessee, 
 but in 1855 bought an eighty-acre timber tract in 
 Greene Couiitj', Ark. . on which he enacted a cabin, 
 and commenced clearing and improving. He now 
 has 120 acres, with eighty-five under cultivation, 
 
 which he devotes principally to raising corn. In 
 1863 ho enlisted in the Home (inards under Capt. 
 Kirkeudall, and in September of the same year, 
 joined the infantry under Capt. Anderson, holding 
 the rank of second lieutenant. In December, 1863, 
 he was honorably discharged, but in 1864 joined 
 the cavalry, and was in the fight at Little Rock, 
 and several other engagements. Since the war he 
 has been engaged in farming. He votes with the 
 Democratic party, biit is not active in politics. He 
 has held the office of justice of tlie peace for about 
 seven years, and being an active supporter of the 
 cause of education, is now a member of the school 
 board. He also assisted in re-organizing the coun- 
 ty. Socially he is a member of the Agricultural 
 Wheel, and also a memljer of Paragould Lodge 
 No. 368. F. & A. M. He and wife are members of 
 the Baptist Church, and are active workers for the 
 cause of Christianity. Seven of their nine chil- 
 \ dren are living: Andrew Nelson (died in 1863, 
 at the age of ten years). Mary Jane (died in 
 1858, aged two years and six months), Julia Ann 
 (Mrs. Morgan), Martha T. (Mrs. Gwyn), John 
 , W., Lillie C, Eliza C. Sarah Elizabeth and Will- 
 { iam L., all members of the Baptist Church. Mr. 
 Craven can remember wlien there was only one 
 public road in the county, and when Capo (jirar- 
 deau was their nearest market. 
 
 J. W. Crawford. Prominent among the many 
 esteemed and respected citizens of Paragould 
 stands the name of the above mentioned gentleman, 
 who was l)orn in Orange County, N. C, June 4, 
 1854, and who is the son of William and Elizabeth 
 (Howard) Crawford, both natives of North Caro- 
 lina. They are still residents of that State, and 
 the father is a farmer by occupation. Their fam- 
 ily consists of ten living children, five sons and 
 five daughters. J. W. Crawford was reared on 
 the farm, in Orange County, N. C. , receiving his 
 education in the common schools, and in 1868 
 went to Tennessee, locating in Fayette County. 
 He was but a boy at this time, and engaged as 
 clerk in a store, which business he followed most 
 of his time while in Tennessee. In 1877 he came 
 to Arkansas, locating at Gainesville, Greene Coun- 
 ty, and sold liquors for two years. He then em- 
 
GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 131 
 
 hcarked iu mercantile pui-suits, which he carried on 
 until his removal to Paragould, in 1885, and was 
 one of the first business men of the town. Previ- 
 ous to this, in 1880, he married Miss Sadie Ghiss- 
 eock, daughter of Capt. H. W. Glasscock, and the 
 result of this union is two children: Guy E. and 
 Henry V. Mr. Crawford continued his mercantile 
 l)usiness at Paragoiild until 18SS, when he sold 
 out, and has since been practically retired, al- 
 though he turns his attention somewhat to real 
 estate speculations. He owns a half-interest in 
 the Gager Hotel, which is a fine brick building, 
 and a credit to Paragould; and he is also the 
 owner of a good farm adjoining the cor]ioration of 
 Paragould. No man has been more active in im 
 [)roving this place than has Mr. Crawford. He is 
 a m(>mber of the Masonic fraternity. 
 
 Hon. Benjamin H. Crowley is a wealthy farmer 
 and an eminent lawyer of Greene County, Ark., 
 and is State Senator from the First Senatorial 
 District of Arkansas. His birth occurred in 1836, 
 and he is the only child born to the marriage of 
 Samuel Crowley and Sallie Hutchins, who were 
 born respectively in Kentucky and Tennessee. The 
 })aternal grandfather was a Georgian, who re- 
 moved to Kentucky at an early day, where he met 
 and married Miss Annie Wylie, a supposed na- 
 tive of that State, and there made his home, being 
 engaged in farming and stock-raising and dealing 
 on a very extensive scale until IS'21, when became 
 with his family, which consisted of his wife and 
 eight children, five boys and three girls, to what is 
 now Greene County (then Lawrence). At that 
 time the country was very sparsely settled, he be- 
 ing the only settler within a radius of many miles. 
 He located on a tract of land consisting of 240 
 acres, and gave his name to a ridge of land run- 
 ning for more than 200 miles through Arkansas 
 and 100 miles in Missouri. Here he erected a 
 dwelling house, opened about fifty acres of land 
 for cultivation, set out orchards, and became one 
 of th(^ thriftiest farmers and best-known men in 
 Northeastern Arkansas. All his children settled 
 near him, where their descendants are still resid- 
 ing. He died about 1842 at the age of eighty- 
 four years, and his wife's death occiuTed in 1850, 
 
 she never having married again after his death. 
 Samuel Crowley, the father of our subject, was 
 married in 1832 to Miss Sallie Hutchins, whoso par- 
 ents came from Tennessee to Arkansas and settled 
 where Paragould is now situated, where the father 
 died in 1!S37, having been an extensive farmer and 
 stockman. She subsequently married a man by 
 the name of Robert H. Halley. In his youth Ben- 
 jamin H. Crowley attended the common schools 
 and at the age of nineteen years he entered the 
 Wallace Institute, which he attended one year. 
 After spending several years in Greene County he 
 removed to Scott County, where he had previously 
 lived with his mother. On the 10th of May, 18oS, 
 he was married to Miss Elizabeth J. Crowley, a 
 cousin, and a daughter of W. Crowley, and when 
 the war broke out he left home and friends and 
 the peaceful pursuit of farming to enlist in the 
 Confederate service. He was in nearly all the bat- 
 tles of importance that were fought in the South- 
 west, and was soon promoted to the rank of lieu 
 tenant, and later was made captain of Company 
 H, Nineteenth Infantry, and at the close of 
 the war was commanding a company of cavali^y. 
 He was captured in Scott County after the fall of 
 Little Rock, and was in confinement at various 
 places for fifteen months. During this time, while 
 at Johnson's Island, Lake Erie, he and a number 
 of other officers formed a class and began the study 
 of Black.stone, and after his return home he contin- 
 ued his legal studies until 1871, when ,he was ad- 
 mitted to the bar and, in 1874, was admitted to 
 practice in the Federal courts, and in 1888 in the 
 Supreme Courts of Arkansas. Immediately after 
 the war he traveled for some time in Texas, and 
 then returned to Arkansas and settled down to 
 farming in Cache Township. Greene County. In 
 1HC)X, when Clayton's militia were over running the 
 State, and when they had stationed themselves at 
 Jonesboro and arrested a number of the l)est citi- 
 zens of the town, Capt. Crowley raised 100 jiicked 
 men in his county and went to their rescue. There 
 was a fight at Willis' Mills and his company lost 
 one man and had several wounded, while the mili 
 tia lost several men and were driven back to Jone^ 
 boro. Afterward Capt. Crowley succeeded in ef- 
 
L£: 
 
 132 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 fecting a compromise whereby all prisoners taken 
 by the militia were released, and peace and order 
 were once more restored in that section of the 
 State. To this day Capt. Crowley's efforts in pre- 
 venting strife and restoring order are remembered 
 with pleasure and gratitude by those whose lives 
 and property were endangered. In 1869 he bought 
 the old homestead settled by his grandfather, 
 which had been oiit of possession of the family 
 for several yeai's, and with this his lands amount 
 to about 4,000 acres in Greene County. 500 of 
 which are in a highly cultivated condition. He is 
 the most extensive farmer in the county and is also 
 largely interested in stock-raising and dealing. He 
 has cleared over '200 acres of land, has erected 
 many buildings, and in 1880 built his present com- 
 modious and substantial residence, it being situated 
 on a natural building site. In 1880 his wife died, 
 leaving a family of six children: Victoria, wife of 
 Dr. J. D. Sibert, of this county; Cynthia H. , 
 Nannie P., wife of E. R. Page, residing in Crow- 
 ley Township; Lueian G., Bell and Ben. H. On 
 the 26th of June, 1881, he married his present 
 wife, whose maiden name was Miss R. L. Fielder, 
 a native of Tennessee. They have two children, 
 Thomas Garland, who is deceased, and Sallie Al- 
 ice. Mr. Crowley is an eminent lawyer and has 
 won an enviable reputation among his legal breth- 
 ren in Arkansas. He has always been an active 
 ])olitician, and in 1872 was elected representa- 
 tive to the State legislature. The poll-books 
 were at that time destroyed, but the Captain se- 
 cured his seat and secured a new election for the 
 county officers, who were all elected on the Demo- 
 cratic ticket. He was in the stormy session of 
 1884, and during this time declined a commission 
 as colonel from Gov. Baxter. In 1876 he was 
 elected to the State Senate from the First District 
 of Arkansas and in 1888 was re-elected by a very 
 large majority. He is one of the most useful 
 members of that body, and is a fluent and forci- 
 l)le speaker, sound in his views. In the space al- 
 lotted in this volume it would be impossible to give 
 a detailed account of his public and private career, 
 or to speak at length of his many sterling social and 
 business qualities; suffice it to say that in every 
 
 walk in life his career has been above reproach. 
 He was the author of the bill for the organization 
 of Clay County, and was also the author of sev- 
 eral other important measures. 
 
 Henry Cupp, one of Greene County's leading 
 farmers, is a native of Georgia, where he was 
 born January 10, 1839. In the same year his 
 father emigrated from that State to Craighead 
 Coimty, Ark., where he remained but one year, 
 when he again moved, this time selecting Greene 
 County. There he was very successful at farming 
 until his death, February 17, 1871. His wife 
 hardly survived him a year, but died January 18, 
 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Cupp, reared a family of 
 nine children, five of whom are yet living. Henry 
 Cupp was but a child when his parents came to 
 this State, and he was reared to farm life. He had 
 very limited school opportunities, but has all his 
 life been an industrious farmer; and through his 
 practical knowledge of farming, has been suc- 
 cessful. He owns a large well-stocked farm, much 
 of it under cultivation. He has been married 
 four times, and is the father of seven children, 
 two of whom, Sarah Ann (born October 18, 1S67) 
 and Emeline (born February 2, 1871) are the 
 only survivors. His first wife was Margaret 
 Dennis, and after her death, he chose Lucy 
 Stevens, who was born December 2, 1841. His 
 third marriage was with Nancy Smith, who died 
 in 1884. Mrs. Cupp, whose maiden name was 
 Emeline Lane, was born November 21, 1862, and 
 is a true wife and benevolent woman. Mr. Cupp 
 is one of the prominent farmers and stock raisers 
 of the county, has decided political views, and is 
 interested in progress and development. 
 
 F. M. Daulton, editor and proprietor of the 
 Greene County Events, is a resident of Gaines- 
 ville, Ark., but was boiu in Ralls County, Mo., in 
 1832, and after acquiring a common school edu- 
 catioQ and attaining a suitable age he commenced 
 working on the Quincy Herald, at Quincy, 111. 
 After serving a five-years' apprenticeship, he re- 
 turned to Shelby ville. Mo., and established the 
 Spectator in 1853, which he conducted until the 
 breaking out of the war, when he gave up this 
 work to enlist as major in the Twenty-first Mis- 
 
Koiiri. He served about two years, and was shot 
 through the neck at the battle of luka, in Mis- 
 sissippi. After receiving his discharge he went to 
 Ohio, where he spent two or three years, and next 
 located in Indiana, being engaged in pul)li8hini>- 
 papers in both these States. After coming to 
 Greene County, Ark., in 1878, he established the 
 Press, and in 1882 his present pajjer, which has a 
 circulation of over 500; this is a i)ap(>r pure in 
 tone and fearless in its attacks upon the popular 
 shortcomings of the day. He was first married to 
 Miss M. M. Connor, who died, having Iwrne the 
 following children: Emma (Hindman), living, and 
 Jennie and Frank, deceased, the latter being 
 killed in 1807, while braking on the Iron Moun- 
 tain Kailroad. Mr. Daulton took for his second 
 wife Miss Lizzie Lanker, by whom he has five 
 children: William, Charles, Daniel, Delia and 
 Benjamin. 
 
 K. T. Daniel, a merchant and farmer of Clark 
 Township, Greene County, was born in 1837 in 
 Tennessee, and is the fifth of a family of nine 
 children born to Ephraim and Pennie (Mundson) 
 Daniel, who were Teunesseeans. The father was 
 a sturdy son of the soil, and when our subject was 
 a child removed to Mississippi, where he was 
 engaged in farming until 1855. At that date he 
 came to Greene County, Ark. , and settled on the 
 farm on which R. T. Daniel is now residing, which 
 consisted of 200 acres. He improved this farm 
 very much and soon had quite an extensive tract 
 under cultivation and furnished with good build- 
 ings. R. T. Daniel remained with his parents 
 until twenty-five years of age, then marrying Miss 
 Elizabeth Pilmore, who was born in Mississippi 
 and came with her parents to Arkansas at an early 
 day. Soon after he erected a cottage on his father's 
 farm, and began tilling the soil for himself on 
 forty acres of land purchased from his father. 
 Later he bought eighty acre.s more, and at his 
 father's death, in 1870. inherited the remainder. 
 When the war broke out he enlisted in Cai)t. 
 Anderson's company, and was with Gen. Shelby 
 on bis raid through Missouri, and was in the battle 
 of Cape Girardeau, where he was wounded. He 
 was also at Helena, Devall's Bluff. Little Rock. 
 
 Camden and Saline River. While with Price on 
 his raid through Missouri he was in the engage- 
 ments at Iron Mountain, Independence, Blue Lick, 
 Boonville and Kansas City. He then retreated to 
 Texas and surrendered at Pine Bluff. After his 
 return home he resumed farming successfully, con- 
 tinuing until 1887, when he received a stroke of 
 paralysis, and has not been alile to do hard labor 
 since. He is now conducting a general mercantile 
 store on his farm, which is netting him a fair in 
 come. Sixty acres of his place are under cultivn 
 tion, and he devotes it to raising corn, cotton, etc. 
 He and wife are the parents of the following chil- 
 dren: James, who is married to Miss Nancy 
 Fielder; Eliza Jane, wife of Jeff Adams; Henry. 
 Thomas, Pollie, and Sarah Elizabeth. The family 
 worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 Mr. Daniel has served as school director and has 
 always taken a deep interest in educational matters, 
 as well as all other worthy enterprises. 
 
 Dr. John M. Davis, druggist, of Paragould, and 
 son of Dr. James S. and Nancy E. (Farmer) Davis. 
 was born in Limestone County. Ala. , December 31 . 
 1840. His parents were both natives of Alabama, 
 and removed to Marshall County, Miss., in 1844, 
 going in 1850 to Salem, that State, and thence to 
 luka, where the father died. Dr. James S. Davis 
 was a graduate of Jefferson Medical College of Phil- 
 adelphia, and was also a graduate of the Louisville 
 Medical College. He was a very prominent physi- 
 cian and noted surgeon, and people came from a 
 great distance for his treatment. He practiced from 
 1844 to 1N7U, a period of about thirty-five years. 
 He was one of the members of the secession con- 
 vention of Mississippi, and signed the declaration 
 of independence for that purpose. He was a sur-, 
 geon in the late war and in command of a company 
 a portion of the time. His wife is still living, and 
 is a resident of luka. Miss. They were the par- 
 ents of ten children, five now living, of whom Dr. 
 John M. Davis is the eldest. He was principally 
 reared and educated in Mississip]ii, and at the age 
 of sixteen began the study of medicine with the in- 
 tention of later following tiiat profession, but about 
 this time the war broke out which jjrevented him 
 from further pursuing his studies. He shoul- 
 
i;{4 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 dercd his musket, marched to the front and eu 
 listed in the Tenth Ahibama Cavalry Regiment, 
 serving over three years. He was ensign of his 
 regiment, with the rank of first lieutenant, and was 
 in all tlie principal engagements — Shiloh. Atlanta, 
 Days Gap, etc. His whole service was in the cav- 
 alry. At Pulaski, during Hood's advance on 
 Franklin, Mr. Davis received a severe gun-shot 
 wound, the ball passing through his body at the side 
 of the abdomen. He had the honor of carrying 
 home the captured Federal flag and also his own 
 flag. At the close of the war he returned to Missis- 
 sippi, and engaged in merchandising, which he con- 
 ducted for four years. After this he went to the 
 Lone Star State, resuming the mercantile business 
 at Tyler and Fort Worth, where he remained until 
 1880, then returning to Mississippi. One year 
 later, he came to Paragould where he embarked in 
 the drug business, which he still continues. He was 
 one of the first business men of Paragould, and is 
 the oldest druggist in point of residence in Greene 
 County. He carries a general line of drugs, etc. 
 He was married, April 8, 1861, to Miss Altie E. 
 Robbins, a native of Alabama, and the fruits of this 
 union were nine children, seven now living: Nan- 
 nie A. , wife of P. W. Mass, editor of the Thayer 
 (Mo.) Tribune; \\illiam S. , Maggie, Russell J., 
 Hattie A. , Thomas B. and Sallie B. Dr. and Mrs. 
 Davis are members of the jNIethodist Episcopal 
 Church, and he is superintendent of the Sunday- 
 school. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the 
 I. O. O. F., and is also a member of the K. of H. , 
 being treasurer of that organization. He is city 
 treasurer, and treasurer of the Building and Loan 
 Association 
 
 L. T. Dennis, a successful farmer and justice 
 of the peace of Cache Township, Greene County, 
 Ark., is a native of the county, born in 1843, be- 
 ing the second of ten children born to Robert and 
 Ellen (Tompkins) Dennis, natives of Tennessee 
 and Kentucky, respectively, who came to Arkansas 
 with their parents during the early history of this 
 State. On his arrival in Arkansas, in 1837, Robert 
 Dennis entered and piu'chased land in what is 
 known as St. Francis Township, and on this he 
 lived and made improvements until about 1848, 
 
 when lie sold out and entered a tract of forty acres 
 on the west side of Crowley's Ridge, on which he 
 lived ten years. This he sold and bought eighty 
 acres in the same locality, clearing nearly the en- 
 tire tract, and making many other improvements, 
 and here resided until his death on the 20th of 
 December, 1867, followed by his widow, February 
 14, 1881. The maternal grandfather, Lawrence 
 Tompkins, came from Kentucky to Arkansas about 
 1833, and settled on the east side of Crowley's 
 Ridge, and was one of some six families that were 
 among the first settlers. Here he resided until his 
 death, being an active participant in the develop- 
 ment of the county. L. T. Dennis, whose name heads 
 this sketch, was reared to farm labor, and in his 
 youth received quite meager educational advanta- 
 ges, but by applying him.self to his books at home, 
 secured a fair education. He remained with his 
 father until twenty-two years of age, then married 
 Miss Nancy Ann Newsom, a daughter of Sterling 
 Newsom, who was a Tennesseean, and came to 
 Arkansas at an early day. After his marriage Mr. 
 Dennis bought a slightly improved farm of seventy- 
 five acres, and on this tract he located and began 
 making improvements in the way of clearing and 
 building. After about ten years his house caught 
 fire and was consumed, but the same year he pur- 
 chased 325 acres of land, erected a new dwelling and 
 began a fresh start in life. He has opened about 
 seventy-five acres, set out orchards, and otherwise 
 greatly improved his property. In 1885 he erected 
 a new residence on a natural building site, and 
 his surroundings are now most pleasant. On 
 the 16th of December, 1874, Mr. Denni.s lost his 
 estimable wife and the following year he married 
 Miss Martha Jane Gramlin, a daughter of Rawlins 
 Gramlin, who came from North Carolina to Arkan- 
 sas in 1857, and settled on the west side of Crow- 
 ley's Ridge. To his first union were born the 
 following childi-en: William Pleasant and Mary 
 Jane living, and Henry Albert, Robert Sterling 
 and an infant deceased. His second union has 
 resulted in the birth of seven children: Lawrence 
 M. , who died at the age of four years; James 
 Edward, Walter Anderson, Leopold Leaton and 
 Gopel Wiley, twins; Lucy Ellen, and Thomas 
 
Jefifersou. In 18(52 Mr. Deunis enlisted in Jeffer- 
 son Thompson's artillery compiiny and was sent to 
 the division of the Missonri, and was on the Arkan- 
 sas Ram when she ran the blockade past Mem- 
 [)his; he was also on the same vessel when she ran 
 the blockade at the mouth of the Yazoo liiver. 
 He was then transferred to the infantry, and in 
 the fall was in the battle of Corinth, and was also 
 at Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Bakers Creek, and 
 in Vicksburg during the siege of forty-nine days, 
 after which he was paroled and returned home, 
 but again enlisted in July, 1804, joining a cav- 
 alry company, and during the remainder of that 
 year was in and around Little Rock. While there 
 he met with an accident and was compelled to re- 
 turn home, and took no further part in the war. 
 He is now engaged in general farm work and de- 
 votes about seventy- five acres of his farm to the 
 culture of corn, forty acres to cotton and ten acres 
 each to wheat, oats and clover. He is quite an 
 active politician, votes with the Democratic party, 
 and has served as justice of the j)eace ten years, 
 and as school director six years. He belongs to 
 the Baptist Church and his wife to the Methodist. 
 ly/' L. G. Dillman, manufacturer of plain lumber 
 and building material at Paragould, was born in 
 Stark County, Ohio, April 15, 1830, and is the son 
 of Jacob Dillman, a native of Pennsylvania, and 
 Maria (Crocker) Dillman, of Vermont nativity. 
 The parents were married in Ohio, and here the 
 father followed the cabinet-maker's trade, al- 
 though his principal occupation was farming. He 
 was one of the pioneers of Williams County, Ohio, 
 and when first settling there his nearest neighbor 
 was fifteen miles distant. He died in Ohio in 18'5'J. 
 The mother died in 1842. They were the parents 
 of six children, only two now living: Lemuel G. , 
 and Susan, wife of Dwight Stoddard. A brother, 
 Sylvester Dillman, was killed at the battle of Win- 
 cliester, Va. , and his widow has been postmistress 
 at Toledo. Iowa, for several years. L. G. Dili- 
 man remained on the farm in Ohio until twenty- 
 one years of age, and in 18r>l went to St. Jo 
 seph County, Ind., where he was engaged in the 
 lumber business for several years. In I8fi4 he en- 
 listed in Company B, One Hundred and Fifty fifth 
 
 Indiana Volunteers, and served until cessation of 
 hostilities. He remained in St. Joseph County, 
 Ind., being engaged principally in the lumber bus- 
 iness, until coming to Arkansas. In 1876 he went 
 to Nashville, Tenn., and put up a machinery plant 
 for the Indiana Lumbering Company. In I. SSI he 
 came to Arkansas, located at Bradford, on the Iron 
 Mountain Railroad and |)ut up a saw-mill, but soM 
 out in a short time and put up a foundry and ma- 
 chine shop at Newport, which he ran for about one 
 year. He then sold out and <;am(> to Greene Conn- ' 
 ty, and has since made Paragould his headcpiarters. 
 He has had several .saw-mills in this and Craighead 
 Counties. He was married in 1858 to Miss Mar 
 garet Vanderhoof, a native of Rochester, N. Y. , 
 by whom he has two children, Frank, and Arl. 
 who is at school at Cape Girardeau. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Dillman are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. He is a member of the G. A. R. 
 
 A. L. Dover, proprietor of a saw and gristmill 
 and cotton-gin, situated near the Fair Ground in 
 Clark Township, was born in Blount County, Ala., 
 in 1848, and was the third in a faiuily of nine chil 
 dren born to B. A. and Patsy (Fielding) Dover, 
 the former a native of North Carolina and the lat 
 ter of Georgia. They settled in Alabama in 1847, 
 where the father opened uj) a farm and resided 
 several years, and in 1868 moved to Poinsett Coun- 
 ty, Ark., where he settled and improved another 
 farm. Since 1874 he has lived in Greene County. 
 His wife died in 1884. A. L. Dover received his 
 early education in Alabama, and after coming to 
 Poinsett Countv began farming for himself, and 
 like his father has resided in Greene County ^ 
 since 1874. The year following his location here 
 he purchased a tract of land containing I'JS acres, 
 which was heavily covered with timber, and com- 
 menced immediately to clear it. He now has sixty 
 acres under cultivation, which are well improved 
 with good buildings and orchard. In 1876 he wa> 
 married to Miss Tennessee V. Yates, a daughter of 
 Henderson and Martha Yates, who were born in 
 Tennessei> and Virginia, respectively: the father 
 came to Greene County, Ark., in lS7r'">,his wife having 
 died in Tennessee the year before. Mr. Yates is ' 
 now residing in Paragould. Mr. Dover votes with I 
 
136 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 the Democratic party, and was elected on that ticket 
 to the office of magistrate, which position he held 
 four years. He has always taken an interest in 
 school matters and is now a member of the school 
 board. Socially he belongs to the Masonic fra- 
 ternity and the I. O. O. F., Paragould Lodge. 
 He and wife became the parents of live children, 
 three of whom are living: William Wallace, Le- 
 ander Byrd and Henderson Franklin. Arthur 
 Bruce died at the age of one year, and Major Oscar 
 died when two years of age. 
 
 J. C. Field. Among the many wealthy farm- 
 ers of Greene County, Ark. , well worthy an honor- 
 able place in these columns may be mentioned Mr. 
 Field, who was born in Cross County, Ark., in 
 1849, and is the fourth in a family of six children 
 bom to John and Catherine (Curtis) Field, who 
 were born, reared and married in Maury County, 
 Tenn. , where the father was engaged in tilling the 
 soil. In 1848 he removed with his family to Ar- 
 kansas, purchased a tract of 160 acres, which he 
 improved, and then sold out and moved to Poin- 
 sett County, in 1875, where he boiight a farm, on 
 which he died, in 1880. His wife died while they 
 were residing in Cross County. J. C. Field re- 
 ceived the education and rearing that usually fall 
 to the farmer's boy, and at the age of twenty- 
 four years began farming for himself, making his 
 iirst crop on Buffalo Island. The next year he 
 came to Greene County, and from time to time 
 purchased land until he became the owner of 560 
 acres of some of the best land in the county. He 
 cleared about 175 acres of timber land, and now 
 has at least 200 acres under cultivation. He has 
 erected good buildings on his property, set out 
 orchards, and has done general farming, raising 
 cotton and the cereals, and this year has devoted 
 about sixty acres to corn and 140 to cotton. He 
 has some good stock, and his first labors are meet- 
 ing with deserved success. In 1874 he was united 
 in marriage to Miss Mary Gulches, by whom he 
 has two children: Jefferson and James. 
 
 B. C. Gallup, proprietor of the City Bakery 
 and Confectionery Store. Paragould. In this city 
 are found quite a number of prosperous estab- 
 lishments, and of none can mention be made with 
 
 more pleasure than of the bakery of B. C. GaUup. 
 Mr. Gallup was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 
 12th of August, 1840, and is the son of Henry and 
 Elizabeth Gallup, the father a native of Massa- 
 chusetts, of French descent, and a Huent speaker 
 of three different languages. He was a carpenter 
 by trade, and after his removal to Quincy, 111. , in 
 1841. he built the first Methodist Fipiscopal Church 
 on Vermont Street. He died in that city, as did 
 also his wife, leaving B. C. Gallup, who was then 
 but an infant. A guardian was appointed for the 
 little orphan, but. after growing up, his relations 
 with his guardian were not of the most pleas- 
 ant nature, and consequently he took French leave 
 of him, and engaged as cook on a Mississipjii 
 steamer, serving in that capacity for about five 
 years. During this time he learned the turner's 
 trade, but did not put it to immediate use, for in 
 1857 he engaged in the bakery business in Quincy, 
 111. , where he remained until the breaking out of 
 the Civil War. He then left the bakery to shoul- 
 der a musket, and in 1861 enlisted in the Tenth 
 Illinois Infantry, and served three years. He was 
 at the battles of Belmont, Tiptonville, Shiloh, 
 Farmington, Corinth, luka, Nashville, Chatta- 
 nooga, and at Atlanta, being under fire for three 
 months. He was at Missionary Kidge, Resaca, 
 Dalton, etc., but never received anything but a 
 flesh wound. He was mustered out in 1865, and 
 returned to Quincy, 111. , where he continued until 
 1868. From there he went to Kansas City, re- 
 mained there a few years, and then went to Mis- 
 souri, but only tarried in that State a short time, 
 and then went to Kansas, Colorado, and thence to 
 Texas, where he was engaged on journey-work. 
 After residing in that State for six or seven years, 
 he came to Greene County, Ark., in 1884, and 
 located in Paragould, when there were but few 
 business men in town. He bought a little prop- 
 erty, and immediately embarked in business for 
 himself. He has built i\\> a good trade, and by 
 his upright and honest dealings has won the con- 
 fidence of his patrons. He has bought consider- 
 able town property, and is doing well. While in 
 Kansas City he married Miss Katie Lightman, 
 who bore him four children, all deceased. Mr. 
 
GREENE COTTNTY. 
 
 137 
 
 Gallup' s second niiirriage was at Jacksonport.Ark., 
 in December. 1881, to Miss Hannah E. Bickel, a 
 native of Ohio. One child, now deceased, was 
 born to this union. Mr. Gallup is a m(»mber of 
 the G. A. R., and also belongs to the I. O. O. F. 
 
 Richard H. Gardner, ex-county clerk and sur- 
 veyor of Greene County, Ark., is a gentleman of 
 wide experience, who has been actively interested 
 in politics from his youth up. He was born in 
 Weakley County, Tenn., in 1831, and is a son of 
 Richard W. and Eliza (Thomas) Gardner, who 
 were of English and German descent, having been 
 born in Virginia and South Carolina in 1808 and 
 1811, and died in Tennessee in 1852 and 1842, 
 respectively. The former was taken to Kentucky 
 when a boy, by his father, John A. Gardner, and 
 there resided until 1825 or 1826, when he moved 
 to Tennessee, and there spent the remainder of his 
 days. He was a soldier in the Mexican AVar 
 under Gen. Cheatham, of Tennessee, serving as 
 surgeon, having graduated from the Louisville 
 Medical College in 1845. He practiced in the 
 State of Mississippi for a short time after the war, 
 when he returned to Tennessee and resumed i)rac- 
 tice. He was always a strong advocate of tem[)er- 
 auce. Four of the eight children born to himself 
 and wife lived to be grown, and two are living at 
 the present time : Jerome A. and Richard H. The 
 latter lived in Weakley County, Tenn., until eleven 
 years of age, and was then sent to Franklin College, 
 near Nashville, where he remained until he was 
 twenty-one years of age.. He engaged in civil 
 engineering in Tennessee, Kentucky and Missis- 
 sippi, continuing from 1852 to 1855, and then 
 clerked in a steam flouring- mill for two years, 
 after which he came west, and in 1857 located at 
 Oak Bluff, Greene County, Ark., where he was oc- 
 cupied in merchandising for a short time, and was 
 then elected assessor and deputy clerk, serving 
 until 1801. When the war broke out he enlisted 
 in the Confederate army and commanded a com- 
 pany as captain in the battles of Pleasant Grove, 
 Helena and Pleasant Hill. After the war he 
 returned home and was appointed to the office of 
 county clerk for six months, being re-elected in 
 lSf)<') for two years. In 1870 he was elected county 
 
 surveyor, holding the position ten years, and in 
 1882 was again elected county clerk, which he 
 held for four years. In Januai-y, 1 887, after 
 retiring from office, he came to his present place of 
 abode. He is a strong advocate of churches 
 and schools, and has been a liberal contributor to 
 both. He was married in 1850 to Miss .Sarah 
 Towles, of Nashville, Tenn.. who died in 1880. 
 leaving a family of nine children, sis of whom are 
 now living: Arthur C, Flora G., Oliver \V., 
 Albert D., Ada B. and Nerly R. Stapleton .li.'d 
 at the age of twenty-one; Elmore at the age of 
 twelve years, and Algernon, when three yearn of 
 age. Mr. Gardner took for hia second wife. 
 Lucretia C. Harris, who died in 1881, having 
 borne one child, wliich died in infancy. In 1882 
 he married his present wife, Mrs. Ann E. Thomp 
 son, who was born in the State of Mississipjii. in 
 1844, and when fourteen years of age came to 
 Arkansas, where she grew to maturity. She and 
 Mr. Gardner are the parents of two children: 
 Bei-ah B. and Kathleen. One son was liorn to her 
 first marriage named James Thompson. Mr. 
 Gardner belongs to the Christian Church, and his 
 wife to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 She was the widow of Isaac Thompson, and the 
 daughter of James and Jane Johnston, who came 
 to Arkansas in 18r8. Here the father died in 
 1872 at the age of sixty-nine years, and the mother 
 in 1880, aged seventy-six years. The former was a 
 merchant in Mississippi until his failure in busi- 
 ness, then selling clocks until he was able to re 
 sume mercantile ])ursuits, which he did in Gaines- 
 ville. Ark. He and wife became the parents of 
 eight children. Mrs. Gardner being one of four 
 now living. 
 
 G. L. Gentry, a successful planter residing 
 near Paragould, Ark., was born in 1841 in Weak- 
 ley County, Tenn., being the eighth of twelve 
 children born to the marriage of J. K. Gentry and 
 Sarah Nance, the former a native of Tennessee and 
 the latter of Virginia. In 1858 they locatt^d near 
 Gainesville, Ark., in which the father died in 
 1884, having been a prominent resident of the 
 county. The mother is still living, and resides at 
 Paragould. G. L. Gentry was reared to manhood 
 
i:iS 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ou a farm in Tennessee, and in 1858 came to 
 Greene County, Ark. , enlisting fi'om this count}', 
 in 18(51, in Company K, Fifth Arkansas Vol- 
 unteers, under Col. Cross, and went into service at 
 Columbus, Ky. He was a member of a scouting 
 party along the Red River, and in 186"J was hon- 
 orably discharged at Bowling Green. Ky. After 
 his return home he joined Gen. Marmaduke. and 
 was with him for some time. In 1869 he was 
 married to Miss Angeline McWhirter, of Tennes- 
 see, a daughter of John and Matilda (Yarber) Mc- 
 Whirter. who were also born in that State, coming 
 to Arkansas at a very early day, in which State 
 they both died. After his marriage Mr. Gentry 
 settled near Gainesville, and in 1873 bought a 
 partly improved farm of 200 acres, but sold it 
 some time later and went to Paragould, where he 
 engaged in the saw-mill business (in 1881). Three 
 years later he embarked in grist-milling, and also 
 operated a cotton-gin, which he sold in 1887, and 
 returned to the farm. Sixty acres of his 100-acre 
 farm are under cultivation, and on it he raises cotton 
 and cereals. By his wife, who died in 1883, he be- 
 came the father of the following children: Joseph 
 W., Laurettie, Oney, Gilbert M'., Albert and Wil 
 lis. all of whom are at home. In 1884 Mr. Gentry 
 married his present wife, whose maiden name was 
 Frances Drollender, of Tennessee, a daughter of 
 \Villiam and Elizabeth (Bond) Drollender, of Ten- 
 nessee, l)oth of whom are deceased, the latter dying 
 in Paragould in 1887. Mr. Gentry has seen a vast 
 change in the country since his boyhood days, as 
 it was then in a very wild and unsettled condition. 
 He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and was 
 Worshipful Master of Gainesville Lodge for a 
 number of years, and in 1887 filled the same posi- 
 tion in Paragould Lodge No. 3RS. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Agricultural Wheel, and although a 
 Democrat, is not very active in polities. A station 
 on the Iron Mountain Railroad, midway l)etween 
 Paragould :ind Gainesville, is called Geatry in 
 honor of our subject. 
 
 H. W. Glasscock, mayor of Paragould and real 
 estate dealer, was born in Randolph County. Ai'k.. 
 February 19, 1834, and is the son of George W. 
 and Catherine (Gray) Glasscock, natives of Ten- 
 
 nessee. The parents were married in their native 
 State, and in about 1830 they emigrated to Arkan- 
 sas, locating in Randolph County, and were among 
 its very first settlers. Here the father died in 
 1834 and the mother three days later. They were 
 the [)arents of seven children, three now living: 
 William, Henry AV., and George F. When the 
 parents tirst made their home in Arkansas, the 
 country was a wilderness, and wild animals were 
 plentiful, the red man's face frequently being seen 
 at the door of the log c-al^in. H. W. Glasscock 
 was reared in Randolph County, Ark., until twelve 
 years of age, when he moved to (iaiuesville, 
 Greene County. He was educated principally at 
 Gainesville and in Mississippi. In 18o8 he was 
 elected county clerk of Greene County, and 
 served until after the war. In 1861 he enlisted in 
 the first regiment that was organized in Greene 
 County, and left a deputy to attend to his business. 
 He served in the eastern army and was discharged 
 in 1S62 on account of his health. He then came 
 home and re-enlisted in Kitchens" regiment in the 
 cavalry, and was in command of Company E, 
 serving until the surrender: he was on the raid 
 through Missouri. After returning to his home 
 he took charge of the clerk's office, and in 1868 
 engaged in mercantile business at Gainesville, 
 which he continued until 1883, when he sold out 
 and came to Paragould. Since that time he has 
 been occupied in the real estate business. He 
 owns about 12,000 acres of land, with some 600 
 under cultivation. His lands are among the best in 
 the country, as he has been investing and buying 
 since 1857. Mr. Glasscock was elected mayor of 
 Paragould in April, 1888, which position he is now 
 tilling. He was married first in 1858 to Miss 
 Amanda Conduff, by whom he had four children, 
 two now living: H. F. and Sudie. His second 
 marriage was to INIrs. Emily J. Williauison. liy 
 whom he has six children, four ntjw living: John, 
 Jennie, Etta and Albert (twins). Mr. and Mrs. 
 Glasscock and family are memliers of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Glasscock is a 
 member of the Masonic fraternity and Knights of 
 Pythias. He is one of the prominent and leading 
 citizens of his vicinity. 
 
^^ 
 
 GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 r 
 
 139 
 
 M. C. Gramling, who is one of the first and most 
 successful farmers and stock raisers of Greene 
 Connty, Ark., was born in Spartanburg (Jounty. 
 S. C, November 2i), 1839, and is the eldest in a 
 family of twelve children born to the marriage of 
 Benjamin M. "and Mary (Wilson) Gramling, also 
 natives of the 'Palmetto State,'' who were there 
 engaged in farming until 1858, when they came to 
 .-Vrkansas and settled in Greene Connty. Here 
 they entered a tract of 160 acres, and began imme- 
 diately to make improvements, opening aliout 
 seventy-tive acres of land, erecting good buildings 
 and setting out orchards. After living on this tract 
 for about sixteen years the father sold out and pur- 
 chased 100 acres in Cache Township, which he also 
 greatly improved. He is here living at the pres- 
 ent time, and is in his seventy-first year. M. C 
 Gramling. our subject, has always been familiar 
 with farm labor, and assisted his father until twen- 
 ty-one years of age, when he became an employ^ 
 of the Government in di'aining this section of the 
 State. At the lireaking out of the Rebellion he 
 enlisted in Company D, Fifth Arkansas Infantry, 
 and was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee, 
 and was with Gen. Joe Johnston, participating in 
 the battles of Perryville, Murfreesboro, Corinth, 
 whei'e he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, 
 and Chickamauga. In this engagement, while his 
 company was making a charge, and he was crying 
 to his comrades " Come on, boys," he was wounded 
 by a bullet striking him in the cheek. He was also 
 at Ringgold, Resaca, where he was wounded in the 
 thigli. and Jonesboro, Ga. , where he lost his left 
 arm l)y the explosion of a shell on the 1st of Sep- 
 tember, 1864. He remained in the field until the 
 close of the war, then returned to Arkansas, and 
 in 18(56 was married to Miss Mary Smith, a native 
 of South Carolina, and a daughter of William and 
 Elizabeth (Otts) Smith, who were also from South 
 Carolina, and emigrated to Arkansas in I8r)l>, set- 
 tling on 160 acres of land in Greene County. 
 They were very successful, and in time became the 
 owners of 1, 100 acres of laud. The father died in 
 September, 1878, but the mother is still living. 
 In 1866 Mr. Gramling located at Gainesville, where 
 ht- started a general store, and in the f:dl of the 
 
 name _\eai' lie was ehfcted assessor of (ireene Coiin 
 ty, for one term of two years. In the spring of 
 this year he was appointed treasurer of the county 
 till the election of a successor, but continued also 
 to manage his store for three years, then moving to 
 St. Francis Township, where he rented land, and 
 made one crop. In 1870 he bought 240 acres of 
 land, and since that time has continued to add 
 to his acreage until he now possesses 560 acres of 
 fertile land. He has made many improvements on 
 his property, and in 1877 erected a handsome res 
 idence, and has also built good barns. Two hun- 
 dred acres of his land are under cultivation, and two 
 acres are in orchard. He gives considerable atten- 
 tion to stock raising, and has a full-blooded Hol- 
 stein bull imported from Northern Missouri. In 
 1872 he was elected to the office of county sheriff, 
 and subsequently was elected county judge, which 
 he held two terms. He has always been active in 
 political and school matters, and is always inter 
 ested in every enterprise for the welfare of the 
 county. He aud wife are the parents of the follow- 
 ing children : William M. , who died on the 6th of 
 August, 1870, aged eleven years, six months: 
 James M., Alice, Jennie, Joseph F. , Earl V., 
 Jesse M. . Elbert S., Van W., and Mary, who died 
 in infancy. 
 
 George A. (iramling is classed among the sue 
 cessful tillers of the soil and stockmen of Cache 
 Township. Greene Conntv. Ark., of which he is a 
 native, having been born in the year 1850. He is 
 the ninth of eleven children born to Richard and 
 Cynthia (Brannon) Grainliug. whose birthplace 
 was in South Carolina. They were married in that 
 State, and in 1856 came to Greene County. Ark., 
 settling on the east side of Crowley's Ridge, where 
 they acquired a large tract of land, 20(1 acres of 
 which were under cultivation. Here he erected a 
 building, set out orchards, and made many other 
 improvements, his attention being also largely 
 given to the propagation of stock. He had a 
 blacksmith's shop on his farm and made the most 
 of the farming tools for this section. During his 
 Ions residence iu the county be became well known 
 and highly respected. He died at the age of sixty 
 three years, in I.SS2. His widow is still living. 
 
e »^ 
 
 140 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 The paternal grandfather also came to Greene 
 County, Ark., and l)ecame the owner of 200 acres 
 of wild land, which he improved and on which he 
 resided until bis death. George Gramling was 
 reared to farm labor, and at the age of twenty-two 
 years began farming for himself, buying, at the 
 time of his father's death, the interest in the home 
 property of all the heirs except two, and is now 
 the owner of the old homestead, which consists of 
 640 acres. He has opened about thirty acres, and 
 in partnership with his brother John, in 1888, 
 erected a saw and grist-mill, and a cotton-gin, doing 
 that year an excellent business, which promises to 
 increase as time goes on. He carries on a general 
 farming, and has about seventy acres in cotton, and 
 too acres in corn. In 1882 he was married to Miss 
 Lucy Pevehouse, a native of Arkansas, by whom 
 he has three children: Thomas, Bertie and John. 
 The family attend the Methodist Church. 
 
 C. W. Green. To omit the name of Mr. Green 
 from this volume would be to leave out one of the 
 most prominent and successful farmers of the 
 county, who has not only made himself thoroughly 
 identitied with the farming interests of this section 
 but by his pleasant, genial manner has won a host 
 of friends. He was born in Forsyth County, Ga. , 
 in 1857, and is the .son of William J. and M. E. 
 (Garrett) (-ireen, natives of Georgia. The father 
 was born in the year 1826, and died February 17, 
 1889, but the mother is still living, and is in her 
 sixtieth year. They were reared in their native 
 State, were married there, and here the father 
 carried on farming until 1848 or 1849, when he 
 made a trip to California by water, remaining there 
 eighteen months, and being snccessful, returned 
 home by the Isthmus. In I860 be and family 
 moved to Arkansas, and located near Gainesville, 
 on the west side of Crowley's Ridge, where they 
 resided eight years, and then settled on Jones' 
 Ridge, Greene County, where the mother is .still 
 living. He served as a soldier in the Confederate 
 army ten months, and was taken prisoner on the 
 Osage River, in Kansas, in October, 1864, during 
 Price's raid, being carried thence to Alton, 111., 
 and later to Rock Island, where he was contined 
 seven months. He was released in March, 1865, 
 
 and taken to Richmond. Va. . on exchange. Sub- 
 sequently he returned to the home place, and there 
 passed the remainder of his life. He held the 
 office of justice of the peace in Union Township 
 several years, and after he came to Jones Town- 
 ship he again held that office. He was a Democrat 
 in politics, a leading man of the coiinty. and a 
 strong advocate of schools. To his marriage were 
 born the following childi-en: Serena N.. aged 
 thirty-five years, wife of William A. J. Compton, 
 who is living in Jones Township; Isaiah N., who 
 died October 17, 1885, aged twenty- nine years, 
 leaving no children: C. AV., and Georgian, wife of 
 Franklin J. Igert. She died June 19, 1888, aged 
 twenty-nine years, leaving no children. C.W.Green 
 attained his majority in Greene County, where he 
 has resided ever since. In 1879, he, with his fa- 
 ther and brothers and sisters, made a trip to Cali- 
 fornia by railroad, and landing in Stockton, of that 
 State, remained there three months, after which, 
 the father made a trip to Oregon, to look at the 
 country, but soon returned to Stockton, and with 
 his family made his way back to old Arkansas, in 
 August of the same year. C. W. Green had but 
 poor educational advantages, but attended to some 
 extent the s'i)).scription and free schools of the 
 county, and in 1880 commenced for himself on the 
 home place. Two years later he married Gertrude 
 Gardner, who was born in 1865. and who is the 
 daughter of R. H. Gardner [see sketch]. To this 
 marriage were born two children: Barnie O. and 
 Maude B. Mrs. Green is a member of the Chris- 
 tian Church. 
 
 John W. Halley was born in Scott County, Ark. , 
 in the year 18()0, and is the youngest in a family 
 of eight children born to the marriage of Robert 
 Halley and Sarah Crowley, who died when he vv;is 
 an infant. The mother when married to Mr. Halley 
 was a widow with one child : Capt. Benjamin 
 H. Crowley, whose sketch appears in this volume. 
 John Halley spent his childhood in the western 
 part of Arkansas, but since eight years of age he 
 has made his liome. the greater portion of the 
 time, with his halt brother, Capt. Crowley. Dur- 
 ing his youth he received no educational advantages 
 and up to the age of twenty • four years his education 
 
GllEENE COUNTY. 
 
 141 
 
 was acquired by self- application, since which time 
 he has received only the advantages of the com- 
 mon schools. At the age of eighteen years he 
 rented land and began farming for himself, and 
 has continued this in connection with teaching 
 school during winter and summer since 1885. At 
 this date he purchased 280 acres of land in the 
 Cache bottoms, and in 1884 exchanged a portion 
 of this farm for forty acres near Walcott, on which 
 property there were but eight acres cleared. He 
 opened up the remainder and now has the entire 
 tract under cultivation and fence. This laud is 
 very fertile and last year (1888) averaged one bale 
 of cotton to the acre. Mr. Halley is a young man 
 whose energy, enterf>rise and good business abilities 
 will one day place him among the wealthy residents 
 of the county. He possesses excellent principles, 
 is ])ublic spirited, and takes a deep interest in 
 worthy enterprises. 
 
 JVIanoah B. Hampton. This name is synony- 
 mous in (ireene County, Ark., with successful 
 agriculture, for Mr. Hampton has been one of its 
 enterprising tillers of the soil since 1878. He was 
 born in Lincoln County, Tenn., in 1841, and is a 
 son of James M. and Melissa (Owen) Hampton, 
 who were also born in that State, the former's 
 birth occurring in 1812 and the latter's in 1823. 
 The father was reared to maturity in Lincoln 
 County, Tenn., and there continued to make his 
 home until 1871, then moving to West Tennessee, 
 where he died in 187ti, having been an active 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
 a stanch supporter of Christianity and education. 
 His wife died in Shelby County, Tenn., in 1883; 
 she was a daughter of William Owen, a prom- 
 inent farmer of the middle portion of that State, 
 where he died in 1861, being eighty years old. 
 The paternal grandfather. James M. Hampton, 
 was l)orn, reared and married in North Carolina, 
 and after becoming the father of a number of 
 children, moved to Tennessee and located OQ a 
 plantation in Lincoln County, where he became a 
 wealthy planter and slaveholder. He died in 
 1858 or 1S59 at the age of eighty years, he, as well 
 as the maternal grandfather, having been an 
 earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 The immediate subject of this sketch is one of the 
 following children: Martin F.. Pinkney P.. 
 Pleasant K. (deceased), Manoah Ji., James \\., 
 Martha J., Mary (deceased), John T., Franklin H. 
 (deceased), Narcissa A., Maggie (deceased), and 
 Nancy S. Manoah Hampton attained his majority 
 in Lincoln County, Tenn., and received his early 
 education in the old log school house. He remained 
 with his parents until the lireaking out of the Civil 
 \\ ar, when he enlisted in 1861 in the Confederate 
 army, in Company K, First Tennessee Regiment, 
 under Col. Turner, and was at first and second 
 Manassas, Cedar Mountain, under Stonewall Jack- 
 son, Sharpsburg, Fredericksl)urg, Chancellorsville, 
 \\'ildern<'ss. S])ottsylvania Court House, (iettys- 
 burg, Richmond and Petersburg, besides numerous 
 other engagements. At Hanover Junction he was 
 wounded by a spent cannon ball striking him in 
 the left side. He was taken prisoner at Shepherds- 
 town, Md., and taken to Baltimore jail, where he 
 and 800 others were condemned to be hung. 
 They were afterward taken to Point Lookout. Md. , 
 where they were kept in prison for eight months, 
 then being exchauged. He, however, remained 
 there until the final surrender, when he returned 
 home and continued his farm work until 1867. 
 Later he moved to Shelby County, Tenn., and in 
 1878 to Arkansas, as above stated. He has an 
 excellent farm here, with 100 acres of it under 
 cultivation, and is doing well financially. He was 
 married in 18(56 to Miss Mollie Stevenson, who was 
 horn iu Giles County, Tenn.. in 1848; she became 
 the mother of three children: JohuB. . who died at 
 the age of eleven months: MattieM., wife of James 
 It. ililler, deputy clerk of Greene County: and 
 Sally N., who lives at home. Mr. Hampton is 
 now rearing a little girl by the name of Anna 
 Davis. Ho is a member of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, a stanch supporter of churches and 
 schools, and iu his political views is a Democrat. 
 
 W. C. Hasty is of the firm of J. F. Hasty iSi 
 Sons, Paragould. Throughout the county and 
 especially over this portion of it, the name of 
 Mr. Hasty is well known, not only as one of its 
 solid, substantial citizens, but as a thorough 
 and reliable business man. His birth occurreil 
 
'A 
 
 ll£ 
 
 142 
 
 HISTORY or ARKANSAS. 
 
 in Portland, Me., on September 15, 1862, and 
 there he spent his boyhood days and received 
 a good, practical education. His parents, Joseph 
 F. and Annie N. (Phillips) Hasty, were both natives 
 of Portland, Me., and were of Scotch and French 
 descent, respectively. Joseph F. Hasty has been 
 a lumberman all his life, and is now residing in 
 Detroit, Mich., engaged in the stave business. 
 W. C. Hasty removed with his parents to Detroit, 
 where he served as accountant in the lumber 
 business, becoming well posted on this topic. In 
 January, 1888, he removed to Paragould, Ark., 
 and purchased the mill he is now running. He 
 enjoys large sales and employs, on an average, 
 about fifty men. He is a bright, intelligent young 
 man and is thoroughly acquainted with bis busi- 
 ness. The stave factory firm consists of the fol- 
 lowing members: J. F., E. F. and W. C. Hasty, 
 the last named having the entire management ol 
 the factory at Paragould. Mr. Hasty is a Royal 
 Arch Mason, and is a director in the Greene 
 County Bank. 
 
 Mrs. Isabella Highlill. widow of Hezekiah 
 Highfill, and daughter of Samuel and Rebecca J. 
 (Ellis) Medlock, was born in Henry County, Tenn. , 
 October 25, 1831, and as the country was very 
 sparsely settled in her youth, and schools were 
 few and far between, she received only a common 
 school education. While growing to womanhood, 
 all the clothing the family wore was home made, 
 and she became very skillful in the use of the loom 
 and all kinds of women's work. At the early age 
 of seventeen years she was married to John A. 
 Hargrove, a native of Southern Alabama, and a i 
 farmer by occupation, V)y whom she bore a family 
 of three sons and five daughters, all of whom are 
 deceased except Ann M. and Francis V. , who live 
 with their mother. On the 15th of December. 
 1870, Mr. Hargrove died, leaving his wife with a 
 farm to be improved, and four small children to 
 care for. She entered bravely upon her work, 
 succeeded in paying for her home, and bought 
 another farm, which she also improved. In 1854 
 she moved with her husband to Poinsett County. 
 Ark. , made three crops, and was raising the third, 
 when the memorable overflow of 1858 inundated 
 
 that section to such an extent that all had to seek 
 for higher land. They removed to Buffalo Island, 
 Craighead County, where they homesteaded and 
 improved 160 acres of land, but after Mr. Har- 
 grove's death his widow traded her farm for land 
 in Greene County, which she also disposed of 
 shortly after her marriage with Mr. Highfill, in 
 1876, and purchased the farm upon which she is now 
 living, which consists of eighty acres, forty of the 
 same being in a high state of cultivation, furnished 
 with good bitildings and an excellent orchard. The 
 land is a fine, sandy loam, and is devoted equally 
 to cotton and corn. Mr. Hargrove was a leading 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of 
 which Mrs. Highfill is now a member, and was a 
 man of exemplary habits and character, and for 
 many years held the office of the justice of the 
 
 j peace. He was allowed to remain at home unmo- 
 lested during the Rebellion. He was a Democrat, 
 and was in sympathy with the Union. Hezekiah 
 Highfill was an elder in the Methodist Ej)iscopal 
 Church, and was not a participant in the late war, 
 but sent out two sons, who enlisted in the Con- 
 federate army, Isaac being killed by a cannon ball 
 in the battle of Shiloh, and Hezekiah, the other 
 son, was wounded in the same engagement by a 
 minie ball, in the left shoulder, from the effects of 
 which he died in March. 1880, having suffered 
 from the same for seventeen years. Another son, 
 J. M. Highfill, has a sketch in another part of 
 this work. His three daughters are as follows: 
 Sarah A. (Woods), widow of William Woods; 
 Fanny (Lloyd), and Mary, wife of Rev. Isaac Ver- 
 
 i ner, a Methodist minister of Lake County, Fla. 
 Mrs. Highfill is a very interesting and intelligent 
 lady, and having lived in this section for thirty- 
 five years, can recount many interesting incidents in 
 the early settlement of this section. She says that 
 during the first years of her residence here the men 
 would devote the summer to raising crops, and 
 would hunt and trap during the winter months, 
 their game consisting of deer, bear, wild cats, 
 wolves and turkeys for food, and otter, beaver, 
 mink and raccoon for their furs. These were 
 taken by ox team to \\'ittsburgh or Memphis, and 
 often realized .f 100 on one load. Prices ranged as 
 
 ^ & 
 "^* 
 
 IS 
 
 ©Jv" 
 
GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 143 
 
 follows; hfar meat, 25 cents per |iouii(l; deer. 10 
 eents; turkeys. SI eacli: wild cat, 10 cents and 
 wolf 10 cents. Otter hides brought $5 each: bea- 
 ver, $7.50; mink, $3, and raccoon 50 cents, thus 
 making the hunting season much more profitable 
 than the farming season, hence there was very 
 little done toward developing the country prior to 
 the war. Everything was plentiful in the way of 
 wild game and fruits, and the range was so good 
 that stock could live the year round without being 
 fed. In those days the women made all their own 
 clothing, and raised their own cotton and sheep. 
 Mrs. Highfill is now residing about one-half mile 
 from two large mounds, containing the skeletons 
 and relics of the pre-historic Mound Builders. l)ut 
 the Indians who were here when she first settled 
 could tell her nothing about them. Mrs. Highfill' 8 
 falher and mother were born in South Carolina: the 
 former was a farmer and mechanic by trade, and 
 owned a tine farm of 320 acres in his native State, 
 on which he resided until his death in April, 1879. 
 The mother died in ISfiS. They were members of 
 the Baptist and Methodist Churches, resjjectively, 
 and in his political views he was a Democrat. 
 
 John M. Highfill. a prosperous farmer and 
 stock raiser of the county, is the tenth of eleven 
 children, and was born in Hardeman County, Tenn. . 
 in 1850, being a son of Hezekiah and Temperance 
 B. (Rook) Highfill, who were also Tennesseeans, 
 and were married in their native State. The father 
 was a farmer and miller by occupation, and was 
 also a local minister in the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. In 1858 he removed with his family to 
 Greene County, Ark., and settled on 160 acres of 
 land, about eight acres of which were cleared, and 
 on which was erected a little log cabin. He began 
 immediately to clear his land from timber, erect 
 l)etter buildings and otherwise improve his prop- 
 erty, and became in time one of the well-to do 
 citizens of the county. During this time he con- 
 tinued his ministerial labors, and was instrumental 
 in saving many souls. His death occurred in 
 issn. and his wife's in 1872. John M. Highfill 
 was reared to farm labor, but never attended the 
 public schools, the most of his education being 
 ac(iuired at home. When about twentv-one years 
 
 of age he liegan farming for himself, purchased 
 his father's old home, and was married to Miss 
 Sarah L. Norton, a native of Alabama. He was 
 engaged in general farming for :'!ome time after 
 his marriage and did considerable speculating and 
 trading, and in 1880 erected a good frame resi- 
 dence and made other valuable improvements. He 
 has cleared aljout forty acres, and has some ninety 
 under cultivation and fence, nearly all of which 
 is excellent bottom land. In 1887 he bought 
 eighty acres of tine bottom land, and now, taking 
 his property all together, it is one of the tinest 
 bodies of land in the county. He has a good 
 young orchard of about 200 trees. In 1880, in 
 partnership with J. H. Thomas, he bought an 
 interest in a general mercantile store at Bethel, 
 and continued this business until the spring of 
 1888. At the present time he is dealing <|uite ex- 
 tensively in horses, but also gives his attention to 
 the propagation of other stock. In April, 1888, 
 he went to Florida, where he purchased land suit- 
 able for orange orchards, and has twelve acres im- 
 ju-oved. and has also |)urchased a house and lot 
 in the town of Umatilla. Lake County, Fla. In 
 1881 ho had a contract to clear the right of way 
 and fixrnish the ties for five miles of the Knobel 
 Branch of the Iron Mountain Railroad. He has 
 always taken an active interest in polities, being a 
 Democrat in his party affiliations, and in 1874 
 was elected justice of the peace, and after serving 
 four years was elected sheriff of Greene County, 
 in September. 1885. serving a term of two years, 
 but was defeated for re-election by a small major 
 ity. On the 30th of October. 188(1, in his official 
 capacity as sheriff, he was com])elled to execute 
 William H. Hopper, the only man ever hanged by 
 law in Greene County. He is Past Master in 
 Paragould Lodge No. 308, of the A. F. & A. M., 
 and he and wife are the parents of the following 
 children : Henry N. . Lovy A. (who died at the age 
 of five years). Hezekiah, .Joseph B. (whcxlied when 
 five years old), Eliza L. . Benjamin Franklin and 
 Delia Frances. Mr. Highfill had two lirothers in 
 the Confederate army: Isaac E., who was killed at 
 the battle of Shiloh, on the 7th of A])ril, 1SI)2, 
 while serving under Joe Johnston: and Hezekiah. 
 
\u 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 wlio was with Hood ia all his campaigns, aud was 
 wounded at the battle of Murfreesboro ; he died 
 March 22, 1880. 
 
 D. D. Hodges, of the mercantile tirm of D. D. 
 Hodges & Co., Paragould. A review of the Imsi- 
 iiess of Paragould discloses the existence of a num 
 ber of houses which compare favorably with those 
 of any city, and enjoying a foremost position as 
 one of such is the establishment of D. D. Hodges 
 & Co. Mr. Hodges was born in East Tennessee, 
 his parents, B. Marshall and Mary (Adams) Hodges, 
 also being natives of that section. D. D. Hodges 
 was but six years of age when he moved with his 
 parents to Metropolis, 111., aud there the father 
 died in 1869 and the mother in 1879. They had 
 a family of six children, four now living, viz. : 
 William T. , Charles F., Lizzie, wife of Jo-seph 
 Wyess, and David D., who is the youngest of the 
 family living. The latter was principally reared 
 iu Illinois and received his education in the com- 
 mon schools. At the age of twelve years he en- 
 tered a store at Metropolis, 111. , as clerk, and there 
 remained until sixteen years of age, when he took 
 charge of a branch house at Woodville, Ky. , and 
 remained with this firm all together ten years, thus 
 forcibly demonstrating the fact that he was reared 
 iu the mercantile business. In 1877 he was em- 
 ployed as traveling salesman for Fisher & Farley, 
 of Paducah, Ky., with whom he remained two 
 years. He then engaged in business for himself 
 at Woodville, Ky., and in 1 881 he came to Arkan- 
 sas, where he sold on commission for Col. Beal on 
 the "Cotton Belt"' Railroad until the spring of 
 1882. Later he served as clerk for C D. Pruet 
 and in 1886 bought an interest in the store, after 
 which a partnership was formed as C. D. Pruet & 
 Co., which continued until January, 1888. Mr. 
 Pi-uet'a death occurred in August, 1887, and in 
 January, 1888, the tirm was changed to D. D. 
 Hodges & Co. The firm members are: D. D. 
 Hodges, W. F. Pruet and E. C. Deakin. A large 
 stock of goods of general merchandise is carried, 
 occupying two large store rooms in a brick build- 
 ing. Mr. Hodges was married in 1875, to Miss 
 Ella V. Settle, a native of Kentucky. Two chil- 
 dren were born to this union, Walter D. and Mary 
 
 O. Mrs. Hodges is a member of the Christian 
 Church. Mr. Hodges is a member of the K. of P. 
 and also belongs to the K. of H. He is well re- 
 spected and is one of the enterprising citizens of 
 Paragould. 
 
 E. P. Holt, one of the leading and successful 
 merchants of Marmaduke. Ark., was born in Mid- 
 dle Tennessee, where his father. Garrison Holt, 
 now lives, and in 1865 was united in marriage to 
 Miss Elizabeth Parker, daughter of C. C. Parker, 
 of Wayne County, Tenn. In 1874 he emigrated 
 to Pemiscot County, Mo. , where he followed 
 farming along the Mississippi River until 1884, 
 when he moved to Arkansas and settled in Greene 
 County. His wife died in Paragould January 10, 
 1885, and in the fall of the following year Mr. 
 Holt commenced farming, and also engaged iu the 
 tie business, which he continued for several years. 
 In February. 1888, he bought out Mr. J. L. Spen- 
 cer, who carried on business at Holliday, and Mr. 
 Holt moved the stock to Marmaduke, first renting 
 a building, and then erecting a store room during 
 the summer of 1888. His second marriage was 
 to Miss Mary J. (Freeman) Barton, of West Ten- 
 nessee. Mr. Holt has been identified with the 
 improvement and growth of the town since coming 
 here. At that time there was neither church nor 
 school, and it is mainly by his efforts that school 
 is now in session live months in the year, held in 
 a very good building, 24x40 feet, which edifice 
 is also used as a Baptist Church, and to which 
 Mr. Holt and family belong. He is the father of 
 one son by his first wife, and this young man is 
 now attending school. During vacation he assists 
 his fathei' in the store. Mr. Holt has a well se- 
 lected stock of goods, valued at about $2,000, and 
 endeavors to furnish his patrons with the best to be 
 obtained. 
 
 John W. Hooker. A gratifying example of 
 success and ably conducted home industries is af- 
 forded by the large lumbering-mill owned by Mr. 
 Hooker, which is situated on the Iron Mountain 
 Railroad, about eight miles below Knobel. The 
 works are quite extensive, and have a capacity of 
 10,000 feet per day, and Mr. Hooker utilizes in a 
 great measure the timber of his own land, his acre- 
 
GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 1 ir. 
 
 age comprising 540, with about 100 acres under cul- 
 tivation, all of which is the result of his own labor. 
 He was born in Scott County, lud. , in 1834, and 
 is a son of Emsley and Eliza (Hubanks) Hooker, 
 who were born in North Carolina and Virginia, 
 respectively. The father was taken by his parents 
 to Clark County, Ind. , when one year old, the 
 country at that time being a wilderness, and here he 
 attained his majority, being reared on his father's 
 farm. The grandfather died in that county in 
 ISyS, at the age of seventy-six years. Emsley 
 Hooker was fifty- four years old at the time of his 
 death, in 1862, in Scott County, Ind. Through- 
 out life he had followed the occupation of farming. 
 He was a Democrat politically, and was a liberal 
 contributor to and a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. His wife died in 1839, having 
 borne a family of four children, two of whom are 
 now living: Lorenzo D. , a resident of Indiana, and 
 John W. The latter is the elder of the two, and 
 was reared to mature years on a farm in Scott 
 County, and in 1854 commenced working for him- 
 self on a farm, at $13 per mouth. Three years 
 later he was married, but continued his farm labors 
 until the latter part of the Civil War. when he 
 enlisted in the Thirty-first Indiana Volunteers, 
 Company I, under Charles Adamson, of Rockport, 
 Ind., and served twelve months (the last year), 
 participating in the battles of Franklin, Nashville, 
 and a number of minor engagements. He was 
 dischai'ged at New Orleans, and mustered out at 
 Victoria. Tex. He then returned to Indiana, 
 where he was engased in farming until 1880, com- 
 ing thence to Greene County, Ark., where he 
 embarked in lumber-milling and farming, which 
 occupations have received hi.s attention up to the 
 present time. Mr. Hooker's first marriage was to 
 Miss Hannah J. Reynolds, a native of Indiana, 
 born in 1840, who died in 18(i2 by drowning. She 
 and another lady were in a canoe on White River, 
 when they struck a snag, upsetting their boat. 
 Her companion chuig to the snag and was saved. 
 Three children were born to this union: Alvin A., 
 at home; Oldridge, married and residing at his 
 father's mill, and John W., who died at the age 
 of six weeks. Mr. Hooker took for his second wife 
 
 Mrs. Jeanette (Weddell) Heart, who was born in 
 Jackson County, Ind., and died in 1886, at the age 
 of forty-four years. To thorn were born six cliil 
 dren: Ross, Nathan. Charles, Austin. Eliza J. and 
 Georgia (who died in 1879, at the age of two 
 years). To the mother's first union three children 
 were born: America. Mary A. and liriller Heart. 
 The last two are deceased. Both wives were mem 
 bers of the church. He belongs to the G. A. R. 
 
 George R. Hopkins, a well known and success- 
 ful educator of the county, and a farmer by occu- 
 pation, was born in Gwinnett County, (ia. , in 
 1860, being a son of Melmoth D. and Elizabeth 
 (Martin) Hopkins, who were also born in Georgia. 
 The grandfather, George H. Hopkins, was a verj' 
 prominent educator in his day, and taught one 
 school for over thirty years. He also represented 
 his county in the State legislature several terms, 
 always taking an active part in politics. He wa.s 
 of English descent and died in Gwinnett County, 
 in 18S9, at the age of eighty years, esteemed by 
 all. Melmoth D. was one of his twelve children, 
 and was reared in that county, where he received 
 a good education in his youth, afterwards being 
 engaged in farming and teachiug school. He was 
 a member of the A. F. & A. M., and belonged 
 to the Baptist Church. During the late Rebellion 
 he served four years in the Confederate army, and 
 during his term of service was in prison seven or 
 eight months. Since 1866 he has resided in Ar- 
 kansas, and is now living in Sebastian County, be- 
 low Fort Smith, on a farm, his wife also surviv- 
 ing. The following are the children l)orii to their 
 union: Aldorah, George, Julian, Mary. Warner 
 (deceased), Thomas and Pearlie. (ieorge R. Hoj) 
 kins attained his growth principally in Jonesboro, 
 Ark., also receiving tlie moat of his education 
 there, but attended one year in (Jeorgia. Shortly 
 after he began teaching school, continuing one 
 year, when he was elected surveyor of Craighead 
 County, which positioti he held two years. Since 
 1884 he has resided in Cireene County, and the 
 tirst year taught school in Paragould: he has con- 
 tinued to be one of the successful educators of 
 Gainesville, being now engaged on his fourth term 
 of ten months in that town. He was married in 
 
146 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 1S85 to Anna Newberry, who was born in Carroll 
 County, Tenn. , and by her has two children: Buna 
 and Irene. Mr. Hopkins is a member of the K. 
 of H., is a Democrat in his political views, and is 
 a thorough, competent, and extensive educator of 
 the young. During the foiu- years he has taught 
 in Gainesville, he has fitted about twenty of his 
 pupils for the profession of teaching. His wife 
 is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 South. 
 
 Pressley Huckabay, one of the pioneers of 
 Greene County, Ark., and one who has witnessed 
 the rapid development of that county in the last 
 thirty years, was born in Campbell County, Tenn., 
 where he grew to manhood and was married. In 
 1857 he and family moved to Greene County, Ark., 
 settling about a mile and a half from his present 
 residence, where he cleared a farm of seventy-two 
 acres and erected houses, etc. This laud belonged 
 to the railroad company, and having a chance to sell 
 the improvements made on the same, Mr. Hucka- 
 bay did so, and then moved to his present farm, 
 which consists of 120 acres, with 100 under culti- 
 vation. He married Miss Mary Bullock of Ten- 
 nessee, and twelve children were born to this union, 
 eight now living. The following grew to matur- 
 ity: Elizabeth married Jackson Purcell, a farmer 
 of Greene Count}', and became the mother of one 
 child; Nancy married Obadiah Purcell, a farmer 
 of Greene Covinty, and became the mother of 
 two childi'en; Sarah married John Van Guilder, 
 a farmer of Greene County, and became the mother 
 of six children; John A. died, leaving two chil- 
 dren, and his wife also died; William T. married 
 and lives on a farm a short distance from his father, 
 and has a family of six children; Commodore 
 Perry married and resides at Marmaduke, where 
 he runs a saw-mill — he has five children: Rhietta 
 was married to M. B. Harvey, a farmer of Greene 
 County, and is the mother of eight children; Almar- 
 ine married, lives near his father, and has three 
 children; Alfi-ed remains on the farm with his 
 father, is married and has four children: Francis 
 Marion died and left a wife and one child. Mr. 
 Huckabay has a niece. Miss Nancy E. Huckabay, 
 who makes her home with lu-r uncle. Tlie latter 
 
 takes a deep interest in the political issues of the 
 day, and affiliates with the Democratic party. He 
 is a member of the Missionary Ba])tist Church. 
 During the late unpleasantness between the North 
 and South he was in Col. McNeill's regiment and 
 participated in the battles of Little Rock, Forrest 
 City, was in the Red River Expedition, and in a 
 number of sharp skirmishes. When Mr. Hucka- 
 bay first moved. to Greene County, Ark., settlers 
 were few, provisions scarce, and all depended, to 
 a great extent, upon the gun for a means of living. 
 When he wanted fresh meat he frequently sent his 
 children around a thicket within HOO yards of the 
 house, and would pick out a good one from the 
 drove of deer thus started up. His method for 
 catching turkeys was very ingenious. Building 
 a square pen of logs near where he fed his stock, 
 he covered it with poles, and then digged a slant- 
 ing passageway leading under the logs. This 
 passage-way would end abruptly after entering 
 the pen. Corn was then scattered along the pass- 
 age or outside slant; the turkey would have to stoop 
 a little to go under the pen, but as soon as inside 
 would fly up to the level ground above, and instead 
 of looking down to get out would always look up. 
 Mr. Huckabay often caught as high as eight or ten 
 at a time in this manner. Coons were so thick 
 that a man could take his rifle and kill as many as 
 fifteen or twenty a day. John Wooten, a neigh- 
 bor, killed twenty-five on one occasion, and Mr. 
 Huckabay has killed as many as fifteen himself. 
 Bears were so plentiful that their meat was used 
 instead of bacon, and was put down for the season 
 in much the same way as pork. A good bear skin 
 was worth about $5 at Cape Girardeau, Mo. 
 Mr. Huckabay has killed a number of panthers, 
 and can relate numerous thrilling exploits with 
 these animals. He was attacked by one at one 
 time, and after having fired three bullets against 
 its head, which failed to penetrate the sknll, he 
 realized that he was getting in very close quarters. 
 Just at this critical moment his faithful dogs re- 
 newed their attacks on the panther, thus giving 
 their owner a chance to send a bullet just back of 
 the fore legs of the animal, which stretched him 
 lifeless on the ground. 
 
-Ji^ftWfe 
 
 
 DaCEDLA 
 
 Mississippi CounTT,ARKAnsAS . 
 
C. p. Huckabay, the leading mill man of this 
 section, was born in Campbell County, Tenn., and 
 came to Greene County, Ark.. al)out thirty two 
 years ago. He is a self made man, was reared ou 
 the farm, and picked up his education as best he 
 coukl after reaching his majority. The schools 
 were all elo.sed during the war in that [)ortion of 
 the country, and as Mi-. Huckalmy was a school 
 boy at that time, his educational advantages were 
 not of the best. He was industrious, full of (>nergy 
 and perseverance, and is now the owner of 1,000 
 acres of land, with seventy-five acres under cultiva 
 tion. This he rents, and his time is fully occupied 
 in the lumber and stave business, being the owner 
 of two large saw mills, one located in Marmaduke 
 and the other in the vicinity. The one at Marma- 
 duke has a capacity of 1,500 feet per day, and 
 the one in the country will run about S.OOO feet. 
 Mr. Huckabay is now building a tram road three 
 and a half miles into the woods, which will be con- 
 nected with the road of Mr. Rosengrant, ex- 
 tending two and a half miles further into a fine 
 timbered country, and will supply them timber for 
 about five years. Mr. Huckabay has been in the 
 railroad supply business, getting out ties and other 
 timbers, and at one time ran about 300 men, fur 
 nishing them with provisions from his su])ply store 
 then located at Marmaduke. He is now securing 
 all kinds of building and bridge timber. Mr. 
 Huckabay chose for his companion in life Miss 
 Nancy A. llamsey, a native of Tennessee, and the 
 daughter of M. Ramsey (deceased), of Greene 
 County. To this union were born five children: 
 Virginia E., Nathan P., William B. , Carrie A. 
 and Mary. Mr. Huckabay is conservative, both in 
 politics and religion, not but that he believes in 
 both, but he considers every one possesses the right 
 to his own views on the subject. He is a member 
 of the I. O. O. F., belonging to Evergreen Lodge, 
 located at Tilmanville. 
 
 H, C. Hunter is a representative man of Greene 
 County, Ark., who has attained his pro])erty by 
 industry and good business ability, and has won an 
 enviable position in .society circles. He was born 
 in Middle Tennessee, in 1S4'2, and up to the age of 
 eighteen years was reared on his father's jilanta 
 
 tion, thus becoming familiar with the details of 
 farm life. When eighteen he eniigrat«Hl to Greene 
 County, Ark., I)ut when the Relx-llion broke out, 
 in 1S61, he enlisted from Tennessee for twelve 
 months, in Company G, Ninth Tennessee Infantry, 
 Confederate States Army, and participated in tiie 
 battles of Belmont. Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Perry 
 ville, and at Chickamauga was wounded by a gun 
 shot, and was confined in the hospital at Mont- 
 gomery, Ala. After recovering he was detailed to 
 the engineers' department, and was engaged in con- 
 structing bridges until the final surrender, when 
 he returned to Greene Coixnty, Ark., and resumed 
 farming. He has now an excellent farm of over 
 2(10 acres, with about 1 HO acres under cultivation, 
 on which he raises cotton and corn. He also gives 
 considerable attention to the propagation of stock, 
 and has an excellent range on which his animals 
 pasture. Having been a resident of this State for 
 many years, he has seen the gradual but sure 
 development of the country from a wilderness to 
 finely cultivated farms, for where churches, schools 
 and substantial homes now are, then Indians and 
 wild animals in profusion roamed the woods. He 
 has done a full share in securing this desirable 
 change, and by industry and shrewd management 
 has made his farm one of the best in the county. 
 Where he was previously obliged to go 125 miles 
 to market he now only goes eight miles, to Para- 
 gould. He was married in Greene County, in 
 1873, to Miss Georgiauua King, a native of 
 Tennessee, and a daughter of John M. and Sarah 
 Jane (Freelandi King, who were also Tennesseeans. 
 emigrating to Gr(>ene County. Ark., in \H~i2. and 
 opening up a farm: later they moved to Pemiscot 
 County, Mo., where they are living at the present 
 time. The father was a volunteer in the Mexican 
 War. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter are members of the 
 Methodist Episco]>al Church, and are the parents 
 of the fi)lk>wing children: Betty, Alva, Minnie, 
 Charles, James and Eufus M. Mr. Hunter is a 
 Democrat. He was the youngest of eight children 
 born to Lay ton and Elizabeth (Hobison) Hunter, 
 the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of 
 Kentucky. They were married in the former 
 State, and here the father became ijuite a wealthy 
 
 ^^ r- 
 
148 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 planter, but in 1859 removed to Greene County, 
 Ark., and settled on the farm now owned by our 
 subject, H. C. Hunter. He figured quite promi- 
 nently in politics while in Tennessee, but after 
 coming to Arkansas he remained more at home. 
 His health was always good and he died in 1875, 
 at the age of seventy -live year.s, his wife's death 
 occurring within a few days of his own. The 
 paternal grandfather was a Virginian, and a sol- 
 dier in the War of 1812, as was also the maternal 
 grandfather, the latter being a native of Kentucky 
 soil. 
 
 Richard Jackson is well known by reason of his 
 association with the general mercantile firm of 
 Jackson Dry Goods Company. His career in 
 Greene County has been markedly rapid and suc- 
 cessful, and his name stands to-day among the 
 leading business men of the county. The business 
 was established in 1867, he and his l)rother. J. R., 
 purchasing the stock of gooils formerly owned by 
 Taylor & Miller, which consists of a full line of 
 general merchandise, and he and his present part- 
 ners are now doing the leading business in Gaines - 
 \ille. He was born in Stoddard County, Mo., in 
 1843, and was the son of John J. and Emily 
 (Montgomery) Jactson, who were Tennesseeans, 
 and came to Missouri at an early period, being 
 among the first settlers of Stoddard County. He 
 was engaged in farming until the late war, then 
 coming to Greene County, Ark. , and locating near 
 Gainesville, where he died in 1877, after having led 
 a very active life. He was quite an active politi- 
 cian, and held the office of deputy sheriff of Stod- 
 dard County for four years, and sheriff four j'ears 
 after coming to Greene County. He was active in 
 advocating schools, chui'ches, etc. His wife died 
 in 1885, at the age of seventy-three years. Their 
 children all lived to be grown; one son, two daugh- 
 ters and the father died within two months of each 
 other. Those living are Isaiah, Richard and 
 I'ranklin, the latter being in partnership with his 
 brother, Richard. Richard Jackson attained his 
 eighteenth year in Stoddard County, and remained 
 at home until the breaking out of the Civil War in 
 1861, when he enlisted in the Confederate army, 
 under Jeff Thompson, and served until the final 
 
 siurender, taking part in a numlier of important 
 engagements, and was wounded at Pilot Knob, 
 having his leg broken. He was captured while 
 there, and sent to the hospital at Ironton, and was 
 soon after exchanged. He returned home and there 
 remained until able to get about, when he rejoined 
 his regiment, and continued in service until the 
 close. Again coming home he resumed farming, 
 then clerked in a general store, and in 1867 estab- 
 lished his present business, and in addition to this 
 gives much of his attention to real estate, having 
 charge of all the Iron Mountain Railroad lands in 
 the county. He also manages several large stock 
 farms, and deals and trades extensively in stock. 
 He is a Democrat in his political views, and when 
 the county seat was at Gainesville he held the 
 office of treasurer of the county. He has always 
 been a liberal contributor to churches, schools, 
 and all worthy enterprises, and now occupies a 
 high position both in mercantile and social circles. 
 His wife, whose maiden name was Jennie Stead 
 man. was born in North Carolina, and their union 
 was blessed in the birth of six children: Clara. 
 Frannie, Arthur, Emma, Maggie, and an infant 
 daughter unnamed. 
 
 A. D. Jackson, of the firm of Jackson & 
 Byers, proprietors of a livery stable, has one of 
 the best equipped enterprises of the kind in the 
 county. This stable, from the large business it 
 does, not only exemplifies the importance of the 
 town, but reflects credit upon its management. 
 Mr. Jackson was born in Greene County, Ark. . 
 January 20, 1865, and is one of three children 
 born to James R. and Nancy (Davis) Jackson, na- 
 tives of Tennessee. The parents were early settlers 
 of this part of Arkansas, but duiing the war the 
 family moved to Missouri, and there the father 
 
 , served as captain of a company. During the ser- 
 vice he was wounded in the hip by a gunshot. He 
 died in 1881, but the mother is still living and re- 
 sides in Paragould. Their children are named as 
 follows: Jennie, wife of John Perry; Albert D. . 
 and Lela, wife of Oscar Huff. A. D. Jackson 
 grew to manhood in Gainesville, receiving his edu- 
 cation there, and afterward clerked in a store for 
 
 , about four years. He then engaged in merchan- 
 
GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 MU 
 
 I- 
 
 r 
 
 dising with an uncle, Kichard Jackson, at (iaiues- 
 ville, remained with him three years and then ran 
 the business alone for a short time. After this he 
 went to Hot Springs, thence back to Gainesville, 
 where he was occiipied in farming and teaming for 
 about three years. In November, 1888, he came 
 to Paragould and embarked in the livery business 
 with his present partner. He keeps about fifteen 
 good horses and can furnish, day or night, as neat 
 a turnout as one could desire and at the lowest 
 figure. Mr. Jackson chose for his life's companion 
 Miss Joe Collins, who became his wife on Decem- 
 ber 25, 1884. Two children are the result of this 
 union: James A. and Pearl. Mr. Jackson is a 
 member of the I. O. O. F. lodge. 
 
 I. C. Jeffers. Greene County, Ark. , ranks 
 among the first in the State in regard to its man- 
 ufacturing intere.sts. and Mr. Jeffers is one of its 
 foremost lumber maniifacturers. He engaged in 
 liusiness for himself in 1888, his mill being at 
 South Miser; it was previously known as Miser's 
 Mill, and has a capacity of 10,000 feet per day. 
 Mr. Jeffers was born in Clark County, 111., in 
 1851, and was the third in a family of seven chil- 
 dren born to Thomas and Julia Ann (Lafferty) 
 Jeffers, natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Illi- 
 nois. The father was a tiller of the soil and 
 opened up several large farms, and is now residing 
 in Edinburgh, 111. In 18f?l he enlisted from 
 Moultrie County, of that State, in Company C, 
 One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Illinois Infantry, 
 and was wounded at Devall's Bluff, Ark., receiving 
 a gunshot wound by the bushwhackers, and was 
 confined in the hospital for some time, obtaining 
 his discharge in May. 1865. His wife died in 
 Shelbj' County, 111. . at the age of fifty-six years, 
 February lU, 1878. I. C. Jeffers spent his early 
 life on his father's farms and attended the common 
 schools, supplementing this by one year's attend- 
 ance at St. Mary"s, Indiana. When about seven- 
 teen years of age he began learning the miller's 
 trade in Moultrie County, 111. , and has followed 
 that occupation with success ever since. He was 
 married there, in 1877, to Miss Frances Anna 
 Jones, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Amos 
 and Mary Ann (Steele) Jones, the former having 
 
 been born in South Carolina and the latter in Illi- 
 nois, both of whom are still living. After his mar- 
 riage Mr. Jeffers remained in Illinois until 1881, 
 when he came to Corning and embarked in the tim- 
 ber business, moving thence to Rector, where he 
 was foreman four years for W. G. Hutchings' saw- 
 mill; since 1888 he has been engaged in operating 
 his mill at Rector, and now ships from four to five 
 carloads per week. He has always supported the 
 Democratic, party, and although having resided 
 in Greene County only a few years has b(!come 
 well and favorably known. His children are 
 Marietta, Charles Albert, Clara Ethel and Julia 
 Cora. 
 
 William C. Johnson has been identified with 
 the farming and stock dealing interests of Friend- 
 ship Township, Greene County, Ark., since 1850, 
 and in that time he has proven himself to be a man 
 of intelligence and enterprise. He was born in 
 Knox County, Tenn., in October, 1821, and is the 
 eldest of five children born to Pleasant M. and Ellen 
 (Thompson) Johnson, who were born in Virginia, 
 and at an early day emigrated to Tennessee, where 
 they were married. Thej' were engaged in farm- 
 ing in West Tennessee imtil 1858, when they moved 
 to Dunklin County, Mo., where the father died in 
 1861, aged sixty-four years, his wife's death hav- 
 ing occurred in Tennessee, in 1854. He was a 
 soldier in the War of 1812. His mother was Mary 
 Hancock, a niece of John Hancock, a signer of the 
 Declaration of Independence. William C. Johnson 
 was educated in the district schools near his home 
 in Tennessee, and was married in Madison County, 
 .of that State, in 1842. to Amanda C. Sanders, a 
 native of Lincoln County, Tenn., a daughter cf 
 Samuel and Linnie (Looney) Sanders, who were 
 Tennesseeans. and prosperous farmers of that 
 State. They moved to Ozark County, Mo., in 
 1854, where they were engaged in farming until 
 their respective deaths in 1857 and 18S7. Mr. 
 Johnson and family emigrated to Lawrence Conn 
 ty, Ark., in 1854, where they entered a tract of 
 120 acres and remained two years, moving thence 
 to his present farm in (ireeue County. He first 
 entered 156 acres, which he proved up in ISCil, 
 and has added to this land imtil he now owns 107 
 
^ 
 
 HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 acres, with nearly 100 acres under cultivation. 
 Besides this he owns forty acres of land in Clark 
 Township (twenty-two acres in cultivation), the 
 most of his tillable property being devoted to cot- 
 ton and corn. He has aided in the organization 
 of Friendship Township, and assisted in building 
 the county road. He has always atRliated with the 
 Democratic party, and has helped largely in in- 
 creasing the number of Democratic voters in his 
 section. He has been one of the foremost men in 
 developing the resources of the county, and has al- 
 ways been an active supporter of schools and 
 churches, being ordained in 1874, by Thomas D. 
 Lloyd and David Thorn, a minister of the Mis- 
 sionary Baptist Church. He has ex])ounded the 
 gospel since that time and has been instrumental 
 in converting some people to Christianity. He 
 and wife are the parents of threi> daughters and 
 ten sons: Permelia Lane and Emerentha Virginia 
 (deceased); Linna Blender, wife of A.M. Shearer, 
 living near Halliday; W. S. C, married and resid- 
 ing in Greene County; John H. . married and resi- 
 dent of Halliday; David Pleasant and James Mon- 
 roe (deceased); Ben. Franklin, also deceased; Al- 
 fred Jefferson, single; Christopher A, also married; 
 J. N., P. G. and L. L. 
 
 B. A. Johnson, a wealthy farmer and stock- 
 man, of Greene County, Ark., was born in Hick- 
 man County, Tenn., in 1834, and is the iifth in a 
 family of ten children born to Granville M. and 
 Nereusa (Gardner) Johnson, who were Tennessee- 
 ans, the father being a farmer by occupation, and 
 a wealthy citizen. He was justice of the peace in 
 Tennessee for many years, and died in that State 
 in 1S84, followed by his wife some two years later. 
 The paternal and maternal graudfatliers were Vir- 
 ginians, who removed to Tennessee at an early 
 day. the former reaching this State in 1812. Here 
 they both died. B. A. Johnson was reared to farm 
 labor, and had very poor educational advantages 
 in his youth. He remained at home until attain- 
 ing his majority, and then for .several years was 
 engaged in brick-laying. At the age of twenty-one 
 he was wedded to Miss Sarah E. Fielder, a native 
 of Tennessee. In 1855 he located in Wayne Coun- 
 ty. Mo., where, in 180(1, he bought a farm, and 
 
 embarked in agricultiu'e, continuing until the war 
 broke out, when he raised a company of Missouri 
 State Guards, of which he was elected first lieuten- 
 ant. He soon resigned this position, and enlisted 
 as a private in the Confederate army, being 
 elected first lieutenant of Reeves' cavalry company 
 of inde])endent scouts. He was soon sent east of 
 the Mississippi, and was in the battles of Mem- 
 phis, Corinth, luka, Jacinto, Richmond, Ky., 
 Perryville, after which he was transferred to the 
 western department of Arkansas, where he was 
 detailed to raise a regiment, of which he was made 
 lieutenant-colonel. In this capacity he partici- 
 jmted in the battles of Little Rock, Pine Bluff and 
 Saline River, and was then with Price on his Mis- 
 souri raid, taking part in every battle fought on 
 this trip. During the war his family removed from 
 Missouri south to Clay County, Ark., and here Mr. 
 Johnson went after the cessation of hostilities, 
 where he remained three years, and then came 
 to Cache Township, Greene County, Ark, where 
 they are still residing. He purchased a partially 
 improved farm of 160 acres, opened about sixty 
 acres, and in 1871 purchased 160 acres three miles 
 south of his first place, to which he has added 170 
 acres, and has cleared 100 acres, having about 200 
 under cultivation. In addition to these tracts he 
 has about 500 acres in another locality. He does 
 genera] farming, but gives the most of his atten- 
 tion to the raising of corn and cotton. He is an ac- 
 tive politician, a substantial supporter of churches 
 and schools, and he and family attend the Baptist 
 Church, of which he and his wife are members. 
 His family consists of the following children: 
 John W., born February 17, 1856, who is married 
 and resides on his father's land; William G., born 
 February 9, 1858, also married and living in the 
 township: Barbara Etta Bell, born October 5. 18()0, 
 wife of E. R. C. Biggs, a resident of Woodruff 
 County; Robert E. Lee, born October 21, 1863, 
 died in 1864; Adelaide, born September 24, 1865, 
 wife of P. Eubanks, of Greene County; Samantha 
 C, born August 4, 1867; Victoria R., wife of 
 James Light, born July 19. 1869; Sarah N., born 
 October 10, 1871; Benjamin O, born June 10, 
 1S74: and Lizzie B. . born August 11, 1877. 
 
GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 IM 
 
 R. B. Joues. No matter how disagreeable tlie 
 outlook in life, or how little encouragement is re- 
 ceived, there are some who will succeed in what 
 ever they undertake, while others, placed in the 
 same circumstances, will give uj) in despair. 
 Among those who have won universal respect by 
 push and energy, and who are classed among the 
 first in whatever they undertake, is the above 
 mentioned gentleman. Mr. Jones was born in 
 that part of Greene County, Ark., which is at this 
 time known as Clay County, September (j, 1848, 
 and remained in that county, engaged in farming, 
 until about twelve years ago, when he moved to 
 what is known as Tilmanville and opened a black- 
 smith shop. This he has curried on in a successful 
 manner ever since. In addition to this Mr. Jones 
 manages his farm of 180 acres, which his sons are 
 now working, and he has opened aboiit five or six 
 acres on the home place, consisting of eighty acres. 
 He was married to Miss Martha J. Bradsher, 
 daughter of Jefferson Bradsher, of Greene Coun- 
 ty, Ark., and three interesting childi'en were the 
 result of this union: J. M. , J. C. and W. A., all 
 at home. Mr. Jones is also rearing two of his 
 sister-in-law's children, they being the orphan 
 children of J. H. and Mary C. Huckabay, and are 
 named Almon E. and Hiram C. John Jones, the 
 father of the subject of this sketch, came to 
 Greene County, Ark., in 1830, and died here in 
 1871. His wife died in 18(51. They were the 
 parents of eight children, two surviving. By his 
 second wife John Jones became the father of five 
 children. R. B. Jones is a member of the Ma- 
 sonic fraternity, Danley Lodge No. 300, and he 
 also belongs to Evergreen Lodge No. 66, of the 
 I. O. O. F. He and wife are members of the 
 Missionary Baptist Church. 
 
 S. L. Joseph, one of the leading merchants of 
 I'aragonld, was l)orn in Germany, on the Rhine, in 
 October, 1854, receiving his education in his native 
 country, and at an early age engaged in mercantile 
 ])ursaits, which he has followed ever since, thus 
 securing a thorough knowledge of the busini^ss. 
 In 1871 he sailed for America, taking passage iit 
 Bremen, and landing at New York City, where he 
 remained about three years. He then went to 
 
 Pennsylvania, and for a period of some three ynars 
 was engaged in the ottice of the Buffalo & Philadel- 
 ])hia Railroad Company, going thence to St. Louis, 
 where he remained one year. In 1878 he went to 
 Walnut Ridge, Ark., followed clerking until 1880, 
 and then came to Gainesville, of the same State, 
 and there opened a store in partnership with Isaac 
 Less. He continued the business at Gainesville 
 and Jonesboro for three years, after which he sold 
 his interest and took a trip to Europe, traveling 
 over the continent, and was absent about ten 
 months. After his return he went to Wichita, 
 Kan., resided at that place one year, and in the 
 fall of 1885 came to Paragould, where he em- 
 barked in merchandising under the firm name of 
 Harris & Joseph. In the spring of 1889 Mr. 
 Joseph bought out his partner and is now con- 
 tinuing the business alone. He carries a large 
 stock of merchandise, averaging about $25,000, 
 and is one of the enterprising business men i/f 
 Paragould. He is a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity, the I. O. O. F. , and also belongs to the 
 K. of H. He was married May 1, 1889, to Miss 
 Setta Goldman, a native of Europe, and sister of 
 J. D. Goldman, of the large firm of Goldman <& 
 Co., of St. Louis. Mr. Joseph's parents, Maurice 
 F. and Babbet (Steinheimer) Joseph, were natives 
 of Europe. The father is deceased, but the mother 
 is still living in Germany. 
 
 Jesse Kenemure, a successful farmer and stock 
 raiser of Jones Township, was born in Georgia, 
 in 1819, and is the sixth in a family of eiglif 
 children born to David and Lucy (Price) Kene- 
 mure, luitives of South Carolina. The parents 
 remained in their native State until after theii- 
 marriage, and then moved to Georgia, where the 
 mother died a few years later. The father again 
 married and lived in that State until his death. 
 Jesse Kenemure assisted his father in the arduous 
 duties on the farm until nineteen years of age, 
 after which he began farming for himself, and 
 this occuj)ation has continued all his life. He was 
 married when twenty -one years of age to Miss 
 Rebecca Rock, a native of Georgia: and eight 
 children were the result of this union, four now 
 living. They are nar 1 as follows: Luciuda 
 
1 r.2 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 I 
 
 Margaret (deceaHed), Jiimes Franklin, married and 
 lives on his father's place: N. W., married and 
 lives on Crowley's Ridge; Charles D. , married 
 and lives in this township; Missouri Jane, died in 
 Georgia; William Ross, died in Georgia; L. 
 W., married and resides in Greene County, and 
 Margaret. Jesse Kenemure followed farming in 
 Georgia, until 1856, when he moved directly to 
 Greene County, Ark. , and settled on the west side 
 of CJrowley's Ridge, where he bought forty acres 
 of wild land. He immediately began improving, 
 by erecting buildings and clearing land, etc., and 
 after having cleared about thirty acres and remain- 
 ing there for some twelve years, he sold out and 
 moved to Jones' Ridge, being one of four families 
 in that section. He bought 180 acres of land, 
 cleared 100 acres, erected buildings, set out an 
 extensive orchard of all kinds of fruits, and has 
 surrounded himself with everything to make a 
 pleasant, comfortable home. During the late war 
 he was with Price on his Missouri raid, and was 
 in the battles of Iron Mountain, Blue Lick, In- 
 dependence and Boonville. He is a member of the 
 Wheel, and is an active worker in the cause of 
 education. 
 
 T. B. Kitchens, circuit court clerk, exrofficio 
 clerk of the county and probate courts, and recorder 
 of Greene County, Ark., is one of the prominent 
 and leading citizens of that county. He was born 
 in Craighead County, Ark., August 21, 1854, and 
 is the son of James H. and Arminda J. (Davis) 
 Kitchens, natives of Forsyth County, Ga. The 
 parents were married in their native State, but af- 
 terward removed to Cherokee County, Ala., where 
 they remained i;ntil the winter of 1851, and then 
 located in what is now Craighead County, Ark. 
 In the early part of the following year the father 
 removed to the farm he now occupies, and there 
 he has since resided. He was one of the first 
 settlers of Craighead County, having located there 
 when the country was wild and unbroken. T. B. 
 Kitchens was reared and received his primary 
 education in his native county. Later he attended 
 school at Gainesville, and completed his educa- 
 tion at the Arkansas Industrial University, at 
 Fayetteville, from which institution he graduated 
 
 with honor, being valedictorian of his class in 
 1880. He was also awarded the gold medal of 
 $25, oflFered by B. B. Stone, of Fayetteville, for the 
 best set of literary essays of the season of 1880, as 
 well as the gold medal otfered by the publishing 
 house of D. Appleton & Co., to the member of 
 the senior class of 1880, who had the highest 
 standing in mathematics in the four years' course. 
 Following his graduation, Mr. Kitchens taught 
 school until the spring of 1882, and in the fall of 
 the same year he entered the county clerk's office 
 as deputy, and served for four years, discharging 
 his duties faithfully and honorably, and in such 
 an efficient and capable manner that he won many 
 friends, and at their solicitation he became a candi- 
 date for his present office. He was elected in Sep- 
 tember, 1886, without opposition, and reelected to 
 the office in 1888, which position he is now holding. 
 He was county examiner from 1882 to 1886, and 
 discharged these duties, as he does all others, with 
 honor and credit. He owns town property and a 
 half interest in the Gager House, which is a large 
 three-story brick building, and a first-class hotel. 
 Mr. Kitchens was maiTied January 1, 1884, to Miss 
 Alice B. Burton, a native of Tennessee, whose 
 parents came to this county when she was a child 
 four years of age. Mr. and Mrs Kitchens are the 
 parents of one child, William M. Mr. Kitchens is 
 a member of the K. of P., and a charter member 
 of the lodge at Paragould. 
 
 John J. Lambert (deceased) was born in Harde- 
 man County, Tenn., in 1822, and his father being 
 a farmer he was reared to that occupation, remain 
 ing on the old homestead until he attained his 
 majority. He was married July 14, 1858, to Miss 
 Jennie Cox, a native of Tennessee, whose fathei 
 was a farmer. When the war broke out Mr. Lam 
 bert espoused the cause of the Confederacy and 
 served one year in the Confederate army, then re 
 turning home and resuming farming. In 1867 he 
 emigrated, with his family, to Arkansas, locating 
 in Greene County, where he bought 100 acres 
 of land, a portion of which was improved. On 
 this tract ht erected barns and stables, and opened 
 about fifty acres, but later bought other large 
 tracts, part of it joining this, from which he cleared 
 
Jf- 
 
 ^k 
 
 GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 153 
 
 the timber. To his union with Miss Cox onu child, 
 James Abner. was born, and his second resulted iu 
 the birth of three children: Mary W., wife of 
 Allen Howell; John J. and Thomas L. Th(> last 
 two are young men, who are managing the home 
 farm, being engaged in general farm work. They 
 have about seventy-tive acres under cultivation. 
 At the time of Mr. Lambert's death, November 
 28, 1SS7. the farm was divided and sold, with the 
 exception of several tracts of land in Tennessee, 
 Thomas L. buying eighty acres of the old home- 
 stead and 240 acres of another tract, forty acres 
 of another and some town property. Mr. Lambert 
 was one of Greene County's most substantial and 
 j)rominent citizens, and was a generous and public- 
 spirited man. ever ready to aid enterpriser for the 
 public good, and is remembered with gratitude 
 and affection by all his neighbors. He was a 
 member of the Masonic fraternity. 
 
 E. D. Landi'um. Owing to the fertility of the 
 soil in Greene County, Ark., and by energy, indus- 
 try and economy, Mr. Landrum has become one of 
 the wealthy farmers and stock raisers of this sec- 
 tion. He was born in Weakley County, Tenn. , in 
 1848, was reared on his father's farm, and there 
 received his education in the common schools. In 
 1868 he enlisted from Weakley County in Com- 
 pany B, Faulkner's Regiment cavalry service, and 
 was in the fights at Paducah, Union City and Co- 
 lumbus, receiving his discharge in the fall of 1864 
 aud returning home. In the fall of 1865 he came 
 to Greene County, Ark., and began farming for 
 himself on eighty acres of land which he purchased, 
 aud in 1867 purchased eighty acres more, eight of 
 which were cleared and under cultivation. In 1869 
 he located on this property and erected a log 
 house, and iu ISSu built an excellent frame resi- 
 dence. He now owns 320 acres of splendid land 
 with 150 under cultivation, 125 of which he has 
 cleared himself since ISO'J. His principal crops 
 are corn and hay. He raises some stock, his cattle 
 being of the Durham breed, his horses Morgan, 
 and his hogs Berkshire. He is not very active in 
 politics, but votes with the Democratic party. He 
 was married in Greene County, in 1867, to Mary 
 A. Burnett, a native of North Carolina, aud a 
 
 daughter of John and Sarah (Howell) Burnett, 
 who were also born in that State, and emigi-ated 
 to Greene County, Ark., at a very early day, set- 
 tling on a farm in Clark Township, on which the 
 father died. The mother is still living. To Mr. 
 and Mrs. Landrum have been born the following 
 children: James Edward and John Clinton. Mr. 
 Landrum is the fourth of ten children born to 
 James and Emeline (Anderson) Landrum, the 
 former a native of Virginia and the latter of Middle 
 Tennessee. The father was a wealthy planter of 
 Tennessee, and died there in 1862, followed by his 
 wife several years later. 
 
 John V. Landrum, of the mercantile firm of 
 Stallcup & Landrum, Paragould. There are a 
 number of men prominently identified with the 
 mercantile interests of Greene County, but none 
 among them are more deserving of mention than 
 John V. Landrum, who, although not old iu 
 years, is a substantial business man. He was born 
 in Weakhn' County, Tenn., August 18, 1853, 
 and is the sou of James and Emeline (Anderson) 
 Landrum, the father a native of Halifax County, 
 Va. , and the mother of Dickson County, Tenn. 
 The parents were married in the last mentioned 
 State, and reared ten children, .six of whom are liv- 
 ing at the present time: Lucy A., widow of Mr. 
 Turner; James M., Edward D. , Samuel H., 
 Fannie E. , wife of J. N. Wright; and John V. 
 Nancy E. died May 11. 188'J. The parents 
 moved from Middle Tennessee to West Tennessee 
 and died in Weakley County, the father in 1862 and 
 the mother in 1874. The former followed agri- 
 cultural pursuits all his life. John Y. Landrum, 
 the youngest member of the family now living, 
 was reared and received the principal [lart of his 
 education in \\'eakley County, Tenu. He re- 
 mained on the farm until twenty-one years of age, 
 after which he completed his education as best he 
 could and then taught .school for three years in 
 Gibson County. After this he engaged in the mill 
 business for one year. In 1 888 he came to Greene 
 County, Ark., from Carroll County, Tenn., 
 located in Paragould, and immediately embarked 
 in the mercantile business in partnershi]) with his 
 brother, James M., who was the first man to sell 
 
 IfZ 
 
ir.4 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 <j;oods in Paragoulcl. lu November, 1884, he 
 married Miss Ella M. Stale-up, and the fruits of 
 this union are two children : Horace M. and Char- 
 les V. Mr. Landrum continued in lousiness with 
 his brother for aliout two years, after which he 
 sold out to him and formed a partnership with 
 his father- in law, C. T. Stalcup, with whom 
 he is carrying on business at the present time. 
 They keep a large stock of goods and have built 
 up a good trade. Asid(> from this Mr. Land- 
 rum is the owner of a good farm of 1*10 acres, also 
 some valuable town property, and has one of the 
 finest residences in Paragoidd, in fact, one of the 
 best in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Landrum are 
 both faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. South. He served four years' as treas- 
 urer of Paragould, and is an enterprising and pub 
 lie-spirited citizen. They are members of the 
 Triple Alliance Life Association. His maternal 
 grandfather. Benjamin C. Aadersou, was reared 
 and married in the blue grass region of Kentucky. 
 He moved to Dickson County, Tenn. , while a young 
 man, where he lived to the ripe old age of eighty- 
 five, and died at his daughter's, Mrs. Emeline 
 Landrum, in Weakley County, Tenn., at the age 
 of eighty-seven. 
 
 John M. Lloyd. In every condition of life 
 and in every locality where the struggle for a live- 
 lihood is going on, where can independence be 
 found more faithfully portrayed, or more clearly 
 demonstrated, than in the life of the honest, in 
 (histrious farmer? Among those who have made a 
 success of farming is the gentleman whose name 
 heads this sketch, who, although a young man, is 
 now the owner of one of th(> best improved farms 
 in the county. He was born in Madison County 
 (now Crockett Coimty), Tenn., August 26, 1856, 
 and is the son of John \V. and Elizabeth (Raines) 
 Lloyd, natives of North Carolina and Alabama, re- 
 spectively. The father was born in 182(), and 
 died February 11, 1869, and the mother was born 
 in 1833, and died November 6, 1882. John W, 
 Lloyd, when a lad of sixteen, went with his 
 l)arents to Madison County, Tenn., where his 
 father died at about the age of seventy-two years. 
 He had been a soldier in the War of 1812. John 
 
 W. was an agriculturist, a house carpenter and 
 also followed the occupation of digging wells for 
 many years. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confed- 
 erate army. Gen. Forrest's regiment, of which he 
 was wagon master for two years; he was in ser- 
 vice in South Carolina, Alabama and Louisiana, 
 and was in a number of prominent battles, re- 
 ceiving a slight flesh wound on the knee. He sur- 
 
 ; rendered with his regiment at Paris, Tenn. , after 
 which he returned to his home and followed his 
 trade. He was a member of the A. F. & A. M. , 
 and was an advocate of churches and schools. Of 
 the nine children born to his marriage, seven lived 
 to be grown, and live still survive. These are 
 
 I named as follows: Thomas H. , Jefferson, M. , J. M. 
 and Mrs. S. E. Jones. Those deceased are: Jas- 
 per W., Mollie, Mattie and an infant. Mrs. Lloyd, 
 with the above mentioned family, came to Arkan- 
 sas in 1871, and part of the family located in 
 Jackson Coimty, while the mother, M. J., J. M. 
 and Mattie, came to Greene County in 1872. 
 Here the mother and Mattie died. John M. Lloyd 
 attained his majority in the county, spending the 
 early part of his life on a farm, and afterward 
 engaged in clerking in a general store. He 
 worked at stave manufacturing for about seven 
 years, being foreman for J. F, Hasty & Sons, for 
 about six months, at Paragould. He located on 
 his present property in 1888, and now has 110 acres 
 under a good state of cultivation, and almost 
 wholly free from stumps. Mr Lloyd chose for his 
 wife, Mrs. S. J. Gramling nee Halley, who was 
 born and reared in Scott County, Ark. Her par- 
 ents, Robert H. and Sarah (Hutchins) Halley, were 
 natives of Virginia and Tennessee, respectively. 
 Robert H. , on leaving his native State, went to 
 Tennessee, and thence to Arkansas, in 1838, where 
 he was married to Mrs. Sarah Crowley, March 10, 
 of the following year. In 1848 they moved to 
 Scott County, Ark., where Mrs. Halley died, Octo- 
 ber 29, 1861. She was born in September, 1819, 
 and was first married to Harrison Crowle}', who 
 died at the age of thirty-tive years, leaving one 
 son, Benjamin (See sketch of B. H. Crowley). 
 Robert H. Halley was born October 25, 1819, and 
 died in the Confederate army, in December, 1868. 
 
 ^' 
 
GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 1 ")<") 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Halloy are the parentH of uiiif chil- 
 dren, two of whom are still living : S. J. and J. 
 M. , the latter living in this county. Mrs. Lloyd 
 was first married to Henry C. Gramliug, who diod 
 in 1882. To Mr. and Mrs. Gramling were born 
 two children: Victoria and Richard C. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Lloyd are members of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church of Paragould. 
 
 William F. Lovejoy is foreman of the Leonard 
 plantation in Greene County, Ark., which is one 
 of the finest in the State, containing 2,000 acres 
 under wire fence, with 600 acres in cultivation. 
 On this farm is a good general store, belonging to 
 Mr. Lovejoy, and a saw and grist-mill and a cot- 
 ton-gin belonging to Mr. Leonard. They are large- 
 ly interested in raising blooded stock, the planta- 
 tion being admirably adapted to this industry, and 
 a specialty is made of raising Poland China and 
 Berkshire hogs. Nineteen dwelling houses are on 
 the place, and the barn, which is 100x85 feet, is 
 one of the best in the State. From 250 to 300 
 acres of land are annually devoted to the culture of 
 cotton, which receives the most of Mr. Lovejoy' s 
 attention. He was born in DeKalb County, Ga. , 
 in 1848, and was the second in a family of five chil- 
 dren born to Samuel and Paulina (Scaife) Lovejoy, 
 who were also Georgians, the father a planter and 
 merchant by occupation. In 184S they moved to 
 Alal)ama and resided on a plantation in that State, 
 and here the mother died, in 1850. The father re- 
 mained there until 1870, when he moved to Phillips 
 County. Ark., in which State he resided until his 
 (loath, in 1883. William F. Lovejoy was reared 
 on a plantation and received his education in the 
 schools of Alabama. While living in that State 
 he was married, in 1864, to Frances Carrington, 
 and at the time of his father's removal to Arkan- 
 sas he and wife came also and engaged in farming 
 and merchandising. He owns a good farm in St. 
 Francis County, but since 1883 he has resided in 
 Greene County, and since 1886 has had charge 
 of Mr. Leonard's farm, which he is conducting in 
 a highly satisfactory manner. Besides his pro|)- 
 erty in St. Francis County he has 160 acres, with 
 forty under cultivation, near Mr. Leonard's farm. 
 He has never been very active in politics, but voti'.s 
 
 the Democratic ticket. In 181)2, while in Alabama, 
 he joined M, M, Slaughter's Company, Bell's Bat 
 talion. Tenth Regiment, Confederate States Army, 
 but became afflictiul with chronic diarrhoea and 
 was honorably discharged. He is a member of 
 the A, F, & A, M,, Brinkley Lodge No. 295. He 
 has seen a great change for the better in Greene 
 County since locating here, and has witnessed 
 the full growth of Rector, and has been the means 
 of opening up more land than any man in Blue 
 Cane Township. He has also done much to in- 
 crease the wealth of the same, and has expended 
 over $10,000 in clearing the large plantation of 
 which he is manager, and which is now one of the 
 most valuable pieces of property in the State. He 
 and wife became the parents of two children, one 
 of whom died in infancy, and the other, Mary 
 Paulina, is the wife of Mr. Bradford, mer- 
 chant and express agent at Brinkley, Ark, ; she 
 is the mother of one child, William Monroe, 
 
 Dr. Robert Lovelady, of Greene County, Ai-k, , 
 and an eminent physician of the community, was 
 born in Hamilton County, Teun, , in 1846, being 
 the second of six children born to Joseph and De- 
 borah (Harris) Lovelady, both of whom are Ten- 
 nesseeans, who emigrated to Northeast Arkansas 
 in 1852, where they entered 200 acres of wild 
 land, which was given Mr, Lovelady as a comjjen- 
 sation for services rendered in the Florida War, 
 Here they made many valuable improvements, and 
 resided until their respe(!tive deaths, the father 
 dying on the 12th of April, 1861, Dr. Robert 
 Lovelady remained with his parents until twenty- 
 one years of age, attending the common .schools: 
 later he began farming for himself, and taught 
 school for a few terms. In 1872 he took up the 
 study of medicine, under the instruction of Dr, C, 
 Wall, continuing with him three years, and then 
 entered the LouisvUle University of ^Medicine, at 
 Louisville, Ky, , which he attended for some little 
 time. After practicing his profession in Greene 
 County for about three years he returned to the col- 
 lege, and was graduated at the end of five months, 
 being the second resident of Crowley's Ridge to 
 graduate in any profession. In 1879 he returned 
 from college and settled in Cache Township, 
 
 Tv" 
 
-IL. 
 
 156 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 where he entered upou the practice of his profes- 
 sion. During this time his patronage has been 
 constantly growing, and he is counted among the 
 most successful professional men of the county. He 
 is well fixed financially, and deserves much credit 
 for the way in which he has succeeded, for on 
 leaving college he had no capital whatever, save a 
 good knowledge of his calling. He is an active 
 worker for the cause of education, aiul has done 
 all he could to raise the standard of the public 
 schools. In 187!) he was married to Miss Maggie 
 A. Morgan, a native of Alabama, who came to 
 Arkansas in 1871, with her mother and stepfather. 
 By her he has three little children: Ethel, Aden B. 
 and Clifford. The Doctor is the owner of a small 
 tract of land near Walcott, on which he has erected 
 a neat cottage and out-buildings, and has set out a 
 considerable number of fruit trees. He and wife 
 are members ot the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Calvin E. McAuley, M. D. The most import- 
 ant science bearing upon man' s happiness, comfort 
 and welfare, is that of medicine, and Dr. McAuley 
 is a credit to the profession. His birth occurred 
 in Carroll County, Tenn. , in April, 1857, and he 
 is the only surviving member of a family of three 
 children, bom to Dr. Enos and Martha (Duke) 
 McAuley, who were born in North Carolina and 
 Tennessee, in 1821 and 1883, respectively. The 
 father was taken by his parents to ('arroll County, 
 Tenn. , when ten years of age, and was reared to 
 manhood in that State on a farm. He gradu- 
 ated from a medical college of Kentucky and in 
 February, 1878, came to Greene Coxinty, Ark., 
 where he died in 1881, having been an active 
 medical practitioner for about thirty-seven years, 
 or since twenty-one years of age. He also taught 
 school in his youth, and socially was a Royal 
 Arch Mason: he was an active member of the 
 Baptist ChiU'ch, to which his wife also belonged. 
 Dr. Calvin E. McAuley attended the common 
 schools of Carroll County, and in 1872 or 1873 
 commenced the study of medicine under his father, 
 and at the age of nineteen began practicing. He 
 entered the Louisville Medical College in 1885, 
 and since July, 1878, has been a very successful 
 practitioner of Greene County, Ark. In 1877 he 
 
 was married to Miss Mary U. Butler, a native of 
 Tennessee, who was born in 1868, and died Decem- 
 ber 17, 1878, having been an earnest member of 
 the Baptist Church. She left one child, Lelah U. 
 The Doctor took for his second wife Miss Mary F. 
 Ledbetter, who was born in Arkansas in 1859, and 
 by her he has three children: Maud L. , Irvin E. 
 and Florence P. Mrs. McAuley is a member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The 
 Doctor belongs to the I. O. O. F. , is an advocate 
 of schools, and a Republican in his political views, 
 and in 1886 was tendered the nomination as repre 
 sentative to the State legislature, but would not 
 accept. After coming to Arkansas he was in part- 
 nership with his father until the latter' s death. 
 
 William J. McBride, one of the independent 
 sons of toil and a successful horticulturist of Hur- 
 ricane Township, Greene County, Ark., was born in 
 Tennessee and came with his parents, Daniel and 
 S. M. (Jones) McBride, to Greene County, Ark., 
 about 1870. He was one of ten children, two 
 of whom were born after their arrival in Greene 
 County. William J. McBride remained on his 
 father's farm until he was nineteen years of age, 
 when he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane 
 Edmondson, daughter of Archibald Edmondson, 
 of Greene County. After marriage he and his 
 wife settled on forty acres, to which he has since 
 added forty more, all improved, this forming one 
 of the be.st farms in the neighborhood. He has by 
 far the finest peach and apple orchard to be found 
 in his section of the neighborhood, last year hav- 
 ing from it 300 to -100 l>ushels, all of which was 
 fed to the hogs with the exception of that used 
 by the family, there being no market for the 
 fruit. To Mr. and Mrs. McBride have been born 
 five children: Matilda E., Daniel S., Malinda .).. 
 Julia C. and William H. Mr. McBride is a mem 
 ber of Evergreen Lodge No. 66. I. O. O. F. , and 
 also of the Agricultural Wheel. He and wife bi> 
 long to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 
 John McHaney, {)lauter and stockman, of 
 Friendship Township, Greene County, Ark. , is a 
 native of Wilson County, Tenn., born on the 22d of 
 June, 1811), being the third in a family of twelve 
 children in the family of William and Sarah (Word) 
 
GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 loT 
 
 JIcHaney, who were Virginians, and among the 
 early pioneers of Tennessee. In the latter State 
 the father was engaged in farming and school- 
 teaching for some time, and in 1840 emigrated 
 to Marion County, 111., where his death occurred 
 ten years later, his excellent wife surviving him 
 nntil 1875, when she too died, at the age of eighty- 
 four years. John McHaney was reared to a farm 
 life, and educated in the common schools of Ten- 
 nessee, and began his independent career as a 
 farmer in Illinois, remaining thus engaged in that 
 State for seven years, when he emigrated to Gib- 
 son County, Tenn., in 1845. After living there 
 until January 1, 1861, he moved to Greene County, 
 Ark. , and settled on the farm where he is now re- 
 siding, purchasing 100 acres of almost totally un- 
 improved land. He has since added to this pur- 
 chase, until he now owns 200 acres of land, with 
 ninety under cultivation, the greater part of which 
 he devotes to raising corn. He has a line orchard, 
 and takes great interest in fruit culture. In 1863 
 he returned to Tennessee, and was there married 
 to Miss Sarah Sims, who was born in Middle 
 Tennessee, being a daughter of Chesley and Mar}' 
 Sims, also Tennesseeans by birth, the original 
 stock coming from North Carolina. He lost his 
 wife in 1870, and the same year was married in 
 Greene County, Ark., to Mrs. Amanda (Allisson) 
 Shearer, who had two children by her former hus- 
 band, both of whom are married. Of seven chil- 
 divn born to Mr. McHaney' s first union only one 
 is now living, Sarah, wife of Mr. Mc(Tlumphy, of 
 Marion County, 111. By his last wife he is the 
 father of four children: John Lafayette, James 
 Thomas, Almeda Alice and Minnie Estelle. The 
 first named died at the age of five years. Mr. 
 McHaney has seen many changes take place in 
 Greene County, and has done his share in devel- 
 oping the same. He was a member of and assisted 
 in organizing the first church in the township, 
 which is now in a nourishing condition. He has 
 been a patron of education, and donated the land 
 for his home school building, and was one of a 
 committee to re-district Greene County, and name 
 the townships, giving the name of Friendship 
 to the township in which he is now living. He 
 
 has been a justice of the peace here for over 
 twenty years. Socially he has been a member of 
 Gainesville Lodge No. 168, in the town of Gaines- 
 ville, and is also a member of the Agricultural 
 Wheel. Mr. McHaney enlisted in the .army in the 
 latter part of 1864, and was captain of Company 
 C, DeVee's Battalion, Kitchens' Division, and 
 oj)erated in Missouri and Arkansas, and was with 
 Price on his raid through Missouri, Indian Terri- 
 tory, Kansas and Arkansas. He left the company 
 at Fort Smith, Ark., and with a number of others 
 returned home and resumed farming. 
 
 LaFayette McHaney is one of the sturdy sons 
 of the soil of Greene County, Ark., who has won 
 his property by the sweat of his brow and by good 
 management. He and his parents, William and 
 Sarah (Word) McHaney, were born in Tennessee, 
 his birth occurring in Wilson County in 1837. 
 When the latter was three years old he was taken 
 by his parents to Marion County, 111., where the 
 father died in 1851 at the age of sixty-six years, 
 and the mother in 1880. aged seventy- nine years. 
 The father was a Democrat and he and wife were 
 members of the Baptist Church. They had a 
 family of thirteen children, ten of whom lived to 
 be grown and seven are yet living. LaFayette was 
 the eleventh child, and attained his majority in 
 Marion County, 111. His youthful days were spent 
 on a farm and in attending the common schools, 
 and after attaining his twenty-second year he 
 taught one term of school of nine months, later 
 o-oinor to Tennessee, whore he was maiTied. In 
 January, 1861, he came to Arkansas and joined 
 the Confederate army, serving as first lieutenant, 
 and was captured on the 4th of July, 1S63. at 
 Helena, Ark., and was taken to Johnson's 
 Island, Ohio, where he was kept a prisoner from 
 August of that year to January, ISC),"), when he 
 was exchanged and returned home. In February, 
 1865, he began teaching school, continuing twenty 
 months, and the rest of his timi> has been devoted 
 to his farm. He first located southeast of (xaines- 
 ville, but in 1881 came to his present farm, of 
 which he has about 200 acres under cultivation. 
 He raises considerable stock. His wife, whose 
 name was Nancv C. Thorne, was l)orn in Tennes- 
 
 :?; 
 
 ^ 
 'T 
 
see. and when a child moved to Gibson County, of 
 the same State, where she was married. The fol- 
 lowing are their children: William W., John T.. 
 Avey Ann (wife of William Russell). John H., 
 Robert L.. Samuel P.. Onia A., Susan A. A., Mel- 
 vin M. . Maude and Claude (twins), and Edward 
 E. Henry L. died from the effects of a fall, at 
 the age of seven years. Mr. McHaney is a Demo- 
 crat, has been a Master Mason for two years, and 
 he and wife are members of the Baptist Church, 
 in which he has been a deacon for twelve years. 
 
 James K. P. McKelvey. whose success in life 
 is mainly diie to his industry and perseverance, 
 coupled with a pleasant, genial disposition, is a na- 
 tive of Franklin County, Tenn., born in 1844, being 
 the son of John and Mary Ann (McKelvey) Mc- 
 Kelvey, natives of South Carolina. The parents 
 came to Franklin County, Tenn.. in their youth- 
 ful days, were reared in that county, and were 
 married there about 1842. In 1850 they moved 
 to Benton County, Tenn., and there remained un- 
 til 1863, when they located in Union County, 111. 
 In the fall of 1865, they came to Lawrence 
 County, Ark., settling on a farm where they re- 
 mained about one year, and afterward moved to 
 Carroll County, thence to Sebastian County, where 
 the father died in 1874, at the age of fifty-five 
 years. He practiced medicine the later part of 
 his life; was a self-made man, and a member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which 
 he was a minister for twenty-two years before his 
 death. He was very successful in administering 
 to the physical as well as the spiritual wants of 
 his fellow-men. and his face was welcomed in the 
 homes of all, and especially in the homes of the 
 sick and aiflicted. He was a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, a Democrat in politics, and a 
 strong advocate of free schools. He was a very 
 popular man, but never aspired to office. The 
 mother is still living in Sebastian County, Ark., 
 on the home place. She was born in 1825, and 
 has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, for many years. To their union 
 were born thirteen children, twelve of whom grew 
 to maturity; Loxiisa E., James K. P., Mary J., 
 Martha F., who died at the age of thirty eight 
 
 years; George N., died at the age of thirtj' years: 
 Elizabeth Ann, William H., Millie H.. John G., 
 died at the age of thirteen years; fsaac N., Joseph 
 T. , Aaron A. and Luther W. Aaron A. is now 
 attending the St. Louis Medical College. James 
 K. P. McKelvey was reared in his native county, 
 and received limited educational advantages. In 
 1864 he commenced farming for himself in Illinois, 
 but one year later returned to Tennessee, to the 
 old home place, where he I'emained until 1873, 
 and then moved to Greene County, Ark. He 
 located west of Gainesville, and soon after went 
 to Sebastian County, to settle the estate of his 
 father, where he remained until the fall of 1876, 
 then returning and settling on his present prop- 
 erty. He has 100 acres under cultivation, and is 
 a thriving, industrious farmer. He was married, 
 in the fall of 1863, to Miss Ferlissa A. Swindle, a 
 native of Tennessee, bom in 1848, and the fruits 
 of this union were ten children, all living: Will- 
 iam T. , a student at the State University of Fay 
 etteville, Ark. ; Italy, John, Alonzo, Horace and 
 Hervey (twins), Adolphus L. , Anna L. , Clara M. 
 and James R. Italy is the wife of L. C. Rudesial. 
 Mr. and Mrs. McKelvey are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which he 
 is local deacon; he was ordained in 1879, and com- 
 menced preaching in 1874. He is a Royal Arch 
 and Master Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge 
 at Gainesville, and has served as Worshipful Mas- 
 ter for several years. He has a dimit from Duval 
 Chapter, No. 65. He is a Democrat in politics. 
 His father was a Union man during the war, and 
 was opposed to secession. Mr. McKelvey is a 
 strong advocate of the free school system, but has 
 never sought political prominence. 
 
 Dr. J. G. McKenzie. Among the many suc- 
 cessful farmers and practitioners of the ' ' healing 
 art" in Greene County, Ark., de.serving of spec- 
 ial mention, is Dr. McKenzie, who was born in 
 Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1851, and is the third in a 
 family of seven children born to Alexander and 
 Jeanette (Patterson) McKenzie, the former of 
 whom was engaged in commercial pursuits, and 
 conducted a boot and shoe factory. The Doctor 
 attended school in his native land until nineteen 
 
 ^' 
 
GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 159 
 
 years of age, then entered tlie Alton Medical 
 Collefje for a course of two years, after wbicli 
 he took a finishing course of six months at the 
 Itush Medical College, in 1878. Subseijuently he 
 emigrated to the United States, and after remain- 
 ing in New York City for some time, made a tour 
 of the great lakes, and settled in Canada for 
 about one year. He then went to the State of 
 Illinois, and engaged in practicing the medical 
 ]irofessiou at Dresdon, in partnership with Dr. 
 Rhodes, making his next move to Cotton Plant, 
 in Southeast Missouri, and about one year later 
 went to Kennett, and was associated with Dr. Har- 
 vey for another year. After following his profes- 
 sion in Northeastern Arkansas for some time he 
 came to his present location about lS7f), purchased 
 one acre of land, erected a residence, and here has 
 since made his home. He has added eight and 
 one half acres to his home lot, and has bought 
 eighty acres of good farming land in one tract, be- 
 sides eighty acres in the Cache River bottoms, 
 making the last purchase in 1887. Fifty acres of 
 land are cleared and under cultivation, and the rest 
 is devoted to stock raising, in which he is quite ex- 
 tensively engaged, making a specialty of horses 
 and mules. The Doctor's practice is very large, 
 and although he has lived in Greene County a 
 comparatively short time, he is well and fav- 
 orably known. He is also doing a commercial 
 l)usiness among his friends and neighbors, and is a 
 stockholder in the First National Bank of Greene 
 County. He votes with the Democratic party, and 
 in 1885 was postmaster of Crowley. In 188G the 
 Doctor mfide a trip to Europe and visited his old 
 home and the Edinburgh Exposition, which was 
 being held at that time. He returned to the 
 United States after al)Out a month fully convinced 
 that this country was the easiest and best in which 
 to acfjuire a competence. He was manied in 
 November. 1878, to Miss Cynthia Ann Pevehouse, 
 a native of Arkansas, and by her is the father of 
 five cliildreu: Willie Alexander, Jessie Odel, who 
 died at the age of six years: James, Maggie and 
 Hoger Q. Dr. McKenzie's father is deceased, but 
 his mother, two sisters and two brothers are living 
 in retirement at Aberdeen. A brother, John G. . 
 
 is chief engineer on a line of steamships sailing 
 between Shanghai and Hong Kong. He also has 
 an uncle who is captain on the ocean, and sails be- 
 tween Liverpool and New Orleans. 
 
 Judge L. L. Mack, attorney at law. The firm 
 of Mack & Son is one of the leading and most 
 influential at the bar in the city of Paragould. and 
 gives strength to the fi'aternity. The gentlemen 
 composing it are admirably adapted to the honor 
 able prosecution of this most exalted of profes- 
 sions, and possess that easy and interested grace of 
 manner not easily acquired by the majority. Judge 
 L. L. Mack was born in Maury County, Tenn., on 
 the 18th of December, 1817, and is the son of Lem- 
 uel D. and Mary (Taylor) Mack, natives of Rock- 
 ingham County, N. C, and of Wake County, N. C, 
 respectively. The parents emigrated to Teimessee 
 when single, were there married and located in 
 Maury County, of that State, where they remained 
 for several years, and then removed to Wayne 
 County, also in that State. In 1851 they removed 
 to (Jreene County, Ark., locating near Gainesville, 
 where they passed the remainder of their days. 
 They lie buried in the cemetery at Gainesville. 
 They were the parents of eleven children, of whom 
 our subject Ls the eldest. He was Iwrii a cripple, 
 and on that account it was thought that he would 
 never amount to anything. He was reared and 
 educated in Maury C!ounty, Tenn.. receiving an 
 ordinary education, ami after his school day's work 
 was over he l)egan the study of law, a part of the 
 time with a preceptor and a portion without any. 
 When in his twenty-first year he was admitted 
 to the bar in Maury County, although living in 
 Wayne County, and practiced in the last named 
 county for about twelve years. In the year 1844 
 he was elected county clerk, and filled this position 
 with credit for four years. He became very 
 prominently identified with the whole section of 
 country for many miles. He was a candidate for 
 the legislature from Wayne County, but was de- 
 feated by forty -four votes. In December. 1850, 
 he landed in Greene County, Ark., with his family, 
 and in October of the following year settled at 
 Gainesville, then the county seat. Here he began 
 the struggle for life and reputation. Previous t« 
 
 'f' 
 
•t 
 
 1C)(I 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 this, in 1844, \w niarried Miss Felicia Cypert, a 
 a sister of Judge Cypert, and became the father of 
 eleven children, nine now living. They are named 
 as follows: Rol)ert P., an attorney; Allen P.. also 
 an attorney; William N. , aj>hysician; Messilla B., 
 wife of P. H. Cren.shaw: EmmaW., wife of Judge 
 James E. Riddiek; McCall, Thomas C. Idella A. ; 
 and Sarah J. After locating in Greene County, 
 Ark., he found his money scarce though a good 
 sized family depended upon him for support. He 
 had a little library and set to work in earnest in the 
 practice of his profession, notwithstanding there 
 was very little to be done in those days. How- 
 ever he held on to what little there was, and in 
 1855 he was elected prosecuting attorney from the 
 First district, and on next election was defeated. 
 In November, 1860, he was elected to the legisla- 
 ture and served during that session, but later i 
 resigned and was a candidate for prosecuting 
 attorney fi-om the Third district. He was elected 
 and served one term. In the year 1865 he was 
 elected circuit judge of the same circuit and 
 went off under reconstruction in 1868. In 1874 
 he was elected circuit judge of the Second circuit 
 without opposition, and held one term of four 
 years. He was re-elected in 1878 and served until 
 1882. Since that time he has turned his attention 
 to his practice. The most of his life has been 
 spent in serving tiie public, and in that capacity 
 he has given entire satisfaction, meriting the 
 respect and admiration of all by his firmness and 
 advancement. As a lawyer he is a ready and 
 fluent speaker, and has l>ut few superiors. A sin- 
 gular, circumstance of the family is that there were 
 eleven children in his father's family, of whom 
 the subject of this sketch is the eldest, and eleven 
 children in the wife's family, she being the young- 
 est. The Judge is also the father of eleven chil- 
 dren. Theie were twenty-three grandchildren 
 born, and twenty-two are living at the present 
 time. Judge Mack is a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity and also the I. O. O. F. He and wife 
 belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Kuf us A. Markham, M. D. , an energetic prac- 
 titioner, is recognized throughout this State as a 
 friend of and laborer in the cause and advance- 
 
 ment of the medical profession, and has acquired 
 a flattering reputation as a physician. He was 
 born in Orange County, N. C. (now Durham 
 County), in 1848, and is a son of Benjamin and 
 Rhoda (Pritchard) Markham, who were born in 
 North Carolina. The father was the eldest of nine 
 children and grew to matiirity in his native State, 
 after which he emigrated we.stward to Tennessee, 
 where he was engaged in teaching school for some 
 time. He returned to the old home place, and at 
 the age of forty years located within three miles 
 of the old home, where he lived until his death, in 
 1866, at the age of sixty-three years, rearing there 
 a family of five children, all of whom are living. 
 His wife was born in 1807 and died in 1861, and 
 she, as well as her husband, was a member of the 
 Baptist Church, the latter being a deacon in the 
 same for twenty years. The grandfather was bom 
 and reared in the Carolinas, and the great grand- 
 father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War: he 
 reared a large family of children. He lived to be 
 over ninety years of age, and had several sons who 
 also lived to extreme old age, one lacking seven 
 days of b(>ing ninety-nine years old at the time of 
 his death. Dr. Rufus A. Markham' s brothers and 
 sisters are as follows: Eliza Ann, Felix G., James 
 D. and Martha J. Dr. Markham remained at 
 home until the death of his parents and acquired a 
 fair education in the district schools and at Dur- 
 ham, N. C. In 1870 he came to West Tennessee 
 and the following year removed to Greene County, 
 Ark. In 1874 he went to Texas, where he en- 
 gaged in teaching school. After returning to Ar- 
 kansas he was appointed, in 1876, to the office of 
 deputy clerk of Greene County. In 1878 he began 
 the study of medicine under Dr. M. V. Cam)), 
 now of Walnut Ridge, Ark., and soon after entered 
 the Missouri Medical College, of St. Louis, from 
 which institution he graduated in 1885, though 
 previous to graduating he bf.d practiced in Greens- 
 boro from 1880 until 1884. After graduating he 
 came to Gainesville, where he has since been en- 
 gaged in the active practice of his profession, and 
 is ranked among the leading ph3'sicians of the 
 county. He was married in the fall of 1880 to 
 Miss Maggie Steadman, who was born in Chatham 
 
.JL S> 
 
 l^ 
 
 GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 Kil 
 
 ("onnty, N. C. in 1845, and died in October, 1888, 
 having become tl>e mother of three children : Ed- 
 ward L. , James C. and Rufus P. The last child 
 died in infancy, soon after the mother's death. 
 She was an active worker and member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. The Doctor is a 
 member of the Baptist Church. He belongs to 
 the A. F. & A. M. , and is in every respect a self- 
 made man. 
 
 W. H. Martin, a fanner of Blue Cane Town- 
 ship, was born in Caldwell County, N. C, in 1832, 
 and is the son of William R. and Anna (Hood) 
 Martin, who were of English and Scotch ancestry 
 respectively, and were natives and farmers of the 
 ••Old North State." W. H. Martin resided in his 
 native State until sixteen years of age, when he left 
 home and went to Union County, 111., where he 
 engaged in the sawmill business as a hand sawyer. 
 He was married there in 1856 to Mary Jane Hart- 
 line, a daughter of John and Margaret (Kendel- 
 mau) Hartline. who were among the pioneer set- 
 tlers of that county and State, from North Caro- 
 lina. The father was a farmer by occupation and 
 died some years ago. The mother is still living. 
 Mr. Martin remained in Illinois until INGti, when 
 he went to Texas, where he purchased an im- 
 proved farm and remained until the fall of IS'iU. 
 Selling his property, he came to Greene County, 
 purchasing an improved farm on Crowley's Ridge. 
 Here his wife died in 1880, having borne a family 
 of six children, three of whom survive: Willis 
 A., Walter L., and Eliza Jane. The latter is the 
 wife of C. L. Sides, and resides on Crowley's 
 Ridge. In the fall of 1880 Mr. Martin married 
 Mrs. J. F. Lewis, a widow of Jacob Lewis, of 
 Stodihud County. Mo.: he was reared in Illinois, 
 where he resided on a farm until 1809, when he 
 came to Greene County, Ark., and l)ought eighty 
 acres of land, which he improved and added to. 
 He was conservative in politics. He died in 1871) 
 and left his widow with two children to care for: 
 William Franklin and Myrtle May. Mr. Martin 
 owns lands to the amoiuit of 480 acres, 200 being 
 under cultivation, and has taken an interest in 
 fruit culture, having on his home farm a tine or- 
 chard. He raises and buys considerable stock. 
 
 and is one of the successful farmers of the county. 
 He votes with the Democratic party, and has been 
 a member of the school board ever since his resi 
 dence in Arkansas. Socially, he is a member of 
 the A. F. & .\. M., Danley Lodge No. 8, and is 
 a member of the Kniglits of Honor, at Rector. He 
 and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist 
 Church, and are the jjarents of one chihl: Edgar 
 C. Mr. Martin has seen many changes in the 
 growth and ])rosperity of the county since coming 
 here; he often wont to Cape Girardeau, a distance 
 of 125 miles, to do his marketing, when now it is 
 only necessary to go a very few miles to obtain all 
 the articles one desires. 
 
 J. R. Miller, deputy circuit and county clerk, 
 and a prominent educator of the county for a num- 
 ber of years, was born in Gordon County, Ga., 
 April 8, 1856, and came to Greene County, Ark., 
 in 1879. His father. W. W. Miller, was a native 
 of South Carolina, where he followed agricultural 
 pursuits for some time, and, when a young man. 
 moved to Georgia. Here he was united in mar- 
 riage to Miss Amelia Erwiii, a native of the last 
 mentioned State and the daughter of James Erwin. 
 The grandparents, Archibald and Hannah Miller, 
 were of English stock. After coming to Greene 
 County, Ark., J. R. Miller engaged in agricultural 
 pursuits, which had been his principal occupation 
 while in Georgia, and h(? has also been occupied in 
 the teacher's profession for several years. He set- 
 tled oh a farm near Gainesville, cultivating sixty 
 acres or more, and has a fine residence. He was 
 married December 26, 1883, to Miss Mattie Hamp- 
 ton, daughter of M. B. and M. C. (Stevenson) 
 Hampton, of Greene County, formerly of Shell)y 
 County, Tenn. One child is the result of this un- 
 ion, a daughter, named Minnie May. The mother 
 of Mr. Miller makes her home with him. In his 
 political views he atHIiates with the Democratic 
 party, and in January. 1889, he was appointed to 
 the position of deputy circuit clerk l>y Mr. T. B. 
 Kitchens. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. South. 
 
 James F. Newberry, apromiiuMit and highly re- 
 spected farmer of Greene County, was born in Ala 
 bama in 1844, and is the son of John Newberry, 
 
who came to this State in 1854. Here he engaged 
 in farming and was for two years justice of the 
 peace. At the breaking out of the Civil War he 
 entered the Confederate service under Gen. Joseph 
 E. Johnston, and was killed in 1862. He reared a 
 family of six children, five sons and one daughter. 
 James F. Newberry was in the Confederate service 
 during the entire war, and was wounded in the left 
 leg. In 1864 he returned to his farm in Greene 
 County, and devoted himself to its improvement. 
 He then owned 100 acres, which he has since in- 
 creased to 425. A part of his farm is under 
 cultivation, and he is also interested in raising 
 cattle and tine mules. He married Marj' Mor- 
 gan, who bore him six children and died in 1880, 
 aged thirty years. He chose as his second wife 
 Mrs. Charity (Dennis) Ross, and to their union 
 have been given four childi-en. The nine chil- 
 dren are: Robert E., born in 1865; Martha C, 
 born in 1867, died in 1880; Sarah F., born in 
 1870; John E., born in 1872; Isabella, born in 
 1874: Laura E. , born in 1881; James J., born 
 in 1883, died in 1884: Jennie B., born in 1885, 
 and Myrtle G., born in 1887, died in 1889. Mr. 
 Newberry is a stanch Democrat in politics, and 
 he and his wife are popular in the community 
 in which they live. 
 
 W. C. Newberry is in every way worthy of 
 being classed among the prosperous planters of 
 Greene County, Ark. He was born in Weakley 
 County, West Tenn., in 1852, and was the sixth 
 of eleven children born to Samuel and Nancy 
 (Trantham) Newberry, the former a native of 
 North Carolina, and the latter of Tennessee. In 
 1854 they moved to Greene County, Ark., and 
 settled near the farm on which W. C. Newberry 
 is now residing, where they entered land and re 
 sided until their respective deaths, the father's 
 demise occurring in February, 1874, and the 
 mother's in 1883. They took quite an important 
 part in the early history of the country, and the 
 father assisted in organizing the county. W. C. 
 Newberry received his early education in the dis- 
 trict schools of Greene County, and aided at home 
 in opening up his father's farm. He was married 
 in Greene County, in 1872, to Miss Martha Jane 
 
 McHaney, who was born in Arkansas, and is a 
 daughter of John and Sally (Sims) McHaney. 
 Tennesseeans. Mr. Newberry soon located on his 
 present farm of 120 acres, about tifty five acres of 
 which he has cleared and put under cultivation. 
 He has added to his original purchase until he now 
 has 200 acres of as good land as there is in the 
 county, with 110 under the plow, the principal 
 products of which are corn and cotton. Mr. New- 
 berry is inde])endent in jiolitics, and is not an office- 
 seeker. In 1874 he lost his wife, and four years 
 later he was married to Mary H. Hartso, of Arkan- 
 sas. His first union was blessed by one sou, 
 Samuel; and his last by four children: Luther, 
 Clifton, Charley and Tuler. His wife is a daugh- 
 ter of William and Sarah (McFarland) Hartso, 
 who came to Arkansas at an early day. The 
 father is still living, but the mother is deceased. 
 Mr. Newberry has been active in aiding <ill laud- 
 able enterprises, and is one of the self made men 
 of the county. 
 
 John Nntt, fanner and stock raiser, of Greene 
 County, Ark., is one of its foremost men in the 
 support of all measures for its progress and devel- 
 opment. He was born in Shelby County, Tenn. , 
 and grew to manhood on his father's farm, there 
 receiving his education in the county schools. 
 His father. William Nutt, was a native of Alabama, 
 and moved from that State to Tennessee in 1827. 
 There he engaged very successfully in farming, 
 and, being a minister of the gospel, devoted much 
 time to his Master's cause. He reared a family 
 of eleven children, four of whom are yet living. 
 All his life he was faithful to his ideas of right 
 and duty, and died in 1844. John Nutt has dur- 
 ing his life engaged in farming, and now owns 520 
 acres of splendid land in this county, and 600 acres 
 in Lawrence County. He has given some attention 
 to stock-raising, and now has many good horses and 
 mules. To him and wife have been born six chil 
 dren, and five of them have grown to manhood 
 and womanhood. They are three sons and two 
 daughters: William C. , George W., Sampson M. , 
 Lavina E. and Nancy Ann. Mr. Nutt is a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic order, and he and wife are 
 worthy members of the Baptist Church. 
 
 ^^ 
 
GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 H)8 
 
 John M. Nutt. The fine quality of the soil in 
 (Ireene County, Ark. , added to energy and good 
 management, ha.s placed Mr. Nutt among the pros- 
 perous farmers of the community. He was boru 
 on the old homestead near his own farm on the 
 14th of January, 1863, being the eleventh of four- 
 teen children born to W. G. and Sarah (Ellis) 
 Nutt, the former a native of Alabama, and the 
 latter of Maryland. The father came with his 
 parents to what is now Greene County in 1839, 
 and settled with them on a farm near Gainesville, 
 where the parents died. He was married in 
 Greene County and became a very wealthy farmer, 
 being the owner of 2, 500 acres of land, with 600 
 acres under cultivation. He always votes with 
 the Democratic party, and socially is a member of 
 Gainesville Lodge No. 168. He is a member of 
 the Baptist Church, and his wife is a Methodist. 
 The maternal grandfather was a very early resi- 
 dent of Arkansas, and was a soldier in the Mexican 
 war. John M. Nutt has always resided in Greene 
 County, and in liis youth attended the common 
 schools; this with a few years spent at Howell, Mo., 
 has enabled him to successfully cope with tickle 
 fortune. When first starting out in life for him- 
 self he began tilling the soil on the farm where he 
 now lives, his acreage amounting to 167 J, eighty 
 acres being under the plow. The most of this he 
 cleared himself, and nOw has one of the best farms 
 in the county. He was married in Greene County 
 in 1887 to Miss Lulu, a daughter of W. G. But- 
 ternut aud wife, nee Skiles, all being natives of 
 Tennessee, who came to Greene County in 1871. 
 The parents are living in the county. Mr. Nutt 
 always votes the Republican ticket, but is not a 
 seeker after office, and has ever been deeply inter- 
 ested in educational matters. His wife is a mem- 
 ber of the Baptist Church. Their union has been 
 blessed in the birth of one child : Ivery. 
 
 John Odam is of the mercantile firm of McCon- 
 nell & Odam, Parat;ould. In scannine the sketches 
 of Greene County, Ark., one fact must strike the 
 reader with peculiar force: the high standing at- 
 tained by its business men. It is known to have 
 a thoroughly (pialified business population, and 
 Mr. Odam is a leading light among the number. 
 
 He was born in Hardin County, 111.. August Ti, 
 1832, and received such educational advantages as 
 the schools of those days afforded. Until thirty- 
 three years of age he assisted his father on the 
 
 ; farm, and then went to Crittenden County, Ky., 
 
 i where he was engaged in the hotel and lumber 
 business for about ten years. After this he went 
 to Dyer County, Tenn., there following saw- 
 milling, having a mill built on a steamboat, and 
 
 I taking the timber from the river. He was also 
 occupied in merchandising for about four years. 
 In January, 1888, he came to Paragould, Ai-k. , 
 where he bought his present property and immedi- 
 ately embarked in the mercantile business under 
 the present firm name. He carries a good stock 
 of general merchandise and has a thriving trade. 
 He was married in 1S62, but lost his wife the fol- 
 
 I lowing year. He is a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity, having joined that order in 1862. Mr. 
 Odam's parents, Cleyburn and Mary (McConnell) 
 Odam, were natives of Middle Tennessee and 
 Maysville, Ky. , respectively. The mother emi- 
 grated from Kentucky to Illinois in 1816, when 
 the last named State was a Territory, and the 
 father came to the same State about 1 820. They 
 were mai-ried there and located in Hardin County, 
 where the father successfully cultivated the soil. 
 He died August 5, 1834, of Asiatic cholera. In 
 their family were two children: John and Sarah, 
 wife of Thomas McConnell. After the death of her 
 husband Mrs. Odam married Mr. Commodore P. 
 Tadlock, by whom she had five children, three 
 now living: Edward J., Jonathan L., and Nancy J. 
 The mother died in 1858. 
 
 John O'Steen, ex-county and probate judge, 
 and merchant, Paragould. In these days of 
 money-making, when life is a constant struggle 
 between right and wrong, it is a pleasure to lay 
 before an intelligent reader the unsullied record 
 of an honorable man. To the youthful it will be 
 a useful lesson— an incentive to honest industry. 
 John O' Steen was born in Panola County. Miss., 
 on Ajn-il 27, 1845, and is the son of Harvey and 
 Elizabeth (True) O'Steen, both of Scotch origin. 
 The parents were married in Alaliania, and in 
 1834 removed to Panola County, Miss., wher- tli.' 
 
® fc^ 
 
 KU 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 mothor died in 1S52. Tlip father passed his last 
 days in Craighead County, Ark., dying there in 
 1865. Of the seven children born to this mar- 
 riage, three are now living: Mary, wife of W. G. 
 Starling; John, and Samuel. The father was a 
 blacksmith, and also a gunsmith, which occupation 
 he followed up to the time of his death. John 
 O'Steen was partly reared and educated in Panola 
 County, Miss., but moved with his father to Craig- 
 head County, Ark., in 18511. He went to work in 
 the shop, learning the gunsmith trade of his father, 
 and now has the reputation of being the finest 
 gunsmith in Northeast Arkansas. In 1862, during 
 the late war, he was very anxious to become a sol- 
 dier, but could not obtain the consent of his par- 
 ents. His mind was so wrapi)ed up in it that, 
 notwithstanding all obstacles, he ran away from 
 home, and enlisted in Capt. Adair's company, 
 serving about three years. He was in several hard 
 skirmishes, but, on account of being a cripple, he 
 could not keep up with his command, and in con- 
 sequence was captured by scouts, who kept him in 
 custody about two weeks. In 1870 he chose for 
 his partner in life Miss Bethany A. Jones, a native 
 of Alabama, and the fruits of this union were two 
 children: Mary A. and Nora Inez. The same year 
 of his marriage Judge O'Steen came to Greene 
 County. Ark., and carried on his trade until 1888. 
 when he sold out. and engaged in the mercantile 
 business, which he still continues. He was elected 
 probate and county judge in 1882, and re-elected 
 in 1884 and 1886. thus serving six successive 
 years. Prior to his election he served four years 
 as justice of the peace, and served one term as 
 constable. Judge O'Steen is one of the prominent 
 men of Greene County, and may be counted among 
 the pioneers, having been a resident here for thirty 
 years. He is the owner of 16(1 acres of land, with 
 about forty acres under cultivation. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic fraternity, and also of the I. 
 O. O. F. 
 
 Eugene Parrish. of the law firm of Crowley & 
 Parrish. was born in Dover, Stewart (Jonnty, Tenn., 
 and is the son of Abraham P. and Mary M. (In- 
 gram) Parrish, natives respectively of Virginia and 
 Tennessee. Abraham P. Parrish emigrated to 
 
 Tennessee when quite small, grew to manhood in 
 that State, and there received a liberal education. 
 For many years before the war he ran a fvu'nace at 
 Dover, Tenn., but during that eventful period he 
 was financially crippled and retired to a farm in 
 Humphreys County, on the banks of the Tennessee 
 River, where he is residing at the present time. 
 He is now in his seventy second year. The mother 
 died when Eugene Parrish was quite young. Of 
 the children born to this marriage, two are now 
 living: Charles and Eugene. After the death of 
 his first wife Mr. Parrish, was married again and 
 became the father of three children: Lamar, 
 Walter L. and Daisy. Grandfather Parrish was 
 a soldier in the Revolutionary War. and died in 
 Virginia. Eugene Parrish was princijiall)' i^eared 
 in Tennessee, and received his education at West 
 Kentucky College and at the University of Ohio, ob- 
 taining the means to prosecute his studies by teach- 
 ing school between terms until he completed his 
 education. He was admitted to the bar at Jonesboro 
 in 18S4, located at Wittsburg, Cross County, and 
 there remained until June, 1885, when ho settled 
 at Paragoiild, Ark. He was associated with J. D. 
 Block, present prosecuting attorney at Wittsburg, 
 and, on coming to Paragould, he formed a partner- 
 ship with B. H. Crowley, the present senator of 
 the First district, and a very noted and prominent 
 man. This law firm has one of the finest libraries 
 in Northeast Arkansas, and both members are men 
 of ability. Mr. Parrish is a self made, self-edu- 
 cated man. and is well fitted for the profession he 
 has chosen. 
 
 Seth W. Peebles, one of the many successful 
 agriculturists and stock raisers of Greene County, 
 Ark., and one who has attained wealth by the 
 sweat of his brow, is classed among the prosper- 
 ous men of the county. He was born in North 
 Carolina in 1825, and is the eldest one of the 
 family of six children born to the marriage of 
 Wyatt and Nancy (Biggs) Peebles, who were born 
 in North Carolina and emigrated to Virginia, where 
 they were engaged in husbandry. The mother 
 died in that State, and subsequently the father 
 emigrated to Greene County, Ark., and in 1842 
 settled near Greensboro, where he became well and 
 
favorably known, and served as sheriff of the 
 county six years. He died in December, 1876. 
 Seth W. Peebles has been familiar with farm life 
 from earliest youth, and received his education in 
 the schools of Virginia. He began his independent 
 career as a farmer in 1846, in Tennessee, and was 
 married there in December of the following year 
 to Miss Catherine Mingle, a native of Virginia, and 
 a daughter of William and Rebecca (Kagley) Min- 
 gle, who were also Virginians and early emigrants 
 to Tennessee, in which State the father died. His 
 wife's death occurred in Arkansas in 1864. Mr. 
 Peebles became a resident of Greene County, Ark., 
 in 1855, and in 1859 bought a partially improved 
 farm in Union Township, consisting of 160 acres, of 
 which he improved and cleared forty acres. Besides 
 this property he owns the old homestead of 117 
 acres, sixty of which are under cultivation. He has 
 always been interested in [wlitics and has aflMiated 
 with the Democratic party, but is not an office- 
 seeker. He has been a member of the school 
 board several times and assisted in the re- organiza- 
 tion of the townships. In 1872 his wife died, 
 having borne a family of six children: Nancy Jane, 
 Rebecca E., who died in February, 1S77, the wife 
 of Joel Dollins; George W., who died in 1886; ! 
 John M., who died in October, 1878; Sarah Ann. 
 wife of J. P. Walls, who died in 1880; and James 
 L.. who also died in 1880. In 1863 Mr. Peebles 
 enlisted in Company K. Seventh Missouri Con- 
 federate cavalry, and was with Price on his raid 
 through Missouri, Kansas, etc. He was wounded I 
 in the Mine Creek light in Kansas, receiving a gun- 
 shot through the right lung. Since the war he 
 has been engaged in farming. He is a consistent 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 Wiley Pevehouse. In giving a sketch of this 
 gentleman it is but fair to say that he is one of the 
 prominent farmers of Greene County, Ark., and 
 that h(> is a man of sound judgment and unim- 
 j)eachable honesty. He was born on Crowley's 
 Ridge, in Greene County, on the '2d of July, 1828, 
 being the second child born there, his brother 
 William, whose birth occurred April 7, 1826, hav- 
 ing been tirst. He was the fourth child of Abraham 
 and Polly (Crowley) Pevehouse, who came to 
 
 Arkansas at an early day. [For a history of the 
 Crowley family see sketch of Hon. B. H. Crowley. ] 
 After spending a year on Black River they came 
 to Crowley's Ridge, and made the first settlement 
 in Northeast Arkansas. The paternal grandjiar 
 ents were of Virginia stock, and moved from that 
 State to South Carolina, and thence to Kentucky, 
 of which section they were pioneers, about 1822 
 coming to Arkansas. The parents of our subject 
 died about 1835, and from that time up to man- 
 hood he made his homo with his grandfather, Ben- 
 jamin Crowley. The latter was a very extensive 
 farmer and stock raiser, and Mr. Pevehouse drove 
 stock all the way to St. Louis, and later to Mem- 
 phis and Helena. During his childhood he de- 
 pended on his own resources for a livelihood and 
 hunted and sold his furs and hides, and later 
 farmed in a small way. When about twenty years 
 of age he entered land, subsequently buying small 
 tracts from time to time, and in the spring of 18()1 
 sold out aiid went to Scott County, where he re- 
 mained about eighteen months, then returning to 
 the Cache bottoms. When some twenty-five years 
 of age he w;w married to Miss Margaret Ca])ps. a 
 native of Arkansas, whose family were early set 
 tiers in this section. She died in 1858, leaving 
 two children: Sarah, who married a Mr. Harris, 
 and died soon after, and Cynthia Ann, wife of Dr. 
 McKinzie, now living at Crowley. Mr. Pevehouse 
 took for his second wife Miss Frances Bowman, 
 whom he married in 1860. Her death occurred on 
 the 13th of October, 1870. She and Mr. Peve- 
 house were the parents of the following children; 
 William, who is married and resides in Lawrence 
 County; Lucy Jane, the wife of George Gramling; 
 John P., who died on the 81.st of March. 1SS8. at 
 the age of twenty-two years: and Mary Elizabeth. 
 February 16, 1873, Mr. Pevehouse married Mrs. 
 Sarah Ann (Cooper) Allen, a native of Mississi])pi, 
 who was reared in Tennessee, and came to Arkansas 
 with her fiist husband, settling in Lawrence 
 {'ouiity. In 1876 he purchased his ])resent pro]i 
 erty of 160 acres, of which al>out five acres wen' 
 cleared, and now has ninety-five acres in a tiIlHl>ii' 
 condition and well imju'oved with good buildings, 
 orchard, etc. His principal crops are corn and 
 
16() 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 cotton, and he gives much attention to stock 
 raising of a good grade, and also to the culture of 
 bees. He is public spirited, and has held the 
 offices of de[)uty sheriff and county clerk. In 
 1864 he enlisted in the Confederate army, and 
 was with Price on his raid through Missouri, but 
 being in poor health was left at Boonville. where 
 he received good attention, and was soon after 
 paroled and retm-ned home. The close of the war 
 left him destitute, and since that time he has made 
 his present property. 
 
 I. H. Pillow, deputy sheriff, farmer and stock 
 raiser of Greene County, Ark. , is a native of Giles 
 County, Tenn., where he was born in 1851, being 
 a son of Levi and Elizabeth (Willcockson) Pillow, 
 also natives of that State. They came to Greene 
 County, Ark., in 1851, settling on the farm 
 on which the subject of this sketch is now living. 
 The father made some valuable improvements on 
 his place of 320 acres, and at the time of his death, 
 in 1862, had cleared thirty acres from timber. In 
 1862 he enlisted in Capt. Clemens" company. Gen. 
 Pillow's brigade, and at the tight at Fort Pillow 
 became overheated, from the effects of which he 
 died seven days latei-. He was a Democrat polit- 
 ically, a Methodist in religious belief, and was a 
 man always noted for his public spirit and benevo- 
 lence. He left a widow and three children to 
 mourn his loss, the names of the latter being: I. 
 H., Sina M., wife of F. F. Martin, a farmer of 
 Greene County, and Sarah A. , wife of N. A. 
 Danley, also u farmer of Greene County. Mrs. 
 Pillow was left to care for her cliildren with but 
 little means, but with the aid of her son, she suc- 
 ceeded in doing well for them. I. H. Pillow re- 
 ceived only a limited education in his youth, but, 
 assisted by his mother, witli subsequent api)lica- 
 tiou he has become a practical and intelligent 
 business man. December 28, 1872, he was mar- 
 ried to Miss Martha, a daughter of Absalom and 
 Mary (Cobal) Arn(^I, Teunesseeans, and by hor be- 
 came the father of two chUdi-en; Mary E. and 
 Annie Elnora. Mrs. Pillow died on the 29th of 
 September, 1875, and November 26, 1876, he 
 wedded Mrs. Martha (Newsom) Wood, a daughter 
 of Henry and Grace A. Newsom, natives of Mis- 
 
 sissippi. To this last marriage four children have 
 been born: Ida Lee, Joseph Henry, Thomas A. 
 and Charley. Ninety acres of his 160-acre farm are 
 under cultivation, and well improved and culti- 
 vated. His orchard is large and well selected and 
 his crop is usually extensive. He is interested in 
 stock-breeding, and has a fine Norman and Morgan 
 stallion. His cattle are of the Durham breed, and 
 his hogs are Berkshire and Jersey. During the 
 fall, for the past fifteen years, he has oi)erated a 
 threshing machine. Mr. Pillow, his wife, and two 
 daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, in which he is a class leader, and in his 
 political views he is a stanch Democrat, having 
 been elected on that ticket, in 1887, to the office of 
 deputy sheriff, which position he has very accept 
 ably filled up to the present time. 
 
 Robert \V. Pruet, a well known and successful 
 farmer of the county, was born in East Tennessee 
 in 1825, and is the third in a family of fifteen 
 children born to Willis and Mary (Williams) Pruet, 
 who were also Tennesseeans, the paternal and 
 maternal grandparents being from North Carolina 
 and Virginia, respectively. Grandfather Pruet 
 was a participant in the Creek war, and was at the 
 battle of Horseshoe Bend. The maternal grand- 
 parents lived to be very old, reaching the age of 
 ninety and one hundred years. Willis Pruet was an 
 extensive land holder in Tennessee, and dealt in 
 stock, being a prominent and influential citizen of 
 his time. He died in August, 1850. Robert A\'. 
 Pruet was reared to farm labor, attended the com- 
 mon schools, and after attaining his majority en- 
 gaged in stock dealing, and also kept a country store 
 for some time. In 1851 be was married to a Miss 
 Stuart, a native of Illinois, and in 1853, in com 
 pany with three brothers, came to Northeast Ar- 
 kansas and settled in Greene County, where he 
 entered 120 acres, on which he at once located 
 and began improving. In 1858 he sold his pro[)- 
 erty with the intention of going to Texas, but in- 
 stead purchased 160 acres of wild land in St. 
 Francis Township, 100 acres of which he now has 
 under excellent cultivation, furnished with good 
 buildings and orchards. He devotes the most of 
 his land to general farming, and raises cotton, corn, 
 
-IL. 
 
 GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 IftT 
 
 and the smaller grains, the land yielding a good 
 average. He is trying to improve his stock and is 
 going to cross his cattle with Jersey. In 1872, in 
 jsartnership with his brother, C D. Pruet, he 
 opened a general store on his brother's fcarm, ami 
 they carried on an extensive business for many 
 years. In 1862 he and two brothers, with several 
 brothers in-law, enlisted in the Twenty-fifth Ar- 
 kansas Infantry, but he served only seven months, 
 when he was discharged on account of illness, at 
 Georgetown, Ky. In 1870 Mrs. Pruet died, and 
 for several years Mr. Pruet resided with his 
 brother. In 1877 he married Frances Owens, who 
 was born in West Tennessee, though reared in Ar- 
 kansas, to which State she was brought by her 
 father. Dr. Owens, who practiced in this vicinity 
 for a number of years, and died from an accidental 
 fall from his horse. Mr. Pruet is an active 
 worker in church and school matters, and is a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
 the building in which he worships being on ground 
 donated by himself; this was erected by means 
 contributed mostly by the Pruet brothers. Mr. 
 Pruet is one of the original members of the first 
 church organized in this section in 1858. 
 
 W. S. Pruet. Prominent among the much es- 
 teemed and respected citizens of Paragould stands 
 the name of Mr. Pniet, who was born in Koane 
 County, Tenn. , September 27, 1829, and who is 
 the son of Willis and Polly E. (Williams) Pruet, 
 natives also of Roane County, Tenn. Willis Pruet 
 was a very successful man, both as a farmer and 
 speculator. He died in Memphis in 1851, while 
 there on business. The mother died in ISdO. in 
 Greene County, Ark. Their family consisted of 
 fifteen children, nine of whom lived to be grown, 
 but only two now living: Robert and Willis S. 
 The paternal and maternal grandparents were na 
 tives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively, 
 and were early settlers of Tennessee. The pater- 
 nal great-grandfather was in the Indian wars. 
 M'illis S. Pruet. the subject of this sketch, was 
 reared on a farm in Roane Count}'. Tenn., and in 
 that county received his education. In 1857 he 
 came to Greene County, Ark. . when there were 
 very few settlers, and when the city of Gainesville 
 
 was represented by one business house and a clap- 
 board hotel. He located about four miles south 
 of what is now Paragould, on a farm in the forest, 
 put up a little house, built of poles with clapboard 
 roof, and lived in this style for about eighteen 
 months, when his cabin burned down. He then 
 put up a good log house, and lived there until 
 1869, when he moved to his present location, join- 
 ing the town of Paragould. He bought 27 1 acres 
 of laud along the railroad, and the principal part 
 of the town lies on his land. When he first came 
 to the county he had but $ 1 . 50, and neither a cow 
 nor horse; but ho was determined to make a start, 
 and by his industry and perseverance has accom 
 plished his pur|)ose, and is now one of the sub- 
 stantial men of the locality. He has about 600 
 acres of good land, and is also the owner of con 
 siderable town proi)erty in Paragould. He con- 
 tributes liberally to all worthy enterprises, and has 
 been active in his endeavors to build up the town. 
 In 1851 he married Miss Elizabeth Tucker, a na- 
 tive of Alabama, by whom he has three children 
 living: Julia, Sarah and Theresa. In 1862 Mr. 
 Pruet enlisted in Capt. Pruet' s company, and 
 served for three years. He was at the battles of 
 Farmington, Murfreesboro, Richmond, Shiloh arid 
 Jackson, Miss., and carried his brother, who was 
 severely wounded, twice from the battle-field. He 
 is a member of the lirm of D. D. Hodges & Co.. 
 merchants of Paragould; is also dealing consider- 
 ably in stock, and it may be noted that Mr. Pruet 
 has been, and is. a leading spirit of the place. 
 He and wife are members of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. 
 
 (Japt. Charles D. Pruet (deceased) was one of 
 four brothers who came from Tennessee to Arkan- 
 sas in 1857. and engaged in farming and stock 
 raising, and various other enterprises. He was 
 born in Roane County, Tenn., in 1827, and was 
 married on the 28d of January, 1847, to Miss 
 Caroline M. Nelson. After coming to Greene 
 County, Ark., he entered a tract of laud on which 
 he located and began improving. In 1S62 he 
 joined the Confederate forces, being lieutenant <>f 
 his company, and was soon after advanced to the 
 rank of captain, and was in the army twenty two 
 
mouths, participating in the most of the battles in 
 which the Army of the Cuuil)erland was enj^ageil. 
 He was wounded in the engagement at Chicka- 
 manga, and also at Mnrfreesboro, so severely in 
 the latter battle that he was compelled to re- 
 turn home. In 1870 he embarked in mercantile 
 ])ursuits on his farm, in partnership with his 
 brother Robert, and did a thriving business there 
 for ten years. In the fall of 1882 he started a 
 general store in the then new town of Paragould. 
 being one of the first merchants of the place, and 
 was alone in business until 1886, when he formed 
 a partnership with D. D. Hodges, and the firm 
 name was changed to C. D. Pruet & Co.. remain- 
 ing as such until Mr. Pruet' s death on the 20th 
 of August. 1887. He was a prominent Mason, 
 and was buried \>y that order. He operated a 
 cotton gin on his farm for many years, and was 
 engaged in stock raising and dealing. He left a 
 fine farm of over 500 acres, the most of which was 
 in a high state of cultivation, and also left behind 
 him a name that will long be remembered, for he 
 was honest, industrious and enterprising, and 
 known to be a stanch supporter of church and 
 educational institutions. He was well-known 
 throughout the country as a man of unimpeachable 
 honesty, and was possessed of exceptionally fine 
 business qualifications, and natural characteristics 
 which won the respect of all. He contributed 
 the most of the means for the erection of a church 
 near his home, and ilid much to build up the town 
 of Paragould. being one of the best business men 
 of the place. He was followed to his long home 
 by numerous friends and neighbors who had 
 known and loved him in life, and is now sleeping 
 in the cemetery near the scene of his greatest 
 usefulness. He was married in 1875 to Miss Irene 
 McElwee. a native of Tennessee, who came to 
 Arkansas with her mother in 1878. Her father, 
 Samuel McElwee. was an extensive farmer and 
 died in 18B5. Mrs. Pruet" s mother resides with 
 her on the homestead in Arkansas. 
 
 George M. Rosengrant, manufacturer of lum- 
 ber and cooperage, Paragould. Ark. The business 
 interests of this portion of the country are well 
 represented by the subject of this sketch, George 
 
 M. Rosengrant, who bas been located long enough 
 at this i)lace to become firmly established. He 
 was born in Wyandot County. Ohio, in October, 
 1855, and is the son of James and Lenora (Con- 
 nor) Rosengrant, both natives of the Buckeye 
 State. The father was a large stock dealer, and 
 is now deceased. George M. Rosengrant grew to 
 manhood in Guernsey County, of his native State, 
 received his education in the common schools, and 
 subsequently attended the college at Antrim, Ohio. 
 At the age of sixteen he began to learn telegraphy, 
 which he continued for five years for the Pennsyl- 
 vania Railroad Company. He then engaged in 
 the lumber business in Wyandot County, Ohio, 
 where he caiTied on a good trade until 1884, when 
 he came to Greene County, Ark., and located at 
 Paragould. Here he established his present busi- 
 ness and has been occupied in the manufacture of 
 lumber ever since. He added the cooperage de- 
 partment in the winter of 1888. He runs a large 
 mill and employs on an average fifty men. In the 
 year 1883 he chose Miss Kitty Jurenall, a native 
 of Wyandot County, Ohio, for his companion in 
 life. Mr. Rosengrant averages about $75,000 
 annually from his mill business, and aside from 
 this he is the owner of 5,000 acres of land, all of 
 which has valuable timber thereon. He is a sub- 
 stantial, representative business man, is a member 
 of the Knights of Pythias, and a progressive, en- 
 terprising citizen of the county. 
 
 T. T. Ross. Few men have attained greater 
 prominence in Greene County, in a social as well as 
 business point of view, than has Mr. Ross, who by 
 his pleasant and courteous manner has made many 
 friends and built up a successful trade. He was 
 born in Kentucky, in 1826, and is the son of Caleb 
 and Alifal (Hutchison) Ross, and the grandson of 
 William Ross, who was born in Maryland, and 
 came to Kentucky at an early day. Caleb Ross was 
 also a native of Maryland, and was there married 
 to Miss Hutchison. T. T. Ross left his native 
 State in 1873, emigrating to Greene Coimty. Ark., 
 and locating on a farm two miles north of where 
 Marmaduke is now standing. This land he opened 
 up and improved eighty acres, erected buildings and 
 remained on the same for about five years, when he 
 
sold out and moved to the village of Marmadvike. 
 Here he has since been engaged in merchandising, 
 and has built up a good trade. Ho has a conven- 
 ient, substantial building for that purpose, two 
 stories high, the upper portion of which is used for 
 a dwelling. He was married, in Kentucky, to Miss 
 Martha Coles Otey, who died, leaving two chil- 
 dren: C. H. , who resides in Greene County, mar- 
 ried, and the father of two children; and Susan, 
 who married L. C. Harvey, a farmer of Greene 
 County, and has two children. Mr. Ross was 
 married to the sister of his lirst wife. Miss Eliza- 
 beth Otey, and they are the parents of three chil- 
 dren: Frances Orlena, wife of James Stone, re- 
 sides one and a half miles from Marmaduke and 
 has four childj-en; Margaret A., wife of A. B. Har- 
 vey, is living in Marmaduke and keeps the hotel, 
 also being engaged in farming, and has live chil- 
 dren; and W. A., a merchant of Marmaduke. Mr. 
 Ross is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and 
 Evergreen Lodge of the I. O. O. ¥. He has been a 
 member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church 
 since eighteen years of age. 
 
 Dr. Jefferson Davis Sibert, an eminent physician 
 of Walcott, Greene County, Ark., was born in Ala- 
 bama in 1858 and is the youngest of a family of six 
 childien, born to the marriage of Henry Sibert and 
 Dorcas Edwards, who were also born in Alabama, 
 the former being an extensive farmer and mer- 
 chant. The paternal grandfather, David Sibert, 
 was engaged in farming in South Carolina and was 
 a soldier in the Indian wars. He removed to Ala- 
 bama in 1834 and bought extensive tracts of land 
 in the northeast part of that State, on which he 
 died in 1874 at the extreme old age of 100 
 years. The maternal grandfather, Jesse Edwards, 
 came to Alabama and also settled in the northeast 
 part of the State. He purchased his lauds from 
 the Indians, and was one of the most extensive real 
 estate holders of the State. His death occurred 
 in 1868. Henry Sibert, the father of our subject, 
 was reared on a farm and did much to improve 
 the large tracts of land bought by his father. At 
 the breaking out of the late Civil War ho enlisted 
 in the Third Alabama and .served throughout the 
 struggle, thirteen months of this time being spent 
 I I 
 
 in prison. His uncle, Jeptha Edwards, was a col- 
 onel in the Mexican War, also in the late war, and 
 has represented his county in the State legisla- 
 ture, being a well known citizen of Alabama. After 
 the war Mr. Sibert engaged in farming and mer- 
 cantile pursuits, and he and wife are now residing 
 on the old homestead in Northeast Alabama. At 
 the age of fourteen years. Dr. Jefferson Davis Si- 
 bert entered Andrews' Institute and finished a 
 course of five years, after which h<^ immediately 
 began the study of medicine, entering the medical 
 department of the Vanderbilt I'niversity, at Nash 
 ville, Tenn., in 1880, and graduating as an M. D. 
 in 1882. In the spring of that year he commenced 
 practicing his profession near his old home, but 
 came to Greene County, Ark. , at the end of one 
 year. After residing here a year, he returned 
 to his native State and practiced three years. Since 
 that time he has j)ermanently located at Walcott, 
 Ark., where he enjoys a large practice, and is be- 
 coming well known in this, as well as other counties. 
 He has a pleasant home in the town and is highly 
 esteemed by his neighbors. In 1 887 he was united 
 in marriage to Miss Victorine Crowley, a daughter 
 of Capt. Crowley, whose sketch appears in this 
 work. By her he has one child, a bright little 
 daughter named Eleanor. The Doctor has two 
 brothers who are practicing physicians of Alabama, 
 and another brother who is an extensive farmer 
 and stock raiser of that State. 
 
 Joseph P. Smelser is classed among the worthy 
 and leading tillers of the soil of Greene County, 
 of which he is a native, having been born in 1858. 
 He was a son of John W. and Nancy (Clark) Smelser, 
 who were born on Kentucky soil and in Tennessee, 
 respectivelj-. They came to Greene County, Ark. . 
 on the 6th of May, 1836, and located in Cache 
 Township, where the paternal grandfather, Abra- 
 ham Smelser, settled on a tract of wild land and 
 opened up 100 acres. He and wife reared a large 
 family of children, and both died of smallpox in 
 1863. John W. Smelser was their oldest child, 
 and attained his majority in this section of the 
 country. In 1864 he joined Price in his raid 
 through Missouri, but since the war has given his 
 attention to farming and merchandising at Crow- 
 
170 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ley, he aud wife being memljers of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church at that place. To them were 
 born seven children, three of whom are deceased. 
 Joseph P. Smelser is their fifth chihl and grew to 
 manhood in Cache Township, receiving a very 
 limited education in his youth. At the age of 
 twent}- years he began earning his own living, and 
 was married to Miss Margaret Adams, residing on 
 the old home place for eight years. He then came 
 to his present location, which was then a tract of 
 wild land, aud now has fifty acres under cultiva 
 tion, improved with good buildings, etc. Although 
 not active in politics, he votes the Democratic 
 ticket, and he and wife are members of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church, South. They are the 
 parents of two children: John William and Nancy 
 Ann Delvada, who died at the age of seven years, 
 after a brief illness of five days. 
 
 David A. Smith. In the space allotted in this 
 volume it would be impossible to give a detailed 
 account of the career of this gentleman, but it is 
 only just to say that in his walk through life his 
 course has been marked by honesty, industry, and 
 a manly, independent spirit. His birth occurred 
 in Middle Tennessee on the Sth of July. 182<), and 
 he was the eldest in a family of twelve children 
 born to Stantford and jMargaret (Tassey) Smith, 
 who were natives of North Carolina and Alabama, 
 respectively, and with their parents removed to 
 Tennessee at an early day. where they met and 
 married. In the fall of l-^'i.") they came to 
 Greene County, Ark., and bought a tract of K3O 
 acres of land which was in a wild stat(^ and on this 
 they located, improved it. and resided here until 
 187fi, when the father died. His wife's death 
 occurred on April Sth, 1 874. David A. Smith was 
 reared to manhood on this farm and, besides be- 
 coming familiar with the details of farm work, 
 learned the car])enter's trade of his father, fol- 
 lowing this occupation in Tennessee and also after 
 coming to Arkansas. He came to the latter vState 
 at the same time of his parents' removal and bought 
 UiO acres of wild land on Sugar Creek, on which 
 he erected buildings, set out orchards, and cleared 
 forty acres. After making this his home for about 
 fifteen vears. he sold out and purchased liis present 
 
 property on Crowley's Ridge, which consists of 
 225 acres of land, !<•() of which are under cultiva- 
 tion. He has cleared forty acres himself and has 
 made other improvements, which goes to make his 
 home one of the most valuable in the country. 
 He does general farming, raising corn, the smaller 
 cereals, and cotton. He also has a good apple 
 and peach orchard. During the intervals between 
 the farming seasons he has worked at the carpen- 
 ter's trade, and has built most of the better class 
 of houses in the township, among which are the 
 residences of Capt. Crowley and Mrs. Boyd. Mr. 
 Smith was married on the 6th of January. 1858. 
 to Miss Margaret Pevehouse, a native of Arkansas, 
 l)y whom he became the father of six children, 
 four of whom are living: William W. C, Sarah 
 Ann, who died at the age of twenty years: Mary 
 Elizabeth, who died when one year old; Logan 
 L. R., Susan Causada, wife of G. B. Harris, a 
 resident of the count}-; and James A. Smith. In 
 1879 Mr. Smith lost his worthy wife, and in 1879 
 he wedded Mrs. Cothren. He is quite an active 
 politician and has served as bailiff of Greene 
 County. He is a patron of ediTcation and is at 
 present a director of his school district. 
 
 Simpson Smith. In former years the life of 
 the farmer was considered a laborious one. Vmt in 
 this progi'essive age. with such improvements in 
 machinery, he can do his work with half the dis- 
 patch or labor as in the time of his father, and in 
 fact works but little if any harder than the aver- 
 age man who strives to make a living. Besides 
 all this he is independent, which is one of the 
 much .sought-for conditions of life. Mr. Smith 
 is one of the successful farmers who have kept 
 thoroughly apace with the times, and has reached 
 the condition of life mentioned above. He was 
 born in Benton County, Tenn. , in 1833, and is the 
 son of William and Elizabeth (Lewis) Smith, na- 
 tives respectively of South Carolina and North 
 Carolina. William Smith came with his parents 
 to Tennessee when a small boy. settling in Maury 
 County for some time, and then moved to Benton 
 County, where he passed the remainder of his 
 days. He was a farmer and trader by occupation. 
 He volunteered in the war under Gen. Jackson. 
 
 \ 
 
Jacksdn County, Arkansas 
 
GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 171 
 
 Mrs. Smith was horn in 1798, and died May 13, 
 188U, on the old home place in Tennessee. She 
 was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South. Their family consisted of eight 
 children, six now living: Angoline, Ellen, Eliza- 
 beth, Simpson, Mary and Thomas J. Those de- 
 ceased died in infancy. Simpson Smith grew to 
 manhood on the home place in Tennessee, and at 
 the age of fourteen years began working for him- 
 self as a day laborer. After this he worked on 
 the railroad for two or three years, then farmed 
 for some time, and when the war broke out he en- 
 listed in the Confederate army, Company I. 
 Forty-ninth Volunteer Infantry, and served three 
 j years. He was in the battles of Fort Donelson, 
 j Port Hudson and Jackson, Miss. He was taken 
 ; prisoner twice, first at Fort Donelson, and was 
 carried to Chicago, where he was retained seven 
 months and three days, and was then exchanged. 
 He then returned to the South, entering the 
 Southern army in the same company, re-organized 
 and consolidated with the Forty-eighth Tennessee 
 Volunteer Infantry, and was captured at Port 
 Hudson, but was soon afterward paroled, when he 
 returned home and resumed his farm work. He 
 I remained in Tennessee until 1881, when he came 
 to Arkansas and settled on his present farm in 
 I Greene County. He had first moved to Arkansas 
 in 1854, but later returned to the home-place, 
 where he was married, in 185(), to Miss Ellen Erp, 
 a native of Benton County, Tenn. The result of 
 J this union was the birth of nine children, seven 
 now living: William, Mary, Belle, Caldonia, John, 
 Augustus, Scott, Doy, Daniel Lee and Vency. 
 Those deceased were Porter and an infant un- 
 named. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the 
 Methodi.st E])iscopal Cliurch, South, in which he 
 is a deacon. He is a member of the A. F. & A. 
 M. , is a Democrat in politics, and tak(>s an active 
 y)art in all public enterprises. He has a tine farm. 
 with 170 acres under cultivation, and is one of the 
 leading farmers of the county. 
 
 Irvin G. Smith, whose career as a farmer has 
 been one of success and prosperity, was born in 
 Benton County, Tenn., in 184(>, and is the sou of 
 John and Fannie (Krj)) Smith, both natives of 
 
 North Carolina, who came to Benton County, 
 Tenn., with their pwents when children. They 
 were married in that State after growing u)i, and 
 there the father followed farming until his death, 
 which occurred in 1877 at the age of fifty-six years. 
 The mother died in 1802 at the age of forty years. 
 In their family were seven children, six of whom are 
 still living: Irvin G. . Disa (now Mrs. Smith), 
 Harvey, Jonathan. Berry H., Thomas \\'. and 
 Simpson. Harvey died at the age of eighteen 
 years. Irvin G. Smith attained his majority on a 
 farm in Tennessee, and when of age commenced 
 for himself on the home place, where he remained 
 until 18()1. when he enlisted in the Confederate 
 army, Fortj'-ninth Tennessee; the regiment was 
 captured at Fort Donelson and taken to Chi- 
 cago. Mr. Smith was sick at this time and was 
 at home. As soon as able he went back to the 
 army, joined the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, and 
 served until the close of the war. He was captured 
 at or near Johnsonville, Tenn., and was put on a 
 parole of honor. He participated in the Okolona, 
 Miss. , battle, was also in the battle of Yazoo City, 
 Bolivar, Tenn., Johnsonville, Tenn., and in a 
 numljer of other engagements. After the cessation 
 of hostilities Mr. Smith returned to Tennessee, re- 
 sumed his farming interests, and thus continued un- 
 til 187;^ when he came west to Arkansas and located 
 in Greene County, three miles southwest of where 
 he now lives. In 1870 he moved to his present 
 property, where he has remained ever since. He 
 was married in 1808 to Miss Louisa Swindle, a 
 native of Benton County. Toun. , born in 1 84-t, and # 
 the daughter of Thomas and Mariam Swindle, na- 
 tives respectively of South Carolina and Kentucky. 
 Thomas Swindle went from South Carolina to Illi- 
 nois, thence to Tennessee, where he was married in 
 1832, and is still living in Benton County, Tenn. 
 He was born in the year 1814, as was also his wife. 
 She died March 10. 1872. Both were members of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. After the death 
 of his wife Mr. Swindle married Mrs. Nancy Har 
 ris, who still survives. Mrs. Smith is one of 
 twelve children, eight of whom are living, born to 
 her parents. She was reared in Tennessee, and by 
 her marriatre to Mr. Smith became the mother of 
 
A. 
 
 172 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 three childi-eu, all living: Martha A., wife of 
 William Swindle, now residing in Greene Coun- 
 ty, Ark. ; Walter D. and Cordal C, at home. Mr. 
 Smith resides three and a half miles southwest of 
 Gainesville, where he has improved a good farm 
 and has 155 acres under cultivation. He is an 
 active worker in school affairs, and is director in his 
 district. He served as deputy sheriff in 1881-82- 
 83 and 1884 under Mr. Willcocksou, and served as 
 constable of his district to till a vacancy. In 1883 
 he was elected to that position, which he held one 
 term. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South. 
 
 E. T. Smith is the junior member of the firm 
 of Smith & Son, proprietors of a lumber mill on 
 Bark Camp Island, Greene County, Ark. The busi- 
 ness was established in August, 1878, and is man- 
 aged by a force of thirty-five men, the capacity 
 being 25,000 feet per day. Mr. Smith was bom 
 on Blue Grass soil, in 1851 (Hopkins County, 
 Ky. ), and was the youngest of a family of five chil- 
 dren of W. E. and Sarah (Hicklin) Smith, who 
 were also Kentuckians. The father removed to 
 Greene County, Ark., in 1885, and now resides in 
 Paragould, being senior member of the lumber 
 milling firm. E. T. Smith's early days were spent 
 in following the plow and in attending the common 
 schools of Kentucky. He was married in Hick- 
 man County, of that State, in 1880, to Ella Leet, 
 a native of Kentucky, and by her has an interest- 
 ing little family of three children: Dora, Kenner 
 and Charley M. Socially he is a member of the 
 Knights of Honor, and in his political views affili- 
 ates with the Democratic party. He is enterpris- 
 ing and industrious, and promises to become in 
 time one of the wealthy citizens of the county. 
 
 S. J. Smith was born about two miles north- 
 west of Paragould, Greene County, Ark. , December 
 20, 1852, and is one of three surviving members 
 of a family of eleven children, born to Charles C. 
 and Millie J. Smith, who were Tennesseeans, and 
 came to Arkansas by ox team when the country 
 was almost a wilderness, inhabited by Indians and 
 wild animals, the latter being very plentiful. A 
 brother of our subject killed sixteen bear the first 
 year. The father cleared the land upon which 
 
 Paragould is now situated, afterward moving to 
 Buffalo Island, and still later (in 1861) to the 
 farm of 160 acres, on which his sons, John and 
 Joseph, are now living. He died in April, 1865, 
 still survived by his widow, who is living in Craig- 
 head County. When S. J. Smith first came to 
 Arkansas his time was about equally divided be- 
 tween farming in the summer, and hunting and 
 trapping during the cold weather, the latter occu- 
 jjation being the more profitable. By industry 
 and good management he has become the owner 
 of 120 acres of land, the most of which is covered 
 with timber, but has forty-five acres under cultiva- 
 tion, and sixty-five under fence, improved with 
 substantial buildings and good orchard. He well 
 remembers the time when there were only two 
 farms in a radius of ten miles, and can point out 
 hundreds of acres of land then covered with tim- 
 ber and water, which is now in dry and well cultivat- 
 ed farms. He raises cotton and corn, also horses, 
 cattle and hogs. He was married, in 1870, to Miss 
 Mary F. Sypes, a daughter of Eli and Christina 
 Sypes, natives of North Carolina, who came to 
 Perry County, Mo. , at a very early day, where the 
 father followed the occupation of farming and 
 blacksmithing until his death. Five of their eight 
 children are living: Eli J., Calvin L. , George \\',, 
 Martha and Charles Andrew. 
 
 W. H. Sollis, a member of the firm of W. H. 
 Sollis & Co., merchants, is one among the first 
 business men of Paragould, having established his 
 business here in July, 1882, when the town was in 
 its infancy. The firm was changed to its present 
 name in March, 1883. Mr. Sollis was born in 
 Duplin County, N. C. , July 31, 1837, and is a sou 
 of Luke and Martha (Taylor) Sollis, natives of 
 North Carolina, but of French descent. The 
 paternal grandfather, Abraham Sollis, was born 
 in France, and emigrated to North Carolina at an 
 early day. There he passed his last days. Luke 
 Sollis was married in North Carolina, and emi- 
 grated to Tennessee about 1840, where he fol- 
 lowed farming until his death. The mother also 
 died in that State. They were the parents of nine 
 children, only one now living, W. H. Sollis, who 
 is the subject of this sketch. He was reared and 
 
 cr^ 
 
lil. 
 
 GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 173 
 
 educated in Gibson County, Tenn., and was 
 attending school when the Civil War broke out. He 
 left the school room to defend his country, en- 
 listing in Companj' D. Seventh Tennessee Cavalry, 
 in 1861, and served until the close of the war. He 
 was at the battles of Belmont, Mo. , Britton's Lane, 
 last battle of Corinth, and at West Point, Miss. , 
 where he was captured and carried to Memphis, 
 thence to Alton, and from there to Camp Douglas. 
 He was kept a prisoner for sixteen months, and 
 experienced many hardships during that time. He 
 had two horses shot from under him while in ser- 
 vice, but never received the least wound himself. 
 At the close of the war he was paroled, after which 
 he returned to Tennessee and began speculating in 
 cotton. He was turned loose without a dollar and re- 
 mained in that condition for one year, when he went 
 to Cincinnati and obtained a position in a whole- 
 sale clothing house as traveling salesman. He was 
 engaged in this for about one year, after which he 
 returned home and embarked in merchandising, 
 which he continued until January, 1870, when he 
 went to Memj)his, Tenn. , and was here interested in 
 the commission business. This he carried on until 
 September, 1871, when he was driven out by the 
 yellow fever, and again his fiuancial condition was 
 in a very low state. He did not despair, luit with 
 renewed energy started out and was soon on a 
 sound footing. He then decided to go to Greene 
 County, Ark., and arrived here September 17, 1871. 
 He located on a farm he had previously liought, 
 and which was all that he had left, engaged in 
 farming and this c6ntinued until 1882, when he 
 resumed merchandising. He was agent for the 
 Pomona Nursery of Tennessee for two years, and 
 has planted more fruit trees in Greene County 
 than any two men in it. He is the owner of 610 
 acres of land, with about 100 acres under culti- 
 vation, which he improved himself. He was mar- 
 ried in March, 1868, to Miss Louisa C. Ferrell, a 
 native of Tennessee, and the result of this union is 
 one child: A\'illie. wife of John Reeves. Mrs. 
 Sollis is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. 
 Sollis has erected several houses in Paragould, 
 and completed his brick store in February, 1889. 
 He is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
 
 John R. Starnes. The growth and jirosperity 
 of Greene County, Ark., has been upon a scale 
 commensurate with the immigration to this region 
 in past years, and this prosperity is largely 
 due to the members of the agricuUiiral profession, 
 prominent among which stands the name of Mr. 
 Starnes. He was born in Lauderdale County, 
 Tonn. , in 1829, and there reimiined until 1871, 
 having been engaged in farming for himself since 
 1861. Since the year 1871 he has resided in 
 Greene County, Ark. , and since 1876 has been a 
 resident of his present farm, where he is doing a 
 prosperous business, and besides being engaged in 
 tilling the soil, gives considerable attention to stock 
 raising. He was married in 1861 to Miss Eliza- 
 beth Lacey, who was born in Henderson County, 
 Tenn., in 1838, and is the mother of three chil- 
 dren: Josephus, Marshall and Parlee. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Starnes are members of the Baptist Church, 
 of which he is an active sujiporter, and in his po- 
 litical views he is a stanch Republican. His par 
 ents. Marshall and Sarah (Golden) Starnes, were 
 born in Tennessee and North Carolina, respectively, 
 in 1818, and were married on the 6th of Decem- 
 ber. 1838. The father was reared in Tipton 
 County, Tenn., but when a young man located in 
 West Tennessee, on a farm, and there continued to 
 make his home until 1871, when he came to Ar- 
 kansas, and is now residing in Greene County on 
 the farm on which he first settled. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Ejiiscopal Church, as was his 
 wife, who died March 21, 184U. They were the 
 parents of four children, John R. being the only 
 one living. The father took for his second wife 
 Parlee Johnson, on the 28th of May, 1851, and 
 by her had twelve children, six now living: Mary 
 J., Militia E. , Martha F. , Moses. Nancy P. and 
 James. The paternal grandfather, Moses Starnes, 
 was a Virginian, who became a resident of Tennes- 
 see at an early day and died at middle age. having 
 reared a large family of children. 
 
 G. AN'. Stevenson has attained wealth as a 
 planter and stock raiser by honest labor, and is a 
 gentleman who commands the respect and esteem 
 of all who know him. He was born in the year 
 1831, in Giles County. Tenn.. and is the youngest 
 
174 
 
 HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 in a family of ten children born to Elem and Lydia 
 (Payne) Stevenson, both natives of the "Old 
 North State." They were married there and at an 
 early day moved to Tennessee, locating in Giles 
 County, where the father opened up quite an ex- 
 tensive farm and was a large slaveholder. He died 
 in 1876 at the age of ninety-one years, having 
 been a minister of the gospel for sixty-seven years, 
 being the oldest one in Middle Tennessee at the 
 time of his death. His wife died in 1874 at the 
 age of eighty-nine years. The paternal grand- 
 father was born in Ireland, and was one of the 
 early settlers of North Carolina, and a soldier in 
 the Revolutionary War. The maternal grand- 
 father, also born in the Emerald Isle, was an early 
 resident of North Carolina, and was a soldier in 
 the Revolutionary War. G. W. Stevenson was 
 reared to manhood in Middle Tennessee, and re- 
 ceived his education in Forest Hill Acadejuy, and 
 Giles College, at Pulaski. At the age of twenty- 
 one years he began teaching school, and has fol- 
 lowed this occupation very successfully up to the 
 present time, being also engaged in tilling the 
 soil and raising stock. He was married in Lincoln 
 County, Tenn., May 2U, 1855, to Miss M. J. 
 Thorp, who was born in that county, and is a 
 daughter of Joel and Elizabeth (Osborne) Thorp, 
 who were also Tennesseeans. The father was a 
 wealthy planter and died in 1847, still survived 
 by the mother. In 1861 Mr. Stevenson enlisted 
 in Company A, Eleventh Tennessee Cavalry, and 
 was mustered into service at Nashville, afterward 
 participating in the battles of Corinth, luka, 
 Chickamauga, and oth(>rs of minor importance. 
 He served as a scout for some time, and after the 
 war returned to Tennessee, emigrating in 1884 to 
 Greene County, Ark. . where he is now residing on 
 a farm of '200 acres, 123 of which are under culti- 
 vation. He is interested in buying, selling and 
 raising stock. He is a stanch Democrat in politics, 
 and was electeil l)y that party to the office of county 
 treasurer, and also to the office of justice of the 
 peace. Socially he belongs to the I. O. O. F., 
 Paragould Lodge No. 13, of which order he has 
 been a member for over forty years, having passed 
 all the chairs, and was grand lecturer of ^^'est 
 
 Tennessee. He is chaplain in the A. F. & A. M., 
 and also belongs to the Center Hill Wheel. He 
 and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, and are the parents of eight chil- 
 dren, five of whom are living: Margaret Alice 
 (Mrs. Huckabay), Louisa A. (Mrs. Dover), Will- 
 iam Ernest, Ulpian Baker and Mollie Ann Baxter. 
 Mr. Stevenson has been identifi<>d with the county's 
 interests for many years, and has always been an 
 advocate of churches, schools and temperance. 
 He was the first examiner of (ireene County. 
 
 J. R. Taylor, ex-editor of the Paragould Press, 
 was born in Williamson County, Tenn.. in 1854, 
 and was left an orphan at two years of age. He 
 spent his boyhood days in Humphreys County, 
 Tenn., receiving an ordinary common-school edu- 
 cation, and having no means by inheritance, was 
 obliged to start out at an early age to support 
 himself. He worked for wages on a farm six 
 years, and in 1874 went to West Tennessee, 
 where he spent five years teaching in the common 
 schools of Obion, Gibson and Madison Counties. 
 He was elected to the Academic Chair in Odd 
 vFellow's College, at Humboldt, Imt failed to receive 
 notice of such election in time to accept the position. 
 He commenced the newsjiaper Inisiness at Bell's 
 Depot in 1880, and published a paper at Dyers- 
 burg one year. He was married in January,- 
 1882, to Miss Lucy White, of Jackson, Tenn., 
 and in March, 1883, he moved to Jonesboro, Ark., 
 where he established the Jonesboro Democrat. He 
 was elected mayor of that city in 188f), and re- 
 signed the editorship of the Democrat. Before 
 the term of mayor had expired he bought the 
 Paragould Press, and moved to Paragould. In De- 
 cember, 1888, he sold the Press to W. A. H. Mc- 
 Daniel, and established the Greene County Record 
 in May, 1889. He was a candidate for State 
 senator in 1888. but withdrew from the race in 
 favor of Hon. B. H. Crowley, an old citizen and 
 politician, it appearing that his age. long resi- 
 dence and prominence with the people during the 
 war, and just afterward, made him a probably 
 stronger leader of the Democratic party. Mr. 
 Taylor served as clerk of the senate judiciary 
 committee of the last legislature, and reported 
 
GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 J 75 
 
 spuatc |)roce('dings for the Daily Ciazette. Hi' is 
 a ])iact.ical printer and journalist, and a stanch 
 Democrat, but the nnHinching foe of monopoly. 
 He read law but has never entered the i)ractice. 
 Having consolidated the Record with the Press, 
 he is now exclusively in the line of book and jol) 
 printing, liaving the only exclusive job printing 
 establishment in Northeast Arkansas. 
 
 James S. Tenisson, a prominent citizen and 
 farmer of Greene County, Ark., was born in 
 A\"arreu County, Tenn., in 1826, and is the son of 
 Abraham Tenisson, a native of Rowan County, 
 N. C. His grandfather was a seaman from 1780 
 to 1800, when he returned to his home in Missis- 
 sippi, where he died in 1847. His father was a 
 highly respected farmer and stock raiser, and 
 dealt extensively in mules. He died in 1858. 
 James S. was educated in Tennessee, receiving all 
 the advantages the county afforded. He came to 
 this Slate in 1S50, and now owns I'iO acres of 
 good land and fine stock. He is the father of ten 
 children, seven of whom are living, and six of 
 these are married and have families. Five of them 
 live in this township, and one is a leading merchant 
 of Coquille City, Cove County, Ore. Thomas F. 
 was born August 10, 1S5J; John H. , May 12, 
 1859; Elizabeth, April 26. 1862; George M., 
 March 12, 1865: Martha, August 21, 1867; Julia 
 A., January 2, 1870, and Albert N., February 18, 
 1875. Albert is still at home and assists his father 
 in cultivating the farm. Mr. Tenisson has been 
 for six years justice of the peace of Salem Town- 
 ship. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
 having held all of the oilices from worshipful 
 master to warden. Both he and his wife are 
 members of the Methodist Church, and are liberal 
 in their support of all praiseworth}' enterprises. 
 
 \V. F. Thoraj)son. Greene County, Ark., is one 
 of the most fertile counties in the State, and in 
 this higldy productive region Mr. Thom])son has 
 resided since 185'J. becoming well and favorably 
 known, for he commenced life a poor boy and is 
 now one of the well-to-do citizens of the county. 
 He was born in Giles County. Tenn.. in 18;{2, and 
 was the second of six children born to John and 
 Lucy (Meeler) Thompson, who were natives respect- 
 
 ively of Tennessee and Virginia. They were 
 married in the former State, and there the father 
 was engaged in wagon making and blacksmithing 
 until his death, which occurred in 1841. His wife 
 survived him many years and died in 1875. Her 
 father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and 
 entered the service at the early age of thirteen 
 years. W . F. Thompson has been familiar with 
 farming from boyhood, and received his education 
 in the district schools of Tennessee. After the 
 death of his father the most of the farm work 
 devolved upon him, and at the age of nineteen 
 years he began tilling the soil for himself. When 
 twenty years old he went to Pope County, 111., 
 where he was engaged in farming for about seven 
 years, moving in 185S to Arkansas, and the follow- 
 ing year to Greene County, where he enti'red a 
 tract of' 160 acres, and opened up and cleared 
 about eighty acres of land. He erected thereon a 
 small log cabin, but built twice afterward, and in 
 1882 put up a large frame house and set out an 
 orchard. He has divided his land, and now owns 
 eighty acres, all of which, however, is under cul- 
 tivation. He was married in Greene County, Ai-k.. 
 in December, 1858, to IMiss Millie T. Hollerman, 
 of North Carolina, and a daughter of John and 
 Millie (Hartso) Hollerman, who moved from their 
 native State to Greene County. Ark., in 1855, both 
 of them now being deceased. Mr. Thomp.son has 
 resided on his ])resent farm ever since his marriage. 
 He assisted in organizing Clay County, Ark. He 
 is a member of the Union I^abor i)arty, but is not 
 a seeker after office. In„1862 he enlisted in Com- 
 pany D, First Arkansas Battery, and went into 
 service at Pocahontas, being second lieutenant of 
 his company. He was at Fort Farmington, Miss. , 
 and received his discharge at Tu)ieloin 1863. after 
 which he returned to Greene County, Ark. In 
 1865 he went into a cavalry company and served 
 until the close of the war. later on returning 
 to the farm. He is a member of the Agricultural 
 Wheel, and he and wife are members of the Baptist 
 Church. Six of their nine children are living: 
 William Oriu. who died in 187:?, at the age of 
 fourteen years; Sidney Thomas, who is married 
 and resides in Greene County: Eliza Jane, wife of 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Elijah Goff, died on the 23d of February, 1883. 
 at the age of eighteen years; John AVesley, mar- 
 ried and residing in the county; Sebell (Mrs. De- 
 Moss), resides in Friendship Township; Mary 
 Angeline ( Mrs. Burgess), resides in Lake Township ; 
 Emma Elizabeth (Mrs. Peyton), residing on the 
 home farm; Lucy, who died in infancy, and Nar- 
 cissus at home. Mr. Thompson is rearing a boy, 
 named George Thompson. 
 
 Rev. J. T. Thompson, a prominent merchant 
 of Marmaduke, and one of the representative 
 men of the county, was born near Jackson, West 
 Tenn., January 27, 1833, and is of English par- 
 entage. His father, James Thompson, was a na- 
 tive of North Carolina, in that State growing to 
 manhood, and was there married to Miss Lydia Ter- 
 rell. He followed the occupation of a farmer, but 
 also carried on the blacksmith trade for many 
 years. In 1825 he moved to Tennessee, and there 
 lost his wife, when their son, J. T. . was seven 
 months old. The latter attained his growth in 
 Tennessee, attending the common country schools, 
 and at the age of nineteen years was united in 
 marriage to Miss Mary J. Worrell, who bore him 
 eight children, seven of whom are now living; 
 James F., married and engaged in the marble 
 business at Helena, Ark.; J. P., a carpenter by 
 trade, living in West Tennessee, is married and 
 has one child; J. J., a carpenter at Marmaduke, is 
 married and has one child; Albert Sidney was a 
 cari^enter by trade, who, while occupied at his 
 work on a house in Rector, in 1887, fell and was so 
 injured that he died a few days later; Mary T. is 
 at home; Sarah A. married Joseph Conger, of 
 Greene County, and is now living on a farm near 
 Marmaduke; Susan E. is at home and so also is 
 William H. Mr. Thompson enlisted in the Fifty- 
 first Confederate Tennessee Regiment, in Novem- 
 ber, 1861, at Jackson, Tenn., and was in serv- 
 ice in that State, Alabama and Mississippi. His 
 regiment was captured at Fort Donelson, but he 
 succeeded in making his escape on a steamboat up 
 the Tennessee River. His recjiment was reorganized 
 at Corinth in the March following, and then in May 
 he was sent home on sick furlousrh. Having suf- 
 ficiently recovered by August of the same year, he 
 
 enlisted in the Fourteenth Tennessee Cavalry, in 
 Gen. Forrest's command, and took part in his 
 campaigns through Mississippi, Tennessee and 
 Alabama, in 1865. He was detached from his 
 command in December, and never returned to his 
 regiment until after the close of the war, and so 
 was never discharged. After the war he returned 
 to Jackson, Tenn. , remained there for some time, 
 and then was in Denmark for about four years. 
 He moved to Arkansas in 1870, settling within two 
 miles of Marmaduke, where he followed farming 
 
 until 1888, and then bought out the drug firm of 
 Huckabay & Moore, in Marmaduke. Since then 
 he has added dry goods, notions, etc. For his 
 second wife Mr. Thompson chose Mrs. Martha A. 
 Brand, and four children have been the result of 
 this union ; Robert Lee, Rosa B. , Beuna C. 
 ("Dot ") and an infant, Charles C. Mi-. Thomp- 
 son is thoroughly identified with all public enter- 
 prises, and a liberal contributor to the same. He 
 was licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, in 1874, and has since ministered 
 to the spiritual wants of his fellow men in that 
 church. He is a member of the Masonic frater- 
 nity. Blue Lodge, in which he has filled all the 
 chairs. Mrs. Thomjison and most of the children 
 are also members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South. 
 
 Rev. David Thorne, an extensive farmer and 
 fruit-grower, of Greene County, Ark., was born in 
 Edgecombe County, N. C, in 1828. His parents, 
 Thomas and Morning (Dawes) Thorne, were of 
 English descent, and were also born in the "Old 
 North State," the former's birth occurring in 
 1781. while Gen. Cornwallis was encamped within 
 seven miles of the scene. He emigrated to Madi- 
 son County, Tenn., in 1831, located, and became 
 an extensive farmer, and owned slaves, departing 
 this life in his eighty-second year. He and his 
 life-partner lived together nearly fifty- five years, 
 raising to maturity eleven children, and losing one 
 in infancy. His father. Nicholas Thorne, accord- 
 ing to family tradition, was liorn in North Caro- 
 lina about 1730 or 1740. His father, Richard 
 Thorne, was born in England, about the year 1700 
 or 1710, and came to America, perhaps, about the 
 
 r'^ 
 
GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 177 
 
 year 1710 or 1720, serving an apprenticeship 
 in Charleston, S. C. His son, Nicholas Thorne, 
 was a farmer, and participated in the Revolution- 
 ary War, on the side of the colonies. David 
 Thorne, the subject of this sketch, attained his 
 majority in Madison County, Tenn., and received 
 his education in the common schools and the acad- 
 emy at Denmark, Madison County, Tenn., his 
 instructor in-chief being Dr. William L. Slack, 
 now of Friar's Point, Miss. While a resident of 
 Hardeman County, Tenn., in the year 1859-60, he 
 was elected presiding justice of the county and 
 probate court, which position was held two or 
 three terms, and was much esteemed by him; 
 indeed, with one exception, that honor was held 
 par excellence among many favors conferred by the 
 grand old county of Hardeman, because it was 
 bestowed gratuitously and without solicitation. 
 Emigrating to Greene County in 1871, three years 
 after, in 1874, he was prevailed upon, by strong 
 and urgent solicitation, to become a candidate for 
 the constitutional convention, making the race be- 
 fore the people in competition with Hons. L. L. 
 Mack and B. H. Crowley, and was beaten by only 
 fifteen votes, by Mr. Crowley. He was afterward 
 elected county and probate judge, and served one 
 term. Having been reared by pious and religious 
 parents, he naturally felt an interest in Christi- 
 anity, and for nearly forty years has had member- 
 ship in a Missionary Baptist Church, and since 
 18fi8 has been engaged in the ministry. Before 
 closing this sketch it is proper to say, that Mr. 
 Thorne attributes everything pertaining to what 
 he is and has enjoyed, as respects morals and re- 
 ligion, to parental training and early impressions 
 made In' Christian parents in their work in the 
 family nursery; and, in justice to them, whatever 
 may have been accom]ilished in the way of good — 
 yea. even the hope of Heaven, under the blessings 
 of God— all is dedicated in memory to the Christ- 
 ian iniluonce of loved parents that have laid their 
 armor by. The subject of this sketch is sharing 
 the income of a good farm, and is taking a warm 
 interest in fruit-growing, for which this section 
 seems well adapted. The crowning blessing, re- 
 ferred to heretofore, which Hardeman County be- 
 
 stowed, was the gift, in marriage, of one of her 
 best daughters, in the person of Miss Mary A. 
 Toone, who was a daughter of James Toone, Sr. 
 ■James Toone, Sr. , was one of the pioneer settlers 
 of West Tennessee, and Hardeman County was bis 
 adopted home. Before the late war he was one of 
 the leading farmers, owning large slave property. 
 The marriage i)artnership entered into in June, 
 1857, by Mr. and Mrs. Thorne, has culminated in 
 quite a family, namely: James L., Thomas L. B. , 
 William H., David C. and Wiley, five sons: and 
 Mary F. B., JinieB.. Ida R. and AUisE., four 
 daughters; all have made the Christian profession, 
 and the whole family are members of the same 
 church — truly a Baptist family. 
 
 John C. Tredaway is one of the successful 
 farmers of Union Township, and one of its oldest 
 settlers. He was born in Pendleton District. S. 
 C, in 1812, and is a son of Richard and Nancy 
 (Smith) Tredaway, who were born in Georgia and 
 South Carolina, the former's birth occurring in 
 1787. He grew to manhood in his native State, 
 was married in South Carolina, and after residing 
 in Tenne.ssee for about ten years, returned to 
 Georgia, where he was engaged in farming until 
 his death in 1851. His wife was born in 1704 
 and died in 1871, and both were members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Chiu'ch, South. Of their ten 
 children, eight lived to be grown, and seven are 
 living at the present time. The maternal grand- 
 father came from Europe with two brothers and 
 settled in Georgia, but it is not known where the 
 others settled. He was a farmer, and lived and 
 died in the state of his adoption, his death occur 
 ring when between sixty and seventy years of age. 
 His wife lived to be nearly 100 years old. and also 
 died in Georgia. She was an earnest member of 
 the Baptist Church. To them were born five chil- 
 dren, the father of our sul)ject lieing the eldest. 
 John C. Tredaway, who was the second of his par 
 ents' children, grew to manhood in East Tennessee. 
 At the age of twenty-one years he commenced for 
 himself, engaging in the shoemaker's trade, and 
 followed this occupation in connection with farm- 
 ing until he went to Georgia, when he opened a 
 wagon shop, which he managed with farming for 
 
<£ k_ 
 
 ITS 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 eight years. In J 85(3 be came to Arkansas and 
 located on a farm on Crowley's Ridge in Clay 
 County, where he remained for about sixteen 
 years, subsequently spc^nding three years in Boone 
 County, Ark. Here his wife died on the I'ith of 
 November, 1872, her birth occurring in South 
 Carolina November 6, 1808, her maiden name 
 being Rebecca Chapman. They were married 
 August 21, 1834, and became the parents of ten 
 children, four of whom are alive. The names of 
 the children are: John W., who died in Tennessee; 
 Asbury F., who first joined the Confederate army, 
 and later, on account of his wife, joined the Union 
 forces, went South, and as he was never after- 
 ward heard fi'om, was supposed to have been 
 killed; Francis M. , who served in the Confeder- 
 ate army and died in Mississippi, being buried 
 there with 10,000 other soldiers; William B. , also 
 a Confederate soldier, was taken sick and died 
 somewhere in the South; James R. , who sickened 
 and died in Greene County, and was buried at 
 Oak Bluff: Nancy E., wife of William Wagner, 
 residing in Clay County, Ark.: Sidney S., a resi- 
 dent of Clay County; Sarah A., wife of Benjamin 
 Copeland, of Clay County ; Mary A. , wife of Buck 
 Fain, of Boone County, Ark., and an infant not 
 named. Mr. Tredaway was married a second time 
 to Amanda Fielder, who was born in Hickman 
 County, Tenn. , in 1840. To them six chikken 
 have been born: Thomas F. , John W. W. , Edward 
 S. , Mary and Martha (twins), and an infant that 
 died in childhood, not named. Mr. Tredaway and 
 wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, the latter having been a professed 
 Christian for fifty-eight years, and an active work- 
 er in the church. He is a member of the A. F. & 
 A. M. , and in his political views is a Democrat. 
 
 Henry S. Trice, treasurer of Greene County, 
 and undertaker, was born in Craighead County, 
 Ark., November 'J, 1853, and is the son of Samuel 
 T. and Sarah H. (Smith) Trice, both of whom 
 were natives of Bedford County, Tenn. The par- 
 ents emigrated to Craighead County, Ark. , in 1 853, 
 and located on a farm eight miles north of Jones- 
 boro. The father was one of the early settlers of 
 that county, improved a good farm there, and 
 
 attended to farming until his death, which oc- 
 curred at his home, in August, 1861. He was 
 county and probate judge of Craighead County 
 when he died, and was a very prominent citizen. 
 He was also for many years justice of the peace. 
 The mother now resides in Jonesboro. They were 
 the parents of six children, four of whom are now 
 living: Joseph H. , Henry S. , Andrew J. and Sa- 
 rah T. (wife of Franklin Lane). Henry S. Trice 
 assisted his mother on the farm to make a hard- 
 earned living, and received his education in Craig- 
 head County. He followed farming until 1885, 
 when he moved to Paragould, Greene County, and 
 in the fall of 1886 established the undertaker's 
 business, which he has since carried on. He was 
 elected county treasurer of Greene County in 1886, 
 and re-elected in 1888, thus illustrating his popu- 
 larity. He was married in 1873 to Miss Margaret 
 A. Gamble, a native of Bedford County, Tenn., 
 and the fruits of this union are five children: 
 Ada P., William F., Joseph T., Mary E. and Sarah 
 V. Mr. and Mrs. Trice are members of the Jleth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of the 
 
 K. of r. 
 
 William H. Walden, who is not only one of the 
 substantial farmers of the county, but also re- 
 spected and esteemed for his many good qualities, 
 was born near Lexington, Ky., in 1840, and is the 
 son of Coleman and Melvina (McKinney) Walden, 
 both natives, also, of Kentucky. The father was 
 a farmer by occupation, and died in 1878 at the 
 age of fifty-five years. He had been twice mar- 
 ried; first, in 1839, to Miss McKinsey, who died 
 in 1846, leaving one child, William Walden. Mr. 
 Walden then selected for his second wife Miss 
 Louisa J. Price, a native of Kentucky. The fol- 
 lowing children were the result of the second un- 
 ion: John, Mollie, Elizabeth, Alice (deceased in 
 infancy), Joshua L. (died when grown), George W., 
 Mattie C. and Emma. William Walden moved 
 with his parents to Haywood County, Tenn., in 
 1842, and there remained until 1878, when he 
 came to Arkansas and located on his present farm, 
 which he cultivates, but also, in connection, is en- 
 gaged in running a cotton-gin. When the war 
 broke out 'Mv. Walden enlisted in the Confederate 
 
GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 179 
 
 army, but was rejected on account of a crippled 
 foot. During the latter part of the war, however, 
 he enli.sted and was wounded at the Battle of 
 Perryville, Ky. He was color-bearer of the Ninth 
 Tennessee Regiment, Cheatham's division, and 
 after receiving his wound he was taken to a hos- 
 pital, where he remained about three weeks, fol- 
 lowing which he was taken to Danville, Ky. , and 
 tliere remained until able to go home. He was 
 married to Mis.s Hattie T. Martin, a native of 
 Haywood County, Tenn. , bora in 1841, who died 
 April 17, 1886, in full communion with the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church. Seven children were 
 born to this union, all living: Edward C, (who 
 married Mattie Russell and lives near the home 
 place), John R. L.. James B. , Rosa Lee (wife 
 of J. P. Hampton), Freddie, Walter B. and Jes- 
 sie T. Mr. Walden was married the second time 
 to Mrs. Mollie Bowler, nee Eiberhard, a native 
 of New Orleans, who had previously married Eras- 
 mus Bowler, who died April 7, 1886. Mr. Wal- 
 den affiliates with the Democratic ])arty in his 
 political views. 
 
 Dr. Calvin Wall, president of the Bank of 
 Paragoukl, and physician, was born in Spartanburg 
 District, S. C, October 12. 182-4, and is the son of 
 Zachariah and Oney (Clement) Wall, the father a 
 native of Wilkes County, N. C, and the mother of 
 South Carolina. The parents were married in South 
 Carolina and remained there until their deaths, 
 the father devoting himself to agricultural pur- 
 suits. Their family consisted of ten children, 
 only one now living, Dr. Calvin Wall. He was 
 reared and educated in South Carolina, assisted 
 on the farm until nineteen years of age, and then 
 taught school until twenty-six years old, when 
 he Vjegau the study of medicine. He graduated at 
 the iledical University of Lexington, Ky., in lsr)4, 
 and in July of the same year began practicing 
 in Polk County, N. C where he remained until 
 the latter part of 1857. He then returned to the 
 homestead in South Carolina, where he stayed un- 
 til Fel)ruary 7, 18ri9, when he started for Greene 
 County, Ark. , coming through on horseback and 
 arriving March 21). of that year. He located at 
 Gainesville and entered upon the i)ractice of his 
 
 profession, in 1S()() he went to Greensboro, Craig- 
 head County, remained there six months and then 
 returned home, where he practiced until 1886, 
 when he came to Paragoukl. Here he has since 
 continued to follow his profession. In March, 18Stt. 
 he was elected president of the Bank of Paragoukl, 
 which position he now occupies. He is also 
 president of the Building and Loan Association, 
 served two terms as county treasurer while living 
 at Gainesville, and has been notary public for over 
 twelve years. He owns several thousand acres 
 of land in the county, with about 200 acres under 
 cultivation. He was married March 18, 1800, to 
 Miss Emily A. Gentry, a native of Tennessee, and 
 to them have been born six children: Ona J., 
 wife of Dr. Kitchen; Elmer S., wife of W. S. 
 Ellis; MelvinC, Ethel M., Arthur G. and Ernest 
 N. Mr. and Mrs. Wall are members of the Bap- 
 tist Church. He is a member of the Masonic 
 Fraternity, also belongs to the I. O. O. F., and is 
 one of the oldest physicians, in ])oint of residence, 
 in the county. 
 
 Rev. Daviil B. Warren, a local minister of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South, residing four 
 miles south of Gainesville, Ark., was born in Giles 
 County, Tenn., October 3, 1827, and is the fourth 
 son of John B. and Rachael (Hunt) Warren, who 
 were born near Petersburg, N. C. , the former 
 February 27, 17'J(), and the latter November 24. 
 17U7. They were married about the year 1817. 
 and about 1824 removed to Middle Tennessee, set- 
 tling in Giles County. He was a farmer, and a 
 part of his life worked at the blacksmith's trade, 
 but gave up both occupations several years before 
 his death owing to the failure in his eyesight, and 
 the last five years of his life he was entirely l)liud. 
 He was a worthy, good citizen, and in politics was 
 an old line Whig. He took no part in the late 
 Civil War, but was a soldier in the War of 1812. 
 His wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South. They both lived to a ripe old age: 
 he died February 23, 1884, within only four days 
 of being eighty-eight, and she died in March, 
 1885, wanting only a few months of being also 
 eighty-eight. To them were boru nine children, 
 all of whom lived to mature age: Henry J. (who 
 
180 
 
 HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 died ia 1882), Sarab J. L. (deceased), James A., 
 Joseph A., David B., Mary F., Louisa E., Elmina 
 M. (deceased) and William W. Rev. David B. 
 Warren received a very meager education in the 
 old field schools of that day, but after he attained 
 the age of twenty-two attended better schools 
 awaj' from home. In 1850 he taught his first 
 session of three months, being employed by three 
 of his neighbors for |25 (which was only 18 J^ per 
 month). But this small beginning was sufficient 
 to demonstrate his worth as a teacher, and for 
 more than twenty years — six in Tennessee, and 
 more than fourteen in Arkansas — his labors were 
 crowned with great success, and many of the most 
 useful and influential men and women in the com- 
 munities where he taught in both States were his 
 pupils in their youth, and received instruction at 
 his hands. In 1854 he made a profession of 
 religion, and two years later was licensed to preach, 
 and has been a local minister of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South, ever since. In 1870 and 
 1871 he was in charge of the Greenslwro circuit as 
 a supply. He has been instriunental in doing 
 much good, both as a teacher and a preacher, and 
 has performed more marriage ceremonies and 
 preached more fimeral sermons than almost any 
 other preacher in Northeast Arkansas. In 1882 
 he was a lay delegate from the White River con- 
 ference to the General conference of the Southern 
 Mt^thodist Church, which met in Nashville, Tenn. , 
 and faithfully represented his constituents in that 
 highest and only legislative body of the church. 
 He was ordained a deacon by Bishop Marvin, in 
 1867, and an elder by Bishop Kavanangh, in 1877, 
 and worthily honors the church in the faithful 
 discharge of the duties of these important oflices. 
 He was married March 4. 1855, to Miss Lucy J. 
 Ford, who was born in Giles County, Tenn., 
 March 26, 1834, where she grew to maturity and 
 was married. Five of the eight children born to 
 them are still living: Alice, wife of J. W. New- 
 berry ; Ezra, married and living near the old home 
 place; Ida, wife of (i. W. Walden, also residing 
 near the home place; Osmer, who died November 
 11, 1883, aged twenty-one years; Mackey, who 
 died February 11, 1882, aged eighteen years; 
 
 Clara, who died December 2. 1871, aged five years; 
 Minnie and Albert, who still remain under the 
 parental roof. Mr. W'arren has a splendid little 
 farm of about KtO acres in cultivation, and a neat, 
 comfortable home, and is much beloved and highly 
 respected for his sterling integrity as a citizen and 
 as a Christian gentleman. He is a distinguished 
 member of the Masonic fraternity, and has served 
 in several important positions in a local sphere, 
 and is now (1889) serving his second year as grand 
 lecturer of the State. He takes a lively interest 
 in the work and lectures of this ancient and honor- 
 able institution, and travels extensively in the dis- 
 charge of the duties of his high office. He is also 
 an uncompromising advocate of temperance, and 
 is opposed to the liquor traffic in all its forms, be- 
 lieving it to be the greatest enemy to the pros- 
 perity and happiness of the people. In November, 
 1872, he was elected clerk of his county, to which 
 position he was re elected for ten years in succes- 
 sion, and served his people with fidelity and marked 
 ability, ]ierforming the intricate and complicated 
 duties of the office with satisfaction to the people, 
 and in 1882 he voluntarily retired to private life, 
 followed In' the good wishes and benedictions of 
 all the people, and has well earned their universal 
 plaudit, "Well done, thou good and faithful ser- 
 vant." 
 
 John E. Watson, father and stockman of 
 Greene County, Ark. , was born in Lawrence Dis- 
 trict, S. C, July 25, 1841, and is a son of Till- 
 man and Sarah (Pape) Watson, who were also 
 born in that State. The father was a Democrat, 
 a farmer, and he and his wife were members of 
 the Baptist Church. They moved from South 
 Carolina to Alabama in 1842, remained there un- 
 til 1861), and the year following the father's death, 
 which occurred in 1875, the mother came to 
 Greene County, Ark., where she is still residing. 
 The following are their children: William F., 
 James H., Martha M., J. E., Sarah J., Elizabeth, 
 Israel, and Louis J. , who died when five years of 
 age. William F. is a farmer of West Tennessee, 
 and he and John E. are the only ones of .the family 
 living at the present time. The latter began an 
 independent career at the age of twenty years, 
 
 .f 
 
^ 
 
 aud enlisted in Company D, Twenty-second Ala- 
 bama (Day's) Regiment, and Bragg' s division, of 
 the Army of the Tennessee, and was in the liattlos 
 of Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge 
 and Atlanta. He was captured at Atlanta on the 
 3d of August, 1804, and was kept in i)rison at 
 Camp Chase, Ohio, until the 18th of March, 18G5, 
 when he was released on parole, but before the 
 parole term had expired the war was ended. After 
 his return to Alabama he engaged in farming with 
 his father, and in August, 1865, was married to 
 Miss Martha P. Grcenway, a daughter of Thomas 
 aud Olive Greenway, natives of Georgia, the fa- 
 ther a farmer by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Wat- 
 son became the parents of five children: Lugenia 
 (Turner), of Greene County, Ark. ; Laura S. 
 (Tatum), John H. , living, and Mary Lee and 
 James F., deceased. Mr. Watson's second mar- 
 riage was to a Miss Smith, in July, 1880, aud by 
 her he has one child, Milton. This wife died in 
 November, 1885, and in January, 1880, he mar- 
 ried his third wife, Mrs. Catherine C. (Lender- 
 man) Hyde. To this last union has been born a 
 son, William Tell. After his hrst marriage Mr. 
 Watson lived one year in Alabama, then removing 
 to West Tennessee, where he was engaged in 
 farming until the fall of 1869, since which time he 
 has been a successful tiller of the soil in Greene 
 County, Ark., his first purchase being 120 acres. 
 Five years later he traded this farm, which he had 
 improved somewhat, for other laud, forty acres of 
 which are in the place he now owns. His farm con- 
 sists of 140 acres of very finely improved land, and 
 the most of this he devotes to cotton, though also 
 giving attention to other crops. He is also inter- 
 ested in stock breeding. He is an independent 
 Democrat in politics, and he and wife are mem- 
 bers of the Christian Church. His wife became 
 the mother of five children by her first husband: 
 Christiana E. , wife of D. C. Smith, a farmer 
 residing with Mr. Watson; John Thomas, Edward, 
 Jasper E. and Walter, all living with their mother 
 and step- father. 
 
 A^'illiam M. Weatherly. In the series of names 
 wliich have made Greene County one of the most 
 populous and prosperous of the State, Mr. Weath- 
 
 erly' s name holds a prominent place. He was 
 born in Madison County, Tenn., in 1834. and is 
 a son of Wright M. and Ann (Bryant) Weath 
 erly, who were born in North Carolina and Ten 
 nessee, in 1805 and 1808, respectively. The father 
 came to Tennessee in 1826, where he was mar- 
 ried soon after, and then located in Madison 
 County, where he remained until 1881, after 
 which he moved to Arkansas, and here died, in 
 January, 1888. He was a successful farmer up 
 to the time of the war, but during that time 
 lost his property. He was a Democrat in poli- 
 tics, was very active in supporting schools and 
 churches, and in early life was a Whig in poli- 
 tics, afterward becoming a Democrat. His wife 
 was also a member of the Baptist Chiuch, and 
 died in February, 1886, mourned by all who 
 knew her. They were the parents of nine sons 
 and three daughters: John T. (killed at the 
 battle of Missionary Ridge), James (killed at the 
 battle of Franklin), Thomas, Robert. William, 
 Houston S., Rufus A., Richard T., Alexander. 
 Wright, Elizabeth C Mary and Nancy A. Will 
 iam M. Weatherly attained his majority in Mad 
 ison County, and commenced doing for himself 
 in 1855, clerking in a dry goods store in Den 
 mark one year. He then married and commenced 
 farming in Madison County, continuing two years, 
 and spent the following three years as overseer 
 of a large plantation in that State. In 18()3 he 
 enlisted in Company C, Fourteenth Regiment of 
 Cavalry, commanded by Capt. Voss. and was at 
 the battles of Franklin and Memphis. He was 
 wounded at a little fight in Haywood County, 
 and was relieved from duty for two weeks. At 
 the time of the surrender he was at Gainesville, 
 Ala., and returned home, where lie farmed until 
 1877, then coming to his present farm in Greene 
 County, Ark. On the 26th of January, 187S. 
 he was married to Ann Rievely, who was born 
 in Madison County, Tenn., in 1835, and by her 
 became the father of three ciiildren: Mollie B. 
 (who died in infancy), James William (who attend 
 ed school in Denmark, Tenn., and at Austin, Ark., 
 and has been a teacher of ten years' standing, and 
 is now drumming for .i St. Louis grocery ami |iro- 
 
is-j 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 vision company), ami lvi)l)c(t H. (who is a farmer 
 of Greene County, is married and the father of 
 two children). Mr. and Mrs. Weatherly are mem- 
 bers of the Baptist Church, and he has been a 
 member of the A. F. & A. M. since 1873. He has 
 always supported the principles of the Democratic 
 party. He and wife are rearing a little trjrl l)y the 
 name of Ida Davis. 
 
 S. H. Weatherly, a planter, of Friendship 
 Township, was born in Madison County, Tenn., in 
 1837. being a son of Wright and Aim (Bryant) 
 \^'eatherly. the father a native of North Carolina, 
 and the mother of Middle Tennessee. They were 
 married and resided in the latter State until 1881, 
 when they disposed of their large farm, and came 
 to Greene County, Ark., and made their home with 
 our subject until their respective deaths, in 1882 
 and 1885. S. H. Weatherly assisted in clearing 
 the home farm in Tennessee, attended the common 
 schools, and, while still a resident of that State, 
 began doing for himself. He was married in Mad- 
 ison County, Tenn., in ]8<)7, to Miss Ann Valen- 
 tine, a daughter of William and Charity Valentine, 
 who came originally from North Carolina and set- 
 tled in Tennessee. They were agriculturalists, 
 and the .father died in his adopted State. The 
 mother came to Grieene Covinty, Ark., in 1867, 
 and is now residing in Friendship Township, being 
 the widow of William Burton. Mr. Weatherly re- 
 mained one year in Tennessee after his marriage, 
 and in 18fi7 came to Greene County, Ark., where 
 he bought a farm of 240 acres, only ten of which 
 were under ciiltivation. He has since added 360 
 acres more to his land, and has 100 acres under 
 cultivation, on which are a good residence and 
 orchard. He makes a specialty of raising corn and 
 hay. He votes with the Democratic party, and has 
 ever taken an interest in the political affairs of 
 the county. He and wife are members of the Ba]>- 
 tist Church, and are the parents of a family of 
 seven children, six of whom are living: Texanua 
 (Mrs. David Falkner). Mosella, Eldredge M.. 
 Florence Ethel, Egbert Eugene and Cornelia A. 
 Mr. Weatherly has dom^ a large .share in devolo])- 
 ing the coimty, and has always taken an active 
 interest in enterprises tending to benefit the same. 
 
 While in Tennessee he joined Company G, Sixth 
 Tennessee Infantry, Confederate States Army, 
 and was mustered in at Jackson, Tenn., April 22, 
 1861, and was at Mi.ssionary Ridge, Franklin, Mur- 
 freesboro. Atlanta, and was discharged at Browns 
 ville, Tenn. 
 
 Andrew Webb, an enterprising tiller of the soil, 
 of (ireene County, Ark., and postmaster of Bethel, 
 was born in the State of Tennessee, in 1824, and 
 is the fourth of nine children born to James and 
 Monnima (Crisp) Webb, who were natives of North 
 and South Carolina, respectively. The father fol- 
 lowed farming on an extensive scale, and was a 
 soldier in the War of 1812. being with Jackson at 
 the battle of New Orleans. He died in Tennes- 
 see, where he had made his home for many years, 
 in 1866, at the age of seventy-six years, followed 
 by his wife in 1867. Andrew Webb resided on a 
 farm in Tennessee, and vehen twenty -one years of 
 age purchased a farm, and began doing for him- 
 self. He was married about this time to Miss 
 Winnie C. Coburn, a native of Alabama, and re- 
 mained in the State of Tennessee engaged in im- 
 proving his farm, until 1858, when he sold out 
 and came to Greene County, Ark. , where he bought 
 a tract of eighty acres of wild land. He cleared 
 about forty acres of this farm, set out orchards, 
 and put his property under fence, but some three 
 years later traded it for a tract containing l'^)0 
 acres, on which is now situated the station of 
 Bethel. Here he opened up about sixty acres, 
 erected good buildings, set out orchards, etc. , and 
 when the railroad was established he sold a con- 
 siderable amount of his property for business pur- 
 poses. In 1883 he received a commission as first 
 postmaster of Bethel, and has held this office up to 
 the present time. His wife, who died in October, 
 1887, bore him five children: Lucinda E., wife of 
 \V. A. J. Wood; James W., John William, who 
 died at the age of nineteen years; Pamelia E., 
 wife of W. O. Lane, and Sarah Ella, who died at 
 the age of six years. May 3, 1881t. he was mar- 
 ried to Mrs. Mary C. Yepp, a native of Georgia. 
 James W. Webb, the only living son of Andrew 
 Webb, is at present thirty-seven years of age, and 
 is tilling the soil on a portion of his father's farm. 
 
 s-rv 
 
GREENE COTTNTY, 
 
 and oil 120 acres which he hud purchased. Mr. 
 Webb has one of (he best farms in his section, 
 al)out sixty acres being under cultivation and fence. 
 Ho takes considerable interest in politics, and is a 
 Democrat, having been elected on that ticket, in 
 1880, to the office of justice of the peace, which 
 position he has since held, with th(^ exception of 
 two years. He was married in 1869 to Miss Mary 
 R. Wood, a native of Mississippi, and a daughter 
 of James R. Wood, who came to Arkansas in 18r)9, 
 being one of the early settlers of Greene County. 
 To them have been born five children: Calador W. 
 J. , Sarah Ella, James A. , who died at the age of 
 four years and one month, and Mary Lelor. One 
 child died in infancy, unnamed. Mr. Webb has a 
 pleasant home in Bethel, his lot consisting of two 
 acres. He has always been a patron of education, 
 and all worthy public enterprises, and his business 
 as justice of the peace is quite extensive. He has 
 served as school director for six years. 
 
 Dr. Henry McC. AVebb. The name of ^^"ebb , 
 is one of the most influential in Greene County, 
 Ark. , and Dr. Webb, among its most talented 
 ^)hy8icians, has obtained a reputation placing 
 him in the front rank of the medical fraternity. 
 He was born in Madison County, Tenn. , in 1851, 
 being a son of Theodric and Elizabeth (Watson) 
 Webb, who were born, married and resided in 
 South Carolina, and about 1842 settled on a farm 
 in Madison County, Tenn., where he is now living 
 at the age of seventy-six years. His wife died in 
 1 S6 1 . They were members of the Presbyterian 
 Church, and the father is now a Democrat in his 
 political views, a Royal Arch Mason, and an en- 
 thusiastic patron of schools, churches, etc. Dr. 
 Henry McC. Webb is next to the youngest of the 
 four surviving members of their family of eight 
 children. After attending the common schools and 
 the High School near Greeneville, he entered the 
 I'niversity of Alabama in 1S72. fi'om which insti- 
 tution he was graduated in July of the following 
 year. He then rtiturned to Lexington, Tenn., and 
 being well fitted liy nature for the profession of 
 medicine soon entered upon his medical studies 
 under Dr. H. W. Wassen. but gave this u]i after 
 a short time and entered the law school at Le- 
 
 banon. Tenn.. graduating in June, IS74, later 
 practicing this profession for five years in Lexing- 
 ton. In the fall of 1879 he entered Vanderbilt 
 University, at Nashville, Tenn., attending during 
 that year and 1880, and then resumed his practice 
 in Lexington, continuing until 188r). when he re 
 turned to college and graduated from the medical 
 department in the spring of 1886. Since that 
 time he has resided in Gainesville, Ark., where 
 he has become a leading practitioner, although 
 a resident of the county only a few years. He 
 is becoming well known, but the heavy calls for his 
 services at home prevent him from going much 
 abroad. In 1878 he was married to Miss Addle 
 E. Smith, who was born in Henderson County. 
 Tenn.. and is the mother of three children: Cossy 
 T. , Ella Louisa and Robert B. Mrs. Webb is a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 James H. Willcoekson, one of the wealthy resi- 
 dents of the county, is a native of Middle Tennes- 
 see, where he was l)orn in the year 1845. He was 
 the third in a family of nine children born to 
 William and Mary (Rose) Willcoekson, who were 
 Tennesseeans, the grandparents being wealthy 
 farmers of Middle Tennessee. Grandfather Rose 
 went to Texas, where he bought a large tract of 
 land on which he made his home until his death. 
 William Willcoekson engaged in farming for him- 
 self after attaining his majority, and resided in 
 Tennessee (where he was married about 1841) 
 until 1850, then moving to Texas, wiiere he bought 
 a tract of 100 acres, which he opened for cultiva- 
 tion, improved with good buildings, and on which 
 he resided until 1853, then coming to Greene 
 County. Ark. After residing here for four years 
 on two different farms he returned to Texas, where 
 he died in December, 181)0, his wife also dying 
 the same month. James H. Willcoekson returned 
 to Arkansas after the death of his parents, and for 
 some time made his home with his grandmotlu'r. 
 In 18(55, at the age of twenty years, he began 
 farming for himself on rented laud, and continued 
 this for three years, when he married Miss ,\.daliue 
 Bowling, a native of Greene County, and a daughter 
 of one of the early settlers. After his marriage 
 he purchased a small farm whicli he sold later 
 
184 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ou, aud then bought an excellent tract of land 
 consisting of eighty acres in the Cache bottom, 
 which was then wOd land but is now one of the 
 finest fanns in the county. He has since purchased 
 twenty-six additional acres, and has now seventy 
 acres under fence and cultivation, it being devoted 
 to raising the cereals and cotton. He is improving 
 his grade of stock, and has crossed his cattle with 
 Durham, and has some tine Jersey red hogs. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Willcockson are members of the Baptist 
 Church, and are the parents of the following 
 children: William Carroll, Robert Alexander, 
 Lawrence Jetferson, and Anna Lee, who died at 
 the age of eighteen years. 
 
 Joseph H. Willcockson ranks among the first of 
 the many wealthy farmers of Greene Coiinty, Ark. 
 He was born in Tennessee in 1845, and is the sixth 
 of a family of fifteen children born to the marriage 
 of Sam Willcockson and Frances Gibson, who were 
 Tennesseeans, and came to Greene County, Ark., 
 in 1850. They settled on a tract of land on the 
 west side of Crowley's Ridge, but sold this soon 
 after and purchased 200 acres near by, on which 
 he erected a steam saw and grist-mill in 1853, 
 which was the first mill of the kind in the county. 
 Mr. Willcockson owned this mill for many years, 
 and many of the houses and buildings in this sec- 
 tion are made of lumber sawed here. He soon 
 had 100 acres of his land cleared, on which he 
 erected a nice residence. He became quite wealthy, 
 and continued to add to his original purchase until 
 he was the owner of about 1,000 acres of land. He 
 was a conspicuous figure in the political circles of 
 his section, and besides holding man}' minor offices 
 in the county, he was elected to the State legisla- 
 ture from Greene County, which position he filled 
 for two successive terms. He assisted in the or- 
 ganization of the school districts of this locality, 
 and held the office of school commissioner for 
 many yeiirs. In 1870 or 1871 he disj)osed of his 
 extensive farming interests in the county, and 
 moved to Newton County, where he purchased 
 a large milling jiroperty, consisting of a saw and 
 flouring mill, and a cotton-gin. Here he did a 
 successful business for many years, and sold out at 
 a large advance over what he originally paid. He 
 
 next moved to Brown County, where he bought a 
 farm, which he managed until his death, in 1886, 
 at the age of seventy years. His widow still sur- 
 vives him, and resides on the estate left by her 
 active and enterprising husband. Joseph H. Will- 
 cockson, the immediate subject of this sketch, was 
 reared on his father's extensive farm, and in his 
 youth received limited educational advantages. At 
 the age of twenty years he rented land and began 
 farming for himself, and after one year bought a 
 tract of wild land ou the St. Francis River, where 
 he cleared about fifty acres, erected buildings, and 
 made a good and pleasant home. Subsequently 
 he married Miss Matilda McDaniel, a native of 
 Greene County, and a daughter of John McDaniel, 
 who belonged to one of the first four or five fami- 
 lies who settled in Greene County. After resid- 
 ing one year in Bethel, Mr. Willcockson bought a 
 tract of 160 acres of wild land on Crowley's 
 Ridge, and here his wife died, at the end of two 
 years, leaving two children: John Gibson and 
 Virginia C. (wife of John Patton). who resides on a 
 farm belonging to Mr. Willcockson. The latter has 
 improved his property very much, and has seven- 
 ty-two acres under cultivation and fence, on which 
 is a good orchard of assorted fruits. In 1888 he 
 erected a commodious dwelling, which is fitted up 
 with many conveniences. He carries on general 
 farming, but makes a specialty of raising corn, and 
 this year (1889) has devoted fifty acres to that grain. 
 In 1888 he raised 2,000 bushels. Miss Mary Jane 
 'Roberds became his wife in 1884. She was born 
 in Arkansas, and by Mr. Willcockson is the mother 
 of two children : Ovid Clifton and Ota Louisa. 
 Mr. Willcockson is a Democrat politically, but is 
 not an active politician. 
 
 T. R. Willcockson, sheriff of Greene County, 
 Ark., was born in Giles County, Tenn., August 
 10, 1848, and is the son of Samuel and Frances 
 (Gibson) Willcockson. the father a native of Vir- 
 ginia, and the mother of Kentucky. They were 
 married in Tennessee, and there remained until 
 October, 1851, when they immigrated to what is 
 now Greene County, Ark., coming through in 
 wagons, and locating near the old Crowley farm, 
 in Cache Township. Heje the father bought a 
 
 171" 
 
foity-acre' tract, which was about the first deeded 
 land in this section of Arkansas. He also put up 
 the first steam, saw and grist-mill in Greene County, 
 and ran this for several years. He also carried on 
 farming, and being one of the earliest settlers, ex- 
 perienced all the hardships and privations incident 
 to pioneer life. In 1808 he removed to Boone 
 County, Ark., where he died in June, 1886. The 
 mother is still living. They were the parents of 
 fifteen children, only six now living: John W., 
 Isaac (deceased), William and Mary Annie (twins 
 and both deceased), David C. (deceased), James 
 (deceased), Joseph, Thomas R. , Sina, Sarah, Sam- 
 uel (deceased), Marion and Frances (twins and 
 deceased), Polk and Virginia. T. R. Willcockson, 
 the subject of this sketch, was but an infant when 
 he was brought to Greene County by his parents, 
 and here he grew to manhood and received his 
 education in the common schools. He was reared 
 on the farm, and tilling the soil has been his chief 
 pursuit ever since. He owns 241 acres of land, 
 with about sixty acres under cultivation. He was 
 elected sheriff and collector in 1880, served four 
 years, and in 1886 was re-elected to the same office, 
 which position he is now filling. He was married 
 in 1868 to Miss Mary Bowlin, who bore him six 
 children: Callie, Lucy, Deany, Mack, Sudie and 
 Nannie. Mrs. AVillcockson is a member of the 
 Baptist Church, and Mr. Willcockson is a member 
 of the K. of P. 
 
 J. W. Williams is a native of Panola County, 
 Miss., where he was born in the year 1859, being 
 the eldest of two children born to John and Mary 
 J. (Bishop) Williams, the former of whom was an 
 extensive farmer of that section for a long time, 
 whither he had come with his father at an early 
 day. When the war broke out he enlisted in the 
 Confederate army in the company known as the 
 "Sardis Blues," and was killed in the battle of 
 Shiloh, on the 7th of April, 1862. His widow is 
 still living, and resides in Mississippi on the old 
 homestead. J. W. Williams was reared to farm 
 labor and attended the common schools until four- 
 teen years of age, when he began working for 
 himself, continuing at farm labor for seven years. 
 In 1880, at the age of twenty-one years, he came 
 
 to Greene County, Ark., and located at Walcott, 
 where he has since been engaged in renting land; 
 this year farming on some of Capt. Crowley's 
 property. He contemplates entering a tract of 
 160 acres in the fall. He is active and enterpris- 
 ing and takes an interest in all matters pertaining 
 to the good of the locality in which he has made 
 his home. On the 7th of October, 1888, he was 
 married to Miss Susie Eubanks, a native of Greene 
 County, and a daughter of James and Mary E. 
 (Gramling) Eubanks [see sketch of Judge Gram 
 ling]. The former came to Greene County, Ark., 
 at an early day and entered a large tract of land, 
 on which ho did extensive improving, clearing 
 about 160 acres and erecting excellent buildings. 
 He died a few years ago, and is remembered by all 
 as an honest gentlemen and an estimal)le citizen. 
 A brother of J. W. Williams, Charles H., came 
 with him to Arkansas and married Miss Janie 
 Eubanks, a sister of Mrs. J. W. Williams. 
 
 William Worrell, stockman and farmer, was 
 born in Tennessee in 1839, and is the tenth of 
 twelve chikken born to Peter and Martha Nancy 
 Worrell, who were born, reared and married in 
 Virginia, and emigrated to Madison County, Tenn. , 
 in 1833. They purchased a farm of 103 acres, 
 which they improved and made their home until 
 their respective deaths. The father died in 1871 
 at the age of seventy-four years, and the mother 
 when her son William was a child. The latter 
 was reared to farm labor and attended the public 
 schools until the age of twenty, then renting 
 land and farming for three years. In 1862 he en- 
 listed in Company C, Twenty-second Tennessee 
 Infantry, Confederate States Army, and was in 
 the battles of Belmont, Richmond and Mur- 
 freesboro, where he was captured and sent to 
 Camp Douglas, at Chicago, and there he took the 
 oath of allegiance and returned home, where he 
 was almost an invalid for three years. In 1864 
 he purchased a farm of 303i acres, where he 
 resided until 1871, making many improvements, 
 then sold out and came to Greene County, Ark. , 
 settling near Gainesville, where ho lived for two 
 years, later moving to a tract of 360 acres, which 
 he liad jM-eviously purchased. Here he cleared 
 
|M> 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 about 150 acres, erected good buildings, set out 
 orchards, and now lias one of the most pleasant 
 homes in the county, but owns only eighty acres, 
 having sold the rest. He has given considerable 
 attention to stock raising, and raises a good grade 
 of Berkshire hogs. March 20, 1888, he purchased 
 a fine Norman- Perch eron stallion, named George, 
 which weighs 1,060 pounds, and is finely marked 
 in all points. This animal has an excellent record 
 from Indiana where it was raised, and shows a fine 
 grade of colts from last season. It is undoubt- 
 edly one of the best horses in Northeast Arkansas. 
 He also owns another horse named Buck, which has 
 an enviable record. On the 7th of July, 1859, 
 Mr. Worrell was united in marriage to Miss Ann 
 Eliza Freeman, a native of Tennessee, and a 
 daughter of AVilliam and Nancy Freeman, who 
 were also Tennesseeans, coming to Northeast Ar- 
 kansas in 1859. To Mr. and Mrs. Worrell have 
 been born the following children : John Isaac, who 
 is married and resides in Greene County, and 
 Loueza, wife of J. R. Hicks, also of this county, 
 being the only ones living. Those deceased are 
 Newson, who died at the age of twenty years; 
 Luhx Bell, who died when eighteen; Willie, at 
 the age of sixteen ; Savannah, who died in infancy, 
 and Eveline, at the age of eight years. The fam- 
 ily attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. 
 Worrell takes considerable interest in the culture 
 of bees, and has forty stands, all doing well. 
 
 Henry Wrape, manufacturer of tight barrel 
 staves, at Paragould, was born in Jennings County, 
 Ind. , January 15, 1850, and is the son of Henry, 
 Sr. , and Ann (Bible) Wrape, the father a native 
 of Ireland, and the mother of New York State. 
 Henry Wrape, Sr., emigrated from the Emerald 
 Isle when a boy, locating for a while in New York 
 State, and went from there in 1850 to Jennings 
 County, Ind. He became a large railroad con- 
 tractor, and was on the I. M. R. R., and on sev- 
 eral other noted railroads. Both parents died in 
 Indiana. They had four children: John. Robert, 
 Kate, wife of Able T. Morgan, and Henry, who is 
 the youngest of the family. The latter was reared 
 and educated in Indiana, at Notre Dame, the re- 
 nowned Catholic school. He assisted his brother 
 
 on the farm until si.xteen years of age, when he 
 engaged in merchandising at North Vernon, Ind. , 
 and this continued for one year. He then took a 
 trip to South America, stopping at Buenos Ayres to 
 settle up the estate of an uncle. He was absent 
 about eighteen months, and on his return engaged 
 in the stone-quarry business at North Vernon, 
 which he followed for five years. In 1882 he 
 came to Greene County, Ark, and embarked in his 
 present business, which he has since continued. 
 He has a large factory, and employs about fifty 
 men. He makes a good stave, and turns out about 
 5,000,000 per year. He is president of the Para- 
 gould & Buffalo Island Railroad, which was built in 
 1888, and which extends to the St. Francis River. 
 Mr. Wrape is one of the prosperous and public-spir- 
 ited men of Paragould. He was married in 18S5 to 
 Miss Emma Davis, a native of Indiana, and to them 
 have been born two children: Harold and Emma. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Wrape are members of the Catholic 
 Church. He is the owner of 4,000 acres of land 
 in Missouri, and a number of acres in this county. 
 Hezekiah B. Wright. In reviewing the various 
 business interests of Greene County, Ark. , the name 
 of Wright is found to be one of the most prominent, 
 especially in connection with farming and mer- 
 chandising. Mr. Wright was born in Hickman 
 County, Tenn. , in 1829, and there made his home 
 until 1850. when he came to Arkansas, having 
 commenced the battle of life at the age of eighteen 
 years. Two years later he located on his present 
 farm, and has about 250 acres of land in an excel- 
 lent state of cultivation, besides several other 
 tracts, all of which he has earned by energy and 
 good judgment. He is also engaged in general 
 merchandising at Gainesville, the style of the firm 
 being H. B. Wright & Co.. and they are enjoying 
 a prosperous trade, owing to their thorough knowl- 
 edge of the details of the business and the wants 
 of the public, combined with honorable dealing. 
 Mr. Wright was married to Mrs. Martha J. (Stares) 
 Perry, who died in 1863, having borne two chil- 
 dren by Mr. Wright: William J. and John N. 
 (twins); and one child by her first husband, Mr. 
 Perry: Mary, the wife of H. C. Sharer, of Wright 
 County, Mo. Mr. Wright took for his second wife 
 
 ^- 
 
^f==± 
 
 GBEENE COUNTY. 
 
 187 
 
 Mr.s. Peimelia E. (Ward) Wood, widow of C. 
 Wood. Their iiiiiou has resulted in the birth of 
 eight children: Joseph D., Franklin C. , Alvin T. , 
 Emma M., Anna A., Revis and Hezekiah B. j 
 Addie J. died when two years and nine months old. 
 Mr. and Mrs. A\' right are members of the Mission- 
 ar}- Baptist Church, to which their childi'en, Jo- 
 seph, Frank and Emma, also belong. Mr. Wright 
 is a Royal Arch Mason, and in his political views 
 is a Democrat; he was elected county coroner on 
 that ticket in 1858, and held the position until the { 
 breaking out of the late Civil War. He is a strong 
 advocate of and a liberal contributor to schools 
 and chui'ches. He is the only surviving member 
 of a family of three children (Thompson and Re- 
 becca being the other two) born to John and Sarah 
 ( Barr) Wright, who were natives of South Carolina 
 and Kentucky, respectively. When a small boy 
 the father was taken by his parents to Tennessee, 
 and resided first in Robertson County, then in 
 Hickman County, where he attained his majority, 
 and where his father died at an advanced age. He i 
 was the eldest child, and in 1849 moved to Arkan- ' 
 sas, and died in Greene County, in 1867, at the 
 age of sixty-five years, his wife dying in 1851, 
 aged about forty-seven years. 
 
 Christopher C. Wright (deceased) was one of 
 the representative citizens of Greene County, and 
 followed the occupations of farmer and miller the 
 principal part of his life. He was born in Vir- 
 ginia in 1S41 and died February 15, 1889, while 
 yet in the prime of life. His father, Dr. John 
 Wright, is still living in Lunenburgh County, Va. , 
 and is a prominent jihysician and farmer of that 
 State. Christo])her C. Wright remained in his 
 native State \nitil nineteen years of age, and seven 
 years of that time were spent at the tobacco-manu- 
 facturing Ijusiness. He then went to Missouri and 
 remained in Franklin County until the breaking 
 out of the late unjjleasantness between the North 
 and South, when he went Soutli and joined the Con- 
 federate army. He was wounded at the battle of 
 Shiloh, and taken to Memphis. Tenn. , where he 
 was discharged. He then went to Arkansas, re- 
 mained on Crowley's Ridge for a numl)er of months, 
 and then re-enlisted in Price's army, with which 
 
 ho continued until the last raid through Missouri. 
 After the war he came Ijack to Clay County, Ark. 
 (then Greene County), where he remained three 
 years, and at last settled on what was known as 
 the Meredith farm, at the original site for the 
 county seat of Greene County, where his widow 
 now resides. The farm was then unimproved, but 
 Mr. Wright went to work and soon had it under 
 cultivation and in fine condition. In fact he was 
 80 industrious and such an inveterate worker that 
 he undermined his health, and death was the re- 
 sult. Aside from his farming interest he also ran 
 a saw and grist-mill, which he conducted until 
 within a short time of his death, when he sold 
 the saw-mill, and afterward ran a grist-mill and 
 cotton-gin. This Mrs. Wright now manages and 
 conducts. Mr. Wright was a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he was a 
 liberal contributor, and although quiet and unob- 
 trusive in his demeanor, not a better man was to 
 be found in the county. Well respected and 
 cordially liked by all, his death, which was a sad 
 blow to his wife and children, was also lamented 
 by his many friends. He was married first at Oak 
 Bluff, Ark., to Miss Ann Boothe, who died about 
 one year afterward. His second marriage was in 
 January, 1866, to Miss C. A. Ledbetter, a native 
 of Chatham County, N. C, and the daughter of 
 Thomas and Frances Ledbetter, also natives of 
 North Carolina. Her parents moved to Arkansas 
 in 1851 and located in Greene County, within one 
 mile of where the mother is still living, at the age 
 of seventy-one years. Her father died May 26, * 
 1883. To her parents were born nine children, 
 two of whom are now deceased. To the marriage 
 of Mr. and Mrs. Wright were born eight children, 
 seven of whom are living: Charles (died in in- 
 fancy), Lillie, Billie, Katy, Thomas M. and John 
 H. (twins). Ruby J. and Robert W. Mrs. Wright 
 and family have conducted the farm and mill since 
 the death of her husband. She and her eldest 
 daughter belong to the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. 
 
 Dr. T. H. W'yse, president of the Greene 
 County Bank, was born in Jones County, N. C, 
 April 19, 1827, and is the son of James and Nancy 
 
 ^P 
 
188 
 
 HISTORY or ARKANSAS. 
 
 (Nunn) Wyse, who were natives of North Carolina, 
 and who emigrated to Tennessee in 1838, in that 
 State passing their last days. The father was a 
 farmer by occui)ation. Dr. T. H. Wyse, one of 
 ten children, four now living, was reared in what 
 is now Crockett County, Tenn. , and received his 
 education in the common schools. At the age of 
 twenty- four years he began the study of medicine, 
 and graduated at the University of Nashville in 
 1854. He then came to Greene County, Ark., 
 locating at Gainesville, then the county seat, where 
 he practiced for about twenty-five years. He was 
 also engaged in mercantile business at that 
 place for eighteen years. He lias now retired from 
 practice. In November, 1887, he moved to Para- 
 gould, and in February, 1888, the Greene County 
 Bank was organized, with Dr. Wyse for president, 
 which position he now holds. In 1861 he was 
 
 elected to the legislature and served one term. 
 He served six years as county treasurer of Greene 
 County, and has been one of the county's most 
 prominent citizens. He owns some 2,000 acres 
 of land in Greene County, about the same number 
 in Randolph County, and has nearly 400 acres in 
 cultivation. He was married first, in 1851, at 
 Brownsville, Tenn. , to Mary Williams, and his 
 second marriage was to Miss Alice Kibler, of Ran- 
 dolph County, Ark. No children have ever blessed 
 his marriages. The Doctor is a member of the 
 I Masonic fraternity, a member of the I. O. O. V. , 
 and also belongs to the Chapter. He has repre- 
 sented both of these lodges several times in the 
 grand lodges, and takes a great interest in each 
 of them. He is also a liberal contributor to 
 worthy enterprises, aiding by his influence in all 
 laudable movements. 
 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 189 
 
 -4-^-^ 
 
 Clay County— Location and Description— Duainage— Timber— Soil— Natural Resources— Live 
 
 Stock — Taxation — Population— Railroads— Settlement— County Organization— Change 
 
 OF Name— The County Divided— Public Buildings— County Officers— Politics— 
 
 The Courts— Legal Executions— The Civil War— Towns and Villages— 
 
 Newspapers- Education and Religion— Biographical Sketches. 
 
 
 I love everything that's old — old friends. 
 
 Old times, old manners, old books. o)(lwine. — Ooldsmith. 
 
 J. AY COUNTY lies in tho 
 northeast corner of the State, 
 and is bounded north by 
 Ripley and Butler Counties, 
 in Missouri ; east by Dunklin 
 County, of that State; south 
 by Greene County, Ark. , and 
 west by Randolph, in the latter State. 
 It is separated from Dunklin County, 
 Mo. , by the St. Francis River, and its 
 boundary lines are as follows: Com- 
 mencing where the line between the 
 States of Arkansas and Missouri inter- 
 sects the St. Francis River; thence down 
 said river, following its meanders, to 
 the line between Sections 21 and 28, 
 Township 19 north, Range 9 east; thence west on 
 the section lines to the range line between Ranges 
 2 and 8 east ; thence north on the range line to Black 
 River; thence with the meanders of that river to the 
 lino Ijetween Sections 15 and 16, in Township 19 
 north, Range 3 east; thence north on the subdivis- 
 ional lines to the line between Townships 20 and 
 21 north; thence west to the range line between 
 Ranges 2 and 8 east; thence north on the range 
 line to the State line between Arkansas and Mis- 
 souri; thence east on the State line to the place of 
 
 beginning. The area of the county is 613 square 
 miles, or 392,820 acres, about one-tenth of which 
 is improved. 
 
 A strip of broken or hilly lands, averaging 
 between seven and eight miles in width, known as 
 Crowley's Ridge, extends through the county in a 
 southwesterly direction from its northeast corner. 
 The summit of the hills in this tract reaches an 
 altitude of fi'om 100 to 200 feet above the sun-ound- 
 ing country. There are also four or five sections 
 of hilly lands in the northwest portion of the coun- 
 ty, west of CuiTent River; and all the balance of 
 the county varies only a few feet from a level sur- 
 face. The village of Knobel, on the St. Louis, 
 Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, is 181 feet 
 above sea level, and this is about the average 
 elevation of all except the hilly portions of the 
 county; hence the highest point in the county 
 may reach an elevation of 400 feet above the sea. 
 All that portion lying east of the broken or hUly 
 tract above described is drained by the St. Francis 
 River and its tributaries, a large part of it being 
 subject to overflow in the winter and spring, and 
 that division located west is drained by Cache, 
 Black and Current Rivers and their tributaries. 
 
 Cache River enters the county from the north, 
 near the middle of Range 7 east, and flows ou 
 
 ^«- 
 
190 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 through the county in a southwesterly direction 
 to Cache Lake, on the southern boundarj' line, in 
 the eastern half of Range 5; thus dividing the 
 area of the county into nearly two equal portions. 
 It drains the western slope of Crowley's Ridge, 
 and central portion of the territory. Black River 
 enters fi'om the north about two miles east of the 
 range line, between Ranges 5 and f3, and Hows, on 
 a very tortuous route, toward the southwest, leav- 
 ing the county at a point about two miles north of 
 its sonthwest corner. Current River enters the 
 county from the west, a short distance south of the 
 northwest corner, and flows thence easterly to the 
 second tier of sections, thence in a southerly and 
 finally in a southwesterly direction, passing out at 
 the western boundary of Section 80, Township 20 
 north, Range 3 east. The bottom lands along the 
 St. Francis and Black Rivers usually overflow in 
 the late winter and early spring to a depth of from 
 one to two feet, and those along the Current River 
 from three to five feet. The water, however, re- 
 cedes so early as seldom to interfere with the rais- 
 ing of summer crops, and the overflow always de- 
 posits a sediment which enriches and re-fertilizes 
 the land. It has been demonstrated that the river 
 beds are sufficiently low to admit of the complete 
 drainage and reclamation of nearly all swamp and 
 overflowed lands in the county. Such can be done 
 by removing the drift and rubbish from the rivers, 
 straightening their channels, and constructing lat- 
 eral ditches to empty into them. This, however, 
 can only be accomplished by a State drainage law, 
 which will assess for the purpose the lands alike of 
 the non-resident and resident owners. 
 
 The entire county was originally covered with 
 a dense forest, consisting of four varieties of white 
 oak, several of black and red oak, three of gum, 
 several of hickory, a little walnut, cypress, ash, 
 maple, honey locust, poplar, beech, elm, sassafras, 
 catalpa, etc., with an iindergrowth of dogwood, 
 pawpaw, redbud, spice-wood, hazel, privet, horn- 
 beam, huckleberry, blackberry,' etc. Some trees 
 of the largest kinds of timber measured from 
 four to six feet across the stump. Much of the 
 timber has been cut into logs and floated down the 
 i streams and thus shipped away; and since the 
 
 county has been traversed with railroads, a great 
 deal has been cut into lumber and shipped by rail, 
 and there is yet a seemingly ine.\haustible supply. 
 The average acreage production of lumber is care- 
 fully estimated as follows: Cypress, 5,000 feet: 
 poplar and sweet gum, 3,000 feet each: white oak, 
 2,000 feet; hickory, ash, walnut and black oak to- 
 gether, 3,000 feet. Logs can be rafted on all the 
 rivers mentioned and on some of their tributaries. 
 It is estimated that each acre of timbered land 
 will produce from twenty-five to thirty cords of 
 wood, after the saw timber is taken away. 
 
 The soil of the entire county is moderately 
 rich and fertile, that of the bottom or overflowed 
 lands being mostly composed of alluvial deposits; 
 the balance is formed of sand, clay and vegetable 
 mould, and the whole is imderlaid with a clay 
 subsoil. 
 
 At present the cutting and shipping of logs 
 and lumber, with the running of the many saw- 
 mills in the county, which give employment to a 
 large number of men, constitute one of the leading 
 industries and form a source of considerable rev- 
 enue to the people of the county. This occupation 
 will continue for many years, or imtil the supply 
 of timber becomes exhausted. The vegetable pro- 
 ductions, as shown by the census of 1880, were as 
 follows: Indian corn, 343,836 bushels; oats, 
 12,406 bushels; wheat, 13,408 bushels; hay, 100 
 tons; cotton, 2,307 bales; Irish potatoes, 4,427 
 bushels; sweet potatoes, 5,381 bushels; tobacco, 
 11,390 pounds. These amounts were then pro- 
 duced from much less than one-tenth of the area 
 of the county. Considering the large increase of 
 the present population over that of 1880, together 
 with the advanced improvements, it is certain that 
 the amount of vegetable productions now far ex- 
 ceeds, and in some things more than doubles that 
 of 1880. Surely "Cotton is king" in Clay Coun- 
 ty, as it is the moneyed crop, and the source of the 
 greatest income. It is raised to the exclusion of 
 many other things that might be produced in 
 larger quantities. Some of the late immigrants 
 have begun the raising of clover and tame grasses, 
 for which the soil is well adapted, with a view of 
 making the raising of stock a leading industrj-. 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^1^ 
 
i£: 
 
 CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 nil 
 
 The numlier of live animals in tlie county in 
 ISSO, according to the census of that year, were 
 as follows: Horses, 1,444; mules and asses, 832; 
 cattle, (i,574; sheep, ],9fiO; hogs, 24,277. The 
 number of animals within the county, according 
 to late assessment rolls, are: Horses, 1,698; mules 
 and asses, 922; cattle, 8.802; sheep, 1.159: hogs, 
 1,325; a large gain in all except sheep and hogs. 
 The reduced price of wool accounts for the decrease 
 in the number of sheep, and the hogs enumerated 
 in 1880 were all that were produced and on hand 
 during the year, including those slaughtered and 
 sold; while those recently enumerated included 
 only those on hand when assessed for taxation; 
 consequently there is not a decline in this direc- 
 tion. As before stated, the county is well sup- 
 plied with streams, and an abundance of good well 
 water can be obtained almost anywhere at a depth 
 of from twenty to forty feet by simply digging, 
 without any blasting or boring through rock. 
 These facts, coupled with the great adaptability 
 for the growing of tame grasses and clover, the 
 mildness of the climate, and the good shipping 
 facilities, must eventually make Clay one of the 
 best stock-growing counties in the United States, 
 a truth of which farmers may profitably avail 
 themselves. It is also well adapted to the grow- 
 ing of all kinds of fruit common to this latitude. 
 Fruit-growing however has not been made the 
 specialty that it might. Some of the late immi- 
 grants have set out, and are preparing to do so, 
 large orchards and develop this industry, having 
 perfect confidence of success. 
 
 In 18S0 the real estate of the county was as- 
 sessed at !?408,561, and the personal property at 
 $244,717, making a total of $713,278; and the 
 total taxes charged thereon were $10,022. The 
 real estate of the county, as shown by recent 
 assessment rolls, was valued at $1,211,258, and 
 the personal property at $522,227. making a total 
 of $1,733,485, upon which the total taxes charged 
 were $25, 502. 25. By comparison it will be seen 
 that since 1880 the taxable property and taxes 
 charged have much more than doubled. The 
 county has fair public buildings, is out of debt, and 
 its scrip is worth one hundred cents on the dollar. 
 
 There are twenty-six saw mills and eight stave 
 factories within the county. 
 
 In 1880 the population of Clay County was 
 white 7,191, colored 22, total 7,213. Since that 
 time, and especially within the last four years, 
 emigration has so increased that the population 
 at this writing (1889) is estimated at about double 
 that of 1880. 
 
 The St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern 
 Railroad runs in a southwesterly direction across 
 the western half of Clay County, the length of the 
 main line within its territory being about nine- 
 teen miles. The Helena branch extends in a 
 southeasterly direction from Knobel, and has a 
 length of about four miles within the county. The 
 St. Louis & Texas Railroad crosses the St. Francis 
 River in Section 18, Township 21, Range 9, where 
 it enters the county, and run.s southwesterly along 
 the eastern side of Crowley's Ridge, departing a 
 few hundred yards below Rector. The length of 
 its line here is about seventeen miles. The com- 
 bined length of the railroads within the county is 
 forty miles, not including a few l)ranches extend- 
 ing one or two miles out to certain saw mills. 
 The main line of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain 
 & Southern Railroad was completed through the 
 county early in the 70' s. 
 
 The Helena branch of this road, and the St. 
 Louis & Texas (Cotton Belt) Railroad were com- 
 pleted through this vicinity in 1882. 
 
 The settlement of the territory composing Clay 
 County began al)out the year 1.S32, but increased 
 very slowly for the first twenty years, after which 
 it advanced quite rapidly, until the outbreak of 
 the Civil War, when it came to a standstill. Its 
 most noticeable growth has l)een within the last 
 five years, immigrants having located here from 
 Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana. Illinois and other 
 States. Among the first settlers in the western 
 part of the county were John J. Griffin, who 
 located on Black River in 1832, and Abraham Rol)- 
 erts, who settled a few years later near the present 
 site of Corning. Prominent pioneers in the east- 
 ern part of the county — mostly on Crowley's Ridge 
 — were William and Elihu Davis, who settled early 
 in the 30' s and were soon followed by the Payne, 
 
i\^L^ 
 
 l'.t2 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Hollis and other families. Among the settlers of 
 the 40's were William H. Mack, James Watson 
 and others, and during the 50' s the families of 
 the Liddells, Millers, J. G. Dudley, Buck Wagster, 
 B. H. Mitchell, William Dean, H. M. Granade, 
 James Campbell, Singleton Copeland, Edward 
 Allen, C. H. Mobley, Dr. Simmons were some of 
 those who became settlers. Nearly all of the ear- 
 liest comers were from Tennessee. Later immi- 
 grants came from other Southern States, and now 
 many are entering from the North. 
 
 Clay County was organized as Clayton County, 
 in accordance with an act of the General Assembly, 
 approved March 24, 1873, and became a part of 
 the Third judicial circuit and of the First Con- 
 gressional district. That part of it now known as 
 the Eastern district was taken from Greene, and 
 that known as the Western district was removed 
 from Randolph County. The county seat was 
 originally located at Corning, on the lot of ground 
 now occupied by the present court-house in that 
 place. The first term of the coimty court was held 
 at Corning, beginning on the 16th day of May, 
 1873. Soon after a temporary frame court-house, 
 22x40 feet in size, containing two rooms, was built, 
 by order of the court, under the supervision of the 
 sheriff. A common jail was also erected; subse- 
 quently the question of the removal of the coimty 
 seat to Boydsville — a more central point — began 
 to be agitated, and on the 30th of June, 1874, an 
 election was held for the purpose of submitting the 
 question to the electors of the county, and when 
 the votes were counted it was found, by the court, 
 that the people, by a majority of 310. had voted in 
 favor of removal. Thereupon the court declared 
 Boydsville to be the county seat. However, such 
 strong resistance to this decision was manifested 
 that no permanent removal of records was made 
 for a long time. 
 
 Finally, after a lapse of a few years, the ques- 
 tion was again submitted to the people at an elec- 
 tion held May 22, 1877, on which occasion forty- 
 two votes were cast against the removal and 603 
 in favor of it, making a majority of 561 in favor 
 of the project, and the court again declared Boyds ■ 
 ville to be the county seat, to which place the 
 
 records were soon removed and placed in a tem- 
 porary court-house, previously erected by order of 
 the county court. The first term of the county 
 court was held in Boydsville beginning on Monday 
 October 1, 1877. 
 
 By an act of the General Assembly of the 
 State, approved December 6, 1875, the name • of 
 ' ' Clayton ' ' County was changed to ' ' Clay. ' ' 
 
 Having lost the county seat, the people of Corn- 
 ing and the western portion of the county, finding 
 it difficult to reach Boydsville, commenced to con- 
 sider the question of dividing the county into two 
 districts. Consequently the legislature, by an act 
 approved February 23, 1881, provided that the 
 county should be divided into two judicial districts, 
 the "Eastern" and the "Western," and that the 
 following described line should separate them: 
 Commencing at tlie center of the main chan- 
 nel of Black River where it crosses the Missouri 
 and Arkansas State line; thence down the main 
 channel of said river to the range line between 
 Ranges 5 and 6, in Township 21; thence south on 
 the range line to the west bank of Cache River; 
 thence with the west bank of Cache River or lake 
 to the line between Clay and Greene Counties. 
 The act further provided that the seat of justice 
 for the Western district should 'be at Corning; 
 that the circuit, chancery and probate courts 
 should be held both at Boydsville and at Corning; 
 that the circuit courts established in the re- 
 spective districts of the county should be as sepa- 
 rate and distinct, and have the same relations to 
 each other, as if they were of distinct counties; 
 that the sheriff, clerk, treasurer and probate judge 
 of the county should be the same for both districts; 
 that the financial affairs of each district should be 
 kept as separate and distinct as though they were 
 separate counties, and that the offices for the West- 
 ern district should be filled by the deputy county 
 officers. 
 
 After dispensing with the temjtorary court- 
 house at Boydsville, the present two-story frame 
 court-house, with the hall and four rooms on the 
 first floor, and court-room on the second, was 
 erected, about 1881. The present log and board 
 jail, with iron cells, at Boydsville, was erected 
 
 3?11 
 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 l'J3 
 
 immediately after the county seat was perma- 
 neutly located there.* The public buildings at 
 Corning consist of a court-house similar to the one 
 at Boydsville, and the original jail with iron cells, 
 which latter were put in immediately or soon after 
 the county was divided into districts. The county 
 has no ' ' poor farm ' " or asylum for her paiipers. 
 The latter are let out separately for their keeping, 
 to the lowest responsible bidders. 
 
 Following is a list of the county officers of 
 Clay County, from its formation to the present 
 time: 
 
 Judges: T. M. Holliiield, 1874-78; E. N. 
 Ro^'all, 1878-86; Robert Liddell, present incum- 
 bent, first elected in 1886. 
 
 Clerks: T. L. Martin, 1873-74; W. H. Smith, 
 1874-78; R. Liddell, 1878-86; W. E. Spence, 
 present incumbent, elected in 1886. 
 
 Sheriffs: William G. Akers, 1873-74; E. N. 
 Royall, 1874-76; E. M. Allen, 1876-78 ;t J. A. 
 McNiel, 1878-86; G. M. McNiel, 1886-88; B. B. 
 Biffle, present incumbent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Treasurers: William Little, 1873-74; James 
 Blackshare, 1874-78; John Bearden, 1878-80; N. 
 J. Burton. 1880-82; W. S. Blackshare, 1882-84; 
 J. S. Simpson, 1884-86; A. L. Blackshare, present 
 incumbent, first elected in 1886. 
 
 Coroners: J. Cunningham, 1873-74; J. J. 
 Payne, 1874-76; J. N. Cummins, 1876-78; H. W. 
 Cagle, 1878-84; Dallas Taylor, 1884-86; D. G. 
 See, elected in 1886, but failed to qualify; office 
 since vacant. 
 
 Surveyors: W. C. Grimsley, 1873-74; E. M. 
 Allen, Jr., 1874-76; A. J. Caldwell, 1876-82; E. 
 M. Allen, 1882-86; A. Williams, 1886-88; E. M. 
 Allen, present incumbent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Assessors: E. N. Royall, 1873-74; J. S. 
 Rodgers, 1874-76; W. H. Mack, 1876-78; J. W. 
 Rodgers, 1878-82; Henry Holcomb, 1882-86; J. 
 S. Blackshare, present incumbent, first elected in 
 1886. 
 
 The county at this writing is represented in 
 the State legislature by Hon. J. W. Dollison, of 
 
 * The cells were those taken from the jail at Corning. 
 
 +E. X. Royall from September, 1877, I'icc Allen, sus- 
 pended by order of circuit court. 
 
 Greenway, and the offices of the Western district 
 are filled by the following persons, viz. : E. D. 
 Estes, deputy clerk; W. A. Brown, deputy sheriff; 
 E. V. Sheeks, deputy treasurer; Jacob Brobst, 
 deputy assessor; Z. T. Daniels, deputy surveyor. 
 The judge of the county court is also judge of the 
 probate court, and the clerk, by virtue of his 
 office, is recorder of deeds, the sheriff, by virtue of 
 his office, being collector of revenues. The school 
 examiner for the Eastern district is R. L. O. Bryen, 
 and for the Western district, F. G. Taylor. 
 
 Politically the county of Clay is strongly Dem- 
 ocratic. At the State election, held in September, 
 1888, J. P. Eagle, the Democratic candidates for 
 Governoi', received 1,108 votes, and C. M. Nor- 
 wood, the Wheeler, Labor Union and Republican 
 candidate, received 717 votes. At the same time 
 B. B. Chism, Democratic candidate for secretary 
 of State, received 1,121 votes, and G. W. Terry, 
 opposition candidate for the same office, received 
 697 votes. Only a light vote was cast at the pres- 
 idential election. 
 
 The several courts of the county consist of 
 the county, probate and circuit courts. The judge 
 of the county court is also judge of the probate 
 court, and the clerk of the circuit court is also 
 clerk of the county and probate courJ;8, and ex-officio 
 recorder. 
 
 The county cnurt, which is held only at Boyds- 
 ville, meets on the first Mondays of January, 
 April, July and October of each year, and the pro 
 bate court meets at Boydsville on the third Mon- 
 days, and at Corning on the fourth Mondays of 
 the same months. The circuit court convenes at 
 Corning on the first Mondays of January and 
 August of each year, and on the third Mondays of 
 the same months at Boydsville. 
 
 The local bar of Clay County consists of G. 
 B. Holifield, of Boydsville, F. G. Taylor, G. B. 
 Oliver and J. C. Staley, of Corning, John Jones, 
 of Peach Orchard, J. A. Barlow, of Rector, and 
 H. W. Moore, of Greenway. 
 
 Only two men have been legally executed in 
 Clay County for the crime of murder; one of 
 these being Bent Taylor, hanged for the murder 
 of Rilev Black, and the other Lafayette Melton, 
 
-^ 
 
 194 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 for the murder of Fank Hale. Both were executed 
 at Corning, the former in iSSti, and the latter in 
 1884. Other crimes have been committed within 
 the coimty, for which the perpetrators have re- 
 ceived lighter punishments. 
 
 The territory over which Clay now extends 
 was but slightly over-run and devastated during 
 the Civil War of 1861-65. The citizens at that 
 time, having emigrated mostly from Tennessee and 
 other .slaveholding States, were in full sympathy 
 with the Southern cause, in consequence of which 
 a goodly number of soldiers were furnished for 
 the Confederate army, while none joined the Union 
 forces. Three companies of soldiers, organized re- 
 spectively by Capts. F. S. White, Reed and E. M. 
 Allen, were recruited principally from what is now 
 Clay County. A few also enlisted in the company 
 commanded by Capt. G. D. Byers. A company 
 of Home Guards consisting of old men was or- 
 ganized. In the spring of 1863 Col. Daniels with 
 a force of Federal cavalry moved southward on 
 Crowley's Ridge, and at a point about two miles 
 northeast of the present site of Rector, came in 
 contact with this company of Home Guards, firing 
 upon and dispersing them. In this action Squire 
 George Lynch of the attacked party was killed. 
 There was no general biishwhacking here during 
 the war, but a number of citizens were taken out 
 and ' ' removed ' ' by scouting parties. 
 
 Of the towns of the county, Advance is a post- 
 office in the northeastern part. 
 
 Boydsville, the county seat, situated on the 
 southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of 
 Section 25, Township 20, Range 6, was established 
 in 1877. It contains the court-house and jail, four 
 general stores, one drug store, one grocery, one 
 hotel, two cotton-gins with grist and saw- mills 
 attached, one school-house, two churches — Meth- 
 odist Episcopal, South, and Methodist Protestant, 
 with a hall over the former; a lodge each of 
 Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Honor, .some 
 mechanics' shops, and a population of about 150. 
 
 Corning, the seat of justice for the Western 
 district, situated on Section 6, Township 20, of 
 Range 5, and on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & 
 Southern Railroad, was established in 1873. It 
 
 contains the court house and jail, six general stores, 
 two drug stores, one grocery, three saloons, one 
 livery stable, four hotels, one stave factory, two 
 cotton-gins with grist mills attached, one wagon 
 shop, one blacksmith shop, two shoe shops, three 
 church organizations — Methodist Episcopal, South, 
 Christian and Baptist — with but one church edifice, 
 belonging to the Methodists, one school house, 
 postoffice, and a population of about 600. It also 
 contains a lodge each of Masons, Good Templars 
 and Triple Alliance. 
 
 Don is a postoffice in the western part of the 
 county. 
 
 Greenway, a town on the St. Louis & Texas 
 Railroad, on Section 28, Township 20, Range 8, 
 was laid out in February, 1883, by the South- 
 western Improvement Company. It contains four 
 general stores, one diug store, two groceries, one 
 hardware and furniture store, one saloon, two saw- 
 mills, two grist-mills, one stave factory, one school- 
 house, two church organizations — Methodist and 
 Baptist — five physicians, one attorney, the post- 
 office, and a population of about 500. 
 
 Knobel, a station at the junction of the St. 
 Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad and 
 Helena branch, on the south part of Section 36, 
 Township 20, Range 4, was established soon after 
 the completion of the railroad. It contains three 
 general stores, the railroad buildings, a large hotel, 
 one school house and about twenty-five residences. 
 
 Moark, situated on the same railroad, near the 
 northern boundary of the county, was established 
 soon after the road was completed. It contains 
 three saw-mills, one of which is located on Black 
 River, three miles east, being connected with the 
 village by a wooden tramway, one general store, 
 one school house, postoffice, and a few residences. 
 
 Peach Orchard, a station on the St. Louis, 
 Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, on Section 
 20, Township 19, Range 4, contains one general 
 store, one cotton gin, with sorghum and corn mill 
 attached, postoffice, and a few residences. 
 
 Piggott, on the St. Louis & Texas Railroad, on 
 Section 10, Town.ship 20, Range 8, was laid out in 
 November, 1882. It contains two general stores, 
 one drug store, three gi'oceries, one, cotton gin and 
 
 ^ 
 
>^ 
 
 CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 iy5 
 
 grist-mill combined, one stave factory, one hotel, 
 some work-shops, one school house, church and 
 hall combined, a lodge of Odd Fellows, a post of 
 the (t. a. R., two physicians, and about 150 
 inhabitants. 
 
 Pitman, a postoffiee hamlet, is in the extreme 
 northwest corner of the county. 
 
 Rector, on the St. Louis & Texas Railroad, on 
 the south half of Section 23, Township 19, Range 
 7, was laid out in June, 1882, by the Southwestern ; 
 Improvement Company. It contains seven gen- 
 eral stores, three di*ug stores, one grocery, two 
 (temperance) saloons, one hardware and grocery, 
 one harness and saddlery store, some work-shojjs, 
 a photograph gallery, one stave factory, two saw- 
 mills, two cotton gins, with grist-mills attached, i 
 one livery stable, two hotels, one meat market, a 
 millinery store, postoffiee, four church organiza- 
 tions — Baptist, Cumberland Presbyterian, Meth- 
 odist Episcopal, South, and Methodist Protestant; { 
 two church edifices, a lodge each of Masons, Odd 
 Fellows and Knights of Honor, a public school- ' 
 house, two select or private schools, four physi- 
 cians, and a population of 700 or over. 
 
 St. Francis, on the St. Louis & Texas Railroad, 
 on the west bank of St. Francis River, was laid 
 out in January, 1883, by the Southwestern Im- i 
 provement Company. It contains six general 
 stores, one dtxig store, four groceries, four saw- 
 mills, one stave factory, one meat market, some 
 work shops, two churches, Methodist and Cum- 
 berland Presbyterian, two hotels, one school house, 
 restaurant, postoffiee, two physicians, a lodge of 
 Triple Alliance, and a population of about 200. 
 
 Thnrman is a postoffiee seven miles west of 
 Corning. 
 
 Vidette is a postoffiee ten miles northwest of 
 Corning. 
 
 Williams is a postoffiee four miles west of Moark. 
 The press of Clay County has ever exerted no 
 slight influence in the growth and development of 
 this section. While not numerous, those journals 
 found here are ever active and energetic in giving 
 to the outside unprejudiced, candid facts relating 
 to the locality whose interests they represent. 
 The Corning Index, a six-column folio weekly 
 
 newspaper, at Corning, was established in the fall 
 of 1887. It is published by Clyde C. Estes, and 
 edited by E. D. Estes in an acceptable manner, in 
 dicating ability and force. 
 
 The Clay County Record, a seven-column week 
 ly newspaper published at Rector, was established 
 in January, 1889, by its present proprietor, Mr. 
 Taylor. This joiu-nal also has at heart the welfare 
 of the community, and enjoys a liberal circulation. 
 Before the inauguration of the free school sys- 
 tem, the educational facilities of the territory now 
 composing this county were very meager. The 
 old subscription schools taught in the primitive log 
 school houses were generally of little benefit to the 
 country. The scholastic pojjalation of the county 
 in 1882 amounted to 2,863, live of them being 
 colored, and in 1886 it reached 3,274, with only 
 one colored — an increase, in the four years, of 411. 
 In the latter year only 1,791 pupils (all white) 
 were enrolled in the public schools, but a little over 
 one-half of the scholastic population. This shows 
 that the schools were not well attended, or that 
 nearly one-half of the children were not compelled 
 to attend school. For the year ending June 30, 
 1886, there were thirty-four male and eight female 
 teachers employed to teach the common schools of 
 the county. The male teachers of the first grade 
 were paid an average salary of S50 per month . and 
 the female teachers of the same grade 137. 50 per 
 month. The male teachers of the second grade 
 were paid an average salary of $35, and the female 
 teachers S32. 50 per month. The male teachers of 
 the third grade were paid an average salary of i?25, 
 and the female teachers $20 per month. The 
 number of school houses re[)orted in the county in 
 1886 was thirty-six, both frame and log, valued at 
 $6,505. The amount of revenue received for the 
 year ending Juue 30, 1886, was $13,224.60, and 
 the amount expended for the same time was 
 $11, 272.00. leaving a balance on hand of $1,951 .60. 
 These statistics have been taken from the last pub- 
 li.shed re])ort of the State superintendent of jiub- 
 lic instruction. The public schools here, as else- 
 where, are improving and becoming more and 
 more efficient. 
 
 The first organization of the Methodist Epis- 
 
196 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 copal Churoh, South, in Clay County was effected 
 at Mar's Hill, four miles north of Boydsville, early 
 in the 50' s, and the tirst church edifice was erected 
 there in 1856. The next society was organized at 
 the house of Capt. F. S. White, at Oak Bluff, in 
 1856, near where Evans' Chapel was erected the 
 next year. There are now three circuits of this 
 church within the county, with an aggregate of 
 eighteen organizations and about 570 members. 
 The circuits are the Boydsville. St. Francis and 
 Corning, belonging to the Jonesboro district of 
 White River conference. 
 
 Salem Church, three- fourths of a mile south 
 of Boydsville, was the first Missionary Baptist 
 Church organized within the county, and the num- 
 ber has since increased to fourteen, with a total 
 membership of 680. Elder Lloyd preached here 
 forty years ago, and was probably the first Mis- 
 sionary Baptist minister in the county. The Beth- 
 lehem Missionary Baptist Association was organ- 
 ized at Salem Church in 1868. 
 
 The tirst society of the Methodist Protestant 
 Church within the territory of Clay County was 
 organized in 1858, at Liberty Hill, five miles north 
 of Rector. There are now ten or more organiza- 
 tions within the covmty, with a membership of 
 about 350. 
 
 The oldest Cumberland Presl)yterian Church 
 here was organized at Chalk Bluff", about the year 
 1855. There are now four organizations, located 
 respectively at St. Francis, Piggott, Greenway and 
 Rector. The total membership numbers, perhaps, 
 100. 
 
 Within the county there are at least two Regu- 
 lar Baptist Churches, with an aggregate member- 
 ship of about fifty, and one or more Free Will 
 Baptist Churches. There are also a few Christian 
 Churches of recent organization. 
 
 S. V»\ Alexander, manufacturer and dealer in 
 hard wood lumber, railroad ties, wagons, agricul- 
 tural implements, car material, etc. , at Corning, 
 Ark., was born in Hancock Comity, Ind., October 
 17, 1835, his parents, James and Mary (Mac 
 Michael) Alexander, and his grandparents, on 
 
 both sides, being natives of Orange County, N. C. 
 They all emigrated at an early day (about 1828) 
 to Indiana where they died. The great-grand- 
 father was in the Revolutionary War. and fired the 
 tirst cannon in that service. James Alexander 
 remained in Hancock County, Ind., until the 
 spring of 1857, when he emigrated to Polk County, 
 Iowa, where he was living at the time of his death, 
 in 1882. His wife died in 1872, have borne five 
 children: John C, Julia A.. Simeon W., James 
 A. and Louisa. Mr. Alexander was a farmer by 
 occupation. Simeon W. Alexander, our subject, 
 was reared and educated in his native county, and 
 from childhood has been familiar with farm life. 
 On reaching his majority he was married, and emi- 
 grated to Illinois, locating in Cumberland County, 
 where he was engaged in the saw-mill business 
 until 1859, when he removed to Polk County, 
 Iowa, but returned to Illinois in December, 1863, 
 and there resided until the fall of 1869. In the 
 fall of that year he sold his mill and returned to 
 Iowa, where he remained until 1886, being en- 
 gaged in both lumbering and farming on an exten- 
 sive scale. He owned 400 acres of good land, and 
 on coming to Clay County, emljarked in the lumber 
 busine.ss, putting i;p a large saw-mill . He still con- 
 tinues this business and employs a great many 
 hands. He owns about 2,400 acres of land in 
 Clay County, some 1,000 of which will make fine 
 farming land when improved. He also has one of 
 the best houses in the county, situated in Corn- 
 ing. October 23, 1856, he was married to Miss 
 Mary Faster, a native of Indiana, by whom he has 
 seven children: William (in Dakota), Lucy M. , 
 Cora (wife of T. J. Conway, of Chicago), Charles 
 W., Addie, Freddie and Edward. Mr. Alexander 
 is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is one of the 
 public-spirited men of Clay County, always being 
 ready to advance the interests of the people. 
 
 J. H. Allen, stockman and farmer of Clay 
 County, Ark., was born in North Carolina in July, 
 1828, being the eighth of nine children born to 
 Isaac and Sarah (Hawkins) Allen, who were born 
 in North Carolina and Virginia, respectively, the 
 latter being a daughter of a Revolutionary i)atriot. 
 Both parents died on their home farm in North 
 
a t- 
 
 CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 197 
 
 Carolina. J. H. Allen attended the public schools 
 for some time and remained at home until twenty- 
 four years of age, being engaged in overseeing 
 the farm until the breaking out of the Rebellion, 
 when he gave up this work and began operating a 
 grist mill. In November, 1866, he came to what 
 is now Clay County (then Randolph County), and 
 settled twenty-five miles from Pocahontas, in which 
 locality he rented land for some time. He then 
 purchased 380 acres of wild land two miles west 
 of Knobel, on which he immediately began to 
 make improvements. At the present time he has 
 150 acres under cultivation, well improved with 
 good buildings, orchard, fences, etc. He has 
 added 120 acres to his original purchase, on which 
 he raises a large number of horses, cattle and hogs 
 each year. He has devoted most of his cultivated 
 land to corn and stock for his cattle and horses, 
 but this year (1889) has put in about lifty acres of 
 cotton. He has always been quite active in poli- 
 tics, and has held the office of justice of the 
 peace for ten years, and has been school director 
 a number of years. In 1853 he married Miss 
 Margaret Wagner, who was liorn in North Carolina, 
 and by her had five children: William, John, 
 Isaac, Henry, and Albert, all of whom are dead. 
 In 1871 he married Miss Nancy Demaree, a native 
 of Illinois, and to them were born three children: 
 Amanda, Jesse and David, all now living at home. 
 Capt. John J. Allen was born in Lee County, 
 Ga., on the 2nd of July, 18-11, and is the son of 
 Edward M. and Mary J. (Knight) Allen. The 
 father was born in the "Palmetto State" in 1819 
 of Scotcli-Irish parents, and was a mechanic and 
 ginwright, making machines by hand. He was 
 taken to Georgia when small, and was there reared 
 to manhood. During the Indian troubles in the 
 Southern States, especially in Florida, Mr. Allen 
 participated as a private, and received in payment 
 for his services a land warrant for 160 acres, and 
 in 1853 chose the land on which Capt. John J. Allen 
 now resides. Prior to this, however, he took a 
 trip through Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi and 
 the Indian Territory, making the journey on horse- 
 back, a distance of 3.lt00 miles. He then re- 
 turned to Georgia, and the following year (1853) 
 
 located in Arkansas, the nearest post-office at that 
 time being sixteen miles distant, and the second 
 nearest (Pocahontas) fifty miles distant. The 
 families of McNiel, Nettles, Wooter, Singleton. 
 Copeland, Sexton and White, were the only ones 
 within a radius of ten miles. Wild animals 
 roamed the country at will, and Indians were also 
 very numerous. Schools were almost unknown, 
 and Mr. Allen assisted in building many of the 
 first houses. John G. Taylor, a Missionary Bap- 
 tist minister, came with Mr. Allen to the State;, and 
 preached the first sermon in Northeast Arkansas. 
 The latter oi)ened thirty acres of land the first 
 year, which was heavily covered with timber. He 
 was a slave owner, and served for twelve months 
 in the Confederate army under Price, holding the 
 rank of captain, when he resigned on account of his 
 age. He died in 1877. His wife was born in 
 Jasper County, Ga., about 1822, and was there 
 married to Mr. Allen, by whom she became 
 the mother of ten children: William A., John J., 
 Elizabeth J., Edward M. , Thomas M. , living to 
 be grown, and the following dying in infancy: 
 Martha, Stapie, and two infants. Mrs. Allen died 
 in 1860, and Mr. Allen then married Sarah J. 
 Palmer, who bore him five children: Robert, 
 Georgia L., George W., Willie, and Odus. Capt. 
 Allen, our subject, has resided in Arkansas since 
 twelve years of age, but spent his entire school 
 days in Georgia. He was reared on the farm on 
 which he is now residing, and remained at home 
 until his marriage at the age of eighteen years, 
 when he was engaged in farming until 1 86 1 . Then 
 he enlisted in Company H, Fifth Arkansas Volun- 
 teer Infantry, and ser\'ed until the close of the 
 war, participating in many battles: Helena. Fred- 
 ericksburg, Boonville, Lexington. Newtonia, and 
 many others of less note. He enlisted as a pri- 
 vate, but was promoted to captain, and was then 
 transferred to the cavalry, serving two years. 
 After coming home he engaged in farming, and in 
 18*)8 opened a mercantile estaVilishment at Scatter- 
 ville, and followed this occupation in connection 
 with ginning for four years. He then removed 
 to Tilton. where he was occu])ied in business until 
 August, 18yy, since which time he has been one of 
 
A* 
 
 198 
 
 HISTOEY OF AllKANSAS. 
 
 the successful business men of Rector. He has 
 been a large speculator in land, and in addition to 
 his farm, runs a stave factory and saw-mill. His 
 farm comprises about 4.000 acres, and he has 
 2,200 acres in Greene County, besides consider- 
 able land in other districts, all of which is the re- 
 sult of his own labor. He was married to Miss 
 Permelia L. McNiel, a daughter of Neil McNiel. 
 She was born in Clay County, Ark., and she and 
 Capt. Allen are the parents of live children: Mary 
 L., James B. , Minnie A., Myrtie, and Charles A. 
 In 1872 Mrs. Allen died, and Mr. Allen then mar- 
 ried Xancy O. McNiel, a sister of his first wife. 
 Their children are: George M., Gertrude, Harry 
 P., Carrie, and Leonard W. Capt. Allen has 
 never been a political man, the highest office he 
 ever held being that of notary public. He is one 
 of the best known men in the county, and is a 
 member of the I. O. O. F. , the Knights of Pythias, 
 and the Masonic fraternity, and has long been con- 
 nected with the Missionary Baptist Church. 
 
 Joshua Bare, farmer and stock raiser of St. 
 Francis Township, is a fair sample of what can be 
 accomplished by industry and perseverance. Al- 
 though starting life with a limited amount of this 
 world's goods, he is now one of the substantial 
 farmers of the county, and is the owner of 240 
 acres of land in the home place, with 160 acres 
 cleared, on which he has good buildings. Aside 
 from this he is the owner of another tract of land 
 in the township, one and a (juarter miles from 
 the home place, consisting of IBO acres of timber 
 land. He also possesses some 320 acres in the 
 St. Francis bottoms, with about 100 acres cleared, 
 and has an interest in 205 acres of other lands, all 
 the result of industry and good management. Mr. 
 Bare was born in Crawford County, Ind. , Decem- 
 ber 13, 1833, and is the son of Jacob Bare and 
 Nancy (Copple) Bare, the latter of German descent. 
 The father was born in Virginia but was reared in 
 Indiana. After marriage he settled in Crawford 
 County of that State, where he followed farming 
 until about 1843, when he moved to Illinois and 
 settled in Jefferson County. He resided there up 
 to 1868, when he came to Arkansas, and located in 
 what is now Clay County. Here he died in Feb- 
 
 ruary. 1877. He served as sheriff and deputy 
 sheriff in Indiana, and was quite a prominent man. 
 Joshua Bare was reared in Jefferson County, 111., 
 and came to Arkansas in 1855, locating in Clay 
 County, but what was then Greene County, and 
 entered eighty acres of land. He then bought 
 eighty acres near Brown's Ferry, resided there 
 about fifteen years, after which he sold this, and 
 bought the place where he now lives. He has 
 been four times married; first, to Miss Susan 
 Williams; then to Nancy Brown, who bore him 
 one daughter, Peggy A., wife of John Nettle: his 
 next marriage was to Mrs. Nettle, a widow, who 
 bore him four childi-en: Clarissa (wife of Wiley 
 Thomas), Joshua, Bettie and Arabella. Mr. 
 Bare's fourth marriage was to Mrs. Marietta 
 Sarver, a widow, and the daughter of Jacob Sarver. 
 Three children were born to this union: Jacob, 
 Mattie and John Harry. When Mr. Bare first 
 came to the State it was a comparative wilderness, 
 and for about eleven winters he was engaged in 
 trapping. He has killed bear, wolves, wild cats, 
 lots of deer, turkey and small game. He would 
 average about $200 worth of furs annually at that 
 business. Mr. Bare has been a member of the 
 I. O. O. F. for thirteen years. Mrs. Bare belongs 
 to the Christian Church. An interesting volume 
 might be written of many of Mr. Bare's hunting 
 expeditions, but space will permit mentit)n of only 
 the following: In 1867, one of his neighbors, Billy 
 Maner, a single man, had struck camp some seven 
 miles south of where our subject lived, in a wild 
 locality on Old River. Mr. Bare went on one occa- 
 sion to spend the night with him. but found the 
 unsuccessful hunter without food. Starting the 
 next morning with a determination to return only 
 after he shot something, he traveled some distance, 
 occasionally seeing game which could not be se- 
 cured. Later on, while not far from camp, he 
 killed two wolves, and lieing of a humorous dispo- 
 sition, the thought was suggested to pass off this 
 meat upon the iinsuspecting Billy as venison. 
 Bringing a portion of the animal to headquarters 
 (together with a squirrel), and assuring him that 
 a large buck had been killed, the mess was eaten 
 by the victim of Mr. Bare's joke, with a casual 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 ik 
 
 remark as to its toughness, etc. Subsequently 
 the truth was toUl. Imagination rather than 
 words can jjicture the result of such a revelation. 
 In 1876 a three-days" hunt was indulged in by Mr. 
 Bare, two of his nephews and a little negro boy. 
 Starting with a cart and a yoke of oxen, they drove 
 into a bottom farm, proceeding horse-back until 
 about a mile from their camping ground, when 
 fresh bear tracks were discovered. Before very 
 long an effort to secure bruin was commenced, and 
 proved fruitful. While waiting for help to remove 
 the animal (which weighed about 400 pounds) a 
 large buck was killed by Mr. Bare. These furnish 
 but mere instances of his good fortune with the 
 guu and rifle. 
 
 W. F. Barnes, undertaker and furniture dealer, 
 of Corning, Ark. , has been in business here since 
 August, 1888, when he purchased his stock of 
 goods of Mr. Bishop and continued at that stand 
 until June 1, 1889, when he moved to his present 
 location. His establishment is a two-story frame 
 building, 40x20 feet, now under process of erec- 
 tion, which will, when finished, be commodious 
 and substantial. Mr. Barnes' success in this line 
 has been due to his energy and enterprise, and his 
 establishment is now one of the leading concerns 
 of this kind in the county. He was born in Law- 
 rence County, 111., in 1856, and was the eldest in 
 a family of eight children born to John and Jane 
 (Thompson) Barnes, who were Kentuckians by 
 birth, but emigrated to Illinois in their youth, 
 where they grew to maturity and met and married. 
 The father settled with his parents in Lawrence 
 County in 1826, and afterward became a successful 
 farmer and teacher of that region, following these 
 occupations for many years in that State. He died 
 in 1885, but his widow is still residing in Illinois. 
 The paternal gi-andfather was an early settler of 
 Illinois, where he also makes his home. Mr. 
 Barnes was early inured to the duties of farm life, 
 and dui'ing his youth also attended the common 
 schools of Lawrence and Wabash Counties, 111. 
 He engaged in farming for himself in that State 
 and was mamed there in 1882 to Miss Ella P. 
 Price, a native of that county. Her parents. Jo- 
 seph and Hannah (Dart) Price, were born in Ohio 
 
 and Kentucky, respectively, and are now residing 
 in Illinois. In 1887 Mr. Barnes came to Corning, 
 Ark., and until 1888 worked at the carpenter's 
 trade, but has since been engaged in his present 
 business. Politically he is a Democrat, and always 
 supports the princijiles of that party. He belongs 
 to the K. of H. and the I. O. G. T., and he and 
 wife are members of the Methodist Church. Thev 
 are the parents of two children: Opal V. and 
 Verna D. Mr. Barnes has done well financially, 
 is the owner of some valuable town property, and 
 predicts a bright future for Corning. 
 
 Zachariah T. Bearderi was born in Montgomery 
 County, Tenn. , September 29, 1849, and is the son 
 of John and Prudence (Majors) Bearden. John 
 Bearden was born in Montgomery County, Tenn., 
 and is of Irish-English parentage. He received 
 a fair, common-school education, later followed 
 farming and emigrated to Clay County, Ark., in 
 1851. The county was called Greene County at 
 that time, but was afterward changed to Clay. At 
 that early day there were but six families in an area 
 ten miles square, and all the hardships and priva 
 tions incident to pioneer life were experienced by 
 Mr. Bearden. Schools were taught on the sub- 
 scription plan, and church was held about once a 
 month in old log cabins. Mr. Bearden was a slave 
 owner but generally preferred white labor. He was 
 the owner of a large farm, but was broken up dur- 
 ing the war. He died May 10, 1888, being seventy- 
 six years of age. During life he was never an 
 office seeker, but was elected by the people, with 
 out solicitation, to the office of county treasurer. 
 Mrs. Bearden was also reared in Tennessee, grew to 
 womanhood there, and was man-led in that State. 
 Nine children were the result of this union; Rich- 
 ard E. , Isom K., Judge H. , Zach. T., Samuel J., 
 Susan U., William J., Robert W. and Mary E. 
 Mrs. Bearden died in this county, August 16. 1877. 
 Grandfather and Grandmother Bearden died in 
 Tennessee; she was a native of North Carolina. 
 Grandfather and Grandmother Majors were na- 
 tives of ^^'est Virginia, and at an early day emi- 
 grated to Tennessee. Zachariah T. Bearden came 
 with his parents to Arkansas when two years of 
 age, settling in Greene County, and there remained 
 
200 
 
 HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 assisting his father on the farm until twenty-one 
 years of age. His educational advantages were 
 rather limited, but by self study he became a well 
 informed man. At the age mentioned he began 
 business for himself by hiring out at a cotton gin by 
 the day, and later followed clerking. He then 
 bought a tract of land and carried on agricultu- 
 ral pursuits for nine years. January 2, 1873, he 
 married Miss Elizabeth Harber, a native of Dyer 
 County, Tenn. , and the daughter of G. A. Har- 
 ber. The fruits of this union were five children, 
 four now living: Drewy D., George O., John S. 
 and Ethel M. The one deceased was named Dora 
 L. Mr. Beardeu engaged in the mercantile busi- 
 ness at his present stand in 1882, building the sec- 
 ond house in Rector, and has been occupied in 
 merchandising ever since. He is also interested 
 in a large timber business. He carries a stock of 
 merchandise valued at about $3, 000, and also buys 
 and exchanges cotton. He is a Democrat in his 
 political views. Mrs. Bearden is a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 
 B. B. Biffle, sheriff of Clay County, and one of 
 the representative citizens of this section, is a na- 
 tive of Humphreys County, Tenn., where he was 
 reared and where he received a fair education in 
 the common schools. He is the son of William and 
 Martha (Skelton) Biffle, the grandson of Nathan 
 Biffle, and the great-grandson of Jacob Biffle, who 
 came from Germany many years ago. To William 
 Biffle and wife were born six children, B. B. Biffle 
 being the eldest. He left his native county at the age 
 of twenty-one years, or in 1879, and made his way 
 to Clay County, Ark. , where he started a store in 
 Greenway. and, although a young man, he was the 
 first to engage in merchandising at that place. 
 After that, in connection with his store, he was for 
 some time occupied in running a stave mill, but in 
 September, 1888, he was elected to the office of 
 sheriff, and then closed out the milling and stave 
 business, to give his undivided attention to his 
 official duties. He fills that position in an able 
 and efficient manner, and to the satisfaction of all 
 concerned. He is a member of the Masonic fra- 
 ternity, of the Blue Lodge and Chapter. For his 
 companion in life he chose Miss Ella Turner, 
 
 daughter of Thomas Turner, of Tennessee. He and 
 Mrs. Biffle are members of the Methodist Church. 
 Sylvanus Bishop, wagon- maker, painter and 
 farmer, is a son of Stephen M. and Caroline (Bun- 
 nell) Bishop, and was born in Crawford County, 
 Penn., March 1, 1841. His parents were also born 
 in that State, and in 1837 emigrated to Indiana, 
 \ but, after remaining there a short time, returned 
 i to Pennsylvania. About 1844 they again came to 
 Indiana, where they made their home until 1880, 
 then moving to Peabody, Kas. , where Mr. Bishop 
 died in 1886. His widow still survives. To them 
 were born fifteen children, eleven of whom are 
 living: Jefferson, Sylvanus, Stephen W., Adeline, 
 David, Elmira J., Merriman, Silas, Delilah, Mon- 
 roe and Daniel S. Sylvanus Bishop attained his 
 growth in Indiana, and in 1861 enlisted in Com- 
 pany E, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and 
 served iintil the close of the war, participating in 
 the following engagements: Shiloh, Stone River, 
 Chickamauga, Liberty Gap and others. At the 
 battle of Shiloh he was wounded by a gun-shot in 
 the left arm. At Stone River he was captured, 
 but succeeded in making his escape, and. after a 
 time, was discharged for disability, owing to the 
 effects of small-pox, which he had contracted in 
 the service. From that time until 1877 he was 
 engaged in learning and working at his trade in 
 Indiana, and then came to Clay County, Ark., and 
 has since resided at Corning. He owns a small 
 farm adjoining the town, which is in a good state 
 of cultivation and well improved, and this he con- 
 ducts in connection with carrying on his trade. In 
 January, 1886, he was married to Miss Mary E. Ben- 
 edict, a native of New York State, by whom he has 
 five children: Anna M. , John L., Amy W., Elsie 
 V. and A. McDonald. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop are 
 members of the Baptist Church, and he belongs 
 to the Masonic fraternity. He has been a school 
 director for about eleven years, and is interested 
 in all public enterprises. For some ten years he 
 was engaged in the undertaker's business, his 
 profits amounting to about $1,500 per year. He 
 now gives his attention to his shop, and is doing 
 well. His son, John L. , is an intelligent young 
 man, and is one of the first teachers in the county. 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 201 
 
 James Blackshare. Among all classes and in 
 every condition of life where the struggle for a 
 livelihood is going on, where will independence 
 be found more clearly demonstrated than in the 
 life of the honest, industrious farmer? Mr. 
 Blackshare, who has followed agricultural pursuits 
 for the past tifty-two years, and who has never 
 missed a crop during the years thus spent, is a fair 
 example of the independent tiller of the soil. He 
 was V)orn in West Tennessee, in 1824, and is the 
 son of Rev. Jacob and Mary (Berry) Blackshare, 
 the father a native of Tennessee, born in 1802, 
 and the mother born in 1799. James Blackshare 
 was left motherless at the age of ten years, and 
 May 27, 1847, he was united in marriage to Miss 
 Sarah A. Dines, who bore him five sons: William 
 S. , a member of the firm of Blackshare & Co. , 
 in the manufacturing of staves and in the gen- 
 eral milling business, is married and the father of 
 six children: Robert B. (deceased), left a widow 
 and five children; Sidney A. (deceased), left a 
 widow and five children; James T., lives on a farm 
 near Boydsville, is married and the father of three 
 sons, and Jacob L., farmer near Boydsville, is 
 married, and the father of two sons and two 
 daughters. The mother of these children died in 
 1857. March 14, 1858, Mr. Blackshare took for 
 his second wife Mrs. Ruth E. Evans, of Tennessee, 
 and in the fall of the same year he and family 
 moved to Clay Comity (then Greene County), 
 Ark. , and settled on the farm where he is now re- 
 siding, three miles northeast of Boydsville, which 
 consisted of eighty acres, to which he added eighty 
 more. To his last marriage were born six chil- 
 dren, three of whom survive at the present: Mary 
 F., wife of Dr. John J. Prince, and the mother of 
 one daughter, resides at Bethel Station, Tenn. , 
 where her husband follows his profession and is 
 also engaged in merchandising; John S., a merch- 
 ant at Rector, married and the father of one child, 
 a daughter; Ora A., the wife of A. J. Burton, and 
 the mother of three children, two daughters and 
 a son, is now living near her father, where her 
 husband is occupied in farming; Ira E., died in 
 his sixteenth year. Mr. Blackshare came to this 
 State with his wife and seven children in two 
 
 13 
 
 wagons, drawn by oxen, being the owner of seven 
 or eight head of cattle, six or eight head of horses, 
 and about $200 in money. The first winter before 
 there were gins introduced into the country, the 
 cotton, which they picked with their fingers, was 
 made into clothing, for the family. There were no 
 mills then except little hand mills, which were only 
 used to grind corn, and were called corn crackers. 
 They would crack the kernel into about four 
 pieces. A few years later Mr. Blackshare raised a 
 little wheat and ground it in the same mills and 
 " sarcht it;" this consisted of a box with a muslin 
 cloth over it, opened at one end, on which was 
 dropped some of the meal, and then by a rocking 
 motion the bran was forced to the top and back 
 through the opening at the rear, while the fine 
 flour passed through the muslin into the box. At 
 that time their trading was done by exchanging 
 pelting and furs for salt, sugar, coflPee, etc.. at 
 Cape Girardeau, Mo., 100 miles distant, to which 
 place they made their trips with ox teams about 
 once a year. Mr. Blackshare has not taken a 
 drink of liquor of any kind, or a chew of tobacco, 
 for over forty years, or since joining the church, 
 and has always been willing to render aid, as far 
 as he was able, to all laudal)le enterprises. He 
 and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South. Mr. Blackshare was township 
 magistrate for four terms of two years each, and 
 was also county treasurer for two teims. He is a 
 member of the Masonic fraternity, and is one of 
 the representative men of the county. He is now 
 the owner of 340 acres of land, after having sup- 
 ported his family and settled nine children at an 
 expense of $14,000, and does not owe a cent. 
 
 W. S. Blackshare, of the milling and stave 
 manufacturing firm of W. S. Blackshare & Co.. 
 is a native of Tennessee, born in November, 1849. 
 •and came to Clay County, Ark., with his father, 
 James Blackshare, when a boy of nine years. 
 Here he grew to manhood on a farm, and in 1878 
 he was appointed by Gov. Garland to the office of 
 sheriff of the county, and for two years he was 
 county treasurer, having also filled that office for 
 several incumbents. He was deputy sheriff for 
 four years, and is consider<»1 •mh' .>f the leading 
 
'2( 12 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Imainess men of the county. He is the owner of 
 aljout 200 acres of land on his home place, which 
 adjoins the town of Boydsville, and has about 
 1 500 acres in the country, and has the best 
 buildings to be found in the count}', all erected 
 by himself. The house is a two story frame, 
 16x40, with a one story L fifty feet long and 
 sixteen feet wide, and a porch running the entire 
 length of the L. He also has a very large cistern 
 under cover. He has two large frame barns, one 
 30x40, two stories high, and the other 80x50 
 feet, also two stories high, with out-sheds on the 
 sides. On his farm on the Cache he has built 
 another house on the same plan as his home place, 
 and he is also building a good barn there. He was I 
 married to Miss Emily S. Cox. who lived Imt 
 eighteen months after marriage, and died in 1871, 
 leaving him a son, Arthur Lee, who is attending 
 the home school. For his second wife Mr. Black- 
 share married Miss Mary A. Ellis, daughter of 
 Rev. Ira O. Ellis, who came here fi-om Mississippi, 
 where his father, Rev. Reuben Ellis, was an 
 itinerant preacher in the Methodist Church, South. 
 Mrs. Ira O. Ellis is still living in Missoiui. To 
 Mr. and Mrs. Blacksharo were bom these children: 
 Ezra O., Annie (who is dead), Edgar M. , Angie, 
 Lena and Jennie. Mr. Blackshare belongs to 
 the I. O. O. F., and is also a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, into which order he was 
 initiated about the time he was twenty-one years 
 of age.. In his political views he affiliates with 
 the Democratic party. In 1871 he engaged in the 
 mercantile business at Big Creek, with his father, 
 buying out the interest of Judge Royall, paying 
 $500 on time for the goods, and in 1878 removed 
 to Boydsville. This business he continued until 
 January, 1888, having in the meantime several 
 partners: first the firm was J. & W. S. Black- 
 share, then for eight years he was in company with- 
 his brother, R. B. Blackshare, under the firm title 
 of W. S. Blackshare & Co., and was then with i 
 Judge Royall for three years, the firm title continu- | 
 ing the same. In 1888 he disposed of his stock 
 to A. L. Blackshare, who now conducts the busi- 
 ness in the same building. In connection with his j 
 seventeen years at merchandising, Mr. Blackshare 
 
 devoted some of his time to farming, and is at 
 present junior partner of Royall & Blackshare. 
 real estate dealers. He is a pleasant, genial 
 gentleman, a good conversationalist, and has a 
 host of warm friends. He is a splendid man 
 physically, and although forty years of age does 
 not look a day over thirty. 
 
 A. L. Blackshare, of Boydsville, another prom 
 inent and much respected citizen of Clay County. 
 Ark., was born in Tennessee, in 1856, and came to 
 Clay County, Ark., in 1880. He followed agri- 
 cultural pursuits for two years, and in 1885 bought 
 out the stock of Mrs. Ella Blackshare, widow of 
 R. B. Blackshare, and began business in Boyds- 
 ville. This he continued for two years, and then sold 
 out to J. S. Blackshare, after which he purchased 
 the stock of \V. S. Blackshare & Co., and is now 
 engaged in that business, under the firm title of 
 A. L. Blackshare. Aside from this he is also oc- 
 cupied in milling and manufactimng, under the 
 business title of Blackshare & Blackshare. In 
 1 886 he was elected to the position of treasurer of 
 the company, and was re- elected in 1888. Miss 
 Ada Berton, a native of Arkansas, and the daugh- 
 ter of Robert Berton, became his wife, and to them 
 were born two children, one now living: Robert 
 Bascom. The other child, Ernest," died at the age 
 of one year. Mr. Blackshare is a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity. 
 
 Larry Boshers. This successful young planter 
 and stockman, of Clay County, of which he has 
 been a resident for seventeen years, is well and 
 favorably known to the many citizens of Kilgore 
 Township. He was born in the State of Tennesseo. 
 in 1802, being the seventh of fourteen children 
 of Henry and Tabitha (Stewart) Boshers, who were 
 also originally from that State, the former being 
 a planter by occupation, and there he died. After 
 his death his widow came to Clay County, Ark. , 
 and here di(>(l on her farm, in 1882. Larry Bosli- 
 ers was early taught the rudiments of farm life, 
 becoming still better acquainted with that calling 
 as he grew to manliood. and is now considered one 
 of the enterprising, thorough and reliable young 
 agriculturists of the count}'. In 1880 he made 
 his first pui'chase of land, which amounted to forty 
 
acres, in a raw state, and has since added from 
 time to time to tbis tract, until he now has a 
 vahiahle farm consisting of 480 acres, with 17^) 
 under cultivation, the rest being well adapted to 
 raisins' stock, to which Mr. Boshers gives consid- 
 erable attention. He devotes seventy hve acres to 
 the culture of cotton each year. He votes with 
 the Democratic party, is a member of the Agri- 
 cultural Wheel, and, personally, is held in high 
 esteem by all who know him. Miss Jennie Mont 
 gomery, a native of Clay County, became his wife 
 in ISSO, and died in 18S4, having borne two chil- 
 dren, both deceased. Her parents were Daniel and 
 Polly Montgomery. 
 
 Giles Bowers, carpenter and builder of Boyds- 
 ville, and one of the successful business men of 
 that village, is a native of North Carolina, and 
 remained in his native State until twenty-seven 
 years of age. He was engaged in gold mining 
 until the lireaking out of the late war, when he 
 enlisted in the Forty-ninth North Carolina Infan- 
 try, in April, 1862, and served until the termina- 
 tion of hostilities. He was in Gen. Lee's army, 
 in Gen. Matt. W. Ransom's brigade, and partici- 
 pated in the seven days' fight at Richmond, at 
 Gen. McClellan's defeat, and was in all the tights 
 and campaigns before Richmond. He was at the 
 second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericks- 
 burg, and was captured at Five Forks and placed 
 on Johnson Island. Ohio, as a prisoner of war, be- 
 ing discharged there from June IS, 1S(55. He then 
 returned to North Carolina, remaining until the 
 spring of 1868, when he came to what is now Clay 
 County, and, settling on a farm, tilled the soil 
 until 1879. He is the owner of 120 acres of land, 
 with about seventy acres under cultivation. In 
 the last mentioned year he opened up a carpenter- 
 shop, having learned the trade in previous years, 
 and has erected the principal part of the buildings 
 in Boydsville. At one time ho was a member of 
 the tirm of Bowers &, Toombs, and later of the 
 firm of Bowers & Downs. Mr. Bowers also manu- 
 factures seats and desks for church and school 
 purposes. He has been married twice; tirst, to 
 Miss Elizabeth Almond, of North Carolina, who 
 bore him ten children, eight of whom survive and 
 
 are named as follows; Josephine, wife of James 
 Mooning, and the mother of two children, ie now 
 living on a farm in Sharp County; John \V. is 
 engaged in business in Boydsville; Flora J., mar- 
 ried to C. M. King, a farmer of Clay County, is 
 the mother of three children; Nancy A. is at home 
 with her father; Kittie Belle, wife of James W. 
 Dobbins, a farmer near Boydsville; Frederick C, 
 Giles L. and Brantly H. The mother of these 
 children died in September, 1885. For his second 
 wife Mr. Bowers chose Miss Maggie J. Matthews, 
 who survived only seventeen months after mar- 
 riage, and left a child, which followed its mother 
 to the grave but a month lat(?r. Mr. Bowers is a 
 Republican, and is somewhat active in politics, 
 having done valiant woik for that party. Although 
 not a member of any church, he works in harmony 
 with all good people for the benefit of the commu- 
 nity and for his fellow men. 
 
 W. D. Bowers. Among the extensive indus- 
 trial enterprises which form the basis of Clay 
 County's importance and j)ro8perity is the stave 
 and head factory located at Corning, in which 
 Mr. Bowers has worked for ten years, and of 
 which he has been foreman two years, working his 
 way up to that position from a mill-hand. His 
 native State is Ohio, his birth having occurred in 
 Harrison County in 1851, and his parents wei-e also 
 from that State. They were Jacob and Lavina 
 Bowers, iiee Downs, the father being a tiller of 
 the soil and successful in his calling, which occu- 
 pation he continued to follow until his death 
 in 1881. His wife is still living and makes her 
 home in her native State. W. D. Bowers, like 
 the majority of youths, lient his energies to learn- 
 ing the occupation in which his father was en- 
 gaged, and also acquired a good education in the 
 public schools of Harrison County. After the 
 late Civil War he joined the regular army of the 
 United States, and was stationed at different points 
 in the South, but in 1879 he came to Corning, 
 Ark., and began working in the mill in which he is 
 now employed. His wife, whom he married in 
 1879, and who was formerly Miss Lenora Powell, 
 was born in Tennessee, and was a daughter of B. 
 C. Powell and wife, also of that State, the for- 
 
mer now residing near Austin, and the latter de- 
 ceased. In 1883 Mr. Bowers lost his excellent 
 wife, she having borne him two children, one of 
 whom is living, Floyd. In 1886 Mr. Bowers was 
 married in Union County, 111., to Miss Mary Stew- 
 art, a native of Indiana. Her parents. Henry 
 and Jane (Pollock) Stewart, were Ohio people, 
 who moved first to Indiana and from there to 
 Cape Girardeau County, Mo., where they opened 
 up a farm in 1874, and later kept a hotel at Doni- 
 phan. Here Mr. Stewart died in 1887, his wife 
 having died in Indiana, in 1885. He enlisted in 
 the Union army from Indiana, at the breaking out 
 of the Civil War. Mr. Bowers has never been 
 very active in politics. Socially he is a member of 
 the K. of H. He is very public-spirited, and has 
 always practiced those principles of fairness and 
 honesty which are bound to command the respect 
 and admiration of all right-minded people. 
 
 C. Fred. Brennecke. editor of the Clay County 
 Advocate, at Greenway, Ark., was born in Cape 
 Girardeau County, Mo. , December 19, 1866, being 
 a son of Frederick Brennecke, a native of Ger- 
 many, who came to the United States with his 
 parents when a lad of ten years and settled in 
 Cape Girardeau County, Mo., where he grew to 
 manhood and was married, the latter event being 
 in the city of Cape Girardeau to Miss Dena Hunze, 
 who was born in Germany. Mr. Brennecke served 
 in the Union army during the late war. Since 
 about 1865 he has resided in Cape Girardeau, and 
 is in the service of Col. Robert Sturdivant. C. 
 Fred. Brennecke grew to manhood in his native 
 county, and learned the printer's trade in Cape 
 Girardeau, commencing when thirteen years of age 
 and continuing for about four and one half years. 
 From this place he went to Jefferson City, but 
 only worked there a short time, when he moved to 
 Higginsville, La Fayette County, Mo., where he 
 followed his trade for two years. J Subsequently 
 he came to Greenway, Ark,, and became asso- 
 ciated with Mr. Dollison in the publication of the 
 Advocate, having charge of the mechanical depart- 
 ment one year. January 2, 1889, he became sole 
 proprietor, and is now editor and publisher of that 
 paper. It is the leading newspaper of the county 
 
 and is independent in politics. Mr. Brennecke 
 receives a liberal amount of advertising, and his 
 journal has the largest circulation of any ])aper in 
 the county. He is a practical printer, a thorough 
 business man, and is of exemplary hal)its and 
 character. He was elected a member of the town 
 board, and is now town recorder. 
 
 Jacob Brobst, the present mayor of Corning, 
 and county jailer of the Western division of Clay 
 County, Ark., is descended from a family that has 
 held a worthy place in the history of this country, 
 and wherever its representatives have settled they 
 have became recognized as prominent and influen- 
 tial members of society. He was born in Colum- 
 bus, Ohio, on the 18th of June, 1839, and of this 
 State his parents, John and Catherine (Bachar) 
 Brobst, were among the pioneer settlers. The 
 father is still living and resides in Upper Sandusky, 
 Ohio, but the mother died in 1874. Jacob followed 
 the occupation of his father until eighteen years of 
 age, receiving in the meantime a good education 
 in the public schools of Wyandot County, Ohio, 
 and after starting out to fight the battle of life for 
 himself he worked at the carpenter's trade and 
 taught school, securing in the latter profession the 
 reputation of being one of the best educators in 
 the county. Miss L. M. England, a native of 
 Hancock County, Ohio, became his wife in 1862, 
 and their union was blessed in the birth of two 
 children: J. K.. who is married and resides at 
 home, and Mary Alice, also at home. ]\Irs. 
 Brobst's parents, Robert and Ellen (Lape) Eng- 
 land, were Ohio people, the former being a farmer 
 who died in 1875. His widow is a resident of 
 Goshen, Ind. In 1864 Mr. Brobst went to Fort 
 W'ayne, Ind., and was engaged in railroading in 
 that State imtil 1879, when he took up his abode in 
 Corning, Ark., which was at that time a very small 
 place, and has since given his attention to carpen- 
 tering. He votes with the Democratic party, and 
 has been jailer of the West division for three years; 
 was first elected to the position of mayor in 1882, 
 next in 1883, and is now serving his third term. 
 During 1884-85-86 and 1887 he was a member of 
 the city council, and has also been deputy assessor 
 of the Western division of Clay County. He was 
 
 W*^ li 
 
foreman of the grand jury that found thp indict- 
 ment by which the second man of tlie Ku Klux 
 was hung, thus breaking up that gang in this sec- 
 tion of the country. He is the owner of some fine 
 residence property in the town, and besides this 
 has a fertile and well tilled farm of ii'iO acres 
 in Nelson Township. He believes in building up 
 this place, and has done his full share in this direc- 
 tion. He and wife are members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. 
 
 J. W. Brown, a farmer residing near Vidette, 
 Ark., was born in Hardin County, Tenn., February 
 "26, 1835, and is a son of John and Sarah (Garner) 
 Brown, who were Tennesseeans, the mother dying 
 in her native State when the subject of this sketch 
 was a small boy. J. W. Brown was reared on a 
 farm in his native county and in 1854 emigrated 
 to Arkansas, coming by wagon, and located on the 
 farm where he now lives. His place was heavilj' 
 covered with timber when he located, but he 
 soon erected a little log cabin and began clearing 
 his land. He was compelled to work very hard, 
 but made good headway, and now has one of the 
 most valuable farms in the county, consisting of 
 '200 acres, with about 100 acres under cultivation. 
 Game of all kinds was quite abundant when he 
 tirst came to the State, and one time he brought 
 down a bear with his trusty rifle. In 18f>2 he 
 enlisted in Company B, Col. White's regiment, 
 and during six months' service was in the battle of 
 (Jrane Hill. Owing to rheumatism he was compelled 
 to leave the army. His first wife was Patience 
 Vassar, and his second Emily Sloan, by whom he 
 had a family of seven children, four now living: 
 Henry, Amanda, George "W. and Sarah E. Both 
 these wives were Tennesseeans, whom he married 
 while living in that State. His present wife, whose 
 maiden name was Martha Garner, has borne him 
 three children: Minnie A., Ida M. and Reulien A. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Christian 
 Church, and he is a member of the Masonic order. 
 
 Andrew J. Brown, merchant and postmaster at 
 Piggott, Ark. , is one of the prominent residents of 
 the county, and in his business as well as social 
 relations has won the confidence and respect of all 
 who know him. His birth occurred in Union 
 
 County, 111., Juno 15, 1843, his parents, Samuel 
 and Annie (Dillow) Brown, being natives of the 
 same State. They reared their family on a farin 
 in Union County, and here Andrew J. Brown re- 
 mained until twenty-five years of age, enlisting in 
 18()2 in the One Hundred and Ninth Illinois 
 Infantrj', which was afterward consolidated with 
 the Eleventh Illinois, and served until he received 
 his discharge at Springfield on the 15th of July, 
 1805. He was in the fight at Vicksburg on the 
 4th of July, 1868, and was at Yazoo City, Fort 
 Spanish, and the surrender of Mobile. He was in 
 the hospital at La Grange, Tenn., a short time, and 
 in 1868 removed to Arkansas and located in what is 
 now Clay County, where he was occupied in farm- 
 ing for a few years. In 1879 he embarked in 
 merchandising, and in 1882 located at Prggott, 
 where he erected a business house and has since 
 been engaged in keeping a general mercantile 
 establishment, and has built up a good trade. He 
 was appointed postmaster of the town in April, 
 1888, which office he has since held. He and wife 
 are members of the Missionary Baptist Church (in 
 which he is a deacon), and he is a member of the 
 G. A. R. organization, and is quartermaster of 
 his post. He was married on the 28th of Decem- 
 ber, 1868, to Miss M. J. Pollard, a sister of W. 
 ^\'. Pollard, whose sketch appears in this work, 
 and they are the parents of the following cbiltb-en: 
 Henry O. , a lad of twelve years: Cindona, a 
 daughter, who died March 11,1 889, at the age of 
 seventeen years, and an infant deceased. 
 
 Hiram Calvin, of the firm of Clemson & Calvin, 
 although a young man, is one of the most success- 
 ful business men in this portion of the State. He 
 has l)een running the business exclusively for six 
 and a half years last, having come to this point with 
 a stock of goods in December, 1882. He passed 
 through the country eightetni months before the 
 road was Iniilt, and, from what he reported, his 
 partner in Illinois bought 4,200 acres of timber 
 land, about half of which still belongs to the estate. 
 They commenced business in Clay County, Ark., 
 with a stock of goods worth $2,497, which has 
 been increased since .then to $3, 500. In addition 
 to the store, the firm own a stave-mill, which they 
 
J'- 
 
 ^ 
 
 206 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 operate, and a farm of 120 acres, all under im- 
 provement and well stocked. They have also been 
 interested in steamboats on the river, and still 
 own a small interest there. The original and only 
 investment in goods and buildings amounted to 
 $3,100, and, at a very low estimate, profits worth 
 $10,000, and the first investment, have been paid 
 out. Hiram Calvin is the son of K. T. Calvin and 
 Angie (Rifner) Calvin, and the grandson, on his 
 mother's side, of Peter and Elizabeth (Rockafellow) 
 Rifner. Peter Rifner was a soldier in the War 
 of 1812, being commissioned by Gen. Harrison as 
 commander of a company. R. T. Calvin was born 
 in New Jersey, and emigrated to Harrison, Ohio, 
 when a young man. There he man-ied Miss Rif- 
 ner. Hiram Calvin easts his vote with the Demo- 
 cratic party, and is a member of the "Triple Alli- 
 ance. ' ' He married Miss Gussie Boren, daughter 
 of Cole Boren, of Mound City, 111. , who was a pilot 
 on the Mississippi River, and whose father, Mor- 
 gan Borenr, was born in Tennessee, in 1789, he be- 
 ing a soldier in the Black Hawk War. The latter 
 married Miss Anna Lathran, of Tennessee. To 
 Mr. and Mrs. Calvin have been born three chil- 
 dren: Fannie, Gussie and Aggie. Mr. Clemson 
 died March 30, 1889, at his residence near Olm- 
 sted, 111. , aged sixty-four years and ten days. 
 
 William A. Campbell was born in Greene 
 County, Mo., April 10, 1848, being a son of Will- 
 iam and Nancy Campbell, and grandson of James 
 and Lucy Campbell and James and Hannie Col- 
 lins, who were natives of Patrick County, Va. 
 William Campbell, Sr. , was a farmer, and moved to 
 Missouri in 1845, residing in Greene County 
 until 1852, when he removed to Cass County, and 
 two years later to Kansas Territory. He eon- j 
 tinned to make this his home iintil 1807, since 
 which time he has been a resident of Vernon 
 County, Mo., and is now living at Milo, of that 
 county, engaged in merchandising. He and wife 
 are the parents of the following family: John W., 
 a resident of Arizona Territory, engaged in the 
 milling business; George W. , who died in Newton 
 County, Mo., in 1886; Marthie E., who died in i 
 Greene County, Mo., in 1846; William A., James 
 E. , who died in Vernon County, Mo., in 1872; , 
 
 Isaac F., a merchant of Arizona Territory; Melissa 
 J., who died in Bourbon County, Kas. , in 1859; 
 Thomas H. , who died in Crawford County, Kas. , 
 in 1863; David H. , a blacksmith at El Paso, Tex. : 
 Melissa, married Charles Baker in 1883, and resides 
 in Crawford County, Kas. William A. Campbell 
 began life for himself in 1863, when only sixteen 
 years old, at which time he enlisted in the Federal 
 army, in Company B, Fourteenth Regiment of 
 Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, under Capt. Charles 
 H. Haynes, and Col. C. W. Blair, in which regi- 
 ment he served until June 15, 1865, then being 
 honorably discharged with the balance of his regi- 
 ment, at Lawrence, Kas. He then went to South- 
 east Kansas, where he joined his parents, staying 
 there until May 20, 1866, the date of his marriage 
 to Miss Rebecca A. Cooper, afterward moving 
 to McDonald County, Mo., and from there to 
 El Paso, Tex., where he lived one year. Going 
 thence to Benton County, Ark., he lived there two 
 years and later settled in Newton County, Mo., 
 but after a residence in that locality until 1S84, 
 moved to Clay County, Ark. , reaching this place 
 November 17, 1884. Here he still resides. He 
 bought 320 acres of heavily timy>ered land, and 
 now has eighteen acres cleared and under fence, 
 with a young orchard of 100 apple trees of a select 
 variety. William A. Campbell was elected justice 
 of the peace in his county, October 20, 1888, 
 which ofiice he still holds. He is a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity. Rebecca A. Campbell, his 
 wife, is the daughter of Hiram and Lucinda 
 Cooper, and was born in McDonald Coimty, 
 Mo. , March 7, 1 848. Her father died when she 
 was four years old, and when she was seven years 
 old her mother died, leaving her and one sister 
 and two brothers to tight the battle of life as best 
 they could. The oldest child was only ten years of 
 age. She lived in McDonald County, Mo., until 
 the spring of 1862, when she moved to Southeast 
 Kansas with relatives, residing there until her 
 marriage in 1866. AVilliam A. and Rebecca A. 
 Campbell are the parents of six children : George 
 W., the eldest, died in Jasper County, Mo., in 
 1872; John W. died in Mexico, in 1874; Alex- 
 ander died in Mexico in 1874; John W. and Alex- 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 207 
 
 ander (twins) died on the same day; Lucinda J., 
 Martlia E., and Rosa A., the youngt^st child, still 
 remain with their pai'ents. 
 
 William C. Cochran, merchant of Greenway, 
 Ark., was born in Massac County, 111., September 
 4. 1854, his father. Jesse Cochran, being a native 
 of North Carolina. The latter went to Illinois 
 when a young man, where he was married to Jane 
 Sexton, and resided in Massac County np to 1856, 
 when he moved to Arkansas and settled in what 
 is now Clay County. Here he entered land, made 
 a farm, and reared a family. His death occurred 
 in September, 1869. William C. Cochran and two 
 sisters are the only surviving members of a family 
 of six children. He was reared in Clay County, 
 his youth being spent on a farm. He was married 
 in this county on the 5th of December, 1881, to 
 Miss Sarah E. Leeth. a daughter of John A. Leeth, 
 formerly from Tennessee, now deceased. Mrs. 
 Cochran was born in Tennessee, but was reared 
 in Clay County, and by Mr. Cochran is the mother 
 of one child, who is living: Lura, now six years 
 old. Jesse died in January, 1886, at the age of 
 live months. Mr. Cochran had been engaged in 
 farming and the ginning business previous to his 
 marriage, and afterwards continued the former 
 occupation for three years. In August, 1885, he 
 commenced merchandising at Greenway and has 
 been interested in that business since that time. 
 He was appointed deputy postmaster in 1885 and 
 served two years. He carries an excellent stock 
 of general merchandise, and has built up a good 
 trade. He is a Mason and belongs to the I. O. O. F. 
 
 Robert L. Coleman, proprietor of Piggott 
 Hotel, Piggott, Ark., and the son of Col. David 
 and Sarah (Love) Coleman, was born in Haywood 
 County. N. C, March "26, 1823. Col. David Cole- 
 man was a native of North Carolina, but moved to 
 Tennessee at an early day. locating in Carroll Coun- 
 ty, where he followed farming, and there remained 
 until his death. He served as colonel of the State 
 militia. His wife, Sarah Love, was also a native 
 of North Carolina. Her father, Gen. Tliomas 
 Love, was in the Revolutionary War as well as the 
 M'ar of 1812. Robert L. Coleman was reared to 
 manhood on a farm in Tennessee, read law in Car- 
 
 roll County, and was admitted to the bar, after which 
 he practiced there until his removal to Missouri 
 in 1851. He then located at Hartsville, Wright 
 County, practiced there for throe years and upon re- 
 turning to Tennessee, engaged in mercantile pur- 
 suits until the breaking out of the late war, wlienhe 
 enlisted in the Confederate service, in 18(')2. in Col. 
 Napier's regiment. He remained in this regiment 
 for about eight months, afterward l>eing in Col. 
 Green's regiment, where he was promoted to adju- 
 tant and served in that capacity. He was captured 
 at Parke's Cross Roads by Gen. Sullivan, was held 
 a prisoner at Cam]) Douglas for over three months, 
 and was then exchanged. He then returned to 
 Tennessee and did not enter the service again. He 
 resumed the j>ractice of law in Carroll County for 
 about three years, l)ut finally gave up law. He 
 has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, for many years and was licensed to 
 preach in 1868. He was a local preacher in his 
 church for some years. He was ordained deacon 
 in 1870 at Trenton, Tenn., by Bishoj) McTyre, and 
 followed his ministerial duties in Tennessee up to 
 1875, when he moved to Arkansas, settling at Oak 
 BlufP in Clay County, and there resided for a num- 
 ber of years. He taught school for nine months, 
 and then engaged in the manufacture of tobacco 
 in 1878, which occupation he has followed up to 
 the present date. He built his hotel in the fall of 
 1888 and moved in December. His is the first 
 and last and only hotel in Piggott. Mr. Coleman 
 was married in Carroll County, Tenn., December 
 4, 1850, to Miss Harriet E. Norman, a native of 
 Carroll County, and the daughter of Judge John 
 Norman. To this union were born three children, 
 two daughters and a son: Sarah N., wife of Albert 
 Hubbard, of Piggott; Mollio X.. widow, and John 
 R., who died May 7, 1883, in his twenty-fifth year. 
 Mr. Coleman was ordained local elder here in 1881 
 by the same bishop that ordained him deacon in 
 Tennessee. 
 
 G. W. Cook is a successful agriculturist and 
 stockman of Oak Blutf Township, Clay County, 
 .\rk. , and was born in Weakley County, West Tenn. , 
 in 1N4(), being the youngest in a family of seven 
 children born to Richard A. and Ann (David) 
 
208 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Cook, both of whom were born in Old Virginia. 
 At an early day they moved to West Tennessee, 
 where the father opened up a farm and there died 
 in 1860, at the age of fifty-eight years. His widow 
 came to Greene County, Ark. , in August, 1874, 
 and here died in October of the same year at the 
 age of seventy-six years. G. W. Cook grew to 
 manhood in his native State, and received his edu- 
 cation in Weakley County, being also married there, 
 in 1864, to Miss M. M. Jenkins, a daughter of C. P. 
 and Mary G. (Boothe) Jenkins, who were born in 
 North Carolina, and were early immigrants of Ten- 
 nessee, where they became wealthy farmers and 
 spent their declining years, the father dying in 1889 
 and the mother in 1872. After his marriage Mr. 
 Cook settled on the old homestead, aud there made 
 his home until 1873, when he came to Greene 
 County, Ark., and purchased a timber tract of 
 eighty acres, which he cleared and sold in 1888. 
 In 1874 he moved to Clay County, and five years 
 later purchased the farm on which he is at present 
 residing, which consisted of 120 acres, with thirty 
 acres under the plow. He has increased his lands 
 until he now has 960 acres, 200 of which are under 
 cultivation, in the home farm, and 320 acres, with 
 thirty-two under cultivation, in Blue Cane Town- 
 ship, Greene County. He is interested in stock 
 raising, and makes a specialty of Berkshire and 
 Poland China hogs. His principal crop is corn. 
 He has never been very active in politics, but 
 usually votes the Democratic ticket. He is a mem- 
 ber of the A. F. & A. M. lodge at Rector, and is 
 intere.sted in all worthy public enterprises. He is 
 in every respect a self-made man, and all his prop- 
 erty has been acquired by his own exertions. He 
 and wife are the parents of the following children: 
 Ella, now Mrs. Bolton; Daniel Elvis, Joseph, Oda 
 and Edar living, and six children deceased. In 
 1861 Mr. Cook enlisted in Weakley County in Com- 
 pany C, Fifty-second Tennessee Infantry, and was 
 mustered into service at Henderson Station, after- 
 ward participating in the battle of Shiloh. At the 
 end of six months he returned home. 
 
 Fred \V. Cooper, merchant of Green way, Clay 
 County, Ark., was born on the 9th of October, 
 1866, in Pulaski County, HI., his parents, C. C. 
 
 and Georgia (McDonald) Cooper, being also born 
 in that State. Mr. Cooper was a merchant of Cale- 
 donia, 111., for a number of years and died there 
 in May, 1877. Fred W. Cooper remained with his 
 father until the latter' s death -and received his 
 education in the common schools of Illinois and in 
 Cincinnati, Ohio. After spending about one year in 
 the ' 'Lone Star State' ' he located in Clay County, 
 Ark. , in July, 1887, where he bought property, 
 erected a store building, and engaged in merchan- 
 dising, carrying a large and select stock of shelf and 
 heavy hardware, farming implements and furni- 
 ture. He has built up a good trade and is making 
 money. He was married in Pulaski County, Novem- 
 ber 9, 1887, to Miss Gertrude Williamson, a native 
 of Ohio, who was reared and educated in Pulaski 
 
 ] County, 111. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are the parents 
 of one child. Velaria. Mr. Cooper is a young 
 man of energy, push and enterprise, and possess- 
 
 I ing excellent business qualifications, is certain to 
 
 ; succeed in whatever he undertakes. 
 
 Henry B. Cox, a prominent merchant of Rec- 
 tor, Ark., was born February 13, 1843, in Weakley 
 County, Tenn. His parents were, William A. 
 Cox and Hiley Cox, natives, respectively, of Buck- 
 ingham County, Va. , and Giles County, Tenn. 
 William A. Cox, the father of our subject, was 
 born March 22, 1815. He was of Scotch-Irish 
 descent. Remaining in his native State until 
 twelve years of age, he emigrated with his parents 
 to Tennessee, which State at that time was wild 
 and sparsely inhabited, and furnished very limited 
 means of education. Still, William A. Cox, in the 
 face of every disadvantage, by his own extraor- 
 dinary efforts, succeeded in qualifj'ing himself for 
 business affairs, and filled various important sta- 
 tions. In 1838 he was married to Mrs. Hiley Scho- 
 tield, widow of Thomas Schotield, and daughter 
 of Asa and Nancy Magee, of Tennessee. Result- 
 ing from this union were six children: Ballard C, 
 Leamma M. , Henry B. (subject of this sketch), 
 William A., Jr., Emily S. and Amanda Cox. Ball- 
 ard C. Cox was killed at the battle of Chickamauga 
 while in the Confederate sei-vice. Amanda and 
 Emily S. , late wife of W. S. Blackshare, are also 
 deceased. In 1857 William A. Cox and family 
 
 s.pV 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 209 
 
 emigrated from Tennessee to Greene County, Ark. , 
 and settled three miles north of the town of Oak 
 Bluff. The woods at that time abounded in wild 
 animals. School and church privileges were very 
 limited. During the late war William A. Cox re- 
 mained at home, but he was a Southern sympa- 
 thizer. In religion he was a Presbyterian, but was 
 identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, at the time of his death, in 1871. Mrs. 
 Hiley Cox is still living, and is a resident of Clay 
 County, Ark. (Clay County was formerly a part 
 of Greene County.) The paternal grandfather, 
 John Cox, was a native of Virginia, as was also his 
 wife. He was of Scotch descent, and was a farmer 
 bj- occupation. The maternal grandparents were 
 of Tennessee. The grandfather participated in 
 the Indian wars. He was engaged in the memora- 
 ble battle of Horseshoe Bend. Henry B. Cox was 
 thirteen years of age when the family removed to 
 Arkansas. He remained at home on the farm un- 
 til March, 1862, when he enlisted in Company D, 
 Twenty fifth Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, under 
 Capt. G. D. Byers, Confederate army. He was 
 elected third lieutenant at Corinth, Miss. At 
 Readerville, Tenn., he was promoted to first lieu- 
 tenant. He was in the battles at Richmond. 
 Ky., and Murfreesboro, Tenn., as well as numer- 
 ous smaller engagements. At Murfreesboro he 
 was wounded in the right foot, which resulted 
 in much suffering and long confinement in the 
 Medical College Hospital, at Atlanta, Ga. , of which 
 Dr. Willis Westmoreland was chief surgeon. In 
 ]Sr)3, near GriflSn, Ga. , he was married to Miss 
 Addie E. Lavender, daughter of Judge James La- 
 vender, a native of Georgia. For two years after 
 his marriage he was engaged in farming. In 1867, 
 in Carroll County, Ga. , he went into the mercan- 
 tile business. He emigrated to Greene County, 
 Ark., in 1867, and is still occupied in the same 
 business. By his marriage Mr. Cox became the 
 father of nine children, as follows: Charles M. B., 
 .■Vugusta O., Eugene H. . Cora B. , Mary F., Annie 
 L. , Dreas L., Augustus C. and Hubert D. Cox. 
 Of these there are surviving only Charles M. B. , 
 Cora B., Mary F. and Dreas L. Cox. The wife of 
 Mr. Cox, Mrs. Addie E. Cox, passed from this life 
 
 into the future on July 9, 1880, at the age of thirty - 
 six years. Mr. Cox afterward married Miss Laura 
 I. Cox, a native of Missouri, and daughter of Rev. 
 J. W. Cox, of the Methodist Protestant Cliurch. 
 To this union were born two children: Addie B. 
 and Everett; the last named died at the age of 
 four months. Mr. Cox established his business in 
 Rector in 1882. He was the purchaser of the first 
 lot sold in town, and has l)een quite successful. 
 Mr. Cox and family are members of the Methodist 
 Protestant Church. He was ordained a minister 
 in 1872. He has been a member of the Masonic 
 order since 1866, and took the Chapter and Coun- 
 cil degrees in 1867, at CarroUton, Carroll County. 
 Ga. He is a Democrat in jjolitics; a stanch advo- 
 cate of the principles of prohibition, he supported 
 Gen. Fisk for president in 1888. In personal ap- 
 pearance Mr.. Cox is tall and imposing; is six feet 
 and two inches, and weighs 200 ll)s. He has dark- 
 brown eyes, and wears a heavy, full beard. 
 
 Thomas J. Crews, farmer and stock raiser of St. 
 Francis Township, Clay County, Ark., was bom 
 in Bedford County, Tenn., August 1, 1847, and is 
 the son of Dr. John Crews, a native of Virginia, 
 and Mary A. (Tribble) Crews. Dr. John Crews 
 was reared in his native State and was married 
 twice, his first wife bearing him two sons and 
 three daughters, all now deceased but one, a 
 daughter. His second marriage was to the mother 
 of our subject, who bore him four children, two 
 sons and two daughters, all of whom grew to ma- 
 ture years. The Doctor moved from Bedford to 
 Weaklev County, residing there some nine years, 
 engaged in farming, and then, aliout 187)7, he 
 moved with his family to Arkansas, locating in what 
 is now Clay County, made a farm and there resided 
 until his death, which occurred in December. 1876. 
 Thomas J. Crews grew to manhood on the farm in 
 Clay County, remaining with his parents until 
 ''rown, and was married in that county September 
 1, 1872, to Miss Mary J. Lively, a native of Ar 
 kansas, and the daughter of William Lively, and 
 sister of Rev. Lively, whose sketch appears else 
 where in this work. After his marriage Mr. 
 Crews settled in the neighborhood where he now 
 lives, and after his father's de.ith he came to the 
 
-il 
 
 210 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 old home and bought out the heirs. He has 250 
 acres of land with about 125 fenced and under 
 cultivation. Mrs. Crews died February 12, 1878, 
 and since then Mr. Crews' mother, who is still 
 living, has been his housekeeper. Mr. Crews is 
 a member of the Masonic fraternity. Wisdom 
 Lodge No. 343, and has filled all the official posi- 
 tions in his lodge. He has represented the lodge 
 in the grand lodge two different times. He is also 
 a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 56, at 
 Piggott, and is Noble Grand of this lodge. He 
 has served as district deputy for four years, and 
 has represented this lodge and Clark Bluff a num- 
 ber of times. He is a prominent man and an ex- 
 cellent citizen. 
 
 Z. T. Daniel is well known thoughout Clay 
 County, Ark. , and for a number of years tilled the 
 office of deputy county surveyor, with competence 
 and ability. He was born on Blue Grass soil in 
 Grant County, in 1848, being the eldest of a 
 family of eight children born to Lewis B. and 
 Sardinia K. (Canfield) Daniel, the former a native 
 of Kentucky, and the latter of Ohio. The father 
 was reared in his native State, and in March, 1849, 
 moved to Illinois and settled in Schuyler County, 
 •where he engaged in farming, continuing this oc- 
 cupation until 1862, when he left his farm to en- 
 gage in the war, enlisting from Rushville, III., 
 in Company B, One Hundred and Nineteenth Illi- 
 nois Infantry, and was mustered into service at 
 Qujncy. He died in 1863 of disease contracted 
 while in the service. His excellent wife still sur- 
 vives him and resides at Rushville, 111. Z. T. 
 Daniel received excellent facilities for acquiring 
 an education, and besides attending the public 
 school at Rushville, 111., attended the Washington 
 University at St. Louis, in 1874, 1875 and 1876. 
 During this time he studied surveying, and in 
 March, 1876, he came to Corning, Ark., for the 
 purpose of continuing his agricultural operations 
 but drifted into surveying, which occuj)ation re- 
 ceived the greater part of his attention, his serv- 
 ices being utilized in Northern Arkansas and South- 
 ern Missouri. He was married in Clay County, 
 Ark., in the fall of 1882, to Miss Ellen McClintick, 
 a native of Quincy, 111. , and a daughter of Henry 
 
 Clay and Mary Ann (Dilley) McClintick, also of 
 Illinois, who came to Corning, Ark., in 1878, 
 where they are still residing, the father being the 
 proprietor of the Illinois Hotel. Subseqiient to 
 his marriage, Z. T. Daniel settled in Corning. 
 He worked for the Iron Mountain Railroad Com- 
 pany as civil engineer nearly two years. He is 
 reporter for the K. of H. , and is an active mem- 
 ber of the I. O. G. T. His wife is a member of 
 the Baptist Church, and having no family of 
 their own they have adopted . a little boy named 
 Eddie, 
 
 Elihu Davis, whose success as a farmer and 
 stock raiser is well established throughout the 
 county, is a native of Hardin County, Ky. , born 
 March 11, 1S21. His father, William Davis, was 
 also a native of Kentucky, and was married in that 
 State to Miss Sarah Hardin, of the same State, 
 although her people were from the Carolinas. 
 William Davis settled on a faraj in Kentucky, re- 
 sided there a number of years, and then moved to 
 Wayne County, Tenn., where he purchased a farm 
 and here reared his children. He died about 
 1835 or 1836. His wife survived him until 1877, 
 when she died at the home of her son in Arkansas. 
 Elihu Davis was reared in Tennessee and came to 
 Arkansas when a young man of eighteen, or in 
 1838, locating in Greene County, but now Clay 
 County, and finally settled on his present property 
 in 1844. His nearest neighbor was three miles 
 distant, wild animals were plentiful and many a 
 deer and wild turkey fell before his unerring rille. 
 Mr. Davis cleared over 100 acres where Greenway 
 is now located, and sold forty acres of this in May. 
 1889, for an addition to the town. He was mar- 
 ried first in Clay County, October 16. 1844, to 
 Susan Sites, a native of Arkansas, who died Sep- 
 tember 16, 1863. To this union were born seven 
 children, who grew to mature years. Mr. Davis 
 married his second wife. Mrs. Nancy Boggus, a 
 widow, formerly Miss Nancy Sheltou, who was 
 born in Alabama. She was the mother of one son 
 by her first marriage. This wife died October 23, 
 1873, and Mr. Davis married again, in Clay Coun- 
 ty, Miss Tennessee Horton, who bore him two chil- 
 dren, Joseph and Nancy. Mrs. Davis was born in 
 
 r"^ 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 211 
 
 Tennessee, but was reared in Missouri and Arkan- 
 sas. To Mr. Davis by his first wife were born 
 these children: William A., whose sketch appears 
 in this work; Solomon T., John, Elilui, Jr., (Clar- 
 issa, wife of T. J. Smith; Sarah, and Mary, wife 
 of Lewis Clippard. To his second marriag(> one 
 son, Thomas L. , was born. Mr. Davis is a Master 
 Mason, and a member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 William M. Davis. Among the worthy resi- 
 dents of Clay County, Ark., it is but just to say 
 that Mr. Davis occupies a conspicuous and honor- 
 able place, for he has always been honest, indus- 
 trious and enterprising, and as a result has met 
 with more than ordinary success. He was born in 
 Georgia, on the 1 5th of August, 1842, and is a 
 son of D. D. and Rebecca (Isbul) Davis, who were 
 born, reared and married in South Carolina. They 
 moved to Georgia after their marriage, where they 
 remained about ten years and then located in Ala- 
 bama, and afterward in Greene County, Ark., 
 where the father is now living. William M. Davis 
 remained with his father until of age, and in 
 1862 enlisted in the Twenty-fifth Arkansas In- 
 fantry. Confederate States Army, and served until 
 the spring of 18fi5, when he surrendered at Witts- 
 burgh, Ark. He was at Murfreesboro, Chick- 
 amauga, Franklin, and the siege and surrender 
 of Atlanta, being in about thirteen regular engage- 
 ments. After the war he was engaged in farming 
 in Greene County, and was married in Dunklin 
 County, Mo., on Buffalo Island, September lU, 
 1867, to Miss Martha Cochran, who was born and 
 reared in Dunklin Coimty, being a daughter of 
 Pleasant Cochran. Mr. and Mrs. Davis remained 
 in Greene County until 1874, when he moved to 
 his present place in Clay County, trading his farm 
 there for the one on which he is now residing. He 
 has 160 acres, with about seventy-five under culti- 
 vation, and has built a good frame residence, 
 stables and sheds and otherwise greatly imjjroved 
 his jiroperty since locating, Mr. and Mrs. Davis 
 are the parents of the following children: Cynthia 
 E., wife of James Golden; Pleasant L., James 
 E., WUliam David, George F., Samuel A., Lou 
 Z., John Henry and Poarlie Gertrude. Two chil- 
 dren died in early childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Davis 
 
 are members of the Methodist Episcopal Churcli, 
 South, and he is a Master Mason. 
 
 William A. Davis, another prominent farmer 
 and stock raiser of Haywood Township, Clay 
 County, Ark., was born in the above-mentioned 
 county, near Greeuway, April 20. 1853, and is the 
 son of Elihu Davis, a Kentuckian by birth, who 
 was reared in that State and in Tennessee. The 
 father came to Arkansas when a young man and 
 was here married. AVilliam A. Davis grew to 
 manhood on the home farm, remaining with his 
 father until twenty-seven years of age, and was 
 married here first, March 10, 1881, to Miss Anna 
 Randleman, who died in September, 1881. Mr. 
 Davis had boiight and located where he resides in 
 1880, and this place he has greatly improved. He 
 has fifty-five acres of cleared land, neat buildings, 
 a good orchard, and has twenty-five acres in tim- 
 lier, all good bottom land, one mile from Green- 
 way. Mr. Davis was married, in this county, De- 
 cember 29, 1886, to Miss Belle Gorden, a native of 
 Tennessee, but who was reared and educated in 
 Clay County, Ark. Her father, Jordan Gorden, 
 who is now deceased, was one of the pioneers of 
 Arkansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Davis have been 
 born one child. Myrtle, who is now six months old. 
 Mr. Davis is a member of the Masonic Order, 
 Wisdom Lodge No. 348, in which he is senior 
 deacon. 
 
 James Deniston, who is ])rominently identified 
 with the farming and stock raising interests of 
 Oak Bluff Township, was born in Ballard County, 
 Ky., July 13, 1839, and is the son of John Denis- 
 ton, who was born and reared in Washington 
 County, Va. He was also married in that State, 
 to Miss Dorotha L. Puckett, a native of Amelia 
 County, Va. Her father served in the War of 
 1812. After man-iage Mr. Deniston settled on a 
 farm in Kentucky, and followed tilling the soil 
 up to the breaking out of the late war, when, at 
 the age of fifty-two, he enlisted in the Twenty- 
 third Kentucky Infantry, Union Army, and died 
 in Texas. James Deniston spent his youth in 
 his native county, in Kentuck)', assisting his father 
 on the farm, and when in his nineteenth year, 
 he was married there to Miss Eliza Brown, who 
 
212 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 bore him five children. After marriage Mr. Den- 
 istou followed agricultural pursuits iu Kentucky 
 until 1868, when he moved to Missouri, and spent 
 one year in Cape Girardeau County. He then re- 
 sided two years in Stoddard County, and in the 
 spring of 1872 moved to Arkansas, bought raw 
 land, and there he lives at the present time. He 
 is the owner of 280 acres of land, with about 125 
 acres cleared, all good bottom land. He served as 
 a member of the school board for ten consecutive 
 years, and has the confidence and esteem of his 
 fellow men. He was married, in Cape Girardeau 
 County, to Miss Mary E. Welch, a native of Illi- 
 nois, but who was reared near Alton. Obion Coun- 
 ty, Tenn. Nine children were born to the last 
 marriage: Isabelle, Ada, Bernetta J., Rhoda,Ida 
 M. , Stonewall J. , Scott H. , George and Effie W. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Deniston are members of the Mis- 
 sionary Baptist Church, and he is a deacon in the 
 same. He is a Master Mason, and a member and 
 treasurer of Danley Lodge No. 800. A. F. & A. M. 
 William H. Denny. Among the many sturdy 
 and energetic agriculturists of Clay County, Ark., 
 who have attained their property by hard labor 
 and economy, may be mentioned Mr. Denny, who 
 was born in Monroe County, Mo., September 25, 
 1856, being a son of William T. F. and Martha 
 (Atchison) Donny, who were born in St. Louis 
 County. Mo., and Illinois, respectively, the form- 
 er's birth occurring September 24, 1828. They 
 were married January 1, 1849, and became the 
 parents of seven children; "W. H. , Florence, 
 Charles E., Andi-ew J., Cory Bell, Samuel W. and 
 Lizy Edna. They moved to Monroe County, Mo. , 
 in 1854, but returned to St. Louis County in 1861, 
 where they are still living, being engaged in agri- 
 cultural pursuits. The mother is a member of the 
 Presbyterian Church, and the father is a Mason, 
 and in his political views a Democrat. William 
 H. Denny moved from St. Louis County to Howell 
 County, Mo., in 1883, and from the latter county 
 to Clay County, Ark., where he purchased, in 
 1885, a tract of land consisting of eighty acres, 
 twenty of which are under cultivation, lying on 
 Current River bottom. It is well adapted to cot- 
 ton, corn and fruit, and can all be easily put in a 
 
 tillable condition. It is also a fine grazing prop- 
 erty, and is in condition to pasture stock the year 
 round. Land in this section is valued at from $2 
 to f 25 per acre, and cleared land is equal to the 
 best in the State. It is usually covered with a 
 heavy growth of timber (suitable for all kinds of 
 work), among which may be mentioned gum, ash, 
 oak, walnut, linn and cj'press. Mr. Denny in his 
 political views is a Democrat. 
 
 Hon. Jasper W. Dollison, a resident of Green- 
 way, Clay County, Ark., was born in Cambridge 
 City, of the "Buckeye State," December 20, 1849. 
 His father, William E. Dollison, was born in 
 Pennsylvania, but was reared in Ohio, and was 
 married there to Miss Susanna Laird, who was 
 born in the State. Mr. Dollison removed to the 
 State of Indiana in 1857, and located in Clay 
 County, where he engaged in farming and stock 
 raising and dealing until 1884, then moving to Kan- 
 sas, and he has since made his home in Independ- 
 ence. Hon. Jasper W. Dollison grew to mature 
 years in Clay County, Ind., and received an excel- 
 lent education in the Greencastle University. He 
 was engaged in teaching in the public schools of 
 that State for a number of years, and in 1877 
 moved to Missouri, and located in Andrew County, 
 moving from there to Union County, Iowa, after a 
 short time, where he made his home for nearly two 
 years, having been engaged in teaching in both 
 places. In 1881 he located at Newport, Jackson 
 County, Ark., and for two years was superintend- 
 ent of a lumljer mill. He then entered into the 
 newspaper business in Greene County, at Para- 
 gould. but in 1884 moved to Clay County and 
 bought out the proprietors of the Rector Advocate, 
 which he changed to the name of the Clay County 
 Advocate, and moved the paper to Greenway in 
 June, 1887. He continued the publication of this 
 paper until .January, 1889, when he sold out to 
 the present editor. In his political views he was 
 formerly identified with the Democratic party, but 
 when the movement known as the Labor movement 
 was inaugurated, he recognized the justice of the 
 cause and espoused it. In June, 1888, the State 
 Union Labor convention, assembled at Little Rock, 
 tendered him the nomination for State land com- 
 
missioner. He decliaed the honor, however, and 
 after very urgent solicitation agreed to make the race 
 for the legislature, and vfas nominated and elected 
 on that ticket as representative of Clay County, 
 serving vpith distinction for the term commencing 
 January 14, 1889. He vyas married in Clay County, 
 Ind., March 30, 1872, to Miss Anna Williams, 
 who was born iu Kentucky, but was reared and 
 educated principally in Indiana. Her parents 
 were Van Buren and Mary Williams, of Clay 
 County, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Dollison are the 
 ]>arent8 of live childi'en: Lethe, Delia, Vincent, 
 Charles and May. Mrs. Dollison is a mem- 
 ber of the Christian Church, and he is a member 
 of the K. of H. , the K. of L. and the Agricultural 
 Wheel. He is engaged at present in real estate 
 and timber enterprises. 
 
 W. S. Downs, blacksmith, and one of the skill- 
 ful workmen of the county, is a native of Georgia, 
 born in 1848, and the son of Shelly Downs, who 
 was born in Virginia. The latter was married in 
 his native State, and afterward moved to Georgia, 
 where the mother died shortly afterward, and 
 where the father died in 18fil, leaving a family of 
 three children. ^V. S. Downs was but thirteen 
 years of age when his father died, and for three 
 years after this, and during the war, he drove a 
 team from Atlanta to Bowden, Ga. , and was with 
 his teams near Franklin, Ga. (which is 100 miles 
 from Atlanta), when that city fell into the hands of 
 the Federal troops. At the age of sixteen Mr. 
 Downs went to work to learn the carriage and 
 wagon-maker's trade with the firm of J. W. 
 Downs, and afterward with Downs & Langford, 
 at Conyers, Ga., remaining in their employ for 
 three years. He then came to Clay County, Ark. , 
 where he has resided ever since, with the exception 
 of about three years, two of which he spent in New 
 Madrid. Mo. , and one year at his old home, where 
 he worked for Mr. Langford, who was carrying on 
 the same business. During his stay here six years 
 were spent in the mill business, the second steam- 
 mill in the county, and he afterward followed 
 farming until about 1888, when he opened up his 
 old business in Boydsville. He has built a shop 
 for general repair work, and is having a fair 
 
 trade. He was married in 1869 to Miss Martha 
 A. Arnold, daughter of Andrew Arnold, of Clay 
 County (but which at that time was Greene Coun- 
 ty), and nine children have been the result of this 
 union, eight now living. They are named as fol- 
 lows: Lenora J., wife of J. A. Burton, of Tennes- 
 see, and the mother of one child; J. H., at home 
 attending the farm; L. E., at home; William E., 
 J. B., Florence A.. Matthew A. and Alvin Shelly, 
 who is named after his grandfather. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Downs are members of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, South, and he is a Democrat in jwlitics. 
 Joseph Dudgeon. There is nothing which 
 adds so much to the prestige of a city in the estim- 
 ation of a stranger as first-class hotel accommoda- 
 tions, and the Dudgeon House, of which our sub- 
 ject is proprietor, has an excellent reputation both 
 at home and abroad, although it has been in 
 operation only a short time (since February, 
 1888). His hotel, so recently completed, consists 
 of twenty-three commodious rooms, with a large 
 bath-room, all of which are well furnished, and 
 supplied with modern conveniences, and he is 
 ever coiu'teous and aceommodatintr to his sruests. 
 He was born in the "Emerald Isle," County Mon- 
 ahan, in March, 1833, and is a son of John and 
 Margaret (Mills) Dudgeon, who were of Scotch 
 descent, but were born in Ireland, in which coun- 
 try the father died. In 1844 Joseph, with his 
 mother, went from Belfast to Liverpool, and in the 
 latter city took passage for America on the sailing 
 vessel "Patrick Henry," and after an ocean voy- 
 age of six weeks landed at New York (Jity. Shortly 
 after they went to Sullivan County, N. Y. . where 
 Joseph received his education, and was reared to 
 manhood. He started out to battle his own way in 
 the world at the early age of thirteen years, and 
 from earliest boyhood his career has been charac- 
 terized by hard work, for he was l)rought up as 
 a farmer, and received such education as could l)e 
 acquired in the common schools previous to his 
 sixteenth year. About this time lie and his mother 
 went to New Orleans, and there he worked as a 
 clerk in a store for about two years, and from that 
 time up to ISO") lived lioth in Jri8sissii)pi ami 
 Texas. He next located in Saginaw, Mich., where 
 
214 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 he resided three years, then returning to New York 
 State, and the same year located at An Sable, Ulich. , 
 being an employe for eleven years of the Loud, 
 Priest & Gay Lumber Company, acting as their 
 foreman; he was held in tlie highest esteem, and 
 commanded the full confidence of his employers. 
 He became a noted lumberman of that region, and 
 was engaged in the business for himself for some 
 time, continuing successfully until 1882, when he 
 went to Chicago, and was employed in paving the 
 streets for a number of months. In 1883 he moved 
 to Randolph County, Mo., but after a short time 
 sold all his effects, and returned to Michigan. In 
 the spring of 1885 he came to Clay County, Ark., 
 and was engaged in tilling a farm near Corning, 
 which he had purchased, until February, 1888, 
 when he moved to the town, and embarked in his 
 present enterprise. In 1860 he was married to Miss 
 Amanda Tiffany, a native of Pennsylvania, and a 
 daughter of Edwin and Joannah (Parks) Tiffany, 
 the former a native of Connecticut, and the latter of 
 New York State. Mr. Tiffany is a second cousin of 
 George Tiffany, the noted New York City jeweler. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Dudgeon became the parents of 
 seven children, of whom live are living: Arthur F., 
 residing in Michigan; Ella, wife of R. G. Gillard. 
 of Ashland, Wis. ; John A., Bertha M., wife of J. 
 M. Hawks, of Cotton Plant, Ark., and Pearl A. 
 Mr. Dudgeon is a member of the I. O. O. F. , and 
 in his political views is a Republican. His mother 
 was born in Ireland May 5, 1781. and died at the 
 age of 104 years. 
 
 Edward B. Earle, druggist at Rector postoffice, 
 was born in Obion County, Tenn. , February 28, 
 1858, but was reared at Arlington, Ky. He re- 
 mained on the farm until nineteen years of age, 
 receiving a common school education, and worked 
 in a drug store for some time. October 25, 1886, 
 he made his advent in the State of Arkansas with 
 $2.85 in cash and worked at the carpenter's trade 
 until February 27. 1887, when he began working 
 for Mr. Outlaw, with whom he continued for 889 
 days without losing any time. Afterward he was 
 occupied at odd jobs. He then bought out the 
 drug store which he now owns and later purchased 
 other property. He is now the most successful 
 
 druggist in Rector, carrying a stock of drugs 
 valued at $1,000, and is also a much esteemed 
 citizen. September 15, 1887, he married Miss 
 Clemmie Trantbam, a native of Clay County, Ark. 
 Both he and wife are members of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, and is a Democrat in politics, 
 but not a radical one. Mr. Earle' s parents, J. H. 
 and Elvira (Ghalson) Earle, were natives of Ken- 
 tucky. The father was reared near Barlow, a 
 short distance from Cairo, and was quite an exten- 
 sive stock man. He was a soldier in the late war 
 and is now living in Illinois, aged sixty-six years. 
 Mrs. Earle remained in her native State until 
 grown, and was married there. To this union 
 were born eight children: Sallie. John. Lee, 
 Charles, Arthur, Edward B. , Mollie and Leana. 
 Dr. Charles Earle, brother of the subject of this 
 sketch, came to Rector in 1883, and is a graduate 
 of Bellevue College, New York. 
 
 Frederick Ermert is an excellent example of 
 the success attending hard work and faithful and 
 persistent endeavor, and is now one of the wealthy 
 planters of Clay County, Ark. , having been a resi- 
 dent of this region since 1856. He is a native of 
 Germany, born in 1847, and is the eldest of five 
 children born to John and Caroline Ermert, who 
 were also natives of that country, and came to the 
 State of Missouri in 1850, settling in Madison 
 County, where the father engaged in lead mining. 
 The following year he took the overland route to 
 California, the journey occupying five months, and 
 remained in that State for three years. He then 
 returned to Madison County, Mo., but shortly 
 after moved to Randolph County, and in 1856 he 
 settled in what is now Clay County, where he 
 followed the occupation of agriculture until his 
 death in 1864, Iteing still survived by his ex 
 cellent wife. Frederick Ermert received good 
 training in growing up, became familiar with the 
 details of farm life, and entered actively upon life's 
 duties as a farmer after the close of the war, pur 
 chasing a piece of raw land, which has since, by 
 honest and continued eft'ort on his part, become one 
 of the valuable places of the county. This pro- 
 perty he sold in 1885, and since March, 1889, has 
 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 215 
 
 resided on bis present farm of 120 acres, sixty of 
 which are under cultivation, thirty being devoted 
 to the culture of cotton. He has always supported 
 the Republican ticket, considering its views as 
 sound and well suited to any man. He has been 
 married thrice, his first union taking place in Clay 
 County, in 1867, to Miss Mary Ann Whitehead, 
 a native of that county, whose jjarents were early 
 settlers of the locality. He lost his wife in 1875. 
 she having borne him one child: Amanda, now the 
 wife of William M. Williams, residing in Texas. 
 His second marriage took place in Clay County, in 
 1878, to Mildi'ed Rhodes, of Mississippi, who died 
 in 1879, also leaving one child, William, who is 
 residing with his father. His present wife was a 
 Miss Sarah Elizabeth Calhoun, of Tennessee, her 
 parents, Dunklin and Penelope Calhoun, being 
 deceased. To the last union the following chil- 
 dren were born: James, Lewis and Fred. Many 
 are the changes which have occurred since Mr. Er- 
 mert first located here, and he has lived to witness 
 the growth of what was almost a wilderness to one 
 of the most prosperous counties of the State. 
 
 Watson Forrest, better known as "Patter'" 
 Forrest, is one of the oldest settlers in Clay 
 County at the present time. He left Gibson 
 County, Tenu.. in October, 1832, with his brother, 
 Abraham Forrest, and Elisha Fly and their wives, 
 all in one wagon drawn by cattle, and they soon 
 fell in with James Kennedy, who, with his wife 
 and four children, were in a wagon drawn by 
 horses. They all settled on Slavin's Creek, in 
 what is Greene County now, and there they re- 
 mained for three years. During this time Watson 
 Forrest was married to Miss Sarah Crafton, of Gib- 
 son County, Tenn. , and the daughter of John B. 
 Crafton, of Tennessee. Mr. Forrest had returned 
 to Tennessee to assist his father, Mark Forrest, to 
 move to the farm picked out for him by his son, 
 on Slavin's Creek, and here married Miss Crafton, 
 and with her and his father he returned to Greene 
 County al)out D<>cember 10. 1838. In 1835 he 
 and wife moved to what is known as Clay County 
 at the present day, settling about one mile from 
 where he now lives, and there remained some five 
 years. He then moved to Barry County, Mo., 
 
 continued there but thi-ee months and then returned 
 and bouglit a log cabin, where his present resi- 
 dence is standing. He paid $250 for the log 
 cabin and the improvements, and $2.50 per acre 
 for forty acres of land. To this he has since 
 added 220 acres. The old log house be uses for a 
 stable. When Mr. Forrest first came to this State 
 there was no market for anything; neither was 
 there any law, nor officers neither sejuire, sheriff 
 nor constable, and Mr. Forrest assisted in electing 
 the first sheriff, Charley Robinson. A man by the 
 name of Tucker was the first representative of 
 Greene County, and there were only forty votes 
 cast in the whole county. Stock had to be driven 
 on foot to Memphis. Teiin., 125 miles away, but as 
 there was but very little stock in the county, these 
 trips were seldom made until about 1845. Pre- 
 vious to that time the only way of obtaining 
 money was by selling the pelts of animals, deer, 
 elk, bear, wildcat, panther, raccoon, mink and 
 otter being plentiful at that time. Deer skins 
 were the most sought after, and at Cape Girardeau 
 were worth from about $1.00 to 12.00 each; coon 
 skins fi-om twenty-five to fifty cents each; elks, 
 from $1.50 to $2.00 each; bear, from $1.00 to 
 $3.00; wildcat, about twenty-five cents; panther. 
 fix)m$1.00to $1.50; mink, fi'om $1.50 to S3. 00, 
 and otter, from $4.00 to $6.00. Buffalo, in 
 rather limited numbers, were in the State also. 
 With the exception of the buffalo and elk. all the 
 above mentioned animals are still represented in 
 the woods, coon and deer being very plentiful. 
 The next nearest trading-point was Pocahontas, on 
 the Black River, which offered a market for the 
 first time about 1835. This was twentj' miles dis- 
 tant from where Mr. Forrest lived. The first rail- 
 road market to which Mr. Forrest went was Dexter, 
 on the Iron Mountain road, in Missouri, and about 
 forty miles from his residence. The first church 
 built in what is now Clay County was at Salem, 
 in about 1842, and was of the Baptist denomina- 
 tion. It was constructed by two men. M'illiam 
 Nutt and Mr. Winingham, the latter preaching 
 the first sermon. He was also the first Baptist 
 pnvicher. The first preacher of any kind that Mr. 
 Forrest heard was Rev. Fountain Brown, a Meth- 
 
210 
 
 HISTOKY OF AKKANSAS. 
 
 odist. circuit rider. The first school house in the 
 county was l)uilt within a mile of where Mr. For 
 rest now lives, and a man by the name of Cyrus 
 Owens taught the first session as near as can be 
 remembered. Mr. Forrest has in his possession a 
 stone which he took fi-om the maw of a spotted 
 deer killed by him thirty years ago, and which 
 he believes to be a veritable mad stone. It is 
 about the size and shape of a chicken's heart, of a 
 dull, yellowish or brown color, and resembles a 
 well worn molar. On one side is a decayed place 
 which appears to be porous in its nature, while the 
 stone has a smooth, polished appearance. Three 
 people bitten by mad dogs have been cured by 
 this stone. In each case, animals had been bitten 
 b_y the same dog, and in every case went mad. It 
 will also cure rattlesnake bites. In case of the lat- 
 ter, or that of a mad dog, the stone adheres to the 
 wound until saturated with the poison, when it 
 falls, and by placing the stone in warm water or 
 milk it will cleanse itself. When there is no poi- 
 son in the wound the stone will not take hold. 
 
 John C. Frew. Prominent among the successful 
 farmers and stock-raisers of Haywood Township 
 stands the name of the above-mentioned gentleman, 
 who was born in Wealdey County, Tenn., June 15, 
 1843, and is the son of A. and Sarah (Hattler) 
 Frew, the former a native of North Carolina and 
 his wife of Tennessee. A. Frew went to Tennes- 
 see when a young man, was married there and 
 afterwards engaged in farming, which he con- 
 tinued all his life. He died in November, 1885, 
 and his wife died in June of the same year. Their 
 family consisted of three sons and three daughters, 
 all of whom grew to mature years. One sister 
 has since died, but the others are all residents of 
 Arkansas. John C, the eldest of this family, re- 
 mained with his parents until after his marriage, 
 which occurred in Obion County, November 11, 
 1866, to Miss Eda Tennessee Rucker. a native of 
 Middle Tennessee, and the daughter of Samuel W. 
 Eucker. After marriage Mr. Frew raised one crop 
 on the old home place, and then moved to Obion 
 County, where he farmed for five years. He moved 
 to Arkansas in the fall of 1872, and located in what 
 is now Clay County, and on the place where he 
 
 at present resides. The place at that time had a 
 few acres cleared and on it was a log cabin. Since 
 then Mr. Frew has cleared the farm, erected build- 
 ings and has greatly improved it. He owns 120 
 acres, sixty fenced and under cultivation, and has 
 a fine young apple and peach orchard. To his 
 marriage were born two children: Laura Victoria, 
 wife of J. I. Williams, and Geneva, a miss of ten 
 years. Mr. Frew is a member of the Agricultural 
 Wheel and served as president of the same one 
 term. 
 
 Pierce Galvin. The life of this well known 
 farmer and stockman affords an example that 
 might well be imitated by the young men of to- 
 day, for at the early age of fourteen years he left 
 the home place, without means, to battle his own 
 way in the world, and his endeavors have been re- 
 sultf ul of good, and he is now a well-to-do farmer 
 of Clay County. He possesses an excellent plac(> 
 of 240 acres, 100 being under cultivation, and con- 
 duets his farm in an intelligent manner and has it 
 well stocked. He was born in Ireland, December 
 24, 1834, and on coming to the United States, in 
 1845, landed at New York City, but moved on im- 
 mediately to Philadelphia, where he had a sister 
 living, and there he made his home until grown. 
 He then traveled for some time and was engaged in 
 railroading in Ohio for seven or eight months, later 
 going to Pittslmrgh, Penn., and in 1852 he com- 
 menced braking on a train on the Missouri*Pacifie 
 Railroad, remaining with this company until 1S73. 
 The following year he came to Arkansas and again 
 became an employe of the above named road, and 
 continued the occupation of railroading until 1884, 
 since which time he has resided on his present 
 farm. He was first married to Miss Mary Malony, 
 who was born in Ireland, but was brought to the 
 United States when a child, being reared in the 
 State of Missouri. She died in Augu.st, 1879, 
 having borne a family of five children: Mary. Mag- 
 gie, Katie, James and Statia. who died at the age 
 of two years. The living children are residing 
 with their father and he is doing all in his power 
 to give then good educational advantages. He 
 was nexi married to a sister of his first wife, Kate 
 Malony, by whom he became the father of two 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 217 
 
 :V£ 
 
 children: Frank, who died at the age of live years, 
 and Agnes. Mr. and Mrs. Galvin are members 
 of the Catholic Church, but he contriVmtes liberally 
 (o all enterprises he deems worthy of support. 
 During the war he served in the Twenty-third 
 Missouri Volunteers anil did railroad work under 
 Col. Crowley. He is now a Democrat in politics. 
 
 John T. Gilchrist, merchant at Knobel, Ark., 
 was born in 18(il in St. Charles County, Mo., being 
 the eldest of nine children born to Kichard and 
 Fannie (Coleman) Gilchrist, who were born in 
 Ohio and Illinois, respectively. The former was 
 a hotel keeper, and in 1860 removed to East St. 
 Louis, III., there following that occupation until 
 1S76, when he moved to Knobel and engaged in 
 the stock raising and saw mill business for a few 
 years; then he retired from the saw mill business 
 and settled on his farm, where he died in 1888. 
 He had about 1(50 acres of farming land, with some 
 eighty acres under cultivation, and had 420 acres 
 in a stock ranch. His wife died in 1882. John 
 T. Gilchrist attended the schools of St. Louis 
 until seventeen years of age, then began clerking 
 for the Consolidated Steamboat Company, continu- 
 ing one year, and in 1879 came to Knobel, Ark., 
 and secured the agency at this place of the Iron 
 Mountain Railroad Company, and had charge of 
 the office for live years. In 1884 he erected a tine 
 building and started a saloon and billiard hall, and 
 in 1887 built a large store-house and engaged in 
 general merchandising, his stock of goods being 
 valued at $6,000, and he has a large and rapidly 
 increasing trade. He is a member of the K. of P., 
 the K. of H., and the K. and li. of H. He is 
 particularly active in politics, and votes with the 
 Democratic party. His brother, Richard F., is 
 associated with him in business. The latter came 
 to Knobel with his father in 1876, and worked on 
 the farm until 1886, when he formed his present 
 partnership. 
 
 A. W. Gills, one of the most thorough going, 
 wide-awake business men of this section of the 
 county, and a genial, pleasant gentleman, is a 
 native of Fulton County, Ky., and came with his 
 parents, who were natives of Virginia, to what is 
 now Clay County, Ark., at the age of nineteen 
 
 years. They settled near his present residence, 
 where the mother died in 1870, and the father tw.. 
 years later. Later A. W. Gills [mrchased this 
 farm. In addition to his agricultural interests he 
 also erected a cotton-gin, and about the 1st of Octo 
 ber, 1886, commenced ginning cotton, with acajjac 
 ity of nine bales per day. In September of the 
 same year he started a stave factory and corn mill, 
 all of which he now runs with steam under the 
 same roof, the stave business being the principal 
 industry, the factory having a capacity of 8,000 
 staves per day. He regularly employs fi-om thirty 
 to thirty- five men and ten teams. This has been 
 the means of building at least half a dozen houses 
 in his neighborhood. He still carries on his farm 
 of 180 acres, which he has well supplied with good 
 stock. Mr. Gills was married in 1882 to Miss 
 Claude Gwin, whom he met in Missouri, and whose 
 parents are now living there. He is a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity, being attached to the 
 Eastern Star Lodge, and is also a member of 
 Chalk Bluff Lodge No. 72, I. O. O. F., and of 
 the K of H. In politics he votes with the 
 Democratic party. 
 
 Marion C. Glasgow, a prominent agricultur- 
 ist and stock raiser of Oak Bluff Township, was 
 born in Weakley County, Tenn., Augu.st 25, 1842, 
 and is the son of Elijah Glasgow, a native of 
 North Carolina, where he was reared and where he 
 married Miss Jane Jones, a native of Tennessee. 
 He and family moved from Tennessee to Arkansas, 
 in October, 1854, locating in Clay County, and 
 here Mr. Glasgow followed farming until his death 
 which occurred in 1875. Mrs. Glasgow died sev- 
 eral years previous. In their family were six sons 
 and three daughters who grew to mature years, 
 but one brother and one sister are deceased. Mar- 
 ion C. Glasgow came to this State and county with 
 his parents, and here he attained his growth. In 
 March, 1862, he enlisted in the Confederate army, 
 and served about eight months, when he was 
 wounded and returned home. In 1864 he re-en- 
 tered the service, remaining until the close of the 
 war. He participated in the following battles: Pilot 
 Knob, Independence, Sedalia. ainl many minor en- 
 gagements. He was paroled at W ittsburg. Ark. , and 
 
 ^ 
 
 I 
 
218 
 
 HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 then came home and engaged in faiminor. He was 
 married in Clay County, Ark. , in September, 1863, 
 to Mrs. F. S. Stephens, daughter of James 
 Nettles, one of the pioneer settlers. Mrs. Glas- 
 gow was born in Tennessee. Mr. Glasgow located 
 on his present property in 1878, bought raw land 
 and has cleared and made a valuable farm of the 
 same. He has 1()0 acres, with over 100 acres 
 under cultivation, all bottom land situated one and a 
 half miles from Hector. He has a good house, 
 good out-buildings and a fine'ycmngorchard, etc. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Glasgow h^d a famiTy-of eleven 
 children, named as follows :"■ Luella, James M., 
 Dora J., Levana, Thomas E., Benjamin F., 
 George H. . Viora and Columbus L. Three chil- 
 di'en died in early youth. Mr. Glasgow lost his 
 wife October 2, 1884, and later he married Mrs. 
 Emma A. Walker, who bore him one child, Colum- 
 bus L. Mr. Glasgow is a Master Mason, is also a 
 member of the I. O. O. F. , and is Noble Grand of 
 his lodge. His first wife was a member of the Mis- 
 sionary Baptist Church. 
 
 John M. Gleghorn was born in Independence 
 County, Ark., near Batesville, December 10, 1843, 
 being a son of John and Sisley (Coleman) Gleg- 
 horn, who were both natives of South Carolina, 
 the mother being principally reared in Alabama. 
 John Gleghorn removed to Tennessee when a 
 young man and there remained until 1842, when 
 he emigrated with his family to Independence 
 County, Ark., coming on the first steamer that 
 sailed up the White Kiver. He entered land 
 in that county, on which he remained until 185il, 
 subsequently coming to Greene County, Ark., and 
 residing on a farm near Gainesville until his 
 death, which occurred in April, ISIJd. His widow 
 is yet living and resides in Marion County, in her 
 eightieth year. The paternal grandfather was 
 born in Scotland and emigrated to America at an 
 early day. when only twelve years old, locating 
 first in South Carolina, then in Middle Tennessee, 
 where he spent the remainder of his days. The 
 maternal grandfather was born and raised in 
 South Carolina, and later spent some time in 
 Alabama, dying in Limestone County of that 
 State. John M. Gleghorn is one of seven surviv- 
 
 ing members of a family of twelve children, their 
 names being as follows: Rhoda E., wife of Samuel 
 Pool; Stephen C, Lucretia. widow of William 
 Jones; Melissa, wife of J. A. Pool: John M. , 
 James K., and Marietta, wife of David Gouch. 
 John M. Gleghorn was reared and educated in In- 
 dependence County, and was in his sixteenth }'ear 
 when he went to Greene County with his parents. 
 From early boyhood he has been familiar with 
 farm life, and when the war broke out he left the 
 plow to engage in that struggle, enlisting in No- 
 vember, 1861, in Capt. Morgan's company, in 
 which he served until 1863, then being discharged 
 on account of disability, at Readyville, Tenn. He 
 returned home but afterward enlisted in Mar- 
 maduke's brigade, and served until the war 
 closed, having taken an active part in the battles 
 of Corinth, Fort Pillow, Murfreesboro, Bragg' s 
 raid through Kentiicky, Harrisburg, and a num- 
 ber of other hard fights. He was wounded by a 
 pistol shot while with Price at Big Blue. He 
 surrendered at Shreveport, La., June 8, 1865, 
 and returned to Greene County, Ark., and was 
 engaged in farming there until February, 1871, 
 when he came to Clay County, Ark. , and locate<l 
 near Knobel, where he farmed on rented land until 
 January, 1881, then purchasing his present farm of 
 325 acres, about 140 of which are under cultivation. 
 He has a good two-story frame house and has 
 made other valuable improvements. His princi- 
 pal crop is corn, but he also raises some cotton, 
 and gives much attention to stock raising, both 
 buying and selling. In November, 1865, he was 
 married to Mary Arnold, a native of Tennessee, l)y 
 whom he has had ten children, five living: Mary J., 
 Lindsey C. , Etta, Amanda, and James R. Those 
 deceased were : Luther L. , William, Walter, John 
 and Anna, the last two twins. Mrs, Gleghorn 
 died in November, 1887, having been a worthy 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a 
 number of years. Mr. Gleghorn is a Democrat, 
 but has never been an office seeker. He has done 
 a great deal to Ijuild up his section of the countrj' 
 and has been the cause of manj' worthy men locat- 
 ing here, having furnished them with land, and 
 grain with which to make a start. 
 
 si 
 

 i 
 
 Lawrence CourHir, Arkansas 
 
:i£: 
 
 CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 21U 
 
 I. N. Goldsby, who is classed amoug the lead- 
 ing and industrious farmers of the county, was 
 born in Kentucky and is the son of Mentor Golds- 
 by, and the grandson of Edward Goldsby, who 
 took part in the War of 1812. Mentor Goldsby 
 died in Kentucky in 1858, and in 1861 I. N. 
 Goldsby and his mother came to Clay County, 
 Ark., and settled on a farm near his present place 
 of residence. He is the owner of 180 acres of 
 land, seventy-iive of which are improved, and on 
 which he has three houses. He was married in 
 18r35 to Miss Minerva C. Liddell, daughter of 
 William and sister of Robert Liddell, of Clay 
 County. Previous to this he served three years 
 in the Confederate army, taking part in the battles 
 of Prairie Grove, Rector and Pilot Knob, and was 
 all through Price's raid in Missouri. He was 
 paroled at Vicksburg in May, 1865, after which he 
 returned home, married, and settled down to farm- 
 ing, which occupation he has followed ever since. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Goldsby were the parents of fourteen 
 children, seven of whom died in infancy. Those 
 living are: William M. (Charley), who is now deputy 
 county clerk under Mr. Spence, at Boydsville, and 
 is a young man of ability and promise; Jennie, at 
 home; Lora, Ettie, Robert, Florence and Lem- 
 mer (a daughter). Mr. Goldsby is a member of 
 the Masonic fraternit}', and has ever been a liberal 
 contributor to all laudable public enterprises. 
 
 G. G. Green, a farmer residing near Vidette, 
 Ark., was born on the ISJth of November, 1831, in 
 Montgomery County, N. C, his parents being 
 James and Elizabeth (Wyatt) Green, who were 
 also born in that State, and removed to Kentucky 
 in 1832, locating in what was then Galloway 
 County, where they made their home until their 
 respective deaths. The father was a blacksmith 
 and farmer, and he and wife were the parents of 
 eleven children, four now living: George G., 
 ^larcus M. , Frank and Henry. George G. Greene 
 was an infant when brought to Kentucky, and he re- 
 mained in that State until 1857, then emigrating 
 to Butler County, Mo., where he made his home 
 one year; coming thence to what is now Clay Coun- 
 ty, Ark., he located on the farm of 120 acres on 
 which he is now residing. He has about 100 acres 
 
 under fence ami eighty-tive acres under cultivation, 
 which he devotes principally to raising corn and 
 cotton, but the soil is well adapted to all cereals. 
 He rais(>s considerable stock during the year, and 
 is a prosperous farmer, and has shown his enter- 
 prise and industry by putting his farm, which was 
 heavily covered with timber when he settled, in 
 its present admirable condition. In 1850 he was 
 imited in marriage to Miss Melvina Hyatt, a native 
 of Kentucky, by whom he had three children, only 
 one of whom is living at the present time: Delia, 
 wife of Albert Rhodenback. His second marriage 
 took place in 1863, to Miss Sarah J. Gilbert, by 
 whom he has the following family: William, 
 Robert, Elizabeth, Vernon E., Ida M. and Rosa L. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Green have long been members of 
 the Methodist Church. 
 
 John J. (iriffin was born in Greene County, N. 
 C, June 1, 1826, being a sou of William and Sa- 
 rah Griffin, who were members of the Old-School 
 Baptist Church and were born in North Carolina, 
 the former's birth occurring in 1784 and his death 
 in 1859. Of their seventeen children, John J. 
 Griffin is the only one now living. He became the 
 architect of his own fortune at the age of twenty- 
 one years, and for a number of years was engaged 
 in farming and rafting. On the 25th of July, 
 1846, he was married to Miss Theresa L. Hicks, a 
 daughter of Thomas S. and Jane Hicks, who were 
 Tennesseeans, the former being engaged in tilling 
 the soil. To this union eleven children were born, 
 only four of whom are living at the present time: 
 Sarah E. (Winningham), James M. (farmer, of 
 Clay County, Ark.), John J. (a farmer of Dunk- 
 lin County, Mo.), and T. J., also a farmer of 
 Dunklin County. Mr. Griffin took for his sec- 
 ond wife Miss Sarah E. Spikes, their maiTiage 
 taking place on the 22d of June, 1875. Four 
 of the seven children born to their marriage are 
 living: Sanford and Adaline (twins), born Sep- 
 tember 22, 1875; Lee, born February 27, 1880. 
 and Rosa, born September 12, 1887. Mr. Grif- 
 fin owns a good farm of eighty acres, sixty un- 
 der cultivation, and devotes his land [irincipally 
 to raising corn and cotton. His pro|>erty was at 
 first heavily covered with timber, but he has made 
 
220 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 valiiHbli' iinprovoiupnts, and has now a >i;oo(l and 
 comfortable Lome. He and wife are members of 
 the Missionary Ba]>tist Church, and he is a Demo- 
 crat, and a member of tlio Aii;ricnltnial Wliei^l. 
 For about, lifteen j'ears after tirst coming west he 
 spent the fall and winter months in hunting and 
 trappinj^, and has killed at least tifty bear and 
 hundreds of deer, and in some of his hunting ex- 
 peditions met with many thrilling adventures and 
 narrow escapes from death. He was also engaged 
 in rafting on Black River. His parents moved 
 from North Carolina to Tennessee in 1820, and 
 two years later located in Posey County, Ind. , 
 and in 1840 in Randolph County, Ark. 
 
 \y. T. Griffith, lumberman and ])ostmaster at 
 Thurmau, Ark., was l)oru on Kentucky soil (Mont- 
 gomery County) June 11, 1885, his parents being 
 JetTer.son and Lydia (Brothers) Griffith, who came 
 from the " Old Uoniinion " at an early day with 
 their jjarents; David Griffith, the grandfather, be- 
 ing one of the tirst settlers of Montgomery County, 
 Ky. He located near Mt. Sterling, the county 
 seat, and became a very wealthy farmer, but died 
 in Fleming County, of that State. Jefferson Grif- 
 fith died in Kentucky in 1882, at the age of seven 
 ty years, having been a mechanic by trade, and a 
 prominent man, serving as sheriff of Nicholas 
 County for some time. His wife also died in Ken- 
 tucky. Five of their seven children are now liv- 
 ing: Samuel, John, Sarah J., William T. and 
 Maitha. A\'illiam T. Griffith, our 8ubj((ct, was 
 reared in Kentucky until fifteen years of age, and 
 there received the greater part of his education. 
 In 1853 he went to Union County, 111., and located 
 on a farm near Jouesborough, the country at that 
 time being in a very wild and unsettled condition, 
 and here made his home until 1877, when he came 
 to Clay County, Ark., and began logging in H. H. 
 Williams' large mills, remaining thus employed 
 for five years, then locating on his ])rosent excellent 
 farm in Kilgore Township. The ino.st of his at- 
 tention, however, is given to lumbering and cotton- 
 ginning. He owns a sawmill and employs several 
 hands to operate it. In July, 1888, the post-office 
 at Thurman was established and he became the 
 first jrostmaster, and is now holding that position. 
 
 He has held the office of justice of th(> peace for 
 two years, and is a member of the Masonic frater- 
 nity and the Agricultural Wheel. In 1855 he 
 wedd(Hl Miss Barbara I. Lipe, a native of Illinois, 
 and by her became the father of twelve childi-en, 
 six now living: AV alter, Emma A., Elsie J., Anna, 
 John and Lillie. His wifi> dicnl in October, 1880, 
 and in 1881 he married Louisa Carter, who was 
 born in Adams County, Ind., and by her had one 
 child, Rosa P. He and wife are members of the 
 Missionary Baptist Church, of which he is also 
 clerk. 
 
 Roliert L. Hancock, agent for the "Cotton Belt" 
 Railroad and the Soiithern Exjiress Company, is a 
 native of Prentiss County, Miss., where he was 
 born on the 15th of March, 1852, being the son of 
 Benjamin Hancock, who was born in Tennessee 
 and reared in Virginia. When a young man he 
 went to Tennessee, where he met and married 
 Matilda Rowsy of that State, and afterward moved 
 to Mississi})pi, residing on a plantation in Pren- 
 tiss County until his death in 1854, followed by 
 his wife in 18(57. After coming to years of ma- 
 turity, Robert L. Hancock attended school in 
 Boonville, Miss., receiving a good education, and 
 then clerked for four years. In 1874 he went to 
 Tennessee, and was married there on the 4th of 
 April, 1884, to Miss Delilah Matbeny, who was 
 born, reared and educated in Hardin County of 
 that State, being a daughter of James and Eliza 
 Matbeny. After their marriage they located in 
 Williamsville, Wayne County, Mo., and for two 
 years he was engaged in teaching school, and the 
 next two years oecupi(>d in farming and teach- 
 ing in Hardin County, Tenn. In 187U he came to 
 Clay County, Ark. . locating on a farm near Green - 
 way, and devoted himself to tilling the soil and 
 pedagoguing up to 1884, when he moved to (ireen- 
 way and was appointed telegraph operator, depot 
 and express agent, which ])osition he is now fill- 
 ing. He was also engaged in mercantile business 
 for one year, and has served as a member of the 
 town board. He is an active worker for the cause 
 of temperance, and organized the Hancock Tem- 
 perance Club at Greenway, of which he is presi- 
 dent. Mr. Hancock commenced life in Clav 
 
 »r^ 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 221 
 
 Couuty with litUc or no cupital, Imt. is now ono of 
 the substcantial men of the community, and is the 
 owner of considorable town i)ro])orty and a good 
 farm near Greeuway. 
 
 J. W. Harb, a mercliant of Corning, Ark., 
 was born in Wiilshire, Van Wert Connty, Ohio, 
 on the 27th of July, 1851), and is the son of W. 
 B. and Caroline (Harper) Harb, who were born in 
 Franklin and Richland Count i(>s,(^liio, resi)eetivi>ly. 
 In 187;i they removed to Blackford County, Ind. , 
 locatincr in Hartford City, where Mr. Harb en- 
 gaged in merchandising and manufacturing head- 
 ings and staves. In 1S7(') he removeil his family 
 to Corning, Ark., whore he continued his manufac- 
 turing business until 1878, in the meantime con 
 ducting a drug store, which in 1885 he enlarged, 
 adding general merchandise, and thus being oc- 
 cupied until his death. In 1887 he went back to 
 Ohio to take a rest and regain his health, and 
 died in West Milton, Ohio, September 11, 1887. 
 His nmiains were brought to Corning and buried. 
 He was one of the founders of the town, and being 
 a physician by profession, practiced considerably 
 in tlie county. Altliough not a graduate of any 
 college, he was one of the most intelligent pupils 
 in the Medical College of Columbus, Ohio. His 
 wife died December 24, 188(). J. W. Karl), 
 whose name heads this sketch, resided in Ohio and 
 Indiana until sixteen years of age, and since 1876 
 has lived in Arkansas, l)eing first engaged in the 
 drug business with his brother (who is now de- 
 ceased) at Walnut Ridge, Ark., continuing until 
 1884. At the death of his father he and his 
 brother, O. C. Harb, liegan managing the business 
 at Corning, but since January 12, 1889, J. W.Harb 
 has had entire control of the establishment. 
 
 John H. Hardin ileserves to be classed among 
 the prosperous farmers and stockmen of Clay 
 (-'ounty, Ark. He was born in McNairy ('ouuty, 
 T(>nn., January 2fi, IS^S, and is a son of B. J. 
 Hardin and Nancy Bennet, who were also born in 
 tliat State. After their marriage they st^ttled in 
 McNuiry County, whore the father was engaged in 
 husbandry until the opening of the late Civil War, 
 when he joined the Fed"ral army and served four 
 years, coutractiag in his service chronic diarrhceu. 
 
 which afterward caused his death, in Octolier, 1881. 
 His wife died here in September, 1884. In the 
 summer of 1805 ho mo.ved to Clay County, Ark., 
 and engaged in farming. John H. Hardin re 
 mained with his father until he attained mature 
 years, and was married here, December 25, 187:5, 
 to Miss Sarah I. Mayes, who was born in Tennes 
 see August 25, 1854, though reared in Clay Coun 
 ty, Ark. After their marriage they rented land 
 one year, when Mr. Hardin purchased a tract, 
 which he began clearing and improving. He has 
 opened up about eighty acres, and has 100 acre.s 
 under cultivation, besides twenty acres of timber 
 land. He has a comfortable frame residence, two 
 fair barns, and an apple and peach orchard con 
 sisting of three acres. Ho is a member of the 
 Agricultural Wheel, and he and wife are members 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They are the 
 parents of live children: Lucy Ann, l)orn Septem- 
 ber 9, 1876; Dury J., born November 4, 1878; 
 Owen D. , born Aiignst 4, 1881, and died Febru- 
 ary 4, 1888; Henry L., born April 18, 1884, and 
 an infant, born and died December 12, 1887. 
 
 Robert A. Hawthorne, farmer, and postmaster 
 at Don, Clay County, Ark., was born on the 12th 
 of August, 1849, in Benton County, Tenn., his 
 parents, llol)ert H. and Elizal)eth (Baker) Haw- 
 thorne, being born in Ohio and Virginia, respect- 
 ively. The paternal grandfather was born in Ire- 
 land, locating in Ohio after coming to America, and 
 afterward moved to Illinois, where he died. The 
 maternal grandfather was born in Virginia, and 
 removed from there to Tennessee, in which State 
 he died, being engaged in farming. Roljert A. 
 Hawthorne was reared and educated in Ohio, and 
 removed with his father to Illinois, wiiere he made 
 his home until about twenty two years of age, when 
 he went to Tennessee and began the study of law, 
 being admitted to the bar shortly after. He prac- 
 ticed his profession for a number of years, and 
 was also engaged in farming. At the age of about 
 fifty years he gave up his law practice, and turned 
 his attention to obtaining pensions for claimants. 
 In the summer of 1861 be enlisted in Forrest's 
 cavalry, and was sliortly after transferred to the 
 infantry and was sent .south, participatiiii.' in many 
 
] 
 
 battles, and holding the rank of provost mar- 
 shal. He was never wounded nor taken prisoner. 
 He died January 1, 1866, his death being deeply 
 regretted by his many friends and acquaintances. 
 His widow is still living, being in her seventy- 
 ninth year, and resides with her children: Robert 
 A. and John C. The former obtained his educa- 
 tion and rearing in Tennessee, remaining on a 
 farm in that State until twenty-one years old, when 
 he came to Clay County, Ark., and located at Corn- 
 ing, where he was engaged in the sale of liquors 
 for six years. He then turned his attention to 
 farming, and in 1882 bought the farm of 262 acres 
 where he now lives; 110 acres are under cultivation 
 and fairly improved. He raises corn and cotton, 
 principally, and some clover. The land is well 
 adapted for raising all the cereals, and makes an 
 excellent stock farm, which industry receives much 
 of his attention. October 12, 1888, the postoffice 
 was established at his house, and he was made 
 postmaster, the office taking the name of Don. In 
 1871 he was married to Miss Alice Polk, by whom 
 he has two children: Ethel and Mary E. (who is 
 deceased). Mrs. Hawthorne is a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity. 
 
 Hon. G. B. Holifield, who stands at the head 
 of the legal profession in the Eastern district of 
 Clay County, is a native of Graves County, Ky. , 
 and the son of T. M. Holifield, who came to Clay 
 County, Ark., with his wife and four children, No- 
 vember 15, 1855, and settled two miles northeast 
 of Boydsville. Here G. B. Holifield was reared 
 and here he received the meager schooling afforded 
 by the then few subscription schools of the county. 
 Later he finished his education by attending six 
 months at Gainesville, Ark., and later, after study 
 ing law for some time, was admitted to the bar in 
 August, 1881, in the Western district of Clay 
 County. He has ))een in constant practice since. 
 In 1878 he was elected to the legislature, but pre- 
 vious to this he had filled the position of justice of 
 the peace for three terms. He has always been 
 quite active in politics, though as there is nomi- 
 nally only the one party, he has made but few 
 speeches. His first marriage was to Miss Mary 
 
 Cummings in 1871, and the fruits of this union 
 were two children who survive their mother, she 
 dying February 4, 1878. They are named as fol- 
 lows: William Stanford and Martha J. For his 
 second wife Mr. Holifield chose Miss Verdilla P. 
 Perrian, of Clay County, and three children, Etta 
 Lee, Maiy Susan and Otis Oscar, are the result of 
 this union. Mr. Holifield is one of the prominent 
 legal lights of the county, and is thoroughly apace 
 with the times in every respect. He and wife are 
 members of the Methodist Protestant Church. 
 
 James R. Hollis is a Tennesseean, born in 
 Wayne County, January 16, 1837, and is a son of 
 W. B. and Susan (Meredith) Hollis, both of whom 
 were born in Wayne County, Tenn. In 1839 they 
 moved to Ai-kansas and settled in what was then 
 Greene County (now Clay), where they made a 
 farm and resided until their respective deaths, the 
 former's demise occurring in 1873. James R. 
 Hollis remained with his father until he attained 
 his majority and in June, 1861, enlisted in the Con- 
 federate service. Fifth Arkansas Infantry, and 
 served until the final surrender, participating in 
 some of the most important engagements of the 
 war, among which were Murfreesboro, Shiloh, 
 siege and surrender of Atlanta, Jonesboro, where 
 he was taken prisoner, but was exchanged soon af- 
 ter, Nashville, where he was also taken prisoner, 
 and Franklin, where he was captured and held un- 
 til June 21, 1865. After being paroled he re- 
 turned home and engaged in farming. He was 
 married in what is now Clay County, August 19, 
 1858, to Elizabeth Payne, a daughter of Boswell B. 
 Payne, whose sketch appears in this work. Mrs. 
 Hollis was born in Adair County, Tenn. , and was 
 reared in Arkansas. Soon after his marriage he 
 located on his present farm, consisting of some 220 
 acres, about 120 acres of which are fenced and 
 mostly under cultivation, well improved with good 
 residence and barns. Mr. and Mrs. Hollis are the 
 parents of the following family: William Thomas, 
 JaneB. , wife of G. W. Pickens, Joseph E. , Ada 
 E. , Mary Alice, Albert Harvey and John Royal. 
 Three infants are deceased. Susan was the wife 
 of Francis Davis, and died about 1878. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Hollis are members of the Baptist Church, 
 
 ^^=^ 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 223 
 
 aod ho is a Mason aud a member of the Agriciiltu 
 ral Wheel. 
 
 G. H. Hovey, cue of the successful and enter- 
 prising "sons of the soil," residing near Pitman, 
 Ark. , was born in the State of New York, September 
 15, 1851, being a son of A. G. Hovey. who was also 
 born in that State February 4, 1814. The latter 
 was a well-known resident of his county, and while 
 residing there held a number of offices, such as 
 justice of the peace and postmaster. He removed 
 to Newton County, Mo., in 1877, and in 1884 
 located in Howell County, where he is still residing, 
 being a carpenter by trade. He was married iu 
 1841 to Miss Maria Brewer, a native of New York 
 State, and by her became the father of three chil- 
 dren, two of whom are living: F. A., a farmer re- 
 siding in Howell County, the owner of 160 acres 
 of land, and George H. , our subject, who is also 
 a farmer and owns 200 acres of land, 135 being 
 under cultivation, of which 105 have been cleared 
 by him in the last three years. He removed to 
 this farm from Howell County, Mo., in 1885, and 
 here has since made his home, and has one of the 
 finest young orchards in the country. He gives 
 considerable attention to stock raising and has 
 some excellent Durham cattle and Poland China 
 hogs. In his youth he acquired a superior edu- 
 cation, and in addition to attending the common 
 schools was a student in the Tenbroeck Free 
 Academy in Cattaraugus County for three years. 
 He was then engaged in teaching for twelve terms, 
 one term in Pennsylvania, two in New York, and 
 nine terms in the public and private schools of 
 Missouri. He removed from New York to Penn- 
 sylvania in August, 1874, thence to Newton County, 
 Mo., in 1876; in the spring of 1883 to Howell 
 County, Mo., and from there to Clay County, Ark. 
 On the 31st of December. 1871, he was married 
 in his native State to Miss Sarah Burns, of New 
 York, a daughter of -John and Jiilia (Collins) 
 Burns, who were farmei's of that State. Tliey 
 have one daughter, born May S, INS I. Mrs. 
 Hovey is a member of the Christian Church, and 
 he is an earnest worker for education, (>shibiting 
 that intelligence and enterprise necessary for the 
 successful development of the community. 
 
 A. Hudgeus was born in Robertson County, 
 Tenn. , in 1 834, and is the .son of John and Nancy 
 (Durham) Hudgens, and the grandson of James 
 Hudgens, a native of Virginia. John Hudgens 
 was also a native Virginian, but later moved to 
 Tennessee, where he married Miss Durham. He had 
 limited opportunities for an education, but made 
 up for this to some extent by studying at home. 
 Besides his work on the farm he conducted a store 
 in Marion, 111., and at one time was in quite 
 comfortable circumstances, but was obliging enough 
 to place his name on a friend' sl)ond, iu consecjuence 
 of which he was compelled to pay a large sum of 
 money. Thus he was badly harassed for some 
 time. A. Hudgens attained his growth in Tennes- 
 see, learning the carpenter's trade, and went with 
 his father to Illinois in 1852. He was married in 
 that State to Miss Harriot IMcIntosh, a native of 
 \\'illiam8on County, 111., aud the daughter of 
 Benjamin and Elizabeth (Mason) Mcintosh, who 
 came from Robertson County, Tenn. After living 
 iu Illinois until 1882 Mr. and Mrs. Hudgens moved 
 to St. Francis, there being but one dwelling there 
 at that time, and ])ut uj) the third house in the 
 village. Here they now live and have a very nice 
 residence. He has followed his trade and has 
 built more than half the houses since he came. 
 He has followed contracting and building, and is 
 now holding the office of justice of the peace in 
 the county. To his marriage were horn seven 
 children, all in Illinois. They are named as fol- 
 lows: Emma, received her education in the high 
 school at Marion, 111., and after teaching in that* 
 State for some time is now teaching in .Arkansas; 
 Sula, at present finishing her education at Carbon- 
 dale, and is studying stenography, having taken 
 one course in St. Louis; Minnie, is attending 
 school at the State University at Fayetteville, Ark. , 
 and will graduate in the class of 1S89; Oscar, is 
 also attending the same school and will graduate in 
 1889; Frank is at home; Gertrude is also at home, 
 and Bessie, an infant. Mr. Hudgens is a ii;,eml)er. 
 of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, located 
 at St. Francis, as is also his wife, and he affiliates 
 with the Democratic party in his jiolitical views. 
 
 Dr. Samuel W. Huston, physician and surgi-on 
 
'224- 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 of Piggott, Clay County, Ai-k. , was born in Ripley 
 County, Mo., February 15, 1847, being a son of 
 Dr. William A. Huston, a Missourian, who was 
 reared and studied his profession at Troy. He 
 was married in Randolph County, Ark. , to Miss 
 Vernetta Pittman, a daughter of Dr. Pitiman, of 
 Pittnian's Ferry, one of the pioneer physicians of 
 Arkansas. After his marriage Dr. Huston settled 
 in Ripley Countj% where he practiced a few years 
 and afterward moved to Charleston. Mo., and died 
 in Perry County, of that State, in 1S50. While 
 in Arkansas he represented Randolph County in 
 the State legislature. Dr. Samuel W. Huston 
 grew to. manhood in Cape Girardeau Count}', Mo., 
 making his home with his uncle, M. J. Himes, and 
 remained with him until he attained his majority. 
 He studied medicine under Dr. Henderson, one of 
 the leading physicians of eJackson, and took his 
 fir.st course of lectures at the McDowell Medical 
 College, of St. Louis, about 1868. He continued 
 the study of his profession in Cape Girardeau 
 County, and did his first practicing in Greene 
 County, Ark., in 1874, remaining there about 
 eighteen months, when he moved to his present 
 location, where he has built up an excellent prac- 
 tice. He was married in the village of Piggott, 
 September 23, 1877, to Miss Susan Jane Low- 
 rance, a native of Carroll County, but reared in 
 Clay County, Ark. She is a daughter of David G. 
 Lowrance (deceased), and she and Dr. Huston are 
 th(> parents of six children : Lenora M. , Myrtle C. , 
 Edna S. , Sam, Oran and Carl. The Doctor and 
 wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Church (in which he is an elder), and are highly 
 respected citizens of the community in which they 
 reside. 
 
 N. A. Keller, another successful business man 
 of St. Francis, was born in Tennessee, but grew to 
 manhood in Union County, 111., where he went 
 with his father. Rev. Francis F. Keller, when but 
 a child. The father was a minister in the Cum- 
 berland Presbyterian Church and followed that 
 calling for many years. The mother, Elizabeth 
 Keller, was a member of that church for nearly 
 sixty years. She recently died at the age of sev- 
 enty-eight years. N. A. Keller attended the district 
 
 schools in Union County until twenty-one years of 
 age, after which he spent a year at Gravel Hill, 
 Mo., and then taught school for several years in 
 Missouri and Arkansas. After this he went with 
 Gregorj', Lasswell & Co., of Maiden, Mo., where 
 he remained for about two years engaged in the 
 general merchandise business, and then came to 
 St. Francis, and after embarking in business for 
 some eighteen months, accepted a position on the 
 road for Kelley, Goodfellow & Co., boot and shoe 
 dealers of St. Louis, with whom he remained for 
 about two years, traveling in Southern Illinois 
 and West Tennessee. He then returned to St. 
 Francis and took a position with Clemson & Calvin, 
 with whom he continued until July 1, 1889, when 
 he purchased the entire stock of that firm. He was 
 married January 20, 1886, to Miss Mattie Calvin, 
 daughter of Robert T. Calvin, of Pulaski County, 
 111., and the sister of Mr. Hiram Calvin of the 
 firm of which Mr. Keller was the trusted employe. 
 Two children were born to this union: Tell and 
 Pearl. Mr. Keller has been reasonably successful 
 since coming to St. Francis, and is the owner of 
 three houses and lots in the village. He is a mem- 
 ber of Evergreen Lodge No. 581, I. O. O. F.. of 
 Illinois, and belongs to the Triple Alliance, in 
 which he carries 11,000 insurance, and also $1,000 
 in the Globe, of Baltimore, Md. Mrs. Keller is a 
 member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
 
 G. W. Kelley, of Corning, Ark., is now serving 
 his second term as justice of the peace of Kilgore 
 Township, and no man has ever held the position 
 who was belter fitted to discharge the duties con- 
 nected with it than he. He was born in St. Louis 
 County, Mo., in 1813, being the eldest of six chil- 
 dren born to the marriage of William Kelley and 
 Nancy Lancaster, who were Virginians, and early 
 emigrants to Missouri, where they opened and im- 
 proved a farm. In 1837 William Kelley removed 
 to West Tennessee, where his death occurred in 
 1843, and his wife's in 1858. G. W. Kelley as- 
 sisted on the home farm until twelve years of age, 
 and was then apprenticed to the machinist's trade, 
 which occupation received his attention for a num- 
 ber of years. While a resident of Tennessee he was 
 married, in 1856, to Miss S. E. Andrews, a native 
 
 y\-. 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 of M'est Tennessee, iiud a danghter of Edmond 
 and Lanina Andrews, who were born in the ' ' Old 
 North State," and there lived, afterward moving 
 to Tennessee, where they died. They were en- 
 gaged in tilling the soil. After his marriage Mr. 
 Kelley settled in Tennessee, and in 1S40 enlisted 
 fi'om Adairsburg, of that State, in Company E, 
 Second Tennessee, under Gen. Taylor, and was in 
 the battles of Cerro Gordo, Monterey, Cheruliusco, 
 City of Mexico, and other engagements. After the 
 war he returned to Tennessee, and in 1867 moved 
 to Hickman, Fulton County, Ky., where he worked 
 at his trade, moving from there, in 187-t, to Clay 
 Coanty, Ark., where he purchased and began im- 
 proving a farm in Bradshaw Township. In 1S84 
 he moved to Corning, and although he still owns 
 his farm, is living retired from the active duties of 
 life. In 1885 he was elected, on the Democratic 
 ticket, of which party he is a member, to the office 
 of justice of the peace, which position he is now fill- 
 ing. He has aided very materially in building up 
 Corning and vicinity, and has given liberally of his 
 means in supporting worthy enterprises. He and 
 his wife are members of the Baptist Church, and 
 the names of their children are as follows: Ed- 
 ward A., who is married and resides at Tiptonville, 
 Tenn. ; A. M., Julia (Mrs. Gills), residing at Buf- 
 tington. Mo. ; Ula, Willie, Anton and Kirby. 
 During his term of service Mr. Kelley has come in 
 contact with many criminals, and has dealt with 
 them in a manner highly satisfactory to lovers of 
 good law. 
 
 Marcellus Ketchum, hotel- keeper and farmer, 
 at Knobel, Clay County, Ark. , was born in Will- 
 iamson County, m., in 1852, being the third of 
 seven children born to Jesse and Elizabeth (Mc- 
 Cowan) Ketchum, who were born in North Caro- 
 lina and Illinois, respectively. The maternal 
 grandfather, who was a native of Ireland, became 
 an early settler of Illinois. Jesse Ketchum fol- 
 lowed the occupation of farming throughout life 
 and died when his son Marcellus was a child. The 
 latter has been familiar with farm life from early 
 boyhood, but received little or no educational 
 advantages in youth. At the age of nineteen 
 years he began farming for himself in his native 
 
 State, which occupation he followed there until 
 1877, then coming to Clay County, Ark., where he 
 resumed farming near Peach Orchard. In 1887 
 he bought property in the village of Knobel and 
 opened a hotel, but still continues his agricultural 
 pursuits in the vicinity. He has about fifty acres 
 devoted to raising such crops as are intended for 
 feeding stock, his hogs amounting to about 100 
 head and his cattle to thirty. In his political 
 views he is conservative, and always votes for whom 
 he considers the best man. In 1873 he was mar- 
 ried to Miss Mary Jane Fozzard, a native of Illi- 
 nois and a daughter of Edward Fozzard, who was 
 captain of Company G, Eighty-first Illinois Cav- 
 alry. He was a well known farmei' of \Mlliamson 
 County and died in 1870. To the union of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Ketchum two children have been born: 
 Minnie and Lebert Otto. Mr. Ketchum is ant en- 
 terprising citizen and is rapidly becoming identi- 
 fied with the growth and prosperity of his section. 
 Franz Kop]), farmer and proprietor of Kopi)'s 
 sawmill, in St. Francis Township, was born in Ba- 
 varia, Germany, May 24, 1840, and is the son of 
 Philip and Mary Ann Kopp, both natives of Ba- 
 varia. Philip Kopp emigrated to the States in 
 1848 and nine years later, or in 1857, Mrs. Kopp 
 and family arrived and settled in New iladrid, 
 Mo., where Mr. Kopp engaged in the lumber 
 business, manufacturing for a number of years. 
 He died in Octoljer, 1879. Franz Kopp attained 
 his growth in New Madrid, Mo., and there followed 
 farming and assisted his father in the manufacture 
 of lumber until twenty-one years of age. In 
 August, 1864, he enlisted in the Federal army. 
 First Missouri Cavalry, and served until his dis- 
 charge, September 1, 1865. He was stationed at 
 Little Kock, Ark., and was mustered out there. 
 He then returned to his home and for a niimber of 
 years was engaged in farming and in the luml)er 
 business. June 3, 1880, he married Miss S. C. 
 Morrison, a native of New Madrid. Mo., and the 
 daughter of Hon. T. J. O. Morrison, one of the 
 pioneers and prominent men of New Madrid Coun- 
 ty. After marriage Mr. Kopji followed his former 
 business for three years in the county mentioned, 
 and then in July, 1883, removed his mill to 
 
i^ 
 
 226 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Arkansas and located in St. Francis Township, 
 Clay County, where he has been manufacturing 
 lumber ever since until a short time ago, when 
 he leased the mill out. He has been very suc- 
 cessful in this business. Mr. Kopp settled with 
 his family at Piggott and opened up a farm adjoin- 
 ing the town. He now has some eighty acres of 
 cleared land and about 800 acres of heavily tim- 
 bered land all in a body. He has a neat residence 
 and good outbuildings. Mr. Kopp served as al- 
 derman while in New Madrid and filled other local 
 offices. He and wife are members of the Catholic 
 Church. He has cut on an average 500,000 feet 
 of lumber per year. 
 
 A. J. Langley, a South Carolinian by birth, 
 who is prominently identified with the farming in- 
 terests of Clay County, was reared and remained 
 in his native State until forty-two years of age. He 
 attended the common subscription schools of the 
 county of his birth, and in 1862 enlisted in the 
 Twenty-ninth Mississippi Regiment, Volunteer In- 
 fantry, and served three years. He was under 
 Gens. Bragg, Johnston and Hood, in all the prin- 
 cipal fights, was captured at the battle at Franklin, 
 Tenn., in November, 1864, and was sent to Chi- 
 cago, 111. He was held at Camp Douglass as a 
 prisoner of war until he was released June 18, 
 1865, and then returned to Mississippi, where he 
 followed farming until 1869, finally moving to 
 his present residence, seven miles west of St. 
 Francis, Clay County. He is the owner of 240 
 acres of land, 100 under cultivation, and is one of 
 the wide-awake, thorough-going farmers of the 
 county. His first marriage was to Miss Mary A. 
 Pert, of South Carolina in which State Mr. Lang- 
 ley first met her, and to them wore born two chil- 
 dren, one of whom, Thomas L., now lives near 
 Yazoo City, Miss., where he owns a farm, and is 
 the father of one child, Mr. Langley was mar- 
 ried the second time to a sister of his former wife. 
 Miss Elizabeth Pert, who bore him one child, Eliz- 
 abeth, who is now married to Willis White, and a 
 resident of South Carolina. After the death of 
 his second wife Mr. Langley married Miss Mary 
 A. Goodman, also of South Carolina, she being the 
 daughter of James W. Goodman, of Cross Hill. 
 
 To this union were born eleven children: W. W. 
 lives on a farm in Mississippi; Virginia, one of a 
 pair of twins, married J. W. Daniels, a farmer of 
 Clay County, and is the mother of seven children: 
 Andrew W. married Miss Fannie Malone, and is 
 the father of three children — he is farming in 
 Clay County: Charles married, and died, leaving a 
 wife and child: Jackianna, married R. M. Ways- 
 ter, of Clay County, where they -now live, and are 
 the parents of three children: Samuel, recently 
 married to Miss Lula Booth, is now living in Mis- 
 souri; Fannie, who married John McLeskey, bore 
 two children, and is now deceased: Tollula, mar 
 ried D. J. McCleskey, and is now deceased: Eugene 
 P. is not married, and lives on a farm in Missouri; 
 Ira C, at home, and Robert, at home. Mr. Lang- 
 ley is a Democrat in his political views; is a mem- 
 ber of the Methodigt Church, and belongs to the 
 Masonic fraternity, Blue Lodge and Chapter. He 
 is generally identified with all public enterj)rises, 
 giving cheerfully as far as he is able. 
 
 W. S. Liddell, postmaster, and one of the 
 prominent business men of St. Francis, was born 
 in Weakley County, Tenn., and is the son of 
 William and Louisa (Mitchell) Liddell, the latter 
 a daughter of Archilles Mitchell, of Virginia. 
 William Liddell is a native of Tennessee, and im- 
 migrated to Arkansas, settling in Clay (then 
 Greene) County, in 1852. There Mrs. Liddle died 
 in 1881. and he in 1887. W. S. Liddell remained 
 on the farm until he enlisted in the Fifth Trans- 
 Mississippi Regiment, commanded by R. A. Hart, 
 and was in the battle of Helena, Ark., July 4. 
 1863. where he was captured and carried to Alton, 
 111., and there held as a prisoner of war until 
 March, 1864, when he was removed to Fort Dela- 
 ware, Del. There he was held until the close of 
 the war. After this he returned to Clay (then 
 Greene) County, Ark., continuing on his father's 
 farm, and was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. 
 Dalton, in 1867, a native of Clay (then Greene) 
 County, and the daughter of Timothy Dalton. 
 Mr. Liddell continued farming until 1832, and in 
 connection with it he found time to assist in con- 
 ducting a store and attend to his duties as post- 
 master of Chalk Bluff. AVhen the " Cotton Belt " 
 
 ^ 
 
:i^ 
 
 CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 227 
 
 Route was opened through the county in 18S2, 
 Messrs. Liddell & Sons built a storeroom in St. 
 Francis, which was just started, and moved their 
 stock of goods. The original firm, up to the time 
 of the death of Mr. Liddell, Sr. , was Liddell & 
 Sons; since then it has been changed to Liddell 
 Bros. They carry a stock of goods valued at 
 $2,000 during the busy season, consisting of gen- 
 eral merchandise. AV. S. Liddell is at this time 
 postmaster, which office he has held since 1878, 
 beyond the existence of St. Francis as a town. 
 Since coming to this place he has built a nice 
 house, which he now occupies. To his marriage 
 were born seven childi-en, four now living: James 
 Albert, who assists his father in the postoffice and 
 store; Stella May, at home attending school; Fan- 
 nie E. and Thomas. In polities Mr. Liddell affil- 
 iates with the Democratic party. He is a mem- 
 ber of Eastern Star Lodge of the A. F. & A. M. , 
 also of Chalk Bluff Lodge No. 72, I. O. O. F. 
 In the former he has held the office of secretary 
 for about eight or ten j-ears, and has also served 
 as treasurer and junior warden. 
 
 Robert Liddell, judge of the county and pro- 
 bate court of Clay County, Ark., was born in 
 Tennessee, in 1850, and is the son of William and 
 Louisa (Mitchell) Liddell. and a grandson of Fran- 
 > eis Liddell. In 1852 the parents emigrated to 
 Greene County, Ark. (which was afterward formed 
 into Clay County), and made their home at what 
 is now known as Chalk BlufF. Clay County, 
 where they continued to pass the remainder of 
 their days. Judge Robert Liddell was but two 
 years of age when he came with his parents to 
 Greene County, and here he grew to manhood. 
 He received a practical English education in the 
 common schools of the locality, which he supple- 
 mented by attending two terms in ^[issouri. He 
 then followed agricultural pursuits until 1878, 
 when he was elected clerk of the circuit court, and 
 held this position with honor and credit until Octo- 
 ber, 1886. He was then elected judge of the 
 county and probate court, and has served in that 
 capacity ever since. He takes a deep interest in 
 all laudable and worthy enterprises, and is a liberal 
 contributor to the same. He is a genial companion. 
 
 an intellectual associate, as his many warm friends 
 can testify, and is in every way fitted to till liis 
 present position. He was married in 1873 to Miss 
 Mary Crawford, of Butler County, Mo., and the 
 daughter of P. P. and Margaret (Hudson) (Craw- 
 ford. Mrs. Liddell was but a child eight years 
 old when her mother died, and her father died 
 soon after her marriage. To the Judge and wife 
 eight children have been born, five of whom sur- 
 vive: Clara, Willie, Beulah, Finis and Eunice. 
 The others died in infancy. The Judge is a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic Order, the I. O. O. F. and K. 
 of H. , and he and his wife are members of the 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church, located at St. 
 Francis. 
 
 Rev. Garland Lively, a successful merchant of 
 Piggott, Ark. , was born in Monroe (Jounty, Ark. , 
 February 10, 1848, and is a son of William R. 
 Lively, who was born, reared and married in Mis- 
 sissippi, the latter event being to Miss Elizabeth 
 Hall of the same State. They moved to Arkansas 
 in 1852, but after some time went back to Mi.ssis- 
 sippi, and there the father died in De Soto County 
 in 1858. His widow returned to Arkansas, and 
 after living for three years in Phillips County, 
 moved to Tennessee, locating in Dyer County. 
 Here our subject was reared, and when in his 
 eifhleenth year was married January 30, 1866, to 
 Miss Martha J. Hall, a native of Tennessee, and a 
 daughter of Jesse Hall. After their marriage 
 they resided in that State up to 1 870, then moving 
 to Arkansas, and in October of that year settled on 
 a farm near the town of Piggott, where he was en 
 gaged in tilling the soil up to 1888. Since 1872 
 he has been a member of the Missionary Baptist 
 Church, having previously been a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Cliurch for eight years. In 
 1878 he was licensed to preach, and was or 
 dained a minister the following year, and has had 
 charge of a number of churches since that time. 
 In 1880 he engaged in the mercantile business, and 
 carries a good stock of drugs and groceries. He is 
 a Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F. . in which he 
 has been Noble Grand, and has represented the 
 former order in the Grand Lodge. One son, Will- 
 iam J. , is married and resides in Clay County. 
 
.^r 9 
 
 228 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Loda & Bro. , proprietors of the Knobel House 
 at Knobel Station, Clay Count}', Ark. This is one 
 of the finest hotels in the State, and was erected 
 in 1884 by the Iron Mountain Railroad Company 
 at a cost of about $10,000, and was first opened 
 to the public in June of that year, being placed 
 under the management of the Loda Bros. , who are 
 experienced hotel men. Eli, the elder member of 
 the firm, was born in Cape Vincent, Jefferson 
 County, N. Y. , in 1853, and is the seventh of 
 twelve children born to Leision and Adelaide 
 (Boler) Loda, who were natives of Lower Canada. 
 The father was a ship builder by trade, and later 
 followed the business of hotel keej)ing, which oc- 
 cupation received his attention until his death, 
 which occurred in 18G5. His wife died in 1871. 
 Eli Loda attended school until his father's death, 
 and then secured employment on the lake steam- 
 ers for several years, and after that was engaged 
 in the railroad business for three years as fireman 
 and engineer. In 1874 he came to St. Louis, 
 Mo. , securing employment on the Iron Mountain 
 Railroad, and ran the engine of the pay-car for 
 several years, and in 1884 made a ruQ of over 
 3,900 miles with engine No. 380, of the Missouri 
 Pacific, which is the longest run ever made by an 
 engine; and on this trip he hauled the general 
 manager of the road, Mr. A. A. Talmadge. He 
 gave up railroad work in June, 1884, leaving an 
 excellent record behind him, for during his experi- 
 ence on the road he never had an accident happen 
 to one of his trains. In 1883 he assumed the 
 management of the Belmont Hotel, at Belmont, 
 Mo. , it being conducted by his wife (whose maiden 
 name was Miss Ida Cloud, and whom he married 
 in 1877) and by his brother, Darius. The follow- 
 ing year he and his brother assumed the manage- 
 ment of the Knobel House, which they have since 
 carried on with the beat of success. The younger 
 member of the firm, Darius, was also born at Cape 
 Vincent, N. Y. , in the year 1857. He was en- 
 gaged in steamboating for about nine years, act- 
 ing as steward the most of the time, but in 1878 
 he gave up this work and went to Colorado and 
 opened a restaurant at Georgetown, where he re- 
 mained for about three years, being also occupied 
 
 in mining to some extent. He next went to Wyo- 
 ming Territory, and was engaged in hotel keeping 
 at Laramie City for several months. In 1882 he 
 came east as far as Missouri, and in partnership 
 with his brother soon after opened the Belmont 
 Hotel. These gentlemen are extensive stock raisers 
 and farmers, but devote the most of their fine farm 
 of 120 acres to stock raising, and give their prin- 
 cipal attention to the propagation of horses. They 
 purchased their tine Norman-Pereheron stallion, 
 St. John, in Illinois, in 1887, at a cost of f(500. 
 He is a draft horse of about 1,800 pounds, and is 
 a colt of St. Benoit, Jr., by the imported horse 
 St. Benoit, owned by the Browns. St. John is 
 one of the best animals ever brought into Northeast 
 Arkansas. The Loda Bros, also keep twelve 
 breeding mares. Owing to the enterprise of these 
 men, there is a growing desire among the citizens 
 for a better grade of stock, and this feeling is being 
 shown by an improved class of stock on the farms. 
 Eli Loda has about 140 acres of land under culti- 
 vation, which he devotes to raising such ciops as 
 are needed for his stock. In 1888, in partnership 
 with W. P. McNalley and Harry Flanders, he pur 
 chased 100 acres of land adjoining the station and 
 railroad land at Knobel, and they immediately had 
 their land surveyed and laid out into city lots, antl 
 their enterjjrise will secure a fine town here as soon 
 as this point is made the terminus of a division. 
 Mr. Flanders is master of transportation for the 
 South Division of the Iron Mountain Railroad, and 
 Mr. McNalley Is passenger conductor for the same 
 division. Three children have been born to the 
 marriage of Eli Loda and wife: Guy, who is de- 
 ceased; Mabel, and Nellie Irene. 
 
 W. R. Looney, a popular druggist of St. Fran- 
 cis, Ark. , and one of the most successful in the 
 county, was born in Tennessee in 1853, and on ac- 
 count of poor health in youth received Imt a lim 
 ited education, although he has in late years made 
 this up to a great extent by observation and study. 
 At the age of seventeen he came, with his father,_, 
 mother, and brother, James W. (who died in 1873), 
 to Clay County, Ark., and settled near Chalk 
 Bluff on the 10th day of January, 1870. Here he 
 remained until twenty-two years of age. and Fel)- 
 
 ^ 
 
 '\(S 
 
 ^y 
 
— ► 
 
 CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 •J'JU 
 
 ruary "23, 1875, he married Miss Susan E. Leigh, 
 dauirhter of J. H. ami Susan E. (Long) Leigh. 
 ,4ftpr marriage Mr. Looney remained on the farm 
 iu Clay County until March, 1881, when he moved 
 to Dunklin County, Mo. , and was there engaged in 
 the drj-goods store of Sheldon & Wright Bros., 
 at Maiden. Afterward, in June, 1883, he was em- 
 l)loyed by J. S. Kochtitzky & Co. to run a steam 
 corn-sheller, and on the 20th of November met 
 with a very serious accident. Having been caught 
 ill the main shaft of the machinery, his clothing 
 \v;is wound so tightly about him that it dislocated 
 his left arm at the shoulder. He suffered excru 
 ciatingly from this, failed to get a night's rest for 
 forty days, and is now a crijij^le in that arm. Em- 
 barking in the grocery business, iu partnership 
 with Mr. John Allen, under the tirm title of Allen 
 & Looney, six months later he bought Mr. Allen 
 out and continued the business until April, 1886, 
 when he sold out, and came to St. Francis May 
 19 of that year, then starting a drug and grocery 
 store. One year later he closed out the groceries 
 and now has the finest drug store in the county. 
 The firm name is W. R. Looney & Co., and they 
 enjoy a profitable, legitimate trade. Mr. Looney 
 has been generally identified with the enterprises 
 of the town and county. He is the owner of about 
 I'iO acres of land adjoining his father's place, 
 some four miles from St. Francis, and is paying 
 particular attention to the raising of clover, which 
 he tliinks is a successful crop and also renews the 
 laud. Mr. and Mrs. Looney became the parents 
 of six children, all of whom died in infancy. He 
 is a Democrat in politics. 
 
 Samuel W. McDonald, a progressive farmer 
 and stock raiser, and one who has kept thoroughly 
 apace with the times, was born in Randolph 
 County, Ala., in December, 1844, being the sou of 
 Sebbon McDonald, who was born and reared in 
 Georgia, but wlio was married in Alabama to Miss 
 Rhoda BIack.ston, a native of the last mentioned 
 State. Mr. McDonald served in one of the old 
 Indian wars. He was a farmer, and followed this oc- 
 cupation in Alabama until his death, which oc- 
 curred about 1864. Samuel W. McDonald at- 
 tained his growth in Alabama, remained with his 
 
 father until grown, and in 1862 enlisted in the 
 Confederate army. Seventeenth Alabama Infantry, 
 serving until the final surrender of the Confed- 
 eracy. He participated in the fight near Daltou, 
 and was stationed nearly all the time at Molule. 
 He surrendered in 1865, and after being paroled 
 returned to Alabama, where he engaged in farming 
 in Randolpli County. He moved to Arkansas in 
 1876, located in Clay County, remained there two 
 years, and then moved to Boone County, Ark., 
 whence after a residence of two years he returned to 
 Clay County, and settled on his present farm in 
 1881. He has 120 acres of land, with about sev- 
 enty-five fenced, and some forty under cultivation. 
 Mr. McDonald has been married twice; first, in Clay 
 County, in 1874, to Miss Elizabeth Sexton, a na- 
 tive of Illinois, who was reared in Arkansas. She 
 died in 1885, and was the mother of four children, 
 who ai-e named as follows: William B., Riley S., 
 Samuel W. and OUie B. Mr. McDonald took for 
 his second wife Mrs. Adaline Melton, in September. 
 1886, and the results of this union are two chil- 
 dren: John E. and Reuben H. Mrs. McDonald is 
 a native of Clay County, Ark., where she gi'ew to 
 womanhood. She is a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. Mr. ilcDonald is a member of 
 the Baptist Church. 
 
 Thomas Cary McGuire was born in Carroll 
 County, Tenu. , June 9, 1850, and is a son of Dr. J. 
 M. McGuire. mentioned elsewhere in these pages. 
 He became the architect of his own fortune at the 
 age of twenty years, and was actively engaged in 
 tilling the soil until twenty-seven years old, when 
 he was married to Miss Louisa Jane Gossett, a 
 native of Jefferson County, 111., and a daughter 
 of William and Maiy Gossett, who were farmers. 
 To Mr. and Mrs. McGuire have l)een born the fol- 
 lowing family of children: America Leota, born 
 February 21, 1875, and died Fel)ruary 7, ISM: 
 Melissa J., born November 18, 1877; William Mar- 
 tin, born March 25, 1879; Dora, born Septemlier 
 4, 1880, and died Sej.tember 30, 1884; Mary J., 
 born March 21, 1882; Louella. born January S, 
 1884; John H., born December 18, 1885; Fred, 
 born February 14, 1887, and died June 11, ISsS, 
 and Ida May, born November IS, 188S. Mr. 
 
•^h — ^ 
 
 2:^,0 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 McGuiie has a good farm of eighty acres, twenty- 
 live of which are under cultivation, on which he 
 raises corn and cotton. This farm is well improved 
 with good buildings, fences and orchard, and in 
 fact is one of the best improved places in the 
 county. He also devotes a considerable amount 
 of time to raising cattle and hogs, and is active in 
 furthering the cause of education. He belongs to 
 the Masonic order, is a member of the Agricultural 
 Wheel, and in his political views is a Democrat. 
 
 George M. McNiel, ex-sheriff of Clay County, 
 Ark., was born in this county February 28. 1847, 
 and is the son of Neal McNiel, who was a native of 
 Tennessee. The father left that State about fifty 
 years ago, emigrating to Arkansas, and settling in 
 what is now Clay County. He was here married 
 to Miss Nancy Thomas, daughter of Matthew 
 Thomas, one of the earliest settlers of Arkansas. 
 Mr. McNiel was for many years a leading stock 
 dealer of Arkansas, and died in 1857, at Helena, 
 Ark., while on a trip to New Orleans, with a large 
 drove of hogs and cattle, valued at $5,000. After 
 the stock was sold in New Orleans the money was 
 sent to his widow. She is still living, is eighty 
 years of age, and has resided near Rector for the 
 past thirty-eight years. George M. McNiel re- 
 mained with his mother until his marriage, which 
 occurred in 1880, to Miss Clara Rosaline Seegraves, 
 daughter of J. H. Seegraves, of Oak Bluff, Clay 
 County, Ark. Mrs. McNiel died in September, 
 1888, leaving three children: Ruth Edith, George 
 A. and Ethel. The mother was a worthy and con- 
 sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 and died in that faith. The childi'en are now liv- 
 ing with Dr. Seegraves, in Rector. In 1874 Mr. 
 McNiel engaged in business in Oak Bluff, remain- 
 ing there about a year, and then went to Bollinger 
 County, Mo., where he accepted a position in the 
 firm of Eli Lutes, and there continued eight years. 
 He then left and took a place as deputy under 
 his brother James, who was sheriff of Clay County, 
 and filled this position for eight years. He was 
 elected sheriff' in 1886, and his brother was deputy 
 iinder him for two years, ending in 1888. Mr. Mc- 
 Niel is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is 
 also a member of the K. of H. , in which he has 
 
 filled many important offices. During the late war 
 he was a member of Capt. J. J. Allen's company, 
 Davis' battalion, Clark's brigade, under Gen. 
 Price, and surrendered at Shreveport, La., in 
 1865, this command being the last army of the 
 Confederation to surrender. 
 
 James A. McNiel, ex-sheriff, and one of the 
 sturdy sons of toil of Clay County, Ark. , was born 
 in Ihis county at Oak Bluff', near where Rector 
 now stands, February 7, 1849, his parents being 
 Neal McNiel and Nancy (Thomas) McNiel. natives 
 of East and West Tennessee, respectively. The 
 maternal grandfather, Matthew Thomas, was a na- 
 tive of North Carolina. James A. McNiel attended 
 such schools as the country afforded, which were 
 very primitive up to the breaking out of the late 
 war, when all the schools were closed. During 
 that time he remained at home with his mother, 
 and still continued with her until 1878, when 
 he was elected to the office of sheriff of the 
 county. He was re-elected four consecutive terms, 
 holding that office until 1886, when his brother, 
 George McNiel, was elected to the same office. 
 Mr. McNiel was married November 19, 1879, to 
 Miss Mary Luella Brake, daughter of Jesse Brake, 
 of Clay County, and five children were the result 
 of this union, four now living: Jesse McNiel, Lil- 
 lian Lee, Ralph Alonzo and Rudy Eugene, all now 
 at home. Since retiring from office Mr. McNiel 
 has followed agricultural pursuits, and has been 
 paying considerable attention to trading in stock. 
 He has an excellent farm of 580 acres, is the 
 owner of one and a half blocks in Rector, and is 
 also the owner of his residence in Boydsville. He 
 is an honest, upright citizen, and stands in the 
 front ranks of his townsmen. He is a member of 
 Boydsville Lodge No. 75, A. F. & A. M. , is also a 
 member of Boydsville Lodge No. 16, I. O. O. F., 
 and is a member of the local Knights of Honor. 
 Mr. McNiel is a Democrat in his politics. His wife 
 is a member of the Christian Church. 
 
 Daniel W. McPherson, who is recognized as 
 one of the county's best citizens, was born March 
 25, 1853, in Lee County, Miss., and received a 
 good practical education in the common schools. 
 At the age of about seventeen, he began working 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 231 
 
 oil bis own responsibility as clerk in a grocery 
 store, and this continued until coming to Clay 
 County, Ark., in 1879. After reaching this 
 county he had $2.75 in ready cash, and as soon as 
 possible he began clerking for G. W. Spraygins, 
 remaining with him and Capt. John J. Allen, for 
 about fifteen months. He then engaged in mercan- 
 tile pursuits on a limited scale, having but $77 in 
 cash, and doing business on a cash basis, as his cap- 
 ital would indicate. He thus continued for about 
 five years, meeting with merited success from the 
 beginning. He is now conducting a general mer- 
 cantile business, and is also engaged iu the liquor 
 trade. Mr. McPherson is the son of William 
 B. and Fidelia W. (Ringo) McPherson. The 
 father was born in 1797, in Blount County, Ala., 
 was of Scotch parentage, and after growing up 
 followed the occupation of a farmer. In 1849 he 
 moved to Lee County, Miss., where he died in 
 1881. His wife was a native of Kentucky, and to 
 them were born ten children: Frank, Lot W. , 
 Wallace W., Charles. James M.. Dauiel W., Mary, 
 Josephine, Ellen and Catherine. Daniel W. Mc- 
 Pherson was married in October, 1881, to Miss 
 Lura Johnson, a native of Middle Tennessee 
 (where she received her education), and the daugh- 
 ter of John R. Johnson. She came to Arkansas 
 when grown, and by her union to Mr. McPherson, 
 thi'ee children were born, two now living: Ella 
 and Lena. Mr. McPherson is one of the pro- 
 gressive young men of Arkansas, and is doing 
 well at his adopted calling. He is a Democrat in 
 politics. 
 
 John S. Magee was born in Pope County, 111. , 
 September 19, 1833, being a son of Thomas and 
 Nancy Magee, who were born respectively in Ten- 
 nessee and Kentucky. John 8. Magee began work- 
 ing for himself at the age of eighteen years, first 
 as a farm hand, and was married in that State to 
 Miss Abbie, a daughter of Austin and Louisa 
 Williams, who were farmers of Illinois. They 
 were married March 21, 1850. and about a year 
 later the mother and an infant died. Mr. Magee 
 remained single three years, then moved to Clay 
 County, Ark., and was again married, September 
 17, 1854, his wife's maiden name beinj; Luvina 
 
 Watson, of Kentucky. She bore him four cliil- 
 dren, two of whom are living: W. R., born August 
 7, 1855, and Nancy J., who was born Ainil 1(5, 
 1861, and is the wife of Robert Hasten, a farmer 
 of Louisville, Tex. Eliza A. was born June 28. 
 1859, and died January 1, 1883. May 19, 1881. 
 Mr. Magee wedded his present wife, Elisabeth 
 Tittle, a daughter of Peter and Rachel Tittle of 
 Missouri. The last marriage has been blessed in 
 the birth of one son and one daughter: John H., 
 who was born March 13, 1882, and Mary E., born 
 August 6, 1885. Mr. Magee has made the fol 
 lowing changes of residence: From Kentucky to 
 Arkansas, in 1854; to Illinois, in 1863; to Kansas, 
 in 1867; to Illinois, in 1868; to Clay County, Ark., 
 in 1869; to Boone County, Ark., in 1875, and back 
 to Clay County, Ark., in 1877, where he has since 
 made his home, being the owner of 120 acres of 
 laud, forty-five of which are under cultivation, the 
 rest being heavily timbered. He has good build- 
 ings, orchards, and fences, and is considered one 
 of the prosperous farmers of the county. He and 
 wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, 
 and he is a Republican in his political views. Dur 
 ing the late war he served the cause of the Con 
 i'ederacy in the Home Guards. 
 
 J. F. Mahan is one of Clay County's worthy 
 tillers of the soil, residing near Vidette. He was 
 born in Ozark County, Mo., on the 30th of May. 
 1841, and is the eldest of eight children, five now 
 living, of the family of Noah and Oriuda Mahan. 
 who were born in Tennessee and Missouri, respect 
 ively. The father emigrated with his parents to 
 Missouri in 1840, locating iu Ozark County, where 
 he and his wife died, as did also his parents. They 
 were among the early settlers, and e.\perienced 
 many hardships and privations in their endeavors 
 to obtain a home. Noah Mahan cleared several 
 farms, and became quite wealth}-. His children 
 who are living are: James F., William, Cynthia. 
 Mary, Hansen. James F., the eldest child, was 
 reared on a farm in Ozark County, but owing to 
 poor school facilities at that day, received a some- 
 what limited education. In 1882 he enlisted in 
 Company F, Greene's regiment, and served a little 
 over two years, participating in the battles of Ht>li> 
 
232 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 na. Little lioek, Camden, Shreveport, Gaines' Fer- 
 ry and several skirmishes. In the fall of 1804 he 
 stopped on furlough in Clay County. Ark. . having 
 but 110 in Confederati' monej', and without a whole 
 garment on his bfick. He fell into the hands of 
 strangers, but was kindlj' cared for l)y his future 
 wife's father. After recovering, he worked out for 
 some time, and in 1869 bought a farm in Rich woods, 
 on which he lived until 1884, when he sold out and 
 bought the place where he now resides, consisting 
 of 160 acres, about 100 of which are under cultiva- 
 tion and finely improved. He has put over 11,000 
 worth of improvements on his farm in the last five 
 years, and it is now one of the finest places in the 
 coimty. He usually devotes about thirty acres to 
 cotton, and raises about one bale to the acre. He 
 was married, in 1867, to Miss Susan J. Cleveland, 
 a native of North Missouri, and by her has five 
 children: William T. , Don, Mary, Hugh and 
 Edna. Mr. and Mrs. Mahan are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and he belongs to 
 the Masonic order. He lias been a resident of Clay 
 County for twenty- three years, and is considered 
 one of its best residents. 
 
 W. S. Malone is an agriculturist of prominence, 
 who, notwithstanding many reverses and discour- 
 agements, has ever come l>oldly to the front, and, 
 with the push and energy characteristic of him, sur- 
 mounted all difficulties. He is a native Tennes- 
 seean, moving with his parents to Mississippi when 
 nine years of age, or in 1841. They settled in 
 Yalobusha County, and here W. S. Malone remained 
 until twenty years of age, after which he went to 
 Panola County. He continued in this county until 
 1859, subsequently locating in Texas, where he re- 
 mained until the breaking out of the late war. Then 
 he came to Oak Bluff, in what is now Clay Coun- 
 ty, and enlisted in the Fifth Arkansas Regiment, 
 Col. Cross commanding, and was elected lieutenant 
 of the company. He served in that capacity until 
 the winter of 18<)2, when he was discharged at 
 Bowling Green, Ky. , but re-enlisted in Capt. 
 Allen's company, of which Mr. Malone was first 
 lieutenant. Later he was put into Col. Hart's regi- 
 ment, and took part and commanded the company 
 during the battle of Helena, Ark. He was with 
 
 Gen. Price on his raid through Missouri, and took 
 part in all the fights that occurred, always having 
 command of the company. At one time he was 
 shot in the mouth, and lost two teeth. He was dis- 
 banded at Cane Hill, and was paroled at Vicks- 
 bnrg. In 1863 he was united in marriage with Miss 
 M. A. C. Daniels, daughter of John Daniels, of 
 Clay County. They settled on a farm of 1 20 acres, 
 where they have remained ever since. Shortly 
 after marriage they were burned out, losing all their 
 possessions and the first crop they had, and for a 
 time had nothing but dry corn bread as food, and 
 straw, with a limited amount of covering, for a bed. 
 Now they are very nicely fixed, having a comforta- 
 ble house and good outbuildings, and are prepared 
 to enjoy life. In their family were seven children, 
 two having died in early youth. Those now living 
 are: Fannie L., married Andrew Langley, and is 
 the mother of three children ; she now resides near 
 the home of her father; Margaret L., married 
 Wade Thomas, a farmer who lives in Clay County, 
 and is the mother of two children; Willie Genoa, 
 a daughter, is now deceased; Lucy Ila, at home; 
 H. Eddie, at home, and Bob L., an infant. Mr. 
 Malone is a member of the Masonic fraternity; is 
 an elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
 and a Democrat in politics. He is now fifty- 
 nine years of age, and never sued nor was he ever 
 sued. He has not been in a fight since the war, 
 but at the battle of Joneslioro, Ark. , was shot in the 
 mouth. During the entire time he has been en- 
 gaged in farming Mr. Malone has never bought a 
 pound of bacon, nor has he ever bought corn to 
 eat, always raising sufficient for his family. Mrs. 
 Malone, who is a daiighter of Louisa and John 
 Daniel, was born near Cottage Grove, Henry 
 County, Tenn., and remained there until 1859, 
 coming then to Arkansas. Three of the children 
 which she has borne, as well as herself, are mem- 
 bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian ChiU'ch : 
 Maggie, Fanni(> and Ila. The two sons, still small 
 children, are lieing train(<d in the right way, the 
 hope of their parents being to see them embrace 
 religion before they enter their teens. Mrs. Malone 
 carries them to Sunday-school each Sunday, where 
 she has a class of fifteen scholars. Her father is 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 rm 
 
 deceased. Her mother, seventy-eigbt years of. age, 
 but still quite cactive, resides with the oldest daugh- 
 ter, Nancy. Mrs. Malone has three sisters and 
 one brother. 
 
 Patrick Martin's name is well known through- 
 out Northeast Arkansas by the traveling ])ublic, 
 for since September 10, 1885, he has been the 
 proprietor of the City Hotel at Corning, which 
 establii^hment, situated opposite the depot, is one 
 of the best of its kind in Clay County, and is 
 quite commodious, consisting of thirty good-sized 
 rooms, with a large sample room. In addition to 
 managing the hotel, he keeps a fine stock of liquors 
 and cigars, having l)een engaged in this business 
 since coming to the county, in the fall of 1888. 
 He was born at Donegal, in the North of Ireland, 
 March 17, 1858, his parents, Francis and Ann 
 (Monday) Martin, being also natives of that coun- 
 try, where they are still living. In 1880 Patrick 
 Martin emigrated to the United States, and landed 
 at New York City in the month of May, but went 
 directly from there to Philadelphia, where he re- 
 mained throe years, acting as clerk in a wholesale 
 and retail liquor store, also serving part i^f the 
 time as manager. Since coming to Clay County. 
 Ark., in 1883, he has made bis home at Corning, 
 but September 7, 1885, was married, at Pocahon- 
 tas, Ark., to Miss Nannie B. Lansdell, a native 
 of Virginia, as were also her parents. Her father 
 was a teacher of high standing in his nativ<' State, 
 and there spent his life. After the war her mother 
 came to Randolph County. Ark. After his mar 
 riage Mr. Martin o])ened his present hotel, which 
 he has since very ably conducted. He possesses that 
 feeling of kindly hospitality which characterizes the 
 people of Arkansas, and has rendered the City 
 Hotel a comfortable and desirable hostelry. He 
 has always been quite active in politics, and has cast 
 his vote with the Di'mocratic party. He and his 
 wife are the parents of one child, Andrew, and are 
 rearing another child by the name of Hattie Lans- 
 dell. They are members of the Catholic Church. 
 
 Robert I. Masterson (deceased) was born in 
 Cape Girardeau County, Mo., June 25, 183f). be- 
 ing a son of Samuel Masterson, who was a farmer 
 l)y occupation. Roliert I. served a short time in 
 
 the late war, and in 18(50 removed to Clay County, 
 Ark., locating where his widow and children are 
 now living. At that time there was only a small 
 portion of the farm under cultivation, and but few 
 imi)rovements made, but previous to his death, 
 which occurred May 19, 1878, he did much to bet 
 ter the condition of his farm. He was married, 
 about 1857, in Ca]ie Girardeau County, Mo., to 
 Miss Mary Collins, by whom he became the father 
 of eight children, four of whom are living: Sarali 
 I., Mary L., Robert F. and John H. After his 
 death his widow, in 1878, married Elias Cunning 
 ham, who was shot December 2, 1878, by outlaws, 
 while sitting by a window in his home, and died 
 on the 8th of that month. The widow and family 
 now live on the old homestead, which consists of 
 U)< I acres, about eighty of which are under culti- 
 vation. Robert F. and John manage the farm, 
 and are experienced and intelligent young men. 
 They give the most of their attention to raising 
 corn and cotton, their annual yield being very 
 large. It is one of the best fai-ms in the northern 
 part of Clay County, and the house, which is on a 
 high elevation, is surrounded l)y natural shade 
 trees. 
 
 Joseph Mellert, hotel jn-oprietor and farmer of 
 Kuobel, Clay County, Ark., was born in Germany, 
 in 1836, and is the fifth (with a twin brother) in a 
 family of twelve, born to F. and Mary Mellert. 
 Joseph was reared on a farm and attended school 
 until fourteen years of age, when he began learn- 
 ing the cigar maker's trade, and in 1859 came to 
 the United States and settled in St. Louis, where 
 he worked at his trade for about ten years, six 
 years of that time being engaged in b\isiness on 
 his own account. In 1870 he moved to Illinois, 
 remaining there for six years: then moved to 
 Randolph County, of the same State, where he 
 remained six years more. He then located in 
 Cape (Tirardeau, Mo., and after working at his 
 trade there for three years, went to Pilot Knob 
 for about one year, and in 1881 came to 
 Knobel. Ark. . and opened his present hotel. He 
 farms about twenty- five acres of land and keeps 
 quite a number of cattle and hogs. In 18()1 he 
 married Miss Wilhelmina Branica. a native of 
 
:!4 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 St. Louis, and by her has two childreu: August 
 and Louisa. Mr. Mellert is not very active in 
 politics, but usually votes vpith the Democratic 
 party. Although he has only resided in the county 
 a short time, he has seen many improvements 
 made, and has aided materially in advancing all 
 enterprises for the good of his section. 
 
 Stephen C. Michell was born in Obion County, 
 Tenn.. September 21, 18fiO, and is the third of 
 nine children, four now living, l)orn to the mar- 
 riage of Stephen Michell and Emeline Watts, who 
 were born in Tennessee and Indiana, in 1829 and 
 1844. respectively. Their marriage took place in 
 1 857, and they removed from Tennessee to what is 
 now Clay County, Ark., at an early day, and be- 
 came the owners of a good farm comprising 160 
 acres of land, eighty of which they succeeded in 
 putting under cultivation, and greatly improved 
 their property by good buildings, fences and or- 
 chards. During the Rebellion, Mr. Michell served 
 for aViout six months in the Confederate army, and 
 after the surrender returned home, where he re- 
 sumed farming. He was a member of the Grangers, 
 the Masons, and the I. O. O. F., and he and wife 
 were first members of the Methodist Church, but 
 afterward became connected with the Christian 
 Church. His death occurred on the 1st of Novem- 
 ber, 1884. The following are his children: Docia 
 (Deckard), who died at the age of twenty years; 
 Wapallan. who died in Arkansas when fifteen 
 years of age; James D. , who was accidentally 
 killed by a pistol shot when twelve years old; 
 Margaret E., who died at the age of eight; Will- 
 iam, who is now twenty years of age and resides 
 in Clay County: Mary T. (Moran): Elizabeth, who 
 died when five months old; Robert Theo. , who 
 lives at home, and Stephen C. The latter owns a 
 farm of 120 acres in Clay County, on which he 
 has resided for the past fifteen years, and has fifty 
 acres under cultivation, and devotes much of his 
 time to raising cattle and hogs. He is a member 
 of the Christian Church, a Mason, a member of 
 the Agricultural Wheel, and in his political views 
 is a Democrat, having been elected on this ticket to 
 the office of justice of the peace, on the Hd of Sep- 
 tember, 1888. He has also been constable of the 
 
 same district a number of terms. April 10, 1S87, 
 he married Miss Alice Dennisou. a native of Ar- 
 kansas. 
 
 J. T. Miller is a substantial farmer of Clay 
 County, who has become well known for his hon- 
 (!sty, energy and intelligence. His birth occurred 
 in Hardin County, Tenn., in September, 1844, his 
 parents, James and Jane (Black) Miller, being also 
 natives of that State. In 1850 they emigrated to 
 what is now Clay County, Ark., coming through 
 in wagons, and located on the Little Black River, 
 and here the father died in the fall of 1866, his 
 wife's death occurring in Tennessee. They were 
 the parents of two children. John T. being the only 
 one now living. He grew to manhood on a farm, 
 and received such education as could be obtained 
 in private schools. In 1882 he purchased the farm 
 where he now lives, consisting of 160 acres, about 
 seventy of which are under cultivation. He has 
 made a great many improvements since locating, 
 and devotes the most of his land to corn and 
 cotton, but also gives much attention to stock 
 raising, being extensively engaged in this business 
 at times. He is intelligent and enterprising, and 
 is counted one of the influential and jirosperous 
 farmers of his locality. He was married, in 186'), 
 to Miss Amanda Mulhullen, -who bore him three 
 children: Pauline I., Lewis A. and Vandella, who 
 is deceased. In 1877 Mr. Miller wedded Miss 
 Sarah M. Mulhullen, and by her is the father of 
 six children, five of whom are living: Lucy I. 
 (deceased), John R. , Leoter, Rosa M. , Gertie C. 
 and Thomas J. Mrs. Miller is a member in good 
 standing of the Christian Church. 
 
 Harvey W. Moore. Among the prominent and 
 numerous attorneys of Clay County may be men- 
 tioned Mr. Moore, who was born in Fulton Coun- 
 ty, Ind., May 27, 1864, his ])arents being Milton 
 M. and Mary A. J. (Stone) Moore, natives, respect- 
 ively, of Indiana and Ohio. They were married 
 in Montgomery County. Ind , in 1855, and in 
 1863 located in Fulton County, where they made 
 their home until 1881, removing in January, of 
 that year, to Randol[)h County, and in the fall of 
 the same year to Clay County. Ark. For five 
 years young Moore was here engaged with his 
 
 :^ 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 235 
 
 father in changing ii dense forest into a fiirni, ami 
 during this time all of his spare moments were 
 s])('ut in the study of those branches that were re- 
 (luiidd to be taught in the common schools. After 
 having taught school successfully he entered the 
 ('orninghigh school, where ho took a course in the 
 highiM- branches of study, commencing the study 
 of law in February, 1888, with F. G. Taylor, the 
 leading attorney of Clay County, and after reading 
 until August, 1888, he was admitted to the Clay 
 County liai'. He located in Greenway, in the fall 
 of 1888, where he has since been actively engaged 
 in the practice of his profession and is doing well, 
 giving fair ])romise of becoming one of the lead- 
 ing lawyers of N.ortheast Arkansas. He is well 
 versed on all of the general topics of the day, is a 
 hard .student, and is a young man of exemplarj' 
 habits and character. 
 
 John H. Mowls, Jr., a farmer of Clay County, 
 Ark., was born in Roanoke County, Va. , March 
 29, 1858. and is a son of Henry and Polly Mowls, 
 the former of Scotch Irish and the latter of Dutch- 
 English ancestry. The father was a colonel in the 
 (-'onfederate army during the Rebellion, and acted 
 as recruiting officer, and throughout life has fol- 
 lowed the occupations of farming, distilling, mer- 
 chandising and mechanics, he and wife being now 
 losidi'uts of California. John H. Mowls began 
 fighting the battle of life for himself at the age of 
 I'ighteen years, working as a teamster at the Can- 
 iu'lton Coal Jlines of We.st Virginia for one year, 
 after which he moved to Portsmouth, Ohio, where 
 he was engaged in engineering a tugboat. He 
 nest moved to St. Louis, thence to Kansas City, 
 and from there to Topeka, where he joined a' trad- 
 ing expedition, being thus connected for eighteen 
 months. The following two years he spent as a 
 cow- boy at Galveston. Tex., and then returned to 
 St. Louis and made three trips on the Mississippi 
 River as engineer on the tow-boat " Elliott.'" He 
 next operated a shingle-yard and farmed in Missis- 
 sippi, spending one year at each occupation, liut 
 was inundated hy the great overflow of 1873, 
 which compelled him to move. He went first to 
 C!ape (iirardeau. Mo., then to Union County, 111., 
 and was engaged in farming four years. He was 
 
 married there on the 13th of February, 1870, to 
 Miss M. A. , a daughter of Daniel and Ann Cook, 
 natives of North Carolina and Australia, respect 
 ively. On the 10th of August, 1877, Mr. Mowls 
 left Illinois and located in Nevada City, Mo., 
 where he worked as a painter and mechanic until 
 February 27, 1878, when his wif(> died, leaving 
 him with an infant only two months old to rear. 
 He took the child to his mother, who cared for it 
 until its death at the age of si.\ months. Mr. 
 Mowls next went to Chicago, and from there to 
 Waterloo. 111., where he was occujjied in engineer- 
 ing throe months. He ne.vt began railroading, con 
 tiuuing this three years. The nuptials of his sec- 
 ond marriage were celelwated on the 2r)th of De 
 cember, 1870, his wife's maiden name b(>ing Miss 
 Emma A. Griffith, of Union County, 111., a 
 daughter of W. T. and Jane Griffith, who are 
 natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Illinois. In 
 1880 Mr. Mowls removed to Butler County, Mo., 
 and in 1881 came to Clay County, Ark., and is 
 the owner of a saw, grist and cotton- mill in Kil- 
 gore Township. He has been engaged in man- 
 aging various mills ever since removing to Mis- 
 souri in 1880, and has also been interested in 
 farming some of the time, and is at present fol 
 lowing this occupation, his principal crops being 
 cotton and corn. He is a Mason, a member of 
 the Agricultural Wheel, is independent in politics, 
 and he and wife are members of the Missionary 
 Baptist Church. The following are their children: 
 Elmer R., born February 11, 1882: Lily M., born 
 February 3. 1887, and Joseph J., born July 13, i 
 1887. Mr. Mowls was educated in the common 
 subscription schools, and expects to give his chil- 
 dren good educational advantages. 
 
 J. M. Myers, mayor of St. Francis, and one of 
 the most enter])rising men of the town, was Iwrn 
 in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and is the .son of Mich- 
 ael Myers, who came with his father from Penn- 
 sylvania, settling in Ohio, and was there married 
 to Miss Susan McClane. a native of Ohio. J. M. 
 Myers remained in Sandusky until 1880, when he 
 came to St. Francis, where he engaged in the lum 
 ber busine.ss and has continued this calling since. 
 He is the owner of 380 acres of land in his na 
 
five State, and 8,000 acres of timber and coal 
 land in Morgan County, Ky. After arriving in 
 Clay County, Ark., Mr. Myers joined the firm of 
 Juvenall, Myers & Co., operating Mr. Ro.sen- 
 grant's mill. Afterward in company witli W. S. 
 Bryon, of St. Louis, he built a mill and opened 
 under the firm name of J. M. Myers & Co. This 
 he still contimies and has now completed one of 
 the largest and best equipped mills in the county 
 or State. When the town of St. Francis was or- 
 ganized in 1888 Mr. Myers was elected to the 
 office of mayor to fill the interim until the first mu- 
 nicipal election, when he was re-elected, and is now 
 holding that position to the entire satisfaction of 
 all concerned. He has built, in addition to the 
 two mills, the finest residence in the county. Al- 
 though not a member of any church he has assisted 
 materially in the building of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, South, to which he contributed very 
 liberally. He was married in Ohio to Miss Ella 
 Bair. who came fi'om Pennsylvania with her pa- 
 rents, Jacob and Amy (Uber) Bair, a number of 
 years ago. To Mr. and Mrs. Myers have been 
 born five children: Edith Floy, Sadie Grace, Gail 
 Roena, Grover C. and an infant unnamed. Mr. 
 Myers is a Democrat in politics. 
 
 Bertrand Nicolas, farmer and stockman of Clay 
 County, Ark. , was born in France in 1844, being 
 the second of a family of eight children born to Ber- 
 trand and Catherine (Johnson) Nicolas, who were 
 also born in France and came to the United States 
 in 1847, landing at New Orleans, and afterward set- 
 tling at St. Louis, Mo. , where the father engaged 
 in weaving. In 1858 they moved to the country 
 about twelve miles from the city, where they lived 
 ten years, and afterward located about six miles 
 north of Kirkwood, where both parents died. 
 Bertrand Nicolas, whose name heads this sketch, 
 was reared to a farm life and attended the schools 
 of St. Louis, receiving a good education. At the 
 age of twenty-eight years he began working for 
 himself, and was married at the age of thirty-two 
 to Miss Rebecca Towe, a native of Missouri, by 
 whom he became the father of two children, and 
 at the birth of the second child Mrs. Nicolas died. 
 George, the elder, is attending school in St. 
 
 Louis. Katie died in infancy. In 1884 Mr. Nic- 
 olas married his second wife, whose maiden name 
 was Miss Julia Mercillo. a native of Missouri. 
 After his second marriage he remained in Missouri 
 one year, and then came to Arkansas in the spring 
 of 1885, settling near Peach Orchard, and at the 
 end of two years located upon his present farm, 
 where he is now tilling an excellent tract of fifty 
 acres. 
 
 Dr. J. Marshall Orr, physician and surgeon of 
 Greenway, Ark. , is a native of Lee County, Miss. , 
 where he was born on the 5th of August, ISfil. 
 He was reared to manhood here, and received 
 a good English education, at the age of eight 
 een years, commencing the study of medicine un 
 der his father, Dr. Harvey C. Orr, and took his 
 fii'st course of lectures in the University of Louis- 
 ville, Ky., in the winter of 1882-83. After fin- 
 ishing his course, he returned to Mississippi, and 
 practiced his profession with his father one year, 
 when he located in the county and began practicing 
 on his own responsibility, continuing there up to 
 February, 1886. He then took another course of 
 lectures in the Hospital College of Medicine, at 
 Louisville, Ky., and graduated June 17, 1886. 
 After completing his course, he located at Green- 
 way, Ark., and has built up a large and paying 
 practice, which is increasing steadily and profitably. 
 His father was born in the " Palmetto State," and, 
 after receiving his education and residing there 
 until reaching manhood, he went to Mississippi, 
 where he met and wedded Miss Mary E. Weath- 
 erall. who was born and reared in Mississippi. Dr. 
 Orr became settled in Lee County of that State, 
 where he has practiced for over thirty years, and 
 is still successfully following his calling. 
 
 W. R. Paty, of Corning, Ark., was born in Hum- 
 phreys County, Tenn. , August 28, 1849, his parents 
 being Matthew and Priscilla Roberts, of Tennessee. 
 The former's birth occurred about 1814, and in 
 1838 he was married to one Miss Hendi'ix. They had 
 three children born to them, of whom two are yet 
 living. The wife died in 1845, and in 1847 he was 
 maiTied to Miss Priscilla Roberts. They had nine 
 children, of whom W. R. Paty is the only living 
 member. Matthew Paty was a land holder in his 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 237 
 
 native State. In the spring of 1S58 he moved to 
 Kipley County, Mo., where he bought a tract of 
 land, consisting of 120 acres, on which he resided 
 three years, and then moved to Butler County, of 
 the same State, where he made his home until his 
 death, on the ITjth of February, 1865. He was a 
 Democrat in his political views, and he and wife 
 were members of the Methodist Church. In the 
 spring of 1N07 the widow, with seven children, 
 moved to Randolph County, Ark. , and by the 
 10th of May, 1884, they all had died, except 
 W. R. Paty. On the 30th of November, 1873, he 
 was married to Miss Caroline Watson, of Clay 
 County, a daughter of Rev. Peter Watson. They 
 had five children born to them, all of whom died 
 in their infancy. Caroline Paty died October 12, 
 1883. On the 14th of September, 1884, W. 
 R. Paty was married to Mrs. Ruth A. Alexander, 
 a native of Tennessee. She was a widow with one 
 child. Mr. Paty now owns a farm, and lives on 
 the same, ten miles west of Corning, in Clay Coun- 
 ty, Ark., where he intends to remain the rest of 
 his days. He received very little education in his 
 youth, just learning the forms of the letters, but 
 by self application he has made rapid strides in 
 the acquirement of knowledge and acquaintance 
 with current events. He is independent in his 
 political views, and has served as school director 
 and road overseer. He is a member of the Agri- 
 cultural Wheel. 
 
 Boswell B. Payne, Sr. , retired farmer, is a 
 native of Rutherford County, Tenn., born Febru- 
 ary 1, 1815, and is a son of James and Permelia 
 Ann (Hitchcock) Payne, born in North Carolina and 
 Ireland, respectively, though they were reared, mar- 
 ried, and resided in Tennessee, and died in that 
 State about 1827 and 1828, respectively. Boswell 
 B. Payne grew to manhood in Madison County, 
 Tenn., and was married in Dyer County, March 
 4, 1836, to Miss Nancy Nettle, a daughter of 
 Jesse and Catherine (Derosett) Nettle. Mrs. 
 Payne was born in Franklin County, Tenn., July 
 30, 1817, and she and Mr. Payne reared a family 
 of nine children, all of whom are manied and the 
 parents of families. They have forty-seven grand- 
 children and about eight great-grandchildren. 
 
 After their marriage they farmed in Tennessee for 
 seven years, then moving to Poinsett County, Ark. , 
 in 1843, where they were engaged in farming for 
 about four years, coming thence to what is now 
 Clay County, and in 1847 locating near Green way 
 on the farm which he now owns. He built a good 
 double log house, cleared a farm of sixty-five acres, 
 and reared his family. He was a great hunter in 
 his day, and has killed many bear, elk, deer, and 
 a great amount of small game. He and wife are 
 members of the Missionary Baptist Church. 
 
 John H. Payne. The genealogy of this family 
 can be traced directly back to two brothtn-s who, 
 on coming to America, settled on James River, Va., 
 and were among the early colonists. This family 
 is among the old and much respected ones of the 
 country. J. H. Payne was born in Greene County 
 (now known as Clay Count}'), Ark., Aj)ril 20, 1850, 
 and is the son of B. B. and Nancy (Nettle) Payne, 
 and grandson of James Payne and wife, nee 
 Hitchcock, the latter being of Irish extraction. In 
 1844 B. B. Payne came to Clay County, Ark., with 
 his wife and family consisting then of three chil- 
 di'en, and is now living one and a half mile from 
 Greenway. There were nine childjreu in the 
 family, five daughters and four sons, all now mar- 
 ried, and six of whom were born after their parents 
 came to Arkansas. There are seventy five descend- 
 ants to this family in children, grandchildren and 
 great-grandchildren, living at the present time. 
 Jesse Nettle, the maternal grandfather of the sub- 
 ject of this sketch, was of Welsh descent, and his 
 wife, Polly (Derosett) Nettle, was of French ex- 
 traction. J. H. Payne, one of the rising young 
 men of the county, has filled the office of magis 
 trate for three consecutive terms, and in 1885 he 
 was elected to the XXVth General Assembly of 
 Arkansas. At the present time he is occupied in 
 timber speculations, but previous to this he had 
 made farming a specialty. He is a member of the 
 Missionary Baptist Church, holding credentials as 
 a preacher in the same, and at present is study- 
 ing for the legal profession. He chose for his wife 
 Miss Susan D. Nettle, a native of Clay Coiuity. 
 Ark., and the daughter of William R. Nettle, of 
 Tennessee. She died September 16, 1888, and 
 
^1 
 
 SI p 
 
 238 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 -i£: 
 
 left five children: J. H. , Jr., Laura J., David L., 
 James C. and George. He is a Democrat and 
 takes considerable interest in politics. He lives in 
 Piggott, and j)ractices in the inferior courts of the 
 State. 
 
 Thomas L. Pierce, M. D. , one of the many emi- 
 nent practitioners of Clay County, who has min- 
 istered to the wants of the sick and afflicted of 
 Clay County, Ark., is a native of Tennessee and 
 went with his father, John J. Pierce, to Illinois in 
 the spring of 1806. The father was a Union 
 man in sentiment, but during the war he re- 
 mained in Tennessee, and sided with neither the 
 North nor South. After moving to Illinois he 
 settled near Vienna, the count}' seat of Johnson 
 County, where his son, Thomas L., grew to man- 
 hood. The latter received a good practical edu- 
 cation in the schools of Johnson County, and in 
 
 1878, when twenty- two years of age, entered the 
 College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, 
 I<jwa. Previous to this he had studied in the 
 office with Dr. T. L. Grissom, of Samoth, 111., and 
 after retm-ning from Keokuk he commenced prac- 
 ticing with Dr. J. H. Norris, of Metropolis City, 
 III. After remaining there one year he came to 
 Boydsville, Ark., where he opened an office in 
 
 1879, and has been engaged in the practice of his 
 profession ever since. Aside from the large prac- 
 tice that the Doctor has, he also finds time to pay 
 some attention to his farms lying in the neigh- 
 borhood. He was united in marriage, in 1880, to 
 Miss Berlinda Betts, daughter of John H. and 
 Martha (Ford) Betts, of Dunklin County, Mo., 
 and the result of this union has been the birth of 
 five children: Norris, Lillie Myrtle, John Edgar, 
 Martha Lena (died at twenty-two months old) and 
 Roy Dwight. In his political views Dr. Pierce 
 affiliates with the Republican party. 
 
 Willis W. Pollard, druggist of Piggott, Ark., 
 was born in L'nion County, 111., in March, 1852, 
 being the son of John and Nellie (Leight) Pol- 
 lard, who were also of Illinois nativity. In 1854 
 they moved to what is now Clay County, Ark., 
 where the father died in 1801, after which Willis 
 W. Pollard moved back to Illinois with his mother, 
 and there made his home until 1883. He was in 
 
 the family grocery business for two years prior to 
 coming to Arkansas, aind after removing to this 
 State first engaged in the merchandise trade, 
 and has been one of the prominent business men 
 of the place. In July, 188-t, he was appointed 
 station agent for the railroad at Piggott, which 
 position he is filling at the present time, being the 
 first and only agent at this point. The firm of 
 W. W. Pollard & Co., druggists, has just been 
 organized, and they carry a well selected stock of 
 drugs, medicines, paints, oils, cigars and tobacco. 
 Mr. Pollard has been married twice; first, in mi- 
 nois in September. 1873, to Mary Casper, a native 
 of Union County, 111., who died there in December, 
 1870, having borne three children: Martha I., 
 C. Otto, and an infant, deceased. In 1877 Mr. 
 Pollard married his present wife, whose maiden 
 name was Amelia Beaver, who was born, reared 
 and married in Union County, 111., and by her be- 
 came the father of five children, Charles W. be- 
 ing the only one living, four dying in infancy. 
 Mr. Pollard is an elder in the Cumberland Pres- 
 byterian Church, of which his wife is also a mem- 
 ber, and he has filled all the chairs in the I. O. O. 
 F,, and is the present District Deputy Grand 
 Master. 
 
 Dr. Henry C. Redwine, physician at Vidette, 
 Ark. , was born in Graves County, Ky. , June 
 15, 1854, and is a son of Jacob and Mary Redwine, 
 the former a native of North Carolina, the latter 
 of Tennessee. They moved to Graves County 
 while young, and are still residing there on a 
 farm. Henry C. remained on the farm until his 
 seventeenth year, when he began teaching in the 
 public schools of his native State, and continued 
 this occupation for seven years, being engaged in 
 the study of medicine in connection with his teach- 
 ing, the last two years of his pedagoguism. In 
 1878 he entered Keokuk (Iowa) Medical College, 
 from which he came to Randolph County, Ark., 
 where he remained until March 1, 1880, then re- 
 moving to Clay County, Ark., and locating within 
 about two miles of where he now resides. In 1884 
 he bought his present property, and in 1888 be- 
 came engaged in general mercantile business. In 
 September, 1888, a postoffice was established in 
 
 r 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 28St 
 
 bis store, thf plucf taking the nnme of Vidette, 
 and lif was appointed j)ostmaster. He has a very 
 extensive practive, and is also meeting with good 
 success in the mercantile business. 
 
 Isaac Reed, a blacksmith and wagon maker at 
 Corning, Ark., is a native of Lee County, Va. , 
 where he was born on the 12th of March. 1843, his 
 parents, George and Mary (Grabill) Heed, being 
 born in West Virginia. In 1849 they emigrated to 
 Kentucky, locating in Pulaski County, where the 
 mother died ten years later. Here the father re- 
 sided, engaged in farming, until 1805, when he 
 emigrated to Washington County, Ark. , and there 
 still makes his home. Of the eight children born 
 to himself and wife, live are living: Isaac, Jane, 
 Mary, Margaret and Nancy E. Isaac Keed was 
 reared priucipally in Kentucky, and in that State 
 received the most of his education. When the war 
 broke out, he enlisted, on the 24th of Jiily, in 
 Company K, Third Kentucky Infantry, and served 
 three years and four months, being in the battles 
 of Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, 
 Buzzard Roost, Pumj)kin Vine, Resaca, Kenesaw 
 Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Siege of Atlanta and 
 Jonesboro. He was mustered out of service and 
 discharged October 14, 1864, at Louisville, Ky., 
 after which he returned home and remained one 
 month, then went to Lexington and was engaged 
 in driving a post team for the Government. There 
 was a train of 800 wagons made uj) to go to Mex- 
 ico, but on reaching Louisville, all the men were 
 discharged. He then returned home and was en- 
 gaged in farming until 18(>9, when he went to 
 Clark County, Ind. . and engaged in blacksmithing 
 and farming, lemaining ten j-ears.at which time he 
 removed to Jefferson County, Mo. In ISSO he 
 came to ('orning. Ark., and has since been follow- 
 ing his present business, in which he is meeting 
 with good .success. He does all kinds of repairing 
 and his work is always well performed. He owns 
 several lots in the town and a nice home. In IS'io 
 he was married to Miss Nancy L. Brown, a native 
 of Kentucky, who bore him ten children, six now 
 living: Nancy A.. William A. and Isaac M. (twins), 
 George W. and Henry C. Itwins) and Charles 
 F. Mr. Reed is a member of the Agricultural 
 
 Wheel, and liis wife is a member of the Bajitisl 
 Church. 
 
 The Rou.se Springs Sanitarium, so intimately 
 connected with the affairs of Clay County, is of 
 sucli importance to the interests of this portion of 
 the State, that no worthy history of the community 
 conld fail to make mention of it, or of its worthy 
 and well-known owner. Dr. James Rouse. The 
 experiences through which he has passed, the 
 honors conferred u])on liini by rich and poor alike, 
 the success which has attended his efforts almost 
 without exception, proclaim him a man worthy of 
 more than ordinary notice, so that a sketch of his 
 eventful life cannot but be of interest to the many 
 readers of this volume. Dr. Rouse comes from a 
 noble ancestry, liaving d(>scended from Rouse who 
 was lord of admiralty during Cromwell's govern- 
 ment. The Doctor's great-grandfather commanded 
 an English ship in the wars between Spain, 
 France and England j)rior to tlie American Revolu- 
 tion. His grandfather and three brothers served 
 in the Revolutionary War in the army of Washing- 
 ton, one of the l^rothers falling at Yorktown while 
 besieging that place. One of the brothers rose to 
 be a general, and settled at Rouse's Point, N. Y. 
 Dr. Rouse's father, James Rouse, served in the 
 AVar of 1812 under Gen. Brown, and rose to a cap- 
 taincy. He man'ied Miss Helen Temple, of Aljer- 
 deen, who descended by both her i)arents from the 
 house of Stuarts, her uncle being earl of Aberdeen. 
 Dr. Rouse, who is now sixty-seven years of age, 
 was born in Canada while his parents wei-e there 
 on business, but was taken back to Virginia when 
 only a few weeks old. He was sent to school in 
 Northern Ohio, and also attended schools in Penn- 
 sylvania and New York, studying medicine under 
 Dr. Dustan, a French physician, and Dr. Johns, an 
 English physician. The Doctor, although a Vir- 
 ginian, is cosmopolitan in sentiment. He was a 
 young man at the breaking out of the Mexican 
 War, but saw active service in that conflict, his re- 
 turn being through the locality which thirty-live 
 years hence was to claim him as a resident. It 
 was then that he discovered the rare curative 
 (jualities of the springs now bearing his name. 
 The beginning of his extensive travels had been 
 
made. Edinburgh College, of Scotland, had given 
 him a dijiloma as a graduate, and being already 
 possessed of an excellent knowledge of the science 
 of medicine, he has since added to his learning by 
 contact with different nations of the world, and by 
 observing closely the diversified methods employed 
 by various people. The experience thus gained 
 has proved of incalculable benefit. While occupied 
 at one time in three years of travel in Europe and 
 Asia, he was called upon to perform an intricate 
 and delicate operation upon one of Queen Victoria's 
 army ofiicers, for which he was knighted. Two 
 years were spent in South America, and while 
 there also the success attending his efforts in sav- 
 ing the life of the daughter of the emperor of 
 Brazil, and restoring her to health, was rewarded 
 by a gift (in addition to a magnificent fee) of a solid 
 gold inkstand, weighing three pounds and three 
 ounces, inlaid with fine rubies, each valued at over 
 1200. Besides this Dr. Rouse possesses a num- 
 ber of diamonds and other precious stones received 
 from grateful potentates, who had been the bene- 
 ficiaries of his ability. Amid constantly changing 
 scenes time passed rapidly, and before conscious 
 of it the Doctor had passed the three-score mile- 
 stone, and was almost broken in health. The ad- 
 vent of the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Rail- 
 road, through this locality in 1882 caused him 
 to turn his attention in this direction, and in 
 1883 he settled here, and by personal experience 
 determined the effects of the mineral waters so 
 bountifully provided by nature. An analysis made 
 by the Washington University, of St. Louis, indi- 
 cates the presence of silica, iron, magnesium, 
 iodine, potassium, sodium and manganese, ingre- 
 dients sufficient to have wrought within the past 
 six years some wonderful cures. One of the , 
 most noteworthy was the case of Joseph Coch- 
 ran, son of J. Henry Cochran, banker of Will- 
 iamsport, Penn., whose condition had baffled the ] 
 skill of physicians of wide reputation for some six 
 months. An abscess forming internally had burst 
 into the cavity of the bowels, discharging and 
 emptying large quantities of pus into the cavity of 
 the abdominal and peritoneal membrane. From 
 an incision ten inches in length through the ab- 
 
 dominal wall there was removed the matter dis- 
 charged into the peritoneal cavity from an ab- 
 scess in caecum. The case was most critical as the 
 constant discharge needed frequent cleansing, and 
 any little exercise caused the bowels to protrude 
 some six or eight inches. Hope had almost been 
 abandoned when Dr. Rouse undertook the treat- 
 ment. There were besides now two holes in crecum, 
 one three-quarters of an inch and the other half 
 an inch in diameter, from which faeces were con- 
 stantly discharged. By patient, untiring atten- 
 tion and the help of his good wife, with the aid of 
 instruments constructed for this particular case, 
 the young man was restored to sound health 
 within three months, the medicinal properties of 
 the water used aiding greatly in this result. The 
 father, without considering the usual formality of 
 a bill, presented the Doctor with a check for 
 $5,000. The Sanitarium is beautifully situated on 
 an eminence overlooking the track of the ' ' Cotton 
 Belt ' " Route. In it are contained many interesting 
 and curious specimens, viz. : fossils, shells, min- 
 erals, etc., evidences of Dr. Rouse's taste as a 
 geologist and paleontologist; one of these is a 
 piece of rich quartz, containing $700 worth of gold. 
 He owns over 700 acres of land in the county, his 
 home place containing sQme 2,000 peach and 200 
 apple trees, and a garden surpassed by none in 
 this portion of the State. One variety of grape is 
 produced from a vine the original of which he 
 brought from Riga, Russia; other small fruit of 
 Canadian origin grow profusely. It only needs a 
 visit to his wine cellar to demonstrate his abOity to 
 preserve fruit after raising it, last year's crop pro- 
 ducing over $1,000 of wine. With opportunities 
 for gathering berries from the verge of eternal 
 snow to the tropics, and fruit from every clime, 
 he claims that there is no country like Arkansas 
 capable of producing such a variety of highly fiav- 
 ored and useful fruits, while the roses here are 
 more fragrant than those of Persia. He already 
 has one of the largest farm residences in the county, 
 to which an addition will be built sufficient to ac 
 commodate fifty patients by the fall of 1889. In 
 addition to his duties about the Sanitarium the 
 Doctor is surgeon for the railroad, and also has a 
 
 ^-. 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 ■n\ 
 
 large practice in the surrounding country. He is 
 of untiring energy, ceaseless activity and persever- 
 ing industry, of lithe and sinewy form, erect and 
 of commanding presence, his hair tinged with gray 
 indicating a dignified age. He has been three times 
 married, his hrst wife bearing two children; by his 
 second wife he had six, three now living. His first 
 wife's children are both married; the eldest, Helen, 
 to Mr. Edwin Levitt, of Liberty, Me. ; the second 
 daughter to Mr. J. Henry Cochran, of Calais, Me., 
 now of W'illiamsport, Penn. His second wife's 
 children are also married: James W. Rouse, con- 
 ductor on a railroad in Colorado; Lizzie, wife of 
 Mr. Frank Miller, an electrician, of Philadelphia, 
 Penn. , and Eva Virginia, married to a Mr. Win- 
 slow, of Maine. The present Mrs. Rouse was born 
 in 1855, and has proved of invaluable benefit to her 
 husband in the treatment of cases. Pleasing in 
 disposition, an agreeable companion and a welcome 
 visitor to the sick room, she has shared very largely 
 in the respect and esteem accorded her husband. 
 She is a lady of intelligence and worth, having 
 graduated from the normal school of her native 
 town, Fredericton, N. B. , Canada. She is of Scotch 
 descent, her grandfather having been professor in 
 Edinburgh University. Her father, William An- 
 derson, is the recipient of a valuable gold medal 
 given him as the best school-teacher in the Domin- 
 ion of Canada. Dr. Rouse is a member of Orient 
 Lodge No. 15, A. F. & A. M., of Thomaston, Me. 
 
 E. N. Royall, a self made man and one who 
 merits the respect and esteem of all by his industry 
 and perseverance, is a native of Carroll County, 
 West Tenn., born October 17, 1836, and a son of 
 Joseph A. and Ollie (Steel) Royall, the latter a 
 daughter of John Arnold, of Virginia. After reach- 
 ing manhood, Mr. E. N. Royall engaged in mer- 
 chandising in his native State, and was there mar- 
 ried to Miss Frances C. Ozier, daughter of Reuben 
 Ozier, of Tennessee, formerly of North Carolina. 
 Ml', and Mrs. Royall came to Clay County, Ark., in 
 18(39, settling on a farm about two miles north of 
 Boydsville, on what is known as "' Big Creek," and 
 a little later he was appointed assessor of the coun- 
 ty, when it was first formed as Clayton County, and 
 held this position two j'ears. He was also the first 
 
 sheriff here, serving a full term, and after two 
 years was elected county and ])robate judge, in 
 which office he remained four consecutive terms, 
 or eight years. He has been agent for the St. Louis 
 & Iron Mountain Railroad for the past ten years, 
 and is still acting as such. He engaged in mer 
 handising with James Blackshare, with whom he 
 continued for three years, and was then in the same 
 business with W. S. Blackshare for some time. 
 When first coming to Clay County, Ark. , with his 
 family he had about $500 in money and a horse. 
 He is now the owner of some 1,500 acres of land 
 and has some good property in the village of 
 Boydsville. To his marriage has been born one 
 son, B. L. Royall, who has been sent to Cape 
 Girardeau, Mo., and is also a graduate of the Com- 
 mercial College of Lexington, Ky. , and is now 
 clerking in the store of A. L. Blackshare, of Boyds- 
 ville. Mr. Royall is a member of the Masonic fra- 
 ternity, Boydsville Lodge No. 75, and is a Demo- 
 crat in politics. 
 
 James R. Scurlock, a successful and promi- 
 nent merchant of Piggott, and the son of J. C. and 
 Eliza (Davis) Scurlock, was born in Union County. 
 111., February 27, 1863. J. C. Scurlock was a 
 native of Illinois, where he grew to manhood and 
 married Miss Davis, who was also a native of the 
 same State. Mr. Scurlock was a prominent man 
 of Union County, and held several local oftices. 
 He died January 1, 1872. Mrs. Scurlock died 
 December 25, 1879. James R. Scurlock attained 
 his growth in Union County, 111., receiving a lib- 
 eral education, and remained in Illinois until grown. 
 He came to Arkansas in November, 1S85, located at 
 Piggott, and bought a mercantile house and has con- 
 tinued merchandising up to the pre.sent. He car 
 ries a stock of general merchandise, dry goods, 
 hats, caps, queenswaro and glassware, and has built 
 up a very goocTtrade. In May, ISS'.I, he formed 
 a partnership and engaged also in the drug busi 
 uess. He was married in Illinois, Union County. 
 July I'J, 1S88, to Miss Mary E. Lingle. a native 
 of Union County, 111., where she was reared and 
 educated. She is a daughter of Moses Lingle. 
 and a member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 Joseph F. Schnei'l"v ..f tli.' Vik.-insas Stave 
 
242 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Works, was boru in Clermont County, of the 
 "Buckeye State," June 20, 1857, his jjarents be- 
 ing Adam and Anna (Weindle) Schneider, both 
 of German nativity. Joseph F. Schneider re- 
 mained with his father in his native county imtil 
 twenty-one years of age, and in 1879 moved west to 
 St. Louis, Mo. , where be continued working at the 
 cooper business for about six years. In ISSO iie 
 came to Greenway, Ark. , and engaged in the man- 
 ufacture of staves and headings, and has been 
 man.iger of an established business ever since. 
 This enterprise gives employment to from fifteen 
 to twenty men, and the establishment ships from 
 eighty to 100 cars of stock annually. The Arkan- 
 sas Stave Works pays, on an average, $1,000 per 
 month, for help and material. Mr. Schneider was 
 married in St. Louis, Mo., May 15, 1883, to Miss 
 Anna Schmitz, who was born, reared and educated 
 in St. Louis, and is the daughter of Jacob Schmitz, 
 of Union City, Tenn. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider 
 have two children: Cecelia and Clarence. He and 
 wife are members of the Catholic Church. 
 
 Dr. J. H. Seegraves, a prominent physician and 
 leading citizen of Clay County, Ark., was born in 
 Surry County. N. C, August 1, 1832, and is the 
 son of Gilbraand Sarah (Wilson) Seegraves. Gil- 
 bra Seegraves was born in Virginia in 1800, of 
 Scotch-Irish descent, and was a brick-mason and 
 farmer by occupation. He immigrated to Macon 
 County, Tenn., in 1839, and was one of the pio- 
 neers of that locality. In 1874 he removed to Ar- 
 kansas, settling in Clay County, and there died May 
 27, 1887, in his seventy -seventh year. Sarah (Wil- 
 son) Seegraves was born in Ashe County, N. C. , 
 and was reared and married in that State. The 
 nine children born to this union are named as fol- 
 lows: Louis, William, Maxwell, Samuel T., Henry, 
 Gilbra, Sarah. Martha and John H. Mrs. See- 
 graves died December 31, 1885. Dr. J. H. See- 
 graves, the subject of this sketch, was jnincipally 
 reared in Tennessee, and had good school advan- 
 tages. Later he studied for three years under I. 
 M. Livingston, M. D., of Lafayette, Tenn., and 
 then practiced in partnership with him for four 
 years. About this time the war broke out, and he 
 enlisted in the Federal army, as recruiting officer. 
 
 There being vacancies to till, he, among others, 
 applied as assistant acting surgeon, of the United 
 States army, which required a man to be a grad- 
 uate of some reputable college. There were four 
 who applied for the position, but three failed to 
 pass. Dr. Seegraves claimed an examination, and 
 passed with honor, and although not a graduate, 
 was appointed to the place. His commission was 
 as below: 
 
 Hkadquauters Department Tenn , Medical Dikect- 
 or's Office, Nashville, Tenn., September 21, 18(i.5. 
 Special Order 33: — Surgeon Thaddeus Donahue, One 
 Hundred and Tenib United States Cavalry Troops, in 
 charge of Post Hosjiilal, Galhitin, Tenn., will be relieved 
 of that charge without delay by Acting Assistant Surgeon 
 J. H. Seegraves. United States Army, and return to duty 
 wilh his regiment. He will turn over his property to his 
 successor. By order of the Medical Director. 
 John E. McGuirr, 
 AsuuUiitt tiiirijean, United Std/ex Vohiitteers. 
 
 Following this Dr. Seegraves was ordered to 
 report the sale of property without reporting to 
 superior officers, a new departure in military af- 
 fairs. He then took charge of the hospital, after 
 the abandonment of which he received orders to 
 sell and turn over the proceeds, which was done, 
 thus showing his standing. Below may be found 
 his discharge from duty, and Tiis standing: 
 
 Property Division, Surgeon General's Office, 
 Washington, D. C May 1, 18fi6. 
 Sir: — I am instructed by the Surgeon General to in- 
 form you that your returns of public property belonging 
 to the Medical and Hospital dei)artment of the Army, for 
 a period commencing September 22, 1805, and ending De- 
 cember 31, 1865, with vouchers thereto pertaining, have 
 been examined in this office, and found to be correct, and 
 finally settled. Relating to Gallatin, Tenn. 
 Ver3' respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 I W. C. Spencer, Assistant Suryeon, U. S. A. 
 
 Dr. Seegraves served in the medical department 
 from 1864 until April 10. 1800, participating in the 
 battle of Nashville, and was honorably discharged 
 at Louisville. He then located in Illinois, began 
 the practice of his profession, and was ofPered the 
 position of chief surgeon of the West, but declined. 
 Later he settled in Clinton County, 111., practiced 
 six years, then came to Arkansas, and settled in 
 Clay County, where he has since practiced his pro- 
 fession. He is also engaged in the drug business, 
 
 ^r^ 
 
Capx DanMathev^s 
 Mmsiesippi Cquntv Arkansas. 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 243 
 
 and is the local surgeon of tho St. Louis, Arkaiisas 
 & Ti>xas Railroad, which is au honor held by few 
 physicians. Dr. Seegravesis also president of the 
 Clay County Medical Examining Board. He was 
 niiirried, in 1859, to Miss M. A. Atkerson, a native 
 of Macon County. Tenn. , and the daughter of 
 Johu AV. Atkerson, now a resident of Macon Coun- 
 ty. Tenn. To the Doctor and wife were born four 
 children living: Lydia A., Ida L. , John O. and 
 t'Ora E. Those deceased were named Clara R. , 
 Ethel, J. O., aud an infant. The Doctor and wife 
 are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. He 
 is a member of the G. A. R. and I. O. O. F., join- 
 ing the last-named organization in Gallatin, Tenn., 
 while surgeon of the army, and while almost a 
 stranger, being struck by the grandeur of a proces- 
 sion. He also belongs to the K. of H. Aside 
 from his profession and the drug business. Dr. 
 Seegraves is one of the prominent farmers of the 
 county. 
 
 B. H. Selhneyer & Bro., merchants of Knobel, 
 Ark. This firm is composed of Bernard H. and 
 Joseph Sellmeyer, who were born in Franklin 
 County, Ind. , in 1850 and 1S62, respectively, and 
 were the sons of John H. and Elizabeth (Brug 
 gensmith) Sellmeyer, who were native Germans, 
 and came to the United States, where they met 
 and afterward married. The father is a tanner by 
 trade, and is the owner of a tannery at Olden- 
 burg. Ind., which is managed by his eldest son, 
 John. Our subjects attended school in Oldenburg 
 until a somewhat advanced age, then following 
 clerking in their father's store. Bernard continued 
 until about 1S70, whea he went to St. Louis and 
 clerked in a store in that city for five years, later 
 engaging in the grocery business for himself, which 
 he continued until 1880, since which time ho has 
 resided in Knobel, Ark. He first engaged as a 
 contractor in furnishing tics for the Knobel & 
 Helena Branch of the Iron Mountain Railroad, 
 in partnership with Crawford & Lintz, and in 
 about eight months furnished 350.000, and dur- 
 ing this time also did some grading on tho White 
 River Branch of that railroad. In the fall of 
 1S81 he started the first store in Knobel, and it was 
 practically the only store in the place for about 
 
 four years. In 1884 he was joined by his l)rotlier 
 Joseph, and they formed their present partnership, 
 and in coiuiection with their store they are exten- 
 sively interested in the timber business, making a 
 specialty of piling, staves and ties, which indu.stry 
 gives employm(>nt to forty or fifty men. They are 
 notv about to erect a cotton-gin and saw mill, and 
 owing to the erection of the former, the farmers 
 have beeu encouraged to increase their cotton 
 cro]> at least 400 per cent, which will prove of 
 great benefit to the county. In 1882 Bernard 
 Sellmeyer was appointed third postmaster of 
 Knobel, and held the position several years, and 
 in 1888 Joseph became postmaster, and is holding 
 the office at the present time. Since 1884 Ber- 
 nard H. has held the office of justice of the ])eace. 
 In 1886 Joseph Sellmeyer returned to Oldenburg, 
 Ind., and accepted the position of secretary of 
 the St. Joseph Western Mill, of Oldenburg, in 
 which his father is an extensive stockholder. In 
 September, 1888, he was married to Miss Dinah 
 Damhus, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of 
 Bernard and Philema Damhus, who reside in that 
 State. The Sellmeyer brothers own over 2,000 
 acres of land, more than half of which is excel- 
 lent farming land and susceptible of a high state 
 of cultivation. They have about 100 acres under 
 cultivation, and are constantly opening up new 
 land, and their enterprise and energy form a com- 
 mendable example to the citizens of the county. 
 
 Edward Silverberg, M. D., a physician ami 
 farmer of Clay County, Ark., was born in Colum- 
 bia, Marion County, Miss., in 1829, and is the 
 .second of four children of Johnson and Sarah 
 (Jones) Silverberg, who were born in Holland and 
 Georgia, respectively. When about sixteen years 
 of age the father emigrated to the United States, 
 and soon after engaged in mercantile business 
 in Columbia. Miss., where he remained twelve 
 years, then removing to Canlon, Miss., where he 
 resumed biisiness in 1833, continuing until his 
 death in 1838. He and wife were married in 1S25. 
 the latter being a daughter of one of the early 
 pioneers of Mississippi. He was a soldier in the 
 War of 1812, and participated in the battle of New 
 Orleans. Dr. Edward Silverberg received his 
 

 ^ 4 v>' 
 
 244 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 education iu the common schools and the Masonic 
 College at La Grange, Ky., leaving the latter 
 institution at the age of eighteen years. He was 
 engaged in clerking for two years and tlnni began 
 the study of medicine, graduating from the Medi- 
 cal University of Louisville, Ky., in 1S55, and 
 entered upon the practice of his profession in 
 Jessamine County, Ky. He then spent one year 
 in Columbus, Ky. , two years iu Louisiana, and 
 came to Helena in 1858, where he was iu the drug 
 business, and from that time until 18IH resided in 
 Helena. In May, 1862, he entered the Southern 
 army as medical purveyor under Gen. Hindmau, 
 who had command of the Trans-Mississippi depart- 
 ment, and later was under Gen. Holmes, and was 
 stationed with his office at Little Rock, Ark. In 
 18(54 he resigned this office and entered the field 
 as adjutant of what was known as Dobbins' brigade, 
 being in the battle of Big Creek, near Helena, 
 and in a raid south; was with Price on his raid 
 thi'ough Missouri, and took part in the battles at 
 Iron Mountain, Big Blti«>. Kansas City and Fort 
 Scott, then fell back to Benton County, Ark. , and 
 was in his last battle at Fayetteville, in the winter of 
 1 864. The army was here divided and the Doctor' s 
 command was sent to Northeast Arkansas, and in 
 the winter of that year the command stai-ted to 
 Mexico with Gen. Shelby. He was taken sick at San 
 Antonio, Texas, and, after the final surrender, re- 
 turned to Kentucky. He was married in 1856 
 to Miss Sallie Lockart, a native of Pennsylvania, 
 by whom he became the father of three children: 
 Sallie L., wife of Judge J. F. Humphries, clerk 
 of the court at Helena, Ark. ; Edward, who is 
 married and resides with his father, and Ida, who 
 died in infancy. In the spring of 1858 the Doctor 
 brought his family to Ai-kansas and settled in 
 Helena, where he was in the drug business when 
 the war came on. In 1873, after coming to North- 
 east Arkansas, and practicing for a short time at 
 Pocahontas, he went to Poplar Bluff, Mo., but re- 
 turned to Corning, Ark. , in 1876, remaining here 
 six years, since which timt! he has lived at Knobel 
 and Peach Orchard. In 18S5 he bought a tract of 
 laud one-half mile south of Knobel, and on this 
 farm he has since resided and made many improve- 
 
 ments. He raises considerable stock and has an 
 excellent stallion for breeding purposes. In part- 
 nership with his son he is extensively engaged in 
 the timber business, shipping staves, stave bolts 
 and piling, and making cross ties. He takes an 
 active part in politics, and has held the office of 
 postmaster at Peach Orchard three years, and at 
 Knobel about the same length of time. At both 
 these places he carries on general merchandising. 
 He is chairman of the County Democratic Conven- 
 tion, and was a delegate to the Congressional Con- 
 vention at Helena in 1888. He takes quite an 
 interest in the culture of fruit, and his orchard 
 consists of 300 peach trees, fifty pear, fifty plum, 
 twenty-five cherry and 200 apple trees, all of which 
 are doing well, and those that are bearing show 
 excelh^nt fruit. His son, Edward L. , was married 
 to Miss Annie Ratclift'e, a daughter of Hon. T. J. 
 and Huldah A. Ratcliffe. The father was a noted 
 lawyer and politician of this section and held the 
 office of State senator. He died in 1881, but his 
 widow still survives him and resides on the old 
 homestead, one and a half miles west of Peach 
 Orchard. 
 
 G. W. Simmons, M. D., whose face is familiar 
 in the homes of the sick and jifflicted of this coun- 
 ty, was born in Halifax County, N. C. in 1827, 
 and is the son of Jesse H. Simmons, whose father, 
 John Simmons, was a native of Scotland. Jesse 
 H. Simmons married Miss Nancy B. Whitaker, 
 also a native of North Carolina, and the daugh- 
 ter of James Whitaker. Her grandfather, >Johu 
 Whitaker, was a native of North Carolina and was 
 a colonel of some note in the Revolutionary War, 
 as was also John Bradford, Mrs. Simmons' maternal 
 grandfather. Gov. John Branch, of North Caro- 
 lina, who was secretary of the navy in the cabinet 
 of President Jackson, was a cousin of .Airs. Sim- 
 mons. The Whitaker family was one of the most 
 illustrious iu the State. G. W. Simmons moved 
 to Wayne County, Tenn., at the age of seventeen, 
 and later was married to Miss Martha J. Gee. 
 daughter of Thomas Gee, of English and Welsh 
 pareutage. He then entered the office of Dr. T. 
 L. Carter, where he studied medicine, and a few 
 years later opened an office, but in 1856 came to 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 Clav County, aud formod a partnership with 
 Thomas J. Harris, at Oak Bluff, near where Rector 
 now stands, and was the loading physician of the 
 county. The partnership continued for three years 
 when Dr. Simmons opened up business for himself, 
 as his partner had entered the Confederate array. 
 Since that time the Doctor has had the greatest 
 practice of any physician in the eovmty, and says 
 that after an experience of thirty-three years, 
 hi> can truthfully say it is an error to make the 
 statement that this is an unhealthy country. In 
 his earlier practice, when people were very poorly 
 housed and very little attention was paid to the 
 laws of health, they suffered from ill health, l)ut 
 just in proportion to their imjirovement did they be- 
 com(> healthier. The Doctor's own family, consist- 
 ing of six robust children, is evidence enough of 
 the salutary condition of the country, and nowhere 
 is to be found a better specimen of young man- 
 hood than William H. Simmons, who is clerking in 
 his father's store. Dr. Simmons, by his first wife, 
 was the father of six children, all of whom are 
 now living: Jesse, married, has three children, 
 and resides near his father; Alice married G. W. 
 Webb, who is now living near Oak Bluff, is a 
 carpenter, and they have three childi-en; Ella 
 married James Merriwether, son of Dr. Merri- 
 wether, of Paragould, and has two children; 
 William H. is at home with his father and attends 
 the store; Charles lives with his father and attends 
 to the farm, and Mary married W. E. Spence, now 
 circuit clerk of the county, whose sketch appears 
 in anotlier part of this volume. Dr. Simmons 
 married Miss Carrie M. Lavender, of Rector, who 
 came from Georgia when a girl, with her sistok 
 and brother-in-law, H. B. Cox. Her father. James 
 Lavender, was a native of Georgia, and her mother, 
 Malinda (Ansley) Lavender, was of Irish extrac- 
 tion. The Doctor takes an active part in politics 
 and votes the Democratic ticket, as do his two sons 
 who are old enough to vote. He is a member of 
 the Methodist Prolestant Church, and is a Royal 
 Arch Mason, having passed through all the chairs 
 in that order, and for six years was District Deputy 
 Grand Master of the State. He has done much for 
 the l)eiietit of the county in which he lives, has liuilt 
 
 several of the finest houses in the vicinity, and is 
 now engaged in the general merchandise business, 
 having one of the y)est selected stocks in the town, 
 valued at from $1,500 to $4,000. When the 
 Doctor first settled in the county very little atten- 
 tion was paid to education, but whisky was con- 
 sidered the staff of life and was sold at every cross- 
 roads. Now a school-house takes the place at the 
 cross roads and the wliisky seller receives a limited 
 amount of patronage. 
 
 A. R. Simpson, M. D., ])hysician and .surgeon, 
 was born in Lawrence County, S. C, Augn.st 25, 
 ISOO, being a .son of D. D. and E. A. (Harris) 
 Simpson, who were also born in the " Palmetto 
 State," the father being a m(>rchant and farmer by 
 occupation. They are both living and reside in 
 their native State. The following are their chil- 
 dren: J. H., of Mississippi: Sallie R. (Blakely), 
 T. S., R. L (Janes), P. A. and Dr. A. U. The 
 paternal grandparents were born in Ireland, and at 
 an early day emigrated to America, locating in 
 South Carolina, where they spent the rest of their 
 days, and died when very old. Dr. A. R. Simp- 
 son is the youngest of his parents' children, and 
 his youth was spent in attending school and as- 
 sisting on the home farm. At the age of sixteen 
 I years he began the studj' of medicine, and in 
 September, 1S79, entered the University of Balti- 
 more, Md., in 1881 entering as a student the Lou- 
 isville (Ky. ) Medical College, from which institu- 
 tion he was graduated in March, 1882, being one 
 of seventeen who gi'aduated with honors out of a 
 classof 115. He began practicing liis profession in 
 Lawrence County, S. C, and remained until 18S1, 
 when he went to Marshall County. Misr,. , but only 
 continued here one year. In April, 1885. became 
 to Corning, Ark., where he has since resided, and 
 has built np a large and lucrative practice. He is 
 very public spirited and is ever reatly to advance 
 any good cause. He was married in October. 
 1886, to Miss Winnie D. Whitehead, of Crystal 
 Springs, Miss., and by her has one child. Perry O. 
 Dr. and Mrs. Sim])son are members of the Presby 
 terian Church. 
 
 J. B. Smith is a planter and stockman of Kil- 
 gore Township. C!lay C^ouiity. It is a remarkable 
 
'A 
 
 240 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 fact that the majority of those men of Kentucky 
 l)irth, who have become residents of Clay County, 
 have been peculiarly successful in the accumula- 
 tion of worldly goods, and are considered superior 
 farmers, and Mr. Smith is but another example of 
 this truth. He was born in Calloway County, 
 Ky., September 14, 1849, his parents, Gabriel and 
 Agnes (Shotwell) Smith, being natives of Kentucky 
 and Ohio, respectively. The father was an hone.st 
 tiller of the soil, and remained in the State of his 
 birth until 1861, when he removed to Randolph 
 County, Ark. (now Clay County), and opened a farm 
 in Cache Township, on which he resided until his 
 death in 1881, followed by his excellent widow two 
 years later. Jasper B. Smith, the subject of this 
 sketch, was brought up as a farmer's boy, and has 
 ever devoted himself to that calling, and with a 
 perseverance and industry which could not fail of 
 favorable results. At the age of twenty years he be- 
 gan depending on his own resources to obtain a 
 livelihood, and made his first purchase of land in 
 1S75, which consisted of eighty acres near Black 
 River. This farm he improved greatly, then sold 
 it and bought his present farm of 1 60 acres, sev- 
 enty being under cultivation, and forty of that be- 
 ing devoted to the culture of cotton. His attractive 
 farm is especially fitted for the raising of stock, 
 which occupation receives a fair portion of his 
 attention, and his out buildings are all in excellent 
 condition. He has always voted the Democratic 
 ticket, and socially is a member of the Orient 
 Lodge, at Corning, and the Agricultural Wheel. 
 He was married in Arkansas on the 14th of March, 
 1S6'.), to Miss Harriet Pitcock, a native of Ten- 
 nessee, whose parents moved to Arkansas during 
 the war; by her he is the father of these children: 
 Nancy Ella (Mrs. Park), William Hastings, James 
 Caswell, Marcus Vain, Bert, Enola, Ernest and 
 Joseph G. and Elgin Eugene, l)oth of whom died 
 at the age of one year. Mr. Smith received poor 
 school advantages in his youth, but knowing the 
 value of a good education has given his childi-en 
 excellent opportunities for acquiring learning. He 
 and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist 
 Church. He has been remarkably healthy, never 
 having had to call a physician on his own account. 
 
 William E. Spence, circuit clerk of Clay Coun- 
 ty, also county clerk and probate court clerk, was 
 born in Wilcox County. Ala. , and is the son of Rev. 
 Spence and wife, nee Evelyn McNiel, and the grand- 
 son, on the mother's side, of Hector McNiel, of 
 Camden, who was of Scotch descent. Rev. Spene^e 
 was a native of Tennessee, and moved to Alabama 
 when a young man, where he married Miss Mc- 
 Niel. In 1876 he settled with his family in Greene 
 County, Ark., where he remained for about one 
 year, and then moved to what was known as Oak 
 Bluff, locating about a mile north of the town, 
 where he taught school. He was also a preacher in 
 the Presbyterian Church, having been ordained 
 about the time he moved to Alabama. He was of 
 English descent. William E. Spence accompanied 
 his parents to Greene County, and always attended 
 school to his father until he attended the Commer- 
 cial College, at Lexington, Ky. , from which insti- 
 tution he graduated the same year. After this he 
 took a position as book-keeper and salesman with 
 the firm of Tatum & Bragg, of Maiden, Mo., 
 where he remained for about two years, or until 
 the firm stopped business. He then went to work at 
 the same occupation for I. Harris & Co. , also of that 
 place, remained about a year, and then came to 
 Boydsville, where he is now located, and accepted 
 a position with W. S. Blackshare & Co. He re- 
 mained with this company for about a year, when 
 he engaged in mercantile business for himself, 
 thus continuing until elected to his present oflice. 
 He then closed out his trade, and now devotes his 
 whole time to his official duties. He was first 
 married to Miss Dora Pollock, who bore him one 
 child, which died with its mother in 1884. Mr. 
 Spencer's second marriage was to Miss Mary Sim- 
 mons, daughter of Dr. G. W. Simmons, of Boyds- 
 ville, in December, 1888. Mr. Spencer is a mem- 
 lier of the Masonic fraternity, and is also a mem- 
 ber of the K. of H. While modest and unassum- 
 ing in his demeanor, he is endowed with those very 
 rare qualities of good sense and good judgment, 
 which, together with his genial and pleasing man 
 ners, not only lit him for any position to which 
 he may be elected, but congregate around him 
 many warm friends. 
 
 ^ 
 
dA 
 
 CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 2-1"; 
 
 Charles Stokes, farmer auil mechanic of Hay 
 wood Township, Clay County, Ark., was born iu 
 Winston County, Ala., October 81, 1840, being a 
 son of William Stokes, who was born in Georgia, 
 and was reared in Warren County, Tenn. He 
 was married in that State, and afterward moved 
 to Alabama, where he farmed for a numl)er of 
 years and then came to Ark., locating in this State 
 about 1S77, his death occurring in February, 
 18S4. Charles Stokes was reared in the State of 
 Alabama, and made his home with his father until 
 November 27. 1801, when he married Susan 
 Smith, a native of Tennessee, who was reared in 
 Alabama, and in August of the following year 
 moved to Illinois, locating in Massac County. e 
 resided iu this and Pope Counties until the spring 
 of 1868, when he moved to Arkansas, arriving on 
 the 5th of April of that year. A short time after- 
 ward he homesteaded 120 acres, then bought 120, 
 and has since increa.sed his acreage to 600, all of 
 which is in Mrs. Stokes" name. About 100 acres 
 are under cultivation. They have a good residence, 
 two good barns and an excellent orchard. Mr. 
 Stokes has served as justice of the peace for about 
 sis years, and has been a member of the school 
 board a number of years. He has filled several of 
 the chairs in the Masonic fraternity, and is a member 
 of the Agricultural Wheel. In addition to his 
 farming he has been doing considerable mechani- 
 cal work, such as wagon repairing, blacksmithing, 
 carpentering, etc. He and wife are the parents 
 of the following children: J. R., A. J., J. H., F. 
 M., T. A., Queen C, Pearlie and Nancy A. Two 
 children died in infancy. 
 
 Henry Swift was born in Orange County, N. 
 Y., July 29, 1843, and is a son of John and Jane 
 (Welch) Swift, who were born in Nottingham, 
 England, the former's birth occurring in 1815. 
 His father, William Swift, was a j)ostman, and 
 carried the mail fi'om Longar to Elton, a distance 
 of four and a half miles, making two trips per day, 
 and in fifty-three years' service did not lose one 
 day's time. John Swift served as a jirivate in the 
 Crimean War, and was iu the siege of Sebastopol, 
 being one of the only two surviving members of 
 his camp. He died in 1882, having been a mem- 
 
 ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a well- 
 to-do land holder. His wife was also a member of 
 the Methodist Church, and in 1848 came to the 
 United States, locating in New York State, but re- 
 turned to England the same year, and died there 
 in October. 1846. Henry Swift lived with his 
 giandfathor until his eleventh year, and received a 
 good common school education in the schools of 
 Longar. He then made a trip to the United 
 States, and after living three years iu York State 
 returned to England and again attended school. 
 Eleven years later he came again to the United 
 
 ! States, and lived with an uncle in Jo Daviess Coun- 
 ty, 111., for about three years, later working out 
 and residing among the farmers in that county for 
 two years more, attending school during the winter 
 and doing farm work in the summer months. 
 While the war was going on he traveled over the 
 States of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and at the 
 close of hostilities began working on the Missis- 
 
 i sippi River, being engaged in the construction of 
 the Belleville RaOroad, continuing such work until 
 1873, when he came to Arkansas. He was occu- 
 pied in farming in Randolph County until 1885, 
 since which time he has been a resident of Clay 
 County, and owns 280 acres of fertile land, eighty- 
 three of which are under cultivation, although all 
 could be easily put under improvement. It was 
 heavily covered with timber, but is now furnished 
 with good buildings and fences. He gives much 
 attention to breeding Poland China hogs, and is a 
 thrifty and successful farmer and stockman. He 
 was among the first to demonstrate the fact that 
 swamp and overflowed land could l)e tilled as 
 profitably as the sand ridges, and seven or eight 
 of his neighbors have followed his example and 
 now possess comfortable homes of their own. He 
 is active in school matters, is a Mason, and in his 
 political views is a Democrat. He was first mar 
 ried February 7. 1871), to Miss Malinda Smart, a 
 daughter of Lemuel and Jane Smart, of Arkansas. 
 
 < and by her became the father of two children ; 
 Laura, who died at the age of fifteen months, 
 and an infant, deceased. His wife died in 18S2. 
 and he took for his second wife, in 1884, Mis-. 
 Retta Boyd, a daughter of William Boyd, of Shan 
 
248 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 uon County, Mo. She died quite suddenly in 
 Fehniary, 188"), having borne one daughter: Hen- 
 rietta, who was l)ora on the 22d of March, 1888. 
 
 Dr. C. C. Synionds. There are always, in the 
 profession of which this gentleman is a member, 
 some individuals who become eminent and com- 
 mand a large patronage, and among these deserv- 
 ing of especial recognition is Dr. Symonds, who is 
 a skillful physician and surgeon. He was born in 
 Cayuga County, N. Y., P^ebruary 15, 1829, and 
 was the fourth in a family of five children born to 
 the marriage of Shubel Symonds and Mary Baker, 
 natives of Rhode Island. They were early pio- 
 neers of Syracuse, N. Y., where the father fol- 
 lowed tilling the soil, and resided foi a number of 
 years. He died in Allegany County, of the same 
 State, in 1853, at the age of seventy-six years. 
 His excellent widow still survives him, and resides 
 at Flora, 111. , having reached the advanced age of 
 ninety-three years. Dr. C. 0. Symonds attended 
 the common schools of Cayuga County, and after 
 attaining a suitable age, began the study of med- 
 icine. May 4, 1832, he was married to Miss Sally 
 Ann Sawyer, and soon after moved to Allegany 
 County, N. Y., and in 1857 to Clay County, 111., 
 where he practiced medicine, and was also engaged 
 in merchandising and shipping grain. In 1878 he 
 emigrated to Corning, Clay County, Ark., where 
 he has since been devoting his time to the practice 
 of medicine and surgery. He assisted in incor- 
 porating Corning, and has been one of the fore- 
 most men in building up the town, being now a 
 member of the city council. He has always Ijeen 
 interested in educational advancement, and is inde- 
 pendent in his religious views. He has never been 
 very active in politics, but casts his vote with the 
 Republican party. He owns a good farm in the 
 western division of Clay County, besides other 
 property. He and wife are the parents of the fol- 
 lowing children: Harriet (Mrs. Loppins), residing 
 in Clay County. Ark. ; Amanda (Mrs. Marrow), 
 residing in Madison County, Ind. ; Ida (Mrs. 
 Noble Stacey), whose hiisband is a druggist at Du 
 Quoin, and Marenous, who is married and resides 
 with his parents. Mrs. Symonds was born in 
 Cayuga County, N. Y., and is a daughter of, Eben- 
 
 ezer and Laura (Smith) Sawyer, also natives of 
 New York State. The father was a sturdy tiller 
 of the .soil, and remained in his native State 
 until his death, in 1854, his wife having died in 
 1844. The Doctor has three brothers: Syrenous, 
 who is married and resides in Cortland County, 
 N. Y., seventy- three years of age; John S. , who 
 is married and lives at Flora, 111., of which 
 place he is a prominent resident (he represented 
 his county in the State legislature, and is now in- 
 spector of the Southern Asyltim), and Marenous, 
 who resides in Sedgwick County, Kas. , near 
 Wichita, and is engaged in farming. 
 
 R. I. Taylor is a native of Henry County, 
 West Tenn. , and was born on the 'Jth of April, 
 1839, his parents being John and Sarah (Carey) 
 Taylor, the father a native of West Tennessee and 
 the mother of South Carolina. The paternal 
 grandfather was a Virginian by birth, the maternal 
 grandfather having come originally from South 
 Carolina. John Taylor emigrated from Tennessee 
 to what is now Clay County, Ark., about 1852, 
 coming in a wagon drawn by an ox team, and 
 settled on the farm now owned by Robert Haw- 
 thorne, in Carpenter Township, where he made 
 improvements and resided until about 1859. Then 
 he removed to Howell County, Mo. , and died there 
 in ISHfi. His wife died in Stoddard County, Mo., 
 on her way to Arkansas. To them were born four 
 children R. I. Taylor being the third in order of 
 birth. He was but thirteen years of age when he 
 came to this State, and received only limited educa- 
 tional advantages as there were but few settlers 
 and no schools in the coivntry at that time. Such 
 knowledge of books as he possesses was obtained 
 at home l)y self a))plication. In the spring of 1801 
 he enlisted in (Company F, Seventh Arkansas Regi- 
 ment, and served until the close of the war, being 
 a participant in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville, 
 Murfreesboro, Mission Ridge and several hard 
 skirmishes. He was wounded by a gun shot in 
 the left arm at Shiloh, which has nearly ruined the 
 use of that member, and was also wounded by a 
 gun-shot at Murfi-eesboro, l)ut soon recovered as it 
 was merely a flesh wound. He served as second 
 sergeant and was |)aroled in 1865. He returned 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 245) 
 
 '~] 
 
 ^ 
 
 f 
 
 to Clay (,'ounty, aud about 1872 located on his 
 present farm, which consists of 200 acres of land, 
 with some sixty-five acres under cultivation. He 
 raises corn principally, and gives considerable 
 attention to stock. Having followed farming all 
 his life he is thoroughly ac(iuainted with its varied 
 features. In 1807 he was married to Rebecca 
 Howell, a native of Missouri, by whom he has 
 three children: John, Lewis and Alma. By his 
 second wife, whose maiden name was Annie Heath, 
 he had two children: Bosa, living, aud RosellaL., 
 who is deceased. Mr. Taylor is a well-respected 
 pioneer of Clay County, having resided here since 
 the time when not more than a half dozen families 
 were within miles of him. He has aided very 
 materially in the advance and progress of the com- 
 munity. 
 
 Daniel D. Throgmorton, who is classed among 
 the respected farmers and stock-raisers of Clay 
 County, Ark. , was born on a farm in Henry County, 
 Tenn. , January 20, 1850, and is the son of James 
 AV. Throgmorton, a native of North Carolina. James 
 W. Throgmorton was reared in Tennessee, and 
 was there married to Miss Eleanor Pollard, also of 
 North Carolina nativity. After marriage he re- 
 sided in Henry County, Tenn., until 1809, when 
 he came to Arkansas and settled in Clay County, 
 where he died June IS, 1876. His wife had died in 
 Tennessee in 1866. Daniel D. Throgmorton grew 
 to manhood in Henry County, Tenn., came to Ar- 
 kansas in 1870, and later spent three years in Dunk 
 lin County, Mo. In 1874 he settled on the place 
 where he now lives, and bought raw land, which 
 he has since cleared, and the town of Piggott is 
 laid out on his land. Mr. Throgmorton has about 
 ninety acres, with some forty acres under good 
 cultivation. He was married first in Dunklin 
 County, Mo., February 15, 1873, to a widow, Mrs. 
 Amanda E. Lively, who died May 23, 1883. Mr. 
 Throgmorton was married in Clay County, Ark., 
 December 27, 1883, to Miss Nancy B. Featherston, 
 a native of Tennessee, who was reared in Dyer 
 County, and a niece of his first wife. This last 
 union resulted in the l)irth of three children: 
 Thomas Edward, born Novpml)er 24, 1884, and 
 Nora B., born September 26, 1888. They lost one 
 
 child, L. Ora, who iliod Uctober 15, 1887, at the 
 age of thirteen months. Mr. Throgmorton has 
 been elected to and held the office of justice of the 
 peace for twelve consecutive years, and has also 
 filled other local positions. Mrs. Throgmorton is 
 a menil)er of the Methodist Epi.scopal Church. 
 
 John Tisdial. a farmer residing near Corning, 
 Ark., was born in Marshall County, Ky., July 22, 
 1837, and is a son of Sherrill and Julia (Casinger) 
 Tisdial, who were also Kentuckia[is, and of Ger- 
 man descent. The paternal grandfather, John, 
 was an early settler of F\entucky, and there reared 
 six children and resided until his death. Sherrill 
 Tisdial was reared and educated in his native State 
 and in 1838 emigrated to what is now Clay Coun- 
 ty, Ark., making the toilsome journey in wagons. 
 He erected a little log cabin at Rockfield. weighted 
 down with poles, in which he resided a few years, 
 then locating one mile below on the river. In 
 the winter of 1866 he was thrown fi-om ahorse and 
 killed. He was an extensive stock dealer, and was 
 leading a steer when he became fast in the rope. 
 During the war he lost heavily, as all his stock was 
 taken from him by the soldiers. His widow is still 
 living, being in her seventy fourth year. The)' 
 were the parents of thirteen children, twelve of 
 whom grew to maturity and six of whom are living 
 at the present time: John, Frank, Monroe, Eliza 
 beth, Ellen and Margaret. John Tisdial was an 
 infant when brought to Arkansas, and from ear 
 liest boyhood has had the welfare of his adopted 
 county at heart. In his youth the country was 
 nothing but a wilderness, with a few scattering log 
 cabins long distances apart, and he assisted his 
 father in clearing their farm and remained with 
 him until he attained his majority. Althougli 
 there were no schools at that time he applied him- 
 self to such books as came in his way, and became 
 a well educated man. After his marriage in 18<)0 
 he moved to a |)lace of his own, and in the spring 
 of 1864 came to his present farm, which consist> 
 of 160 acres, eighty being under cultivation. He 
 was married to Miss Polly Harriet, a native of 
 Missouri, and by her becauje the father of five 
 children: William J., Euphemin D. . Julia A.. 
 John, and one decreased. He took for his secontl 
 
a k. 
 
 2.")(1 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 wife Miss Fauuie Leslie, who has borne him two 
 children: Daniel H. and Thomas A. His third 
 marriage was to Miss Long, who has borne him 
 three children: Avey and Noverller living, and 
 Bertha deceased. In 1863 Mr. Tisdial enlisted in 
 Company E, Second Missouri Cavalry, and served 
 until September 15, 1863, when he was discharged 
 on account of disability, and remained in the hos- 
 pital until convalescent. On entering the army 
 he weighed 175 pounds in his stocking feet, but on 
 coming out only weighed ninety pounds. In 1864 
 he took his family away from Arkansas, though he 
 returned in 1866 and has since lived here. 
 
 Marion J. Tucker, merchant and postmaster at 
 Greenway, Clay County, Ark., was born in Nash- 
 ville, Tenn., November 14, 1844, his father. Col. 
 Thomas J. Tucker, being a native of Virginia. 
 Upon remaining in the " Old Dominion " until a 
 young man, the father went to Tennessee, where 
 he was married to Nancy Nance, of that State, and 
 after residing in Nashville, Tenn., for several 
 years, moved to Haywood County, Tenn., where 
 he became the owner of a plantation, and lived 
 until his death, his wife having died some time 
 before. He was a colonel of militia, and was a 
 prominent and well-known man in his day. Marion 
 J. Tucker grew to manhood in Haywood County, 
 and when the war broke out, in 1861, he enlisted 
 in the Confederate service, Ninth Tennessee In- 
 fantry, and served until captured at Chick - 
 amauga, and was held a prisoner of war until the 
 close of the conflict, most of the time at Indian- 
 apolis. He was at lirst in Nashville, Tenn., and 
 was placed with 115 others in the top story of the 
 Maxwell House, which broke through with them, 
 and he and the others were carried clear to the 
 basement. Mr. Tucker was badly wounded, and 
 had one leg and an arm broken. After remaining 
 in the hospital until convalescent, he was sent to 
 Indianapolis. He was in the engagements at Bel- 
 mont, Chickamauga, Murfreesboro and several 
 others. After the close of the war he returned 
 to his home in West Tennessee, and was married, 
 in Lauderdale County, January 9, 1866, to Mary 
 Jane Chambers, a native of Tennessee and a 
 daughter of Thomas Chambers. After following 
 
 mercantile pursuits in Alamo, Tenn.. for one jear, 
 he, in 1867, moved to Lauderdale County, there 
 being engaged in farming up to 1874, when he 
 sold out and located in Clay County, Ark. , purchas- 
 ing a farm and engaging in tilling the soil, also 
 following the occupation of merchandising. He 
 established a postoliice at that point, of which he 
 became postmaster in 1878. He continued this 
 business until 1887, then gave the management of 
 affairs into the hands of his son, and moved to 
 Greenway, where he built a store and put in a 
 stock of general merchandise. He has a general 
 stock of goods, and in connection with this also 
 owns and conducts a livery barn. Since Septem- 
 ber, 1888, he has held the office of postmaster of 
 Greenway. He is a Master Mason, and is a deacon 
 in the Missionary Baj^tist Chiu'ch. January 20, 
 1889, his wife died, leaving him with a family of 
 nine children: Edgar M. , Columbus, Laiu-a, Gas- 
 ton, Wittie, Clyde, Lily, Luther and Lola. Mr. 
 Tucker owns two farms in Clay County, amounting 
 to about 300 acres, and has some 175 acres under 
 cultivation. He married his present wife, a Mrs. 
 Annie Gault, May 12, 188U. She was born in 
 Illinois. 
 
 Dr. Wiley V. Turner, a retired physician and 
 farmer of Greenway, Ark., was born in Humphreys 
 County, Tenn., May lU, 1836, his father, Wiley 
 Turner, being a native of South Carolina. He was 
 reared in Wilson County, Tenn., and was mar- 
 ried in Davidson County to Miss Maria Thompson, 
 who was born near Nashville. He served in the 
 War of 1812 tinder Jackson, and was at the battle 
 of New Orleans, dying in Humphreys County. 
 Dr. Turner grew to manhood in that county and 
 until he attained his majority made his home with 
 his father. He received a good practical education 
 in Waverly Academy, and when twenty years of 
 age commenced the study of medi('in(> under Dr. 
 Ellis, taking his first course of lectures in the 
 winters of 1858-59 and 1859-60, in the University 
 of Nashville, graduating from that institution in 
 the spring of the latter year. He then practiced 
 his profession in Houston County until the open- 
 ing of the war, and in the fall of 1862 enli.sted as 
 a private in the Fiftieth Tennessee Infantry, Con- 
 
CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 •^ 
 
 federate States Army. He was soon after detailed 
 as assistant snri^eon, and served in this capacity 
 until 1864, when he left the army and returned 
 JKime and resumed practice. Here he remained 
 until 1871, when he removed to Clay County, Ark., 
 and continued the practice of his profes.sion for 
 nine years. About 1875 he was appointed post 
 master of Clayville. and in 1878 became the first 
 postmaster of Greenway. He kept a stock of 
 general merchandise at his residence, and con- 
 tinued for one year after the location of the town 
 of Greenway, when he moved his store to about 
 one-half mile from his residence. He has also been 
 engaged in farming for a number of years. Au- 
 gust 4, 1864, he was married, in Tennessee, to 
 Miss Louisa Skelton, a native of Tennessee, and a 
 daughter of A. B. Skelton. The Doctor and his 
 wife have four children: James, Jo.seph, Charles 
 and Robert. Minnie was the wife of B. B. Bif- 
 fle, and died in December, 1884. The Doctor and 
 his wife are members of the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church, in which he is a ruling elder, and 
 he belongs to the Masonic fraternity. 
 
 Wright Ward was born in Webster, Hancock 
 County, 111., July 18, 1849, and is a son of Zebe- 
 diah and Arzilla (Wright) Ward, natives, respect- 
 ively, of New York and Tennessee, the former's 
 birth occurring on the 23d of March, 1816, in New 
 York City. When a child he removed with his 
 parents to Dearborn County, Ind. , where he grew 
 to manhood, and then located in Hancock County, 
 111. , where he apprenticed himself to the wagon- 
 maker's trade, which calling has received his atten- 
 tion up to the present time. He is a Democrat, 
 and he and wife are members of the Christian 
 Church. Their children are Wright, a farmer and 
 mechanic; Lorinda, who lives in Carthage, 111., and 
 Mark, a farmer residing in Northeast Missouri. 
 Wright Ward was married in Illinois, on the 1st of 
 May, 1873. to Miss Elizabeth L. Pryor, a daugh- 
 ter of Lewis R. and Hannah J. Pryor, natives of 
 Hancock County, 111. , and by her he has one child, 
 Cora L. . bornOctolier '21. 1874. Mr. Ward moved 
 with his familv to Clarion County, Mo., in 1875, 
 and in 1879 to Randolph County, Ark., where 
 he rented land and farmed for four vears. then 
 
 coming to Clay County, Ark., wliere he purchased a 
 tract of land containing 200 a(!res. He has fifteen 
 acres under cultivation. He has a good young or 
 chard, and su\)stantial fences and buildings, and is 
 I)reparing to erect a new residence. He is a Dem 
 ocrat, is active in his support of schools and 
 churches, and is an industrious farmer. 
 
 W. H. Watts, hotel keeper at Boydsville, was 
 born in Humphreys County, Tenn., in 1840, where 
 he ntmained until after the war, althourrh during 
 that eventful period he joined Gen. Forrest's cav 
 airy and participated in the battles of Athens. 
 Ala., Johnsonville, Tenn., Paducah, Ky., Fort 
 Pillow, Parker's Cross Roads, Gun Town, and was 
 on the Hood raid from Florence, Ala., to Nashville. 
 Tenn. He was in thirteen fights, among which 
 was the Franklin fight, where fully one-third of 
 the men in the company and regiment were lost, 
 and in the Nashville fight, after which a retreat was 
 made to Florence, Ala., continued skirmishing be 
 ing experienced. During this time Mr. Watts had 
 his clothes riddled with bullets, and his hat rim shot 
 away in pieces, but he miraculously escaped without 
 injury to himself. He was discharged in Missis 
 sippi, and sent to Nashville, Tenn., where he took 
 the oath of allegiance to the United States. He wa-- 
 offered $100 in gold by the officers to go to Texas 
 and not to Nashville. He then returned to Humph 
 reys County. Tenn.. where he remained about two 
 years, after which he moved to Graves County, 
 Ky, , where he engaged in agricultural pursuits 
 for about seven years. In 18<)8 Miss L. F. Simp- 
 son, daughter of D. M. Simpson, became his wife, 
 and, in the spring of 1874, they moved to Clay 
 County, Ark., and settled where Boydsville now 
 stands. At that time the county seat question 
 was not settled, but the object was to have it at 
 Boydsville, and Mr. Watts built the first house on 
 the ground. He lived in one part of this house 
 and sold goods in the other, thus continuing until 
 the fall, when he gave it up for the county records, 
 built a log house and resided in that a number of 
 years. In 1878 the county erected the Iniilding at 
 present used as the county court-house. Mr. Watts 
 now owns the house, a large frame one, which he 
 and Judge Holifield built in 1876. and he has 
 
 I* 
 
bought and sold several farms in this locality. 
 To his marriage were born four children, two of 
 whom were born in Kentucky, and three are now 
 living. They are named as follows: Laura C, 
 wife of C. B. Johns, and the mother of two chil- 
 dren, now resides in Boydsville, where her hus- 
 band is engaged in the stock breeding business; 
 William H. and Albert Sidney. Mr. Watts is 
 a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also a 
 member of the K. of H. , and he and wife belong 
 to the Primitive Baptist Church. 
 
 H. J. Weindel, manufacturer of all kinds of 
 staves, headings, also lumber and cooi)erage stock 
 in general, always carries a large stock, and has on 
 hand from 4,000,000 to 5,000,000 staves. He 
 runs the largest factory in Northeast Arkansas, and 
 pays out about $5,000 jjer month for labor. The 
 factory was organized by L Weindel and L. Wirth- 
 lin, in 1862, at St. Louis, and just at the comple- 
 tion of the Iron Mountain Road was moved to 
 Corning, where in 1883 the name was changed to 
 the Southern Cooperage Company. Mr. Weindel 
 was superintendent of the company from 1881 to 
 1885, after which he purchased the business from 
 the Southern Cooperage Company, and has had 
 charge of it since that time. He has a large 
 and extensive trade, and has made the busi- 
 ness what it is by upright and honest dealing. 
 He was born in Bavaria, Germany, July U, 18(51, 
 and is the only son born to the union of John and 
 Mary (Brobst) Weindel, also natives of Bavaria, 
 Germany. The parents moved to St. Louis in 
 1882, but in the same year came to Corning, 
 and here the mother died in 1882. The father is 
 still living. H. J. Weindel came to this country 
 in 1880, first settling in St. Louis, attended col- 
 lege, and there learned the English language. 
 Prior to this he had received a thorough education 
 in Europe, had taught school, was also a teacher 
 of music, and held an excellent position. He 
 came to Corning, Ark., in 1881, not with the inten- 
 tion of remaining, but being so thoroughly satis- 
 fied with the country, concluded to stay. He was 
 married at Corning, in 1886, to Miss Jessie Mc- 
 Kay, a native of Illinois, and the daughter of Will- 
 iam and Mattie (Knowlen) McKay, the father a 
 
 native of Scotland, and the mother of Alabama. 
 Mr. and Mrs. McKay came to this country at an 
 early day, locating in Illinois, and in 1880 moved to 
 Corning, Ark. The father died in the spring of 
 1882, but the mother is still living, and resides in 
 Corning. After marriage Mr. Weindel settled 
 where he now lives, and there he has since lived. 
 He has always taken an active interest in building 
 up the town, and in all enterprises pertaining to 
 the good of the country. He is not particularly 
 active in politics, but votes with tbe Republican 
 party. He is a member of the Roman Catholic 
 Chui'ch. To his union with Miss McKay were born 
 two children, one living, named Hermina. The 
 one deceased was Winifred. 
 
 Joseph Whitaker is one of Clay County's 
 most prosperous farmers and stockmen. His birth 
 occurred in Crawford County, Perm., in 1838, he 
 being the second of a family of ten children born 
 to the marriage of John Whitaker and Euphemia 
 Ann Johnson, originally from New York State. 
 After their marriage in their native State, they 
 immediately moved to Crawford County, Penn., 
 where they bought land and were engaged in 
 farming for about fifteen years, then purchasing 
 land in Erie County, twenty miles from the city 
 of Erie. Here the father is still living, but the 
 mother died in 1SS2. Joseph Whitaker attended 
 school until he was about nineteen years of age, 
 and on the 6th of May, 1861, enlisted in Company 
 D, First Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, which was 
 known in the field as the "Old Buck-tail Regi- 
 ment." He was in the First Army Corps, and 
 was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, partici- 
 pating in the battles of Drainsville, the Peninsula 
 Campaign, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, 
 Autietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and was 
 with Grant until the battle of Cold Harbor, which 
 was the last combat in which he took part. He 
 received his discharge on the 4th of July, 1884, 
 and was mustered out at Harrisburg, but soon af 
 ter re- enlisted in the service, joining the Ninety- 
 eighth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, and was 
 sent to the front after Johnston, in North Carolina. 
 When the latter surrendered, he returned to Wash- 
 ington, D. C , l)ut was mustered out at Philadel- 
 
 ' ■^ « 
 
 -r- 
 
-4- 
 
 CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 253 
 
 pliia. After returuing home ho went to Warren 
 County, Penn. , where he was engaged in the lum- 
 ber business for some time, and operated two saw- 
 mills. In 1883 he sold out and came to Clay 
 County, Ark. , and bought eighty acres in what is 
 now the village of Knobel, being occupied in 
 sawing lumber for a mill company fi'om Burling 
 ton, Iowa. There were no improvements whatever 
 on his land, but Mr. Whitaker immediately erected 
 a comfortable house and out buildings, and cleared 
 about twenty-five acres, which are under cultivation. 
 He has a good young orchard. He has sold con- 
 siderable of his land for town lots, and during his 
 residence here has taken considerable interest in 
 raising the grade of stock, and in December, 1888, 
 imported two registered Durham cattle, a cow and 
 a ViuU, which are the only registered animals in 
 Clay County. He was married, in 1S66, to Miss 
 Elizabeth Searl, a native of England, and an e.sti- 
 mable lady, who died in February, 1886, having 
 borne the following children: Richard, in the em- 
 ploy of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, his head- 
 quarters being at Jefferson City, Mo., and Adelle, 
 a young lady who manages her father's household 
 affairs. 
 
 Elvis B. Whitehorn, a successful fi'uit grower 
 and farmer of Clay County, Ark. , was born Sep- 
 tember 30, 1840, in Carroll County, Tenn., being 
 a son of Jacob H., who was born in Virginia, May 
 13, 1815, and grandson of George Whitehorn, 
 also born in Virginia, his birth occui'ring October 
 17, 1779. The latter moved with his family to 
 Tennessee in 1829, being among the pioneers of 
 Carroll County, and when the War of 1812 broke 
 out he enlisted and served throughout that strug- 
 gle. Jacob H. Whitehorn grew to manhood in 
 Carroll County, but was married in Humphreys 
 County, to Miss Keziah A. Petty, a native of Ten- 
 nessee. They resided in that State, near Hunt- 
 ington, until their respective deaths, and there 
 reared tiieir family. The father's death occurred 
 in 1878. Elvis B. Whitehorn remained with his 
 father until about eighteen years of age and August 
 4, 1864, enlisted in the Twelfth Tennessee Cavalry, 
 Company M, serving until he received his dis- 
 charge October 7, 1865; he participated in the fight 
 
 at Pulaski, and was with Hood on bis thirteen 
 days' raid, being in the battle of Franklin. After 
 this battle he was in the hospital a short time, and 
 was then sent to the Kansas frontier, being dis- 
 charged at Fort Leavenworth. After returning 
 home he resumed farming, and August 11, 18*)7, 
 was married in Carroll County, to Miss Pearl ie 
 Williams, who was born, reared and educated in 
 Carroll County. Mr. Whitehorn is a carpenter by 
 trade, and was engaged in house carpentering and 
 railroad bridge building for a number of years. 
 In the wintt^r of 1880 he moved to Arkansas, and 
 located on his present home farm consisting of 
 200 acres, about 100 of which are under cultivation. 
 Besides this he owns SO acres more. He has a 
 comfortable home and substantial buildings for 
 his stock and grain, and has an orchard consisting 
 of 3,000 peach trees, 400 apple trees, and also 
 many plum and cherry trees. He raises straw- 
 berries in abundance. The j^ear following his ar- 
 rival here he engaged in railroading, l)eing em- 
 ployed on the construction of the ' ' Cotton Belt ' ' 
 Line for about thirteen months. Mr. Whitehorn is 
 a member of the Agi-icultural Wheel and was elected 
 President of the County Wheel in 1888, being the 
 second man in the county to join that society af- 
 ter its organization. He and wife are the parents 
 of the following family: Mary Alvira, Hester Caro- 
 line, Henry B. , James G. , George T. and Joseph B. 
 H. H. Williams, manufacturer of lumber for ag- 
 ricultural implements, first saw the light in Oneida 
 County, N. Y., in September. 1841. being one of 
 nine children, eight living, born to thi> marriage of 
 Herbert Williams and Jane Hughes, natives of 
 Wales, who came to New York State at an early 
 day, where they both spent their lives: the father 
 being a farmer by occupation. Their children 
 who are living are: William H., Evan H., Cather- 
 ine, Mary, Amos. Sarah, Hattie an<l Hugh H. 
 The latter is the youngest of the family and was 
 reared and educated in Oneida County, receiving 
 an academic as well as a common school education. 
 From early chiklhood he was reared to a farm life, 
 which he followed until January, 1864, when he 
 went to Jacksonville, 111., and was employed in 
 the .Insane Asylum. From that time until ls76 he 
 
A 
 
 254 
 
 "HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 was engaged in the lumber business in Pulaski and 
 Aloxander Counties, and at the latter date moved to 
 Scott County, Mo., locating near Morley, where 
 he remained two years, since which time he has 
 lived in Clay County, Ark., being a resident of 
 Corning the first year. He has since been occupied 
 in the lumber business in Williams, which he con- 
 ducts on a very large scale, and employs on an 
 average about thirty men, shipping his product 
 north. In 1887 he shipped from his mill $32,000 
 worth of lumber. This mill is one of the largest 
 in the county, and besides he owns a large farm 
 and several thousand acres of timber land. In 
 September, 1888, he had a postoffice established 
 at his mill, which is called Williams' postoffice. 
 Mr. Williams is wide-awake and enterprising, and 
 takes an interest in all movements to l)eneiit the 
 county. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. , and in 
 1863 was married to Miss Kate B. Billings, a 
 native of Oneida County, N. Y. They have no 
 family. 
 
 Francis A. Williams, one of the well-to-do 
 farmers and stockmen of the county, is a Carroll 
 Coimty Tennes8eean,and was born January 5, 1844, 
 being a .son of Benjamin Williams, who was born 
 in North Carolina, but was reared in Tennessee. 
 In this State he was married to Hester C. Enix, a 
 native of the State, and settled on a farm in Carroll 
 County, where he resided until his death, in the 
 summer of 1871. Francis A. Williams made his 
 home in Carroll County until twenty-three years 
 of age, and was married August 11, 1868, to Mrs. 
 Martha ^Vynn, a daughter of John Foster. She 
 was born and reared in Gibson County, Tenn. 
 After marriage Mr. Williams made three crops in 
 Carroll County, and in the fall of 1870 moved to 
 Arkansas and located in Clay County, where he 
 bought the tract of laud where he now lives three 
 years later. It consists of 240 acres in one body, 
 about 135 acres being cleared and improved with a 
 good frame residence and out- buildings. He has 
 two cotton-gins on his farm and for the past 
 ten years has been engaged in ginning cotton. He 
 has been a member of the Agricultural Wheel 
 ever since the organization of that society in the 
 county, and held some local offices in his township. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Williams are the parents of nine 
 children: Hester, wife of Lee Wiley; Benjamin 
 E., Mary F., wife of Samuel Blackshare; Elbert. 
 Ada, Edwin, Lola, Lura and Alfred D. 
 
 Wilson Bros., proprietors of the Piggott Stave 
 Factories, at Piggott, Ark. , are deserving of high 
 tribute for the enterprise and influence which have 
 contributed to the commercial success of this sec- 
 tion. All manufacturing establishments of mod- 
 ern times have embraced many features of practical 
 utility, and the concern with which these brothers 
 are associated is worthy of high consideration. 
 They located herein the spring of 1884 and estab- 
 lished at this point one stave factory, but two 
 years' experience was sufficient to demonstrate 
 the need of increased capacity, and another fac- 
 tory was started in the summer of 1886 two miles 
 from Piggott. Even this has not proved adequate, 
 and at the present time another is being pushed 
 forward. Each factory has a daily capacity of ten 
 cords of timber, and forty men are actively occu- 
 pied in various caj)acities. The quality of work 
 turned out is unexcelled, and the attention given 
 by the proprietors to their product is a sufficient 
 guarantee as to its sale. It is evident that they 
 have only tried to make the merits of the work 
 satisfactory to all. Charles, Cyrus F. and H. S. 
 Wilson are Kentuckians by birth, and natives of 
 Fulton County, their father now belonging to 
 Hickman, of that county. Dr. H. H. Wilson was 
 born, reared and educated in Tennessee, and there 
 commenced the study of medicine, subsequently 
 graduating from one of the medical colleges of 
 Philadelj)hia. Afterward he located at Hickman, 
 Ky., and entered upon the successful practice of 
 his profession. He was first married in Tennes- 
 see to Miss Lucy Davis, of that State, after whose 
 death he married again. Besides the tliree sons 
 living there is one daughter, a resident of Ken- 
 tucky. Cyrus F. Wilson grew to manhood at 
 Hickman, to which i)lace he afterward returned 
 and married, February 29, 1888, Mrs. Bettie Pl- 
 iant, a native of Kentucky, and daughter of Judge 
 Rile}', of Hickman. She was partially reared in 
 Louisiana. One child was born to this union, 
 Nannie Belle. Mrs. Wilson is a member of the 
 
 f 
 
 ^f 
 
.i£. 
 
 Prcslntprian Chnrch. H. S. Wilson was married 
 at Martiu, Tenn.. March 28. 187S. to Miss Jennie 
 Anderson, of Tennessee, and the daughter of Ed- 
 win Anderson. They have five children: Cora, 
 Lucy, Gland, Stanley and Aleck. 
 
 John S. W instead, farmer and stock raiser of 
 Haywood Township, Clay County. Ark. , is a native 
 of North Carolina, and was born in Persoh Coun- 
 ty May 4, 1830. His father, Seth M. Winstead, 
 was also of North Carolina birth, and was there 
 married to Miss Mary Winstead, daui>;hter of John 
 Winstead. The Winsteads were prominent ])io- 
 neers of that State. Seth Winstead moved to 
 Tennessee about 1S3.S, settling in Weakley Covinty, 
 engaged in farming, and there reared his family. 
 He died in that State in 1882. John S. Winstead 
 is the second in order of birth of three sons and 
 one daughter born to his parents. He attained 
 his growth in AVeakley County, remaining with his 
 parents until twenty-three years of age. and was 
 married, in Obion County, November 18, 1860, to 
 Miss Victoria Rucker, a native of Middle Tennes- 
 see, and the daughter of S. W. and Eda Rucker. 
 After maiTiage Mr. Winstead farmed in Obion 
 County for a number of years, but later sold out 
 and moved to Arkansas in 1872. Two years later 
 hi' bought and settled on his present farm, which 
 he has greatly improved. He has 100 acres cleared 
 and si.xty acres in timber, all one tract. He has 
 fair buildings and a good orchard. This is a very 
 desirable farm, and is located one mile duo west 
 of Gre(»nway. To Mr. and Mrs. Winstead were 
 born these children: Erasmus, Charles, William 
 Samuel, Minnie Ballard, John, Zachariah T. and 
 Victoria. They lost unc daughter, Emma, who 
 grew np, was married, and died in February, 1888, 
 leaving one child. Mr. and Mrs. Winstead are 
 members of. the Christian Church, and Mr. AVin- 
 stead belongs to the Agricultural Wheel. 
 
 Louis M. Wolf, of the firm of Long & Wolf, 
 merchants, of Greenway. Clay County. Ark., was 
 born in the city of St. Louis October 12, 1803, and 
 is a son of Raphael Wolf, who was born and reared 
 in Germany. After reaching manhood he emi- 
 grated to the United States, and was married, in 
 St. Louis, Mo., to Miss Minnie Schoen. also a na 
 
 ' tive of Germany. He was a stock dealer, trader 
 and merchant in St. liouis until his death, in 1S71. 
 Louis M. Wolf remained in St. Louis until he was 
 eight years of age, and was then sent to Cleveland, 
 Ohio, and was educated in a Jewish college of 
 that city. After completing his studies, at the 
 end of seven years, he returned to St. Louis and 
 was engaged in clerking there for a short time, 
 going thence to Topeka, Kas. , and later to Missouri. 
 After clerking in Maiden, Mo., for J. S. Levi iV; 
 Co., for a number of years, he, in April, 1887, 
 came to Arkansas and located at Greenway, where 
 he bought property and Ijuilt a business house, 
 and ill connection with Louis Long, of St. Louis, 
 Mo., conducts a general mercantile establishment, 
 their stock of goods being large and well selected, 
 and their aniuxal sales amounting to $2,500. Mr. 
 Wolf is an enterprising young business man, and 
 is doing a pro.sperous business. He is also a mem- 
 ber of the K. of P., and is connected with the 
 Hebrew Synagogue. His mother is residing with 
 and keeping house for him. 
 
 C. W. Woodall. Among the planters and stock 
 dealers of Kilgore Township, Clay County, Ark., 
 who have attained the highest round in the ladder 
 of success, and are counted among its worthy and 
 honored citizens, may be mentioned Mr. Woodall, 
 who was born in Marshall County, of the "Blue- 
 grass State," in 1845, lieing the second of eleven 
 children born to the marriage of Roland Woodall 
 and Nancy Urennon, natives, respc^ctively, of Nortli 
 Carolina and S])ringtield. 111. The father was 
 taken to Kentucky by his i)arents when three years 
 of age, and was there reared and educated, and 
 spent his days. He was an extensive planter, and 
 owned a large farm of 500 acres, successfully 
 managing it until his death, which occurred in 
 18fi4, and throughout life he was an active politi- 
 cian. His estimable wife survived him many years 
 and died in 1886, at the age of sixty nine years. 
 Her father was one of the first settlers of JIarshall 
 County, Ky., and was the first one buried in the 
 family cemetery in that county. C. W. Woodall, 
 whose name heads this sketch, was reared on his 
 father's plantation and educated in tlie schools of 
 his native State, but in 1803 left school, and August 
 
 -*fv 
 
2r^c, 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 29 of that year went to Padueah, Ky. , where he 
 enlisted in Company A, Fifteenth Kentucky Cav- 
 alry, for three years, and afterward participated in 
 the battles of Spring Creek, Murfreesboro, and 
 several skirmishes, serving as orderly for Maj. W. 
 W. Waller. He served until the close of the war, 
 and after receiving his discharge at Padueah. Ky., 
 returned home and engaged in farming, and was 
 married here on the 29th of August, 1867, to C. A. 
 Brazell, a native of Kentucky, by whom he is the 
 father of live children: Mary A., wife of J. Dud- 
 geon: Sarah Elizabeth, Ida Belle, Amy and Nora 
 Arlena. After his marriage Mr. Woodall purchased 
 a plantation in Kentucky, on which he resided until 
 1871, when he came to Clay County, Ark., and set- 
 tled on the plantation which he now occupies. 
 November 12, 1872, he bought 120 acres of raw 
 land, which he has since improved and added to 
 until he now has 467 acres in the home plantation, 
 and besides this property has forty-one and a half 
 acres at Corning, and his old farm in Kentucky, 
 besides selling 300 acres. On an average he de- 
 votes 100 acres to cotton raising and about the 
 same to corn, and the greater portion of the re- 
 mainder of his land is given to stock, of which he 
 is the heaviest buyer as well as raiser in Clay 
 County. He stall-feeds about sixty head of cattle 
 each year and from fifty to seventy-five hogs, be- 
 sides what he buys and .ships. His property is 
 nicely improved by a good house and barns and a 
 fine apple and peach orchard. He has always 
 taken great interest in enterprises tending to bene- 
 fit the county, and has given much attention to 
 school matters and to the church. He is an ad- 
 mirer of the Ji'ffersonian sy.stem and supports the 
 Democratic party, and has served on the United 
 States grand jury two terms, and the county grand 
 jury nearly every year. Socially he belongs to 
 Orient Lodge No. 297, at Corning, Ark. ; I. O. 
 O. F. Lodge No. 78, and he and wife belong to 
 the Eastern Star Lodge at Reno. Mrs. Woodall's 
 parents. Pleasant and Mary Jane (Hunt) Brazell, 
 were born in North Carolina and Virginia, respect- 
 ively, but removed with their jmrents to Kentucky 
 at a very early day, where they were reared, mar- 
 ried, and spent the remainder of their days. 
 
 William Wynn. In giving a history of the 
 jirominent citizens of Clay Countj% Ark., the bio- 
 graphical department of this work would be in- 
 complete without mentioning the gentleman whose 
 name heads this sketch, for he is deservedly ranked 
 among its prominent planters and stock dealers. 
 His birth occurred in West Tennessee in 1857. 
 being the fifth of thirteen children born to W. J. 
 and Mary (Barker) Wynn, who were natives of the 
 " Old North State" and Tennessee, respectively. 
 \V. J. Wynn became an early resident of Tennes- 
 see and eventually acquired considerable wealth, 
 owning some 1,500 acres of land, and he and wife 
 are now residents of Tiptonville. William Wynn 
 while young aided his father on the plantation, re- 
 ceiving his education in the district schools and 
 the schools of Tiptonville. In October, 1885, he 
 was married in Benton ("ounty to Miss Arabelle 
 Walker, a native of Tennessee, and soon after this 
 settled on his farm in Clay County, Ark., which 
 he had purchased in 188-1. It then comprised 
 160 acres of land, but since locating he has 
 greatly improved and increased his property until 
 he is now the owner of 696 acres in Kilgore and 
 Carpenter Townships. He has cleared about 200 
 acres and has 400 under cultivation. He puts in 
 annually 150 acres of cotton, and devotes the rest 
 to the cereals and to the pasturage of a large 
 number of cattle, horses, and mules, in which he 
 is an extensive dealer. He has the largest amount 
 of land in a tillable condition of any one in Kil- 
 goi'e Township, and has done his full share in de- 
 veloping and furthering the interests of Clay 
 County, being especially concerned in the cause of 
 education, to which he gives his liberal support. 
 He has never been a verj' active politician, but 
 has always given his infiuence to the Democratic 
 party. In March, 188S, he lost his excellent wife, 
 who had l)orne him two children: Thomas W^ill- 
 iam and John Henry, and he was afterward 
 wedded in Clay County in Septemlier, 1888, to 
 Mrs. Margaret (Allen) Toms, who was born in 
 Kentucky, and is a daughter of Daniel Allen. 
 The father was also a Kentuckian, but in 1880 be- 
 came a resident of Carpenter Township, Clay 
 Countv, Ark., where he and wife are living at the 
 
 y\-. 
 
a 
 
 CLAY COUNTY. 
 
 2.".7 
 
 present time, being worthy and successful tillers 
 of the soil. Mr. Wynn is a member of the Agri- 
 cultural Wheel, and during his short residence in 
 the county, he has become well known for his intel- 
 ligence, enterprise, and liberality, not only in a 
 business way, but socially, and commands the re 
 spect. confidence and esteem of all who know him. 
 William L. Yancey, another prominent farmer 
 and stock raiser of Oak BlufiP Township, and son 
 of Robert and Parthena Yancey, was born in Fay- 
 ette County, Tenu., September 22, 1837. Rob- 
 ert Yancey was born in Mecklenburg County, 
 Vh. , grew to manhood there, and was there mar- 
 ried to Parthena Yancey, who was also a native of 
 Virginia. After marriage they moved to Tennes- 
 see, settling in Fayette County, and here the father 
 followed farming and reared his family. He died 
 in 1849, and his widow in 1865. In their family 
 were two sons and one daughter, all of whom grew 
 to mature years. Both brothers grew up in Fay- 
 ette County, Tenn. , and both served in the Con- 
 federate army. William L. enlisted, in March, 
 1862, in Col. Jackson's cavalry regiment, com- 
 manded by Gen. Forrest, and served until the 
 final surrender. He was paroled at Gainesville, 
 Ala., in 1865, and was a participant in the follow- 
 ing battles: Jackson, Miss., Holly Springs. Miss.. 
 Guntown, Miss., Nashville and Franklin, Tenn., 
 and was in a number of minor engagements. After 
 the war he returned to Tennessee, farmed in Fay- 
 ette County for two years, and then moved to Ar- 
 kansas in the fall of 1866, where he remained for 
 one year, when he bought the place where he 
 now resides, five acres being cleared. He is the 
 owner of 240 acres, all in one tract, 180 acres 
 cleared and one-half bottom and very rich land. 
 He has good buildings on his farm, five acres of 
 bearing orchard and five acres in young orchard. 
 Mr. Yancey has been three times married; first, in 
 1859, September 22, to Miss Susan Bradsher, a 
 native of North Carolina, and five children were 
 lK)rn to this union, four now living. Mrs. Yancey 
 died in Arkansas, and Mr. Yancey took for his 
 second wife Miss Jane Wooten, a native of Arkan- 
 sas, reared in Greene County. She died in Au- 
 gust, 1877, leaving one son. Mr. Yancev married 
 
 his present wife, Mrs. Martha Virginia Owen, 
 in January, 1878. She was born in Tennessee, 
 and is the daughter of Rev. A. M. Pickens, a minis- 
 ter in the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Yancey ha<l 
 one daughter by her former marriage, Edgewortli. 
 wife of Matthew Thomas, and Mr. Yancey's chil 
 dren are named as follows: Sarah P., wife of 
 James Wooten; Willie Ann, deceased; Mary K.. 
 wife of John Wamble; Robert J. and James, by 
 his first wife, and Stephen H. by his second wife. 
 Mr. Yancey and wife are members of the Alethod 
 i.st Protestant Church. He is a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, Dannolley Lodge No. 300, also 
 belonging to Evergreen Lodge No. 66, I. O. O. F. 
 Bustamente Yates, merchant, emigrated to 
 Greene County, Ark., in 1876. Going from Weak- 
 ley County, Tenn., to Texas, he remained three 
 years engaged in the photograph business, that be- 
 ing his profession, and while in that State was (piite 
 successful financially. Mr. Yates was born in 
 Henry County, Tenn., Fel)ruary 15, 1844, and 
 when small came with his parents to Weakley 
 County, of the same State. He is the son of 
 Joseph M. and Ann W. (Davis) Yates, and grand 
 son of Lloyd Yates, who lived to be one hundred 
 and four years of age, and never had an ailment 
 until his death. He was a soldier in the Revolu 
 tionary War. Joseph Yates was born in North 
 Carolina, and is now living four miles from Rec- 
 tor, in his eightieth year, and is hale and hearty. 
 He is of Irish descent. During his trip to this 
 country from North Carolina he was taken with 
 measles, and was unconscious for seven days, sub- 
 ject to the severe weather, snow, etc.. during that 
 time. While in North Carolina he was planter and 
 overseer, having charge of a large number of 
 negroes. Ann W. (Davis) Yates, was also Ijorn in 
 North Carolina, probably Orange County, but was 
 married after going to Tennessee, in Obion County. 
 She was the mother of eleven children, nine now 
 living: Lavinia V.. Bustamente H.. Roan. Cazelia 
 F., Dalphin W., Lanora M., JohnC. William H. 
 and Emma. DeWitt and an infant are deceased. 
 The mother of these children is .still living. Grand 
 father Davis was from Orange County, N. C. , and 
 emigrated to Tennessee many years ago. He was 
 
J^l 
 
 -L^ 
 
 258 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 a fanner by occupation, and followed this industry 
 in Tennessee until his death. Grandmother Davis 
 was also from Orange County, N. C and died a 
 number of years ago in Tennessee. She was proV)- 
 ably of German descent. Bustamente Yates was 
 principally reared on a farm in Tennessee, and re- 
 ceived a common school education. After growing 
 up he went to Dresden, Tenn., and clerked for 
 some time, after which he engaged in merchan- 
 dising until coming to Ai'kansas, thirteen years ago. 
 Since then he has been interested in many differ- 
 ent pursuits, and is now in the mercantile business. 
 
 being occupied also in the liquor trade, and is the 
 owner of considerable jiroperty. In 1877 Mr. 
 Yates was married to Miss Sarah L. Eason, daugh- 
 ter of Alfred and Emily E. Eason. both natives of 
 Virginia, but reared in Tennessee, where their 
 daughter was born. Mr. and Mrs. Yates are the 
 parents of six children, four now living: Robert 
 H. , George, Joseph and Annie L. Rose and an 
 infant are deceased. Mr. Yates is not active in 
 politics, but affiliates with the Democratic party. 
 He is a member of the I. O. O. F. , and also a 
 member of the Masonic fraternity. 
 
A 
 
 FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 'Ihil 
 
 XI 
 
 -4-4-5- 
 
 FuLTOx CoTNTY— Its Formation, Organization AND Ofi-hjehs— Its Caimtal and Biildinhs— Polit- 
 ical Record— The Bench and Bar— Sititation ok the County— I.MPoitTANT Statlstics fok 
 THE iNSTurcTioN of Immigrants— Real and Personal Taxation— Aggregate Popu- 
 lation—Educational and Religious Advancement— Selected Family- 
 Records — The Gi'.eat REBELLiox--MrNiciPAL Organizations. 
 
 O. the pleasant days of old, whiili so often ))eoi)le praise! 
 True, they wanted all the luxuvies that i^racc our modern days: 
 Bare floors were strewed with rushes, the walls let in the cold: 
 O, how they must have shivered in those pleasant days of old. — Br 
 
 'ULTON COUNTY was organ 
 ized in 1843, in accordance 
 with an act of the General 
 Sr Assembly of the State ap- 
 proved December 21, 1842. 
 The tirst officers under the 
 .^Jl^O^ organization head the list 
 ^ of county officers following 
 in this work. The territory com- 
 posing the county formerly belonged 
 to Izard, and was originally a por- 
 tion of the old county of Lawrence. 
 In 1855 a part of Fulton County was 
 set off to Marion, and a part of Law- 
 rence was attached to it. In 1878 
 territory from Fulton was taken ofF in the forma- 
 tion of Baxter County. 
 
 Soon after the county was organized, the site 
 of the present town of Salem was selected for the 
 seat of justice, where it has ever since remained. 
 -V log court house containing one room was soon 
 erected on the public square. After being used 
 for a numl)er of years it was replaced with a larger 
 log structure containing a court-room and clerk's 
 office. This l)nilding. together with all of Salem 
 
 except one log cabin, was consumed by tire during 
 the Civil War. The lire was supposed to have 
 been the work of a marauding party. Afterwards 
 another log court-hotise was erected and stood 
 ttntil the fall of 1870, when it, together with all 
 records saved to that time, was also consumed by 
 fire. After that time, the present court house, a 
 medium-sized, two-story frame structure, with a 
 hall and offices on the first floor and the court- 
 room on the second, was erected. It .stands in the 
 center of the large public square; and the jail, a 
 wooden building, the walls of which are made of 
 planks lying flatwise — one upon another and se- 
 curely spiked together — is located in the southwi-st 
 corner of the square. 
 
 The following is a list of the names of county 
 officers, and dates of term of service, from the or 
 ganizatiou of the county to the present writing: 
 
 Judges: E. C. Hunter, 1843-10; John Plum 
 lee, 1846-48; S. Billingsley, 1848-50; L. Bowling, 
 1850-54; R. L. Brantley, 1854-50; S. Billingsley, 
 1856-58; E. C. Hunter. 1858-60; L. Bowling, 
 1860 62; W. R. Chestnut, 1862-64; J. D. Isham, 
 1864-66; \V. R. Chestnut, 1866-68: H. Turner. 
 1868-70; J. W. Ball, 1870-72; commissimier-. 
 
260 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 1872-74; T. J. Cunningham. 1874-80; S. H. 
 White, 1880-82; R. E. Richardson, 1882-84; T. N. 
 Chestnut, present incumbent, first elected in 1884. 
 
 Clerks: Isaac King. 1843-52; W. M. Bennett, 
 1852-54; J. A. Simpson, 1854-56; J. C. Todd, 
 1856-58; S. W. Davis. 1858-62; T. N. Estes, 
 1862-64; J. P. Cochran. 1864-68; Wiley King, 
 1868-71; A. R. Brantley. 1871-72; W. P. Rhea, 
 1872-82; L. P. Kay, 1882-86; H. F. Northcutt, 
 present incumbent, first elected in 1886. 
 
 Sheriffs: F. Tolbert, 1843-44; Daniel Beck, 
 1844-46; C. E. Simmons, 1846-48; S. H. Tolbert, 
 1848-50; N. L. Barker, 1850-54; R. Benton, 
 1854-56; L. D. Bryant, 1856-58; T. Martin, 
 1858-60; L. D. Bryant, 1860-62; E. O. Wolf, 
 1862-64; M. V. Shaver, 1864-66; E. O. Wolf, 
 1866-68; W. E. Spear, 1868-72; W. T. Livingston, 
 1872-74; B. R. P. Todd, 1874-76; W. T. Living- 
 ston, 1876-80; D. P. Tunstall, 1880-82; W. T. 
 Livingston, 1882-84; D. P. Tunstall, 1884-86; 
 W. T. Livingston, 1886-88; A. F. Basham, 1888, 
 present incumbent. 
 
 Treasurers: D. Hubble, 1843-44; W. Falken- 
 berry, 1844-60; J. Montgomery, 1860-64; S. Bil- 
 lingsley, 1864-66; J. M. Archer, 1866-68; J. 
 Andrews, 1868-70; T. Chestnut. 1872-74; E. D. 
 Hays, 1874-76; T. W. Chestnut. 1876-84; S. P. 
 Welden, present incumbent, first elected in 1884. 
 
 Surveyors: B. Archer, 1843-46; H. Long, 
 1846-50; W. E. Davis, 1850-52; J. O. Brown, 
 1852-58; J. T. Livingston, 1858-60; S. H. Tol- 
 bert, 1860-62; M. F. Billingsley, 1862-64; S. 
 Vanatta, 1864-68; William Raines, 1868-72; S. 
 H. White, 1872-76; C. C. Torrence, 1876-80; 
 William Anderson, 1880-82; W. C. Anderson, 
 1882-84; C. C. Torrence. 1884-88; C. C. Davis, 
 1888, present incumbent. 
 
 Assessors: J. W. Kennedy, 1864-66; W. H. 
 H. Orr, 1866-68; J. W. Cleghorn, 1868-72; J. 
 M. Archer, 1872-74; A. L. Pearson, 1874-76; S. 
 H. White, 1876-80; M. T. Price, 1880-82; C. C. 
 Torrence, 1882-84; W. C. Anderson. 1884-86; T. 
 H. Hammond, present incumbent, first elected in 
 1886. 
 
 Representatives in constitutional conventions: 
 1861, S. W. Cochran and George C. Watkins; 
 
 1868. William A. Wyatt; 1874, Edwin R. Lucas. 
 
 At the September election in 1888 the number 
 of votes cast in Fulton County, for the candidates 
 for governor, were as follows: James P. Eagle, 
 Democrat, 1,011; C M. Norwood, opposition, 612. 
 At the presidential election in November. 1888, 
 the number of votes cast within the county for the 
 several candidates were as follows: Cleveland. Dem- 
 ocrat, 873; Harrison, Republican, 272; Streeter, 
 Union Labor. 195: Fisk, Prohibition, 29. 
 
 Just when, or in what particular house the 
 sessions of the county and probate courts were held 
 prior to the selection of the site for the seat of 
 justice, and before the first court-house was con- 
 structed, can not now be given, for the reason that 
 all records of the county prior to the fall of 1870 
 have been destroyed. It is presumed, however, 
 that they were held in Salem very soon after the 
 county was organized. The regular sessions of the 
 county coiirt now begin on the first Mondays of 
 Januar}', April, July and October of each year, and 
 of the probate court on the first Mondays of March, 
 June, September and December. 
 
 The Fulton circuit court belongs to the Four- 
 teenth judicial district, and its regular sessions 
 begin on the fourth Mondays of March and Sep- 
 tember of each year. 
 
 The legal bar of Fulton County is composed 
 of the following named attorneys: C. A. Phillips. 
 B. H. Castleberr.v, J. L. Short, R. B. Maxey and 
 J. M. Burrow. 
 
 Fulton, like all sections of country, has, to 
 some extent, been afflicted with criminals. A few 
 murders have been committed, but no legal execu- 
 tions of the offenders have taken place. They 
 have, however, been punished with terms of ser- 
 vice in the penitentiary. Society is now well 
 regulated, and the safety of persons and property 
 is secured. 
 
 The county of Fulton, located in Northeast 
 Arkansas, on the southern slope of the Ozark 
 Mountain Range, is bounded north by Ozark. How- 
 ell and Oregon Counties in Missouri, east by Sharp 
 County, Ark., south by Sharp and Izard Coun- 
 ties, and west by Baxter County, and has an area 
 of 600 square miles, with only about one-tenth of 
 
 
FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 261 
 
 it improved. Its hoiuidary lines are hs follows: 
 Beginning on the State line between Arkansas 
 and iVIissouri, where it crosses the line between 
 llanges 4 and 5 west of the Fifth Priuci])al 
 Meridian; thence south on the range line to the 
 line dividing Townships 19 and 20 north; thence 
 west on the township line to the line betwiien 
 Ranges 5 and 6 west; thence south on the range 
 line to the line dividing Townships 18 and 19 
 north; thence west on the towilship line to the 
 middle of Range 11, west; thence north on section 
 lintis to the north line of the State; thence east 
 (jn the State line to the place of beginning. 
 
 Spring River is formed by the Mammoth Spring 
 at the town of Mammoth Spring, at the State line, 
 about three miles west of the northeast corner of 
 the county, and flows in a southerly direction 
 across its eastern portion. Myatfs Creek rises 
 near the center of the northern boundary of the 
 county and flows southeasterly and empties into 
 Spring River in the east central part. Soiith Fork 
 enters the county from Missouri a little west of 
 the middle of the northern boundary, and flows 
 south and east to its junction with Spring River 
 in Township 19 north. Range 5 west. Straw- 
 berry River and the tributaries forming it rise in 
 the south central portion of the county — the river 
 itself flowing in a southeasterly direction. The 
 creeks in the extreme western division of the county 
 flow in a southwesterly direction and partially 
 form the Big North Fork of White River. The 
 streams above named, together with their tribu- 
 taries, furnish excellent drainage for the entire 
 county, and on the larger ones there are many 
 good mill sites. Numerous jjure mountain springs 
 abound everywhere, the most noted of which are 
 Mammoth Spring, at the head of Sjmng River, 
 and Sharp's Spring, in the southern part of the 
 county. Good well water can be obtained at an 
 average depth of thirty feet, and many wells are in 
 use, as are also cisterns. These sources furnish an 
 abundant supply of water for all purposes. 
 
 The entire surface of the county is more or 
 less hilly and mountainous, though the knobs and 
 ridges do not reach to any considerable height. 
 Many of the hill sides are sufficiently level for 
 
 cultivation, and on the tops of the ridges are 
 found a number of comparatively level tracts. 
 Valley lands abound along the larger streams. 
 The south central and southwestern portion of the 
 county is not so hilly and broken as elsewhere, 
 and in this and in the valleys of the streams the 
 best farms are found. In the extreme southwest- 
 ern portion, where pine timber abounds, the soil 
 is thin and sandy. On Myatt's Creek and South 
 Fork the soil is a black sandy loam, while on 
 Spring River it is mostly a clay soil. On Straw 
 berry the soil is called a "mulatto soil," and is 
 that kind best adapted to the raising of cotton. 
 It is a loamy clay, composed largely also of veg 
 etable mould. The soil of the uplands consists 
 principally of clay and vegetable mould, and in 
 many places is exceedingly stony. The stone, 
 however, is small and loose upon the surface, and 
 easily removed. Lead and zinc have been dis- 
 covered in different places within the county, but 
 no mines have been opened. 
 
 The first land entries date from 1880, but 
 not many were made prior to 1850. During the 
 50' s more entries are noticed than at any other 
 period of similar length. Large tracts of laud are 
 owned by non-residents. Many of the citizens 
 have made homestead entries, and many have al- 
 ready '"proved up" and secured their titles. 
 There are thousands of acres of Government lands 
 in each of several Congressional districts yet sub- 
 ject to homestead entry, and to the home-seeker 
 who desires to secure a home under the homestead 
 laws, this county presents many advantages over 
 those of the cold, bleak and liarren regions of the 
 West and Northwest. 
 
 The timber of the valley lands consists of wal- 
 nut, sycamore, burr, white and "sour" oak, lin- 
 den, ash, hickory, sweet and black gum, cotton- 
 wood, box- elder, etc. On the uplands black jack, 
 post, black and white oak and hickory abound. 
 The best saw-timber is found in the valleys. Good 
 pine timber is also abundant in the extreme south- 
 western portion of this territory. The timber has 
 not been shipjied out of the county to any consid- 
 erable extent. A few saw-mills are iu oi>eration, 
 all of which are doing good busiue.ss. 
 
•262 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 The principal resources of the county, as now 
 developed, and the principal vegetable productions 
 are corn and cotton. According to the United 
 States census of 1880, there were within the 
 county 866 farms and 24,629 acres of improved 
 land, and from these the vegetable produetions of 
 the previous year were as follows; Indian corn, 
 299,980 bushels; oats. 20,827 bushels; wheat, 
 10,924 bushels; hay, 166 tons; cotton, 2,438 
 bales; Irish potatoes, 95 bushels; sweet potatoes, 
 681 bushels; tobacco, 3,400 pounds. Thus it will 
 be seen that corn and cotton were extensively raised, 
 while but little attention was given to the growing 
 of other crops. The soil is well adapted to the 
 development of all kinds of vegetables named, and 
 the tame grasses and clover. Clover, timothy and 
 herds grass (red top) have recently been introduced, 
 but have not been raised to any considerable ex- 
 tent. The reason for this is the liberal range 
 upon which the stock lives and fattens, requiring 
 only a little feed through the short winters. The 
 number of live stock within the county, as shown 
 by the census of 1880, was as follows: Horses, 
 1,615; mules and asses, 567; neat cattle, 5,934; 
 sheep, 4, 189; hogs, 16,427. The number assessed 
 for taxation in 1888 is as follows: Horses, 2,471; 
 mules and asses, 891; neat cattle, 12,426; sheep, 
 5,764; hogs, 16,483. The apparent small increase 
 in the number of hogs is attributable to the fact 
 that the number given by the census of 1880 in- 
 cliules all slaughtered and sold during the previous 
 year, while the number given in 1888 includes only 
 those on hand when assessed. The real increase 
 of hoffs must have been enormous. Fulton Countv 
 is excellent for stock raising, the climate being 
 mild, the water supply good, and the range for 
 pasturage extensive. It is also well adajited to the 
 cultivation of all kinds of fi-uit common in this lati- 
 tude: V)ut fi-uit growing has not been very largely 
 followed, at least not for shipping purposes. It 
 could be made a very profitable industry, and the 
 opportunity is here for all who may wish to en- 
 gage in it. 
 
 According to the United States census of 1880 
 the assessed value of real estate in Fulton County 
 WMs $201,186, and of personal i)roperty, $205,836, 
 
 making a total of $407,022. The total taxes 
 charged thereon for all purposes amounted to 
 $7,008. 
 
 The taxable wealth of the county in 1888, as 
 shown by the assessment rolls, is as follows: Real 
 estate, 1617,821; personal property, $519,371, 
 making a total of $1,139,192; and the total taxes 
 charged for all purposes is $17,150.92. Thus it 
 is seen that from 1880 to 1888, the taxable wealth 
 of the county nearly trebled. The assessment of 
 1889 will undoubtedly show it more than trebled. 
 These figures prove that the county's resources are 
 being rapidly developed. 
 
 Tlie aggregate population of the county at the 
 end of the several census decades has been as fol- 
 lows: 1850, 1,819: 1860, 4,024; 1870, 4,843; 1880, 
 6,720. The colored population was, in 1860, 88; 
 1870, 85, and in 1880, only 36. 
 
 The only railroad here is the Kansas City, Fort 
 Scott & Memphis, which was completed in 1883. 
 It enters the county, from Missouri, at Mammoth 
 Spring, and runs thence in a southerly direction 
 across its territory for between thirteen and four- 
 teen miles. It was assessed for taxation in 1888 
 at $141,765. It has been and will continue to be 
 of great advantage to the county. 
 
 Prior to the actual settlement of the section 
 now composing Fulton County, it was occupied by 
 a few adventurous and migratory hunters who suli- 
 sisted upon wild game, wild honey, berries and other 
 articles of food that they sometimes procured by 
 returning to the frontier settlements and stealing. 
 This class did not long remain after the permanent 
 settlement began, which, according to best infor- 
 mation, took place during the 20' s and early in the 
 30' s. Among the early settlers that may now be men- 
 tioned were G. A\'. Archer and his family, consist- 
 ing of nine sons and three daughters, who settled 
 on South Fork, four miles east of Salem, and Daniel 
 Hubble, William Wells, Moses Branaon, Mr. Cobb, 
 the Barkers, John Nichols, the Batons and the Lew- 
 ises, all of whom located with their families on 
 South Fork. '■ Tilt " Hubble settled on the Nes- 
 bit place, four miles south of Salem, and Moses 
 Steward in the same neighborhood. It is said of 
 the latter that he raised a familv there without any 
 
 
■«. = ^»- 
 
 !>: 
 
 FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 2(53 
 
 beds except beds of leaves. Enos C. Hunter, the 
 first judge of the county court, took up his resi- 
 dence in 1840 on Indian Camp, six miles east of 
 Salem. Milton Yar berry settled eight miles north- 
 west of Salem, near the Stat(> line. A Mr. Mor 
 rison located on the site of Salem, and John C. 
 Claiborne near that place. John D. Isenhour, 
 Ferd. and Daniel Shaver, Dr. A. Cantrell and Sam- 
 uel W. Cochran were j)ioueers near the present 
 town of Union. 
 
 A few Indians remained here until after the 
 settlement began, and it is related by surviving old 
 residents that one of the pioneers, whose name, for 
 the sake of his descendants, shall not be revealed, 
 stole a pony from the Indians, for which offense 
 the Indians caught and punished him in a novel 
 manner. Placing him astride of a pony, they tied 
 his feet together under its body, with his hands 
 behind him, attached a halter around his neck and 
 the other end of it to a tree, then removed the bridle 
 from the pony and quietly left him to his fate. 
 As the pony began to graze, the halter became 
 stretched, and the man was about choking to death 
 just as a party of his friends arrived and by free- 
 ing him saved his life. 
 
 The early settlers suffered many hardships and 
 l)rivations. They wore their own homespun cloth- 
 ing, and upon attending preaching service in a pri- 
 vate house or in " God's tirst temples, the groves," 
 the rich, as they were called, wore moccasins on 
 their feet, while the poor went barefooted. 
 
 In this county the cause of education has been 
 greatly benefitted by the stanch public sentiment 
 in its favor. About the year 1850 a subscription 
 school lasting only a few weeks was taught in 
 Salem. This it is believed was the tirst school 
 taught here, and only a few others were in exist- 
 ence until the fi'ee school system was established, 
 after the close of the Civil War. The old citizens 
 of the county — those who were children when the 
 settlements began, or were born .soon afterward, 
 never had an opportunity to attend school. l)ut 
 grew to manhood with such education as they could 
 ac<juire at home. The following statistics, taken 
 from the report of the State superintendent of 
 public instruction for the year ending June 30, 
 
 1888, indicates the advancement made in the pub- 
 lic schools of the county: Scholastic popula- 
 tion — white 3,500, colored 32, total 3,592: numVier 
 of pupils taught in the public schools — white, 
 1,647; colored, 16; total, 1,663; number of school 
 districts, 61); number reporting enrollment in the 
 schools, 48; number of teachers employed — males, 
 20; females, 18; total, 38; average monthly salar- 
 ies paid teachers — first grade, males, $34 ; females, 
 $27; second grade, males, $24.75: females, none; 
 third grade, males, $26; females, $20; amount of 
 revenue expended for the support of the schools, 
 $6,208.51. These figures show by comparison 
 that of the .scholastic population less than one-half 
 were enrolled in the public schools; but the figures 
 do not include the pupils of schools where the di- 
 rectors failed to make reports. The wages paid 
 teachers are much less than in many other coun- 
 ties. County Examiner S. H. White said in his 
 report to the State superintendent for 1888: " The 
 public schools have no opposition in this county at 
 this time, and the tax books show that thirty-nine 
 of the districts voted a tax last year ranging from 
 two and one-half to five mills.'" 
 
 In addition to the public schools there are two 
 well sustained academies in the county, the Salem 
 Academy and the County Line Academy, the hit 
 ter in the northwest corner. 
 
 Of the several religious denominations, the 
 Methodists and Baptists were the pioneer workers 
 hereabouts. About 1840, the former had preach 
 ing at the Hubble place, three miles north of the 
 present site of Salem, and a little later the latter 
 held services at Indian Camp, some six miles east 
 of Salem. Churches then began to be organized, 
 but the few that were formed prior to the war pc 
 riod became disorganized during that time. 
 
 The Methodist Episco]jal Church. South, now 
 embraces one circuit and three missions. Salem 
 circuit contains seven appointments, with an ag- 
 gregate membership of 3i)4, including three local 
 preachers. Rev. J. S. Watson is the pastor in 
 charge at this writing. Viola Mission includes 
 six appointments, with a total membership of 233. 
 including six local preachers. Rev. R. D. Moon is 
 the present pastor. Mammoth Spring Mission has 
 

 264 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 three appointments, whose membership has reached 
 
 I forty-five. Rev. J. F. Troy is present pastor. 
 State Line Mission has seven appointments, with 
 
 j an aggregate membership of 187. The present 
 pastor is Rev. J. R. Edwards. These all belong 
 
 ; to the Batesville district of the White River con- 
 ference, from the minutes of which the statistics 
 have been taken. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Church embraces 
 
 I within the county the whole of one and a portion 
 of another circuit. Viola Circuit contains six ap- 
 pointments, with an aggregate membership of 105. 
 Wild Cherry Circuit has two appointments in the 
 county — Wild Cherry and Gum Springs — the two 
 having a membership of about 125. Rev. J. W. 
 Slusher is pastor. Viola Cu'cuit has no pastor at 
 this writing. These churches belong to the Harri- 
 son district of Arkansas conference, of which Rev. 
 W. C. Evans is presiding elder. There are a few 
 organizations in the county of Methodist Protes- 
 tants. 
 
 Of the Missionary Baptist Church there are the 
 following organizations: Mount Zion, at Union, 
 Lil erty Hill, Little Strawberry, Enterprise, Gum 
 Springs, Shady Grove, Mount Vernon, Salem, 
 Viola, Oak Grove and Shiloh, with an estimated 
 aggregate membership of 4-13. These organiza- 
 tions all belong to Big Creek association of Mis- 
 sionary Baptists. There are not less than eleven 
 Christian Church organizations scattered though - 
 out the county, having an aggregate membership 
 of about 350. At Mammoth Si:)ring is the St. 
 Andrew's Episcopal Church, with a membership 
 of twenty five. It was organized in November, 
 1887, by Dr. Lawson, of Mississippi, and is the 
 only one of that denomination in the county. Of 
 the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, there are at 
 least three organizations in the county, viz: Hick- 
 ory Grove, Fairview and one near Pleasant Valley. 
 One Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is 
 in the county — Prosperity, four and a half miles 
 southwest from Salem. It has a membership of 
 about forty-five. Rev. J. C. McDonald, of Izard 
 County, is the present pastor. All the settled por- 
 tions of the county are supplied with churches and 
 school-houses. 
 
 At the outbreak of the Civil War nearly all the 
 citizens of Fulton County were in favor of estab- 
 lishing the Southern Confederacy. A very few 
 who remained loyal to the Union departed to the 
 North. Several companies of soldiers, commanded 
 respectively by Capts. M. V. Shaver, Harry Tracy, 
 L. D. Bryant and others, were raised within the 
 county and served in the Confederate army during 
 the war. In the early part of that period a skirmish 
 took place on the Simmons farm in the northern 
 part between a battalion of Confederate and a bat- 
 talion of Federal troops, on which occasion the lat- 
 ter were routed, with a loss of six killed and a few 
 wounded. The Confederates lost but one killed. 
 Another skirmish occurred toward the close of 
 the war, on Little Strawberry Creek, about four 
 miles south of Salem, between a battalion of Clay- 
 ton's command of Federal troops and a battalion 
 of Confederate troops, under Col. Cloud, on which 
 occasion the latter were completely routed. There 
 was a small loss on each side. These were the 
 only engagements worthy of mention within the 
 county between the contending forces, but scout- 
 ing and marauding parties frequently scoured the 
 country, killing individuals and taking or destroy- 
 ed much property. The county was over-run and 
 laid waste, and before the war -closed it was almost 
 deserted. There was no bushwhacking among its 
 citizens. 
 
 Towns and villages of commercial importance 
 have sprung up here and there, forming necessary 
 trading points for the surrounding country. 
 
 Afton, a station of the Kansas City, Fort Scott 
 & Memphis Railroad, five miles south of Mam- 
 moth Spring, contains a depot, store, hotel and 
 sawmill. 
 
 Camp is seven miles northeast of Salem. Here 
 are a store, grocery, grist-mill and cotton-gin. 
 
 Elizabeth, eighteen miles southwest of Salem, 
 has a general store, drug store and a cotton-gin, 
 with three saw-mills in the near vicinity. 
 
 Mitchell, fifteen miles southwest of Salem, has 
 one general store. 
 
 Myatt, in the northeastern part of the county, 
 has one store, grist-mill and cotton gin. 
 
 Mammoth Spring is located on the Kansas 
 
FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 2fi5 
 
 City, Port Scott & Memphis Railroad, at the fa- 
 mous sprinw of that name. The old town, con- 
 taining a .small cluster of houses and a saloon, on 
 the Missouri side of the State line, located at the 
 Hany Tunstall Spring, about half a mile west of 
 the big spring, was established many years ago, 
 !)ut the new town, near the big spring and the rail- 
 road, has been almost wholly constructed since the 
 completion of the railroad, in 1883. It now con- 
 tains three general stores, three groceries, two 
 drug stores, a hardware and furniture store, a ,iew- 
 elry and a millinery store, three hotels, two res- 
 taurants, a livery stable, a weekly newspaper, two 
 real estate offices, a liuilding and loan association, 
 a lumber yard, a lish farm, the Calumet Cotton 
 Factory, two church edifices, a large brick school- 
 house, a complement of mechanics' shops, a lodge 
 each of Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of 
 Pythias, etc., etc.. and a population of about 800. 
 The town is "booming," the immigration is rapid 
 and the population will soon double and treble. 
 The place is designed by nature for a health and 
 summer resort, and is being fitted up for that pur- 
 pose. A commodious hotel, commanding splendid 
 views, recently under construction, is now com- 
 pleted, and is especially adapted for the accommo- 
 dation of health and pleasure seekers. The Mam- 
 moth Spring Monitor, a Democratic newspaper, is 
 published weekly by its proprietors. Gulp & Dead- 
 erick. It is now in its second volume, and is well 
 supjiorted, as its ably written columns and sub- 
 stantial local matter deserve. 
 
 The great spring from which the river flows is 
 about liSO feet in diameter, but the Mammoth 
 Spring Improvement Company have constructed a 
 huge dam across the river at a projier distance 
 below the spring, thus forming a reservoir, com- 
 pletely submerging the spring and containing an 
 area of eighteen acres. The sheet of water that 
 flows over the dam is 107 feet wide, the depth of fall 
 is fourteen feet, and the quantity that falls is over 
 45,000 cubic feet per minute, enough to turn all 
 the mills and factories that can be built adjacent 
 to it. The supply is constant and does not vary 
 with the change of seasons. The river, with this 
 great body of water, for a distance of eleven and 
 
 three-fourth miles from below the dam has a fall 
 of 134 feet. In this distance many dams co\ild l)e 
 constructed and hundreds of mills operated. Mam 
 moth Spring and the river that flows from it form 
 one of nature's greatest wonders. The Calumet 
 Cotton Factory stands by the dam mentioned. It 
 is a two-story brick building. 50x250 feet in size, 
 with a one-story wing attach(>d, 40x90 feet, and at 
 this writing is well supplied with looms and other 
 machinery. The rnimber of looms is about 120 
 and the number of spindles 5,000. One hundred 
 and fifty hands are employed and all the finer 
 grades of colored cotton goods manufactured. 
 These hands and their families add mucli to the 
 population of the place. 
 
 Salem, the county seat, is near the geograph- 
 ical center of the county, and has a beautiful site 
 at the foot and south of Pilot Hill. It had its 
 origin with the county's organization. As pre 
 viously mentioned, it was destroyed during the 
 Civil War. It now contains two general stores, 
 a drug store, grocery, school-house, church, two 
 hotels, the county buildings, two newspapers, etc.. 
 and twenty two families. The Fulton County Ban- 
 ner, published weekly at Salem, is now in its fifth 
 year. It is published by Lee Davis, is Demociatic 
 in politics, and has a fair circulation. The Salem 
 Informer, now in its thirteenth volume, is published 
 by Jesse Matthews. It advocates Republican ])rin- 
 ciples and has for its motto. '" Whatever will ad- 
 vance the laborer's interest." 
 
 South Fork, in the eastern part of the county, 
 has a general store, a drug store, flouring-mill 
 and cotton-gin. 
 
 Union, ten miles south of Salem, contains a 
 general store and school-house. 
 
 Viola, in the western part of the county, con- 
 tains two general stores, a drug store, flouring 
 mill, two cotton-gins, blacksmith shops, a school 
 house and Masonic hall. 
 
 Wheeling, four miles south of Salem, has a 
 grocery, a saw and grist-mill and cotton-gin. a 
 church and school -house. 
 
 Wild Cherry, in the .southwest portion of the 
 county, contains two general stores, two churches, 
 a grist mill and cotton-gin. blacksmith shop, a 
 
2i)() 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Masonic hail and Odd Fellows" hall. At each of 
 the towns and places above named there is a post- 
 office. 
 
 James M. Archer, senior member of the jj^en- 
 eral merchandise firm of Archer, Daniels & Co. 
 Fulton County has within her borders many men 
 to whom she may point with ]>ride; men, who, for 
 getting their own interests, have labored assidu- 
 ously, bending all their eflPorts to one great end — 
 their country's advancement and welfare. These 
 men, in braving the dangers and privations in- 
 cident to a pioneer's life, have pressed rapidly 
 forward, paving and preparing the way for the 
 advantages now reaped by a younger generation. 
 Such a man is James M. Archer, who was born in 
 Lawrence County, Ark., June 10, 1832, and when 
 but five years of age removed with his parents to 
 Fulton County. He suffered the loss of his 
 mother when still a mere lad, and a few years 
 later his father was stricken down with paralysis, 
 lingering a helpless cripple for sixteen years. 
 This was a terrible blow for young Archer, as it 
 robbed him of his support and reduced him to a 
 state of destitution. It was in this trying ordeal 
 that the boy showed the metal of which he was 
 made. Born of a sturdy line of ancestry, he inher- 
 ited a vim which refused to bow under adverse cir- 
 cumstances, and here were developed that deter- 
 mination of purjaose and untiring energy which 
 has characterized his after life. He is first found 
 occupying the humble position of knife rubber on 
 a steamboat, which he followed for three years, 
 never once complaining of his hard lot. Later he 
 was engaged in labor upon a farm, receiving for 
 his work the mere pittance of four dollars per 
 month, which he saved for the purpose of attending 
 school. His small amount of funds was soon ex- 
 hausted, and he was compelled to resume his la- 
 bors, and for five years more was engaged in 
 various occupations. When the war broke out he 
 was not long in making his decision, and, espous- 
 ing the cause of the Confederacy, he organized the 
 first company of Confederate troops in Marion 
 County, Ark., where he was then located. He 
 
 assumed the captaincy of this company, which was 
 mustered into service in the Seventh Regiment 
 Arkansas Infantry, and for a short time was sta- 
 tioned at Pocahontas, Ark. He next joined the 
 Regulars and was commissioned regimental adju- 
 tant of the Fourth Cavalry, participating in many 
 engagements, among which were the battles of 
 Fitz Hugh's Woods, Ironton, Boonville, Inde- 
 pendence and others. After the close of the war 
 he embarked in agricultural pursuits near Salem. 
 Ark., and in 1869 he engaged in business at that 
 town, where he remained until 1882. In 1887 he 
 obtained control of Mammoth Spring, and at once 
 devoted his attention to the general improvement 
 of the place. He is now general manager and 
 secretary of the Mammoth Spring Imjirovement 
 & Water Power Compau)', and director of the 
 Calamity Cotton Mills. In 1879 Mr. Archer was 
 elected representative of Fulton County, and re- 
 elected in 1881. His wife was Miss Laura Tun- 
 .stall, of Arkansas, a daughter of Thomas T. and 
 Elizabeth Tunstall, early settlers of this State. 
 They are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, and are held in the highest esteem. 
 In political faith Mr. Archer is an ardent adherent 
 of Democratic principles. He is also a member of 
 the K. of P, 
 
 A. F. Bassham is the present efficient sheriff 
 and ex-officio collector of Fulton County, Ark., and 
 is well-known throughout the county as a man of 
 ability and honor. He was born in Lawi-ence 
 County. Tenn., January 25, 1859, and is a son of 
 S. H. and Elizabeth (Ray) Bassham, who were 
 born in Tennessee and Alabama, September 9, 
 1829, and January 1, 1830, respectively. The 
 former grew to maturity and was married in his 
 native State, being there engaged in the pursuit 
 of farming, but after the late war, in which he 
 served on the Confederate side, he emigrated to 
 Arkansas, in 1874, where he followed the same oc- 
 cupation, but is now residing in Salem. He is a 
 Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Free 
 Will Baptist Church. His father, Richard Bassham. 
 was a native and a farmer of Tennessee, and was 
 married to a Miss Pennekuff, who died in Lawrence 
 County, Tenn. In all probability the maternal 
 
'^%V ^ L 
 
 V 
 
 SHARP couifrr, Arkansas 
 
FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 2Cn 
 
 giandfutber, Beujiimiu Euy, was a native of Ala- 
 bama. A. F. Basshaiu was reared to the age of 
 foui'teeu years in Tennessee, since wbi(!h time be 
 has been a resident of Fulton County, Ark. Being 
 desirous of supplementing the primary education 
 which he received, in the vicinity of his home, with 
 a more thorough knowledge he entered the graded 
 school at Mountain Home, Ark. , where his career was 
 marked with rapid advancement. Now thoronglilv 
 (jnalitied to enter upon a ]irofessional career, he 
 engaged in teaching school, and was one of the 
 popular educators of Fulton County for several 
 years. He gave up this work, however, to assume 
 the responsible duties of his present office, to which 
 he was elected September 3, 1888, by the Demo- 
 cratic party, of which he has always been an active 
 member. He is a Master Mason, and is secretary 
 of Viola Lodge No. 399; also belonging to Salem 
 Lodge No. 28, I. O. O. F. October 15, 1881, he 
 was married to Miss Allie Brown, who was born in 
 1862, and by her has an interesting little family of 
 three children; Frederick, Maude and William. 
 Mr. Bassham owns a good farm of 120 acres. 
 
 W. W. Brooks, now in the employ of the Mam- 
 moth Spring Fish Farm, was originally from Troup 
 County, Ga. , where he was born in 1851. His 
 father, Capt. Henry Brooks, was born in Jackson 
 County, Ga. , in 1816, and was married in Troup 
 County, of the same State, to Miss Eliza Wideman, 
 a native of Trou]) County, born in 1824. The 
 mother died in 1856, and two years later Mr. 
 Brooks removed to Tallapoosa County, Ala., from 
 there to Pontotoc County, Miss., in 1868, and in 
 ISTO to Independence County, Ark., where he 
 died in 1874. He had been married twice. Dur- 
 ing his entire life he followed the occupation 
 of a farmer, and was very successful in this pur 
 suit. During the late war he was captain of 
 Company (t. Fourteenth Alabama Infantry, Con- 
 federate Army, and was with the Army of Virginia 
 until 1862, when he resigned on account of poor 
 health. He then joined Young's company of Ala- 
 bama State troops and served uutil the close of the 
 war. He was captured at the surrender of Selma, 
 Ala., and paroled. He was major of the militia in 
 an early day, and held the position of justice of 
 
 the peace for a niiinber of years. He was a mem 
 ber of the Masonic fraternity for years, and also 
 belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South. His father, John Brooks, was born in 
 Jackson County, Ga., and died in Troup County. 
 of the same State. He was of English descent, 
 was a member of the Baptist Church, and was a 
 soldier in the early wars. The maternal grand 
 father of the subject of this sketch was a native of 
 South Carolina, and died in Troup County, Ga. 
 \V. W. Brooks was the third of four sons born to 
 his parents. Like most of the youths of his vicin- 
 ity, as he grew up he devoted his time and atten- 
 tion to labors on the farm, and in the meantime re- 
 ceived a fair education in the common schools. 
 He began for himself at the age of twenty-one 
 and went to the Lone Star State, where he went 
 at braking on the railroad. Later he clerked in a 
 store a( Batesville for two years, and was tlien 
 made deputy sheriff of Independence County. 
 After this he engaged in the milling business, raiU 
 roading, and was also in the railway mail service 
 for a number of years, or until in March. 1889, 
 when he was employed by his present company. 
 His marriage to Miss MoUie Jeffeiy occurred in 
 1882, and two sons were the result. Mrs. Brooks 
 was born in Izard County, and is the daughter of 
 Daniel M. JefFery, who was also a native of Izard 
 County, where he died in 1888. He was a farmer, 
 also being a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. 
 Mr. Brooks came to Fulton County, Ark., in 188(l, 
 lived at Salem three year.s, and while there was en- 
 gaged in the milling business. Since then he has 
 resided at Mammoth Spring. He was appointed by 
 President Arthur postmaster at Mammoth Spring, 
 and tilled this position in a satisfactory manner for 
 two years. He was justice of the peace from 18S4 
 to 1886. and was postmaster at the same time. In 
 1885 he was a member of the equalization board 
 of Fulton County, appointed by Gov. Hughes. 
 He was formerly a member of the I. O. O. F. He 
 is an active worker iu the Democratic ])arty, and 
 voted for Horace Greeley in 1872. 
 
 Hon. S. A. Brown, ex- member of the Twenty - 
 fifth General Asspinl)ly. and one of the largest land 
 owners and farmers of Bennett Bayou, was bom in 
 
 f 
 
L^ 
 
 2fi8 
 
 HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 tlu> Buckeye State, and is the son of Matthew and 
 Hannah (O'Key) Brown, natives of Ohio. They 
 were married in their native State, and remained 
 there until 1866, he engaged in farming and stock 
 raising. In 1861 the elder Brown joined the United 
 States troops as first lieutenant of Company D, 
 Twenty- seventh Ohio Infantry, and served about 
 one year, participating in the following battles: 
 New Madrid, Island No. 10 and Corinth. When 
 the call for 600,000 troops was made, Lieut. 
 Brown came home, raised a company, was made 
 captain, and joined the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
 Ohio Infantry, Company F, and remained with 
 that company for three years. He took part in 
 several noted engagements: Winchester, Cedar 
 Creek, Piedmont, Petersburg and Richmond. He 
 was wounded at Winchester while on picket duty, 
 being shot in the arm. He was discharged at Har- 
 per's Ferry in 1864, and came home. In 1866 he 
 went to Southwest Missouri, and in 1869 came to 
 Fulton County, Ark., and bought the place on 
 which his son, Hon. S. A., now resides, for $2,000. 
 Three years later he sold this farm to his son, and 
 bought one on Big North Fork of White River, 
 in Baxter County. Ark. , where he died in 1876. 
 Ho was public administrator of this county for 
 three or four years, and was also county judge of 
 the same county. He was not an office seeker, 
 and was appointed to the positions he held by the 
 Governor. Previous to the war, he had been a 
 strong Democrat, but after that his ideas coincided 
 witli those of the Republican party. He was a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic fraternity. Nine children were 
 born to his marriage, eight of whom lived to V)e 
 grown, and seven are now living: Edward, S. A., 
 born December 28. 1839; Catherine, A. R., Nancy 
 (deceased), Mary A., Jennie D. and Josephine. 
 S. A. Brown was a soldier in the late war, having 
 joined Company F, One Hundred and Sixteenth 
 Ohio, in his twenty-first year, and served three 
 years. He was discharged on accoiuit of a wound, 
 and was afterward captured at Staunton, Va. , and 
 kept in prison three months. He was in Libby 
 prison a short period, but the principal part of the 
 time was spent in the hospital. He was paroled at 
 Richmond, Va., on the Tith of August, 1865. 
 
 While in service he participated in the following 
 battles: Winchester, Gettysburg, and at Piedmont, 
 Va. , where he was wounded by a musket ball in 
 the arm. He held the rank of orderly sergeant of 
 his company during the war. After his return 
 home in 1865, he remained there for about a year, 
 and then, in company with his father, moved to 
 Polk County, Mo. , where he continued for three 
 years. After this he taught school, and in 1S69 
 came to Fulton County, Ark., where he taught the 
 fiirst free school in this section after the war. Sub- 
 sequently he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and 
 has continued the same up to the present. On the 
 8th of December, 1870, Miss Lou Baker became 
 his wife, and to them have been born three chil- 
 dren: Claud, born on the 19th of September, 1871; 
 Bettie, born on the 2d of November, 1878, and 
 Bertha, born on the 4th of February, 1881. Mrs. 
 Brown died on the 28th of April, 1882, and Mr. 
 Brown married Mrs. Josie Simpson, nee Tuttle, 
 August 4, 1884, and they have two children, Ros- 
 coe C, born on the 16th of August, 1885, and 
 Archie, born on the 16th of April, 1887. Mrs. 
 Brown is the daughter of Capt. T. C. Fluty, of 
 Tennessee, a captain in the Confederate army, 
 and one of the prominent farmers of Baxter Coun- 
 ty, Ark. Mr. Brown has represented his county 
 in the legislature, and has held several minor offi- 
 ces, filling the position of commissioner of public 
 accounts for two terms. He is a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity. Queen Elizabeth Lodge No. 
 360, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F., 
 Vidette Lodge No. 94. He belongs to Simp. 
 Mason Post No. 228, G. A. R., Department of 
 Missouri, and was appointed on the staff of John 
 E. Phelps, commander of the State of Missouri. 
 He is a Republican in politics, and he and Mrs 
 Brown are members of the Methodist Episco[)al 
 Church. 
 
 Thomas J. Brown. No name is more prop- 
 erly placed in the history of the county than that 
 of Mr. Brown, who is not only one of the most 
 enterprising farmers of the county, but is of such 
 a social, genial nature, that he has made many 
 friends. He owes his nativity to the State of Ten- 
 nessee, where his birth occurred January 5, 1854. 
 
FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 'im 
 
 His parents, John and Caroline (Harber) Brown, 
 are natives of Tennessee. The elder Brown was a 
 sturdy sou of toil and followed this occupation in 
 his native State until his subsequent removal to 
 Dunklin County, Mo. His death occurred April 30, 
 1S5S. He had been constable in Tennessee and 
 filled the position in a highly satisfactory manner. 
 His marriage took place in 184:4, and six children 
 were the result: Henry N. , born Sept(!mber 27, 
 1846, died October 2S, 1846; Martin W., born Sep- 
 tember 30, 1847, died October 14, 1848; Martha 
 J., born December 22, 1849, died May 4, 1886, 
 Joseph M. , born January 26, 1852; Amanda C, 
 born July 30, 1858, died February 22, 1876. John 
 Brown, the father of these childi-en, was born on 
 the I'Jth of July, 1824, and his wife was born on 
 the 20th day of October, 1825. She died August 
 28, 1888, and was a worthy and consistent member 
 of the Christian Church. Thomas J. Brown com- 
 menced life for himself at the age of nineteen 
 years, and his marriage to Miss Eliza J. Pumphrey 
 was consummated on the 24th of August, 1873. 
 She was born in Ozark County, Mo., October 10, 
 1852. With his parents he left Dunklin County, 
 Mo. ; came to Fulton County, Ark., iu 1858, and 
 has been a resident of this county ever since. In 
 1874 he purchased his present property, and is 
 now the owner of 320 acres of land, 150 under a 
 tine state of cultivation. Over his Inroad acres 
 roam cattle, sheep and horses and mules, which 
 he makes a specialty of raising. To his marriage 
 were born six children : John ^N" . , born on the 13th 
 of .Tune, 1874; Richard W., born on the 12th of 
 Fel)ruary, 1877; Elizabeth C, born on the 20th of 
 August, 1879; Ollie M., born on the 7th of May, 
 1885; Thomas M., born on the 21st of March, 
 1887 ; James E. , born on the 6th day of August, 
 1889. Mr. Brown has made the principal part of 
 his property by his own labor. His wife is the 
 daughter of ^\■illiam (J. Pumphrey and Elizabeth 
 (Hawkins; Pumphrey, both natives of Tennessee. 
 They came to Missouri at an early day. settling 
 on The Big North Fork of White Biver, in Ozark 
 County, Mo. , and were married there in 1848. After 
 remaining in that county until 1887, he moved to 
 Boone County, Ark. His tirst marriage was to Miss 
 
 Fannie Holt, of Tenne.ssee, who bore him two 
 children, one living at present: Mary. By his 
 marriage to Miss Hawkins he l)ecame th(? fatlier of 
 six children, four of whom survive: Benjamin J. 
 (deceased), Eliza J., George W., Sarah A., M. T., 
 and William (deceased). Mr. Brown is a Demo- 
 crat and has tilled the office of deputy sheriff of his 
 county for two years. His wife is a member of 
 the Missionary Ba[)tist Church. 
 
 Charles J. Brimsou's life from his earliest rec- 
 ollections has been passed on a farm, his early 
 days being spent in assisting his father on the old 
 homestead in Georgia, iu Twiggs County of which 
 State he was born January 7, 1827. His parents, 
 Jarrett N. and Mary M. (Stephens) Brunson, were 
 born in South Carolina, the former's birth occur- 
 ring about 1797. He was a farmer by occupation, 
 of Scotch descent, and died in Georgia near 1842, 
 being one of thirteen children (eleven sons and 
 two daughters) born to Peter Brunson, who lived 
 and died in South Carolina. Mrs. Mary M. Brun- 
 son died in the State of Georgia about 1829, hav- 
 ing borne a family of four children, of whom our 
 subject is the third. After his father's death 
 Charles J. began making his home with his elder 
 brother, and while living with him attended school 
 one year, making good use of his opportunities. He 
 then went to his uncle's, Marion Brunson, in Ala- 
 bama, and again entered school, attending about 
 three months, after which he took charge of liis 
 uncle's plantation, and overseered his slaves, who 
 numbered about sixty, for two years. Being of- 
 fered better wages, he became an overseer for a 
 neighboring planter, remaining with him one year. 
 In 1848 he was married, in the State of Alabama, 
 to Miss Mary Hickman, who was born in Twiggs 
 County, Ga., October 23. 1833, and died iu Ful- 
 ton County, Ark.. January 1, 1872. She left, 
 besides her hu.sband, a family of three children to 
 mourn her loss: Charles J., James L. and Anna 
 E. (wife of J. H. Nichols.) Three children are 
 deceased. In the latter part of 1872 Mr. Brunson 
 took for his second wife Mrs. Margaret (Huffman) 
 Willcox, who was born in Davidson County, N. C , 
 November 19, 1837. They have one son, Joseph 
 A. In 1854 Mr. Brunson moved with his family 
 
270 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 to Ashley County, Ark., and there resided until 
 1865, when he settled in Jefferson County, where 
 he spent two years. Since that time he has been 
 a resident of Fulton County. By his own unaided 
 efforts he has become the owner of a fine farm 
 comprising 280 acres, with about 130 under culti- 
 vation, and has made all the improvements, stich as 
 building fences and houses, and clearing the land, 
 himself. He served two years in the Confederate 
 army during the Rebellion, and has since been a 
 Democrat in politics. He has held the position of 
 constable both in Alabama and Arkansas, and has 
 been solicited to accept other local offices, but has 
 declined. He and family belong to the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South, of which he has been a 
 member since twenty one years cf age. His first 
 wife was a member of the Missionary Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 George C. Buford, dealer in general merchan- 
 dise, farm implements, etc.. Mammoth Spring. Of 
 the many names that make uj) the strength of the 
 business portion of Mammoth Spring that of Mr. 
 Buford is foremost. His business was established 
 in 1885, and the value of the stock is estimated at 
 about $12,000. Mr. Buford was born in Frederick- 
 town, Mo., October 20, 1849, and is the son of 
 Christopher Y. and Mary (Nifong) Buford, natives 
 of South Carolina and Pennsylvania, respective!}'. 
 The parents were married in Missouri, and there 
 spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Buford 
 died in 185,5 and Mr. Buford in 1879. Her father, 
 George AV. Nifong, was a native of Pennsylvania, 
 and moved to Southeast Missouri at a very early 
 day, where he died at the age of ninety-eight years. 
 Mr. Buford was married twice. He was a well to- 
 do farmer, stock raiser and general trader, and was 
 also a member of the Masonic fraternity. His 
 father died in Louisiana at the age of eighty years. 
 George C. Buford was one of six children born to 
 his parents, and received a thorough education at 
 Fredericktown, and at Washington University, St. 
 Louis. He also graduated from Reed's Commer- 
 cial College, of St. Louis, in 1869. SuVisequently 
 he taught school for several years in Frederick- 
 town, Mo., until 1871, when he removed to New- 
 port, Ark., and there engaged in merchandising 
 
 and general trading with marked success until 
 1884. He then came to Mammoth Spring, where 
 he purchased the first business and residence lots 
 sold by the town syndicate. He immediately 
 erected buildings, and built the first brick business 
 house in that town, besides investing largely in real 
 estate there. He is also the owner of considerable 
 real estate in and around Newport, and is one of 
 the most thoroughgoing and active business men 
 in Fulton County. He enjoys an immense trade. 
 He was the assessor of Jackson County, Ark. , for 
 four years, and filled that position to the satisfac 
 tion of all. He has been married three times; first, 
 in 1874, to Miss Lena Claridge, the daughter of 
 Dr. H. B. Claridge, who came from Tennessee to 
 Jackson County, where he was one of the leading 
 physicians. Mrs. Buford died in 1879, and in 1883 
 Mr. Buford married Miss Delia Harrison, who died 
 in 1884. In 1886 he married Miss Nettie Ander- 
 son, daughter of J. L. Anderson, who came from 
 Iowa to Arkansas, where he is living at the present 
 time, engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Bu- 
 ford is a Democrat in jjolitics, and his first presi- 
 dential vote was for Horace Greeley in 1872. He 
 has been a member of Mammoth Spring Lodge of 
 the I. O. O. F. for twelve years.- He and wife are 
 much esteemed members of the Christian Church. 
 G. A. Bundren. farmer and stock raiser of 
 Washington Township, was born in Tennessee, 
 January 30, 1847, and passed his youth and early 
 manhood in that State and in Illinois. His par- 
 ents, G. C. and Lucinda (Keyton) Bundren, were 
 natives of Virginia, the father born in 1807, and 
 the mother in 1828. In their family were five 
 children, four of whom lived to be grown. They 
 were named as follows: James C, who died in the 
 Union army in 1863, and whose family now reside 
 in Johnson County, 111. ; Surena, wife of George 
 Everett, a resident of Williamson County, 111. ; 
 Melissa, wife of David Sollis, living in Du- 
 quoin. 111., and G. A. The father of these chil- 
 dren was a successful agriculturist, and followed 
 this occupation in Tennessee until 1851, when be 
 moved to Illinois. He entered land in that State 
 and continued tilling the soil until his death, which 
 occurred in 1882. He was a Democrat in politics, 
 
 A. 
 
 J) 'y 
 
l>£ 
 
 FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 271 
 
 but wiis aot an aspirant for office, nor was Im act 
 ive in politics. He was a member of the United 
 Baptist Chnrch, as was also his wife. G. A. Buiid- 
 ren, like so many of the substantial citizens of this 
 county at the present time, was initiated into the 
 mysteries of farming fi'om the very first, and this 
 has since continued to be the calling to which his 
 attention has been directed. He received a fair 
 education in his native State, and in the State of 
 Illinois, and at the age of seventeen began for 
 himself, attending to farm duties in Illinois until ' 
 1866, when he moved to Kentucky. Two years 
 later he went to Cape Girardeau, Mo., resided 
 there two years, going thence to Dunklin County, 
 thence in 1876 to Scott County, Mo., and from 
 there, in 1878, to Peach Orchard, Clay County, 
 Ark., where he engaged in the practice of medicine, 
 and also started a drug store. At the same time he 
 filled the position of postmaster. In 1882 he left 
 Peach Orchard, and moved to Knobel the same 
 county, where he embarked in merchandising, and 
 this continued for two years. From there he 
 moved to Woodruff County, Ark., and in connection 
 with farming, practiced medicine, conducting also 
 a mercantile store at Howell Station, on the Bates- 
 ville & Briukley Railroad. He remained there but 
 a short time, and in 1885 came to Fulton County, 
 and here attends to his practice in connection with 
 farming. By his marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Holmes nee Thompson, January 1, 1863, he be- 
 came the father of six children, three now living: 
 James A., born February 26, 1865, and now liv- 
 ing at home; C. W., born February 3, 1869, and 
 also at home, and M. B. , whose l)irth occurred on 
 the 3d of February, 186U, and is at home. The 
 other children died in infancy. Mrs. Bundren died 
 at Knobel, Ark., in 1883; she was a consistent 
 member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Bundren was 
 7narried the second time in May, 1885, to Mrs. 
 Sarah J. Wilson, nee Young, a native of Ken- 
 tucky, and the mother of four children, the fruit 
 of her former union. They are named as follows: 
 Hannibal Wilson, living at Alicia, Ark.; W. V., 
 also at Alicia. Ark.. Mary, wife of H. Hensley, re 
 siding at Alicia, Ark., and Celia, wife of T. B. 
 Caple, a resident of P'ulton County, Ark. Mr. 
 
 Bundren is not active in politics, but votes the 
 Democratic ticket. He and wife are members of 
 the Christian Church. 
 
 J. M. Burrow, a prominent attorney-at-law al 
 Mammoth Spring, is among those who contril)nte 
 to the strength of the Arkansas bar. He is a na 
 tive of Tennessee, born in Bedford County in 1854. 
 His parents. Freeman and Louisa (Nichols) Bur 
 row, were born also in Bedford County, Tenn., in 
 1834 and 1833, respectively. They resided in that 
 county until 1857, when they came to Sharp Coun- 
 ty, Ark., where Mrs. Burrow died in 1874. Mr. 
 Burrow is slill living, and has followed tilling the 
 soil for many years. He tilled the position of jus- 
 tice of the peace for four years, and served four 
 years in the Confederate array with Gens. Price 
 and Freeman. He has been a member of the A. F. 
 & A. M. since 1857, and belongs to the Methodist 
 Church, of which his wife was also a member. Of 
 the six children born to their union J. M. was the 
 eldest. He was educated in the log school- houses, 
 and like the majority of farmers' boys, assisted on 
 the farm. When about twenty one years of age he 
 taught school, and followed this occupation for two 
 years. When twenty- two years of age he began 
 the study of law, and diligently continued this in 
 connection with farming for several years. In 1885 
 he was admitted to the bar. and since 1883 has 
 lived at Mammoth Spring. He is one of the 
 most substantia] attorneys of Fulton County, and 
 also practices in Sharp and Izard Counties. He 
 was married in Se])tember, 1878, to Miss Josie 
 Whiteside, daughter of Allen and Sarah Whiteside, 
 who came to Fulton County from Illinois at an 
 early day, and there the father died. The mother 
 is still living. In politics Mr. Burrow is a Demo 
 crat, his first presidential vote being for S. J. Til 
 den, in 1876. He is a member of the A. F. & A. 
 M., Myatt Lodge No. 401, and also belongs to 
 Spring River Lodge No. 4V), K. of P., at Mammoth 
 Spring. He has a very i)leasant home on Emi- 
 nence Hill, Archer Avenue. * 
 
 James Marion Butler. Ever since his location 
 in this county in 1870, Mr. Butler has enjoyed the 
 reputation of being not only a substantial and pru 
 irressive farmer, but au intelligent and thoroughly 
 
4, 
 
 •21-2 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 posted man in all public affairs; and a short sketch 
 of his life will lie of more thau passing interest to 
 the citizens of this locality. He was born in 
 Chambers County, Ala., October 15, 1838, and is 
 a sou of Nathan H. and Francis R. (Hogue) But- 
 ler, who were born in Elbert and Waltham Coun- 
 ties, Ga., respectively, the former's birth occur- 
 ring in 1818; and like his father, Daniel Butler 
 (■who was born in South Carolina, and died in 
 Georgia), he was a worker in wood and a skillful 
 wagon-maker. He and wife were married in 
 Paulding County, Ga., and resided in that State 
 and in various counties in Alabama, until 1855, 
 when they came to Arkansas, locating in White 
 County, but only remained a short time and then 
 moved back to Alabama. In 1863 or 1864, they 
 went to Mississippi and Tennessee, and in 1875 
 located in Fulton County, Ark., where the father 
 died the same fall. His widow is now residing in 
 Viola, of that county, and is enjoying good health. 
 She is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, 
 as was her husband, and to them were born eight 
 children, of whom James Marion was the eldest. 
 Of these only four are now living: M. L. , a 
 blacksmith of Viola; Louisa M. . wife of William 
 Smith; William P. H. , residing in the State of 
 Colorado, and our subject. Those deceased are 
 Napoleon B. , Martha A. E. , George W. and Mary 
 J. -Tames Marion Butler received his schooling 
 in the State of Alabama, and while growing to 
 manhood learned the blacksmith and wagon- 
 maker's trade of his father. At the age of twen- 
 ty-one years he began depending on his own re- 
 sources for obtaining a livelihood, and from that 
 time until the opening of the Rebellion worked in 
 Alabama. Although his father served in the 
 Union army for some time, he espoused the cause 
 of the Confederacy and first joined the Alabama 
 Legion, which was consolidated and thrown into 
 other regiments, the Twenty-third Alabama Bat- 
 talion of Sharp-shooters being a part left over. 
 He served two years as sergeant, participating in 
 many battles, among which wen^ Chickamaugn, 
 Petersburg, being intrenched in the ditches of that 
 city for nine months; Hatch's Run, and the Vir- 
 ginia campaign. He received a flesh wound in 
 
 the leg at Chickamauga, and at Appomattox Court 
 House, about two hom-s before the sun-ender, he 
 received a very severe wound in the right arm. 
 After the war he remained in Alabama until 1866. 
 when he went to the State of Mississippi, and 
 from there came to Fulton County, Ark., in 1870. 
 and here has since made his home. In 1879 he 
 moved to his present location, which is a farm 
 consisting of 360 acres of as good land as there 
 is anywhere, and in addition to looking after 
 this property still continues to work at his trade. 
 He is a Democrat in his political views, and in 
 1885-86 served as justice of the peace. He is also 
 a member of the Masonic fraternity, and as a citi- 
 zen of Fulton County has been identified with its 
 advancement and growth ever since locating here. 
 He was married in 1860 to Miss Rhoda Ann Bry- 
 ant, a daughter of Alexander Bryant, and her 
 death occurred in Izard County, Ark., in 1875, 
 when thirty-seven years of age. Of the eight 
 children born to her union only four are now living; 
 Charles D., of Texas; Elizabeth E. , wife of James 
 A. Talley, a farmer of the county; Nancy E., 
 wife of Abraham L. Reed, a farmer residing near 
 Mansfield, and Nathan D., at home. Mrs. Butler 
 was a member of the Methodfst Episcopal Church, 
 South. 
 
 Thomas B. Caldwell is possessed of those ad- 
 vanced ideas and progressive principles regarding 
 agricultural life which seem to be among the 
 chief characteristics of the average native Mis- 
 sourian. He was born in Franklin County of that 
 State on the 16th of October, 1840, and is a son of 
 James Patten and Ann (Caldwell) Caldwell, the 
 former of Irish descent, born in the State of Mis- 
 souri, in the year 1816. He was a well known 
 agriculturist of his region, and died in Fulton 
 County, Ark., in 1S63. His wife was also born 
 in Missouri, and died when her son, Thomas B., 
 was about seven years of age, her demise occur- 
 ring in Franklin County. The paternal grand- 
 parents were Andrew and Nancy (Farrow) Caldwell, 
 the former being a native Kentackian. He moved 
 to Franklin County, Mo., during the early history 
 of that country, and died there at his son's home 
 in 1847. His wife, Nancy, died there also. The 
 
FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 '>7:i 
 
 paternal great-graudfather, Kincaid Caldwoll, was 
 l)orii in the " Emerald Isle." The maternal grand- 
 father also bore the name of Andrew Caldwell, but 
 the two families were not related. Thomas B. 
 Caldwell is one of two surviving members of a 
 family of five children, the other being a sister 
 residing on the Iron Mountain Railroad in Mis- 
 souri. He was reared in his native State, but never 
 received any educational advantages in youth, 
 being compelled to assist his father in tilling 
 the home farm; but by contact with the world 
 and by self-application he has liecome a well posted 
 man. He was twenty years of age when he enlisted 
 in the army, and was a member of Capt. B. B. 
 Bray's Seventh Division of Missouri Volunteers. 
 He particiijated in the engagements at Mansfield, 
 Pleasant Hill, and in numerous skirmishes. He 
 was second sergeant of artillery for about twelve 
 months prior to the close of the war. On the 9th 
 of March, 1802, he was captured at Mountain 
 Grove, Mo. , and was sent to St. Louis, thence to 
 Alton, 111. , and from there to Vicksburg, Miss. , 
 where he was exchanged on the 22d of September, 
 of the same year. Nearly ever since the close of 
 the war he has been a resident of Fulton County, 
 Ark. , and has been actively engaged in tilling the 
 soil. On the 5th of March, ISOS, he was married 
 to Miss Luciutha M. Smith, who was born in 
 South Carolina in 1842, a daughter of Inman and 
 Mary A. Smith. The father died in the "Palmetto 
 State," but the mother is still living and resides 
 in Fulton County, Ark., the wife of a Mr. Hutch- 
 esson. To Mr. Caldwell and his wife the follow- 
 ing children have been born: James Henry, 
 Benjamin H. , Thomas J. (deceased), John H., 
 Mary A. (deceased). Iluthi(> J. and Joanuah. The 
 greater part of Mr. Caldwell's time has been occu- 
 pied in farming, and he is now the owner of 310 
 acres of land, with about eighty acres under culti- 
 vation. He is a Democrat, his tirst presidential 
 vote being cast for Douglas, and he was elected on 
 that ticket to the office of deputy sheriff and con- 
 stable. He and wife are connected with the Chris- 
 tian Church, and he is a Mason and a member of 
 the I. O. O. F. Mr. Caldwell is a man univer- 
 sally respected, and to know him is to Inive a high 
 
 admiration for him, for he is possessed of those 
 sterling principles which make a true man and a 
 valuable citizen. 
 
 C!apt. John G. Carroll, a farmer of Fulton 
 Township, is now successfully following the occu- 
 pation to which he was reared and which has Ijeeii 
 his life work, a calling that for ages has received 
 undivided efforts from many worthy individuals, 
 and one that always, furnishes sustenance to the 
 ready worker. He was born in North Carolina in 
 1834, and is the son of Green and Priscilla (Earles) 
 Carroll, natives of South Carolina and North Car 
 oliua, and born in 1802 and 1808, respectively. 
 The parents removed to White County, Tenn., and 
 in 1859 came to Fulton County, Ark., where Mr. 
 Carroll died in 1870. He was the son of Jesse 
 Carroll and the grandson of William Carroll, who 
 was of English descent, went through the Rev 
 olutiouary War, and died in North Carolina at the 
 age of nearly one hundred years. Jesse Carroll 
 was born in North Carolina, and died in Georgia at 
 the age of ninety-eight years. He was a mill- 
 wright by occupation. This family is of the same 
 as that Carroll who was one of the signers of the 
 Declaration of Independence. The paternal grand- 
 father, William Earles, was bom in North Caro- 
 lina and died in Tennessee at about the age of one 
 hundred and two years; he was of Welsh descent. 
 His father was a Revolutionary soldier. Capt. 
 John G. Carroll, the second of eight children 
 born to his parents, received very meager edu- 
 cational advantages. He came with his parents 
 to Fulton County, Ark., in 1859 and in ISOl Miss 
 Auerilla Copeland, a native of Tennessee, became 
 his wife. She died in 1879, leaving six children, 
 three sons and three daughters. Capt. Carroll 
 then married Miss Eliza Baize, a native of Mis- 
 souri and the daughter of George Baize. To this 
 union were born four children, a son and three 
 daughters. Capt. Carroll is one of (he prominent 
 agriculturists of Fulton County, is the owner of 
 520 acres of land, with 300 under cultivation, and 
 also possesses consideraliie [)roj)erty in Viola, all 
 the result of his own industry. When the war 
 cloud hovered over the United States he enlisted 
 in Company F. Fourteenth Arkansas Infantry, 
 
274 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Coufederate Army, and served three years and 
 eleven months. After the first nine months he 
 was promoted to the rank of captain in his regi- 
 ment and operated in Arkansas, Mississippi and 
 Louisiana. He took a prominent part in the 
 battles of Elkliorn, Augusta, Farmington, Corinth, 
 luka. Port Hudson, etc. He was captured at 
 Saltillo, Miss., but after sixteen days escaped and 
 rejoined his regiment at Tupelo. At the clo.se of 
 the war he returned to farm life. Politically a 
 Democrat, his first jiresidential vote was for Bu- 
 chanan in 1856. He filled the office of deputy 
 sheriff two years, justice of the peace for four 
 years and constable two years. He has been a 
 member of the A. F. & A. M. for twenty-eight 
 years, now belonging to Viola Lodge No. 399, and 
 was master and senior warden for sixteen years of 
 that time. He is also a member of the Eastern 
 Star lodge at Viola. He and wife belong to the 
 Missionary Baptist Church, he having experienced 
 religion at the age of sixteen, and he is a deacon 
 in the same. 
 
 B. H. Castleberry is another excellent example 
 of what can be accomplished through energy 
 and perseverance, for he has won his way up to 
 his present enviable position through his own vm- 
 aided efforts. He was born in the State of Geor- 
 gia, on the 1st of July, 1854, and is a son of S. G. 
 and Jane E. (Bell) Castleberry, both of whom 
 were Georgians, the former born in 1S21. He was a 
 farmer and a miner, but made milling his principal 
 occupation through life, and is still the owner of 
 some gold mines in Georgia, near Cleveland. His 
 father, who was a native of the State, owned some 
 mines there and was also an extensive slave owner 
 at the time of his death. The great-grandfather 
 was a Georgian, but the great-groat-grandfather 
 and six brothers emigrated from the Old "World, 
 and settled in the Southern States. B. H. Castle- 
 berry was one of seven children, and his youth and 
 early manhood were spent in his native State. He 
 received his literary education in the North Georgia 
 Agricultural College, and principally through his 
 own efforts secured means with which to prosecute 
 his studies. In December, 1876, he emigrated to 
 the State of Arkansas, settling in Fulton County, 
 
 where he began the study of law, and the same 
 characteristics which marked his progress at school, 
 were prominent in his legal studies. After a 
 thorough preparation he was admitted to the bar 
 and entered upon his practice at Salem, and his 
 patronage steadily and substantially increased dur- 
 ing his two years of practice. At the end of 
 that time he engaged in merchandising with his 
 brother, their stock of goods amounting to about 
 $8,000, and besides this they each own a half in- 
 terest in 500 acres of land. Our immediate sub- 
 ject also owns 1,500 acres in his own right. He 
 was married on the 10th of April, 1881, to Miss 
 Laura P. AVainwright, by whom he has two inter- 
 esting children: William Lessie and Rex. Mr. 
 Castleberry is a Democrat, and a member of the 
 I. O. O. F. William Castleberry, his brother, a 
 member of the general mercantile firm of Castle- 
 berry & Co., was born in White County, Ga., in 
 1856, and during his youth and early manhood 
 worked with his father. He received an excellent 
 education in Dahlonega College, Ga. , and also at 
 Nacoochee Valley, and after leaving school engaged 
 in mercantile pursuits as clerk in a general mer- 
 chandise store in the latter ])lace, but eighteen 
 months later went to Rabun County, where he be- 
 gan merchandising in partnership with C. W. Oakes. 
 Two years later they dissolved partnership, and Mr. 
 Castleberi-y came to Salem, and in 1881 embarked 
 in business with his brother and William Wain- 
 wright, keeping a grocery. At the end of one year 
 this association was terminated, and the two 
 brothers started a general mercantile establishment 
 of their own. They thoroughly understand the en- 
 terprise in which they are engaged, and have done 
 much in their line to increase the trade and influ- 
 ence of the town. They are thoroughly reliable 
 and honest in all their transactions, and as a result 
 enjoy a large and lucrative custom. William Cas- 
 tleberry is also a Democrat politically, and a mem- 
 ber of the I. O. O. F. He is unmarried. 
 
 William D. Chase, one of the prominent mil- 
 lers and farmers of Elizabeth, was born in Maury 
 (now Gordon) County, Ga. , in 1839, and is the son 
 of Hon. Dean W. and Alley (Johnson) Chase. 
 The father was born in Pawtucket, R. I., and re- 
 
FULTON (X)TTNTY. 
 
 275 
 
 ceivod iiu unusually good education. ■ At the age 
 of nineteen he was sent to Georgia to erect a spin- 
 ning factory, which he operated for a number of 
 years. He was married and spent the remainder of 
 his days there and in Tennessee, where he manu- 
 factured cotton goods all his life. He died in Gil 
 more County, Ga., in ISSl. He was justice of 
 the peace many years and once represented Gor- 
 don County in the legislature. He was also for 
 thirty-five or forty years a traveling minister in the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and besides was an 
 officer in the Mexican War. His wife was a native 
 of North Carolina, and died in Gilmore County, 
 Ga. , July 8, 1S86. She, too, was a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. Her father, James 
 Johnson, was a native of North Carolina, who died 
 in Walker County, Ga. He was a soldier in the 
 Mexican War. William D. Chase, the second of ten 
 children, born to his parents, received his educa- 
 tion in the common schools. He was reared to the 
 arduous duties on the farm, and in 1861 Miss Ade- 
 line Sprouell became his wife. She was bom in Ful- 
 ton County, Ga. , and was the daughter of Wilson 
 E. and Eliza J. Sprouell, natives of Abbeville Dis- 
 trict, S. C. , but who moved to Georgia, where Mrs. 
 Sprouell died. To Mr. and Mrs. Chase were born 
 eleven children, seven sons and three daughters 
 now living. Mr. Chase served over four years in the 
 Confederate Army, Company E, Georgia Volunteer 
 Infantry, was at Cumberland Gap, Richmond, 
 Siege of Vicksburg. Lookout Mountain, Missionary 
 Hidge, Resaca, Kingston, Calhoun, New Hope 
 Church. Kenesaw Mountain, etc. He was captured 
 several times, the last time at Peach Tree Creek, 
 and imprisoned at Nashville. He was afterward 
 taken to Indianapolis, where he was at the time of 
 the surrender. He never received a wound during 
 his time of service. After the war he returned to 
 the farm and in 1872 came to Fulton County, Ark. 
 He followed agricultural pursuits for five years 
 and then engaged in merchandising at Newburg, 
 Izard County, for three years. This not suiting him 
 be entered into the milling business there for six 
 years, after which he returned to Fulton County, 
 and continued merchandising at Elizabeth for four 
 years. Since then he has been occupied in milling 
 
 and farming and has two Hour and saw, shingle and 
 planing mills. He is also the owner of about 900 
 acres of land in Missouri, Fulton, Izard and Law 
 rence Counties. All his ])roperty is the result of 
 hard labor since the war. He has been a Demo- 
 crat in his i)olitical views all his life, and his fim* 
 jjresidential vote was for Gen. McClellaii. He is 
 a member of the Masonic fraternity, Elizabeth 
 Lodge, and is also a member of Newburg Lodge 
 of the I. O. O. F. in Izard County. Mrs. Chase has 
 been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 for many years. 
 
 Hon. Samuel W. Cochran. For a jjeriod up 
 wards of thirty-three years, he whose name heads 
 this sketch has been a resident of Fulton County, 
 and during this time he has enjoyed the reputation 
 of being an honest, upright man in every respect, 
 fully deserving the good opinion with which he is 
 regarded by all who know him. His life up to 
 the time of his location in Arkansas was rather 
 unsettled, but notwithstanding the old sfiying that 
 "a rolling stone gath(^rs no moss," Mr. Cochran 
 has been quite successful in accumulating worldly 
 goods, and is one of the leading merchants of 
 this county. His birth occurred in Abbeville Dis 
 trict, S. C. May 20, 1820, and he was left an 
 orphan when an infant. Lentil ten years of age 
 he was cared for by an uncle. J. C. Wharton, and 
 from that period until sixteen years of age was taken 
 care of by his guardian, Samuel Jordan. At this 
 time he went with his uncle, Mr. Wharton, to 
 Tennessee, and located at Raleigh, near Memphis, 
 but shortly after went to Tipton, and still later to 
 Columbia, of the same State, where he remained 
 two years. He then returned to his old home in 
 South Carolina, where he attended school for one 
 year, after which he came back to Columliia, and 
 was a salesman two years for the mercantile firm of 
 G. Frierson & Co. At the end of this time he again 
 returned to South Carolina, where he remaineil 
 with his guardian for some time, and was married 
 there to Miss Julia A. Chiles, moving with her at 
 a later period to Cass County, Ga., where he gave 
 his attention to farming until 185(>. In that year 
 he came to Fulton County, Ark., and located in 
 the neii'hborhood of where he now lives, continu- 
 
 if 
 
 w" 
 
^ 
 
 <a k^ 
 
 ing his farming operations up to 1881, when he 
 opened a store at his present stand, and has met 
 with the best of success in this enterprise. In 1861 
 he was a member of the State convention, and 
 voted for secession, and in 1863 was elected to 
 i-^resent Fulton County in the State legislature. 
 His wife was a daughter of William Chiles, of 
 Abbeville District, S. C. , and was born October 7, 
 1827, being killed at Rolla, Mo., November 6, 
 1864. To them were boru four children, three of 
 whom are living: William C, a farmer of Fulton 
 County ; J. C. , also a farmer of the county, and 
 J. D., farming near his father. Samuel W. died 
 in 1863, when twelve years of age. In 1865 Mr. 
 Cochran wedded Miss Martha E. Living.ston, a 
 daughter of James Livingston, who was also born 
 in Abbeville District, S. C. , her birth occurring in 
 1831. In 1818 Mr. Cochran was licensed to preach 
 the gospel, having joined the Missionary Baptist 
 Church three years previous, and his wife and 
 children are also members of this church. He is a 
 Democrat politically, and previous to the war held 
 the position of postmaster at Union, and received 
 his last appointment in 1887. When a young 
 man he taught school in Georgia, and also in Ful- 
 ton County, Ark. Mr. Cochran's parents, Clark 
 iiud Sarah (Wharton) Cochran, were born in Abbe- 
 ville District, S. C, where the father was engaged 
 in merchandising and farming imtil his death. He 
 was of Scjtch-Irish descent, and was a son of John 
 Cochran, a native of Virginia, and a soldier in the 
 Revolutionary War. He died in South Carolina. 
 The maternal grandfather. Pleasant Wharton, was 
 born in the ' ' Palmetto State. ' " A large extent of 
 land in South Carolina was given his ancestors by 
 George III, and has been in possession of the fam- 
 ily ever since that time. 
 
 Alvah L. Cooper, farmer and stock raiser, and 
 the recently appointed postmaster of the thriving 
 little city of Mammoth Spring, was born in Tomp- 
 kins County, New York, April 1, 1842, and was 
 the fourth of ten children, eight now living, born 
 to Laban D. and Sarah M. (Woodin) Cooper, both 
 of whom were born in Dutchess County, N. Y., the 
 former in 1780, and the latter in 1812. In the 
 primitive days of the Republic, the Coopers were 
 
 among its most valiant defenders. In the gloomy 
 days of 1778, when the notorious Tory refugee, 
 John Butler, defeated his cousin. Col. Zeb Butler, 
 and so unmercifully massacred the inhabitants of 
 Wyoming, Penn. , the paternal grandfather became 
 one of the victims. Laban Cooper was of English 
 descent, and a soldier in Gen. Scott's brigade, re- 
 ceiving four different gun-shot wounds. At the 
 memorable battle of Lundy's Laneor Bridgewater, 
 he was wounded twice, one of which was received 
 while assisting Col. Miller in his historical charge 
 on the British batteries on the heights, the kej' 
 to the British position. In the no less eventful 
 battle of Chippeway he was wounded. He was 
 promoted to the rank of lieutenant for services ren- 
 dered during the war, and as his wife is still living, 
 she now receives a pension. She resides at Moun- 
 tain Lake, Penn., at the age of seventy-seven 
 years. Alvah Cooper's youth was spent in Bradford 
 County, Penn., and his education was there re- 
 ceived in the public schools. He and two of his 
 brothers served nearly four years each in the late 
 Rebellion. Alvah enlisted May, 1881, in Company 
 F, Sixth Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, was elected 
 captain and transferred to Company D, One 
 Hundred and Thirty- Second 'Pennsylvania Volun 
 teers of the Second Army Corps. From the 
 baftle of Bull Run to the closing scene at Appo- 
 mattox, he was in all the principal battles in 
 Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, never re- 
 ceiving a wound. Mr. Cooper has been in the em- 
 ploy of the Government as special pension examiner 
 and other positions almost continually since the 
 war, and has ever been a consistent, hard working 
 Republican. It was in recognition of his services 
 and abilities as a political organizer that he was 
 recently ap})ointed postmaster at Mammoth Spring. 
 He is thoroughly imbued with the principles of 
 the Republican party, and is an indefatigable polit 
 ical worker, and has probably done more than any 
 other single man toward organizing the Republi- 
 can^party of this part of the State. He was one 
 of the first to Join the G. A. R., and has held 
 many offices of trust in that order. Before com- 
 ing to this State he was elected commander of the 
 Soldiers' and Sailors' encampment of Bradford 
 
■^k. 
 
 FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 277 
 
 County, iilso ohairraan of tbo Bradford County 
 Soldiers' and Sailors' Monumental Association, for 
 three years. On leaving his native State he re- 
 signed both positions, but was held in such high 
 esteem by his eomrailes that his resignation was 
 not accepted, and he continued to hold his office 
 until the expiration of his term although out of the 
 State. For a number of years he was a director 
 of the Agricultural Society of Bradford County. 
 In 18H6 he was married to Miss Sarah Ann Lar- 
 com. a native of Bradford County, Penn., born in 
 1*^1:3. and dying in 1888; to them were born these 
 children: Mintie M.. wife of F. L. Sayles; Elmer 
 C. , Woodard C. , killed when fourteen years of age; 
 (jracie, Fred. C, Nellie, Warner and Grant. 
 In 1886, like many of the. hardy sons of the East, 
 desiring a more congenial clime and soil in which 
 to care for his family, he started toward the 
 •'Sunny South" to try his fortunes. The wood- 
 land of Arkansas pleased him. He and his son 
 each homesteaded 160 acres, and have purchased 
 240 acres in addition, making in all a ranch of 560 
 acres of land. In every day life Mr. Cooper is 
 looked upon as an energetic, honest citizen. He 
 spends his time closely in building up his farms 
 and superintending the postoffice, and if fortune 
 continues to smile on him, in a few years he will 
 be one of the most prosperous as well as one of 
 most jirominent citizens of North Arkansas. 
 
 Charles W. Culp, M. D. , is one of the rising 
 young members of the medical fi-aternity of Ful- 
 ton County, Ark. He was born in Izard County, 
 of the same State, May 14, 1858. His parents, 
 Thomas and Elizabeth (Benbrook) Culp, were 
 born, reared and married in Izard County, the for- 
 mer's birth occurring in 18>il, and his death March 
 8. 1S80. The paternal grandfather, Thomas B. 
 Culp. was a Tennesseean, who removed to Izard 
 County, Ark., at an early day and took a prom- 
 inent part, in aiding in the growth and devel- 
 opmt'ut of this region, and both he and his son 
 Thomas were physicians. They were of German 
 descent, and all the male members of the family 
 have been Democrats in their political views. Of 
 the family of eight children born to Thomas and 
 Elizabeth Culp, four are now living, two sons and 
 
 two daughters, all of whom reside in Fulton Coun- 
 ty, with the exception of a daughter, who is a resi- 
 dent of Izard County. Dr. Charles W. Culp re- 
 ceived his literary education in the common .schools 
 of Izard County, after which he entered the Mem- 
 pliis Hospital Medical College, fi-om which institu- 
 ' tion he was graduated as an M. D.. February 25. 
 1885. Previous to graduating he had practiced 
 the profession (since 18711), and has won an envia- 
 ble position among the medical fraternity of Ful- 
 ton and surrounding counties. December 22, 
 1880, he was married to Miss Joannah C. Sharp, 
 who was born in Sharp County, Ark.. December 
 4, 1861, and is a daught(»r of Ephraim Sharp, 
 whose sketch appears in this work. Dr. Culp is a 
 RoyaJ Arch Mason, belonging to Rural Chapter 
 No. 50, Evening Shade, Sharp County. He is al 
 so a member of Ash Flat Lodge No. 159, F. & A. 
 M., Ash Flat, Ark. He is a Democrat, his first 
 presidential vote being cast for Hancock, and he 
 and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South. His mother is a resident of Ful 
 ton County, and is the worthy wife of J. M. Cook. 
 W. H. Culp, editor and proprietor of the Mam 
 moth Spring Monitor, at Man)moth Spring, Ark. . 
 is of German descent, the name originally being 
 Kolb, but it was changed to Culp when the family 
 became Americanized. He was born in Izanl 
 County, Ark.. November 5. 1863. and after ac- 
 quiring a fair education in the common schools he 
 entered the office of the Clipper, at Melbourne. 
 Ark., and learned the ])rinter's trade. In 188'2 
 he bought a half intere.st in the Izard County Reg 
 ister, at Melbourne, and in August, 1884, purchased 
 the remaining interest and conducted the paper 
 with highly satisfactory results until November. 
 1886, when he leased the press and moved to Lee 
 County, Ark., where he spent a part of the follow 
 ing year in an unsuccessful attempt to raise a cot- 
 ton crop. Moving to Mammoth Spring, Ark., 
 he established the Mammoth Spring Monitor, the 
 first number being issued February 2. 1888. This 
 paper has proved a decided success financially, and 
 is one of the spiciest, best and most iMy edited 
 business papers in Northwest Arkansas, and Mr. 
 Culp has become well known throughout the State 
 
 ^ spy 
 
278 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 as one of its most .successful editors. He e.stab- 
 lished the Thayer Tribune at Thayer, Mo., in 
 1888, but has since sold it and is now devoting 
 his time and energies to the publication of the 
 Monitor. He was married in 1884 to Miss Amy 
 D. Owen, of Forrest City, Ark., she being a daugh 
 ter of Dexter Owen, who was born in Providence, 
 R.I. They have two children: Homer and Madge. 
 Mr. Gulp is a son of Dr. T. B. and Elizabeth 
 (Benbrook) Gulp, the former's birth occurring in 
 Izard Gounty, Ark. , in 1835, and his death in Mel- 
 bourne of the same county in 1880. His widow 
 still survives him and is a resident of this covmty, 
 being forty-five years of age. 
 
 Judge Thomas J. Cunningham, a prosperous 
 Fulton County farmer, came originally from Ran- 
 dolph County, Mo. , his birth occurring December 
 31, 1837. His father, Robert H. Cunningham, 
 was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., in 1808, and 
 in 1834 emigrated to Randolph County, Mo., where 
 he was one of the earliest settlers. He was an 
 active tiller of the soil there until about 1807, and 
 from that time until his death, in 1868, he resided 
 in Fulton County, Ark. His parents, James and 
 Jane Cunningham, removed from Tennessee to 
 Randolph County several years prior to their son, 
 and both died in Adair County of that State. The 
 wife of Robert H. Cunningham was born in Ten- 
 nessee in 1810, and died in Fulton County, Ark., in 
 August, 1886, having borne a family of ten chil- 
 dren, nine of whom grew to mature years, and 
 eight of whom are yet living. Four sons and one 
 daughter reside in Fulton Coimty, one son lives 
 in the State of Texas, a daughter in Randolph 
 County, Mo., and one son in Macon County, Mo. 
 Thomas J. Cunningham is the fourth of the family, 
 and from his earliest recollections has been famil- 
 iar with the details of farm life; while growing up 
 he learned lessons of industry, fnigal habits and 
 economy, which he has never forgotten. His rudi- 
 mentary education was acquired in the common 
 schools, and was supplemented by a collegiate 
 course in Macon County, Mo. He remained with 
 his father and mother until 1861, when, full of zeal 
 and enthusiam for the land of chivalry and the 
 cause of the South, he joined Gen. Price's com- 
 
 maud, whose division was commanded by Gen. 
 John B. Clark, Sr. , and served two years, partici- 
 pating in the battle of Lexington and numerous 
 other engagements. In 1863 he went by mule 
 train to California, in which State he remained 
 until 1870, being engaged in farming, and in that 
 year he left California and came to Fulton Gounty, 
 Ark., and located near where he now lives. In 
 1866, while in California, he was married to Miss 
 Mary E. Proctor, who was born in Randolph 
 County, Mo., in 1841. She died in 1873. in Ful- 
 ton County, Ark . having borue a family of four 
 children: Julia, wife of William T. Cunningham, 
 of Texas; Jennie D. , wife of John D. Isenhour, 
 of Fulton Gounty; Rollen P., now in Texas, and 
 Robert H. (deceased). In 1875 Mr. Cunningham 
 united his fortunes with those of Miss Sarah E. 
 Jeffery, a native of Izard Gounty, Ark. , born Oc- 
 tober 26, 1853. Her parents are Rev. Daniel and 
 Nancy Jeffery. To Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham 
 were born the following children: Rol>ert G. (de- 
 ceased), James G., Edgar, Margaret Ann, Ida, 
 Thomas J. and Henry K. Mr. Cunningham has 
 resided in Fulton Gounty sufficiently long to ena- 
 ble his many sterling qualities to become well 
 known. About forty-tive acres of his 180 acre farm 
 are under cultivation. He is a Democrat, and in 
 1874 was elected judge of the county court, and 
 served six successive years, making an able and 
 efficient officer. His first presidential vote was cast 
 for John G. Breckenridge. His wife is a member 
 of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Charles C. Davis, surveyor of Fulton County, 
 and one of the enterprising agriculturists of Mam- 
 moth Spring Township, was born in Webster 
 County, Mo., January 22, 1854, receiving a very 
 meager education in the common schools. He fol- 
 lowed the plow for his father until nineteen years 
 of age, and was then united in marriage to Miss 
 Nancy G. Young, a native of Oregon County, Mo., 
 August 11, 1872, the daughter of J. L. Young. 
 Mrs. Davis died April 17, 1885, and September 18 
 of the same year Mr. Davis married Martha, sister 
 of his first wife. Her parents were natives of St. 
 Francois Gounty, Mo. , now of Oregon Gounty, Mo. , 
 and Mr. Young served in the Confederate army as 
 
 
FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 27<t 
 
 a private. By his fii'st marriage Mr. Davis became 
 the father of live children, three sons and two 
 daughters, and to his second union were born two 
 children, l)oth sons. Since his first marriage lie 
 has lived on his present farm, one mile east of 
 Mammoth Spring, where he has 'JOG acres of good 
 land, with 180 under cultivation. He followed 
 farming and also dealt in stock until the railroad 
 was built, after which for some years he was local 
 agent, locating settlers, etc. He has been a practical 
 survej'or for some time, surveying for the county, 
 and in 1888 was elected county surveyor for two 
 years. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic 
 party, and his first presidential vote was for S. J. 
 Tilden in 1876. He is a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity, Myatt Lodge No. 401, and was Junior 
 Warden one year. Mr. Davis is pleasant and agree- 
 able in his demeanor to all with whom he comes in 
 contact, and is a man who attracts the regard of 
 all who api)roach him. He is universally respected 
 by his fellow citizens. He is the sou of Eliphaz 
 and Permealey Davis, and the grandson of Charles 
 (j. Davis, who was born in Jackson County, 111 , in 
 1800, and died in Oregon County, Mo., in 1878. 
 He was a soldier in the Black Hawk War, was jus- 
 tice of the peace and also county judge for some 
 years. He was of Welsh descent. Eliphaz Davis 
 was born in Randolph County, Ark., January 1, 
 1822, and was mamed in that county to Miss Ed- 
 wards, a native of Indiana. From there they 
 moved to Webster County, Mo., and in 1858 to 
 Oregon County, where Mrs. Davis died in 1863. 
 Mrs. Davis is still living there. He is a member 
 of the Christian Church (as was also his wife), and 
 is a successful farmer. 
 
 Lee Davis. Under the efficient management 
 of Mr. Davis the Fulton County Banner has come 
 to be regarded as one of the representative journals 
 of the county, and although he has only been its 
 editor since 1887, be has proven himself to be a 
 man of good judgment in directing the editorial 
 I)olicy of his paper. He is a native of the county 
 in which he is now residing, his birth occurring in 
 186."), but received his education in La Crosse, 
 Izard County, Ark. . and as the school was good, 
 he acquired an excellent education. After train- 
 
 ing the -'young idea" for some time, lie first 
 entered the journalistic field in 1884. in Elizabeth, 
 Ark. In 1887 he purchased the Banner, at Salem, 
 Ark., a paper which he has since edited in a very 
 efficient manner, and through the columns of this 
 journal he has wielded no slight inflnenec in di- 
 recting the proper steps to be taken for worth}- 
 movements. As the worth of his paper becomes 
 known the circulation increasas accordingly, and 
 he has won the patronage of all the l)etter class of 
 citizens in the county. He was first married, at 
 the age of nineteen years, to Miss Josie Lytle, a 
 native of Tennessee, who died ten months after 
 her marriage, and after remaining a widower until 
 1889, he wedded Miss Mary Jeffery, whose birth 
 occurred in Izard County, Ark. Mr. Davis is one 
 of eight children born to Solomon M. and Eliza 
 (Pipkin) Davis, who were born, reared and mar 
 ried in the State of Tennessee, and who lived there 
 until a number of their children were born, after 
 which they moved to Missouri, being among the 
 pioneers of that State. After residing there a 
 number of years they came to Arkansas, being 
 among the first settlers of Fulton County. The 
 father was an officer in the Confederate array, and 
 died in 1880, at the age of forty-nine years. He 
 was a farmer by occupation, and is still sur\ived 
 by his widow. Our subject's paternal and mater- 
 nal grandfathers, G. A. Davis and G. F. Pij)kiii, 
 were also Tennesseeans by birth. 
 
 Dr. D. S. Deaderick, real estate agent. Mam- 
 moth Spring. In that proud series of names 
 which have aided materially in developing the bus- 
 iness interests of Fulton County, that of Mr. 
 Deaderick holds a leading place. He was born in 
 Saline County, Mo., in 1842 and is the son of John 
 S. and Ellen (Cotter) Deaderick, and grandson of 
 David Deaderick. who was a native of Tennessee. 
 John S. Deaderick was born in Georgia in 18111. 
 and in 1840 was united in man-iage to Miss Cotter. 
 at Potosi, Mo. She was Ixirn in Pittsburg. Penn.. 
 in 1820. After mairiage the parents removed to 
 St. Louis, where the father was interested in the 
 shot tower. In 1S48 they moved to Saline County 
 of the same State, and there he was engaged 
 in agricultural pursuits until 1857. when they 
 
 _J 
 
•>H0 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 moved to Plattin Rock, in Jefferson County. Dur- 
 ing the year 1861 they were in different parts of 
 the South, and in 1865 returned to St. Louis, 
 where Mr. Deaderick was occupied in wool manu- 
 facture for several years. In 1874 they came to 
 Mammoth Spring and were the first settlers here. 
 He erected a flonr mill and cotton-gin, which he 
 operated until June, 1887, when he sold out. He 
 was a thorough-going business man and was at one 
 time (juite wealthy. His death occurred in 1887. 
 Florence Cotter, the grandfather of Dr. Dead 
 erick. was a native of Ireland and came to the 
 United States about 1796. He settled in Penn- 
 sylvania, where he died early in the present cen- 
 tury. Dr. D. S. Deaderick, the eldest of two 
 sons and one daughter, received his education 
 in the St. Louis University. During the late up- 
 pleasantness between the North and South he 
 served four years in the Confederate Army, Com- 
 pany E, Second Missouri Cavalry. He enlisted as 
 a private and came out as adjutant of the regi 
 iment. He operated in Missouri, Tennessee and 
 Mississippi with Gen. Forrest, and was wounded 
 several times. After the war he engaged in the 
 lumber business in Iron and St. Francois Coun- 
 ties, Mo., and in 1870 took up the study of medi 
 icinc and graduated at the St. Louis Medical Col- 
 lege in 1872. He then practiced in that city until 
 1874, when he came to Mammoth Spring, and in 
 comjiany with his father embarked in milling and 
 merchandising, and was also for a number of 
 years interested in the real estate business. He 
 has continued the real estate business in town and 
 besides is the owner of several farms in Missouri 
 and Arkansas. In his political views he affiliates 
 with the Democratic party, and his first presiden- 
 tial vote was cast for Gen. Hancock in 1880. He is a 
 member of the Masonic fraternity, Myatt Lodge 
 No. 401, and Evening Shade Chapter No. 50. He 
 is also a member of Mammoth Spring Lodge No. 
 48. I. O. O. F. His only sister is the wife of J. 
 D. Lucas, of St. Louis, and his brother. Dr. 
 James S.. is a practicing physician of De Soto. 
 Mo. His mother is still living and resides at 
 Mammoth Spring. The family are members of 
 the Catholic Church. 
 
 William Deatherage, one of the foremost farm- 
 ers of Mount Calm Township, on Bennett River, 
 owes his nativity to Tennessee, where he was born 
 in 1842. His father, A. J. Deatherage. was born 
 in Tennessee, about 1811, and died in Roane Coun- 
 ty, of that State, in 1847. The latter was married 
 in his native State to Miss Sarah Jackson, also a 
 native of Tennessee, born about 1822. Three chil- 
 dren were the result of this union, William being 
 the eldest. One was drowned in the Tennessee 
 River, by the overturning of a skiff, when only 
 seven years of ago, and Martha, became the wife 
 of O. B. Fuller, and is now living in Tennessee. 
 Mrs. Deatherage was married the second time, in 
 1850. to W. F. Ellis, and by this union became 
 the mother of eight children, six daughters and 
 two sons: Sarah (deceased), Margaret (deceased). 
 Minerva, wife of George Jones, and now living 
 in Tennessee; Nancy and Becky (twins), were mar- 
 ried to twin brothers, Samuel and Elijah Kelon. 
 and live in Tennessee; Caleb, Franklin, and Mary, 
 at home with her mother. A. J. Deatherage was 
 a major in the United States army when the In- 
 dians were moved to Indian Territory. William 
 Deatherage commenced for himself in life l)y join- 
 ing the Confederate army. Company A, Twenty- 
 sixth Tennessee Infantry Regiment, on the 1 5th 
 of June. 1861, and served about four years. He 
 participated in sixteen hard-fought battles, the 
 principal ones being Fort Donelson, Murfrees- 
 boro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Taylor 
 Ridge Gap, Swamp Creek, Resaca, New Hope, 
 Marietta, Jonesboro, Columbia, Franklin, Nash 
 ville; was with Forrest at Murfreesboro the second 
 time, Columbia. Bentonville, Chickasaw Mountain, 
 etc. He surrendered on the 5th of April, 1865, at 
 Greensboro. N. C. after which Mr. Deatherage re 
 turned to Greeneville,Tenn. , and from thence home, 
 where he commenced farming. He started out after 
 the war with nothing but a Confederate suit of 
 clothes, with forty-eight bullet holes in it. He 
 was married. May 28, 1868. to Miss Rebecca Hall, 
 of Tennessee, and in the fall of the following year 
 he came to Fulton Coiiuty, and settled on Ben- 
 nett's Bayou, and there remained three years. In 
 1873 he moved to his present line property, con- 
 
sistingof 'If'tl iicrns, with 100 acres improved. He 
 has irood liuildings, and a comfortable home. As 
 he has had hut little help since comuieiicing for 
 himself, he is the architect of his own fortune. To 
 his marriage were born eleven children, eight liv- 
 ing at present: Snsan. born October 12, 1870; 
 E. J., born February 9, 1872; G. W'., born on the 
 :id of September, 1874; Lydia M., born on the Sth 
 of September, 1876; Sarah A., born on the 5th of 
 December, 1878; W. S., born on the 5th of March, 
 1880; James K. P., born on the 12th of October, 
 1885, and Nancy, born on the 11th of June, 1888. 
 Mr. Deatherage has been justice of the peace of his 
 township for one term. He is a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, County Line Lodge No. 873, 
 and in his political opinions is with the Democrats. 
 Mrs. Deatherage is the daughter of Elijah and 
 Lydia Hall, who were the parents of eleven chil- 
 dren, the following living: Samuel, Elisha, Mollie, 
 Elijah, Lydia, Thomas, Rebecca D. and J. K. P. 
 
 James Dinwiddle is a man whom nature seems 
 to have especially fitted to be a farmer, for he has 
 met with good success in his farming operations. 
 He was born in Greene County, East Tenn.. on the 
 14th of August, 1856, and is a son of Calvin and 
 Mary (Carr) Dinwiddle, the former being also a 
 native of East Teimessee, his birth occurring Feb- 
 ruary 23, 1828. He was a school teacher in his 
 youth, and by trade was a tailor, and these occu- 
 pations he followed in his native State until 1859, 
 when he moved to Arkansas. While at Greenfield, 
 Mo., in 1864, he was captured by the Federal 
 troops and taken to Indianapolis. Ind. , where he 
 died the same year from the effects of a wound re- 
 ceived from a sabre at the time of his capture. He 
 was a son of James H. Dinwiddie, who died in 
 East Tennessee. Mary (Carr) Dinwiddie was born 
 in Knoxville, Tenn., April 5, 1830, and died in 
 .\rkansas on the 13th <lay of December, 1885. Of 
 her two children. James, the subject of this sketch, 
 was the elder. His youth was spent in .Vrkansas, 
 and in this State his early scholastic advantages 
 were eujoye<l. though only such as the common 
 schools of that period afforded. He has resided 
 in Fulton County since February 11, 1862, and 
 has thoroughly identified himself with the interests 
 
 of this section, owning an excellent farm com- 
 prising IflO acres of land. He is industrious and 
 enterprising, and his present farm denotes him to 
 be possessed of thrift and energy. He is a Demo- 
 crat in his political views. Mi.ss Elizabeth Taylor 
 became his wife on the 1 6th of February, 1 888. She 
 was born in Fulton County, Ark., in 1871. and is 
 a daughter of C. C. and Mary Taylor, both of 
 whom are now deceased. 
 
 John L. Golden. Among the ])romiuent farm- 
 ers of Washington Township appears the name of 
 the above mentioned gentleman, whose success as 
 a tiller of the .soil is second to none in the town- 
 ship. He was born in Weakley County, Temi., 
 on the 27th day of • July, 1849, and since early 
 youth has applied himself steadfastly to agricul- 
 tural pursuits, and with what success may be in- 
 ferred when the fact is mentioned that he is the 
 owner of one of the finest tracts of land in this 
 section of the county. He is the son of J. C. and 
 Mary (Winu) Golden, both natives of Mississippi, 
 and of English parentage. The father was born 
 in 1824, was a tiller of the soil, and moved to Ten- 
 nessee at a very early day. They were the parents 
 of ten children, seven living to be grown: S. D. 
 (deceased), W. W., lives in Lawrence County, 
 Ark.; James H. (deceased), J. L., Martha, wife 
 of Alexander Cannon; Jesse F. , Lydia J., wife of 
 George Dunivan. Mr. Golden was a Democrat 
 during his life, ami had accumulated considerable 
 property which he lost during the war. John L. 
 Golden commenced work for himself at the age 
 of twenty one. and has tilled the soil assiduously 
 ever since. When first starting out for himself 
 he was possessor of 185, one horse, a few hogs, 
 and a little corn. He is now the owner of 219 
 acres of land, with about 140 acres under culti 
 vation, besides having his farm well stocked with 
 horses, cattle, hogs, and all else to be ,seea on a 
 well conducted farm. He left Tennessee in 1872, 
 settling in Independence County, Ark., ami there 
 remained for three years. In 1875 he came to 
 Fulton County an<l followed farming on rented 
 land. He then bought a farm of eighty acres, im- 
 proved the same, and in 1884 sold out and lionght 
 his present property. He was married on the 6th 
 
 ; Vw 
 
_^. 
 
 282 
 
 HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 of January, 1S7'J, to Miss Rachel M. Anderson, 
 and two children have been born to this marriage: 
 Lula A., born August 2. 1883, and Luther F., 
 born May 20, 1889. Mrs. Golden is the daughter 
 of J. M. and Martha J. (Kelton) Anderson, natives 
 of Tennessee, and the parents of live childi-en, four 
 now living: J. C. (deceased), Rachel M. , Lucy 
 A. M. , wife of Jasper Rives, of Fulton County ; 
 Martha C, wife of Alexander Sanders, and Har- 
 riet L. , wife of James Lingle, of Fulton County. 
 Mr. Anderson came to this State in 1874, settling 
 first in Stone County, and in 1875 moved to this 
 county, where he has since resided. He has been 
 postmaster at Ten Mile postoffice for thirteen years, 
 and is a much esteemed citizen. John L. Golden 
 votes with the Democratic party, and Mrs. Golden 
 is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South. 
 
 Amos E. Golder has passed the uneventful lif(> 
 of the farmei', continuing steadily to pursue the 
 even tenor of his way, and is now ranked among 
 the prosperoiis farmers of Fulton County, being 
 the owner of 312 acres of land in the home place, 
 of which forty-eight are under cultivation, and 
 seventy-five acres in Myatt Township. He was 
 born in Phillips County, Ark., October 27, 1842, 
 and is the second of eight children born to Dr. 
 James B. and Mary (Bond) Golder, whose births oc- 
 curred in Richmond, Va., Octobers, 1816, and Knox 
 County, Tenn., May 27, 1813, and died in Randolph 
 and Fulton Counties, Ark., December 26, 1861, 
 and January 9, 1888, respectively. Dr. James 
 Golder removed to Phillips County, Ark., at an 
 early day, and was there married, moving in 1852 
 to Fulton County, of which he was one of the 
 early settlers. Politically he was a Democrat, and 
 held the office of justice of the peace, and was also 
 postmaster in Fulton County. He served in the 
 Confederate army, and just prior to his death was 
 to have been appointed regimental surgeon. Amos 
 E. Golden and his brother, J. M., are the only 
 ones of their parents' family who are now living, 
 and both reside in Fulton County. The former 
 has lived here since ten years of age, but before 
 reaching his twenty- first birthday he received only 
 few educational advantages. In July, 1861, he 
 
 enlisted in Company I, Seventh Arkansas Regi 
 ment of the Confederate States Army, and served 
 until he was captured at the battle of Franklin, 
 Tenn., in 1864. He was taken to Chicago, 111., 
 and after being ke])t in captivity five months, was 
 liberated and soon after joined the United States 
 army, and served from 1865 to November. 186(i. 
 After receiving his discharge he returned to Ar- 
 kansas and resumed farming in Fulton County. 
 On the 5th of September, 1867, he was married to 
 Miss Mary R. Partie, who was born in Izard 
 County, Ark., on the 6th of April, 1843, and by 
 her has had a family of eight children: James (de- 
 ceased), Elisabeth K. (deceased), George A., 
 Laura (deceased), Martha, Emma (deceased), Peter 
 E., and Amos G. (deceased). Mr. Golder is a 
 Democrat, his first presidential vote being cast for 
 Greeley. He is a Master Mason, belonging to 
 Myatt Lodge No. 407. He and wife are members 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr.-. 
 Golder' s parents, George and Mary Partie, were 
 born in Kentucky and Tennessee, November 25. 
 1811, and March 4, 1814, respectively. They 
 were married in Arkansas. The maternal grand- 
 father, Louis Partie, was born in Kentucky in 
 1763, and in 1814 emigrated to Arkansas, locat- 
 ing near Mount Olive, being'oue of the first set 
 tiers of that part of the State. His wife, whose 
 maiden name was Mary Ramsey, was born in 
 Maryland, in 1768, and was of English descent. 
 Mr. Partie was a French Canadian. They were 
 married in 1787. Soon after the former joined 
 the United States army, and served three years in 
 the defense of the Union. The great-grandfather, 
 Charles Ramsey, spent seven years of his life in 
 fighting for the liberty we now enjoy. This has 
 been handed down to the present generation by 
 Mrs. Golder' s grandmother, who now rests under 
 the sod on the bank of White River. 
 
 J. R. Green, farmer, Bennett's Bayou, Fulton 
 County, Ark. The father of Mr. Green, William 
 Green, was a native of Alabama, and after reach- 
 ing manhood was united in marriage to Miss Ro- 
 sanna Deshazo, a native of Tennessee, in 1857 or 
 1858. To this marriage were born four children, 
 two now living: J. R. Green, born on the 24th 
 
 «■ 
 
 ^'* 
 
 -i\ 
 
of May, 1859, aad Susau, wife of L. C. Woods. 
 The parents moved to Arkansas iu 180], set- 
 tling in Izard County until after the war, and 
 then, in 18fi(5, moved to Fulton County. They 
 [)urchased a farm on Bennett's Eiver, and this he 
 improved in every respect. During the late Civil 
 War the father served in the Confederate army 
 nearly the whole time of the conflict, and was with 
 Gen. Price on his raid through Missouri. He was 
 a Democrat in politics, and although a man who 
 had received but limited educational advantages, 
 had improved his time to such an extent that he 
 was considered well-informed on all subjects. 
 Mrs. Green was married the second time, about 
 1870, to Mr. W. Harber, by whom she had two 
 childi'en: Rebecca Jane, born in 1872, and Mi'iry 
 E., born in 1874. Mr. Harber was born in Crock- 
 ett County, Tenu., and was married to Mrs. Green 
 iu Greene County, Ark. He died in 1874. He was 
 a man who had taken a prominent part in the poli- 
 tics of the county, and voted the Democratic 
 ticket. He was a member of the Christian Church. 
 Mrs. Harber was a member of the Missionary Bap- 
 tist Church. J. R. Green's chances for an educa- 
 tion were very limited and the principal part of his 
 youthful days were spent on the farm. On the 
 10th of July, 1884. his marriage to Miss F. A. 
 Wilson, of Alabama, took place. She. also, had 
 received rather limited advantages for an educa- 
 tion, but. like her husband, she has improved her 
 time by study and observation. They are the par- 
 ents of three children : M. C. , born on the 6th of 
 July, 1885; W. H., born on the 17th of March, 
 18S7, and Rebecca, born on the 'I{fth of April, 
 1889. Mr. Green commenced farming in 1884, 
 and has continued this pursuit up to the present. 
 He is the owner of a tine farm of '280 acres, which 
 he jKiid for l)y the honest sweat of his brow. 
 Alth<iugh of limited education himself Mr. Green 
 is always in favor of public schools, and is a liberal 
 contributor to that and all other laudable enter- 
 prises. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
 Waterville Lodge No. 50. He is also a member 
 of Vidette Lodge No. 94, I. O. (). F. In poli- 
 tics his political preference is with the Demo- 
 cratic party. His wife is the daughter of W. H. 
 
 and M. J. (Driseol) Wilson, natives of Alabama, 
 and the parents of only one child, Mrs. Green. 
 Mrs. Wilson died on the 4th of January, 1870, in 
 full communion with the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. Mr. Wilson married the second time. 
 Miss Martlia Graves, of Alabama, on the 25th of 
 December, 1870, and they became the parents of 
 four children, three deceased. The one living is 
 William H., who.se birth occurred on the 25lh of 
 December, 1874. Mr. Wilson resides in Baxter 
 County and is in very comfortable circumstances. 
 He takes quite an active part in politics and is a 
 Republican. He was in the Confederate army dur- 
 ing the war, was a commissioned officer and was 
 taken prisoner, remaining in prison for some time. 
 He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belong- 
 ing to County Line Lodge No. 373, and also the 
 Chapter at Mountain Home. 
 
 Thomas Hall has been a resident of Fulton 
 County, Ark., for the past nineteen years, and his 
 example of industry, and his earnest and sincere 
 efforts to make life a success, are well worthy the 
 imitation of all. The condition of his farm, which 
 consists of 280 acres, shows the thrift and energy 
 which are among his chief characteristics, and all 
 necessary buildings and fences form a prominent 
 feature of the improvements. Thomas Hall was 
 born iu Morgan County, Tenn. , February 25, 
 184U, and is one of eight surviving members of a 
 family of eleven children, born to Elijah and Lydia 
 (Scott) Hall, who were born in Morgan County, 
 Tenn., and Kentucky, iu 1797 and 1812, respect- 
 ively. Elijah Hall was a farmer by occupation, 
 and about 1870 moved to Fulton Coimty, Ark., 
 where he passed the rest of his days, dying in 
 1881. His widow still survives him, and resides 
 in Baxter County, Ark. The paternal grandpar 
 ents were North Carolinians, who removed to Ten- 
 nessee at an early ilay, and there died. The youth 
 ful days of Thomas Hall were divided between farm 
 work and attending the common schools, where he 
 received a fair education oidy. He remained with 
 his parents until he attained his majority, and was 
 then married August 14, 1870, to Miss Dorcas E. 
 Kerr, who was l)orn iu Tennessee October 30. 
 1850, and is a daughter of William aud Jane Kerr, 
 
 - 1 » 
 
LA 
 
 284 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 both natives of Ireland, who died in Fulton Coun- 
 ty. Ark. To Thomas Hall and liis wife eight chil- 
 dren have been born, six of whom are living: Katie, 
 born August 3, 1872; Glory Ann, born January '2(\, 
 1875; Mary Alice, born May 20, 1877: John L., 
 born May 13, 1879, died January 13, 1880: Ada 
 Gordan. born April 21, 1881; Myrtle Eva, bom 
 October 30, 1883: Sabra Poreas, born October 
 9, 1886, and Victor Thomas, born August 13. 
 1889. Mr. Hall has always voted the Democratic 
 ticket, and his first vote was cast for Horace Gree- 
 ley for the Presidency. He is a member of the 
 Missionary Baptist Church, and his wife is con- 
 nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 They are intelligent and enterprising citizens, and 
 would give life to any community in which they 
 might settle. 
 
 W. S. Hamilton. A history of any community, 
 large or small, is made up, to a greater or less de- 
 gree, of the lives of its citizens, and it is apparent 
 to any intelligent observer that the history of this 
 coiinty is only such as has been made by those who 
 have been identified with its development for 
 some time. Mr. Hamilton can safely be classed 
 among the pioneers of the State of Arkansas. His 
 father, Thomas Hamilton, was a native of Ohio, 
 born in 1822, and came to Kentucky at an early 
 day. He was a miller liy trade, and followed this 
 pursuit during the principal part of his life. He 
 was married in Kentucky, in 1846, to Miss Sarah 
 Bunton, a native of Virginia, Ijorn about 1828. 
 Eight children were given them, five of whom 
 are now living: W. S., John W., David, farmer in 
 the Indian Nation; William, resides in Independ- 
 ence County, Ark., and is a farmer; and Melissa, 
 wife of John M. McCandlass, a farmer of Fulton 
 County. Thomas Hamilton left Kentucky in 1856, 
 and moved to Illinois, where he resided until 1809, 
 but subsequently he located in Greene County, 
 Ark. After remaining there two years he moved 
 to Fulton County, Ark., and engagcKl in the mill- 
 ing biisiness at Elizabeth, where he remained 
 thus occupied until his death, which occurred on 
 the 20th of Octolier, 1887. He had been justice 
 of the peace of his township in this county for some 
 time, and was a man universally respected. He 
 
 and wife were both members of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church. The mother died JIarch 3, 
 1861. W. S. Hamilton came to this county with 
 his father, and settled on Spring River, in the east 
 portion foj' some six years. He then moved to 
 liis present property of 160 acres, eighty acres 
 under cultivation, and there he has since remained. 
 He has made all the improvements, and has a fine 
 farm. His marriage occurred in 1868, in Illinois, 
 to Miss Mary A. Green, a native of Tennessee, and 
 to them have been born ten children, nine now liv- 
 ing: Sarah E. (deceased), Philip T., born April 7, 
 1871; N. J., born on the 22d of July, 1873; Me- 
 lissa, bom January 22, 1876; Emily F., born on 
 the 7th of November, 1878; George W. , born on the 
 17th of March, 1880; Nancy E., born on the 22d 
 of June, 1882; H. W. and Letha A. (twins), born 
 on the 6th of November, 1885; and Susan M. , born 
 on the 23d of April, 1888. Mrs. Hamilton is the 
 daughter of Thomas and Mary A. Green, natives 
 of Tennessee, who were the parents of two children: 
 Mary A., born on the 12th of January, 1852, and 
 Philip, who resides in Illinois. Mr. Green died in 
 1852, and in 1855 his widow married Thomas Nip- 
 per, by whom she had these children: Sarah J. (de- 
 ceased), Emily C. (deceased), J. H. , and Thomas 
 (deceased). Mr. Nipper died in 1865, of smallpox, 
 and all the children, but the two mentioned above, 
 died of the same dread disease. Mr. Nipjier was in 
 the Union army, but was so disabled from exposure 
 that he was discharged about 1863. Mr. Hamil- 
 ton has filled the office of constable, has also been 
 justice of the peace, and, like his father, is a Dem- 
 ocrat in politics. He is a member of Lodge No. 
 94, of the I. O. O. F.. at Vidette, Ark., and has 
 served as secretary and treasurer, and also vice 
 grand of his lodge. 
 
 Sidney K. Harkleroad. The subject of this 
 sketch is a Tennesseean by birth and bringing up, 
 and has inculcated in him the sterling principles 
 of his German ancestors. He was born in Sulli- 
 van County, Tenn., March 13, 1848, and is a son 
 of Henry and Margaret Adaline (Berry) Harkle- 
 road, who were born in East Tennessee and Vir- 
 ginia, respectively, and both died in Fulton County, 
 Ark., the former on the 18th of December, 1869. 
 
FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 285 
 
 at the -Age of eighty one years, and the latter 
 on the ISth of November, 1888, aged seventy-one 
 years. They were married in the mother's native 
 State, but resided in Sullivan County, Tenn., un- 
 til coming to Arkansas in 18r)0. They were mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
 and he was a soldier in the War of 1812, and by 
 occupation was a blacksmith, carpenter, and far- 
 mer, as such being very successful until coming to 
 Arkansas. At his death he left a competency for 
 his family. He was a son of Henry Harkleroad, a 
 native German, who was one of the first settlers of 
 the State of Tennessee, and died there. Five 
 sons and one daughter were born to the latter, 
 five of the family now living: W. H. C. , a farmer 
 of Union Township, James H. , Joseph T. and S. 
 K., being also millers of that township, and Mar- 
 garet E., wife of R. C. Byrumof Union Township. } 
 \\'. H. C. was in the Confederate army thiee years 1 
 during the Rebellion, and participated in many j 
 battles, and James H. was also in the service a i 
 short time. The latter, with our subject and his 
 brother, J. T. , were extensively engaged in the 
 saw-mill business in Izard County for about eight- 
 een years. In 1888 Sidney K. Harkleroad built a 
 grist mill and cotton-gin on his farm, which he 
 has since been successfully operating, the work j 
 which he turns out proving unusually satisfact- 
 ory, and the ])atronago that has been attracted 
 to this ])hice for milling purposes is steadily in- 
 creasing. If close application and study of the 
 wants of his customers will serve to make a per- 
 manent success of this mill, then Mr. Harkleroad 
 need have no fear as to the outcome of his venture. 
 He endeavors to please and keep apace with other 
 institutions of like nature, and the results are prov- 
 ing very favorable. In connection with his mill 
 and farming, he and his brother, James H. , are 
 engaged in operating a tan yard, which is the only 
 business of the kind in Fulton ('ounty. Sarah R. 
 Berry, a native of East Tennessee, and a daughter 
 of Thomas Berry, became his wife in 1870, and 
 their union has resulted in the l)irth of live chil- 
 dren: ^Margaret A., Thomas H., James M., Julia 
 E. and Elmer C. Mr. Harkleroad and his wife 
 are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 
 South, in which he is trustee and clas.s k-ader. 
 Both he and his brother, James H., are members 
 of the Masonic fi-aternity, and are Democrats in 
 their political views. 
 
 Dr. James Monroe Hazlewood was born in 
 Williamson County, Tenn., October 15, 1837, and 
 is the only surviving one of two children of 
 Thomas and Sarah (Sutton) Hazlewood, the form 
 er born in Virginia March 15, 1807, and the latter 
 in the same State February 14, 1814. Thomas 
 Hazlewood was taken to Tennessee at an early day 
 by his father, who also bore the name of Thomas, 
 and there spent his life, engaged in farming, his 
 death occurring October 7, 1838, followed l)y his 
 wife November 3, 1887, she being an earnest 
 member of the Christian Church. Our subject, 
 Dr. Hazlewood. inherits English and Irish Ijlood 
 from his father. In 1842 he was taken by his 
 parents to Mississippi, and until 1847 they resided 
 near the city of Jackson, then moving to Hardin 
 County, Tenn., and in 1852 to Perry County. In 
 18(50 Dr. Hazlewood emigrated to Dunklin Coun- 
 ty, Mo., and in 1870 to Oregon County, of the 
 same State, and in 1871 he again made a change 
 of residence, this time coming to Sharp County, 
 Ark., and three years later to where he now lives. 
 His lands amount to 215 acres, and he has about 
 sixty acres under cultivation. His marriage to 
 Miss Martha J. Lindsey took place August 1<). 
 1855. She was born in Tennessee May 4, 1837, 
 and is a daughter of John and Sarah Lindsey, who 
 removed to Arkansas during the early history of 
 that State, and there died. Dr. and Mrs. Hazle- 
 wood became the parents of eleven children, of 
 whom the following are living: Mary J. (wife of 
 John A. Michael), Margaret M. (wife of C. C. 
 Allen), Martha T. C, Julia I. V., Samuel J. S. 
 and John S. D. The Doctor has been au ordained 
 minister of the Christian Church since 18<S4, and 
 has been a practicing physician since 1874. Dur- 
 ing the war he served six months as lieutenant of 
 Company B, Richardson's artillery. His first 
 presidential vote was cast for John Boll, of Tt-ii 
 nessee. He is a Master Mason. 
 
 Joseph Highfill has given his attention strictly 
 to farming throughout life, and his eaiuest en- 
 
 ^=-[v 
 
^ 
 
 it 
 
 286 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 deavors iu pursuing this calling, coupled with 
 strict integrity and honesty of purpose, have 
 placed him among the honored and respected agri- 
 culturists of the county- He was born in Tennes- 
 see in 1839. and is a son of Dr. James and Martha 
 (Jackson) Highfill, who were born in Tennessee in 
 1812 and 1825. and died in Oregon County. Mo., 
 and Jackson County, Ark., in 1878 and 1874, re- 
 spectively. The father was of English lineage, 
 and was a well-known and skillful physician. He 
 also followed the occupation of farming, and in 
 this connection as well as in the capacity of a phy 
 sician, he attained prominence. Bennett and 
 Margaret Hightill emigrated from Tennessee to 
 Dallas County, Mo., in 1854, and five years later 
 moved to Oregon County. The grandfather Ben- 
 nett died in Tennessee, and his wife in Dallas 
 County, Mo. Joseph Highfill was the fourth of 
 fourteen children, and made his home with his 
 parents until twenty two years of age, receiving 
 during his youth a very limited education. In 
 1880 he removed from Oregon County, Mo., to 
 where he now lives, and is the owner of a good 
 farm, comprising 120 acres, with about forty acres 
 under ciiltivation. Dnrincj the Rebellion he spent 
 some eight months in the Confederate army, but 
 has since been a Republican in politics. Miss 
 Mary Kirby, who was born in Tennessee, in 1843, 
 became his wife in 1803, and by her he has had a 
 family of five children: Jennie, Rosa, Ellen, Alice 
 and Hattie. They are also rearing an orphan 
 child named Maud Koontz. Mrs. Highfill is a 
 daughter of Henry and Temperance Kirby, the 
 former born in the State of Tennessee, and the 
 latter in North Carolina. They moved fi'om Ten- 
 nessee to Illinois in 1851, and in 1859 located in 
 Oregon County, Mo., where they both died. Mrs. 
 Highfill belongs to the Christian Church. 
 
 Sell W. Hinkle, farmer, is now following the 
 occupation to which he was reared, and which has 
 been his life work, a calling that for ages has re- 
 ceived iindivided efforts from many worthy individ- 
 uals, and one that furnishes sustenance to the ready 
 worker. His parents, Jesse and Annie (Hopkin.s) 
 Hinkle, were both natives of North Carolina, and 
 at an early day came to Arkansas. They purchased 
 
 a farm in Oil Trough Bottom, and made a great 
 many improvements on it. Mr. Hinkle' s first mar- 
 riage occurred in 1825 or 1826 in North Carolina, 
 and this union was blessed by the birth of these 
 children: Wes (deceased), Jesse (deceased). Nar- 
 cissus, ' Artemus and Louisa. Mrs. Hinkle died 
 about 1852, and Mr. Hinkle took for bis second 
 wife, two years later. Miss Fannie Hopkins, who 
 bore him two children: Sell and Sarah J. (de- 
 ceased). Mr. Hinkle died near 1858, and his widow 
 followed him to the grave the next year. Sell 
 Hinkle began working for himself at the age of 
 nineteen as a farm hand, and this continued until 
 twent}' years of age. He then chose Miss Lucy 
 Lee, of Leon County, Texas, as his companion 
 through life, and they were married in 1878. Mr. 
 Hinkle continued to farm in Oil Trough Bottom 
 until 1S84, when he moved to Fulton County and 
 bought 160 acres of land. He erected good build 
 ings and made many other improvements, and still 
 I owns eighty acres in Oil Trough Bottom, all well- 
 improved and worth 150 per acre. Mrs. Hinkle is 
 the daughter of Thomas and Jane (Merriman) Lee, 
 and one of two children: Lucy, born November 10, 
 1861, and Sarah, wife of Mr. James, living in Fill 
 ton County. Mr. Lee died in 1865 from the effect 
 of injuries received in a collision on the train. 
 He served " in the Confederate army as a private. 
 Mrs. Lee was married the second time in 1870 to 
 Wesley Thompson, and by him became the mother 
 of five children: George and Mollie (twins), Elijah, 
 Carroll and Alice. Mrs. Thompson died in 1880, 
 and Ml-. Thompson five years later. He was a 
 farmer in Jackson County, Ark., and was one of 
 the well-to-do farmers. Mr. Hinkle received a very 
 meager education, but is a liberal supporter of 
 public schools, etc. He is a Democrat in politics. 
 Mrs. Hinkle is a member of the Christian Church. 
 He belongs to the I. O. O. F. 
 
 William Howard is one of the sturdy and pro- 
 gressive tillers of the soil of Fulton County, Ark., 
 and a man who has won a host of warm friends 
 by his many admirable traits of character. He 
 was born in Lauderdale County, Ala., August 15, 
 1823, and is a son of Robert and Susan (Smith) 
 Howard. The father died in Wayne County, Mo. , 
 
liL 
 
 FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 287 
 
 wlipn our subject was about thirteen yt><li"s of age, 
 and the ilate of his liirth is uiikiiovvu. He re- 
 moved from Alabama to Missouri in 1820, and was 
 of Irish descent, his iijrandfathei- having Ijeen born 
 in the " Emerahl Isl(>. '" His wife was supposed to 
 have been born in Alabama in 1805, and died in 
 Jackson County, Ark. , in 1 8f)2. Two of her nine 
 children are now living, of whom our subject is 
 the eldest. He attended the common schools of 
 Wayne County, Mo. , and until twenty two years 
 of age remained faithfully by his mother, assist- 
 mg her iu making a living. In March, 1844, he 
 moved to Jackson County, Ark., and was married 
 there in May two years later to Miss Caroline 
 Kinder, who was born in Cape Girardeau County, 
 Mo., in 1828. She died in her native county 
 iu LS'il, having become the mother of two chil- 
 dren, both of whom are deceased. On February 
 22, 1S5S, he married Mrs. Elizabeth (Brecken- 
 ridge) Dennis, who was born in Alabama in 1826. 
 Of the seven children born to them only one is 
 now living: William, who was born June 14, 1854, 
 is living with his parents and is married to Susan 
 Mtillens. They have two children: Robert L. and 
 Walter C. Mr. and Mrs. Howard are members of 
 the Baptiist Church. In 1863 Mr. Howard enlisted 
 in Company E, Clark's regiment, and served un- 
 til the final surrender, the latter part of his ser- 
 vice being under Marmaduke. He was also with 
 Price on his raid and served as second lieutenant. 
 Since al)Out 1844 he has been a resident of Ar- 
 kansas and in his political views has always been a 
 Democrat, having cast his first presidential vote for 
 James K. Polk. 
 
 Dr. D. T. Hudgens, of Elizabeth. Ark., has 
 been successful as both druggist and practicing 
 physician, and is one of the prominent business 
 men of the place. He was born in Pulaski County, 
 Mo., March 27, 1850. and received his rudimentary 
 education in the common schools, supplementing 
 the same by a two years" course in the high school 
 at Itolla. When about twenty years of age he en- 
 gaged in farming, and two years later entered the 
 ministry, being licensed in August, 1872. He was 
 a traveling preacher for five years and held all 
 the offices in the Free Will Baptist Church. He 
 
 has l)een an ordained elder since 1872 and occa 
 sionally occupies the pulpit now, thus administer 
 ing to the spiritual wants of his fellow man as well 
 as to their i)liysical n(>eds. He is popular with all. 
 kind and courteous in his intercourse with his ac- 
 quaintances, and is always to the front in aiding 
 any enterprise which tends to the advancement of 
 the county. In December, 1869, he selected a wife 
 in the person of Miss Martha Ousley, a native of 
 Osage County, Mo., and the daughter of William 
 and Martha Ousley, the father one of the wealth- 
 iest farmers of Pulaski County, Mo. This union 
 resulted in the ))irth of five children, one son and 
 three daughters living. While practicing he was 
 studying medicine in Pulaski County, and in 1878 
 he came to Fulton County and was the first settler 
 at Elizabeth, becoming one of the most successful 
 and prominent physiciaiis of the county. When 
 first entering upon the practice of his profession 
 he was in poor circumstancc^s. but his true worth 
 soon became apparent and a large patronage was 
 the result. Ho never attended medical college, but 
 in 1882 he passed the l)est examination before the 
 medical examiners of any physician in Fulton Coun- 
 ty. For three years he has been in the drug bus 
 iness in connection with his practice. He was the 
 first postmaster at Elizabeth and held the position 
 for several years. A Democrat in his political 
 preferences, his first presidential vote was cast for 
 Tilden in 1876. He was a charter member of AVild 
 Cherry Lodge No. 443, A. F. & A. M., and has 
 held nearly all the offices. He is also a member 
 of Eastern Star Chaj»ter, at Wild Cherry. His 
 wife has been a member of the church for many 
 years, and he has been a member since 180(1. 
 His parents, Robert and Mahala C. (Dodd) Hudg 
 ens, were born in Kentucky and Tennessee, re- 
 spectively. They were married in Missouri, where 
 they were eai-ly settlers, and there the father was 
 a successful attorney for twenty years. He died 
 in Rolla in October, 1864, and at the time of his 
 death was one of the leading lawyers of Southern 
 ^lissouri, then holding, also, the position of provost 
 marshal. He was also treasurer of Pulaski County 
 at one time. After his death his widow married 
 again and moved to Elizabeth, where shi' died in 
 
1885. She was a member of the Baptist Church 
 for soventeen years. 
 
 Jacob T. Hudson is a man whose natural char- 
 acteristics have especially favored as a tiller of the 
 soil. The pursuit of agriculture has afforded him 
 high gratification, and in the conduct of a farm 
 the jirinciples which he haa held have been pecu- 
 liarly adapted to the successful development and 
 improvement of the varied elements of farm life. 
 Of unquestioned honesty and integrity, his course 
 through life has been unimpaired by criticism. Mr. 
 Hudson was born in Itawamba County, Miss., in 
 1850, and is the son of William P. and Celia 
 (Thomas) Hudson, the former a native of Anson 
 County, N. C, born July 8, 1808, and the latter 
 of Darlington District, S. C. They were wedded 
 in the last named place, and from there removed 
 to Pickens County, Ala., in 1845 or 1846, and 
 from there soon after to Itawamba County. Miss. 
 In 1870 they moved to Fulton County, Ark., and 
 there Mr. Hudson died in 1871. He was a well- 
 to-do farmer, and was of Dutch extraction. His 
 wife died in Tennessee about 1884, and both were 
 members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Like 
 most of the youths of that viciuity, as he grew up, 
 he devoted his time and attention to farming, re- 
 ceiving in the meantime a rather limited amount 
 of schooling. In ISrJO he came with his brother- 
 in law to Fulton County, and was engaged in farm 
 labor until 1873, when he was united in marriage 
 to Miss Martha E., daughter of Josiah and Ma- 
 tilda Ross, natives of Tenne.ssee and Kentucky, 
 respectively. Mr. Ross died in Fulton County, 
 but his wife is still living. Mrs. Hudson was born 
 in Izard County, and by her union to Mr. Hudson 
 became the mother of six childi-en, one son and 
 three daughters living. Since 1878 Mr. Hudson 
 has lived on his present farm of 175 acres, with 
 sixty-five or seventy under cultivation. All this is 
 his own work, as there were but twelve acres cleared 
 when he first settled there. He is a Republican 
 in his political views, and his first presidential vote 
 was for Gen. Grant in 1872. He has been a mem- 
 ber of Lodge No. 443, A. F. & A. M. , at Wild 
 Cherry, and has held nearly all the ofiices except 
 Master. He is also a memlier of Ladies Chapter 
 
 of Eastern Star (White Lily) No. fil. at Wild 
 Cherry, and is a charter member of both lodges. 
 He and wife belong to the Missionary Baptist 
 Church, and he is clerk in the Mount Vernon and 
 Pleasant Ridge Church. One brotlier, E. D., and 
 two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Wallace and Mrs. 
 Argen D. Harris, are residing in Fulton County, 
 while one brother, John A., is in Alabama, and 
 two sisters, Mrs. Mary P. Mayhall and Mrs. Bet 
 sey A. Mayhall, are both natives of Mississippi. 
 
 Dr. John S. Hutchensou, physician and sur- 
 geon. Wild Cherry. Among the people of Fulton 
 as well as surrounding counties the name that 
 heads this sketch is by no means an unfamiliar 
 one, for for many years he has been active and 
 successfully occupied in the prosecution of his 
 chosen profession, and during that time his career 
 as a practitioner and thorough student of medicine 
 has won for him no less a reputation than did his 
 personal characteristics as a citizen and neighbor. 
 He owes his nativity to Carroll County, Ark. , where 
 he was born in 1854. His parents, John W. 
 and Mary (Sudduth) Hutchenson, the former a na- 
 tive of Alabama, and the latter of South Carolina, 
 were married in Mississippi, about 1850, later re- 
 moving to Carroll County, Ark. , and four years 
 after to Fulton County, of the same State. They 
 settled on the farm where the Doctor is now living, 
 and in 1855 the father went to Kansas and was 
 absent about four months in search for gold. He 
 was a farmer, but also followed merchandising at 
 Wild Cherry. There he died in 1858 in full com- 
 munion with the Christian Church. Mrs. Hutch- 
 enson was married twice, Mr. Hutchenson being 
 her last husband. She has been living on the old 
 home place since 1854, and is one of the old set- 
 tlers in Big Creek Township. She has be(>n a 
 member of the Christian Church for many years. 
 Dr. John S. Hutchenson wasthe third of four sons: 
 and his education was acquired in the common 
 .schools. When sixteen years of age he began the 
 study of medicine and in 1878 ami 187U at- 
 tended Keokuk Medical College, at Keokuk, Iowa, 
 and has since practiced his profession in the locality 
 in which he was reared. January 2, 1874, Miss 
 Mary Trap, originally from Tennessee, became his 
 
 rv 
 
« 
 
 FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 285) 
 
 wife. She was sin orphan, was roared in Missouri, 
 and died on September 20, 187(5, leaving one son. 
 She was a member in good standing in the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church. Dr, Hutcheuson owns the 
 home farm of 520 acres, with 225 under cultiva- 
 tion. He is the only child living of his father's 
 family. In politics he affiliates with the Demo 
 cratic party, and cast his fiist presidential vote for 
 S. J. Tilden in 1870. 
 
 P. P. B. Hynson of the general mercantile lirm 
 of Archer, Daniel & Co. of Mammoth Spring, 
 Ark., was born in Batesville, Independence Coun- 
 ty, in 1851, his parents being William and lios- 
 alie (Burton) Hynson, the former of Maryland by 
 birth and rearing. In 1838 he came to Arkan- 
 sas, and located at Batesville, where he married 
 in 1842, and resided until his death in 1858, at the 
 age of forty three years. His family came from 
 England and settled upon the eastern shore of 
 Maryland. His wife was born in Virginia, and 
 now resides in Batesville, having become the 
 mother of four children. The maternal grand- 
 father. P. P. Burton, was a native of Virginia, and 
 was a successful physician; he graduated from 
 a medical college at Philadelphia, and tirst prac 
 ticed his profession at Lexington, Va. , then at 
 Holly Springs, Miss., and finally located in Little 
 Rock, Ark., in 1840. He was a practicing ]ihysi- 
 cian for sixty years, and was United States sur- 
 geon at Little Rock for many years. His death 
 occurred in 1S72 at the age of eighty-five years. 
 The great grandfather was a Scotchman, who moved 
 from his native land to the colonies at an early day, 
 and during the progress of the Revolutionary War 
 served in the Continental army in the rank of 
 major. He was donated 4,000 acres of land by the 
 Government for valuable services. P. P. B. Hyn- 
 son was educated in Batesville, Ark. , and began 
 life for himself as a clerk in a general mercantile 
 store in that town at the age of sixteen years, con- 
 tinuing until 1871 when he became a member of 
 the firm, remaining as such until 1873. Since 1876 
 he has been a resident of Fulton County, Ark., 
 and has been associated with his present partners. 
 They carry a stock of goods valued at about ^2'!.- 
 000. Mr. Hynson is president and a stockholder 
 
 of the Mammoth Spring Fish Farm, is a director 
 in the Motor Light & Water Company and is a di 
 rector of the Building & Loan Association, all of 
 these companies being incorporateil. He was mar 
 ried in 1879 to Miss MoUie McKee, of Owensboro. 
 Ky. . and their union has resulted in the l)irth of fonr 
 children : Robert T., Rosalie B. , Lawrence M. and 
 Selden L. Mr. Hynson is a Democrat. His 
 grandmother was a Scott, a relative of Gen. Scott. 
 William M. Lafevers, farmer, Viola. No 
 worthy reference to the affairs of this county 
 would be com[)lete without mention of Mr. Lafevers, 
 who, among others, is engaged in tilling the soil. 
 Besides enjoying to an unlimited extent the conti 
 dence and respect of all who know him he came 
 of a family of children that have not only done 
 credit to themselves but have brought honor upon 
 the name they bear. Mr. Lafevers' parents, Alex- 
 ander and Rebecca (Bradley) Lafevers, were both 
 natives of North Carolina, the father bora iu Burke 
 County and the mother in Cherokee County. They 
 moved to Hardin County, Tenn., in 1871, to Izard 
 County, Ark., about 1876, and to Fulton County 
 in 1878, where Mrs Lafevers died in 1883. The 
 father is still living, and is sixty-four years of age. 
 He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, as 
 was also his wife. He is a farmer by occupation 
 and served in both th(* Mexican and Civil Wars. 
 Of the ten children born to his marriage seven are 
 still living, and all but one iu Fulton County. 
 William M. Lafevers is the eldest child of thi.-^ 
 family. He was born in Cherokee County, N. C. . 
 in lNr)2, and though his educational advantages iu 
 youth were very meager, and though perhaps deti 
 cient in general learning, his vigorous mind has so 
 grasped and embraced the opportunities which 
 have presented themselves that he is accounted 
 among the intelligent men of this vicinity. He 
 was from the first taught everything connected with 
 farming, later moving with his parents to Izard 
 County. In 1875 he wedded Miss Tennessee Cole, 
 daughter of Henry and Mary Cole, early settler> 
 of Arkansas, and the same year of his mairiage 
 he moved to Fulton County. He is the owner of 
 207 acres of land, with 100 under cultivation, and 
 also has other interests. He is a Democrat in 
 
"' w^ 
 
 21)0 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 politics, casting his first vote for Tilden: is a mem- 
 h)er of the Agricultural Wheel, and he and wife 
 belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 William Thomas Livingston. The many j'ears 
 ])assed in sincere and earnest endeavor in thor- 
 oughly discharging every duty in the different 
 branches of business to which his attention has 
 been directed, have contributed very materially to 
 the success that has fallen to the career of Mr. L. 
 He was born in Chambers County, Ala., May 14, 
 1885, and is a son of James T. and Emma W. 
 (Childs) Livingston, who were born in Abbeville 
 District, S. C, in 1803 and 1810. and died in 
 Fulton County, Ark.. July 7, 1859, and in 1864, 
 respectively. Their marriage took place in their 
 native district in 1830. and about three years later 
 they moved to Chambers County, Ala., and in 
 1850 to Cass County, Ga. (now known as Bartow 
 County), where they made their home until the 
 fall of 1856. Then they came to Arkansas and 
 located in Fulton County, the country at that time 
 being in a very wild and unsettled condition and 
 the homes of the settlers few and far between. 
 Mr. Livingston engaged in farming and milling, 
 and was successful in the former occupation, but in 
 the latter his efPorts were not attended with good 
 results. He served in the Creek War for a short 
 time, and while in Alabama and Georgia held the 
 office of justice of the peace at different times, and 
 at the time of his death in this State he was county 
 surveyor of Fulton County. He acquired an excel- 
 lent education by experience as a salesman in a 
 mercantile establishment in Old Cambridge, S. C, 
 and afterward became a partner in the business. 
 He was a son of Thomas Livingston, who was a 
 soldier in the Revolutionary War, being at the 
 battle of Horse Shoe Bend. He died in Abbeville 
 District, S. C. William Thomas Livingston, our 
 immediate subject, was the second of eight chil- 
 dren, six of whom survive, and acquired his edu- 
 cation in the common schools of Alabama and 
 Georgia. He remained faithf ullj' by his parents 
 until their deaths, and assisted his father in man- 
 aging the home place. In 1858 he was appointed 
 deputy sheriff under Thomas E. Martin, serving 
 two years, then farmed iintil May, 1862. at which 
 
 time he enlisted in the Confederate army, in the 
 Tenth Missouri Infantry, and served as forage and 
 wagon-master until starting for home the day 
 Isefore Lee surrendered. April S, 1865, with a dis- 
 charge by reason of his election as representative 
 of his county. After his retui-n home he again 
 took up the implements of farm life, was appointed 
 deputy sheriff of Fulton County, and in 1S6H again 
 appointed to the same position under M. Y. 
 Shaver, and again in 1867 under E. O. Wolf. In 
 1872, at the close of reconstruction, he was elected 
 sheriff, again in 1876 and 1878, then in 1882, and 
 once more in 1886, in all ten years — a longer term 
 of office than has ever been held by any one man in 
 the county, with the exception of W. P. Rhea, who 
 was circuit court clerk for the same length of time. 
 He was assessor of Fulton County in 1859, 1867 
 and 1868: and in 1864, while in the army, was 
 elected to represent Fulton County in the General 
 Assembly. In 1867 his union with Miss Louesa 
 L. Jenkins took place, and by her he became the 
 father of eleven children, seven of whom are living: 
 James T. , William S., Mary T. , Emma J., Carrie 
 M. . Cora A. and Daisy B. Mr. Livingston is a 
 member of the Missionary Baptist Church, is a 
 Democrat in his political views, and has shown his 
 brotherly spirit by becoming a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, rejiresenting his lodge in the 
 Grand Lodge in 1873. 
 
 Hon. E. R. Lucas, farmer, Viola. No name is 
 justl)' entitled to a more enviable place in the his- 
 tory of Fulton County than the one which heads 
 this sketch, for it is borne by a man who has been 
 usefully and honorably identified with the inter- 
 ests of this county, and with its advancement, in 
 every worthy particular. He owes his nativity to 
 Dallas County, Ala., where he was born in 1835. 
 His parents, Harvey B. and Amy (Wilson) Lucas, 
 were born in Kentucky, in 1808, and Georgia, in 
 1810, respectively. The father went to New York 
 City when twenty-one years of age, engaged in 
 merchandising, but was burned out in the fire of 
 1833. After this he went to Alabama, was mar- 
 ried there, and began the study of medicine. He 
 practiced in that State for some time, then gradu- 
 ated in his profession at Cincinnati, Ohio, after 
 
w^ ^ 
 
 SC EDl-A 
 
 Mississippi County, Arkansas 
 
>>• 
 
 PULTON COUNTY. 
 
 '2111 
 
 whieli, his health beiug very poor, ho was advised 
 to go to Europe, but died on the ocean, in 1844 or 
 lS4r). leavini; a wife and fonr children, in poor 
 circnmstanoes. He was of Scotch descent, was a 
 member of the Baptist Chnrcli, also a Mason, 
 and was a very promising man. His widow is 
 still living, and has been a meml)er of the Baptist 
 Clinrch for over sixty years. She reared four 
 children, Hon. E. R. lieing the eldest. Ho re 
 ceived very little education until grown, and then 
 taught seven terms of school. His wife was for- 
 niejly Miss Nancy Radford, whom he married in 
 liSriO. Her parents, Reuben and Sarah Radford, 
 were natives, respectively, of Alabama and Ken- 
 tucky, and jiassed their last days in the former 
 State, Mrs. Radford dying in 1853, and Mr. Rad- 
 ford some years previous. To Mr. and Mrs. Lucas 
 were born ten children, throe sons and four dangh 
 ters living. Mr. Lucas served through the war, 
 having enlisted in Company K, Eleventh Alabama 
 Volunteer Infantry, Confederate Army; the first 
 year he was a private, then third lieutenant, and 
 afterward first lieutenant, and finally captain. He 
 operated in Northern Virginia with Gen. Lee, and 
 was in twenty- four general engagements, among 
 them Seven Pines, seven days' fight before Rich- 
 mond, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettys- 
 burg, Wilderness. Spottsylvania, etc., and was 
 never captured nor wounded. He received a fur- 
 lough, and was at home during the final surrender. 
 He then returned to tilling the soil, and in 186'J 
 came to Fulton County, Ark. , where he has since 
 lived, residing on his present farm for the |>ast six 
 years. He has been a close student all his life, 
 and is at present one of the best informed men in 
 Fulton County. In 1874 he was a member of 
 the constitutional convention that framed the pres- 
 ent constitution of Arkansas, and in 1882 was 
 elected to represent the county mentioned in the 
 State legislature, holding the position for two 
 years. He has been a life-long Democrat, and his 
 first presidential vote was for James Buchanan, in 
 1^5(1 He has been a Mason since 1801. now 
 belonging to Viola Lodge No. 399. and has held 
 nearly all the offices, and was Master two years. 
 He is also a member of the Agricultural Wheel. 
 
 He and wife belong to the Missionary Ba])tist 
 Church, in which he has been a divicon for a num- 
 ber of years. His maternal grandfather, William 
 Wilson, was a native Virginian, and died in Georgia. 
 He was of English descent, and a soldier in the 
 Rm'olutionary War. Mr. Lucas has one brother, 
 Rev. Oscar M. Lucas, who has been a prominent 
 Baptist minister for about twenty-five years. He 
 was educated principally at Mountain Home, in 
 Baxter County. William P., another brother, 
 served about fourteen months in the ('onfederate 
 army, and was wounded at the seven days' battle, 
 in June, 1802, and died from the effects July 9, of 
 the same year. A sister, Sarah F., is the wife of 
 William P. Cameron, and is also a member of the 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 Elder Joseph B. McGlasson, minister of the 
 (christian Church, and farmer of Big Creek Town 
 shij>, was born in Cumberland County, Ky., in 
 1809, and is at present one of the oldest and most 
 esteemed citizens of Fulton County. His early life 
 was one of hardship and trouble, and at that day 
 he received very limited educational advantages, 
 the most of his education being acquired after 
 attaining his majority. Previous to that he had 
 left home under rather unpleasant circumstances, 
 his father being (|uite dissipated, and ragged and 
 bare-foot, and with little or no schooling, he was 
 compelled to make his way in life. He worked for 
 a man one day to get some leather, and for anothei- 
 man a short time to get the leather made up into 
 a pair of shoes. He continued to labor at such 
 occupation as be could find, until he had a good 
 suit of clothes, after which he attended school, etc. 
 He was married September 16, 1830, to Miss 
 Fannie Ross, who was originally from Cumberland 
 County, Ky., and who died in Fulton County. 
 Ark., in 1858. Eleven children were born to tliis 
 marriage, six sons and five daughters, only four of 
 whom are now living, viz.: Isabelle S. , Susan, 
 wife of William L. Cavnett, of Phelps County, M<>. : 
 Jane and Fannie. Mr. McGlasson's second nuir 
 riage occurred, in isr)9, to Mrs. JIargaret J. Nib- 
 blett, daughter of William and Lucy Fewell. 
 She was born in Alaljama, and by her marriage 
 became the mother of four children, two now 
 
* » 
 
 292 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 liviug: Francis M. and Tabitba. wife of James ' 
 James, of Randolph County, Ark. The second 
 Mrs. McGlasson died about 1877, and Mr. Mc- 
 Glasson then married Mrs. Nancy Hewitt, who 
 died in 1883. In August of the following year 
 he man'ied Mrs. Elizabeth Watson, daughter of 
 James Hammond, and a native of Graves County, 
 Ky. She was previously a member of the Baptist | 
 Church, but for the last seven years has been a 
 member of the Christian Church. In 1836 Mr. 
 McGlasson removed to Southwest Arkansas, where 
 he remained until 1851, then locating in Izard 
 County, and from there, one year later, in Fulton 
 County, Ark. He settled in the neighborhood 
 where he now lives, and was one of the first white 
 settlers of the county, he being only one of two \ 
 now living in Big Creek Township who were I 
 in that township at that time. He has long been 
 recognized as an honest, upright and much es- 
 teemed citizen, and one of the county's leading 
 farmers. He now has 148 acres of land, with 
 some sixty acres under cultivation. For about 
 fifty- eight years he has been a Christian, first a 
 member of the Methodist Church, and in 1845 he 
 was licensed to preach by that church. He has 
 preached more or less ever since, and is among 
 the oldest ministers of Arkansas. He was a Meth- 
 odist until the separation in 1845, and was then a 
 Protestant Methodist until the war. He then re- 
 mained out of the church until 18*35, when he 
 joined the Christian Church. From 1844 to 1850 
 he was justice of the peace, and filled this position 
 for four years in Fulton County. He was drum- 
 mer for four years in the militia in Kentucky, and 
 was lieutenant of a volunteer company in the 
 year 1845. In politics he has been a Democrat 
 all his life, and his first presidential vote was . 
 cast for Andrew Jackson, in 1828. He is a mem- 
 ber of Wild Cherry Lodge No. 85, I. O. O. F. 
 Mr. McGlasson is the son of James and Susannah 
 (Harley) McGlasson, natives of Virginia, born in ' 
 Franklin and Bedford Counties, respectively. The 
 parents were married in their native State, in 
 1807, and removed to Cumberland County, Ky. , 
 locating in the woods, and were among the very 
 earliest settlers. Theie they spent their entire , 
 
 lives, the mother dying since the war, at the age 
 of ninety-seven years. She was a member of the 
 Baptist Church for many years. The father was 
 a good farmer. They were the parents of eleven 
 children. Matt McGlasson, the grandfather of 
 the subject of this sketch, was a native of Scot- 
 land, and came to America when quite young. He 
 enlisted in the Revolutionary War when only 
 eighteen years of age, and was in service during 
 the entire war. He located first in Virginia, but 
 later moved to Kentucky, where he passed his 
 last days. He was one of the first settlers. His 
 wife, Elizabeth Cunningham, was born in France. 
 Mathew McGlasson, the great-grandfather of the 
 subject of this sketch, spent his entire life in Scot- 
 land. The maternal grandfather, Francis Harley, 
 was of Dutch descent, and died in Virginia. 
 
 Azriah W. McKenzie. The career of Mr. Mc- 
 Kenzie presents an example of industry, j)ersever- 
 ance and good management, rewarded by substan 
 tial results, well worthy the imitation of all who 
 start out in life as he did with no capital except a 
 good constitution and liberal supply of pluck and 
 energy. He is numbered among those of Georgia 
 nativity now in Fulton County, having been born 
 in that State on the 7th of November, 1831. 
 John McKenzie, his father, was a Georgian, born 
 about 1800, and first settled in the wilds of Law- 
 rence County, Ark., in 1848. He pursued the oc- 
 cupation of farming until his death at the age of 
 sixty-five years. After residing in Lawrence 
 County a few years he moved to Madison County, 
 thence to Missouri, and finally returned to his son's 
 (Azriah) home in 1862. He was a soldier in the 
 Florida and Indian War. His father was born in 
 Scotland, and came to the United States at the 
 time of the Revolutionary War. Our subject's 
 mother was a Miss Jane Canady, who was born in 
 Georgia, about 1801, and died in Lawrence 
 County, Ark. (now Sharp County), in 1851. She 
 was the mother of seven sons and four daughters, 
 all of whom grew to mature years, and two of 
 whom art5 now liviug: Azriah and a sister, both of 
 whom live in Fulton County. The former was the 
 sixth of the family, and remained with his parents 
 until about eighteen years of age, when he started 
 
 ~7n 
 
for California, which State he reached in the sum- 
 mer of 1852. He remained there engaged in 
 mining until December, 1857, then returned to 
 Arkansas, where he continued until the spring of 
 1859, when he again crossed the plains, and for 
 two yeai's was occupied in cattle dealing in Cali- 
 fornia. In the last named year he again returned 
 home, and in July of that year enlisted in the 
 ('onfederate army, being under Capt. Wyatt, and 
 >erved until the close of the war. He was taken 
 prisoner at Big Blue while with Price on his raid, 
 and was retained at Alton, 111., for four months, 
 lifter which he was jiaroled. He then rejoined 
 his company in the south part of Arkansas, and 
 at the close of hostilities returned home and re- 
 sumed his farming operations. He has a fine farm 
 of 400 acres, with 185 under cultivation, which he 
 has acfpiired by hard work and good management. 
 His first vote for the presidency was cast for Frank- 
 lin Pierce, and he has always been a Democrat. 
 He is unmarried. 
 
 Dr. Joel McLemore, a physician of acknowl- 
 edged merit in Fulton County, was born in Hali- 
 fax County. N. C, June 1'2, 1835. and there re- 
 mained until ten years of age, when he was taken 
 by his mother to Tennessee, receiving his liter- 
 ary education in Waynesboro, of that State. Dur- 
 ing this time he formed a strong desire to study 
 medicine and made the investigation of this 
 science his chief business for a number of years. 
 He has been practicing since 1865, and has 
 been a successful practitioner of Fulton County 
 ever since 1878. In October. 1855, he was mar- 
 ried in Tennessee to Miss Harriet G. McClearen, 
 who was born and reareil in Hickman County, 
 Middle Tenn. Her parents, John and Elzada 
 (.\dams) McClearen, were born in Northern Ala 
 bama and Bedford County, Tenn., respectively. 
 To Dr. and Mrs. McLemore nine children have 
 been given, seven of whom are living: John B., 
 Joel H. (deceased), James F. , William B.. Albert 
 A.. Sterling P.. Samuel (i., an infant deceased, 
 and Allie. During the late war the Doctor served 
 four years in the Confederate army as major of a 
 battalion. He is a Master Mason, a member of the 
 Democratic party, and he and wife belong to 
 
 the iMethodist Protestant Chinch. He owns a 
 farm of 240 acres on English Creek, aboijt seven- 
 ty-five acres of which are under cultivation. His 
 tiarents, Joel and Mrs. Elizabeth (PuUou) McLe- 
 more, were born in Virginia and North Carolina in 
 May, 1773, and 1803, respectively. The father re- 
 moved to North Carolina when a young man and 
 was married there. He was a tailor by trade, and 
 also followed the occupation of farming, and on his 
 extensive plantation in Halifax County employed lOO 
 hands. He was twice married, Miss Pullen lieing 
 his second wife, and by her he became the father 
 of two sons; Joel, and James H., who lives in 
 Wayne County. , Tenn. After his demise his widow 
 mairied John Whittakei-. and moved to P(>rry 
 County, Tenn.. whore she died in April, 1859. 
 The jiaternal grandparents of our subject were 
 born near London, England, and a short time 
 prior to the R(;volutionary ^\ar they emigrated 
 to the United States and settled near Richmond, 
 Va., where they afterward died. The grandfather 
 served as major in the Continental army during 
 that war. 
 
 Jesse Matthews is a iiewspajwr man of long ex- 
 perience, his connection with his present pajjer 
 dating from January 8, 1879. Under his able 
 management it has become recognized as a journal 
 of decided merit, its editorials being written with 
 a clearness and force which indicate a writer of 
 ability, while it has become very jiopular for its 
 bold and fearless advocacy of measures which it 
 deems will |)rove of benefit to this section. His 
 parents, Jesse and Mary ( Houston) Matthews, were 
 born in Baltimore, Md. . and Paris. Bourbon 
 County, Ky., respectively, the former being reared 
 to manhood in his native town; then he came west 
 and settled at Glasgow, Mo., in whicii place he en- 
 gaged in merchant tailoring, and followed this oc- 
 cupation for some time. In 1849 he went to Cali- 
 fornia, where he spent eight years in gold digging, 
 accumulating considerable money. After his re- 
 turn to Missouri he located at Huntsville. where his 
 worthy wife departed this life. aft(>r which lie re- 
 moved to the northwest county in Missouri, where 
 he is spending his declining years with a son. The 
 paternal grandfather was an early emigrant to 
 
J^l 
 
 294 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 America, ami was of Scotch ancestry although 
 born iu the " " Emerald Isle. ' ' Jesse Matthews, the 
 immediate subject of this sketch, was reared at 
 Huiitsville. Randolph County, Mo., but was fav- 
 ored with only poor advantages for obtaining an 
 education, which he improved by entering a print- 
 ing office when fourteen years of age, only going 
 to school two ten months' sessions. In 1874 he 
 was married to Miss Sarah E. Rider, who was born 
 in Pulaski County, Mo. , in 1856, and six children 
 blessed their union: Maggie A., Edgar M., Elmer 
 H. , Mattie, Jessie P., Earnest L. and Emmett G. 
 Mr. Matthews learned the printer's trade in his 
 youth at Huntsville, Mo., commencing his appren- 
 ticeship in July, 1864, and serving five years. He 
 then went to Kansas City, and worked on the 
 "Kansas City Times" as a compositor for one 
 year, and the following year worked on the 
 ' ' Oswego (Kansas) Register. ' ' He next made a 
 short stay iu Arkansas, after which he went back 
 to Missouri, and for four years worked at Salem 
 on ' ' The Success, ' ' as foreman. He next went to 
 Pulaski County where he bought a printer's out- 
 fit, and moved to Gainesville, establishing the 
 "Gainesville Gazette," afterward removing to 
 Licking, where he established the ' ' Ledger, ' ' 
 which he conducted one year, then starting the 
 " Spirit,"' at Salem, Mo. Since January 8, 1879, 
 he has been a resident of Salem, Ark., establish- 
 ing the ' ' Salem Informer" " at the above date, 
 which he has continuously published up to the 
 present time. Mr. Matthews is a conservative 
 Democrat, and his paper is independent. He is 
 a member of the A. F. & A. M. , and also a mem- 
 ber of the Kansas City Typographical Union. 
 
 K. B. Maxey is an attorney of Salem, Ark., who 
 has steadily and surely made his way to the front 
 in the practice of his chosen profession, and as a 
 prominent and useful citizen. He was born in 
 Giles County, Tenn., October 11, 1846, and re- 
 ceived his education in Lebanon, Wilson County, 
 Tenn., and while there formed habits of applica- 
 tion and industry so essential to any successful 
 career through life, and which stood him iu good 
 service when entering upon his legal studies, 
 which he did after wielding the ferule for three 
 
 years. His legal ])receptor was AV. F. Hender- 
 son, the present supreme judge of New Mexico, 
 who was then attorney general of Arkansas. He 
 was admitted to the bar of Randolph County, Ark., 
 in March, 1872, and the two following years were 
 spent in practicing his profession at Pocahontas, 
 Mo. From that time until 1878 he resided iu 
 Corning, Clay County, Ark. , and then on account of 
 ill health, came to Salem, where he has since been 
 engaged in regular practice and the real estate 
 business. He owns considerable land in the county, 
 and some valuable town property. Miss Minnie 
 Jones, who was born in Pocahontas, Randolph 
 County, Mo., became his wife in 1874, and by her 
 he has an interesting family of four children: 
 Ollie, Soula, Kittie and Harry. Mr. Maxey holds 
 a membership in the I. O. O. F. lodge at Poca- 
 hontas, and he and his wife are worthy members 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Maxey's 
 parents, J. H. and Elizabeth (Black) Maxey, were 
 born in the State of Virginia, the former's birth 
 occurring in 1812. He was reared to a farm life 
 in Tennessee, and there married and spent his life, 
 his death occurring in 1871. His wife, who died 
 in 1850, bore him five children. Grandfather 
 Maxey was a Virginian, who emigrated to Tennes- 
 see at an early day, and there spent the rest of his 
 days. 
 
 Daniel W. Mitchell, farmer, merchant, and 
 postmaster of Mitchell postoffice, which was estab- 
 lished in 1881, through his efforts, owes his birth 
 to Marion County, Tenn. , where he was born in 
 1828. His father, Warren W. Mitchell, was a na- 
 tive of North Carolina, born in 1782, and was mar 
 ried in Tennessee to Mrs. Blender Lewis, also a 
 native of North Carolina, and born in the year 
 1792. The father died in Tennessee in 1842. He 
 was a successful tiller of the soil. His father, 
 John Mitchell, was born and reared in Ireland, 
 but on coming to the United States, settled in North 
 Carolina, and there died. He served all through 
 the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Elender (Lewis) 
 Mitchell was married the hrst time in North Caro- 
 lina. After the death of Mr. Mitchell, she re- 
 moved to North Mississippi, and there died in April, 
 1857. Her father, Harbored Lewis, was a Welsh- 
 
 "71 
 
" — " i\ 
 
 FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 2'.)r. 
 
 man, luul his wife wrh Diitcli. They came to 
 America prior to the Revohitionar}- War, settling j 
 in Chatham County, N. C, and there passed the 
 remainder of their lives. Daniel W., the second of 
 tliree sous and four daughters born to his parents, 
 received a very limited education, and remained 
 with his mother uatil grown, taking charge of the 
 family at the age of seventeen. His marriage oc- 
 ciured in 1856 to Miss P. A. Walker, a native of 
 Alabama, and the daughter of John and Mary 
 Walker, who were natives of Tennessee, but who 
 passed the last of their days in Mississippi. Mr. 
 Mitchell lived in Mississippi until during the war, | 
 when he moved to Perry County, 111. , after which he 
 returned to Mississippi. In ISTOhecame to Fulton 
 County, rented land until 1872, and then settled in 
 the dense woods on his present farm, now of about 
 600 acres, with 100 acres under cultivation, all 
 the result of his own energy, never having inherited 
 anything. He is at present a prominent farmer, 
 and a successful business man. In 1883 he es- ! 
 tablished a store on his farm, and has carried this 
 on nearlj' ever since. He was justice of the peace for 
 some years in Mississippi, and also filled that posi- 
 tion for about two years in Fulton County. In 
 politics he was reared a Whig, but is now a Ke- 
 publican. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are members in 
 good standing in the Methodist Episcopal Chui'ch, 
 and he has been steward in the same for many 
 years. 
 
 Edward S. Nesbit is manager of the Nesbit 
 Lumber Company, of Mammoth Spring, Ark., 
 dealers in dressed and rough lumber, shingles, sash, 
 doors, blinds, lime, cement, laths, hair, etc. This 
 business was established in March, 1889. Mr. 
 Nesbit was born in De Soto County, Miss., in 1838, 
 and is the son of Thomas and Margaret (Driver) 
 N(>sbit, natives of South Carolina and Alabama, re- 
 spectively. When a boy, Thomas Nesbit went to 
 Alabama, where he grew to manhood, married, 
 and soon after removed to Mississippi, being one 
 of the pioneers of that State. He was a wealthy 
 farmer, and died in the last mentioned State in 
 1SS5, at the age of seventy-three years. He was 
 the founder of the town of Nesbit. on the Illinois 
 Central Railroad, and one of the most prominent 
 
 citizens of the locality in which he lived. He and 
 wife were for many years members in good stand- 
 ing in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
 Thomas Nesbit, grandfather of Edward H. Nesbit, 
 was of Irish parentage, and was a soldier in the 
 Revolutionary War. Mrs. Nesbit died about 1881 ; 
 she was the daughter of Lewis Driver, who was 
 a wealthy agriculturist, and who died in Alabama. 
 Of the nine children born to his parents, Edward S. 
 Nesbit was the third. He secured a fair education 
 in the common schools until nearly grown, and 
 when nineteen years of age graduated from W'es- 
 leyan University at Florence, Ala. He then en 
 gaged in the lumber and saw-mill Imsiness on 
 Tallahatchee River, where he remained until the 
 breaking out of the Civil War. He then joined 
 Company K, Ninth Mississippi Volunteer Infantry, 
 and nine months later was appointed lieutenant 
 of a battalion of sharp shooters, serving in that 
 capacity until the close of the war. He was ca]) 
 tured in West Mississippi in October, 1802, and 
 was held a prisoner at Fort Pickering for about 
 three months. At the close of the strife he en- 
 gaged in farming and merchandising, which he 
 carried on for some time. On the 1st of March, 
 1861, he married Miss Maggie Bradford, a native 
 of Arkansas, and who died in 1866. Her father. 
 Thomas Bradford, was one of the organizers of the 
 Mississippi and Tennessee, now Illinois Central 
 Railroad Company. He was a director and leading 
 factor in that road until his death. To Mr. and 
 Mrs. Nesbit were born four children, two sons auil 
 two daughters, all living. Mr. Nesbit" s secoml 
 marriage occurred about 1881, to Mrs. Nancy E. 
 Nesbit, daughter of J. R. Jeffer^'s, a native of 
 Virginia, who died about 1884, in De Soto County, 
 Miss. Mrs. Nesbit was also born in Virginia. Mr. 
 Nesbit lived in his native county until 18SI, when 
 he removed to Imboden, and in ISS'J to Mammotli 
 Spring. He was in company with his father in 
 the milling, ginning and lumber business, and this 
 continued extensively until he came to Arkansas. 
 and was then connected with the Imboden Milling 
 Company, until 1889. He was mayor of Nesbit, 
 Miss., for a number of years. Politically, he was 
 a Whig until the war, since which time he has 
 
 7?=;=" 
 
 ;r^ 
 
290 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 been a Democrat, casting bis fiist presidential vote 
 for Bell in 1860. He is a Master Mason and Royal 
 Arch Mason, and also belongs to the K. of H. 
 and K. of L. He is a member of the Cuml>erland 
 Presbyterian Church, and bis wife of the Mission- 
 ary Baptist. Their children are named as follows: 
 Mary E., wife of W. J. Johnson, farmer of De Soto 
 County, Miss.: Edward S., Jr.. was educated at 
 Nesbit, Miss. , and is a telegraph operator at ImVio- 
 den; Milton W. received his education at the same 
 place, and is also a telegraph operator at Portia; 
 Maggie E. was educated principally at Pulaski, 
 Tenn. The children received good school advant- 
 ages. 
 
 H. F. Northcutt. one of the most efficient cir- 
 cuit and county clerks Fulton County has ever had, 
 is a young man well known in the community, and 
 has been an incumbent of his present office since 
 the fall of 1886, serving by re-election. In the 
 year 1863 he first saw the light of day in Warren 
 County, Tenn., but was reared in this county, and 
 although he attended the free schools for some 
 time, he is mainly self-educated. After following 
 the monotonous duties of farm life for some time, 
 he abandoned this work to enter the county clerk" s 
 office as deputy, continuing as such until he was 
 elected to the office of county assessor, as soon as 
 he was eligible for office, when twenty one years 
 of age. He continued to discharge the duties of 
 this office in a very satisfactory manner until 1886, 
 at which time he was elected to his present posi- 
 tion. In social as well as public life he is kind, 
 courteous and afPable in his demeanor to all classes, 
 and is a young man who attracts the regard of all 
 who approach him. He is Democratic in politics, 
 and has shown his approval of secret societies by 
 becoming a member of the I. O. O. F. His wife 
 was formerly Miss Mattie L. Wainwright, whom 
 he married in September, 1885. she having been 
 born in Fulton County. Ark. Mr. Northcutt is a 
 son of J. M. and Mary E. (Doughty) Northcutt, 
 who were born in Warren and Wilson Counties, 
 Tenn., respectively. They were reared, educated 
 and married in their native State, and there made 
 their home until 1868, when they came to Arkan- 
 sas, locating in Fulton County, at Salem. Mr. 
 
 Northcutt established a general mercantile store, 
 and did a prosperous business for a number of 
 years, being also quite extensively engaged in stock 
 dealing. At one time he left home to dispose of 
 some stock and was never afterward heard from, 
 but all his baggage was traced to Louisville, Ky. , 
 and the supposition is that he was murdered for 
 his money. His widow and two children survive 
 him (two other children having died), the former 
 being a resident of Salem. The paternal grand- 
 father, J. M. Northcutt, was a native German. 
 
 Dr. William B. Phillips is a leading physician 
 and surgeon of Fulton County, Ark., and pos- 
 sesses those sterling qualities which are character- 
 istic of people of Scotch descent, as well as of those 
 who claim Ohio as the State of their birth. He 
 was born in Morgan County, July 24, 1836, and 
 there received good educational advantages, which 
 he did not fail to improve. He removed with his 
 parents from Ohio to Missouri in 1859, and having 
 formed the desire to pursue the study of medicine 
 with a view to making it a profession, he entered 
 the St. Louis Medical College (then called Pope's 
 College), where he acquired an excellent knovpledge 
 of that calling. When the mutterings of war re- 
 sounded through the land he entered the service 
 as hospital steward, Vjut afterwaid became hospital 
 surgeon, and acted in this capacity until the close 
 of the war. After residing in Missouri until 1876 
 he came to Izard County, Ark., and in 1882 to 
 where he now lives, where his efforts to alleviate 
 the sufferings of the sick have been attended with 
 most pleasing results. His name has become well 
 known throughout the length and breadth of the 
 county as an able practitioner, and his success fully 
 justifies the large and lucrative patronage he has 
 always received. In 1858 he was married to Miss 
 Louisa Valaivies, who was born in Belmont County, 
 Ohio, in 1889, l)ut her death occurred the follow- 
 ing year. Miss Elizabeth M. Hamilton became his 
 second wife in 1864. She was born in Pulaski 
 County. Mo., in 1842, and she and the Doctor have 
 
 ; become the parents of the following children: 
 William S., born August 3, 1865; Livie L., born 
 January 24, 1867; Hugh H., born April 7, 1868; 
 
 j Viola M.. born May 5, 1870; Ernest A., born 
 
 y'r. 
 
e w 
 
 Dcc'crnbw 28, 1871; Ansel B., born December 21, 
 1873; ArtliurL., born February 1 0, 1876: Alexan- 
 der B. , born July 17, 1878; Anna P., born May 
 l(i, 1880, and Myrtle L., born January 29, 1883. 
 Dr. Phillips resides on a good farm of 200 acres. 
 He is a Republican in politics, and cast his first 
 vote for Stephen A. Douglas, for the Presidency. 
 He is a member of Vidette Lodge No. 94. of the 
 I. O. O. F. , at Vina postofBce, and is Deputy 
 Grand Master of his district, and secretary of his 
 lodge. He is a consistent member of the General 
 Baptist Church. He was the eldest of five chil- 
 dren, two now living, of Zadock and Phcebe 
 (Brown) Phillips, who were born in Athens County. 
 Ohio, in 1813 and 1818, respectively. The father 
 is yet living, and is engaged in farming in Doug- 
 las County, Mo., to which county he moved in 
 1859. His wife died in this county in March, 
 1889. The grandfather was born in North Caro- 
 lina, and the great grandfather was of Scotland 
 nativity. 
 
 J. M. Picki'en, one of the most extensive and 
 prominent farmers of Fulton County, Ark., is a 
 native of the county, born November 15, 1848. 
 His father, John Pickren, was a native of Italy, 
 born in 1798, and when only nine years of age took 
 passage in a vessel and worked his way to Amer- 
 ica. He landed in New York, remained there for a 
 short time, and then went to Pennsylvania, whence, 
 after a stay of five or six years, he journeyed 
 to North Carolina, continuing there until about 
 
 1840, when he came to Fulton County, Ark. 
 Previous to his advent into North Carolina he had 
 followed various occupations, l)ut while in that 
 State he had charge and superintended the hands 
 working in the gold mines of that State. After 
 coming to Arkansas he settled on the tract of land 
 owned by his son J. M. , and followed agricultural 
 pursuits successfully for a number of years. He 
 was killed in 1863 by the Jayhawkers, who claimed 
 to be United States soldiers. He was married in 
 
 1841, and was sixty-five yearsof age at the time of 
 his death. He was married in North Carolina to 
 Miss Mary Stoop, a native of North Carolina, and 
 of German origin. Five children were the fruits 
 of this union, two of whom died when small and 
 
 10 
 
 one was killed at the same time as the father, 
 when sixteen years of age. Those living are; 
 Mary, wife of H. Tracey, and is now living in 
 North Carolina, and J. M., the subject of this 
 sketch. The latter commenced work for himself 
 as a farmer in 1872, and cultivated the old home 
 stead, which consisted of 510 acres, 150 under 
 improvement. He was married November 7 of the 
 same year to Miss Nancy Farril, a native of Mis- 
 souri, and seven children have been the result of 
 this union: Maud, born August 4, 1874; John, 
 born January 4, 1876; Harry, l)orn April 21, 1878: 
 Minnie. l)orn February 12, 1879: Luther, born 
 April 15, 1881; Myrtie, bom Jnne 7. 1885, and 
 Cnthliert, born May 20, 1887. Mrs. Pickren is 
 the daughter of Wilson and Mary (Grubl)^ Farril, 
 and one of ten children, six now living: George, 
 John, Mary, Nancy and Hardie. besides one in 
 Ozark County. Mr. Pickren is a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, and also of the I. O. O F. ; and 
 in his political views he is with the Democrats. 
 
 Dr. G. \V. Ray, a prominent medical practi- 
 tioner of Fulton County, Ark., was bom in David- 
 son County, Tenn., May 8, 1831, being a son of 
 Henry D. and Lamora (Glasgow) Ray, who were 
 born in Brunswick County, Va. . and Davidson 
 County, Tenn., January Vt, l.SOO. and l.SOS, and 
 died in the latter State in 1865 and 1873, respect- 
 ively. The father removed with his j)arents to 
 Tennessee when fourteen years of age, his father 
 being Patrick Henry Ray, a native of either Scot 
 land or Ireland— not definitely known which. He 
 was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and died 
 in Virginia. The maternal grandparents, Jesse 
 and Catherine Glasgow, were of Scotch descent, 
 and were born in North Carolina. Jesse was also 
 a Revolutionary soldier and was an officer in the 
 Continental army. Dr. G. W. Ray is the eldest 
 of seven children, two .sons and one daughter now 
 living. After receiving his early education in the 
 academic schools of Tenne.ssee he adopted medi 
 cine as his profession and entered upon its prac- 
 tice in his native State in 1856. At the same time 
 he was in the wholesale liipior liusiness, follow- 
 ing other occupations at various times until IS77, 
 wlien he left Tennessee, and moved to Stoddard 
 
208 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 County. Mo. Seven yeurs later lie came to Fnltou 
 County, Ark. In 1868 he wedded Miss Susan 
 Browning, who was born in Robertson County, 
 Tenn. , but she lived only two years after her mar- 
 riage. December IS, 1888, he took for his second 
 wife Mrs. A. C. Jeffrey, nee Cunningham. Mr. 
 Jeffrey was a very intelligent and influential citizen, 
 and was the author of a descriptive history of 
 Fulton and Izard Counties, being the editor of a 
 newspaper in the latter county. He and his wife 
 (now Mrs. Ray) became the parents of three sons 
 and one daughter: Curren, Lulu, Robert and Mit- 
 chell. In 1862 Dr. Ray recruited a company of 
 soldiers in Robertson County, Teun. , and served as 
 its captain until near the close of the war. He 
 was also assistant surgeon of his regiment, and 
 was in the battles of Fort Donelson and others. 
 He is now a Democrat in his political views, but 
 was formerly a Whig, and cast his first presidential 
 vote for Gen. Scott. He is a member of the I. O. 
 O. F., and for many years has been one of the 
 active and successful practitioners of the county. 
 His wife belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Church. 
 
 W. P. Rhea, of the mercantile firm of W. P. 
 Rhea & Co., of Salem, Ark., was born in East 
 Tennessee in 1831. and while growing up attended 
 Maryville College, receiving educational advan- 
 tages which he improved. He was married, in 
 1855, to Miss Sarah Pile, who was born in East 
 Tennessee September 30, 1836, and the following 
 are the children born to their union: Laura E. 
 (wife of R. A. Robins), David C, Joseph M., Mar- 
 garet L. (wife of A. W. Ellis). Edmund G., Bet- 
 tie E., Rob Preston, Kittie (who died in infancy), 
 Oscar Lee and Holmes G. In 1866 Mr. Rhea emi- 
 grated to Arkansas, thinking to l)etter his worldly 
 condition, and after residing in this county for 
 some time, and his many admirable qualities be- 
 coming known, he was elected to the offices of cir- 
 cuit clerk, ex-officio county clerk, clerk of the pro- 
 bate court, and county recorder, holding these 
 responsible positions for ten consecutive years. 
 Since 1883 he has also been engaged in mer- 
 cantile business, but is now retired, his establish- 
 ment being managed by his two partners, R. A. 
 
 Robins and Arch. Northcutt. Mr. Rhea served 
 in the late war for three years, under Gen. Long- 
 street, and was in a number of fiercely contested 
 engagements. He has since been a Democrat in 
 his political views, and has always been deeply 
 interested in the cause of education. He is a mem 
 ber of the Presbyterian Church. He is the owner 
 of 600 acres of fertile land. He was next to the 
 youngest of eleven children, eight of whom grew 
 to maturity, born to Joseph M. and Kittie (Myers) 
 Rhea, who were born in East Tennessee and Berk- 
 eley County, Va., May 14, 1787, and July 28, 1788, 
 respectively. The father was a farmer and school- 
 teacher by occupation, was reared in his native 
 State, but was married in the "Old Dominion." 
 He served in the War of 1812, and was in Canada 
 during that time as private secretary to one of the 
 officers of the army. He spent the remainder of 
 his life in Tennessee, and died August 14, 1860. 
 his wife having died February 25, preceding. 
 Matthew Rhea, the grandfather of our subject, 
 was born in Scotland, and was an early emigrant 
 to America, and took an active part in the Revolu- 
 tionary War, being a major in the Continental 
 army. After the close of that conflict he settled in 
 Tennessee, and was for many years clerk of Sulli 
 van County, and held various other civil positions 
 in the county. He died at about the age of sixty 
 years. The maternal grandparents. Charles and 
 Ann (Care) Myers, were Virginians, and were of 
 German and French descent, respectively. R. A. 
 Robins, of the above mentioned firm, and a pros- 
 perous young financier of the county, was born in 
 Izard County, Ark., in 1852, and is a son of A. A. 
 and Indiana (Pritchett) Robins, the former being 
 a Virginian, who grew to manhood in his native 
 State, but removed to Tennessee at an early day, 
 and still later to Izard County, Ark. , where he 
 followed the occupation of carpentering R. A. 
 Robins was educated in Philadelphia, of his native 
 county, and upon reaching a suitable age, entered 
 mercantile pursuits as clerk in a general store in 
 Batesville, Independence County, Ark. He re- 
 mained here ten years, and then came to Salem, 
 and in 1883 became a member of the present firm. 
 He owns some valuable town property, and was 
 
:>: 
 
 FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 2m 
 
 marriod. in 1S(S2, to Miss Laura E. Rhea, wlio 
 was horn in Tennessee. They have two <jhildreu 
 living; Maud E. and Bernice Preston, and one 
 child deceased, named Lillias. Mr. Robins is a 
 Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Episco- 
 [lal Church, South. The other member of the 
 lirm. Arch. Northcutt, is a Warren County Ten- 
 nesseean, bis birth occurring in 1858. He loft 
 his native State when eleven years of age, and 
 came with his people to Arkansas. He was edu- 
 cated in the common schools of Izard County, and 
 worked at the monotouous duties of farm life for 
 his father until be reached his majority, when he 
 was married, and entered the employ of Archer & 
 Daniels, general merchants of Salem, with whom 
 he remained eight years, during which time he 
 never lost a day from sickness or otherwise. In 
 February, 1887, he became a member of the pres- 
 ent firm, which carries a stock of about $5,000, 
 their annual sales amounting to $25,000. Mr. 
 Northcutt is chairman of the Democratic Central 
 Committee of Fulton County, and is now dis- 
 charging the duties of this position. He is a char- 
 ter member of the I. O. O. F. , and is a member of 
 the Methodi.st Episcojial Church. His wife, whose 
 maiden name was Jennie Brown, was born in the 
 State of Ohio in 1859, and is connected to Judge 
 0"Key. To their union have been born three 
 children: Burton, Horace and Mamie O'Key. 
 
 Daniel P. Rogers is one of three surviving 
 members of a family of six children of Jonathan 
 and Martha (Knighton) Rogers, and was born in 
 Humphreys County, Tenn., on the 'ifith of Janu- 
 ary. 1830. His parents are supposed to have been 
 natives of North Carolina, the former's birth oc- 
 curring in 1787, and his death in Tennessee in 
 1S3U. He was a farmer and mechanic, and served 
 two years as a private in the War of 1812. He and 
 his wife, who was born about 1795, were married 
 iu the State of Tennessee, and after his death the 
 widow and her children came to Arkansas, locating 
 iu what is now Sharp County, about 1844, where 
 she died in 1S59. Daniel P. Rogers received only 
 one month's schooling after coming to Arkansas, 
 owing to his mother's straitened circumstances, 
 and the necessitv of his assistance at home to aid 
 
 in su|)porting the family. He made his home 
 with his mother until his marriage, and then she 
 continued to reside with iiim until her death. His 
 maiTiage to Miss Rebecca Copeland took place in 
 1850. She was born in Tennessee in 1832, and 
 died six years after her marriage, having become 
 the mother of three children: Jesse, who is mar 
 ried and is a farmer of the county; George, who 
 is also married and resides on a farm; and John 
 A., married and residing on a farm near his father. 
 In 1858 Mr. Rogers wedded Miss Mary Dowell, 
 who was born in Tennessee about 1845, and to 
 them was given one son. James P., who resides in 
 Boone County, Ark. In 1872 he was so unfort- 
 unate as to lose his second wife, but on the 8th of 
 October, 1875, he found a true helpmate in the 
 person of Mrs. Martha (Davis) Brasier, whose 
 birth occurred iu Whitley County, Ky., in 183U. 
 They have two children: Martha A. and Andrew 
 J. During the Rebellion he joined the Confeder- 
 ate army, and served until the final surrender, be- 
 ing a member of Capt. Wyatt's Company. He 
 was at Prairie Grove and Helena, and was captured 
 at the fall of Little Rock, being retained in that 
 place for four months. While being taken North 
 by his captors, he jumped from the boat near 
 Cape Girardeau, Mo., and managed to elude his 
 pursuers and rejoin his command. He was then 
 in the engagement at Poison Springs, Mark's Mill, 
 and Jenkins' Ferry, and was with Price on his 
 raid, receiving a slight wound while with his com- 
 mand. At the close of the war he returned to his 
 farm and has since resided in Fulton County,- of 
 which he was one of the pioneers. His farm em- 
 braces 200 acres, and i> located between Myatt 
 and South Fork Creeks. One hundred acres are 
 under cultivation. He is a member of Myatt 
 Lodge No. 401, of the A. F. & A. M., and in 
 his political views is a Democrat, having cast his 
 tirst presidential vote for Pierce. He and wife 
 are members of the Protestant Methodist Church. 
 Thomas G. Sears is another successful tiller 
 of the soil of Fulton County who has secured his 
 possessions by energy, determination and judicious 
 management. He is a Georgian, born in Octo- 
 ber, 1824, and is a son of Wyatt and Frances 
 
 :"?" 
 
30(1 
 
 HTSTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 (Satterwbite) Sears, both natives of North Caro- '; 
 lina, who died in Georgia in 18(53 and 1868, re- j 
 spectively. They were married in their native j 
 State, and thi'oughout his life the father was an 
 industrious tiller of the soil Thomas G. Sears, 
 the fourth of their ten children, was educated 
 in the common schools of his native State. Like I 
 the majority of sons he followed the occupation in 
 which his father had always been engaged, and to 
 which he was reared, and up to the present day j 
 has made that his calling. In the year 1875 he 
 moved to Izard County, Ark., and in 1880 settled 
 on the farm of 280 acres where he now lives. He 
 has ninety acres under cultivation. In 1846 he 
 was married in Georgia to Miss Sarah E. Payne, 
 who was born in South Carolina in 1826, the 
 daughter of Enoch and Sarah Payne, both natives 
 of the "Palmetto State," who died in Georgia. 
 Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
 Sears, but the following five are the only ones now 
 living: Enoch G., Martha L. (wife of William 
 Hollingsworth), James, Frances (wife of William 
 Cochran) and Thomas. When the war had l>een 
 going on for two years Mr. Sears enlisted as a pri- 
 vate in Beauregard's battery and served imtil 
 June 20, 1865, proving himself an eflScient and 
 trustworthy soldier. He was formerly a Whig 
 and cast his vote for Henry Clay for the Presidency, 
 but since the war has been a Democrat. He and 
 family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, with the exception of one son. who he- 
 longs to the Baptist Church, and all are substan- 
 tial and law-abiding citizens. The children who 
 are deceased are William T. , who died at the age 
 of three months; Sarah E. , whose death occurred 
 when fourteen years of age, and an infant. 
 
 Ephraim Sharp, an old resident, and a leading 
 merchant and farmer of the county, and proprietor 
 of a cotton-gin and flour-mill at South Fork, in 
 Myatt Township, twelve miles east of Salem, was 
 born in Decatur County, Ind. , June 23, 1833, 
 and is a son of John E. and Susan (Armstrong) 
 Sharp, who were born in Pennsylvania in 1802, 
 and in Ohio in 1800, respectively. The father now 
 resides in Decatur County, Ind.. and, although he 
 is eighty -seven years of age, takes a number of 
 
 newspapers, and is able to read them by lamplight 
 without his glasses. He has always followed farm- 
 ing as an occupation, and is of Dutch-Irish ances- 
 try. His wife died in Decatur County. Ind. . in 
 1842, as did his father. John Sharp, who was born 
 in Pennsylvania, his death occurring in 1842. 
 Ephraim Sharp is one of two surviving members 
 of a family of seven children, and was reared in 
 Decatui' County, Ind., to which place his parents 
 moved about 1826. He attended the common 
 schools, and at the age of twenty-one years left 
 home and came to Lawrence County, Ark. , where 
 he made his home until 1867. when he moved to 
 his present property. His first purchase of land 
 comprised 120 acres, but being a good business 
 man he has increased this to 400 acres, and has 
 150 acres under cultivation, and everything about 
 his place shows the energy and good management 
 for which he has ever been noted. In 1868 he 
 opened a general mercantile establishment under 
 the firm name of Wainwright & Sharp, but in 1873 
 he purchased Mr. Wainwright's interest, and con- 
 ducted affairs alone until 1884. when he sold out 
 to Dr. J. S. Risher. He repurchased the goods 
 the following year, and has remained proprietor of 
 the same ever since. In 1875 South Fork post- 
 office was established at Mr. Sharp's store, and he 
 was appointed postmaster, which he has since re 
 mained, with the exception of one year. He was 
 married in Sharp County, Ark., November 22, 
 1858. to Miss Mary E. Wainwright, who was l)orn 
 in Madison County, Ala., in June, 1833. Six of 
 the seven children born to their union are now 
 living: Martha M. , wife of Hardy Croom; Joanna 
 C, wife of C. W. Culp; Sarah B., Johnnie (de- 
 ceased), Thomas W., Hettie L. and Ollie J. In 
 1862 Mr. Sharp enlisted in the Confederate army, 
 and was first lieutenant of Company L, Tappen's 
 brigade. He served in this capacity two years, 
 participating in the battle of Prairie Grove, and 
 numei'ous skirmishes; then he was honorably dis- 
 charged, and returned to his home in Indiana, 
 where he remained until 1866. He is a member of 
 Myatt Lodge No. 401, of the Masonic order, and 
 in his political views is a stanch Democrat, having 
 cast his first presidential vote for James Buchanan. 
 
FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 301 
 
 Ho Hiid iill his children, with tho exception of the 
 youngest, are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South. 
 
 Rev. J. L. Short, Sr. , a prominent agriculturist 
 of Washington Township, Fulton County, Ark., 
 and the son of Joab and Sarah (York) Short, was 
 born in Franklin County, Tenn. , in 1824. His 
 parents were natives of Rockingham County, N. 
 C, and were of Irish descent. Joab Short was 
 born on the 12tli of August, 1788, and died on the 
 1st of April, 1866. The mother was bora in 1790, 
 and died in September, 1870. They left their 
 native State about 1810, and moved to Tennessee. 
 They were the parents of thirteen children, all of 
 whom lived to be grown : Alpha, wife of E. 
 Thacker; Omega, wife of A. Muse; Mary, wife of 
 Rev. John Byrum; Gracie and July (twins), the 
 former the wife of P. Holley, and the latter of F. 
 M. Yell; Sarah, wife of Thomas Muse; Tabitha, 
 wife of John Antney; Delia, wife of William 
 W alsh (deceased); Caroline, wife of John Ross; J. 
 L., Constant B. (deceased), Joab B., killed at the 
 battle of Shiloh, and C. C. (deceased). Mr. 
 Short was a Democrat in politics, and was a very 
 prominent man in his section of the country. He 
 was quite wealthy, and was the owner of a number 
 of slaves. His son. Rev. J. L. Short, had all the 
 advantages for a thorough education in his youth, 
 enjoying opportunities above the average. Since 
 then, by close study and observation, he has become 
 a well informed man. He commenced work for 
 himself at the age of nineteen as a tiller of the 
 soil, and this he has followed since in connection 
 with his pastoral work. His wife was formerly 
 Misa Frances Hawkins, a native of Tennessee, 
 whom he married on the 22d of November, 1842. 
 One child was born to this union, named Sarah, 
 who became the wife of J. W. Blanton, and now 
 resides in Cooke County, Tex. Mrs. Short died in 
 April, 1844, and our subject was married the sec- 
 ond time to Mrs. Frances B. (Campbell) Short, 
 widow of Col. A. M. Short, who was in the Mexi 
 can \\ ar, and took part in some of the prominent 
 engagements of that war. He was county clerk of 
 Coffee County. Tenn. , at the time of his death, 
 which occurred in 1852 or 1853. He left two 
 
 children, J. L. , who lives in Fulton County, and is 
 engaged in farming, and Nancy J., wife of John 
 Pendergrass, who is a tiller of the soil and resides 
 in Izard County. J. L. Short's second marriage 
 occurred in 1857, and to this union were born 
 eight children: Tabitha P., born on the 12th of 
 December, 1860, is now at home; C. B., born in 
 March, 1863, is married and lives in Izard County; 
 M. L., born June 24, 1865; J. B.,born March 11, 
 1867; Julia F., born May 4, 1869, and the wife of 
 Mr. Lavell; Manrie, lives in Fulton County; J. 
 M., born April 5, 1872, and J. N., born June 24, 
 1875. Mrs. Short was born in 1831, and is the 
 daughter of John and Helender (Neel) Campbell, 
 natives of South Carolina and Virginia, respect- 
 ively. Mr. Campbell was justice of the peace of 
 his section for many years, was in very comfort- 
 able circumstances and a much respected citizen. 
 He was the father of eleven children: William 
 (deceased). James, a minister in the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, and ex -county treasurer of 
 Coffee County, Tenn. (he is now living in the Lone 
 Star State); Sarah, widow of R. Blanton, and 
 Nancy, widow of Coleman Blanton, live in Ten- 
 nessee; Caroline, widow of M. Holland, and now 
 residing in Bedford County, Tenn. ; Armsted is a 
 farmer and lives in Texas; Susan resides in Texas; 
 Civility, wife of James Angle, resides in Texas; 
 Frances B., Duncan, lives in Coffee County, Tenn., 
 and John T. (deceased). Rev. J. L. Short has 
 been a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 thirty three years, and his wife is a member of that 
 denomination. He also belongs to the A. F. &, A. 
 M., and in his political views affiliates with the 
 Democratic party. He is the owner of 270 acres 
 of land. Previous to coming to Fulton County he 
 had lived in Izard, Independence, and other couu 
 ties of the State. 
 
 Hon. J. L. Short. Jr. The public services of 
 Mr. Short have been characterized by a noticeable 
 devotion to the welfare of Fulton County, and his 
 ability and fidelity in his present position have 
 made a lasting impression upon his sphere of public 
 duty. Although a young man, his name has al- 
 ways been closely identified with the interests of 
 this section and he need have no fear as to his 
 
future prosperity. He was born in Coffee County, 
 Tenn., in 1858, being the seventh of a family of 
 nine children, all of whom are living, born to Rev. 
 J. L. and Frances B. (Campbell) Short, both of 
 whom were born in Tennessee, the former's birth 
 occurring in 1824. They were reared, married 
 and remained in their native State until 1870, at 
 which time they settled in Izard County, Ark, 
 moving afterward to Sharp County, and finally to 
 Fulton County, where the father engaged in till- 
 ing the soil and also preached the gospel, being a 
 minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He 
 belonged to the White River conference and was a 
 circuit rider. He and wife now reside in Fulton 
 County. The paternal grandfather was a North 
 Carolinian. J. L. Short, our subject, was placed 
 in school as soon as a suitable age was reached, 
 where the opportunities afforded were enjoyed and 
 improved to the best advantage. He attended 
 an academy and evening high school, and the 
 reputation he now enjoys as a bright and able 
 young lawyer was acquired through his own efforts 
 and at the expense of diligent study and hard 
 practical experience. He graduated from the law 
 department of the University of Mississippi in 
 1881, and since 1886 has been one of the leading 
 members of the legal fraternity in Salem. In 1888 
 he was elected to represent the county in the State 
 legislature, and is discharging his duties to the 
 entire satisfaction of his constituents. He is a 
 Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church. He was married in October, 1886, 
 to Miss Josephine Roberts, who was born in 1869. 
 Dr. Benjamin S. Thomason, of Fulton County, 
 Ark., first saw the light of day April 1, 1841, in 
 Dickson County, Tenn., and is one of eleven chil- 
 dren born to John and Nancy (Swift) Thomason, 
 natives of South Carolina and Tennessee, respect- 
 ively. John Thomason was born in 1807 and came 
 to Tennessee when yet a boy. In that State Mrs. 
 Thomason was born in 1819. They were the par- 
 ents of these children: James W. , who died in pris- 
 on at Chicago in 1862; Elijah, who died in 1877: 
 B. S., Hannah, wife of James W. Swindle and 
 died June 5, 1881; John lives in Greene County, 
 Ark. ; Elizabeth, wife of Peter Woods, and resides 
 
 in Greene County: Nancy lives in Greene County: 
 Richard lives in the same county; Jemimah. wife of 
 Bud Newsom,of Greene County, Ark. , and Victoria, 
 wife of John McMillan, of Greene County. John 
 Thomason entered the service of the Confederate 
 army in 1862 under Col. Knapper, and was in a 
 number of battles. He was captured, sent to prison 
 in Chicago, and there died in 1863. He followed 
 trading as his occupation in life, and made a spec- 
 ialty of negroes and land. His farm was culti- 
 vated by negroes and whites. He always voted 
 the Democratic ticket. Benjamin S. Thomason 
 left the parental roof in 1859 and journeyed to 
 Kentucky, where he remained for some time. He 
 then returned to Tennessee, and made his home 
 with his uncle for a number of years, and in the 
 meantime attended school. He also clerked in a 
 store until the breaking out of the late unpleasant- 
 ness between the North and Sovith, when he en 
 listed in the Eleventh Tennessee Infantry, Com 
 pany C, William Green, captain, and commanded 
 by James E. Rains. Mr. Thomason served from 
 May 9, 1861, until the close of the war and jiartic- 
 ipated in the most prominent battles. He was in 
 the following engagements besides numerous minor 
 ones: Barbersville, London Wild Cat, Fishing 
 Creek, Goose Creek, Richmond, Perryville, Mur- 
 freesboro, Shelbyville, Chattanooga, Lookout 
 Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain and Atlanta. His 
 brother, Elijah, was in forty-three pitched battles, 
 but was never seriously wounded. Benjamin S. 
 Thomason was wounded at Murfreesboro in the 
 left wrist and this disabled him from service for 
 some time. He was taken prisoner at Thompson's 
 Station, Tenn., and remained a prisoner at Fort 
 Delaware for some time. When exchanged ho was 
 in a very sorry condition. He surrendered at 
 Memphis, Tenn., April 26, 1865. He was first 
 married November 20, 1875, to Miss Ellen Cannoy, 
 of New Madrid County, Mo. , and by her became 
 the father of six children, only two now living: 
 Hettie M. T., born January 19, 1880, and Benja 
 min W. , born December 7, 1882. Mrs. Thomason 
 died July 6, 1886, and Mr. Thomason then married 
 Miss Mary F. Roby, of Fulton County, Ark., No- 
 vember 4, 1886. One child was born to this union. 
 
FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 iim 
 
 |3 
 
 Jowie M.. whose l)irth occuired July '21. 1887. 
 .Mr. Thomasoii is the owner of 210 acres of land, 
 and is a very enterprisintj farmer. He and wife 
 are members of the Christian Church. Mr. 
 Thomason is a member of the A. F. & A. M. , and 
 in his political views affiliates with the Democratic 
 party. 
 
 Dr. William A. Thompson, an eminent medical 
 practitioner, who has recently located in Mammoth 
 Spring, is a native of Pope County, III., where he 
 was born December 22, 1852, being a son of Jacob 
 A. and Polly (Shuffelbarger) Thompson, who were 
 born in West Virginia in 1819 and Pennsylvania in 
 1824, respectively. The former, with his parents, 
 was among the very earliest settlers of Pope Coun- 
 ty, and there the latter couple died. Jacob Thomp 
 son inherits Scotch and Irish blood from his parents, 
 and has inherited many of the sterling qualities of 
 his Scottish ancestors. He has been a farmer 
 throughout life, is still residing in Pope County, 
 and in his political views has always been a Dem- 
 ocrat. He was a faithful .soldier for the Union 
 cause throughout the Rebellion, and was a partici- 
 ])ant in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and nu- 
 merous other important battles, and was promoted 
 to the rank of orderly sergeant. He was one of 
 the men who went through on the Gerrison raid. 
 His wife died in Pope County the iirtt year of the 
 war. having borne a family of eight children, only 
 four of whom are now living: One a merchant in 
 Alton, Mo., another a stockman of Kansas, one a 
 minister of the gospel, and the Doctor. The latter 
 was nine years of age when his mother died, and 
 shortly after his father went to the war, and he was 
 left to make his home with a neighbor. At the 
 age of fourteen years he went to Northern Illinois, 
 and reci'ivi'd excellent educational opportunities 
 (which he did not fail to improve) in McKendrie 
 College. St. Clair County, 111. In the spring of 
 1888 he was graduated from the Medical University 
 of Louisville, Ky. , and after practicing a very short 
 time in Stoddard County. Mo., he moved to Oregon 
 County, where ho became a well ■ known and success- 
 ful practitioner. Since the first of the year 1889 he 
 has resided in Mammoth Spring, where he is win 
 uing the contideuce and respect of all who know 
 
 him. In March, 1S76, he was married to Miss 
 Amanda Miller, who was born in Stoddard County, 
 Mo., in 185(), and was there reared to womanhoo<l. 
 She died in 1882, having borne two children: 
 Birdie and Hattie. She was a daughter of George 
 F. and Sarah (Hardy) Miller, both of whom spent 
 their lives in Stoddard County. Mrs. Margaret 
 George became Dr. Thompson's second wife iti 
 December. 1883. Her birth occurred in Randolph 
 County, Ai-k., in 184(i, she being a daughter of 
 Rev. R. O. Tribble, a Missionary Baptist minister, 
 and the tirst minister of Oregon County. The 
 Doctor and his wife have one child, William A. 
 He owns 700 acres of land in Oregon County, Mo. , 
 and his home lot in Mammoth Spring comprises 
 three acres. He is a member of the Masonic lodge 
 at Alton, Mo., and in his political views has al- 
 ways been a stanch Republican, having cast his first 
 presidential vote for R. B. Hayes He and wife 
 are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. 
 His first wife l)elonged to the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. 
 
 Robert L. Thompson, who is closely connected 
 with the farming interests of the county, is of 
 Arkansas nativity, and dates his l)irth from De- 
 cember 30, 1856. His father, (i. W. Thompson, 
 was a native of Temiessee, a farmer and .stock 
 trader, and accumulated considerable property. 
 He came to Fulton County at an early day, and 
 there met and married Miss Eliza Pumphrey about 
 1848. Eight children were born to this union, 
 three now living: H. J., living in Baxter County; 
 Robert L. , in Fulton, and G. W.. who resides in 
 Boone County. The father of these children left 
 Fulton County several years ago. and has not been 
 heard from since. He is su])])Osed to Ije dead. In 
 politics he atliliated with the Republican party. 
 Mrs. Thompson resides in Boone County, Ark. 
 Robert L. Thompson passed his youth and early 
 manhood in his native State, Arkansas. On the 
 12th of December, 1880, he married Miss Emma 
 E. Cook, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Har 
 ris) Cook, and inw of si.K children born to their 
 union: Ephraim (deceased). Sarah ■(.. Mary, Per- 
 necia. William W., Emma E. and Alice. Henry 
 W. Cook was born in Kentucky. July 22. 1S22. 
 
304 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 and married Miss Elizabeth Harris, of the same 
 State about 1844. They moved to Arkansas in 
 1860, where he died March 17, 1877. He was a 
 member of the Missionary Baptist Churcli, and 
 also of the Masonic lodge at the time of his death. 
 His widow still remains on the old homestead at 
 Viola. Alice, the youngest child, who is now a 
 widow with two children, resides with her brother, 
 William W., whose home is in Texas. He is a 
 lawyer by profession, and unmarried. The other 
 dve have homes in Arkansas, and are married. 
 The fruits of Mr. and Mrs. Thompson's union are 
 three children: Huston B.. burn May 11, 1S88; 
 Nora A., born January 24, 1885, and James T., 
 born August 5, 1887. At the commencement of 
 his farm life, Mr. Thompson had 120 acres, and 
 has since added eighty acres. He now owns con- 
 siderable stock, consisting of hogs, cattle and 
 horses. He is considered one of the leading farm- 
 ers in this section. He is a man greatly in favor 
 of public enterprises, and donates liberally to 
 school, churches and all laudable movements. Po- 
 litically, he is a native-born Republican. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Thompson are members of the Missionary 
 Baptist Church. Mr. Thompson professed relig- 
 ion in September, 1885, and joined the church in 
 August, 1888. Mrs. Thompson professed religion 
 August 17, 1874, and joined on the 20th of the 
 same month. She has been a member of the 
 church fifteen years, becoming such while only 
 fourteen years old. 
 
 David P. Tunstall, one of the leading citizens 
 of Fulton County, Ark., is a native of Independ- 
 ence County, of the same State, his birth occur- 
 ring on the 7th of July, 1841. His father, Thomas 
 T. Tunstall, was born in Pittsylvania County, Va. , 
 and when a boy removed with his parents to Shelby 
 County, Ky., where he grew to mature years and 
 learned the cabinetmaker's trade, at which occu- 
 pation he worked for a few years. He afterward 
 turned his attention to steamboating. and after re- 
 siding in Chicot County, Ark., for six years he 
 moved to Independence County in 1833, in which 
 county he was residing at the time of his death, 
 in November, 1863, at the age of seventy- six 
 years. During his lifetime he farmed for some 
 
 time, and while steaml)oating brought the first 
 boat up the White River. He accumulated consid- 
 erable wealth in the different enterprises in which 
 he was engaged, and at one time was worth over 
 $100,000, but lost heavily during the bank crash 
 of 1841. He was in the cavalry service during the 
 War of 1812, and in one engagement had a horse 
 shot from under him. He took a great interest in 
 the political affairs of his day and was one of the 
 best politicians of the State at that time, although 
 not an office-seeker. He was married three times, 
 but the name of his tirst wife is unknown. His 
 second wife was a Miss Sarah World, who died af 
 ter having borne eight children, only one of whom 
 is now living: James M. , a farmer, of Independ- 
 ence County. His last marriage was to Miss 
 Elizabeth Magness, by whom he became the father 
 of eleven children, five of whom are living: Har- 
 rison M. , David P., Laura (wife of J. M. Archer), 
 Rose (wife of Richard A. McHeury), and Kate J. 
 (wife of C. A. Phillips, a prominent attorney of 
 Fulton County). David P. Tunstall received his 
 education in Jackson County, Ark., but in 1861 
 gave up all his work to enlist in Company E, of 
 the Seventh Arkansas Infantry, Confederate service, 
 and served until April, 1804, the last two years 
 being orderly sergeant. He was at Shiloh. Per- 
 ryvill(\ Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary 
 Ridge, the Atlanta campaign and Jonesboro, Ga. , 
 where he was taken prisoner. He managed to 
 escape by jumping from a train at Decherd Sta- 
 tion, Tenn. He was recaptured live days later and 
 was taken to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he was 
 kept until February 14. 1865. He was paroled at 
 Richmond and returned home. His clothes were 
 many times riddled with bullets and at Murfrees- 
 boro he had one of his pants-legs shot off. He 
 then remained in Independence County, Ark., un 
 til 1877, at which time he came to Fulton County, 
 where he has since made his home. He owns 
 some of the best farming laud in the county, his 
 property being located on South Fork. In 1880 
 he was elected to the office of county sheriff and 
 collector, and was reelected in 1884. On the 25th 
 of May, 1865, he was married to Miss Martha Jer- 
 nigan, a daughter of Rev. \\'illiam H. Jernigau. 
 
 ^ 
 
 '■ 
 
FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 305 
 
 She was born in Henry County, Tenii., in 1845 
 (August 16), and to their union the following chil- 
 dren have been born: Lemuel E. (farming his 
 father's farm), William T. , James F., Harrison 
 M., Dioy E. , Charles P., Daniel A. and Grover C 
 Mr. and Mrs. Tunstall are members of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church, South, and he is a stanch 
 Democrat in his politics. On coming home froui 
 the army he was without means, and all his proj)- 
 erty has been acquired since then, and notwith- 
 standing the fact that he has had to pay a great 
 many security -debts he has prospered. He is a 
 second cousin of Abraham Lincoln's wife, his 
 grandmother being a Todd. 
 
 E. L. Tunstall, M. D., a widely known and 
 most successful physician of Mammoth Spring, 
 Ark., was born in Independence County, of this 
 State, in September, 1864. He is a son of H. M. 
 and Melissa (Baker) Tunstall, who were born re- 
 spectively in Independence County, Ark., and 
 Middle Tennessee. The father was reared to a 
 mercantile life in his native county, was married 
 there, and a few years since came to Fulton 
 County, Ark., and engaged in various piirsuits at 
 Mammoth Spring. He and wife, who came to 
 Arkansas at the age of tive years, became the 
 parents of three children, of whom Dr. E. L. 
 Tunstall is the second. The paternal grandfather 
 was a native of the " Old Dominion," and removed 
 to Kentucky during the early history of that State, 
 afterward locating in Arkansas, where he engaged 
 in steamboating and horse dealing, accumulating 
 a large amount of property thereby. The great- 
 grandfather came from Wales and located in Vir- 
 ginia. Dr. E. L. Tunstall was educated in the 
 graded schools of his native county, and during 
 this time acquired a taste for the study of medi- 
 cine. He determined to make this his professioti. 
 and for some time at first studied under a {)receptor, 
 and attended his first course of lectures in the 
 Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, during the 
 winter of 1884-85. He graduated from the Mem- 
 phis Hospital Medical College in the spring of 
 18S7 (the regular school). After practicing in 
 Ozark County, Mo., for some time, he commenced 
 practicing in Fulton County in the fall of 1885. 
 
 Miss Mary A. Tyree, who was born in Pulaski 
 County, Mo., in February, 1867, became his wife 
 in October, 1882, and to their marriage have been 
 given two bright little children: Katie S. D. and 
 A. G. Thurman. The Doctor is a member of the 
 Tri-State Medical Society, which meets once a 
 year at Memphis. Tenn. Politically he is a Demo- 
 crat. 
 
 William Wainwright is recognized as a careful, 
 energetic agriculturist of Fulton County, and by 
 his advanced ideas, progressive habits, and liberal 
 contributions to worthy enterprises, he has gained 
 the respect and esteem of his fellow men. His birth 
 occurred in Madison County, Ala., in 1826, and 
 he is a son of William and Nancy (Turner) Wain- 
 wright, who were born in Virginia and Tf^messee, 
 respectively. Upon first leaving his native State, 
 he went to Georgia, but before his marriage moved 
 from AlaV)ama, where he had located, to Arkansas, 
 in 1853, locating in Independence County, but 
 afterward died in Sharp County in 1855, at the 
 age of seventy -three y^ars. He was a soldier in 
 the War of 1812. William Wainwright is one of 
 his nine children, and was reared to manhood on a 
 farm in Alabama, but when his father came to the 
 State of Arkansas, he came with him and liere has 
 since made his home. He was married in Sharp 
 County, on the ■28th of February, 1860. to Miss 
 Margaret Elizabeth Huddleston, and by her has had 
 a family of nine children: John B., who died at 
 the age of nine months; Louise, who died in 1884 
 at the age of twenty-two years; Laura P.. William 
 E., Mary M., Martha M., Samuel P.. Lu<-y M. 
 and Gundoland. During the late Civil War Mr. 
 Wainwright served four years under Gen. Price, 
 being in the commissary department the most of 
 the time. In 1862 he came to Fulton County, 
 Aik., and is now the owner of 1,346 acres of land 
 in the country and considerable property in town. 
 He has the finest dwelling house in the county, it 
 being a fine brick structure, containing eight large 
 rooms. Politically he has always atViliated with 
 the Democratic party, and socially lie is a memb./r 
 of the A. F. & A. M., being a Master Mason. He 
 belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Rev. William Iv Watson, a M.-tlmili-,! minister 
 
306 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 and farmer of Fulton Township, was born in Bal- 
 lard County, Ky. . in 1846, and received very 
 meager educational advantages. He remained 
 with his widowed mother until sixteen years of 
 age and then, in June, 1863, he enlisted in Com- 
 pany B, Wood's Battalion of Missouri Cavalry, 
 Confederate troops, and served until the close of 
 the war, most of his operations being in Arkansas. 
 He was in the engagement at Pine Bluff, and all 
 through Price's raid in Missouri. At one time while 
 a soldier there was some talk of promoting him 
 for bravery to the position of fourth corporal. He 
 was captured during that raid in Kansas, in October, 
 1864:, and was a prisoner about four months at St. 
 Louis and Alton, 111. He was paroled just before 
 the general surrender, rejoined his command and 
 surrendered in May, 1865. at Shreveport, La. 
 He then came to Izard County, and was married 
 in June, 1866, to Miss Martha J. Williams, a na- 
 tive of Kentucky, and the daughter of Henry and 
 Elizabeth Williams, also of Kentucky nativity. 
 Her parents died in Izard County, whither they 
 had moved when Mrs. Watson was a little girl. 
 The fruits of Mr. Watson's union were seven chil- 
 dren, four sons and one daughter now living. He 
 remained in Izard County until 1875, and then 
 came to his present farm, which was then in the 
 woods, but now he has 160 acres, with fifty under 
 cultivation. He has a pleasant home, one and a 
 half miles east of Viola, and aside from his farm- 
 ing interest he has been local minister in the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for about ten 
 years, administering to the spiritual wants of his 
 fellow men in a very satisfactory manner. He has 
 been a member of that church for a period of 
 about twenty-two years. He is a Democrat in his 
 political prefei'ences and has held the office of 
 justice of the peace since September, 1888. He 
 has one brother, James M. , and a sister, the widow 
 of William Ferguson, who are living in Fulton 
 County. His {)Hrents, Miles and Mary S. (Gilles- 
 pie) Watson, were born in Kentucky, where the 
 father died when William E. was an infant. In 
 about 1853 the family moved to Lawrence County, 
 Ark., where Mrs. Watson married William Hawk- 
 ins. She afterward moved to Fulton C(Minty, and 
 
 died about 1S6'2, in what is now Baxter Countj'. 
 She had been a member of the Methodist Clmrch 
 for many years. 
 
 Z. L. Watters, M. D.. is of Scotch-Irish birth 
 and antecedents, and his ancestors for four gener- 
 ations back have been prominently identified with 
 the interests of the State of Georgia, his father, 
 Joseph Watters, having been a prominent poli- 
 tician of that State in the days of his prime. 
 The latter was born in 179'2 and was reared 
 to manhood in his native State. During the 
 Florida War he served as captain under Gen. 
 Nelson. He was a member of the legislature 
 from Floyd County, and was also a United States 
 Senator from his senatorial district, comprising 
 three counties. His death occurred in 1866. His 
 wife was born in Oglethorpe County in 1799, and 
 became the mother of thirteen children, ten sons 
 and three daughters, all of whom grew to maturity. 
 All the former served in the Confederate army 
 with the exception of two brothers. One brother 
 was killed at Sharpsburg while serving in Lee's 
 army, and another at Atlanta. Dr. Z. L. Watters, 
 our subject, was captain of a company from Gor- 
 don County, Ga.. and for gallant service was pro- 
 moted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and served 
 until Lee's surrender. He received his literary 
 education at Rome, Ga. , and being now prepared 
 to carry out a long cherished desire he entered 
 upon a course of medical study, entering the med- 
 ical college of his native State, from which he 
 graduated in 1852. He had practiced until the 
 opening of the war at Calhoun, Ga.. and also at other 
 places in that State, and after the war he again 
 located in Calhoun, residing there until he came to 
 Arkansas in December, 1869. From that time 
 until quite recently he was engaged in practicing 
 his j)rofession at Salem, and acquired a suj)erior 
 reputation as an able physician and surgeon. A 
 short time since he retired from practice and is 
 now conducting a drug store, for which he is thor- 
 oughly qualified. He was for many years the only 
 physician in the place, and owing to his remark- 
 ably successful career as such he has become the 
 owner of 820 acres of land in three different 
 farms. He was married in 1866 to Miss M. A. 
 
 --» ® %• 
 
FULTON COUNTY. 
 
 !(>7 
 
 Hmuiihieys, liut be was called upon to monru her 
 loss liy death in 1874. She left two children: 
 Frank and Nora. He subsequently wedded his 
 j)resenfc wife, whose maiden name was Saniantha 
 Jeffrey. The following are the children which 
 have been given them: Zula Lee. Nettie Medora, 
 Lamar, Leila and Ethel. Dr. Watters is a Demo- 
 crat, and has shown his brotherly spirit by becom 
 ing a Mason. 
 
 S. P. Welden, treasurer of Fulton County, Ark. , 
 was born in Jackson County, Tenn. , June 15, 
 1S32, but was reared in the State of Kentucky, re- 
 ceiving fairly good advantages for acquiring an 
 education in the old subscription schools of early 
 days. His boyhood days were spent in following 
 the plow, and learning the blacksmith's trade, the 
 two occupations receiving his attention for a num- 
 ber of years. He was married at the age of twen- 
 ty-four years, to Miss Elizabeth S. Duncan, in Bol- 
 linger County. Mo. She was born in Livingston 
 County, Ky., May 7, 183S, and to their union five 
 children were born, all of whom have passed to 
 their long home: Mary A., born December 27, 
 1857, died March 14, 1858; an infant, born May 
 6, 1859, died the same day; Madoriah F., l)orn 
 July 20, 1860, died October 23, 1872; Ewell B., 
 born February 2, ]8fi4, died DeQember Ifl, 1S82; 
 and one other infant, born November 2, 1867, died 
 the same day. Mr. ^'elden bought two quarter- 
 sections of land in Fulton County, Ark., in 1868, 
 and moved here in 1881. He resided on his prop 
 erty until elected to the office of county treasurer 
 in September, 1884, when he located at the county 
 seat of Fulton County. He was re-elected in Sep- 
 tember. 1 88(), and again re-elected in September, 
 188S, his majority being each year increased; and 
 although he has only been a resident of the county 
 a few years, he has become one of its prominent 
 citizens, and is respected by all for his sterling in- 
 tegrity, sound judgment and liberal, progressive 
 ideas. He now owns over 000 acres of land in the 
 county, ten forty-acre pieces being in one body. 
 He is an old line Democrat, and is the master of 
 Salem Lodge No. 418, of the A. F. & A. M. Mr. 
 Welden was the third in a family of twelve chil 
 dren, seven boys and five girls, eight of whom are 
 
 now living, born to William Welden and wife, 
 formerly a Miss Jones, the former being probalily 
 a native of North Carolina, born June 12, 180'.), 
 and the latter of Tennessee, born May 11, 180'J. 
 William Welden moved to Tennessee with his fa- 
 ther when young, and was there married to Mary 
 K. Jones, subsequently following the occupation 
 of farming. He is still living, and is residing at 
 Pinkneyville. Livingston County, Ky. His wife 
 died on the 18th day of March, 1865. The pater 
 nal grandfather, Daniel Welden, was born in North 
 Carolina, and died in Kentucky at the home of our 
 subject, between ninety-tive and one hundred years 
 of age. He was a veteran in the War of 1812, 
 under Andrew Jackson. The great grandfather. 
 Pines Welden, was a Revolutionary soMier. and 
 was of Scotch Irish descent. 
 
 Mfirion Whiteside is a residnit of Fulton 
 County, Ark., who seems to be eminently fitted 
 for the occupation of farming, for he possesses in- 
 dustry and good business ability, and from earliest 
 boyhood has been fanjiliar with the details of farm 
 life. He was born in Oregon C!ounty, Mo., Oc- 
 tober 11. 1850, but was reared in Fulton County., 
 Ark., remaining with his parents until he at- 
 tained his majority, and. although he received no 
 schooling he became familiar with the details of 
 farming and blacksmithing, which occupations his 
 father followed. He has continued the former oc- 
 cupation ever since starting out in life for himself, 
 and since 1873 has lived on his present farm of 
 120 acres, fifty-five acres of which are under culti- 
 vation. He has always been a Democrat political- 
 ly, and his first vote for the Presidency was cast 
 for Horace Greeley. He is now deputy assessor 
 of his townshi]). has been constable of Mammoth 
 Spring Townshiii two years, and has served seven 
 years as school director, and is elected for two more 
 years. He is a member of Mammoth Spring 
 Lodge No. 48, of the I. O. O. F. July 7. 1S72. 
 he was united in marriage to Miss Annis Moonoy. 
 who was born in Dent County. Mo., about 1852. 
 and by her he l)eeame the father of eight children, 
 six of whom are living: Margaret E., Jackson F., 
 IMarthaL., Josephine, Minnie A. and Monroe C. 
 Mrs. \\ hiteside is a daughter of John and Mnr 
 
^ 
 
 a k^ 
 
 308 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 garet Mooiiey. who were native Tennesaeeans, and 
 were early settlers of Deut County, Mo. The 
 father died in that State, but the mother's death 
 occurred in Arkansas. Mr. Whiteside is one 
 of eight surviving members of a family of eleven 
 children, nine of whom reside in Fulton Coun- 
 ty, Ark., and one in Oregon County, Mo., born to 
 Hayes and Sarah J. (Payne) Whiteside, who were 
 born in Indiana and Missouri, in 1833 and 1836, 
 respectively. The father was brought to Arkan- 
 sas by his parents when nine years of age, and be- 
 came a noted hunter of Fulton County and lived 
 in this county until his death, August 27, 1879, 
 still survived by his widow. The paternal grand- 
 father, Thomas Whiteside, was a Virginian, and 
 with his wife moved from that State to Indiana, 
 at a very early day. and later to Fulton County, 
 Ark., of which they were among the earliest set- 
 tlers. He was also a noted hunter and while on 
 a hunting expedition was taken sick and died in 
 Independence County, Ark. His wife died in Ful- 
 ton County, Ark. 
 
 Dr. Joseph M. Wolf, a physician of more than 
 ordinary ability, who has practiced his profession 
 at Mammoth Sj)ring and vicinity since in August, 
 1887, is a native of Izard County, born in 1841, 
 and the son of Maj. Jacob and Elizabeth (Sanders) 
 Wolf, nee Lantz, natives of North Carolina anil 
 Ohio, and born in 1785 and 1800, respectively. 
 They were married in Izard County, where they 
 came in 1817, and spent the rest of their lives 
 there, the mother dying iu 1840, and the father in 
 1865. They were excellent people, and both were 
 members of the Baptist Church, Mr. Wolf being 
 an active worker in the same. Ho had been 
 married three times, Mrs. Lantz being his second 
 wife; she was the widow Sanders at the time of her 
 marriage to Mr. Wolf. The latter was a black 
 smith and farmer by occupation, and followed this 
 all his life. He was major in the militia, and or- 
 ganized a company to go to the Mexican War, but 
 it was not received. He served one term in the 
 council when Arkansas was a part of Indian Terri- 
 tory, and was also a member of the State legisla- 
 ture soon after the State was organized. He was 
 a pioneer, and one of the representative citizens 
 
 of the State. He traded with the Indians in the 
 early settlement of the country, and was for some 
 time engaged in flat-boating on the White River. 
 His father, Michael Wolf, was a German soldier 
 in the War of 1812. He removed from North 
 Carolina to Kentucky about 1796, and to Arkansas 
 in 1817, where he received his final summons. Of 
 the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wolf, Dr. 
 Joseph M. was the ninth in order of birth. He 
 assisted his father on the farm, and received very 
 little education until grown, when he attended 
 school for about ten months at Mountain Home, 
 Ark. He then went all through the war in the 
 Confederate army, serving in various companies, 
 but principally in the Fourteenth Arkansas Infan- 
 try, Trans-Mississippi department. He was in 
 the fights at Oak Hill, Pea Ridge, luka, Corinth, 
 Port Hudson, Jenkins' Ferry, and many others. 
 He siirrendered at Marshall, Texas, in May, 
 1865, and during his entire time of service was 
 never wounded. In August, 1865, he began the 
 study of medicine with his brother in-law. Dr. J. 
 M. Casey, graduating from the University of Louis- 
 ville, Ky. , in 1870, and began practicing near 
 Jacksonport, where he lived five years. He sub- 
 sequently removed to Baxter County, and from 
 there soon after to Boone County, thence to Stone 
 County, where he remained until he came to Main 
 moth Spring, where he has })racticed successfully 
 ever since. By his marriage in 1872, to Miss Sarah 
 Sink, daughter of George and Sarah Sink, early 
 settlers of Jackson County, Ark., there were born 
 two sons, Montrose and Eugene. Mr. and Mrs. Sink 
 •died in Jackson County, Ark., where Mrs. Wolf was 
 born. The latter died in Boone County in 1876. 
 Mr. Wolf was married the second time in Stone 
 County, in 1878, to Miss Effie, a native of North 
 Carolina, boru in 1857, and the daughter of Ben- 
 jamin R. and Mary J. Eaton. Mr. and Mrs. Eaton 
 came to Washita County in 1865, and are now re 
 siding in Van Buren County. To Mr. and Mrs. 
 Wolf were born four children now living: Caddie. 
 Gertrude, Liiuiie and Virgie. The Doctor is a 
 Democrat in his political i)references, and his first 
 presidential vote was for Seymour, in 1868. He is 
 a member of Blue Mountain Lodge No. 202, A. 
 
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 309 
 
 F. & A. M., in Stone County, and has been sec- ^ at Mammoth Spring, an.l is vic...cliancellor. H.- 
 retary of the same several times. He is also a , and wife are members in good standing in th.- 
 member of Spring River Lodge No. 49. K. of P., Baptist Church. 
 
 AiL^ 
 
 ' >i * 
 
 * i *- 
 
 ;iaif 11 x¥m 
 
 -^•i-fr 
 
 Ou.\ionKAD County— LocATio>f and Dksckii'tion-.Stkeams and Drainage— 'I'imbkk and .Sou, -Ki. 
 SOURCES and Productions— Live Stock— Property, Heal and Personal— Popula- 
 tion— Railroads— Settlement— County Organization- County Seat— County 
 Buildings— Local Officers— Politics— The Courts— The Civil War- 
 Towns and V"ili.a«es— County IJiogkaphy- Education— Religion. 
 
 Tbcy slimined not labor when 'twas due. 
 
 They wroiii>lit with right good will; 
 And for the homes they won for them, 
 
 'J'heir children bless them still. — Anon. 
 
 RAIGHEAD COUNTY, situ 
 ated in Northeastern Arkan- 
 sas, is hounded on the north 
 Viy Lawrence and Greene 
 Cotmties, Ark., and Dunklin 
 County. Mo. : east by Mis 
 sissippi County, south by 
 Pomsett and west by Jackson County, 
 Ark. Its length ea.stand west is forty 
 two miles, and the width at different 
 places is twelve, eighteen and twenty - 
 one miles, including lakes, river beds 
 and sloughs. Its entire area is 710 
 ifj:*3i: square miles, or 454, 100 acres, of which 
 Tf(jj,)f' 405,430 are under taxation, and of the 
 ■»lV whole area less than one-tenth is im- 
 proved. 
 
 The boundary lines are as follows: Commenc 
 ing on the Fifth Principal Meridian at the inter- 
 section of the line dividing Townships 14 and 15 
 north; thence east on the township line to the in- 
 
 tersection of Cache River, in Range 2 oast: thence 
 up stream with its meanders to the line dividing 
 Townships 15 and 16; thence east on the township 
 line to the St. Francis River in Range 7: thence 
 up stream, with the meanders thereof, to the line 
 dividing Sections 17 and '20. in Township 16, 
 Range 7; thence east to the line dividing Ranges 7 
 and 8; thence south on the range line to the line 
 dividing Townships 12 and Vi: thence west on the 
 township line to the Fifth Principal Meridian; 
 thence north on the meridian line to the place of 
 beginning. 
 
 Crowley's Ridge, from its continuation in 
 Greene County, crosses the west centnil portion of 
 Craighead in a southerly direction, lieing twelve 
 miles or more in width at the northern boundary. 
 and tirst widening and then narrowing down to a 
 width of only about thi'ee miles near the southern 
 line. The lands on the ridge are gently rolling, 
 and gradually slope down to the l(>vel or bottom- 
 lands on either side. The low or tlaf and mneh of 
 
 T' 
 
:^10 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 the swamp aud overflowed lands, the latter cousti- 
 tiiting a large percentage of the area of the count}', 
 will eventually become superior for farming and 
 grazing purposes, when the timber shall have been 
 cleared away and the drift removed from the water- 
 courses. 
 
 The St. Francis River flows from north to 
 south across the eastern portion of the county, 
 entering it over Section (i. in Township 1"), Range 
 7, and over Sections 1 aud 2, in Township 15, 
 Range '). This stream varies in its width from a 
 half mile to three miles. Its bed covers large 
 tracts of land along its original channel which 
 were sunk in the earthquakes of ISl 1 -1 'i ; and thus 
 becoming covered with water they have since been 
 known as the " Sunk Lands." Other tracts lying 
 east of the St. Francis River were sunk in the 
 same earthquakes, and are also called by a similar 
 name. Clay, Greene and other counties in North- 
 eastern Arkansas were likewise affected by these 
 earthquakes. All that portion of Craighead Coun 
 ty lying east of Crowley's Ridge is drained by the 
 St. Francis River and its numerous tributaries. 
 Cache River enters from the north at the north 
 west corner of Section 2, Township 15, Range 2, 
 and flows in a southerly and southwesterly direc- 
 tion, leaving the county a short distance east of 
 its southwest corner. With its tributaries it drains 
 all that territory lying west of Crowley's Ridge. 
 
 The water supply for all purposes is abundant. 
 A number of good springs — especially on Crow- 
 ley's Ridge — are foimd. and a liberal supply of 
 good well water can, at all places, be obtained at 
 an average depth of a) )out thirty feet, without blast- 
 ing or boring through rock. Indeed from wells, 
 cisterns and springs, besides the streams, an abun- 
 dant supply of water may lie had for every needed 
 purpose. 
 
 The timber here is not unlike that of Clay and 
 Greene Counties. On the ridge nearly all species 
 of oak, gum, poplar, some pine, hickory, ash, etc., 
 are common, while on the lower lands the oaks, 
 gum, Cottonwood, cypress, hickory, a little wal- 
 nut, tupelo, etc. , abound. The poplar and walnut 
 have been largely cut out, but of several other 
 varieties, especially oak, gum and cypress, a seem- 
 
 ingly inexhaustible supply, excellent for saw tim- 
 ber, remains; rail and building timber and wood 
 for fuel are sufficiently plenty to last for years. 
 
 The county has a variety of soil from the poor- 
 est '"pipe" or white clay to the richest black 
 sandy loam. Of the former there is but little. 
 With proper cultivation all soils produce well. 
 Experienced farmers claim that clover grows lux- 
 uriantly on all except the white clay lands, where 
 its roots heave out by the action of the winter 
 frosts. However, on these lands herds-grass, or 
 red top, stands through the winters, and succeeds 
 well. The soil in general is thoroughl)' adapted 
 to the raising of Indian corn, wheat, oats, cotton 
 and all kinds of vegetables, also clover and the 
 tame grasses, and tobacco. Fruits common to 
 this latitude thrive splendidly. 
 
 At this time lumbering is one of the leading 
 industries and greatest sources of income to the 
 community. Two stave factories and about fifteen 
 saw mills are within the county, engaged in pre- 
 paring lumber for shipment, and many logs are 
 rafted out on the river ways. The largest revenue 
 to the farmers is from the raising of cotton and 
 corn, which yield probably a nearly equal crop. 
 Some of the saw-mills have cotton-gins and grist- 
 mills attached. 
 
 The census of 1880 shows that there were 1, 130 
 farms in Craighead County, and 37,(378 acres of 
 improved lands. From these the vegetable pro- 
 ductions for the year 1879 were as follows: In- 
 dian corn, 367,451 bushels; oats, 20,260 bushels; 
 wheat, 15,552 bushels; hay, 206 tons; cotton, 
 4.374 bales: Irish potatoes, 4,806 bushels: sweet 
 potatoes, 9,715 bushels; tobacco, 24.942 poiinds. 
 In the growing of tobacco the report shows that 
 Craighead ranked as the sixth count}' in the State, 
 notwithstanding its small population and small 
 area of improved lands. These figures will be 
 interesting to compare with the forthcoming cen- 
 sus of 1890, which will show a large increase in 
 improvements, and a corresponding advance in 
 vegetable productions. 
 
 The same census gives the live stock within the 
 county in number as follows: Horses, 1,817; mules 
 and asses, 778; neat cattle, 10,691; sheep, 2,615; 
 
!£: 
 
 CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 811 
 
 hogs. 20, IS'2. The returns as indicated on the 
 aissessment books for 1888 are: Horses, 2,541; 
 mules and asses, 967; cattle, 12,191; sheep, 2,217; 
 hogs, 15,053. By comparison it is seen that siucio 
 1880 the number of horses has more than trebled, 
 tlie number of mules, asses and cattle has largt^ly 
 increased, while there has been a small decrease in 
 the number of sheep, caused, probably, by the re- 
 duction in the price of wool. 
 
 The showing of the census of 1890 will be of 
 much advantage to this territory. 
 
 In 1880 the taxable wealth of the county was 
 assessed as follows: ileal estate, $535,011; per- 
 sonal property, $280,025; a total of $816,236, on 
 which taxes for State, county and all purposes, to 
 the amount of $11,150, were charged. In 1888 
 real estate, including the railroads, was assessed 
 at $1,817,464, and the personal property at $821,- 
 264, making a grand total of $2,638,728, with 
 $40,841.33 as the total amount of taxes charged. 
 These figures demonstrate the great increase in 
 taxable wealth. The personal property alone now 
 exceeds in value the entire taxable wealth of the 
 county in 1M80 — conclusive proof of the wonder- 
 ful and rapid development of the resources of the 
 county. 
 
 The railroads, which constitute large propor 
 tions of the taxable wealth, were assessed in 1888 
 as follows : Helena Branch of the St. Louis, Iron 
 Mountain & Southern, $181,000; St. Louis, Arkan 
 sas & Texas, $238,637.52; Kansas City, Fort Scott 
 & Memphis, $283,212.95; total, $702,850.47. All 
 of this has been added to the county since 1880. 
 Craighead has no bonded debt, but has a floating 
 debt, on outstanding warrants, of about $7,500, 
 which will soon be canceled. 
 
 No better argument than the facts and figures 
 mentioned, coupled with the mild and genial 
 climate where extremes of heat and cold are never 
 felt, and where the peojile are hospitable and gen- 
 erous constituting excellent society — can be 
 offered in favor of inducing immigration. Here 
 the moral, sober and industrious man can find and 
 obtain everything so desirable, and while, per- 
 haps, one may not rise by magic to positions of 
 affluence or perfect independence, he may be as- 
 
 sured of the certain success of proper application 
 and itidustry. 
 
 In 1860 the population of Craighead County 
 was 3,066, of whom 88 were colored; in 1870, 
 4,577, with 253 colored; in 1880, 7,037; colored, 
 261. There is no means of obtaining the popula- 
 tion of the county at this writing, but it is safe to 
 estimate it at much more than double that of 1880. 
 
 The Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis Rail- 
 road, completed in 1883, enters the county near the 
 northwest corner, and runs in a southeasterly 
 direction through and across by way of Jonesboro 
 and Nettleton. The length of its line within the 
 boundary is twenty six miles and 4,206 feet. The 
 Helena Branch of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & 
 Southern Railroad enters on Section 3. Township 
 15, Range 5, and runs thence in a southerly direc- 
 tion, bearing slightly to the westward, clear 
 across the county by way of Nettleton. three 
 miles southeast of Jonesboro. Its length is 
 twenty and sixty-four onehundredths miles. The 
 St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad reaches the 
 county line by the side of the Helena Bi-anch 
 of the St. Louis, Iron Monntaiu & Southern Rail 
 road, which it follows for several miles; then turn- 
 ing to the westward, it passes through Jonesboro, 
 and afterward runs in a southwesterly ilirection 
 through the remainder of the county. Its length is 
 twenty-eight miles and 1.953 feet. The combined 
 length of the main lines of these three railroads 
 within the county is seventy-five miles and 4,31.S 
 feet. These railroads give an advantageous outlet 
 to all points of the compass. But few counties, 
 even in old settled communities are so favored with 
 railroad and shipping facilities. 
 
 Entrance into the territory composing Craig- 
 head County began about the year KS30, and 
 among the first settlers was a Mr. Martin, who 
 chose a location some five miles south of the 
 present site of Jonesboro. He was probably the 
 first permanent resident. Other very early set- 
 tlers wore Rufus Snoddy. Daniel O'Guinn. Yancey 
 Broadaway and Joshua Grinder. John Hamilton. 
 Asa Puckett and Eli Quarles settled in the Broad- 
 away settlement, a few miles west of the site of 
 Jonesboro. Uncle JackPearce, John and Thunias 
 
312 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Simmons took up their residence in the Grinder 
 settlement, a few miles southwest of that place. 
 Perry Osborn, James Stotts, Hardiman Puryear 
 and his son, William, the latter now living near 
 Jonesboro; D. R. Tyler, the McCrackens, Elias 
 Mackey, Henry Powell and William Q. Lane were 
 all pioneers to this locality. In 1840, John An- 
 derson and his son, John S., the latter now living 
 in Jonesboro, settled on Big Creek, in the north- 
 west part of the county. Christopher and George 
 Cook located on the same creek. The Puryears in 
 1840 made a home in the southern part. 
 
 William Pnryear opened the first store in the 
 county at his present home near Jonesboro, haul- 
 ing his goods from Memphis. He gave $8 per 
 sack for salt, the sacks weighing from 200 to 250 
 pounds each, and for many other necessaries of 
 life corresponding prices were paid. During one 
 season, about the year 1 854, his purchase of furs 
 from the pioneer settlers and subsequent sales 
 amounted to $3,700. In "early days," every- 
 thing was of a primitive order. The pioneers wore 
 their homespun clothing, also making garments 
 out of the skins of animals. Many of the women 
 had no shoes to wear except moccasins, made of 
 skins with the flesh side turned out, and on fre- 
 quent occasions the men attended religious services 
 barefooted, and the women with moccasin shoes on. 
 None but the survivors can form a proper concep- 
 tion of the hardships endured by the pioneer set- 
 tlers. Prior to the war period immigration to the 
 new territory was extremely slow, and during that 
 time it was at a standstill. Afterward it was re- 
 newed, but did not increase very perceptibly until 
 the completion of the railroads, since which time 
 it has been quite rapid. As the county is new and 
 but a small portion improved, there is room and 
 excellent opportunities for thousands more to ob- 
 tain homes within its borders. 
 
 The county of Craighead was organized in ac- 
 cordance with an act of the legislature of the State, 
 approved February 19, 1859. Thomas B. Craig- 
 head, then representing Mississippi and Critten- 
 den Counties in the Senate, was opposed to the 
 bill creating the new county, while William A. 
 Jones, representing St. Francis and Poinsett Coun- 
 
 ties in the same body, was its principal supporter. 
 The bill was called up for passage when the form- 
 er was absent from his seat, and upon returning 
 he found that it had been passed, and that his own 
 name had been inserted in the space left blank 
 for the name of the county. 
 
 In 1883, the legislature, upon the solicitation 
 of certain individuals in the eastern part, divided 
 the county into two judicial districts, the Western, 
 to be known as the Jonesboro district, and the East- 
 ern, as the Lake City district. The range line be- 
 tween Ranges 4 and 5 was made the dividing line. 
 Two years later (in 1885) the legislature changed 
 the line between the districts to the range line 
 dividing Ranges 5 and 6, and in 1887, it passed 
 another act by which Sections 5. 6, 7, 8, 17, 18 
 and 19. in Township 13, Range 6, were taken from 
 the Eastern and attached to the Western district. 
 The probability is that the districts will, ere long, 
 be abolished and the county placed as it formerly 
 was, under the management of one seat of justice. 
 
 AViout two years after the county' s.organization, 
 the site of Jonesboro was selected for the ])ermHnent 
 seat of justice, and before long a two-story fi'ame 
 court-house, with the county offices below and the 
 court room above, was erected on the public square, 
 where the present one stands. This building stood 
 until February 14, 1869, when it was consumed 
 by lire. A company of the State Militia, who had 
 lodged in it the previous night (fire being discov- 
 ered shortly after their departure), were charged 
 by some with having set it on fire, while others, 
 more charitably inclined, deemed the burning a re- 
 sult of unintentional carelessness. A frame store 
 building on the west side of the square, was then 
 rented and used as a court-house, until 1876, when 
 it also was burned. Marion Sanders was indicted 
 for the destruction of this building, was tried, 
 found guilty, and sentenced to serve a term of 
 two years in the penitentiary. A similar building 
 was then erected on the same ground, and used as 
 a com-t-house until 1878. when it was consumed 
 in a general fire, in which eight buildings were 
 destroyed. In these several fires the early public 
 records of the county were all destroyed. The 
 present court house was completed in the summer 
 
of 1886, by the contractor. W. C. Clark, of Little 
 Rock, at a total cost of $lt), 500. It is a siil)stiui- 
 tial two- story brick structure, with five rooms and 
 a fire-proof vault for the records on the first floor, 
 and the court and jury rooms on the second. It 
 is finished in modern architectural style, with a 
 tower and town clock, and is a handsome, attrac 
 live building. 
 
 The only jail the county has ever had is a 
 small log building, a portion of which is still 
 standing a little distance north of the northwest 
 corner of the public square. The seat of justice 
 for the Lake City district is at the town of Lake 
 City, where the county owns no liuildings, but 
 rents a small frame building for a court-house. 
 
 The following is a list of the names of the of- 
 ficers of Craighead County from its organization, 
 with the date of their terms of service. 
 
 Judges: Isham Fuller. 1859-60; Sam P. Trice, 
 1860-62; A. C. Huston. 1862-64; J. S. Anderson, 
 1864-66; J. M. Cumutt, 1866-67;* James Carson, 
 1867-72; J. H. West. 1874-76; W. S. Stepliens. 
 1876-80: J. M. Raines, 1880-82; L. W. Loftis, 
 1882-86; J. H. Edwards, present incumbent, first 
 elected in 1886. 
 
 Clerks: L. H. Sntfin, 1859-64; F. M. Davis, 
 instead of Sutfin, from January, 1864; A. Lynch, 
 1864-66: L. H. Sutfin, 1866 to October, 1867; R. 
 H. McKay fi-om October, 1S67 to 1872; J. C. 
 Knight. 1872-76; Jacob Sharp. 1876-86: J. H. 
 Maiigrum, present incumbent, first elected in 1886. 
 
 Sheriffs: William T. Armstrong, 1859-60: 
 W. T. E. Armstrong, 1860-62; William Puryear, 
 1862-65; W. T. E. Armstrong from January, 
 1865 to 1866; J. G. Wood, 1866-67; W. H. Nes- 
 bitt, 1867-72; Samuel Nash, 1872-74; D. H. 
 Thorn, 1874-80: William T. Lane, present in- 
 cumbent, first elected in 1880. and re-elected, 
 has since served continuously. 
 
 Treasurers: Thomas Nelson, 1859 60; S. W. 
 Chisenhall, 186(1 64: C. Sharp, 1864-65; L. W. 
 Loftis, 1865-68; T. S. Ray, 1868-74; E. Watkins, 
 1874-78; A. S. Nash, 1878-80; J. M. Minton, 
 1880-82; AV. F. Little, 1882-86; J. D. C. Cobb, 
 
 ♦James Carson from October. 1867, vice Cumutt, re- 
 moved. 
 
 20 
 
 1886-88; a. \V. Cook, present incumbent, elected 
 
 in 1888. 
 
 Coroners: R. H. McCoy, 1859-60; Uriah Kel- 
 lar, 1860-64: L. W. Loftis, 1864-65: J. H. Gam- 
 ble, 18()5-68; J. Hargruves, 1868-71: J. H. Steph- 
 ens. 1871-72; John Tanehill, 1872-74; A. N. 
 Couch, 1874-76; R. Rol)ertson, 1876-78; A. N. 
 Couch, 1878-80: H. Dorton, 1880-86; David Cal- 
 vert, 1886-88; M. D. Willey, present incumbent, 
 elected in 1888. 
 
 Surveyors: J. N. Bnrk, 1859-62; S. M. Odeu, 
 1862-64; A. J. Barnett, 1864-66; E. A. Albright, 
 1866-68; Joseph New.son. 1872-73: J. W. New- 
 son, 1873-78; W. M. Armstrong, 1878-80; T. M. 
 Boyd, 1880-82; G. B. Hopkins, 18.82-84; T. M. 
 Boyd. 1884-86; J. H. Burk. present incumbent, 
 first elected in 1886. 
 
 Assessors: W. T. E. Armstrong, 1868-72; D. 
 M. Goodman, 1872-73; C. W. Covender, 1878 
 74: J. M. Raines, 1874-76; J. R. Rutfin, 1876- 
 78; J. Broadaway, 1878-84; R. L. Collins, present 
 incumbent, elected in 1884, re-elected and served 
 continuously since. 
 
 Representatives: Z. Stoddard was the first reji- 
 resentative of Craighead County, and J. A. Meek 
 is the present one. 
 
 The political aspect of Craighead County may 
 be seen by reference to the number of vot(>s cast 
 at the September election in 1888, for the candi- 
 dates for governor, as follows: James P. Eagle. 
 Democrat, 1,386; C. M. Norwood, com 1 lined op 
 position, 662. The number of votes ca.-^t in the 
 county at the November election in 1888, for the 
 presidential candidates, were: For Cleveland, 
 1,212; for Harrison, 217; for Streeter, 147. 
 
 Upon the organization of the county the 
 courts were held, as provided in the creating act. 
 at the store-house of William Puryear. at his pres- 
 i*nt residence near Jone.sboro, where future ses- 
 sions were held until the site for the seat of justice 
 was selected and a court-house erected. 
 
 The county court holds its regular sessions at 
 Jonesboro, commencing on the first Mondays of 
 January, April, July and October of each year, and 
 continuing as long as the Imsiness requires. It 
 has jurisdiction over the county business in both 
 
^^ 
 
 314 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 judicial districts, but does not meet in the Lake 
 City district. 
 
 The regular sessions of the probate court are 
 held in the Jonesboro judicial district, commenc- 
 ing on the second Mondays of January, April, 
 July and October of each year, and in Lake City 
 judicial district, commencing on the fourth Mon- 
 days of the same months. It continues '"from 
 day to day until the business is disposed of. " ' 
 
 The regular sessions of the circuit court for the 
 Jonesboro district commence on the sixth Monday 
 after the first Monday of February and August of 
 each year, and for the Lake City district, on the 
 fifteenth Monday after the first Monday of the 
 same months. * This coiu-t has fortunately never 
 been overburdened with criminal trials in this 
 county, because of the absence of unlawful citizens. 
 A few murders have been committed, but no legal 
 executions have followed. Some years ago a negro 
 murdered Miss Mattie Ishmael at her father's 
 house, a few miles north of Jonesboro. He and 
 three other negroes, accessaries, were arrested 
 and given a jireliminary trial before a justice of 
 the peace. From the evidence it appeared that 
 the negroes had contrived to steal money which 
 thev thought to be in Mr. Ishmael" s house, and that 
 the young lady, being the only one at home, was 
 killed to enable them to accomplish the act. The 
 justice of the peace found sufficient evidence to 
 hold the negroes for the action of the grand jury, 
 whereupon the citizens seized and hanged them 
 until they were dead. 
 
 The legal bar of Craighead County is composed 
 of the following named attorneys: J. C. Brook- 
 field, W. H. Cate, T. P. McGovern, J. C. Haw- 
 thorn, J. A. Meek, S. A. Warner, N. J. Thompson, 
 Will A. May, W. A. May wood. W. W. Nisbett, 
 L. J. Wear, E. W. Hillis, E. M. Rolesou, H. J. 
 Smith. Additional mention of the members of the 
 bar is made on other pages. 
 
 At the oiitbreak of the War of 1861-05, the 
 citizens of Craighead County in their actions pur- 
 sued the course most natural for tiiem. Being 
 emigrants, or their descendants, from Tennessee 
 
 *The time for convening at Lake City ias probably 
 been changed by the last session of the legislature. 
 
 and other Southern States, they were almost unan- 
 imousl}- in favor of the Southern cause, and eonse 
 quently did what they could in its behalf, by fur 
 nishiug soldiers for the Confederate army. The 
 first company in the county was organized in ISfil. 
 and was commanded by Capt. J. M. Pollard. It 
 served iu the Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry. The 
 next company, raised in the winter of 1S62-63, was 
 commanded by Capt. J. D. Hillis. It served in 
 Col. O. P. Lyle's Twenty-third Arkansas Infantry. 
 The next company was that of Capt. M. A. Adair, 
 which served in Col. Young's regiment of Arkan- 
 sas infantry. Another, commanded l>y Capt. J. G. 
 W'ood, was raised in Craighead and Greene Coun- 
 ties, but mostly from the former. It served in a 
 battalion of Col. Kitchens' regiment of Arkansas 
 troops. Another company raised in 1864 in this 
 and Jackson and WoodrufP Counties, by Capt. J. 
 B. Hillis, hadaliout one-fourth of its men from this 
 county. A few individuals joined companies or- 
 ganized outside. No body of troops were organ- 
 ized here for the Federal army. A few individu- 
 als may have joined regiments from the North 
 after their removal from this locality. 
 
 The only action that took place within the 
 county during the war, was a tight at Jonesboro in 
 1863, between two companies of Confederate troops, 
 commanded, respectively, by Capts. Adair, of 
 Craighead, and Allen, of Clfiy Counties, and a de- 
 tachment of a Federal regiment, commanded by 
 Col. Daniels. The latter had stopped in the town 
 and were attacked by their enemies, and driven 
 out. In the contest about thirty were killed and 
 wounded, principally Federals. A portion of Mar- 
 maduke's army moved through the county, on his 
 retreat from Missouri, and some Federal commands 
 also passed through. It was, however, not much 
 over-rtin, and did not sittfer from the devastations 
 of war such as fell to the lot of many other coun- 
 ties within the State. Among the recent immigrants 
 from the North are many ex Federal soldiers, and 
 their friendly intercourse shows that the battle-ax 
 has long since been buried. 
 
 Craighead is favored with a usual quota of 
 towns, so essential to any community. 
 
 Bay, a small place situated on the Kansas City, 
 
 
Jackson CouMrr, Arkansas. 
 
/ 
 
4^ 
 
 CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 3ir. 
 
 Fort Scott & Memphis Railroad, ten miles southeast 
 of Joiieshoro. contains a postoffice, three or four 
 stores, a saw-mill, two churches, two boarding 
 houses, etc. 
 
 Bono, a station and postoffice on the same rail- 
 road, ten miles northwest of Jonesboro, is but a 
 small village. 
 
 Biouklaiid, on the St. Louis, Arkansas & 
 Texas Railroad, eight miles northeast of Jonesboro, 
 contains tTireo general stores, one di'ug store, two 
 hotels, a church and school-house. 
 
 Culberhouse. on the Kansas City, Fort Scott & 
 Memphis Railroad, one and a half mile below Bay, 
 has a postoffice, store, boarding-hous<>. and saw- 
 mill. 
 
 Dee, a station on the Iron Mountain Railroad 
 eight miles south of Jonesboro, contains two stores, 
 two churches and two saw-mills. 
 
 Gilkerson is on the St. Louis, Arkansas & 
 Texas Railroad, nine miles southeast of Jonesboro. 
 A postoffice, store, and a grist and saw- mill and 
 cotton-gin coml)ined comprise its interests. 
 
 Greensboro, a very old village and formerly 
 a place of much business, eleven miles east of 
 north from Jonesboro, has within it a postoffice, 
 two or three stores, two churches and a school- 
 house. 
 
 Gubertown is a post hamlet in the northeastern 
 part of the county. 
 
 Jonesboro, the county seat of Craighead 
 County, was established when its site was selected 
 for the permanent seat of justice. It was named 
 ill honor of William A. Jones, State Senator for 
 the counties of St. Francis and Poinsett, for his 
 able support of the act creating the county. Lo- 
 cated on a beautiful site at the crossing of the St. 
 Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad and the Kan- 
 sas City, Fort Scott &, Memphis Railroad, it is 
 near the center of the territory whose capital it is. 
 William Puryear moved his store from his farm 
 to the town site and became its first merchant. 
 At the beginning of the Civil War the place con- 
 tained about ir)0 inhabitants. After the close of 
 that struggle it contiiuKid to grow, but slowly, so 
 that in 1880, it had three or four small stores and 
 some other business enterprises, and a population 
 
 of from 200 to ;50l). Upon the completion of the 
 railroads through the county in 1882 and 1883, en- 
 terprise was awakened, and now, according to an 
 actual and careful census just taken within the 
 corporate limits, the population numbers 2,240— 
 1,954 white, and 280 colored. To this number 
 should be added about 300 for those living just 
 outside of the corporation. 
 
 On Saturday, April 27, 1889, about forty 
 business houses and residences, including some of 
 the best of both within Jonesboro, were swept 
 away by devouring flames, causing an estimated 
 loss to the property owners of about §175,000. 
 The burnt district lies immediately north and 
 northeast of the public square, on both sides of 
 the street leading to the Union Depot. Before 
 this occurrence the town contained the Bank of 
 Jonesboro, six general stores, ten groceries, eight 
 drug stores, one hardware store, one hardware and 
 grocery store, three dry goods stores, one clothing 
 store, one undertaker's store, twelve hotels, five 
 barber shops, several temperance saloons, several 
 blacksmith and other mechanical shops, two corn- 
 mills, three planing-mills, two saw- mills, one stave 
 factory, three brick yards, three lumber yards, 
 four church (edifices, a largo and new two-story 
 brick school-house with six rooms, costing $7,000, 
 the Union Depot, round house, two freight depots 
 and other railroad l)uildings, a number of restaui'- 
 ants, boarding houses and business bouses not 
 here enumerated. The property Inu-ned consisted 
 of stores, warehouses, livery staljle, the Cumber- 
 land Presbyterian Church, the Southern Hotel, 
 residences, etc., etc. 
 
 In addition to the foregoing the city contains 
 two weekly newspapers. The Jonesboro Times and 
 The Craighead County Sun, both well edited, and 
 both devoted to the general interests of the county 
 and its people. The Times is published by J. D. 
 C. Cobb & Son, and The Sun by Emmet Rudgers. 
 The Times lost its press and some othi>r property 
 in the late fire, but did not miss its regular ])ul)li 
 cation. 
 
 Jonesboro has a lodge and chapter of the Ma- 
 sonic fraternity, a lodge and encampment of Odd 
 Fellows, a lodge each of the Knights of Honor. 
 
\ « 
 
 316 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Knights and Ladies of Honor, Knights of Pythias, 
 Kuights of Labor, and other societies; also six 
 physicians and oae dentist. The place was incor- 
 porated February 2, 1883, as a city of the second 
 class. Its present officers are N. J. Thorn ()sou, 
 mayor; J. W. Mackey, recorder; I. J. Stacey, 
 treasurer, and J. J. Rooney, marshal. Jonesboro 
 is so pleasantly and advantageously located that it 
 is a desirable place of residence. Its residences 
 in the shady forest surrounding the business por- 
 tion of the city al-e both attractive and comforta- 
 ble. Though individuals have suffered by the 
 late devastating elements the loss v?ill soon be re- 
 covered, proving, perhaps, a siabstantial l)lessiug, 
 as brick will take the place of wooden buildings. 
 
 Lake City, the seat of justice of the Lake City 
 district, was established soon after the Civil War 
 as a boat-landing on the St. Francis River. It 
 contains the court-house, postoffice, two stores, 
 two hotels, a church and school -house. 
 
 Macey is a postoffice in the extreme northeast 
 corner of the county. 
 
 Nettleton, at the crossing of the railroads three 
 miles southeast of Jonesboro, contains a po.stoffice. 
 three or four business houses, etc. 
 
 Stottsville, in the extreme eastern part of the 
 county, has a postoffice, store, saw and grist-mill 
 and cotton-gin combined, a church and school- 
 house. 
 
 Wardsdale, on the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas 
 Railroad, thii-teen miles southwest of Jonesboro, 
 contains a postoffice and saw-mill. 
 
 No adequate educational facilities existed with- 
 in the county prior to the inauguration of the free 
 school system. There were, however, a few sub- 
 .scription schools taught here and there in the most 
 thickly settled neighborhoods, the terms being for 
 three months in a year. The following statistics 
 from the report of the State superintendent, for 
 the year ending June 30, 1888, will prove of inter- 
 est to those whose sympathies are with this worthy 
 movement. Scholastic population: White, 3,988; 
 colored, 160 — total, 4,148. Number of pupils 
 taught in the public schools: White, 1,95'.); colored, 
 3(3 — total, 1,*JU5. Number of school districts, 56. 
 Number of teachers employed: Males, 32; females. 
 
 15 — total, 47. Average monthly salaries paid 
 teachers — tirst grade, males, $51); females, 145,10:' 
 second grade, males, $40; females, $37.30; third 
 grade, males, $33.35; females, $32.50. Revenue 
 raised for the support of the common schools, total 
 amount, $20,595,64; amount expended, $9,142,53; 
 balance unexpended, $11,453,11, These figures 
 indicate that less than one-half of the white, and 
 less than one-fourth of the colored scholastic popu- 
 lation were taught in the public schools during the 
 year. However, considering the short time in 
 which the free school system has been in existence, 
 and the distance the children of sparsely settled 
 sections of the county have to travel to attend, it 
 may be considered a fair showing. When the 
 county becomes more thickly settled and more 
 school-houses are erected, a much larger attend- 
 ance will result. The wages paid for teachers of 
 the first grade is sufficient to secure able and com- 
 petent instructors. 
 
 Of the Missionary Baptist Church, the pioneer 
 organization of this religious denomination within 
 the territory composing Craighead County is 
 that known as Macedonia, six miles northeast of 
 Jonesboro. It was formed prior to 1846. Next 
 was the Jonesboro Church, organized some ten 
 years later. Other organizations have since been 
 formed from time to time until they now number 
 twelve, and are named as follows: Antioch, Black 
 Oak, Bethabra, Enterprise, Hermon, Jonesboro, 
 Liberty. Macedonia, New Hope, Oak Grove, 
 Philadelphia and Rock Hill, with an aggregate 
 membership of about 800. The pastors of these 
 churches, so far as given in the minutes of the 
 Mount Zion Association, are J. F. Mills, at An- 
 tioch; E. P. Minton, at Black Oak and Liberty; 
 W. G. Stamper, at Bethabra; M. Ball, at Jones- 
 boro; J. T. Arrington, at Macedonia, New Hope 
 and Oak Grove* J. M. Raines, at Philadelphia, and 
 Thomas Williams, at Rock Hill. 
 
 Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
 the Jonesboro Station, W. D. Matthews, pastor, 
 has 160 or more members. The Jonesboro Cir- 
 cuit, M. J. Hively, pastor, consists of five organi- 
 zations: Pleasant Grove, Marvin, Bay, Forest 
 Home and Hope, with a membership of 400. 
 
 ^^ 
 
Lake City Circuit, S. G. Lape, pastor, consists 
 of four organizations, viz. : Hollywood, Forest 
 Chapel, Pleasant Valley and Lake City. ShiloL 
 Circuit. John Edison, pastor, consists of seven or- 
 f^anizations, viz. : Trinity, Oak Ridge, New Hope, 
 Colwell's Chapel, Shiloh, New Haven and Union 
 Grove, with an aggregate membership of 432. 
 
 Buffalo Island Mission has seven appointments 
 or preaching places: Trinity, Young's Chape], 
 Huntou's Chapel, Poplar Ridge, Union School 
 House and Black Oak, with an aggregate member- 
 .ship of 152. Rev. A. S. Hilburn is pastor. Lake 
 City Circuit was recently established, and a por- 
 tion of its members were taken from the Jonesboro 
 Circuit and Buffalo Island Mission, thus reducing 
 their membership as above given. All the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church organizations within the 
 county belong to the Jonesboro District of the 
 White River Conference, of which Rev. M. M. 
 Smith, of Jonesboro, is Presiding Elder. 
 
 The oldest Christian church organization here 
 is Christian Valley, seven miles southwest of 
 Jonesboro. It was organized soon after the Civil 
 War. Other Christian churches are Hope, held in 
 a school -house two miles southeast of Jonesboro, 
 one at Jonesboro, one on Buffalo Island, and 
 another in Texas Township. Together they ag- 
 gregate a membership of about 350. Elder J. H. 
 Terrell preaches at Hope and Christian Valley, 
 and Elder W. Y. M. Wilkerson, at Buffalo Island. 
 
 The Cumberland Pre.sbyterian Church has but 
 one organization in the county, and that is at 
 Jonesboro. It was organized in 1878, by Rev. J. 
 D. C. Cobb, who has since continued to be its 
 pastor. The membership numbers sixty. In 1887 
 this church society erected a line frame edifice at a 
 cost of §2,000. It was consumed in the great fire 
 at Jonesboro April 27, 1889. Until further ar- 
 rangements are made the society will worship in 
 the ilethodist Episcopal Church edifice. A society 
 of seven or eight members of the Northern branch 
 of the Presbyterian Church have a frame church 
 edifice a few miles southeast of Jonesboro. 
 
 The Roman Catholic Church has recently 
 erected a small frame edifice in Jonesboro, the 
 only one in the county. 
 
 Nearly all of these denominations, excepting 
 the latter, have Sunday-schools connected with 
 them. Regular preaching services are held, and 
 all are doing good work in the cause of Christian- 
 ity. The county, though new, and with but ii 
 small population, is well supplied with churches. 
 
 James C. Anderson, an influential farmer of 
 Craighead County, is a native of Bedford County, 
 Tenn. The paternal grandfather, Isaac Ander- 
 son, was a native of Virginia, and married Eliz- 
 abeth Hunter, fi'om Maryland. They settled in 
 Tennessee, and here Richard Anderson, the father 
 of James C, was born. He gi'ew to manhood in 
 that State, and married JIartha Campbell, also 
 born and reared there. There are now four sur- 
 vivors of their family of nine children. Richard 
 Anderson served creditably as a captain in the late 
 war, and was esteemed by all as a good soldier and 
 a worthy citizen. He was an active member of the 
 I. O. O. F. James C. also served in the late war 
 as a lieutenant, and participated in a number of 
 engagements, among them New Madrid and Island 
 No. 10. He has now a large farm of 400 acres, much 
 of which is excellent land, and under cultivation. 
 His farm is well stocked with horses, mules and cat- 
 tle. He was united in marriage with Susan Nance, 
 a native of Tennessee, and after her death was 
 again married, this time selecting Martha Jackson, 
 who was born and reared in .Alabama. She came 
 to Arkansas in 1870 with her father, who is a 
 prominent citizen and postmaster at Bono. Eight 
 children have been born to this union. Mr. An- 
 derson is a member of the Masonic order and of the 
 I. O. O. F. , and has occupied official chairs in Ijoth 
 of these orders. He and his wife are memliers of 
 the Methodist Church. 
 
 Edwin G. BaiTett. Prominciil amimg tin- 
 prosperous and intelligent young farmers of Craig 
 head County, may be mentioned the name of Ed- 
 win G. Barrett, a native of the county, born April 
 21, 1859. His paternal grandfather was Caswell 
 Barrett, a native of South Carolina, who was reared 
 in that State and all his life followed agricultural 
 pursuits. He was born in 1793 and died in 1S30. 
 
 S r- 
 
 i. 
 
318 
 
 fflSTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 His wife, Nancy (Ferguson) Barrett, also a native 
 of South Carolina, was of Irish descent, and to 
 their union were bom two sons and two daughters, 
 the only survivor being Arthur J., who is now a 
 prominent planter of Craighead County. He was 
 born in Greenville District, S. C, Augu.st 31, 1821, 
 and was reared on the farm, receiving a very good 
 education. In 1858, to better his fortune, he con- 
 cluded to come to Arkansas, and with his wife and 
 three children and household goods, started in a 
 wagon for this State. After traveling sixty days, 
 he drove up and unhitched his wagon at his pres- 
 ent farm, where he has lived ever since. There 
 are 140 acres in the homestead, about ninety un- 
 der cultivation, and he has also eighty-three acres 
 of very rich land on the edge of ' ' Cache Bottom. ' ' 
 He has always been a Democrat in politics, but 
 has never aspired to office. Before the war, he 
 was county surveyor for one term, and during the 
 war was in the Confederate service. He was mar- 
 ried October 11, 1849, to Eunice Barton, a native 
 of Georgia, whose parents were Willoughby and 
 Sarah (West) Barton, both natives of South Caro- 
 lina. Her mother died in 1844, and her father 
 afterward came to Arkansas and died in White 
 County in 1862. Of Mr. and Mrs. Barrett's ten 
 children, only five are living, viz., William F. 
 (married to Marzee Watkins), Mary (wife of Pey- 
 ton Watkins), Edwin G. (the immediate subject of 
 this sketch), and Sarah and Eliza at home. Those 
 deceased are: Albert, Gilford, Luther, John and 
 Nancy. Nancy was the wife of S. A. Neal, and 
 left three little children, Arthur, Marvin and Ida 
 Myrtle. Mr. and Mrs. Barrett and their entire 
 family are members of the Missionary Baptist 
 Church, and those deceased were members. Ed- 
 win G. was reared on his father's farm, receiving 
 a very fair education. He has been principally 
 engaged in farming, but was for a while a clerk 
 in the mercantile trade. He has a nice farm of 
 seventy-five acres, forty of which are splendidly 
 improved. January 20, 1885, he married Julia 
 Dodds, a daughter of Allen and Julia (Saye) 
 Dodds, residents of this county. This union has 
 been blessed by two children: Alva and Margaret. 
 Mr. Barrett is a man of strong political convictions. 
 
 and is a Democrat. Both he and his wife are de- 
 vout Christians, the former a member of the Mis- 
 sionary Baptist Church, and the latter of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Chru'ch, South. 
 
 J. R. Blalack, was born in Monroe County, 
 Miss., October 2, 1849. He is the son of Josiah 
 and Elizabeth (Hendrix) Blalack, both natives of 
 Mississippi. They twice came to Arkansas, but 
 returned each time to their native home, where 
 they both died — the father in 18G5 and the mother 
 in the winter of 1885-86. They were the parents 
 of eleven children, six of whom are now living, 
 and four in this county: John, George, Willis and 
 James R. , all farmers. J. R. Blalack was reared 
 in his native State and obtained Imt a moderate 
 education. When yet a young man he came with 
 his father's family to Arkansas and located in 
 Craighead County. In the spring of 1869 he was 
 united in marriage with Sophia Miranda Herrin. 
 a native of Georgia. After his marriage he farmed 
 for awhile, then went to Prairie Coimty, Ark. , re- 
 maining two years. Then he moved to Bourbon 
 County, Kas. , and after eleven months returned to 
 Arkansas. He was on St. Francis River two 
 months, operated a cotton-gin on Big Bay for one 
 year, then he came to his present farm, where he 
 rented forty-five acres and a gin — ginning 300 
 bales of cotton that year. He then purchased 
 thirty acres of land, added to it for two years, and 
 for two years more ran a saw-mill. After another 
 year of farming he bought ten acres of land, 
 moved to his present location, and in connection 
 with James M. Herrin erected a combined cotton- 
 gin and corn-mill, which they operate together. 
 By economy and earnest endeavor he has been 
 generally successful. One of his farms contains 
 100 acres and the other forty, with two acres for a 
 home place. He is a Mason, holding membershi]) 
 in Jonesboro Lodge No. 129, and is a Democrat. 
 He never sought office, but was always content to 
 bear the brunt of the burden in the field or mills. 
 He is the father of seven children : Aden C. , 
 Philip C, Pervison W., Dell D., Modena, Taylor 
 and Zenobia. 
 
 John Boren (deceased) was a successful farmer 
 and greatly respected citizen of Maumelle Town- 
 
 V 
 
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 •■uu 
 
 ship. He was boru in Washington Couuty, Tenn., 
 but was mostly reared in Macon County, N. C. , his 1 
 parents having gone there when he was a small , 
 child. He remained there until 1859, when he 
 came to Arkansas, locating on a place near Big 
 Bay. With the beginning of the war he entered 
 the Confederate service, and remained through the 
 entire conflict, making a very creditable military 
 record. He was in several engagements and had 
 many narrow escapes ; he had been promoted to the 
 office of first lieutenant when he was captured near 
 Mount Vernon. He was then taken to Johnson's 
 Island, where he was retained as prisoner for 
 eight months. His comrades all remember him as 
 a brave and gallant .soldier. He died August 29, 
 1809. His widow, whose maiden name was Char- 
 lotte Gouldman, was born in Richmond County, 
 Va. , in 1832, and is a daughter of Robert and 
 Nancy (Parker) Gouldman, natives of the "Old 
 Dominion."' Her father, who was a farmer by 
 occupation, was born about 1803, and died in No- 
 vember of 1838; the mother was born in July, 
 1805, and survived her husband until 1842. About 
 a year jsrevious to her death she had moved with 
 her family first to Tennessee and later to Alabama. 
 Of the eight children born to this union, four ai'e 
 still living. Mrs. Boren was the fourth child and 
 grew to womanhood in Alabama, where she was 
 first married to Benjamin C. Vick, a native of 
 Limestone County, Ala., born, in 1827, and died 
 July 29, 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Vick came to Ar- 
 kansas in 1857, locating on the place where he 
 soon afterward died, and where his widow still re- 
 sides. He was a charitable and enterprising citizen 
 and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 They were the parents of six children, three of 
 whom are living. William J. is a promising and 
 sulistantial farmer and school teacher, educated at 
 the Bethel Institute, Tenn. , who has taught school 
 for eight years, and served as justice of the peace 
 for ten. He married C. E. Tabor, a native of 
 Kentucky. September 29, 1878, and they are the 
 parents of three children: Mary, Benjamin and 
 Willis. Frances M. and Benjamin C. are the two 
 other children of Mrs. Boren by her first hu.sband. 
 Those deceased were Joseph, Preston and an in- 
 
 fant. To Mr. and Mrs. Boren were born three 
 children: Maiy T., James C, and Martha L. (de- 
 ceased). Mrs. Boren has a splendid farm, and 
 displays much executive ability in its management. 
 
 Simon M. Bowman. Prominent among the 
 prosperous and enterprising citizens of Lake City 
 Township may he mentioned the subject of this 
 sketch, who is a leading farmer and stock raiser, 
 and also proprietor of a cotton-gin and saw-mill. 
 He vpas born in Henderson County, Tenn., in 
 1847, and is a son of Joshua and Sally (Easley) 
 Bowman, natives of Tennessee. They were reared 
 and married in the "Old Volunteer State," where 
 the father died in 185(3. One year later the moth- 
 er moved with her family to Arkansas, and located 
 on the Maumelle Prairie in this county, where sh& 
 remained until 1862, when she removed to Crow- 
 ley's Ridge, returning but shortly afterward to the 
 Prairie. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowman were born 
 eight children, two of whom are now living: Simon 
 M. and Mrs. Margaret Butcher. Mrs. Bowman 
 was again married to Moses W. Lewis (now de- 
 ceased), l)y whom she was the mother of one child. 
 Perry E. Lewis. She married the third time, and 
 after a life of charitable iisefulness, died aljout 
 1871. Simon M. Bowman attained his majority 
 in this county, and in 1869 moved to the ])lace 
 where he has since resided. He now has about 
 400 acres of land, with 110 imder cultivation, over 
 sixty of which he has cleared and cultivated him- 
 self. He has a good residence, tenant house, or- 
 chard, etc. In 1888 he built a cotton gin and saw- 
 mill in partnership with his half brother. Perry 
 E. Lewis, and that year they ginned 127 bales of 
 cotton. Mr. Bowman was first married in 1S68. 
 to Miss Sarah Harris, a native of the State, who 
 died in June, 1873, leaving two children, Melinda. 
 and Perry, both now deceas(>d. For his second 
 wife, he married his first wife's sister. Alice Har 
 ris, the fruits of which union have been nine chil 
 dreu. There are seven living: Mary, Oscar, Joliu, 
 Rosa, Amos, Willie and Ada. Those deceased are 
 Sally and Jimmie. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman are 
 members of the Methodist Chin-ch. 
 
 Jesse C. Broadaway was boru in Lincoln Coun 
 ty, Tenn., October 27, 1829, and is the son of 
 
Yaucy and Elizabeth (Hodges) Broadaway, the for- 
 mer born in North Carolina in 1801, the latter a 
 native of Lincoln County, Tennesse. When the 
 father was yet a boy, his parents moved to Tennes- 
 see, where he was reared and educated in his wife's 
 native county. Mr. and Mrs. Broadaway were the 
 parents of eleven children, seven sons and four 
 daughters, six of whom are still living, all in this 
 county. Mr. Broadaway all his life engaged in 
 farming and stock raising, and in Tennessee was 
 very successful in that occupation, and was also 
 elected to some local offices. He came to Arkansas 
 in the fall of 1841, and here engaged in farming 
 and reared his family. He was elected justice of 
 the peace, and held that office for eighteen years; 
 also served one term as county and probate judge. 
 He and wife were devoted Christians, and zealous 
 members of the Missionary Baptist Church. After 
 a long life of usefulness, he died April 14, 1885, 
 aged eighty-four years. His wife still survives 
 him, and makes her home with one of her sons. 
 The family is of English descent. Jesse C. Broad- 
 away, the immediate subject of this sketch, is one 
 of the thrifty and successful farmers of the county. 
 He owns about 250 acres of good land, and of 
 this has about seventy-five acres in a flourishing 
 state of cultivation. November 15, 1855, he was 
 married to Naucy Jane Harris, a native of Craig- 
 head County, Ark., born November 18, 1837, and 
 died March 29, 1885. Their union was blessed by 
 eleven children, five of whom are yet living: 
 William E., Y. E. W., Robert J., Leila L. and 
 Lula L. 
 
 George M. Broadaway, a substantial agricult- 
 urist and stock dealer of Craighead County, was 
 born in Lincoln County, Tenn., January 1, 1832, 
 and is a son of Yancy and Elizabeth (Hodges) 
 Broadaway, natives of North Carolina and Tennes- 
 see, respectively [see sketch of Jesse C. Broad- 
 away]. January 3, 1850, he was united in mar- 
 riage with Delila Cline, who was born in Alabama 
 August 21, 1836, and died December 23, 1861. 
 Of this union two children were the issue: John 
 C. and Andrew C. January 20, 1868, Miss Cyn- 
 thia Barnett became his second wife. She is a 
 native of Mississippi, and a daughter of John and 
 
 Jane (Willhite) Barnett, natives of Middle Tennes- 
 see, who came to Arkansas in 1864. Mr. Broad- 
 away enlisted, in 1862, in the support of the Con- 
 federate cause, and served until the sui-render. 
 He has a large, nicely improved farm, and devotes 
 much time and care to stock raising. He is a 
 thorough Democrat, and in the supjiort of progress 
 and enterprise, one of the foremost men of the 
 county. Mrs. Broadaway is a member of the 
 Baptist denomination, which church the family 
 attend. 
 
 Anderson K. Broadaway, a prominent mer- 
 chant of Lake City, is a native of Craighead Coun- 
 ty, born August 1, 1850. He is a son of Judge 
 Broadaway [see sketch of Jesse C. Broadaway], 
 and like his father, by energy, enterprise and 
 strict integrity, has attained the position among 
 his fellow citizens of a leading business man. He 
 grew to manhood in this county, and remained at 
 home until his father's death, in 1885. In early 
 life he engaged in farming, but in 1883 began 
 selling groceries in Jonesboro, and continued in 
 that business for three years, at the same time 
 dealing in railroad ties, timber, etc. In 1887 he 
 piu'chased an established business at Lake City, 
 and has since been enjoying a splendid trade in 
 general merchandise. He keeps a good stock, and 
 has established an enviable reputation for fair and 
 strictly honest dealing. June 4, 1874, he was 
 united in marriage with Julia Minton, a native of 
 Alabama, and daughter of F. M. Minton. Their 
 union has been blessed by two children: Ira Galon 
 and Era E. Mr. Broadaway is a member of the 
 Knights and Ladies of Honor, and both he and 
 wife belong to the Missionar}' Baptist Church. 
 
 J. C. Brookfield. a careful student, a fluent 
 speaker, and an able and successful lawyer, is a pio- 
 neer citizen of Northeast Arkansas, born in Law- 
 rence County, Ark., July 14, 1829. The Brook- 
 field family are of Scotch and English origin, and 
 were early emigrants to America. Isaac Brook- 
 field, Sr., the paternal grandfather of J. C, came 
 with his wife, Hannah, from England, and set 
 tied in Newark, N. J., and there they resided 
 until their respective deaths. James Campbell, 
 the maternal grandfather of our subject, was of 
 
 ^'^ 
 
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 :!21 
 
 Scotch -Irish descent; and his wife, whose maiden 
 name was Wilson, was descended from the Khine 
 Dutch, and was a sister of Col. Wilson, once speaker 
 of the House of Representatives, who killed Col. 
 Anthony in the State-house at Little Rock. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Campbell emigrated to Lawrence County, 
 Ark., in the fall of \S]'2., and were among the very 
 first settlers. About 1821 he was elected sheriff 
 of the county, which then comprised several of the 
 present counties, and served for some time in that 
 capacity. Isaac Brooklield, Jr., the father of J. 
 C, through the influence of Bishop Asbury, came 
 from New Jersey to St. Louis in 1819, as a mis- 
 sionary to the Indians. He was a minister of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, was thoroughly edu- 
 cated, and possessed that power and magnetism of 
 speech and character so necessary to a successful 
 preacher. In 1823 he married Nancy Campbell, 
 and after locating settled in Lawrence County, 
 where he continued his Master's work, and lived 
 an earnest, zealous and consistent Christian life. 
 In 1825 he began mercantile Vmsiness, his dry- 
 goods, which were shipped from New York, being 
 six months in reaching their destination; his gro- 
 ceries were principally from New Orleans. He 
 continued this business imtil ,his death, in 1844. 
 His wife died in 1875. To them were born a 
 family of six children. J. C. Brooklield was reared 
 on the farm, receiving his education mainly at 
 Batesville, Ark. After his father's death, he 
 closed up the business, and engaged in rafting on 
 the St. Francis River, thus earning sufficient 
 means to educate himself. When twenty-one 
 j'ears of age he began the study of law, and was 
 admitted to the bar in Poinsett County, Ark., 
 October 23, 1853. He immediately began practice 
 in Harrisburg, and his practice, now extending 
 over all adjoining coimties, still embraces that 
 court. In 1883 he moved to Jonesl)oro, where he 
 has since made his home. At the opening of the 
 late war he was captain of a company of militia, 
 and once served as deputy clerk of Poinsett County, 
 but has never aspired to office, rather choosing to 
 serve his party than ask of it official favor. He 
 has been for many years a leading lawyer of North- 
 east Arkansas, and enjoys, in its fullest extent, the 
 
 love, respect and confidence of his people. He 
 was first married, in 1855, to Susan C. Arledge, 
 and to them were l)orn five children, two now liv- 
 ing: Mrs. Mary L. Roleson and Mrs. Ida A. Ware. 
 Mrs. Brooktield died in 1871, and three years later 
 Mr. Brookfield was married to Mrs. Julia F. Pope, 
 who was the mother of one child, Albert M. Pope. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Brookfield are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and lie is 
 prominent both as a Mason and an Oddfellow. 
 
 Abraham Brown, farmer and stock raiser of 
 Maumelle Township, is a son of David Brown, a 
 native of North Carolina, and was born in Hay 
 wood County, N. C, October (1, 1832. The father 
 was reared in his native State and married Rhoda 
 Chastine, a native of South Carolina. After his 
 marriage he moved to Georgia, where he engaged 
 in both farming and blacksmithing for a numl)(>rof 
 years. In 1858 he came to Arkansas, locating on 
 Crowley's Ridge, in Poinsett County, where he re- 
 sided until his death, in August, 1858. He had 
 lost his wife in 1850 and had married a second 
 time. Abraham Brown grew to manhood in Geor- 
 gia, and until his father's death remained with 
 him. After his death he went to Jonesboro and 
 ran a hor.se-mill (that was some time before the 
 existence of the town), and also engaged in farming 
 for two years. September 17, ISOl, he entered 
 the Confederate army under Col. Marsh Walker 
 and served until the close of the war, when he sur- 
 rendered at Wittsburgh, in May, 18(55. He was 
 second sergeant and was in several engagements, 
 among them New Madrid, Mo., and Island No. 10. 
 at the latter of which places he was taken prisoner, 
 and held five and one-half months at Camp Butler. 
 111. He was exchanged at Vicksburg. and was af- 
 terward in the siege at Port Hudson. After tlie 
 smrender he returned to this county and soon set- 
 tled on the place where he now resides. In \SC,Z 
 he had purchased forty acres of timliered land, 
 which he then began to clear and improve. He has 
 GOO acres in one tract and forty in another. He 
 has cleared ninety acres of rich ami valual)le land: 
 the remainder is timbered. March H5, 1865, be 
 was married in this township to Sarah Thorn, a na- 
 tive of Kentuckv, l>ut reared in .Vrkansas. Her 
 
322 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 father, Jesse Thorn, was one of the pioneer set- 
 tlers of Maumelle Township. Mr. Brown has a 
 family of seven children: Nancy C. (wife of Guy 
 Winningham), Adella, Newton, Alsa, Abraham, 
 Joseph A. and Silas. Both Mr. and Mrs. Brown 
 are consistent Christians and members of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church. 
 
 E. F. Brown, a leading and prominent attor- 
 ney, of Jonesboro, Ark., was born in McNairy 
 County, Tenn. , November 22, 1844, and is a son 
 of William F. Brown and Nettie (Swain) Brown, 
 the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of 
 Tennessee, who in 1858 came to Randolph County, 
 Ark. , locating near Pocahontas. Here Mr. Brown 
 engasred in farming and mercantile business until 
 his death in 1869. His wife died two years later. 
 To their union were born thirteen children, only 
 four of whom are now living. E. F. Brown was 
 the fourth child, and when fourteen years of age 
 came with his parents to Arkansas. He received 
 a common school education, and in 1862, in the 
 early part of the late war, enlisted in Col. Kitchens' 
 regiment. Reeves' company, and served until the 
 close of the conflict, surrendering under Gen. Jeff 
 Thompson, at Wittsburg, Ark. He was in battle 
 at Whitewater bridge, Redlief farm, Little Mis- 
 souri and Saline Rivers, and Little Rock. Peace 
 having been restored, he returned home, and com- 
 pleted his education. He was admitted to the bar 
 in 1871, and in 1872 took a course of lectures in 
 the law department at Lebanon, Tenn., and in 
 July, 1873, located at Oak Bluff, Clay County, 
 where lie began the practice of his chosen profes- 
 sion. The following year he was elected a dele- 
 gate to the constitutional convention, and in 1875- 
 76 represented the First district in the Senate. 
 In 1878 he was elected prosecuting attorney of the 
 Second judicial district, and was re-elected to the 
 same office. In 1883 he came to Jone.sboro, where 
 he has since been engaged in the practice of his 
 profession. He was married, in 1879, to Ada Par- 
 risli, daughter of N. C. Parrish, of Humphreys 
 County, Tenn., and their union has been blessed 
 by one child, Doswell. Mr. Brown has a beauti- 
 ful residence in Joucslwro, and has one of the fin- 
 est libraries in Northeast Arkansas. He is a mem- 
 
 \ 
 
 ber of both the A. F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F.. 
 and he and his wife are members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. He is a leader of the Demo- 
 cratic party, as a lawyer is an able and fluent 
 speaker, and as a business man his career has been 
 one of unusual success. 
 
 J. G. Bryant, a leading merchant at Ridge, 
 Craighead County, was born in Madison County, 
 Ga. , September 20, 1843, and is the son of J ason and 
 Elizabeth (Berryman) Bryant, both natives of the 
 same State. They came to Craighead County 
 December 25, 1857, locating in Big Bay Bottom, 
 where they remained until their deaths. The 
 father died September 8, 1858, the mother De- 
 cember 22, 1868. They were the parents of 
 three children, the two surviving being residents 
 of this county: John G., the subject of this 
 sketch, and Elizabeth, wife of J. T. Dudley. The 
 father was a quiet, industrious man, and the 
 mother a devoted Christian and member of the 
 Missionary Baptist Church. John G. was reared 
 on a farm in Big Bay Bottom, and has been a 
 farmer all his life. In 1885 he bought of Burst 
 & Stills a stock of goods, at Big Bay Siding, and 
 carried on a mercantile business at that point until 
 January 5, 1889, when he removed his stock of 
 goods to Ridge. By industry and integrity he has 
 established a good and successful business in gen- 
 eral merchandise. He has two farms in Greenfield 
 Township, one of eighty acres, thirty-three under 
 cultivation, and the other of 160 acres, with sev- 
 enty-six under cultivation. He was married No- 
 vember 29, 1868, to Mary H. McGown. daugh- 
 ter of Sam and Sarah (Tannehill) McGown, early 
 settlers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant are 
 the parents of eight children, three deceased: John 
 D. and two infants. Those surviving are Sarah 
 E., wife of J. R. Fuller; Nancy O., Charlie A\. 
 and Thomas A. Mrs. Bryant possesses many true 
 womanly virtues, and is a consistent member of the 
 Missionary Baptist Church. During the Civil War 
 Mr. Bryant was a member of Company I, in 
 McNieFs battalion, serving under Price. He was 
 in active service from June, 1862, until the sur- 
 render, participating in several engagements in both 
 Louisiana and Arkansas. He has never sought 
 
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 office, but is a strong Democrat and an influential 
 citizen. 
 
 Hon. VV. H. Gate. The origin of this family 
 in the United States dates from 1752, when three 
 brothers of that name emigrated from Wales an<l 
 located in America. One of the brothers took up 
 his residence in New England, and but little is 
 known of him or his descendants; while the other 
 two settled in the South, and from this branch of 
 the family the subject of this sketch ia descended. 
 That they took an active part in the struggle for 
 independence is well known, and after the war 
 they became tillers of the soil in the South, prob- 
 ably in North Carolina, as the paternal grand- 
 father was a native of that State. He was a pio- 
 neer settler of Jefferson County, Tenn. , and it was 
 here that his son Noah, the father of W. H. , was 
 born. Few men were better or more favorably 
 known in Tennessee than the Rev. Noah Gate. 
 He married Mrs. Margaret M. Lee, a widow whose 
 maiden name was Henderson, a native of the 
 famous Shenandoah Valley, Va. ; he was for forty 
 years a minister of the Baptist Church, and a 
 faithful worker in his Master's vineyard. In 1865 
 lie came to Jonesboi'o, Ark. , and it was largely 
 through his efforts that the present Baptist Church 
 at that place was built. His was an active, zeal- 
 ous, consistent Christian life, and one well worthy 
 of emulation. He died at Jonesboro, October 23, 
 1871, and his wife at Peirce City, Mo., in March, 
 1876. Only two of the children born to these 
 parents survive them: W. H., tiie subject of this 
 memoir, and a daughter, Mrs. J. N. Patrick, a 
 resident of p]ast Tennessee. The maternal grand- 
 father of W. H. Gate was a native of Scotland, 
 and was killed at the battle of Bladensburg. Two 
 uncles served as soldiers under Jackson, and other 
 members of the family in the same and later wars, 
 some of them winning distinction by their zeal and 
 bravery. M'. H. Gate was born in Rutherford 
 County, Tenn., being reared in Sullivan and Haw- 
 kins Counties, when he attended the common 
 school in his early youth, later entering an acad- 
 emy at Abingdon, Ya. , for some time, and also one 
 at Rogersville, Tenn.. and at the early age of 
 eighteen years graduatetl from the State Univer- 
 
 sity at Knoxville, Tenn. His father, like most 
 ministers, had but limited means, and could assist 
 l>ut little in defraying his son's expenses whili' at 
 school. After graduating he began teaching school, 
 and at the same time took up the study of law. 
 While thus engaged, the war Ijroke out, anddro]>- 
 ping his studies, he espoused the Southern cause. 
 The year the war closed he located at Jonesboro, 
 and resumed (he study of law, so abruptly yet 
 cheerfully dropped live years previous. In ISfUi 
 he was admitted to the bar, and was soon enjoying 
 a good practice. He hiis now practically ietir"d 
 from practice, but was for years one of the leading 
 attorneys of Northeast Arkansas. In March, 1884, 
 he was appointed judge of the Second judicial dis- 
 trict, and the following September was elected to the 
 same position. In 1887 he organized the Bank of 
 Jonesboro, and was its first president. He was 
 for some years attorney for the St. Louis, Arkan- 
 sas & Texas, and the Iron Mountain & South- 
 ern Railroads. He is a large land owner, and has 
 been at times extensively engaged in farming. In 
 the fall of 1888, after a hard and exciting contest, 
 he was chosen to represent the people of the First 
 district in Congress. In 1808 Miss Virginia E. 
 Warner, a native of Dresden, Tenn., became his 
 wife. They have one child, William W., a prom- 
 ising young man, and a student at Bryant and 
 Stratton's College, St. Louis. It can be truly said 
 of W. H. Gate that he is in the fullest acceptation 
 of the term, a self-made man. As the son of a 
 poor minister, he worked his way through college, 
 graduating with honors at the age of eighteen 
 years: while yet a boy, lie was found bravely risk 
 ing his life for a cause he believed to be right, and 
 before the period of his service had closed, hold- 
 ing a captain's commission; a few years later a 
 leading attorney of Northeast Arkansas, he was 
 elected to the legislature in 1871 and re-elected in 
 1873; in 1878 elected pnjsecuting attorney of the 
 second district, judge of the Second judicial dis- 
 trict. j)resident of a bank, and attorney for two 
 large railroad companies. Besides the above, he 
 has held many otlier positions of honor and trust, 
 and has always acted in such a way as to maintain 
 the res]iect and coulidence of the public. In poli 
 
^1 
 
 324 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 tics he has always been a Democrat, but has broad, 
 liberal, conservative views, which have gained for 
 him the respect and friendship of men of all par- 
 ties. He is a man of a pleasant, genial type of 
 character, and has the happy faculty of inspiring 
 those around him with his own bright and sunny 
 life. He and wife are members of the church, 
 leading and popular members of society, and pos- 
 sess social qualities of a high order. 
 
 J. G. Christian, retired farmer, of Jonesboro 
 Township, was born in Hickman County, Tenn., 
 about seventy-five years ago. His parents, Jesse 
 G. and Nancy (Higginbotham) Christian, were both 
 natives of Georgia. They were among the pioneer 
 settlers of Middle Tennessee, and when the subject 
 of this sketch was six years of age moved to Mon- 
 roe County, Miss., where a few years later the 
 father died. A short time after the husband's 
 death the mother moved with the family to Tish- 
 omingo County, Miss., and in 1S87 from there to 
 Greene (now Craighead) County, Ark. Here the 
 mother died about 1841. J. G. Christian was 
 brought u]) on a farm, and from early boyhood was 
 accustomed to hard work. His educational ad- 
 vantages were very limited, as after the father's 
 death much of the responsibility of caring for the 
 family devolved upon him. This responsibility, 
 like all others encountered during his long and 
 eventful lifetime, was met and overcome. In 1844 
 at the old homestead he was united in marriage 
 with Susan Mackey, who when a child came with 
 her brother, Elias, from McNairy County, Tenn., 
 to Arkansas. To this union were born the follow- 
 ing children: Nancy, wife of Lewis Simonds, a 
 farmer of Jonesboro Township; William W., resid- 
 ing near his father; Tersey, who married A. J. 
 Wilson and died about seven years ago; Jesse, who 
 grew to manhood, married Etta Graham, and died 
 in September, 1887, aged twenty- four years; Polly, 
 Rebecca, John and Tom, at home, and two others 
 who died in childhood. Mrs. Simonds is a mem- 
 ber of the Baptist Church. At her death Mrs. 
 Wilson left four children, whom the grandfather is 
 now rearing. Mrs. Christian died March 8, 1887, 
 aged sixty-five years. Mr. Christian has always 
 been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and at pres- 
 
 ent owns a well -improved plantation of 185 acres. 
 He is a Democrat in politics, unassuming but 
 courteous in his manner, and one of the most use- 
 ful and progressive citizens of Craighead County. 
 James R. Claunch, M. D. , was born in Bedford 
 County, Tenn., in 1833, and is now one of the 
 eminently successful farmers of Lester Township, 
 possessing a thorough and practical knowledge of 
 medicine. His parents, James H. and Charlotte 
 (Bearden) Claunch, were natives, respectively, of 
 Kentuck}' and .South Carolina. They were both 
 greatly respected as citizens, and were members of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The 
 father came with his father to Tennessee, and there 
 grew to manhood and followed the occupation of 
 farming. He was born in 1810, and is still living, 
 aged seventy-nine years. The mother was born in 
 1815, and died in Tennessee April 7, 1882. To 
 them had been born nine children, six of whom are 
 still living. Dr. Claunch was the oldest child, and 
 was reared and educated in Tennessee, coming to 
 Arkansas in ISSB. He settled in Poinsett County, 
 where he engaged in farming and studied medicine 
 with Dr. Todd W. Beecher, of Harrisburg, who is 
 a graduate from the Ohio Medical College, at Cin 
 cinnati. He began practice in that county. Jan- 
 uary 6, 1860, he was united in marriage with Miss 
 Martha J. Crook, a native of South Carolina, and 
 daughter of Martin Crook. She came with her 
 father to Mississippi in 1854, and to this State in 
 1859. Her mother died in 1846, and her father in 
 1858. To Dr. and Mrs. Claunch have been born the 
 following family of children: Thomas M. , Lottie 
 L., Annie B. , Charles, William, Mahalia C. , John 
 B. and Albert M. , living, and Laura and Harriet 
 A. G., deceased. They also have with them one 
 granddaughter, Estella Davis. In the War of the 
 Rebellion Dr. Claunch saw much active service. 
 He was in Col. Adams' regiment, and was assistant 
 surgeon with Price on his raid through Missouri. 
 At the close of the war he returned to his farm, and 
 two years later resumed his practice. He came to 
 his present location in Craighead County in 1872, 
 and has since engaged in farming and the practice 
 of medicine. He has a splendid farm of 300 acres, 
 100 under cultivation, and has a good residence. 
 
 -^ 
 
orchard iiud outbuildings. He is a member of the 
 Masonic order, is very successful in his practice, 
 being one of the leading physicians of the county, 
 and greatly respected as a citizen. 
 
 George W. Clements, a well-to-do farmer, 
 stock raiser and cotton-ginner of Cane Island, was 
 born in Tennessee in 1834. His father, William 
 Clements, was a native of Alabama, and married 
 Miss Melinda Mooney, a native of Georgia. In 
 1840 they came to Mississippi County, Ark., and a 
 year later settled on a tract of land on Big Lake, 
 renting for about four years, and then moved to 
 Little lUver neighborhood. Soon after they located 
 in what is now Craighead County, in the Varner 
 settlement. Mrs. Clements died in 1845 and was 
 followed four years later by her husband. They 
 were among the pioneer settlers of Craighead 
 County, and were in all ways most worthy and ex- 
 emplary citizens. George Clements was reared 
 among the rude siUTOundings of those days, receiv- 
 ing but a meager education. He was a gallant 
 Confederate soldier and participated in several en- 
 gagements. He located where he now resides in 
 18*')8, and has since been occupied in farming and 
 cotton-ginning. His present gin is one of the best 
 in the county. In 1887 he ginned ninety-eight 
 bales of cotton, and the year following 146 bales. 
 He owns 100 acres of good land, a portion of 
 which is under a high state of cultivation. Mr. 
 Clements has been married four times. His first 
 wife was Sarah McDaniel, who died in 1805, and 
 was the mother of one child, James F. Elizabeth 
 O'Conley liecame his second wife and one son, 
 George, was born to this union. He married for 
 his third wife Mrs. Susan (Folks) Roberts His 
 present wife was Mrs. Luanna Smith, who is a 
 daughter of Thomas Slocum; she was born in Madi- 
 son County, Tenn., but left there when a child ten 
 years of age. Mrs. Clements was the mother of a 
 son by her former husband, but it died in child- 
 hood. Mr. and Mrs. Clements are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and are useful and in- 
 fluential members of societj*. They interest them- 
 selves in moral and educational matters and liber- 
 ally contribute to all worthy enterprises. 
 
 Rev. J. D. -C. Cobb, pastor of the Cumberland 
 
 Presbyterian Church, and eibtor of the Jonesboro 
 Times, was born in Dyer Comity, Tenn., Julv 2'\ 
 1838. His parents, Christian S. and Juditli 
 (Clapp) Cobb, were natives of Guilford County, N. 
 C, and in 1830 moved to Tennessee, where the 
 father died. He was a farmer of sterling character 
 and worth and was greatly res]>ected by all who 
 knew him. The mother afterward went to Texas 
 and there died. They reared a family of five chil- 
 dren, three now living: Jackson D. C. Lucinda 
 S. (wife of Elder E. P. Minton), and Elizabeth S. 
 (wife of Luke Summers). Rev. J. D. C. Cobb 
 was reared and educated in Dyer County, Tenn., 
 remaining on the farm until twenty years of 
 age, and then taught and attended school. When 
 twenty-three years of age he entered the mini.stry 
 of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and was 
 licensed to preach, but was not ordained until 
 1807. During the late war he was chaplain of the 
 Fifteenth Tennessee Cavalry. The war over he re- 
 turned to his duties, and in 1871 moved to Dunklin 
 County, Mo., and located at Clarkton, where he 
 was pastor until 1874, and then went to Gaines- 
 ville, Ark., where he remaiiie<l until 1870, when 
 he came to Jonesboro, where he has since resided. 
 In 1874 he estal)lished the Gainesville Times, and 
 two years later moved the paper to Jonesboro, 
 where it has since been a leading and widely circu- 
 lating joiu-nal. In the lire of 1889 the office was 
 burned, but w-as soon in operation again. The 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church, too, was burned, 
 and now efforts are being made to build a large 
 l>rick edifice. Mr. Cobb organized the Cumberlaml 
 Presbyterian Church at Jonesboro in 1870. and ha?- 
 been its pastor since its organization. Miss Ann E. 
 Kirk, a native of the "Old Dominion." liecame 
 his wife in 1861, and they are the parents of two 
 childi'eu: William D. and Mary J. Mr. Cobb is 
 a ])rominent citizen and one of the leading spirits 
 of Jonesboro. 
 
 George W. Cook, a prominent and well-to-do 
 farmer of Big Creek Township, is the sou of James 
 and Elizabeth Cook, natives of Tennessee. The 
 father was for many years a farmer of that State. 
 which occupation he followed until his death, in 
 1857. The mother was a member of the Method- 
 
±1 
 
 :«6 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ist Church, and both she and her husband -were 
 worthy of the respect shown them. Eight children 
 were born to this union, only three of whom are 
 now living. George W. is accounted br all one 
 of the prominent farmers of Craighead County, 
 having a large, well-cultivated farm, splendidly 
 stocked with horses, cattle and fine hogs. His 
 marriage to Miss Sarah J. Kitchens was consum- 
 mated in 1865, and to their vinion have been born 
 twelve children, seven of whom are living. One 
 daughter is married to James Coward, and the 
 youngest is two years old. Mr. Cook is a man of 
 sterling worth iu the community. He belongs to 
 both the Masonic order and the Eastern Star, is a 
 member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and 
 gives freely of his means for the promotion of 
 progressive movements. 
 
 James F. Cross is a substantial and public- 
 spirited citizen of Craighead County, and has a 
 large, well improved farm of 120 acres, about 
 three miles from Jonesboro. He was born in 
 Shelby County, Tena., July 29, 1840, and is the 
 son of B. F. Cross, a native of Giles County, 
 Tenn. , and a substantial farmer of that State. In 
 184-1 the father came to Craighead County (then 
 Poinsett), and located near Greensboro, where he 
 bought eighty acres of land, and engaged in farm- 
 ing for several years. Ten or twelve years later 
 he came to Jonesboro Township, where he rented 
 land until his death, in 1877. He was a member 
 of the Sons of Temperance at an early day, and 
 was honored by local offices in Powell Township. 
 His wife, Mary (Hannah) Cross, was a native of 
 North Carolina, and six children blessed their 
 union, five sons and one daughter. Of these, 
 James F. , J. H. and Benjamin R. are the only 
 survivors. The mother died in this township in 
 December, 1887, aged about sixty-seven years. 
 All his life James F. Cross has been a resident of 
 the same settlement in Craighead County, except- 
 ing the four years of the late war. In 1861 he 
 entered the Confederate service, enlisting in Com- 
 pany I, Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry, and served 
 four years and seventeen days. After the war he 
 bought eighty acres of his farm, and has since 
 added forty. April 23, 1869, he married Mary J. 
 
 Higginbotham, a native of Poinsett County, Ark., 
 and daughter of Franklin and Nancy (Edwards) 
 Higginbotham, residents of this township. Five 
 children have been born to this union: William 
 Thomas (deceased), John Franklin, Mary Melvina, 
 Stephen Lafayette and Jodella. Mr. Cross has 
 all his life been an energetic and industrious 
 man, and though he received no education in his 
 childhood, has been a successful farmer, and ac- 
 cumulated a valuable property. He has been a 
 member of the Masonic order, and is a Democrat. 
 Hon. Thomas D. Oulberhouse, farmer, mer- 
 chant and lumber manufacturer, was born in Bed- 
 ford County, Tenn., March 10, 1836, and is a son 
 of MOses Culberhouse, a native of North Carolina, 
 and a grandson of Thomas Culberhouse, who was 
 born in Berkshire, England. Moses Culberhouse 
 was an extensive farmer and stock dealer in his na- 
 tive State, and there married Parthenia Roberts, a 
 native of North Carolina, and in 1834, emigrated 
 to Tennessee. Eighteen years later they came to 
 Greene (now Craighead) County, and here Moses 
 Culberhouse died in 1871 or 1872. His wife is still 
 living, and resides with her son, George, of Jones- 
 boro. She is now seventy-four years of age. They 
 were the parents of nine children, four now living: 
 Thomas D., Nancy J. (wife of William Puryear), 
 Angeline (wife of James Haynes), and George W. 
 Thomas D. was reared in Tennessee, and received 
 but a common-school education. In 1852 he came 
 with his parents to this county, and until 1859 fol- 
 lowed farming: he then engaged in the grocery 
 business, which he continued until the spring of 
 1862. In February of that year he enlisted in 
 Company I, Twenty-third Arkansas Infantry, served 
 two months as a private, and was then sent home 
 on furlough. He came home and raised a company 
 with Capt. Adair, and was made first lieutenant 
 of Col. Hart's regiment, McCray's brigade. He 
 served with them until about November, 1863, 
 after the battles of Helena, Little Rock and Prairie 
 Grove, when, retreating toward Arkadelphia, he 
 was sent home on recruiting service. He raised 
 another company, which became Company I, Twen- 
 ty-third Arkansas Cavalry. Mr. Culberhouse was 
 made a scout, and served as such until the surren- 
 
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 >?- 
 
 der at Wittshaii^. After the war he retm-ned home 
 and made crops in 1805 and 18()(), and then en 
 Imaged in mercantile pursuits, and has since Ix-cn 
 engaged in merchandising, farming, saw-milling 
 and stock-raising. About 1886 he located the town 
 of Culhorhonse. on the Kansas City, Springfield 
 & Memphis Kailroad, and now has a general store 
 there, also has a saw-mill, cotton-mill and shingle- 
 machine. The postoffice was established in 18S7, 
 and named in honor of our subject. Mr. Culber- 
 house is a large landholder, owning about 6,000 
 acres of comliined farm and timber-land, and has 
 almost 1,000 under cultivation. He also gives a 
 great deal of attention to raising line breeds of 
 stock — Norman horses, Poland China and Berk- 
 shire hogs and Durham cattle. He imported his 
 cattle from Kentucky, and in 187'.) bought an im- 
 ported Norman horse, pure breed, which has about 
 800 descendants in Craighead and adjoining coun- 
 ties. He has taken the premium at each fair where 
 exhibited, and some of his horses are quite speedy, 
 having taken premiums at the last Paragonld fair. 
 July 0, 1854, he was united in marriage with 
 Sarah Elizabeth Coleman, a native of Tennessee, 
 and a daughter of Chastine A. Coleman. There are 
 six survivors of the ten children born to this union: 
 Sarah Jane (wife of Sam. A. Warner, Jr., president 
 of the Bank of Jonesboro), W. D. (farmer and 
 merchant). Virginia A. (wife of Thomas Elder, of 
 Jonesboro), R. S. (merchant of Jonesboro, who 
 married Mrs. Willie Wooten, of Mississipj^i), Katie 
 (wife of Mr. Pace, a merchant of Jonesboro), and 
 Thomas (at home). Mrs. Culberliouse was a mem- 
 l)er of the Methodist Church, and died in that 
 faith in 1882. Mr. Culberhouse was again mar- 
 ried June 10, 1884, this time selecting Miss Pattie 
 Wooten, of Mississippi. Mrs. Culberhouse is a 
 member of the Ba^itist Church, and possesses social 
 (jualities of a high order. Mr. Culberhouse is a 
 prominent Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge, 
 Chapter and Commandery, and is also connected 
 with the Knights of Honor. Ho is a Democrat in 
 politics, and in the session of 1885-86 repre.sented 
 Craighead County in the State legislature. 
 
 John H. Darr, a prominent farmer of Jones- 
 boro Township, is a native of the county in which 
 
 he resides, his birth occurring January 1. 1849. 
 His parents, Hiram and Elizabeth (McGown) 
 Darr, were natives of Tennessee, although tlieir mar- 
 riage occurred in Arkansas, and a portion of their 
 yotith was spent there. Mr. Darr was a prominent 
 Democrat, and a zealous member of the Masonic 
 fraternity. He held local positions of honor and 
 trust, and had the respect and confidence of all 
 who knew him. To him and wife were born the 
 following family of children: A. J., a resident of 
 Jonesboro Township; Sarah, wife of T. H. Porter; 
 ElizalwthE.. wife of G. W. Wilkerson (both resi- 
 dents of Craighead County); Stephen S., and the 
 subject of this sketch. Hiram Darr died February 
 11, 1860, and his wife October 11, 1872. John 
 H. Darr was roared upon a farm and has always 
 been engaged in farming and stock raising, being 
 measurably successful at both. He received but a 
 meager education, as his services wore recjuired at 
 home on the plantation. He owns 100 acres of 
 land, sixty of which are imder a good state of cul- 
 tivation. November 22, 1871, he was united in 
 marriage to Maiy, daughter of Abraham and Mar- 
 tha J. (Cary) McDani(>l, early and favorably known 
 citizens of Craighead County. To this union have 
 been born eight children: Martha E., Mary A., 
 Sallie J., John W., Abraham and James G., liv- 
 ing; Hiram S. and William D., decea.sed. In 
 national politics Mr. Darr votes with the Republi- 
 can party, but in State and local elections he sup- 
 ports men and measures and not party. He is a 
 reader of cun-ent literature, is well informed, but 
 has never aspired to any political prcfortuont. He 
 is Past Master and a member of Jonesboro Lodge 
 No. 129, A. F. & A. M., and liberally contributes 
 to all worthy enterprises. 
 
 William A.. Davis, a prominent merchant of 
 Bay Siding, is a native of Georgia, born Septem- 
 ber 7, 184.3, and is a son of John and Margaret 
 (Lewis) Davis, natives of South Carolina. The 
 parents passed their youth in their native State, 
 and soon after their marriage moved to (ieorgia, 
 and there reared their famil}-. The father engaged 
 very successfully in farming until his death, in 
 1857. His wife died about eighteen months later. 
 W. A. Davis, the immediate sul>ject of this skotcli. 
 
attained his majority in Georgia, and became famil- 
 iar in his boyhood home with iutelliirent farming. 
 In 1 873 he came to Craighead County. Ark. , and 
 located on Crowley's Ridge, where he engaged in 
 farming until 1888. He then moved to Bay Sid- 
 ing, purchased a lot, erected a building and en- 
 gaged in merchandising. He keeps a good stock 
 of general merchandise, and by (lolite attention, 
 energy and fair dealing, has established a good 
 custom, doing an annual bxisiness of about $12,- 
 000. In the fall of 1888 he was married in this 
 county to Miss Jane Tyler, born and reared in this 
 State. She died eighteen months later leaving one 
 child, Henry, now a lad of seven years. In 1884 
 he selected as his second wife, Laura Martin, a 
 native of Arkansas, and this union has been blessed 
 by two children: Josephine and Lura. Mrs. Davis 
 is a member of the Baptist Church, and is active 
 and zealous in all church work. 
 
 Nathan A. Davis is a native of Craighead Coun- 
 ty, and is one of its younger and more progressive 
 farmers. His parents, James and Nellie (Lowery) 
 Davis, were natives of Alabama, and about 1851 
 came to Craighead County, locating on Crowley's 
 Ridge: but .some time later moved to the western 
 portion of the State, where they remained only a 
 short time, then returning to Craighead County, 
 and both died soon after. To them were born the 
 following family of children: John, Jacob, and 
 Nathan A., living; and Jefferson, Nancy, Mary 
 and Taylor, deceased. The death of the parents 
 left the family in somewhat straitened circum- 
 stances, and young Nathan, as a boy, had but few 
 advantages and underwent many hardships. He 
 has always been energetic and frugal, and by his 
 thrift and industry, is now the possessor of eighty 
 acres of well improved land, and a larger tract un- 
 improved. He married Miss Lizzie Gatlin, a na- 
 tive of Craighead County, who was the daughter 
 of Lee Gatlin, now deceased, but at one time a 
 well known citizen of the county. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Davis have one child, Nancy Ellen. Mr. Davis 
 has held the offices of magistrate and constaljle, 
 acquitting himself with honor, and with benefit 
 to those for whom he labored. He is one of the 
 county's useful and progressive citizens; 
 
 Joseph Dixon, farmer, stock dealer and lum- 
 berman, was born in England. October 26. 1842, 
 and is a son of John and Eliza Dixon, of English 
 bii-th, who came to America in 1842, and located 
 in New York City, where they both died in 1849. 
 John Dixon was a butcher by occupation, and he 
 and wife were parents of two children. Joseph 
 Dixon was left an orphan when seven years of age, 
 and until fourteen years old. worked for his board 
 and clothes. He received such education as he 
 could afford. He learned the trade of a machin- 
 ist, and for some time fired an engine on the 
 Chicago & Rock Island Railroad. Coming to 
 ('hicago in ISoS, he was soon made an engineer, 
 and for nine years followed that occupation. He 
 then went to Freeport. and later to Pecatonica, 
 III., in both of which places he engaged in mercan- 
 tile pursirits. He came in 1882 to Jonesboro, and 
 engaged in saw-milling, which he has since fol- 
 lowed. In 1883 he built a large three-story hotel, 
 of which he was proprietor until the disastrous fire 
 of 1889, when it was entirely lost, with all his 
 household effects — total loss. $5,000, without insur- 
 ance. Mr. Dixon is a large land owner, owning a 
 great deal of property in Jonesboro, and about 340 
 acres of farm land, with 200 acres under cultiva- 
 tion. Miss Jane A. Clark became his wife in 1866, 
 and they have one child, Carrie, wife of J. M. 
 Bennett, of Pine Bluff, Ark. Mr. Dixon began 
 life a poor boy, but by industry, economy and 
 thrift, he has conquered adversity, and has made 
 himself one of the leading and influential citizens 
 of the community in which he lives. He is a prom- 
 inent member of the Masonic order, and is a 
 Knight Templar. 
 
 Allen Dodds was born in Georgia, in 1827. 
 His father. James Dodds, also a native of that 
 State, was born in Elbert County, in 1785, and 
 there grew to manhood and married Sarah Thorn- 
 ason, who lived but a short time after her mar 
 riage. He chose for his second wife Winnie Ber- 
 den, also a Georgian, whose grandfather Penn 
 was an officer in the Revolutionary army. James 
 Dodds gave his entire time to agricultural pursuits. 
 Both he and wife were members of the Baptist 
 Church, and thev reared a family of twelve chil- 
 
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 329 
 
 dren, six boys and six girls. Allen Dodds was 
 reared on his father's farm, receiving his educa- 
 tion at the county schools. He married Julia 
 Suye, who was born in Georgia in 1826, and 
 moved to Arkansas in 1N55. Of this union six 
 children have been the issue. Mr. Dodds entered 
 the Confederate service in 1861, his first engage- 
 ment, which lasted almost a day, being at Belmont, 
 Mo. There he was slightly wounded in the left 
 arm, and afterward in the right shoulder. He 
 was discharged from Jacksonport, in 1865, and 
 then returned home and began teaching school. 
 Later he turned his attention to farming, at which 
 he has made a decided success. He owns about 
 318 acres of land, and 100 acres are in a good 
 state of cultivation. He has also, in connection 
 with his farm, a grist-mill and a cotton gin. Polit- 
 ically he is a Democrat, and fraternally a Mason. 
 Both he and his wife are members of the Method- 
 ist Church, of which denomination he is also a 
 minister. 
 
 Francis Marion Douglas was born in Hender- 
 son County, Tenn., December 7, 1847, and is a son 
 of Thomas Logan Douglas, a native of the same 
 State, who went to Missouri in 1857, and, after 
 the surrender, came to Craighead County, and 
 located in Big Creek Township. He is still a res- 
 ident of the State. His wife's maiden name was 
 Catherine Ignite, and she was also a native of 
 Tennessee. They are the parents of five children, 
 and of the four living three reside in this county. 
 The mother died in January, 1875, and was about 
 forty-two years of age. Francis M. was ten years 
 old when he removed with his father to Missouri, 
 and at the beginning of the late war enlisted in the 
 Tenth Tennessee Cavalry, under Gen. FoiTest, and 
 served as a private under him until the surrender. 
 A year later he came to Craighead County, where 
 he rented property for some time, but has for 
 many years cultivated his own farm, now con- 
 sisting of forty acres, most of which is well im- 
 proved and beai's many evidences of prosjierity. 
 His marriage with Fannie Wade, a daughter of 
 Noah J. NN'ade, of this township, was consum- 
 mated September 19, IS72, and four children have 
 been born to this union: Blanche, Noah, Inez and 
 
 21 
 
 Hazel. Mr. Douglas is a member of the Forest 
 Home Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and, 
 politically, is a Democrat. He is a director of 
 school district No. 2'), and belongs to both the 
 Agricultural Wheel and the Farmer's Allianc-. 
 
 James T. Dudley, a prosperous merchant, and 
 postmaster at Bay, also interested in agricultural 
 pursuits, is a native of Madison County, Ga., 
 born Decemlier 2"), 1852. His parents were 
 Lemuel and Nancy S. (House) Dudley, both na- 
 tives of Georgia. After liis marriage, Lemuel 
 Dudley engaged in farming, blacksmithing and 
 wagon building in Madison (.'ounty, and left his 
 farm to enlist in the Confederate service. He 
 served throughout the entire war, and in 1865 
 died of small-pox in Atlanta, Ga. Mrs. Dudley 
 moved with her family to Arkansas, and in Octo- 
 ber of 1867, located in Crsighead County, where 
 she died October 1 4, 1883. James T. grew to man- 
 hood in this county and is mainly self-educated, 
 having devoted much time to study since arriving 
 at years of maturity. January 11, 1878, he was 
 united in marriage with Elizabeth Bryant, a native 
 of Georgia, but reared and educated in Craighead 
 County. She is a charitable lady and is a member 
 of the Baptist Church. Mr. Dudley followed 
 farming until 1882, when he began merchandising 
 eight miles west of the Bay. He there sold dry 
 goods, groceries and general merchandise for two 
 years, and in 1844 moved to Big Bay, where he 
 has since continued in l)usiness, with the exce|)tion 
 of seven months, while running a saloon in Mem. 
 phis in 1887. He owns a fine farm adjoining the 
 town, and has thirty-five acres of it in a fine state 
 of cultivation and the same amount in timbered 
 land. He has four fair residences on the place 
 wliich bears evidence of thrift and industry. He 
 has l)uilt and owns four- business houses in Bay, 
 and as a merchant has a good trade. In 1884 ho 
 was appointed postmaster, which [losition he has 
 held since that time. 
 
 Robert Y. Duncan, an active and jirogressive 
 farmer, and proprietor of a cotton-gin and gri.st 
 mill, was liorn in Perry County, Ala., Jiily 23, 
 1844. His father was Samuel A. Duncan, a native 
 of South Carolina, who located in .\labHmR when 
 
A 
 
 330 
 
 HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 about eighteen years of age. He was a plauter uutil 
 thirty-five years old, when .he began contracting 
 and building railroad bridges and houses. In 
 December, of 1880, he was working on a dwelling 
 in Birmingham, Ala., and fell from a scaffold, liv- 
 ing only three hours afterward. He was married 
 to Mary Ann Roberts, also a native of South 
 Carolina, and they were the parents of fourteen 
 children. Nine of them are still living, Ijut only 
 Robert Y. is in Arkansas. The mother is si.xty seven 
 years of age, and still resides in Alabama. Rob- 
 ert Y. was reared in his native State, and coming 
 to Arkansas with some friends when twenty-four 
 years of age, arrived at Jonesboro November 17, 
 1868. In the spring, he rented a farm and worked 
 it for one year. In August, 1869, he was mar- 
 ried to Matilda R. Lynch, daughter of Aden and 
 Susan Lynch. In the fall of 1871 he bought 
 eighty acres of his present farm and built his home. 
 He subsequently bought forty acres of adjoining 
 land, making a farm of 120 acres, forty of which 
 are cultivated. In 1879 he built a good cotton- 
 gin, and in 1886 opened a grist-mill in connec- 
 tion, and these have proved successful. To Mr. 
 and Mrs. Duncan have been born nine children: 
 Ruby A. J. (deceased), Samuel A., John J., 
 Thomas M., Essie B., Effie Y., Robert M.. Taylor 
 A. and Rufus Elbert. Mr. Duncan is a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity, Jonesboro Lodge No. 
 129, and has been president of Pine View Wheel 
 No. 881. since its organization in 1886. He was 
 in Company A, Fifty-third Regiment, Twenty- 
 fourth Alabama Battalion, and during his eighteen 
 months' service was mostly in Alabama, Georgia 
 and Tennessee. He and his wife, oldest daughter 
 and two oldest sons are active members of the 
 New Salem Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Martin V. Echols, a successful farmer of Jones- 
 boro Township, was born in Georgia, December 1, 
 1838, and is the son of Jabal and Frances (Davis) 
 Echols. Jabal Echols was born February 15, 1803. 
 and Frances (Davis) Echols was born May 20, 1807, 
 both in Franklin County, Ga. , where they were 
 married, subsequently removing from that county 
 to Habersham County, of the same State. Jabal 
 Echols was a farmer and school teacher. He was 
 
 also sheriff of that county for a number of years. 
 He died at the early age of forty years, October 3. 
 1843, honored and respected by his countrymen. 
 Mrs. Francis (Davis) Echols died at the old home- 
 .stead on September 8, 1869. She was a devoted 
 member of the Baptist Church and a true Chris- 
 tian woman. An older brother of M. V. Echols 
 (the subject of this sketch), L. M. Echols, was a 
 private in the Fifty- second Georgia Infantry. 
 Confederate States Army, and died a prisoner of 
 war at Rock Island, 111. Two younger brothers 
 were in the Confederate service. Jackson L. was 
 killed at the battle of Resaca, Ga. Jabal D. 
 Echols died of sickness at Vicksburg during the 
 siege of that place. M. V. Echols, the subject of 
 this sketch, was a soldier in Wharton's Texas 
 Cavalry, Confederate States Army. He saw hard 
 service and went through some of the bloodiest 
 V)attles of the war. He was taken prisoner at 
 Dalton, Ga. , and from there sent to Johnson's 
 Island, where he was kept till the end of the war. 
 Of a family of twelve children, eight of whom are 
 now living, Martin is the only one residing in 
 Craighead County. He was reared on a farm in 
 Georgia and received a very fair education. He 
 farmed for several years in his native State, and 
 in 1869 came to Craighead County, Ark., and 
 studied photography with George Cooper, of 
 Jonesboro, subsequently removing to Paris, Tex. , 
 where he followed that art for several years. 
 When he returned to Jonesboro he bought eighty 
 acres of land, and has forty of it well improved. 
 November 30, 1876, he married Miss Mattie Bird, 
 whose parents were John and Barbara (McCarty) 
 Bird. Mr. and Mrs. Echols are the parents of 
 seven children, five of whom are living, viz. : 
 Frances Cora, Lawrence Stanley, Lulu May, The- 
 ora Myrtle and Lena Jewell. Mr. Echols and 
 wife are active meml)ers of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, South. 
 
 George W. Evans, a prominent citizen of 
 Craighead County, was born in Gibson County, 
 Tenn. , January -t, 1849. His parents were Mal- 
 achi, and Sarah (.Scarberry) Evans, natives of 
 Alabama. The mother died in Tennessee in 1859. 
 aged about forty- two years, and in 1867 the father 
 
 •<* 
 
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 m\ 
 
 removed to Craifrbead County, Aik. Several 
 years later he went to Izard County, wliere he died 
 v?hen about sixty-five years of age. He was a 
 farmer by occupation, and much respected by all 
 who knew him. There were twelve children, 
 eight of whom are living, and two, George W. and 
 Harriet McGavock, are residents of Jonesboro 
 Township. George W. was reared on a farm; and 
 the war breaking out when he was but a boy, he 
 had meager school advantages. He came with his 
 father to this State, locating near Harrisburg, in 
 Poinsett County. He afterward came to Craig- 
 head County, and was for one year in the employ 
 of Dr. Wadkins, and after his death, remained in 
 the employ of his widow for three years. Decem- 
 ber 28, 187^^, he was married to Nancy Stotts, a 
 daughter of John and Melinda (Darr) Stotts, old 
 residents of the county. To them seven chil- 
 dren were born: Sarah Virginia, Mary Jane (de- 
 ceased), Lucy Belle, William Thomas, Cassie, Effie 
 and Cleo. After his marriage, Mr. Evans located on 
 the farm on which he now resides, which then con- 
 tained but thirty acres. He now owns 178 acres. 
 Seventy-five acres are under splendid cultivation, 
 and two acres were sold to the Hope school. He 
 is greatly interested in education. Mrs. Evans is 
 a member of the Christian Church, and the family 
 attend the Hope Church of that denomination. 
 
 George \V. Finch, a farmer and stock raiser of 
 Buffalo Island, was born in Campbell County, 
 Georgia, Feliruary 20, 1 S49, and is the son of 
 Willis and Elizabeth (Harrison) Finch, both na- 
 tives of South Carolina. They moved to Georgia 
 and later to Alabama, where the father died in 
 1Sf)8. George W. was reared mainly in Alabama, 
 and began farming for himself when eighteen 
 years of age, and in 18f)9 he was united in mar- 
 riage with Adaline Maith. a native of Alabama. 
 In 1880 he came to Arkansas, locating on Buffalo 
 Island, where he rented for two years, and then 
 bought his present place of residence. He has a 
 farm of 400 acres, witii 100 improved. May 26, 
 1884, Mrs. Fincli died, leaving rive children: 
 Belle (wife of George Hogar), Oscar, Ethel, 
 Luther and Itha. Mr. Finch chose a second 
 wife, this time selecting Nannie Goss, who lived 
 
 but a short time, dying June 22, 1887. His pres- 
 ent wife was Mrs. Skelton, »iee Stoddard, a nativu 
 of Alabama; a widow and mother of eight children : 
 William, Florence, Joseph. Sarah, Walter, Clin 
 ton, Jennie, and James (deceased). Mr. Finch 
 is one of the public-spirited and enterprising men 
 of the Island, and his wife is a member of the 
 Methodist Church. 
 
 James Gordon Frierson was born on Duck 
 River, in Maury County, Tenn., November 5, 1838, 
 and died in Jonesboro, Ark., March 8, 1884. His 
 father was Dr. Charles Curren Frierson, descended 
 on the father's side from French Huguenots, who 
 settled in South Carolina some time before the 
 Revolutionary War; on the mother's side, he 
 comes from Scotch-Irish lineage — early emigrants 
 to Middle Tennessee. Dr. Charles Frierson mar- 
 ried, in 1828 or 1829, Miss Mildred Paj-ne, of West 
 Tennessee, of English descent, numbering among 
 her progenitors some of the ])ioneers of the State, 
 and among her kindred some of the best people of 
 Tennessee and Mississij)pi, counting among their 
 cherished possessions many relics of the Revolu- 
 tionary days, and pointing with pride to the record 
 of their family. Among these are the Van Burens, 
 the Taylors, the Alexanders, and others. Thomas 
 Paine, the noted political and deistic writer of early 
 times, was a member of the family and was spoken 
 of with mingled feelings, in which pride of race did 
 not predominate. Dr. Frierson and wife were the 
 parents of eleven children, only five of whom arc 
 now living. They removed many years ago, witli 
 quite a colony of neighbors and relations, accom- 
 panied bj' many colored families who had descended 
 to them, to La Fayette County. Miss., where, four 
 miles from Oxford, the site of the State University, 
 they founded College Hill with a fine Old Presby 
 terian Church, and male and female high schools, 
 and added much to the culture and refinement of that 
 part of the State. Dr. Frierson died at a ripe old 
 age in 1879, and his wife the previous year. Both 
 were devout members of the Presbyterian Church, 
 in which faith their children were all reared. One 
 daughter married Rev. Mr. McLamroch, of Her- 
 nando, Miss. ; another Hon. Martin L. Clardy, of 
 St. Francois (bounty, Mo. ; a third, Ben. G. Peers. 
 
 -^rv*" 
 
^-VM 
 
 332 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 of Farmington, Mo. ; still another, a Mr. Hm-t, of 
 Germantown, Tenn. Tho remainder of the family 
 still reside at the old homestead at College Hill, 
 Miss. James Gordon Frierson was the second son. 
 At the age of twelve or fourteen years he was taken 
 fi-om the home of his birth, near old Zion Church, 
 in Maury Countj', Tenn., to Mississippi, the State 
 of his adoption. He was educated at Oxford, 
 graduating with honor, and numbering among his 
 professors the distinguished Dr. F. A. P. Barnard, 
 Dr. John Waddill, Justice Lamar, Judge Long- 
 street, and others of less note. Mr. Frierson vol- 
 unteered at the age of twenty-three in an infantry 
 regiment, in the Confederate service, serving as 
 captain under the noted Gen. Walthall, in the Ai-my 
 of Tennessee, and was in many of the fiercest bat- 
 tles fought in that section— Corinth, luka, Frank 
 lin, Perryville, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge 
 and Lookout Mountain. Here above the clouds 
 he was captured by some of Hooker's men, taken 
 to Johnson's Island, held a prisoner for nineteen 
 months, being released at the close of the war, with 
 health shattered by hardships and privations and 
 exposure he was poorly fitted by nature to en- 
 dure. Soon after the war (in January, 1861)) 
 he with his brother in-law, Maj. M. L. Olardy, 
 located at the little village of Cleburne, Cross 
 County, then the county seat of the county, to 
 practice law. November 12, of the same year, he 
 was married to Miss Emma G. Davis, the oldest 
 daughter of Dr. N. A. Davis, formerly of Ozark, 
 Christian County, Mo. In 1870 he was elected to 
 the State Senate of Arkansas, held this office two 
 terms (four years), and was president of the senate 
 during the Brooks -Baxter war. Mr. Frierson, as- 
 sisted by the Hon. James Berry, who was then 
 speaker of the house, drew up a bill the next day 
 calling for a constitutional convention. The bill 
 passed immediately. He was then elected a mem- 
 ber of the convention, and took a leading part in 
 its deliberations. In 1882 he was elected judge 
 of the Second judicial district, consisting of the 
 counties of Cross, Craighead, Clay, Randolph. 
 Greene, Mississippi, Poinsett and Crittenden. He 
 held this office to the entire satisfaction of all 
 parties, by his pure life and varied learning win- 
 
 ning the respect and affection of the people. He 
 possessed, in an eminent degree, those virtues 
 which adorn the bench, and that law knowledge 
 which makes the safe and wise jurist a unity of 
 purity and integrity. He was kindly, true and 
 patriotic, a zealous Christian, and as legislator, 
 patriot or jurist, his merit was only exceeded by 
 his modesty. He died at the age of forty-six at 
 his home in Jonesboro, Ark. , leaving a wife and 
 three children: Gordon, Camille and Charles Davis 
 Frierson. Mrs. Frierson established and con- 
 ducted a high school, which flourished for several 
 years until superseded by the Jonesboro graded 
 schools, in which she at present occupies a position 
 
 i as first assistant. 
 
 William Lewis Gage, a prominent and enter- 
 prising farmer of Jonesboro Township, was born 
 in Greene County, Ark., November 27, 1845, and 
 is the son of Jeremiah and Martha (Hutchinsi 
 
 ' Gage, both natives of Tennessee, who were mar- 
 ried in that State and emigrated to Arkansas about 
 1830. They first located at Gage's Point, on the 
 Cache River, and from there went to St. Francis, 
 and afterward to Greene County. He was a farmer 
 all his life, and during the War of the Rebellion 
 served under Gen. Marmaduke of the Trans-Missis- 
 sippi department, receiving a wound in a battle in 
 Missouri, from the effects of which he died at Cane 
 Hill, Washington County, in November of 186-1. 
 He was a member of the Missionarj' Baptist Church, 
 a devout Christian and strong in his political con- 
 victions. They were the parents of eight children, 
 four of whom are living and in this county. After 
 her husband's death Mrs. Gage married Larkin 
 Johnson, of Greene County. She died in 186S, 
 aged forty years. W. L. Gage was reared in 
 Greene County, receiving a moderate education. 
 In the spring of 1863 he enlisted in Col. Cooper's 
 company and surrendered at Shreveport, La. , June 
 9, 1865. In 1870 he moved to Craighead County, 
 locating on his present farm, and having been very 
 successful in farming operations at present owns 
 1,620 acres in Greene and Craighead Counties. 
 He devotes much time to stock raising and takes 
 great interest in obtaining better breeds of stock. 
 Mr. Gage was married October 22, 1868, to Maria 
 
 * -iAs: 
 
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 333 
 
 Elizabeth Paramore, a native of Missouri, and 
 daugbter of Robert P. and Nancy Caroline (Man- 
 sese) Paramore. The fruits of this marriage are 
 six children, one deceased: Ona Kate. Martha 
 Caroline, Ethel Paramore, Grace Truman, Mary 
 Ella and Maud Aimer. Mr. Gage is a member of 
 the I. O. O. F. and Knights of Honor fraternities, 
 and he and wife and three oldest daughters are 
 members of the Missionary Baptist Church at 
 Jonesboro, and he is one of the executive board 
 of the Mt. Zion Association of that denomination. 
 A. Thomas Gatlin, a successful self-made 
 farmer of Craighead County, was born in Tennes- 
 see December IC), 1849, and is the son of Hardy 
 and Mary (Gullett) Gatlin, the former a native of 
 Virginia, the latter of Mississippi. The father 
 moved to Tennessee when a young man and there 
 man'ied and remained for several years; then, 
 about 1856, came to Arkansas, locating near Jones- 
 boro, where he remained until his death, in 1860. 
 After his father's death Mi-. Gatlin went to Ken- 
 tucky with his mother, who is still living, and re- 
 mained there until after the Rebellion. In 1873 
 he returned to Craighead County, this time select- 
 ing a location on Cane Island, where, by the fruits 
 of his own labor, he has become the foremost 
 farmer. The land was covered with heavy timber, 
 but now he has 120 acres cleared and under culti- 
 vation and sixty acres yet timbered. In connection 
 with his farm he is owner and proprietor of a cot- 
 ton gin, which he built in 1885, and with which 
 in 1887 he ginned over 200 bales of cotton. In 
 1868 was consummated his marriage with Amanda 
 Gibson (now deceased), who bore him three chil- 
 dren: Riley, Hardy and Lovenia. Mr. Gatlin 
 married his present wife on this Island in July of 
 1878. She was a daughter of William Bennett 
 (her maiden name Sallie Bennett), and a native of 
 Alabama. Mr. Gatlin is noted as one of the most 
 energetic and industrious farmers of the county. 
 He is a member of the Masonic order and is mas- 
 ter of the lodge at Lake City. 
 
 Needam Harvey Grady, M. D. . a successful 
 medical practitioner on Buffalo Island, also en- 
 gaged in merchandising and farming, was born in 
 Gibson Countv, Tenn., March 5, 1852. He is the 
 
 son of William Giady. a native of North Carolina, 
 who was reared and married in that State. Hi- 
 moved to Tennessee and engaged in farming for 
 several years, and when our subject was about ten 
 years old, went to Pomi.scot County, Mo., where 
 the father and mother both died. Dr. Grady, 
 then a boy of fourteen, returned to his old home 
 in Tennessee, where he remained until he was 
 twenty- five years of age. He had superior educa- 
 tional advantages, and has taught school sttveral 
 terms. In his profession he is well posted, Ijegan 
 the study of medicine with Dr. James, of Gibson 
 County, Tenn., and has attended lectures at Vioth 
 St. Louis and Louisville, Ky. Hci practiced in 
 Butler County for three years, then in Independ- 
 ence County, Ark., and after trying Greene County. 
 Ark., and Dunklin County, Mo., settled in Craig- 
 head County, Ai-k., in the fall of 1884. In 1886 
 he began merchandising, keeping a general stock, 
 and at this has been (juite .successful. He owns 
 several good farms, aggregating 600 acres, with 
 over 200 under cultivation. In October, 1872, he 
 was imited in marriage with Nancy A. Keith, a 
 native of Indiana, and daughter of Isom Keith, 
 an early settler of Missouri. During the five 
 years Dr. Grady has been on Buffalo Island, he 
 has built up a wide practice, and has won the es- 
 teem and confidence of the people. 
 
 Henry M. Griftin (deceased) was born in Cal- 
 houn County, Ala., December 4, 1842. His father 
 was Benjamin Griffin, a farmer of that county, who 
 died in 1856, and his mother was Mary (Moody) 
 Grifttn, a native of South Carolina, who died in 
 1873. Henry Griffin toiled faithfully and dili- 
 gently on the farm through his youth, receiving 
 but a limited education. He was a youth seventeen 
 years of age, attending school at Selma, when the 
 war broke out, but he immediately enlisted in the 
 Tenth Alabama Regiment, and served gallantly 
 for four years. When mustered out, he was cap 
 tain of a company of fifty sharp shooters. He 
 made a crop in 1S66, and February 3, 1867, mar- 
 ' ried Rachel A. Bennett, a daughter of Thomas 
 Bennett, a native farmer of Alabama. Mr. Ben 
 nettcame to Craighead County in the latter part of 
 1866, and located in Jonesboro Township, where 
 
334 
 
 HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 he passed the remainder of his life. His widow, 
 Martha (Rollins) Bennett, a native of Georgia, 
 now resides with Mrs. Griffin. The seven surviv- 
 ors of their eleven children are all residents of 
 Craighead County. In 1807 Mr. Griffin located 
 in Greenfield Township, about one mile east of 
 Dee Station, where he remained but one year. 
 After trying two other farms he bought forty acres 
 of his present place, and subsequently adding 120 
 acres, later had a farm of 160 acres, and much 
 of it is improved. He was a member of the Mis- 
 sionary Baptist Church, and also of the Agricul- 
 tural Wheel. After a life of patient toil and sterl- 
 ing integrity, he died, January 27, 1888. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Griffin were the parents of seven children ; 
 those now living are: John Henry, Benjamin, 
 Jiramie, Belle and Ruthie. Mrs. Griffin is a pious 
 and charitable lady, and she and her oldest son are 
 members of the Baptist Church. 
 
 Christopher C. Hale, an energetic and worthy 
 citizen of Buffalo Island, is one of the leading 
 farmers and stock raisers of the community in 
 which he lives. He was born in Shelby County, 
 Tenn., in March, 1835, and is the son of Edward 
 D. Hale, of Middle Tennessee, who married Hettie 
 Fleetwood, a native of North Carolina. They set- 
 tled on a farm in Shelby County, Tenn., where 
 she died in 1865), and he in 1872. To them were 
 born four children, one son and three daughters. 
 Christopher C. attained his majority in Tennessee, 
 and joined the Confederate army in 1862, serving 
 until the spring of 1864, when he went home on 
 furlough, having participated in several minor 
 engagements. Being sick and unable to return to 
 the field, he hired a substitute. He engaged in 
 farming in his native State until 1871, when he 
 came to Poinsett County, Ark. ; there he remained 
 several years, and, in 1879, came to Craighead 
 County, where he has since resided. He pur- 
 chased 160 acres of wild, timbered land, and soon 
 had 100 acres of it cleared and under cultivation. 
 He has two good residences, good outbuildings and 
 a nice young orchard. He has in all 200 acres of 
 good land. He was married in Tennessee Janu- 
 ary 20, 1861, to Martha A. Carr, a native of that 
 State, who died in 1877. They had four children: 
 
 John B., George D., Mary E., wife of W. A. Wil- 
 kin, and Hettie, wife of P. Foster. Mr. Hale 
 chose as his second wife Mrs. Mary A. McDonald, a 
 daughtei' of Larkin Majors. She was the mother 
 of two children: Alexander and James. To Mr. 
 and Mrs. Hale has been born one child: Luna Z. 
 
 Joseph W. HaiTell, postmaster at Macey, and 
 a farmer of sterling worth in Buffalo Township, 
 is a native of Arkansas, born in White County, 
 February 6, 1846. His father, Jethro Harrell, 
 was a native of South Carolina, where he was 
 reared and married Mildi-ed Htint. In 1840 they 
 came to Arkansas, where Mrs. Harrell died, in 
 1846. After his wife's death he was unsettled 
 until 1851, when he located in St. Francis County, 
 where he remained for several years. He after- 
 ward came to Craighead County, and died Febru- 
 ary 7, 1866. He was an active member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, greatly respected by 
 all who knew him. His second wife, whose maiden 
 name was Elizabeth Morrow, survived her husband 
 several years, dying in Alabama in 1883. By his 
 first wife Mr. Harrell had five children, Joseph W. 
 being the only one who grew to manhood; and by 
 his second wife four sons and two daughters, who 
 reached mature years. Joseph W. Harrell was 
 reared and educated in Poinsett and Craighead 
 Counties. In the late war he enlisted in the Con- 
 federate service, and participated in several en- 
 gagements during Price's raid in Missouri and 
 Kansas, and at last surrendered at Wittslnirg, May 
 25, 1865. He returned to Poinsett County, and 
 remained there until his father' s death. He was 
 married in this county, February 16, 1873, to 
 Frances E. Hunton, a native of Georgia. She 
 died February 20, 1887. To this union were born 
 seven children: Charles J., Martha Jane, Mary F., 
 Macy A. , Lucy A. , William J. and Joseph E. Mr. 
 Harrell went to Dunklin County, Mo., in 1872, 
 and farmed there for two years, after which he 
 located in this townshi^a, where he has since re- 
 sided. He bought timbered land, ;ind has cleared 
 100 acres, and liuilt a comfortal)le home and five 
 tenant houses. He has married Amanda Carson, 
 a native of Lauderdale County, Tenn., where she 
 was reared. She is a zealous member of the Meth- 
 
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 385 
 
 odist Church. Mr. Harrell was the first postmas- 
 ter at Macey, appointed in 1882. He is a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity, and takes active interest 
 in the promotion of the educational interests of his 
 neighborliood. 
 
 Benjamin J. Harrison. Few farmers and stock 
 raisers of Lake City Township have been more 
 universally successful than the subject of this 
 sketch, who is a native of Marshall County, Tenn., 
 born November 27, 1844. He is a son of J. W. 
 Harrison, born and reared in Virginia, who, when 
 a young man, moved to Tennessee, and there mar- 
 ried Lucy Emeline Culberhouse, a native of North 
 Carolina. He then located on a farm in Marshall 
 County, and there engaged for several years in 
 agricultural pursuits. In 1856 he came to what is 
 now Craighead County, Ark., where he resided 
 until his death, in 1881, his wife having previously 
 died, in 1871. Benjamin J. was but twelve years 
 of age when he came with his father to this State, 
 and he grew to manhood and was educated in 
 Craighead County, remaining with his father un- 
 til his marriage. In 1863 he enlisted in the Con- 
 federate service. Fourteenth Tennessee Cavalry, 
 and served until near the close of the war, be- 
 ing at home on a furlough at the time of the 
 surrender. He was second sergeant, was once 
 captured, and participated in a number of engage- 
 ments. Returning home, he engaged in farming 
 until 1881, when, in June, he bought a building 
 in Lake City, put in a stock of general merchan- 
 dise, and followed mercantile business for throe 
 years. December 25 following, he lost everything 
 by tire, having no insurance, his loss is estimated at 
 .^lO.OOO. The following fall he rebuilt the store 
 and rented it, himself moving to a farm near the 
 village, where he has since resided. He has a 
 comfortalile home, witli 125 acres of good laud in 
 a splendid state of cultivation, and a large orchard 
 of 1,200 trees, mostly apple, and all choice fruits, 
 some just beginning to bear. March 25, 1868, ho 
 married Miss MaiT E. Lewis, a native of this 
 county, who died in 1877, leaving two sons. Mr. 
 Harrison chose a second wife, and February 14, 
 1871), was united in marriage with Victoria Eveline 
 Grayson, born, roared and educated in this coun- 
 
 ty, and a daughter of Col. Adam D. Grayson, a 
 colonel in the Confederate army, killed at the bat- 
 tle of Shiloh. Mrs. Grayson died March 5, 1889. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Harrison have also two sons, the 
 four children being John A., George T., James 
 and Walter S. Mrs. Harrison is a member of the 
 Methodist Church. Mr. Harrison owns, in con- 
 nection with his farm, a cotton-gin and grist-mill, 
 possessing also hotel property in Lake City. He 
 is one of the leading spirits of the community. 
 
 James H. Houston was born in Sholl)y County, 
 Tenn., October 1, 1849, and is now a farmer of 
 Greenfield Township, residing about six miles 
 south of Jonesboro. His father was William Bird 
 Houston, a prominent and highly esteemed citizen 
 of Poinsett County. He was a native of Tennessee, 
 and came with his family to Arkansas, about 
 December, 1856, locating in the northern part of 
 Poinsett County, where he engaged extensively in 
 farming and stock raising. He was a Democrat, 
 belonged to the Masonic fraternity, and was a mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Church. When about twenty- 
 five years of age he was married, in his native State, 
 to Harriot Jane Steelman, also a native of Tennes- 
 see. To them were born thirteen children, the 
 four surviving making their home in Arkansas. 
 They are: James H. (the subject of this sketch), 
 Melinda (widow of S. HaiTis, son of Capt. Harris, 
 who has several times represented Poinsett County 
 in the State Senate), John F. (married to Emma 
 J. Allen, deceased), and William Bird, Jr. (mar- 
 ried to Elizabeth Kelsoe, deceased). The father 
 died in 1872, the mother in 1867. James H. was 
 seven years old when his parents came to this 
 State, but he retvu-ned to Tennessee to school after 
 the war. He owns 130 acres of land in Poinsett 
 Coimty, much of it under fence. He moved to 
 Craighead County in August of 1887, locating at 
 his present residence — the old ;McCarty homestead. 
 February 15, 1880, Mr. Houston was married to 
 Lucinda J. Stephens. To them were born three 
 children, all deceased: Cora M., Lorenzo B. H. 
 and John H. Mrs. Houston died August 22. 188(5. 
 and he was married again August 4, 18S7, to Me- 
 linda Josephine McCarty, a dnughlor of Michael 
 and Melinda (Weor) Mcf'sirtv . th.- r.nin.'r h i.:itiv.' 
 
336 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 of Ohio, the latter of North Carolina; the former is 
 deceased, but the latter is still living, aged seventy- 
 one years. Mr. and Mrs. Houston have had one 
 child, a daughter, now deceased. Mr. Houston is a 
 member of the Methodist Church, has taken great 
 interest in Sunday-school and church work, and is 
 a leading member of the denomination to which he 
 belongs. He is a member of the Agricultural 
 Wheel, and a prominent and enterprising citizen. 
 
 Philip T. Hudson was born in Madison County, 
 Tenn. , and is the only surviving son of Baker Hud- 
 son, a native of Mecklenburg County, Va., born 
 May 18, 1783. Baker Hudson was reared and ed- 
 ucated in Virginia, and engaged in farming all his 
 life. He married Jane Fletcher, whose birth oc- 
 curred in Louisa County, of the same State, No- 
 vember 17, 1798, and to this union were born nine 
 children, only two of whom, Mrs. Elizabeth Peebles 
 and Philip T., are now living. Mr. Hudson died 
 May 2^, 1850, in Fayette County, Tenn., and his 
 widow in the same county, May 7, 1878. They 
 were both active and consistent members of the 
 Methodist Church. The marriage of Philip T. 
 Hudson and Mary E. Perkins was consummated in 
 Fayette County, Tenn., May 9, 1866. In that 
 county, near Somerville, he had spent his boyhood, 
 and received his education. To this union have 
 been born five children : Sallie S. , Philip B. . Will- 
 iam H. , Tillie andCuthbert L. Mr. Hudson came 
 to Arkansas in 1870, and since that time has been 
 engaged in farming. He owns 160 acres of good 
 land, and has about eighty acres under cultivation. 
 He has cleared most of this himself. For six years 
 he served as justice of the peace in Craighead 
 County, is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, 
 and both be and his wife are members of the Pres- 
 byterian Church. Having the public interest al- 
 ways in view, he is one of the class of citizens who 
 exert a marked influence for good in the com- 
 munity. 
 
 William Huggaus was bora in Hall County, 
 Ga. , in 1821, and is a son of David and Elizabeth 
 (Irbel) Huggans, natives of Georgia and South 
 Carolina, respectively. The mother went to Geor- 
 gia when quite a girl, was there married, and re- 
 sided until her death in 1849. Her husband died 
 
 in 1882. They were the parents of one son and 
 three daughters, our subject being the only surviv- 
 ing child. Though only a boy, he went to Florida 
 during the Seminole War, enlisting as a soldier. 
 He returned home in 1839, and in the fall of the 
 same year moved to Alabama, where he remained 
 until 1854, when he came to Arkansas, locating 
 near Greensboro, in Greene (now Craighead) Coun- 
 ty. He entered some land in Greene County, and 
 rented for several years, and had improved a num- 
 cer of farms before coming to his present location. 
 He is a wide-awake and energetic farmer, and al- 
 though he only came to this place in 1887, he now 
 i has in a state of splendid cultivation seventy-five 
 acres of choice farming land. December 8, 1839, 
 he was married to Miss Mary Anthony, who was 
 born and reared in South Carolina, and to this un- 
 ion have been born two children : John J. and Mrs. 
 Elizabeth Steward, both now deceased. The son, 
 John J. , had married, and to him and wife had been 
 born two children, one of whom grew to woman- 
 hood and married. She had one child, AVilliam T. 
 Manerd, who is now living with Mr. Huggans. 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Huggans are active and char- 
 itable members of the community in which they 
 live, and the latter is a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. 
 
 Ivy S. Hughs, proprietor of the Hughs House 
 of Jonesboro, Ark. , was born in the Pickens Dis- 
 trict, S. C, March 5, 1829, and is the son of 
 George and Margaret (Tannery) Hughs, both na- 
 tives of the same State. His father was a farmer 
 and brick mason by occupation, and died about 
 1847, aged fifty-five years. His mother's parents 
 were Zopher and Mary (Minturn) Tannery. Of 
 the thirteen children born to this union, only eight 
 are now living — Ivy S. being the only one in Ar- 
 kansas. In October, 1887, Mrs. Hughs came on 
 a visit to her son and died in the Hughs House, 
 March 25, 1888, aged ninety-one years. I. S. 
 Hughs left South Carolina with his father's family, 
 when fifteen years of age, and located in Chero- 
 kee County, Ga. , where he resided until after he 
 was of age. In 1856 he came to Arkansas, select- 
 ing a site within a mile of what is now Jonesboro, 
 but then a wild timbered country. Mr. Hughs 
 
 % 
 
entored eighty acres of laud, remained on it but 
 a short time, and then engaged in merchandising 
 for two years. Then he returned to the farm and 
 was at the same time proprietor of a grocery store, 
 where he remained until the beginning of the late 
 war. He enlisted in the Confederate service, 
 Company I, Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry, com- 
 manded by Col. Tappan. He served until the sur- 
 render, was promoted from private to captain, and 
 was mustered out as the latter. He returned to 
 Jonesboro, and after clerking for two years in the i 
 dry goods store of Burk & Chisenhall, went into 
 business for himself, but was burned out. There 
 being no hotel here for the accommodation of the | 
 public, he began keeping boarders, and as business 
 increased, he erected the old part of the present 
 Hughs House in 1881. Additions have been made 
 until now it has thirty-three sleeping apartments, 
 and is one of the largest hotels in this part of the 
 State, and is located on two acres of hotel property. 
 Mr. Hughs has also several farms scattered over 
 the county, amounting in all to about 6-tS acres. 
 October 28, 1858, he married Martha I. Kellar, 
 a daughter of Uriah and Julia Kellar, residents of 
 this county. To this union were born five chil- 
 dren, only three of whom are now living: W. J., a 
 merchant of St. Louis, married Belle Hughes; 
 Ben. and I. O. Hughs. Mr. and Mrs. Hughs 
 spare no pains in their efforts to make their gue.sts 
 as comfortable as possible. Mr. Hughs was ap- 
 pointed deputj' under Sheriff Thorn, and served 
 four years in that capacity, also holding the same 
 position under Sheriff Lane for one term. He is 
 a Democrat in politics, and a charter member of 
 the Masonic order. 
 
 James C. Johnson, a substantial farmer of Buf- 
 falo Island, was born in Newt<m County, Ga.. in 
 1834, and is a son of John and Sarah (Lacy) John- 
 son, natives of Georgia. The father followed 
 farming in both Georgia and Mississippi, in the 
 latter of which States he died in 1850, aged fifty 
 years. The mother came to Arkansas in 1880, 
 and died here in 1884. They were members of 
 the Baptist Church. To them were born nine 
 children, eight of whom grew to manhood, and 
 four are still living. James C. Johnson was the 
 
 fifth child, and was reared, educated and married 
 in Mississippi. He was married in 185(i to Mary 
 Q. McLemore, a native of Tennessee, where she 
 lived until eight ytars of age, when her parents 
 moved to Mississippi, and there she grew to woman 
 hood. The fruits of this union have been nine 
 children, three of whom are living: Mary Ann 
 (wife of William Lamb), Sarah C. (wife of Ed. 
 Goss), and Charles T. William J. died at sixteen 
 years of age, and James F. at eight years; the 
 others died in infancy. They have also reared an 
 orphan boy, Albert T. Graham, whom they took 
 when four years of age. Mr. Johnson followed 
 farming in Mississippi until 1855), when he started 
 for Arkansas, locating in Poinsett County in 18f5(t, 
 and in 1865 in Craighead County, near where he 
 now resides. He moved to his present location 
 in 1875. He entered the Confederate army in 
 1862 — Twenty-third Arkansas Infantry under Col. 
 Adams. He was in the siege of Port Hudson, and 
 returning home, remained one year, when he re- 
 enlisted and served until the close of the war. He 
 then resumed the cultivation of his farm, which 
 though small, is well improved, and his home is 
 comfortable. He is a Democrat in politics and a 
 member of the Agricultural Wheel, and both he 
 and Mrs. Johnson are meuil)ers of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South. Mrs. Johnson's parents 
 were natives of South Carolina and Kentucky, re- 
 spectively, the former removing when a young 
 man to the "Blue Grass State," whence, after 
 several years, he went to Tennessee. In 1 838 he 
 became located in Mississippi. They were mar- 
 ried in Tennessee, and had nine sons and two 
 daughters born to them; one son died at the age 
 of eighteen months.- and two others died six hours 
 apart, one in his eighteenth year and another in his 
 sixteenth year. The other chikb-en married and 
 reared families. Before their deaths the parents 
 came to Arkansas, the father dying when about 
 ninety years of age, and his wife when seventy. 
 They were members of the Methodist Church. 
 
 Dr. Roderick Joyner, a successful medical 
 practitioner of Jonesboro, was born in Limestone 
 County, Ala., July 22, 1833. and is a son of Rod- 
 erick and Emily (Williams) Joyner, hotii natives 
 
\ 
 
 338 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 of the " Old Dominion. " The father was a soldier 
 in the War of 1812, and in 1818 moved to Ala- 
 bama, where he was a successful farmer in early 
 life, and later engaged in mercantile business. In 
 1859 he immigrated to Poinsett County, Ark., lo- 
 cating five miles south of Harrisburg. He died in 
 Harrisburg in 1866, his wife having previously 
 died in 1860. They were the jiarentsof eight chil- 
 dren, four now living: Elizabeth (wife of G. B. 
 Parker, residing in Florida), Emily V. (wife of 
 Judge John A. Tinnon, of Nashville, Tenn.), Mary 
 P. (wife of S. O. Nelson, of Montgomery, Ala.), 
 and Roderick, who is the youngest living member 
 of the family. Dr. Joyner was reared and educated 
 in Limestone County, Ala., and when fourteen 
 years of age engaged in the drug business, and 
 when twenty years old began the study of med- 
 icine. He practiced some in Memphis, where he 
 was a di'uggist a number of years, and in 1859 
 came to Poinsett County, Ark. , where he continued 
 the practice of his profession. He also dealt in 
 general merchandise for several years, and in 1872 
 was elected to the State legislature; in 1874 was 
 elected a member of the State constitutional con- 
 vention, and in 1878 was reelected to the State 
 legislature. In 1884 he came to Jonesboro, and 
 the following year went into the drug business 
 and during the five years he has been in Jonesboro 
 he has built up a splendid custom and a wide prac- 
 tice, and has won the esteem and confidence of the 
 people. Being a physician of extraordinary abil- 
 ity, and possessing the rare gift of bringing social 
 sunshine as well as medical skill into the sick- 
 room, he stands high among medical practitioners 
 of his section of the State. In the late war he 
 served in the Twenty-third Arkansas Regiment 
 until after the surrender. In 1860 he was mar- 
 ried to Mary E. Bradshaw, who bore him ten chil- 
 dren, four now living: Thomas W., Augustus G., 
 Elisha B. and MaryE. Mrs. Joyner died in 1883, 
 and the following year Dr. Joyner was again mar- 
 ried, to Mrs. Martha A. (Knight) Moberly. He is 
 a member of the Baptist Church, and she of the 
 Methodist. Dr. Joyner is a Democrat in politics, 
 and is a Royal Arch Mason. 
 
 W. D. Kirksey, a prominent agriculturist of 
 
 Jonesboro Township, is a native of Georgia, bom 
 in Monroe County, twenty-five miles above Macon, 
 February 2, 1832. He is the son of William and 
 Martha (White) Kirksey, the former a native of 
 Abbeville District, S. C, the latter of Virginia. 
 The father moved to Georgia, when twenty years 
 of age, and in the fall of 1871, when eighty years 
 of age, he came to Craighead County, Ark., with 
 his son W. D. The mother went from Virginia 
 to Georgia, when yet a child and died in this coun- 
 ty in 1878, aged seventy-six or seventy-seven years. 
 They were the parents of nine children, five of 
 whom are living, four being residents of this 
 county. W. D. K irkse y spent his childhood on 
 the farm, and when twenty years of age, went 
 into the saw-mill and lumber business, at which he 
 was engaged for twenty yeai's. He also si)ent 
 four yeers in a machiae shop in Atlanta. He 
 came to Craighead County in the latter part of 
 1871, and purchased 300 acres of laud, which 
 with seventy-five under cultivation make a good 
 farm. In November, 1857, he married Mary E. 
 Bishop, a native of Georgia, and daughter of 
 Jones and Margaret (Holland) Bishop. Mr. 
 Bishop is dead, and his widow resides in this 
 township with her eldest son, Joe. Ten children 
 have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kirksey, eight of 
 whom are now living, viz. : Mary Jane (wife of 
 John Stidman), \V. J. (married Ella Sillman). 
 Sarah Ann (wife of Thomas Barker), Emma Lee 
 (wife of Willis Ironton), Andrew J., Alice, Ella 
 and Lewis R. Mr. Kirksey is a Democrat in 
 politics, and is active in the promotion of educa- 
 tional interests. He and his wife and most of 
 their children are members of the Missionary Bap- 
 tist Church, and contribute liberally to the u])- 
 building of all charitable and praiseworthy enter- 
 prises. 
 
 Herman Koehler, a well-known farmer, stock 
 raiser and carpenter of Buifalo Island, was born 
 in Hanover, Germany, May 1, 1826. His father, 
 John Henry Koehler, was also a Hanoverian by 
 birth, and stood high in the estimation of those 
 who knew him. Herman, like all German boys, 
 received a good common-school education, and also 
 served a four years' apprenticeship at the car- 
 
MiaSISBIPPI CaUNTY,ARKAMSAS. 
 
>^ 
 
 CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 m\> 
 
 penter's trade. In 1848, thinking to better his 
 condition, he emigrated to the United States; and 
 after working at his trade in New Orleans for live 
 years, he went to St. Louis and to Iowa, where for 
 some time he worked at carpentering and build 
 ing, and then went to Memphis, Tenu. , where he 
 resided working at his trade for nineteen years. 
 Here he formed tlie accjuaintance of Miss Ann M. 
 Meyer, who became his wife July *J, 1854. This 
 lady was a native of Germany, but was reared in 
 Cincinnati, Ohio. To this union have been born 
 two children: Adaline and John August. In 1877 
 Mr. Koehler moved to Mississippi County, Ark., 
 where he farmed and worked at his trade some 
 three years, and then moved to his present loca- 
 tion on Buffalo Island, which has since been his 
 home. He at first purchased forty acres of un- 
 improved land, to which he has since added until 
 he now owns 184 acres, 100 of it being under a 
 good state of cultivation. He also owns valuable 
 property in Florida and California. Like most of 
 his countrymen, Mr. Koehler is frugal and indus- 
 trious, and has made what he has by his own exer- 
 tions. He is unassuming in his manner, charital)le 
 and honest in his thoughts and dealings with his 
 fellow men, and is one of Craighead County's 
 mo.st substantial citizens. His wife and children 
 are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 W. T. Lane, sheriff and collector of Craighead 
 County, was born in Greene (now Craighead) 
 County, December 30, 1850, and is a son of Thomas 
 J. and Mary (Hughes) Lane, the father a native 
 of Illinois, and the mother of Tennessee. Thomas 
 Lane emigrated with his father, William Lane, to 
 Arkansas about 1840, and located ten miles south 
 of the present site of Jonesboro. They were among 
 the first settlers of this section. William Lane 
 engaged in mercantile business, and in rafting 
 on the St. Francis Kiver, in both of which he was 
 very successful. He never returned fi'om his last 
 trip on the raft, and the cause of his death is un- 
 certain. The body was recovered almost two years 
 later, /sind was identified by his suspender buckles 
 and raft auger. While a resident of Illinois, he 
 was a colonel of a regiment of State militia, and 
 held a commission as lieutenant under Gen. 
 
 Jackson. His son, Thomas J. Lane, was a stock 
 dealer and general trader, owning also a small 
 farm. He died in 1858, and his wife in 18(50. 
 Both were estimable and gi-eatly respected citizens. 
 They were the parents of but one child, W. T. 
 Lane, the immediate subject of this sketch, who, 
 left an orphan in infancy, was reared by his 
 grandmothiM- Lane, now in her eighty-sixth year. 
 He received a common-school education, and so 
 far as his means would allow, became engaged in 
 farming and stock dealing. He made his home 
 with his grandmother imtil 1880, when he was 
 elected sheriff and collector, to which office he has 
 been re-elected each ensuing election. At Sum- 
 merville, Tenn., in December, of 1887, he was 
 united in marriage with Miss Mattie Thurman, a 
 native of that State, and to them has been l)orn 
 one child, now deceased. Mr. Lane possesses ex- 
 traordinary stability of character and perseverance, 
 and l)eing eminently (jualified for the position 
 which he holds, tilK it ■satisfactorily to his con- 
 stituents. 
 
 W. Stanford Lane is a native of Arkansas, 
 having been born and reared in the State which 
 has always been his home. His father, W. Q. 
 Lane, was born in Tennessee, and moved to this 
 State about IS32. His mother, Caroline (Harris) 
 Lane, was a native of South Carolina. Of this 
 union, seven children were the issue, and the four 
 survivors are all residents of Craighead County. 
 The father was an honest, hard working farmer, 
 who achieved success through earnest endeavor. 
 He was a worthy member of the Masonic order. 
 Stanford Lane is one of the enterprising farmers 
 of Craighead County, and owns 700 acres of land, 
 of which about 100 acres are well improved. By 
 patient toil and industry he has made his farm one 
 of the best in the county. He was united in mar- 
 riage with Elnora Carter, a native of Tennessee, 
 who came with her father to this State in 1850. 
 This union has been blessed with three children: 
 Jarvis Q., Harry B. and Daisy E. Mrs. Lane is a 
 devoted wife and mother, a zealous Christian, and 
 a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Lane is 
 a stanch Democrat, but prefers rather to serve his 
 party than receive official favors. It may be truly 
 
^ 
 
 a 1^ 
 
 340 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 said of him that h« is one of the progressive cit- 
 izens of the county. 
 
 B. Frank Lee, a native of Jonesboro Town- 
 ship, has lived in this county over forty-five years. 
 He vpas born August 5, 1844, and is the son of Dr. 
 Charles Lee, an early settler and pioneer physician 
 of this county, who attended to the physical needs 
 of the citizens of his time until his death. He 
 married Mrs. Eliza (Pierce) Cook, widow of Will- 
 iam Cook. Charles Lee and wife became the par- 
 ents of three children, one daughter, deceased, and 
 two sons, B. F. and Claiborne N. The mother 
 died about ten years ago. Frank Lee was reared 
 in this township, and has been all his life a farmer, 
 but did not have school opportunities when a bov. 
 His half-brother, Thomas Cook, entered eighty 
 acres of laud, and at his mother's death it descended 
 to Mr. Lee by inheritance. It is a good farm, with 
 about forty acres of rich bottom land under culti- 
 vation. Mr. Lee was married, October 7, ISHQ, to 
 Mary, a daughter of Albert and Rebecca Pierce, 
 residents of this township. Of the eleven children 
 born to this union, ten are living. They are: Cal- 
 vin, Susan, Charlie, Nancy, John, Harriet, Re- 
 becca, Eliza, Josie, and a baby boy, Harrison Col- 
 umbus Lee. Mr. Lee is a man of decided politi- 
 cal and religious convictions, and supports all 
 charitable and progressive enterprises. He is a 
 member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and is 
 a Republican in politics. 
 
 Aris R. Lunsford, though but recently a resi- 
 dent of Buffalo Island, has already attained a posi- 
 tion among its leading farmers. He was born in 
 Lauderdale County, Tenn., January 23, 1844, and 
 is the fifth of a family of eight children, five of 
 whom are still living, His father, William Luns- 
 ford, a native of North Carolina, was married in 
 that State, and later moved to Tennessee. There 
 his first wife died, and he married Marcie Norris, 
 the mother of A. R. The father was a prominent 
 farmer and trustee of the county for several years, 
 and remained in Tennessee until his death, April 
 27, 1884, aged seventy -seven years. The mother 
 is still living. Aris R. Lunsford was reared in 
 Tennessee, receiving such education as the county 
 schools of the time afforded. He enlisted in the 
 
 Confederate army, in October, 1861, participating 
 in several engagements, and saw much active ser- 
 vice. He was corporal of his company, and was 
 several times captured, paroled and exchanged, 
 being last taken at Ripley, Tenn., where he was 
 held until the close of the war. He then returned 
 to his home, where he remained until 1886. Jan- 
 uary 15, 1863, he was united in marriage with 
 Margaret Brimm, a native of Tennessee, and 
 daughter of Thomas Brimm. Eight children have 
 been the fruits of this union: William G., Sarah 
 M. (wife of William Markham), James R., So- 
 phronia (wife of N. S. Tucker), John S., Mary A., 
 Jason H. and Maggie L. In 1886 Mr. Lunsford 
 sold out in Tennessee and came to Arkansas, locat- 
 ing where he now lives. He has cleared seventy 
 acres of land, and has a good residence, stables 
 and orchard, all bearing evidence of thrift and 
 success. In 1876 he was elected jitstice of the 
 peace in Tennessee, and held that office until he 
 removed to Arkansas, where he has been elected 
 justice of the peace of Buffalo Township. He is 
 president of the district and local Agricultural 
 Wheel. Both he and wife are members of the 
 Methodist Church. 
 
 L. A. Lynch, an active, enterjsrising farmer of 
 Jonesboro, living five miles south of the city, was 
 born in Marshall County, Miss., August 14, 1850. 
 His father was Aden Lynch, a native of Middle 
 Tennessee, who was a mechanic by trade and a 
 farmer by occiipation, working at both. In 1 855 
 ,he moved to Poinsett (now Craighead) County. 
 Ark., and bought a claim of 160 acres, living 
 thereon one year. Then obtaining the contract to 
 build the court-house of Poinsett County, at Har- 
 risburg, he removed his family there; but after two 
 or three years returned to Jonesboro, having se- 
 cured the contract to build the first court-house in 
 Craighead County. In the winter of 1867 he 
 removed to the farm where he still resides, one 
 mile south of Jonesboro. He has been twice mar- 
 ried. His first union, with Susan Lynch, was 
 blessed with nine children, only three of whom are 
 now living: J. J., a farmer of Jonesboro Township: 
 Matilda (Mrs. Robert Y. Duncan), also of Jones- 
 boro Township; and Lewis A., the subject of this 
 
Ll£ 
 
 CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 :!H 
 
 sketch. After his wife's detath, in 1854, Mr. 
 Lynch was again married to Mary Martin. Mr. 
 Lynch is a member of the Methodist Church and 
 is a Mason. He has been honored with various 
 positions of trust, having been for several years 
 justice of the peace in Marshall County, Miss., 
 and after coming to Craighead County, served sev- 
 eral years as county clerk, was elected county 
 probate judge, and was subsequently appointed by 
 Gov. Baxter one of three county supervisors. He 
 was also the first mayor of the city of Jonesboro. 
 Lewis Aden Lynch was reared in Craighead 
 County, receiving the best education the district 
 afforded. At eighteen years of age he began 
 farming for himself and for others, homesteaded 
 120 acres, moving on it in 1877. His father gave 
 him forty acres, completing the quarter-section. 
 About thirty- five acres of this are in a splendid 
 state of cultivation. MJr. Lynch was married, Feb- 
 ruary 4, 1S77. to Eliza J., daughter of Calvin and 
 Sallie (Shaw) Shores. To them have been born 
 four children: Albert Clifton, Henry Ollie, Eddie 
 Omer and Dixie May. Mrs. Lynch is a member 
 of the Christian Church and a charitable lady. 
 Mr. Lynch has always been a Democrat and served 
 one term as justice of the peace of Jonesboro 
 Township. He has resided on his present })lace 
 since 1877, and has needed a physician for him- 
 self or family but once in all that time. He is a 
 member of the Agricultural Wheel, and at present 
 occupies the position of school director of district 
 29. He takes quite an interest in all educational 
 matters. 
 
 John J. McBroom, an influential farmer, and 
 proprietor of the Lake City ferry, was born in 
 Orange County, Ind., December 27, 1825, and is 
 a son of Jesse and Susan (Sowards) McBroom, the 
 former a native of Virginia, the latter of Kentucky. 
 The father was reared in Virginia and Kentucky, 
 was married in Indiana, and in that State engaged 
 in farming for a number of yeai's. In the winter 
 of 1837 he came to Arkansas, locating in Phillips 
 County, where he engaged in farming and reared 
 his family, residing there twenty-one years. He 
 then removed to Lawrence County, and remained 
 until his death. His wife survived him several 
 
 years, and died in 1884. J. J. McBroom carae 
 with his father to this State when a lad twelve 
 years of age, and grew to manhood on the farm in 
 Phillips County, receiving his education at the 
 county schools. In 1850 he went to Independence 
 County, where he engaged for four years in steam - 
 boating on the Black and White Rivers. He has 
 seen much war service, having been actively oc- 
 cupied in both the Mexican and the late war. The 
 former he entered in 1846, enlisting in the First 
 Arkansas Cavalry. Col. Yell's regiment, and par 
 ticipated in several skirmishes and the battle of 
 Buena Vista. When discharged he returned to 
 Philli])s County. In 1861 he entered the Confed 
 erate service, McGee's battalion, Col. Dobbin" ^ 
 regiment. He was in many prominent engage 
 ments. and served until the close of the war, when 
 he settled in Craighead County, and has since been 
 steamboating. He is an engineer, but has also 
 served as pilot, and has always been an active, 
 energetic business man. He was first married in 
 Phillips County, in 1849, to I. H. Metcalf, who 
 was born and reared in Kentucky, and died May 
 29, 1884. There are three chihlren living of this 
 union: Willdie, wife of J. E. Mattax; Adora, 
 wife of Chancy Gillum, and J. J. McBroom, Jr. 
 J. R. died in 1887. aged twenty- nine years. Jan 
 uary 10, 1886, Mr. McBroom married Mrs. (Twad 
 dell) Stroud, a native of New York City, reared in 
 the city and on Long Island. Her first husband 
 was a native of Canada, and after their marriage 
 they resided theie three years, and then returned 
 to Long Island. In 1861 they came west to Cm- 
 cinnati, Ohio, and remained there two years, then 
 removed to Memphis, where they resided three 
 years, and in 1806 settled in Craighead County, 
 Ark. Here Mr. Twaddell died, December 25. 
 1878. Mrs. Twaddell subsequent]}' married Henry 
 Stroud, September 16, 1881, wh'o died March 1. 
 1885. Two children, Charles P. and Ostram, died 
 after reaching mature years. Mr. McBroom has 
 a good farm on Cane Island, and his wife one on 
 Buffalo Island. For three years he has operated 
 the Lake City ferry. His wife is a meml)er of the 
 Methodist and he of the Christian Church. He is 
 a Mason, and is Junior Warden of his lodge. 
 
 h 
 
^J^ 
 
 342 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Lucian T. McDaniel, merchaat and postmaster 
 at Gilkerson, is one of the prominent and enterpris- 
 ing business men of Jonesboro Township. His 
 father, Solomon McDaniel, one of the oldest set- 
 tlers and leading citizens of Craighead County, 
 was born in Wilson County, Tenn., July 12, 1820. 
 His paternal grandfather was John F. McDaniel, 
 a native of Randolph County, N. C. , who removed 
 to Tennessee after his marriage to Mary Horn, by 
 whom he had several children. After her death he 
 was again married, to Mrs. Mary (Reaves) Thomas, 
 a native of Tennessee. These two were the parents 
 of seven children, two of whom are now living, 
 viz. : Mary, widow of William Paultin, and Solo- 
 mon. Mrs. McDaniel died in Hardin County, 
 Tenn., and her husband subsequently married 
 again and removed to Arkansas in 1839. He lo- 
 cated several miles below the old farm, and after a 
 few years removed to Missouri, where he died. 
 His father, Abraham McDaniel (the paternal great- 
 grandfather of the subject of this sketch), fought 
 through the Revolutionary War, and John F. was 
 almost old enoiigh to be mustered into service. 
 Solomon McDaniel was a boy when he came to this 
 county, and has lived on his present farm thirty- 
 one years. He has been engaged principally in 
 farming, but is al.so a blacksmith and gunsmith. 
 He has a tine farm of 170 acres about five miles 
 south of Jonesboro, and 100 acres are in a splendid 
 state of cultivation. He was married A])ril 6, 
 1848, to Juliet White, a native of Craighead Coun- 
 ty, and daughter of Thomas and Liicy (Trigg) 
 White, residents of this county. To their union 
 were born thirteen children, seven living, as fol- 
 lows: John T. (married Margaret Porter, now 
 deceased), Margaret King, William F. (married 
 Sarah Kellar), Lucian T. (married Matilda Shel- 
 ton), Andrew J. and three girls. Mr. McDaniel 
 is a Republican in politics, and was a Union man 
 during the war. He has been a member of the 
 Christian Church for about fifteen years, and his 
 wife, two sons and two daughters are members of 
 the same denomination — all connected with the 
 Christian Valley Church. Lucian T. McDaniel 
 was born on the old homestead, August 14, 1859, 
 and was reared on the farm, receiving a fair dis- 
 
 ' trict school education. When twenty-two years of 
 age he engaged as a clerk for B. C. Shiery, a 
 grocer of Jonesboro, and five months later moved to 
 Wiener, Poinsett County, becoming a merchant of 
 that place. Four months after, when the Cotton 
 Belt Railroad was opened, he removed to Gilkerson 
 and engaged in mercantile business. In June, 
 1887, W. M. Robertson, of Jonesboro, liecame a 
 member of the firm now known as Robertson & 
 McDaniel. They keep a stock of general mer- 
 chandise and have a very good trade; also operate 
 a saw-mill (capacity, 6,000 feet per day), and a 
 cotton-gin, and grist-mill (capacity, 200 bushels 
 per day), and are agents for the Cotton Belt Rail- 
 road and Southern Express Company. Mr. Mc- 
 Daniel was married January 17. 1883, to Matilda 
 J. Shelton, daughter of Stephen and Mahala 
 
 ; Shelton, residents of this township. Their union 
 has been blessed with four children: Maggie Lee, 
 James Garland, Stephen Andrew and Angle Belle. 
 Mrs. McDaniel is a pious and charitable lady, and 
 a member of the Christian Valley Church, of the 
 Christian denomination. 
 
 Abraham McDaniel (deceased) was one of the 
 prosperous and esteemed farmers of Craighead 
 County. He was a native of Tennessee, his par- 
 ents, John and Mary McDaniel, having been resi- 
 dents of that State. After his mother's death, 
 his father came to Poinsett (now Craighead) 
 County, Ark., locating near the present home of 
 
 ' his son's widow, but he afterward removed to Mis- 
 souri, where he died. His children. Abraham. 
 Mar)', Nicholas and Charlie, returned to Arkansas. 
 There were six children, only two of whom, Solo- 
 mon N. , and Mary, widow of William Pauldin, 
 are now living. Abraham was about grown when 
 
 , he came to this county, and has engaged in farm- 
 ing all his life. He settled on the homestead 
 farm in September. 1852, entering a half section of 
 land. Having given to his sons, John B. and 
 James N., sixty and sixty-three acres of land, re- 
 spectively, the homestead now contains 183 acres. 
 He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and 
 in 1865 was ordained to preach in the Christian 
 denomination, and devoted the greater part of his 
 life to his Master's cause. He died March 7, 1879, 
 
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 34,5 
 
 aged tiftythree years. He was married October 
 1 20, 1S47, to Jane Cary, a daiightpr of Benjamin 
 ' and Sallie (Stotts) Carj', residents of this county. 
 Mrs. McDaniel was born in Carroll County, Tenn. , 
 October 31, 1832. In 1839 Mr. Cary removed 
 with his family to Poinsett County, Ark., where 
 he died in 1843, his wife having died two years 
 previously Mr. and Mrs. McDaniel were the par- 
 ents of ten children, three deceased: Rebecca, 
 Sally and an infant boy; and seven living: John 
 B., married to Mintie McGown. James N., married 
 to Mary Hendrix; Mary, wife of John H. Darr; 
 Nancy Ann, wife of Louis Sowells ; Elizabeth, wife 
 i)f William Fuller, and Martha Jane and A. B. , at 
 home. Mrs. McDaniel has been a devout and in- 
 fluential member of the Christian Church for 
 about nineteen years, and four of her children are 
 also members. 
 
 A. L. Malone. insurance agent, and a member 
 of the firm of Malone & Bell, dealers in books, sta- 
 tionery, etc., was born in Fayette County, Tenn., 
 September 29, 1853. His parents, William C. 
 and Elizabeth M. (Gardner) Malone, natives re- 
 spectively of Orange County, N. C, and Powhatan 
 County, Va. , were married in Fayette County, 
 Tenn., where they resided until December, 1853, 
 when they came to Northeast Arkansas, locating 
 in Poinsett County. He was a minister of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and also followed 
 farming. He devoted much time to his Master's 
 cause, and organized many churches in this part 
 of the State. His latter years were spent in Cross 
 County, Ark., where he died in November, ]88f5. 
 His wife still resides in Cross County. To 
 them were born eight children, only three now 
 living: Alvis L., John K. and Blanche. A. L. 
 Malone was an infant when his parents came to 
 this State, and received his education in the 
 common schools of Poinsett County. He remained 
 on the farm until eighteen years of age, then 
 entered a store as a clerk, and later engaged in 
 the mercantile busine.ss for him.self. in Wittsburg, 
 Cross County. He came to Jonesboro in the fall 
 of 1883, and since that time has been occupied in 
 his present business. He represents the following 
 Insurance Companies: Phoenix, Hartford and Orient 
 
 of Hartford, American of Philadelphia, Union and 
 Anglo Nevada of California, and other leading 
 and noted companies. He is assistant postmaster, 
 and has held that office for four years. He and 
 partner keep a large stock of books, stationery, 
 etc., located in the postoflSce building. In 1879 
 he was married to Miss Florence McFerrin, and of 
 this union four children have Ijeen the issue, three 
 living and one deceased. Those living are, Lil- 
 lian, James W. and Mary. The one deceased was 
 Charles M. Both paients are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Malone be- 
 longs to the Knights, and Knights and Ladies 
 of Honor. He was elected in April, 1880, and 
 served one term as city recorder of Jonesboro. 
 Politically he is a Democrat, is an energetic and 
 thoroughgoing business man, and has the confi- 
 dence and respect of all who know him. 
 
 Isaac N. Mangrum is a native of Maury Coun- 
 ty, Tenn., his birth occiUTing Noveralier 28, 1836. 
 His parents, L. B. and Stacy Mangrum, were both 
 natives of the " Old Volunteer State." where they 
 were married and resided a number of years, and 
 then moved to Shelby County, Tenn. They came 
 to Craighead County, Ai'k. , prior to the War of 
 the Rebellion, and located on a farm near Jones- 
 boro, which was their home until their respective 
 deaths. They were the parents of nine children, 
 and had the respect and confidence of all who knew 
 them. Isaac N. was reared upon a farm, and re- 
 ceived but meager educational advantages. He 
 came with his parents to Arkansas in 1854, and a 
 year later was united in marriage with Miss Talii- 
 tha Blackstone, and from then until entering the 
 Confederate service, he followed farming in Craig- 
 head County with varied success. His war exper- 
 ience was eventful, and he saw much active service 
 and underwent many iiardships and privations. 
 After the war, he returned to his home and family, 
 and resumed his agricultural labors, locating where 
 he now resides. The place at that time was almost 
 wholly unimproved, but by hard work, intelligent 
 and business-like management, Mr. Mangrum has 
 improved and added to it, until he is now one of 
 the leading planters and owns one of the best im- 
 proved farms in the county. His improvements 
 

 344 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 are all good, and upon his place are two cotton- 
 gins, which do a thriving business. By his first 
 marriage there were two children, both of whom 
 are worthy citizens, and are married and reside 
 near the home place. Mrs. Mangrum died in 1866. 
 Miss Susan Sage, a native of Craighead County, 
 became the second wife of Mr. Mangrum in 1866. 
 Ten children are the fruits of this union, of whom 
 these are now living: Stacy, James, Robert, 
 George and Ettie. Some of the children died in 
 infancy. Stacy is the wife of Mr. James Stotts. 
 Mr. Mangrum is, in the fullest sense of the term, 
 a self-made man. He is progressive in his ideas, 
 and liberally contributes to all worthy objects. He 
 is a member of the Masonic order, and is one of 
 Craighead County's most esteemed citizens. 
 
 Nicholas P. Mangrum was born in Maury 
 County, Tenn. , in 1S46. His father, James Man- 
 grum, was a native of Virginia, and when a child 
 six years of age came with his parents to Maury 
 County, Tenn. Here he was reared, and married 
 to Ann Craig, a native of Maury County. In 1858 
 he moved with his family to Poinsett County, Ark., 
 remaining three years, when he moved to Dyer 
 County, Tenn., and remained for some eight years; 
 thence to Butler County, Mo. , for one year, later 
 to Dunklin County, Mo., for one year, when he 
 returned to Craighead County, Ark. , where he died 
 in February, 1887, aged sixty-seven years. He 
 was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 and much respected by all who knew him. The 
 mother died in Maury County, Tenn.-, in 1846, 
 when Nicholas P. was but six months of age, leav- 
 ing five children, all of whom lived to maturity. 
 Only two of them are now living: Mrs. Martha 
 Todd, now living in Texas, and our subject. Those 
 deceased are William, Robert and James. James 
 Mangrum was married a second time, and had a fam- 
 ily of seven children, two of whom are now living: 
 George and Sophrouia, the latter residing with our 
 subject. George is deputy sherifif of this county, 
 and resides at Lake City. Nicholas P. Mangrum 
 was reared in Tennessee, receiving his ediication 
 at the county schools. He was married, in 1871, 
 to Amanda Stotts. a daughter of Arnold Stotts, 
 and began farming for himself on this Island near 
 
 where he now resides. He came to his present 
 place in 1874, purchasing wild land, with only 
 seven acres cleared. Now he has cleared, and has 
 in cultivation, eighty acres, and is one of the most 
 thriving and prosperous farmers on the Island. 
 He is a wide-awake and public -spirited citizen, and 
 is a consistent Christian, and member of the Meth- 
 odist Church. 
 
 aohn H. Mangrum, clerk of the circuit court, 
 exofficio clerk of the county and i^robate courts, 
 and recorder, is a native of Cross County, Ark. , born 
 July 29. 1855. His parents, L. B. and Eustatia 
 (Lovell) Mangrum, the former a native of Vir- 
 ginia, the latter of Tennessee, were married in the 
 " Old Volunteer State," and emigrated to Arkansas 
 in 1852, locating in Cross County. There the 
 father cleared a good farm and engaged in agricul- 
 tural pursuits until January of 1861, when he 
 moved to Craighead County, and located one half 
 mile northwest of Jonesboro, where he resided 
 until his death, which occurred January 4, 1883, 
 his wife having previously died July 25, 1881. 
 They were the parents of thirteen children, five of 
 whom are now living John H. Mangrum, the 
 youngest child, was reared on a farm, receiving 
 his education at the common schools of the county. 
 He followed farming and school teaching in his 
 early life, acquitting himself with personal credit 
 and to the benefit of those for whom he labored. In 
 188() he was elected to his present office, and was 
 re-elected m 1888, now serving his second term. 
 In November of 1881, he was united in marriage 
 with Miss Jeannette Culberhouse, a daughter of 
 G. T. Culberhouse. Mrs. Mangrum is an estima- 
 ble lady, and a member of the Presbyterian 
 Church. Mr. Mangrum belongs to the Masonic 
 and Knights of Honor fraternities, is a Democrat 
 in politics, and is an active member of his party 
 in this coutity, meriting by his untiring services, 
 the honorable recognition which he has received. 
 
 Z. T. Matthews, of the firm of Matthews, Pet- 
 er.son & Pace, merchants of Jonesboro, is a native 
 of Paulding County, Ga , born February 2, 1848. 
 His ])arents, L. M. and Mary Ann Matthews, were 
 natives of Virginia and Georgia, respectively, and 
 were the parents of ten children; Z. T. and a sister. 
 
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 ■ur 
 
 Louisa, in Paulding County, Ga. , being the only 
 survivors. The mother died in Georgia, and, by 
 his second marriage, Mr. Matthews became the 
 father of three children, all deceased. He was by 
 occupation an agriculturist, and in the winter of 
 1857 came to what is now Craighead County, Ark., 
 and located about one and one- half miles from the 
 present site of Jonesboro. When, two years later, 
 the town of Jonesboro was laid out, he was living 
 on the present town site, and had his field planted 
 with cotton. Some years later he moved to Poin- 
 sett County, where he died during the war. Z. T. 
 Matthews was but eight years of age when he came 
 with his parents to Arkansas, and here grew to 
 manhood, receiving such education as the schools of 
 that day afforded. He went to the first log school- 
 house built in the town, attended private schools 
 and also the old academy. He was reared mainly 
 on a farm, but, in 1808, began clerking at $r2.r)0 
 per month, and retained that position for two 
 years, and then entered into partnershij) with W. 
 J. Witt, continuing but a short time. He then 
 entered into a partnership with William Puryear, 
 which lasted for about four years. Selling out 
 to Mr. Puryear, he formed a partnership with 
 J. C. Knight, with whom he continued eleven 
 years, and then formed his present partnership. 
 The firm has a large stock of dry goods, clothing, 
 gent's furnishing goods, boots and shoes, etc., 
 and, by strictly fair and honest business princi- 
 ples, have established a splendid custom. Mr. 
 Matthews is also a partner of Johnson, Berger & 
 Co., dealers in groceries, furniture and hardware, 
 owning both store buildings, which are large two- 
 story bricks. In 1864 he was married to Miss C. 
 J. Witt, and of this union four children have been 
 the issue: Waughlie, Gordon, Eva, and Willie, 
 who died when seven months old. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Matthews are members of the Baptist Church. 
 Mr. Matthews' business career has been one of 
 unusual success; starting as a clerk on a small sal- 
 ary, he soon engaged in business for himself; was 
 during Grant's administration appointed postmas- 
 ter of Jonesboro, which position he held for about 
 s(>ven years, resigning in favor of J. D. C. Cobb, 
 and now is a leading and successful citizen. 
 
 James D. Mead, an energetic and successful 
 agriculturist of Lake City Township, was born in 
 Madi.son County. Ga., in 1822, and is the son of 
 John and Elizabeth (Hall) Mead, the former a na- 
 tive of Georgia, the latter of South Carolina. 
 His grandfather. Miner M. Mead, was of English 
 descent, and was born in Virginia, where his par- 
 ents had settled a few years previous. He served 
 in the Revolutionary War, and was afterward a 
 pensioner for services rendered. His wife, Mary 
 Mead, lived to be one hundred and five years of 
 age, and drew a pension after her husband's death. 
 She died in Carroll County, Ga., having lived a 
 devoted Christian life as a member of the Baptist 
 Church. They were the parents of thirteen chil- 
 dren, John, the father of our subject, being the 
 oldest child. John Mead served in the War of 
 1812, and aft,er a life of success and usefulness, 
 died in Georgia, when fifty seven years of age. 
 The mother died in Craighead County, at the home 
 of her son, James, in 1807. To them were born 
 nine children, James D. being the third child, and 
 he and two sisters, Mary and Sarah, are the only 
 survivors, and all live in this county. Mr. Mead 
 was reared and educated in Georgia, where he re- 
 sided until the spring of 1857, when, with his 
 family, consisting of his wife and five children, 
 he came to Arkansas, locating on what is now Bay 
 Siding. There he followed farming for sixteen 
 years, and in 1872 moved to his present location. 
 Since coming to Arkansas he has put in cultivation 
 over 200 acres of land, and now owns 480 acres, 
 and has under good cultivation 125 acres. April 
 6, 1848, he was united in marriage with Miss 
 Thessa Moon, born in Georgia, in 1820, who died 
 in this county, in 1807. Their union was lilessed 
 by nine children, only two of whom are now liv- 
 ing: Mrs. Nancy S. McLean and James W. Mr. 
 Mead was married a second time, ia 1872, this 
 time selecting Mrs. Elizabeth Farmer, nee Lewis, 
 who. by her former marriage was the mother of 
 three children: Mrs. Mary Gatlin, Mrs. Sarah Bag 
 well and Mrs. Nellie Wilson. Mr. Mead's family 
 have always been Whigs, and he is now a stanch 
 Republican. 
 
 James W. Mead, a leading planter of tln' 
 
^ ''^ r » > 
 
 346 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 county and also mail contractor, is a native of 
 Georgia, born in Madison County, January '22, 
 1850. His parents were James D. and Thessa 
 (Moon) Mead [see sketch], both natives of Georgia. 
 He came with his father to this State and county 
 when a boy seven years of age, and was reared on 
 his father's farm, receiving his education at the 
 county schools. He chose as his life companion, 
 Jane Beaty, a native of Arkansas, reared in this 
 county, and December 24, 1868, they were united 
 in marriage. He engaged in farming for several 
 years after this event, and in 1880 opened a 
 saloon at Lake City, and was engaged in the saloon 
 business for six years. In 1883 he was appointed 
 deputy sheriff, and served in that capacity until 
 November, 1888. Since that time he has been 
 farming. Mr. and Mrs. Mead have two children, 
 Nora and Otto, and lost three in early child- 
 hood. Mr. Mead has been quite prominent in 
 local afPairs, is a Republican in politics, and has 
 been postmaster, serving in that capacity for sev- 
 eral years. He is a Knight of Honor and also a 
 Mason. 
 
 J. A . Meek, attorney at law at Jonesboro, Ark. , 
 was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., April 8, 1830, 
 and is the only son of Urban E. and Nancy (Dean) 
 Meek, who were natives of the "Old Volunteer 
 State." The paternal grandfather, Alexander 
 Meek, a native of Virginia, emigrated to Tennes- 
 see at an early day, and was among its pioneer 
 settlers. Moving later to Marshall County, Miss., 
 he was among the early settlers of that State, 
 which was still largely inhabited by Indians. 
 Though at the time but sixteen years of age, he 
 was a soldier of the Revolution, participating in 
 the battles at King's Mountain and at Cowpens. 
 He was with four bi-others and two uncles during 
 his military service. After the war he was a pen- 
 sioner for service rendered; and returning to his 
 farm resumed his occupation. He died in 1858, 
 at that time one hundred years of age. The 
 maternal grandfather, too, lived to be almost a 
 centenarian. Urban E. Meek built the first house 
 in Chulahoma, Marshall County. Miss., and re- 
 sided there until his death in 1847. He was a 
 farmer by occupation, and was a prominent man 
 
 in the county, having held several oflBces of honor 
 and trust. His wife died in 1848. They were 
 the parents of two children: Joseph A. and 
 Minerva E., wife of James H. Wilburn, of De Soto 
 County, Miss. Joseph A. Meek was reared in 
 Holly Springs, Miss., and there received his edu- 
 cation. His parents having died when he was 
 about fifteen years of age, he worked his war 
 through school until able to teach; and while 
 teaching school, studied medicine under Rev. 
 Stark Depree, of De Soto County, Miss. In 1857 
 he entered McDowell Medical College of St. Louis, 
 and at the beginning of the late war enlisted as 
 assistant sui-geon, and served in that capacity until 
 
 I the close of hostilities. He then returned to Har- 
 risburg, Poinsett County, where he had gone in 
 1858, and resumed his practice, remaining there 
 until 1873. During that time he was twice'elected 
 to the legislature, first in 1866, and afterward in 
 1871. He entered the Atlanta Medical College in 
 1871, and graduated in September of that year. 
 In 1873 he came to Jonesboro, where he practiced 
 his jjrofession until 1883, when he gave up the 
 
 I medical profession and began the practice of law, 
 having been admitted to the bar in Poinsett County. 
 The circumstances attending his admission are 
 
 I interesting and unique. Once, in 1858, being on 
 trial, he defended himself, showing such unusual 
 tact and ability that he was admitted by a petition 
 
 i from the bar, and without examination. In 1881 
 he was elected to the legislature from Craighead 
 County, and was re-elected in 1883 and 1888. He 
 was first married November 19, 1856, to Miss 
 Madella Russell, of De Soto County, Miss., who 
 bore him two children. One of them is now de- 
 ceased, and the other, Jodella, is the wife of W. 
 M. Robertson. Mrs. Meek died August 12, 1860, 
 and June 7, of the following year, Mr. Meek was 
 united in marriage with Miss Caroline F. Parker, 
 a native of North Carolina, and a graduate of 
 Chawan College. He has been for years a leader 
 of his party in both Poinsett and Craighead 
 Counties, untiring in his labors, and deserving the 
 honors bestowed upon him. He is a member of 
 
 I the I. O. O. F., and he and wife are members of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 
— » 9 
 
 ^ 
 
 CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 34'; 
 
 Joseph W. Moss, a, leading farmer and stock 
 dealer of Craighead County, whose parents, Willis 
 and Sarah (Mnllinax) Moss, were both natives of 
 South Carolina, was born in that State August 25, 
 182U. His father died in his native State, his mother 
 in Tennessee. He was reared on a farm, and had 
 l)ut limited educational advantages. When, in 
 1851, his brother Barnett came on a prospecting 
 tour to Arkansas, and located in Poinsett (now 
 Craighead) County, Joseph W. came with him, and 
 for a while made his brother's house his home. 
 He at first bought fifty-two acres, and has since 
 added to it. until he now owns about 1,000 acres, 
 mostly woodland. He began $60 in debt, but by 
 industry, economy and thrift, he has cancelled 
 this indebtedness and accumulated a competency, 
 which he has from time to time invested in land 
 and stock. He lost fifty fine horses in the disas- 
 trous overflow of 1882. He was married, in 1853, 
 to Mary Simonds, a native of Illinois, and to this 
 union was born one child, Henry, married to Mat- 
 tie Wilson. His first wife died, and Mr. Moss 
 was married again, in 1861, to Lousina Kelsoe, a 
 native of Tennessee. This union was blessed with 
 nine children, all living: John R. (married to 
 Florence Stotts). Sarah (wife of Morgan Denham), 
 Joseph L. (married to Jane Patterson), Mary (wife 
 of Theodore Johnson), Carroll, Barnett, Hettie, 
 Newton B. and Wallace. Mrs. Moss died in 1880, 
 and Ml-. Moss married Mrs. Martha Patterson, a 
 native of the county, and daughter of Andrew 
 Stotts (now deceased), an early settler of the coun- 
 ty. Mr. Moss is a Democrat in politics, has held 
 various oflSces, and takes great interest in educa- 
 tional matters. 
 
 A. S. Nash, merchant at Jonesboro, was born 
 in Bedford County, Tenn., July 23, 1829, and is 
 a son of Travis and Joanna (Miller) Nash who 
 came fi-om Virginia to Tennessee early in the his- 
 tory of that State. The Nash family are of Irish 
 and the Miller family of French descent. Travis 
 Nash was a farmer by occupation, and in the War 
 of 1812, wasacaptain. He was a successful farmctr 
 and a brave and gallant soldier, and died at Shel- 
 by ville, Tenn., April 7, 1844. The mother moved 
 with her family to Texas, where she died in 1862. 
 
 Of the family of fifteen children, only two are now 
 living, Mary, widow of John McGimsey, and Au- 
 gustus S. Two brothers, Thomas and Franklin, 
 who went from Texas, were killed in the war, and 
 two others, Lafayette and Granderson M. died in 
 Texas at the close of the war. Augustus S. Nash 
 was reared in Shelby ville, Tenn., remained on the 
 farm until fourteen years of age, when he was aj)- 
 prenticed to learn the saddler's trade. He fol- 
 lowed saddlery for several years, then engaged 
 for several years in farming, and in 1860 moved to 
 Jackson Coimty. Ala. While living in Tennessee, 
 he was lieutenant of militia under the old muster 
 law, and in 1S61, at the outbreaking of the Civil 
 War, he enlisted in Company G, Fourth Alabama 
 Cavalry, and during the war saw much active ser- 
 vice. He was in the battles of Fort Donelson, 
 Murfreesboro, Resaca, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta, 
 Franklin, Knoxville, Tenn., and several others. 
 He was with Gen. Wilson from Alabama to Co- 
 lumbus, Ga., where they surrendered. He was 
 not seriously wounded, but had his left ear shot 
 off at Chickamauga. At the close of the war, he 
 returned to Nashville, where he took the oath, and 
 then returned to his farm in Alabama. In 1 870 
 he moved to Jonesboro, Ark., where for six years 
 he engaged very successfully in farming, and in 
 1876, he began merchandising, which he has since 
 followed. He was married in 1849 to Margara 
 Atkins, and they are the parents of seven living 
 children: Thomas, William, Charles, Leander. 
 Richard, Wiley and Victoria. The father and 
 mother are both members of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. Ml-. Nash belongs to the Masonic 
 fraternity; he owns a great deal of property in 
 Jonesboro, and as a lousiness man has been very 
 successful. In 1 880 he was elected county treas- 
 urer, which ofiice he filled satisfactorily to his con- 
 stituents. He is one of the leading business men 
 of the town. 
 
 Francis M. Newcom and Robert T. Wallace 
 are both natives of Kentucky, the former boril in 
 Crittenden County, October 15, 1855, the latter 
 in what is now Webster County. August 27, 1847. 
 They are now prosperous and representative farm- 
 ers of Craighead County, Ai-k. Francis M. Newcom 
 
348 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 is a son of W. D. and M. E. (Heath) Newcom, na- 
 tives of Kentucky, who later settled in Webster 
 County, where both parents died. Francis M. 
 came to Arkansas in 1882, and three years later to 
 his present residence. He has cleared and now 
 has under cultivation seventy-live acres of good 
 land. October 1'2, 1882, he was united in mar- 
 riage with Eliza Wallace, born and reared in Ken- 
 tucky, and to this union have been born foiir chil- 
 dren: Ivy Lillie, Nannie D. , Lee E., and Rosa 
 Belle (deceased). Mr. Newcom is a prominent 
 member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Rob- 
 ert T. Wallace is the eldest of the six children 
 born to the union of Col. Benjamin P. Wallace and 
 Eliza Bruce, natives of Kentucky. The father was 
 a farmer in his native State, and in the Civil War 
 enlisted in the Confederate service, in which he was 
 colonel. He died July 12, 1870, the mother hav- 
 ing previously died July 10, 1869. Robert T. was 
 reared in Kentucky, and lived with his father until 
 his death, when he bought the old homestead, 
 on which he resided until he came to Arkansas, in 
 1882. He had been deputy sheriff for one year, 
 and sheriff for two. Since 1882 be has resided in 
 Arkansas, except one year spent in Howell Couuty, 
 Mo. , and he moved to his present location Christ- 
 mas of 1887. He owns several tracts of land, and 
 has a well-cultivated farm. July 17, 1875, he 
 married Annie Moore, also a native of Kentucky, 
 and a daughter of Allen Moore. They had grown 
 up together in the same county. The fruits of this 
 union have been foiu- children, only one living, 
 Maude. Those deceased are Florence, died in 
 1885, at the age of nine years; Molly, died when 
 five years of age, and Willie, who died at three 
 years of age. The parents are both consistent 
 Christians, the father a member of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church, and the mother of the Meth- 
 odist Church. Mr. Wallace is a member of the 
 I. O. O. F. 
 
 Rev. William J. Newton, one of the leading 
 citizens of Buffalo Island, was born on the place 
 where he now lives, March 3, 1849, and is the son 
 of John Newton, who was born in Tennessee, and 
 reared near Nashville. To better his fortune, he 
 came to Arkansas in 1841, and here married Cather- 
 
 ine Lamb, the mother of our immediate subject. 
 The father died in 1857. William J. attained his 
 majority on the Island where he had always lived, 
 and served for seven months in the Confederate 
 ranks. He lost his right limb in New Madrid, 
 Mo., in 1805. In September, 1880, he and 
 Martha L. Towers were married. She was a na- 
 tive of Arkansas, born on Crowley's Ridge, this 
 county. The fruits of this union have been si.\. 
 children: Minerva A., Bertha, Charles J., Gert- 
 rude, William J. and John R. Mr. Newton has 
 a farm of 200 acres, with 124 under cultivation, 
 is an energetic man and has cleared all but eight 
 acres of this himself. In 1874 he professed 
 religion, in 1876 was licensed to preach, and in 
 1880 was ordained a minister of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. At first he had charge of a 
 circuit for two years, 1880 to 1882; but since that 
 time has been stationed, and has labored zealously 
 in the cause of Christ, doing much good through- 
 out this section. By his kindness to the poor, and 
 generosity to his fellow-men, as well as by his fer- 
 vent piety, he has attained an enviable popularity. 
 W. W. Nisbett, lumber dealer and manufact- 
 urer of brick, etc., is a native of Lancaster County, 
 S. C. , born October 14, 1836. His parents, James 
 and Jane Y. (Rogers) Nisbett, natives of South 
 Carolina, were of Irish descent, the grandfather, a 
 native of Ireland, having been an early immigrant 
 to South Carolina. The paternal grandfather, Jo- 
 siah Nisbett, was a soldier of the Revolution, and 
 he and all the grandparents lived and died in South 
 Carolina. James Nisbett emigrated with his fam- 
 ily to Coffee County, Tenn. , in 1844, and three 
 years later to Monroe County, Miss., thence to 
 Memphis, Tenn., in 1850, and in 1852 came to 
 what is now Craighead County, Ark., locating 
 where Jonesboro now stands. He was a farmer 
 and mechanic, and followed both occupations for 
 several years; made the first improvements and 
 built the first frame house in Jonesboro. He then 
 kept a hotel in Jonesboro for some time, and in 
 1867 moved to Pike County, where he resided for 
 five years, then returned to this county, where he 
 remained until his death in 1884. The mother 
 died three years later. They were the parents of 
 
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 349 
 
 r 
 
 six children, live now living, four sons and one 
 daughter: William W., John G. R., Benjamin F., 
 Joseph A. and Sarah, widow of P. H. Winke. 
 William W. was but eight years of age when he 
 left his native State, and, school advantages being 
 very poor, his education was necessarily very lim- 
 ited. However, since arriving at maturer years, 
 he has closely applied himself to study, and is now 
 a self educated man. He was eighteen years of 
 age when he came with his parents to Craighead 
 County, and had learned from bis father the car- 
 penter' 8 trade, and intelligent farming. His early 
 life was devoted mainly to mercantile business un- 
 til the late war, and after the surrender, he was 
 for many years a furniture dealer and undertaker. 
 While in business, he was three times burned out, 
 but was by no means discouraged by his misfor- 
 tunes. After the fire of 1886, he closed out what 
 remained of his stock, and turned his attention to 
 his milling business. He has been for twenty years 
 engaged in the milling and lumber business, also 
 handling grain, and is now engaged in the man- 
 ufacture of brick, making from 35,000 to 40,000 
 per day. Having a nice farm in the suburbs of 
 Jonesboro, be also gives some attention to agricult- 
 ural pursuits. In 1882, he began the study of law, 
 and in 1884 was admitted to the bar, and has since 
 been engaged in the practice of his profession. He 
 has been the leader of the Republican party since 
 the war, and has been identified with all its meet- 
 ings and important moves. He was elected sheriff 
 of Craighead County in 1866, and served until 
 18T'2; was also sheriff in 1865 under military order. 
 He has held the offices of county supervisor, presi- 
 dent of the board of supervi.sors, county assessor, 
 sheriff, collector, postmaster, assessor of internal 
 revenue, and deputy United States marshal. In 
 1858 he was united in marriage with Mary Mattix, 
 and they are the parents of ten children, seven of 
 whom are living: Elizabeth (wife of J. R. Smith), 
 Mattie (wife of H. H. Houghton), William S., 
 Alice, Delia A., Minnie M. and George E. Mr. 
 Nisbett is a member of the Masonic fraternity, is 
 Master of the Blue Lodge, and High Priest of 
 the Chapter. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., and 
 also to the Eastern Star. 
 
 William O'Guinn. Among the pioneer settlers 
 of Craighead Coimty, none are more worthy of 
 special mention than the subject of this sketch, 
 who came with his parents to this State in 1836, 
 whim, before the encroachment of civilization, wild 
 game was plentiful. H(> was a great hunter in his 
 youth, making this sjwrt the means of his support. 
 He was born in Perry (now Decatur) County, Tenn. , 
 May 17, 1827, and is a son of Daniel and Mar- 
 garet (Anderson) O'Guinn, natives of the "Old 
 Volunteer State," who were reared and married 
 in that State, and in 1836 came with their three 
 sons and daughter and grandfather Anderson and 
 a part of his family, to Arkansas. All located first 
 on Crowley's Ridge in Greene (now Craighead) 
 County, and Daniel O'Guinn opened up a splen- 
 did farm in the timber, near where Jonesboro is 
 now situated, where he reared his family and died 
 in 1859. His wife followed him in 1872. Both 
 were very worthy citizens and members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. They were the par- 
 ents of thirteen children, ten of whom lived to be 
 grown, but only two, William, the oldest child, 
 and the youngest child, Martha, now the wife of 
 Henry Haze, are now living. Willaim O'Guinn 
 began life on his own responsibility when nineteen 
 years of age, married and settled on a timbered 
 jjlace near the old homestead. He cleared a small 
 farm, but kept eighteen or twenty hunting dogs, 
 and spent most of his time hunting, often spend- 
 ing the whole night in this occupation, sometimes 
 with the Indians as companions. Four years later 
 he sold his farm, and improved another which two 
 years later he likewise sold ; then bought a small 
 partly improved farm, afterward clearing forty 
 additional acres, and here he resided until the 
 breaking out of the late war, when he moved with 
 his family to Scott County, Mo., remaining there 
 until 1866, when he returned to the old home 
 place and resumed his farming. In 1869 he came 
 to his present place of residence, on Big Bay. 
 where he owns 800 acres of land, and has improved 
 about 120 acres. His farm is well stocked and 
 bears every evidence of prosperity. Mr. O'Guinn 
 has been man-ied four times, and is the father of 
 twenty-four children, and twelve of them are now 
 
^- 
 
 ^ s>Lv 
 
 350 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 living. He was married to his present wife fCalli- 
 donia Coleman) in 1883, and she is the mother of 
 four children, two deceased. Mr. O'Guinn is a 
 stanch advocate of both church and school, and 
 contributes liberally to their support. Both he 
 and Mrs. O'Guinn are members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. 
 
 J. W. Owens, Jr., postmaster at Jonesboro, 
 Ark., received his appointment in 1885, and has 
 been a most courteous, obliging and efficient offi- 
 cial. He was born in Rutherford County, Tenn. , 
 February 29, 1856, and is a son of J. W. , Sr. , and 
 Frances H. (Tune) Owens, the father a native of 
 Kentucky, and the mother of Virginia. They were 
 married in Rutherford County, Tenn. , where their 
 parents had immigrated in an early day. J. W. 
 Owens, Sr. , a blacksmith by trade, came to Craig- 
 head County in 1870, and located in Jonesboro, 
 where he followed his calling until 1874, when he 
 went to Southern Illinois, where he died in 1879. 
 The mother died in 1859. She was the mother of 
 seven children, J. W. being the only one now liv- 
 ing. The father had married three times. By 
 his second wife he had one child, Robert H., and 
 by his third marriage eight children, six living: 
 Joseph E., George \\'., Lizzie, Jennie, Willie and 
 Lura. J. AY. Owens, Jr., came with his parents 
 to Arkansas when thirteen years of age, and was 
 reared partly in Tennessee and partly in this 
 State, receiving his education in the county schools 
 of the former and in the Jonesboro schools. Reared 
 to farm life, he followed that occupation until 
 1881, and then entered the employ of J. B. Colt 
 & Son, railroad contractors, and remained with 
 them eighteen months. In October, 1883, he 
 went into the Jonesboro postoffice as assistant 
 postmaster, where he remained in that capacity 
 until he received his appointment as postmaster. 
 May 20, 1885, he was united in marriage with 
 Miss Nannie E. Hannah, a native of Craighead 
 County, and their union has been blessed with two 
 children, Mollie and Morris B. Mr. Owens is a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Chiirch, and 
 belongs to the K. and L. of H. He is energetic 
 and industrious, enjoys an enviable popularity, and 
 richly deserves the official favor accorded him. 
 
 Alfred Pagan, one of the leading farmers of 
 Cane Island, was born in Meade County, Ky. , Feb- 
 ruary 8, 1851, and is the son of David and Han- 
 nah (Halls) Pagan, the former a native of Vir- 
 ginia, the latter of Kentucky. The father was 
 reared and educated in Virginia and when a young 
 man moved to Kentucky and was there married. 
 He remained for several years in Meade County, 
 and then removed to Daviess, where he engaged in 
 farming until his death in 1864. His wife sur- 
 vives him and now resides on Cane Island. All of 
 the family of six sons and two daughters reached 
 maturity, but one son, who was a soldier in the Con- 
 federate service, and who died since the war. One 
 brother lives in Kentucky, four brothers and one 
 sister on Cane Island, and one sister in Missouri. 
 Alfred Pagan was reared in Kentucky and re- 
 mained with his mother until his marriage, Feb- 
 ruary 17, 1872, with Ellen Martin, a native of 
 Daviess County, Ky. , and a daughter of James and 
 Jane Martin, who still reside in Daviess County. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Pagan are the parents of six chil- 
 dren: James, Minnie, Mary, Eva, Alfi-ed and Rosa. 
 Two children died in infancy. Mr. Pagan was 
 always a farmer in Daviess County until 1881, 
 when he came to Arkansas. He remained one 
 year at Elmot Landing, Mississippi County, then 
 came to Craighead County, selecting the place 
 where he now resides. It was then but little im- 
 proved; now he has four farms, aggregating 350 
 acres, with about KtO acres cleared and improved. 
 It is all rich and valuable land and he has on the 
 home place two residences and one on each of the 
 other farms. Mr. and Mrs. Pagan are members 
 of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which Mr. 
 Pagan is also a deacon. 
 
 J. M. Penix, whose well-improved farm is sit- 
 uated three miles from Jonesboro, is one of the 
 progressive, wide-awake citizens of the county. 
 He was born in Cherokee CoiTnty, Ala., November 
 12, 1836, and is the son of John and Sallie (Roach) 
 Penix, the former a native of Alabama, the latter 
 of Shelby County, Tenn. After the death of his 
 wife and in the first year of the Civil War, Mr. 
 Penix came to Arkansas and located in wliat is now 
 Powell Township, Craighead County, and there 
 
 
 f. 
 
CKAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 351 
 
 resided for three years. In 1805 he moved to 
 Louisiana, where he died in 1867. Of the four- 
 teen chiklren born to them, only four are now 
 living — our immediate subject being the only one 
 iu Craighead County. He was reared on a farm, 
 and in 1857 came to Arkansas, and in 1860 married 
 Elizabeth Albright, a native of Tennessee, whose 
 parents were Simpson and Hulda (Snodderly) Al- 
 bright — the former is deceased, the latter resides 
 with Mr. Penix. In the war of the Rebellion, he 
 gave his support to the Confederate cause, serving 
 in the Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry for about 
 eight months, when he Vifas discharged on account 
 of sickness. He re-enlisted in the Trans-Missis- 
 sippi department at Little Rock and served another 
 twelve months. At the close of the war he re- 
 turned to Craighead County and bought eighty acres 
 of his present farm of 100 acres, forty of which are 
 splendidly improved. Mr. and Mrs. Penix are the 
 parents of nine children: Wiley E., William T. 
 S. and an infant (deceased), and Eli Thomas (mar- 
 ried to Lucinda Raines), Mary Magdalene. James 
 Cornelius, Midas Ludella, Samuel Elbert and Scott 
 Hinman. Mr. Penix is a Democrat, has been 
 school director for five years, and has given one- 
 half acre of his farm for a school-house site. He 
 and his wife and oldest son and daughter are active 
 members of the Baptist Church. 
 
 David L. Perkins, one of the foremost citizens 
 of Craighead County, and a resident of Jonesboro 
 Township, was born in Fayette County, Tenn., 
 October 17, 1845, and is the son of William H. 
 Perkins, a native of Virginia, who emigrated from 
 the '"Old Dominion"" to Tennessee in 1826, and 
 Sarah (Wrightsell) Perkins, a native of Tennes- 
 see. They had six children, four of whom are 
 living — three sons and one daughter — and three 
 are residents of this coixnty: Mary (wife of P. T. 
 Hudson), D. L. and John W. Mr. Perkins made 
 a visit to this State in 1871, but returned to the 
 old homestead in Fayette County, Tenn., where 
 he and his w'ife still reside, aged seventy-nine and 
 sixty four years, respectively. David L. spent his 
 boyhood on the farm, and received a fair education 
 in the common schools of the county. He came 
 with his father to this State in 1871, and selected 
 
 it as the place of his permanent residence. The 
 father bought 200 acres of land, and for nine years 
 David L. lived on it, but then bought his home- 
 stead of 160 acres. He has a well-cultivated farm, 
 with about fifty-five acres improved. December 
 26, 1872, he wedded Laura Thnrman, a native 
 of Fayette County, Tenn. , who died in May, 1887, 
 leaving five children: Clarence C, Howard L. , 
 William D., Linnie E. and Ernest D. He was 
 again married, October 13, 1887, this time choosing 
 Mrs. Nannie E. (Fuller) Falls, a resident of this 
 county. The result of this union has been one 
 boy, Edward Cecil. Mr. Perkins is prominent in 
 religiou.s and educational interests, and in politics 
 is a stanch Democrat. He is a member of the 
 Christian Church, and is an elder of the Hope 
 Church of that denomination. Mrs. Perkins is a 
 benevolent Christian lady, and also a member of 
 the Christian Church at Hope. 
 
 J. D. Phillips was born in Pike County, Oa. , 
 December 1, 1S28, and is a son of Thomas G. 
 and Mary L. (Sessions) Phillips, both natives of 
 South Carolina. They made their residence in 
 Georgia, where the father died in 1867. The 
 mother's death occurred in 1868, while on her way 
 to this State. They had twelve chiklren, six of 
 whom are living, but only one, the subject of this 
 sketch, in this State. James D. was reared on a 
 farm until fifteen years of age, when he learned 
 the machinist's trade at Savannah, Ga. , and after 
 nine or ten months engaged in the saw and grist- 
 mill business in Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky. 
 He came to Craighead County, Ark., in March of 
 1861. and followed blacksmithing until 1871. He 
 went to Phillips County, where he remained but 
 two years, and then returned to Craighead, and 
 has since then been engaged in farming, at which 
 he has been very successful. He has been an ex- 
 tensive land holder in both this and Poinsett 
 Counties, and at present owns a farm of H'20 acres, 
 forty of which are under cultivation. He operated 
 the first saw-mill in Craighead County, thus in- 
 troducing one of the leading industries, and is one 
 of the oldest and most experienced mill men in the 
 county. He was married, September S), 1852, at 
 Chattanooga, Tenn., to Sarah A. McLemore, a 
 
^- 
 
 352 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 I. 
 
 native of East Tennessee. Their union has been 
 blessed with nine children: Josephine, Thomas, 
 James A. (was married to Melinda McCarty), 
 Henry C, Mary and Alonzo, all deceased, and 
 Eliza Virginia, Vestie A. and William R. Mrs. 
 Phillips and two daughters are members of the 
 Christian Valley Church. Mr. Phillips is a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic fraternity, and is greatly in- 
 terested in religious and educational matters. He 
 belongs to the Agricultural Wheel, and was among 
 the first and is one of the most prominent Wheelers 
 in the county. 
 
 Albert Pierce, of Jonesboro Township, is the 
 oldest living settler, in point of location, in Craig- 
 head County and Northeast Arkansas. He was 
 born in Giles County, Tenn., September 12, 1826, 
 and is the son of John Pierce, also a native of Ten- 
 nessee, who came to Arkansas in 1831, locating in 
 Poinsett (now Craighead) County. He was one of 
 the first settlers of the county, and took a deep 
 and active interest in its early formation. Though 
 a farmer by occupation, he hunted much in early 
 days, and devoted much time to stock raising. 
 He at one time owned 320 acres of land. His wife 
 was Nancy Maguire, also a native of Tennessee, 
 and of their ten children, seven are now living, 
 four daughters and three sons, all residents of this 
 coiinty. The father is dead, but the mother is 
 still living in full possession of all her mental and 
 physical faculties. She is eighty -three years of 
 age, and resides with her daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Cacry, widow of John Cacry. Albert Pierce was 
 but six years of age when he came with his father 
 to this county, and has lived within ten miles of 
 his present farm for almost sixty years. He had 
 no educational opportunities in childhood, but has 
 been an energetic farmer and stock raiser all his 
 life, the result of which is a large farm of ISO 
 acres, with 100 under cultivation. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Agricultural Wheel, and is a Democrat. 
 In 1844 he was married to Rebecca Simmons, a 
 daughter of Joseph and Sarah Simmons, residents 
 of this county. Of the ten children born to them 
 nine are yet living. They are Mary, wife of 
 Franklin Lee; Franklin, married Caroline Howell; 
 David, married Mrs. Emily Smith; Samuel, mar 
 
 ried Jane Lusk; John, married Mrs. Harriet Smith; 
 Joseph, married Sarah Smith; Nancy, wife of 
 Thomas Sheffield; Calvin and George. Mr. Pierce 
 is esteemed for his strict integrity, and has at- 
 tained a reputation among his many friends which 
 will live after him. 
 
 Robert W. Rains, a leading farmer of Jones- 
 boro Township, resides on his well-improved farm 
 three miles north of Jonesboro. His parents were 
 natives of Tennessee, in which State he was born 
 August 27, 1847. His father, Hugh G. Rains, 
 came to Craighead County, Ark. in the year 1871, 
 locating in Powell Township on a farm of 270 
 acres, 100 of which are improved, and resided 
 there until his death in 1872. He was a Mason 
 and was buried with Masonic honors. In his po- 
 litical convictions, he espoused the cause of the 
 Democratic party. He was married to Margaret 
 A. McCarns, who still resides on the old home- 
 stead; and of this union fourteen children were the 
 issue, of whom the following reached their majority: 
 Sarah, Cathaline, Robert W., John M.. Neal 
 B., James F., Alantha C, Margaret E. and Mar- 
 garet Ann and Lucinda J. (twins). Robert W. 
 Rains was reared in Tennessee, and was there 
 married November H, 18fi6, to Margaret E. Stiles, 
 a native of Tennessee, whose parents were Evan 
 and Polly Stiles, the latter deceased, the former 
 still residing in Tennessee. He lived with his 
 father for two years, then bought a farm near 
 Herndon and remained there for the same period. 
 Then he bought eighty acres of land near his moth- 
 er, and after three years there, went back to Ten- 
 nessee for a year. Returning to Arkansas, he en- 
 gaged in the saw and grist-mill business in Powell 
 Township for two years. He then bought his 
 present farm of 120 acres, and on this and his 
 farm of 128 acres has about sixty under cultiva- 
 tion. Mr. Rains has been married three times, 
 his second wife was Margaret M. Albright, and 
 his present wife who is a pious lady and a member 
 of the Methodist Church, South, was . Eugenia O. 
 Grigsby. Mr. Rains has had five children: Lee 
 Etta, Cicero D. , Margaret E., Ida C. (deceased) 
 and Kenneth W. He is a Mason, and a member 
 of the Missionary Baptist Church, has always 
 
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 353 
 
 been a Democrat ia politics, and was elected in 
 1888 justice of the peace of Jonesboro Township. 
 
 Emmet Rodders, editor of the Craighead 
 County Sun, is the oldest son of Calvin and Al- 
 media Rodgers, and was born in Jonesboro, Ark., 
 September 21, 1866. He attended the common 
 schools of Jonesboro until thirteen years of age, 
 and went the term of 1881-82 to the Judsori Uni- 
 versitj'. Until sixteen years of age, he engaged 
 in farm work, and assisted his parents in the 
 hotel. For three years he was a railroad brake- 
 man, and in the winter of 1887-88, engaged as 
 clerk in general mercantile business in Florida. 
 Returning home in May, he became interested 
 with Wrenn & Phelps, in publishing the Craig- 
 head County Sun, and Janu^ary 18, 1889, became 
 sole proprietor of that paper. He is one of 
 Jonesboro' s popular and promising young business 
 men, and has the talent and ability to accomplish 
 whatever he may undertake. 
 
 H. C. Roy, a prominent and substantial planter 
 of Craighead County, Ark., was born in the 
 county, and is one of its leading citizens. His 
 father, Jesse L. Roy, also a successful farmer, 
 was born in Tennessee, in 1828. He married 
 Emily C. Courtney, a native of Mississippi. In 
 the Mexican War he was a valiant soldier, and in the 
 late war was a captain in the Confederate ser- 
 vice. He participated in several engagements, 
 Helena being the most important. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic Lodge and has occupied many 
 of its official chairs, and is also connected with 
 the Agricultural Wheel. Both he and his wife are 
 highly respected citizens, and are zealous members 
 of the Methodist Church. Mr. Roy is a man of 
 sterling worth in the community, strong in his 
 political views and his convictions of right: and 
 as the fruits of his industry has a farm of 100 
 acres, about half of which is in a splendid state 
 of cultivation. 
 
 W'illiam D. Safley is well known and highly re- 
 spected throughout Buffalo Island Township as 
 one of its worthy and intelligent citizens, public- 
 spirited and of sterling integrity. He was born in 
 Staidey County, N. C. , in 1851, and is a son of 
 A\illiam B. and Mary Ann (Biles) Satiey, natives 
 
 of North Carolina, where they were reared, edu- 
 cated and married. In 1859 they came to East 
 Tennessee, locating on a farm in Cocke County, 
 where he died, but not until after espousing the 
 Southern cause, and serving valiantly in the Con- 
 federate army. The mother and family came to 
 Craighead County, Ark., in 1869, and located in 
 Powell Township, where they remained for several 
 years. In 1881 Mrs. Safley started for Oregon, 
 where she died the day after reaching Eugene City, 
 May 22 of the same year. She was a member of 
 the Baptist Church, and well liked by all who 
 knew her. Mr. and Mrs. Safley were the paients 
 of nine children, all of whom livcul to maturity, 
 and eight of whom are still living. They were Mrs. 
 Sarah E. Jackson (deceased), Thomas F., Mrs. 
 Mary L. Heritage, Alexander W., William D. (the 
 immediate subject of this sketch), Julius H., Mrs. 
 Rebecca E. Cox, Mrs. Margaret A. Yarlsrough and 
 Mrs. Edosia J. Hawthorne. William D. is the 
 fifth child, and has made his home in this State 
 since 1869. When twenty-four years of ago he 
 chose as his life companion Anna E. Stoddard, a 
 nativeof this State, who died March 16, 1888, leav- 
 ing a family of live children: David E. (deceased), 
 Sarah M., Joseph F., Rosa Lee and Lillie May. 
 Mr. Safley has since married Mrs. Sarah E. Meach- 
 iem, nee Foster, a native of Tennessee, who was 
 the mother of two children by her former marriage. 
 One of them, Willie, is deceased; the other, James 
 E., lives with his parents. Mrs. Satiey is a zeal- 
 ous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 Mr. Safley made a trij) to Oregon and other points 
 in 1888, and has seen a great deal of the world. 
 
 L. J. Salmons, a substantial farmer of Craig- 
 head County, was born in Cherokee County, Ala.. 
 April 14, 1839. His father. Jeremiah M. Sal- 
 mons, who was a native of Franklin County, Ga. , 
 and was educated in that State, was a farmer by 
 occupation, and had married Lucinda Waters, 
 born and reared in Georgia. Jeremiah M. Sal- 
 mons had five sons and five daughters, four of 
 whom live in this county. In polities he was a 
 Whig. L. J. Salmons was educated in Alabama 
 at the Lawrence school, and while yet a young 
 man came to Arkansas. In 1862 he entered the 
 
^- 
 
 354 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Confederate service, and was in several engage- 
 ments, receiving a number of wounds. He was 
 discharged in May of 1865, when he returned 
 home to his farm and devoted himself to its im- 
 ])rovement. December 19, 1867, he was imitedin 
 marriage with Nancy Christian, a native of Craig- 
 head County, Ark., born December 26, 1846, and 
 both he and his wife are zealous members of the 
 Baptist Church, and contribute liberally to its sup- 
 port. Mr. Salmons has about 1,880 acres of good 
 land, about 100 of which is very rich soil and the 
 best farming land. He has been justice of the 
 peace in Poinsett County, and has been for five 
 years a member of the school board of directors. 
 He is a prominent member of the Agricultural 
 Wheel, of which he was president for one year. 
 Having made a thorough study of mineralogy and 
 the locating of all kinds of minerals, and having 
 made research throughout the State and discovered 
 gold and other metals in more or less paying quan- 
 tities, he may be considered expert in all such 
 matters. 
 
 Anderson M. Self, a young and prosperous 
 planter of Craighead County, was born on Crow- 
 ley's Ridge in 1856. His father. Noble Self, was 
 a native of Alabama, but has been a resident of 
 Craighead County since 1840, at which time his 
 parents located on ' ' The Ridge, ' ' where he grew 
 to manhood and married Miss Emily Mountz, a 
 native of Illinois. He was a soldier in the Mexi- 
 can War, and served in the Confederate army 
 during the War of the Rebellion, seeing consid- 
 erable active service in both wars. Three chil- 
 dren were born to his union with Miss Mountz: 
 Thomas, Anderson M. and one that died in in- 
 fancy. Mrs. Self died July 3, 1858, and Mr. 
 Self, by a subsequent marriage, is the father of 
 ten children. He is still a resident of Craighead 
 County, and one of its earliest and best- known 
 citizens. Anderson M. was reared upon his 
 father's farm, receiving but a rudimentary educa- 
 tion. He began life's duties for himself at twen- 
 ty-one years of age, with no capital, but plenty of 
 energy and native ability. He located on his pres- 
 ent place in the fall of 1879, and soon after was 
 united in marriage with Miss Rebecca, daughter 
 
 of Allen Smith, and a native of Georgia. To this 
 union have been born three children: William. 
 Maude and James. Mr. Self owns 234 acres of 
 land, with 135 under cultivation. He also owns and 
 operates a cotton-gin, which, in 1887, turned out 
 124 bales, and, in 1888, 205 bales. He is a push- 
 ing, energetic and thrifty farmer and business man, 
 and has, for the most part, gained what he has by 
 his own endeavors. Mrs. Self is a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Stephen Sheltcn, an enterprising farmer and 
 influential citizen of Craighead County, Ark. , was 
 born in Jackson County, Miss., September 22, 
 1826. His parents, Stephen and Matilda (Martin) 
 Shelton, both natives of the "Old Dominion," 
 were of Welsh and German descent. Stephen 
 Shelton, Sr. , a physician by profession, in 1828 
 moved his family to Arkansas, and located in St. 
 Francis County, but being displeased with the 
 locality, removed to Mississippi. Later he came 
 again to Arkansas, this time selecting a situation 
 at the mouth of Big Bay, near the site of Witts- 
 burg. After practicing his profession there for a 
 year, he moved fifty miles, near where Harrisburg 
 is now located, twenty years later to near the 
 southern line of this county, where after two years 
 he died. He was one of the earliest and most 
 noted physicians of Arkansas, then a Territory, and 
 patients from hundreds of miles around were 
 brought to him for medical and surgical aid. He 
 is the father of seven children, but only one is now 
 living, one having died before and five after the 
 father's coming to Arkansas. After the husband's 
 death, the mother brought her family to Craighead 
 County, and here resided until 1863, when trouble 
 over the Civil War caused her death. She was about 
 seventy years old. Stephen Shelton was mostly 
 reared in the Territory and State of Arkansas, his 
 widowed mother giving him the best education the 
 country afforded. He had no taste for medicine 
 or surgery, but was reared on a farm and has been 
 engaged in farming all his life. He now owns 197 
 acres of land five miles south of Jonesboro, about 
 ninety acres of whicti are under cultivation. While 
 this section was a portion of Poinsett County, Mr. 
 Shelton was deputy internal improvement com- 
 
 17^ 
 
missioner, was also deputy sherifl and constable, 
 and for four years a preacher of the Christian 
 douomination. He was once offered license, but 
 not deeming himself sufficiently qualified, he 
 thought best to decline. Mr. Shelton is and has 
 always been a Repul^lican in politics, and has once 
 been constable of Jonesboro Township. He mar- 
 ried Mahalia McCracken, daughter of Aquilla and 
 Nancy (Lane) McCracken, and to them have been 
 born the following named children: Matilda J., wife 
 of L. T. McDanield, of Gilkerson; Eliza P., wife 
 of G. Edgar, residing near Jonesboro; Mary A., 
 wife of Prof. Walter E. Dean, educator, of Smith 
 County, Tex. : Thomas B. , Nancy J., George W. , 
 Louisa, Belle, Stephen A., Francis M. N. and 
 William D. Mr. Shelton was quite a noted and 
 successful hunter of early times. He is a member 
 of the I. O. O. F., a practical and self-made man, 
 and one of the county's earliest and most worthy 
 citizens. 
 
 William Stephen Shores, a prominent planter 
 of Jonesboro Township, was born in Poinsett 
 County, January 17, 1842. His father, a retired 
 farmer of the same township, and one of the 
 oldest settlers in what is now Craighead Coiinty, 
 was born in St. Clair County, Ala., March 2, 1815. 
 The paternal grandparents were William and Mary 
 (Pipes) Shores, natives most probably of Alabama. 
 William Shores was a soldier imder Gen. Jackson, 
 and fought in the battle of New Orleans, was 
 taken sick in that city and died in 1815. His 
 widow subsequently removed with the family to 
 Wayne County, 111., near the Little Wabash River, 
 where she died about 1825. About 18;'0 the family 
 came to Arkansas Territory and located in Poinsett 
 (now Craighead) County. In those early days 
 game was very plentiful, and Calvin — then about 
 fifteen years of age — worked hard on the farm and 
 had great sport hunting all kinds of wild game. 
 Mciiipliis, the nearest trading point, being seventy- 
 five miles, they had to grate corn and beat it in 
 mortal's to get corn-meal, and were subject to the 
 many hardships and priviitions incident to pioneer 
 life. When he grew to manhood, he bought 160 
 acres of land in Poinsett County, where he lived 
 twenty-five years. Just before the Civil War he 
 
 moved to his present location, where he entered 
 eighty acres of land and has since added 200 acres. 
 The ground was covered with a dense forest, so that 
 he and Sol McDaniel took axes and cut a road to 
 enable him to move to his home. By energy, 
 economy and thrift, he has cleared over 150 acres 
 of land and become one of the foremost farmers of 
 the county. He now owns 160 acres, having 
 given to his boys the remainder. He has lived in 
 Arkansas about sixty years, but this last year 
 gave up the cultivation of the farm to his youngest 
 son, Andrew. He has been married four times, his 
 last marriage being with Mrs. Emmaline (Suffell) 
 Nelson, a native of Mississippi. Her parents, 
 Zachariah and Susannah (Cornelius) Suffell, came 
 to Arkansas about thirty-two years ago, locating 
 two miles southwest of Jonesboro. The mother 
 died February 0, 1884, and the father July 4, 
 1871. Mr. Shore has been the father of sixteen 
 children: William S. (subject of this sketch), mar- 
 ried and living on part of the old homestead; Levi, 
 married to Olie Hopkins, living near the home 
 stead; Webb, married to Lane Shelton; Mary, wife 
 of William McGown; Eliza, wife of Lewis Lynch: 
 Alice, wife of Sam Gridsinger: George married 
 to Edna Nealy; Thomas and Andrew, living. He 
 has thirty grandchildren and two great-grandchil- 
 dren (one living). Mrs. Shore was formerly a 
 a member of the Methodist Church, but is now a 
 member of the Christian Church, of which her 
 husband has been a member for about twelve 
 years. Williiim Stephen Shores resided with his 
 father until his marriage with Aily McGown, who 
 died a few years later. H^e then married Fanny 
 H. Duke. To them have been born eight children, 
 five living: John C, Marshall A., Alivia H. , 
 Thomas H. and Laudie L. Mrs. Shores is a 
 member of the Baptist Church, a devout Christian 
 and a charitable lady. Mr. Shores owns a well- 
 imj)roved farm, is a Republican in politics, and 
 was a member of Company A, Thirteenth Arkan- 
 sas Infantry, serving in Col. Lyle's regiment about 
 seventeen months. Having had but limited educa- 
 tional advantages themselves, and realizing its 
 gi-eat importance, both he and his wife are striving 
 to give their cliildren a thorough education. 
 
^1 
 
 356 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 John M. Sipes. a lumber manufacturer of Buf- 
 falo Island, is a native of Missouri, born in Bu- 
 chanan County, July 18, 1840. His parents, Eli 
 and Christina (Rhynes) Sipes, the former born and 
 reared in Pennsylvania, the latter in South Caro- 
 lina, were married in Perry County. Mo. Mr. 
 Sipes was one of the pioneer settlers of Buchanan 
 County, Mo., having gone there in 1830. In 1856 
 he moved to Greene County and remained there 
 until his death in 1859. John M. grew to manhood 
 in Missouri, and resided in Buchanan, Perry, 
 Greene, Webster and Barton Counties. He re- 
 mained on the home farm until his father's death. 
 In 1861 he entered the Confederate service, enlist- 
 ing in the Eighth Arkansas Infantry, and served 
 until the final surrender. He participated in the 
 battles of Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chat- 
 tanooga, and many lesser engagements. He was 
 never wounded, taken prisoner, nor lost a day from 
 service. After the war he remained for a time in 
 Arkansas, then went to Missouri. In 1866 he set- 
 tled in Craighead County, Ark. , where he has since 
 resided. When, in 1868, he bought his jjresent 
 farm, it was but little improved; now he has 120 
 acres, 112 under fence, with a ver^' good house and 
 out buiklings. Mr. Sipes began operating a grist- 
 mill and cotton-gin in 1881, which burned down in 
 1887. He then put up a steam saw-mill and cot- 
 ton-gin, which has proved a very successful enter- 
 prise. In the spring of 1865 he married Nancy J. 
 Smith, a native of Kentucky, whose parents died 
 while she was yet a child. This union has been 
 blessed with six children: Joel, Serena, George 
 W., Rose Ann, Julia C. and Henry. Mr. Sipes is 
 a member of the I. O. O. F., and has held all the 
 chairs of the subordinate lodge. 
 
 William S. Skelton was born in Tennessee, 
 July 14, 1857, and is now one of the leading 
 farmers and stock raisers of Buffalo Island. His 
 parents were John M. and A. C. (Stoddard) Skel- 
 ton, natives of Alabama. The family came to 
 Arkansas in 1860, locating near Wittsburg, where 
 they remained for about four years and then came 
 to Craighead County, locating first on Cane Island 
 and later on BufPalo Island. Here Mr. Skelton 
 died in 1882, and his wife, since married to G. W. 
 
 Finch, still resides on the old homestead. William 
 S. Skelton is the second of the family of twelve 
 children, seven of whom are now living, three hav- 
 ing died in infancy and the others after reaching 
 maturity. He grew up in Craighead County and 
 began farming on his own responsibility when 
 nineteen years of age, when, July 6, 1876, he mar- 
 ried Dora A. Goss, a native of this State, who died 
 the next year, 1877. He farmed on the homestead 
 some time and in 1879 settled on his present farm, 
 then in heavy timber. Now he has under cultiva- 
 tion forty-eight acres of splendid land, and has 
 built him a good home. He also owns one-quar- 
 ter interest in the Lumsford & Co. cotton-gin. 
 For his second wife he chose Rebecca E. Richard- 
 son, and their union has been blessed with four 
 children: Jodella, Jonathan N. , James T. and 
 Paul W. Mr. Skelton is progressive and influential, 
 and his wife is a member of the Methodist Church. 
 Allen Springer, merchant and postmaster at 
 Lake City, and a prominent farmer of Buffalo 
 Island, is a native of Indiana, born in Crawford 
 County, of that State, January 4, 1843. His 
 parents, Elihu and Mahulda (Pearson) Springer, 
 both natives of Indiana, were reared and married 
 in that State, and there resided until the death of 
 the former in 1852. Mrs. Springer still survives 
 her husband, who was a prominent farmer and 
 esteemed by all as a worthy citizen of the county. 
 Allen Springer, at his father's death a boy nine 
 years of age, grew to manhood in his native county, 
 receiving his education at the county schools; and 
 in July of 1861 enlisted in the Indiana Infantr}-, 
 and served until mustered out at Indianapolis, 
 July 29, 1865. He participated in many engage- 
 ments, among them Shiloh, Champion's Hill, siege 
 and surrender of Vicksburg, siege and surrender 
 of Atlanta, was with Sherman in his memorable 
 march to the sea, and his last engagement at 
 Goldsboro. During his entire service he received 
 but one slight wound, at the siege of Vicks- 
 burg. He participated in the grand review at 
 Washington, and when peace was restored re- 
 turned to Indiana, and engaged in boating on the 
 Ohio and Mississippi rivers until 1870, when he 
 came to Arkansas. He located in Lee Countv and 
 
 ^ 
 
 -* e> 
 
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 357 
 
 there engaged in milling for two years, then went 
 to Howard County, Kas. , and farmed one year, then 
 came to Craighead County, Ark., locating on Buf- 
 falo Island. Here he followed farming until 1880, 
 when he moved to Lake City, where he continued 
 the same occupation. In 1885 he purchased an 
 established mercantile business, and keeps a good 
 stock of dry goods, clothing, boots, shoes, hats, 
 caps, implements, etc. At merchandising he has 
 been very successful, doing an annual business of 
 $15,000. He was appointed postma.ster in 1888. 
 June 7, 1867, he was united in marriage with 
 Nancy Ellen Walker, a native of Indiana, born and 
 reared in Crawford County. She died in 1880, 
 leaving two children, Samuel E. and Percy, both 
 promising young men. Mr. Springer married his 
 present wife, whose maiden name was Emily Cum- 
 mings, in December, 1887, in Kearney County, 
 Kas. She is a native of Indiana, and was in child- 
 hood a schoolmate of Mr. Springer. She is a con- 
 sistent member of the Methodist Church. Mr. 
 Springer owns one farm of 240 acres on Buffalo 
 Island, with 125 acres cleared, and in his home 
 place has 235 acres, with about eighty under cul- 
 tivation. He has also 200 acres of timbered land. 
 All this property and all that he has, he owes to his 
 own perseverance, industry and excellent manage- 
 ment. He is a lloyal Arch Mason, and is Master 
 of the Lake City lodge. 
 
 John H. Stephens is a substantial farmer of 
 Craighead County, and was born in Bedford Coun- 
 ty, Tenn., June 7, 1826. His father, Wiley Steph- 
 ens, was a native of North Carolina, and a vei-y 
 successful farmer until his death in 1873. His 
 mother, Mildred (Carlisle) Stephens, was also a na- 
 tive of North Carolina, and both .she and her hus- 
 band lived consistent Christian lives, and were 
 members of the Baptist Church. After her hus- 
 band's death, she was married to H. Smith, and 
 died in 1886. J. H. Stephens was the eldest of 
 eight children, only two others, William S. and 
 Leander, the youngest, now living. He has 2it5 
 acres of land, half of which is very rich farming 
 land, and of this he has cleared about eighty acres. 
 He also gives much attention to stock raising, and 
 owns many tine horses, mules, and Poland-China 
 
 hogs. He is a Mason, and a member of the Grange, 
 and is popular among his many friends. Both 
 he and his wife, who is a meml)er of the Methodist 
 Church, are liberal to all progressive enterprises. 
 
 Arnold Stotts. Joshua and Rebecca (Thomas) 
 Stotts, the paternal grandparents of our subject, 
 were natives of Virginia and North Carolina, re- 
 spectively, and after their marriage remained some 
 time in Virginia, and in 1810 went to AVilson 
 County, Tenn., and in 1827 went farther west to 
 Perry County, where the husband died the same 
 year. Mrs. Stotts married a second time, and 
 about 1850 came to Arkansas, locating near Jones- 
 boro, now Craighead County, where she died about 
 1853 at the age of ninety-eight years. Of the 
 nine children born to this union only one is now 
 living, William Stotts, one of the oldest and most 
 highly respected citizens of the island. He was 
 born in Wythe County, Va., in 1802, and, being 
 but a child when his parents moved to Tennessee, 
 grew to manhood in Tennessee. In 1S43, he came 
 by wagon to Arkansas, and located in what is now 
 Craighead County, below Jonesboro, where he re- 
 mained till 1878, when he moved to Buffalo Island, 
 where he has since resided. He was first married 
 in 1830 to Frances Thomason, a native of North 
 Carolina, who died February 12, 1877, aged fifty- 
 three years. By this union there were nine chil- 
 dren, four of whom are still living: Arnold, Eliz- 
 abeth (widow of John Garrett), Wiley and Mrs. 
 Sarah Itandson. Those deceased are William, 
 Rebecca A., John and two infants. Mr. Stotts' 
 second wife was Mrs. Tempie Cannon, nee Morgan, 
 and both of them are members of the Baptist 
 Church. Mr. Stotts has a small farm of forty 
 acres, with twenty-eight under cultivation, which 
 he cultivates himself and uj)on which ho makes his 
 living and clears about .f500 per year. Arnold 
 Stotts, the oldest child of William, and the imme- 
 diate subject of this sketch, is a merchant and 
 farmer of Stottsville and also owner and proprietor 
 of a cotton-gin and saw and grist-mill. He was 
 born in Perry County, Tenn., in October, 1N31. 
 and was but twelve years of age when his parents 
 came to this State. July 18. 1851, he was united in 
 marriage with Cynthia Mattox, l)orn near (iaiiies 
 
A 
 
 o *^ 
 
 -« — ^'i 
 
 358 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ville, Ark. . and daughter of Edward Mattox. This 
 union has been blessed with five childi-en: Mary 
 Ann (wife of J. Tonson), James, Amanda (wife of 
 Richard Mangrum). "William and Alabama (wife of 
 Walter Skelton). All are married and live around 
 the home place. After his marriage Mr. Stotts lo- 
 cated near Jonesboro, and in 1863 moved to Buffalo 
 Island, and in 1881 to his present place. He owns 
 580 acres of land, and on his home place 320 acres, 
 with 100 under cultivation. In 1874 he began 
 merchandising, and in 1876 put up a cotton gin, a 
 year later adding a saw and grist-mill. He has 
 also a blacksmith shop. When he located on the 
 island there were but four families residing on it, 
 and he has killed deer and bears in numbers. He 
 raised the first cotton crop ever made on the island, 
 and the first year he built his gin, ginned sixty-five 
 bales of cotton, and in 1888 ginned 378 bales. He 
 is one of the leading citizens of the community, and 
 is eminently a self-made man. Mrs. Stotts is a 
 charitable lady and a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South. 
 
 J. M. Stotts. postmaster of Dee, and a farmer 
 of Greenfield Township, is a native of Craighead 
 County, born December '28, 1842. His parents, 
 Andrew J. and Mary Ann (Crowder) Stotts, wore 
 among the first settlers of Craighead County, com- 
 ing from Tennessee, their native State, in 1836. 
 The father died in 1852, the mother five or six 
 years later. These parents had nine children, five 
 living and residents of this county: William, mar- 
 ried to Caroline Pierce; Martha, wife of Abner 
 Patterson; A. J. Stotts, married to Mila Ann 
 Rickles; Thomas, married to Lena Freeman, and 
 J. M. Stotts, the subject of this sketch. Mi-. 
 Stotts was reared in this county, and received a 
 fair common-school education, the war breaking 
 out when he was yet a boy. When about seven- 
 teen years of age he entered the Confederate army, 
 Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry, and served two 
 years. On Christmas day, 1865, he was united in 
 marriage with Sarah Ann Bishop, a daughter of 
 Jones and Margaret (Holland) Bishop, both of 
 whom are natives of Georgia, and came to Arkan- 
 sas in the spring of 1861. The father is deceased, 
 but the mother is still living, and is about fifty 
 
 years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Stotts were born 
 nine children, four of whom are deceased; Abra- 
 ham, Hiram. Andy J. and Mary Ann. The living 
 are William Levi, James Warner. Sarah Ann. 
 Marietta and Hattie. Since his marriage Mr. 
 Stotts has been engaged in farming, and now owns 
 a well-improved farm of fifty acres, mostly under 
 cultivation. He was for four years a merchant of 
 Dee, and in November, 1882, was appointed post- 
 master, which office he has since held. He is a 
 member of Harrisburg Lodge No. 77, I. O. O. F., 
 and both he and his wife are members of the 
 Christian Valley Church. 
 
 Albert F. Taylor, one of the most extensive 
 farmers and stock dealers of Craighead County, 
 was born in Henderson County, Tenn., in 1824. 
 His parents, Abner and Mary (Baker) Taylor, 
 were natives of East Tennessee, where the father 
 was a prosperous and successful farmer. About 
 1820 they moved to Western Tennessee, where, 
 being owner of a number of slaves, he engaged ex- 
 tensively in farming. The father died in the 
 "Old Volunteer State," and the mother came with 
 her family to Arkansas, where she died a few years 
 thereafter. They were the parents of four chil- 
 dren, Albert F. being the second child, and the 
 only one now living. He came with his mother to 
 Arkansas in 1838. and located on Crowley's Ridge, 
 now in this county, where he remained for six 
 years, and then moved to Maumelle Prairie, near 
 where he is now living. There he purchased and 
 improved a large farm, and remained on it for six- 
 teen years, and then came to his present location. 
 Since coming to this county he has put in cultiva- 
 tion over 600 acres of land, and now owns over 3, 000 
 acres, with about 500 on the home place, where 
 there are forty acres in clover and timothy meadow, 
 good residence, tenant house, orchards and barns. 
 He has 150 head of cattle, and in connection with 
 his farm operates a cotton-gin. He was married 
 in 1852 to Elizabeth Snodderly, born in Tennessee, 
 who is the mother of seven childi'en, one, Jennie, 
 deceased. Those living are Alanson L., Fer- 
 gus W., William, Albert F., Jr., John P. and 
 Thomas W. Mr. Taylor is a member of the A. F. 
 & A. M. , is a Democrat in politics, and in the late 
 
 "71 
 
war served eighteen months in the Confederate 
 army. 
 
 D. H. Thorn, of Jonesboro, a prouiinent and 
 prosperous farmer of Craighead County, was horn 
 in York District, S. C, September 1, 1836. His 
 parents, Jesse and Frances (Miller) Thorn, were 
 both natives of South Carolina. The paternal 
 grandfather, Hezekiah Thorn, also a native of 
 ' ' The Palmetto State, " ' was a farmer by occupa- 
 tion, and died in the State of his nativity. The 
 maternal grandfather, Jacob Miller, also a farmer, 
 went from South Carolina to Kentucky, in an 
 early day and there died. Jesse Thorn went to 
 Calloway County, Ky., about 1838, and in 1844 
 came to Craighead (then Poinsett) County, Ark., 
 and located twelve miles south of the present site 
 of Jonesboro. There he remained until 1850, 
 when he removed to what is known as East Bot- 
 tom, where he settled in the woods, building a lit- 
 tle log cabin with clapboard roof and door, and 
 puncheon floor. They were subjected to all the 
 privations and hardships incident to pioneer life, 
 using all manner of crude contrivances for making 
 lueal, wearing bome-spun and home-made cloth- 
 ing, and, with Memphis as the nearest market, 
 hauling there all produce with wagons and ox- 
 teams. Jesse Thorn was the first school teacher 
 in the county, would make his croji and then teach 
 a subscription school for the remainder of the 
 year. He taught for several years, and died in 
 this county in 1873, his wife having died two 
 years previously. They were the parents of thir- 
 teen children, only six of whom are now living: 
 John N. , Alsey S. , Dawson H. , Martha (wife of 
 G. W. Hubbs), Sarah (wife of Abraham Brown), 
 Caledonia (wife of William Guinn). One brother, 
 M'illiam, was killed during the war. D. H. 
 Thorn was l)ut ten years of age when he came 
 with his parents to Arkansas, and, until his mar- 
 riage, remained with his father assisting in clear- 
 ing the farm, and then settled near the old home- 
 stead where he resided until 1869. He then 
 moved to Jonesboro, where he is now living in his 
 second house in Arkansas. In 1874 he was elected 
 sheriff of Craighead County, and was re-elected 
 each successive election until 188(1. He has served 
 
 four years as deputy sheriff, has been constable 
 and justice of the peace, and has been thirteen 
 times a candidate for minor offices, and been each 
 time elected. He is one of the most extensive land 
 owners in the county, and has about 2,000 acres 
 of land with 500 under cultivation, and has also a 
 large stock farm known as the Miller Mounds. 
 His especial attention is now given to the raising 
 of fine stock. For twelve years he has been en- 
 gaged in the manufacture of lumber, owning two 
 fine large saw-mills. He was first married in 1858 
 to Eliza Ford, a native of Teimessee, and they are 
 the parents of three children, all married: Will- 
 iam T., Dawson H. and John N. He was again 
 married in 1876, to Cora Henson, also a native of 
 Tennessee, a consistent Christian and member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Thorn is a 
 member of the Masonic fraternity, and a leading 
 citizen of the county. Having l)een a pioneer 
 citizen, he has witnessed the rapid gi-owth and de- 
 velopment of the county, the change from a cane 
 brake to the thriving little city of Jonesboro. By 
 industry, thrift and economy, he has accumulated 
 a competency, and can now enjoy the fruits of his 
 toil. 
 
 L. G. Thornton, a fariner of Jonesboro Town- 
 ship, has been a resident of Craighead County for 
 twenty-five years. He was born in Wayne Coimty, 
 Tenn., October 17, 1827. His parents, Hosea and 
 Catherine (Hendrix) Thornton, were both natives 
 of the old ' ' Volunteer State. ' ' They were the 
 parents of five children, foiir sons and one daugh- 
 ter, L. G. l)eing the second child. The father died 
 of consumjition when the sul)ject of this sketch was 
 nine years of age, and the mother was married 
 again, to John Baker. They moved to Arkansas 
 just before the War of the Kebellion, and located 
 in Izard County. Mr. Baker gave his life for the 
 Confederate cause, was taken prisoner, and died 
 in prison at Little Rock. The mother died in 
 Izard County, in 1881, aged seventy-nine years. 
 L. G. Thornton was reared on a farm, grew to 
 manhood there, and was married Xovemlier 7, 
 1844, to Cynthia Ballard, a native of Hardin Coun- 
 ty, Tenn. Her parents were Williford and Cath- 
 erine (Carr) Ballard; the former died in Tennessee, 
 
360 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 and Mrs. Ballard subsequently removed to Izard 
 County, -where she died in 1855. They were the 
 parents of four children, three daughters and one 
 son. Mr. Thornton removed to this State in 1 849, 
 coming by wagon and water, and settled on a farm 
 of 160 acres in Izard County, at that time nearly 
 all timbered, cleared it up, and lived in that set- 
 tlement until 1865. He served bravely as a Con- 
 federate soldier, being a member of Col. Freeman's 
 regiment, and Capt. Meadows" company. In 
 December of 1864 he started for Craighead County, 
 arriving January 1, 1865: rented for one year, 
 then bought his present farm of ISO acres, on 
 which he has since lived. By dint of hard work 
 and perseverance he has cleared about 100 acres, 
 most of which he rents, himself at present farming 
 only forty acres. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton are the 
 parents of ten children, four of them living: Mar- 
 tha Ann, Henry C. (married to Amanda Garrett, and 
 living in Jonesboro), James M. (married to Mary 
 Travis, and lives on the old homestead), Lewis S. 
 (married to Mary Wood, and is a prominent physi- 
 cian of Big Bay Station). Those deceased were 
 Mary, Sparling, William, Lucy and two daughters 
 who died in infancy. At the time of his death, 
 April 18, 1880, Sparling was a prominent young 
 man of twenty five, and at that time county clerk 
 of Cross County. While a citizen of Izard County 
 Mr. Thornton was justice of the peace and consta- 
 ble. He is a Democrat, has held local positions of 
 honor and trust, and is a practical farmer and pro- 
 gressive citizen. 
 
 Francis H. Varner, whose extensive farm is 
 second to but one on Buffalo Island, was born in 
 Dunklin County, Mo., September 6, 1842, and is 
 the son of Thomas Varner, a native of Georgia. 
 The father's first wife lived but a short time, and 
 he was afterward married to Susan Moore, a na- 
 tive of Virginia. . They were married in Dunklin 
 County and there engaged in farming for several 
 years, but soon after the birth of Francis H. 
 moved to Buffalo Island, in 1844. Here the 
 father engaged in farming, besides practicing 
 his profession as physician and surgeon until his 
 death, July 3, 1876. His wife survived him sev- 
 eral years, dying January 30, 1SS5.. Francis H. 
 
 is the oldest of the family of seven children — five 
 boys and two girls — all of whom are now living 
 and residents of this island. He was actively em- 
 ployed on the farm until after his father's death, 
 and educational advantages being at that time very 
 limited received but a meager education. He has 
 improved several large farms and of 800 acres has 
 about 175 cleared, and has also a good residence 
 and outbuildings. In connection with his farm he 
 has a cotton-gin and grist mill. In the latter part 
 of the late war he entered the Confederate service, 
 and surrendered at Wittsburg, Ark. April 13, 
 1867, he married Tennie C. Lambert, who was a 
 native of Tennessee, but was reared in Arkansas. 
 She died June 10, 1883, leaving the following chil- 
 dren: Mary Ann (wife of Dawson Brooks), born 
 January 30, 1868; William T., born January 25, 
 1870; Corintha J., born October 23, 1873; Tabi- 
 tha E., born July 28, 1876, and Ava V., born Au- 
 gust 9, 1879. Two children died in infancy. De- 
 cember 24, 1885, he was married to Margaret Arm- 
 strong, nee Privett, who is a native of Alabama and 
 the widow of W. J. Armstrong. She is the daugh- 
 ter of A. R. Privett, who was born in North Caro- 
 lina March 19, 1806. and died in Union County, 
 Miss., December 24, 1877. Mr. Varner is a mem- 
 ber of the Christian Church and his wife of the 
 Methodist Episcopal. 
 
 S. A. Warner, president of the Bank of Jones- 
 boro, is a native of Obion County, Tenn., born 
 December 17, 1848. His father, S. A. Warner, 
 was born in North Carolina, March 26, 1800, and 
 in early life moved to Tennessee, where in 1828 
 he was united in marriage with Miss Martha A. 
 Mosley, a native of Charlotte County, Va. They 
 then resided for several years at Dresden, Weak- 
 ley County, Tenn., where the father was an attor- 
 ney in early life, and was popular and successful 
 in his profession. After retiring from his profes 
 sion, he engaged extensively in agricultural pur- 
 suits. In ]8r)9 he came to Craighead County, 
 Ark., locating about three and one half miles from' 
 Jonesboro. Here he purchased a vast amount of 
 land, and at his death in October, 1887, owned 
 several hundred acres. He served with distinc- 
 tion as a soldier under Jackson, and was a major 
 
 yz 
 

 CRAIGHEAD COUNTY. 
 
 361 
 
 ill his ar uy. Mrs. Warner died January 15, 1884. 
 They w(Te the parents of ten children, live of 
 whom a;e now living: Martha A. (widow of Dr. 
 J. D. Hdlis), Mary S. (widow of W. A. Brevard, 
 of Hickman, Ky.), Hiilda A., (widow of T. J. Rat- 
 cliffe), "^'irginia E. (wife of \\. H. Cate) and Sam- 
 uel A. One son, John Robert, a soldier in the 
 late wai', over-exerted himself during the evacua- 
 tion of Memphis, and died while in service. Sam- 
 uel A. vas but nine years of age when his parents 
 came to Craighead County, and here he grew to 
 manhood, i^^ceiving a good education in the Jones- 
 boro schools. When twenty years of age, he be- 
 gan the study of law, attended the St. Louis law 
 school, and in 1870 was admitted to the bar. He 
 entered a partnership with W. H. Cate, and began 
 the practice of his profession. This partnership 
 continued until 1S82, when it was dissolved, and 
 Mr. Warner continued the practice alone. Though 
 for many years a successful lawyer, he has now 
 practically retired from his profession, and has 
 turned his attention to commercial pursuits. He 
 rypreseuts R. G. Dun & Cos.' Commercial Agen- 
 cy of all the large cities, Wilbur Commercial 
 jigency of Chicago, and Northwestern of New 
 York. He was elected in 1879 to represent his 
 county in the State legislature, serving one term. 
 Mr. Warner is a large property holder, and has 
 been extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits, 
 and now has about 300 acres of good land under 
 cultivation. He has valuable town property, his 
 residence, a magnificent brick, being the finest in 
 the city. It was built at a cost of $15,000, and 
 has all modern improvements, heated by steam, 
 lighted by gas, furnished with hot and cold water, 
 etc. In 1874 Miss Sarah J. Culberhouse became 
 his wife, and two children are the fruits of this 
 .icion: Samuel A. and Thomas D. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Warner are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, and are prominent and popular 
 members of society. Having the public interest 
 in view, Mr. Warner is foremost in the support of 
 charitable, progressive and praiseworthy enter- 
 prises. 
 
 Rev. William Y. M. Wilkerson, a minister of 
 the Christian denomination, and deputy clerk of 
 
 Craighead County, wiis born in Lawrence (now 
 Sharp) County, Ark., in 1844, and is a son of 
 Purvey Wilkerson, a native of North Carolina. 
 The father was reared in Illinois, but came to Ar- 
 kansas in 18:^(), and married while here, returning 
 the same j'ear to Illinois, where he remained for 
 .six years. He then returned to Arkansas, locating 
 in what is now Sharp County, where he improved 
 a large farm, on which he resided until 1863, when 
 he again returned to Illinois. Three years later 
 he started to return to his home in Arkansas, but, 
 before reaching here, died in Perry County, Mo., 
 November 24, 1866. He was devoted to the cause 
 of his Master, and was a deacon in the Baptist 
 Chnrch. The mother is an estimable lady, and 
 still resides in Sharp County, of which she is a 
 native, born in 1821. Our subject and Benjamin 
 W. are the only survivors of the family of seven 
 children. William Y. M. has spent all but tive 
 years of his life in this State, and in his youth 
 attended school and assisted on the farm. In the 
 War of the Rebellion he served in the Union army, 
 enlisting first in the Third Missouri Militia, and 
 later in the Fourteentli Missouri Volunteers. He 
 saw much active service, and was slightly wounded 
 at Licking, Mo. After the surrender he went to 
 Franklin County, 111., and attended high school 
 one year, when he returned to Arkansas, and fol- 
 lowed farming and school teaching until 1884, 
 when he was elected deputy clerk, to which office 
 he has since been three times elected. He is a 
 Republican in politics, but stands so high in pop- 
 ular favor that he has l)een four times elected in a 
 county where there are twenty Democrats to one 
 Republican. Mr. Wilkerson was married in 1876 
 to Miss Morrilla T. Herren, a native of Alabama, 
 and to this union have been born five children: 
 Rebecca E. , Henry M., William A. W., James B. 
 P. and Clarkie G. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkerson are 
 members of the Christian Church, and he has V)een 
 an ordained minister of that denomination since 
 November 20, 1870. He professed religion in 
 1800, and since that time has given twenty years 
 to the ministry of the Gospel. He located in this 
 county in 1880, and, through his kindness to the 
 poor, thoughtful consideration of his fellow men. 
 
•f* 
 
 362 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 fervent piety and devotion to his Master's cause, 
 he has won an enviable and lasting popularity. 
 
 Jacoli ^Villiams, a thrifty, self-made farmer of 
 Buffalo Island, was born in Cumberland County, 
 Tenn., in 1829. and is the fifth child of Caleb and 
 Lucy (Jones) Williams, natives of Virginia. The 
 father was born in 1797, and when a young man 
 moved to Kentucky, where he engaged in farming 
 for several ypars. His wife died aliont the close 
 of the war, but he, though quite helpless, is still 
 living. They had eleven children, and all but 
 two lived to be grown. Jacob Williams was 
 reared on a farm, and had but limited educational 
 advantages, but through wide practical knowl- 
 edge, has made himself what he is. When twen- 
 ty-one years of age, he began farming for him- 
 self in Cumberland Coimty, where he remained 
 until 185(5, when he moved to West Tennessee. 
 In 1867, he came to Arkansas, locating on Buffalo 
 Island. From heavy woodland, he has cleared 
 100 acres, and now owns 200, all of which, by his 
 own industry, thrift and economy, he has made 
 since coming to this State. In 1849 he was united 
 in marriage with Mary Smith, a native of Virginia, 
 and thoy are the parents of two sons. Dr. Joseph 
 M. and Clarence W. They are highly esteemed 
 in the community in which they live for their 
 strict piety and sterling worth. Mr. Williams and 
 family are members of the Methodist Church. 
 
 George W. Wilson is a native of Craighead 
 County. Ark. , where he still resides, and occupies 
 a prominent position among its farmers. His fa- 
 ther, also George W. Wilson, was liorn in South 
 Carolina, July 30, 1829, was educated in that 
 State, and followed farming very successfully. 
 November 12. 1854, he married Martha Loftis, 
 born in South Carolina, and daughter of Morris 
 and Priscilla (Cantrel) Loftis, who are the parents 
 of eleven children, seven of whom are living in 
 this State. He was a member of the Baptist 
 Church, and died September 7. 1859. George 
 W. Wilson, the immediate subject of this sketch, 
 received his education in Jonosboro, Ark., and 
 married Sarah Stroud, a native of Tennessee, 
 and daughter of Anderson and Sarah Stroud, na- 
 tives of the same State, who ''ame to Arkansas in 
 
 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are the parents of 
 three children: Alvan D., Levi T. nnd Varina G. 
 Mr. Wilson has a large, well-stocked farm of 140 
 acres, with about 100 acres under cultivation. He 
 is a member of both the Masonic fraternity and of 
 the Agricultural Wheel, in both of which organiza- 
 tions he has occupied oflieial chairs. He manife.sts 
 a great deal of pride in the county's development 
 and progress, and is one of the kind that make^ it 
 thrifty community. Both he and his wife arc 
 members of the Baptist Church. 
 
 W. J. Witt, of Jonesboro, was born in Jeffer- 
 son County, Tenn., December 2, 1831, is a son of 
 Joseph M. and Cynthia (Lawrence) Witt, natives 
 of Tennessee, and is one of the prominent, pro 
 gressive farmers of the county. Joseph M. Witt 
 was a farmer by occupation, was successful in that 
 pursuit, and was greatly esteemed by his many 
 friends. About 1S4(I he moved to eastern Ala- 
 bama, where both parents resided until their 
 deaths. They had eight children, four of whom 
 are now living: William J.. James L. , Nancv and 
 Thomas H. William J. AVitt was reared and edu 
 cated in Alabama, and in 1800 moved to Craighead 
 County, Ark., locating on a farm about nine miles 
 west of Jonesboro, and remained there until the 
 close of the war. He served in the Confederate 
 army about eighteen months, and at the close of 
 the war moved to Jonesboro, that his children 
 might have advantage of the Jonesboro schools. 
 He owns eighty five acres of laud, with about one- 
 half well improved. lu 1849 he was married to 
 Matilda A. Shirey, aud thev were the [larents of 
 four children, two now living. They are Martha 
 C, wife of A. \V. Sparks, and Cynthia J., wife of 
 Z. T. Matthews, a leading merchant of Jonesboro. 
 Mr. Witt was again married, in 1878, selecting 
 Sidda Mangrum. She is the mother of three chil- 
 dren. Mr. Witt has strong convictions of right, 
 and is a man of sterling worth in the community. 
 Both he and Mrs. Witt are members of the Mis- 
 sionary Baptist Chiu-ch. of which he is a deacon. 
 
 Joel G. Wood (deceased). William H. and 
 Elmira (Lane) Wood, both natives of Alal-anui. 
 were the [)arent8 of nine children, all of whoui 
 moved to Arkansas. Two .still live in Craighead 
 
ii -T^- l.i^ 
 
 o 
 
 Independence Cqunty^Arkansas. 
 
County: Greene, on Maixmelle prairie, and Fran- 
 cis, two and a half miles north of Jonesboro. Joel 
 G. was born in Cherokee County, Ala.. , October 7, 
 1829, and was reared on the farm, receiving a fair 
 "district school' ' education. January 29, 1854, he 
 was married to Maria Evans, daughter of Jesse 
 and Caroline (Anderson) Evans, parents of eight 
 living children. Both Mr. and Mrs. Evans met 
 an untimely death in a destructive cyclone which 
 passed over Northern Alabama about 1884. The 
 father was sixty and the mother about fifty years 
 of age. Mr. Wood farmed in Alabama for two 
 years after his marriage, then moved to Greene 
 County, Ark. , and two years later came to Craig- 
 head County and purchased sixty acres of land 
 one and one-fourth mile south of Jonesboro, where 
 he resided until the time of his death. He was a 
 successful farmer, a grocery merchant of Jones- 
 boro, also a butcher and did some freighting from 
 Wittsburg, Walnut Ridge, and Memphis to Jones- 
 boro. He served with credit one term as sheriff 
 
 of Craighead County, and filled the offices of 
 justice of the peace and constable in Cherokee 
 County, Ala. He was a prominent citizen and a 
 Democrat, meriting the honors bestowed upon him. 
 He died from an accident November 10, 1882. To 
 Mr. and Mrs. Wood were born twelve children, 
 eight of whom are living: Alice V., wife of Napo- 
 leon Keller, a farmer of White County, Ark. ; 
 James Buchanan, married to Elizabeth Cox, and 
 residing in Craighead County; Mary, wife of Dr. 
 Lewis S. Thornton, a leading physician of Big 
 Bay Station, Ark. ; Joel G., who lives with his wife 
 in Conway County; Albert Pike, married to Laura 
 Rackley, and living near the old homestead; Will 
 iam P., Starling W., and Dora Lee, at home. 
 The deceased are Josephine and three infants. 
 Mrs. Wood resides on the old homestead, and con 
 ducts the farm in a successful and thrifty manner. 
 She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and a lady of social and moral worth. 
 
364 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 /BimI^'ImK. xix. 
 
 « > * < 
 
 Randolph County— The Pioneers— The County Formed and Organized— Seat of Justice— Build- 
 ings — Local Officers— Elections— Natural History— Water-courses— Minerals, 
 Soil, etc.- Wood Supply— Vegetable and Other Products— Statistics— 
 Taxables— The Census— Public Highways— The Great War- 
 Law AND Lawyers— Instruction— Morals— Towns 
 AND Villages— Selected Biography. 
 
 Ye pioneers, it is to you 
 
 The debt of gratitude is due ; 
 
 Ye builded wiser than ye knew 
 
 The broad foundation 
 
 On which our superstructure stands. - 
 
 -Peiirre. 
 
 'lONEER SETTLERS of 
 any community are deserv- 
 ing of more than ordinary 
 mention for the important 
 part they occupied in its 
 earliest development. The 
 first settler of the territory 
 ' '' embraced within Randolph County 
 was John Janes, a survivor of the Rev- 
 olutionary War, who was wounded in 
 the battle of Yorktown, and who, 
 about the year 1800, emigrated from 
 Virginia to Missouri, and thence, in 
 1809, to this county, locating on 
 Janes Creek on the farm now owned 
 by William Bridges. Other very early 
 comers to this creek were the Rick- 
 mans, Bakers and Davises. On the other streams 
 the first settlers were as follows : On Spring River, 
 James Campbell, on the farm now owned by John 
 Miller, Sr. ; the Stubl)lefields and Loneys, on 
 Eleven Point River; Samuel McElroy, who was a 
 iiatter by trade and supplied the country for fifty 
 miles around; Edward Mattix, Robert M. Revvel 
 
 and Thomas Holderby ; On Fourche Dumas River, 
 the Fletchers, Fosters, Swezy, Jarrett and Plott; 
 on Current River, Frank Hix, Peyton R. Pittman 
 (the first county judge), Duckworth, Pyburn and 
 Ingram; on Black River, Caspar Schmick chose a 
 residence two miles below Pocahontas, and in 18'28 
 Gov. Thomas S. Drew and R. S. Bettis located on 
 the site of Pocahontas. James Russell, at whose 
 house the tir.st courts were held, made a home on 
 the uplands eight miles north of Pocahontas on 
 the farm now known as the Foster place. Mathias 
 Mock was an early settler on Mud Creek. In 1815 
 David Black, formerly of South Carolina, the 
 grandfather of John P., David C, Rufus H. and 
 William A. Black, all of whom are living, settled 
 at Black's Ferry, on Eleven Points River. 
 
 The DeMunns, two or three brothers, refugees 
 from the French Revolution, highly respected, 
 intelligent and liberal Frenchmen, became resi- 
 dents on Black River, some two miles below the 
 site of Pocahontas, where they built the first water- 
 power grist and saw-mill in the county, about the 
 year 1822. Prior to this John Janes had erected 
 a horse-power grist-mill at his residence. All of 
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 365 
 
 these settlers mentioned, except the DeMunns and, 
 perhaps, one or two others, have left within the 
 county a numerous progeny. The first immigrants 
 were from Virginia, the Carolinas, Kentucky and 
 Tennessee; later they were mostly from the latter 
 State, and for a time before and up to tlie Civil 
 War there was a large influx from Indiana and 
 Kentucky. Recently the immigration has been | 
 from various States, both north and south. It is 
 said that when the war came those individuals 
 fi'om Indiana sympathized with the Southern 
 cause, while the Kentuckians generally remained 
 loyal and refugeed from the county. 
 
 The county of Randolph was organized in ac- 
 cordance with an act of the legislature of Arkan- 
 sas Territory, approved October 29, 1835. As orig- 
 inally constituted, it included all the territory 
 lying west of Cache River, in what is now Clay 
 and Greene Counties. By a subsequent legislative 
 act, approved January 18,1861, a portion of Law- 
 rence County, about twenty-five square miles, was 
 cut off and attached to Randolph. 
 
 Under the act creating the county, commis- 
 sioners were appointed to select two separate 
 places, either of which would be suitable for the 
 location of the county seat. It was further pro- 
 vided that the people should decide, at an election 
 to be held for the purpose, at which of these points 
 the county seat should be fixed. Accordingly the 
 commissioners selected the site of Pocahontas, and 
 another place at some noted springs in the woods, 
 about eight miles north. At that time Thomas S. 
 Drew (afterward governor) and R. S. Bettis owned 
 the present location of Pocahontas. The larger 
 portion of the settlers had gathered in the northern 
 part of the county, and felt confident that the 
 people would select the place at the springs for 
 the seat of justice. The election was held in the 
 summer or fall of 1S3G, on which occasion Messrs. 
 Drew and Bettis gave a free barbecue at the site of 
 Pocahontas, and, as men could then vote at any vot- 
 ing place in the county, the barbecue proved a suf- 
 ficient inducement to draw voters enough to secure 
 a small majority in favor of locating the seat of 
 justice at the latter place. Here it was accord- 
 ingly placed, and has since remained. The pro- 
 
 prietors of the site donated the public square to 
 the county. Soon after a contract was entered into 
 between the county and Thomas O. Marr, for the 
 construction of a two-story brick court-house, 4(lx 
 40 feet in size, with the court room below and the 
 offices above. The contractor agreed to complete 
 the building for $2,400, but it was several years be- 
 fore it was finished and accepted. This house 
 stood until about the year 1870, when on account 
 of its improper construction it fell down. A Mr. 
 McKay secured the contract for the construction of 
 the present courthouse, for the sum of ?4r),0()0. 
 and the material of the old building. Afterward, 
 in 1874, when the local administration changed 
 hands, and before the contractor had received his 
 pay, it was discovered or believed that some fraud 
 had been connected with the contract, which led to 
 litigation, whereupon a compromise was made with 
 the contractor by confessing judgment in his favor 
 for 128,000, which, together with costs and inter- 
 est, amounted b_Y the time it was all i)aid to about 
 135,000. The court-house is a substantial and 
 fairly handsome two-story brick structure, on a 
 rock foundation, with a fire- proof vault for the 
 records attached, and with offices below and court- 
 room above. 
 
 A double-walled, squared-log jail, with stone 
 filling between the walls, and two stories in height, 
 was erected about 1840, and was used until 1870; 
 then a frame jail, with an iron cell was erected 
 and used until 1886, when the present one, a frame 
 with an iron cell, metal roof and siding, was con- 
 structed at a cost of a little over ?4,000. These 
 constitute all the county buildings, there being no 
 poor farm or poor asylum. 
 
 The following list includes the names of the 
 officers of this county, together with their terms 
 of service, from its organization to the present. 
 
 Judges: P. R. Pittman, 1835-42; James Mar 
 tin, 1S42-46; B. J. Wiley. 1846-50: James :^Iai 
 tin. 1850-52; B. J. Wiley, 1852-54; J. P. In- 
 gram, 1854-60; William Thompson, 1860-62; H. 
 Cockran, 1862-68; C. V. Cory, 1868-72; com- 
 missioners, 1872-74; Isham Russell, 1874-76; J. 
 H. Purkins, 1876-78; S. J. Johnson. 1878-82; 
 J. H. Richardson, 1882-86; Daniel Wyatt, 1886 - 
 
 ' 
 
^ 
 
 ® l^ 
 
 366 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 88; A. J. Witt, present incumbent, elected in 
 1888. 
 
 Clerks: B. J. Wiley, 1835-42; J. H. Imbo- 
 den, 1842-44; T. O. Marr, 1844-49; Alex. 
 Smith, 1849-50; L. F. Johnson, 1850-52; J. C. 
 Walker, 1852-54; E. L. Urmston, 1854-58; J. B. 
 Kelsey, 1858-64; C. C. Elder, 1864-68; E. Rock- 
 well, 1868-72; J. T. Robinson, 1872-76; J. 
 Schoonover, 1876-82; J. T. Robinson, 1882-86; 
 W. T. Bispham, present incumbent, first elected 
 in 1886. 
 
 SherifPs: Wm. Black, 1835-40; J. H. Imbo- 
 den, 1840-42; J. Spikes, 1842-49; John Chand- 
 ler, 1849-52; W. G. Murphy, 1852-58; D. C. 
 Black, 1858-62; M. McNabb, 1862-64; S. M. 
 Truly, 1864-65; D. C. Black, 1865-68; G. A. 
 Eaton, 1868-72; J. T. Fisher, 1872-74; J. F. 
 Spikes, 1874-76; D. C. Black, 1876-78; W. Con- 
 ner, 1878-82; A. J. Witt, 1882-86; B. F. Spikes, 
 present incumbent, first elected in 1886. 
 
 Treasui-ers: B. M. Simpson, 1836-38; J. New- 
 land, 1838-46; W. L. Rice. 1846-52; J. D. 
 Cross, 1852-57; W. W. Douthit, 1857-64; Thom- 
 as Foster, 1864-68; A. J. Pack, 1868-72; J. 
 Hufstedler, 1872-74; T. S. Bennett, 1874-76; 
 J. W. Slayton, 1876-78; A. H. Kibler, 1878-86; 
 J. R. Chambers, present incumbent, first elected 
 in 1886. 
 
 Surveyors: J. M. Cooper, 1835-38; John John- 
 son, Sr., 1838-40; J. Vanbibber, 1840-42; I. L. 
 Garrett, 1842-44; William McLain, 1844-54; 
 T. S. Swingington, 1854-56; I. L. Garrett, 1856- 
 66; N. C. Dodson, 1866-68; I. L. Garrett, 1868- 
 72; N. C. Dodson, 1872-82: J. H. Skaggs, 1882- 
 84; N. C. Dodson, 1884-88; G. B. Smith, present 
 incumbent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Assessors: L. F. Johnson, 1862-68; D. C. 
 Downey, 1868-72; J. D. Wyatt, 1872-74; S. W. 
 Thompson, 1874-76; J. H. Richardson, 1876-82; 
 W. H. Johnson, 1882-84; M. D. Bowers, 1884- 
 88; Gideon Thompson, present incumbent, elected 
 in 1888. 
 
 Representatives in constitutional conventions: 
 1836, none; 1861, J. W. Crenshaw; 1864, none; 
 1868, Ham. W. EatclifFe; 1874, none. 
 
 The first representatives of Randolph County 
 
 in the lower house of the legislature of 1837-38 
 were W. Piboum and J. Anthony. 
 
 The first State senator of the county was Rob- 
 ert Smith, who represented this and Lawrence 
 County. 
 
 At the last election for President, Randolph 
 gave Cleveland 1,606 votes, Harrison, 249, Street- 
 er, 45, and Fisk, 6. 
 
 Randolph County is in Northeast Arkansas, and 
 is bounded north by Oregon and Ripley Counties, 
 in Missouri, east by Clay and Greene Counties in 
 Arkansas, south by Lawrence, and west by Sharp 
 Counties, and contains about 640 square miles, of 
 which only about one-fifth is improved. 
 
 Its boundary lines are as follows: Beginning 
 on the State line between Missouri and Arkansas, 
 it crosses the line between Ranges 2 and 3 east; 
 thence, south on the range line to the line dividing 
 Townships 20 and 21 north; thence, east on said 
 line to the northeast corner of Section 4, Township 
 20 north, Range 3 east; thence, south on the sec- 
 tion lines to the middle of Black River; thence, 
 down the middle of Black River to the line divid- 
 ing Ranges 2 and 3 east; thence, south on the 
 range line to the line between Townships 17 and 
 18 north; thence, west on the township line to the 
 middle of Black River; thence, downstream to the 
 mouth of Spring River; thence, up Spring River 
 to the line dividing Ranges 2 and 3 west; thence, 
 north to the northeast corner of Township 18 
 north. Range 3 west; thence, west to the south- 
 west corner of Section 36, Townshija 19, Range 
 3 ; thence, north to the northeast corner of Section 
 23, same township and range; thence, west to the 
 northwest corner of that section; thence, north to 
 the northwest corner of Section 26, Township 20, 
 Range 3; thence, northwesterly to a point on the 
 State line near the northwest corner of Township 
 21, Range 4 west; thence, east on the State line to 
 the place of beginning.* 
 
 Black River enters the coiinty from the east, 
 south of the center of its eastern boundary, and 
 runs in a southwesterly direction to its juiiction 
 with Spring River, where it passes out. Current 
 
 *Tlie northern portion of the western boundary of the 
 county has never been definitely located and described. 
 
 
River enters from the northeast, in Section 4, 
 Township 20 north, Range 3 east, and flows thence 
 southwesterly to its junction with Black River, in 
 Section HO, Township I'J north, Range "1 east. 
 Black River is navigable for boats of fair size, to 
 the mouth of Current, and the latter is navigable 
 up to Shoemaker's Ferry, near the eastern bound- 
 ary of the county. Both are navigable farther up 
 for smaller vessels. Fourche Dumas — originally 
 Fourche a Thomas — enters from Missouri in the 
 eastern part of Range 1 east, and flows in a south- 
 erly direction to its confluence with Black River, a 
 mile above Pocahontas. Eleven Points River first 
 touches the county from the north, near the mid- 
 tUe of Range 2 west, and flows southward, bearintr 
 slightly to the east, and empties into Spring River, 
 near the southern boundary. Janes Creek rises ! 
 in the county's extreme northwest corner and flows 
 southeasterly to its junction with Spring River, in 
 Section 7, Township 18 north. Range 2 west. ' 
 Spring River flows in a southeasterly direction, 
 forming the boundary between Randolph and Law- 
 rence Counties, and empties into Black River at 
 the extreme southern point of the former. These 
 streams have many tributaries, and together form 
 a beautiful "river system " for the county. The 
 surplus water of the county flows into Black River, 
 and all the streams named, with the exception of 
 •lanes Creek, have their source in Missouri. Their 
 miited direction resembles a fan or a tree with a 
 spreading top, the lower Black River being the 
 handle of the fan or the trunk of the tree. The 
 natural drainage of the county is good. Fish are 
 abundant in all the streams. 
 
 About one-half of the lands of Randolph 
 County are level river bottoms, and the remainder 
 hill or uplands, the latter being mostly in the 
 western portion. Its location is such that nearly 
 all is fit for cultivation. 
 
 There are large (juantities of Government land 
 subject to sale at $1.25 per acre, or that can be 
 taken as a homestead by heads of families, in tracts 
 of 100 acres each, also a large area of State lands, 
 Ui be had at 50 cents per acre, or that can be do- 
 nated at a cost of 4^15 for Ifil) acres, to actual set- 
 tlers. Much land has already been taken np by 
 
 "homesteaders." There are indications of met 
 als beneath the surface, such as lead, zinc and 
 copper, but mines have not yet been of)ened. 
 
 In addition to the many streams mentioned, 
 numerous springs abound, especially in the hilly 
 portions of the county, two of which, "Warm 
 Springs" and " Ravenden Springs " have ol)tained 
 more than a local reputation for their curative 
 properties. Each of these springs is provided with 
 a commodious hotel for the accommodation' of 
 pleasure and health-seekers. An abundance of 
 well water can be ol)tained throughout the county 
 at a moderate depth, and at reasonable cost. Cis- 
 terns, constructed at a small expense, are in general 
 use. These various sources furnish an abundant 
 water supply. 
 
 About four-fifths of the whole area of the coun- 
 ty is covered with a dense forest of fine timber, 
 consisting of white, black, red and swamp, or cow, 
 oaks, white and black hickory, white and black ash, 
 cypress, sweet gum, cedar, birch, cherry, and some 
 walnut and sassafras. The higher or hilly lands 
 abound with oak and hickory, the more valuable 
 timber being generally in the bottoms or level 
 lands. 
 
 The soil here is generally good, and with proper 
 cultivation is well adapted to the production 
 of corn, cotton, oats, wheat, clover, the tame 
 grasses, tobacco, vegetables, and all fruits common 
 to this latitude. It varies in quality from the 
 poorer to the richest, the latter being the alluvial 
 soils of the bottom lands. 
 
 Among the many resources of this section is 
 the seemingly inexhaustible supply of timber, 
 though only about six saw-mills are found; conse- 
 (piently the timber now being cut is mo.stly rafted 
 down the streams in the log to Black River, and 
 thence to Black Rock and other points below where 
 it is sawed. The land owners receive a large in- 
 come from the sale of the timber in the log, or on 
 the stump, and enough is sold fiom many tracts to 
 pay for them. Besides timber, agricultural pur- 
 suits and the raising of live stock are excellent 
 sources of income. According to the I'uited States 
 Census of 1880, there were 1,471) farms within the 
 couutv, and ."15,138 acres (about one eighth of the 
 
368 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 entire area) improved, and the vegetable produc- 
 tions for the previous year were: Corn, 782,403 
 bushels; oats, 33,137 bushels; wheat, 31,244 bush- 
 els; hay, 275 tons; cotton, 6,248 bales; Irish po- 
 tatoes, 6,696 Vnishels; sweet potatoes, 5,570 bush- 
 els; tobacco, 13,348 pounds. In the amount of 
 tobacco produced, it ranked as the tenth county in 
 the State. These figures show that corn and cotton 
 were then, as now, the staple products of the 
 farmers. A good supply of grist-mills and cotton- 
 gins convert the raw material into marketable con- 
 dition. The same census shows the following num- 
 ber of head of live stock: Horses, 3,021; mules 
 and asses, 1,216; neat cattle, 10,720; sheep, 6,334; 
 hogs, 33, 184. The assessment rolls of the taxable 
 personal property for 1888 showed: Horses, 
 3,594; mules and asses, 1,610; neat cattle, 17,481: 
 sheep, 6,673; hogs, 19,915 — a large increase in all 
 except hogs. 
 
 In 1880 real estate was assessed for taxation at 
 $384,141, and personal property at $285,597, 
 making a total of $669,720; the total amount of 
 taxes charged was $26,513. In 1888 the real 
 estate assessment amounted to $690,677, and per- 
 sonal property, $671,202, making a total $1,361,- 
 879, taxes on which were $20,795.59. By com- 
 paring these figures it will be observed that since 
 1880 the taxable wealth of the county has a little 
 more than doubled, while the taxes have become 
 less. The recent immigration and the more rapid 
 development of all resources account for this in- 
 crease in values. The county's public debt is about 
 $15,000, and its scrij) is, at this writing, worth 
 from 75 to 85 cents on the dollar. 
 
 The aggregate population of Randolph since 
 its organization has been as follows: 1840, 2,196; 
 1850, 3,275; 1860, 6,261; 1870, 7,466: 1880, 
 11,724. The colored population in 1860 was 359, 
 in 1870, 357, and in 1880, 627. The census of 
 1890 will probably give the aggregate population 
 at about 15,000. On each occasion when the 
 census was taken prior to 1880, the area of the 
 county was about 40 per cent larger than at the 
 present time. 
 
 About two miles of the main line of the St. 
 Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad run 
 
 across the southeast portion of the county, and 
 1,046 feet of the main line of the Kansas City, Ft. 
 Scott & Memphis Railroad run near Ravenden. 
 O'Kean, on the former line, is the only railroad 
 station within the county limits. 
 
 At the beginning of the Civil War in the 
 spring of 1861, the people of Randolph County, 
 with V)ut few individual exceptions, were in favor 
 of the proposed Confederacy, and did all in their 
 power to help establish it. At least eight com- 
 panies of soldiers, commanded, respectively, by 
 Capts. Joseph Martin, T. J. Mellon, Albert Kelsey, 
 Eli Hufstedler, Mahlon McNabb, William A. Black, 
 Isaac Schmick and John Mitchell, were raised 
 here for the Southern army. With these com- 
 mands, and recruits that joined others, both in 
 Arkansas and Missouri, it is estimated that the 
 county furnished over 1,000, perhaps 1,200, sol- 
 diers. Nearly eveiy able-bodied man — including 
 boys over fifteen years of age (save a few who 
 refugeed) were in the Confederate army. For a 
 long time early in the war period, Gen. Hardee 
 had his headquarters at Pocahontas while he or- 
 ganized an army of about 10,000 men, consisting 
 of Hindman's Legion, a battery, and several 
 Arkansas regiments, all of whom were camped at 
 different points along Black River. 
 
 No command or commands were raised within 
 the county for the Federal army. In the summer 
 of 1862, after Hardee's army had moved away, 
 Gen. Steele, with a division of Federal troops, 
 occupied Pocahontas for several weeks, and to his 
 honor it can be said that the citizens of the place 
 and vicinity found no fault with his treatment, 
 and that they still remember him with kindness. In 
 September, 1863, a portion of Col. Reeves' regi- 
 ment of Confederates concealed themselves in am- 
 bush on tlie Herrou farm on Current River, from 
 which they fired upon and killed and wounded a 
 few men of Col. Leeper's regiment of Federal 
 troops as it passed along. Aside from this there 
 were only a few shots exchanged within the county 
 between the contending parties. There was no 
 "bushwhacking" between its citizens, but a few 
 men were killed by transient scouting parties. Hav- 
 ing graciously accepted the result of the war the peo- 
 
EANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 non 
 
 pie are generally pleased that the Union was [)re- 
 served, and now extend a hearty welcome to immi- 
 grants. Sectional animosity long ago disappeared. 
 
 The records of the sessions of the several courts 
 held within this Territory prior to the admission 
 of Arkansas as a State have not been preserved. 
 Upon the county's organization, courts were held 
 at the house of James G. Eussell, eight miles north 
 of Pocahontas, on the farm now known as the Fos- 
 ter place, and until the county-seat was located. 
 The records show that a county court convened as 
 early as July, 1836, but it is probable that one or 
 two sessions were held prior to that date. The 
 first recorded session of this court was in Pocahon- 
 tas, in July, 1837, when there were present Peyton 
 K. Pittman, judge, and William L. Rice and Jo- 
 seph Spike, associate justices. Court now con- 
 venes on the first Mondays of January, April, July 
 and October of each year, and the probate court 
 convenes on the second Mondays of the same 
 months. The first session of the circuit court was 
 held at the house of Mr. Russell in August, 1836, 
 and was presided over by Judge Archibald Yell. 
 The first term held at Pocahontas, as appears of 
 record, began on the fifth IMonday after the fourth 
 Monday of April, 1887, Judge Lewis B. Tully pre- 
 siding. The circuit court of the county now con- 
 venes in regular session twice a year, beginning 
 on the first Mondays of February and August. 
 
 The legal bar of Randolph County is composed 
 of men who have demonstrated themselves to be 
 possessed of ability and thorough knowledge of the 
 legal profession. The following named attor- 
 neys are located here: Rufus H. Black, John P. 
 Black, R. D. Brown, J. T. Lomax, George T. 
 Black, M. F. Collier and S. A. D. Eaton. 
 
 Randolph, like all the other counties, has had 
 its share of suffering on account of criminal offend- 
 ers. But few cai)ital offenses, however, were 
 committed prior to the war period. The first exe- 
 cution, in its present boundary, was that of a slave 
 who killed his mistress, in 1830, and was hung in 
 1831, at old Jackson, then the county-seat of the 
 mother county, Lawrence. Nothing now remains 
 of this old town. In 1850 two men. Miner and 
 McGee, waylaid a stranger, a Kentuckian, who 
 
 was passing through the county. One struck him 
 from his horse with a gun, dragged him from the 
 road into the woods, and there left him for dead. 
 His horse, and saddle-bags containing some money, 
 were then taken, after which the assailants at- 
 tempted to escape. The stranger recovered suffi 
 ciently to give an alarm. The offenders were 
 caught by the citizens, and, upon being identified 
 by the injured man. were tried and hanged for tlie 
 offense. The victim died from the effects of his 
 wounds. About the close of the Civil War two 
 men, Brainard and Turpin, broke into a store and 
 killed the keeper, for which offense they were tried 
 and hanged. Later, during the reconstruction per 
 iod, when chaos reigned, a number of murders 
 were committed, and the offenders went unpun- 
 ished. In 1877 Marcus A. Whitley killed Duke 
 Summers, and subsequently was tri(>d and hanged. 
 In 1884 Milliam H. Harper killed John Sellers. 
 He was tried in Greene County, on a change of 
 venue, found guilty, and there executed. A few 
 individuals have been compelled to take the lives of 
 antagonists in defense of their own. Ever since 
 the reconstruction period law and order have pre- 
 vailed here, and a safer or more [leaceable com- 
 munity cannot now be found. 
 
 Education is not at a stand.still in this section, 
 as the following from the report of Mr. C. E. 
 Witt, county examiner, amply indicates: There 
 was within the county in 1888, a scholastic popula 
 tion of 4,804 white, and 180 colored children, 
 making a total of 4,993. Of these, only 1,300 
 white, and eighty-.six colored, making a total of 
 1,302, were enrolled in the public schools. But the 
 latter — owing to the failure of directors to make 
 reports — is not a true representation, as the at- 
 tendance is only given for the number of schools 
 reported, and thus the system does not receive 
 credit for its actual work. 
 
 The following letter bearing so directly to the 
 point is worthy of insertion: 
 
 P()r.\iiONTAS. AiiK.. Skpt. 25, 1888. 
 Hon. W. E. Thompson, Little Rock. -Vrk. 
 
 Dear Sir:— You will find enclosed the iinnuiil report 
 of the public schools of this eouiily. Il is not u correct 
 report by a great deal. Il is untrustworthy in every par- 
 ticular; nearlv seventy-five percent of llie districts failcil 
 
371) 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 to report anything except the number of persons between ' 
 the ages of six and twenty-one years, and four districts 
 did not report anything at all. The public schools of this | 
 county are more popular with the natives than any 
 other class of people, but not appreciated like they should 
 be, taking into consideration the iramense amount of ' 
 good they are doing. Yours truly, 
 
 C. E. Witt, Cnunty Examiner. 
 
 Other county examiners complain oi the failure 
 of the district directors to make reports as re- 
 quired by law. There are seventy-five school dis- 
 tricts in the county, and for the year ending June 
 30, 1888, there was expended on account of the 
 jjublic schools the sum of 18,822.63. The aver- 
 age monthly wages paid teachers with first-grade 
 certificates was: Males, $37.50; females, $35. 
 
 The Roman Catholic Marienstine Institute, 
 located at Pocahontas, is under the management 
 of the Sisters. This is an institution of great ex- 
 cellence, and wields considerable influence in edu- 
 cational circles. 
 
 The religious denominations of Randolph 
 County are: Methodist Episcopal. South, Baptist, 
 Christian and Roman Catholic. The former two 
 were the pioneer Christian workers, having organ- 
 ized the first religious societies in the county. Of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, there are 
 three circuits and a mission. The Pocahontas 
 Circuit, consisting of Pocahontas, Clearview Chapel, 
 Oak Grove and Mount Pisgah, with Rev. R. H. 
 Grissett, pastor, has a membership of 301. The 
 Siloam Circuit containing several appointments in 
 the northeast part of the county. Rev. J. S. Best, 
 pastor, has a membership of 368. The Walni;t Hill 
 Circuit, covering several points in the northwestern 
 portion. Rev. J. F. Armstrong, pastor, has a 
 membership of 215. The Warm Springs Mission 
 in the central part. Rev. J. G. Miller, pastor, has 
 a membership of seventy-two. 
 
 Belonging to the Baptist Churches are Witt's 
 Chapel, Pleasant Grove, Oak Grove, Mount Pleas- 
 ant, Little Vine, Shiloh, Spring Hill, Macedonia, 
 Antioch, Mud Creek, Dry Creek, James School- 
 house, Vandergriff School house, Reyno and a few 
 others, all with an average membership of from 
 forty to fifty. Some of these are attached to the 
 State Line Association of Missionary Baptists, 
 
 and some to the Spring River Baptist Association. 
 Among the Baptist ministers of the county are 
 elders I. H. Witt, D. A. Pressley, J. B. Roach, 
 M. D. Bowers, Isham Looney, John A. Giles and 
 A. W. James. 
 
 The Christian Churches are represented by 
 Stony Point, Dry Creek, Maynard. Union, 
 Liberty, Warm Springs and one near Noland 
 postoffice. Elder B. F. Hollowell is pastor of the 
 first three named. Two elders by the name of 
 Lemon also preach to the people. 
 
 The Roman Catholics have one church, St. 
 Paul's, with a large membership, located at Poca- 
 hontas. Rev. Father J. Eugene Weibel is the pas- 
 tor. The Marienstine Institute, before mentioned, 
 is located by and connected with this church. 
 
 All these denominations, except the latter, main- 
 tain Sunday, schools in the most thickly settled 
 neighborhoods, and all according to their several 
 creeds are actively engaged in the advancement 
 of Christianity. 
 
 Randolph County is not without its towns. Al- 
 bertha, twelve miles northeast of Pocahontas, con- 
 tains a postoffice, store, grocery, and church and 
 school-house combined. 
 
 Daltou, a post hamlet on Eleven Point River, 
 is composed of two stores, and a water-power grist- 
 mill. 
 
 Elm Store is a postoffice near Eleven Points 
 River, on the north line of the county. 
 
 Ingram is a post hamlet near the mouth of Mud 
 Creek. 
 
 Kingsville, in the western part, contains two 
 general and one drug store, and a church and 
 schoolhouse combined. 
 
 Lima, a postoffice, is ten miles northwest of 
 Pocahontas. 
 
 Maynard, fourteen miles northeast of Pocahon- 
 tas, comprises a postoffice, two stores, a hotel, grist 
 and saw-mill, cotton-gin, a church and school 
 house. 
 
 Middlebrook, on Fourche Dumas, has a post- 
 office, two stores, a cotton-gin, and church, school 
 house and Masonic lodge combined. 
 
 Noland is a postoffice in the south central iiart 
 of the county. 
 
EANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 O'Kean, a station on the St. Louis, Iron Mouut- 
 aiu & Southern Raih'oad, in tlie southeast corner, 
 contains a general store, drug store, hotel and liv- 
 ery stable. 
 
 Peru has a postoffice and store in the southeast 
 part. 
 
 Pocahontas, the county seat, situated on the 
 right bank of Black River, a little southeast of the 
 center, had its origin with the organization of the 
 county in 1 8;i6, when it was selected as the site for 
 the seat of justice. The first merchant of the place 
 was W. R. Hunter. The business increased and 
 the town prospered until it was known as the lead- 
 ing trading point in Northeast Arkansas. Being 
 about the head of navigation, it became the whole- 
 sale distributing point for a large tract of country 
 hereabouts, even to Southeast Missouri, and reached 
 its highest success from 185(^ to lS(iO. Ju.st before 
 the Civil War its commercial business was indeed 
 extensive. Natural prostration resulted during 
 this period, but it partially recovered afterward, 
 and continued excellent until 1872-73, when towns 
 sprang up along the Kansas City & Memphis Rail- 
 road, then being completed, and Pocahontas lost 
 its former prosperity. It now contains the coiuity 
 liuildings, postoiiiice, five general stores, three gro- 
 ceries, two drug stores, two saloons, one livery sta- 
 ble, three hotels, two newspapers, a saw-mill, three 
 cotton-gins, a number of shojss, three churches — 
 Methodist, African Methodist and Roman Catholic 
 — a public school -house, a Roman Catholic institute, 
 a complement of professional men and agents, two 
 Masonic lodges — white and colored — a lodgi^ of 
 Odd Fellows, and two lodges of Knights of Honor, 
 one being composed of Catholics only. The pop- 
 ulation is about r)00. The press includes the 
 Randolph Herald, now in its eighth volume, pub- 
 lished by J. N. Bolen, and the Pocahontas Free 
 Press (first volume), published hy B. B. ^Morton. 
 Both of the papers are ably edited, and advocate 
 Democratic principles. They are published week- 
 ly, and are bright, spicy and full of promise. 
 
 Eavenden Springs, a summer resort in the west- 
 ern part of the county, contains a i)ostoffice, two 
 genera] stores, one drug store, a first-class hotel, a 
 church and a school house. 
 
 Reyno, in the eastern extremity, contains a 
 postoffice, four general stores, one drug store, two 
 saloons, one millinery store, one livery stable, one 
 hotel, a saw- and grist-mill, a church and school- 
 house. 
 
 Supply, northeast of the center, consists of a 
 l)ostoflfice, a general store and a cotton-gin. 
 
 Warm Sjirings, in the northern part of the 
 county, contains noted springs, a postofSce, two 
 general stores, one drug store, two cotton gins, and 
 a school-house and church combined. 
 
 Water Valley is a postoffice on Eleven Points, 
 northwest of Pocahontas. 
 
 H. W. Ball, farmer and stock raiser, Dalton, 
 Ark. In reviewing the contents of this volume 
 no adetjuate idea of the agricultural affairs of 
 Davidson Townshij>, or of its sul)Btautial citizens 
 could be obtained which failed to make mention of 
 Mr. Ball or the excellent estate which he owns. 
 He was born in Independence Coimty, Ark., on the 
 15th of December, 1840, and is the son of Benja- 
 min F. and Elizabeth (Dillard) Ball, both natives 
 of Virginia. Benjamin F. Ball came to Arkansas 
 about 1825, and settled in Independence County. 
 He was twice married, first to Miss Elizabeth Dil- 
 lard, who bore him thirteen children, those now 
 living being C. M. , in Independence County ; W. G. , 
 also in that county: H. W. : \V. S.. in Independ 
 ence County; Elizabeth, and Arvilla, widow of Rob- 
 ert Wann. Mrs. Ball died in 1848. She was a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. 
 Ball's second marriage was with Mrs. Minerva 
 Baker, nee Muskgrove, and by her he became the 
 father of four children, only one now living, G. B., 
 who lives in Independence County. The second 
 Mrs. Ball died in 1876, and Mr. Ball died on the 
 24th of June, 188'.). He was born in 1800: ha.1 
 been justice of the peace of his township for a 
 number of terms, was a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church for forty years, and was a mem 
 ber of the Masonic fraternity for thirty-six years. 
 In his politics he aflfiliated with the Republican 
 party, and was a man universally respected for his 
 honesty, integrity and lil)erality. He was among 
 
 >» 
 7 
 
J^l 
 
 372 
 
 HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 the lirst settlers of his county, and his first crop 
 was put in with a wooden plow, as no iron had been 
 shipped into that country at that time. At the end 
 of his second year's residence there, a small keel- 
 boat was pulled by hand up to Batesville, and 
 brought some iron. The first few years of his life 
 were spent in opening his farm. He was, up to the 
 late war, a great stock raiser. The greater part of 
 the first two years his meat was obtained in the for- 
 est by killing bears, deer and wild turkey. Mr. 
 Ball had very little propei'ty when he went to Arkan- 
 sas, but at the time of his death he owned about 
 500 acres of land, and was one of the leading 
 farmers of that part of the county. He was the 
 owner of the first threshing machine brought to 
 that section of country (old fashioned ground-hog 
 thresher). H. W. Ball received but a limited edu- 
 cation, attending only the subscription schools of 
 his section, and at the age of eighteen engaged in 
 driving a hack from Batesville to Smithville. He 
 only followed this business a short time when he 
 engaged in boating on the Black River, from 
 Jackson Port to Pocahontas. Subsequently he en- 
 gaged in agricultixral pursuits, and this continued 
 until 1802. when he joined the Confederate army 
 under Col. McCarver, and served twelve months. He 
 then returned home, and there remained until 
 1864, when he assisted in raising a company for 
 the Unites States forces, and served for eleven 
 months. After being disbanded Mr. Ball moved 
 to Illinois (Union County), and after a residence 
 there of two years came back to Arkansas, where 
 he again engaged in farming, in Black River 
 Bottom. The first crop he made was with a steer, 
 bnt the second year he bought a yoke of steers, 
 with which he made his second crop. He cleared 
 twenty acres of land, and all his hauling was done 
 with the oxen. For a wagon he used wooden 
 trucks. He first purchased eighty acres, bvit at the 
 end of four years sold this for $800, and moved to 
 Sharp County, where he purchased a farm for 
 1900, and there remained for ten years. He then 
 .sold out for the same amount, and moved on his 
 present property in 1880. There were 240 acres 
 in this, and he paid 1750 for it. Since then he 
 has added eighty acres. He has been twice mar- 
 
 ried; first, to Miss Mildred K. Baker, daughter of 
 Harrison Baker, who represented Independence 
 County in the legislature two terms, and by her 
 became the father of nine children, six now living: 
 Ulysses R., wife of J. H. Moore, living in Ran- 
 dolph County; Harriet A., a teacher; James C, 
 Eunice A. , Franklin H. and Callie R. Mr. Ball 
 served two terms as justice of the peace in Sharp 
 County, Ark., and was elected to the third term, 
 but did not serve. After coming to this county he 
 was elected justice one term, and has also been 
 school director a number of terms. His first wife 
 died on the 6th of April, 1881. She was a mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church and East- 
 era Star Chapter, and was an excellent woman. 
 Mr. Ball was married, the second time, to Miss 
 Cynthia J. Jones, of Sharp Coiinty, who is a mem- 
 ] ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and an 
 active worker in the same. Mr. Ball is a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity, is treasurer of his lodge, 
 has also served as Worshipful Master, and has 
 filled all the principal stations in the lodge. In 
 politics he affiliates with the Republican party. 
 
 John W. Bennett, one of Randolph County's 
 substantial and enterprising citizens, was born in 
 Jefferson County, 111., December 16, 1865, being a 
 son of Thomas S. and Elmira E. Bennett. His 
 father was born in Tennessee in 1834 and his 
 mother in St. Francois County, Mo., and they 
 were married in Ripley County, that State. They 
 afterward located in St. Francois County and 
 moved from there to the State of Illinois near 
 Rome, Jefferson County, coming thence to Ran- 
 dolph County, Ark., in 1868, where, after fanning 
 for some time, Mr. Bennett became collecting 
 agent for Hecht & Co. , of Pocahontas. He served 
 as treasurer of Randolph County two terms, and he 
 and his wife were members of the Methodist Epis- j 
 copal Church. He was a Democrat in his political 
 views, and while in Missouri he enlisted in the 
 Southern service, being promoted to the rank of 
 lieutenant. He participated, with credit to himself, 
 in many a hard-fought battle. He was a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity, and died December 25, 
 1885, at the age of fifty -one years. His widow still 
 survives him and remains in Randolph County. 
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 Of the nine children born to their union, six are 
 now living: Wesley C, a farmer of the county; 
 John W., J. S., Mary C, Thomas S. and Emily. 
 The early scholastic training of Jolin \V. Bennett 
 was received in the common schools near his home, 
 and he aftervyard finished his education in the 
 schools of Pocahontas. He remained with his 
 mother until 1887, then entered the employ of 
 William T. Mcllroy at Dalton, with whom he 
 remained as salesman for eight months, after which 
 he sold goods in Pocahontas for Snowtree, remain- 
 ing in this place for eight months also. Since that 
 time he has devoted his attention to agriculture, 
 and is a farmer of this county, having 400 acres 
 of land. He is a Democrat, and he and his wife, 
 whose maiden name was Annie Foster, and whom 
 he married February 14, 1889, are members of tlie 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. January 3, 1867, 
 his wife was born. She was reared in Randoli)h 
 County, Ark., and is a daughter of Thomas Foster, 
 who was a very prominent resident of the county, 
 and here spent his life, dying January 22, 1S8U, 
 at the age of sixty-six years. He was one of the 
 most extensive real estate holders in the county, 
 and owned 2,200 acres of land. His name will 
 long be remembered by the residents of the coun- 
 ty, for he was public spirited and enterprising, and 
 was ever the friend of the poor. During his long 
 residence in the county he held some responsible 
 positions. He was also a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity. 
 
 William R. Bigger is a native resident of Ran- 
 dolph County, Ark., and was born on the farm 
 where he now lives January 1, 1850, and was the 
 eleventh of thirteen children, three now living, 
 born to the marriage of James N. Bigger and Lu- 
 cretia Parrish, who were born in the State of Mis- 
 souri in 181() and 1812, and died in Randolph 
 County. Ark., in 1872 and 1874, respectively. 
 Their marriage was consummated in Missouri, and 
 they afterward came to this State and settled on 
 the farm on which their son. William K., is now 
 living, which they made their home until their 
 death. They were members of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. South, and were well-to-do residents 
 of the county. Their children who are living are 
 
 Chesterfield, who is a farmer of the county: Caro- 
 line, wife of Arthur Barm, also a farmer of the 
 county, and William R. The latter remained 
 with his parents until their demise, and at that 
 time he and his brother took charge of the home 
 farm, which then consisted of 400 acres of land, 
 and by industry and good management have added 
 considerable more land to the original amount. 
 Laura McKee, who was born in North Carolina in 
 185"), a daughter of John McKee, became his 
 wife in 1879. She is an earnest member of the 
 Methodi.st Episcopal Church, South, and he is a 
 stanch Democrat in politics. He is an energetic 
 and successful agriculturist, and has vastly im- 
 proved the property left him by his parents. 
 
 B. F. Bigger has been the X3i'oi>i"ietor of the 
 Bigger' s House, one of the first-class hotels of the 
 county, ever since 18S1, but previous to that time, 
 his attention had been given to directing the plow 
 and in attending to the duties of farm life. He is 
 a native-born resident of Randolph County, Ark., 
 his birth occurring in 1851, and he is principally 
 self-educated, his knowledge of business affairs 
 being acquired mainly by contact with the world. 
 At the age of twenty two years, he was married to 
 Miss Ida Simington, who was also born in Ran- 
 dolph County, and of the seven children born to 
 their union, four are living: Thomas, Lute, Kate 
 and George. The other children died in infancy. 
 From the date of his marriage up to 1881, he was 
 engaged in farming fur himself, but since that 
 time he has been keeping a hotel in Pocahontas, 
 and by good management, hospitality and fair 
 dealing, he has succeeded in gaining an excellent 
 patronage, and his earnest endeavors to see that 
 the wants and needs of his patrons are satisfied, 
 have tended to make his estal)lishment a favoritt- 
 resort for the traveling public. He also manages 
 a livery stable, the only one in the place, and has 
 some excellent vehicles and animals ready for use. 
 He owns two excellent farms, one com]>risiug 'lOO 
 acres and the other 400 acres, and although one 
 place is rented to tenants, it is under his super 
 vision, and he manages the other farm himself, de- 
 voting it to the raising of stock, grain and hay. 
 He owns his hotel and stalile. and is one of the 
 
^ 
 
 374 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 wealthy citizens of the county. His parents, J. G. 
 and Catherine (Lewis) Bigger, were born and reared 
 in Randolph County, the father being engaged in 
 farming. J. G. was a soldier in the Confederate 
 army, and died in 1863. His father was a Ken- 
 tuckian, who emigrated to Randolph County, Ark. , 
 with his parents when a child, the country at that 
 time being a Territory. Mr. Bigger is a Democrat 
 and a member of the A. F. & A. M. 
 
 W. T. Bispham. circuit clerk, Pocahontas, Ark. 
 The subject of this sketch needs no introduction 
 to the people of Randolph County, for a long resi- 
 dence, and, above all, a career of usefulness and 
 prominence, have given him an acquaintance which 
 shall last for many years. He is a native of West- 
 moreland County, Va., born in IS-tl, and is the son 
 of John F. and Martha C. (Templeman) Bispham, 
 both of whom were born in the same county in 
 Virginia. The paternal grandfather, "William 
 Bispham, was a native of Lancaster, England, and 
 came to America with an older brother, when a 
 child. He was a successful agriculturist, and 
 died in Richmond County, Va., about 185"2. The 
 maternal grandfather, Samuel Templeman, was a 
 native of Virginia, a minister in the Baptist Church, 
 and was in the Home Guards during the War of 
 1812. He was one of the early settlers of Vir- 
 ginia. John F. Bispham was a successful agricultur- 
 ist and followed this occupation until his death in 
 1872 at the age of tifty-two years. The mother 
 died in 1870, at about fifty -four years of age. 
 Both were members of the Baptist Church, and 
 the father was for many years a deacon in the same. 
 Both took a great interest in church work. They 
 reared to maturity a family of five children, W. T. 
 Bispham being the eldest. John H. was a soldier 
 in the Ninth Virginia, Confederate army, and was 
 killed at the battle of Hatch's Run; Robert A. is 
 a carpenter in Washington, D. C. ; Samuel T. is a 
 coach maker by trade, and resides in the District of 
 Columbia; Emma died in 1875, and Lou H. mar- 
 ried James May, and resides in Washington, D. C. 
 W. T. Bispham remained on the farm until sixteen 
 years of age, and received his education in the 
 private schools. At that age his father engaged 
 in merchandising and W. T. acted in the capacity 
 
 of clerk, continuing as such until the breaking out 
 of the war. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Com- 
 pany C, Montrose Guards, attached to the Forty - 
 seventh Virginia Regiment, Confederate Ai-mv. 
 and served until the close of the war. He partic- 
 ipated in the battle of Seven Oaks, and was in the 
 entire Richmond Campaign, at Cedar Run, Fred- 
 ericksburg, Chancellorsville. and was appointed 
 commissary of his regiment after the last mentioned 
 battle. After the war he returned to merchandis- 
 ing in Virginia. His father was at that time sher- 
 iff of Westmoreland County, which office he held 
 a number of terms, and W. T. was made deputy 
 sheriff, tilling this position for about a year. In 
 March, 1867, he moved to Brownsville, Tenn. , and 
 entered the employ of Yancey, Wilder & Co., 
 merchants, as salesman. In January, 1868, he ac- 
 cepted the agency of the Carolina Life Insurance 
 Company, and finally located in Randoljih County. 
 Ark., and engaged in teaching school, after which 
 he became salesman in a store for Levi Hecht, of 
 Pocahontas and continued in this capacity for a few 
 months, when he engaged as book-keeper for E. B. 
 Burr & Co. This position he held until July, 1869, 
 when he again resumed the position as local agent 
 for the insurance business, and continued that about 
 a year. He then engaged as book-keeper for J. P. 
 Black & Co. In 1872 he went to Walnut Ridge, 
 Ark., and kept books until the fall of 1873, when 
 he returned to his native State and remained there 
 and taught in the public schools until the fall of 
 1877; then returning to Pocahontas, he kept books 
 for R. N. Hamil, merchant, until 1885, when he en- 
 gaged with L. E. Imboden in the same capacity, 
 and remained in that position until 1886. He was 
 then elected clerk and recorder of Randolph Coun- 
 ty, Ark., and has held that office ever since, being 
 re-elected without opposition by the people of his 
 county in 1888. He is a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity, a Royal Arch Mason and member of the 
 Knights of Honor. He is unmarried. 
 
 John P. Black, attorney at law, Pocahontas, 
 Ark. What is usually termed genius has little to 
 do with the success of men in general. Keen 
 perception, sound judgment and a determined 
 will, supported by persevering and continuous ef- 
 
 ^ 
 
fort, are essential elements to success in any call- 
 ing, and their possession is sure to accomplish the 
 aims hoped for in the days of our youth. The 
 juris})rudonce of a commonwealth is the most ! 
 necessary factor toward its growth and permanence, 
 for without a thorough knowledge and administra- 
 tion of the law, no form of popular government 
 coald long exist. Mr. Black was born at Black's 
 Ferry, Randolph County, Ark., on the 1st of Oc- 
 tober, 1822. He is the son of William Black 
 the grandson of David Black, and the great-grand- 
 son of David Black, who was a native of Amster- 
 dam, Holland. The elder David Black came to 
 America when a boy, settling at Charleston, S. C, 
 and there learned the blacksmith trade. .He died 
 in that State. David Black, Jr., was a native of 
 South Carolina, and was a farmer by occupation. 
 He emigrated to Kentucky at a verj' early day, 
 settling near Hopkinsvillo, where he lived many 
 years, and in 1815 moved to Randolph County, 
 Ark. He settled at Black's Ferry, and lived there 
 many years, but died at Davidsonville. Lawrence 
 County, Ark. , at the age of sixty years. The father 
 of the subject of this sketch, William Black, passed 
 his j'outh on his father's farm in Kentucky, and 
 moved to Randolph County, Ark., with his -par- 
 ents, in 1815. After reaching manhood he mar- 
 ried Miss Elizabeth Jones (who became the mother 
 of John P. Black), in 1820, and lived at Black's 
 Ferry until his death in Febraary, 1852, at the 
 age of fifty four years. The mother died in July, 
 1851, at the age of forty-nine years. She was a 
 devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. The father was a leading and prominent 
 man in this part of the State; was the first sheriff 
 of Randoli)h County, served in that office two 
 terms, and in 1840 was elected to the State Senate 
 of Arkansas. He served in that body two terms, 
 and during that time acquired a State rejnitation 
 as a general worker, and an influential man in that 
 august body. He was noted far and near for his 
 liberality and hosjiitality, especially to new settlers. 
 He was ever public spirited and always ready and 
 willing to do all he could to promote any and all 
 enterprises for the good of the county and State. 
 He and his wife reared a family of seven children. 
 
 five sous and two daughters, all of wiioui are 
 highly respected men and women. The maternal 
 grandfather of John P. Black, John Janes, was 
 a native of Virginia, was a soldier in the Revolu- 
 tionary War, and was wounded at the battle of 
 Yorktown. His wife, whose maiden name was 
 Margaret Arming, was also a native of Virginia, 
 and in 1800 they came down the Ohio River in ca- 
 noes, settled on Merrimac River, near St. Louis, 
 and there remained imlil 1801), on a Spanish grant 
 of land. They then emigrated to Randolph 
 County. Ark., settled on Janes' Creek, and there 
 remained until the death of the father in I82f>, at 
 the age of eighty two years. John P. Black as- 
 sisted his father on the farm in Randolph County, 
 and received his education in the county schools, 
 that is, a part of his education, for the most of it 
 was obtained by his own application at home. He 
 began managing a farm at the age of eighteen 
 years, and this continued until twenty-two, when he 
 went to work for a New Orleans house at I'owhat- 
 an, where he remained until 1811), after which he 
 came to Pocahontas. He there engaged in mer- 
 cantile pursuits, which he carried on until 1873. 
 excepting a period during the war, when he served 
 two years in Fagan's command. Confederate 
 army. He returned to the farm in 1872, remained 
 there a few years and then came again to Poca- 
 hontas, where he entered the law office of Thomas 
 Ratliff, as a student. He was admitted to the bar 
 in 1875, and has been actively engaged in the 
 practice ever since. He was first married in 1855, 
 to Miss Isabella Waddel, a native of Arkansas. 
 In 1859 he was again married, taking for his 
 second wife Miss Claude Inman, a native of In- 
 diana. In 1868 he married Miss Lottie Inman. 
 and in 1875 was united in marriage with Miss 
 Flora Kebler. a native of Arkansas, who bore him 
 six children: Charley, Guy, Hattie, Irene, Lulu 
 and Blanche. 
 
 R. H. Black, attorney, Pocahontas. Ark. As 
 a leading citizen of Pocahontas in its profes 
 sional, business and social life, lending eminent 
 strength to her bar, tone to her finance and grace 
 to her society, Mr. Black commands attention from 
 the pen of the historian who would wish to do this 
 
 P^ 
 
376 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 city justice. He owes his nativity to Randolph 
 County, Ark., and is a son of Williara Bhick, whose 
 sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. He grew 
 to manhood on his father's farm at Black's Ferry, 
 in Randolph County, securing his education in the 
 private schools of the county and at Shelbyville, 
 Ky. He was admitted to the bar in 1860, and has 
 been actively engaged in the i)ractice ever since. 
 He has been for two terms presiding attorney of 
 the Second Judicial District of Arkansas, and in 
 1879 he represented Randolph County in the Gen- 
 eral Assembly, one term. Iii 1861, when the war- 
 cloud hung heavy over the United States, Mr. 
 Black enlisted in the First Arkansas Cavalry, C. S. 
 A., commanded by ex- Gov. Churchill, as private, 
 and was made lieutenant after the second year. 
 He served until May 14, 1864, when, at the bat- 
 tle of Besaca, Ga. , he had the misfortune to lose 
 his right arm by a gun-shot wound, which dis- 
 abled him from further service. He participated 
 in the battles of Chickamauga, Murfreesboro and 
 Richmond, Ky. and numerous othi r battles. After 
 being discharged he came back to Pocahontas, be- 
 gan the study of law, was afterward admitted to 
 the bar and opened office here. His marriage 
 with Miss Virginia L. Criddle, a native of Jackson, 
 Cape Girardeau County, Mo. , occurred on Novem- 
 ber 14, 1867, and to them were born five chil- 
 dren: Edward, Marvin, ^Valdo, Blanche and Ina. 
 Mrs. Black died on the 26th of December, 1880, 
 in full faith with the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South. Mr. Black is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
 and is not only a pleasant gentleman in the social 
 walks of life, but is also among the first in his pro- 
 fession. He and his children are the owners of 
 about 1,000 acres of land. 
 
 William F. Blackwell. Among the business 
 men of Randolph County, Ark., who have won dis- 
 tinction as successful merchants, and who have, 
 by personal industry and genuine business ability, 
 succeeded in establishing a desirable trade, may 
 be mentioned Mr. Blackwell, whose name heads 
 this brief biography. He was l)orn in Lawrence 
 County, Ark., December 20, 1S51, and is a son of 
 James and Parnesia Jane (Smith) Blackwell, the for- 
 mer being a native of Virginia. He died while 
 
 our subject was two years old. while on his way 
 home from New Orleans, whither he had been on 
 business, he having been a merchant and stock 
 dealer at the time of his death. After removing 
 from his native State, he first came to Tennessee, 
 and afterward to Arkansas. His wife was born in 
 Lawrence County, this State, in 1828, and after 
 his death she married a Mr. Ellison, who left her 
 again a widow some time after, and she next 
 wedded Bennett Holder, who is also dead. She is 
 a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; 
 she became the mother of four children, two 
 being now dead. Those living are Isabella, wife 
 of Frank M. Baker, and William F., who was 
 educated in the schools of Lawrence County, and 
 from boyhood up has been familiar with mer- 
 cantile life, having acted in t'ne capacity of .sales- 
 man at Powhatan, Smithville, Walnut Ridge, 
 Delaplaiiie. Lauratown. and then in his jiresont 
 location. One year after coming to Randolph 
 County, he engaged in business for himself, form- 
 ing a partnership with W. W. Tanner, the firm be- 
 ing known as Tanner Sc Blackwell. This part- 
 nership lasted until 1883, and since that time Mr. 
 Blackwell has been in business alone. The first 
 money he earned for himself was at picking cotton, 
 and in all the enterprises in which he has been en- 
 gaged, his labors have lieen attended with good re- 
 sults. He was so unfortunate as to be burned out in 
 February, 1888, but he has since retrieved his for- 
 tunes to some extent, and, in connection with his 
 business, is engaged in farming. He received his 
 last appointment as postmaster in 1888. February 
 10, 1S78, he was married to Miss Mollie F. Tanner, 
 daughter of W. W. Tanner, and by her he is the 
 father of four children: Jennie May, Pearl Grace 
 and William Harry. James Marvin, the eldest child, 
 died in bis third year. Mrs. Blackwell was born 
 in Obion County, Tenn., and is a member of the 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and her hus- 
 band belongs to the Methodist Epi.scopal Church, 
 South. He is a Democrat. His career has placed 
 him before the public as a successful financier, 
 and his reputation has been obtained by tireless 
 industry, a keen foresight of events, and a judicious 
 use of his means. 
 
!L> 
 
 RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 377 
 
 Capt. J. N. Bolen, editor of the Herald, Po- 
 cahontas, Ark. The enviable position which the 
 town of Pocahontas occupies to-day as an industrial 
 and mercantile center is due to the enerify, enter- 
 prise and ability of the inhabitants, and to the 
 wise and judicious government of the local authori- 
 ties. Prominent among those who have made an 
 impress on the history of the town, in more re. 
 spects than one, is Capt. J. N. Bolen, editor and 
 publisher of the Herald. Mr. Bolen owes his na 
 tivity to Fayette County, Penn. , where his birth oc- 
 curred in the year 1881 . and he is the son of Reuben 
 and Nancy (Walters) Bolen, natives of Virginia 
 and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father was 
 born in Powhatan County, Va., in the year 1790, 
 was a soldier in the War of 1S12-14, removed to 
 the State of Pennsylvania in the year 1820, and 
 soon thereafter was married to Miss Nancy Wal- 
 ters, only dau^ghter of Abraham Walters, and there 
 he continued to reside until his death, which oc- 
 curred in the year 1840, the mother surviving the 
 father until 187<). in which year she died at the 
 home of her son. J. N. Bolen, at Murray, Callo- 
 way County. Ky. . in the seventy-sixth year of her 
 age. They were members of the old School Pres- 
 liyterian and Methodist Church, respectively. 
 The father was active in political affairs, always 
 voting the Democratic ticket, having been three 
 times elected sheriff of his county as the nominee 
 of that party. The paternal grandfather of J. N. 
 Bolen. Powhatan Bolen. was a native of Powhat- 
 an County. Va. . and was a Revolutionary soldier. 
 The maternal grandfather. Abraham Walters, was 
 a native of Fayette County, Penn. , and also a sol- 
 dier of the Revolutionary War. J. N. Bolen was 
 early trained to the arduous duties of the farm 
 and this continued until eighteen years of age 
 when he left the parental roof and served an ap- 
 prenticeship at the tailor's trade at Brownsville, 
 continuing at this for ten years. He then learned 
 dentistry, located at Murray. Ky. , where he estab- 
 lished the Murray (Tazette, and ran the same for 
 six years as a Democratic paper. He then came 
 to Randolph County, Ark. , and bought the Her- 
 ald, of Pocahontas, which he has ably edited ever 
 since. In June, 18(')1. he enlisted in the war and 
 
 armed and equip|)ed. at his own expense, a com 
 pany of cavalry which was attached to the 
 Seventh Kentucky Regiment, Col. Forrest com 
 raanding, and served until the close of the war 
 with the command of captain, until the last two 
 years, when he was promoted to the rank of major 
 and commanded the battalion until the close of 
 the war. He participated in the following battles: 
 Fort Henry. Fort Donelson, Jackson, Raymond, 
 Baker's Creek, Paducah, and in numerous skir- 
 mishes. By his marriage, which occurred in 1858 
 with Miss Carrie Allbntton. a native of Calloway 
 County, Ky.. one child was born, Ella, wife of 
 Jacob Schoonover, of Pocahontas. 
 
 William B. Bridges (deceased) was a man well 
 known to the early settlers of Randolph (bounty. 
 Ark., and was respected for his straightforward 
 course through life, and for his noble. Christian 
 qualities of mind and heart. He was born in 
 North Carolina in 1810, and was a son of Benjamin 
 Bridges, who was also born in that State, and was 
 a soldier in the War of 1812. He was a black- 
 smith by trade, and William B. , like the majority of 
 sons, followed in his father's footsteps and liecanie 
 a blacksmith also. He was the eldest of sixteen chil- 
 dren, and in his youth was taken by his parents to 
 Tennessee, where he grew to manhood. When eight 
 een years of age he was married to Miss Rebecca 
 Sherrel, a native of Wilson County, that State, 
 and after residing there the eight years following 
 his marriage he emigrated to Arkansas, locating at 
 Pittman's Ferry, but one year later removed to Poca- 
 hontas, having been identified with the interests of 
 this place for many years. His death, however, 
 occurred in Gainesville, Greene County, Ark., in 
 1868, at the age of tifty- eight years, his widow dy- 
 ing June 9, 1882. Both were members of many 
 years' standing of the Baptist Church, and were 
 earnest and devoted Christians. Mr. Bridges was 
 a well-posted man, and was a leader in the church 
 of which he was a member, as well as in public af- 
 fairs, and was an eloquent and fluent speaker. He 
 was very popular in the community in which he 
 resided, and for many years held the office of jus- 
 tice of the peace, and socially was a member of the 
 k. F. & A. M. Of his large familv of children six 
 
:^ 
 
 IS k. 
 
 878 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 grew to maturity, the only surviving member Ijniiig 
 A. M. Bridges, who is a leading farmer of Wiley 
 Township. At the age of nine years he accom- 
 panied his father to Randolph County, Ark. , and 
 his youth was spent in learning the intricacies of 
 farm work and blaeksmithing, he also acquiring a 
 fair education in the common schools of his adopted 
 county. ITpon the breaking out of the Rebellion 
 in 1801 he joined the Seventh Arkansas Cavalry, 
 Confederate States Army, took a stirring part 
 in the battle of Corinth, and was in numerous 
 skirmishes. At the second battle of Corinth he 
 was one out of eight of his company to escape un- 
 hurt, and at the close of the war he went to the city 
 of St. Louis, and served a three-years' apprentice- 
 ship at the machinist's trade under G. H. Timons; 
 then came to Randolph County and purchased 100 
 acres of land, on which he now lives. The prop- 
 erty at that time was raw timber land, but he has 
 made valuable improvements in the way of build- 
 ing, fences and clearing, and has added to his 
 original purchase until he now has a fine tract of 
 land embracing 4GU acres, of which 175 are under 
 cultivation. He has been married four times and has 
 four living children: Susan, wife of Paul S. Leonard, 
 of Randolph County; Martha, wife of John Ball, 
 also of this county; VV. B. . at home, and one other. 
 Mr. Bridges has Iseen the architect of his own 
 fortune, and through his own exertions has ac- 
 quired his present property which is one of the 
 finest farms in the county. For the last few years 
 in connection with his farm work he has also con- 
 ducted a blacksmith shop on his farm, and is con- 
 sidered a skillful mechanic. 
 
 William Bridges. In any worthy history of 
 the county the name that heads this sketch will 
 always be given an enviable place among the lead- 
 ing citizens of the county, and its self made agri- 
 culturists. Mr. Bridges is a native of Randolph 
 County, having been born here November 18, 1S27. 
 and is the seventh of ten children, three of whom 
 are now living, the other two being Martha, wife 
 of William Fry, a farmer of this county, and 
 Nancy, born to the marriage of John Bridges and 
 Cynthia Spivey. Both parents were born in the 
 "Old North State," and the father died in Ran- 
 
 dolph County, Ark., when alujut forty-four years 
 of age, the mother dying in Fulton, while on a visit 
 several years after the war. After their marriage, 
 which occurred in their native State, fhey came to 
 this pari of Arkansas, it being then a Territory, 
 and engaged in farming, which occupation proved 
 quite successful. Game of all kinds was quite 
 plentiful at that time, and Indians were also 
 numerous, but they never molested the Bridges 
 family, although many of the other settlers suffered 
 severely at their hands. Jfr. Bridges was a life- 
 long Democrat, and he and wife were members of 
 the Presbyterian Church. William Bridges re- 
 mained with his parents until their deaths, and has 
 been a farmer all his life. In ISOl his farming 
 operations being interrupted by the opening of 
 the Rebellion, he laid down his farming imple 
 ments to take up the weapons of warfare, and eu 
 listed in Capt. Wright's company, Col. William 
 Patterson's infantry. Confederate States Army, and 
 ' served until the close of the war, his regiment be- 
 ing the first to cross the Mississip{)i River. He 
 was at the battles of Shiloh and Perryville, and 
 also participated in a number of skirmishes. Since 
 returning home from the army he has been en- 
 gaged in farming and stock raising, and from 
 starting in life with not so much as a good suit of 
 clothes, he has become one of the heaviest tax payers 
 in the county, and now owns 778 acres of some of 
 the best land of which the county can boast. He 
 has long been a Democrat, and is one of the enter 
 prising citizens of the county. His marriage with 
 Elizabeth Wells took place July 21, 1804, she hav- 
 ing been born in Randolph County, Ark., a daugh- 
 ter of Hugh Wells. To them were born five chil- 
 dren, now living: Elizabeth, William W., Margaret, 
 Hugh and Nevada. John died March 10, 1889, 
 at the age of twenty-one years; George died De- 
 cember 30, 1888, in his seventeenth year; Emily 
 died December 15, 1888, when twenty-four years 
 of age, the wife of George Wells: Hugh died when 
 thirteen years old; Samuel when three years of 
 age, and two infant daughters are deceased. Mr. 
 Bridges, like his father, is a Democrat, and he and 
 wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South. 
 
 y]'. 
 
A. W. W. Brooks, one of the most oxteusive 
 laud owners and cotton growers of Randolph 
 County, Wcas boru ia Davidson County, Tonn., in 
 the year 1882. His parents were liichard P. and 
 Mary N. Brooks, the former a prominent citizen 
 of that portion of Tennessee, and for several years 
 sheriff of Jackson County, liichard F. Brooks 
 was a member of the legislature for a great 
 many years, and at the age of seventy -four was 
 elected a ' ' Hoater, ' ' or in other words, a repre- 
 sentative from more than one county. He died at 
 the age of seventy-five years, after an honorable 
 and brilliant career. His son, A. W. W. Brooks, 
 was reared and received his education in Jackson 
 County, Tenn. He seemed to be imbued with 
 the spirit that characterized his father, and fol- 
 lowed closely in his footsteps early in life. When 
 war was announced between the North and South, 
 he occupied the clerkship of Jackson County cir- 
 cuit court, and at the outset of the National excite- 
 ment he was the first to organize a company in 
 Jackson County. He held the rank of lieutenant, 
 and, when the conscript act was enforced, returned 
 to that county and organized another company, of 
 which he was lieutenant. During an engagement 
 with an overwhelming force the captain was killed 
 and the company disorganized, many of the men 
 being captured. Lieut. Brooks was among the 
 prisoners, and after fifteen months' confinement he 
 returned and collected the shattered fragments of 
 his company, of which he was the captain until 
 the spring of 1865, the time of the surrender. At 
 the close of the war he returned to Jackson County, 
 in the same State, like many a chivalrous spirit 
 who had cast his fortune with the Confederacy — 
 penniless. He soon started, however, at the task of 
 regaining at least a portion of what he had lost, 
 and, leaving the old home behind him, traveled 
 further west. He settled in Lawrence County, 
 Ark., and remained there two years, but thinking 
 that Randolph County would be a more desirable 
 location, he moved to that place. On his arrival 
 there, all his worldly possessions consisted of a 
 pair of steers and a very meager outfit, but if his 
 riches were small his heart was large, and accom- 
 panied by a spirit too proud to be east down by 
 
 the prospects before him. In the first year of his 
 arrival he succeeded in getting some one to rent 
 him a portion of land, upon which lie began farm 
 i°g' paying them with a portion of the crop he 
 raised. He finally became the owner of a piece of 
 land, which his ingenuity and foresight put him 
 in possession of, and from that time to the present 
 he has been successful in his financial enterprises. 
 His wealth has grown to massive proportions, and 
 at one time he was the owner of 8,000 acres of 
 land, but donated some 4,000 acres to his childi-en. 
 Mr. Brooks is widely known for his shrewdness in 
 commercial transactions, and many people, not thor- 
 oughly acquainted with him, would perhaps think 
 he was a man of very stern principles, but to see him 
 once in the family circle away from the cares and 
 perplexities of his busy life, that impression would 
 be quickly dispelled. He is generous, almost to a 
 fault; ready to give aid wherever it is really 
 needed, and is a man whose word will carry weight 
 whenever it comes from his mouth. He has never 
 practiced as a regular attorney, but his knowledge 
 of the law is considerable, and that fact alone has 
 given him a greater advantage than the average 
 man, especially in some of his extensive land deals. 
 Like almost all other successful and prominent 
 men, Mr. Brooks' accumulation of great wealth 
 has gained for him many enemies, people who 
 started with him in the race through life and were 
 outstripped long before the three -([uarter stretch 
 was reached; but his friends, and their name is 
 legion, knowing how to appreciate the true man, 
 are filled with admiration at his wonderful success. 
 Mr. Brooks was first married in ]8r)r), in the State 
 of Tennessee, to Miss Julia J. Richmond. The 
 result of this hap])y union was four children: 
 Ellen, wife of J. P. Rogers; William P. Brooks, 
 whose sketch immediately follows this one; Alice, 
 widow of Robert Surridge; and Maggie, wife 
 of David Feneter, This, his first wife, and the 
 companion of his earlier manhood, after having 
 proven herself a kindly and faithful wife ami 
 worthy mother, was calhnl to eternity and away 
 from her family in 1874. Some years after this 
 Mr. Brooks contracted a second marriage with JL-s. 
 Mcllrov, a cliarmin<j widow of Randolph C^ountv, 
 
 I* 
 
 1' 
 
M 
 
 9 W. 
 
 380 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 by whom he has had one child, Fannie A. This 
 last maiTiago, unlike most second marriages, was a 
 happy one. Whether this was due to the qualities 
 of the lady or to the tact of Mr. Brooks in turning 
 all things to good account, is a matter of conjec- 
 ture, but judging from results, each one must be 
 entitled to an equal amount of credit. Mrs. 
 Brooks was almost the equal of her husband in 
 business transactions, and during her lifetime 
 was his only counselor. This faithful woman has 
 also been called away by the hand of death. 
 
 W. P. Brooks is a successful young farmer of 
 Randolph County, Ark. , and it is, perhaps, not to 
 be wondered at that he should devote himself to 
 agricultural pursuits, for, in looking back over the 
 careers of his ancestors, we find that the majority 
 of them were honest tillers of the soil. He is a 
 native-born resident of the county, his birth oc- 
 curring in 1858, and in his youth he succeeded in 
 acquiring a good, practical education, and from the 
 very first was taught the I'udiments of farm labor 
 by his father, a shrewd, practical agriculturist. 
 He has made that his chief calling throughout life, 
 and although a young man is well fixed financially, 
 being the owner of 546 acres of land, of which 
 264 are in Lawrence County. At the present time 
 he is residing on his father's extensive estate of 
 which he is general manager and overseer, and also 
 acts as bookkeeper for his father. His marriage, 
 which occuiTed when he was twenty-two years of 
 age, was with Miss Birdie Surridge, who was born 
 and reared in the State of Arkansas. They have 
 two bright and interesting children named James 
 A. and Essie P. In his political views Mr. Brooks 
 has always been a Democrat, and being a young 
 man of pluck and energy he is bound to succeed in 
 whatever calling he may undertake. [For parents' 
 history see -sketch of A. W. W. Brooks.] 
 
 Richard D. Brown is a member of the law firm 
 of Brown & Black, one of the leading and most 
 influential at the bar of Pocahontas and is a native 
 of Calloway County, Ky. , born in the year 1832. 
 He has that ease of manner and force of character 
 which make the sons of the Blue Grass State influ- 
 ential wherever they go. Reared to the mysteries 
 of farm life from earlv vouth. he began for himself 
 
 in this pursuit at the age of seventeen years, and 
 continued until twenty-seven years of age. when 
 he entered the ofiice of Lem Boyd, and there studied 
 law. He was admitted to the bar in October, 1859. 
 at Miu-ray, Ky., and in 1860 went to Metropolis 
 City, 111. , where he located and practiced law for 
 one year. At the breaking out of hostilities he 
 moved back to his native county, and during the 
 war was engaged in contraband trade. When 
 peace was declared he settled in Murray, Ky. , and 
 practiced his profession until 1876, when he moved 
 to Randolph County, Ark. Here he has been suc- 
 cessfully engaged in the practice of his profession 
 ever since. He was first married in 1850 to Miss 
 America Foster, a native of Kentucky (Christian 
 County), and one child was born to this union, 
 Almedia, who is the wife of C. C. Marshal, of 
 Murray, Ky. Mrs. Brown died in April, 1859, at 
 the age of twenty-one years. She was a devoted 
 member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Brown was 
 married the second time, in 1860, to Miss Anna E. 
 Trill, a native of Montgomery County, Tenn. , and 
 this union was blessed by the birth of three chil- 
 dren: Sallie S. , Mary E. and Ruth. Mrs. Brown 
 is a member of the. Baptist Church. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic fi'aternity, and both are much 
 esteemed citizens. Mr. Brown owns about 4,500 
 acres of land, and is largely interested in the lum- 
 ber business. He employs from twenty to fifty 
 men, and is doing well at this. He is a Democrat, 
 a leading lawyer and a first-class business man. 
 His parents, Edward S. and Sallie (Card) Brown, 
 were natives of Culpeper County, Va. The 
 father was educated for a surveyor, but finding agri- 
 cultural pursuits more suited to his tastes, he fol- 
 lowed that occupation the principal part of his life. 
 He was reared in Hopkinsville, Ky. , and in 1831 
 emigrated to Western Kentucky, where he settled 
 in Calloway County. There he received his final 
 summons in 1850, at the age of fifty years. The 
 mother died in 1886, at the age of seventy-five 
 years. Both were esteemed members of the Bap- 
 ti.st Church. The father was a Whig in politics, 
 and was considered a leader of his party in West- 
 ern Kentucky. He was a very prominent man. 
 They were the parents of twelve children, six now 
 
 ^'' 
 
KANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 881 
 
 living: Edmond, a farmer, now living iu Callo- 
 way County, Ky. ; Mary J., wife of Cyrus Oweu, 
 also in Calloway County; Fannie, wife of W. S. 
 Sled, of the same county ; Richard D. ; Jano, wife 
 of William H. Daily, of Calloway County, and 
 Sophronia, wife of ^^'. C. Clements, also of that 
 county. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Brown, 
 was a native of Culpeper County, Va. , and was a 
 successful tiller of the soil. He settled in Ken- 
 tucky later iu life, and founded the town of Hop- 
 kinsville, Ky., in 1812. The maternal grandfather 
 was Edmond Card, who was also a native of Cul- 
 peper County, Va. He was a wealthy farmer 
 and a soldier in the War of 1812; was quite active 
 in politics, and was receiver of the land office of 
 Western Kentucky for a number of years. He 
 was also a minister in the Baptist Church. 
 
 W. M. Burrow, merchant, Warm Springs, Ark. 
 This enterprising and thorough-going business- 
 man was born on the 21st of December, 1827, in 
 Tennessee, and his father, Philip Burrow, was a 
 native of the same State. The elder Burrow was 
 a farmer by occupation, and when a young man 
 was united in marriage to Miss Minta Lacy, also a 
 native of Tennessee. They moved to Arkansas in 
 1843. and settled in Randolph County, where the 
 father tilled the soil, on rented land, until his 
 death, which occurred in 1844. He was thrown 
 from a wagon and killed. After his death Mrs. 
 Burrow purchased land, and reared the nine chil- 
 dren hi)rn to her union with Mr. Burrow (seven 
 of whom are now living): Jeremiah (deceased); 
 William M. , G. W. (deceased), James W., living 
 in Fulton County; Villa, widow of (ireorge Ivoty, 
 in Fulton County, Ark. ; Jane, also in Fulton 
 County; Josiah, Robert and Tindrel. In 1879 
 Mrs. Burrow sold her farm and moved to Fulton 
 County, Ark. In 1846 she maiTied for her second 
 husliand Tindrel Burrow, a distant relative of her 
 first husband. Mi'. Burrow died in 1870, V)ut his 
 •widow still survives him, and resides in Fulton 
 County. She was Ijorn in 1814, is now in her sev- 
 enty-tifth year, does her own housework, and is 
 enjoying very good health. In his early youth W. 
 M. Burrow had a poor chance for an education, 
 but since, by close application and study, he has 
 
 acquired a good business education, antl is a man 
 well informed on the current topics of the day. At 
 the age of twenty-six he wedded Miss Luviria 
 Baily, of Missouri, and then began his career as a 
 farmer. He first purchased 160 acres of land, ini 
 proved the same and cultivated the .soil until 1877. 
 when he engaged iu merchandising at Warm 
 Springs, and has continued successfully ever since. 
 His annual business amounts to about §10,00(1 or 
 $12,000. In 1885 he erected a lino llouring-mill. 
 with cotton-gin combined, which cost him about 
 $5,000, and with which he does a good business. 
 He furnishes considerable flour to the surrounding 
 merchants and all the farmers of the northern part 
 of the county, also a portion of Oregon and Ripley 
 Counties, Mo. Aside from this he is the owner of 
 about fifty acres of land close to town. His mar- 
 riage occurred in 1853, and he and wife have reared 
 a family of seven children (five now living) ; Moses, 
 Jane (wife of P. Carter), Jerry, Nancy (wife of 
 James Jarrett), Martha (deceased), Mary T. (de- 
 ceased), and Alice (wife of Lee JaiTett). On com- 
 mencing for himself Mr. Burrow had no help, and 
 has made all by the sweat of his brow. In 1802 
 he joined the Confederate army, under Capt. B17- 
 ant, and served three years and eight months in 
 the Trans - Mississippi department. He partici- 
 pated in the battles of Cane Hill, Richmond, 
 Helena and Red River, was with Gen. Price on 
 his raid through Missouri, in 18G4, and ])articipated 
 in all the battles of importance during that raid. 
 He was slightly wounded at Ash Station, while un- 
 der Gen. Joe Shelby, and surrendered at Jackson- 
 port, Ark., on the 5th of June, 1805. He then 
 came home and engaged in tilling the soil. He 
 has never held an office iu his life; was elected at 
 one time school director, but paid a tine of $10 and 
 saved himself from filling that office. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Burrow are members of the Predestinariaii 
 Baptist Church, and he in politics affiliates with 
 the Democratic party. He is public spirited, is in 
 favor of all enterprises for the good of the county, 
 is an earnest advocate of schools, and a liberal 
 donor to all enterprises of a beneficial character. 
 The paternal grandfather was a captain in the 
 Revolutionary War, and served during the entire 
 
J^l 
 
 382 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 time. He had only been married about four 
 months when he enlisted. His wife, the paternal 
 grandmother of our subject, lived to be one hun- 
 dred and fifteen years old, and had been a widow 
 sixty-two years. She was born about 1735, and 
 died about 1850. Her sister, Mrs. Patterson, died 
 at the age of one hundred and nine years, and was 
 buried with the honors of war. Her husband was 
 a soldier in the Revolutionary War. 
 
 J. J. Garner, another prominent stock raiser of 
 Warm Springs Township, has followed this occu- 
 pation, in connection with farming, the principal 
 part of his life, and has been very successful. To 
 the Blue Grass State he owes his nativity, having 
 been born there on the 25th of August, 1835. His 
 parents, Joel and Nancy (Sigler) Garner, were na- 
 tives, respectively, of North Garoliua and Tennes- 
 see. The father came to Kentucky at a very early 
 day. and the mother made her first appearance in 
 that State in 1819. They were married there in 
 1823, and there the father followed tilling the soil 
 for about fourteen years. He then removed to 
 Posey Gounty, Ind., and in 1837 entered eighty 
 acres of land, which he improved, and farmed un- 
 til his death, in 1839. To this marriage were born 
 the following children: Peggie A., wife of Miles 
 B. Frence; Elizabeth J., wife of W. H. Lane: 
 Malinda J., wife of John D. Morehead; P. W., who 
 lives in Ripley County, Mo., and is a farmer; J. J., 
 and J. N., who lives in Fulton Gounty, Ark., and 
 is a minister and farmer. After the death of her 
 husband Mrs. Garner was united in marriage to 
 Mr. Joel Short, in 1843, in Union Gounty, Ky., 
 whither she had moved in 1839. She was born in 
 1808, and died on the 9th of April. 1880. Mr. 
 Short died in September, 1853. J. J. Garner 
 commenced work for himself at the age of nine- 
 teen, and in 1877 moved to this State, settling in 
 this county on the 25th of November. He imme- 
 diately engaged in farming, which occupation he 
 has continued up to the present. In 1882 he en- 
 tered lOOj^Sj^ acres of land in Randolph Gounty, 
 and now has about seventy-live acres under fence, 
 and fifty or sixty acres under cultivation, with fair 
 houses and good outbuildings, etc. Mr. Garner 
 selected for his life companion Miss Nancy J. 
 
 Ramsey, and was wedded to her in 1855. They 
 had nine children (seven of whom are now living): 
 T. T., living in this county: Nancy E.. wife of 
 John Bloodworth, living in Rijiley Gounty, Mo. ; 
 J. J., Jr., in Randolph Gounty: J. N., Jr., in 
 
 j the same county: Sarah (deceased), Mary O. (de- 
 ceased). Malinda A., Laura B. and Barba. Mrs. 
 Garner was born on the 19th of September, 1836, 
 and is a daughter of James A. and Elizabeth (James) 
 Ramsey. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey wei'e the parents 
 of the following children: T. (J., living in Webster 
 Gounty, Ky. ; Robert (deceased), John M., James 
 A., Jr., and N. J. Mr. Ramsey died about 1844, 
 and Mrs. Ramsey was married again, to Mr. James 
 Riggs, in 1848. Three children were born to this 
 union: George W., Sylvester and Stanford Y. Mr. 
 Riggs died in 1870, and Mrs. Riggs in 1875. The 
 latter was a member of the Baptist Ghurch. J. J. 
 Carnei-'s uncle on the mother's side was in the War 
 of 1812, under Gen. Jackson, and participated in 
 the battle of New Orleans. J. J. Garner was 
 school director in Kentucky for eight years, and 
 has filled the same office in this coiinty one term. 
 Politically his preference is with the Republican 
 .party. He is a member of the Wheel, and he 
 and wife are members of the Free Will Baptist 
 Ghurch, as are James J.. Jr., Malinda A. and 
 Laura B. 
 
 William Garrens, M. D. The profession of 
 the physician is one which operates effectively in 
 time of need in arresting and alleviating the most 
 acute pains and ailments to which the human body 
 
 I is heir, and therefore deserves the most apprecia- 
 tive consideration on the part of the pul)]ic. In 
 this profession the gratitude of hundreds are dtxe 
 
 i to the talent and skill of Dr. Garrens. who has 
 been an active practicing physician of the county 
 
 I since 1884. He was bom in the State of Illinois, 
 September 7, 1849, and received his early educa- 
 tion in the graded school at Glinton. -He attended 
 one course of lectures in the Eclectic Medical In- 
 stitute of Cincinnati, Ohio, his tuition being paid 
 with means obtained by teaching school after he had 
 reached the age of nineteen years. For fourteen 
 years he wielded the ferule successively in Illinois, 
 Missouri and Arkansas, and since 1884 has been 
 
 
:>£ 
 
 RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 383 
 
 one of the active practicing physicians of Randolph 
 County. He was married Novoiuhpr 18, 1868, to 
 Miss Martlia E. Brothers, and by her he became 
 the father of three children: Harriett A., born 
 August 7. 18(19, the wife of Thomas Phillips; Ida 
 J., born February 25, 1872, and is the wife of 
 Frank Steward, and J. W., born July 2, 1874, re- 
 siding at home. The Doctor's wife died PVb- 
 ruary 14, 1876, an earnest member of the Baptist 
 Church; she was a daughter of John and Nancy 
 Brothers, whose family consisted of six children: 
 William, George, Harriett, Sarah, Robert and 
 Martha E. Miss Lucy Spinks became the second 
 wife of Dr. Carrens, Decem))er 14, 1876, and of 
 their seven children four died in infancy and 
 three are now living: James S., born May 30, 
 1879; Eva M., born July 20, 1881, and Bertha, 
 born August 25, 1888. Presley and Elizabeth 
 (Ozment) Spinks were native Tennesseeans, who 
 moved to Illinois at a very early day, and there 
 reared a family of seven children: James J., 
 Sarah (Harris), Eliza (Biskins), Tennessee (Odam), 
 John A., Lucy (Carrens) and Martha. Mrs. 
 Spinks was a member of the Baptist Church and 
 died April 7, 1874, her husband afterward marry- 
 ing Harriet Doughty, of Illinois, in 1874. Dr. 
 Carrens was hrst a member of the Free Will Bap- 
 tist Church, but he and wife are now attendants 
 and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 which church they joined in 1877. The Doctor is 
 a member of the A. F. & A. M. and is a Repiibli- 
 can politically. His parents, Elisha and Mary E. 
 (Hester) Carrens, were Tennesseeans. and were 
 bom, reared and married there, the latter event 
 taking place in 1848. They died in their native 
 State in 1855, and both were members of the Bap- 
 tist Church. They were the parents of three 
 ciiildrcn: William, J. A., who is a farmer of 
 Claiborne County, Ark., and Elizabeth (deceased). 
 R. J. Carter, cotton grower and stock raiser, 
 Pocahontas, Ark. Mr. Carter is one of those wide- 
 awake, thorough -going gentlemen who are bound 
 to make their way in the world with very little 
 liclp from outsiders. He is the son of ^linatree 
 and Matilda (Mock) Carter, the former a native of 
 South Carolina, and one of the early pioneers of 
 
 Northeast Arkansas, where he died in 1857, at 
 the age of fifty-five or fifty-six years. The 
 mother was also a native of South Carolina, and 
 died when about fifty-three years of age. She was 
 partly of German descent. Of the nine children 
 born to their marriage, three are now living, and 
 R. J. Carter was the fifth in order of birth. He 
 was born in Randolph County, Ark., in 1833, and 
 grew to manhood in that and Greene Counties. 
 He made his start in life by following the occupa- 
 tion to which he had been trained in early life, 
 farming, and in 1861 was united in marriage to 
 Miss Mary D. Kuykendall. To this union were 
 born three children, only one, Min., who is twenty- 
 seven years of age, now li ving. Those deceased are 
 Florence and Norah. In 1862 Mr. Carter entered 
 the Confederate service, and was on duty for three 
 years. He was at the battles of Jenkins' Fen-y, 
 Pleasant Hill, Camden and Helena. He returned 
 to his family at the close of the war and continued 
 tilling the soil in Greene County, Ark., for fifteen 
 years. He then came to Randolph County, settled 
 on 500 acres and engaged in farming and stock 
 raising. He is also the owner of 240 acres in Clay 
 County . He is a Democrat in politics, a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity. Master Mason and 
 a Knight of Honor. He is also a member of the 
 Baptist Church. Min. Carter, son of R. J. Car- 
 ter, was born in Clay County, Ark., in 1862. was 
 reared on the farm until sixteen years of age, 
 when he entered the State University at Fayette- 
 ville, Ark., where he attended one year. He then 
 entered Batesville College, where he graduatetl 
 in 1884 with the degree of B. S. Retiu-ning to 
 Pocahontas, he engaged as a salesman in the store 
 of R. N. Hamil for two years. He then embarked 
 in tlie drug business for himself, and this continued 
 until April, 1889. He was married in November, 
 1888. to Miss Mazie Esselman. a daughter of Dr. 
 Esselman, of Pocahontas. Both are members of 
 the Roman Catholic Church. 
 
 Henry A. Clark, merchant and farmer. Elm 
 Store, Ark. This gentleman owes his nativity to 
 Boone County. Ark., where his birth occurred on 
 the 26th of December. 1.S52. and is the son of G. 
 W. and Fannie (Arnold) Clark, natives of Virginia 
 
384 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 and Teniiessee, respectively. The elder Mr. Clark 
 came to Arkansas in 1850, settling in Carroll 
 County, but after a residence there of about four 
 years, moved to Marion County, where he bought 
 200 acres of land. He tilled the soil there until 
 1865, when he moved to Independence County, 
 Ark. , and settled close to Batesville. He remained 
 there only two years, and then moved to Ran- 
 dolph County, where he bought wild land on Janes 
 Creek. He moved from there in 1878 to Elm 
 Store, where he died on the 30th of October, 1886, 
 at the age of seventy-seven years. He was mar- 
 ried in 1834 to Miss Arnold, who bore him ten 
 children, seven now living: James, Annie, wife 
 of W. M. Campbell, of Oregon County, Mo. ; 
 Sarah, wife of T. M. Brown, of Marion County, 
 Ark.; E. B., H. A., R. B. and G. W. Mrs. 
 Clark died on the 27th of April, 1887, at the age 
 of sixty-nine years. Both were members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Clark 
 was a successful farmer, and in his political views 
 affiliated with the Democratic party. The pater- 
 nal grandfather of our subject came from England 
 with his brother when quite a young man. They 
 both accepted positions as overseers on plantations 
 in Virginia. The brother was killed by negroes 
 and thrown into a log heap to burn, but was found 
 in time and taken out. The grandfather moved 
 from Virginia to Tennessee, and thence to Alabama, 
 and was one of the earliest settlers of Jackson 
 County. The maternal grandfather was akso an 
 early settler of Jackson County, Ala. , and was one 
 of the wealthiest men there during his time. He 
 was originally from the State of Tennessee, but 
 died in Alabama about 1858. H. A. Clark's early 
 opportunities for an education were rather meager, 
 and he attended his lirst school in 1866. He then 
 attended the free schools of his section from 1868 
 to 1875, and obtained a good practical education at 
 Thomasville Academy, Oregon County, Mo. • After 
 leaving school, and on the 23d of August, 1875, 
 he came to his present place, and engaged in mer- 
 chandising, which he has continued ever since in a 
 very successful manner . In connection with this he 
 also operates a farm of 250 acres on Eleven Points 
 River. Mr. Clark's wife, to whom he was mar- 
 
 ried on the 28th of February, 1877, was formerly 
 Miss Ellendar A. Kirkpatrick, of this county, and 
 they are the parents of four children, three now 
 living: C. Newton, Adolphus G. and Elmer. The 
 one deceased was named Henry Perry. At the com- 
 mencement of his business career, Mr. Clark had 
 but very little to commence with, but by close 
 application to business, and by his honorable, up- 
 right course, he has attained an enviable position, 
 and is now one of the leading business men in the 
 county. At present he is the owner of 700 acres 
 of land and a fine residence where he now lives, 
 also owns his store, and his annual sales amount 
 to about $15,000. He is a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity, is a Democrat in politics, and he and 
 his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South. 
 
 M. F. Collier, of the law firm of Lomax & Col- 
 lier, is one of the prominent men who make up the 
 strength of the Arkansas bar. He is a native of 
 Ohio County, Ky. , born in the year 1849, and is 
 the son of H. H. Collier and Susan F. (Allmon) 
 Collier, also natives of the Blue Grass State. The 
 father was a shoemaker in early life, but later fol- 
 lowed agricultural pursuits, and is now engaged 
 in merchandising at Prairie Grove, Ark. Heemi-' 
 grated to this county in i860, settling in the north- 
 ern part of the same, where he remained until 
 1881, and then moved to his present home. He 
 was appointed United States census taker of Ran- 
 dolph County, and is quite a prominent man. He 
 and his wife are worthy members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. M. F. Collier was reared on 
 a farm in the county, and there remained until 
 nineteen years of age, when he came to Pocahon- 
 tas. He was there engaged in a packing house 
 as a laborer, and later was made hostler for the 
 firm. Some time after this he was employed as 
 salesman in the store of Mr. Hecht, where he con- 
 tinued three years. He was made book keeper for 
 the same man at Jacksonport, Ark. , remained with 
 him two years, and then returned to Pocahontas, 
 where he took charge of the books in the main 
 store. At the end of four years' service in that 
 capacity, he took an interest in the real e.state 
 business, and studied law. He was admitted to 
 
tb<< bar in February, 1886, and formed a partner- 
 ship with Mr. Lomax, with whom he has remained 
 up to the present time. He commands the confi- 
 dence of the people and the respect of his law 
 brethren, and is an acquisition to Pocahontas. He 
 selected Miss Sophia E. Richter, a native of 
 Louisiana, for his wife, and was wedded to her in 
 187(5. They have an interesting family of live 
 childi'en: Eugene L., Alma, Beryl, Thomas and 
 Laurane. Mr. and Mrs. Collier are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in which he is 
 Sunday-school superintendent, and takes an ac- 
 tive interest in church and Sunday-school work. 
 He is a member of the Masonic frateriiit)'. Chap- 
 ter and Council, also of the Eastern Star, and 
 the K. of H. He is also a member of the I. O. 
 O. F. He owns some town property, and consid- 
 erable land. The firm makes a specialty of real- 
 estate business, and their extensive practice is but 
 a natural result of their individual and confederate 
 action. 
 
 Captain Wibb Conner, Pocahontas, Ark. A 
 glance at the lives of many representative men 
 whose names appear in this volume will reveal 
 sketches of some honored and influential citizens, 
 who have resided many years in this county, but 
 among them none are more worthy or deserving of 
 mention than Capt. Wibb Conner. On his father's 
 side he is of Irish descent, while his mother was of 
 Scotch-Irish origin. Capt. Conner was originally 
 from Wayne County, Mo., where his birth occurred 
 on the ]3th of December, 1837, and is the son of 
 John B. and Jane H. (Robinson) Conner, the 
 father a native of Virginia, and the mother of 
 North Carolina. The grandfather Conner was a 
 native of Ireland, but came to America and settled 
 in Virginia, and afterward on Green River, Ky., 
 in 180fi. He followed the occupation of a farmer, 
 also wielded the ferule for some time, and was a 
 brave and gallant soldier in the Revolutionary 
 War. The maternal grandfather, David Robinson, 
 was a native of North Carolina, and was an early 
 settler of the Duck River Country, now in Ten- 
 nessee. John B. Conner (father of the subject of 
 this sketch) was reared on a farm, but at an early 
 age went as an apprentice to the gun and black- 
 
 smith trade, which he learned of Col. Wooly, who. 
 in 1815, organized an exploring expedition to go 
 down the Mississippi River, and up the Red 
 
 I River. John B. Conner accompanied him, and 
 while on the Red River all sickened and died ex- 
 cept Mr. Conner and one companion. They 
 started on foot to come through to Kentucky across 
 
 I the country, but while on the way the companion 
 died and Mr. Conner was left alone. He got back 
 
 i as far as Greenville, Mo., but stopped there and 
 
 ; started a shop in 1816, and passed the remainder 
 of his days in Wayne County, in that State. His 
 death occurred in September, 1850, at the age 
 of fifty-six years. The mother of Cajjt. Conner 
 
 j died in 1845, at the age of forty-seven years, and 
 was a worthy member of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church. The father was a man who took a 
 
 ' great interest in politics, and was prominent in 
 public affairs. He held the office of sheriff of 
 Wayne County, Mo., for four years, and served in 
 the General Assembly two terms. They reared a 
 family of children: Benjamin F., died in AVayne 
 County, Mo., leaving two children; Frances M. . 
 wife of John O. Bettis, of Wayne County, Mo.; 
 Phili]) A. (deceased), left a family of three chil- 
 dren; Samuel W., died at the age of twenty-one 
 years; Wibb, and Rachel E. (deceased), wife of 
 Noel Estes, of Wayne County. Capt. Wibb Con- 
 ner, when nine years of age. was left motherless, 
 and when thirteen years of age his father died. 
 He remained on the home place with his brothers 
 until eighteen years of age, when he went to 
 Greenville, Mo. , and engaged as a clerk in a store. 
 At the age of twenty he embarked in business for 
 himself in general merchandising, and continued 
 this until the war broke out. In 1862 he enlisted 
 in Reeves' company, and was attached to the 
 Second Missouri Cavalry, serving in the Confeder- 
 ate army until the 25th of May, 1865. He en- 
 tered the ranks as a private, and came out as a cap- 
 tain of Company H, Fifteenth Missouri Cavalry. 
 After the war he came to Randolph County, Aik. , 
 settled on a farm five miles north of Pocahontas, 
 and there carried on farming and milling until 
 1867. He then moved to Pocahontas and was 
 there engaged as clerk in a store for some time. 
 
386 
 
 mSTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 In March. 1867, he moved to St. Louis, commencing 
 in the hotel business, but a few months later re- 
 turned to Pocahontas, and again engaged in the 
 mill business, whicli he ran until 1S75. The mill 
 was burned down, and Capt. Conner came to Poca- 
 hontas and acted as salesman in a store until 1 878. 
 He then was elected sheriff and collector, and 
 served in that capacity for four years, after which 
 he engaged in the real estate business for two years. 
 In 1886 he was appointed, under President Cleve- 
 land, special agent of a general land office, and 
 assigned to duty in Florida, where he remained 
 until the 1st of April, 1889. He then returned to 
 Pocahontas, where he now lives, retired. He was 
 first taarried in October, 1S61. to Miss Eliza Bol- 
 linger, a native of. Randolph County, and to them 
 was born one child living, Samuel A., who now re- 
 sides at Cressview, Fla. , and is a telegraph oper- 
 ator. Mrs. Conner died in February, 1868, and 
 Capt. Conner took for his second wife, on the loth 
 of Decemljer, 1868, Miss V. Ellen Martin, a native 
 of Randolph County, Ark., by whom be has six 
 children: Kate W., Carl, Philip A., EWeda, P. 
 Mabel and Jennie Ellen. He and wife are members 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He is 
 a member of the Masonic fraternity and K. of H. 
 He is the owner of 500 acres of land, besides town 
 property here and in Florida. He is a temperance 
 man, and is active in church and educational 
 matters. 
 
 Eli Creason, farmer and stock raiser. Warm 
 Springs, Ark. On the 15th of August, 1840, there 
 was born to Henry and Elizabeth (Smith) Creason 
 a son, Eli Creason, whom we now take as the sub- 
 ject of this sketch. His birth occurred in Marshall 
 County. Ky. , and although his educational advan- 
 tages were not of the Ijest, still he had a fair 
 showing with the other coiiutry boys of his day. By 
 reading and observation in later years, he became 
 faij'ly well educated, and is well posted on the 
 leading topics of the day. His parents were na- 
 tives, respectively, of North Carolina and Illinois, 
 were married in 1839, and reared a family of nine 
 childi-en (seven now living): Eli, Nancy (wife of 
 R. H. Southerland). Elizabeth (deceased), Will- 
 iam, James (deceased), Milas, R. H. , John W., 
 
 Adaline (wife of Hicks Mathews). One child died 
 very young. Heni-y Creason was born in 1820. 
 and has always followed agricultural j)ursuits, in 
 which he has been very successful. He and wife 
 reside in Kentucky, and are sixty-nine and seventy 
 years of age, respectively, and are in the enjoy- 
 ment of exceptionally good health. They are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
 Mr. Creason is a Democrat, although indeed he 
 takes very little interest in politics. Eli Creason 
 was employed on his father's farm up to the age 
 of twenty, after which be commenced farming for 
 himself, on rented land in Kentucky. He made 
 but one crop in that State, and then, in 1860, 
 moved to Arkansas, and settled in Izard County. 
 Five years later he returned to Kentucky, but dur- 
 ing that time he spent about three years in the 
 Confederate army, and was wounded in a skirmish 
 at Augusta, Ark. He participated in the lighting 
 in and around Little Rock before and after the 
 evacuation of the Confederates, and finally surren- 
 dered at Jacksonport, Ark., June 5, 1865. He 
 then returned home, and moved, in December, to 
 Kentucky, where he remained seven years. He 
 then came to Randolph County, Ark., entered 
 land, and remained on the same until 1881, when 
 he sold out and purchased his present property, 
 consisting of 172 acres, with about 100 acres under 
 cultivation. He has an excellent frame house on 
 the same, has good barns, out-buildings, etc. When 
 he returned from the war, Mr. Creason was out 
 of money, had no property, and was ' ' dead 
 broke" generally. Notwithstanding all this, he 
 went to work, and by industry and perseverance, 
 coupled with a determined spirit, has become one 
 of the leading farmers in this jiortion of the coun- 
 ty, all the result of his own labor. Previous to 
 the war, he was united in marriage in 1859, to 
 Miss Nancy Gibson, of Graves County, Ky., and 
 they are the parents of five children (three now 
 living): W. H. , born November 16, 18()(), and now 
 resides in Warm Springs Township; Eli M., born 
 September 27, 1862, and died July 19, 1881; 
 George W., born April 7, 1865, and now resides in 
 Warm Springs Township; James A., born October 
 15, 1868, and also a resident of Warm Springs 
 
:\^ 
 
 EANDOLVH COUNTY. 
 
 :!S7 
 
 Township, aiul Robert L. . bom October 6, 1881; 
 and died November 8, of the same year. The 
 mother of these children was born May 28, 1841 ; 
 she was a daiij^hter of Emanuel and Martha (Per- 
 kins) Gibson, both natives of Kentucky, of which 
 State they were early settlers. Thoy reared a 
 family of eleven children, ten now living: Marion, 
 Caroline (wife of John Prevet), Nancy (the wife of 
 the subject of this sketch), Martha (wife of Job 
 Thompson), G. W., Daniel. Harriet (wife of Simp- 
 son Hammons), Jackson, John and Louisa (wife of 
 Franklin Smith). Mrs. Gibson died in 1878 or 
 1879. Mr. Gibson had been married previously, 
 and was the father of two children: Elizabeth, wife 
 of Elijah Gibson, and Ehoda, deceased wife of 
 David Sullivan. Mr. Gibson died in 1877; his 
 wife was a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Creason are members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, and he is a Democrat in his 
 political preference. 
 
 Hon. Patrick Henry Crenshaw, attorney, Po- 
 cahontas, Ark. Mr. Crens^haw by virttie of his 
 ability as a lawyer, and his victories at the bar, is 
 eminently worthy of a place in our record of suc- 
 cessful men, and the history of his life is an im- 
 portant part of that of his State and country. 
 He was born near Athens, in Limestone County, 
 Ala., on the 8th of May, 1S49, and is the son of 
 James W. and Elvira (Winston) Crenshaw. The 
 father was born in North Carolina, but when a 
 child moved with his parents to Alabama, and 
 settled near where the town of Athens is now situ- 
 ated. At the age of fourteen, he enlisted in the 
 army and served as a private, under Gen. Andrew 
 Jackson, in his campaign against the Creek Indi- 
 ans, taking part in the battles of Talladega, 
 Emuckfau and Tohopeka. or the Horse-shoe Bend, 
 on the Tallapoosa River. In the last named bat- 
 tle the company to which he belonged was the 
 front of the assaulting column, and his captain 
 the tirst man to mount the works. After the close 
 of the War of 1812. he went as a naval cadet to 
 Annapolis; and after the close of his term there 
 served some time in the United States navy, after 
 which he resigned, and after traveling over the 
 greater portion of North and South America, set- 
 
 tled in Missouri, but after his marriage with Elvira 
 Winston he returned to Alabama, moving thence 
 to Memphis, Tenn., about 18r)2. In aliout 1854. 
 while in Boonville, Mo., with her daughters, who 
 were going to school there, Elvira Crenshaw was 
 taken sick, and went for a time up in Coldrieck 
 County, but died in a short time. James W. 
 Crenshaw continued to live in Memphis until 
 185R, when he married Susan A. Harris, in North 
 Carolina; and the pioneer spirit again taking pos- 
 session of him, he in the last named year, wjth 
 his family, consisting of three daughters, and the 
 subject of this sketch, his eldest daughter, Vir- 
 ginia, having previously married James W . 
 Harper, of Boonville. Mo. , moved to Arkansas 
 and settled in Lawrence County, about six miles 
 east of Powhatan, bringing with him about forty 
 slaves; but the health of l)oth whites and blacks 
 being bad in the river bottoms, he moved into the 
 hills, on Eleven Points River, in Randolph County, 
 about nine miles southwest of Pocahontas. Then 
 the troubles of 1861 came, and James \\'. Cren- 
 shaw was elected as the delegate to the State 
 convention from Randolph County, and was a 
 member of that body when the State seceded; he 
 voting against secession, but being an earnest 
 believer in State's rights, when his State seceded 
 he then adhered to the Southern cause; thimgh he 
 was too old to bear arms in its behalf. In Feb- 
 ruary, 1803, he was arrested by the Federal 
 troops, on a charge of carrying mail for the Con- 
 federate forces, and was treated with great harsh- 
 ness, and cast into an old jail at Pocahontas, 
 where he was compelled to remain for several days 
 without either fire or blankets; after which some 
 of the soldiers, who had been detailed to guard 
 him, conceiving a friendshij) for the old man. pre 
 vailed on their oHieers to take him to their head 
 quarters, where he was treated with great kind 
 ness: and shortly after, finding that the accusa 
 tions were false, and had been made solely for the 
 pui-pose of making ca])ital for the accuser, he 
 was discharged, and allowed to return to his home. 
 The kind treatment, however, came too Inte. for 
 the first exposure brought on a violent cold, which 
 resulted in ])neumonia, and on the 4th of March 
 
(hifi birth day), be died at his home in Randolph 
 County. Freeman Crenshaw, the paternal grand- 
 father of our subject, was born in Virginia, but 
 emigrated early to North Carolina, thence to Ala- 
 bama, where he was one of the pioneer settlers. 
 He also served in the army, under Jackson, in the 
 same company with his son, participating in the 
 same battles; and after the troops were mustered 
 out of service returned to his farm iti Alabama, 
 where he lived until his death, which occurred a 
 few years before the Civil War. Freeman Cren- 
 shaw, though a farmer by preference, was also a 
 skillful mechanic, and on one occasion, while in 
 the army, at the request of Lieut. Jackson, fixed 
 his favorite pistol so as to make it sure fire, the 
 repairs he did being to case-harden the fi'izen and 
 fix the hammer, so as to go back farther when 
 cocked, thereby to give the mainspring additional 
 strength. Gen. Jackson, after he had thoroughly 
 tested it, speaking of the last named change re- 
 marked, ' ' She goes to hell for fire, but she brings 
 back a blank full. " Mrs. Dorothea Winston, the 
 maternal grandmother of Patrick Henry Crenshaw, 
 was a daughter of Patrick Henry, making the 
 subject of our sketch the great-grandson of the 
 renowned patriot and orator. Mrs. Winston 
 named our subject after her father. During the 
 latter years of her life Mrs. Winston, being left a 
 widow, lived with her son-in-law, James W. Cren- 
 shaw, and died at his house in Memphis, Tenn. , 
 and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, of that city. 
 Our subject, Patrick Henry Crenshaw, received 
 the greater portion of his education at home, and 
 in private schools, going one year to the Cooper 
 Institute in Boonville, Mo. He had always at- 
 tended the Methodist Church, though a member 
 of none until he began to study earnestly the 
 foundation and origin of the various churches. 
 This investigation led him to join the Roman 
 Catholic Church, into which he was baptized by 
 Rev. Father James S. Okean, at Pocahontas, in 
 February, 1869, and confirmed by Bishop Edward 
 Fitzgerald, of Little Rock. Like all boys of the 
 South, who were large enough to shoulder a gun, 
 he served some time in the Confederate army. 
 After leaving school, he began life bs a clerk in a 
 
 store, but through the influence of his friends, he 
 was prevailed upon to read law, and studied with 
 the law firm of Baber & Henderson, of Pocahon- 
 tas, and in 1872 was admitted to the bar by Hon. 
 Elisha Baxter, who was then a circuit judge, and 
 afterward governor of Arkansas. In June, 1873, 
 he moved to Clay County, and practiced his pro- 
 fession there with good success until 1886, when 
 he returned to Pocahontas, the home of his boy- 
 hood. In 1879 he was man-ied to Miss Sula 
 Mack, eldest daughter of Hon. L. L. Mack, of 
 Greene County. Of this union there has been 
 born four daughters: Felicia Mary, Elvira Serena, 
 Inez Alphonsus and Nona Paula. In 1881 Mr. 
 Crenshaw represented Clay County in the house 
 of representatives, but since that time has not 
 been an aspirant for political office himself, 
 though he takes a lively interest in the welfare of 
 his country ; and when occasion demands it, is ever 
 ready to assist in canvassing his part of the State 
 in behalf of the Democratic party, to which lie 
 has been a life-long adherent. He is a man well 
 versed in English literature in general, of which 
 he is quite fond, is a shrewd practitioner, a for- 
 cible and eloquent speaker, and an irreproachable 
 man — "a man in whom there is no guile." 
 Among his many friends he is known as an ardent 
 lover of all kinds of field sports especially the 
 Southern amusement of fox hunting. He says 
 he came by these last named traits honestly, as all 
 the Crenshaws, Henrys and Winstons were given 
 to like weaknesses, as is shown by the number of 
 pioneers among them. In his native State, three 
 counties, Henry, Winston and Crenshaw, are 
 named for his ancestors. 
 
 G. W. Crosby, M. D. Pocahontas and vicinity 
 have a number of physicians among whom prom- 
 inently stands Dr. G. W. Crosby, a native of Will- 
 iamson County, Tenn. He was born in lS3f), and 
 received a liberal education in that State. He read 
 medicine under a regular physician, and later en- 
 tered the Memphis Medical School, where he at- 
 tended one course of lectures. About this time the 
 war broke out, and he then joined the medical de 
 partment of the Ninth Tennessee (Confederate) In- 
 fantry, where he remained during the whole war. 
 
 ^ c 
 
 ^■^ «) 
 
-^ — "t^ 
 
 RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 3R'.t 
 
 He snrrenderod at Greensboro, N. C, in 1865, hav- 
 ing participatpd in tbe following battles: Shiloh 
 and Perry ville, Ky., where he was captured with 
 the wonnded of his regiment; being exchanged 
 after a sojourn in prison of six months was also in 
 the battle of Chickamauga, and in all the engage- 
 ments of the Northern Georgia campaign in which 
 his regiment participated. Returning to his home 
 in Memphis, Tenn. , to remain, however, only a 
 short time, he then moved to Greene County, Ark., 
 where he continued in the active practice of medi- 
 cine until ISOy. In the fall and winter session of 
 1869-70 he attended his second course of medical 
 lectures at the Missouri Medical College, graduating 
 at the end of the term. He resumed practice in 
 Greene County, and there remained for two years 
 longer, subsequently moving to Cross County, Ark., 
 where he lived three years. In 1874 he moved to 
 Pocahontas, Ark. , where be has been in the regular 
 practice of medicine ever since. By his marriage 
 with Miss Hattie Kibler, which occurred in 1808 in 
 Randolph County, Ai'k., he became the father of 
 seven children : Edward, William, May, Alice, 
 Camille, John and Ouida. The Doctor is of 
 Scotch Irish descent, and the son of Levi and 
 Martha (Barnes) Crosby. The father, a native of 
 South Carolina, was a pioneer of Tennessee, and 
 died in Williamson County, of that State. Grand- 
 father Barnes was born in North Carolina, and was 
 a farmer by occupation. He also died in William- 
 son County. He participated in the War of 1812, 
 and was in the battle of New Orleans. The mother 
 of our subject was born in North Carolina, and to 
 her marriage were born seven children, the Doctor 
 being next to the youngest. He is a Democrat in 
 his political views. 
 
 E. Dalton is a successful merchant of Warm 
 Springs, Ark., and was born in Ripley County, 
 Mo., October "28, 1829, being a son of David and 
 Priscilla (Demis) Dalton, who were born in Ken- 
 tucky and Missouri, respectively. The father re- 
 moved to Madison County. Mo., in 1812, and after 
 his marriage, which occurred there in 1826, he 
 located in Ripley County and settled on Govern- 
 ment land where he remained until his death in 
 18r)9, his wife's death preceding his by two years. 
 
 He was a Democrat, a member of the A. F. & 
 A. M., and he and wife were the parents of the 
 following children; Sarah, the deceased wife of G, 
 W. Matney, our subject, Susanna, wife of William 
 Cross, John (deceased), Nancy, wife of H. Davis, 
 Ruth, the deceased wife of James Parker, Pris- 
 cilla, the deceased wife of J. Bond, and David, 
 who resides in this county. The last two chil- 
 dren were twins. E. Dalton, our subject, only at 
 tended the common subscription schools for a short 
 time during his youth, but this deficiency he ira 
 proved in later years, and is now a well educated 
 business man. In 1864 he was forced into the 
 Confederate army, and was with Price on his raid 
 through Arkansas and Missouri. He surrendered 
 at Jacksonport, Ark., on the 5th of June, 1865. 
 He has be(<n established in business at his present 
 stand since 1879, but from 1872 up to that date 
 he had been engaged in that business in connec 
 tion with farming. He manages his establishment 
 in partnership with his sons, and they do an annual 
 business of about 110,000. He was married in 
 1857 to Miss Grace J. Head, a native of Missouri, 
 the following family being born to them: John C, 
 Nancy J., wife of W. T. Stubblelield, C. J.. Mary 
 P., wife of W. T. McElroy, Sarah M., wife of W. 
 A. Holt, E. A. and Rufus C. At the time of his 
 marriage Mr. Dalton was not the possessor of a 
 great deal of property, but he now owns 500 acres 
 of land in this State, and 800 acres in Ripley 
 County, Mo. Besides this he owns property in 
 Warm Springs. He is in every respect a self- 
 made man, and his property has been acquired 
 through unremitting toil. He is public spirited, 
 a Democrat politically, and is one of the substan- 
 tial men of the county. Mrs. Dalton is a daugh 
 ter of Alex, and Elizabeth (Club) Head, of Wayne 
 County, Mo. Of sixteen children born to them, 
 nine lived to be gi'own, and four are now living: 
 J. A., of Piedmont, Mo. : Emanuel, of Butler Coun 
 ty. Mo. : Grace J. (Mrs. Dalton). and Melvina. 
 wife of Isaac Pollice, of Kansas. The father and 
 mother died in 1859 and 1860 or 1861, respective- 
 Iv, their demise occurring in Wayne ('ouiity. Mo. 
 Lewis Dalton, merchant, miller and fanner, 
 Dalton, Ark. Some of the most energetic and 
 
390 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 enterprising business men of the thrifty little town 
 of Dalton are identified with the growth and pros- 
 perity of the same, and none more so than Mr. 
 Dalton. He is an energetic and thorough man of 
 business, and has acquired a wide reputation for 
 general business ability and for honorable dealings. 
 Aside from this he is also one of the most exten- 
 sive land owners in the county. He was born in 
 Ripley County, Mo., in 1835, received his educa- 
 tion in the subscription schools of those days, and 
 only attended one school where grammar was 
 taught. At the age of twenty-five years he com- 
 menced farming, and this continued one year. In 
 1862 he joined the Confederate army, Company 
 I, under Col. Adams, but served only a short time 
 when he was discharged on account of disability. 
 He then returned home and resumed agricultural 
 pursuits which he has followed all his life, and in 
 1874, engaged in the milling business, erecting a 
 cotton-gin and mill on the Eleven Points River. 
 Previous to the war, January 4, 1860, he married 
 Miss Sarah A. Stubblefield, and two children were 
 born to this union: Acenith, who was born De- 
 cember 13, 1861, and Elijah who was born Novem- 
 ber 1, 1863, and is a merchant at Dalton. At the 
 time of his marriage Mr. Dalton had cultivated his 
 father's farm, and in 1868 be purchased 287 acres 
 of land. Since then he has added to the original 
 amount until he now owns 1,100 acres, all in one 
 tract, except forty acres. At the close of the war 
 he had very little property, and his father had noth- 
 ing left except his land. Now our subject is worth 
 at least $30,000, all of which he has made by his 
 own hard work and good business management, 
 besides placing a good income in the hands of his 
 two children. Mr. Dalton is a member of the 
 Masonic order, and is Democratic in politics. He 
 is the son of Elijah and Zillah (Gains) Dalton, na- 
 tives of Tennessee and Kentucky, respectively. 
 Elijah Dalton was born in 1807, and came with his 
 parents to Madison County, Mo., in 1809. He 
 was principally reared in that county, and early in 
 life learned the brick mason trade, but did not fol- 
 low this after his marriage in 1832. He com- 
 menced farming in Ripley County, Mo., and con- 
 tinued this occupation there until his death, which 
 
 occurred in 1884. In connection with tilling the 
 soil he also operated a water-mill. To him and 
 wife were born seven children (two now living); 
 James M. (deceased), William M. (deceased), 
 Lewis, Elijah (deceased), Zimriah (deceased), Zyl- 
 phia (deceased) and Levi, who is now residing 
 in Ripley County, Mo. Levi was assessor for that 
 county for six years, was also collector for four 
 years, and is one of the representative men. He 
 follows merchandising in connection with farming, 
 and resides west of Doniphan, Mo. When Elijah 
 Dalton commenced life for himself, he was not 
 possessed of a great amount of this world's goods, 
 but he entered a farm on a strip of land between 
 Missouri and Arkansas, that never belonged to 
 either of the States, untU about the breaking out 
 of the late war. Mr. Dalton improved this farm 
 and resided on it the remainer of his days. At 
 the time of his death he was worth about $5,000. 
 He lost his wife in 1852. She was a worthy and 
 consistent member of the Christian Church. Mr. 
 Dalton took ■ for his second wife Miss Elizabeth 
 Stubblefield, whom he married in 1862. By this 
 union one child was born, Joseph, who lives on 
 the old homestead in Ripley County, Mo. Mrs. 
 Dalton died in 1865, and Mr. Dalton was married, 
 the third time, to Mrs. Margaret Johnson, nee Mc- 
 Kinnie of Ripley County. She still survives him 
 and is now married to A. J. Ponder of Doniphan. 
 Mo. Mr. Dalton was a Democrat in his political 
 views, and was a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
 The paternal grandfather of Lewis Dalton was a 
 native of South Carolina, and came to Missouri in 
 1809. He was a minister in the Baptist Church. 
 The maternal grandfather, Nathaniel Gains, was 
 born in Culpeper County, Va. , in 1765, and died 
 in 1849. He was a cousin of Gen. Gains, of Revo 
 lutionary fame. His father was a great friend of 
 Gen. George Washington. 
 
 Jesse R. Davis enjoys the reputation of being 
 a substantial and progressive farmer and an intelli- 
 gent and thoroughly posted man in all public affairs. 
 He was born on the farm on which he is now re- 
 siding, December 9, 1846, and is one of three sur- 
 viving members of a family of seven children born 
 to Joseph H. and Mary (Foster) Davis, both of 
 
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 :W1 
 
 \vlii>m were l)orii in liaudolph Uounty. Ark., his 
 birth occurring November '29, 1822, and hers on 
 the 22d of September, 1824. She died here on 
 the 18th of FebruiUT, 1854, and after her demise 
 Mr. Davis wedded Caadace R. (Lane) Chandler, 
 widow of John Chandler, an ex-sheriff of Ran- 
 dolph County. She was born in the State of Illi- 
 nois, on the 11th of November, 1855, and died 
 in this county on the 7th of March, 1857. Mr. 
 Davis followed husbandry through life, and became 
 t)uite wealthy in that calling. He died March 19, 
 1870. The children born to his first union are 
 Thomas M. , J. F. and Jesse R., all farmers by 
 occupation. Two childi-en were born to his second 
 union, Margenia being the only one now living. 
 His third wife was Miss Fanny Staggs, a Tennes- 
 seean by birth, born January 1, 1848, and died in 
 1884. This union resulted in the birth of seven 
 children, of whom only two are now living: James 
 M. and Louisa. Jesse R. Davis has always re- 
 sided in his native county, and here, of course, re- 
 ceived his early schooling. At the age of seven- 
 teen he began for himself, and by good manage- 
 ment and industrj' has become the owner of 360 
 acres of as good laud as there is in the county. 
 He is noted for his liberality, and owing to his 
 many admirable traits has won the respect and 
 esteem of all. October 12, 1871, his marriage with 
 Miss Frances Stump was consummated. She was 
 a daughter of George Stump, and was born in 
 Hardin County, Ky. , September 25, 1850, and 
 died in Randolph County, Ark., August 28, 1872. 
 Mrs. Melissa (Thomas) Rider became his second 
 wife March 12, 1874. She was born March 31, 
 1851, also in Hardin County, Ky. The following 
 are their children: Jacob T., Harry, Rufus A., 
 Laura M. and an infant son. Mary E. was born 
 February 8, 1875,' and died March 19, 1880. The 
 family worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 and Mr. Davis is a Democrat. 
 
 William DeClerk is an example of the indus- 
 trious and progressive farmer, and like all his coun- 
 trymen he is ])rudeut and frugal. He was born in 
 Prussia, Germany, in 1850, and at the age of six 
 years he was put to school and was kept at his 
 books until he attained his sixteenth year. In his 
 
 youth he learned the intricacies of farm life from 
 his father, a shrewd, practical tiller of the soil, 
 but also gave a consideral)le portion of his attention 
 to the miller's trade, with which he becanip thor 
 oughly familiar. He was married in his native 
 laud to Miss Mary C. Frenken, whose birth oc 
 currod in 1852, and their union has been blessed in 
 the birth of two children: Joseph, and Mary, who 
 died at the age of seven mouths. In 1880, with 
 the intention of bettering his position, he emi- 
 grated to the United Stares, lauding at New York 
 City, and came directly to Pocahontas, and, as he 
 had a comfortable sum of money with which to 
 start in life in a new country, he jiurchased a farm 
 comprising 200 acres of land, which he is putting 
 iu good shape for farming. His parents, Joseph 
 and Agnes (Mechels) DeClerk, were bom in the 
 Kingdom of Prussia, and of their two children our 
 subject is the elder. Grandfather DeClerk is a 
 farmer of Germany. The father served in the 
 regular army, and he and his wife died in their 
 native land. The grandfather was a Frenchman, 
 and the maternal grandfather was a miller by trade 
 as were his ancestors as far back as they can l)e 
 traced. 
 
 J. P. Dunklin, Jr., is a young man who is rap- 
 idly making his way to the front in the business 
 circles of Randolph County, and in his general 
 mercantile establishment, which he has been con- 
 ducting since 1888, he is building up a large and 
 daily increasing patronage. He was born iu Wash- 
 ington County, Mo., and is a son of J. P. and H. 
 W. (Jones) Dunklin, who were also born in that 
 county and State. The father served as clerk of 
 that county several years, and is now residing in 
 Ste. Genevieve County, Mo. J. P. Dunklin moved 
 to Mississippi County, Ark., in 1809, and made his 
 home with an uncle, a Mr. Hunter, for some time, 
 after which he came to Raudol]ih County, and first 
 worked as a book-keeper iu the town of Pocahon- 
 tas. He next clerked in a drug store until 1885, 
 after which he came to Reyno. where he has lived 
 ever since. He took for his companion in life Miss 
 F. A. Allaire, of Pocahontas, and their union has 
 resulted in the birth of three chililreu: William M. , 
 Onida and James E. He is a member of the K. 
 
 :r>: 
 
392 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 of H., and for two y.<ars filleil tbe office of deputy 
 sheriff of the county, and was marshal of Pocahon- 
 tas foui' years. In 1864 he enlisted in the Third 
 Missouri Cavalry, and acted as orderly for Gen. 
 Greene, and during his service took an active part 
 in the battles of Pilot Knob, Pleasanton. Kas., 
 and others. His f^reat-uncle was a member of 
 Congress from Iowa, and was the first man arrested 
 as a secessionist during the Civil War. 
 
 S. A. D. Eaton is a successsul attorney at law 
 of Randolph (,'ounty, Ark., and although quite 
 young in years he has already won an honorable 
 place among the legal fraternity of the county. 
 He was born in Pulaski County, Ind. , in 1860, and 
 there remained attending the public schools until 
 nineteen years of age, at which time he came to 
 Arkansas. Ho remained here until the spring of 
 1885, when he returned to Indiana and entered the 
 Northern Indiana Normal School and Business In- 
 stitute at Valparaiso, which institution he attended 
 during the summer of 1885-86. At the end of this 
 time he again returned to Arkansas, and has taught 
 nine terms of school in Randolph and Clay Coun- 
 ties, and during his career as an educator he dili- 
 gentlv pursued the study of law, and was admitted 
 to the bar on the 14th of February, 1889, under 
 Judge J. W. Butler. He began his practice in 
 Reyno on the 5th of March following his admis- 
 sion, has opened with a good practice, and starts 
 out with bright prospects for the future. He is 
 also notary piiblic, and is a member of the A. F. 
 & A. M. His father, J. W. C. Eaton, M. D., was 
 born in the ' ' Buckeye State. ' ' was a graduate 
 of the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Institute, and 
 was a successful practitioner in Pulaski and How- 
 ard Counties, Ind. , for many years, and obtained 
 considerable reputation as a successful physician. 
 He came to Arkansas in 1879 and died in 1881, in 
 Randolph County. His father was born in Penn- 
 sylvania, and died in Ohio of wounds received in 
 the War of 1812, while commanding a privateer. 
 The gi'eat-grandfather, Anthony Eaton, was a 
 wealthy resident of Philadelphia and was, as far 
 as known, a son of Gen. Theophilus Eaton. 
 
 J. C. Esselman. M. D. , one of the oldest and 
 an eminently successful physician of Randolph 
 
 County, is a native of Nashville, Tenn., bom in 
 1841, and is the son of J. C. Esselman, a native 
 Tennesseean. The elder Esselman. after reaching 
 manhood, was united in marriage to Miss Mary 
 Kiukaid, a native of Missouri. He was a Whig in 
 politics, was a great admirer of Henry Clay and 
 was very active in political affairs. The paternal 
 grandfather, John N. Esselman, was a captain in 
 the British army during the Revolutionary War, 
 was a native of Scotland and a descendant of the 
 Campbell clan. He was an agriculturist. The 
 maternal grandfather, Samuel Kinkaid, was a na- 
 tive of Kentucky, and a painter by occn})ation. 
 Dr. J. C. Esselman was left motherless at the age 
 of four years, and when seven years of age his 
 father also died, so he was indeed left an orphan. 
 He was reared by an uncle. Dr. John N. Esselman, 
 of Nashville, Tenn. He studied medicine with his 
 uncle until the breaking out of the war, when he 
 flung aside his books and joined the Twelfth 
 Missouri Infantry, Confederate army, as lieuten- 
 ant of Company D. Later he was promoted to 
 the rank of captain, and served in that capacity un- 
 til the close of the war. He was in the batt'is of 
 Fredericktown, Prairie Grove, Little Rock, Helena, 
 Mansfield and the entire Banks' campaign. He 
 was at Jenkins' Ferry, and was with Gen. Price in 
 his raid as far as Union City, Ark. When the war 
 closed Dr. Esselman returned to Tennessee and 
 completed his medical studies, graduating at the 
 University of Nashville in 1866. and the same year 
 located at Pocahontas, where he has been actively 
 engaged in the practice ever since. Miss Eliza R. 
 Perkins, formerly from Virginia, became his wife 
 in 1864, and this union was blessed by the birth of 
 four children: Kate (a school-teacher and also 
 music instructor), Mazie R. (wife of M. M. Carter, 
 of Pocahontas). Emma R. (deceased) and Tarn. 0. 
 Dr. Esselman is u member of the Masonic fra- 
 ternity and Knights of Honor, and has held various 
 local offices. The family are members of the Catho- 
 lic Church. The Doctor has a large practice 
 through Randolph, Clay, Greene and Lawrence 
 Counties, and no obstacle which human exertion 
 could overcome has prevented him from visiting 
 the bedside of the sick and afflicted to administer 
 
 y:. 
 
to them wliatevcr relief a skilled and faithful pliy 
 sician could afford. He keeps well posted in all 
 the medical literature of the day, and in his library 
 may be found the latest standard works relative to 
 the science of medicine. 
 
 Joseph H. Clamel has attained considojahle 
 prominence in the material affairs of Randolph 
 County, for he is a man of excellent parts, and has 
 shown good judgment and tact in the management 
 of his mercantile business, and nets a fair annual 
 income from his sales, his stock of goods being 
 valued at $2,500. He was born in Walker County, 
 Ga., March 26, 1852, and is one of four living mem- 
 bers of a family of six children, of whom he was the 
 second, born to Anthony C. and Caroline (Gellon) 
 Gamel, who were born in Tennessee and Georgia, 
 respectively. In 1856 the family came to Arkan- 
 sas, and the father has since been a resident of 
 Randolph County. His wife died in 1862, when 
 about forty years of age. He served for three 
 years in the Confederate army during the war. all 
 this time being west of the Mississippi River, and 
 was a faithful soldier to the Southern cause. At 
 the age of twenty one years Joseph H. Gamel 
 went to Cedarville and was engaged in mercantile 
 business as salesman for eight years. Since 1881 
 he has been engaged in business at his present 
 stand, and is also connected with a mercantile 
 establishment at Mayuard, the firm name being 
 Gamel & Mock. Mr. Gamel is a successful finan- 
 cier, and by his honesty and fair dealing with his 
 customers he commands a large and paying patron- 
 age. In connection with this he also owns a fer 
 tile farm, which he conducts, and for the success 
 which has attended his efforts he deserves the 
 respect and admiration of all, for he commenced 
 life for himself without means, and is now doing 
 exceptionally well. Miss Jane Mock, a daughter 
 of Isham Mock, of Randolph County, became his 
 wife February 3, 1876. She was born in the 
 county on the 15th of May, 1854, and is now the 
 mother of four children living: Hattie M., Nel- 
 lie G., Joseph O. and Thomas T. William P. and 
 Fred, died in infancy. Mr. Gamel is a Democrat 
 and he and his wife are members of the Chris- 
 tian Church. An elder Ijrother of Mr. Game], 
 
 ^^ . A., served in the Confederate army during 
 the wai-. 
 
 Peter Goetz, a farmer and cotton gi'ower, of 
 Randolph County, Ark., was born in New Orleans, 
 October 17, 1829, and received his education in a 
 German Lutheran school of that city. He worked 
 in his father's wood yard in New Orleans while 
 young, and afterward operated a saw-mill in Ken- 
 tucky, and for seven years shipped lumber to his 
 native city. He then sold out and moved to the 
 "Hoosier State," and, after operating a mill on 
 Anderson Creek for about two years, he sold out 
 and returned to New Orleans, where for two sub- 
 sequent years he was engaged in managing a gro- 
 cery store. He next spent two years as foreman in 
 a still -house, then filled the same position in Mo- 
 i)ile, Ala., for a year and a half. He then resided 
 successively in New Orleans, Kentucky (where he 
 built a saw-mill, but sold it soon after), Kansas, 
 where he became the owner of consideralile land, 
 and remained seven years; then traded his property 
 there for a section and a half of land in Randolph 
 County, Ark. He afterward sold the whole sec- 
 tion and a half for $25, and then rented a saw mill, 
 which he operated two years, accumulating suffi- 
 cient money thereby to purchase his present land, 
 paying for it $12 per acre. It embraced 162 acres, 
 and he has 110 acres under fence, and is as rapidly 
 as possible improving it and putting it in a good 
 farming condition. AVhen the war broke out he 
 joined the Confederate forces, and served in the 
 Twenty-fourth K(>ntupky Cavalry, for three years, 
 under Morgan. He was in numerous battles and 
 skirmishes, and served until the close of the war, 
 when he returned home. He was married in 
 Louisville, Ky,, to Miss Agnes Rarick, and four 
 children blessed their union: Peter, Maggie (wife 
 of Oscar Garber), Lizzie F. and Charley. Mr. 
 Goetz is a Democrat and a member of the I. O. O. 
 F. He is a son of Nichols and Elizabeth (Scblos- 
 ser) Goetz, both natives of the Kingdom of Prus 
 sia, Germany. They were married in New Orleans, 
 and died there. The father kept a store and lum 
 ber yard. The great-grandfather was a native 
 German, and was foreman of some iron works. 
 He lived to be over one hundred and ten years old 
 
A 
 
 394 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Jesse G. Hanj. M. D. Among the widely 
 known and most successful physicians of this 
 county is Dr. Ham, who was born in Gibson Coun- 
 ty, Tenn., in 183-4, and was reared and educated 
 in Trenton, Tenn., being a faithful student in 
 Andi'ew College, of the latter place, for some time. 
 At the early age of sixteen years he began clerking 
 in a drug store, and there acquired a taste for the 
 science of medicine. He commenced his studies 
 under Drs. Tulafro and Leaster, and after making 
 a thorough preparation and devoting his energies 
 to this study for some time, he began attending 
 lectures in the Nashville Medical College, and 
 graduated from McDowell's Medical College, in 
 St. Louis, Mo. , in 1857. He decided to commence 
 his professional career in the ' ' Blue Grass State, ' ' 
 and accordingly located at Birmingham, but moved 
 shortly afterward to Memphis. Tenn. , and entered 
 upon an active and jarosperous career there, in 
 partnership with his uncle. Dr. Tom Peyton, who 
 was one of the leading members of the medical 
 fraternity in West Tennessee. After dissolving 
 partnership with his uncle he went to the Indian 
 Territory, and after remaining for some time in 
 Maryville, he again made a change of residence, 
 this time taking up his abode in the "Lone Star 
 State." Fi'om this point he moved to Matamoras, 
 and after a short period spent in that place he re- 
 turned to Texas, tirst to Dallas, then to Johnston 
 Station, back again to Dallas, and then to Fort 
 Worth. In this place he remained until May, 
 1801. when he and Mr. De Eldrige, of Virginia, 
 raised a company of soldiers, and Dr. Ham was 
 made its captain. They went to Louisiana, but, 
 as, according to the law no organized body of men 
 could be received from Texas, the battalion was 
 disbanded at New Orleans. After this Dr. Ham 
 joined the Fifth Louisiana Regiment, Crescent 
 City Guards, commanded by Judge Hunt, which 
 was the third regiment of men that landed at 
 Yorktown, where Coruwallis surrendered. After 
 the first tight near the coast the command ffll 
 back to Williamsburg, where Washington's old 
 barracks were still standing, and Dr. Ham was in 
 the house in which Patrick Henry lived. Dr. Ham 
 was there requested to go before the medical 
 
 board, and was made assistant- surgeon of the Reg- 
 ular Confederate States armj% and was assigned to 
 duty at Chiborago Hospital, Ya. He remained in 
 the medical department until the tinal surrender, 
 then returned to the State of Tennessee, and moved 
 from there to Woodruff County, Ark., where he 
 recommenced the practice of medicine. From 
 that time until 1880 he practiced in Jackson and 
 Lawrence Counties, after which he came to Cher- 
 okee Bay, and here has since resided. He was 
 first married to Miss Lizzie A. McKee, of Missis- 
 sippi, and took for his second wife Miss Lizzie A. 
 Thorne, who was a native of New Jersey. Dr. 
 Ham is a Democrat, and a member of the A. F. & 
 A. M. He is a son of James and Martha (Peyton) 
 Ham, the former of whom was a Virginian. Mr. 
 Ham moved to Tennessee when about twenty-five 
 years old, and had acquired a large fortune in the 
 gold mines of Georgia. He held a number of 
 local offices, and was tirst constable, then deputy 
 sheriff, and finally sheriff of the covmty in which 
 he resided. He was also clerk of Gibson County, 
 Tenn. He is now deceased. His father was a 
 native of Virginia, and was a son of a native 
 Frenchman. 
 
 R. N. Hamil, merchant, Pocahontas, Ark. In 
 preparation of this brief outline of the history of 
 one of the representative men of Randolph County, 
 appear facts which are greatly to his credit. His 
 intelligence, enterprise, integritj', and many esti- 
 mable qualities have acquired for him a popularity 
 not derived from factitious circumstance, but a 
 j)ermauent and spontaneous tribute to his merit. 
 He established his business in Pocahontas in 1875, 
 and has about the large.st general store in the 
 county. His birth occurred in Jeffersonville, Ind., 
 in 1847, and he is the sou of William A. Hamil, a 
 native of Tennessee. The maiden name of his 
 mother was Miss Sarah E. Cre|)[)s, a native of 
 Virginia, Ijut she had miirried a Mr. Waddell pre- 
 vious to her maiTiage to Mr. Hamil. R. N. Hamil 
 moved with his mother to Arkansas on the 18th of 
 February. 184VI. and was reared and educated in 
 Pocahontas. When but sixteen years of age he 
 enlisted in the Forty-Fifth Arkansas, and served 
 until the close of the war. He' then returned to 
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 395 
 
 
 Pocahontas and enga^red in the grocery business, 
 which he followed a few years. He then com- 
 menced clerking for L. Hecht & Co., remaining 
 with them until 1875, when he established his 
 present business, which he has continued ever 
 since. He employs five men in the store, and car- 
 ries a large stock. He was married in Pocahontas 
 in 1873 to Miss Gertrude Kibler, a native of Ran- 
 dolph County, Ark., and one child has been the 
 result of this union: Lelia. Mrs. Hamil died in 
 1875, and Mr. Hamil took for his second wife 
 Miss Blanche Kibler, a sister of his first wife, and 
 and two childi'en were born to this union: Earle 
 and Nell. Mr. Hamil is a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity, and also of the Knights of Honor. He 
 has been a member of the board of aldermen of 
 the city for a number of years, and takes an active 
 ])art in politics. He owns 2,0(10 acres of land, also 
 a farm near town, and aside from his mercantile 
 business he also runs a cotton-gin, and is a leading 
 business man. 
 
 A. H. Hatley is one of the representative busi- 
 ness men of the county and was born in North 
 Carolina on the 10th of July, 1832, being a son of 
 Redin and Delphia (Kelley) Hatley, who were of 
 English and Irish parentage and were born 
 in the State of North Carolina. The Hatley family 
 emigrated to the United States about 1770, as near 
 as can be ascertained, and settled in North Caro- 
 lina, from which State the paternal grandfather 
 and his brothers are supposed to have enlisted in 
 the Revolutionary War, being members of the 
 American army. Redin Hatley was born in 1800, 
 his wife two years later, and their deaths occurred 
 in 1863 and 1842, respectively. The former was 
 justice of the peace for many years in North Caro- 
 lina, and although not an active politician he voted 
 the Whig ticket. His wife was a member of the 
 Christian Chnrch, and of seven sous born to their 
 marriage two are now livinj': A. H. and Hender- 
 son, who is a resident of this county. A. H. Hat- 
 ley became the architect of his own fortune in 
 iS51 aiul although his father was quite a wealthy 
 man, being the owner of a number of slaves, he 
 failed to educate any of his children, and as a con- 
 sequence A. H. was obliged to earn his living as 
 
 be.sthe could. On the 22d of December, 1852, lie 
 landed in Randolph County, Ark., and four years 
 later he made his first purchase of land, which em- 
 braced KjQ acres, and on this farm he has since 
 made his home, it now amounting to 173 acres. In 
 addition to this he owns 120 acres of land on the 
 Current River bottom and a one-half interest in 
 eighty acres on the bay at Peru; also a one-half in- 
 terest in a general mercantile establishment, which 
 nets from $8,0J0 to §10,000 per annum, the stock 
 of goods amounting to about $3,000. In 1888 he 
 erected a fine cotton-gin at Maynard, and owns one- 
 half of a gin in the bottoms, which annually turns 
 out about 500 bales. In this enterprise he is one 
 of the leading men in this section of the State, being 
 also one of the largest property -holders. At the 
 time of his arrival here he owned nothing, and has 
 made his property by energy and shrewd manage- 
 ment. He has been married twice, the first time 
 to Miss Nancy Mitchell, by whom he became the 
 father of two children: Julia A., who was born 
 August 25, 1853, and James H., who was born 
 October 14, 1855. Mrs. Hatley died August 25, 
 1858, six years after her marriage, and after liv 
 ing a widower one year Mr. Hatley married, 
 September 18, Miss Mahulda Abbott. Elen L. 
 (wife of Gus Reynolds, of Reno), born January 
 3, 18(54: Mandy H., born October 15, 1800, died 
 November 7, 18()8; Naomi H., born November 29, 
 1869; Eli H., born October 2, 1872; August A. H.. 
 born July 18, 1875; Atlas H., born July IS, 
 1878, and Ivy H., born October 28, 1886, and 
 three who died in infanc_v were their children. 
 Mrs. Hatley was born in 1841. Mi-. Hatley joineil 
 the Confederate army in September, 1802, enlist- 
 ing in Company A, and was captured in Jarmary, 
 1863, at Van Buren, Ark. , but was paroled after a 
 short time and returned home. After remaining at 
 home for about six mouths he was again forced 
 into the service, and was with Price on his raid 
 through Missouri and Arkansas. Since that time 
 he has been engaged in the occupations named 
 above, and is now one of the wealthy men of the 
 county. He is a Democrat, and a member of the 
 A. F. & A. M. ; his wife belongs to the Christian 
 Chnrch. 
 
396 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 William E. Hibbard is a leading and enterpris- 
 intr merchant of Randolph County, Ark., and is a 
 member of the firm of Hibbai-d & Weatherford, 
 who do a general business at Gravesville. He was 
 born in the State of Mississippi, May 10, 1850, 
 and is a son of Joseph and Delilah (Walker) Hib- 
 bard, the former a native of Mississippi, and the 
 latter of Tennessee. They were married in Ten- 
 nessee, but made their home in Mississippi until 
 their son, William E., was a small lad, at which 
 time they moved to Independence County, Ark., 
 from there to Fulton County, and in 1865, came to 
 Randolph County, where the widow and her chil- 
 dren have since lived, the father having died in St. 
 Louis, in 1862. He was a teacher and a farmer by 
 occupation, a Democrat in politics, and while a res- 
 ident of Fulton County, Ark. , served several years 
 as justice of the peace. The mother is a member 
 of the MissionaiT Baptist Church, and she and Mr. 
 Hibbard became the parents of nine children 
 (William E. being the fourth), and live of them are 
 now living: George W., a farmer of Randolph 
 County; Naocy, wife of Abijah McDaniel, also of 
 this county, Emily, wife of James McDaniel; 
 Sarah, wife of Robert Ballew, they also being 
 agriculturists of this county, and William E., 
 who acquired a good education through his own 
 exertions, and when only a small boy began to as 
 sist his mother and brother to make a living for 
 the balance of the family, as they had been left 
 in destitute circumstances by the war. He worked 
 by the day and month until twenty- one years of 
 age, when he man-ied Miss Martha Collier, and 
 began for himself. His wife was a daughter of 
 Robert and Sarah Collier, and was born on the 29th 
 of January, 1851. Their family now consists of 
 eight children: Delilah, William H., Emma, Jo- 
 seph, Adar and Ida (twins), Martha and Thomas. 
 After his marriage Mr. Hibbard made one crop in 
 Woodruff County, but the following year went to 
 Fulton County, and rented land of Mrs. Sanders, 
 but after making one crop there he returned to 
 Randolph County, purchased a 120- acre farm 
 on credit, and has since increased his acreage to 
 250, all of it being tine land, the result of indus- 
 try and good business ability. In March, 1887, 
 
 he formed a partnership with Vincent Seagraves, 
 in the general mercantile business, and the follow- 
 ing year bought out Mr. Seagraves, and conducted 
 the business alone until within a few months, 
 when he and W. J. Weatherford became associated. 
 He is a Mason and a Democrat, and is one of the 
 most enterprising men of which the county can 
 boast. 
 
 Isaac Hirst keeps a general grocery at Poca 
 hontas. Ark. , and was born in Greece in 1 844. He 
 was brought to the United States by his uncle when 
 a child and grew to manhood in Cincinnati, Ohio, 
 and at Pocahontas, Ark., also receiving his educa- 
 tion in the public schools of these places. After 
 reaching a suitable age he worked as collector for 
 different firms for some time, and in 1868 embarked 
 in business for himself. Prior to this, however, 
 during the war he espoused the cause of the Con- 
 federacy and served until he was severely wounded 
 in 1864 on Saline River, in Arkansas. He was at 
 Greenville, Mo., Shreveport, Pleasant Hill, La., 
 Prairie Grove, Jenkins' Ferry and Helena, Ark., 
 and was a participant in many skirmishes. After 
 the close of the war he resided in Memphis, Tenn., 
 for three years, then returned to Pocahontas and 
 as above stated entered business for himself, in 
 which he has siaccessfully continued ever since. 
 His efforts to acquire a competency have more 
 than realized his expectations and he now owns 
 some valuable town property. In bis political 
 views Mr. Hirst is a Democrat, and he is a 
 Master Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F. and 
 K. of H. His people are of Hebrew faith, but he 
 belongs to no church. He was married May 1, 
 1877, to Miss Nora Hubble, by whom he has two 
 little daughters: Lena and Edith. His parents, 
 Jacob and Theresa (Hanauer) Hirst, were native 
 Germans, but after their marriage removed to 
 Greece and still later to America, the former's 
 death occurring in Philadelphia, Penn., and the 
 latter' s in Cincinnati, Ohio. Our subject has an 
 uncle who resides in Memphis, Tenn., and is a 
 member of the mercantile firm of Schollfield. 
 Hanauer & Co. 
 
 Dr. Martin Hogan was born on Blue Grass soil 
 November 16, 1833, and inherits Virginia blood 
 
W. K.Harrison. 
 
 Gdloen Lake^Mississippi County, Arkansas. 
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 397 
 
 from his fatbor and mother, William and Mary 
 (Wallace) Hogau. The father removed to Ken- 
 tucky in 1808, and was married in Logan County, 
 of that State, in 1812, and there reared a family 
 of four sons and two daughters: Mary A., wife of 
 Dr. Joseph Stewart, died in Arkansas; James B. 
 (deceased), William, who died in Kentucky; John, 
 who died in Randolph County ; Maria L. (deceased) 
 and Martin. The father was drafted in the War 
 of 1812, but secured a substitute. He died in Lo- 
 gan County, Ky., in IS^tO, followed by his wife in 
 1870, in Livingston County, Ky. , both being con- 
 sistent members of the Christian Church at the 
 time of their death. The youthful days of our 
 subject, Martin Hogan, were spent in laboring on 
 his father's farm, and his early opportunities for 
 acquiring an education were of the most meager 
 description. After reaching the age of twenty-one 
 years, he entered a graded school with the deter- 
 mination to secure a good education, and after at- 
 tending for some time at Allensville, he entered 
 the Oakland Institute, and afterward the Franklin 
 Institute in Christian County, Ky., where he fin- 
 ished his literary education, his career in these 
 institutions of learning being marked by close ap- 
 plication to his books and able scholarship. Dur- 
 ing the winter of 1857-58, he attended lectures in 
 the Nashville Medical College, and in the winter 
 of 18o8-59, he was a diligent student in the 
 Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, from which 
 institution he was graduated as an M. D. in 1859. 
 He commenced immediately the practice of his 
 chosen profession in Logan County, Ky. , and after 
 practicing in Livingston and Marshall Conn- 
 ties of that State until 1871, he landed in this 
 county, where he has been engaged in farming in 
 connection with his practice, since about 1873. 
 The Doctor takes but little interest in politics, but 
 devotes all his time to his profession; when he 
 does vote, however, he sujjports the principles of 
 the Democratic party. He is a member of the 
 I. 0. O. F. , and he, wife and eldest daughter are 
 members of the C^hristian Church. November 13, 
 I860, he man-ied Miss Mary S. White, in Lyon 
 County, Ky. , her birth having occurred in that 
 State on the 17th of July, 1840. The following 
 
 were their children: Mary C, who was born March 
 10, 1862, and is now deceased; William M., Ixjrn 
 December 17, 1863; Mary R., born January 1. 
 1807; Lou, born March 15, 186U; John E. , born 
 March 21, 1871, and is now deceased; John, born 
 October 20, 1872; Birdie, born March IS. 1874; 
 Lizzie M. , born May 5, J 876 ; Lina W. , born April 
 21, 1879; and Madison B., born February 14, 
 1884. Mrs. Hogan is a daughter of George and 
 Catherine (Martin) White, to whom were born the 
 following family: Mary S. and Samuel, Eliza A. 
 and George M. (deceased), Elizabeth H. , John 
 E., Sarah (deceased), Sol. M. , and Edna M. , wife 
 of Charles Sexton, of Kentucky. 
 
 B. F. Hollowell, M. D. Few. if any, indus- 
 trial or professional pursuits have within the la.st 
 few years made such rapid strides as that of the 
 profession of medicine, and among the leading 
 physicians of Randolph County, Ark., who have 
 availed themselves of all new ideas and put them in 
 practice, may be mentioned Dr. Hollowell. He was 
 born in North Carolina in 1823 and was the eldest 
 of seven children, three now living, born to Silas 
 and Sarah (Farmer) Hollowell, who were North 
 Carolinians. They moved to the State of Tennes- 
 see in 1828, and in 1832 located in Mississippi, 
 where they died in 1867 and 1809, respectively, 
 both aged sixty-seven years. Silas Hollowell was 
 an active politician in his day, and was also deeply 
 interested in the cause of religion. Their children, 
 who are living, are Martha A., wife of John Porter, 
 of the State of Mississippi; Julia, wife of D. ). 
 Rogers, of Marshall County, Miss., and Dr. B. 
 F. The paternal grandfather, Edward Thomas 
 Hollowell, was born in the "Emerald Isle," and 
 was an enterprising tiller of the soil. Dr. Hollowell 
 was given the rearing and education which is ac 
 corded the majority of farmers' boys, but this work 
 was not suited to his tastes, and he early formed 
 a desire to study medicine. At the age of twenty 
 , years he left home and entered upon his medical 
 studies under a preceptor in Marshall County, 
 Miss., and after two years of faithful and diligent 
 study he entered Oxford Institute, fiom which 
 institution he graduated iu 1847. The following 
 year he moved to Izard County. Ark., where he 
 
 r 
 
:^ 
 
 <S ^L_ 
 
 398 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 was actively engaged in tlie practice of his profes- 
 sion until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when 
 he enlisted as a Federal spy, and to the best of his 
 ability kept the Union forces posted as to the 
 doings of the enemy. During this time he con- 
 tinued the practice of his profession as a blind, 
 but in 1863 he openly joined the Federal forces as 
 a scout, serving in this capacity until the close of 
 the war. From that time until 1870 he was a 
 practicing physician of Greene County, Mo., after 
 which he returmul to Izard County, Ark., and was 
 actively engaged in the practice of his profession 
 for two years. The two succeeding years were 
 spent in Ash Flat, Sharp County, Ark., and the 
 following year he was appointed deputy collector 
 of this district, which position he held in a very 
 efficient manner until 1877, at which date he was 
 appointed United States commissioner for the 
 Eastern district of Arkansas, and still continues to 
 discharge the duties of this position to the satisfac- 
 tion of all concerned. Since the year 1878 he has 
 resided on his present farm. He was first married 
 in 1843 to Miss Frances C. Box, who was born in 
 Alabama and died in 1858, having borne two chil- 
 dren: Sarah P., wife of James Robinson, and 
 Stephen E. Margaret Heard, a native of Alabama, 
 became his second wife in 1859. Eugenia, wife 
 of John Wood; Ann Eliza, wife of John Mc- 
 Cracken, and Joseph are the extent of their family. 
 Dr. Hollowell was called upon to mourn the loss 
 of his second wife in 1874; she had been an ear- 
 nest member of the Christian Church for many 
 years. His first wife was a Methodist and an 
 earnest worker for the cause of Christianity. The 
 Doctor was married at Ash Flat, in June, 1875, 
 to Miss E. B. Goodwin, a native of Tennessee, an 
 estimable lady whose education and general infor- 
 mation well qualify her for a minister's wife. She 
 is a member of the Christian Church and an active, 
 zealous worker. Two childi-en are the result of 
 this union: Walter Ctillen, in his thirteenth year, 
 and Hubert Clayton, in his eleventh; both bright, 
 active lads, who promise much in the way of com- 
 fort to their parents. Dr. Hollowell was ordained 
 a minister of the Christian Church, October 28, 
 18()8, and much of his time and attention has 
 
 been devoted to expounding the Gospel, and his 
 efports in saving souls have met with good results. 
 He has always been a stanch Republican in his 
 political views, and he has shown his approval of 
 secret organizations by becoming a member of the 
 A. F. & A. M. 
 
 William L. Holt, justice of the peace. Warm 
 Springs, Ark. To the person who closely applies 
 himself to any occupation which he has chosen as 
 his calling through life there can be but one re- 
 sult — that of success. The above mi-ntioned 
 gentleman has been an agriculturist the princi- 
 pal part of his life, and success has marked his 
 efforts. He has a farm of 240 acres, 100 being 
 under cultivation, has a good house and barn, and 
 over his broad acres may be seen many horses 
 and cattle, for he is also a prominent stock farmer. 
 He has received assistance from no one, but is 
 simply the architect of his own fortune. His 
 birth occurred in Randolph County, Ark., Janu- 
 ary 1, 1842, and he is the son of John and Mary 
 (Barrett) Holt, natives of Missouri and Alabama, 
 respectively. The parents were married in 1839. 
 The elder Mr. Holt was born in May. 1814, and 
 died January 12, 1862. He came to Arkansas 
 with his father when only seven years of age, and 
 was reared in this county. He received but a 
 limited education, and tilling the soil was his prin- 
 cipal occupation during life. His wife was born 
 in May, 1818, and died March 4, 1884. She was 
 a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Holt was 
 quite active in politics, and cast his last vote for 
 Stephen A. Douglass. Although a Democrat he 
 opposed the Rebellion. The maternal grandfather 
 of our subject was in the War of 1812, served 
 under Gen. Jackson, and was at the battle of New 
 Orleans. The paternal grandfather was one of the 
 pioneers of Missouri, and during his early life in 
 Washington County, of that State, had many 
 fights with the Indians. He came to Randolph 
 County, Ark., as early as 1821, and many interest- 
 ing and exciting times did he have with the In- 
 dians in this section. Buffaloes and many wild 
 animals were also very plentiful. He was a hatter 
 by trade, a prominent Mason, and was one of the 
 leading men of the county. William L. Holt was 
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 mm 
 
 reared in bis native county, and hud only limited 
 educational advantages, but these he improved, 
 and is now one of the best posted m(Hi to be found 
 in the county. He was married October 18, 18f)2, 
 to Miss Nancy G. Philips, a native of Tennessee, 
 and they liave two children, W. A., engaged in 
 merchandising at Warm Springs, married to Miss 
 Melissa Dalton, of Warm Springs, in November, 
 1886. and has one child, John R. . living at Doni- 
 phan, Mo. , and is clerking in a store. He has 
 been attending school for some time at that place. 
 Our subject, W. L. Holt, was in the Confederate 
 army, enlisting in 1862, and surrendering at 
 Jacksonport, Ark., June 5, 1865. He was on Gen. 
 Price's raid through Missouri, and took part in 
 numerous engagements. He returned to his home 
 at the close of the war, and engaged in farming 
 and stock raising, which he has carried on in a very 
 successful manner ever since. In 1878 he was 
 elected justice of the peace, and served two terms. 
 He was re elected in 1884, and has held the posi- 
 tion since, this making bis fifth term. In 1888 
 he was a member of the Democratic State Conven- 
 tion, has been school director several terms, and 
 has held many minor offices. At the time of his 
 marriage be was not possessed of a great amount of 
 this world's goods, but be has been successful in 
 all his undertakings, and is now prepared to enjoy 
 life. He is Democratic in bis politics. Mrs. Holt 
 is a member of the Baptist Church, and he also 
 holds to this faith. 
 
 Joseph Hufstedler, who represents the milling 
 interests of Randolph County, Ark. , is a Tennes- 
 seean by birth and bringing up, and inherits the 
 principles of the better class of citizens of that 
 State. He was born in 1843, and as soon as a 
 suitable age was reached be was placed in school, 
 but after attaining his eleventh year his education 
 was received in Randol[)h County, Ark. In 18(51 
 be entered the Confederate army, and served until 
 February 20, 1864, when be left the field and came 
 home. He was at Sbilob, Perryville, Murfrees- 
 boro, Chickamauga and in other engagements, and 
 was wounded twice diiring his service. After bis 
 return home he engaged in farming, and in I860 
 was a])pointed sheriff and collector of the county 
 
 for four years, and ;U. the iMid of that time was 
 elected treasurer on the Republican ticket, and ably 
 discharged the duties of that office for two years. 
 He has also tilled the office of deputy United States 
 marshal of Northern Arkansas for several years. 
 For some fifteen years he has \)cci\ engaged in the 
 milling business, and his establishment is fitted up 
 in good style, consequently the product which he 
 has turned out has proved to be eminently satis- 
 factory. Besides bis mill he owns four and one- 
 half acres of land on which is bis residence, and 
 also a farm of 200 acres. Ho was first married to 
 Miss Mary Hufstedler, and after her death he 
 wedded Miss Huldab Hufstedler, and by her has 
 had a family of nine children: Birdie, Ella, 
 Blanche, Lizzie D. and Kate, living, and Lydia, 
 who died at the age of nineteen months: Earl, 
 when one and one half years old. and two children 
 who died in infancy. Our subject and wife are 
 members of the Christian Church; he is a Royal 
 Arch Mason, and belongs to the K. of H. He is a 
 sou of Joseph and Lydia (Chandler) Hufstedler, 
 and is the youngest of their five children, three of 
 whom are living. The father died when our subject 
 was a small lad. He was a farmer. The paternal 
 grandfather, Jacob Hufstedler, was a soldier in 
 the War of 1812, and removed from his native 
 State to Arkansas in lSr)4, where he died live 
 years later. His father was a native German, and 
 came to the United States at an early day, and first 
 settled in North Carolina and afterward in Ten 
 nessee. 
 
 Simon Peter Hurn. Among those who deser- 
 vedly rank among the progressive and rising agri 
 culturists of Randolph County, Ark. , is the above 
 mentioned gentleman who has resided here since 
 1S50, and is now the owner of 400 acres of as good 
 land as there is in the county. He is one of ten 
 children, and was born in ilonroe County. Ga. , 
 April 25. 1829, and is a son of Randall and Nancy 
 (Dunn) Hurn, natives of North Carolina and Geor- 
 gia, respectively. The father removed to Georgia 
 when a young man, was married there, and there 
 resided until 1850, when be moved to Arkansas, 
 and located in Randolph County, where be died 
 in Mav. \HoH, when sixty six years of age, followed 
 
400 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 by his widow two years later when aged about 
 fifty six years. She was a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, and he was a Baptist until 
 a few years before his death, when he became 
 Methodist in belief . He was a life-long Democrat, 
 a farmer by occupation, and after a lifetime of hard 
 labor he became a wealthy citizen. His father, 
 Jame.>4 Hurn, who was of Irish birth, served in the 
 Colonial army during the Revolutionary War and 
 was a participant in many battles, beiug at York- 
 town when Cornwallis surrendered. He died in 
 North Carolina. The maternal grandfather, James 
 Dunn, was born in North Carolina, and also served 
 in the American army during the Revolution. The 
 children born to Randall and Nancy Hurn are as 
 follows: James and Simon Peter, farmers of Ran- 
 dolph County; Paul R., a farmer of Washington 
 County, Ark., Mark, a farmer of Clay County, 
 Ark. : Ezekiel, a minister of the Washington Coun- 
 ty Primitive Baptist Church; Permelia E., wife of 
 James Sammonds of Randolph County; Nancy J., 
 wife of Ben F. Tyler, a farmer of this county, and 
 Leah S. , wife of William Kirk of this county. 
 Those deceased are John and Matthew, who was 
 a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, in Randolph County. At the age of twenty- 
 one years, Simon Peter Hurn, our subject, began 
 life for himself as a farmer, but afterward learned 
 the butcher's and stone mason's trades, at which he 
 worked for many years. He started without any 
 means whatever, but by the help of his wife, who 
 was a strict economist and an excellent manager, 
 he has become one of the wealthy men of the 
 county. In 1861 he enlisted in Capt. Connor's 
 company, Adams' regiment of the Confederate 
 States army, and during his four years' service 
 he was in the battles of Saline, Pilot Knob, 
 Big Bhie and others. He was a heavy loser 
 by the war. but afterward managed to make 
 his losses good. Sarah Jane Alexander, a daugh- 
 ter of John W. and Mary T. (Mostice) Alexander, 
 became his wife November 21, 1850. She is a na- 
 tive of the county and was born August 31, 1830, 
 becoming by Mr. Hurn the mother of eight chil- 
 ren: Matilda E., Mary L., John W., Emily J., 
 Luther D., Peter M., Eliza Ann, Leslie B. and 
 
 Thomas F. Peter M. died when six years of age. 
 Mr. Hurn and his wife have been members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Chui-ch, South, for the past 
 
 ! forty years, and he has served the most of this 
 
 I time as steward. Politically he is a Democrat. 
 
 J. W. Ingram is a substantial farmer and miller 
 of the county, and as such deserves honorable men- 
 tion in these pages. As he was born in this county, 
 May 8, 1839, the people have had every opportun- 
 ity to judge of his character, and he has won the 
 confidence and esteem of all. He is a son of James 
 
 ! P. and Rebecca (Mansker) Ingram, the former hav- 
 ing been born in Virginia, February a, 1800, and 
 the latter in Tennessee, March 0, 1811. James P. 
 Ingram was removed by his father to Kentucky in 
 1805, and there remained until 1824, when he re- 
 moved to Randolph County, Ark., and settled on 
 what is now known as the Old Ingram Farm, on 
 the old military road, six miles southwest of Pit- 
 man's Ferry. Here he lived from 1834 until he 
 died, August 12, 1874, at the age of seventy four 
 years. His widow resided on this farm for fifty- 
 three years, and died on the 27th of June, 1888, at 
 the age of seventy-seven years, three months and 
 twenty-one days. She came with her parents to 
 this State in 1817, and lacked only a short time 
 of having lived here seventy years. Mr. Ingram 
 was an industrious agriculturist, and accumulated 
 property to the amount of 1,000 acres of land. He 
 served as constable eight years, justice of the peace 
 six years, and county judge four years. He was 
 married on the 12th of Aiuil, 1825, his wife being 
 only a little over fourteen years of age at that 
 
 t time. Their family consisted of eleven children, 
 the following being those who are now living: G. 
 H. , a farmer of this (iounty; Leddie B. , wife of H. 
 H. Hatley, and J. AV. Those deceased are Lurana. 
 wife of W. P. G. Johnston, and Hannah E., who 
 died at the age of twenty years; the rest died in 
 childhood or infancy. J. W. Ingram commenced 
 life for himself at the age of eighteen years, and 
 was married then to Miss Rebecca M. Mansker. 
 their union taking place on the 12th of A]>ril, and 
 to them the following children have been born: M. 
 E., wife of W. C. Smith, of this county; Martha 
 R., wife of William Jollv, of this countv; W. G. 
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 401 
 
 C. ; Sarah L. , wife of Robert G. Jolmson, being 
 those living; and L. V. J., the deceased wife of 
 Benjamin Phipps, and Mary L., who is also de- 
 ceased, having been the wife of F. M. Ezell. Mrs. 
 Ingram was born October 18, 1839, and is now 
 no more, having passed to her long home April 
 25, 1870. Our subject's second union took 
 place October 9, 1870, his wife's maiden name 
 being Josie C. Mock, of this county. Five of 
 their children died when small, and three are 
 now living: R. G. C, who was born September 2, 
 1883; T. F., born May 17, 1875, and J. R., born 
 March 22, 1877. The mother of these children 
 died on the 28th of December, 1883, having been 
 a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, and her husband espoused his third 
 wife, Mrs. Mary P. (Kerley) Tilley, on the 10th of 
 April, 1884, Laura Dean, who was born on the 
 10th of April, 1885, being the only one of their 
 three children who is now living. Mrs. Ingram's 
 first union took place on the 2d of July, 1871, and 
 she bore her husband three childi-en: Sarah L., 
 born December 10, 1872, and Thomas J. , born 
 August 3, 1877, being the only ones living. Mr. 
 Tilley was born in Tennessee, and died on the 
 12th of February, 1882, having been a member of 
 the Missionary Baptist Church. While serving in 
 the Confederate army he lost all the fingers of one 
 of his hands, and was discharged from the service. 
 Mr. Ingram, the subject of this sketch, also served 
 in the Confederate army, joining Company I, Sha- 
 ver's regiment, on the 8th of August, 1863. He 
 surrendered at Jacksonport, Ark., June 5, 1865, 
 having been with Price on his raid in Missouri. 
 During this time he lost all his property except 
 his land; but this he returned to, and began to 
 improve, erecting in 1869 a cotton-gin, which 
 he continued to operate until 1878, when it was 
 burned to the ground. The loss is estimated at 
 83,500. On the 17th of January, 1873, he was 
 taken ill with erysipelas, and by the 21st of that 
 month he had lost his eye sight. He has hud ten 
 children he has never seen. He is a wealthy farm- 
 er, owning 1,460 acres of land, with some 248 
 acres under improvement. He has a steam cotton- 
 gin, seventy head of cattle, twelve head of horses 
 
 and mules, and numerous other domestic animals. 
 Although blind, this does not deter him fiom 
 work, and he can readily bind wheat and oats, feed 
 a threshing machine or steam cotton-gin. He is a 
 member of the A. F. & A. M. , and is a Democrat. 
 He and his wife are church members, he belong- 
 
 I ing to the Methodist and liis wife to the Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 A. ^^'. James is a man who has been exception- 
 ally successful in his career as a planter, and ow- 
 ing to his desire to keep out of the old ruts, and 
 to his ready adoption of new and improved meth 
 ods, together with energy and shrewd business tac- 
 
 : tics, he has acquired an extensive land area em- 
 bracing at least 1,400 acres. Many of his broad 
 acres are devoted to the culture of cotton, and his 
 plantation is one of the finest in the State. He 
 was born in Smith County, Term., Octol)er IS, 
 1826, but grew to maturity in the State of Arkan 
 
 j sas (Phillips County), whither his parents moved 
 in 1840. At the breaking out of the IMexican War 
 he joined the service, and was on active duty for 
 one year. He was not wounded while on duty, 
 but now receives a pension for his services. In 
 1848 his marriasre with Miss Elizaljeth Slaten was 
 
 I consummated. She was born in 1848, and bore 
 following children: Bartlett. Mary, Daniel, Laura, 
 Martha and Jehu. Mr. James did not side with 
 either faction during the late war, but after the 
 close of hostilities he settled in Randolph County, 
 where he has since made his home. He has al- 
 
 I ways cast his vote witli the Democratic party, and 
 for the past thirty years has been a minister in the 
 Baptist Chm-ch, but has not preached a great deal 
 during the last few years. He is a member of the 
 A. F. & A. M. His parents, Alexander and Eliza- 
 beth (Brookshire) .lames were born, reared and 
 married in North Carolina, and as stated above 
 moved to North Carolina in 1840. The father 
 served in the War of 1S12, and was a particii>ant 
 in the battle of New Orleans. He and wife both 
 died in Phillips County, Ark., the latter being 
 sixty years of age at the time of her death. Only 
 two of their ten children are now living. The pa- 
 ternal grandfather was a Nortli Carolinian, who 
 died in Smith County, Tenn. 
 
A 
 
 ® >^ 
 
 402 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 W. P. G. Johnston is one of the leading farm- 
 ers of this section of the county, and the condition 
 of his farm shows the care and attention to details 
 which have ever characterized his efforts. He was 
 born in Tennessee in 1833, and is a son of Gregory 
 and Martha (Burton) Johnston, who were bom in 
 North Carolina and Virginia, respectively, were 
 married in Tennessee about 1820, and engaged in 
 farming in Randolph County, Ark. (whither they 
 moved in 1848), until their respective deaths in 
 1877 and 1875, when aged seventy-seven and 
 seventy-three years. Six of their nine children 
 lived to maturity, and five are now living: Rev. L. 
 F. ; L. B. ; Aurena, wife of Rev. Jesse Robertson; 
 James F. and W. P. G. , all of whom are residents 
 of Randolph County. The parents were members 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and 
 the father was a Democrat in his political views. \ 
 W. P. G. Johnston commenced farming for him- 
 self at an early day, was married to Miss Lurana 
 Ingram in 1852, and by her became the father of 
 live boys and one girl, three of whom are living at 
 the present time: James L. , George G. and John 
 F. Mrs. Johnston died in December, 1865, having 
 been a consistent member of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, South, and Mr. Johnston wedded, in 
 1867, Miss Jane E. Ross, of this county, to whom 
 were born six children: Robert G., Rufus M. , 
 Samuel P., Walter S. and Martha J., living, and 
 one deceased Mr. Johnston was called upon 
 to mourn the death of his second wife in 1876. she 
 having been a devoted member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South, and a good and faithful 
 wife and mother. Mr. Johnston's third nuptials 
 were celebrated on the 3d of March, 1878, the lady 
 being a Miss Pernecia J. Lewis. Charles A., 
 Horace B., Mary A., Ida B. , Joab and Amanda E. 
 are their children. In 1862 he joined the Confed- 
 erate service under Col. JefP. Thompson, and oper- 
 ated east of the Mississippi River until he was dis- 
 charged after the battle of Fort E'illow, on account 
 of sickness, and returned home, where he remained 
 until he had thoroughly regained his health. In 
 1863 he again enlisted, becoming a member of Col. 
 Baber's regiment of infantry, and was with him 
 until the surrender of Little Rock, at which time he 
 
 was taken prisoner, and was kept in captivity for 
 some time. After taking the oath of allegiance he 
 was allowed to return home in 1864, and here he 
 remained unmolested until the close of the war. 
 He engaged in faiming and erected a cotton-gin, 
 which was the second gin put up in this section of 
 the county. These occupations have since received 
 his attention, and he has done well, being now the 
 owner of 216 acres of land, with about 100 acres 
 under cultivation. He is a Democrat, a Mason, 
 and he and his wife belong to the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, South. 
 
 Mrs. Nancy Green Jones was born in Nash- 
 ville, Tenn., in 1829, and is the relict of Green R. 
 Jones, and a daughter of Joseph W. and Charlotte 
 C. (Ellis) James, both of whom were born in the 
 State of Tennessee, the former's birth having oc- 
 curred, it is supposed, in Nashville; he died in 
 Pocahontas, Ark., when forty-three years old; 
 the latter died there at the age of seventy six years. 
 The paternal grandfather was born in Scotland, 
 and at a very tender age was taken to the United 
 States, where, after growing to manhood, he was 
 married to a Miss Duke, of Virginia, she being a 
 niece of Gen. Nathaniel Greene, of Revolutionary 
 fame. The maternal grandfather was a nej)hew 
 of that general. Mrs. Jones has been married 
 three times, her first husband being William Her- 
 bert Allaire, who was born and reared at Long 
 Branch, N. Y., and was a millwright by trade. He 
 died in 1856 at Pocahontas, Ark. His father was 
 Alexander B. Allaire, a Frenchman, who at one 
 time owned the present site of Ijong Branch, and 
 afterward moved to White Plains, becoming a 
 wealthy merchant of that place. His father was 
 Capt. Allaire, of France, who married the Baroness 
 of Breton, Denmark. The coat of arms belonging 
 to her family is still in possession of her descend- 
 ants in New York City. To our subject and her 
 husband, William Herbert Allaire, were born three 
 cbildi-en: Fannie C, Flora C. and William Her- 
 bert, who was a cadet at West Point, graduating 
 in the class of 1882. He is now a lieutenant at 
 Fort Wayne, Detroit, Mich. Our subject's second 
 husband was William Evans, who was born and 
 reared in New York City. During the war he was 
 
 ^7 
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 4(»:^ 
 
 a Fedpial pnrolling oflScer, and was shot and killed 
 in his own house, this act being in retaliation of a 
 Confedeiat*' enrolling officer having been killed 
 in like uiiuiuor. To Mr. and Mrs. Evans a daugh- 
 ter was born named Lucy. His widow was mar- 
 ried after the war to Green R. Jones, who died in 
 Pocahontas, Ark. Mrs. Jones is an estimable lady 
 and for the past thirty-tive years has been an 
 earnest and consistent member of the Methodist 
 Epi.scopal Church. 
 
 John Jones, a well-known resident of the 
 county, was born on the farm where he now le- 
 sides, October 27, 1885, and is a son of John and 
 Mary (Black) Jones, the former being one of the 
 very first settlers of Randolph County, Ark., and 
 was the first man to locate on Jones' Creek, which 
 took its name from him. Here his death occurred 
 in 1842, when al)out sixty years of age. His wife 
 also died here in 18^8, about the age of her hus- 
 band. He was a professed Christian, and had been 
 a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for 
 many years. They were well-to-do citizens, and 
 were the owners of a number of slaves besides 
 other property, also a large amount of real es 
 tate; at the time of his location here the nearest 
 postoffice was sixty miles away. Six sons and two 
 daughters blessed their union, of which children 
 three are now living: John, Andrew and Sarah, 
 the latter being the wife of William Sloan. John 
 Jones attended the early schools of Randolph 
 County, and after his parents' death, which oc- 
 curred when he was a small boy, he made his home 
 with an elder brother, James, until twenty years 
 of age. Although he started in life for himself 
 with no means, he has done well, and is now the 
 owner of a finely improved and well located farm 
 on Jones Creek. When the war cloud, which had 
 80 long hovered over our land, burst, Mr. Jones 
 showed his willingness to aid the Southern cause, 
 and in is:t)l enlisted in Company A, Col. Trum- 
 bull's regiment of infantry, and was in many 
 battles, among which were Corinth. Richmond, 
 Ky., and a number of skirmishes. He afterward 
 joined Capt. Mitchell's company. Col. Reeves' 
 regiment of Arkansas Cavalry, and was at Inde- 
 pendence and Fayotteville, seeing, during his term 
 
 of enlistment, some very hard service, hut was 
 neither wounded nor taken prisoner. Mary Wells, 
 a daughter of Hutchinson Wells, l)ecame his wife 
 February 23, 1859. She was born on the 1 4th of 
 January, 1843, and by Mr. Jones became the 
 mother of live children: William Irvin; Armitta, 
 wife of Charles Tisdell, a farmer of the county; 
 Rufus, Elizabeth, and another. After the death 
 of his first wife Mr. Jones, in 1884, wedde.l 
 Mrs. Mary (Galbraith) Wayland, who was born in 
 Anderson Coimty, Tenn., November 5, 1841, and 
 by her has one daughter, Ola Aim. When small. 
 Mrs. Jones came to Lawrence County, Ark., with 
 her parents, and was married there to Jonathan 
 Wayland, who is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Jones 
 are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 and politically he is a Democrat. 
 
 Adolphus H. Kibler. This substantial and re]i 
 resentafive agriculturist was born in Lincoln 
 County, N. C, December 9, 1820, and was edn 
 cated in his native State, receiving excellent edu- 
 cational opportunities in Lincoln Academy, which 
 advantages he did not fail to improve. At the 
 early age of twelve years he entered the emj>loy 
 of a merchant, with whom he remained as a clerk 
 for sixteen years, and then, tiring of the work, he 
 turned his attention to farming, which has been 
 his chief occupation. He remained in his native 
 State until 1857. then emigrated west, and located 
 in Randolph County, .\rk. , where he has since 
 made his home, and by his own individual labor 
 has become the owner of a tine tract of land 
 embracing 320 acres. Ho has been honored with 
 variotis offices in thi' county, and was fir.st elected 
 in 1859 internal revenue commissioner, which 
 position he held four years. In 1878 he was 
 chosen county treasurer, was re-elected three 
 times, serving in all eight years, and discharged 
 the duties of this office in a highly creditable man- 
 ner, and to the satisfaction of all concerned. In 
 1845 he was married to Miss Mary A. McKeraff. 
 a daughter of John McKeraff. She was born in 
 Burke County. N. C. , in 1824, and her union with 
 Mr. Kibler resulted in the birth of six children, 
 four of whom are now living: .\ugiista. wife of H. 
 H. Woddell, a farmer of Rocahonfas; Mary .Mice. 
 
104 
 
 HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 wife of Dr. Wise, of Paragould: Hairiet, wife of 
 Dr. G. W. Crosby, of Pocahontas, and George M., 
 a farmer of the county. Those dead are Laura 
 and Willie. Mr. Kibler and his wife are members 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; he 
 is a Democrat, and has been a Mason for the past 
 twenty-live years. In the spring of 1862 he en- 
 listed in the Forty-fifth Arkansas Confederate 
 Infantry, and was forage master of the regiment 
 until the close of the war, when he surrendered at 
 Jacksonport, Ark. He is a sou of Michael and 
 Catherine (Lorance) Kibler, both of whom were 
 born in Lincoln County, N. C, and died in North 
 Carolina and Randolph County, Ark., in 1S4S and 
 1859, respectively, the latter being sixty-four years 
 of age at the time of her death. They were mar- 
 ried in their native State, and when a young man, 
 the father was engaged in blacksmithing; also 
 farmed the latter part of his life, and was very suc- 
 cessful in the accumulation of this world's goods. 
 He served in the War of 1812, acting as dnim- 
 major, and in his jiolitical views he was a Whig. 
 He and his wife were members of the Lutheran 
 Church, and were the parents of the following 
 family: Adolphus H., Mauernia. wife of Jacob 
 Dailey, of Benton County, Ala. ; Sophronia, also 
 living in that county, and Dr. M. H., who is a 
 prominent physician of Northeastern Arkansas, 
 and resides near Black's Ferry in Randolph 
 County. Miles M. was a captain in the Confeder- 
 ate army during the late war, and was killed at 
 the battle of Fredericksburg. William was sur- 
 geon of a regiment in the Confederate army, was 
 wounded at Murfreesboro, and was aid on Gen. 
 Claiborne's staff. He afterward resided in Cross 
 County, Ala., and there died. The paternal 
 grandfather, David Kibler, was a German, who 
 came to America about the close of the Revolu- 
 tionary War, located in Lincoln County, N. C, 
 and after a number of years removed to Iredell 
 County, of the same State, where he spent the 
 balance of his life. The maternal grandfather, 
 Isaac Lorance, was born in England and also 
 located in Lincoln County, N. C. 
 
 Marion H. Kibler, M. D. , is one of the leading 
 physicians of Randolph County, Ark., and has 
 
 been a practicing physician here since 1853. He 
 was born in Catawba County, N. C, January 19, 
 1831, and until eighteen years of age passed his 
 days in his native State: but at this time a strong 
 desire to learn medicine caused him to commence 
 its study with Dr. John Scurry, at Cross Plains, 
 Ala., and he made such sufficient progress under 
 his instruction as to justify him on entering the 
 active practice of the profession soon after, in 
 partnership with his instructor. While in Ala- 
 bama he was the first physician to use chloroform 
 in Benton (now Calhoun) County, as an ansesthetic, 
 and his experiment proving highly satisfactory, it 
 was largely adopted by other physicians. The 
 early training which he received in this science 
 was by no means sufficient to satisfy a person of 
 his inquiring mind, consequently he attended a 
 course of lectures at Augusta, Ga. Since 1853 he 
 has been a resident of Randolph County, Ark. , and 
 his career here as a physician has long been well 
 and favorably known to the many who have tested 
 his healing ability, and his success is shown by the 
 extended territory over which he goes to alleviati> 
 the sufferings of the sick. In 1863 and 1804 he- 
 was examining surgeon in the Confederate service. 
 He was married, in 1S56, to Miss Amanda J. Cain, 
 a daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Cain. Mrs. 
 Kibler was born in Alabama December 27, 1839, 
 and died in Randolph County, Ark., May 30, 
 1876, leaving one daughter, Ella S., the wife of 
 Dr. G. A. Seals. The Doctor married his present 
 wife July 27, 1887, her maiden name being Nan- 
 nie M. Hulett, a daughter of A. J. and Anna M. 
 Hnlett. By her the Doctor became the father of 
 one child, Marion Hulett. Ho has always been a 
 Democrat in his political views, and is a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity. His parents, Michael 
 and Catherine (Lowrance) Kibler, were prominent 
 residents of North Carolina, in which State the 
 mother was born. The father was born on the 
 Atlantic Ocean, while his parents were en route 
 from Germany to the United States. They locat- 
 ed in Pennsylvania, and afterward in North Caro- 
 lina, where Michael grew to manhood and married. 
 He spent his life in that State, and died in 1848, 
 at the age of fifty-six years. He was a black- 
 
 s' •->. 
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 4(1.") 
 
 siuith iiiid a farmer, a Wbig in politics, and in his 
 religions views was a Lutheran. Four of bis six 
 children are now living: A. H., ex-treasurer of 
 Randolph County, Ark. : Minerva, wife of Jacol) 
 F. Dailey, a prominent merchant of Piedmont, 
 Ala.; Sophronia, at Piedmont, Ala., and Dr. 
 Marion H. The two deceased are Miles Michael, 
 who was a lieutenant in the Confederate army, and 
 was killed at Richmond, Va., and W. R. , who was 
 a surgeon in an Arkansas regiment, was wounded 
 at Franklin, Tenn., and died from the effects of 
 the wound several years after the close of the war. 
 Rev. D. N. King, minister and farmer, Warm 
 Springs, Ark. Although young in years Mr. King 
 has already done much good in the world by ad- 
 ministering to the spiritual wants of his fellow- 
 men and by living a life of such consistency and 
 purity as can not fail to have its effect on the rising 
 generation. His birth occurred in Georgia on the 
 13th of January, 1852, and he is the son of Car- 
 ter and Louisa (Flanigan) King, natives of Geor- 
 gia, and of Irish parentage. Carter King was a 
 farmer and a tanner by occupation, which he fol- 
 lowed in Georgia until ISfiO, wh<>n he moved 
 to Tennessee and settled in Roan County. He 
 there farmed on rented land until 1869, when he 
 came to Randolph County, Ark. , and setth^d in 
 Warm Springs Township, where, in 1809, he pur- 
 chased eighty acres. This he proceeded to im- 
 prove, but one year later sold out and moved into 
 a different neighborhood, where he died shortly 
 afterward, in March, 1871. He was a member of 
 the Masonic fraternity, a member of the Baptist 
 Church, and was well respected by all who knew 
 liim. He served one year during the latter part 
 of the war in the Confederate service, and surren- 
 dered in 18(35. Mr. and Mrs. King were the par- 
 ents of eleven children, six now living: D. N., 
 Rebecca F. (wife of F. M. Thornsberry). James 
 M., Sarah E. (wife of H. C. Crogerj, Joseph J. 
 and Mary L. (wife of James Hovis). Mrs. King 
 then married in 1873 Mr. G. A. Barrett, and by 
 him became the mother of two chikb'en, one liv- 
 ing. ]\[r. and Mrs. Barrett are still living in this 
 county. At the age of twenty years D. N. King 
 was married to Miss Mary S. Wooldridge, of Ar- 
 
 kansas, and immediately afterward engaged in 
 tilling the soil. He had very little property at the 
 time of his marriage (1872), but he is now the 
 owner of 100 acres, of which seventy Kve acres are 
 under a good state of cultivation and with good 
 buildings, etc. He is one of the enter[)rising citi 
 zens of this section, and lays a great deal ot his 
 success in life to the exertions of his chosen com- 
 panion. He was ordain(<d a minister in the gen- 
 eral Free Will Bai)tist Church, and began preach- 
 ing the Gospel on the 8th of October, 1882. Sine.' 
 then he has performed the marriage cenMuony for 
 about nine coujJes, and has l)aptized a large num- 
 ber of converts. Mr. and Mrs. King became the par- 
 ents of seven children: Louisa J., liorn on the 
 15th of April, 1873, and died on the 14th of Sep- 
 tember, 1874; W. L., born on the 22d of Septem- 
 ber, 1870, and died on the Oth of April. 1880: 
 John C, born on the 25th of January. 1879: E. E.. 
 born on the 8th of November, 1881; Jasper N. , 
 born on the 10th of February, 1884; Dora L., 
 born on the 23d of August, 1S80, and one who 
 died young. Mr. King is a member of the Ma 
 sonic fraternity, and has been a school director in 
 his district. Mrs. King is a member of tli(> Bap- 
 tist Church. 
 
 Dr. J. N. Kirkpatrick, Elm Store, Ark. To 
 the people of Randolph, as well as surrounding 
 counties, the name that heads this sketch is by no 
 means an unfamiliar one, for the owner is ever to 
 be found by the bedside of the sick and afflicted, 
 and his career as a i)ractitioner and thorough stu 
 dent of medicine has won for him no less a reputa- 
 tion than have his personal characteristics as a citi- 
 zen and neighbor. His parents, E. S. and Annie 
 (Woodrome) Kirkpatrick, were both natives of 
 Tennessee. The father, who was born Fel)ruary 
 22, 1810, came to Arkansas in 1835, settled in 
 Big Bottom, on White River, Independence Coun- 
 ty, and there remained one year. In 1830, he 
 moved to Lawrence County, and settled on Reed" - 
 Creek, twenty miles northeast of Batesville. .\rk.. 
 where he bought I'lO acres of land, and where he 
 reared his family. He was twice married, his first 
 wife being Miss Annie Woodrome, ilanghter of 
 John Woodrome, whom he wedih-d iti ISHO. To 
 
406 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 them were born ten children, and seven of these 
 lived to be grown: J. N. ; James E., living in Wil- 
 mington, Cal. ; W. T., living in Franklin County, 
 111. ; A. E. , living in Oregon County, Mo. ; and 
 H. C. , in this county; the others are now de- 
 ceased. Mrs. Kirkpatrick was born on the 3d of 
 March, 1814, and died in 1860. For his second 
 wife. Mr. Kirkpatrick selected Mrs. Elizabeth 
 (Goacher) Smithee, and to this marriage were born 
 four children, only one now living~-Eva J., a 
 teacher in Conway County. E. S. Kirkpatrick 
 was a brick and stone mason by trade, and some 
 of the first houses in Batesville are monuments of 
 his handiwork. When he first came to this State, 
 he brought with him only a team, but later became 
 the owner of considerable property and about 500 
 acres of land. Mr. Kirkpatrick was in the Black 
 Hawk War, and was in the fight at Kellog's Grove, 
 under Maj. Dement, and had his horse killed from 
 under him in this tight. He was a member of the 
 Missionary Baptist Church, and politically he was 
 a Democrat. He died in September, 1876. Mrs. 
 Kirkpatrick was also a member of the same church. 
 The paternal grandfather, John Kirkpatrick, was 
 a soldier in the War of 1812, and was in the battle 
 of New Orleans. The maternal grandfather, John 
 Woodrome, was also in the War of 1812, and was 
 also a participant in the battle of New Orleans. 
 The paternal great-grandfather served under Gen. 
 Greene in the war for independence, and the mater- 
 nal great-grandfather was a native of South Caro- 
 lina, was in the Revolutionary War also, and 
 served under Gen. Gates during the entire term 
 of service. Dr. Kirkpatrick was born in Franklin 
 County, 111., October 30, 1831, and was educated 
 in the subscription schools of the county, attending 
 such schools as were available until 1856. Ho then 
 entered the St. Louis Medical College, and after- 
 ward came back to Arkansas, and settled in Ran- 
 dolph County, where he now resides. This was 
 in 1857, and he has since lived in the same place, 
 practicing over a large territory, often riding thir- 
 ty-five miles to relieve some suffering mortal. The 
 Doctor resided here at the time of the war, but 
 did not enter the service. He was married, in 1 856, 
 to Miss Sarah Catherine Wann, a native of Ala- 
 
 bama, and the fi'uits of this union were nine chil- 
 dren, these now living: Robert S., Eleanor A. 
 (wife of H. A. Clark), Albert N., Hiram T., Charles 
 M. and R. F. When the Doctor first commenced 
 his practice in this section, he had the modest sum 
 of 25 cents in his pocket, and borrowed a horse to 
 ride. By clo.se attention to his profession, he has 
 accumulated considerable property, and is the 
 owner of 366 acres. He has also his town prop- 
 erty, consisting of business house and stock of 
 drugs, and also a good deal of personal property. 
 He is \V. M. of the Masonic lodge, and in poli- 
 tics is a Democrat. 
 
 G. B. Kline. As far back as can be traced 
 the ancestors of Mr. KJine have been native Ger- 
 mans, and in Bavai'ia, Germany, our subject was 
 born in 1834. His parents, G. B. (Sr.) and Louisa 
 (Wayner) Kline, were well-to-do land holders in 
 their native land, and there lived and died. The 
 grandfather was also a Bavarian, and the family is 
 one of the oldest and wealthiest there. They are 
 Lutherans in religious faith. G. B. Kline was 
 educated in Germany, and when about eighteen 
 years of age he emigi'ated to the United States, 
 landing first in the city of New York. He went 
 from there to Virginia, where he had an uncle 
 living, and made his home with him for several 
 years, working at his trade, that of a shoemaker, 
 but afterward worked as a section hand on the 
 railroad. After some time he went to the " Buck- 
 eye State,'' working at his trade two years, then 
 lived successively in Virginia and Illinois. AVhile 
 in the latter State he heard the speeches of Lin- 
 coln and Douglass, who were then opposing can- 
 didates for the United States Senate, their speeches 
 being delivered in the city of Bloomington. He 
 was in Washington, Ohio, when Buchanan ran for 
 the presidency. After leaving Illinois he went to 
 Memphis, Tenn., and followed his trade for several 
 months in that city, then came directly to Pocahon- 
 tas from that place. Here he has since made his 
 home. During the Civil War he espoused the 
 Southern cause, and was in active service for eight 
 or ten months. He was taken prisoner at Yellville. 
 but was afterward paroled. After the close of 
 the war he embarked in the shoemaking business 
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 U)-, 
 
 on <juite an extensive scale, and for some time em- 
 ployed several journeymen. In addition to this 
 work he kept a saloon for some years, and his house 
 was always orderly. He is now the owner of some 
 valuable town j)roperty, and has 200 acres of good 
 land three miles from Pocahontas. He is a Demo- 
 crat in his political views, and is a Master Mason, a 
 member of the I. O. O. F. and the K. of H. He 
 has been married three times, his first wife being 
 Miss Angeline Lillard, who died soon after the 
 birth of her first child, George. His second wife, 
 ;(('(' Ann Hubble, also bore him one child, Laura 
 C. , and died after about six years of married life. 
 His present wife was a Miss Wilmoth B. Gainer, 
 and they have one child, Frederick. 
 
 James R. Knotts is a South Carolinian by birth 
 and bringing up, having been born in Chesterfield 
 District of that State on the 31st of August, 1S27. 
 James and Mary J. (Edding) Knotts, his parents, 
 were also born in South Carolina, and died in Ran- 
 dolph County, Ark., he in 1857, when about fifty- 
 seven years of age, and she when about fifty- five 
 years old. After the celebration of their nuptials 
 in their native State, they removed to Randolph 
 County, Ark. (in 1829), and located at Cherokee 
 Bay, and about six years later took up their abode 
 on a farm in the neighborhood, on which James 
 R. , their son, is now residing. From their youth 
 they had been members of the Baptist Church, 
 and they took a great interest in church work. 
 The paternal grandfather, James Knotts, was a 
 native of Wales, who came to the United States 
 prior to the Revolutionary War, and settled in 
 Virginia. He was a commissioned officer in the 
 Continental army during that war, being a partic- 
 ipant in many battles, and was at Yorktown. He 
 afterward moved to South Carolina, and there re- 
 sided until his death, in the eighty-sixth year of 
 his age. He was always noted for his great phy- 
 sical strength up to the time of his death, which 
 occun-ed quite suddenly. He was a farmer by oc- 
 cupation. James Knotts, father of our subject, was 
 a farmer and mechanic, though he never served a 
 regular apprenticeship at the trade, but picked it 
 up at odd times, having a natural taste for the 
 work. He was quite an extensive manufacturer 
 
 of all kinds of implements, such as wagons, axes, 
 guns and the like, in connection with which work 
 he also conducted his farm in an admirable manner, 
 being ably assisted by his wife, who was an ex- 
 cellent business manager. Of their largo family 
 of children our subject is the eldest, and three are 
 now living: Joseph T., a blacksmith and farmer of 
 the county; Burton, also a farmer of the county, 
 and James R. The latter always made his home 
 with his parents, and a few years prior to their 
 deaths he engaged in the timber business, making 
 several trips to New Orleans, rafting. During this 
 time he also made two trips to Texas, and there 
 spent one winter and also in the Indian Terri 
 tory. After his return home he turned his atten- 
 tion to farming and stock raising, and the property 
 of which he is now the owner has been acquired 
 through his own exertions. Although he was a 
 heavy loser during the late war he has retrieved 
 his losses, and is now counted among the prosper- 
 ous tax payers of the county. He saw some hard 
 service during the Rebellion; and although he en- 
 listed to join in the Mexican War, he was not 
 mustered into the service. He was married to El- 
 mira, the daughter of Jesse Walrond. She was 
 born in Virginia in 1840, and when a young girl 
 was brought to Arkansas by her parents. Eight 
 of a large family of children bom to their union 
 are living: James J., Harriet W. (wife of Wesley 
 Bennett, a farmer of the county^, Joseph L., Vir- 
 ginia, Rufus, Essie, Burley and Bm*tou D. Mr. 
 Knotts is a Democrat, politically. 
 
 J. T. Lomax, a member of the well-known law 
 firm of Lomax & Collier, is a gentleman well 
 versed in the usages and intricacies of law. He is 
 one of the ablest of jurists, and has few peers in 
 his comprehensive knowledge of State and inter- 
 national law. His birth occurred in Perry County. 
 Tenn., in 1851, and he is the son of James and 
 Elizabeth Lomax, and the grandson of Thomas 
 Lomax, a native of South C^arolina. The latt-t>r 
 was reared to farm life, but for forty-one years he 
 was county clerk and nn'order of Perry County, 
 Tenn. He is a prominent citizen, and is now re- 
 siding in Tyler, Tex., in the enjoyment of compar- 
 ative good health, at the age of eighty-six years. 
 
James Lomax was also reared to the arduous 
 duties of the farm, and is still engaged in that 
 pursuit. He came to Randolph Connt}% Ark., in 
 1857. settled in Roanoke Township, improved a 
 good farm, and now resides in the same neighbor- 
 hood. J. T. Lomax came with his parents to 
 Randolph County, when a child, and remained on 
 his father's farm until seventeen years of age, re- 
 ceiving his education in the meantime in private 
 schools. At the al ove mentioned age he began 
 teaching school, and followed this occupation until 
 1882. studying law in the meantime. The two 
 years following he taught school in Pocahontas, 
 and was admitted to the bar in February, 1883, 
 after which he established himself in practice at 
 this point, and has been actively engaged ever 
 since. The lirm hold a large and growing clientage, 
 and their co-partnership is a happy and prosperous 
 one. They make a specialty of collecting and ab- 
 stracting, and have a complete set of abstracts of 
 Randolph and Clay Counties. Mr. Lomax was 
 married, in 1879, to Miss Josephine V. Mitchell, a 
 native of Randolph County. Mr. Lomax is closely 
 identified with school matters, and has been one 
 term county examiner. He was also mayor of the 
 town one term. Aside from his practice Mr. Lo- 
 max is also the owner of some town property. He 
 is of English descent on his father's side, and 
 German on his mother's. 
 
 Erasmus D. Looney, farmer, Dalton, Ark. All 
 his life Mr. Looney has followed, with substan- 
 tial success, the occupation to which he was reared, 
 and in which he is now engaged, farming. One 
 of the largest land owners in Davidson Township, 
 he is also one of its recognized leading agricultur- 
 ists, and as a man, no less than as a citizen, he is 
 highly esteemed. His birth occurred May 1, 
 1848, and he is the son of W. S. Looney, who was 
 also a native of Arkansas, born in 1820. The elder 
 Looney received very meager opportunities for 
 schooling, but his father, being an educated man. 
 taught his children at home, and thus they became 
 fairly educated. W. S. Looney was married in 
 1834 to Miss Pollie Wells, a native of Tennessee, 
 and the result was the birth of two children : one 
 who died when small, and Erasmus D., the subject 
 
 of this sketch. Mrs. Looney died in 1851, and 
 Mr. Looney was married, the second time, to Miss 
 Catherine Garrett, and ten children were born to 
 their union, all of whom died young. Mr. Looney 
 was forced into the army, but being very unhealthy 
 his son Erasmus D. took his place, and the father 
 remained at home. When first married the latter 
 possessed very little property, but at the time of 
 his death he was the owner of about 1,000 acres, 
 with about 300 acres improved. He had made 
 all this without assistance, and was a self made 
 man in every sense of the term. He was a mem- 
 ber of the Golden Circle during war times, and in 
 his political views affiliated with the Democratic 
 party. Previous to the war he owned a dozen 
 negroes, besides other personal property, to a 
 great extent, horses, cattle, etc. He was one of 
 the wealthiest men in the county, but lost all except 
 his land during those times. The paternal grand- 
 father of our subject was born in Knox County, 
 Tenn., and was the first white man that settled on 
 Eleven Points, as he came here as early as 1802, 
 and entered 1,500 acres of land. He brought three 
 negroes with him, and for a number of years was 
 obliged to go to Cape Girardeau, Mo., 135 miles 
 distant, and be gone for about two weeks, to buy 
 his groceries and other necessary articles. Their 
 meat was obtained from the forest which abounded 
 in l)ears. deer, turkeys, etc. He could not raise 
 hogs on account of the bears. Very little farming 
 was done in those days, as from six to ten acres 
 was considered a good crop, and the horses and 
 cattle lived on the cane. A number of years 
 elapsed before there were any settlers besides him- 
 self and two brothers named Stubblefield, on this 
 stream, and it was fifteen to twenty miles to the 
 nearest neighbor. He had a fine orchard, and 
 made brandy in great quantities, about 1,500 gal- 
 lons per year, Erasmus D. Looney early in youth 
 learned the mysteries of farm life, and obtained a 
 fair education by attending the subscription schools 
 of his day. In 1803, he joined the Confederate 
 army. Company E, Col. Reeves' regiment of cav- 
 alry, and served until June 5, 1805, when he sur- 
 rendered at Jacksoni)ort. Ark. He was engaged 
 in a nnmVier of battles, notably Prairie Grove, 
 
KANDOTvPH COUNTY. 
 
 400 
 
 Fredericktowu, Pilot Knol), Jefferson City, Cali- 
 fornia, Brownville, Lexington, Glascrow, Inde- 
 pendence and quite a number of minor engage- 
 ments. After the war Mr. Looney returned home, 
 and went immediately to work to repair the losses 
 sustained by the war. He commenced farming, 
 and continued this occupation until 1867, when he 
 engaged in merchandising. Previous to this, in 
 March, 186(), he married Mrs. Frances E. Herron, 
 nee Overton, of Mississippi County. Mo., and seven 
 childi'en blessed this union, five now living: Laura 
 B. , wife of Frank Jackson, and born January 
 18, 1867: William S., born December 22, 1868: 
 Mary A., born November 7, 1872; Caroline, born 
 November 27, 1875; Richard (deceased), born 
 July 4, 1878; Delia (deceased), born September 
 3, 1881; Thomas Estell, born March 5, 1882. 
 The two who died were Delia, March 5, 1873, and 
 Richard, March 5, 1883. Mrs. Looney was 
 born July 8, 1844, and is the daughter of James 
 and Mary (Beacham) Overton, natives of Kentucky. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Overton came to Missouri at an 
 early day. and settled in Mississippi County. 
 They were the parents of six children, three ar 
 riving at maturity, llichard (deceased), whose 
 family resides in Mississippi County, Mo., Charles 
 (deceased), and Frances E., wife of our subject. 
 Mrs. Looney was first married to Mr. Thomas 
 Herren, and by him became the mother of one 
 child, James W.. who lives at Cherokee Bay, 
 Randolph County. Mr. Herren was in the Con- 
 federate army, and was murdered by Leeper's 
 men in the last j'ear of the war. Mrs. Looney' s 
 father died in 186"), and her mother in 1854. 
 Mrs. Looney and her daughter, Laura B. , are 
 members of the Methodi.st Episcopal Church. Mr. 
 Looney is a Democrat in politics, and is one of 
 the enterprising citizens of the county. 
 
 Stephen C. McCrary. The agricultui-al affairs 
 of Randolph County, Ark., and particularly of 
 Current River Township, are ably represented by 
 Mr. McCrary, who comes of an old established 
 family of this community. Hugh McCrary, his 
 father, a Kentuckian by birth, who was a black- 
 smith and a farmer by occu])ation, was one of the 
 early pioneers of Phillips County, Ark., and made 
 
 the second cotton scraper ever used in PhillipK 
 County. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, 
 and took an active part in the battle of New 
 Orleans. He died in 1870 at the age of seventy- 
 seven years, and his wife, whose maiden name -vas 
 Elizabeth Wilson, also died here. When twe ve 
 years of age Stephen C. McCrary liegan to tight 
 the battle of life for himself and made his home 
 with his relatives until August, 1864. when he en 
 listed in the Confederate army, and until the close 
 of the war was in several hotly contested engage- 
 ments. After his return to Phillips County he 
 engaged in farming, continuing until 1807, since 
 which time he has followed the same occu])ation 
 on Current River, in Randolph County. He ini 
 proved a small farm, l)ut in 1880 removed to 
 Reyno and built a cotton-gin, grist and saw mill 
 (the first in the place), which he is still conduct 
 ing. The capacity of his saw mill is 8,000 feet 
 per day, and gives employment to twelve hands, 
 and about one-half the town of Reyno is laid <>nt 
 on his land, of which he has 120 acres. In 1806 
 he was married to Miss Harriet* Susan Hite, of 
 Phillips County, and their family comprised seven 
 children, only three of whom are living; SallieC, 
 widow of J. S. Reynolds, of Reyno; Blanche, wife 
 of James E. Casey, and John, at home. The 
 family was called upon to mourn the death of the 
 mother in 1879. Two years later Mr. McCraiy 
 married Elizabeth Goodwin, whose maiden name 
 was Luttrell, and by her he has three children: 
 Maude, Helen and Vistor. Mr. McCrary is a 
 Mason, and his wife belongs to the Eastern Star 
 Lodge. 
 
 Dr. Jonathan M. McGuire is worthy of being 
 classed among the substantial residents of Ran 
 dolph County, Ark. He was born in Scott Conn 
 ty, Va., May 27, 1823, and is a son of John B. and 
 Nancy (King) McGuire, who were also Virginian;-, 
 the father a farmer and blacksmith by occupation, 
 who after coming to Randolph County, Ark., in 
 1858, continued to follow these occupations until 
 his death, which occurred in 1804, at the age of 
 sixty-two years. He was a Mason, a Democrat 
 politically, and the last forty years of his life was 
 an elder in the Jlethodist Ejiiscoiial Church, and he 
 
 ■>[v 
 
2^ 
 
 2 k. 
 
 410 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 was an eloquent expounder of the Christian faith. 
 His wife, who was also an earnest member of 
 that church, died in 1867. The following are the 
 surviving members of their nine children : J. M. , 
 whose name heads this sketch; J. F., a farmer, 
 residing in St. Clair County, Mo. ; T. B. , a practic- 
 ing physician, of Kansas, and David F., a farmer, 
 of Ripley County, Mo. Dr. Jonathan M. McGuire 
 received a limited education in youth, and at the 
 age of nineteen years began the battle of life for 
 himself, and from 1824 to 1859 was engaged in 
 husbandry in Middle Tennessee. At the latter 
 date he moved to Arkansas, and located on his 
 present farm of 160 acres, which is well improved, 
 with good buildings and orchard. In addition to 
 his farm work he is a practicing physician, and is 
 well and favorably known throughout Northeast 
 Arkansas, having followed this profession for the 
 past thirty years. He has held the office of dis- 
 trict commissioner for ten years, and is an active 
 supporter of all worthy movements in his commun- 
 ity. Politically he is a Republican, and cast his 
 first vote for William Henry Harrison, for Presi- 
 dent, and his last for his grandson, Benjamin F. 
 Harrison. He was married on the 13th of Octo- 
 ber, 1841. his wife being a native of Middle Ten- 
 nessee. She died in 1863, having borne the fol- 
 lowing children: James, who died in Arkansas, at 
 the age of forty years; Nancy A. (Miller) who also 
 died in Arkansas, at the age of twenty- six years; 
 Mary (Shoemaker), who died in this State, at the 
 age of twenty -two years; Nebraska Delaney, who 
 died in Arkansas, when twenty years of age, and 
 Thomas Cary, who is married, a farmer, and re- 
 sides in Clay County, Ark. Mr. McGuire was mar- 
 ried to his second wife April 22, 1865, she being a 
 Mrs. A. A. Friar, of Como County, Miss., who 
 died in January, 1882, having borne two children: 
 America Jane, who was born in 1865, and died 
 when six months old, and J . B. , who was born in 
 January, 1868, and is now married to Emeline 
 Odum, of Missouri. 
 
 Hon. Hammet Mcllroy, the oldest living set- 
 tler of Randolph County, Ark., was born in Madi- 
 son County, Mo., March 9, 1812, it being then 
 a portion of Louisiana Territory. He is a son 
 
 of Samuel and Elizabeth (McLain) Mcllroy, the 
 father's birth occurring in Culpeper County, Va., 
 in 1781, and his death in Randolph County, Ark., 
 April 8, 1853. The early youth and manhood of 
 the father were spent in his native State, and his 
 first removal fi'om there was to Hopkins County, 
 Ky. , where he met and married Miss McLain, whose 
 birth occurred in South Carolina, in 1793, their 
 union taking place in 1808. Shortly after their 
 nuptials they removed to Cape Girardeau County, 
 Mo., then to Madison County, and in 1813, came 
 to what is now Randolph County, Ark., where 
 they made their home until their respective deaths. 
 The mother died December 5, 1850. Samuel 
 Mcllroy was a soldier in the "War of 1812, and 
 fought the Seminole Indians. In his youth he 
 learned the hatter's trade, but the most of his 
 later years was spent at farming, in which occu- 
 pation he was quite successful. He was a Demo- 
 crat. His father, Daniel Mcllroy, was born in 
 Virginia, and was of Scotch descent. He was a 
 Revolutionary soldier, and was once captured at 
 the battle of Long Island. Alexander McLain, 
 the paternal grandfather, was also in that war, and 
 was at the battles of King's Mountain, Cowpens 
 and others. There were born to the marriage of 
 Samuel and Elizabeth Mcllroy, ten sons, seven of 
 whom lived to maturit}-. Hammet was the second 
 child, and is one of only two who are now living. 
 He and his brother, Andrew J., worked for their 
 father until sixteen years of age, learning in the 
 meantime the hatter's trade, and after that time 
 began working at their trade for themselves. In 
 1844 Hammet turned his attention to farming, and 
 his labors in this direction have been attended 
 witJi good results, he being now the owner of 650 
 acres of excellent land, a considerable portion of 
 which is rich bottom soil. He has been an exten- 
 sive trader in grain and stock, and has shipped 
 both down the river on flatboats. In politics he 
 has always been a Democrat, and in 1850 he was 
 elected to represent Randolph County in the 
 State legislature, and in 1852 was reelected to 
 the same position. July 11, 1833, he married 
 Miss Elizabeth Davis, a daughter of Lot and Mary 
 Davis, who came from Iron County, Mo., to this 
 
 ^^ 
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 H 
 
 couuty iu 1818. She was boru May 14, 1815, and 
 died February 1, 1871, Laving been an earnest 
 member of the Baptist Church for many years. 
 Five of her ten children are now living: William, 
 Thomas J., Archibald Y., Elizabeth Jane and 
 Clorah T. Mr. Mcllroy married his second wife 
 on the 10th of September, 1871, her maiden name 
 being Maria L. Cooper, who was born in Greene 
 County, Ind., April "22, 1828, a daughter of M. 
 Cooper, and the widow of William J. luman. He 
 and wife are members of the Baptist Church, and 
 alth<jugh they are now quite aged, they are yet 
 halo and hearty, giving promise of spending many 
 more years of usefulness in Randolph County. 
 In the legislature of 1850 Mr. Mcllroy heartily 
 indorsed the compromise act as it was passed by 
 Congress that year, and warmly supported by 
 Clay, Webster, Douglas and others. This session 
 witnessed resolutions introduced, some approving 
 and others opposing the action of that honorable 
 body. In 1860 and 1861, when the subject of 
 secession was being warmly discussed, he opposed 
 secession to the utmost of his ability, first because 
 he did not think there was sufficient cause to justify 
 such a course, and next owing to a belief that 
 secession could not win. After the war had pro- 
 gr<>ssed about three years and President Lincoln 
 had offered his amnesty proclamation, he was in 
 favor of accepting that, and when the Confederate 
 armies had sunendered and peace was made and 
 the Southern States offered pardon and restoration 
 to their constitutional rights in the Union on cer- 
 tain conditions, he advocated reconstruction as 
 proposed by the Federal government, as they were 
 the victorious party, and as such had the right to 
 dictate the terms of peace to the vanquished. 
 
 Andrew Mcllroy is one of the oldest and most 
 prominent residents of the county, and during his 
 entire life, which has been spent in this county, 
 naught but good has been said of him, for he has 
 been honest, industrious, and has kept himself 
 thoroughly apace with the times. His l)irtli oc- 
 purred on the 10th of September, 1821, and he is 
 a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (McLain) Mcllroy, 
 a short sketch of whom is given in the biography 
 of Hon. Hammet Mcllroy. Andrew Mcllroy at 
 
 tended the common country schools in his youth, 
 where he acquired a fair knowledge of the English 
 branches, and up to mature years his knowledge 
 of the world was only such as could be learned on 
 the home farm. At the age of twenty he com 
 menced driving stock, and the following year he 
 took charge of the stage line from Fredericktown, 
 Mo., south to Reeves' Station, same State. Two 
 years later he bought forty acres of land and com 
 menced farming, and since that time has added 
 thereto, until he now has 970 acres, all of which 
 is the result of his own good business ability and 
 shrewd management. He has made it a point 
 through life never to go in debt, and he can now 
 look back over a useful and well-spent life. His 
 wife was formerly a Miss Sarah A. Davies, whom 
 he married in 1844. She was born in Virginia, 
 March 3, 1823, and has borne a family of ten 
 children, of whom Margaret E. (Williams), Mary 
 Susan (Lewis), James F., Dan W., Amanda C, 
 Martha Josephine and Sarah A. are living. John 
 A. died when thirteen years of age, and the others 
 in infancy. Mrs. Mcllroy is a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Mcllroy is a 
 Mason, a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, 
 and a Democrat. Previous to the war he was post- 
 master at Lima seven years, and it was chiefly 
 through his efforts that the postoffice at that point 
 was established. 
 
 T. J. Mcllroy, farmer, Dalton, Ark. Mr. Me 
 Ilroy is a practical farmer — one who believes that 
 it is beneficial to have all his farming operations 
 conducted in a manner so thorough as to not slight 
 one department of labor in order to bestow more 
 work on some other portion. This idea is caiTied 
 out very completely. He is a native of the State 
 of Arkansas, where he was born iu 1840, and is 
 the son of Hammet and Elizabeth (Davis) Mcllroy, 
 natives of Arkansas and Missouri, respectively. 
 The father was one of the very earliest white chil 
 dren born in this section [see sketch of Andrew 
 Mcllroy for history of gi'andpareiitsj. and was 
 early reared to farm labor. He also learned the 
 hatter's trade, and worked in the shop until grown. 
 He made some hats after l)eing married, and let his 
 sons manage the farm. His marriage occurred in 
 
A 
 
 '^^ 
 
 1833 with Miss Davis, and their union was blessed 
 by the birth of tea children, seven of whom lived 
 to be grown: William, living in Texas; T. J. (sub- 
 ject), Martha (deceased wife of Newton Robinett); 
 Maria L. (deceased wife of Columbus Fry); 
 Elizabeth J., wife of William Baker; A. Y. , living 
 in Hood County, Tex. , and Clorah, wife of W. 
 C. Bird. Hammet Mcllroy received but a limited 
 education, though, after all, one superior to most 
 boys in those days, for he was fond of study and 
 was a good pupil. In 1850 he was elected to rep- 
 resent his county in the legislature, and two years 
 later was re-elected, thus serving two terms. He 
 never held any other office. He was opposed to 
 the secession of the States, though he is a strong 
 Democrat, and never served in any of the wars. 
 At present he is residing on the farm that he pur- 
 chased fifty- seven years ago. He is a member of 
 the Baptist Church. His wife, who died in 1871, 
 at the age of about fifty-six years, was also a mem- 
 ber of the same church. When it became neces- 
 sary for the subject of this sketch to start out in 
 life for himself, he very naturally and wisely chose 
 the occupation to which he had been reared, and 
 from that time until the present his success has 
 been such as only a thorough acquaintance with 
 his calling and years of experience could lead 
 him to achieve. He began tilling the soil on land 
 purchased from his father, and when in his twenty- 
 first year ( 1801) he was united in marriage with 
 Miss Mary White, of Randolph County. To them 
 were born seven children: W. T., a merchant at 
 Dalton, Ark.; Nora E., wife of James Dalton; 
 Robert L., James I. I. and Henry M. (twins), Sarah 
 A. and Mary F. Mrs. Mcllroy is the daughter of 
 Howell and Elizabeth (Stubblefield) White, natives 
 of this county. They were the parents of four 
 children, three of whom lived to be grown: Henry, 
 Mary, and Frances M. (deceased). Mr. Mcllroy 
 joined the Confederate army in 1861, and served 
 eighteen months in Gen. Price's command. He 
 was not in any battles that amounted to anything, 
 but was in a number of skirmishes, and although 
 serving only the above mentioned time, he was 
 ■Still enrolled at the close of the war. He surren- 
 dered at Jacksonport, Ark.. June 5, 1865. He 
 
 then came home, engaged in farming and stock 
 raising, and has continued the same ever since. At 
 that time he was the owner of 130 acres, thirty being 
 under cultivation. He is now the owner of about 
 500 acres, with 220 improved. He also owns con- 
 siderable personal property, and makes a specialty 
 of raising mules. Instead of cotton he raises 
 corn, wheat and clover, and has one of the best 
 improved farms in the county, with good barns, 
 out buildings, etc. Mr. Mcllroy is a member of 
 the Masonic fraternity, and he and his wife are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He 
 takes a great interest in school affairs, and is a lib- 
 eral supporter of all laudable enterprises. 
 
 Cicero D. Mcllroy is a man well known to the 
 people of Randolph County, Ark., for he was bom 
 here on the 24th of April, 1850, and is a son of 
 John and Mary A. (Jones) Mcllroy, who were na- 
 tives of Madison County, Mo., and Randolph 
 County, Ark., respectively. The father was born 
 in the former county in 1818, and died in the latter 
 in November, 1862. His widow survives him and 
 resides in Randolph County. Both were church 
 members, he being in commuoion with the Metho- 
 di.st Episcopal Chui'ch, South, and she with the 
 Baptist. His life was given to tilling the soil, and 
 the manner in which he acquired his possessions 
 showed him to be an energetic and excellent busi- 
 ness manager. His first money was obtained by 
 making rails, and he afterward traded in stock, 
 shipping south on flat boats. He was a stanch 
 Democrat in his political views. Cicero D. Mcll- 
 roy is the third in the family, the names of the 
 others being as follows: Callie (Brook), Mary E.. 
 wife of John Amos, a farmer of the county; Al- 
 exander H., also a farmer, residing on the old 
 homestead; Robert J., residing in the county; 
 Penelope, wife of Jasper Vandergriff, of this 
 county; Samuel B., also residing here, and Eva- 
 line, the wife of Gilleon Thompson, who is now 
 assessor of this county. Cicero D. Mcllroy re- 
 ceived his education in the common schools, and 
 being the eldest of the family it fell to his lot to 
 take charge of the home farm after his father's 
 death, but he proved to be a successful manager. 
 In 1870, 1874 and 1S75 he acted as salesman in a 
 
mercantile establisbmeut, being first employed by 
 James & Schoonover and then by W. E. Hunter. 
 His present property, which he [)urchasedin 1880, 
 amounts to 320 acres, and he has 100 acres under 
 cultivation. Like the majority of his family he is 
 a stanch advocate of the principles of the Demo- 
 cratic party, and he and wife are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mrs. Mcll- 
 roy's maiden name was Lavinia W. Ellis; she was 
 born in Kentucky on the 18th of January, 1852. 
 Her marriage with Mr. Mcllroy took place in 1876, 
 and to them has been born one child, Eunice D. - 
 D. W. Mcllroy. The gentleman whose name 
 heads this sketch is a member of the general mer- 
 cantile firm of Mcllroy & Hatley, located at Peru, 
 about twelve miles northeast of Pocahontas, be- 
 tween the Current and Black Rivers. They have 
 been established at that place since 1886, and be- 
 ing men of enterprise and excellent business quali- 
 fications, they are doing a prosperous business. 
 D. W. Mcllroy is a native-born resident of Ran- 
 dolph County, Ark., his birth occurring in 1853, 
 and he is a son of Andrew and Sarah Ann (Davies) 
 Mcllroy, who came from their native State, Vir- 
 ginia, to Arkansas in 1836, and settled in Randolph 
 County, where they are still living. Douljtless no 
 man in this county is more universally respected, 
 for to know him is to have a high admiration for 
 him. as he is possessed of those sterling character- 
 istics which go to make up a valuable citizen. D. 
 \V. Mcllroy received his early education in the 
 public and private schools of Randolph County, 
 and from his earliest recollections he has been fa- 
 miliar with farm work, for as soon as he was old 
 enough he was put to the plow. After his mar- 
 riage, which occurred in 1875. he removed to the 
 farm of 20-1: acres in Current River Township, which 
 was given him by his father, and on this he is still 
 making his home. He has increased his acreage 
 to 324 acres, and has his farm in good condition, as 
 he has ever lieen ready to adopt all methods which 
 may tend to benefit this property. In connection 
 with his store and farm he is engaged in operating 
 a saw and grist-mill, also a cotton-gin; and in these 
 various enterprises he is meeting with well de- 
 served success. He is a member of the A. F. & 
 
 A. M. , has be(Mi postmaster of Peru six years, and 
 held the same position at Lima. His wife was 
 a Miss Martha Gross, a native of Muhlenburgli 
 County, Ky., and by her he has a family of three 
 childi'en: Gertrude, Cora and Frank. 
 
 Malilon McNabb, one of the prominent agricujt 
 urists of Warm Springs Township, owes his nativ- 
 ity to Kentucky, having been Ijorn in Trigg Coun- 
 ty, of that State, on the 13th of May, 1825. His 
 parents, Elias and Margaret (Adair) McNabb, were 
 both natives of South Caiolina, but were married 
 in East Tennessee. They came to Arkansas in 
 1840, settled in the southeast portion of Ripley 
 County, and there passed the remainder of their 
 days, the father dying in 1858 and the mother 
 in 1859 or 1860. They reared a family of chil- 
 dren: Delila (deceased), wife of Jefferson Jenkins; 
 Acenath (deceased), wife of William Mulholland; 
 Sarah (deceased), wife of William Dunn; Rutli 
 (deceased), wife of Green Goff; Rhoda (deceased), 
 wife of Madison M. Robb; Nancy (Spencer), Mah- 
 lon, Mary (deceased), wife of John Bryant; F. A. 
 (deceased), whose family lives with subject; G. M. , 
 Enoch (deceased). Elias McNabb was a man well 
 educated for the time and country in which he lived, 
 and took a great interest in politics, being Demo- 
 cratic in his views. He was a member of the Ma- 
 sonic fraternity, and Mrs. McNabb was a member 
 of the Baptist Church. When twenty-one years 
 of age Mahlon McNabb commenced work for him- 
 self by farming in Arkansas, to which State he had 
 emigrated in 1850. Five years later he entered 
 forty acres of land, and from time to time added 
 to this until he had 400 acres in one body. One 
 farm of eighty acres he cultivated, and in 1875 he 
 gave his two youngest sons forty acres each, includ 
 inc the old homestead. He then sold the remain 
 ing 320 acres, and purchased his present property 
 of sixty-three acres, with about thirty acres under 
 cultivation. He was married the first time, in 1840, 
 to Miss Harriet Lacy, and by her became the 
 father of seven children, five of whom lived to bf 
 grown, and two are now living: Andrew J., a 
 farmer living in this county : Charley (deceased), 
 Isabella (deceased) wife of John P. Bigger; Elias 
 (deceased), and Michael, who lives in \\ aahington 
 
fk 
 
 414 
 
 HISTORY OF ARICANSAS. 
 
 County, Ark. Mr. McNal)l) was married, the sec- 
 ond time, to Miss Amelia James, in 1870. She was 
 born in De Soto County, Miss., in 1844, and came 
 with her parents to Randolph County, Ark., in 
 
 1859. In his boyhood days Mr. McNabbhad but a 
 poor chance for an education, but after his first 
 marriage he applied himself, read a great deal, and 
 is now a pretty well informed man. He is an A. P. 
 & A. M. . and in politics is a Democrat. He was 
 elected justice of the peace of his township in 
 
 1860, and served two years. In 18()2 he was 
 elected sheriff of the county, and served until 1865, 
 when at the close of the war he was disfranchised, 
 and could not hold his office. In 1861 he joined 
 the Confederate army, and was discharged at Mor- 
 risville. Miss., on the 16th of July. 1862, after 
 which he came home and resumed farming. Since 
 the war he has taken very little interest in politics. 
 
 Martin Brothers compose a general mercantile 
 tiriii at Reyno, Ark., and have been well and fa- 
 vorably known to the people of this community 
 since 1875. Thej' do an annual business of 
 124,000. besides which they own 10,000 acres of 
 land, and are engaged in successfully conducting 
 400 acres that are under cultivation, and which 
 they devote mainly to the raising of cotton. Their 
 father, James Martin, was born in Richmond, Va. , 
 in 1808, and was one of the pioneer citizens of 
 Ste. Genevieve County, Mo., but in 1833 came to 
 Pocahontas, Randolph County. Ark., and estab- 
 lished a store on his farm just north of where the 
 town now is. He cleared and improved a large 
 area of land, and made this place his home 
 throughout the remainder of his days. He served 
 as judge of the county a number of terms, and 
 was a man noted for his interest in public affairs, 
 and for his liberal contributions to every charita- 
 ble purpose. In the positions of honor and trust 
 which he filled, the interests of those whom he 
 served were always considered, and he thus gained 
 the esteem and approbation of his constituents. 
 Although not a member of any church, he was al- 
 ways strictly moral, and his honor throiighout life 
 was unimpeachable. He died, in 1863, at the age 
 of fifty-four years. His widow is residing in Rey- 
 no. and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 
 Church. South. He was twice married, but only 
 one of the childi'en borne him by his first wife is 
 now living: V. Ellen, the wife of Capt. Webb 
 Conner, a prominent resident of Pocahontas. 
 James T. was a major in the Confederate army 
 during the late war, and at the time of his death, 
 in 1876, was a successful lawyer of Pocahontas. 
 Joseph P., another son, was a captain in the Rebel 
 army, and was killed at Helena, Ark, To Mr. 
 Martin's last union the following children have lieen 
 born: Henry, whodiedinSt. Louis in 1864, whilea 
 student; Tina A., the deceased wife of A. M. Kerr, 
 of Virginia: Julia, who died in childhood, and 
 Andrew, Joseph, John F. and James, all mem- 
 bers of the firm of Martin Brothers, at Reyno. 
 Joseph was married. February U, 1888. to Anne 
 E. Reynolds, a daughter of D. W. Reynolds, of 
 Reyno, whose sketch appears in this work. 
 
 John Maynard. Among the many enterprises 
 which have made Randolph County, Ark., noted for 
 its commercial enterprise, may be mentioned the 
 mercantile establishment belonging to Mr. May- 
 nard, which he has been engaged in conducting in 
 the town of Maynard, since 1872. He was born 
 in the "Old Dominion" in 1823, and is a son of 
 Evan and Judith (Ragland) Maynard, both of 
 whom were born in Halifax County, of that State, 
 the former's 1)irth occurring March 3, 1793, and 
 the latter' s A])ril 5. 1803, and their deaths in 
 1881 and February 16, 1874, respectively. Their 
 marriage was celebrated July 13, 1820. and in 
 1847 they came to the State of Tennessee, where 
 the father entered upon the practice of medicine, 
 and he continued this occupation until his death, 
 although he had previously been a farmer. He 
 and his wife were of French-English origin, and 
 he was a soldier in the War of 1812. They were 
 members of the Missionary Baptist Chnrch, and 
 became the parents of eleven children, nine of 
 whom lived to be grown: Harriet (wife of Chris 
 Adams), John, Judith F. (wife of Robert Hart, of 
 Tennessee), Mary A. (wife of Blnford Alexander, 
 a resident of this State), Stith, Patience (wife of 
 Austin Simmons, a resident of Washington Coun- 
 ty, Ark.), Evan (a resident of Missouri), Rebecca 
 A. (wife of Jeff. Alexander, of Weakley County, 
 
:£: 
 
 Tenn.) and Thomas (who is a resident of Randolph 
 County). John Maynard had ]mt very poor ad- 
 vantages for acquiring an education in his youth, 
 but by close application to his books, and by con- 
 tact with the world, he has become a well-informed 
 man. He commenced the battle of life for himself, 
 at the age of seventeen years, as clerk in a dry 
 goods establishment, and prior to the war opened 
 a dry goods house of his own; but his labors in this 
 direction being interrupted by the bursting of the 
 war-cloud, which had been for some time lowering 
 over the country, he sold out in order to offer 
 his services to the Confederacy, and was made 
 first lieutenant of Company I, Twenty seventh 
 Tennessee Infantry, being promoted to the rank of 
 captain for gallant service at the battle of Shiloh. 
 He also took part in a number of minor engage- 
 ments, and after his company had been reduced to 
 a few men by being killed in battle and captured, 
 he joined the cavalry forces, and was in a company 
 composed entirely of commissioned officers from 
 different infantry regiments. He served as a pri- 
 vate in a scouting company iintil his surrender, at 
 Columbus, Miss., May 10, 1865. He was captured 
 at one time by the Tennessee militia, but succeed- 
 ed in making his escape the same night. After 
 the war he settled in Jackson, Tenn., and was a 
 clerk in a store until March 20, 1866, when he 
 accepted a position in a dry goods house at Gon- 
 zales, Tex., remaining thus employed for three 
 years. Becoming impressed with the belief that 
 Arkansas afforded better inducements for a young 
 man to succeed in life, he came to this State, and 
 located at Dardanelle, Yell County, where he oc- 
 cupied the same position he had held in Texas. 
 During 1871 he traveled through Kansas and the 
 Iniliuu Territory, but since 1872 he has been locat- 
 ed at Maynard, where he conducts an excellent 
 general mercantile store, his stock of goods invoic- 
 ing at about $6,000. He also owns 000 acres of 
 valuable land in the county, all of which property 
 he has acquired by shrewd business management 
 and energy since the war. He is a Democrat in 
 politics, and is a member of the A. F. & A. M. 
 He was married, February 8, 1873, to Miss Rallie 
 \V. Adams, a native of Missouri, by whom he lias 
 
 three children : Lafayette, born November 18, 1878; 
 Eugenia, born January 25, 1876, and John, born 
 October 80, 1877. The family attend the Mission- 
 ary Baptist Church. 
 
 Luke L. Miller, justice of the peace of De 
 Muse Township, was born and reared in McMinn 
 County, Tenn. , his birth occurring in 1826. His 
 education was received in the common schools, and 
 in his youth in addition to learning the details of 
 farm work he commenced the plasterer's and brick 
 layer' s trades, serving his apprenticeship in Athens. 
 At the age of twenty years he was married in 
 Athens to Miss Jane Vincent; afterward moving to 
 Chattanooga, where he spent some three years in 
 working at his trade. At the end of that time he 
 went to Oregon Coiinty, Mo., where he remained 
 three years or until 1857, and then came to Ran- 
 dolph County, Ark. . and located on a farm which 
 he had previously purchased. Here he resided 
 until the threatenings of war became an assured 
 fact, when he joined Company A, Twenty fifth 
 Arkan.sas Infantry, Confederate States army, and 
 fought for the Southern cause faithfully for three 
 years. He was in the battles of Murfreesboro, Mis- 
 sionary Ridge, and numerous other engagements. 
 He has since given his attention to farming, and 
 now owns 100 acres of land, although he had pre- 
 viously owned many more acres, which he sold. 
 Mr. Miller'swife died in 1872. leaving two children: 
 Abner, who died at the age of twenty-seven years, 
 and Eliza, also married. Mr. Miller is a Democrat, 
 and was elected to his present office in 1881. He 
 is a member of the I. O. O. F. In all his busi- 
 ness relations he is noted for honorable upright 
 dealing. He is a son of William and Eliza (Corall) 
 Miller, who were born in Hawkins and Washing- 
 ton Counties, Tenn., respectively. The father was 
 also a brick-layer by trade, and he and his wife 
 became the parents of twelve children. The pater- 
 nal grandfather was a German by descent, and was 
 a native of Pennsylvania, his wife being of Irish 
 lineage. 
 
 Col. B. B. Morton, editor of The Pocahontas 
 Free Press, one of the leading newspapers in 
 point 'of circulation and inflnence in Randolph 
 County, is justly entitled to no inconsiderable 
 
 :f\7==^ 
 
 \ 
 
410 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 measure of credit for the enviable position his 
 paper occupies among the better class of country 
 journals in Arkansas. He was born in Natchez, 
 Miss., in 1848, and is the son of Thomas Morton, 
 who was born in Liverpool. England. The latter 
 came to America when fifteen years of age, and 
 followed mercantile pursuits through life. His 
 wife, who was originally Miss Leonora Tooley, 
 is still living, and resides at New Orleans. She is 
 a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 Thomas Morton died in 1884, at the age of seventy- 
 one years. He was a member of the A. F. & A. 
 M., and also of the I. O. O. F. He and his 
 wife reared five children, B. B. Morton being the 
 eldest. The others are Elizabeth C, widow of 
 William Esmond (deceased), now residing in Jef- 
 ferson Parish, La.; James T. , now residing in 
 New Orleans, La , where he is a speculator and real 
 estate dealer; William H. , now of New Orleans, 
 and the captain of a steamboat, and Bettie J. , wife 
 of Stephen DeGruy, a planter, of Jefferson Parish, 
 La. B. B. Morton received a thorough education 
 in the public schools of Natchez, Miss., and com 
 pleted his education at Washington, D. C. After 
 this he served three years as an apprentice to learn 
 the printer's trade, on the Natchez ^Neekly Mir- 
 ror, and then went to New York City, where he 
 engaged in a large book pubHshing establishment. 
 At the end of two years he connected himself with 
 the New York Herald, where he remained a 
 number of years, filling all positions, from setting 
 type to a place on the editorial staff. At the first 
 outbreak of the war he returned to New Orleans, 
 and enlisted in Wheat's battalion, Confederate 
 army, as a private, but was promoted to first lieu- 
 tenant, then to captain of Company A, and served 
 in that cajiacity until the battalion was disbanded, 
 with only eighteen able-bodied men left. He then 
 enlisted in, and was promoted to the rank of ma- 
 jor of, an independent battalion, and served in that 
 capacity two months, when he was promoted to 
 the rank of colonel, and was given command of 
 the Tenth Virginia Cavalry. Thus he served until 
 the cessation of hostilities. He participated in the 
 battles of Mitchell's Ford, Manassas, Hagerstown, 
 the Shenandoah Valley campaign, second battle of 
 
 Manassas, seven days' fighting around Richmond; 
 was then at Malvern Hill, where he was wounded 
 by a gunshot in the thigh, and disabled from duty 
 five months. During his second service he was in 
 the following battles: Yorktown, Williamsburg, 
 Petersbiirg, and Appomattox Court House, where 
 Gen. Lee surrendered. As soon as the war was 
 over Col. Morton went to Farmville, Va. , and en- 
 gaged in a job office, where he remained one year. 
 He then returned to New Orleans, and held different 
 positions on the Morning Bulletin for two years, 
 when he went to New York City, and took his 
 old position on the Herald. Six years later he 
 went to the Far West as a reporter for the New 
 York Herald, and spent four years in Mexico and 
 in the Indian reservations and in Europe. He then 
 started a daily jsaper at Socorro, N. M., which he 
 ran for two years, and then went to Lordsburg, 
 N. M. , where he started a weekly paper, which he 
 continued one year. He then sold out, returned 
 to New Orleans, and was there instructor in the art 
 of colored job printing. This he continued until 
 the 1st of January, 1887, when he came to Portia, 
 in Lawrence County, Ark., connected himself with 
 the Free Press, which he afterward purchased, and 
 in April, 1888, moved his paper to Pocahontas. 
 There he has since remained. His marriage oc- 
 curred in 1807 with Miss Sallie V. Morrow, a native 
 of Cumberland, Va. , and six childern were born 
 to this union. Josie died of yellow fever when 
 fifteen years of age. The others were named 
 Seymour, Sanders, Thomas, James and Katie. 
 Mrs. Morton died of yellow fever in Memphis, 
 Tenn. , in 1878, and her four children then living 
 died within nine days' time, of the fatal scourge. 
 The Colonel had several times volunteered to attend 
 the yellow fever sufferers, and he and his wife 
 were living in Memphis when she took the fever 
 and died. Col. Morton is the owner of a stock 
 ranche in Colorado. His paper was established 
 in April, 1888, and is Democratic in its views. It 
 is an eight-column folio, both sides printed at 
 home, and is published every Saturday morning. 
 
 Hon. Perry Nettle enjoys the reputation 
 of being not only a substantial and progressive 
 farmer, but an intelligent and thoroughly posted 
 
 ^ 
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 H7 
 
 man ia all public affairs. He has always been 
 noted for honorable, upright dealing, and has 
 kept the name he bears [Hire in the sight of all. 
 He is a native of the county, his birth occurring on 
 the 80th of September, 1839, and is a son of 
 Shaib-ach and Elizabeth (Graham) Nettle, who 
 were born in the States of North Carolina and 
 Tennessee, respectively. They moved to Arkan- 
 sas in 1824, and settled in what was then Law- 
 rence (now Randolph) County, and after the State 
 line between Arkansas and Missouri was surveyed 
 their house was found to be in Oregon County, 
 Mo. , and thus it has stood in three different 
 eoimties and two States without being moved. 
 Mr. Nettle lived here until 1858, and after a short 
 residence in Clay County. Ark., ho returned to 
 Oregon County, Mo., where he made his home 
 from 1863 to 1885, and on the 5th of November, 
 1887, his death occurred in Lawrence County, 
 Ark. He was one of the pioneers of the county, 
 and always followed the occupation of farming, 
 and in connection with hunting, in early days, 
 succeeded in making a good liviag and laying up a 
 competency for his old age. He had passed the al- 
 lotted age of man at the time of his death, and was 
 eighty four years, seven months, and twenty-four 
 days old. He lived on the line between Arkansas 
 and Missouri for sixty-two years. His marriage 
 with Miss Graham occurred in 1828, and to them 
 was born a family of eight children: William O., 
 born January 1, 1824, and died February 7, 1875; 
 Levi, born May 25, 1827, and died September 6, 
 1850; Elijah was born November 4, 1831, and now 
 lives in California; Francis M. was born on the 
 10th of September, 1834, and resides in Oregon 
 County, Mo., on the farm on which he was born; 
 Carter T. , born October 23, 1837, died February 
 11, 1875; PeiTy; Sarah, born May 11, 1842, is the 
 wife of James Johnson, and Elizabeth, born No- 
 vember 15, 1844, and died October 4, 1801. The 
 mother of these children was born on the 10th of 
 September, 1803, and died on the 3d of April, 
 1857, she having been an earnest member of the 
 i5aptist Church. Perry Nettle's early scholastic 
 advantages were of the most meager description, 
 but in later years he ajiplied himself closely to bis 
 
 books, and is now one of the^most intelligent men 
 of the county. In 1862 he joined the Confederate 
 army, being in Capt. J. J. "VVyatt's company. 
 Shaver's regiment, and was an active participant 
 until the close of the war, when he surrendered at 
 Shreve[)ort, La. He was captured at the fall of 
 Little Rock, on the lOth day of September, 1863, 
 he at that time being under treatment in the hos- 
 pital, and was kejtt in captivity for nearly a year 
 and a half in St. Louis, Alton, Rock Island and 
 New Orleans; he was then brought back to the 
 mouth of the Big Red River, and was there ex- 
 changed on the 25th of February, 1865. He then 
 rejoined his command at Shreveport, and served 
 his cause faithfully until the final surrender, hold 
 iug the rank of first sergeant of his company. 
 Since that time he has been engaged in farming, 
 and now has a fine farm of 200 acres, but froiu 
 1874 to 1880 he was also engaged in merchandis- 
 ing at Warm Spring, and at the same time dealt in 
 stock. In 1884 he was elected to represent the 
 people of his county in the State legislature, and 
 filled the office during the session of 1885. He 
 made the race again in 1886. and was defeated by 
 the Hon. G. G. Johnson, but was re elected to the 
 position in 1888, and served the following year. 
 He now attends to his farm. July 27. 1865, he was 
 married to Miss Mary S. Mock, of this county, by 
 whom he has the following family : Jacob L. , born 
 January 11, 1867. and died July 19, 1886; 
 MasftrieE. , born June 3, 1868, was married No- 
 vember 16, 1885, to James F. Baker, and lives in 
 Oregon County, Mo.; ShadrachG. , born February 
 17, 1872; Rufus L., bom July IS, 1875: W. A., 
 born March 2, 1879, and died September 10, of 
 the same year. Mr. Nettle is a Democrat, a public - 
 spirited man. and a member of the A. F. & A. M. 
 Mrs. Nettle is the daughter of Griffith C. and 
 Margaret J. (Forster) Mock, who were born in 
 Pennsylvania and North Carolina, respectively. 
 They were married on the 1 1th of March, 1838, 
 and reared a family of eight children: Mary S. 
 (Mrs. Nettle), born July 1, 1840; Felix G., born 
 June 3, 1843; Leah P., wife of Joseph W. Spikesj 
 born January 7, 1846; Marcus D. L. , born April 
 4, 1848; Matilda J., wife of L. H. Waldron, born 
 
€ k^ 
 
 418 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 March 27. 1851; Thomas D.. boru March S. 1853; 
 Rnfus M. , twrn Febrnary ITi. 18")(), and Isham J., 
 born Jannaiy 22, 1859, ami ilied October 19, 
 1877. ^Ir. Mock was born on tho 2nth of April. 
 1815, and died September 20, 1874: his wife was 
 bom on the IGth of October, 1817, and died April 
 
 5, 1879. They were memliers of the Christian 
 Church, and politically he was a Democrat. 
 
 S. H. Parker is on extensive farmer and stock- 
 man of Randolph County, Ark., and was born in 
 Tennessee. April ll5, 1S45, beintj a son of C. G. 
 and Mary (Burrow) Parker, whose native State was 
 Tennessee. After farminjsjf in that State until 1849, 
 he came to Arkansas and settled on Current River, 
 where he remained two years, and in 1852 came to 
 the farm on which our subject is now residing. 
 Here he improved the same, and was engaged in 
 farming and stock raising and trading until hjs 
 death in 1874. being followed by his widow three 
 years later. Their marriage took place in 1822, 
 and they reared a family of ten children, the fol- 
 lowing being now alive: Harriett C. wife of W. 
 C. Thompson; Mary E., wife of Ben Holland; 
 Charles G. ; Josephine, wife of Wilbur Abbott, 
 and S. H. The latter received no advantages for 
 schooling in his youthful days, owing to the scar- 
 city of schools and his father's early immigration 
 to this State. He left the home farm to join the 
 Confederate army in ]8()4, and served with Price 
 on his raid through Missouri, taking an active part 
 in the l:)attles of Ironton and Pilot Knob, also In- 
 dependence, Little Blue and numejous skirmishes. 
 He surrendered at Jacksonport, Ark., in June, 
 18fi5, returned home and commenced farming for 
 himself on eighty acres of land given him by his 
 father. He now owns 260 acres and has 100 acres 
 under cultivation on which ar(> good buildings, 
 fences, etc. He does not depend alone on corn and 
 cotton for his income, but makes a specialty of 
 raising horses, mules, cattle, hogs and sheep. In 
 1868 he wedded Emily Wilson, of this county, and 
 by her is the father of three children living: Jo- 
 seph T., born November 19, 1872; John C, born 
 December 2H, 1874. and James A., born Sejitember 
 
 6, 1877. Two children died in infancy, and the 
 mother's demise occurred January 8, 1880. her 
 
 death being deeply mourned by her family and a 
 largt^ circle of friends. Mrs. Amanda Halbrook, of 
 Kentucky, became Mr. Parker's second wife, Janu- 
 ary Ifi, 1881, and to them were born three children, 
 Orlie, born January 8, 1882, and Celestia H., born 
 October 17, 1887, being the only ones living. 
 Mrs. Park(>r was the widow of Freeman Halbrook, 
 of Kentucky, by whom she bore a family of five 
 children: Prentice, living in Kansas; Nannie, wife 
 of Richard Abbott, of this county; Richard, of 
 Colorado, and Emma, at home; the other child 
 died. Mrs. Parker's parents, Edmund and Nancy 
 A. (Neely) Mitchener, wereKentuckians, and reared 
 a family of eleven children, of whom the following 
 are living: William, of Missouri; Martha, wife 
 of Robert Kidd; John, a resident of Missouri; 
 Amanda, and Georgia, wife of John Harper. 
 Mrs. Parker is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal (jhurch; iSIr. Parker is a Democrat. 
 
 Charles W. Polk. Among the husbandmen of 
 Randolph County, Ark., who have made for them 
 selves an honoraljle name by a long term of years 
 of steady and successful farming and upright citi- 
 zenship is Mr. Polk, whose birth occurred in Ten- 
 nessee in 1842. His parents, Michael and IMary 
 (Duckworth) Polk, were born in North Carolina 
 and Tennessee, respectively, the former being re- 
 lated to ex-President Polk. They reared a fam- 
 ily of eight children, six of whom are living: 
 C. W., Ferraby (wife of James Wells), Rebecca 
 (wife of Harrison Matthews). Polk, Ella (wife of 
 Richard Polk, of Missouri) and Harvey (residing 
 in Searcy County). Mr. Polk died in 1873. at the 
 age of forty-one years, and his wife in 1865, aged 
 thirty-six. They were members of the United 
 Presbyterian Church; he was a member of the 
 A. F. & A. M. , and was a Republican in his polit 
 ical views. C. W. Polk received somewhat meager 
 educational advantages in his youth, and in 1S7'.I 
 came to Arkansas and located in Clay County, 
 where he at once commenced farming on 120 acres 
 of land which he had purchased some time before. 
 The farm is well improved with good buildings of all 
 kinds, and is supplied with the necessary stock for 
 successfully conducting its management. His first 
 marriage took place in 1860, it being with Miss 
 
 y\ 
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 Hit 
 
 Effie Higgins, of Tennesssee, but she ilied in 1863, 
 followed by her only eliild, whose death occnrred 
 in infancy. After living a widower for seven years 
 Mr. Polk was married in 1870 to Miss Martha Al- 
 exander, of Hardin County, Tenn., by whom he has 
 liad a family of six children, three of wliom are 
 now living: Emmer (wife of Joseph Cox), and 
 Joseph and E. D. (at home). Mr. Polk was so 
 unfortunate as to lose his second wife by death 
 in March, 1884, and three years since he es- 
 poused Mrs. Mary Eldridge, who only survived 
 until the following year. His next marriage was 
 with Mrs. Nancy Jane Lewis, who had borne her 
 first husband two children: John and Bertie. Mr. 
 Lewis died in 18S5. He was a communicant in the 
 Baptist Church, and was a leading member of the 
 A. F. & A. M. In 1863 Mr. Polk joined the Union 
 army, and was a faithful defender of the stars and 
 .stripes until the close of the war, being a member 
 of Companj' C, Second Tennessee Mounted Infan- 
 try. He was at Clifton, Johnsonville, Lexington, 
 Nashville and in numerous skirmishes. After re- 
 turning home he engaged in the dry goods business, 
 liut next year he began farming, which occupation 
 he has continued up to the present time. He and 
 wife are members of the United Brethren Church 
 and he is a warm Republican, politically, and in all 
 matters tending to lienefit his county he is one of 
 the leaders. He is in every respect a self made man, 
 and is a prosperous agriculturist. 
 
 Newton J. Proctor is a substantial resident of 
 the county, and is now living in the town of Okean. 
 He was born in Crittenden County, Ky., Septem- 
 ber 16, 1836, and is a son of Greenberry and Lu- 
 cinda (Reese) Proctor, both of whom were also 
 born in Crittenden County, Ky. , and there the 
 father died while still in the prime of life, in 1838. 
 He was a successful farmer, and in politics was a 
 Whig. His wife died in 1868, at the age of sixty- 
 four years, she having been an earnest member of 
 the Baptist Church for- many years. Newton J. 
 Proctor, the fifth of their six children, was edu- 
 cated in the common schools near his Kentucky 
 home. At the early age of fourteen years, he be- 
 gan life on the Ohio and ^Mississippi Rivers, and 
 after several years of faithful service was pro- 
 
 moted to the position of pilot, in whicli capacity 
 he served for many years. During the Civil War, 
 he rendered valuable aid, and was concerned in the 
 taking of Island No. 10. He was on the Cumber- 
 land and Ohio Rivers from Nashville to Tennessee, 
 as mate. After the war, he resided at different 
 times in Hickman, Ky., and Belmont, Mo., and 
 was engaged in farming until 1876, when he en- 
 gaged in railroading. After some time, he gave 
 up this work, and located at Corning, Ark., and 
 two years later went to Texas. After his return 
 to Arkansas, he located at Okean, where he has 
 since been occupied in the timber Ijusiness. From 
 1882 to 1887, he was a general merchant in the 
 town of Okean, and at the latter date engaged in 
 the di'ug business in connection with farming. He 
 is still conducting these enterprises, and as he is 
 thoroughly posted in the details of each, he is 
 meeting with excellent success. He is a Democrat 
 in politics, and has served eight years at different 
 times as postmaster of Okean. 
 
 Hon. James H. Purkins has for thirty-two years 
 been a resident of Randolph County, Ark. . and 
 during his long residence here has liecome well 
 known, and has won the respect of all with whom 
 he has come in contact. He possesses a fine educa- 
 tion and excellent natural abilities, and is deserv- 
 ing of a more extended sketch than the nature of 
 this work will permit; suffice it to say that his life 
 has been a success both in material affairs and in 
 the esteem which has been accorded hinj among 
 those with whom he has so long made his home. 
 He was born, reared and educated in Essex County. 
 Va., the former event taking place in the year 
 1814 From early boyhood he has been familiar 
 with farm life, and as his father was a prosperous 
 merchant he spent much of his time in the store. 
 He was married at the age of twenty-two years to 
 Miss Clementina Singleton, and to their marriage 
 twelve children have been born, three of whom are 
 now living: Eliza, wife of Dr. Esselman; Clement 
 W. and Rena S. After residing in his native State 
 and following the occupation of merchandising 
 until 1856, Mr. Purkins removed to Missouri, 
 and settled the following year in Randol])h County, 
 Ark. He entered a tract of land on Current River 
 
e fc_ 
 
 420 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 which be tilled until 1862. when he entered the 
 Confederate army, but was sent home after a few 
 months by Gens. Vandorn and Price as a recruit- 
 iui; officer, and held the position of captain. In 
 1800 he had been elected to the State legislature, 
 and in 1862 he was re-elected and served out his 
 time. In 1866 he was elected senator from Ran 
 dolph and Greene Counties, and was serving his 
 constituents while the senate was in session in the 
 State house at Little Rock in 1S67, when Gen. Ord ' 
 with Federal troops was ordered by Congress to 
 disperse the General Assembly of Arkansas, .^e 
 refused afterward to lieconie a candidate for office, 
 but in 1877 he was elected to the office of county 
 judge. After the war he clerked ior various mer- 
 chants in Pocahontas, and now owns about thirty- 
 live acres near the town, which he rents out. The 
 most of his children died in childhood, and within 
 one week of eac-h other, of pneumonia. One son, 
 James \V. by name, was a Confederate soldier from 
 the time he was fifteen years of age, but was killed 
 at Glasgow, Mo., at the age of eighteen years. Mr. 
 Purkins is a son of W. H. and Ann (Howerton) Pur- 
 kins, who were Virginians, where they were reared 
 and married, and became the parents of six chil- 
 di-en, of whom Hon. James H. is the only one now 
 living. The father was a merchant and farmer by 
 occupation, and from the time he was twenty-one 
 years of age until bis death at the age of sixty- 
 seven years he held office under the State. He 
 .was a captain in the War of 1812, and while away 
 from home, serving his country, bis son, James H. , 
 was born, and he did not see him until be was nearly 
 one year old. His wife died about the same age 
 as himself. The grandfather. Gideon Purkins, and 
 his father were both Virginians, former of whom 
 was a soldier in the War of 1812 and died at a very 
 old age. The groat-great-grandfatber I'urkins was 
 a native of England, and came to America in Co- 
 lonial times. The maternal grandfather was of 
 Scotch descent, and was born in Essex County, Va. 
 He was a cajitain in the Revolutionary War, being 
 on the side of the Colonists, and until the day of 
 his death at the age of ninety eight years kept his 
 uniform. Mr. Purkins, the subject of this sketch, 
 is a member of the Baptist Church, is a Democrat 
 
 in his political views, and belongs to the Chapter 
 and Blue Lodge in the A. F. & A. M. His first 
 wife died in 1868, and he afterward espoused Miss 
 Ava Payne, who died after having borne one child, 
 James E. His third wife, who was a widow, died 
 two years after her marriage with Mr. Purkins. 
 
 J. T. Redwine is a prosperous and successful 
 merchant at Supply postoffice. Little Black Town- 
 ship, this county, and has been in business here 
 since 1878. He first saw the light of day in the 
 "Old North State"' in 1840, bis parents, Travis 
 and Sally Ann (Harrison) Redwine, being also na 
 tives of that State, where they were reared and also 
 married, the latter event being in 1885. Ten 
 years later they concluded they could better their 
 fortunes by emigrating westward, and they accord- 
 ingly pitched their tent on Blue Grass soil, where 
 they reared a family of five childi'en to maturity, 
 and lost one child in infancy: W. P. was born 
 in 1836, lived to be seventeen years of age: Benja 
 min F., died September 9, 1862, his birth having 
 occurred May 7, 1838; J. T. ; Sallie M. (deceased); 
 James D. (also deceased, his family being resi 
 dents of this county), and L. A., who resides in 
 Randolph County. The mother of these children 
 died in the year 1850, .she having been a daughter 
 of Turner and Sally (Daniels) Harrison, the father 
 being related to President Harrison's family. He 
 was a farmer by occupation, and tilled the soil in the 
 Blue-Grass State, from 1845 until his death. In 
 1851, Mr. Redwine took for bis second wife Mar- 
 garet Harrison, a daughter of Jesse Harrison, l)ut 
 five years later be was called upon to mourn her 
 death, she having Vjorne bim three children, two 
 of whom are living; George M., a resident of this 
 county, and Jacob L. , who resides in Conway 
 County. Seven children were born. to his mar- 
 riage with Miss Elizabeth Ogdeu, of Kentucky, 
 six of whom are now living, their names being as 
 follows; Lucinda A., wife of D. H. Hawkins, Jr., 
 of this county; Mary L. E., wife of D. C. Fowler; 
 Thomas J., Isaac D , Nancy A., wife of Samuel 
 Stout, and Frances. Mr. Redwine was so unfort- 
 unate as to lose his third wife in 1873, and he 
 then united his fortunes with Mrs. Martha (Pierce) 
 Spence, who bore one child, named Lucien R. 
 
/' 
 
 
 '*»-^ 
 
 ^-»— '^^-MiJaii^ 
 
 InDEPENOENCE C0UNTr,ARKAM3AS . 
 
!.k 
 
 RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 i'l\ 
 
 J. T. Iledwino, the gentleman whose name heads 
 this sketch, began life for himself at the age of 
 twenty -one, and in 1861 espoused the cause of the 
 Confederacy by becoming a member of Company 
 G, Fifteenth Regiment, Arkansas Infantry, com- 
 manded by Col. Pat. Claiborne. He served until 
 the final surrender, and was an active participant 
 in the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Liberty 
 Gap. Richmond, Ky., Perry ville and Chickamauga. 
 He was wounded at Chickamauga, and was granted 
 a furlough until he was able to attend to hospital 
 duties, to which he had been detailed. He was 
 paroled at Macon, Ga. , in 1805, and reached home 
 in August of that year. He found employment in 
 Cape Girardeau County, Mo., which received his 
 attention until December of that year, when he 
 came home and wedded Miss Sarah A. Melton, 
 March 18, 1866. He was engaged in farming ex- 
 clusively until 1878, but since that time has given 
 much of his attention to merchandising. His stock 
 of goods amounts to about $4,000, and his annual 
 sales reach the sum of $10,000. He also has a 
 general store in Ripley County, Mo., which nets 
 him an annual income of about $800. His farm 
 embraces 133 acres, and he owns some good 
 dwelling houses, and a store-house in Doniphan. 
 He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. , and in his 
 political views is a Democrat. He and wife are 
 the parents of four children : Robert L. , born De- 
 cember 7, 1866; Satira A., born October 15, 1871, 
 the wife of John C. Phipps, of this county; James 
 T. , who was bom February 29, 1876, and Sally M. , 
 born May 25. 1882. Mrs. Redwine is a daughter 
 of John and Martha (Swain) Melton, to whose 
 union the following family were born: Josephine 
 (Meek): Satira, the deceased wife of L. F. John- 
 son: Lafayette F. ; Sarah A. (Mrs. Redwine); 
 Rosetta, the widowed wife of Pharaoh Aton; El- 
 setta, the deceased wife of Jasper Swin. Mrs. 
 Redwine was born February 24, 1842. Neither 
 J. T. Redwine nor his wife (Sarah A.) inherited 
 any part of their present prop(>rty; they Isegau 
 a life partnership with limited means, having 
 neither liouse nor land, and what they now have 
 has been gained by industry, which is the found 
 ation of almost all of life's successful voyages. 
 
 J. M. Redwine, M. D. The short sketch that 
 here appears is that of one of the reliable and de- 
 servedly successful physicians of Randolph Coun- 
 ty, whose experience has proven him to be well 
 qualified for the position he has chosen. He was 
 born in Marshall County, Ky., March 30, 1852, 
 his parents, Jacob and Mary (Thoniasson) Red- 
 wine, having been bom in North Carolina and Ten- 
 nessee, respectively. They both removed to Ken- 
 tucky prior to their marriage, and there united 
 their fortunes in the year 1847, becoming the par- 
 ents of elevezi children, eight being now alive: \V. 
 C, who resides in Clay County, Ark.: Dr. H. C, 
 also a resident of Clay County, where he is a 
 practicing physician and merchant; Mattie E. , a 
 teacher of this county ; Jennie L. , wife of M. L. 
 Gilbert, of Dade City, Fla. ; Jacob, Jr., who lives 
 in Kentucky; Amanda J., wife of Charles Dish 
 man, of Kansas, and Hiram G., now in a law school 
 in the East. Jacob Redwine has always followed 
 the occupation of farming and merchandising, and 
 is now residing in Kentucky. He was in the 
 Union army during the late war, and served in 
 Company B, of the Fifteenth Kentucky Cavalry, 
 as a private, but was discharged at the end of 
 twelve months, his term of enlistment having ex- 
 pired. The principal engagement in which he 
 took part was at Spring Creek, near Lexington. 
 Tenn., being under Col. Henry. Since the war 
 he has resided on his farm in Kentucky, and is 
 now fairly well-to-do. He votes the Repulilican 
 ticket. Our subject. Dr. J. M. Redwine, received 
 fairly good advantages for acquiring an education, 
 being an attendant of the common schools of Ken- 
 tucky. He first engaged in teaching school and 
 clerking in a dry goods store, and during this time 
 his leisure moments were given to the study of 
 medicine, which profession had always had a fas- 
 cination for him. After attending medical lectures 
 he entered uj)on the practice of that jirofession in 
 Kentucky, in 1876, and followed it there and 
 in Tennessee two years. From 1878 to 1881, lie 
 practiced in Randolph County, Ark., and from 
 that time until 1884 he was a practitioner of Ben- 
 ton County. He has since resided in this county, 
 and has acquired a large and profitable practice. 
 
A 
 
 ® l_ 
 
 422 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 and in his journeys to alleviate the sufiferings of 
 the sick, the sunshine of his disposition, as well as 
 his medical skill, is brought to bear upon his pa- 
 tients, and the result is very satisfactory. He has 
 a fertile little farm of forty acres, and in connec- 
 tion with his practice was engaged in farming and 
 merchandising until within the last few years. He 
 is a Republican politically, and is a member of the 
 A. F. & A. M. He was married, October 28, 1879. 
 to Miss Malena E. , a daughter of John and Per- 
 melia E. (Mosely) Mabry, who became the parents 
 of twelve children, six now living: Robert M., 
 Mattie T. (Greer), Novella (Greer), William D., 
 John, and Malena E. (Mrs. Redwine), the latter 
 born on Blue-Grass soil. Dr. and Mrs. Redwine 
 have become the parents of two children: Ethel, 
 born September 1, 1884, and Edith, born Septem- 
 ber 17, 1887. 
 
 Dennis W. Reynolds, merchant, Reyno. For 
 many years Mr. Reynolds has been a prominent 
 resident of Randolph County, and has enjoyed 
 the reputation of being an intelligent and honorable 
 business man. He possesses that shrewd busi- 
 ness tact and energy which are characteristic of 
 people of Illinois birth, for he was born in Jack- 
 son County, of that State, in 1840, being a son of 
 James M. and Elizabeth Reynolds, the former 
 of whom removed from the State of North Caro- 
 lina to Illinois, while it was a Territory. The father 
 was a native of North Carolina, and the mother of 
 Jackson County, 111. He was a farmer and hunter 
 by occupation; was a participant in the War of 
 1812, and two years after his wife's death, which 
 occurred in 1857, he married Minerva Foster. 
 He was sheriff of Jackson County for four years, 
 and also held a number of minor offices in Arkan- 
 sas. He was noted for his morality and charity 
 and his death which occurred in 1884, at the age of 
 seventy years, was a sevei-e loss to the community in 
 which he resided. Dennis W. Reynolds is self- 
 educated, and when only seventeen years of age 
 he entered mercantile life at Cherokee Bay, which 
 enterprise received his attention for three years, or 
 until the war broke out. On the 1 1th of March, 
 1862, he dropped all his work to enlist in the 
 Seventh Missoin-i Infantry, Capt. A. G. Kelsey's 
 
 comjiany, as a private, and was afterward pro- 
 moted to the rank of sergeant and then to captain, 
 which position he held until hostilities ceased. 
 He was at Greenville, Mo., Little Rock, and was 
 with Price on his raid through Missouri. After 
 being paroled he returned to his home in this 
 county, and was one of the successful husband- 
 men of the county until 1875, when he established 
 his present mercantile business at Corning, Clay 
 County, Ark., and since 1878 has been at Reyno. 
 Mr. Reynolds possesses a thorough knowledge of 
 the business in which he is engaged, and has the 
 necessary requisites for successfully conducting it. 
 He also manages his farm and gives considerable 
 attention to the propagation of stock ; and it may 
 be truly said that in every enterprise in which he 
 has been interested, and to which he has given his 
 attention, his labors have been followed with excel- 
 lent results. He has always taken a deep interest in 
 the politics of the county, and although not an 
 unreasonable partisan he has always been a Demo- 
 crat in his political views. He is a Master Mason, 
 and he and his wife, whose maiden name was Mattie 
 J. Wilkis, are earnest and consistent members of 
 the Baptist Church. He was lirst married in 
 1861, to Miss Nancy Luttrell, but her death oc 
 curred the following year at the age of eighteen 
 years. She left one son, James, who died in 
 1888, aged twenty-six years. His second wife was 
 the widow of A. G. Kelsey, and had formerlj' been 
 Miss Mary Ellis. She was born on Blue- Grass 
 soil, and died in 1868, having borne two children: 
 Madison A. and Elizabeth A. To him and his 
 present wife have been born the following family: 
 Leoa, Ervin and Pearl. Three children died in 
 infancy. Mrs. Reynolds conducts a millinery es- 
 tablishment in her own store, and her bonnets and 
 hats are always trimmed in excellent taste and the 
 latest style. Mr. Reynolds was the first to clear 
 the land and build where the town of Reyno now 
 stands, which place, by the way, was named in 
 his honor. He erected the first dwelling house 
 and hotel, and is now doing business in the first 
 business house in the town. 
 
 J. H. Richardson, ex-county judge and farmer 
 of Little Black Township, was born in the State 
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 423 
 
 of Illinois on the lltb of April, 1840, and is one 
 of two surviving members of a family of four chil- 
 dren (the other survivor being Mary A. , wife of 
 Jackson Baker, of Pike County, 111. ) born to 
 Emanuel and Matilda A. (Gates) Richardson, who 
 were born in Alabama and South Carolina, respect- 
 ively. The father moved to Illinois in 1836, where 
 he purchased land and remained until 1841, at 
 which time he removed to Schuyler County, Mo., 
 where he also improved a farm and remained until 
 1863. From that time until 1805, he resided in 
 Illinois, then came to Randolph County, where he 
 made his home until his death, which occurred 
 June 17, 1888. He was tirst married in 1838, to 
 Miss Gates, and after her death, which occurred 
 in 1850 or 1851, he espoused Miss Martha Lovett 
 of Missouri, in the latter year, and by her became 
 the father of one child that died in infancy. He 
 was called upon to mourn the death of his second 
 wife in 1854, and the same year he married Miss 
 Eliza A. Wadsworth, of Pike County, 111., she 
 bearing him eight children, live now living: Eliza 
 E. , wife of William Lewis, of this county; John 
 E. , in Sharp County, Ark. ; Jacob W. , of this 
 county; Fannie E., wife of James Hogan, of this 
 county, and Charles B. , also of this county. Mr. i 
 Richardson and his three wives were members of 
 the Baptist Church, and he was something of a 
 politician, taking an active interest in the politics 
 of the county. He accumulated a fine propertj' 
 prior to the war, but during that time he lost 
 heavily, and afterward had to commence anew, re- i 
 trieving his fortunes to some extent. J. H. Rich- [ 
 ardson, the immediate subject of this memoir, en- 
 listed in the Confederate army at the age of twen- 
 ty-one years, being under Capt. Sam Shacklett, 
 and served until the (Jth of August, 1861, when he 
 was severely wounded, having his right leg broken, 
 and was sent home to recuperate. After remain- 
 ing inactive until 186'2, he rejoined his company, 
 but after serving a short time, the company was 
 disbanded, and he and W. H. Tipton went to Iowa, 
 thence to Illinois, remaining in the latter State 
 until 18()5, when he came to Randolph County, 
 locating within three miles of where he now lives, 
 the summer months being spent in farming, and 
 
 the winter months in teaching school. Like his 
 father, he has always been a Democrat politically, 
 and in 1874 was elected to the office of justice of 
 the peace, serving in this capacity two years, and 
 was then chosen county assessor, filling the office 
 three successive terms. In 188'2, he was elected 
 county and probate judge, holding the jwsition 
 four years, and to his excellent natural abilities, 
 were added the wisdom and experience of a useful 
 and well-spent life, and there was no rea.son to 
 view his official career with disappointment when 
 he retired from the bench. He is one of the heavi- 
 est tax payers of the county, and at the present 
 time owns 3, 000 acres of land, of which about 600 are 
 under cultivation and fence. When starting for 
 himself, it was with very little means, but he has 
 succeeded well in his undertakings, and deserves 
 much credit for the way in which he has sur- 
 mounted the difficulties which have strewn his path. 
 He possesses a large fund of information, is strictly 
 temperate, and is respected and esteemed by all 
 for his many sterling qualities. October 3, 1867, 
 he married Miss Martha J. Mansker, who was born 
 in this county November 25, 1849, and to them 
 were born the following children: H. L., born 
 September 19, 1870; W. J., born October 30, 
 1872; Martha A., born January 1, 1876; Manuel 
 G., born Octobers, 1877, and Eliza L. L. , born 
 August 24, 1880. Mrs. Richardson, who died 
 December 30, 1883, was a faithful wife and 
 mother, and was a member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. In 1884, our subject married Miss 
 Rebecca E. Downey, who was born on the 22d of 
 February, 1848. They are members of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church. 
 
 David C. Roberts. Prominent among the lead- 
 ing men of Randolph County, Ark., and among 
 those deserving special notice for their public spirit 
 and energy, is the gentleman of whom this notice 
 is given. He was born in Cleveland County, 
 N. C, July 23, 1833, and is a son of Thomas and 
 Mary (Collins) Roberts, who were ))orn, reared and 
 married in North Carolina, and after residing a 
 few years in their native State after the latter 
 event, moved to Cherokee County, Ga. , where 
 the mother's death occurred in 1854 or 1855, when 
 
424 
 
 HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 about thirty-five years of age. Here the father 
 afterward married Rebecca Wiekett, and made 
 his home until 1882, when they came to Ran- 
 dolph County, Ark., where Mr. Roberts quietly 
 breathed his last the following year. He had been 
 an active member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church for a great many years, and while a resi- 
 dent of North Carolina was engaged in farming; 
 ulbo acted as overseer at the King's Mountain 
 Gold Mines. When the Rebellion was in progress 
 he was a member of the Home Guards in Georgia. 
 His father, Stephen Roberts, was an Englishman 
 by birth, and died in Alabama. David C. Roberts 
 was the eighth of ten children, and at the age of 
 twenty-three years he left home and commenced 
 farming for himself, continuing until the mutter- 
 ings of war foretold the struggle that was to 
 follow, and in 1861 he enlisted in Company I, 
 Twenty-third Georgia Infantry, Confederate States 
 Army, and held the rank of orderly sergeant. He 
 was in the battle of Seven Pines, the seven days' 
 fight at Richmond, Second Manassas, South Mount- 
 ain, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Mechanicsville, 
 Ocean Pond, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, and was 
 then around Richmond until the final surrender. 
 He was taken prisoner twice, first at the battle of 
 Mechanicsville, but was exchanged after twenty 
 days' imprisonment, and then at the close of the 
 war at Appomattox. He was never wounded. He 
 returned to his home in Georgia after hostilities 
 ceased, and remained there until 1808, at which 
 time he moved to McLean, Ky. , and three years 
 later to Arkansas, and has since resided on his 
 present farm, which is one of the best in the 
 county. It embraces a tract of 200 acres, and is 
 all bottom land with the exception of about ten 
 acres. In 1851 he was married to Miss Malinda 
 Finley, a daughter of Aaron Finley, of Cherokee 
 County, Ga. , and her death occurred in Randolph 
 County, Ark., in 1872, when about thirty-five 
 years of age. She left six children (four of whom 
 are now living): Stephen, John. Mary (wife of 
 Ezekiel Hum, of Washington County, Ark.), 
 Regina (wife of William McQuay, of Lawrence 
 County, Ark. ), and Martha and Leander who 
 are deceased. In 1874 Mr. Roberts married Mrs. 
 
 Susan Deaver, of this county, and by her has 
 five children: Rachel J., Thomas H. , Jacob H. , 
 Richard T. and Lucy A. Mrs. Roberts' maiden 
 name was Weddle, and by her first husband, Isaac 
 Deaver, she became the mother of three children, 
 only one of whom is living, Matilda; those de- 
 ceased are Mary T. and William F. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Roberts are members of the Methodist and Chris- 
 tian Churches, respectively, and he is a Democrat 
 in his political views, and a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity. 
 
 R. R. RufF, M. D. During a professional ca- 
 reer of over twenty-three years, Dr. RufP has be 
 come a successful physician, and justly deserves 
 the eulogisms bestowed upon him by his profes- 
 sional brethren. He was born on the 25th of 
 April, 1831, and his youth was spent in assisting 
 in the duties of the farm, and in attending the 
 common subscription schools, where he acquired a 
 fair education, but which he has since greatly im- 
 proved by much study and contact with the world. 
 Upon reaching the age of twenty- one years he 
 commenced farming, which employment received his 
 attention until the breaking out of the Rebellion, 
 when he abandoned the plow and donned the 
 martial trappings of war, serving in the capacity 
 of recruiting officer for some time. He was never 
 identified with the regular army, but was in a 
 number of severe engagements and was captured 
 at Huntingdon, Tenn., being paroled immediately 
 thereafter. He returned home with the intention 
 of remaining, but owing to the i)er8ecutions to 
 which he was subjected he again began recruiting 
 men, and served until the final surrender. After 
 taking the oath of allegiance he returned home, 
 but came soon after to Pocahontas, Ark., and 
 while being employed here he energetically pur- 
 sued the study of medicine during leisure mo- 
 ments, and in ISHti. moved to Pittman. where he 
 entered on the practice of his profession, continu- 
 ing there with success until 1887. In connection 
 with this he commenced merchandising in 1880, 
 and also managed his three farms, of which 225 
 acres were under cultivation. His annual sales 
 amount to some 110,000, and he sells on time, 
 giving a credit of from six to eight months, but 
 
 y\: 
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 425 
 
 Ijuys for cash. lu 1851, Laura Eason, of Ten- 
 nessee, became his wife, and their marriage re- 
 sulted ia the birth of five children, Leota G., 
 the wife of J. P. Shemwell, being the only one 
 living; three died in infancy, and one at the 
 age of fifteen years. Mrs Ruff departed this 
 life in 1872, having been a consistent member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church for a number of 
 years. Dr. Ruff took for his second wife Miss 
 Amanda W. Legate, and by her has one child, 
 born Jul}^ 15, 1873. named Horace E. The 
 Doctor and this wife are members of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, and he is a Democrat and 
 a member of the A. F. & A. M. His parents, 
 John and Chloe (Eason) Ruff, were born in North 
 Carolina, and in 1828 emigrated to Carroll County, 
 Tenn.. where he was engaged in farming, and be- 
 came the owner of a number of negroes. He was 
 an old line Whig and died in October, 1855, at 
 the advanced age of eighty-four years, respected 
 and esteemed by all who knew him. He was mar- 
 ried three times, his first wife being a Miss Hodge, 
 by whom he had six or seven children, four sons 
 living to be grown. His second union was with ■ 
 Miss Eason, which took place about 1821, in 
 North Carolina. The following are the names of 
 their children: James G., a physician of this 
 county; S. D., who is deceased, his family being 
 residents of Southeast Missouri; W. H. , who is 
 also dead, his family being residents of Fore.st 
 City, Ark. ; Dr. R. R. , and Jackey E. , the deceased 
 wife of George M. Drew. The mother of these 
 children passed to her long home in 1852, at the 
 age of fifty-five years, and Mr. Ruff wedded his 
 third wife, Martha Eason, in August, 1855, her 
 death occurring in January, 1850. 
 
 W. R. Russell, merchant, Pocahontas, Ark. 
 The mercantile interests of Ihis portion of the 
 county have been ably represented for a number 
 of years by Mr. Russell. General merchandising, 
 of course, necessitates the carrying of a varied as- 
 sortment of goods, and in his stock Mr. Russell 
 has a variety which cannot fail to satisfy every 
 want of his patrons. He is a native of Randolph 
 County, Ark., born in 1857, and the son of Marion 
 Russell, also a native of Randolph County. Ark. 
 
 The elder Russell was a successful tiller of the soil, 
 and whim a young man was united in marriage to 
 Miss Sarah Leonard, a native of Tennessee. At 
 the breaking out of the Rebellion Mr. Russell 
 joined the Confederate States army as lieutenant 
 of Company H, Fifteenth Mist-ouri Regiment, and 
 was killed at the battle of Big Blue, during Price's 
 raid, in November, 18R4. The jiaterual grand 
 father, James Russell, was one of the first settlers 
 of Randolph County, and located about eight miles 
 north of Pocahontas, where he improved a good 
 farm, and there remained the balance of his days. 
 W. R. Russell was one of four children l)orn to 
 his parents. Two brothers are deceased, and a 
 sister, Alice M., the wife of R. M. Bigger, is now 
 residing in Little Black Township, Randolph 
 County. The subject of this sketch was educated 
 in the private schools of his native county, and at 
 the age of twenty- one commenced working for him- 
 self. He first came to Pocahontas, and engaged 
 as salesman for Levi Hecht, for whom he clerked 
 eighteen months. After this he fanned for three 
 years, and then again came to Pocahontas, where 
 he engaged as a clerk for R. Nicholas, remaining 
 with him three years, when he established his 
 present business, and now has a good substan 
 tial trade on a cash basis. He was married, in 
 1880, to Miss Mary E. Ulmer, a native of Indiana. 
 They have two children: Ina and Pearly. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Russell are members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, and each takes an active part in 
 church work. He owns a farm of 210 acres, 
 seventy-five under cultivation, and is a man who 
 manifests a deep interest in all j)ublic enterprises. 
 J. C. Sanders. Among the native residents of 
 the State of Georgia, and closely identified with its 
 progress and development for many years were the 
 Sanders family, a respected representative of whom 
 is found in the subject of this sketch, who was 
 born in that State in 1843. His parents, James 
 and Eliza (Covington) Sanders, were born in 
 Georgia (in 1804) and Virginia, respectively; the 
 father was reared in his native State, and there fol 
 lowed the occupation of a planter until 1880. when 
 his death occurred. The motiier died in Texas in 
 1884, aged seventy-five years. The paternal grand 
 
father was liorn in South Carolina, and lived in 
 Georgia. He was of Irish lineage. Like so many 
 of the substantial citizens of this county at the 
 present time, J. C. Sanders was initiated into the 
 mysteries of farm life from the very first, and this 
 has continued to be the calling to which he has di- 
 rected his attention. While a resident of his na- 
 tive State he joined the Confederate army in 1861, 
 and was in active service four years. He was at 
 Gaines' Mill, Gettysburg, Petersburg, the Wil- 
 derness and numerous other engagements of less 
 note, and was wounded thirteen times. He was a 
 private in the Twenty-seventh Georgia Regiment. 
 After the war he left the State of Georgia and emi- 
 grated to Missouri, thence to Arkansas and after- 
 ward to Texas. After remaining in that State for 
 some time he returned to Arkansas, and has here 
 made his hopae up to the present time. His lands 
 in this county amount to 400 acres, and he has 
 225 acres under cultivation. He was married in 
 1862 to Miss Jane Williams, and to their union 
 have been born five children : Henry, Callie (who 
 is dead). Morris (who died at the age of twenty 
 years, in 1888), Jimmy and Tommy. His second 
 wife was Miss Sarah Dean, who bore him four 
 children: Bob, Charley, Alfred and Annie. Mr. 
 Sanders has always been a Democrat in his political 
 views. 
 
 A. Z. Schnabaum, merchant, Pocahontas, Ark. 
 Among the many enterprises necessary to com- 
 plete the commercial resources of a town or city, 
 no one is of more importance to the community 
 than that of the general merchant. Prominent 
 in this trade is Mr. Schnabaum, who deals in 
 dry goods, hardware, implements and groceries. 
 Mr. Schnabaum is of foreign birth, Austria being 
 his native country. He first saw the light of day 
 in the year 1864, and after reaching a suitable ago 
 was educated in 'a mercantile college in his na- 
 tive land. He left school at the age of nearly 
 seventeen, and in 1881 emigrated to America. He 
 stopped in New York Cily for six months as a 
 clerk; then went to Pennsylvania, where he re- 
 mained but a short time, and then came to Poca- 
 hontas, Ark. Here he engaged as a clerk for R, 
 Nicholas, remaining with him three years, and then 
 
 continued in the same capacity for Imboden. with 
 whom he remained a few months. At the expira- 
 tion of that time he engaged in business fcSr him- 
 self, having judiciously saved his money, and now 
 carries all the way from $6,000 to $16,000 worth 
 of goods, the annual sales amounting to over 
 $35,000. He has from two to four clerks, and car- 
 ries on a thriving business. He is also the owner 
 of a cotton-gin, and buys and sells cotton at this 
 place. He has never been married. He is the son 
 of H. and G. Schnabaum. natives of Austria, who 
 have died since A. Z. came to America. The father 
 was a man of considerable means, and was a dis- 
 tiller of liquor and a drover by occupation. Mr. 
 Schnabaum is a stirring business man and an en- 
 terprising citizen. He is pleasant and agreeable 
 in his manners, and the large trade which he now 
 has is fully merited. 
 
 Jacob Schoonover, retired farmer, Pocahontas, 
 Ark. The subject of this sketch is one of the hon- 
 ored pioneers of Randolph County. He has been 
 located here for a period of over twenty-nine years, 
 and has not only become well known, but the re- 
 . spect and esteem shown him are as wide as his ac- 
 quaintance. His tine farm of 200 acres is adorned 
 with an attractive and commodious house, and 
 the large mill and cotton-gin which he operates 
 deserve special attention. He is a native of Hones- 
 dale. Penn. . and is a son of Daniel and Eliza 
 (Jacks) Schoonover, both of whom are also natives 
 of the Keystone State. Jacob Schoonover went to 
 California when twenty- one years of age, or in 
 1852, by way of the Isthmus, and remained there 
 until September, 1856, engaged in mining and 
 teaming. He then returned to his native State, 
 remained there about a year, and then in 1857 
 went to Minnesota, where he spent another year. 
 In 1858 he came to Arkansas, settled in Marion 
 County, and engaged in photographing, which he 
 continued for three years, traveling in the mean- 
 time over Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Mis 
 souri. He happened to be in Randolph County 
 when the war broke out, and in 1862 he enlisted in 
 Shaver's regiment, Tappin's brigade, and served 
 until June, 1865. in the Confederate army. He was 
 regimental quartermaster. After the close of the 
 
 ^« spV 
 
L^ 
 
 EANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 42"; 
 
 conflict be returned to Randolph County, re- 
 mained a few months, and then proceeded to the 
 State of his nativity, where be sojourned six months, 
 visiting his parents. Subsequently he returned to 
 this county, and engaged as salesman in the store 
 of Green R. Jones, remaining thus employed for 
 two years. He then bought a partnership, and 
 this continued until 1873. Three years later he 
 was elected circuit clerk of Randolph County, and 
 tilled this position in a very acceptable manner for 
 six years. After this he was engaged in farming 
 and trading. He was first married in 1870 to Miss 
 Martha J. Wear, a native of Pennsylvania, who 
 bore him the following named children: Eugene G., 
 now in Pennsylvania; Herbert, Addie C. and Parke 
 T. The mother of these childi'en died on the 22d 
 of December, 1878, and Mr. Schoonover was mar- 
 ried the second time, on the 5th of January, 1882, 
 to Miss Ella Bolen, a native of the Blue Grass 
 State Two children are the fruit of this union: 
 Robert and Jacob. Mr. Schoonover is a Royal 
 Arch Mason, and a member of the K. of H. He 
 has ever taken an active part in politics and pub- 
 lic affairs, and has done much to build up every 
 enterprise for the common good. 
 
 Vincent Segi-aves is a successful merchant of 
 the county, and was born here on the 2(3th of Feb- 
 ruary, 1839, being a son of Vincent and Lavina 
 (Lacy) Segraves, who were born in South Caro 
 lina and Knox County, Tenn., in 1789. and 1814, 
 and died in Randolph County, Ark., in 1870 and 
 1S71, respectivel}'. The father left his native 
 State when he was a young man, and went to Ten- 
 nessee, and afterward removed to Illinois, and 
 from there to Arkansas, in 1833, being one of the 
 very first settlers of Randolph County. He was a 
 farmer, and as such was one of the most success- 
 ful men in this part of the State; in connection 
 with this work he kept a distillery. During the 
 War of 1812 he was a soldier, belonging to Jackson's 
 Guard, and with him participated in the battles 
 I if New Orleans and Pensacola. He was a well- 
 known and prominent citizen of Arkansas, and 
 hail been a life-long Democrat. He and wife were 
 memliers of the Baptist Church, and were the par- 
 ents of eight children, five of whom are living. 
 
 Vincent was the seventh of the family, and received 
 his early education in Randolph County. He re- 
 mained on his father's farm until twenty-five years 
 of age, then commenced to farm for himself; but 
 his labors in this direction were interru])ted by the 
 war. In 1801 he enlisted in the Confederate serv- 
 ice, and the following year joined Company A, of 
 the Twenty fifth Arkansas Infantry, and was an 
 active worker for the Southern cause until the 
 close of the war, holding the rank of lieutenant, 
 and taking part in the engagements at Murfrees- 
 boro, Richmond, Ky. , and was with Price on his 
 raid through Missouri and Kansas, but was never 
 wounded or taken prisoner. He has since been 
 engaged in farming, and in connection has followed 
 merchandising since 1886, at which time he formed 
 a partnership with W. E. Hibbard, but at the end 
 of nine months became associated with J. W. 
 Witherford. He owns fertile lands to the amount 
 of 120 acres, and has sixty-five acres under cul- 
 tivation. In 1866 he married Caroline Waddle, 
 who was born in Randolph County, Ark , in 1842, 
 and is a daughter of Henry Waddle. She and 
 Mr. Segraves are the parents of nine children: 
 Frances B., wife of Lewis A. Manning; Rufus H. , 
 William J., Emanuel W. , John H. , Detty Ann, 
 Mary Emma, Sula W. and Agnes. Mrs. Se- 
 graves is a member of the United Baptist Church. 
 Mr. Segraves is a stanch Democrat in his political 
 views. 
 
 G. A. Seel, M. D. , of Warm Springs, Ark. , and 
 proprietor of the springs of that name, was born in 
 Georgetown, Ohio, in 1855, and is a eon of V. F. 
 and C. A. (Houck) Seel, who were married in the 
 State of Ohio in 1854, and moved to Kentucky 
 about a year later. The father followed merchan- 
 dising and farming in Bracken County, Ky., and 
 was moderately successful in business. He was a 
 man of superior education, and was able to speak 
 three or foui' different languages. He served under 
 Gen. Taylor in the Mexican War, and was with him 
 in all the battles in which he took part. He was 
 born in 1819, and his wife in 1816, and both their 
 deaths occurred in 1888. He was a Democrat in 
 his political views. He and his wife reared a family 
 of seven children: Catherine, Peter, F. W. , G. A., 
 
 \ 
 
4i 
 
 428 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 V. F., Henry, and Mary C. While growing 
 up, G. A. Seel had excellent advantages for ac- 
 quiring a good education, and to say that he fully 
 improved his opportunities woiild be only speaking 
 the truth. After attending the free school of his 
 section until sixteen years of age he entered Hig- 
 giusport high school, but left that institution at the 
 age of seventeen, and began traveling, so continuing 
 until he was about twenty years of age, at which 
 time he returned to Kentucky, and remained there 
 for nearly one year, assisting his father on the 
 farm. He then began traveling again, continuing 
 two years, and became familiar with some of the 
 finest points of interest in the United States. He 
 located in New Madrid, Mo., where he became 
 conductor on the Little River Valley & Arkansas 
 Railroad, and as such continued for four years. 
 He then tilled the same pcsition on the Cotton 
 Belt road for about one year, and daring this time 
 his leisure moments were spent in studying chem- 
 istry. In the latter part of 1880 he engaged in 
 the di'ug business at Doniphan, Mo., and after 
 continuing there one year he devoted his time and 
 attention the two following years to the study of 
 chemistry under Profs. Detmer and Stille,of the St. 
 Louis Dairy Company's Laboratory. From there 
 he went to Chanute, Kas. , where he established a 
 private laboratory, remaining in that place until 
 the fall of 1885. During the two years he spent 
 in this place he was studying medicine under Drs. 
 Webb & Brown of the Eclectic school, and after- 
 ward underwent an examination before the Kansas 
 medical board, consisting of eight men, and secured 
 a certificate to practice. He became a member of 
 the Eclectic Medical Association of that State, and 
 after leaving there in the fall of 1885, he came to 
 Randolph County, and located at Warm Springs, 
 where he passed an examination before the board 
 in 1885, and immediately entered upon the prac- 
 tice of his profession. Since coming here he has 
 graduated from the St. Louis College of Physicians 
 and Surgeons, and has made a special study of 
 operative and opthalmic surgery under the able 
 instructions of Profs. Louis Bower, A. C. Bernays 
 and John Glancis, being now a successful surgeon 
 and physician. He was married, October 14, 
 
 1885, to Miss Ella S. Kibler, of Water Valley, this 
 county, and by her became the father of two chil- 
 dren: Leona C. (deceased), and G. A., Jr. ili-s. , 
 Seel is a native of Arkansas. The Doctor belongs 
 to the K. of P. , and in his political views is a 
 Democrat. In 1888 he and Capt. J. J. Hand 
 werker, of Memphis, Tenn. , purchased the famous 
 warm springs of this place, which in days gone 
 by were used by the Indians as a health resort, 
 this being as early as 1818, when the first settlers 
 began to come into the region. The first hotel put 
 up near the place was in 1840, by a man named 
 Rice, and after his death the property fell to his 
 heirs. In 1874, it was purchased from them by 
 Dalton, Kibler & Waddle, who erected a substan- 
 tial hotel there the same year and put up bath 
 houses, bowling alley, etc. They also inclosed two 
 and one-half acres with a nice fence, and in this 
 inclosure are sixty springs, with three different 
 kinds of water, chalybeate, sulphur and carbonate. 
 The largest spring is carbonate water, containing 
 160 cubic inches of carbonic acid gas to the gallon, 
 making it the equal of the famous chalybeate 
 Vichy waters of Europe. In addition to this it 
 also contains iodine and lithia. The springs are 
 accessible by the following stage routes: Doniphan, 
 Pocahontas, the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & South- 
 ern Railroad and the Kansas City & Memphis 
 Railroad. The climate in the locality of the 
 springs is fine, and the Doctor's manner of treat- 
 ing diseases in the way of baths can not be excelled, 
 for hot, cold and electric baths can be secured at 
 any time. The citizens in the locality contemplate 
 erecting a high-school, and the place can then be 
 utilized as a point for securing both a good educa- 
 tion and the benefit of the health restoring waters 
 of the springs. The country is very beautiful 
 hereabouts, and the streams abound with fish and 
 the woods with deer, turkeys, squirrels, quail, etc. . 
 making it a sportsman's paradise. 
 
 James F. Shaver, who is one of the successful 
 farmers of Warm Springs Township, was born in 
 Randolph County, Ark., in September. 1833, and 
 is a son of John and Nancy (Cook) Shaver, who 
 were boi'n in Georgia. They were married in 
 Alabama, about 18'23, and in 1S28 came to Arkan- 
 
EANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 429 
 
 sas, settling iu this count}-, where they purchased 
 and also entered some Government land. Wild 
 animals of all kinds roamed the woods at will at 
 this time, and in some places the forests were 
 almost impenetrable, but it can be said of John 
 Shaver that, with the courage and perseverance 
 which marked the lives of so many of our pioneers. 
 
 He chopped, lie logged, he cleared his lot, 
 And into many a dismal spot 
 He let the light of da_y. 
 
 His neighbors were from ten to fifteen miles 
 distant, and at that time wagons were a rare 
 sight, but small trucks were made by sawing large 
 logs in two, the wheels being of solid wood —even 
 these rude conveyances being few and far between. 
 The nearest flouring-mill, which was twenty-five 
 miles away, could only be reached by crossing two 
 rivers, and owing to the ditSculty of doing this, 
 the settlers had to resort to the old-fashioned pes- 
 tle. The first flouring-mill put up in this part of 
 the county was on the old Rtissell place, and was 
 run by horse power. This was about the year 
 183S. He and his wife were born in 1800 and 
 179S, and died in 1850 and 1858, respectively. 
 They were members of the Christian Church, and 
 became the parents of eleven children, eight liv- 
 ing to ho grown: M"illiaui, who resides in Webster 
 County, Mo., is a minister in the Christian Chnrch; 
 Robert, who died leaving a family in this county; 
 Alexander, also deceased, his family being residents 
 of the county ; Peter, Martha, widow of C. Johnson ; 
 Caroline, the deceased wife of John Johnson; 
 Nancy, wife of Jesse Johnson, and John, who 
 was killed at the battle of Shiloh in 1862, while 
 serving in the Confederate army. The other chil- 
 dren died in infancy. James F. Shaver had very 
 poor educational advantages in his youth, and al- 
 though he attended the old fashioned subscription 
 schools long enough to learn to read, he did not 
 attend suflficiently long to learn to write. In 1852 
 he married Miss Elizabeth Waddle, a native of 
 the county, born in ISSfj, and to them were born 
 the following family: Alexander, born December 
 23, 1853; J. H., born August 2, 1855; Louis M., 
 born December 22, 1857; Sarah E., wife of Eli 
 Morris, born January 2, 1859; Jacob S., born Oc- 
 
 tober (>, 1861; James F., Jr., born November 2, 
 1863; Matilda A., born January 14, 1866, wife of 
 Jeff Morris ; R. L. , bom A pril 4, 1 868, Peter M. , born 
 December 20, 1869; William M., born August 27, 
 1871; PermeliaE., born January 14, 1874, and Jo- 
 seph A., born February 28, 1876. In 1862 Mr. 
 Shaver joined the Confederate army; he was with 
 Price on his last raid through Missouri in 1864, and 
 was a participant in a number of battles and skir- 
 mishes. Pilot Knob and Blue Lick being among the 
 number. After his surrender, which occurred at 
 Jacksonport, Ark., in June, 1865, became home and 
 engaged immediately in farming, entering at first 
 160 acres of land, and now has eighty under cul- 
 tivation. He is also engaged in raising horses and 
 cattle of a good grade. Mr. Shaver is a public - 
 spirited citizen, is a Democrat in his political views, 
 and he and his wife are members of the Christian 
 Church, as are nearly all their children. Mrs. 
 Shaver is a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Big 
 gers) Waddle, Tennesseeans by birth, who came 
 to Arkansas about 1832, and here married the fol- 
 lowing year. Their children were Lucinda. wife 
 of Peter Shaver; Matilda (deceased), vSarah (John- 
 son), Susan (Roberts), Jefferson (deceased), Jake, 
 Caroline (Graves), Marietta L. (Hawk), George and 
 James (twins), and Elizabeth, wife of our subject. 
 The parents died in 1849 and 1862, aged fifty and 
 sixty years, respectively. 
 
 Col. Thomas S. Simington. The name that 
 heads this sketch is that of one of the oldest set- 
 tlers of this vicinity, whose entire life in this 
 county has been such as to win him the respect and 
 esteem of all who are favored with his acquaint- 
 ance. His father, Robert Simington, was a Scotch- 
 man who emigrated to the United States when 
 twenty-two years of age, and being of an adven- 
 turous turn of mind, and nothing daunted by the 
 talk of Indian troubles, determined to seek his 
 fortune in the " far West," and accordingly pushed 
 on westward. From the city of Pittsburgh, Penn. . 
 he floated down the Ohio River on a flatboat, and 
 made a landing at Cincinnati, Ohio, which place 
 then consisted of two cabins, and from there went 
 overland to Fayette County, Ky., becoming one of 
 the verv first settlers of that State. While making 
 
430 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 the toilsome journey to this State he was fre- 
 quently surrounded by Indians, having trouble 
 with them at various times, and bad frequently to 
 depend on the block-houses for protection. After 
 making his home in Fayette County for some time, 
 he removed to Hem-y County, of the same State, 
 where he made his home until 1827, when he re- 
 moved to Jefferson County, Ind. , for the pmpose 
 of educating his children and giving them the ad- 
 vantages of Hanover College. He came to the 
 United States without means, but possessing the 
 sterling characteristics of his ancestors he was very 
 successful in his farming enterprises, and at the 
 time of his death in 1849, at the age of seventy-six 
 years, he was quite a wealthy citizen. He lavished 
 his wealth freely in educating his children, was al- 
 ways a kind and considerate father, and his mem- 
 ory is still respected and revered by them to a 
 wonderful degree. He was a stanch Whig in 
 politics, and was in favor of colonizing the colored 
 race. His wife, Nancy McWilliams by name, was 
 born in Virginia, and removed with her parents to 
 Kentucky when she was a young girl, and in that 
 State she was married to Mr. Simington. She died 
 in Jefferson County, Ind., about two years after 
 the death of her husband, when about sixty-foixr 
 years of age. Both she and her husband were 
 members of the Presbyterian Church, ai)d for many 
 years he was an elder in that church, and was hold- 
 ing that position at the time of his death. Of the 
 seven daughters and live sons born to their union 
 nine lived to maturity, and four are living at the 
 present time: Robert S. , who has been a Presby- 
 terian minister since a young man, and is now lo- 
 cated at San Diego, Cal. ; Martha R. , widow of 
 William Finley, and is now residing in Independ- 
 ence, Mo. ; Myra, widow of Gen. Lucas, also located 
 at Independence, and Col. Thomas S. The latter, 
 owing to his father's liberality, received an ex- 
 cellent education in Hanover College, and when 
 nineteen years of age he went to Boonville, Mo., 
 where he was engaged in teaching school and clerk- 
 ing for several years. After residing in Palestine, 
 111., for about three years, he moved to Randolph 
 County, Ark. , and has since been actively engaged 
 in farming, the first few years being also spent in 
 
 wielding the ferule. He is now the owner of some 
 of the best farming lands in the county, and is one 
 of the prosperous citizens. He served as county 
 surveyor prior to the Rebellion, and in 1861 was 
 elected sheriff and collector of the county. The 
 following year he organized a company to serve 
 thirty days in the Confederate army, then enlisted 
 in Company A, and was made first lieutenant. He 
 was soon after elected lieutenant-colonel of the 
 Twenty-fifth Infantry, but after serving two years 
 was discharged on account of disability. He was 
 at the battles of Tupelo and Perry ville, and al- 
 though his loss in money matters was very heavy 
 during the war, he has been very successful in ac- 
 cumulating worldly goods. January 1, 1852, he 
 was united in marriage with Miss Emily B. Russell, 
 a daughter of one of the oldest settlers of Ran- 
 dolph County, Ark., Col. James G. Russell. She 
 was born in the county July 20, 183;i Her 
 union with Mr. Simington was blessed in the birth 
 of eight childien, of whom two died in infancy and 
 six are now living: Williamson T. and Francis L., 
 farmers of the county; Ida J., wife of Benjamin 
 F. Bigger of Pocahontas; Thomas F., a merchant 
 of Eastern Texas; Minnie and Mattie, at home. 
 The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, of which Mr. Simington is a trustee and 
 steward. He is one of the oldest Masons in the 
 county, and although a Whig in politics until 1856, 
 he has since been a Democrat. He has always 
 been a public spirited citizen, and is a patron of 
 education and all worthy enterprises. 
 
 James Henry Skaggs was born on the 2d of 
 August, 1840, near Danby. Jefferson County, Mo. , 
 and is the son of Henry Skaggs, the grandson of 
 Stephen Skaggs, and the great-grandson of James 
 Skaggs, who was a native of Virginia, a man of 
 great physical strength and activity, and of whom 
 it is said that he settled in Kentucky before 
 Daniel Boone. Stephen Skaggs was also a native 
 of Virginia, his birth occurring about 1764. He 
 died in Kentucky in 1814. His wife's maiden 
 name was Miss Nancy Andrews, who was bom in 
 the year 1766, and died in Kentucky in 1862. 
 Henry Skaggs (father of the subject of this sketch) 
 was born in Green Countv, K v. , on the 6th of June, 
 
 & 
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 431 
 
 1807, aad came to Jeffersou County, Mo., in 1833, 
 bought a tract of laad of several hundred acres, 
 and this he improved and cultivated. He devoted 
 the remainder of his life to farming and the raising 
 of tine horses. He died on the 9th of September, 
 1866. His wife, Mrs. Mary (Eagelbarger) Skaggs, 
 vpas born on the 7th of October, 1814, and was a 
 woman of sujierior intelligence and firmness of 
 character. She received her final summons in 
 Jefferson County, Mo., in September, 1866. The 
 maternal grandfather of our subject, John M. 
 Eagelbarger, was a native of Germany, born in 
 1784, and came to the United States in 1800, 
 landing at Savannah, Ga. He came to Missoiu'i at 
 an early day, and here followed his trade, that of 
 a gunsmith. He died in Jeffersou County, Mo., 
 on the 3d of July, 1829. His wife's maiden 
 name was Unity Carlin, a sister of ex- Governor 
 Carlin of Illinois, and a woman of great courage 
 and determination. James Henry Skaggs (the 
 subject of this sketch), was taught the principles 
 of farming in early life, and in 1861 he joined the 
 Confederate army under the command of Gen. 
 Jeff. Thompson, served about eight months, and 
 was discharged on account of sickness. He then 
 followed school teaching for about six years, two of 
 which were spent in Monroe County, 111., and the 
 remainder in Jefferson and St. Francois Counties, 
 Mo. During the period of teaching he gave his 
 spare time to the study of medicine. Later he en- 
 gaged in dealing in live stock and in merchandis- 
 ing, which he continued two years. In 1870 he 
 came to Clay County, Ark. , and followed farming 
 and buying stock. He selected for his companion 
 in life Miss Eliza James, and was united in mar- 
 riage to her in 1873. They had two children, 
 both of whom died in youth. Mrs. Skaggs died on 
 the 19th of March, 1875. After that Mr. Skaggs 
 accepted a position as collecting agent for Levi 
 Hecht & Bros., at Pocahontas, which he held for 
 over a year. In 1876, on the 17th of December, 
 he was married to Mrs. Serena J. Russell, a native 
 of Louisiana, and whose maiden name was Kil- 
 crease. Mr. Skaggs then turned his attention 
 once more to farming. In 1882 he was elected 
 county surveyor, which office he filled with ability 
 
 and credit. For the past few years he has been 
 extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits, and 
 also in the timber business, in which he has been 
 very successful. He now owns over 4,000 acres 
 of land and has 800 acres under cultivation. Mr. 
 Skaggs is five feet eleven inches in height, and 
 weighs 250 pounds. In middle life he was very 
 strong and active, and was well trained in Olympic 
 games, as was also his father. Mr. Skaggs after 
 receiving a common-school education was for sev- 
 eral terms under the tutorage of Mr. Robert A. 
 Booth, a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, Ire- 
 land, with whom our subject, among other things, 
 completed mathematics as far as calculus. He has 
 taken an active part in public affairs, and is alive 
 to the interests of his country, is willing to do his 
 part in forwarding all enterprises for public good, 
 and is an important commercial factor of Ran- 
 dolph County. 
 
 Will H. Skinner, druggist, Pocahontas, Ark. 
 Holding the leading place among the druggists of 
 the town of Pocahontas is the above-mentioned 
 gentleman. The business he now conducts was 
 established by him in 1886, and he has built it up 
 to its present enviable position by upright and 
 honorable dealing, by understanding the wants of 
 the public and anticipating them; also by keeping 
 nothing but the best and most reliable goods, so 
 that whatever is purchased at "Skinner's" can 
 be implicitly relied upon. This gentleman was 
 born in Guernsey County, Ohio, and is the son of 
 Alfred and Mary (Virtue) Skinner, the father a 
 native of the "Buckeye State," and the mother 
 of Maryland. Alfred Skinner was a manufacturer 
 of and dealer in saddles. He was a gentleman of 
 education, was well versed in law matters, and lie 
 ing a leader in politics was called upon by the peo- 
 ple to fill many offices of trust in the county and 
 township. He and his wife were faithful members 
 of the Presbyterian Church. They reared to ma- 
 turity a family of eight children, all living: Mary 
 C. , a stenographer at Baltimore, Md. : Helen M. , 
 a teacher in Baltimore; Nola, in Washington, 
 Ohio; Fannie, also in Washington, Ohio; Anice 
 P., wife of C. L. Ferguson, of Columbus, Ohio; 
 Will H. , Laura, a teacher in Baltimore, Md. ; 
 
Alfred, a harness and saddlery merchant and 
 manufacturer, of Washington, Ohio. The father 
 of these children died May 22, 1889, at the age of 
 sixty-eight years, and the mother died in May, 
 1871, at the age of forty-eight years. Will H. 
 Skinner was educated in the public schools of 
 AVashington, Ohio, and graduated at the age of 
 eighteen. Immediately afterward he commenced 
 the study of pharmacy, which he continued in his 
 native town until 1885, when he came to Pocahon- 
 tas, Ark., and established himself in the same 
 business. He now has the largest trade of that 
 kind in the county, and in connection with drugs 
 he keeps books, stationery, paints, oils, tobacco, 
 cigars, and in fact everything necessary for a first- 
 class store. Mr. Skinner is a member of the pres- 
 ent city council, and is one of the representative 
 citizens of the county. His paternal grandfather. 
 Judge William Skinner, was a soldier in the Rev- 
 olutionarv War, and was one of the oldest business 
 men of Washington, Ohio, where he established 
 the harness and saddlery business, and was suc- 
 ceeded by his son, Alfred Skinner, who in turn 
 was succeeded by his son, Alfred Skinner, now a 
 prominent manufacturer and trader in that line. 
 The firm of which the younger Alfred Skinner is 
 a member is widely known in that part of the 
 State of Ohio. 
 
 H. A. Slaughter, M. D., is one of the very 
 foremost among the professional men of the county, 
 and has won an enviable repalation as a practi- 
 tioner of the " healing art. " He possesses ad- 
 vanced ideas and progressive principles regarding 
 his profession, and is gifted with a full share of the 
 sterling characteristics of the native Kentuckian. 
 His birth occurred on the 14th of August, 1839, 
 and he is the tenth of twelvo children, five of 
 whom are living, born to the marriage of French 
 G. and Mary W. (Anthony) Slaughter, who were 
 born in the Blue Grass State and the "Old Do- 
 minion," respectively. The father followed hus- 
 bandry throughout life, and although he had an 
 excellent knowledge of the law, having studied it 
 in his early manhood, he never practiced. He 
 held many different offices in Nelson County, Ky., 
 such as justice of the peace and sheriff, and died 
 
 in that State in 1871 at the age of seventy-seven 
 years. His wife also died there, she having been 
 an earnest and consistent member of the Presby- 
 terian Church for many years. The paternal 
 grandfather, James Slaughter, was a Virginian, 
 who died in Kentucky. Dr. H. A. Slaughter re- 
 ceived the rudiments of his education in Winslow, 
 Graves County, Ky., and from the time he was 
 eighteen years of age iintil the breaking out of the 
 war he was engaged in farming. He then enlisted 
 in Company L, of the Eighth Kentucky Cavalry. 
 but after serving faithfully for two years he was 
 discharged on account of disability, and after re- 
 turning home located in Kenton's Station, where 
 he spent about three years. He also studied med- 
 icine during this time under Dr. David Yandall, 
 and afterward pursued his studies in the Louisville 
 Medical College. From 1868 to 1870 he resided 
 in Ballard County, Ky., and then took up his 
 abode in Randolph County, Ark., where he has 
 since been actively engaged in the practice of his 
 profession, the large extent of territory over which 
 he travels speaking louder than mere words can 
 do of the estimation in which he is held by the 
 public as a member of the medical fraternity. 
 Politically he supports Democratic principles; he 
 is a Royal Arch Mason, and belongs to the Chris- 
 tian Chiu'ch. 
 
 John F. Spikes, who is one of the substantial 
 and progressive agriculturists of the county, was 
 born here on the 20th of February. 1836, and is 
 one of a family of seven children who were born to 
 the marriage of Joseph Spikes and Permelia Wad- 
 dell, who were born in Hawkins County, Tenn.. in 
 1806 and 1805, and died in 1853 and 1864, respect- 
 ively. They were married in their native State, 
 and moved to Arkansas, being among the very first 
 families to settle in what is now Randolph Countj'. 
 Mr. Spikes was engaged in farming and trading, 
 and in every enterprise to which he turned his at- 
 tention he met with good returns. He was sheriff 
 of Randolph County for many years, and was 
 filling the duties of this position at the time of his 
 death. He was a Democrat, and he and his wife 
 were members of the Methodist Episcopal Cliurfh. 
 John F. Spikes received fair educational advan- 
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 433 
 
 tages in his youth, and made his home with his 
 mother until a short time before her death, when i 
 he started out in life for himself. After the war he 
 was left without means, but as he inherited some 
 of his father' s excellent business qualities, coupled 
 with his energy and enterprise, he has succeeded 
 far beyond his expectations, and is now the owner 
 of 840 acres of some of the best land in the 
 county. When barelj' twenty-one years of age he 
 was elected constable, and served in this capacity 
 for eighteen years, then positively declined to serve 
 farther. In 1874 he was elected county sheriff, 
 and at the end of the term, although solicited by 
 many to again become a candidate, he declined to 
 put up his name. Although he is a non-partisan, 
 he has always supported the men and measures of 
 the Democratic party. He is a Mason, and he and 
 his wife, whom he married February 7, 1863, and 1 
 whose maiden name was Martha E. Mock, are both 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South. Mrs. Spikes was born in Randolph Coimty 
 in 1840, and is a daughter of Matthias Mock. 
 To their union eight children have been born: 
 Amanda P. (wife of Franklin Tiner, a farmer and 
 teacher of the county), Mary J., James C, Will- 
 iam A., John W., Sulah M. , Thomas F. and Jo- 
 seph A. , all at home. 
 
 Samuel E. Spikes. Among the families who 
 were early settlers of the State of Arkansas, was 
 that of which the subject of this sketch is a worthy 
 member, although the exact date of their settle- 
 ment is unknown. He himself was born on the 
 farm where he now lives, May 15, 1840, and is 
 one of three surviving members of a family of four 
 children born to William and Mary L. (Masters) 
 Spikes, who were born in Hawkins County. Tenn. , 
 and near Charleston, S. C, in 1784 and 1802, and 
 died in 1855 and 1881, respectively. At the time 
 they located in Randolph County^ Ark., the set- 
 tlers were very scarce, and the nearest neighbor 
 was eight miles away. He cleared a farm on 
 which he resided until his death, and in addition 
 to managing this farm he carried on the cooper's 
 and wheelwright's trades which he had learned in 
 his youth. He was a successful financier, but was 
 rather improvident and spent his money freely, 
 
 laying up but very little for a rainy day. He was 
 an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, of which he had been a member for many 
 years, and in his political views was a Democrat. 
 His wife, whose maiden name was Mary L. Mas- 
 ters, was first married to a Mr. Alexander, and 
 with him moved to Arkansas, where he was after- 
 ward drowned. She then wedded Mr. Spikes, 
 being his third wife, and by him became the 
 mother of the following children; Samuel E., Eliz- 
 abeth C. (widow of George Kerzey), Mary P. 
 (widow of Madison Gallich), and two others de- 
 ceased, one of whom was L. F., who died while 
 serving in the Confederate army. Mr. Spikes' 
 first union resulted in the birth of six children: 
 Joseph W. , who was the third sheriff of Randolph 
 County, and died in New Orleans; Jesse, John 
 William, Martha and Nancy, all of whom died in 
 the same county, except Nancy who died in Texas. 
 Samuel E. Spikes enlisted, in 18(12, in Capt. B. 
 Shores' company. Col. Adams' regiment, and served 
 until the close of the war, being a participant in the 
 battles of Cane Hill and Delhi. After his return 
 home he was married to Miss Mary Frances Stone, 
 a daughter of Rufus Stone. She was born in 
 Tennessee, May (3, 1847, and died in Randolph 
 CoiTnty, Ark., December 24, 1882, having borne a 
 family of eight children, seven now living: Will- 
 iam R. , Samuel E. , Mary C, Martha J., Fannie 
 E., Robert A. and Francis M. A daughter named 
 Eliza A., was born April 9, 1S70, and died No- 
 vember 24, 1887. Our subject started in life 
 without means, but by his own energy and good 
 management he is now one of the wealthy resi- 
 dents of the county. He is a Mason in good stand- 
 ing, and is a Democrat in his political views. 
 After his marriage, his mother made her home 
 with him until her death. 
 
 Mrs. Alice L. Surridge, widow of Robert Sur- 
 ridge, and a lady of culture and refinement, was 
 born in Jackson County, Tenn., and is the daugh- 
 ter of A. W. W. Brooks, one of the prominent 
 and wealthy farmers of Randolph County, whose 
 sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. 
 Surridge came to Arkansas with her parents when 
 a child, was reared on a farm and received her 
 
« k^ 
 
 484 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 education at Warm' Springs high school. Wlien 
 twenty-one years of age she was united in marriage 
 to Mr. Robert Surridge, a native of Missouri, born 
 May S, 1862. Heaven bles.sed this union with 
 tliree children : Sudie, Lena and Robert Caldwell. 
 Mr. Surridge was engaged in the gi'ocery business 
 at Pocahontas, and was an excellent business man 
 and, above all, thoroughly honest. He continued 
 in this business until his death, which occurred 
 February 28, 1889. It is sad to think of death in 
 connection with the young, and especially so with 
 regard to Mr. Surridge, who, with his wife and lit- 
 tle children around him, was full of business and 
 enterprise until the grim destroyer entered and 
 laid him low. Mrs. Surridge is the owner of 880 
 acres of land, and also considerable town property. 
 James F. Sutton is a farmer residing near Po- 
 cahontas, Ark., and was born in Tennessee Feb- 
 ruary 18, 1828. He is one of six sons and six 
 daughters born to the marriage of Forester and 
 Mary (McNiece) Sutton, who spent the greater 
 portion of their lives in Marshall County, Tenn. , 
 and there resided until their respective deaths. 
 James F. was the eldest of their children, and re- 
 mained in his native State until 1852, at which 
 time he settled in Southwest Missouri; three 
 years later he came to Randolph County, Ark. , and 
 here has made his home up to the present date, 
 with the excejstion of the time spent in the army. 
 He joined the Confederate forces in 1861, becom- 
 ing a member of Company H, Col. Shaver's regi- 
 ment of infantry, and was a private until the sur- 
 render of Little Rock, Ark. , and was on the In- 
 firmary corps until the battle at Cane Hill He 
 returned to the duties of farm life after the battle 
 of Little Rock, and has pursued the occupation of | 
 husbandry on his 160 acre farm ever since. This 
 land he purchased prior to the war, paying 12J 
 cents per acre, and he now has seventy five acres 
 in an excellent state of cultivation. While he has 
 never held any oflice of public trust, yet he is a 
 man who does all in his power to assist in the im- I 
 provement of his county; is a liberal supporter 
 of worthy movements, and is a strong advocate of 
 flee schools. Politically he is a Republican. His 
 marriage with Miss Anna Noblin occurred in 1849, 
 
 and by her he became the father of eleven children, 
 five of whom are now living: G. W. , who resides 
 in the county; F. M. ; Mary E., wife of John Kiu- 
 caid; Samuel T. and Benjamin F. His wife and 
 eldest three children are members of the Baptist 
 Church. Prior to the Rebellion he served in the 
 State militia as first lieutenant, and has held the 
 same position since. 
 
 Richard Sweeza. In giving a history of Ran- 
 dolph County. Ark., the name of Mr. Sweeza 
 deserves honorable mention, for he has always 
 been industrious and enterprising, and has ever 
 aided enterprises which tend to the interests of the 
 county. He was born near where he novp lives, on 
 the Ist of February, 1837, and is one of two sur- 
 viving members (the other survivor being Nancy 
 Jane, the wife of Joseph Thomas, a farmer of the 
 county) of a family of nine children born to Rich- 
 ard and Matilda (Bigger) Sweeza, both of whom 
 were born in Missouri, former's birth occurring 
 in Carter County. They were reared to maturity 
 and married in that State, and after the celebration 
 of their nuptials they resided in Carter County 
 several years, then came to Randolph County, 
 Ark., being among the very first settlers of the 
 county. The country was full of Indians and 
 wild animals at that time, but Mr. Sweeza began 
 to clear a farm, and followed this occupation in con- 
 nection with blacksmithing throughout life, accu- 
 mulating thereby a large amount of property. He 
 died in 1841, when a comparatively young man, 
 his widow afterward becoming the worthy com- 
 panion of Randolph Cook, of Illinois, and her 
 death occurred in that State, in 1855. Both Mr. 
 and Mrs. Sweeza were members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South, and he was of French 
 descent. Richard Sweeza, the immediate subject 
 of this sketch, received his early education at 
 home, and made his home with his stepfather, Mr. 
 Cook, until the opening of the Rebellion, when he 
 enlisted in Company C, of the Eighth Arkansas 
 Infantry, Confederate States Army, and was on 
 active duty east of the Mississippi River until the 
 close of the war. He was in twenty-three regular 
 engagements, among which were the battles of 
 Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Perryville, 
 
iL£: 
 
 RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 435 
 
 Atlanta, Nashville, Missionary Ridge and many 
 others. He was wounded by a musket ball in the 
 upper lip, at Atlanta, and also at Ringgold Gap by 
 a shell .striking the lock of his gun and bursting. 
 At Atlanta he was taken prisoner, but was re-taken 
 by his friends ten minutes later, and in this en- 
 gagement his whole command was captured with 
 the exception of twenty men. He saw some very 
 hard service, and after the war he returned home 
 with the consciousness of having been a brave and 
 faithful soldier. Like his father before him he 
 has always been engaged in farming and black- 
 smithina;: and although he commenced life for him- 
 self with little or no means, he has succeeded 
 well, and now owns 200 acres of excellent land. 
 In 1867 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Louisa 
 Jane (Russell) Bigger, a daughter of Col. James 
 G. Russell, and the widow of Ransom Bigger, who 
 was killed during the war. 8he died in 1870, an 
 earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, and three years later Mr. Sweeza 
 wedded Mrs. Sarah A., the widow of Marion Rus- 
 sell. She was born in Lincoln County, Tenn. , De- 
 cember 14, 1834, and both are now members of the 
 iSIethodist Episcopal Church, he being a steward 
 in the same. He is a Democrat politically, and is 
 one of the enterprising men of the county. 
 
 John S. Tanner, merchant of Kingsville, Ark. , 
 needs no introduction to the people of Randolph 
 County, for his connection with its affairs dates 
 back to 1875. and although his name has never 
 been thrust before the public for purposes of 
 notoriety, he is one of the county's most successful 
 young business men. He was born in Fulton 
 County, Ark., March 1, 1864, and is a son of Will- 
 iam W. and Sarah Ann (Reeves) Tanner, both of 
 whom were born in Obion County, Tenn., the 
 former's birth occurring in 1832, and the latter' s 
 in 1834. They were married in that county, and 
 moved from there to Fulton County, Ark., being 
 among its earliest settlers, but in 1875 came to 
 Randolph County. The father had been familiar 
 with merchandising from earliest boyhood, but a 
 short time prior to his death, which occurred on 
 the 16th of October, 1888. he had retired from 
 the active duties of business life, and left af- 
 
 fairs to the management of his son. He was also 
 engaged in farming, was a Mason, a Democrat, and 
 while in Tennessee held the office of constable, and 
 after coming to Arkansas was justice of the peace 
 for several years. He served in the Confederate 
 army throughout the war, and was a participant in 
 a number of important engagements. His widow 
 now resides in Kingsville, Ark. , and both were 
 members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
 Of their nine children our subject is the third, 
 and eight of the family are now living: Mary F. 
 (Blackwell), Nancy W. (Baker), John S. , William 
 S. (who is deputy clerk of Randolph County), Sarali 
 A., Emma J., Ida B. , Arthur A. (who died when 
 in his third year) and Lula. John S. Tanner's 
 early scholastic advantages were received in his na- 
 tive county, and were such as the common schools 
 afforded, but these advantages he improved to the 
 utmost, and he is now acknowledged by all to be 
 one of the bright, energetic and enterprising young 
 men of the county. In later years he tinished his 
 education in the Cumberland University at Leban- 
 on, Tenn., and was one of its most substantial stu- 
 dents. February 3, 1884. he was united in mar- 
 riage to Miss Nora Ann Fuller, a daughter of 
 Albert Fuller. She was born in Grayson County, 
 Ky., and is the mother of two childi-en: Nellie G. 
 and Guy W. Mr. Tanner and wife are in commu- 
 nion with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
 and as far as his political views are concerned Mr. 
 Tanner has followed in the footsteps of his father, 
 being a stanch Democrat. 
 
 Samuel W. Thompson, although just in the 
 prime of life, has made his way to the front ranks 
 among the energetic farmers of this county, and 
 owing to the attention he has always paid to each 
 minor detail, he has accumulated a fair share of 
 this world's goods. He is a native-born resident 
 of the county, his birth occun-ing on the 9th of 
 Lecember, 1845, and he is a son of \\'illiam and 
 Mary (McLean) Thompson, who were also well 
 known here. The father was born in Virginia, 
 March 3, 1815, and when a child only seven years 
 of age, he was taken to Knox County, Tenn. . by an 
 uncle, whence, after remaining there a short time,he 
 came to Arkansas, and became interested in farm- 
 
 V 
 
436 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ing and wagon making, which occupations he fol- 
 lowed for many years. After the war, he farmed 
 exclusively, and was school commissioner for years, 
 also county and probate judge, and was tilling the 
 latter position at the opening of the Rebellion, being 
 appointed to the same position after the cessation 
 of hostilities. He was a well-known and respected 
 citizen, and he and his wife, whose native State Avas 
 Missouri, having been born there in 1816, were 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South. Her death occurred in this county in 1856. 
 He died November 28, 1883. During early times, 
 meetings were held in their house in lieu of a pub- 
 lic bviilding, and for years he was superintendent 
 of the Methodist Sunday-school. He was a life- 
 long Democrat and Mason, and was an active 
 worker for all causes tending to the good of the 
 county. His father, who was born in Ireland, 
 at an early day came to the United States and 
 settled in Virginia, but afterward returned to Ire- 
 land, and was never afterward heard from. The 
 maternal grandfather, William McLean, was a Vir- 
 ginian, who removed to Kentucky, thence to Cape 
 Girardeau County, Mo. , and afterward to Ran- 
 dolph County, Ark. , and in the latter county took 
 up his abode on the farm on which our subject is 
 now residing. To William and Mary Thompson 
 eleven children were born, of whom the following 
 are living: JohnB. , aresidentof Washington Terri- 
 tory; David D., a farmer of Randolph County, Ark., 
 and Samuel W. The latter acquired a fair knowl- 
 edge of the English branches in the common schools 
 of his native county, and remained at home assist- 
 ing his father until 1868, when he enlisted in Capt. 
 Connor's company. Confederate States army. Cav- 
 alry service, and was on active duty until June 5, 
 
 1865, when he was discharged at Jacksonport, Ark. 
 He started for himself with no means, but now has 
 320 acres of some of the best land in the county, 
 and is considered one of its best farmers. He is a 
 Democrat in polititics, and in 1874 was elected 
 county assessor, also to the office of justice of 
 the peace, and filled both positions with much 
 credit to himself for four years. December 20, 
 
 1866, he was married to Maria E. Adams, a daugh- 
 ter of William H. Adams. She was born in Bed- 
 
 ford County, Tenn., April 20, 1849, and is the 
 mother of six children: Beatrice, Hettie E., Will- 
 iam A., Edward, Eugene and Marion E. Willie, 
 Augustus and Luther are deceased. Mr. Thomp- 
 son is a Royal Arch Mason, and belongs to the K. 
 of H. 
 
 J. P. Throgmorton, M. D., who is numbered 
 among the successful members of the medical fra- 
 ternity in Randolph County, Ark., came originally 
 from Henry County, Tenn. , where he was born 
 January 4, 1836. Richard and Elsie (Barnwell) 
 Throgmorton, his parents, were born in the " Old 
 North State," but were married and resided in 
 Henry County, Tenn., where the father was killed 
 during the Rebellion by guerrillas. He was a 
 farmer and carpenter, and in his political views 
 was an old-line Whig. He served several years as 
 justice of the peace, and he and wife were mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Church. Four of their chil- 
 dren grew to maturity, of whom our subject is 
 the eldest. His early youth was passed in the 
 State of his birth, and there he was favored with a 
 good education, being a student for some time in 
 Bethel College, in Carroll County, Tenn., where 
 he was a faithful and conscientious student. He 
 remained with his parents on the farm until 1859, 
 but that work not being at all stiited to his tastes 
 he began taking medical lectures in the University 
 of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, and there dis- 
 tinguished himself by his faithful application, as 
 well as at school. After leaving that collegre he 
 spent a short time in Illinois; then returned to 
 Tennessee, and after residing there until the spring 
 of 1865 he moved to Williamson County, 111., and 
 there located and p'lrsued the practice of his pro- 
 fession until 1871, when he came to Arkansas and lo- 
 cated on the farm on which he is now residing. The 
 . following year he retiu'ned to the State of Illinois 
 on account of the ill health of his wife, but after 
 her death, which occurred in 1873, in Williamson 
 County, he determined to improve his medical edu- 
 cation, and again entered the University of Penn- 
 sylvania, from which institution he was graduated 
 in 1874. Soon after this he returned to Randolph 
 County, where he has since been engaged in a gen- 
 eral practice, and the success which has attended 
 
 ^' 
 
 \ 
 
liL 
 
 RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 43-; 
 
 his efforts in healing the sick is shown by the ex- 
 tended territory over which he practices. He also 
 successfully conducts his home farm, which com- 
 prises a tract of 300 acres, and he also owns an- 
 other farm, in which are 1 20 acres. His farm is 
 finely located and improved, and he has one of the 
 handsomest residences in the county and a fine 
 barn for his stock and grain, all the result of his 
 own work. In lS6-t he was married to Miss Caro- 
 line Davidson, a native of Henry County, Tenn., 
 who died in Illinois as above stated. Two of the 
 three children born to their union are living: 
 Richard, and Rosa Lee, the wife of John Earley, 
 a farmer of the county. Laura died in infancy. 
 March 17, 1870, the Doctor's nuptials with Miss 
 Pollie E. Barnett were consummated. She was 
 born in Williamson County, 111., and died July 
 1-1, 1873, having borne two children; Hiram L. 
 (at home) and Ann E. (deceased). September 10, 
 1874, Isabel Lentz, a daughter of Eli Lentz, of 
 Williamson County, 111., became his wife. She 
 was born in that county on the 22d of January, 
 ISoU, and she and the Doctor are the parents of 
 the following family: Frederick E., Clara A., 
 Helen, Viola N. , James G. , Edna, and Clara A. 
 who is deceased. Mrs. Throgmorton is a member 
 of the Missionary Baptist Church; the Doctor is a 
 Mason in good standing, and in his political views 
 is a stanch Republican. He is one of the public- 
 spirited men of the county, and at all times sup- 
 ports worthy enterprises, being especially the friend 
 of education. 
 
 W. H. Tipton, blacksmith and farmer of Little 
 Black Township, Randolph County, Ark., was 
 born in Boone County, Mo., June 26, 1832, and is 
 one of nine surviving members of a family of ten 
 children born to Samuel and Sarah (Lynch) Tipton, 
 whose native States were Kentucky and Virginia, 
 respectively. The father removed to Missouri 
 about 1828, and was a successful farmer of Boone 
 County for six or seven years, but the most of his 
 attention was given to the trade of blacksmithing. 
 In 1837 he moved to Macon County, and settled in 
 Bloomington, where he worked at l)lacksinithiiig 
 for several years, and then bought a farm on which 
 he settled. From 184(5 until the breaking out of 
 
 the war he resided in Schuyler County, Mo., but 
 in the first year of the Rebellion he was taken 
 prisoner by the Union army, and since that time 
 no knowledge of him has ever come to the family. 
 He was a member of the Baptist Church, and his 
 marriage occurred in 1827. His widow resides in 
 Iowa, and their children are as follows: W. H. , 
 John T. (in Virginia), Samuel (in Iowa), James (in 
 Nebraska), Harrison (deceased, whose family re- 
 side in Montana), Elizabeth (the deceased wife of 
 Ezariah Padgett, of Texas), Mary F. (wife of H. 
 C. Grimes, a traveling salesman, who resides in 
 Plattsmouth, Mo.) and Sarah (wife of James Van 
 Cleve, a farmer). W. H. Tipton started out to 
 struggle with the world at the age of eighteen 
 years, and although his early education was neg- 
 lected he is accounted one of the intelligent and 
 well-posted men of the county. He first went to 
 California, where he was engaged in mining three 
 years, but returned in 1854 via the Gulf of Mexico, 
 and lauded in New York City. From there he 
 proceeded to Schuyler County, Mo., and began as- 
 sisting his father in the blacksmith shop, continu- 
 ing this until the breaking out of the Rebellion, 
 when he joined the Confederate army under Capt. 
 McCullough, but was on detail the most of the 
 time, being engaged in shoeing horses. After 
 the close of hostilities he went to Illinois with 
 Judge J. H. Richardson of this county, and re 
 mained there until 1866, when he moved to Ran 
 dolph County and settled in Little Black Town- 
 ship, where he went to farming and blacksmithing, 
 and has continued these occupations up to the 
 present time. He owns 240 acres of land, and has 
 given two of his sons eighty acres each, besides 
 much personal property. May 31, 1855. he was 
 married to Miss Harriet E. Wadsworth, of Illinois, 
 and their nine childi'en were as follows: three 
 died in infancy; Mary E., deceased wife of B. J. 
 Norris, of Texas; Claiborne W., who was acci- 
 dentally killed, being fatally crushed by a log 
 while he was working in a saw-mill, his death oc 
 curring January 30, 1888, in his twenty-fourth 
 year; S. C, residing in Pocahontas; Robert E. S., 
 at home; B. S. and Antoinette. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Tipton are members of the Baptist Church, and 
 
438 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 be is a member of tbe A. F. & A. M., bis chil- 
 dren, S. C, B. S. and Antoinette, also being mem- 
 bers of the Baptist Church. He is a Democrat. 
 Robert E. S. Tipton was born in Randolph Coun- 
 ty, Ark., September 26, 1867, and married, No- 
 vember 8, 1888, Miss Amelia A. Smith, whose 
 birth occurred in Marshall County, Ky.. December 
 11. 1867. 
 
 John W. Tweedy, farmer, Lima, Ark. To the 
 the person who closely applies himself to any oc- 
 cujiation which he has chosen as his calling in life, 
 there can only come one result — that of success, 
 and a high place in the esteem of those among 
 whom he has made his home. And Mr. Tweedy 
 is no exception to the rule, for it has only been l>y 
 industry and strict attention to agricultural pur- 
 suits that he has attained to the position which 
 he now enjoys. He was born in Virginia Febru- 
 ary 6. 1 838, and passed his youthful days on the 
 farm in Randolph County, whither his parents had 
 moved in 1839. He received a limited education 
 in the pulilic schools of this county, also in the sub- 
 scription schools, and at the age of twenty- one 
 commenced life for himself by engaging in agri- 
 cultural pursuits on his own land in this county. 
 He has since continued in the same business, which 
 has been his life occupation. On the 1st of Au- 
 gust, 1858, his marriage with Miss Cynthia H. 
 Stubblefield, of this county, was consummated. 
 She is the daughter of Coleman Stubblefield, one 
 of the oldest settlers of Randolph County, who 
 came here as early as 1802, and was the third 
 man to settle on Eleven Points; the other two be- 
 ing Phelau Stubblefield (a brother) and William 
 Looney (a cousin), who were there but a short 
 time before him, as all came in the same year from 
 Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Stubblefield reared a 
 family of children, one of whom died young: 
 Abraham, deceased, whose family lives in this 
 county: Nettie, deceased wife OT' Thomas John- 
 son, who is a farmer, and lives in Lawrence Coun- 
 tj'. Ark. ; Absalom, deceased, was a farmer, and 
 resided in this county; Nancy, deceased wife 
 of Thomas Rioe, a farmer, who lives in this coun- 
 ty; Elizabeth, widow of W. Spikes, another resi- 
 dent of this county; Lettie, deceased wife of 
 
 William White, who is also a resident of this 
 county; Robin, deceased at the age of twenty- 
 seven years; Martha, deceased at the age of twen- 
 ty-two years, and Redmond, deceased at the age 
 of twelve years. Before the war Mr. Stubblefield 
 was a colonel in the State militia: he was a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity, and he and his wife were 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. 
 Stubblefield died in 1849, at about the age of fif- 
 ty-six years, and Mrs. Stubblefield died in 1862, 
 at the age of sixty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. John 
 W. Tweedy were the parents of three children, all 
 deceased: Martha, died at the age of three months; 
 Nettie L., wife of Thomas H. Wells, died at the 
 age of twenty-five years, leaving two children 
 (John D. and Maud G.), and Laura D., who died 
 at the age of three years and three months. Mr. 
 Tweedy served three years in the Confederate 
 army under Gen. Price, and participated in several 
 raids made by that general. He was slightly 
 wounded once by a spent ball, but was only dis 
 abled for a few days. In 1865, June 5th, he sur- 
 rendered at Jacksonport, Ark., and then came 
 home and went immediately to farming. He 
 owned, at the close of the war, 240 acres of land, 
 with about forty acres under cultivation. He is 
 now the owner of 235 acres, with eighty acres 
 under cultivation, but he gave his daughter (Mrs. 
 Wells, now deceased), 600 acres at the time of her 
 marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy are members of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have been so 
 for a number of years. She was born in 1828. 
 Mr. Tweedy is a member of the A. F. & A. M. . 
 and in politics affiliates with the Democratic party. 
 His parents, Watson D. and Martha E. (Spikes) 
 Tweedy, were natives, respectively, of Virginia and 
 Tennessee. The father was reared to farm life in 
 his native State, and remained there until about 
 twenty-two years old, when he moved to Tennessee. 
 Here he was married, and afterward he returned to 
 Virginia, where he remained until 1839, when he 
 moved to Randolph County, Ark. There he died 
 in 1873. He had been twice married, first to Miss 
 Martha E. Spikes, and by her became the father 
 of three children, viz. : John W., Joseph (deceased) 
 and R. A., who lives in this county. Mrs. Tweedy 
 
4 
 
 RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 489 
 
 was born in 1817, and died in 1843. She was a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Chnrch. For 
 his second wife Mr. Tweedy took Miss Nauey Ras- 
 berry, of Mississippi, in 1847, and she boi'e him 
 following children: James (deceased) whoso widow 
 lives in Jackson County, Ark. ; Watson died at the 
 age of twenty-one; Jane died at the age of twenty 
 years; Marion died at the age of nineteen years; 
 Lee died at the age of eighteen years; Amanda is 
 the wife of John Coffman, and Mary is the wife of 
 G. W. Morgan, and has one child. Mrs. Tweedy 
 died in 1877. She was a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. Watson D. Tweedy had but 
 a limited education, and followed agricultural 
 jiursuits all his life. He became comfortably 
 tixed, and his honesty and liberality in all things 
 won him a host of friends. He was never very 
 active in politics; he was a consistent member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 James M. Vandergriff. who is a prosperous 
 agricnlturi.st of Eleven Points Township, was born 
 near where he now lives on the Ist of October, 
 1848, and is a son of RufSn and Jane (Garrett) 
 Vandergriff, who were born in North Carolina, in 
 1N12 and 1814, respectively. They were both 
 taken by their parents to McCracken County, Ky. , 
 in their vouth. and were there reared and married, 
 coming, in 1844, to Randolph County, Ark., where 
 the father died January 16, 1879. He (the father) 
 learned the blacksmith's trade in his youth, and 
 followed it. in connection with farming, up to the 
 time of his death. His principles were sound, and 
 the people showed their appreciation of his efforts 
 by electing him to the position of justice of the 
 peace for twelve years. He was a life long Demo- 
 crat, and served a short time in the Confederate 
 army. His widow survives him. Jacob Vander- 
 griff. the paternal grandfather, was of German 
 descent, was born in Pennsylvania, and died iu 
 Kentucky. The Garrett family are of Scotch 
 descent. Nine of their ten children are now liv- 
 ing; James M. ; Mary E., wife of A. Y. Mcllroy, of 
 Texas; Jasper P. and Joseph N. , farmers, of Ran- 
 dolph County; Jacob R., a farmer, of Independence 
 County, Ark.; Martha J., wife of Mose Lane, a 
 farmer, of Shannon County, Mo.; Sarah C wife 
 
 of R. J. Mcllroy, of this county; Je.sse A., of Erath 
 County, Tex., and Emma E., wife of Boyd Ellis, 
 of this county; John W. is deceased. James M. 
 Vandergriff received his education in Randolph 
 County, and since twenty years of age has ))een in 
 business for himself, his attention being given to 
 the blacksmith's trade as well as farming, carpen- 
 tering and cabinet making. His enterprises have 
 met with the desired result, and he now owns a 
 tract of fertile land amounting to 200 acres. He 
 is a Democrat, and during 1884 and 1885 he served 
 as justice of the peace. His marriage was cele- 
 brated on the 9th of February, 1808, his wife being 
 a Miss Elizabeth Bryan, a daughter of F. M. 
 Bryan. She was born in Lincoln County, Tenn. , 
 March 14, 1852, and to their union the following 
 children have been born: Ellar Jacob Milton, 
 Myrtie, James Burley and Ada E. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Vandergriff are members of the Missionary Baptist 
 Church, and he is one of the wideawake and pro- 
 gressive farmers of the county. 
 
 Daniel Wyatt was born in Stewart County, 
 Tenn., July 29, 1830, and is a son of David and 
 Jansey Wyatt (maiden name Nickols), who were 
 natives of the State of Tennessee, the former's 
 birth occurring in 1804, and the latter, in 1806. 
 They both died in Randolph County, Ark., the 
 father November 10, 1857, and the mother July 29, 
 1858. They were married in Tennessee in 1823, 
 and in 1833 moved to Cape Girardeau County, 
 Mo., and in 1837 to Lawrence County, Ark., com- 
 ing in 1841 to Randolph County. Ark. Both were 
 members of the Bajrtist Chnrch. and he was a 
 member of Randolph Lodge No. 71, A. F. & A. 
 M. , and a Democrat. He worked at the black- 
 smith trade in connection with farming, and was 
 successful iu both enterprises. His father, Daniel 
 Wyatt, was a very early settler of Tennessee, and 
 was a soldier in the IJevolutionary War, and the 
 War of 1812, being a participant in the battle of 
 New Orleans, at which place he died of small- 
 pox on the 11th day of Fel)ruary, 1815. There 
 were born to the marriage of David and Jansey 
 Wyatt ten children, of whom Daniel was the 
 fourth child; three of the family are now living: 
 Evaline, wife of Redding Vandergriff, a physician 
 
^f 
 
 440 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 and surgeon, and a farmer of Old Round Rock, 
 Tex. : Daniel, who resides in Randolph County, 
 Ark., and Albert P., who went to California in 
 1859, and has been mining in the west since 
 then. Daniel received his education in Randolph 
 County, Ark., and worked on his father's farm 
 until twenty-three years of age, when he located 
 on the farm where he now lives, then consisting of 
 eighty acres, to which he has since added 700 acres. 
 November 10, 1852, he was married to Nancy C 
 Burrow, a daughter of Jesse Burrow. She was 
 born in Jackson County, Ala., March 27, 1832, 
 and died in Randoljih County, Ark., on the 30th 
 of September, 1868. She bore five children, three 
 of whom are now living: Leetha C, wife of J. 
 T. Bennett, a farmer of Cooke County, Tex. ; Ella, 
 wife of J. W. Knoy, a farmer of Kaufman County, 
 Tex. , and Marion, a farmer of Randolph County, 
 Ark." November 10, 1868, was the date of Mr. 
 Wyatt's second marriage, it being with Bethany J. 
 rianery, a daughter of John Flanery. She was 
 born in Arkansas on the 30th of September, 
 1832, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and died on the 25th of July, 1880, 
 having become the mother of three children: 
 Marvin, John, and Nancy J., who is now the 
 wife of Charles H. Tyler, a farmer of Randolph 
 County, Ark. Mr. Wyatt's third marriage took 
 place September 23, 1880, his wife being a Mrs. 
 Ellen A. Chesser (her maiden name was Ellis), 
 whose birth occurred on December 13, 1842, in 
 Davidson County, Tenn. They have one child: 
 Jethro, born May 5, 1881. Mrs. Wyatt is a mem- 
 ber of the Christian Church, and Mr. Wyatt be- 
 longs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 In the month of September, 1862, he enlisted in 
 Capt. Wyatt's company (C), in Col. Shaver's 
 regiment of infantry. Confederate States army, 
 and served eighteen months, participating in 
 many skirmishes. In 1876 he was elected to the 
 office of justice of the peace, which position he 
 held for several years, and in 1880 he was elected 
 county and probate judge of Randolph County. 
 Ark. . but did not wish to serve longer than one 
 term. He is a member of Randolph Lodge No. 
 71, A. F. & A. M., and of the Knights of Honor, 
 
 belonging also to the Masonic Mutual Relief Asso- 
 ciation of Arkansas. He is a Democrat politically. 
 David R. Weakley, M. D., of Kingsville. has 
 for the past four years been prominently associated 
 with the professional interests of Randolph County, 
 and -is deserving of more than a passing mention 
 in any history of the same. He was born in Dick- 
 son County, Tenn., on the 4th of March, 1847, and 
 was the sixth of eight children, two now living, 
 born to the marriage of David C. Weakley and Isa- 
 bella Gleaves, who were born in Robertson and 
 Dickson Counties, Tenn. , respectively. After their 
 marriage they moved to Dyer County, Tenn. , in 
 1858, where the father became a successful agri- 
 culturist, and although a heavy loser by the war, 
 he was a well-to-do man at the time of his death, 
 which occurred in 1873, at the age of .sixty four 
 years. His wife's death occurred about 1853, 
 when still a young woman, and he afterward wed- 
 ded Miss Elizabeth Brigham, who is now residing 
 in Dyer County, Tenn. He was a Mason and a 
 Democrat, and he and both his wives were members 
 of the Cumberland Prestiyterian Church. David R. 
 Weakley, after attending the common schools in 
 youth, entered Newbern College, where he received 
 an excellent education, but left his books in 1863 
 to enlist in the army, becoming a member of Com- 
 pany B, Tenth Tennessee Cavalry, in which he 
 served until the Rebellion was quelled, participat 
 ing in the battles at Guntown, Miss., and Cold- 
 water. Desiring to enter professional life, he en- 
 tered upon the study of medicine under Dr. R. N. 
 Fryer, of Newbern, and applied himself with ener- 
 gy and perseverance to his books, and in 1871-72 
 attended lectures in the Nashville University, grad- 
 uating in the latter year. He commenced active 
 practice in Dyer County, Tenn., but a short time 
 thereafter came to Arkansas, locating in Greene 
 County, and still later in Clay County, on Blue 
 Cane Island. His next move was to Oak Bluff, and 
 after a residence of four years at this {>oint he set- 
 tled at Knobel Station, on the Iron Mountain Rail- 
 road, remaining until 1885, since which time he has 
 been a resident of Kingsville, where he has estab- 
 lished himself substantially as a prominent member 
 of the medical profession, and it is conceded that 
 
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 441 
 
 he has proven himself one of the skillful practition- 
 ers of the county. He is a Royal Arcli Mason, 
 and has served as Master of his lodge. Politically 
 his views are in accord with the Democratic party, 
 and in religion lie is a member of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church. On the 8th of March, l.S7'2, 
 the Doctor's union with Miss Drusilla Curtis was 
 celebrated. She was a daughter of Clement and 
 Sally Curtis, of Crockett County, Tenu., and is also 
 H member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
 Marshall Weaver is a representative of a well- 
 known family in this county, his parents, Joseph 
 and Hai'riet E. (Abbott) Weaver, having come here 
 from the State of Kentucky in ISofi. Their native 
 States were Tennessee aiyl North Carolina, re- 
 spectively, in the former of which they were mar- 
 ried about 1835; they made their home there un- 
 til about 1842, and from that time until the year 
 1856 Mr. Weaver resided in Kentucky. After com- 
 ing to Arkansas, he purchased 3'2() acres of land 
 at 12f cents per acre, and was engaged in im- 
 proving this farm until 1862 or 1863, when he sold 
 out and returned to Kentucky. From there he re- 
 moved to Butler County, Mo., and at the end of 
 two years went back to Kentucky, and there died 
 in 1876, his wife's death having occurred in 1852; 
 both lie buried at Spring Creek Church, in Graves 
 County, Ky. They were the parents of nine 
 children, of whom the following lived to he grown: 
 John N. , who lives in Missouri; Samuel, who re- 
 sides in Alabama: Asher, a resident of Missouri; 
 Marshall, of this county ; Jasper and Joseph, who 
 died after reaching maturity. After the death of his 
 first wife, Mr. Weaver wedded Sarah A. Proffit, of 
 North Carolina, their union taking place in Ken- 
 tucky, and four of their five children lived to be 
 grown: A. J., of Kentucky, Thomas J., Louis G., 
 also of that State, and George W., who died after 
 reaching maturity. This wife died in Kentucky, 
 in 1878, an earnest member of the Christian 
 Church. Marshall Weaver was born February 25, 
 1845, and began working for himself at the age of 
 fourteen years as a farm hand in the State of Ken- 
 tucky, but removed, in 1862, to Gallatin County, 
 111. , where he joined the United States Army, two 
 years later, being a memljer of Company C. Six- 
 
 teenth Kentucky Battalion, which was consolidated 
 with the Twelfth Regiment of Kentucky Cavalry. 
 He served until the final surrender, and took part 
 in a number of battles and skirmishes, being one of 
 the men that followed up Morgan. At Nicholas- 
 ville, Ky. , he was accidentally shot by a comrade, 
 the wound being in the left leg, and spent some 
 time in Camp Nelson hospital; he still suffers 
 severely from his wound at times. After being 
 discharged in August, 1865, he returned to Illi- 
 nois, but only remained a short time, then returned 
 to Kentucky, and commenced farming and black- 
 smithing. He was married in Cairo, 111., in 1866, 
 his wife having been born in Mississippi, December 
 4, 1850, and to them were born nine children, five 
 of whom are now living: Eddie A., bora August 
 21, 1870; Asher, born September 15, 1878; James 
 L., born May 15, 1881; Robert, born November 4, 
 1884, and Clara B., born August 21, 1886. 
 Those deceased are Joseph, Bettie, born April 4, 
 1874; Samuel and Adir (twins), born December, 
 25, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver are members of 
 the Christian Church, and he is a Republican po- 
 litically. He is the owner of a fine farm compris- 
 ing 280 acres, and has about 100 acres under culti- 
 vation, well improved with good buildings. Mrs. 
 Weaver is a daughter of William and Diana 
 (Dobbs) Head, who were the parents of nine chil- 
 dren, six of whom lived to be grown, and four of 
 whom are now living: Talitha, wife of Benjamin 
 Hancock; Bettie, widow of Thomas Hall: Eva, wife 
 R. King, and Mrs. Weaver. Mr. Head served in 
 the Confederate army a short time, and died in 
 1862, in Mississippi. His widow moved to Illinois, 
 and was married a second time in Cairo. She and 
 Ml'. Head were members of the Missionary Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 John Wells was born in Washington County, 
 Mo.. January 4, 1821, but has been a resident of 
 Randolph County, Ark., since 1821. His parents, 
 Thomas H. and Barbara (Maybary) Wells, were 
 born in South Carolina and Virginia in 1796 and 
 17'J8, and died in Randolph County, Ark., in 
 1869 and 1866, respectively. They were both 
 taken to Davidson County, Tenn., by their parents 
 when young, and there they grew to maturity and 
 
 ^s r- 
 
 ^^ 
 
442 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 married, shortly after tho latter event moving to 
 Randolph County, Ark., where they resided until 
 1820. at that time taking up their abode in Wash- 
 ington County, Mo. After a short residence here 
 they became dissatisfied and returned to Arkansas, 
 where they spent the rest of their days. He 
 served in the War of 1812, under Jackson and 
 Coffee, and was at the battle of Coosa. His 
 youth was spent in learning the tanner's and black- 
 smith's trades, but he afterward gave up these oc- 
 cupations to engage in farming, and in this he was 
 very successful. Politically he was a life-long 
 Democrat. He and wife became the parents of 
 fourteen sons and one daughter. Seven sons were 
 in the Confederate army, serving all through tho 
 war, and retiu'ned home alive and well. John 
 Wells spent his youth in learning the tanner's 
 trade .and attending school, and in connection with 
 farming he was engaged in tanning up to the 
 breaking out of the war. He was in the commis- 
 sary department in 1S63, but afterward joined Capt. 
 Mitchell's regiment, and was in the battles of Iron- 
 ton and Lexington, and in numerous skirmishes. 
 By his I'eadiness to adopt new inventions, and by 
 industry, he has been remarkably successful, and 
 now owns 1,100 acres of fertile land, with about 
 30(l acres under cultivation. July 13, 1848, he 
 married Harriet Alcorn, who was born on the farm 
 where Mr. Wells now lives, February 5, 1828, a 
 daughter of Isham Alcorn. To them were born 
 nine children: Margaret E. , wife of Shelton White, 
 a farmer of the county; Susan, wife of James 
 McLain, of Floyd County, Tex.; Thomas H., a 
 farmer of this county; Lola M. , wife of Robert 
 Stubbletield, of this county; Mollie J., wife of 
 Rufus C. Dalton, of Oregon County, Mo. ; Maud 
 G. , wife of Frank Ricknian, residing on her 
 father's farm, and James P. Those deceased are 
 Maria J. and ^\ illiam M. Mr. and Mrs. Wells 
 are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, and he is a Mason and a Democrat. 
 
 Thomas H. Wells, though now only thirty-three 
 years of age, has won an excellent reputation as a 
 farmer and stock raiser of Randolph County. He 
 is a native-born resident of this county, his birth 
 occurring in 1856, and here his boyhood days were 
 
 spent in attending the common schools, and in do- 
 ing farm work. At the age of twenty five years 
 he was married to Miss Nettie Tweedy, also a na 
 five of Randolph County, born in 1S63, and their 
 union was blessed with two children: John D. 
 and Maude G. Mrs. Wells died May 31, 1888. 
 After their marriage they located on the farm on 
 which Mr. Wells is now residing, his land em- 
 bracing over 541 acres; but the most of his atten 
 tion has been devoted to raising a good grade of 
 stock, such as cattle, mules and hogs. He now has 
 on hand 140 head of cattle, some of which are 
 well graded, and his annual profits on his stock, 
 which he fattens and ships, are large. Although 
 a non-partisan iu his political views, he has always 
 voted the Democratic ticket, and supports the men 
 and measures of his party. He is a man posses 
 sing admirable traits of character, and has taken 
 a position of more than ordinary prominence in 
 the material affairs of the county, and the rejjuta 
 tion which Randolph County is securing as one of 
 the richest farming and stock counties of the 
 State is due to such men as our subject. Although 
 his early educational advantages were somewhat 
 limited, he has become one of the most intelligent 
 men of the county, this being in a great measure 
 acquired by reading and contact with the business 
 affairs of life. He is a warm friend of education, 
 and takes an active part in all movements tending 
 to benefit or encourage school facilities hereabouts. 
 Henry White, farmer, Davidson Township, 
 Randolph County, Ark. The subject of this sketch 
 needs no introduction to the people of Randolph 
 County, Ark. , for he is one of the most esteemed 
 and successful agriculturists of the same, and is 
 one whose honesty and uprightness have never been 
 questioned. He is a native of this county, his 
 birth occurring in the year 1841, and is a son of 
 Howell White, a native of North Carolina. The 
 elder White came to Arkansas when a young man, 
 and was here married in 1840 to Miss Elizabeth 
 Stubblofield, a native of this State. He then 
 settled on Dry Creek, Davidson Township, entered 
 land and made himself a home. He remained 
 there until 1846, when he sold his farm with the 
 intention of moving to the Lone Star State, but 
 
 -71-. 
 
was taken sick and died at the home of his broth- 
 er- in law, Joseph Stubhlefield. To his marriage 
 were horn three children, two now living, Henry 
 and Mary, wife of T. J. Mcllroy. Mrs. White 
 died within an hour of her husband, and both are 
 buried in one grave. They were members of the 
 Presbyterian Church, and he was a Democrat in 
 politics. Henry White was reared by his uncle, 
 and received but a meager education in the sub- 
 scription schools of that section. In 1861 he 
 joined the Confederate army. Company K, Eighth 
 Arkansas Infantry, under Capt. Wright, and served 
 four years, ))articipating in the following battles: 
 Hhiloh, Perry ville, Murfreesboro, Siege of Corinth, 
 besides a number of minor engagements. At 
 Murfreesboro, Tenn., he was wounded above the 
 knee in both legs, and also received a severe wound 
 in the shoulder. He was left on the lield two 
 days and nights before being sent to the hospital, 
 and after being placed there he was taken pris- 
 oner. He was sent thence to Nashville, Tenn., 
 and was only kept there one month, when he was 
 removed to Louisville, Ky. Two months later he 
 was sent to Cedar Point, Va., and exchanged. He 
 was not able to do service, so he returned home 
 and remained there until cessation of hostilities, en- 
 gaged in tilling the soil on rented land. In 1867 he 
 took a trip through Kansas, Indian Territory and 
 Texas, and spent a year thus employed. In 1868 
 he purchased his present property, consisting of 
 160 acres, at Eleven Points, and has improved 
 eighty-live acres of this. He raises corn, wheat 
 and oats, but no cotton. He makes a business of 
 breeding all kinds of stock, more especially mules. 
 In 1869 Mr. White married Miss Sarah Barnett, 
 who died the year of her marriage, and in 1882 
 he wedded Miss Mary L. Reynolds, of Randolph 
 County. The result of this union was the birth 
 of three children: Nora B. , born April 13, 1884; 
 Eeler, born December 27, 1886, and William G. , 
 born October 22, 1887. The second Mrs. White 
 was bom November 25, 1864, and is the daugh- 
 ter of J. M. and Minerva (Foster) Reynolds [see 
 sketch of Dennis M. Reynolds]. Mr. White is a 
 self-made man, and is counted among the best 
 farmers of the township. He is a Democrat. 
 
 John C. Wisner, dealer in real estate, at Reyno, 
 Ark. , has been actively engaged in the business of 
 real estate since 1885. His early education was 
 acquired in the public schools of Cumberland 
 County, 111. At the age of seventeen he left his 
 home to seek his fortune, and came to Randolph 
 County, Ark. ; was engaged in tilling the soil in 
 Cherokee, being on Current and Black Rivers until 
 1885, at which time he commenced the real estate 
 business and the study of law. He owns 700 
 acres of land, besides a large amount of live prop- 
 erty, and has acquired his possessions by good 
 business ability and energy. In 1870 he was mar- 
 ried to Miss Sarah Womack, a native of Randolph 
 County, Ark., and their union has been blessed in 
 the birth of five children: Nannie, who is a suc- 
 cessful teacher in the county; James M., John H. , 
 Alcie L. and Sula. Mrs. Wisner is a member of 
 the Christian Church, and he has shown his ap- 
 proval of secret organizations by becoming a mem 
 ber of the Masonic order, having been master of 
 Reyno Lodge No. 417, for the past seven years. 
 The success he has met with has more than real- 
 ized his expectations; he has an extensive acquaint- 
 ance, and enjoys a liberal patronage in his business. 
 His parents, David T. and Rhoda (Dosier) Wis- 
 ner, were born in the District of Columbia and 
 Middle Tennessee, respectively. The father was a 
 prosperous merchant, and while Illinois was still a 
 territory he moved there and settled in what was 
 afterward Cumberland County; in the year 1872 he 
 located in Madison County, Mo., where he en- 
 gaged in merchandising and milling until his death, 
 which occurred the following year, at the age of 
 seventy-two years. He was a man of sterling 
 princijsles, and was a citizen who would be wel- 
 comed in any locality, for he possessed sound judg- 
 ment, was honest to a fault, and was always 
 interested in public affairs; his death was a loss to 
 the community in which he resided, but his good 
 works will always be remembered. His wife died in 
 1884, and of the five children born to them, three are 
 living: Mathias, who died in Illinois; Mary A., 
 wife of W. H. Welles, who resides in Illinois; 
 James \V., now second comptroller of the United 
 States treasury; O. B. F., who died in his na- 
 
 ^^ 
 
444 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 tive county, at the age of twenty-four years, and 
 John C. 
 
 •Judge A. J. Witt, county judge, Pocahontas, 
 Ark. Few men have attained the prominence in 
 Randolph County, in a social as well as a business | 
 point of view, that has Judge Witt, who is courte- 
 ous and pleasant in all his relations to the public. 
 His birth occurred in Weakley, Tenn. , on the 31st 
 of December. 1855, and he remained in his native 
 State until twelve years of age, when he came with 
 his parents to Randolph County, Ark. ^^'hen of a 
 suitable age, he had been placed in private schools, 
 where the opportunities afforded were enjoyed to 
 the best advantage. After finishing his scholastic 
 training, he engaged in the teacher's profession, 
 and this continued for twelve months, when he was 
 appointed deputy sheriff of Randolph County. 
 At the end of eighteen months, he again returned 
 to teaching school, so continuing for nine months, 
 after which he clerked in a store until the fall of 
 
 1882, He was then elected sheriff of the county, 
 and served four years. After this he retired from 
 public life, and was engaged in tilling the soil for 
 two years. In ISSS, he was elected county judge, 
 which office he still tills. Previous to this, on the 
 14th of November, 1887, he was appointed to the 
 office of postmaster at Pocahontas, which position 
 he still holds. For his companion in life, he se- 
 lected Miss Ida M. Kibler, a native of Cross Coun- 
 ty, Ark. , and was married to her on the 3d of May, 
 
 1883. She is the daughter of William Kibler, a 
 native of North Carolina. To this union were born 
 two children. Mary Ethel, at home, and Edith 
 Gertrude (deceased). Judge Witt is the owner of 
 420 acres of land and considerable town property. 
 He has always taken an active part in school work, 
 and in everything pertaining to the good of the 
 county. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and a membe?- 
 of the K. of H. He is the son of Isaac H. and Mary 
 C. (Shelton) Witt, and grandson of Charles Homer 
 Witt, a native of East Tennessee, and a farmer by 
 occupation. Isaac H. Witt was a native of East 
 Tennessee, and his wife of Weakley County, Tenn. 
 The maternal grandfather, Jeremiah Shelton, was 
 a native of the same State, was a tiller of the soil, 
 and was also a minister in the Baptist Church, be- 
 
 ing one of the pioneer preachers. The Witt fam- 
 ily were among the first settlers of Gibson County, 
 Tenn. The father of Judge Witt is a minister in 
 the Missionary Baptist Church, but he has always 
 carried on farming in connection with his minis- 
 terial duties. He emigrated to Randolph County 
 in 1868, and settled in Warm Springs Township, 
 where he is residing at the present time. He was 
 one of the first Baptist ministers of this county, 
 and is still preaching at the present time. The 
 mother died on the 30th of August, 1888, at the 
 age of fifty -six years. They reared a family of 
 eight children. Judge Witt being the eldest. The 
 remainder are named as follows: Christiana E., 
 wife of P. W. Kidd, of Warm Springs Township; 
 Cora E. , wife of James W. Shaver, of the same 
 township; Caleb E., now living at Portia, Ark., 
 and is a successful M. D. ; Marion J., who died at 
 the age of seventeen years; I. R. , wife of James 
 Williams, of Clay County, Ark, ; Lulu S. , a teacher, 
 residing at home, and William J., at home. 
 
 C. W. Woolley is quite an extensive cotton grow- 
 er of Current River Township, Ark., and was born 
 in St. Francis County, of the same State, in 1849. 
 He remained in his native county until 1801, then 
 came to Randolph County, and soon after moved to 
 Jackson County where he remained until 1809, 
 after which he again came to Randolph County, 
 making his home here three years, taking up his 
 abode for the following seven years in Boone 
 Coimty. His next change of residence was to the 
 Lone Star State, and from there he returned to 
 St. Francis County, Ark. , a year later. The next 
 year he again moved to Boone County, and the fol - 
 lowing year located permanently in Randolph 
 County, this being in the year 1885. He has an 
 excellent farm, and his land will average one bale 
 of cotton to the acre, this being his principal prod- 
 uct. His views of Arkansas as a stock country are 
 quite enthusiastic, and he is giving that branch of 
 farming a great deal of attention at the present 
 time. Mr. Woolley is not an unreasonable parti- 
 san, but has always been a Democrat in his politi- 
 cal views, and he belongs to the A. F. & A. M. 
 He is a son of J. L. and Serena (Walls) Woolley, 
 the former of whom was born in Alabama, was a 
 
 -7C. 
 
 B "V 
 
>'-'sviit--?^?'.^Si" C-'^f^,^'" 
 
 S^Y y^yC^t^^y 
 
 Osceola, 
 Mississippi County, Arkansas 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 445 
 
 farmer by occupation, and died in Boone County. 
 He was a minister of the Primitive Baptist Church, 
 and was a soldier in the Confederate army during 
 the Rebellion. C. W. Woolley, our subject, was 
 
 married in Boone County, Ark. , to Miss Arkansas 
 Barbeo, who was born in Carroll County, Ark., in 
 1860. They are rearing an adopted child named 
 Mamie Russell. 
 
 >-i~* ■">- * t< - 
 
 4-+- 
 
 MississiPPi County— Location, Boundary, Topography, Etc.— The Expedition of De Soto Into 
 
 Mississippi County — Towns— Settlements by Local Names— Secret Societies— Military 
 
 Affairs of the County— The Uprising ok the Colored People— Officers of 
 
 the County— Public Buildings- Population — Local Statistics — 
 
 County Organization— J. bvies— Schools and Churches 
 
 — Selected Biographical Sketches. 
 
 " Culture's hand 
 Has scatter'd verdure o'er the land; 
 And smiles and fragiance rule serene, 
 Where barren wild usurp'd the scene." 
 
 *HE county of Mississippi, 
 in Northeast Ai'kansas, is 
 bounded north by Dunklin 
 and Pemiscot Counties in 
 Missouri, east by the Mis- 
 sissippi River, which sep- 
 arates it from Dyer, Lau- 
 derdale and Tipton Counties in 
 Tennessee, south by Crittenden, 
 and west by Poin.sett and Craig- 
 head Counties in Arkansas. It has 
 an area of about 865 square miles, 
 including its lake and river beds. 
 It is watered on the east by the 
 Mississippi and tributaries empty- 
 ing therein, on the north central 
 by Pemiscot Bayou, and on the 
 west by Big Lake at the northern 
 extremity of the county; Little River, the out- 
 let of this lake, and by Tyronza Lake and Bayou. 
 
 Besides these there are many other and smaller 
 lakes. As the county has been subject to over- 
 flow, its soil is composed of alluvial deposits, has 
 great depth and is therefore exceedingly fertile. 
 
 What is now Mississippi County once formed a 
 part of Arkansas County, then of Phillips and next 
 of Crittenden, and was finally erected into a sepa- 
 rate county by the Territorial legislature Novem 
 ber 1, 1833. 
 
 Its original boundaries extended as far west as 
 the St. Francis River, and embraced 1,000 square 
 miles. The first county seat, which was located 
 
 Note. — The above early history of Mississippi County 
 has been furnished b}' the Hon. H. M. McVeigh, of 
 Osceola, from his manuscript history of the early set- 
 tlements of Arkansas, a work on wliicli he has been 
 employing his leisure hours for the last three or four 
 years. During this lime he hase.\ainined and studied the 
 original sources of Arkansas history, and personally in- 
 terviewed all the surviving old settlers with whom he 
 could get an audience, wriiing down their recollections. 
 His work was undertaken solely for the purpose of pre- 
 serving that valuable mat ter which was about to perish 
 through the death of old settlers and loss of records. 
 
 '^ 
 
 « ^ 
 
 \ 
 
44fi 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 opposite the Chickasaw Bluffs, was called Corn- 
 wall. This place was on the site of an old Spanish 
 encampment and has long since disappeared, and 
 Osceola, the present county seat, was adopted soon 
 after. The latter was first incorporated January 
 12, 1843, and again October 4, 1875. 
 
 Although this county, from its isolated situa- 
 tion, and from being cut off from direct communi- 
 cation with the rest of the State (the sunk lands of 
 the St. Francis preventing communication with 
 counties immediately adjoining it), may not be as 
 well known as others, it nevertheless has a history, 
 dating as far back as the year 1541. At that 
 time its present territory was inhabited by races 
 of people almost civilized, living in walled towns 
 and cultivating immense fields of Indian corn. Of 
 course the walls of their towns were made of wood, 
 and both have long since disappeared; but there re- 
 main even at this day evidences of the fact that the 
 countiy was once densely inhabited. The enormous 
 mounds, the great amount of Indian relics of all 
 kinds scattered over the surface of the country, such 
 as arrow and spear heads, pottery, etc., and human 
 skeletons, which are continually being plowed up, 
 amply confirm the statements of the historians of 
 De Soto's ill-starred expedition of the density of 
 the population of this country. The advent of 
 De Soto is the real beginning of the history of what 
 is now the State of Arkansas. The march of this 
 leader to the Mississippi River was marked by deeds 
 of unmitigated cruelty and oppression, which can 
 not be read even at this day without a feeling of 
 horror and indignation. After seven days' travel 
 through an uninhabited desert from Alabama, the 
 expedition came in sight of an immense river, which 
 is thus described by the " Gentleman of Elvas," 
 an eye witness and the historian of the expedition. 
 "The river," says he, " was almost half a league 
 broad. If a man stood still on the other side, it 
 could not be discerned whether he was a man or 
 not. The river was of great depth and of strong 
 current; the water was always muddy; there came 
 floating down continually many trees and timber 
 which the force of the water swept rapidly toward 
 its motith." 
 
 If the reader is acquainted with the lower Mis- 
 
 sissippi, he will have conclusive proof that these 
 statements are not exaggerated. It stands to the 
 credit of De Soto that he discovered the Missis- 
 sippi, but such was a mere undesigned incident of 
 the main object of his search, namely, wealth, and 
 to this he could not possibly lay any claim. Per- 
 haps no idea was more remote from his thoughts 
 than the credit of having made this discovery. 
 Seeking for gold, he would perhaps have been bet- 
 ter pleased had the stream been a thousand miles 
 out of his line of march, but finding it in his way 
 he halted his command and went into camp where 
 the city of Memphis now stands, and at once began 
 preparations for crossing the river, which was ap- 
 propriately given the name of Rio Grande. The 
 work of building flat-boats was commenced, and 
 for nearly a month his men labored industriously, 
 plying the axe, saw and hammer with as little fear 
 as at the same place in our own day, though around 
 them were the warlike Chickasaws, and on the 
 Arkansas side, in plain view, thousands of men- 
 acing Indians. 
 
 At last eight scows were finished, furnished with 
 sails and oars, and bearing crosses. Then loading 
 their boats, the adventurers fearlessly launched out 
 into the stream, and bending strongly on their 
 oars, soon approached the shores of Arkansas, the 
 people of which curiously noted the advancing fleet, 
 but contrary to expectation, permitted the flotilla 
 to land and disembark without a tight. 
 
 Ferdinand de Soto, the first governor of Arkan- 
 sas, and his escort, landed about the latter part of 
 May, 1541. An overwhelming weight of author- 
 ity is to the effect that he immediately ascended 
 the Mississippi. The expedition passed through 
 the province of Aquixo, which embraced a large 
 part of what is now Crittenden County. 
 
 The Indians had as a rule fled at the approach of 
 De Soto, though a few were killed and some taken 
 prisoners. Three days' journey from Aquixo was 
 the province of Casqui, included within the limits 
 of what is now Mississippi County. Tyronza Bayou 
 was crossed on a bridge hastily constructed. Upon 
 reaching the first town of Casqui many men and 
 women were captured, and the place plundered. 
 There was another town a mile and a half away. 
 
The country round about w;is described as high 
 and dry, though bordering near the river. The 
 historian speaks of the walnut trees, mulberry and 
 plum trees, some red, and others of a grayish 
 color, and that the fruit trees seemed to be planted 
 iu orchards. The venturesome tourists traveled 
 two days through this province of Casqui, which 
 was filled with towns. 
 
 At last they came to a large Indian village, 
 containing more than four hundred dwellings, the 
 name of which is unknown. Here the Spaniards 
 were kindly received by the inhabitants. 
 
 The Casqui Indians of that day are generally 
 conceded to be the Kaskaskias. afterward known as i 
 Illinois Indians. Mr. Bancroft has placed the 
 village as high as Little Prairie, a short distance 
 above the Arkansas State line. Mr. Milburn, in 
 his lecture on De Soto, locates it in the northeastern 
 corner of Arkansas. 
 
 The county seat of Pemiscot County, Mo., 
 Caruthersville, is in Little Prairie. Guided by 
 distances on a map it is about eighty miles on 
 an air line from Memphis to Little Prairie; it 
 is really over 100 miles by any traversable land 
 route on the west side of the river. A command of 
 foot soldiers encumbered as that of De Soto's evi- 
 dently was might have a.scended as high as Bar- 
 field's Point, iu Mississippi County, in five days' 
 marching, a distance of about eighty-five miles from 
 Memphis. It is true the country is level, and for- 
 tunately for De Soto unusually dry at the time of 
 his expedition, but the surface is in many places 
 wet and swampy, and everywhere, even to this 
 day, covered with cane and undergrowth except 
 where under cultivation. To avoid the dense cane 
 as much as possible De Soto would have been 
 obliged to do what is still done by the people of 
 this country when traveling up and down the 
 river by land — kee]) as near the banks as possible; 
 and in following this course Barfield might have 
 lieen reached in five days; otherwise numerous nat- 
 ural hindrances might have occurred. 
 
 It must 1)(> borne in mind that in identifying 
 the places visited by De Soto, in the limits of what 
 is now Mississippi County, it is not possible to pre- 
 tend to mathematical exactness. That the province 
 
 of Casqui was partly, if not wholly, in Mississippi 
 County, is fixed beyond doubt, and it seems clear 
 that the first large town reached, in May, 1541. 
 was at, or near what is now known as Barfield 
 Point. Here, and in the surrounding country, 
 the relics of bygone ages speak distinctly of a 
 large and prosperous community. Here archaeol- 
 ogy throws its light upon the narrative of the 
 Portuguese eye-witness of De Soto's expedition. 
 Here, within the memory of living men of to- 
 day, once stood immense mounds, encircled by 
 trenches, but which have within the last forty 
 /years caved into the Mississippi River. On the 
 A largest of one of these an old settler by the 
 name of Buford had erected his house, with a 
 garden. 
 
 For many years hundreds of human skeletons 
 have been lost in the Mississippi at this point, 
 and a short distance south, in building the State 
 levees, human skeletons were constantly being 
 disinterred by the workmen. 
 
 Within the memory of living inhabitants, this 
 country was high, dry and less alluvial than it is 
 now. The clearing up of the country lying on the 
 tributaries of the Mississippi above, the caving of 
 the banks, and the New Madrid earthquake of 1812 
 have changed it into an overflowed country. Tra- 
 dition handed down by the early settlers tells that 
 formerly this country was little subject to inun- 
 dation. This is confirmed by the large mounds 
 still existing intact, in the overflowed and unin 
 habited parts of the county. 
 
 After recruiting themselves two days at this 
 village of Casqui, De Soto's Spaniards proceeded 
 to the chief town of this people and residence of 
 the Cacique, or chief of the province, which ap- 
 pears to have been situated in the same neighbor 
 hood, or, as is believed, near Blythesville in the 
 comitry known as Chickasawba, about fifteen miles 
 west of Barfield, on Pemiscot Bayou. The latter 
 is an arm of the Mississippi — a broad, beautiful 
 sheet of water. 
 
 This is still a high, dry body of land, now in- 
 habited by about 2, 500 industrious, thrifty people. 
 Near the bayou, and a short distance from Blythes- 
 ville, is an enormous artificial mound. 
 
 ^ 
 
 I 
 
^ 
 
 9 w. 
 
 448 
 
 HISTORY OF AEKA^AS. 
 
 There are uo hills iu the river bottom below 
 Cape Girardeau, and if, as is highly probable, Chick- 
 asawba was the locality where the town of Casqui, 
 chief of the Casquins was situated, it was on the 
 mound just mentioned where De Soto erected his 
 great cross fifty feet in hight. As a circumstance 
 tending to confirm this view, Mr. Joseph Fassit, 
 an old citizen of the county, states that a large 
 wooden beam was taken from that mound a few 
 years before the late war. Remembering that the 
 region now being described was undoubtedly vis- 
 ited by Do Soto; that Bancroft, the most painstak- 
 ing of American historians, locates the site of these 
 towns in about the same region; and that William 
 Henry Milburn fixes them in the northeast corner 
 of Arkansas, one will be better able to judge the 
 facts here stated. 
 
 The Spaniards were received at this town in a 
 very handsome manner. The Cacique, attended 
 by a large retinue personally, gave them a formal 
 welcome, and then conducted them into the town, 
 where they were provided with good quarters and 
 a supply of food. 
 
 It was now about the beginning of June, and 
 besides excessive heat the inhabitants had been 
 afflicted by a long drought which threatened to 
 cut off the crops. They were an agricultural peo- 
 ple, just as their successors of to-day, and those 
 living there at this time have annual frights on 
 the subject of droughts at about the same per- 
 iod of the year. The church at Blythesville has 
 often been vocal with prayers and supplications for 
 rain, about the 1st of June. The chief, seeing the 
 kind of men the Spaniards were, concluded that 
 their God must be greater than his, and asked 
 De Soto to petition for rain, that the crops might 
 be saved. The Indians had been continually en- 
 gaged in prayers and incantations, but heaven 
 seemed deaf to their entreaties. De Soto agreeing 
 to their request, the great cross was erected upon 
 a high mound, and the Indians assembled around 
 it in vast numbers, silently and reverently gazinor 
 on the sacred symbol. Spaniards and Indians, to 
 the number of two thousand, gathered and knelt 
 around the cross, and amid the forest the sublime 
 strains of te deum laudamus broke the stillness 
 
 of that hot, dry day in June, 1541. Though not 
 the kind of services to which the good people of 
 this section are now accustomed, it was Christian 
 worship, and is s-trongly suggestive of Sunday, and 
 the religious exercises peculiar to that day. 
 
 A knowledge of the locality, the highlands of 
 Chickasawba, and the great mound and the broad 
 sheet of water to the north, brings this scene of 
 Spanish soldiers and hospitable Indians, congregat 
 ed together 348 years ago, like a picture to the 
 mind. Soon they were breaking up and dispersing 
 ; from their religious assembly, Spaniards and In- 
 dians mingling together conversing by signs, Indian 
 maidens and children shyly looking at the splendid 
 specimens of Spanish manhood, in their helmets, 
 breast plates and arms glittering in the sun, as 
 they sauntered in groups through the town. No 
 doubt there could be seen the thoughtful, uneasy 
 looks of the old men and women of the tribe, feel- 
 ing instinctively the far reaching effects that must 
 follow this armed invasion by a superior race from 
 beyond the sea. The Cacique presented two blind 
 men to De Soto, and asked him, nothing doubting, 
 to restore them to sight, from which circumstance 
 can accurately be inferred what the natives actually 
 I thoiight of the bold cavalier, mistaking him doubt- 
 less for something little, if any thing, below a god. 
 De Soto caused another cross to be made and set 
 up in the highest part of the town, and then pro- 
 j ceeded to explain to the savages, the mysteries of 
 the Christian religion. It is stated that a plentiful 
 shower of rain soon blessed the parched fields of 
 : these Indians. 
 
 From the town of Casqui the Spaniards advanc 
 ed to Paeaha, but a day's march, and the limit of 
 I the journey northward. Here, on June 19, 1541, 
 De Soto and his men found the chief town situated 
 on a lake, with a stream of water flowing through 
 it, and into the Mississippi. "He lodged." says 
 the Portuguese narrator, ' ' in the town where the 
 Cacique used to reside, which was one great, walled, 
 and beset with towers, many loop-holes being in 
 the towers and walls. In the town was a great 
 store of old maize, and quantities of new in the 
 fields, while within a league and a half were great 
 towns all walled. Where the governor was lodged 
 
^A 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 449 
 
 was iin extensive lake, that came nearly to the walls, 
 entering into a ditch which went round about the 
 town, and wanting but little to completely environ 
 it. From the lake to the great river was made a 
 weir, by which the fish came into it, and these the 
 Cacique kept for his recreation and sport. With 
 nets that were found in the town all took as they 
 would, and no matter what was taken, no want was 
 perceived. There was also a large supply of fish 
 in many other lakes thereabout. ' ' 
 
 Let it be remembered that this region of 
 country abounds in lakes, and that, on the map 
 attached to Part II, of the Historical Collections 
 of Louisiana, drawn and printed at an early period 
 during the last century, Big Lake, on the borders 
 of Mississippi County, Ark. , and Dunklin County, 
 Mo., are marked as the extreme northern limit of 
 De Soto's expedition; thus the reader will have 
 some solid reasons to believe that the movements 
 of De Soto in 1541, in this county, have been 
 properly traced. The coimtry in and around Big 
 Lake, or Mich-i-gam-ias, its Indian name, in the 
 seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, still bears 
 upon its surface traces of a wide but now extinct 
 population; and precisely such a ditch as described 
 by the Portuguese narrator can now be traced near 
 the home of Mr. Sam Hector, of Big Lake. 
 
 There is no doubt that the lake spoken of in the 
 extract just quoted, is other than Big Lake, the 
 ancient Mich- i gam- ias of the early French explor- 
 ers. It would be tedious to give a detailed de- 
 scription of this locality and of the conduct of the 
 Spanish brigands under De Soto during their forty 
 days' stay at this place. 
 
 After robbing and plundering the unhappy peo- 
 ple of Pacaha, or Big Lake, they proceeded in a 
 southwesterly' course, in search of a land called 
 Colgoa, where gold was reported to be plenty. 
 
 After the remnants of the ill-starred expe- 
 dition had effected their escape from the limits 
 of the present State of Arkansas, the aborigines 
 were left to their own devices, without making even 
 a passing acquaintance with a single European of 
 whom there is in any account, until in June, 1073, 
 130 years after the Spanish rule, they were visited 
 ))y a small party of French, led by one of the 
 
 noblest and most self-sacrificing men that ever 
 blessed by his presence, example and teachings any 
 people — Father James Marcjuette, the first ex- 
 plorer of the Mississippi. 
 
 The first village visited by Marquette in the 
 limits of the State, was that of the Mich-i-gam ias. 
 This was, it is thought, located at or near Barfield 
 Point. 
 
 On the autograph map of Father Marquette, 
 on which he delineates the Mississippi as far as he 
 explored it (extending no farther than the village 
 of Arkansa), this village is placed at about the 
 same distance below the mouth of the Ohio, that 
 the Ohio is placed below the mouth of the Mis- 
 souri. In his narrative ho says ho found the Ohio 
 about forty leagues below the mouth of the Mis 
 souri. If the distance by the river was measured 
 he was much mistaken, for it is 194 miles. If by 
 an air line he was about correct, it being some 120 
 miles, or forty leagues. On an air line from the 
 mouth of the Ohio to Osceola is about 100 miles; 
 by the river, 160. Marquette, it must be recol- 
 lected, did not know but judged the distance from 
 his knowledge and experience in such matters, and 
 of course could not be very exact. The village of 
 Michigamias was about ten leagues above Arkan- 
 sa, which latter was on the east side of the river. 
 In a foot note to Marquette's account of the for- 
 mer place, the writer on the authority of Charle- 
 voix states that the Michigamia dwelt on a lake, 
 not far from the St. Francis River. Big Lake 
 is within fifteen miles of the St. Francis River, 
 and on the ancient French map, already referred 
 to, it is called Lac Michagamias. The same lake 
 is mentioned by Smyth in his tour down the Mis- 
 sissippi, in 1774, as Michagamias lake or river. 
 Marquette on his map marks this village on the 
 west bank of the Mississippi, but shows another 
 settlement immediately back from the river, with 
 the same name, and about eighteen miles west from 
 the village on the river. It is therefore concluded 
 that Big Lake was the main settlement, and that 
 the village on the river was a settlement of the 
 same people. 
 
 In 1082, when La Salle came down, Arkansa 
 was on the west bank. Marquette does not speak of 
 
 / 
 
 » "V 
 
<5 Ji^ 
 
 450 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 a single river below the Ohio, though if he had 
 passed the St. Francis or White Rivers, or seen or 
 heard of the Arkansas, or had passed the Chicka- 
 saw Bluffs, he would have been almost certain to 
 have mentioned or marked them on his maps. 
 Marquette learned from the Indians that the Mis- 
 sissippi emptied into the Gulf of Mexico; such 
 however was his strict veracity, that he would not 
 extend on his map the line marking the river a 
 mile beyond what he had seen with his own eyes. 
 As with his intelligence and learning he would not 
 have passed a mighty stream like the Arkansas 
 without seeing it, especially if the village of Ar- 
 kansa, as has been assumed, was located at or near 
 its mouth, he could not have traveled the distance 
 between the mouth of the Ohio and that of the Ar- 
 kansas and then made the mistake of putting the 
 Arkansa village the same distance below the Ohio, 
 that he put the Ohio below the Missouri. 
 
 . Marquette, after preaching the gospel to the 
 Indians in this county, on the 17th of July of the 
 same year, tCZS, bade them an affectionate farewell, 
 and returned to the French settlement in Illinois. 
 The report that he carried off his discoveries 
 resulted in the expedition of La Salle and his faith- 
 ful lieutenant, Henry De Tonti. 
 
 La Salle, under the orders of Gov. Frontenac, 
 fitted out an expedition consisting of some fifty odd 
 French and Indians, proceeded to explore the Mis- 
 sissippi to its mouth, and to take possession of the 
 entire country in the name of the French king. 
 
 On the 24th of February, 1682, he with his 
 command threw up a fort and built a cabin, on the 
 first Chickasaw Bluff, the present Fort Pillow, to 
 which he gave the name of Prudhomme, after Peter 
 Prudhomme, one of his men. who, after being lost 
 eleven days while hunting, at length came up in a 
 half starved condition and rejoined his comrades 
 at this fort, where La Salle was awaiting him. 
 
 Here La Salle erected on the bluff a great cross, 
 and the arms of France, and took possession of the 
 country in the name of his king. This fort was 
 known to the French inhabitants of Louisiana as 
 late as 1825 as Fort Prudhomme. These men must 
 have hunted all over the present area of Mississippi 
 County. 
 
 During the eighteenth centurj- there is little or 
 no information to give of occurrences in this local 
 ity. In the spring of 1722 the French historian, 
 Charlevoix, passed down the Mississippi, stopped 
 for a while in this country, and visited the Indians. 
 Catholic missionaries and French trappers and 
 traders constantly visited the country from the post 
 on Arkansas River and carried on a lively trade 
 with the Indians. And here and there, there may 
 have been a cabin home in the wilderness, but no 
 permanent settlements of any kind were made. 
 
 In 1785 the Spanish governor at New Orleans 
 sent an officer and a company of men to New Mad- 
 rid to take command of this section of country, 
 which was included in his military district. The 
 main business of this officer was to rigorously en- 
 force the Spanish revenue laws, in exacting trib- 
 ute from all American boats descending the Missis 
 sippi. * 
 
 In the country called Canadian Reach, of which 
 Barfield Point is the center, a few French and 
 Spanish traders carried on a lively trade with the 
 Indians from the back country. There is no 
 knowledge of a single clearing for farming pur- 
 poses owned by a white man in this country dur 
 ing the last century. 
 
 At the time of the cession of Louisiana l)y 
 France to the United States, in 1803, the country 
 between the mouth of the St. Francis and the town 
 of Cape Girardeau was occupied by remnants 
 of the Delawares, Shawnees, Miamis, Cherokees 
 and Chickasaws, in all about 500 families. These 
 Indians often attacked boats descending the river, 
 plundering them and even committing murders f 
 The Indian population of Mississippi County was 
 located about Barfield, ChickasawVia, Big Lake, 
 Little River and Shawnee Village, generally the 
 same places where the white settlements were first 
 made. 
 
 * Mississippi County was included in the New Mad- 
 rid district until 1709. In that jear New Madrid was at- 
 tached to U]iper Loviisiaiia. now the Slate of Missouri, 
 and Mississippi County fell to the jurisdiction of the 
 Spanish commaudant. Don Carlos de Villemont. at Arlian- 
 sas Post, then a town of about l-")0 inhabitants, and pro- 
 tected by a garrison of Spanish soldiers. The inhahi- 
 tants were French-C'anadians. — II. M. McVeigh. 
 
 f Martin's History of Louisiana. 
 
 ~5i> ')» 
 
 T 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 +51 
 
 The first two white settlors in this county, of 
 whom there is any knowledge, were a man named 
 Carsons and William Kelhims; they were hunters, 
 and lived and hunted peaceably with the Indians. 
 Carsons' Lake Township and Kellums' Ridge took 
 their names from these men, who were here as 
 early as 1812, at which time the country was vis- 
 ited by the great earthquakes, generally known as 
 the Now Madrid earthquakes. 
 
 An Arkansas journal published soon after this 
 event gives the following account of how the In- 
 dians sought to avert the danger of the shocks by 
 reviving an almost obsolete religious rite among 
 the aborigines, in imploring the Great Spirit to 
 avert his wrath. These Indians lived in the coun- 
 try now known as Mi8sissij)pi County. 
 
 "After a general hunt had taken place to kill 
 deer enough for the undertaking, a small hut was 
 built to represent a temple or place for offering 
 sacrifice. The ceremony was introduced by a pre- 
 paratory cleansing of the body and face. After 
 neatly skinning their deer, thej' suspended them 
 by the fore feet so that the head might be directed 
 toward the heavens before the temple, as an offer- 
 ing to the Great Spirit. In this attitude they re- 
 mained for three days, which interval was devoted 
 to such penance as consisted in absolute fasting, 
 at night lying on the back on fresh deer skins, 
 turning their thoughts exclusively upon the happy 
 prospect of immediate protection that they might 
 conceive dreams to that effect — the only medium 
 of intercourse between them and the Great Spirit 
 — and lastly, gravely and with much apparent 
 piety, imploring the attention of the Great Spirit 
 to their helpless and distressed condition, acknowl- 
 edging their absolute dependence on him, entreat- 
 ing his regard for their wives aad children, declar- 
 ing the fatal consequences that must ensue by 
 withholding his notice, namely, the loss of their 
 wives and children, and their total disability to 
 master their game, arising from their constant 
 dread of his anger: concluded in the full assurance 
 of asserting that their prayers were heard. Their 
 object was accomplished by a cessation of terrors, 
 and game becoming again ])lentiful and easily 
 overcome. On the lapse of three days thus dedi- 
 
 cated, believing themselves forgiven for every un- 
 ! warrantable act of which they were sensible, and 
 that the offering was accepted, they finally began 
 with a mutual relation of their respective dreams, 
 and the scene is changed to joy and congratulation. 
 by proceeding ravenously to devour a sacrificed 
 deer to allay their fast." 
 
 Chickasawba, Shawnee Village and Tyronza 
 Bayou are localities bearing Indian names. As 
 early as 1828 the principal white men living in 
 I in this county were the three Brackens, father and 
 ! two sons; John Troy, county judge from 1836 to 
 1838, and for whom Troy Township is named; 
 Thomas J. Mills, the first representative after the 
 county was formed in 1833; Edwin Jones, the 
 first county judge; J. W. Whitworth, its first clerk; 
 E. F. Loyd, first sheriff; S. McLung, coroner, and 
 G. C. Barfield, its first county surveyor, after 
 whom Barfield Point takes its name (Mr. Bar- 
 field was a member of the Territorial council from 
 j Crittenden, when Mississippi formed a part of 
 Crittenden County, in 1827); John C. Bowen, who 
 was sheriff from 1836 to 1848; James Williams, 
 or "Cedar Jim," as he was called, on account of 
 his physical endurance; Elijah Buford, from whom 
 Buford's Lake takes its name, and Peter G. Reeves, 
 a once noted hunter These were here before 1828, 
 and with the exception of Carsons and Kellums 
 were the earliest white people in this county of 
 whom there is now any account. Judge Charles 
 Bowen, who resided in that locality at that time, 
 still survives, a hale, hearty, vigorous old man. full 
 of years and of honors, having been sheriff of 
 the county for sixteen years, a brave officer in the 
 late war, a member of the constitutional conven 
 tion of 1874, and county judge in 1877-78. 
 
 After hunting and trapping, the principal oc- 
 cupation of the early pioneers was chopping and 
 selling cord-wood to the steamboats. The advent 
 of the little stern- wheel steamboat, "Orleans," in 
 the winter of 1812, sailing from Pittsburg to New 
 Orleans, was the herald of the Anglo Saxon popu 
 lation to Arkansas. The boat created a demand 
 for cord-wood, which was supplied by the first 
 settlers. They were hardy, industrious, honest 
 men. and soon had their cabins on the river, sur- 
 
L^ 
 
 452 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 rounded by little clearings that gradually ex- 
 panded into plantations. Joseph Hearn, who 
 came to this county in 1834, says that from the 
 lower end of this county to Mill Bayou there were 
 not more than half a dozen clearings, all on the 
 river. He knew of no one living in what are now 
 the back settlements. A man named Hudgens 
 lived where Osceola now stands, and a little above 
 him on the river was Thomas J. Mills, the first 
 representative. A Mr. Penny settled on what was 
 afterward Col. Elliot H. Fletcher's plantation, now 
 Fletcher's Landing, on Mill Bayou. 
 
 Col. William L. Ward, representative in 1844- 
 45, was living in Canadian Reach, and had been 
 there for many years. Mr. Riley Hearn, brother 
 of Joseph, speaks of the Indians who lived on Big 
 Lake; he remembers Big Knife, Keshottee and 
 Corn Meal. There were some fifteen or twenty 
 livincr on Big Lake in his recollection. 
 
 The Indians in later years remained on Big 
 Lake, Chickasawba and Little River. These set- 
 tlements are still the frontiers of the wild hunting 
 grounds of the sunk lands of the St. Francis. 
 
 As late as 1861 Indians of different tribes con- 
 tinued to linger in and around Chickasawba settle- 
 ment, which takes its name from Chickasawba, an 
 old Indian chief, well lemembered by the pioneers 
 of this county, and especially by the venerable 
 Judge Charles Bowen, who has seen him carry- 
 ing wild honey in a skin flung across his back, 
 tramping to Barfield to sell it. Judge Bowen says 
 there were about forty Indian families living in 
 the neighborhood of Chickasawba as late as 1830. 
 The.se Indians would occasionally cultivate a little 
 corn and a few vegetables, but depended mainly 
 on fishing, hunting and trapping for a living. The 
 Judge is authority for the statement that the great 
 mound at Barfield has caved into the river in the 
 past forty-five years. Here he has seen the un- 
 mistakable remains of an ancient fort. The land 
 in this vicinity and below for four or five miles 
 was open, free from cane, and known as prairie. 
 On a tree about si.x miles from Barfield he remem- 
 bers seeing a hand carved in the wood, well exe- 
 cuted, and pointing directly the way to Barfield; 
 it was supposed to be an Indian device indicating 
 
 the way to the Indian village at the mound and 
 fort. In 1815 the famous Lorenzo Dow passed by 
 this country on a government boat. He claimed 
 that this country was inhabited by Indians, and 
 white people degenerated to their level. 
 
 Mr. Sam Hector, a truthful, upright citizen of 
 Big Lake, who is proud of his Indian blood, lived 
 in 1833 at an Indian village called Chil-i-ta-caw. 
 the site of Kennett, Dunklin County, Mo., not far 
 from Big Lake. 
 
 When he settled on this lake in 1837 the 
 Indians occupied the country, chief among whom 
 were Corn Meal, John East, Moonshine, John Big 
 Knife and Chuck-alee. The latter killed an 
 Indian named Keshottee on an island in Little 
 River, still known as Keshottee' s Island. He 
 thinks the Indians gave the name to the Bayou 
 now called Tyronza. Corn Meal told Mr. Hector 
 there had been an Indian town on his (Mr. 
 Hector's) place, and several along the banks of 
 Little River. Where these villages were said to 
 have been located he has often seen apple and 
 peach trees growing in the woods. About the 
 year 1830, an Indian named Little George killed 
 a Mrs. Burns near Jackson, Mo. The Indian was 
 supposed to have been hired by some one inter- 
 ested in an estate, of which the lady was an heir. 
 He came to her house and asked for provisions, re- 
 ceiving the best she had, and when she turned from 
 him, he thrust a large knife to her heart, causing 
 instant death. The assailant immediately fled. 
 The whites proclaimed that they would extermi- 
 nate the entire Indian population if, within a cer- 
 tain number of days. Little George was not pro- 
 duced, dead or alive. The Indians knew the whites 
 were in earnest; they made diligent search, and at 
 last came up with him near the foot of Buffalo Is- 
 land in Mississippi County. As he was attempt- 
 ing to escape, Corn Meal and Keshottee. fired upon 
 him, and he fell; and then before he was dead, 
 they cut off his head, and one of them, on a fleet 
 horse, boro it night and day to the whites at Jack- 
 son, and flung it down in their midst. Thus, the 
 threatened extermination was prevented. * 
 
 In and around Mr. Hector's place on Big Lake 
 
 *Mr. McVei{?h's narrative ends here. 
 
 'C s 
 
ih^ 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 453 
 
 pieces of pottery and brick ware are often plowed 
 up. The same material is found all along the 
 banks of Little River, and there are everywhere 
 through this part of Mississippi County relics of a 
 once dense population, which no doubt was that 
 now known as Mound Builders. 
 
 There are no towns in Mississippi County that 
 can properly be so-called except O.sceola, the coun- 
 ty seat, and this pleasantly situated village, with 
 a population at the present time of nearly 1,()0(), 
 is located on the Mississippi River, al)out midway 
 between the northern and southern limits of the 
 county. It was one of the earliest settlements in 
 this territory, but e.\isted for many years as a small 
 collection of huts on the river bank. About 1840 
 J. W. DeWitt was postmaster, when he kept the 
 affairs of his office and the mails in a cracker box, 
 each patron helping himself. Mr. DeWitt was 
 also the first school teacher in this county, hav- 
 ing his school at a point near the northern limits 
 of Osceola. 
 
 The first municipal election in the jjlace was 
 held November 20, 1875, and resulted in the choice 
 of the following officers: Leon Roussan, mayor; 
 John O. Blackwood, recorder; Alex. Goodrich, 
 Berry Henwood, B. F. Jones, Daniel Matthews, 
 
 F. M. Petty, aldermen. 
 
 On November 24 the council appointed W. M. 
 Speed, marshal: J. W. Clapp, treasurer. 
 
 At the date of incorporation of Osceola it con- 
 tained a population of aliout 250 people and some 
 half dozen business houses. The business inter- 
 ests at present are represented by the following 
 firms and business men: Physicians — H. C. Dun- 
 avant, R. C. Prewitt, W. D. Jones, J. E. Felts; 
 lawyers -H. M. McVeigh, Hugh McVeigh, G. 
 \V. Thomason, S. S. Semmes; general stores — 
 James Liston, N. L. Avery & Co.. J. K. P. Hale, 
 L. A. Morris. A. Goodrich. G. R. Brickey & 
 Bro. , Simon & Co.; druggists —Charles H. Gay- 
 lord, Ben H. Bacchus; saddlery and harness — N. 
 
 G. Cartwright; liverj'men — Borum & Bro., T. N. 
 Tucker; blacksmith and wagon-maker — Mack Mur- 
 ry; saloons -C. O. Faber, B. F. Butler, Buck 
 Hall, James Perry; jeweler — Charles Jewell; pub- 
 lisher—Leon Roussan, proprietor of the Osceola 
 
 Times; shoemaker — Ilobei't Geotz; hotel — Plant- 
 ers' House, Mrs. Summers, proprietress. 
 
 Osceola is in the midst of one of the finest 
 farming regions in the State; broad and fertile 
 acres stretching north, south and west, with over 
 10,000 acres under a high state of cultivation. 
 The productiveness of these lands is noted, and 
 the farms are well supplied with improvements. 
 Society is of a higher order than is usually found 
 in a town of this size, and many of its citizens are 
 college graduates. Under these favorable condi- 
 tions the county seat of Mississippi may well be 
 pointed to with pride, as here are centered refine- 
 ment, culture, education and taste. 
 
 Its thrifty Inisiness men, taking advantage of 
 its commercial opportunities, have built up a large 
 and constantly growing trade, so that it now ranks 
 second in commercial importance among the towns 
 on the Mississippi River between Cairo and Mem- 
 phis. 
 
 New stores and dwellings are constantly being 
 erected, and with good or even fair crops the pres- 
 ent promised prosperity will more than be secured. 
 
 Osceola has a good school, four church organ- 
 izations, and several secret societies. 
 
 Blythesville, a village of about 200 population, 
 is situated in Chickasawba Township, and in the 
 center of what is known as Chickasawba settle 
 ment. The first postoffice was established in 1870 
 with H. T. Blythe as po.stmaster. The business 
 interests are represented at the present time by the 
 following firms and business men: General stores — 
 L. W. Gosnell & Co., N. L. Avery & Co., H. C. 
 Davis & Bro. ; groceries and provisions — J. M. E. 
 Si.sk; Z. T. Williams & Co., W. P. Adkins; di-ug 
 stores— Dr. J. T. Jones, W. H. Oglesby: physi- 
 cians— J. T. Jones, W. H. Oglesby, E. D. Rhea, 
 J. N. Mize; blacksmiths — A. J. Bishop, B. V. 
 Flemens; carpenters — R. N. Ornaby & Co., Eison 
 & Co. ; cotton gin, saw and grist mill — H. T. 
 Blythe; postmaster — H. T. Blythe; justices J. H. 
 Scruggs, A. J. Moody. 
 
 Since the organization of Blythesville, in 1878, 
 it has been rapidly advancing and is now the sec- 
 ond largest village in Mississippi County. It is 
 surrounded by a beautiful country, fertile and pro- 
 
*$J 
 
 la v_ 
 
 454 
 
 HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ductive, with about 4,500 acres under cultivation; 
 some 1,800 acres in this community are never 
 overflowed in any ordinary flood. The woods are 
 tilled with valuable timber, and only await mills 
 and transportation to become the source of great 
 wealth. The open land in this section is under a 
 high state of cultivation, while thousands of acres 
 still in the timber, now available to settlers, are 
 unsurpassed in the State. 
 
 The people of the township are intelligent and 
 enterprising, and will extend a cordial welcome to 
 settlers from any part of the United States, pos- 
 sessing similar traits of character. 
 
 In the settlement known as Cooktown is one 
 of the largest Indian mounds in this county ; it has 
 long been known that in this vicinity was an im- 
 mense Indian population in former times, and in- 
 deed, Indians have been located here within the 
 memory of living men. Many curiosities and relics 
 have been unearthed, and as the mound stands in 
 the center of cultivated fields, it is easily accessible 
 to visitors, to whom it is always an object of inter- 
 est and wonder. 
 
 Hickman Bend, a section of river front extend- 
 ing from about three miles above Barfield to the 
 northern border of Mississippi County, is one of 
 the most desirable sections hereabouts. There 
 are about 1,300 acres of land under cultivation, 
 and the bend is being rapidly opened and im- 
 proved. The shipping point at Brolaski has a 
 store and postoiiice, which give the people a con- 
 venient outlet. Too much can hardly be said in 
 praise of this magnificent country, as its product- 
 iveness is proverbial, a bale of cotton to the acre 
 being a small average yield. Settlement is great- 
 ly desired, one planter stating that he would gladly 
 welcome fifty families, and provide good accommo- 
 dations for them all. This bend and the townshij) 
 in which it is located take their names fi'om Dr. 
 Hickman, an old pioneer who settled at an early 
 day, and who is still remembered for his ster- 
 ling qualities, his tender-hearted kindness and gen- 
 erosity. 
 
 Barfield, the most extensive business point in 
 the northern part of Mississippi County, is located 
 in Canadian Township, on the river front. It is 
 
 ' surrounded by a fertile country, with some 1,200 
 acres under cultivation. It has two stores, and 
 landings, and in the vicinity there are three saw- 
 mills. The lumber business of this county is in 
 its infancy, but the success and prosperity of these 
 mills assure the development of great wealth from 
 surrounding valuable timber in the near future. 
 
 The mail for these river points is carried by 
 boats, and Barfield has a mail daily. 
 
 Elmot is a postoffice five miles above Osceola, 
 in Fletcher Township. It is the outlet for an ex- 
 cellent country, which is being rapidly improved 
 and settled. The Government has been making 
 extensive improvement along the river fi'om and 
 in the channel below, and this has given Elmot a 
 rapid rise. The open land in this section is a con- 
 tinuation of the Osceola settlement, extending along 
 the river in unbroken fields of the choicest land for 
 nearly ten miles. Within a short distance on the 
 river front are three stores and several landinsfs, 
 which have local names. Ed. Williams, proprietor 
 of a general store, is also postmaster of Elmot. 
 
 Nodena, a postoffice kept by Maj. Ferguson, is 
 situated twelve miles below Osceola, on the river 
 front. It consists of the plantations of Maj. Fer- 
 guson and Col. Craighead, which places rank 
 among the finest in the county, having about 
 2,0U0 acres under a high state of cultivation. 
 
 Golden Lake, which also includes Idaho Land- 
 ing, is located eight miles above the county line. 
 Here the postoffice is kept by J. W. Rhodes. Mr. 
 Rhodes established this landing in 1883, the orig- 
 inal landing, Crowell, on which he had resided 
 since the year 1878, having been washed away. 
 This place is the outlet of the Frenchman's Bayou 
 settlement; fi'om that source it derives a large 
 trade. 
 
 At both landings there are about 500 acres 
 under cultivation, the places containing three 
 general stores, three cotton gins and one saw-mill. 
 From this point there is a tramway to a saw mill, 
 five miles inland, owned by R. E. Lee Wilson, 
 which ships large quantities of lumber annually. 
 
 Pecan Point, situated in the extreme south- 
 eastern part of Mississippi County, on the river 
 front, embraces a rich and fertile tract of land, 
 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 455 
 
 vvitli iibnut 2,000 acres uuder cultivation. It oc- 
 cupies a commanding position on a point, and is 
 one of the most beautiful places on the river 
 front. 
 
 It WHS originally settled and brought under a 
 state of cultivation by Felix Grundy, Jacob Mc- 
 Gavock and J. M. Bass, all of Nashville, Tenn. 
 The business and postotfice are conducted at the 
 present time by K. W. Friend, who has been 
 located here a long time. He enjoys a lucrative 
 trade, and owns a large proportion of the culti- 
 vated land. 
 
 Frenchman's Bayou, in the southern part of 
 the county, about twenty-tive miles southwest of 
 Osceola, is a most attractive stretch of country, ex- 
 tending for about six miles, and embracing an area 
 of 3,500 acres, under a high state of cultivation. 
 This locality is noted for its general condition of 
 improvement, many of its buildings being in ad- 
 vance of other sections of the county. The laud 
 has long been noted for its fertility, and the 
 annual crops here show in an indisputable manner 
 the wonderful growing qualities of the soil. The 
 people are courteous, cultivated and enterprising, 
 welcoming all industries that promise to contribute 
 to the general good. The neighboring wood-lands 
 are tilled with valuable timber, only awaiting trans- 
 portation and the saw-mill to become sources of 
 wealth. 
 
 Along the bayou there are live general stores, 
 conducted by T. B. Jones, W. H. Pullen (also 
 postmaster). Ward & Jones, F. Musick, Adams & 
 Co., and one drug store, by Dr. J. C. Joyner. A 
 school, church, a Masonic lodge (Frenchman's 
 Bayou No. 157), and McGavock Lodge No. 2,754, 
 Knights of Honor, are also here. 
 
 Secret societies seem to occupy public attention 
 quite as well in Mississippi County as elsewhere in 
 the State. The following lodges are among the 
 representatives of numcu-ous fraternities and orders : 
 
 Kallorama Lodge No. 990, Knights and Ladies 
 of Honor, of Osceola, was organized January 29, 
 1885, with the following charter members; S. S. 
 Semmes, Mrs. F. M. Semmos, Mrs. O. J. Hale, 
 H. L. Kline, Mrs. I. H. Kline, A. J. Nolty, Mrs. 
 Amelia Nolty, D. A. Richardson. Mrs. M. E. 
 
 Richardson, Mrs. L. A. Wynne, Mrs. J. A. Wood, 
 P. B. Sexton, G. F. Stowell, Mrs. M. A. Stowell, 
 Robert Dona, W. B. Haskins, G. A. Bolick, J. O. 
 Blackwood, T. N. Tucker, Mrs. T. F. Tucker, C. 
 H. Gaylord, B. O. Harrison, Mrs. Eloize Harrison, 
 Mis. S. B. Blackwood, G. L. Gould, E. M. Ayers, 
 Mrs. S. F. McVeigh, W. D. Jones, Mrs. Lizzie 
 Conley. This association is a mutual beneficial in- 
 surance company, and its object is to promote social 
 intercourse among its members. The present mem- 
 bership is thirty-two, with the following officers: 
 S. S. Semmes, P. P. ; Mrs. F. M Semmes, P. ; Mrs. 
 M. G. Morris, V. P. ; Mrs Lizzie Clure, C. ; C. H. 
 Gaylord, S. and F. S. ; N. L. Avery, Treas. ; Mrs. 
 L. A. Wynne, guard.; Mrs. M. F. Avery, guide; 
 Mrs. S. B. Price, sentinel; Mrs. O. J. Hale, S. 
 S. Semmes, N. L. Avery, trustees; H. C. Duna- 
 vant, medical examiner. 
 
 Monroe Lodge No. 2,167, Knights of Honor, 
 of Osceola, was organized April 6, ISSO, with the 
 following charter members : J. O. Blackwood, John 
 Mathews, John B. Driver, D. H. Lawrence, T. C. 
 Edrington, W. M. Dunkin, J. W. Pennell, W. J. 
 Bowen, H. C. Dunavaut, C. H. Gaylord, G. R. 
 Brickey, John Waller, T. A. Blackwood, J. L. 
 Edrington, W. S. Hayes, F. B. Hale, A. Good- 
 rich, W. F. Williams, G. F. Stowell, F. M.Tucker, 
 Ed. H. Mathes. 
 
 The object of this association is the same as that 
 of the Knights and Ladies of Honor. It has a pres- 
 ent membership of twenty-seven, and is presided 
 over by the following officers: A. Goodrich, D. ; S. 
 S. Semmes, V. D. ; W. P. Hale, A. D. ; R. Gootz, 
 C. ; C. H. Gaylord, R. and F. R. ; G. R. Brickey, 
 treasurer; D. Lawrence, guide; B. F. Buller, guar- 
 dian; H. C. Duuavant, medical examiner; A. Good- 
 rich, S. S. Semmes, G. R. Brickey, trustees. 
 
 Samaritan Lodge No. 18, A. O. U. \V., Grand 
 Lodge of Texas, was organized in December, 1884, 
 with a charter membership of twenty-live. It is 
 still in working order, with a membership of ten, 
 C. O. Faber being M. W. ; S. S. Semmes, R. and F. 
 
 Osceola Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M.. was 
 organized November 6, 1867, with the following 
 charter members: William A. Ferring, \V. M. ; 
 R. G. Hardin, S. W. ; B. F. Bennett. J. W. ; 
 
 V 
 
456 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 B. Harris. Treas. ; E. \V. Rowlett, Sec; J. ¥. 
 Davies. S. D. ; T. C. Morris, J. D. : J. R. Acree, 
 tyler. Members; J. G. Lay ton, W. S. Sugg, J. 
 B. Kelley, J. W. Ozell, J. C. Clark, W. J. Kent, 
 M. F. Warren, J. M. Able. James Stewart. 
 
 This lodge, which has always been one of the 
 most flourishing in the State, has a large mem 
 l)ership, now numbering eighty, presided over at 
 the present time by the following officers; Ben- 
 jamin H. Bacchus, W. M. ; \V. F. Williams, S. 
 W. ; F. B. Hale, J. AV. ; R. M. Fletcher, Sec. ; 
 J. K. P. Hale, Treas.; Elliot Williams, S. D. ; 
 S. C. Edriugton, J. D. ; John Barney, tyler. 
 
 The lodge is noted for its acts of charity, and 
 the V)rillianc}- of its members in Masonic knowl- 
 edge. From this two other lodges have originated. 
 No. 134 at Chickasawba. and at Frenchman's 
 Bayou. 
 
 Osceola Royal Arch Chapter No. 57 was or- 
 ganized March 1, 1871, with the following charter 
 members; George A. Dannel}', B. A. Williamson. 
 F. C. Morris. A. K. Nash, W. A. Ferring, J. F. 
 Davies, J. S. Mahau, C. C. Morris, George Faf- 
 ford. 
 
 The Chapter enjoys a membership of nineteen 
 at the present time, is in good working order, and 
 is presided over by the following officers; J. K. P. 
 Hale. H. P.; J. E. Felts, P.; C. Bowen, S. : C. 
 H. Gaylord, Sec. ; W. P. Hale, Treas. 
 
 The Ladies' Aid Society of Osceola was organ 
 ized for benevolent jjurposes, February 20, 1882. 
 with twenty-six active members, and a large hon- 
 orary membership. The first year of its existence 
 its labors were directed wholly to church work, 
 proving quite successful. This society, in Janu- 
 ary, 1883, was incorporated by the circuit court of 
 Mississippi County, and immediately purchased a 
 lot and entered into contract witli Capt. E. M. 
 Ayers, to erect a building 40x60, to cost $1,200, 
 In October, 1883, the hall was formally opened, 
 and from that time on. the entertainments given 
 under the auspices of the society have been promi- 
 nent features of the social life of the community. 
 It is claimed that this was the first corporate body 
 of women in the State of Arkansas. 
 
 The Ladies" Aid Society is not denominational, 
 
 the following churches being represented in its 
 membership; Episcopal, Methodist, Catholic and 
 Christian; neither is it a "charity" organization, 
 though ever eager to spend and be spent in the 
 service of suffering humanity, whenever occasion 
 lequires. 
 
 The society has passed successfully into its 
 eighth year, with Miss F. H. Fletcher, president: 
 Mrs. Clara A. Ronssan. vice-president: Mrs. R. C. 
 Prewitt. treasurer, and Mrs. Leon Roussan, sec- 
 retary: and with unabated zeal, will, no doubt, 
 continue to do much to dispel the social and 
 mental stagnation consequent upon a long res- 
 idence in a small and isolated community. 
 
 Chickasawba Lodge No. 134. A. F. & A. M., 
 of Blythesville, was organized October 12, 1875, 
 with the following charter members; Samuel 
 Thompson, A. J. Bishop, T. H. Robinson, Noah 
 Sawyer, John Long, R. D. Almond, Martin Nor- 
 man, J. F. Ruddle, T. P. Davis, W. W. Mann, 
 R. D. Carr, R. G. Hardin, H. T. Blythe. 
 
 This lodge is in good working order, has been 
 constantly growing in strength, and now has a 
 membership of over forty. It is presided over at 
 the present time by the following officers: J. A. 
 Scrnggs, W. M. : l.eginald Archillion, S. W. ; W. 
 R. Simpson. J. W. : B. J. Rook, S. D. ; T. E. 
 Hendricks. J . D. : A. Harris, Treas. ; Rollo Arch- 
 illion, Sec; J. D. Rutledge, Chaplain; J. W. 
 Conley and George W. Miller, stewards; W. W. 
 Morris, tyler. 
 
 At the commencement of the Civil War the 
 people of Mississippi County, though loyal and 
 patriotic, finally decided to go with the State, and 
 were a unit in favor of the cause of secession. 
 The war spirit ran high, affecting rich and poor 
 alike. If there was any Union sentiment in the 
 county (and there was at first), it soon succumbed 
 to the influences in favor of a separate Coufod 
 eracy. 
 
 Three companies of nearly 100 men each were 
 immediati'ly organized, being commanded by Col. 
 Charles Bowen. Capt. Elliott H. Fletcher, and 
 Capt. Robert Hardin, and were at once placed 
 in active service. Only a few of the men form 
 ing those companies were alive at the end of the 
 
 -re 
 
>?-, 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 4.")? 
 
 war. Of Capt. Fletchei's compauy, some twelve 
 or fourteen are now living, mostly around Chicka- 
 sawba, and all are men of character and well to-do 
 citizens. One of these, Hon. James F. Ruddle, was 
 representative of the county in the legislature of 
 1875. Capt. Elliot H. Fletcher and his brother, 
 Thomas, a youth of sixteen years, were killed iu 
 the battle of Shiloh. The first lieutenant of this 
 company, William H. Ferring, was badly wounded 
 in the same Viattle. He survived the war, and was 
 elected county clerk iu 1S()(5-6S. 
 
 After the battle of Shiloh, Capt. Boweu re- 
 turned to Mississippi County to recruit a new com- 
 pany, but as the Federals had taken possession of 
 the river he found it impossible to cross his men, 
 and from that time on, wrought good service at 
 home clearing the county of lawless bands of rob- 
 bers. 
 
 There were no regular battles fought iu this 
 county, though it suffered greatly from predatory 
 raids by Federal cavalry from Missouri and Kan- 
 sas. Business of every interest was suspended, 
 and people lived in constant apprehension of being 
 raided, captured and killed. 
 
 In 1864 Col. Burris, in command of a regi- 
 ment of Kansas cavalry (Federal), made a dash 
 through this country, taking several prisoners, 
 among whom were Capt. Charles Bowen and Col. 
 Elliot Fletcher. This company was pursued Ijy 
 Capt. McVeigh, in command of some seventy men, 
 but they escaped to Missouri and no engagement 
 was fought. 
 
 This and similar marauding expeditions formed 
 the principal war history of Mississippi County. 
 
 The Federal troops stationed at Fort Pillow 
 often came into Mississi])pi County, and, on one 
 occasion, supplied themselves with material for 
 building V)arracks at the fort, l>y taking away tlie 
 houses of Osceola. 
 
 With the general surrender of the Confederate 
 troops, the soldiers returned from the war, and in 
 a short while had resumed the habits of peaceable 
 citizens; but it was a long time l)efore they could 
 shake off the habits of soldiers. It was not un- 
 usual for tlu>m to go with pistols Ijuckled on, often 
 to cliurch. and it was not until the law against 
 
 carrying pistols began to be rigorously enforced, 
 that the old soldiers found out the true moaning of 
 the terms of the surrender. 
 
 In 1808 Mississippi (bounty was under martial 
 law, and a regiment of State militia was quartered 
 upon the people. Upon the withdrawal of the 
 militia, the people again returned to their indus- 
 tries — though large numbers of the best citizens had 
 fled from the county— and again the prospects of 
 the county began to brighten, only to be again 
 disturbed and disorganized by an insurrection of 
 the blacks in 1872. 
 
 A rising of the negroes in that year was called 
 the Blackhawk War, and was an event of consid- 
 erable importance in the history of Mississippi 
 County. 
 
 The colored people formed into secret societies 
 throughout the county and often marched in 
 armed bands to Osceola and other points, making 
 speeches and causing a great deal of excitement, 
 but there was no collision between them and the 
 whites until fall, when, during a term of court in 
 the county, the negroes, forming quite a formid- 
 able band, were attacked by the whites, under 
 Capt. Charles Bowen, and immediately dispersed. 
 Prior to this Judge Charles Fitzpatrick, who had 
 been appointed l)y Gov. Clayton as president of the 
 board of registration of Mississippi County, in an 
 altercation with Sheriff Murray, killed the latter 
 in the streets of Osceola. 
 
 This caused public sentiment to ran high, but 
 Judge Fitzjiatrick immediately gave himself up, 
 was bound over to appear at the next term of 
 court, and then released. After the engagement 
 between the whites and blacks Judge Fitzpatrick 
 escaped. There were a good many negroes killed, 
 how many was never known, and a number escaped 
 to adjoining counties. 
 
 The first representative of Mississippi County 
 after the admission of Arkansas into the Union, in 
 1830, was P. H. Swain, from whom Swain Town 
 ship received its nan)e. 
 
 Crittenden and Mississippi Counties were rep 
 resented in the State senate by W. D. Ferguson 
 in 188fj-37-;58, and in the session of 1840 he was 
 still in the senate, P. H. Swain being representa- 
 
@ t^ 
 
 458 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 tive of this county. In 1842-43 A. G. Greer was 
 the senator and W. M. Finley the representative. 
 In 1844-45 Peter G. Reeves, previously mentioned 
 as a noted hunter, rejaresented Mississippi and 
 Crittenden in the State senate, and Col. Willi&m 
 L. Ward was representative. In 1840-48-50-51 
 G. W. Underhill was senator and Col. Elliot H. 
 Fletcher representative. In 1850-53, Underbill, 
 senator; Thomas J. Blackmore, representative; 
 1854-55, Thomas B. Craighead, senator; Joseph 
 C. Harding, repre.sentative; 1856-57, T. B. Craig- 
 head, senator, Thomas M. Harding, representative; 
 1858-59, T. B. Craighead, senator and T. B. Craig 
 head, representative; 1860-62, Craighead, senator. 
 John R. Acree, representative; in the legislature 
 of 1868, the county was not represented. In 
 1864-65, T. Lambei-ton, senator, no representa- 
 tive, nor in the special session of that year. In 
 1866-67, O. R. Lyles, senator, William W. Saw 
 yers, representative; 1868-69, D. H. Goodman, 
 senator, A. M. Johnson, representative; 1871-72, 
 J. G. Frierson of Cross, senator, L. D. Rozzell, 
 representative. 
 
 In the famous legislature of 1873. which revo- 
 lutionized the State government, relieving the peo- 
 ple from disfranchisement, J. G. Frierson was 
 senator; and the First district, composed of Craig- 
 head, Cross. Jackson and Mississippi Counties, was 
 represented by Roderick Joyner of Poinsett, W. 
 H. Cate. of Craighead, H. M. McVeigh, of Missis- 
 sippi, and F. W. Lynn, of Jackson. In the ex- 
 traordinary session of 1874, Frierson was senator, 
 and J. F. Davies was elected to fill the unexpired 
 term of H. M. McVeigh, who had been appointed 
 by the govei'nor prosecuting attornej' of the Elev- 
 enth judicial district. In 1874-75, J. T. Hender- 
 son, senator, and J. J. Ruddell of Chickasawba, 
 representative; in 1878. Benjamin Harris, senator, 
 J. H. Williams, representative; iu the session of 
 1879, B. Harris, senator, and J. O. Blackwood, 
 representative; 1881, J. B. Driver of Mississippi, 
 senator, and H. M. McVeigh, representative; 
 1883, Driver, senator, and F. G. McGavock, rep- 
 resentative; 1885, John W. Stayton, senator, and 
 Joseph Bradford, repn>sentative; 1887, Stayton, 
 senator, and H. T. Blytho. representative; 1889, 
 
 Ben Harris. Jr.. senator, J. K. Hale, of Osceola, 
 representative. 
 
 I The men who served the county as representa- 
 tives from the organization in 1833 to 1889 were, 
 in the main, persons of excellent abilitj', and did 
 much toward shaping the destiny of their State. 
 They were not all men of education; some of them 
 may have been very illiterate; but they were pos- 
 
 , sessed of honest hearts and strong, natural sense. 
 Those who were members before the late Civil Wai' 
 experienced none of the difficulties which confronted 
 their successors after that conflict. 
 
 Thos. B. Craighead and Col. Elliot H. Fletcher 
 were, perhaps, the two most brilliant of those 
 whom this county sent to the legislative assembly 
 before the war — men qualilied by natural ability 
 
 I and scholarly attainments to fill with credit any 
 position in the gift of the people. Craighead was 
 an able lawyer, and a fine orator. Fletcher was 
 a born ruler of men, and the magnetism of his 
 manner, the clearness and elegance of his conver- 
 sation, and his varied knowledge on all subjects, 
 made him a welcome companion in every circle. 
 
 The public buildings of Mississippi Count}' 
 consist of a large two-story frame court-house, 
 with the county offices in the lower and the court- 
 room in the upper story, and a frame jail with iron 
 cells, both of which are located on Broadwaj- 
 street, at Osceola, the county seat. The court- 
 house was erected in 1882-84, under the adminis- 
 tration of S. S. Semmes, county judge, and cost 
 all told about 18, 500. 
 
 The population of the county in 1840 num- 
 bered 900 whites and 510 slaves; total, 1,410. It 
 then contained 3,042 neat cattle, 76 sheep, 5,022 
 hogs, and produced 107,615 bushels of corn, 3,908 
 bushels of potatoes, and 22, 500 pounds of cotton. 
 
 ': It had one store, and one school with 25 scholars. 
 This was taught by J. W. DeWitt, who was county 
 clerk from 1830 to 1840. 
 
 From 1840 to 1861 the county growth was slow 
 and gradual. Its population in 1854 was only 
 2,260, of whom 541 were slaves. In that year 
 were produced 192,200 bushels of corn, and in 
 1850, 200,250 bushels of corn, 455 bales of cot- 
 ton, and 21,273 pounds of butter. 
 
'-^ 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 459 
 
 The population at the oiitbrpnk of the war had 
 not materially increased, being in ISdOonly 3,895, 
 and the effects of the Civil War upon the county 
 may be judged from the fact that in the ensuing 
 ten years the population had decreased, being in 
 1870, 8,();!:i 
 
 But little progress in population and wealth 
 was made until the adoption of the constitution of 
 1874. From that time all restrictions upon the 
 right of suffrage were removed, and an economic 
 State government, with A. H. Garland as gov- 
 ernor, soon restored public conlidence. Then the 
 county began to grow, especially from 1877 to 
 1881. The census of 1880 showed that the county 
 had doubled its population since 1870. In the 
 year 1877 the temperance wave struck this locality 
 and swept it like a whirlwind, and from Osceola 
 the agitation spread throughout the State. Great 
 and permanent good was effected by the worthy 
 movement in Mississippi County. But very little 
 drunkenness will be observed among the people at 
 this time. 
 
 The only serious drawbacks to the county's 
 prosperity in late years were the disastrous floods 
 of 1882-83-84. These floods checked for a while 
 all growth and development hereabouts. Many 
 farms were temporarily abandoned, and new clear- 
 ings were left by those who had settled on the pub- 
 lic lands. The effects of this disaster have passed 
 away, and the people seem to have forgotten them. 
 The county is now in a more prosperous condition 
 than at any previous period in its history. There 
 are almost as many Northern people in the county 
 as those of Southern origin, and they live together 
 upon terms of perfect peace and mutual respect. 
 Ex-Federal and ex-Confederate soldiers may be 
 seen together at almost any time, apparently with- 
 out a thought of the days when they met each 
 other on opposite sides in deadly conflict. 
 
 Mississippi County was organized in accordance 
 with an act of the legislature of Arkansas, ap- 
 proved November 1, 1833; and the following is a 
 list of the names of the county and legislative of- 
 ficers, with the dates of their terms of service an- 
 nexed, from the organization to the present: 
 
 Judges: Edwin Jones, 1833-35; Nathan Ross, 
 
 1835-36; John Troy, 1836-38; Fred Miller, 
 1838-40; Nathan Ross, 1840-42; H. A. Phillips, 
 1842-44; W. L. Ward, 1844-40; H. A. Phillips, 
 1846-48; E. M. Daniel, 1848-56; J. H. Williams, 
 1856-58; J. H. McKinney, 1858-60; J. W. Alris, 
 1864-66; J. H. McKinney, 1866-68; C. L. Moore, 
 1868-72; L. M. Carrigan, 1874-76: Charles Bowen, 
 187()-78; J. E. Felts, 1878-80; E. A. Garlick, 
 1880-82; S. S. Semmes, 1882-84; E. Bevel, 1884- 
 86; L. D. Rozzell, present incumbent, first elected 
 in 1886. 
 
 Clerks: J. W. Whitworth, 1833-36; J. W. 
 DeWitt, 1836-40; J. P. Edrington, 1840-44; A. 
 G. Blackmore, 1844-50; H. A. Phillips, 1850-54: 
 D. D. Dickson, 1854-58; M. W. Nanney, 1858-62; 
 M. W. Nanney, 1864-66; W. A. Ferring, 1866- 
 68; J. B. Best, 1868-74; J. K. P. Hale, 1874-80: 
 
 B. H. Bacchus, 1880-84; Hugh R. McVeigh, 
 1884-88; J. B. Driver, present incumbent, elected 
 in 1888. 
 
 Sheriffs: E. F. Lloyd, 1833-36; J. C. Bowen, 
 1836-48; Charles Bowen, 1848-62; Charles Bowen, 
 1864-66; John Long, 1866-68; J. B. Murray, 
 1868-72; J. B. Driver, 1872-78; W. B. Haskins, 
 1878-86; W. S. Hayes, present incumbent, first 
 elected in 1886. 
 
 Treasurers: Uriah Russell, 1836-38: T. L. 
 Daniel, 1838-42; John Gibson, 1842-50; W. C. 
 Dillehay, 1850-54; C. W. Bush, 1854-56; D. 
 Matthews, 1856-58; C. W. Burk, 1858-60; D. 
 Matthews, 1860-62; H. C. Edrington, 1864-66: 
 D. Matthews, 1866-68; J. H. Edrington, 1868 
 72; J. H. Sheddon, 1872 to August, 1874; J. L. 
 Driver, Atigust, 1874-78; J. W. Uzzell, 1878 to 
 January. 1884; G. F. Stowell, from January, 1884; 
 James Listen, 1884-88; C. H. Gaylord, present 
 incumbent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Coroners: S. McLung. 1833-36; T. L. Daniel. 
 1836-38; J. Williams, 1838-40; Thomas Sears, 
 1840-42; Richard Pearson, 1846-48; J. Cunning- 
 ham, 1848-50; T. Williamson, 1850-52; E. O. 
 Cromwell, 1852-54; J. V. Lynch, 1854-56; W. 
 D. W. Bond, 1858-60; L. W. D. Bond, 1860-62: 
 D. Matthews, 1864-66; John Pedigo, 1866-68; H. 
 
 C. Rosa, 1872-74; A. W. Lucas, 1874-78; G. E. 
 Pettey, 1878-80; J. M. Lawrence, present incum- 
 
4f iO 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 bent, first elected in 1880, and has served^ontin 
 uoiisly since. 
 
 Surveyors: G. C. Barlield. 1838-36; J. G. 
 Davis, 1830-38; A. G. Blackmore, 1840-44; J. D. 
 B. Sherman, 1846-48; G. Pendleton, 1848-50; 
 William Dillingham, 1850-52; E. G. Sugg, 1852- 
 54; W. B. Wood, 1854-56; A. H. Fisher, 1856- 
 58; A. Faucette, 1858-60; William Femsite, 
 1860-62; J. W. Uzzell, 1864-66; W. H. Craig- 
 head, 1866-68; J. W. Uzzell, 1868-72; F. L. 
 James, 1872-74; J. H. Rainey, 1874-76; James 
 Anthony, 1876-77; J. T. Burns. 1877-78; B. H. 
 Bacchus, 1878-80; George Benton, 1880-82; J. H. 
 Caruthers, 1882-84; T. H. Musgrave, 1884-86; 
 R. H. Clay, 1886-88; Reginald Archillion, present 
 incumbent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Assessors: H. C. Edrington, 1868-72; P. 
 Mitchell, 1872-73; John Rainey, 1873-74; L. 
 Ward, 1874-76; D. D. Dickson, 1876-78; W. M. 
 Speed, 1878-80; J. A. Lovewell, 1880-82; J. R. 
 Riggins, 1882-86; B. L. Hill, 1886-88; T. W. 
 Davis, present incumbent, elected in 1888. 
 
 In 1887 the National government constructed 
 a strong and massive levee, from Bear Bayou to 
 Craighead Point, covering a distance of about 
 twenty miles, and protecting the finest section of 
 farming country in the county. The county has 
 now in contemplation the continuation of this 
 levee to its northern limit, which will immediately 
 make available for cultivation hundreds of thous- 
 ands of acres of rich and fertile lands; it will in- 
 crease the taxable property of the county, and 
 open up large areas for settlement. Thus, with 
 the completion of this levee system to the southern 
 limit of the county (which will probably be done 
 during the next few years), Mississippi will be 
 thoroughly protected from the river floods, and 
 may then expect to see the opening of an era of 
 prosperity to which it is justly entitled. 
 
 The enumeration of school children of Missis- 
 sippi County in 1886, showed the presence of 2,582 
 children of school age; in 1887, 2,809. There are 
 twenty-nine school districts in the county, and the 
 present enumeration would probably exceed 3,000 
 children of school age. 
 
 The county school.s are generally in good con- 
 
 dition, and the directors have ample money to 
 secure good teachers. Mr. Leon Roussan, the 
 present county examiner, is exerting himself to raise 
 the grade of both teachers and schools. 
 
 There is a high school in Osceola which ranks 
 among the substantial institutions of the State. 
 At Blythesville the directors are about to build a 
 new school building, and then hope to raise the 
 grade to a point that the people of Chickasawba 
 need. 
 
 School service, however, throughout the county 
 can only be spoken of in terms of praise, as there 
 seems to be a feeling among the directors that 
 the people will only be satisfied with the best, and 
 as they have recently voted high taxation for school 
 purposes, this county may be expected to take a 
 leading place in educational matters. 
 
 The first Baptist Church of Mississippi County 
 was organized in Osceola, about 1870, by Elder 
 H. H. Richardson, of Clear Creek Association, 
 Illinois, acting as missionary, and was composed 
 of the following constituted members: J. K. P. 
 Hale and wife, Melissa A. Hale, Charles G. Evans 
 and wife, Martha Evans, Mrs. Rhoda Housman. 
 John E. Felts and wife, Eliza Felts, all of whom 
 exhibited their church letters from regular Baptist 
 churches, and in regular form. In 1S80 they built 
 a substantial and ornamental building, and now 
 have a membership of about sixty. 
 
 There are Baptist churches at Chickasawba and 
 other places in Mississippi County. 
 
 The Methodists have an organization at Osce- 
 ola, several churches in the southern part of the 
 county, and four in Chickasawba Township. 
 Blythe's Chapel, Shady Grove, New Hope and 
 Clear Lake. 
 
 There are four organizations of the Presbyter- 
 ian denomination in Mississippi County, all grow- 
 ing in strength, meml)ership and importance. 
 These are located at Osceola, Nodena, Pecan Point 
 and Frenchman's Bayou. The present pastors are 
 Revs. Boggs and Lloyd. 
 
 The colored people have numerous organiza- 
 tions of various denominations throughout the 
 county. 
 
 The Catholic (Church of Osceola, the only 
 
^ — ^t 
 
 ^, 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 4fil 
 
 church of this denomination in Mississippi County, 
 was built in 1879. It is a frame building, 44x24 
 feet, weatherboarded outside and sealed inside; 
 it is sixteen feet to the tof) of ceiling and sixty- 
 four feet to the top of the cross; and cost, seated, 
 $2,000. It was built with the proceeds of a fair 
 and by private subscription, raised through the 
 exertion of a committee of ladies. The congrega- 
 tion numbers about thirty-five communicants, who 
 depend upon the transient visits of a priest to ad- 
 minister to their wants. 
 
 From the distress and poverty entailed by the 
 most disastrous war in modern times, Mississippi 
 County is rapidly passing to the period when it 
 will become one of the most prosperous counties 
 in the State. No one who studies the facts in the 
 case can question this. Here is a county "rich 
 beyond compare;" a county with timber resources 
 almost without limit; with agricultural possibili- 
 ties not surpassed, probably not equaled, by any 
 other county in the State, in the production of that 
 wonderful product — cotton, and nowhere else can 
 there be added to this such facilities for fruit rais- 
 ing, for early and late vegetables, for the cereals 
 and grasses, as in this favored section. 
 
 What most impresses a chance visitor to this 
 locality is the large number of self-made men — men 
 who came here a short time ago with absolutely 
 no resources, who are now, after a few years' cul- 
 tivation of this productive soil, living in compara- 
 tive affluence. This is undisputed evidence that 
 it is one of the most promising counties for emi- 
 gration that the South can show. 
 
 Mississippi County has an immense wealth of 
 timber awaiting the advent of capital and labor to 
 put it in the markets of the world. All these ad- 
 vantages are so apparent, that settling here has 
 long passed the range of speculation, and success 
 and prosperity are positive rewards of moderately 
 directed energy and industry. 
 
 Reginald Archilliou, has been employed as 
 farmer, school-teacher and surveyor during his 
 residence in the county, and resides upon his 
 wife's lands on Clear Lake. He ii^ a native of 
 
 Indiana, bis birth having occurred in Madison 
 County, in 1855. He is the eldest of two children 
 born to Anthony and Maria Archilliou, and in the 
 county of his birth he continued to make his home 
 until nine years of age, afterward entering school 
 at Evansville, Ind. , where he remained until fifteen 
 years of age, his father having passed to his long 
 home two years previously. At the early age of 
 thirteen years Reginald began depending on his 
 own resources to obtain a livelihood, and although 
 quite young he perceived that if he wished to make 
 a success of his life a good education was very es- 
 sential; accordingly he continued to attend school 
 until seventeen years of age, the last few years 
 being spent in Richmond. He also attended the 
 schools of Huntington, Ind., one year, and was 
 also engaged in studying law in that place until he 
 was twenty years of age, at which time he went to 
 Louisiana, and two years later to Texas. On the 
 7th of February, 1880, he came to Osceola, Ai-k. , 
 soon after engaging as a farm hand for A. B 
 Young, at Osceola, but spent the winter months up 
 to a few years ago in teaching school. He is a 
 member of Chickasawba Lodge No. 134, F. & A. 
 M. : is now filling his second term as county sur- 
 veyor, having been elected first in 1887 to fill a 
 vacancy. In 1881 Mrs. Rebecca (Cutwright) 
 Hetherington, a native of Indiana, became his 
 wife. 
 
 Rollo Archilliou, like his brother, Reginald 
 Archillion, is an energetic and enterprising young 
 agriculturist of Mississippi County, and now owns 
 an excellent little farm of eighty acres, situated 
 about one mile south of Blythesville, which property 
 has been in his possession since 1887. At that 
 time but twenty-five acres were under cultivation, 
 but he has since made many improvements in the 
 way of repairing the house, building fences, and 
 clearing up the land; he has opened up five addi- 
 tional acres, and expects soon to have his entire farm 
 under the plow, which can be readily done. His 
 father died when he was an infant. l)ut, through 
 his own determination and the assistance of a kind 
 and willing mother, he succeeded in attending 
 school until about sixteen years of age; then, in 
 company with his brother Reginald, he started for 
 
 
^ 
 
 4fi2 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 the South with the expectation of bettering his con- 
 dition, and after working in Louisiana for some 
 time he went to Texas, in which State he remained 
 for very nearly two years. After another short 
 period spent in Louisiana he came to the State of 
 Arkansas, and settled in Mississippi County at Clear 
 Lake, where he spent some time in tilling the soil, 
 and was there united in marriage to Miss Elma 
 A. Conley, a native of the county and a daughter 
 of one of the old and worthy settlers of this region. 
 Mrs. Archillion owned an interest in a farm on 
 Clear Lake, on which they located after their mar- 
 riage, and during their two years' residence at this 
 place Mr. Archillion taught school. At the end of 
 this' period (in 1883) they concluded to go to the 
 Lone Star State, where they both engaged in ped- 
 agoguing for three years; then returned to Mis- 
 sissippi County, Ark. , where they have since made 
 their home. Mr. and Mrs. Archillion are the 
 parents of two childj-en, Maud and Mabel. The 
 mother has been for a number of years a consistent 
 and worthy member of the Methodist Episcojial 
 Church. Mr. Archillion is a member of CLicka- 
 sawba Lodge No. 134, F. & A. M. He is a young 
 man whose activity and energy will one day place 
 him among the foremost agriculturists of the 
 county, for everything about his place indicates 
 thrift, which is one of the prominent characteristics 
 of its owner. 
 
 Jesse Ashburn is recognized as a careful, ener- , 
 getic agriculturist of this community, and by his 
 advanced ideas and progressive habits has done no 
 little good for the farming interest hereabout. 
 Originally from Huntsville, Ala., he was born in 
 the year 1823, and is the son of Byrd Ashburn who, 
 shortly after the birth of his son Jesse, loaded his 
 family and effects on a flatboat at Huntsville and 
 floated down the Tennessee River to the Ohio, on 
 that river down to the Mississippi, and thereon to j 
 the mouth of the Hatchie River. He then sailed 
 up that river to the mouth of Indian Creek, where 
 he disembarked and took up land in Tennessee. 
 Here he opened up a fine farm, but later sold out 
 and moved to near Randolph, where he remained 
 one year. He then moved with his family, con- 
 sisting of his wife and four children, direct to 
 
 Frenchman's Bayou, settled about a fourth of a 
 mile from where his son Jesse now resides, and 
 there remained until his death, which occurred in 
 1847. His wife survived him eleven years. Jesse 
 Ashburn has lived in this settlement ever since, 
 with the exception of aboat five years spent in 
 Missouri, whither he had moved in 1863. During 
 the war he took part with neither side except to 
 suppress a few guerrillas who were plundering 
 indiscriminately in Missouri. For many years 
 after his residence in Arkansas, there was no 
 market, and but two settlements on the Bayou — 
 one family by the name of McClung and another 
 by the name of Owens — but they left no descend- 
 ants here. The first school taught was at Owens' 
 house, and McClung' s son taught the first term. 
 Mr. Ashburn attended, and the only book used 
 was the spelling book. This was about the year 
 1836. The few settlers lived on corn bread and 
 bear meat, this being the regular diet. The woods 
 were full of animals, and privation and hardship 
 were the order of each day. Once in a wliile a 
 little coffee was secured from the boats on the 
 river, but it was scarce and high. Most of their 
 clothing was homespun, although they sometimes 
 secured a little shirting from the boats, and their 
 shoes were made of leather tanned by themselves. 
 Caps were made of otter hides. The first cotton 
 was raised about 1849 or 1850, but was not culti- 
 vated as a crop until a few years before the war, 
 after which it was raised with great profit along 
 the river front. It has been noticed that as the 
 land is improved and cleared up the whole surface 
 becomes diyer. Even in the last ten years there 
 has been a very noticeable improvement. Mr. 
 Ashburn has in his field now, under a fine state of 
 cultivation, land that the water used to stand on as 
 high as his waist. His marriage with Miss Emily 
 j Adkinson, occmTed in 1846. She is the daughter 
 of John B. and C. A. (Watts) Adkinson, the father 
 a native of Georgia, but who passed his last days in 
 Missouri, and the mother a native of Tennessee. 
 To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ashburn were born 
 six children : Andrew J. , John David, who marritwl 
 Miss Higgins, of Mississippi County, Ark., and is 
 the father of six children: Savannah, who married 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 463 
 
 Joe N. Hays, and dow lives ou the Chickasawba, 
 they have two children; Lavina J., married to J. 11. 
 Mnsic, of Mississippi County, Ark. ; Thomas J. 
 and A. Forrest, at home. Mr. Ashburn is a mem- 
 l)er of Masonic Lodge No. 251, of Frenchman's 
 Bayou, and has been a meml)er and a main pillar 
 in the Missionary Baptist Church for the past nine 
 years. 
 
 N. L. Avery, who is one of the important fac- 
 tors in the business growth and ])rosperity of Os- 
 ceola and Mississippi County, is justly entitled to 
 more than a passing notice in this volume. Since 
 his identification with this city as a business man, 
 no one has been more active and enterprising, or 
 has done more in the mercantile line to increase 
 and extend the trade and influence of the place. 
 His stock is large and complete, and the patronage 
 drawn to him results largely from liberal and po- 
 lite treatment. His native State is Tennessee, and 
 he was born in Memphis, January 1, 1S53. His 
 parents, Hamilton and Henrietta (Polk) Avery, 
 were natives of New York and South Carolina, re- 
 spectively. His father came to Memphis about 
 1S45, was engaged in the book business for a few 
 years, and then became editor of the Memphis Bul- 
 letin, remaining thus occupied for several years. 
 He was then appointed wharf-master, but on ac- 
 count of ill-health he resigned that position, and 
 spent two years in traveling. He returned to 
 Memphis in 1859, and soon afterward died there. 
 His mother is still living, and makes her home in 
 Memphis. The paternal grandfather died at Syra- 
 cuse, N. Y., in 1889, at the age of eighty-nine 
 years. The paternal grandmother is still living 
 in that city, and is seventy-eight years of age. 
 The maternal grandparents died when N. L. 
 Avery 8 (the .subject of this sketch) mother was a 
 child, and her grandfather was a brother to Pres- 
 ident James K. Polk. N. L. Avery passed his 
 boyhood days in attending the public and private 
 schools of Memphis. At the youthful age of thir- 
 teen he engaged as messenger in a steamboat office, 
 but subsequently entered a drug store with Mans- 
 field & Higbee of that city. In 1868 he engaged 
 in a wholesale dry goods establishment (Joyner, 
 Lemmou & Gale), remaining thus employed until 
 
 1882. He began as an errand boy, and was suc- 
 cessively promoted to the highest position, being at 
 his retirement manager of and buyer for the no- 
 tion department. In 1882 he came to Osceola and 
 established his present business in that city, with 
 a capital of 1750. In 1888 ho erected the large, 
 fine store-house which he now occcupies. In the 
 same year Mr. Rajihael Semmes [see sketch of S. 
 S. Semmes] was admitted as partner in the firm, 
 which probably does the largest business on the 
 Mississippi River between Memphis and Cairo. 
 IVlr. Avery owns a large tract of land, 1,000 acres, 
 six miles west of Osceola, and is farming about 400 
 acres. The firm are the owners of a large tract 
 of land in Phillips County. They have a Viranch 
 store at Blythesville, which has a large and exten- 
 sive trade. Mr. Avery is the owner of a block in 
 town, and also other property in the same place. 
 By his marriage with Miss M. F. Pullen, daughter 
 of B. K. Pullen, of Memphis, on November 3, 1875, 
 he became the father of seven children: Hamilton 
 King, Norman L., Jr., Walter Graham (died in 
 infancy), Charles L. , Bennie Pullen (died in in- 
 fancy), Eugene R. and Percy P. Mr. Avery's 
 family are members of the Episcopal Church. He 
 is a fair type of the self-made man, having risen 
 from the lowest to the highest offices of a large 
 store: and at last, after years of earnest, honest 
 work, we find him starting for himself, with a 
 capital of but $750. In six years he had built 
 that business up from $5,000 in 1882 to §100,000 
 in 1889, at the same time managing a branch store, 
 doing an annual business of $30,000. This is a# 
 creditable showing for a young man, even in this 
 community of almost universally self-made men. 
 
 E. M. Ayres. It is a fact recorded in history 
 that the first English immigrants to Virginia were 
 a superior race, with most progressive views of 
 government, lilierty and laws, and who sought 
 out homes in the New World in obedience to im- 
 pulse prompted by lofty ambition and an earnest 
 desire to benefit the race. From these ancestors 
 sprang men who subsequently became eminent in 
 different localities. A worthy native of that State is 
 Mr. Ayres, who is one of the prominent j)]anters of 
 Mississippi County, Ark., and resides two miles 
 
4G4 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 west of Osceola. He was born in Buckingham 
 Gounty, Va. , ia 1840, and is the seventh in a fam- 
 ily of nine children born to John W. and Mary 
 (Maseyj Ayres. The parents were also natives of 
 Virginia, where they spent their entire lives, the 
 mother dying about 1848 and the father in 1857. 
 The latter was a well known planter in his native 
 State, and the family was widely known and univer- 
 sally respected. He was a soldier in the Warof 1812. 
 The paternal grandfather was a farmer and miller, 
 and was also a very prominent Methodist Episco- 
 pal preacher, having married every couple in his 
 county for a period of twenty years. E. M. Ayres 
 learned the rudiments of farming in his native 
 State, and attended the common schools until six- 
 teen years of age. He remained at home until the 
 age of twenty-one years, and in 1859 went to West 
 Tennessee, where he engaged as overseer for his 
 brother-in-law. John M'. Chambers. At the break- 
 ing out of the late war he threw down the imple- 
 ments of peace to take up the weapons of war- 
 fare, and enlisted in Capt. Dean's command, after- 
 ward joined to the Fourth Tennessee Regiment of 
 Infantry under Col. Nely. He was assigned to the 
 Mississippi division, and soon secured permission to 
 organize a company, which he at once did, namely 
 Company A, united with the Forty-seventh Tennes- 
 see Infantry. He was in the battle of Shiloh, and 
 during that most destructive engagement his com- 
 pany was almost totally annihilated, only eighteen 
 out of the 108 returning. Mr. Ayi'es then joined 
 the Henderson Scouts, under Capt. Tom Hender- 
 son, and operated in the Mississippi Valley. He 
 was in the battles of Corinth, Parker' s Cross Roads, 
 Franklin, Tenn., and Murfreesboro, where he re- 
 ceived a severe wound in the hand. The company 
 then made a campaign into Mississippi, and sur- 
 rendered at Gainesville, Ala. , in 1S65. During his 
 time of service Mr. Ayres had three horses shot from 
 under him, was captured several times, but always 
 succeeded in making his escape. He was in many 
 close engagements, was a fearless and daring sol- 
 dier, and saw a great deal of the war. In 18(35 
 he came to Mississippi County, and engaged in 
 the saw-mill business with Dr. Hardin, of Nash- 
 ville. Here he sawed the timber to put up the first 
 
 store-house built in Osceola after the war. Mr. 
 Ayres continued this business in a successful man 
 ner for over twenty years, and supplied the lum- 
 ber to build most of the frame houses in this 
 county. He has made a great deal of money by 
 strict application to business, and the energetic 
 and thorough manner in which he has taken ad 
 vantage of all methods, tending to enhance the 
 value of his property, has had a gi'eat deal to do 
 with his obtaining the competence which he now 
 enjoys. His wife was originally Miss Sallie Bowen. 
 whom he married in 1867. Her father, Arthur 
 Bowen, is one of the well-known settlers in this 
 county. From time to time Mr. Ayers has bought 
 large tracts of land, and is now the owner of about 
 6, 000 acres, 200 of which are under cultivation. He 
 has made all the improvements on his place, and 
 has assisted in opening 2,000 acres for cultivation. 
 During his residence in Mississippi Count}' he has 
 seen many changes, and he speaks veiy highly of 
 this section. The result of his marriage with Miss 
 Bowen has been nine children, three of whom are 
 deceased: Lizzie died at the age of two years; 
 Charley died at the age of two years, and Lelah 
 died at the age of fourteen years. Those living 
 are Willis, who lives at home and is fourteen 
 years of age; Arthur, twelve years of age; Clay, 
 ten years; Louis, eight; Sallie B., six, and Eddy, 
 two years in 1889. 
 
 Benjamin H. Bacchus, a prominent druggist 
 and farmer of 0.sceola, Ark., is a native of Kent 
 County, Md. , born at Chestertown on October 15, 
 1848, and of the six children born to his parents, 
 William and Harriet (Greenwood) Bacchus, Benja 
 min H was the fifth in order of birth. The par 
 ents were natives of Maryland, and the father for 
 a long time was a miller and farmer of that place. 
 The mother died in 1856, and in 1859 the fa- 
 ther married Miss Susan Arthur. He died in 1872, 
 having during the latter years of his life lived 
 in retirement. Benjamin H. Bacchus passed his 
 youth in Chestertown, and received an exception- 
 ally good education in public and private schools, 
 supplementing the same by a two years' attend- 
 ance at the college at Chestertown. He then took a 
 course of instruction at Bryant, Stratton & Sadler's 
 
jj®__v. 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 my, 
 
 Business College, at Baltimore, and left that in- 
 stitution fully equipped to enter upon any pursuit. 
 He followed the teacher's profession for one term, 
 and in 1867 went to Memphis, where he engaged 
 in the cotton and oil business. At the end of one 
 and one-half years he came to Mississippi County, 
 Ark., and commenced farming at Elmot, where he 
 continued until 1880. In 1878 Mr. Bacchus was 
 elected county surveyor, and in 1880 he was elected 
 clerk of the supreme court, ex-officio clerk of the 
 county and probate courts, and recorder. So well 
 did he fill this position that he was re-elected in 
 1882. In 1887 he was elected mayor of the city 
 of Osceola. At this time the city was heavily in 
 debt, and its warrants were worthless; but at the 
 expiration of Mr. Bacchus' term of office the debt 
 of the city was wiped out, and the warrants were 
 worth their face value. In July, 1885, Mr. Bacchus 
 engaged in the di'ug business in Osceola, and in 
 1888 he erected a fine store-house, into which he 
 moved in February, 1889. The new quarters are 
 neat, tasty and ornamental, and contain a complete 
 line of fresh drugs. Mr. Bacchus selected Miss 
 Katie M. Williams as his companion in life, and 
 was wedded to her in 1871. She was born in 
 Mississippi County, and is the daughter of James 
 H. Williams, who was formerly from Tennessee, 
 and one of the old settlers of Mississippi County. 
 To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bacchus were born 
 seven children: Alice W., Lallie C, Lena S.. Ben- 
 jamin H. , Jr., J. Greenwood. Minnie Avery and 
 Mary Kate. Mr. Bacchus is a member of the 
 Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Bacchus of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal. Mr. Bacchus is a member of 
 Masonic Lodge No. 27, Osceola, occupying an 
 official position. He was school commissioner of 
 the county from 1872 to 1880, and takes a decided 
 interest in all school matters. 
 
 G. C. Baldock, a popular and enterprising 
 farmer at Frenchman's Bayou, is the eldest of 
 three children born to Derastus and Mary Jane 
 (Hill) Baldock, and was born in Tennessee in 1855. 
 The elder Baldock was a farmer, and followed that 
 occupation until the outbreak of war, when he en- 
 listed in the army and gave up his life in 1862. 
 After the father's death the familv went to reside 
 
 with Mr. Addison M. Hill, Mrs. Baldock' s father, 
 who was one of the best known citizens of Ti]) 
 ton County, Tenn. , and a pioneer of that coun- 
 ty, upon whom the citizens of that section still 
 look with veneration and respect. G. C. Baldock 
 began life for himself when nineteen years of age, 
 and rented the land upon which he made his first 
 crop. He continued farming until the year 1880, 
 when he sold out his place and moved to Mississippi 
 County, Ark., where he settled on Frenchman's 
 Bayou. In 1887 he bought 200 acres of fine land 
 in that section, and at the present time has eighty- 
 five acres under cultivation, besides making esten 
 sive improvements which will make the land aver- 
 age about one bale to the acre. He also owns a 
 herd of fine stock cattle and horses, and over 100 
 hogs. January 17, 1882, Mr. Baldock was married 
 to Miss Rosie P. Notgrass, a charming lady of 
 Tennessee, and by this marriage has had three 
 children: Mary Peete. Ella Maud and Derastus 
 Norton. He is active in school matters, and has 
 served as school director, believing that education 
 should be within the reach of every child. Mr. 
 Baldock is a pleasant and hospitable gentleman, 
 whose genial manner has won for him a large cir- 
 cle of stanch and influential friends. He is a suc- 
 cessful farmer, a valued citizen, and stands high 
 in the estimation of the surrounding community. 
 
 Barton Bros. & Co., an enterprising firm at 
 Golden Lake, Ark., consisting of T. A., W. P. 
 and Ida M. Barton, began business here as the 
 successors of T. A. Barton, in 1836. In 1873 Mr. 
 T. A. Barton came from the State of Mississippi, 
 and entered into commercial life at Golden Lake. 
 At that time (1881) the business at this point was 
 slight, and many business men would have given 
 up the venture as a failure, but with that foresight 
 that has always marked his success. Mi'. Barton 
 saw that the prospects in the future were very 
 flattering, and he continued his business. He kept 
 adding to his stock from year to year, as the busi- 
 ness increased under his good management, and in 
 1886 he was joined in partnershii> by his l)rotlier. 
 who had previously worked for him as clerk. Their 
 business consists of one of the finest cotton-gins 
 on the Mississippi River, with a capacity of fifty 
 
400 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 bales per day, a saw-mill with a capacity of 20,- 
 000 feet of lumber per day, and a general merchan- 
 dise store that enjoys a lar^e patronage. Altogether 
 they did a business last year of 130,000, which 
 will be largely increased this year. The firm also 
 have large land interests in Mississippi County, 
 owning in various tracts about 500 acres, from 
 which they are cutting the timber to supply their 
 saw-mill, and in addition to this they have 500 
 acres of land under cultivation, in Frenchman's 
 Bayou, besides a branch store and fine saloon at 
 that place, and a tiamway from the river to French- 
 man' s Bayou, a distance of six miles, which pene- 
 trates the timber region. The Barton family are 
 natives of North Carolina, where T. A., the eldeist 
 of a family of seven children, was born in 1851. 
 The parents were J. T. and Mary M. (Adams) Bar- 
 ton, of South Carolina and Georgia, respectively. 
 Thomas A. remained with his parents on the farm, 
 and attended school until his twentieth year. In 
 1873 he was married, in Tennessee, to Miss Ida 
 Parker, of Mississippi, and after his marriage 
 moved to Arkansas, where they settled in Poinsett 
 County. He remained in that county one year, 
 and met with a great many losses during that time, 
 afterward moving to Mississippi County, where he 
 farmed for six yearsi;prior to entering business at 
 Golden Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Barton are the par- 
 ents of six children: William Arthur, Ida Ellen, 
 Veta May, Joseph T., James and Quincy G., and 
 Mr. Barton is a member of the K. of H. , in which 
 association he carries a $2,000 policy. William 
 P., junior partner of the firm, was born in North 
 Carolina in 1857, and was the fourth child of the 
 family. He moved first to Poinsett County, and 
 later on came to his present home, in company with 
 his brother, Thomas, with whom he has been asso- 
 ciated in business since the firm commenced oper- 
 tions. He was married, in December, 1887, to 
 Miss Mary Musick, of this county, and they are 
 the parents of one child, a girl, named Tennessee 
 Block. Among the many enterprising and pros- 
 perous citizens of this county, certainly none are 
 more worthy or deserving of success than the mem- 
 bers of the firm of Barton Bros. & Co. Upon 
 entering Arkansas their arriA'al was heralded by 
 
 misfortune and financial ruin, but out of the chaos 
 of their deplorable condition they rose equal to the 
 occasion, and paved the way to their present for- 
 tune. Shortly after commencing their business, a 
 fire consumed the store, and the fruit of their 
 patient industry was engulfed in flames; but again 
 they put their shoulders to the wheel, and to-day 
 they stand living examples of those two virtues, 
 pluck and perseverance. Through all the vicissi- 
 tudes of their earlier life in Arkansas, they still 
 preserve and enjoy good health. 
 
 William Biship. A lifetime of hard, earnest 
 endeavor in pursuing the occupation to which he 
 now gives his attention, coupled with strict integ- 
 rity, honesty of purpose, and liberality in the right 
 directions, have had the result to place Mr. Biship 
 among the truly respected and honored agricult- 
 urists of the county. He was born in Missouri. 
 in 1818, and as his father was a successful tiller 
 of the soil, Mr. Biship was reared to farm labor 
 until about the age of seventeen years. In 1830, 
 he made a visit to Arkansas, having relatives living 
 at Osceola, which was then a small collection of 
 log huts: but soon moved back to Missouri, where he 
 continued to reside until 18-14, when he returned 
 to Arkansas. In this State he has since resided, 
 and has lived in Mississippi County the principal 
 part of that time. He first visited the county on 
 a hunting trip, but being favorably impressed with 
 it he located here, and has since made it his home. 
 In 1850 he entered land, but soon sold it, and 
 afterward settled several tracts, which he sold 
 after making a few improvements. In 1844 there 
 were but four families in what is now Chickasawba 
 Township, and the township had also an Indian 
 population of about 100. After a few years Mr. 
 Biship made a permanent settlement on forty 
 acres, where he has since made his home. His 
 marriage with Miss Bryant occurred at an early 
 date, and to them were born two children : Andrew 
 Jackson, a blacksmith at Blythesville, and Vir- 
 ginia, wife of Mr. Carney, and residing in Little 
 River County, Ark. Mrs. Biship died, and Mr. 
 Biship took for his second wife the Widow Golden, 
 by whom he has one living child: William Oliver, 
 who is married and lives at home. When first 
 
settling in the county, Mr. Biship experienced 
 many hardships and trials. He was compelled to 
 go to Hornersville, Mo., a distance of about forty 
 miles by water, for their meal, and the people de- 
 pended but little on tame meat, and subsisted 
 chiefly on game. About the end of 1850, there 
 was a store started in the settlement that is now 
 called Cooktown. Mr. Biship still resides on the 
 original forty acres that he settled years ago, and 
 has this wholly under cultivation. Though now 
 quite advanced in years, Mr. Biship is remarkably 
 well preserved, as the "ravages of time" have 
 had but little effect on him. He has been a wit- 
 ness to the complete development of this section. 
 He was never very active in politics, but has held 
 the ofi&ce of constable of this section, and was 
 deputy sheriff under Sheriff Bowen. 
 
 A. J. Biship has been a resident of Mississippi 
 County, Ark., all his life, his birth having oc- 
 curred here in 1846, he being the eldest of two 
 children born to William and Diadema (Bryant) 
 Biship, who were natives of Scott County, Mo. , 
 and came to Mississippi County, Ark., at an early 
 day. [For further history of their lives see sketch 
 of AVilliam Biship.] A. J. Biship received a fair 
 knowledge of the English branches in the schools 
 of his native county, and was reared to a knowledge 
 of agricultural life on his father's farm in Chieka- 
 sawba Township. After his mother's death, which 
 occurred when he was about eight years of age, 
 his father married again, and he remained with him 
 until he attained his seventeenth year, when he 
 began leaining the art of photograjihy, at which 
 he worked for eight years, traveling through the 
 country and on the river. At the age of twenty- 
 tive years he engaged in teaching school, and 
 wielded the ferule for four terms in Mississippi 
 County, after which he commenced rafting lum 
 ber from Big Lake down the St. Francis River to 
 Helena, continuing this occupation two years. He 
 was married about this time to Miss Maggie Brown, 
 a native of the county, and a daughter of Jack 
 Brown, an old pioneer of this region. In 1809 he 
 began keeping a store on Big Lake, but returned 
 to Chickasawba Township and opened a wagon and 
 blacksmith shop at Cooktown, locating at the end 
 
 of one year in Jouesboro, where he was engaged 
 in blacksmithing. Sickness in his family made 
 this a disastrous move, and at the end of one year 
 he returned to Chickasawba Township with only 
 $1 with which to start anew. In 1884 he opened 
 a shop in Blythesville, which he is still successfully 
 conducting, and is doing a constantly increasing 
 trade In 1888 he purchased 120 acres of land 
 one mile from Blythesville, ou which projjerty he 
 has erected some good buildings, and has five acres 
 under cultivation. He expects to rapidly continue 
 his improvements until he has reduced it all to a 
 state of cultivation, which day will not be far dis- 
 tant if Mr. Biship evinces his usual energy and 
 perseverance. He, like many of his neighbors, is 
 a member of Chickasawba Lodge No. 134, of the 
 F. & A. M. He is an intelligent and enter- 
 prising man, and in all his operations is meeting 
 with substantial evidence of success, results which 
 all concede he fully merits. His union with Miss 
 Brew has resulted in the birth of four children: 
 William Andrew, Major Green, Aurora Lurena 
 and Robert Thaddeus. Mrs. Biship is a consistent 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Hon. Henry T. BIythe, a prominent citizen 
 of Blythesville, was born in Virginia in 1816, being 
 the fourth in the family of ten children of John 
 and Elizabeth (Cobb) BIythe, natives of South- 
 ampton County. Va. , where the father followed 
 farming. In 1826 the family moved to Henry 
 County, Tenn. , bought a farm and were among 
 the pioneers to that county. The father put many 
 improvements on his place, and made it his home 
 mostly till his death in 1831*. The mother siir- 
 yived him several years and died about 1845. 
 Henry T. 's paternal grandfather, also John BIythe, 
 was a native of Scotland, and emigrated to Vir- 
 ginia from that country before the independence of 
 the United States. He served a portion of the 
 time in the Revolutionary War. The maternal 
 erandmother was a native of Virginia. This man 
 was one of four brothers, one of whom, David, 
 was the grandfather of Thomas H. BIythe, who 
 died in California in 1883. Our subject was reared 
 on the farm in Virginia till ten years of age, when 
 the family moved to Tennessee, and there he at- 
 
- — ^K 
 
 468 
 
 HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 tended the common schools till eighteen years of 
 age, when he went to Mississippi, spending about 
 six years in the early settlement of the northern 
 part of that State, a part of the time being among 
 the Indians. In 1841 he returned to Tennessee 
 and settled in Lauderd.ile County, where he fol- 
 lowed farm labor. About twelve years later he 
 came to Arkansas and located on Crooked Lake, ^ 
 Mississippi County, settling on a farm in the \ 
 woods, and cleared about sixty acres, erected 
 buildings and made many improvements. This was 
 his home till 1873, when he moved on a tract of 
 land previously purchased in partnership -with Mr. 
 Moseley in 1864. This is the tract upon which he 
 now lives, and where the town of Blythesville has 
 since been built. Upon the small clearing then 
 made he at once built a steam saw -mill and gin — 
 the first steam mill in this section. He has since 
 added about 300 acres to this place, and now has 
 a fine tract of 500 acres of some of the best farm- 
 ing land in the county. Of this 185 acres are 
 under a high state of cultivation. In 1880 he 
 laid ofF a tract for a village, which was named in 
 his honor, Blythesville. He was soon appointed 
 the first postmaster, and served in that capacity 
 till the summer of 1889, a term of nearly nine 
 years. Mr. Blythe's saw- mill and cotton-gin were 
 the first business enterprises here, where now are 
 several stores, and the pleasant homes of many 
 families. In 1886 Mr. Blythe was elected by the 
 people of Mississippi County to represent them in 
 the State legislature, serving one term. During 
 this time he introduced several bills of importance 
 to the State at large. This family from remote 
 times have been earnest workers in the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, and our subject was reared under 
 Methodist influence. In 1841 he was given a 
 license as an exhorter, and was a constant worker 
 in the church till 1802, when he was granted a 
 preacher" s license ; in due time after this he was 
 made deacon and elder, which offices he still fills. 
 In 1875 he was instriimental in building a church 
 at Blythesville, which still retains the name of 
 Blythe's Chapel, so christened in honor of the rec- 
 ognized patronage of our subject. He has been 
 married five times, and has had nine childjren, 
 
 seven of whom are yet living. His first marriage 
 occurred in 1842, to Miss Mary Jane Fisher, a na- 
 tive of Tennessee. She died in 1844, leaving one 
 child, a boy named William W., who died soon 
 after. His second marriage was, in 1851, to Miss 
 Elizabeth Willis. She lived only about one year, 
 and died without issue. In 1854 Mrs. Julia A. 
 Young, a native of Tennessee, became his wife. 
 She died in Arkansas in 186? ,'ithout children. 
 In 1868 Mr. Blythe married Mrs. Amanda Drew, 
 a native of Georgia, who only lived about one year 
 and left one child, Margaret Ann; the latter also 
 died in her fourteenth year. In 1871 Mrs. Millie 
 E. Murry became Mr. Blythe's wife. This lady 
 was a native of Alabama. To their union seven 
 children were born, all of whom are living: Alice 
 F. , Henrietta J., Emma F., Eva Harris, Henry 
 Thomas, Nola Ada and John Wesley. This inter- 
 esting family is the pride of our subject's heart. 
 Coming to him when the weight of years bore 
 with a heavy hand upon his head, these children 
 renewed his youth, for in their merriment he threw 
 a bridge across the gulf of time, and lived again 
 in fancy the freedom of a child. As years have 
 come and gone these little ones have all passed 
 through infancy and youth to maturer years, and 
 are now developing in character and mind, with a 
 purity in which a parent's heart can rejoice, proving 
 sources of the greatest comfort. They are justly 
 esteemed by all who know them for their j leasing 
 manners and their winning ways. In the summer 
 of 1889 Mr. Blythe spent three months in the State 
 of California, but in his journey through other lo 
 calities he saw no j)lace that pleased him so well 
 as his home in Arkansas. He is a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, was one of the charter mem 
 bers of Chickasawba Lodge No. 134, and was a 
 member of the committee sent to secure the 
 charter from the Grand Lodge of the State. 
 
 David Boney is a man who has risen to consid- 
 erable prominence in the affairs of Mississipj)! 
 County, not less in agricultural matters than in 
 other circles of active l)usiness life. His birth oc- 
 curred in the " Old North State," he being the 
 third of five children born to James and Martha 
 (Henderson) Boney, who were also North Caroliu- 
 
Craighead Countt^Arkambas , 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 4(11) 
 
 iaiis, where the father died when his kou David 
 was six years old. His widow removed with her 
 children to the State of Tennessee, where she after- 
 ward married again, and in 1851, came to Arkansas. 
 David Boney was principally reared in Lauderdale 
 County, Tenn. , his youth and early manhood be- 
 ing spent in following the plow, but at the age of 
 twenty one years he began to trade on the river, 
 coming at the end of two years to Mississippi 
 County, Ark. , and settling in the Clear Lake coun- 
 try, his occupation being that of farming and raft- 
 ing. In 1858, he was united in marriage with 
 Miss Malinda Stuckey, who lived but a f<^w months. 
 Growing tired of tilling land belonging to other 
 men, Mr. Boney, in 1S5S, purchased a tract of 
 eighty acres on Clear Lake, and two years later he 
 settled on this farm with his wife, whose maiden 
 name was Miss Sallie Boone, her birth place being 
 Tennessee. They resided here until 1866, then 
 sold out, and the following year moved to 
 Tennessee, where Mr. Boney purchased a "iOO-acre 
 tract of woodland. He entered actively upon the 
 work of improving, and the result of his industry 
 is eighty live acres of land cleared and under culti 
 vation, the property fenced, two good houses and 
 other buildings, and an excellent orchard. He 
 returned to Mississippi County, Ark., in 1874, and 
 purchased 160 acres of land, where he resided and 
 made improvements for one year, then rented his 
 place and returned to his farm in Tennessee. 
 Here he continued to live until the winter of 
 1888, since which time he has resided in Arkan- 
 sas. He has just purchased 160 acres of land 
 in this vicinity, on which he expects to make 
 inime<liate improvements, there being thirty acres 
 already under the plow, and twenty acres ready 
 for improvement. Good timber, abundance of 
 water, convenient and necessary buildings and 
 other desirable conveniences render this a model 
 farm. In 1882 his second wife passed to her 
 l(ing home. His third marriage occurred in the 
 fall of 188'2, his wife being a Miss Susan Halfacre. 
 The family worship in the Methodist Episco])al 
 Church. Mr. Boney's children, ten of whom were 
 by his second wife and six by his third, were as fol- 
 lows: John J. (deceased), Noah (deceased), David 
 
 D. (deceased), Martha J. (deceased), Mary F. (de- 
 ceased), Mandy C, George R., "William W., Em- 
 ma J., Lou E. , an infant son (deceased), Mary A. 
 (deceased), twin sons (deceased), Susan L. and 
 Lena L. 
 
 P. S. Borum. liveryman, of the tirm of J. H. 
 Borum & Bro. , Osceola. This stable, from the 
 large business it does, not only exemi)lities the 
 importance of this part of the town, but reflects 
 credit on its management. Mr. Boi-uni was orig- 
 inally from Tennessee, where he was born in 1847, 
 and was the eldest of nine children born to Rev. 
 J. H. and Ann C. (Brooks) Borum [see sketch of 
 J. H. Borum]. P. S. Borum was reared in the 
 town of Durhamville, and at the age of seventeen 
 years he began clerking in the store of J. H. 
 Borum, where he continued for two years. He 
 then, in partnership with his brother, James W. , 
 opened a general store in the same place, and 
 there remained two years, during which time his 
 brother died. Mr. Borum then sold out the store 
 and engaged in tilling the soil, which industry he 
 carried on for four years, with comparatively good 
 success. He subsequently went to Brownsville 
 and reengaged in clerking, but after one year re- 
 turned to farming. He followed this occupation 
 until 1878, when he went to Dyersburg, engaged 
 in clerking, and after remaining there for four 
 years, in the fall of 1883, came to Osceola, where 
 he joined his brother, J. H. Borum, in the livery 
 business, and this business has since grown into a 
 tlouiishing trade. Mr. Borum liegan [iractically 
 with nothing, but now has one of the best equipped 
 livery stables in the State. They have forty ' 
 horses, twenty hacks, carriages, buggies, etc.. and 
 can turn out, day or night, as tine rigs as are to 
 be found. At the age of fifteen years, Mr. Borum 
 enlisted in Company M, Seventh Tennessee Cav 
 airy, under Col. William Jackson (afterward Gen. 
 Jackson), and was in the battles of Cross Roads. 
 Miss., Pulaski and Nashville. Tenn., Fort Pillow 
 in 1862, Florence, Ala., and also in the compaign 
 through Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi. 
 He surrendered at Gainesville. .Via., in 1865. He 
 was in many close quarters, and in manj- minor 
 engagements, but escaped without a wound, or 
 
470 
 
 HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ever being taken prisoner. He has since lived in 
 Osceola, and has taken an active interest in all 
 local affairs that pertain to the good of the com- 
 munity at large. 
 
 Joseph H. Borum, Jr. , a member of the w^ell- 
 known firm of J. H. Borum & Bro. , liverymen at 
 Osceola, is a native of West Tennessee, born in 
 1858, and is the seventh in a family of nine chil- 
 dren born to Rev. Joseph H. and Ann C. (Brooks) 
 Borum, natives of Virginia and Tennessee, respect- 
 ively. The elder Borum was a merchant in Ten- 
 nessee prior to the war; in later years he was a 
 Baptist preacher, and was the author of "Baptist 
 Ministers of West Tennessee. ' ' He died July 13, 
 1888. This remarkable man baptized about 4,000 
 people; organized more churches than any other 
 minister in West Tennessee; married about 3,000 
 couples, and has received five generations of one 
 family into his church. He was well and widely 
 known throughout the State. The mother is still 
 living in Tennessee, and is now (1889) seventy-two 
 years of age. She is the only one living of a 
 family of nine children. Joseph H. Borum, Jr., 
 entered the school at Covington, Tenn. , at the age 
 of ten years, remained there three years, after 
 which he entered the Southwestern Baptist Uni- 
 versity of Jackson, Tenn. He remained there two 
 years, and then started out thoroughly fitted to 
 enter upon any position in life. In 1877, he came 
 to Osceola, Ark., and was principal of the Osceola 
 High School for six years. In 1883 he engaged 
 in the livery business with -J. L. Driver, but in 
 1884 he continued the business under the firm 
 name of J. H. Borum & Bro. In 1888 he was 
 elected mayor of Osceola without opposition, and 
 was complimented by being re-elected in 1889 
 without opposition. Under his administration and 
 his predecessor's, Mr. Bacchus, the city has been 
 relieved from debt, and its affairs are now con- 
 ducted on able business principles. Quiet and or- 
 der reign upon its streets, and it is said by all that 
 Mr. Borum fills the office of Osceola's mayor with 
 credit and respect. 
 
 Capt. Charles Bowen. There are many men in 
 this county at the present day in whose lives there 
 are l)ut few thrilling incidents or remarkable events, 
 
 yet whose success has been a steady and constant 
 growth, and who, possessed of excellent judgment, 
 strong common sense and indomitable energy, 
 have evinced in their lives and characters great 
 symmetry, completeness and moral standing of a 
 high order. Such traits may be found in the char 
 acter of Mr. Bowen, a native of Jackson County, 
 Tenn.. born on the 28th of Febraary, 1814, and 
 one of the most prominent planters of the county. 
 His parents, John and Jennie (Crawford) Bowen, 
 were originally from Virginia, but came to Tennes- 
 see at an early day. Shortly after the birth of 
 their son, Charles, they removed to the western 
 district of Tennessee, and there built the first cabin 
 in what is now Dyer County. They subsisted for 
 the first year exclusively on wild meat, and did not 
 taste bread during that time. After living in 
 Western Tennessee for seven years, where Charles 
 Bowen clerked in a store in Trenton, the family 
 moved (1828) to Mississippi County, Ark., and set- 
 tled for a short time on the river, near what is now 
 Barfield Point. After two years Charles, with his 
 father, fitted out a store and produce boat, and 
 traded on the river for about three years. They 
 then returned to Mississippi County, and there 
 made a permanent settlement. After a few years 
 the elder Bowen went back to Tennessee, and there 
 passed his last days. The mother had died when 
 Charles was about eight years of age. As a resi- 
 dent of Mississippi County the latter sold wood to 
 the steamboats, and was also engaged in farming 
 on a small scale. His brother, John C. Bowen, 
 was the second sheriff of Mississippi County, elect 
 ed in 1838, and Charles served as his deputy for 
 about six years, after which the latter was himself 
 elected sheriff of the county. He served in this 
 capacity for sixteen years, to the entire satisfaction 
 of all. When the war broke out Mr. Bowen raised 
 a company in Mississippi County, and was elected 
 captain of the same, which was called the " Osceola 
 Hornets;" it operated on the east bank of the Mis- 
 sissippi River during the principal part of the 
 time. He was in the battle of Belmont, and also 
 at Shiloh, where his company was badly cut up, 
 leaving the battle field with only seven men. The 
 Captain then returned to Mississippi County, and 
 
 w — 
 
® k^ 
 
 iHl 
 
 raised another company. This operated mostly on 
 the west bank of the Mississippi River. In 181)4 
 C'apt. Bowen, while in charge of his command, was 
 captured at Osceola, by Col. Burris, a Kansas jay- 
 hawker, and was kept a prisoner at St. Louis for 
 about two months. He then retui'ned, gathered 
 up his company, and continued to operate in this 
 section. He had a fight on Ten-Mile Bayou, in 
 Crittenden County. He surrendered at Osceola, in 
 1865, to the captain of a gunboat. He was then ap- 
 pointed sheriff by the governor, serving for two 
 years, but refused to run again. In 1872, during 
 the negro troubles in Mississippi County, known as 
 the ' ' Black Hawk' ' war, Capt. Bowen led a charge 
 against the mob. which was at once dispersed. 
 In 1874 the Captain was a member of the State 
 constitutional convention, and was also elected 
 county judge for one term. He purchased a fine 
 plantation of 320 acres, half of which is under a 
 high state of cultivation. On this place he has 
 made all improvements, erected all buildings, etc. 
 At present he is the owner of about 1,000 acres. 
 He was married in 1843 to Mrs. Mills, nee Bishop, 
 and three children were the result of this mar- 
 riage: Charles Reese (deceased), William J., mar- 
 ried and living near Osceola, and Margaret Ann, 
 wife of J. B. Driver, and residing about one mile 
 below Osceola. Mrs. Bowen was called to her final 
 home in 1865. The Captain took for his second 
 wife Mrs. Segars. ti.ee Howe, and four children 
 were the fruits of this union: Clem Clay, Samuel, 
 Mamie and Katie. 
 
 Louis C. Bowen. If. as is self-evident, this 
 work would be incomplete without sketches of the 
 more public spirited of the successful agricultur- 
 ists and stock men and substantial, well to do cit- 
 izens of Mississippi County, then the biography of 
 the subject of this sketch justly finds a conspicuous 
 place in the present volume. Mr. Bowen owes 
 his nativity to Tennessee, where his birth occurred 
 March 81, 1818. His parents, Charles G. and 
 Susan (Shell) Bowen, wore natives of Virginia, but 
 they were married at Knoxville, Tenn. , where the 
 father worked as a saddler. In 1823 the family 
 moved to Vigo County, Ind., but two years later 
 settled in Putnam County, of the same State, where 
 
 they resided twelve years. In that county the 
 father followed his trade, and was also engaged in 
 agricultural i)ursuits. On May 2, 1835, they land- 
 ed at Barfield Point, Ark., but only remained there 
 four years, when they returned to Indiana. Still 
 not satisfied, they came back to Arkansas, and set- 
 tled on a tract of land near Osceola. Here the 
 father died, in 1873, at the age of eighty-four 
 years, but the mother died a number of years pre- 
 vious. The character of Mr. Bowen, the subject 
 of this sketch, was modeled in such a manner that it 
 was natural for him to look, perhaps unconsciously, 
 upon farming and stock raising as the only call- 
 ing with which he should identify himself. He 
 received limited educational advantages, and re- 
 mained at home until thirty years of age. He 
 then chose Miss Catherine Martin as his future 
 wife, but she lived only about eleven months after 
 marriage. In 1839 Mr. Bowen entered 160 acres 
 of land, on which he is living at the present time. 
 He has all of this tract under cultivation, and his 
 improvements are all of the best — good buildings, 
 extensive orchards, etc. In 1853 Mr. Bowen mar- 
 ried Miss Amelia O. Driver, a daughter of Abner 
 Driver, one of the first settlers in this section. She 
 lived about ten years, and became the mother of 
 five children, all now deceased. They were named 
 as follows: Martha, Nellie, James Lawson, Viola 
 C. and Katie. In 1868 Mr. Bowen was united in 
 marriage to Mrs. Sallie M. Driver, nee Baley, a 
 native of Ohio. Six children were the result of 
 this union: Robert L., William E. (deceased), Wal 
 ter, Sallie, Charley and Joseph. The family are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, at Osceola, of which Mr. Bowen has been 
 steward for twenty years. He has been quite ac- 
 tive in political affairs; was deputy sheriff from 
 1843 to 1849, under his cousin. Sheriff John 
 Bowen. In addition to his home plantation, he is 
 the owner of 800 acres in another tract. 
 
 W. J. Bowen, farmer, Osceola, Ark. By rea- 
 son of his being a native-born citizen of the coun- 
 ty, no less than because of his excellent reputation 
 as a progressive and enterprising agriculturist, 
 Mr. Bowen enjoys an extensive acquaintance in 
 the community. His birth occurred near where 
 
/-< 
 
 472 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 the town of Osceola now stands, May Ki, 1848, 
 and there he remained until thirteen years of age, 
 when he moved with his parents to the farm where 
 his father, Capt. Charles Bowen, is now living, 
 three miles west of the village. Here W. J. 
 Bowen remained until of age, and received such 
 education as could be obtained in the slab school - 
 house erected by his father near the place. The 
 slabs were obtained from the saw mill that stood 
 where Capt. Ayres' place now is, two miles west of 
 Osceola. This was the first saw- mill in the coun 
 ty. The first grist- mill was a horse mill kept by 
 Felix R. Lanier. The first teacher in the county 
 was John W. DeWitt, who taught school in the 
 old lay court-house, about 1854, spelling and 
 reading being about the only branches taught. 
 The teacher lived in a little shanty built from old 
 steamboat lumber, and he was also the postmaster, 
 and kept the postoffice in an old cracker box, into 
 which the letters would be thrown promiscuously. 
 Those wishing their mail might go and hel)) 
 themselves from the box, taking out all the mail, 
 looking it over and returning what they did not 
 want. DeWitt, the teacher and postmaster, was 
 quite a man for his bottle, and at times would go 
 on a regular spree. Sometimes he would take a 
 child on his shoulder and run through the town, 
 yelling like an Indian. In those good old days a 
 negro with a good gourd fiddle would be i)ropped 
 up in one corner of a 15x15 log cabin, and for the 
 pleasure of dancing to his music, the young man 
 would get a horse or mule, go sometimes as far as 
 twenty-five miles, get some pretty country lass be 
 hind him and — 
 
 Dance all night 'till broad dayligUl 
 
 And go home with the girl in the morning. 
 
 Others would take a yoke of oxen, hitch to a cart 
 and take the whole family, making a two days' 
 trip of it. An incident Mr. Bowen relates of his 
 father, when a young man, is as follows: He 
 started from where Osceola stands with a young 
 lady, in a dug out, to go to Bartield, twenty-five 
 miles up the river, to a dance. By some misman- 
 agement the canoe was capsized and they were 
 spilled out: but Mr. Bowen was equal to the emer- 
 gency, and after swimming to shore with the lady, 
 
 returned to the dug-out, saved his saddle bags, and 
 again returned to the canoe, which he brought to 
 shore in a passably good condition. This they 
 again entered, and went on their way to the dance. 
 This was no unusual occurrence, as they fi-equently 
 went to dances and camp meetings in dug-outs, and 
 as frequently were upset. One time at a camp 
 meeting "Old Stormy.'' a preacher from Big 
 Lake, rode a mule into camp, and while he was 
 expounding the gospel, the boys got his mule, 
 tied a bee-hive to its tail, and sent it flying 
 through the camp grounds. It is hardly neces- 
 sary to add that ' ' Old Stormy ' ' was filled with 
 righteous wrath, and that the camp meeting was 
 broken up. W. J. Bowen is the owner of 160 
 acres in one tract, 100 acres being under cultiva- 
 tion, and he is also the owner of forty acres near 
 Osceola. He is now living on the Dan. Matthews' 
 place, one mile from the town, where he has about 
 iiOO acres under cotton and corn, and has on his 
 place about forty people. He was married to Miss 
 Mollie J. Wilks, a daughter of John Wilks, of 
 Pemiscot County, Mo., and five children were born 
 to this marriage, two of whom died in childhood: 
 Ollie P. , who died at the age of seven years, and 
 Charles E. , who died at the age six years. Those 
 now living are named as follows: Sallie E., at 
 home; Ella L. , and an infant unnamed. Mr. 
 Bowen' s father. Capt. Charles Bowen, is one of 
 the oldest known citizens of the county. 
 
 H. E. Bowen, farmer of Swan Township, is 
 now successfully following the occupation to which 
 he was reared, and which has been his life-work, 
 a calling that has for ages received undivided ef- 
 forts from many worthy individuals, and one that 
 always furnishes sustenance to the ready worker. 
 Mr. Bowen first saw the light of day in a log cabin 
 near the present site of the village of Osceola, Mis- 
 sissippi County, Ark., in the year 1853. His 
 father, Reece Bowen, came to Mississippi County 
 at a very early date, and there died in 1850, leaving 
 his widow and six children to the tender mercies 
 of the world. She kept her children together un- 
 til her death, which occurred in 1800, and then the 
 home place was divided and sold. H. E. Bowen 
 was so unfortunate as to receive very limited 
 
 '*~7\s 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 473 
 
 mlucatioaal advantages in youtli, and when eight- 
 ecu years of age he began renting land, engaged in 
 agficultural pursuits, and this occvipatiou he hits 
 followed ever since. His marriage with Miss Minnie 
 Fassett, daughter of J. J. Fassett, occurred in 
 1878, and three interesting children are the result 
 of this union: William Douglass, Hovpard E. and 
 Joseph Reece, At the age of thirty Mr. Bowen 
 bought 480 acres of land, and has opened up 125 
 acres of as rich bottom land as can be found, and 
 which averages from three fourths of a bale to a 
 l)ale per acre each year, with a cost of from $5 
 to 16 per acre for the work. He is classed among 
 the live, energetic farmers of the county, and is a 
 man universally respected. 
 
 Howard H. Bowen. To show what industry, 
 perseverance and good management can do in con- 
 (jnering difficulties, it is only necessary to record 
 some of the facts of Mr. Bowen' s career from ear- 
 liest childhood up to the present day. Left an or- 
 phan in infancy, he has carved ovit his own fortune 
 and has attained an enviable footing among the 
 leading agriculturists of the county. He was horn 
 in Osceola on the 21st of January, 1856, being the 
 only child born to his parents, and the day follow- 
 ing his birth his father died and was followed to 
 the grave by the mother eight days later. At the 
 time of his death the father was engaged in farm- 
 ing, and was also in commercial business in Os- 
 ceola. He belonged to one of the prominent pio- 
 neer families of the county, a short history of 
 whom is given in the sketch of Cajit. Bowen 
 Howard H. Bowen was cared for l:>y his grandpar- 
 ents, but they, too, died when he was about two 
 years of age, after which he was cared for by an 
 aunt, Mrs. Ruth Bnrk, and then resided with 
 James H. Edrington, an uncle by marriage. Later 
 he made his home with an uncle, John C. Bowen. 
 and then again with his aunt, Mrs. Burk. When 
 he was about eight years of age he was taken into 
 the family of his uncle. Arthur C. Boweu, with 
 whom he remained until he attained his majority. 
 During this time his advantages for acquiring an 
 education were of a rather inferior description, but 
 this fault he has remedied iu a great measure by 
 reading, contact with business life and intercourse 
 
 30 
 
 with hi.s fellowincu. After starting out in life for 
 himself he began working ou a farm at 122 per 
 month, less hoard, washing and mending, for John 
 Matthews, and at the end of six months had saved 
 •1107, only sfjouding during this time the. sum of 
 12.60 for his personal needs, an instance of fru- 
 gality rarely seen in the young men of the present 
 day. He was employed as a farm laborer, woi'k- 
 iug by the mouth, until the 27th of December, 
 1879, and up to that date had saved $500. With 
 this money he made a payment of $450 on an un- 
 improved farm of 120 acres, near Elmont. On 
 this place he at once began clearing land, selling 
 his wood at 50 and 65 cents per cord, and lived in 
 a little log cabin, 8 x 10 feet, which wa.s scarcely 
 high enough for him to stand erect in. Here he 
 worked until the fall when he went to Osceola, and 
 during the winter was employed in a cotton-gin. 
 In the spring of 1881 he put in the first crop that 
 was ever raised on the place, which amounted to 
 some eight acres of cotton and corn, and the next 
 year had in about twenty-five acres, which he cul- 
 tivated by hiring men with teams, not yet having 
 been able to purchase a span of horses. About 
 this time he met with some reverses, the floods of 
 1882-83 injuring his fences by washing them 
 away and piling up logs and drift of all descrip- 
 tions; but with the energy, push and pluck which 
 are among his leading characteristics, he continued 
 at his work and now has the entire tract cleared 
 and under cultivation, it being also highly ini 
 proved, with a fine dwelling-house, a good barn, 
 warehouse and a large steam cotton gin. The lat- 
 ter has a capacity of twenty-five bales per day 
 and was erected at a cost of 14,000. In addition 
 to this admirable farm he owns a tract of 120 
 acres, two miles west of the river, forty acres of 
 the land being under cultivation, and from this he 
 derives a very fair rent. Four years ago it was a 
 tract of wild land, but is now being put under cul- 
 tivation and is improved with a good house. In 
 the year 1887 he was united iu marriage to Miss 
 Fannie S. Boyles, a native of the county and a 
 daughter of Chailes Boyles, who was one of the old 
 settlors of this region. Their only child, Charley 
 Bard, died on the 15th of May, 1889. at the age 
 
jjl 
 
 474 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 of fourteen mouths aud fourteeu days, deeply 
 mourned by his sorrowing parents. Mr. Bowen is 
 a member of Lodge No. 27, of the A. F. & A. M. , 
 at Osceola. He has always been very temperate, 
 and up to the age of twenty-six years had never 
 taken a drink of liquor in a saloon. 
 
 Charles Boyles. A lifetime spent in pursuing 
 one calling will usually result in substantial suc- 
 cess, especially if energy and perseverance are ap- 
 plied, and such is found to be the case with Mr. 
 Boyles, who, from boyhood, has given the occu- 
 pation of agricultui'e the principal part of his time 
 and attention. He was born on Tennessee soil in 
 1831, and was brought to Arkansas by his father, 
 William J. Boyles. in 1849, settling on a tract of 
 extremely wild land in Mississippi County. Like 
 the majority of native Tennesseeans, the father 
 was energetic and thrifty, and the first year 
 cleared four acres, cutting down the canebrake 
 with a hatchet, and by perseverance and industry 
 soon had a comfortabh? home. Here he resided 
 until his death, which occurred the first year of 
 the Rebellion. His wife was a Miss Marjory 
 Blackmore, of Tennessee, who bore him a family 
 of ten children, of whom Charles is the eldest. 
 The latter was an attendant of the schools of Os- 
 ceola, being compelled to walk a distance of four 
 miles to receive his instruction. His first en- 
 trance upon life's duties for himself was in the 
 capacity of a farmer when in his twenty-first year. 
 The first two years he worked out by the month, 
 then cut cord-wood for the same time, after which 
 he gave his attention to raising crops of cotton and 
 corn on rented land. After the death of his par- 
 ents, the old homestead was divided, and sixty 
 acres fell to his share, of which forty are under 
 cultivation. His marriage with Miss Emeline Pace 
 was celebrated May 20, 1852. She is a native of 
 Chicot County, Ark., coming to this county in 
 1840. Their union has been blessed in the birth 
 of ten children, four of whom are living: John P. ; 
 Thomas, who is married to a Miss Blackwood aud 
 lives on his father's farm; Fannie, wife of H. H. 
 Bowen, and Naufiett D. Mr. Boyles is a member 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 T. P. Bragg, though still a young man, is 
 
 rapidly and surely making his way to the front in 
 agricultural pursuits and is considered by all a 
 careful, painstaking farmer. He was born in 
 South Carolina in 1854, and was the second of 
 four children born to Wiley and Sarah (Otts) 
 Bragg, who were also born in the " Palmettp 
 State," the former being an energetic farmer of 
 that region. The earliest recollections of T. P. 
 Bragg are of sjiending his time upon the home farm, 
 but at the early age of fourteen years he left the 
 parental roof and emigrated westward to Tennes- 
 see, in which State he was engaged in farm labor 
 for four years. He was married there in 1873, to 
 Miss Margaret Denton, and immediately after came 
 to Mississippi County where, after working as a farm 
 laborer for five years, he rented land and put in 
 a crop for himself. He has farmed in this manner 
 ever since, but conducts business on a very exten- 
 sive scale, and his success has been exceptionally 
 good. He has 250 acres in crops, and besides this 
 has a farm of eighty acres (which he purchased in 
 1887) under the plow, it being located about two and 
 one-half miles north of Osceola, aud is very advan- 
 tageously situated. On coming to this county the 
 greater portion of the land in this section was in a 
 wild condition, but has been opened up since his 
 arrival. He has been quite an active politician, 
 and his votes are cast for Democratic candidates. 
 The names of the children born to himself and 
 wife are Ada Elizabeth, Maud M. , Thomas W., 
 William Walker, Maggie L. and Charles. 
 
 Dr. Thomas G. Brewer, whose celebrity in the 
 healing art is widespread, was born in Aberdeen, 
 ', Miss., in 1851. His parents were Samuel C. and 
 Mary A. (Pritchett) Brewer, of Virginia, who 
 moved to the State of Mississippi at an early 
 period, where the father became a very prominent 
 contractor for the erection of buildings. Thomas 
 was the youngest of fourteen children, of whom 
 four boys entered the Confederate army, one of 
 them being killed at Gettysburg, one dying in 
 prison at Rock Island, having been captured at the 
 battle of Chickamauga, and the other two serving 
 through the entire period of the war, of whom one 
 is residing at Water Valley, Miss., and the other is 
 a popular physician at Lamar, Miss. The father of 
 
 -^ 
 
e t^ 
 
 ?^ 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 475 
 
 these boys died iu 187U, and the mother nine years 
 previous. Thomas remained at home durino; the 
 war, beinif then too young to bear arms, and 
 studied mathematics under his father, pre2><iratory 
 to entering the university. His first intention was 
 to adopt the law, but his father's financial ruin 
 soon after the war changed his plans, and he 
 joined his brother, W. W. Brewer, at Lamar, to 
 study medicine. He remained with his brother 
 one year, and then attended the Jefferson Medical 
 College at Philadelphia, where he remained one 
 year. On his return he won a scholarship at a 
 comjietitive examination held in the Louisville 
 Medical College at Water Valley, Miss., and re- 
 mained at that college during the years 1873-74, 
 graduating in February of the latter year. On 
 his return to Lamar he began practicing his pro- 
 fession, and continued at that place until 1879. 
 It was during the yellow fever epidemic of 1878, 
 that the Doctor displayed his heroism, and the 
 courage to face death, where thousands were panic- 
 stricken and fleeing in all directions to escape the 
 scourge. He remained at his post, and with his 
 Ijrother's assistance attended case after case with 
 a nerve that was magnificent, and won the ad- 
 miration of thousands. During his residence in 
 Lamar he was elected mayor and quarantine com- 
 missioner, and held the office of mayor for several 
 years. In 1879 he removed to Monroe, Phillips 
 County, Ark. . where he remained for two years, 
 but losing his health to some extent, he thought 
 it Ijetter policy to return to Lamar. After one 
 year's residence there he improved, and then came 
 to Mississippi County, Ark., settling at Pecan 
 Point, to practice his profession. He remained 
 here until 1887, and then moved to Fort Smith, 
 l)ut the ill health of his family again compelled 
 liim to change, and he returned to Mississippi 
 County, where he has since been permanently lo- 
 cated, and has built a comfortable home. His skill 
 is too well known to comment upon, and his practice 
 embraces a stretch of some twenty miles upon the 
 river front, and several of the islands; besides this 
 it is rapidly increasing. The Doctor is a member- 
 of the County Medical Society and of the Tri State 
 Medical Association of Mississippi. Arkansas and 
 
 Tennessee, and at one time was vice-president of 
 the latter society. He also belongs to the Masonic 
 fraternity and the Knights of Honor, Lodge No. 
 8315, of Pecan Point, and was instrumental in the 
 organization of these lodges. In 1876 he was 
 married to Miss Mollie C. Hudson, of Lamar, 
 Miss., and they are the parents of one child, a boy 
 named Norman W. Dr. and Mrs. Brewer are mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
 and are both active in all church work. Some idea 
 of the Doctor's skill may be gathered from the 
 fact that last year he attended 130 families, and 
 but two deaths occurred out of that number, which 
 is one of the most creditable records of any physi- 
 cian in that section. 
 
 Gideon R. Brickey, of the firm of G. K. 
 Brickey & Bros. , general merchants and planters 
 of Osceola, Mississippi County, Ark. . first saw the 
 light of day in Ste. Genevieve County, Mo., in 1850. 
 The paternal ancestors of Mr. Brickey came orig- 
 inally from France in 1080, and settled in South 
 Carolina, but later moved to Georgia. They left 
 their native land on account of religious oppres- 
 sion, and were among the Huguenots who came to 
 America at that time for freedom of belief. Since 
 then this family has been among the pioneers in 
 the settlement of several States. In 1814, John 
 Brickey, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, 
 settled in Washington, Mo. Of the nine living 
 children born to John C. and Emma (Carpenter) 
 Brickey, Gideon R. is the fourth. His parents 
 were natives of Missouri, and the father was for a 
 long time a miller in that section, but is now in 
 business in Festus, Mo. Gideon R. Brickey at- 
 tended the public schools of Missouri, and had a 
 more thorough course of private instruction at 
 home, until the age of eighteen; then, in 1872, with 
 his brother Peter, made a trip on a flatboat, taking 
 photographs on the Mis.sissippi River. They were 
 engaged in this novel life for three years, and in 
 1875 Mr. Brickey came to Osceola and started a 
 general store. He is the oldest business man in 
 this place. In 1878, his brother Peter, who was 
 also interested in the business, made his home iu 
 Osceola, and in 1885, another brother, John, 
 joined them also, so that the individual members 
 
 i) ""V ' 
 
^- 
 
 410 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 of the above mentioned firm are Gideon R., Peter 
 and John Brickey. They now have one of the 
 lavjrost and finest stores in Osceola. This firm also 
 have large farming interests, and buy and sell cotton 
 as well as gin it. In 1885, they started a produce 
 and commission business in Memphis, Tenn. , con- 
 tinued there one year, and then opened a branch 
 store at Marianna, Lee County, Ark. , where they 
 have a rapidly increasing business. In 1882, they 
 erected a fine storehouse, the finest perhaps, in 
 Osceola. They have also bought town property, 
 on which they have erected fine residences. In 
 1878, Mr. Brickey selected Miss Emily Price, a 
 native of Tennessee, for his life companion. She 
 died in 1 883, and left one child, Maggie H. . who 
 died when four years old. In 1886. Mr. Brickey 
 married, for a second time, Miss Lula Roussan, 
 a native of Missouri, who bore him one child, Arthur 
 Gideon. Peter Brickey was married about 1881, to 
 Miss Laura E. Miller, a native of South Carolina. 
 One child, a son. Garland Smith, is the result 
 of this union. Mr. Brickey is at present living in 
 Lee County, where he is managing the branch store 
 at Marianna. He purchased the Hewitt estate at 
 that place, and is becoming prominently identified 
 with that section. John C. , the youngest member 
 of the firm, was born in 1856, and was educated 
 mostly at home. He has been engaged in mercan- 
 tile pursuits most of his life, and is a wide-awake, 
 business young man. He was married in 1879, 
 to Miss Emma C. Bastwick, a native of Illinois, and 
 their union has been blessed by the birth of one 
 child, a daughter named Mabel, whose birth oc- 
 curred in 1880. 
 
 J. B. Brisendine. The entire life of Mr. 
 Brisendine has been passed in ceaseless activity, 
 and has not been without substantial evidences of 
 success, as will be seen from a glance at his pres- 
 ent possessions. He is numbered among those of 
 Georgia nativity now in this county, in which 
 State he was born in 1839, being the third of 
 five children born to James R. and Elizabeth 
 (McDowell) Brisendine, both of whom were na- 
 tives of the ' ' Old North State, ' ' where they 
 were also reared and married. After the latter 
 event they moved to Georgia, where the father fol- 
 
 lowed the mechanic's trade until 1860, at which 
 date they removed to Jackson County, Ark. , where 
 they both died in January, 1861, within four days 
 of each other. J. B. Brisendine spent his youth in 
 Atlanta, Ga. , where he also received his education 
 and learned the liricklayer's trade; but in 1860 he 
 removed with his parents to Arkansas, and at the 
 opening of the war enlisted in Company I, Mat- 
 lock's regiment of the Confederate States Army, 
 and was assigned to the Trans-Mississippi depart- 
 ment, afterward taking an active part in the battles 
 of Prairie Grove and Helena, also a ruimber of other 
 engagements of less note. At the cessation of hos- 
 tilities he went to Memphis, Tenn., and became an 
 employe of Brown. Jones & Co., coal dealers of 
 that place, with whom he remained until the fall 
 of 1866, when he came to Mississippi County. 
 Ark., locating near Frenchman's Bayou, where he 
 was engaged in making brick for about two years, 
 his being the fii'st establishment of the kind on the 
 Bayou. He then followed the bricklayer's trade 
 in Tennessee until 1878, after which he returned to 
 Mississippi County, and settled in Chickasawba 
 Township, where he purchased a small farm con- 
 taining forty acres, on which he resided and made 
 many improvements for two years; then was com- 
 pelled to vacate owing to defective title. He soon 
 after purchased the farm of 151 acres on which he 
 is now living, it being situated two miles south of 
 Blythesville. The place was a complete wilder- 
 ness, but during the eight years of Mr. Brisen- 
 dine' s occupancy he has reduced sixty acres to a 
 high state of cultivation, has erected a substantial 
 dwelling house and barn, and has the trees on fifty 
 acres deadened and ready to be removed. His land 
 is quite productive, and will readily yield a bale of 
 cotton to the acre and forty bushels of corn. Jan- 
 uary 20, 1869, he was united in the bonds of matri- 
 mony to Miss Linda Blackwell, of Tennessee, and 
 the following are the children born to their union : 
 Birdie, who was accidentally burned to death at 
 the age of seven years; Ralph E. , Louis A.. Cham- 
 berlin, Eva and Julius B. . Jr. The family are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
 he has been school director. 
 
 George \V. Buckner, agriculturist. One of the 
 
 ^* 
 
9 W. 
 
 ^ 9 
 
 ^ 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 477 
 
 best and neatest farms in Mississippi County, Ark. , 
 is owned by Mr. Buckuer, and his prosperity can 
 be traced directly to his energy, earnest and sincere 
 endeavor and good judgment. He was born in 
 Osceola, Mississippi County, Ark., in 1840, and 
 was married in 1861, bis union resulting in the 
 birth of five childi'en. His farm comprises a tract 
 of 500 acres, of which 155 are under cultivation, 
 and of this he has cleared about twenty-five acres 
 himself, erected several dwelling hoiises, and has 
 made other valuable improvements on his property. 
 On his various farms he has eight families of ten- 
 ants living. In 1S66 he b(jught the machinery for 
 a steam cotton-gin, which is now being operated 
 in connection with Rncker Bros., who are leading 
 merchants and agriculturists of Bartield, Ark. The 
 life of Mr. Buckner has been one unmarked by any 
 unusual occurrence outside of the chosen channels 
 to which he has .so diligently af)plied himself, but 
 he deserves much credit for the admirable manner 
 in which he has overcome the many difficulties 
 which have strewn his pathway during his life of 
 nearly half a century, and in the acquisition of his 
 present fine property he has shown himself to be 
 a man of sound judgment. 
 
 Dr. Benjamin A. Bugg. For a period now of 
 about twenty -nine years, he whose name heads this 
 sketch has been a resident of Mississippi County, 
 Ark., and during this time he has enjoyed a repu- 
 tation as an honorable upright man, and a solid, 
 substantial and thoroughly reliable citizen. The 
 history of his life is not unlike that of other pro- 
 fessional men, and yet there has been that individ- 
 uality about him that has gained for him many 
 friends. Dr. Bugg was bom in Davidson County, 
 Tenn., in 1835, and was the fourth in a family of 
 eight children born to Benjamin and Nancy Green 
 (Towns) Bugg, whose birthplaces were Virginia 
 and North Carolina, respectively. They were mar- 
 I'ied in the State of Tennessee, and there the 
 father pursued the calling of agriculture until bis 
 death, in 1847, his wife also dying in that State 
 in 1881. She was a member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, South. Benjamin A. learned the 
 details of farm work in his youth, and acquired 
 sufficient education in the schools of his native 
 
 county to permit him at the age of twenty-one 
 years to engage in teaching the "young idea," 
 which occupation he successfully carried on in 
 Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas. He was mar- 
 ried while in Tennessee to Miss Martha A. John- 
 son, a native of that State, and the next year per- 
 manently located in Arkansas; after a few days" 
 stay at Osceola, he went to Clear Lake, where he 
 remained for three years, being engaged in wield- 
 ing the ferule and farming. He then followed the 
 same occupations in Chickasawba Township until 
 1872, and at this date, having given much of his 
 attention to the study of medicine, he began prac- 
 ticing the healing art, being also engaged in stock 
 raising on a farm of forty acres, which he pur- 
 chased in the township. After improving this 
 place, he sold it, also several other tracts, and in 
 1875 purchased a fine tract of eighty acres in 
 North Chickasawba Township, on which he made 
 his home for one year, after which he moved to a 
 farm south of Blythesville, and the year succeed- 
 ing he purchased an interest in Judge Daniel's 
 estate, in Cooktown, where he made his home dur- 
 ing 1877-78. In 1877, his estimable wife, who was 
 a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, departed this life, leaving him with four- 
 children to care for: Lillie G. , wife of J. J. Thomp- 
 son, who resides on her father" s farm ; Mattie A. , the 
 deceased wife of J. C. Clemens, she belonged to the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South; Nancy Ann. 
 who died in infancy ; Benoni Harris, who died when 
 seven years of age, and Jesse Neely, whose death 
 occurred at the age of four years. He owns in all 
 about 600 acres of land, with fully 400 acres in a 
 high state of cultivation. All his land is very pro- 
 ductive, and his farm in North Chickasawba Town- 
 ship is considered among the best in this section 
 of the country. His residence is a tasty cottage, 
 very neat in design and finish; and as he is a man 
 of refined tastes he surrounds his home with many 
 comforts and luxuries, and on the beautiful lawn, 
 in front of his house, flowers of every hue bloom 
 luxuriantly. His buildings are all in excellent 
 condition, and his place is thoroughly improved in 
 every respect, thus showing the care and thrift 
 which have ever characterized the Doctor's career 
 
 V 
 
^ 
 
 478 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 through life. He has from time to time been more 
 or less interested in commercial pursuits, and up 
 to the year 1889 has a mercantile establishment 
 in Gooktown. He has always been interested in 
 political affairs, and in 1884 was chairman of 
 the Democratic executive committee of Missis- 
 sippi County. In all matters of public interest 
 he is usually found among the first supporters, and 
 in school matters he has been particularly interest- 
 ed, having held the office of school director for 
 many years. The Doctor took no part in the late 
 Rebellion until the fall of 1804, when he joined 
 Price on his raid through Missouri and Kansas, 
 and was an active participant in all the battles of 
 that campaign. He was a member of Kitchens' 
 regiment, crossed the Missouri River at Arrow 
 Rock and proceeded to Glasgow, where they 
 had a victory. His was the only regiment that 
 crossed the river. After their return they joined 
 the main body of troops, and soon participated in 
 severe engagements at Independence and Big Blue, 
 after which they proceeded to Kansas and then south 
 to Arkansas, reaching the latter State at about the 
 close of the war. The Doctor allowed his beard 
 to grow for twenty years and it had then attained 
 a length of six and one half feet, after which he 
 had it removed. A portrait of him appears in this 
 work, which was taken when his beard was long- 
 est. He is a member of Osceola Lodge No. 27, 
 A. F. & A. M. , and he and his wife, whom he mar- 
 ried in 1886, and whose name was Mrs. Rosa A. 
 Felts, nee Carney, of Tennessee, were members of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. She died 
 June 25, 1888, leaving one child, Benjamin Alex- 
 ander. 
 
 C. F. Bush. In mentioning those of foreign 
 birth who have become closely associated with the 
 farming interests of Mississippi County, Ark., we 
 should not fail to present an outline of the career 
 of Mr. Bush, for he is one who has fully borne 
 out the reputation of that class of industrious, en- 
 ergetic and prudent men of German nativity, who 
 have risen to prominence in different portions of 
 this country. He was born in 1832, and was the 
 second in a family of eight children born to George 
 H. Bush, who came with his family to the United 
 
 States in 1838, and settled in the State of Tennes- 
 see, where he remained until the opening of the 
 war, at which time he removed to Mississippi 
 County, Ai-k. , and began farming on a tract of 160 
 acres in Chickasawba Township, and there died 
 three years later. C. F. Bush grew to manhood 
 on his father's farm, but in 1867 found a worthy 
 companion in the person of Sarah Ann Garrison, 
 of Mississippi County, she being the daughter of 
 one of the old residents of the county. Mr. Bush 
 soon after purchased a tract of 160 acres, all wild 
 land, but some time after sold eighty acres of this, 
 and purchased eighty acres in another tract, of 
 which twelve acres were under cultivation. At the 
 present time he has forty acres under the plow, 
 and will soon have twenty-five acres more which are 
 almost ready for cultivation. In 1887 he built a 
 good hoiise, and as far as buildings, fences and or- 
 chards are concerned, has his farm well improved. 
 He is making a specialty of raising a good grade 
 of stock, and has twenty-five head of horses, and 
 a fine male animal which has won a good record. 
 His land is fertile, and yields a bale of cotton to 
 the acre. The following are the children born to 
 himself and wife: Martha E., wife of J. T. Battles; 
 John Henry, Stenie E., who died at the age of 
 seven years ; Mary A. , Minnie and Kittie. Mr. 
 Bush has been a member of the school board, and 
 is active in school work. 
 
 Benjamin F. Butler, another prominent busi- 
 ness man of Osceola, was born on Frenchman's 
 Bayou, on the banks of Butler's Lake, in the year 
 1839, and is the elder of two children born to 
 Jesse and Urena (Clark) Butler, natives of New 
 York and Kentucky, respectively. The father 
 was a gentleman of education, and in 1826 came to 
 Arkansas in company with his mother, sister and 
 brother- in-law. They settled on a small lake 
 about eight miles southwest of Pecan Point, and 
 this lake was afterward, and is still, known as 
 Butler's Lake, so called in honor of its first set- 
 tlor, Mr. Jesse Butler. Mr. Butler and his brother- 
 in-law each selected 160 acres, and proceeded 
 to make a home in the wilderness. After mak- 
 ing such improvements as were necessary, they 
 turned their attention to stock raising, which was 
 
 ^i= 
 
''^ — 4 
 
 ^ 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 479 
 
 very profitable from the fine rfinge. These early 
 settlers dependecl on their own labor for most of 
 their supplies, spinning yarn and m.'iking their 
 own garments, and were compelled to go to Ran- 
 dolph for groceries, etc. When Osceola was se- 
 lected as the county seat, Jesse Butler helped to 
 survey the road for their section to that place. 
 This old settler assisted in the county organization, 
 was elected constable of his section, and held that 
 office almost continuously until his death, which 
 occurred in 1844. During the time of the early 
 history of this region, Mr. Butler was a very useful 
 citizen, and being a man of education and good 
 practical ideas, many sought advice and counsel 
 from him. This family, like all others at that 
 time, ground their meal by hand, and secured their 
 meat from the forest. They endured many priva- 
 tions, and paved the way for fnture generations. 
 Mr. Butler died in the house where he located at 
 first, never having sought a change from his first 
 choice of location. Benjamin F. Butler was born 
 on the above described place, where he resided 
 until eleven years of age, when he moved with his 
 mother to the vicinity of Osceola, where she died 
 in 1852. Benjamin was then a lad of thirteen, 
 and began fighting the world's battles for himself. 
 He had but slight educational advantages, but by 
 his own earnest endeavors secured a fair education. 
 When the war opened Mr. Butler enlisted in Capt. 
 Bowen's company; was in the battles of Shiloh, 
 Corinth, Dug-gap, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Frank- 
 lin, where he was wounded, biit he remained with 
 his command until he reached Tupelo, Miss. , 
 where he secured a furlough and returned home. 
 He then worked for several months in the field as 
 a farm laborer, and in 1866 started in the saloon 
 Inisiness, which he has carried on ever since. He 
 has met with good success in his calling, and al- 
 though his trade is large, he prides himself on his 
 quiet and orderly house. His standing in society 
 illustrates forcibly the truth that 
 
 Honor and shame from no condition rise — 
 Act well your part; there all the honor lies. 
 
 During 1882 and 1883 he ran on a steamboat in 
 the Osceola and Memphis trade, but has always 
 kept up his business in Osceola. On the 9th of 
 
 May, 1867, his marriage with Miss Evaline Hale 
 occurred. She was the eighth child in this fami- 
 ly [see sketch of ))rother J. To Mr. and Mrs. But- 
 ler were born eight children, only one now living : 
 Clarence E., who resides at home. Those de- 
 ceased are Willie, Martha Lurena, Jesse Bird, Eva 
 Aurena, Benjamin F., Carrie and Claud. In 
 1870 Mr. Butler bought a lot in Osceola, and has 
 since erected a fine residence, which, surrounded 
 with plants and flowers, and supplied with all the 
 conveniences, makes a very attractive home. 
 
 B. S. Carleton. As an example of the useful- 
 ness and prominence to which men of character 
 and determination will attain, we have but to 
 chronicle the life of Mr. Carleton, one of the most 
 extensive cotton growers within the limits of Missis- 
 sippi Coimty. He was born in Lafayette County, 
 Miss., in 1851, and moved with his father. Dr. A. 
 Carleton, of Virginia, to Memphis, Tenn., when but 
 eight years of age. He received his education in 
 the Memphis schools, with the exception of three 
 years which he spent in the schools in Mississippi, 
 and afterward studied medicine for two years in 
 Memphis. He then went to his mother, who was 
 living on a plantation in Coahoma County, Miss. , 
 and was engaged in agricultural pursuits for sev- 
 eral years. Going from there to Commerce, 
 Miss., he followed merchandising for three years, 
 and then came to Nodena about twelve years ago. 
 Since that time he has been speculating in cotton, 
 and runs a plantation. His average yield of cotton 
 is from 300 to 650 bales per year, and he has now 
 about 300 people on his place. He is proprietor 
 of the landing known as the Idaho & Tonages, 
 and is also proprietor of the places known as 
 Idaho, Clark, Carleton Lake, Pitman and Lower 
 Tonages, which contain about 1 , 200 acres of land. 
 Mr. Carleton is the owner of a cotton-gin and saw- 
 mill. In 1880 his marriage to Miss Ida V. Bell 
 was consummated, she being of Memphis birth, the 
 daughter of W. J. Bell, of North Carolina, and 
 Josephine (Moore) Bell, of Shelby County, Tenn. 
 Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Carle 
 ton: Cleave, Byron and Carrie, all at home. Mr. 
 Carleton is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
 Lodge No. 27, Osceola, Ark. Mr. and Mrs. Carle- 
 
^ 
 
 « w_ 
 
 480 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ton ai'e people of retinement and taste, and are con- 
 nected with some of the best families of the county ; 
 they are also well known and much esteemed in 
 Memphis, Tenu. Mr. Garleton takes great pride 
 in the fact that he is a descendant of the State 
 that was ' ' the mother of Presidents, ' ' and of the 
 Scotch-Irish Carletou family. 
 
 Edgar A. Carleton. The history of every com- 
 munity is made up of the events and transactions 
 which have occurred in the lives of its prominent 
 representative citizens, and in giving a worthy 
 history of Mississippi County, a sketch of the life 
 of Mr. Carleton would be most appropriate, for he 
 has been unusually successful, and in his farming 
 operations has always combined the practical with 
 the theoretical, his long experience in that calling 
 rendering him fully capable of doing so. He was 
 born in Lafayette Count}', Miss., in 1855, and 
 remained in his native county until eleven years 
 of age, when his father, Alex. Carleton, with 
 his family, which consisted of his wife and seven 
 children, of whom Edgar A. is the fourth, removed 
 to Memphis, Tenn. , where the children received 
 sufficient educational advantages to fit them for 
 the ordinary duties of life. At the age of nine- 
 teen years Edgar A. went to Tunica County, Miss., 
 where he engaged in farming and merchandising, 
 continuing successfully until the fall of 1877, when 
 he moved to Lee County, Ark., remaining one 
 year, being also occupied in farming and merchan- 
 dising at this point, following the latter occupa- 
 tion for the mercantile firm of Ferguson & Ham- 
 son. In 1879 he came to Mississippi County, 
 where his mother, brothers and sisters had pre- 
 ceded him, and took charge of a store for the 
 above named firm, which he conducted in a highly 
 successful manner until 1882, doing a business 
 amounting to $50,000 per annum. In addition to 
 this he and a brother attended to over 2,000 acres 
 of land, employing in different capacities from 
 300 to 500 hands, and shipped in one year 1,100 
 bales of cotton. In the latter part of 1882 he and 
 A. B. Carouthers formed a partnership and em- 
 barked in the mercantile business at Richardson 
 Landing, just across the river from where he is 
 now located, but in the spring of the following year, 
 
 owing to poor health, he sold out his share to his 
 partner and took a trip through Texas, Mexico and 
 New Mexico, returning home much improved in 
 health, at the end of five months. He again began 
 working for his fonner employers, Messrs. Fer- 
 guson & Hamson, and about four months later, in 
 the month of December, while sitting in the store 
 
 I after dark, he was fired upon through a window 
 by a man. who shot him in the left breast with 
 a double-barreled shot gun, the wound being so 
 serious that he was obliged to give up work until 
 the 22d of April. The would-be murderer was 
 caught and sentenced to the penitentiary for nine 
 years. After recovering, Mr. Carletou went to 
 Frenchman's Bayou, where he purchased the mer- 
 
 ( cantile stock of R. E. L. Wilson, where he re- 
 mained in business until January, 1885, returning 
 the following year to Nodena. He is now engaged 
 in farming (his land being rented of Mr. Ferguson), 
 and has about 425 acres in cotton and corn, which 
 requires the care of from fifty to 150 men. His 
 wife, who was Miss Nina Uzzell, was born in this 
 county in 1860, her parents, J. W. Uzzell and wife, 
 having settled at Frenchman's Bayou in 1858. 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Carleton have been born two 
 
 [ children: Edith Orr and Nina Gray. Mr. Carle- 
 ton is a Mason, and a member of the Knights and 
 Ladies of Honor. 
 
 W. F. Carloss' name has become a familiar 
 one to the people of Mississipjai as well as the sur- 
 rounding counties, and his genial, sincere nature, 
 no less than the business in which he is engaged, has 
 tended to bring about this result. His birth oc- 
 curred in Phillips County, Ark., in 1859, he being 
 the second of four children born to A. C. and Eliz- 
 abeth (Harkleroads) Carloss, the former of whom 
 was a prominent farmer and miller of that county, 
 whither he moved in 1848, beginning his ca- 
 reer as a farmer on a very limited scale indeed. 
 He now owns 2,000 acres in one body, 600 being 
 under cultivation, and as he has held the office of 
 justice of the peace there for many years, he is very 
 well known, and has been given the cognomen of 
 "Squire Carloss." Upon growing up, W. F. Car- 
 loss was instructed in all the details of farm life, 
 and received his elementary education in the com- 
 
 
'.±. 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 481 
 
 mon schools of Phillips County, which was after- 
 ward supplemented by one and a half year's attend- 
 ance at the Christian Brothers' College of Memphis, 
 Tenn. , acquiring in that well known institution an 
 education of more than ordinary thoroughness. 
 Upon reaching the age of twenty-one, he began 
 as fireman, but was soon afterward promoted to the 
 •position of conductor on the Arkansas Midland 
 Railroad, serving in the latter capacity for two years. 
 He then filled the position of station agent and 
 postmaster at Marvel, Ark., from 1880 to 1883, 
 and at the latter date was married to Miss Mittie 
 Hudson of Phillips County. He soon after became 
 interested in well-boring, purchased a set of tools, 
 and began drilling wells in Arkansas, Mississippi, 
 Missouri, Tennessee and California, and did so 
 well at the business that he is now operating six 
 sets, two of which are run by steam. He has had 
 extensive experience in this business, and agrees 
 that if, after the well is sunk, the water-supply 
 is exhausted, he will charge nothing for his work. 
 He sinks his well to a great depth in order to ob- 
 tain water from coarse white sand and gravel, and 
 not one has ever been known to fail; a well at 
 Osceola supplies two forty-horse power engines. 
 They are becoming very popular in this part of the 
 country, as they are lasting and cheap, and are 
 spoken of in a highly flattering manner by every 
 one. In 1887 this business was organized as the 
 Carloss Well Company, their main office being at 254 
 Second street, Memphis, Tenn. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Carloss have a son named Leslie. 
 
 J. J. Carr, a prominent planter at Barfield, was 
 born in Robertson County, Tenn., in 1853, and was 
 the fifth child of Robert D. and Elizabeth (Lowe) 
 Carr, of Viigiuia and Tennessee, respectively. The 
 father was an extensive farmer and stock raiser in 
 Tennessee, until 1858, when he moved to Missis- 
 sippi County, Ark. , and settled at Barfield, on the 
 farm upon which his son now resides. At his 
 removal Mr. Carr sold his property in Tennessee for 
 f no. 00(1, and invested the greater portion of that 
 sum in lands of this county, buying some 10,000 
 acres of land, and erecting a handsome residence 
 one mile from the river. Since that time the river 
 banks have caved in to such an extent that the 
 
 residence has been removed one mile farther back, 
 and now the river flows directly past it. The elder 
 Carr, soon after his arrival, began improving his 
 land on quite an extensive scale, and in a short 
 time had over 200 acres of land under cultivation. 
 His death occurred in 1861, at the age of fifty-five 
 years, just three years after his settlement in Ar- 
 kansas. After his decease the estate was managed 
 by his widow and her oldest son. At the age of 
 sixteen years J. J. Carr attended school at High 
 Plains, Tenn. , and afterward entered the seminary 
 at Walnut Grove, where he remained for three 
 years, returning to Mississippi County on the oc- 
 casion of his mother' s death. He then entered the 
 business house of Edi'ington & Co., at Osceola, 
 and occupied a clerical position for three years, 
 after which he went to Memphis, Tenn., and trav- 
 eled for a firm of cotton factors. At the first out- 
 break of yellow fever, in 1877, he gave up his 
 employment, and returned to Mississippi County, 
 where he took possession of his farm, then con 
 sisting of 125 acres under cultivation, but num- 
 bering in all about 1,100 acres. He has added 350 
 acres more since then, and has some 1 50 acres 
 under cultivation, well stocked and fenced. Mr. 
 Carr was married in 1882 to Miss Susie Phillips, of 
 Missouri, a daughter of Richard R. Phillips, one of 
 the oldest settlers of New Madrid County, Mo. 
 This union has given them three children: John 
 Haiden, Rosa Louise and an infant daughter. 
 Mrs. Carr is a devout Christian, and belongs to the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Carr is a 
 member of Osceola Lodge No. 1153. Knights of 
 Pythias. His land will average one bale of cot- 
 ton to the acre, and about fifty bushels of corn, 
 and in connection with his farming interests he 
 operates a cotton-gin on his place, and owns 
 the steamljoat landing, known as the Chickasawba 
 Landing, where most of the cotton from the town- 
 ship of that name is shipped, and the goods for 
 that locality are received. Mr. Carr is a gentle- 
 man of pleasing manners and address, and is well 
 and popularly known throughout that section, 
 where he is highly esteemed. 
 
 N. G. Cartwright, sad<ller and harness-maker 
 of Osceola, and one of the public-spirited citizens 
 
 :x: 
 
■482 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 of that city, is a native of Nortli Carolina, his 
 liirth occurring in 1841. His scholastic advantages 
 were rather limited, as he only attended the com- 
 mon schools until twelve years of age, after which 
 he was apprenticed to learn the harness-maker's 
 trade, and served three years. He then began 
 working at his trade, which occupation he continued 
 for about four years, and during that time be- 
 came convinced that a better education was neces- 
 sary, and attended school one year. In 1861, 
 when the late Civil War broke out, Mr. Cartwright 
 enlisted in Company F, First North Carolina In- 
 fantry, and was in Lee's army from its organization 
 to the surrender. He was in the battles of Roanoke 
 Island, where he was captured, biit soon paroled ; 
 was at the battle of Chancellorsville, also the 
 battle of the Wilderness, and was in a great many 
 minor engagements. He surrendered at Appo- 
 mattox with Gen. Lee's army, April 9, 1865. Mr. 
 Cartwright was then in North Carolina for about 
 a year, and in the spring of 1866 moved to 
 Memphis, but in August of the same year he came 
 to Osceola, where he taught the public school for 
 two years. He married Miss Sallie E. Williams, 
 daughter of James H. Williams, of that place, and 
 one of the old and much respected citizens of the 
 county. After his marriage Mr. Cartwright rented 
 land and engaged in agricultural pursuits. Soon 
 after he purchased 160 acres about twelve miles uji 
 the river, and on this he made many improvements. 
 This very pleasant home he sold at the end of 
 three years, but continued farming for a number of 
 years after that. In 1879 he started the first 
 saddlery and harness-making shop in Osceola. He 
 purchased a lot in that city, erected a store, and 
 in 1882 built the line residence in which he 
 now resides. In 1888 he put up his present store- 
 room on Main Street, and now has a good and 
 rajjidly increasing business. In 1883 he was 
 elected mayor of Osceola, and in 1888 he was 
 elected justice. By his union with Miss Williams 
 Mr. Cartwright became the father of these chil- 
 dren: Charley W., who died at the age of two 
 years; Mary Frances, died in infancy; Foster, also 
 died in infancy; Katie, James W., Vance, Leland 
 and Henry (twins, and both deceased), and Finley. 
 
 Mr. Cartwright is a representative business man, is 
 careful and painstaking in all matters relating to 
 the saddlery business, and carries a full and com 
 plete stock of goods. His parents, Noah G. and 
 Cassandra (Bailey) Cartwright, were both natives 
 of North Carolina, where the father carried on 
 agricultural pursuits. 
 
 A. L. Cissell. Among the representative men • 
 of this county none are more favorably known or 
 more highly respected than the above-mentioned 
 gentleman. His prominence arises from personal 
 worth, which the public is not slow in recognizing, 
 as well as from distinguished family connections, 
 he being a direct descendant of Sir Robert Cecil, 
 who was an exile fi-om England on account of relig- 
 ion, and who first settled Cecil Coimty, Md. Mr. 
 Cissell was born in Bar Township, Daviess County, 
 Ind. , in 184-t, and is the son of J. A. Cissell, who 
 came with his father, James S. Cecil, from Nelson 
 County, Ky. , when a boy, and settled in Indiana. 
 Here James A. Cissell changed his name fi'om 
 Cecil to Cissell, and so it has since been continued 
 by the Kentuck}' branch of the descendants. A. 
 L. Cissell was reared at Loogootee, Ind., until 
 eighteen years of age, and upon the bursting of the 
 war cloud which had hovered above the country for 
 so long a time, he enlisted in the Fifty-second In- 
 diana Volunteer Infantry, and served four years, 
 taking part in the campaign from Fort Donelson 
 to Mississippi, or Harrisburg, where in 186-t he 
 was severely wounded. He was then sent to the 
 Overton Hospital in Memphis, and from there 
 home on a furloiigh. In August. 1864. he re- 
 turned to the regiment at Jefferson Barracks, Mo , 
 and was afterward in a fight at Franklin, Mo., 
 with Gen. Price. After this he was put in charge 
 of the wounded and sent to the marine hospital at 
 St. Louis, where he remained for some time, 
 later going home to vote. Subsequently he rejoined 
 his regiment at St. Louis, just from the raid after 
 Gen. Price in Missouri, and from there accompanied 
 it to Nashville. Tenn., although classed as non- 
 combatant, owing to the wound in his right 
 shoulder. He was sent to the hospital, and re- 
 joined his regiment at Montgomery, Ala., just 
 prior to being mustered out at Indianapolis, Ind., 
 
 17; 
 
i^ 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 483 
 
 in September, 1865. Mr. Cissell then returned to 
 Loogootee, Ind. , where he rented hind of his fa- 
 ther, and was there united in man'iage to Miss 
 Sarah C. Brown, daughter of Felix Brown, of 
 Loogootee. In 1869, in company witli his father 
 and brother, Mr. Cissell made a prospecting tour 
 to Mississippi County, Ark., and there bouglit 213 
 acres of land, while his father bought 100 acres, 
 mostly timber land. The next year they brought 
 their families and settled on land situated on Car- 
 son's Lake, about six miles southwest of Osceola, 
 where he cleared some 200 acres. There A. L. Cis- 
 sell remained until 1879, when he engaged in mer- 
 cantile business at Osceola, and continued in this 
 for two years, when he sold out at a loss of 
 $13,000. After paying every cent he was left in 
 debt to the amoimt of 1928 which, in 1884, he 
 managed to place in the hands of one man. He 
 then resumed agricultural pursuits, and is now the 
 owner of 505 acres, with 165 under cultivation. 
 In 1888 he was a candidate for sheriff of Missis- 
 sippi County, but was defeated, owing to the fact 
 that he left the field in the heat of the contest to 
 undergo the most trying ordeal which can befall a 
 man, the loss of a true and loving wife. She died 
 July 9, 1888, leaving three children: Maggie is 
 Mrs. O. W. Stacey, and now lives on a farm near her 
 father's; Nora is the wife of J. H. Meyers, whose 
 sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, and Til- 
 den is at home. Mr. Cissell is a member of 
 the A. O. U. W., located at Osceola, and is a 
 member of the Catholic Church, as was also his 
 wife, who died in that faith, holding membership 
 in the Church of St. Matthew, at Osceola. 
 
 John W. Conley. This young agriculturist is 
 the son of a man who during a residence of four- 
 teen years in this county became well known and 
 prominently identified with the county's interests. 
 James Conley was born in the "Old Dominion," 
 being a member of one of the first families there, 
 and was married in the State of Arkansas to Miss 
 Rebecca Cutright, who was born in Indiana. They 
 took up their abode in Mississippi County, Ark., 
 in 1854, settling at Daniel's Point, and began farm- 
 ing along the river, Mr. Conley having been pre- 
 viously engaged in flat-boating. He made this his 
 
 home until his farm was carried away into the 
 river, then moved back to Clear Lake and bought 
 160 acres of land, on which there was a slight 
 clearing and a few improvements made. He 
 erected him a house, made other improvements in 
 the way of buildings and fences, and there resided 
 until his death in 1868, having lived a life of use- 
 fulness and honor. His widow still survives him. 
 From earliest boyhood John W. Conley has been 
 familiar with life on a farm, and at the age of nine- 
 teen years entered upon active life as a farmer, 
 which occupation has received his attention up to 
 the present time, the jjerseverance and industry he 
 has displayed being rewarded by substantial re- 
 sults. He first tilled the soil in Chickasawba 
 Township for seven years and in 1883 settled at 
 Clear Lake on a tract of 106 acres, which had 
 previously belonged to his father, where he has 
 made some improvements in the way of repairing. 
 His marriage with Miss Elma Patterson was cele- 
 brated in 1874, she being a native of Indiana, and 
 a daiighter of an old pioneer of this section. To 
 them have been born a family of five children: Re- 
 becca, Andrew J., Rosetta C, Eldord and Naomi. 
 Mr. Conley is serving as school director, and has 
 always been interested in the advancement of edu- 
 cation, as well as all other good works. He was 
 born in 1856, and was the second of seven children. 
 Thomas B. Craighead was born near Nashville, 
 Tenn., about 1800. He was a younger brother of 
 David Craighead, also a lawyer. He came to Ar 
 kansas about the year 1838, purchasing a large 
 tract of land opposite Fort Pillow, where he opened 
 quite an extensive plantation. Mr. C. was a bach- 
 elor, and of the simplest of tastes. He was un- 
 ambitious as a farmer, and continued after his re- 
 moval to Arkansas to practice law, as he would say, 
 to support the negroes on his farm. He rarely 
 left his home except to attend court at Osceola or 
 at the neighboring county seats in Tennessee. Mr. 
 Craighead was a man of extraordinary character. 
 At home he was simple in his habits, living in a 
 plain log cabin, with no as.sociates except his 
 negroes, yet he was a man who would have shone 
 consj)icuously in any company in the United States. 
 His mind was clear and active, well stored with in- 
 
484 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 formation of every kind, his manners most fascin- 
 ating; modest, generous, eloquent, hospitable, 
 charitable, he is to this day remembered by and 
 lovingly spoken of by the older inhabitants as the 
 noblest man they ever knew . He was never known 
 to collect a bill for legal services, although he was 
 engaged on one side or the other in almost every 
 case of importance in the county or neighborhood. 
 If his client paid his fee, well and good; if not 
 well also. Before the war Mr. Craighead, much 
 against his will and inclination, was elected a sen- 
 ator to represent his county in the Arkansas legis- 
 lature. Such was his popularity among his legis- 
 lative brethren that against his vain protests they 
 named a new county, then just formed, after him. 
 The bombardment of Fort Pillow drove Mr. Craig- 
 head from his home, and being much exposed and 
 in advanced years he was seized with pneumonia, 
 and died on a neighboring farm belonging to one 
 of his nephews, where his remains now lie. 
 
 James B. Craighead, a man of marked charac- 
 ter and more than ordinary prominence in the ma- 
 terial affairs of Mississippi County, Ark., is the 
 eldest son of David Craighead, one of the pioneers 
 of Arkansas, who was born near Nashville, Tenn. , 
 in Davidson County, in 1790, and for some years, 
 after reaching maturity, was a resident of that city, 
 where he practiced law, and at one time represent- 
 ed his county in the State legislature as a senator. 
 About the year 1834 he purchased a large body of 
 land in Mississippi County, Ark., on a point oppo- 
 site the town of Randolph, in Tipton County, 
 Tenn. , and with the help of slave labor opened a 
 large plantation, but continued to make his home 
 in Nashville. As was the custom of planters before 
 the war, he passed a part of each year with his 
 family on his plantation, and became so charmed 
 with life on the banks of the Mississippi river, 
 among his humble retainers, that he would gladly 
 have remained there all the time except for the 
 necessity of educating his children, of whom there 
 were then five. He died at Memphis, Tenn., in 
 1849, while on his way home from Little Rock, Ark. , 
 where he had been on a matter of business. He 
 was a man of fine personal appearance, cultivated 
 and refined, and his views on all subjects were 
 
 broad and liberal, betokening a studious mind and 
 deep thought. He was an intimate friend of An- 
 drew Jackson and James K. Polk, always a Demo- 
 crat in his political views, and an advocate of 
 free trade. At this point it will not be inappro- 
 priate to give a short history of Mississippi Coun- 
 ty as it was at the time of Mr. Craighead's set- 
 tlement. While but a Territory, the lands of Ar- 
 kansas comprised within the present boundaries of 
 Mississippi County were surveyed by the United 
 States Government during the years 1824, 1825 
 and 1826, and were placed for entry in the land 
 office at Helena, Ark., at 61.25 per acre. The land 
 was covered with forests of cottonwood, gum, elm, 
 hickory, walnut, ash and other timber, while the 
 undergrowth consisted of almost impenetrable cane 
 brake, which grew to the height of twenty feet, 
 the stalks being over an inch in diameter. Tlie 
 remainder of the land was covered with water dur- 
 ing the overflows, to a depth of from one to ten 
 feet, and is yet to a great degree occujjied by fine 
 cypress brakes. Hardy jjioneers visited this section 
 soon after it was surveyed, and with infinite trou- 
 ble and pains examined and located the sections 
 and quarter sections of land best suited for culti- 
 vation, which as a general rule lay near the Mis- 
 sissippi River. The knowledge which they had 
 gained they sold for a consideration to capitalists 
 from other States, who entered and purchased the 
 land. Among those who availed themselves of 
 this opportunity may be mentioned Nathan Ross, 
 David Craighead, Thomas B. Craighead, John 
 Harding, Jacob McGavock, William Baird, Charles 
 Bowen, Isaac Lanier, Edwin Jones and many 
 others. These parties were true pioneers, coming 
 to the country when it was a wilderness, inhabited 
 by bears, wolves, wild cats and other wild animals. 
 The reputation which Arkansas had at that date, 
 and has since had, of being a resort for murderers 
 and criminals of every description, was not de- 
 served, for the actual residents of Mississippi Coun- 
 ty were then, and are now, at least were until the 
 close of the war, a quiet, peaceful and law-abiding 
 people. The region was no place for the conceal- 
 ment of criminals, for the reason that the settle- 
 ments were on a narrow strip of land running 
 
 
;ilong the Mississippi River, elosod in on the west by 
 impenetrable cane-brakes and impassable swamps, 
 and the places for crossing the river were few and 
 far between. The original settlers above men- 
 tioned came to Mississippi County and opened 
 farms between the years 1833 and 1840. Osceola, 
 the county seat, was a small village of about fifty 
 inhabitants, and for many years the most impor- 
 tant cases on the docket of the court were neigh- 
 borhood troubles over a hog or a cow, with an oc- 
 casional indictment of country boys who were 
 caught playing "old sledge" in some out-of-the- 
 way rendezvous. There was not then, and has never 
 been, a stillhouse in the county, to our informant's 
 knowledge, and whisky drinking was a rare vice, 
 the people being perfectly sober, if not remark- 
 ably industrious. Wealthy farmers lived quietly 
 at home, raising crops of cotton and corn, and the 
 poorer classes made a comfortable living cutting 
 and selling cord-wood to steamers, until the cord- 
 wood contiguous to the river gave out, when coal 
 began to be used, owing to its cheapness. The 
 plantations along the river were at first far apart, 
 but have been gradually extended until they touch 
 each other, and most of the available high land is 
 now occupied and cleared. As soon as levees are 
 constructed (and they are now partially built), 
 millions of acres of fine alluvial land will be ready 
 for use. James B. Craighead, the gentleman 
 whose name heads this sketch, was born in Nash- 
 ville, Tenn., in 1825, and generally accompanied 
 his father to his plantation in Mississippi County, 
 Ark. In 1843 he graduated from the University 
 of Nashville, and two years later entered Har- 
 vard University, being graduated from the law 
 department of that institution in 1847. The same 
 year he settled in New Orleans, where he entered 
 the law office of the late Isaac T. Preston, with 
 the purpose of studying the code of Louisiana, 
 but in January, 1849, his father died leaving a 
 widow and several minor children, and James was 
 compelled to return to Arkansas to wind up the 
 estate, which occupied several years, during which 
 time the family resided in Nashville. In October, 
 1849, he was married to Miss Erwin, of Nashville, 
 bv whom he ha<l two children, both living, a 
 
 daughter being married to W. Hooper Harris, of 
 Nashville. The other child, Erwin Craigliead, 
 received such education as was possible in the dis- 
 organized condition of affairs in Nasliville during 
 the war, and at the close of hostilities he sjjcut one 
 year at Racine College, Wis., going from there to 
 London, England, whore lie resided for a short 
 time. He then spent one year in the University 
 of Leipsic, Germany, and aft.er returning home, 
 was married to Miss Harris, of Nashville. Having 
 selected journalism as a profession, he moved to 
 New Orleans, where, in conjunction with another 
 gentleman, he establislied a daily paper, which 
 still exists, called " The States. " A year or two 
 later he sold his interest in that paper and re- 
 moved to Mobile, Ala., where he was employed as 
 a reporter on the staff of the Mobile Register, from 
 which position he was promoted to the city editor- 
 ship, and then to managing editor, which position 
 he now holds. James B. Craighead, after his 
 marriage, while continuing his interests in Arkan- 
 sas, opened a hardware store in Nashville, which 
 he managed successfully until it was closed by the 
 Federals in 1862, who required an iron-bound 
 oath, which Mr. Craighead could not take. In 
 1873, Mr. Craighead's wife died, and in 1876, he 
 took for his second wife. Miss Alethea Allison, also 
 of Nashville, and soon after moved to his planta- 
 tion, "Stonewall," in Mississippi County, Ark., 
 where he has resided ever since, being the only 
 member of his family who makes that State his 
 home. He does not farm his lauds in the usual 
 sense of farming, but rents out his place in small 
 farms of twenty and thirty acres, to tenants, of whom 
 he has about forty families, among whom he lives in 
 a quiet and patriarchal manner. His views on the 
 labor question are as follows: "One great draw 
 back to the prosperity of this section of the coun- 
 try is the greed for land which possesses many 
 men who hold hundreds and thousands of acres 
 more than they can possibly use. and still hunger 
 for more. There is, however, a wiser feeling on 
 j the subject, and many are dividing, or contemplate 
 ' dividing, up their surplus lands and selling them 
 1 out on long time to permanent settlers. As a large 
 portion of the residents and workers of Mississippi 
 
 "rv" 
 
486 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 County are negroes, who are nomadic, restless and 
 irresponsible, it has been found that the best way 
 to make this people staid and respectable is to 
 make them laud owners. As soon as one of this 
 people settles as the owner of a hit of land, he 
 gives up his nomadic habits and becomes a law- 
 respecting citizen. The wi'iter thinks (after more 
 than sixty years of association with colored jjeople, 
 as the owner of slaves and the employer of freed- 
 men) that the safety of the South depends upon 
 civilizing these people, not simply by educating 
 the children, but mainly by giving the people in- 
 terest in the country as land owners — as an exper- 
 iment, it is perfectly safe. If a man owns 10,000 
 acres of uncultivated land, and sells out one-half of 
 it to small buj^ers, say in forty or eighty-acre tracts, 
 giving long time for payment, he can not possibly 
 lose anything. If the land is paid for, well and 
 good; if it is not paid for, it reverts to him or his 
 heirs, in an improved condition, partly cleared, 
 with houses, fences, etc. , upon it, and in condition 
 to yield revenue, which it had never done before 
 under the creation. As a mere hireling or laborer, 
 African or white, a man is the enemy of, or at least 
 antagonistic to, the landlord, and hostile to law, 
 which he presumes is made for the benefit of the 
 latter, but the moment he buys land, he becomes 
 a landlord himself, and ranges himself on the side 
 of law and order. It would be well, not only for 
 Mississippi County, but for the State at large, if 
 two- thirds at least, if not all the men living therein, 
 owned lands of their own and cultivated them." 
 Mr. Craighead is quite literary in his tastes, 
 and subscribes for a large number of papers, mag- 
 azines and journals, of literary, religious and scien- 
 tific character, and is passing his old age in con- 
 tentment and peace, esteemed and respected by all 
 who know him. 
 
 T. Y. Crawford. It was fifty six years ago 
 when the subject of this sketch was born, his 
 birth l)oing in St. Francis County, in this State, 
 and he now occupies a position among the agri- 
 culturists of this county which is by no means an 
 inferior one. He is the eldest of nine children 
 born to Moses and Evaline (Wright) Crawford, 
 both of whom were natives of South Carolina, the 
 
 former coming to the State of Arkansas in his 
 youth, and was married near Helena. He first 
 busied himself in rafting and hunting, and also 
 did a little farming, but other occupations at that 
 time were more profitable. They resided here 
 during our subject's youth, then went to the 
 State of Mississippi, but returned to Osceola, 
 Ark., in 1844, and made one crop, after which 
 they settled on land in Chickasawba Township, 
 which is now known as the Cook farm. Here 
 they cleared thirty-five acres and lived ten years; 
 then selling the farm and moving to Pemiscot 
 Bayou, which farm is now occupied by our subject, 
 and on which the father died October 23, 1888, at 
 the age of eighty- three years, and the mother at 
 the same place, August 24, 1876, aged fifty-two. 
 He was among the men who early cast their for- 
 tunes with the then new county of Mississippi, 
 and he is remembered with esteem and respect by 
 the few remaining pioneers, who are one by one 
 passing to their long home At the age of seven- 
 teen years, T. Y. Crawford began working for 
 himself, being engaged in hunting and working 
 in wood yards on the river, and previous to his 
 marriage, at the age of twenty-three years, to 
 Miss Myra Potter, he had purchased a farm in 
 Missouri; this farm he traded to his father for 
 the home place, and here he has since resided. 
 His farm comprises 274 acres, sixty of which are 
 under cultivation, and is improved with fair build 
 ings, fences and orchards. In 1888 he began 
 running a trading boat down the bayou, but the 
 next winter he brought the stock of goods to 
 his home and started to keep a store, which has 
 proved fairly successful. The children born to 
 himself and wife are as follows; John T., George 
 W., Wesley, Margaret P., W. Richard S., Isaac 
 Y., Mary Bell, Edward M. and Henry L. Mrs. 
 Crawford is a true Christian lady, and always 
 tries to do as she would be done by. 
 
 H. C. Davis. This respected citizen of Missis- 
 sippi County, Ark., has been a resident of this 
 locality since 1874, and has been associated with 
 its mercantile and farming interests, and not with- 
 out substantial results. His birth occurred in Mad- 
 ison County, Tenn. , in 1847, but his parents, Henry 
 
^ 9 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 487 
 
 W. and Martha M. (Holmes) Davis, wore born in 
 NortL Carolina, but were taken to the State of 
 Tennessee when young, and were there reared and 
 married. The father was quite an extensive plant- 
 er of that State, which occupation he continued 
 to pursue until his death, in 1803. H. C. Davis 
 passed the most important years of his life (the 
 days of his youth) on the old homestead in Madi- 
 son County, in the meantime acquiring a fair 
 knowledge of the common liranches; and after his 
 father's death he continued to remain at home and 
 assist in supporting his widowed mother and the 
 remainder of the family, which consisted of four 
 children, until 187-1, when, as stated above, he 
 came to Mississippi County, Ark. He rented a 
 farm on Crooked Lake and made a crop that year, 
 continuing thus until 1877. Prior to this, in 
 1878. in partnership with his brother and brother- 
 iu law, he had started a mercantile establish- 
 ment in Blythesville, but, in the fall of 1882, the 
 tirm was dissolved, and three years later Mr. Davis 
 lesumed in the same business alone at that point, 
 selling out a year later. Since 1888 he and his 
 brother have conducted a general store in Blythes- 
 ville, and being a man of keen business foresight, 
 he has been able to meet the wants of his customers 
 in every instance, and has built up a large patron- 
 age by his thoroughly honest and reliable dealing. 
 In 1880 he purchased eighty-five acres of land in 
 Chickasawba Township, on which he built two 
 houses, and cleared forty acres from timber and 
 brush, and put it under cultivation. Two years 
 later he purchased property in town, and on one 
 lot built a commodious and substantial store-house, 
 aud on another his residence. In 1885 he pur- 
 chased several tracts of land in the vicinity, on all 
 of which he made improvements, and now has 
 very nearly 100 acres under cultivation. Since 
 locating in Mississippi County Mr. Davis has seen 
 many changes for the better take place, and has 
 helped in the organization of the school districts, 
 the education of the rising generation being one 
 in which he takes an active interest. He has 
 served as school director, and although not an act- 
 ive politician, he has always voted with the Dem- 
 I leratic party, aud was elected on that ticket to the 
 
 office of deputy sheriff for a number of years. 
 He is a member of Chickasawba Lodge No. 134, 
 of the A. F. & A. M. During the overflow of 
 August, 1875, Mr. Davis lost over 115 acres of 
 growing crops, which crippled him considerably, 
 but with his usual energy and j)er8everance he be- 
 gan again the next year, and has retrieved his 
 losses in a great measure. He is constantly en- 
 gaged in speculating and trading, his enterprises 
 in this direction being attended with excellent re- 
 sults. Mrs. Sarah A. Eskridge, nee Rose, a native 
 of the ''Hawkeye State," became his wife June 
 24, 1880, and to their marriage has been given the 
 following family of children: Martha Ann, Thom- 
 as W., Mildred Frances and Hillary C. The fam- 
 ily worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South. 
 
 T. W. Davis is a prominent and honored resi- 
 dent of the county and is ranked among its success- 
 ful agricultui-ists. He was born in Madison County, 
 Tenn. , in 1849, being the third of five children 
 born to Henry and Martha M. (Holmes) Davis. 
 [For parents' history see sketch of H. C. Davis.] 
 T. W. Davis was reared to a knowledge of farm 
 life in his native State, attending the district 
 schools, where he received a practical education, 
 sufficient for the necessary purposes of everyday 
 life. He remained with his father engaged in cul- 
 tivating the old homestead until twenty years of 
 age, and two years later was united in marriage to 
 Miss Annie Scallions, also a native Tennesseean. 
 He continued to till the soil in that State for three 
 years after his marriage. In 1873 he became occu- 
 pied with the farming interests of Lonoke County, 
 Ark. , and also attended school there for one year. 
 Here his wife died, leaving him with two little 
 children to care for, but they, too, died soon after. 
 He first located in Mississippi County in the year 
 1875, and after farming for three years in Chicka- 
 sawba Township removed to Blythesville, and 
 opened a store, which he successfully conducted 
 for several years, but also continued his farming 
 operations. He made his first land purchase about 
 the year 1877 and now owns 100 acres, twenty-tive 
 being in a state of cultivation. This is a fine 
 tract of land and is nearly all capable of a high 
 
<5 W- 
 
 488 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 state of cultivation. Mrs. M. E. Pollard, a native 
 of East Tennessee, became his second wife in 
 1880, and by her he is the father of two children : 
 Moms E. (deceased) and Mildred Elsie. He and 
 wife attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
 ever since twenty-one years of age he has taken an 
 active interest in politics, serving as deputy un- 
 der Sheriff Haskins. In 1885 he was elected jus- 
 tice of the peace, serving two years, and in 188U 
 was chosen county assessor, which office he still 
 holds, discharging his duties in a manner aV)Ove 
 criticism, and with a thoroughness highly credita- 
 ble to all concerned. 
 
 William V. Dean, an extensive farmer of Dean's 
 Island, was born at that place in 1855, and was the 
 youngest in a family of eleven children. His par- 
 ents were James C. and Mariah (Wright) Dean, of 
 Georgia and Tennessee, respectively. The elder 
 Dean moved to Arkansas with his father in 1828, 
 and settled on Crowley's Ridge in Craighead Coun- 
 ty. In 1829 the father came to Mississippi Coun- 
 ty and located on what is now the McGavock farm, 
 tielow Pecan Point. He acquired several hundred 
 acres of land at that point, which he afterward 
 sold to Jacob McGavock, and then moved to an 
 island in the Mississippi River, which has since 
 been named Dean's Island in his memory. He 
 bought (500 acres of land upon his arrival at the 
 latter place, and soon afterward purchased 500 
 acres more, and had succeeded in totally clear- 
 ing 400 acres up to the time of his death in 
 1874, at the age of sixty -three years, the mother 
 dying in April, 1889, at the age of seventy-seven 
 years. William Dean remained with his parents 
 during their lifetime, and after his father's death 
 continued on the farm, while the other sons left 
 home and traveled in various directions. In 1880 
 he was married to Miss Tennessee Wigley, of Ala- 
 bama, and this estimable wife has given him live 
 children; William R., James C, Nellie, Eliza- 
 beth M. and Lillie Maud. Mr. Dean, Sr. , in his 
 life was noted for his great strength as well as for 
 his prowess in hunting. He was one of the pio- 
 neers of this section, and made a business of sel- 
 ling wood to the steamboats. He was strong in 
 his denunciation of slavery, but did not sanction 
 
 the war, and would neither enter into the army nor 
 allow his sous to do so. He cleared most of his 
 farm of 300 acres himself, and was a man of great 
 popularity on account of his integrity and truth. 
 His youngest son, William, lives quietly on the 
 old estate, cultivating the land, and has a pleasant 
 home at the upper end of the island. 
 
 J. D. Driver, like so many of the repi'esentative 
 citizens of Mississippi County, Ark., is a Tennes- 
 seean by birth, having been born in that State in 
 1830. At the age of four years he was brought to 
 Arkansas by his parents, Abram and Sallie (De 
 Moss) Driver, who removed from their old home 
 in Tennessee by fiatboat down the Ciuuberland 
 River, and during a storm were blown up against 
 the lauding at Council Bend, in Crittenden County. 
 After a little investigation Mr. Driver discovered a 
 tine body of land at this point, and here decided to 
 make his home, purchasing from the government a 
 tract of land consisting of 1,000 acres, at $1.25 per 
 acre. Here he .settled with his family, consisting 
 of his wife and seven childi-en (four being after 
 ward born to them), and they set bravely to work 
 to improve their land, the result of their united 
 efforts becoming plainly perceptible. On this farm, 
 where he had labored so earnestly and faithfully 
 to provide a competency for his family, he died in 
 1845, leaving his wife to carry on the work he had 
 left uncompleted. This she did for four years, 
 when she, too, died. J. D. Driver, whose name 
 heads this sketch, was the sixth child born to his 
 parents, and as there were no public schools in 
 those days, his early opportunities for acquiring an 
 education were of the most meager description. 
 His two elder brothers and his sisters were, how- 
 ever, sent awav to school bv the father durin<j his 
 lifetime. After the death of the mother the fam- 
 ily became scattered in all directions, and for about 
 two years J. D. Driver diifted aimlessly from 
 one point to another without settled occupation. 
 Being brought up to a farm life he chose that as 
 his calling, and after remaining some time in 
 Phillips County he moved to Lauderdale County, 
 Tenn., where he purchased a farm and made his 
 home from 1858 to 1872. giving mnch of his at- 
 tention to the raising of cotton subsequent to the 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 mi 
 
 year i860. In 1800 he was married to Miss Sarah 
 Gilespie, a daughter of James Gilespie, of Lau- 
 derdale County, Teun. , and granddaughter of 
 John Gilespie, a North Caroliuian, whose wife 
 was a Miss Minerva Nelson, a daughter of Edward 
 Nelson, of South Carolina. Mr. Driver purchased 
 the farm where he now lives, th^ place Ijeing then 
 known as the Hardin farm. It is situated about 
 two miles below Osceola, Ark., and by proper 
 management and strict attention to his calling, he 
 has vastly improved his property and is now ac- 
 counted one of the leading agriculturists of his sec- 
 tion. Up to 1880 he was largely interested in the 
 culture of cotton, to which he devoted from 1,000 
 to 2,000 acres annually, l)ut since that time he has 
 Vjeen renting his land, which amounts to 14,000 
 acres, 11,000 being iu Mississippi County, of 
 which 3,500 are under cultivation. He is in eveiy 
 respect a self-made man, for the money he realized 
 from his father's estate, amounting to $3,500, he 
 invested in slaves a short time prior to the Rebel- 
 lion and consequently lost all. Just before the 
 fall of Fort Sumter he had bought live negroes, 
 paying for one $1,000, for another $1,300, for 
 another $1, 100, and for a negress and child $1,300, 
 she afterward becoming; the mother of two more 
 children. These he lost in addition to twenty 
 head of horses and mules, which crippled him 
 financially, but with the energy and deteimination 
 to succeed, which have ever characterized his efforts, 
 he set bravely to work to retrieve his fortunes, and 
 is now one of the wealthiest planters in Mississippi 
 County, being the heaviest taxpayer. His resi 
 dence is beautifully situated, facing the river, and 
 his lawn and buildings show unmistakable evi- 
 dence of taste and refinement. Around his home 
 is ornamental shrubbery of many varieties; and 
 immense forest trees of sycamore, box elder and 
 elm assist largely in making his home one of the 
 loveliest in the county. During the war. before 
 the Federal troops reached Osceola, Mr. Driver 
 sent his slaves to Alabama for safe keeping where 
 they, iu time, became free, but to his credit be it 
 said that the colored people, with one exception, 
 made their way back to him and are now working 
 on his plantation. A short time ago he received a 1 
 
 letter from the one who remained in Alabama, in 
 which he expressed a wish that he too could come 
 back to his old home. The names of the children 
 born to Mr. and Mrs. Driver are as follows: John 
 Lee, who died at the age of sixteen years; May, 
 who lived to be twelve months old; Abnor, who 
 resides on his own farm of 300 acres near his 
 father, is married and has two children, Harry and 
 Ida May; Minerva Tennessee, who is the wife of 
 B. F. Hale, aud is residing on one of her father's 
 farms across the river in Tennessee; James Skel- 
 ton, who resides on his father's place about three 
 miles from home, is married and has two children, 
 Cecil and Savilla May; William Walter, at home 
 attending school; Eli Edward, Jettie, and Lillie, 
 an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Driver are worthy and 
 respected members of the Baptist Church at Osce- 
 ola, and he is a member in good standing of the 
 Masonic fraternity. 
 
 John B. Driver, farmer, and clerk of the pro- 
 bate court, Osceola. The ])ublic services of Mr. 
 Driver, since 1872, have been characterized by a 
 noticeable devotion to the welfare of this county, 
 and his ability and fidelity in all po.sitions of ])ub 
 lie trust have made a lasting impression upon the 
 sphere of public duty. For many years his name 
 has been closely connected with the history of Mis- 
 sissippi County, not only otlicially but as an hon- 
 ored and esteemed citizen. Mr. Driver was born 
 in Americus, Ga., in the year 1846, and is the el 
 dest in a family of eight children born to Samuel 
 and Mary Ann (Barlow) Driver, both natives of 
 Georgia. The father followed farming and car 
 pentering until 1853, when he emigrated to Inde 
 pendence County, Ark., and bought a quarter sec- 
 tion of land, where he made his home and many 
 improvements. Not Ijeing satisfied, he sold out in 
 1857, and moved to Jackson County, where he 
 bought land, and there resided until his death, in 
 1802. The mother is still living, and makes her 
 home at Sikeston. Mo. John B. Driver learned 
 the rudiments of farm life in his adojited State. 
 and his scholastic advantages were enjoyed in the 
 State of Arkansas. In 1870 he wedded Miss Mar 
 garet A. Bowen, a daughter of Captain Charles 
 Bowen [see sketch of Capt. Bowen], and two yeais 
 
J^ 
 
 a fc». 
 
 later he bought a farm of 160 acres, three miles 
 west of Osceola. There was a slight clearing on the 
 place at that time, and this he greath' increased. 
 Since that time he has been buying land in all 
 parts of the county. In 1887 he bought the place 
 on which he now resides, a tract of 140 acres, all 
 under cultivation and fenced, and one mile below 
 town. He is the owner of 2, 500 acres all together, 
 with about 430 under cultivation. In 1872 he was 
 elected sheriff of the county, and such was his 
 popularity that he was re elected three successive 
 terms, serving in all six years. In 1880 he was 
 elected State senator from his district, and served 
 in this capacity one term of four years. In 1888 
 he was elected circuit and county court clerk, 
 which position he still holds, to the satisfaction 
 of his constituents and the public in general. Be- 
 ing a self made man it may safely be recorded that 
 Mr. Driver owes his success and advancement to his 
 own energy and exertion. His extensive farming 
 gives employment to sixteen families, all of whom he 
 furnishes with provisions, etc. The cultivation of 
 his large plantation of 400 acres results in prosper- 
 ity and plenty to all around him. and gives em- 
 ployment to many people. To the union of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Driver have been born eight children, all 
 of whom are living; they form ample evidences of 
 the sanitary condition of this section. Their names 
 are Charles S.. Willie J., Maggie E., Sue M., 
 John B.. Jr., James Garland, Grover Cleveland 
 and Frances F. Mr. Driver is a Royal Arch Ma- 
 son, a member of Osceola Chapter No. 57, and for 
 a number of years was H. P. of the Chapter. He 
 is also a member of Hugh DePayens Commandery, 
 K. T.. at Little Rock, Ark. 
 
 James Skelton Driver, though still comparative- 
 ly a young man, has already had an active career 
 in agricultural pursuits and is recognized as a care- 
 ful, energetic farmer of Mississippi County, who, 
 by his advanced ideas and progressive habits, has 
 done not a little for farming interests hereabouts. 
 He is a son of James D. Driver, whose sketch 
 appears in this work, and in his youth received 
 good educational advantages, which he improved 
 to the utmost, being an attendant at Alton, 111. , 
 and Frankfort, Ky. After his marriage, which oc- 
 
 curred in Memphis, Tenn. , in 1SS5, to Miss Carrie 
 Kenney, a daughter of the late M. W. Kenney. of 
 Memphis. Tenn. , he moved upon one of his 
 father's plantations and set energetically to work 
 to clear it of timber, and put it in good condition 
 for farming. Fifty acres had already been cleared, 
 and he has since put 150 acres more under the 
 plow and has erected several buildings, including 
 his residence, which is a substantial frame build 
 ing. He employs about twenty-tivepeojjle to keep 
 his plantation in good condition, and has always 
 taken great interest in everything that bids fair to 
 be of benefit to the community in which he resides. 
 He and his wife are the parents of two little chil 
 dren, son and daughter: Cecil and Savilla May. 
 Mrs. Driver's father, M. W. Kenney, was the 
 tarpaulin manufacturer of Memphis, Tenn., and 
 died there on the 13th of August, 1878, of yellow 
 fever, being the first victim of that dreaded scourge 
 in that city. He was fifty-one years of age and 
 was born in Philadelphia. Penn.. in which city he 
 remained until eight years of age. When a young 
 man he married a young lady of Wilmington, Del., 
 and afterward went by steamship to Florida, thence 
 to Memphis about 1850, and was married there to 
 his second wife, whose maiden name was Miss 
 Caroline Klinck, her father being John G. Klinck. 
 whose ancestors came to America in that famous old 
 ship, the ' ' Mayflower. ' ' He was the first man to 
 start a newspaper in Memphis, which took the name 
 of the Evening Bulletin, and was one of the com 
 mittee to receive the Marquis de La Fayette when 
 on his toiir through the United States. He was 
 also connected with the Memphis Appeal, now one 
 of the most popular journals of the day in that city. 
 Abner Driver. As one of the enterprising 
 younger members of the agricultural circle of Mon- 
 roe Township we can not fail to mention Abner 
 Driver, who, having Vjeen identified with the inter- 
 ests of Mississippi County from his birth, is now 
 one of its foremost agriculturists, although young 
 in years. In 1882 he began life for himself, and a 
 tract of 1,600 acres of land was placed at his dis- 
 posal by his father, who is one of the wealthiest 
 men of the county, and. with the exception of 100 
 acres, all of it was heavilv covered with timber. 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 491 
 
 Being a "cliip of the old block" he entered 
 heart and soul into clearing this laud and getting 
 it into good shape for farming, and up to the pres- 
 ent time has put about 300 acres under the plow, 
 and has erected twenty dwelling-houses on the 
 place, among which is hia own handsome residence, 
 a well-finished two-story house in T shape, the 
 main part of the building being 35x48 feet 
 and the annex being 25x48 feet. In addition 
 to this he has a tine barn and a cotton-gin 
 and sawmill, the latter two enterprises giving em- 
 ployment to about twelve men. The different 
 branches of work on his plantation call for the la- 
 bor of at least seventy people, and Mr. Driver is 
 compelled to work early and late to attend to his 
 big farm and keep the wheels of fortune moving. 
 In early life his means and opportunities for ac- 
 quiring an education were excellent, and after at- 
 tending the schools of Cape Girardeau, Mo., he 
 entered the East Tennessee University, located at 
 Knoxville, where he pursued his studies assidu- 
 ously. His wife, a lady of much culture and re- 
 finement, was a Miss Matie Williamson and a na- 
 tive of Mississippi County, her parents being Miss 
 Letha Hale and Mr. B. Williamson. Mrs. Dri- 
 ver is a member of the Baptist Church at Winches- 
 ter, Tenn. , where she received her education, and 
 he is a Mason, both being members of the Kallo- 
 rama Lodge of the Knights and Ladies of Honor, 
 of Osceola. They have two very interesting little 
 children, Harry Lee and Ida May, who add much 
 happiness to their pleasant home. 
 
 Dr. H. C. Dunavant. The professional minds 
 of physicians may be divided into two separate and 
 di.stinct classes, aptly designated the perceptive and 
 the memorative. To one class belong those whose 
 medicinal knowledge and perception depends upon 
 memory; to the other, those who rely chiefly 
 upon their conscious resources and mingle them 
 with their own judgment. To those acquainted 
 with Dr. Dunavant it is unnecessary to mention to 
 which class he belongs. He was born in Tennessee 
 in 1844, and was next to the youngest in a family 
 of fourteen children born to Leonard and Mary 
 Beaufort (Reid) Dunavant. The parents were 
 natives of Virginia and Tennessee, rt^spectively. 
 
 The father left his native State at the age of six- 
 teen and went to Tennessee, where he was engaged 
 in contracting and building for many years. He 
 held the position of major in the War of 1812, and 
 during the battle of Now Orleans, when one of the 
 soldiers was sick, Maj. Dunavant took his gun ami 
 used it with telling effect during the remainder of 
 the engagement. He was also in a number of 
 Indian fights. Later he went to West Tennessee, 
 where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and this 
 occupation continued until his death, which oc- 
 curred in 1869. The mother had died previous to 
 this, in 1850. The maternal grandfather came to 
 Tennessee, and was the first school-teacher in 
 Nashville, where he made his home during life. 
 Young Dunavant attended the common schools of 
 Tennessee until sixteen years of age, and when the 
 war broke out entered the Confederate army, en- 
 listing in Company E, First Confederate Cavalry. 
 He participated in the battles of Paris (Tenn.), 
 Guntown (Miss.), Perry ville (Ky.), Murfreesboro, 
 Chiekamauga. and was with the army on the re- 
 treat through Georgia. He was with Gen. Wheeler 
 in his celebrated campaigns, and also with Gen. 
 Forrest at Gainesville, Ala. , at the time of the suv- 
 render. After the close of the conflict he attended 
 school two years, then earned some money, and en- 
 tered that well-known and far-famed institution, 
 the University of Nashville, and graduated from 
 the medical department in 1873, thoroughly pre- 
 pared to enter actively npon the discharge of his 
 professional duties. He practiced one year with 
 his brother in law, Dr. Mitchell, and January 25. 
 1874, selected Mississippi County, Ark., as the 
 scene of his future labor. He located at Osceola, 
 and there he has since remained. The Doctor 
 travels all over the county, and claims that the 
 sanitary condition of this section has improved very 
 much since his residence here. His career as a 
 physician has long been well and favorably known 
 to the many who have teste4 his healing ability, 
 and abundant proof of his practice at this time is 
 seen in the extended territory over which he goes 
 to alleviate the suffering of the sick. The Doctor 
 was married in 1874 to Mrs. Hattio Lanier, nee 
 Binford, a native of Kentucky. She died in 1878 
 
 r 
 
W2 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 of yellow fever, having borne two children, Harry 
 Binfort, who died just before his mother, aged three 
 years, and Julia. Dr. Dunavant was married the 
 second time, in December, 1879, to Mrs. Bettie 
 Wheeler, nee Pulliam, a native of Tennessee, 
 and the daughter of Elijah Pulliam, one of the 
 oldest settlers in the State of Tennessee, and who 
 died a -short time since at the age of eighty-five 
 years. To the second union were born two ehil- 
 di'en, Harry Pulliam and Buford Nelson. The 
 Doctor is a member of the American Public Health 
 Association, also a member of the Medico- Legal 
 Society of New York, and a member of the Tri- 
 State Medical Society, composed of the States of 
 Tennessee. Mississippi and Arkansas. He is quite 
 active politically, but is not an office-seeker. Aside 
 from his professional duties he is actively engaged 
 iu agricultural pursuits, and in this, as in all 
 other enterprises, makes a complete success. Mrs. 
 Dunavant is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. 
 
 George H. Evans (deceased). For nearly a 
 quarter of a century the name that heads this 
 sketch was borne by a man who was identified with 
 the interests of Mississippi County, Ark., in more 
 ways than one. Honest and worthy in every par- 
 ticular, his life was one of great industry, and 
 was spent in an earnest endeavor to do good to 
 all. His father, Jesse Evans, was a successful 
 cotton planter near Shelbyville, Tenn. , where he 
 married Miss Levina Tipton, a sister of Gen. 
 Jacob Tipton, of Tennessee. George H. Evans's 
 birth occurred in Shelbyville, Tenn., where he re- 
 mained until seventeen years of age, and then fin- 
 ished his education at Covington, in the same 
 State. Afterward he became deputy countj' clerk 
 of Tipton County, and was then elected to the of- 
 fice of circuit clerk, which [wsition he held for 
 a number of years before leaving that county. In 
 1836 he was married to Miss Edith White, daugh- 
 ter of William White, of Tipton County, Tenn., 
 but formerly of North Carolina, and the fruits of 
 this union were three children: Levina Tipton, 
 now the widow of J. W. Uzzell [see sketch and 
 portrait]; J. Tipton Evans, the only son, who en- 
 listed in the late war, but died before reaching the 
 
 field, and Edith E. , married to Dr. St. Clair, by 
 whom she had one son. In 184-1, after the death 
 of his father, who had entered a large tract of 
 land in Mississippi County, but had not proven it 
 up, George H Evans, then a married man with a 
 wife and three children, moved upon the place un- 
 til he could prove up, after which he returned 
 with them to Tipton County. Tenn., and there re 
 sided until 1850. He then returned to the farm 
 with his family, and there continued until his death, 
 which occurred in 1867. He left each of his 
 daughters 1,090 acres of land and his widow 
 5,000 or 6,000 acres, only a few hundred acres, 
 however, under cultivation. Mrs. Evans now oc- 
 cupies one of the most desirable places to be found 
 in the State. She has ten acres of fine orchard, 
 besides some seven acres surrounding the house, 
 where she has 1,000 different varieties of fruits and 
 flowers. She takes great pride in her flowers and 
 spends much of her time among them. She may 
 well be proud of them, for she has virtually made 
 the "wilderness blossom as the rose," as when she 
 came there, in 1850, all was a deep forest and the 
 cane-brake was twenty feet high. Mrs. Evans was 
 born in Pennsylvania, but left that State with her 
 parents when six years old and moved to Tipton 
 County, Tenn. 
 
 Newton J. Evans is the fifth of eleven children 
 born to his father and mother, his birth occurring 
 iu Osceola, Mississippi County, Ark. , in 1849. The 
 occupation he is now following was learned on his 
 father's farm, and during this time, while directing 
 the plow, he received some educational advantages. 
 In 1871, he rented land, began farming on his own 
 responsibility, and four years later commenced 
 following that occupation in Chickasawba Town- 
 ship, his labors being on rented land until 1888. 
 In 1880, he wedded Miss Joe Lee, a daughter of 
 an old pioneer resident of this county, by the name 
 of James Sawyer, and from that time up to 1888 
 he was engaged in raising crops on land belonging 
 to his father-in-law. At the latter date he became 
 the owner of eighty acres of some of the finest land 
 in this section, forty-seven acres being in a tine 
 state of cultivation, and will usually average a 
 bale of cotton to the acre. To Mr. Evans and his 
 
 tS' f' 
 
(deceased) 
 Mississippi Cdunty, Arkansas . 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 493 
 
 wife, who is an earnest member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, have been born the following 
 named children: Alice Dean and Minnie, living; 
 and Maggie, Charles N. and James, who died in 
 infancy. His parents, Newton and Amelia (Bowon) 
 Evans, were born in Putnam County, Ind., and 
 were reared and married in their native State. 
 They removed to the State of Arkansas about 1836, 
 and settled on land near what is now Osceola, 
 where the father cleared about eighty acres of land, 
 and made many other valuable improvements. Af- 
 ter selling this land they purchased other property 
 near Elmot, which they also improved, but meet- 
 ing with heavy losses by fire, they soon moved back 
 to near Osceola, where Mr. Evans passed from life 
 in 1870. His wife's death had occurred in 1854. 
 
 J. E. Felts, a physician of Osceola, was born in 
 East Tennessee, in 1817, being the third in a 
 family of four children born to Tilman and Rebecca 
 ( Ellis) Felts. The father was a carpenter by trade, 
 and also followed farming. The paternal grand- 
 father was a native of Germany, and came to this 
 country before its independence, serving seven 
 years during the Revolutionary War. He died at 
 an old age in Sussex County, Va. Tilman Felts 
 was a pioneer settler of Kentucky, locating in War- 
 I'en County, near Bowling Green, where he re- 
 mained till 1836, and then removed to Jackson's 
 purchase, Hickman County, making it his home 
 till 1856. Then he came to Ai'kansas to live with 
 our subject. He died in Mississippi County, in 
 1857, at the age of eighty-four. Young Felts 
 spent his youth in Kentucky', remaining at home 
 till eighteen years of age, when he moved to Hick- 
 man County, and began farming. In 1839 he 
 married Miss Eliza Pickett, a native of Tennessee, 
 after which he entered upon the study of medicine, 
 under Dr. J. A. Wording, at Columbus. He stud- 
 ied and practiced with this doctor for three years, 
 and then began practicing for himself in the same 
 place, where he remained till 1855, when he came 
 to Arkansas, and located at Mill Bayou, in this 
 count3^ Resuming farming on rented land, he 
 also followed the practice of his i)rofession till 
 1868, when he moved to Osceola, where he has 
 since made his home, enjoying an extensive prac- 
 
 tice till 1875, when failing health caused him to 
 practically retire. Dr. Felts has always been active 
 in the political affairs of Mississippi County. In 
 1878 he was elected county judge, and served for 
 two years; also acting as deputy clerk in 1881 and 
 deputy sheriff from 1883 to 1886. He has seen 
 many changes in these years, and has taken part 
 in most of those that promised to promote the wel- 
 fare of this section. He had two sons who served 
 in the Confederate army: David C, who was a 
 member of Capt. E. H. Fletcher's company, and 
 William T. , who was a member of Capt. Grider's 
 company. David was taken prisoner, and died at 
 Nashville in 1862. William served till the close. 
 To the union of Dr. and Mrs. Felts, who have been 
 married now nearly fifty-one years, were born the 
 following children : David C, Sarah Jane and 
 William T., all deceased; Martha C, wife of H. M. 
 Pope, residing at Nodena; Mary E., wife of John 
 Pierce, living at Caruthersville; John E. , deceased, 
 and Daniel H., married, and residing in Dunklin 
 County, Mo. Dr. and Mrs. Felts are members of the 
 Baptist Church of Osceola. Dr. Felts belongs to 
 Osceola Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M., and Osce- 
 ola Chapter No. 57. He has held nearly all the 
 offices in both lodge and chapter. He is enjoying 
 the autumn days in the declining years of an active 
 and well-spent life among the friends whom he has 
 served so long, esteemed and respected by all. 
 
 Daniel Lee Ferguson was born near Pulaski, 
 Giles Coimty, Tenn., September 30, 1832. His 
 family was an old North Carolina family of Scotch 
 origin. His father, Edmond Ferguson, moved 
 from Wilkes County, N. C, to Giles County, Tenn., ' 
 in 1824, where he soon afterward married Mary 
 Sheron, who was also of a North Carolina family, 
 and of English descent. They both died in 1840, 
 leaving a family of seven children. Daniel Lee 
 was the fourth child, and only eight years of age 
 when his parents died, and from that early age he 
 has fought his way unaided through the world. 
 He is a fine representative of the self-made men 
 of our times. In September, 1852, he married 
 Mary T. Combs, of Pulaski, Tenn. She was the 
 daughter of James Combs, attorney at law, and 
 , granddaughter of Capt. Charles Buford, a noted 
 
man of his day and time. A month after their 
 marriage the young couple moved to Tunica Coun- 
 ty, Miss. , which at that time was an almost un- 
 broken wilderness. Mi-. Ferguson there began his 
 career as a cotton planter, which business he has 
 successfully followed ever since. In 1869, on ac- 
 count of his wife's failing health, he moved to 
 Memphis, Tenn. , where he went into business as a 
 cotton factor and commission merchant, in the firm 
 of Ferguson & Hampson. At the same time he 
 kept up his business as a cotton planter. In De- 
 cember, 1875, his wife died of consumption. Two 
 children were born of this marriage, both of whom 
 died in their early infancy. In January, 1877, 
 he married again, his second wife being Mary 
 Alcy (Carleton), widow of Benjamin R. Norris. 
 Her ancesti-y on the Carleton side belonged to an 
 old Virginia family of English descent. Her fa- 
 ther was a prominent physician of North Missis- 
 sippi before the war. On her mother's side she 
 is connected with the Orrs, Grays and Alexan- 
 ders, tine old Scotch-Irish families of Meck- 
 lenburg County, N. C. , and Mississippi. She had 
 one child by her first marriage. Pearl Eglantine 
 Norris, who died soon after her father, in 1874. 
 One child has blessed this second marriage, a 
 daughter, Alcyone Carleton Ferguson, who is now 
 H bright little girl, eleven years of age. In 1877 
 Mr. Ferguson became interested in the Nodena 
 plantation, in Mississippi County, Ark., which was 
 then in litigation, and when it was sold by the 
 supreme court of the State, in 1879, he bought it 
 for himself and his partner, Mr. Hampson. Imme- 
 diately thereafter he was plunged into a long and 
 expensive lawsuit, which lasted nearly ten years, 
 and seriously crippled him financially. But in the 
 end he gained the lawsuit, after carrying it through 
 all the courts of both Tennessee and Arkansas. 
 His family have made Nodena their home since 
 1879. He found he could not give his business in 
 Memphis the attention it required, and in 1884 
 closed up his afFairs there entirely, and concentrat- 
 ed all his energies at Nodena. He is one of the 
 largest cotton planters on the Mississippi River 
 above Memphis. A view of his l)road fields, white 
 with the open cotton, in the autumn, is a sight 
 
 worthy of admiration. For thirty-seven years the 
 steamers that float on the bosom of the mighty 
 Mississippi have cari'ied his cotton bales to the 
 markets of the world. His plantation, with the rich 
 alluvial lands surrounding it, is interesting from 
 another point of view than its cotton fields. That 
 prehistoric and once mighty race, " The Mound 
 Builders," had an abiding place here, in the cen- 
 turies long gone by, as is evidenced by the mounds 
 they have left behind them. Mighty oaks crown 
 the summits of these mounds, and speak in silent 
 whispers of the watch they have for centuries kept 
 over them. Races come and go, and these mounds 
 still stand, the monuments of a forgotten people. 
 Mrs. B'erguson is an enthusiastic moiind explorer, 
 and has quite a collection of the vessels and imple- 
 ments of those prehistoric people. She hopes to 
 be able, through her explorations, to throw some 
 light upon the habits and customs of that early 
 race. It is with regret that we leave Mr. Fergu- 
 son and his interesting plantation, with the mounds 
 and their buried histories, the cotton fields that 
 will help to clothe the people of the world, and the 
 majestic river as it sweeps onward in its resistless 
 course to the sea. Mr. Ferguson seems to belong 
 to such surroundings. A man of magnificent stat- 
 ure and noble bearing, in his broad bosom there 
 beats a heart that is large enough to sympathize 
 with the sufferings of all humanity. Not one 
 of the human family ever turned from his door 
 hungry, or cold from nakedness. He is always 
 ready to lend a listening ear to the woes of the 
 afflicted and needy, and his purse is always open to 
 the wants of the poor. It can truly be said of him, 
 " He is one of Nature's noblemen." 
 
 Elliot H. Fletcher (deceased) was a native of 
 Charlottesville, Va., born in the year 1805, and 
 was the fifth child born to the second marriage of 
 Thomas Clark and Susan (Jouette) Fletchei'. These 
 families trace their genealogy back to colonial 
 times, and took an active and important part in 
 the early history of Virginia. One of the ances- 
 tors on the mothers side, John Jouette, is remem- 
 bered for his timely warning to the Virginia legis- 
 lature and to Gov. Jefferson, of Gen. Tarleton's 
 purpose to surprise and capture them. They 
 
 *¥ 
 
A^ 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 4ur) 
 
 made their escape, and Mr. Jouette was presented 
 with a handsome sword. At the present time there 
 are a number of prominent artists descended from 
 this family. Until fourteen years of age Elliot H. 
 Fletcher spent his time in his native State, attend- 
 ed a ])rivate school, and clerked in his brother's 
 store. At that age he went to Tennessee to live 
 with an elder brother, Thomas H. Fletcher, one of 
 the most celebrated lawyers in the annals of that 
 State, and whose literary and legal attainments 
 and achievements have often been mentioned in 
 the literature of the Southwest. There he began 
 a thorough course of study under his brother' s ad- 
 vice, and his intimate association with this most 
 eminent man of Tennessee, who then resided in 
 Nashville, gave him means of improvement which 
 supplied the lack of a regiilar collegiate education. 
 When he arrived at man's estate, he was appointed 
 aid-de-camp to Gen. William H. Carroll. At about 
 the age of twenty he engaged in mercantile pur- 
 suits in Fayetteville, under the lirm title of Fletch- 
 er & Carr. This firm did an extensive business, 
 and bought and sold cotton in large quantities. At : 
 the age of twenty-six he was united in marriage i 
 with Miss Frances Hickman, of Fayetteville. This i 
 laily was a great- granddaughter of Gen. Thomas ; 
 Eaton, of North Carolina, a distinguished officer 
 of the Revolutionary War, who married Miss Anna 
 Bland, the sister of Frances Bland, who was the 
 mother of the celebrated John Randolph, of Roan- 
 oke. Miss Hickman's grandfather was Col. Guil- 
 ford Dudley, who commanded a regiment of Con- 
 tinental troops under Washington, and who dis- 
 tinguished himself as a brave and gallant officer. 
 About 188f) Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher came to Crit- 
 tenden County, Ai'k. , and he held some office in the 
 Real Estate Bank of Arkansas. In 1840 he moved 
 to Mississippi Count}', Ark., where he bought 
 a small farm on Mill Bayou, afterward known as 
 Fletcher's Landing. At that time the immense 
 tract of country embraced within the limits of Mis- 
 sissippi County e.xtendod as far west as the St. 
 Francis River, and had a population of about 900 
 souls. All were living in plain huts, very little 
 superior to those of the Indians among whom these 
 white people resided. Such were the surround- 
 
 ings of Col. Elliot H. Fletcher and his fine and 
 accomplished wife. They took up their residence 
 in their log cabin on the banks of the Mississippi 
 River, and there began a hand-to-hand .struggle 
 for existence, against obstacles before which a less 
 brave and determined man would have failed. For 
 many years the encroachments of the " Father of 
 Waters," by overflows and caving l>anks, brought 
 him to the verge of ruin. But as time passed he 
 gradually leveed- in his own river front, and thus 
 having overcome his greatest enemy, the high 
 water, he extended and developed his farm until 
 he found himself in easy and independent circum- 
 stances. Col. Fletcher's noble bearing and pleasing 
 manners, together with his evident talent for bus- 
 iness, soon attracted the attention of the people of 
 the county, and in 1846 he was induced to become 
 a candidate to represent the county in the legisla- 
 ture. He was elected, and served his county and 
 State with distinguished ability, taking rank at 
 once with the foremost men of the State. He was 
 re- elected in 1848, and again in 1850, at which 
 session he was the chief member in organizing the 
 public levee system of the State. In the mean- 
 time his judicious management of his private af- 
 fairs, and his investment in lands, had made him 
 independent, financially, and although his talents 
 for political employment were known and recog- 
 nized throughout the State, the fact of his being a 
 devoted Whig amounted to political disfranchise- 
 ment, for the Democratic party then, as now, 
 reigned supreme in the State. Being a lawyer, 
 though never having engaged in the practice, he 
 was urged to accept the office of circuit judge, but 
 declined, although he would have been promptly 
 elected had he been willing to serve. His three 
 terms in the legislatui-e ended his political career, 
 though to this day, among those who still survive 
 and who knew him, the mention of his name will 
 start many an old man to speaking of his grandeur 
 of manner and ajipearance, his nobility of soul, 
 and the marvelous magnetism about him. Col. 
 Fletcher was an ardent sympathizer with the 
 South, and when the war began he equipped a 
 company known as " The Fletcher Hifles," at his 
 own expense. This company was commanded by 
 
—rf 2) 
 
 bis eldest son, Elliot H. Fletcher, a youth scarcely 
 twenty one years of age, and his only other son, 
 Thomas, a mere boy of fifteen, became sergeant 
 in the company. This company Avas attached to 
 the Third Confederate regiment, commanded by 
 Col. Marmaduke, in Hiudman's legion, and after 
 the hardships of a campaign, it was present at the 
 battle of Shiloh, in which great battle Capt. 
 Fletcher and his brother Thomas were killed. 
 Capt. Fletcher was in the act of waving his sword 
 and leading his men, when he was informed that 
 his brother had just been killed. In another 
 moment he fell dead, pierced with a bullet, and 
 both were buried in the trenches opened for the 
 reception of the dead heroes who wore the blue 
 and the gray. 
 
 Under the sod and the dew. 
 
 Waiting the judgment day. 
 Tears and prayers for the Blue, 
 
 Prayers and tears for the Gn-jy. 
 
 After learning of the death of his boys. Col. 
 Fletcher was seized with a settled melancholy, and 
 was rarely known to smile or take interest in pass- 
 ing events. He was afterward visited by both 
 Federal and Confederate oflScers, and it is but 
 simple justice to say that the Federal officers, 
 even in the midst of the war, treated him with 
 the greatest respect and kindness, especially those 
 on the gun- boats. On one occasion a Federal 
 cavalry command pa.ssed by his house, and a young 
 officer, the surgeon of the regiment, stopped and 
 asked if he was Col. Fletcher; on being answered 
 in the affirmative, the officer replied that his name 
 was Fletcher also. A little investigation proved 
 that he was a nephew, a son of his brother. After 
 a touching interview they bade each other adieu, 
 never to meet again. Such was the respect in- 
 spired by Col. Fletcher that it often happened that, 
 while Confederate officers would l)e in the house, 
 Federal gunboats would land, officers come ashore 
 and be entertained under the Colonel's roof, with 
 the full knowledge that there were Confederate of- 
 ficers in another room. The close of the war found 
 him prostrated in mind and body, and his fortune 
 swept away, but retaining the devoted friendship 
 of every one who knew him. His last days were 
 
 passed in comparative peace and comfort. It quite 
 often happened that boats would land and passen- 
 gers come ashore to visit him. He died July 2, 
 1867. A very beautiful and touching sketch of his 
 life and character was written and published by 
 Albert Pike. His estimable wife survived him 
 many years and died February 29, ISS-t. They left 
 three daughters: Anna, wife of John W. Williams, 
 now residing near Elmot: Frances (or Fannie), 
 unmarried, and Susan, wife of H. M. McVeigh, a 
 lawyer of Osceola (whose sketch may be seen in 
 another part of this volume). Col. Fletcher pos- 
 sessed talents and accomplishments that would 
 have given him a national and enduring reputation, 
 had he lived in, or near, any of the great centers 
 of population. But his isolated situation and the 
 fact of his being a Whig in politics, precluded him 
 from high official positions or achieving a reputa- 
 tion much extended beyond the limits of his own 
 State. He was in person tall and commanding, 
 very dark hair, dark complexion and his eyes, deep 
 set behind heavy eyebrows, were keen and pierc- 
 ing. His manners were gracious, deferential and 
 easy, and he had the happ)' facult}' of making the 
 poorest and humblest feel the dignity of being 
 men, and they consequently revered and respected 
 him. He was the counselor and legal adviser of 
 all in trouble in regard to the title of their lands, 
 and in early times his house would be thronged 
 with pioneers and backwoodsmen, seeking legal ad- 
 vice in this matter, and not a cent of compensation 
 would he receive. Fletcher township, in Missis- 
 sippi Cotinty, is the only public memorial now re- 
 maining of this truly great and good man. 
 
 John W. Fonville, whose name is a synonym 
 of activity and enterprise, was born in Marshall 
 County, Tenn., in 1848, and is the youngest of a 
 family of three children born to Jury and Frances 
 (Smith) Fonville, of that State. The father died 
 the year after John W. was born, and the widowed 
 mother again married five years afterward, her 
 husband being John J. Hazlewood, a well-known 
 resident of that section. Mr. Fonville" s edu 
 cational facilities were somewhat limited in his 
 youth; he succeeded, however, in obtaining a fair 
 amount of learning at the schools of Tennessee, 
 
-< 9 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 497 
 
 and was in a position to cope with tlie world when 
 starting in life for himself. In 1802 the family 
 moved to Mississippi County. Ark., where the step- 
 father was engaged by Mr. John McGavock as 
 overseer for his extensive plantation. In this ca- 
 pacity he remained two years, and then moved 
 about live miles west of the river to Shawnee Vil- 
 lage, where he purchased KiO acres of timber land 
 and immediately began to improve it. He cleared 
 about thirty acres and made a good farm, living 
 here until his death in 1873; he was followed by his 
 wife in 1877. John W. remained with them until 
 he had attained his majority, and then commenced 
 farming for himself on rented land. After three 
 years of labor, he purchased 100 acres of wild land 
 on the river near Shawnee Village, and on this 
 he made a great many improvements, and cleared 
 about forty acres. He then sold out to good ad- 
 vantage and bought 160 acres where he now re- 
 sides, the land being some of the finest in that 
 section. He has cleared some 1 00 acres, and prom- 
 ises to soon have the entire lot under cultivation, 
 which, with five good dwellings, an excellent barn 
 and all the necessary adjuncts, will made one of 
 the finest farms in Mississippi County. Mr. Fon- 
 ville was married in 1871, to Miss Barbara Simp- 
 son of Georgia, who moved to this State with her 
 parents. This lady died in 188B, leaving two 
 childi-en: Drew and Minnie O. In 1883, he was 
 again married, his second wife being Miss Frances 
 Smith, and this union gave them one child, Lad- 
 dus, who died at the age of four years. Mr. Fon- 
 ville is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and 
 belongs to Pecan Point Lodge, in which he holds 
 the office of S. D. He owns a large number of 
 horses, cattle and hogs, and is said to be one of 
 the best judges of cattle in that section. 
 
 R. W. Friend. The life-record of him whose 
 name here appears has been one of more than 
 usual interest, and his career has been of such 
 benefit and influence to the people, not only of 
 Mississippi County, but throughout the State, that 
 a sketch of his life will be of more than passing 
 interest; which, though l)rief, will convey some- 
 thing of an idea of liis usefulness in different 
 walks of life. He is the proprietor of Pecan 
 
 Point, one of the largest, richest and also best-kept 
 plantations along the river from Memphis, Tenn. , 
 to Cairo, 111., and although he has been the owner 
 of the property only a few years he has by his 
 tact, skill and energy converted it from almost a 
 wilderness into well tilled fields of cotton and 
 corn. Shortly after the close of the war he settled 
 a few miles below his present place in the State of 
 Tennessee, where by close economy and industry 
 he became in a few years the owner of 160 acres 
 of land. This land he sold in 1872, and purchased 
 in one body 2,000 acres of his present estate, whicli 
 now amounts to nearly 4,000 acres, a large portion 
 of which is under cultivation, extending about a 
 mile along the river and several miles inland. All 
 the land is well fenced and laid off in well ciilti 
 vated fields of cotton, of which material Mr. 
 Friend ships 1,000 bales annually. The village of 
 Pecan Point, which he founded and owns, consists 
 of one store, one blacksmith shop, one saw-mill, a 
 grist-mill, a cotton-gin, four churches (two of 
 which, the Methodist and Presbyterian, are attend 
 ed by the white residents, and the other two by the 
 colored population) and two schools, the white 
 school having an attendance of twenty pupils and 
 the colored school an attendance of 100 pupils. 
 There are also about forty dwelling houses, all the 
 property of Mr. Friend, with the exception of one 
 dwelling-house, which belongs to his son-in-law, 
 A. M. King, who is the able assistant and business 
 manager of the mercantile establishment at Pecan 
 Point. He is a gentleman well (jualitied by edu- 
 cation and experience for the responsible position 
 he is now filling. Mr. Friend's assistants, serv- 
 ants and tenantry comprise a population of nearly 
 1,000 people, and he also owns a large estate of 
 rich bottom-land, comprising 3,000 acres in Phil- 
 lips County, near Helena, which is under the su- 
 pervision of his brother, E. B. Friend. Mr. Friend 
 is one of the few men in this section who realizes 
 the importance of using the best tools and the la- 
 test improved machinery on his plantation, and. as 
 one of his men tersely puts it, ' ' He uses nothing 
 but the best, either in tools, mules or niggers," 
 and the results have shown his judgment to be 
 sound. In personal appearance he is prepossess- 
 
408 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 iiig anil in disposition is genial and liberal, distrib- 
 uting his wealth with an unstinted hand wherever 
 it is essential to the pleasure or welfare of himself 
 and family or those around him, and as a result he 
 commands the respect and liking of all with whom 
 he conies in contact. He is a native of Missouri, 
 having been born near Jefferson City in 1S;:5'J, but 
 was taken shortly after his birth by his father, 
 F. C. Friend, to Bolivar, Mo. .where be gi-ew to man- 
 hood: and here his early scholastic advantages 
 were enjoyed, though only such as the common 
 schools of that day afforded. By his own individ- 
 ual efforts, and at the expense of diligent study 
 and hard practical experience, he has attained his 
 present enviable position. When the war broke 
 out his sympathies were naturally with the South, 
 and in 1861, in company with his two brothers, 
 Edward and Daniel, and his father, he entered 
 the Confederate service under Sterling Price, and 
 was on active duty until 1864, when he was cap- 
 , tured at La Mine River, his Inother Daniel being 
 killed a short time afterward on Price's last raid 
 into Missouri. Mi-. Friend was taken to Alton, 
 111. , where he was held a prisoner, being afterward 
 released on taking the oath of allegiance. He re- 
 sided for some time in Edwardsville, 111., and af- 
 terward went as far north as Ottumwa, Iowa, at 
 which place he made his home for about six 
 months, then returned to Missouri. In 1868 he 
 settled in Tennessee, nearly opposite where he 
 now lives, but in 1872 came to his present planta- 
 tion, as above stated. His residence is by far the 
 finest and most substantial in the county, and is 
 built in the shape of a T, having a frontage of fifty 
 feet. It is painted white, is two stories in height, 
 with porches above and below, and covers an area 
 of 5,000 square feet. It commands a beautiful 
 view of the river, situated as it is on a bold point 
 of land and only 100 yards distant, and can be 
 plainly seen from steamers as they round the bend 
 from the north, ten or twelve miles distant, or 
 from Island No. iiC), many miles below. The lawn 
 surrounding this ideal home is several acres in ex- 
 tent, and is dotted over with lovely forest trees of 
 elm, oak. cottonwuod. sycamore, pecan, magnolia, 
 etc.; while back of the house is a tine apple or- 
 
 chard, and near by is the residence of his son-in- 
 law, Mr. King, which is the second best house in 
 the county, covering an area of 4,000 square feet. 
 All the buildings in the town are painted white, 
 and present a lovely picture from the river. In 
 1860 Mr. Friend was married near Bolivar, Mo., 
 to Miss Nanc}' Payne, who died in 1806, leaving 
 two children: Miss Virginia, who is a graduate 
 of St. Vincent Academy, at Cape Girardeau, Mo., 
 and is now at home, and Emma, who was educated 
 in the same school and is now the wife of A. M. 
 King, and the mother of three children. Mr. Friend 
 married his present wife in Tennessee, her maiden 
 name being Miss Melissa Carr, of Shelby County, 
 Tenn. , and a daughter of G. L. Carr. Their 
 union has been blessed in the birth of three chil- 
 dren: Miss Nettie, just returned from McMinn- 
 ville, Tenn. , where she had been attending school : 
 Charley, a ladin his teens, whom Mr. Friend ex- 
 pects to give a thorough collegiate education, and 
 Roberta, a little girl at home. The family attend 
 the Methodi.st Church, and Mr. Friend is a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. fraternities, 
 having joined the latter organization in 1866. 
 
 Edwin R. Freeman, whose success as a farmer 
 is proverbial, was born in the State of Tennessee, 
 in 1831, and is a son of James A. Freeman, of 
 North Carolina, who was one of the pioneers of 
 Tennessee, and was known as having built the 
 first chimney in what is now Dyersville. After 
 submitting to the dangers and hardships of an 
 early settler's life, the elder Freeman moved to 
 Arkansas in 1849, but the following year returned 
 to Tennessee, where he died in 1850. On Sep- 
 tember 15, 1851, Edwin R. , in company with his 
 brother James and sister Annie, moved to Missis- 
 sippi Coimty, Ai-k. , and settled in Chickasawba 
 Township, where they bought and entered some 
 247 acres of unimproved land. They immediately 
 began to cultivate the soil, and make a great many 
 improvements, and also started in, the business of 
 raising hogs. In 1854, they had a drove of 850 
 hogs, and from that period began to farm and raise 
 stock on an extensive scale: they also helijed to 
 erect the first corn-mill put uj) in this township. 
 In 1857, Edwin R. was married to Miss Matilda 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 VM 
 
 Hutcbins, a daughter of one of the old settlers of 
 Mississi])pi County, but lost his wife in 1800. Two 
 children were born to this marriage: Susan Ann 
 (deceased), and Thomas, who is married and re- 
 siding in this county. Mr. Freeman contracted a 
 second marriage, in 1801, with Miss Alliua Hutch- 
 ins, a sister of his first wife, and to this union were 
 born five children: Nixon, married and living in 
 Missouri; Edwin E., Jr.; Martha Jane, wife of 
 Harry Springer, living in Missouri; Charlie and 
 Alice. In 1862, Mr. Freeman enlisted in the Con- 
 federate army, and was assigned to duty on the 
 Arkansas River. He was engaged in many sharp 
 skirmishes, biit no regular battles, as his duty was 
 principally scouting, in which he was an adept. 
 He returned home about the time of the surrender, 
 and as the war had stripped him of everything he 
 possessed, he was compelled to begin life anew. 
 He commenced farming, and with the aid of a de- 
 termined will soon placed himself in an independ- 
 ent position again, and now owns about seventy - 
 one acres of fine laud, all under cultivation, having 
 given his children about as much more. Mr. Free- 
 man l)roaght the first cotton seed that was ever 
 planted in this county, and after raising that plant 
 upon a small tract of land in 1852, it became a 
 nine days' wonder to the neighboring farmers. In 
 1859 he brought 100 bushels of cotton seed from 
 Tennessee, and distributed it among the farmers 
 of that vicinity, and the cotton now grown upon 
 the land averages a bale to the acre. Judge 
 Daniels, a brother-in-law of Mr. Freeman, erected 
 the first cotton-gin in Mississippi County, and his 
 brother James was one of the projectors of the Bar- 
 field road in 1853. 
 
 Mrs. A. A. Gabel. There are in every com- 
 munity some persons who, on account of their in- 
 dustry, and practical management of the affairs 
 which fall to their lot. deserve special credit; and 
 such is Mrs. Gabel. She is the relict of C. C. 
 Gabel. and the daughter of David and Lucinda 
 (Myers) Metzger. the parents being natives of the 
 " Buckeye State. " About 1888, they removed to 
 Mississippi County. Ark. . settling about four miles 
 below Barfield. and in 1858. when the State 
 Imilt the levee through this county. Mr. Metzger 
 
 had a contract on the work, which he held until 
 the work was finished. He then purchased 480 
 acres of laud in Hickman Township, the property 
 being in a wild state, and after taking possession 
 he erected a building, cleared 160 acres of land, 
 and put the propi^rty iu e.\celleut shape. To the 
 superior natural abilities possessed by Mr. Metz- 
 ger were added the wisdom and experience of a 
 useful and well spent life; and there was a geni- 
 ality, honesty of purpose, and broad hospitality 
 about him that attracted and fascinated. His 
 death, which occurred in 1881, was deeply la- 
 mented by his friends and neighbors, whose hospi- 
 tality they had partaken of times without number. 
 His wife died in 1868. Mrs. Gabel was married 
 in 1870, and has always made her home on the 
 farm where she is now residing, which place was 
 settled and cleared by her father. She has two 
 children : Alexander C. and Fannie E. Her broth • 
 er, William Metzger. the only living son of David 
 Metzger, also occupies a part of the old home- 
 stead, his home adjoining his sister's. He was 
 married, in 1870, to Miss Elvira Branch, a native 
 of the county, and to them have been born an in- 
 teresting little family of three children: David, 
 Eleanor Jane and John Noah. 
 
 Charles H. Gaylord, druggist, owes his nativity 
 to Michigan, having been born iu Detroit in 1838, 
 and of the family of seven children born to his 
 parents, Henry C. and Harriet (Parshall) Gaylord, 
 he was the eldest. The father was originally em- 
 ployed on the lake steamboats. He died in 1854. 
 The mother is still living, and is a resident of 
 Detroit. Mr. Gaylord has in his possession a com- 
 mission given to his great great-grandfathei from 
 the British Government, appointing him lieutenant 
 in the French and Indian AVars, dated 1753. His 
 ancestors, on the paternal side, were originally 
 from Connecticut, and those on the mother's side 
 were originally from New York, and trace their 
 descent back to Koger Williams. Charles H. Gay 
 lord attended the ])ublic schools of Detroit until 
 sixteen years of age, and was two years in the tel- 
 egraph business, first as messenger -boy, and then 
 as copyist. Later he learned the trade of pattern- 
 maker, which he continued until he commenced 
 
500 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 bis coinmeicial career, in 1865. He then came to 
 Osceola, Ark. , where he engaged in general mer- 
 chandising until 1883, after which he embarked in 
 the drug business, and is at present one of the most 
 reliable and well-established druggists and pharma- 
 cists in Osceola. He was married in 1879 to Miss 
 Clara L. Miller, a native of Georgia, and daughter 
 of Dr. B. F. Miller, who moved to Missouri, and 
 there passed his last days. Mrs. Gaylord died in 
 January, 1884, and left one child, Charles H. , Jr. 
 Mr. Gaylord is quite active, politically, and in 
 1888 was elected county treasurer, being the pres- 
 ent incumbent of that office. He is also very 
 active in educational matters. Mr. Gaylord is a 
 Royal Arch Mason, and at present is secretary of 
 Chapter No. 57. He has held all the offices in the 
 Blue Lodge except Master. He is also a member of 
 Hugh De Payen Commandery No. 1, K. T. , of Lit- 
 tle Rock; is secretary of the Knights and Ladies 
 of Honor, and reporter of the K. of H. of Osceola, 
 Ark. Aside from his practical education in the 
 public schools of Detroit, Mr. Gaylord took a two- 
 years' course in the literary department of Greg- 
 ory's Commercial College of that place. 
 
 John B. Gilles. From the biography of every 
 man there may be gleaned some lessons of geniiine 
 worth; for here we discover the secret of success 
 or failure. In the history of John B. Gilles, one 
 of Mississippi County's active and progressive 
 planters, is found much to commend. He was 
 born in Dyer County, Tenn., in 1854, being the 
 youngest of twelve children born to William Allen 
 and Sallie (Boone) Gilles, who were also Tennes- 
 seeans, the former a farmer and blacksmith by oc- 
 cupation, and a mail route agent. He died in 
 1855, followed by his wife in 1860. John B. 
 Gilles spent his youth on a farm, and at the time 
 of his mother's death removed to Woodruff County, 
 Ark., where he remained five years, then went back 
 to Tennessee, In 1873 he returned to Arkansas 
 and located in Mississippi County, in Chickasawba 
 Township, where he engaged in farming on the 
 old Cook plantation. In 1879 his marriage with 
 Miss Josephine Thompson was consummated, and 
 he soon after purchased 160 acres of wild land 
 four miles southeast of Blythesville, which he be- 
 
 gan immediately to improve, and now has twenty- 
 three acres under cultivation; has erected good 
 buildings, and has a good orchard of choice varie- 
 ties of fi'uits. Mrs. Gilles is a native of Missis- 
 sippi County, and is a daughter of James Olliver 
 Thompson, a very early resident of that county. 
 She and Mr. Gilles are the parents of three 
 children: Carrie R., Samuel Jones and one un- 
 named. 
 
 T. F, Glasgow. There is in the development of 
 every successful life a principle which is a lesson to 
 to every man following in its footsteps — a lesson 
 leading to higher and more honorable position than 
 the ordinary. Let a man be industriously ambi- 
 tious, and honorable in his ambitions, and he will 
 rise whether having the prestige of family or the 
 obscurity of poverty. We are led to these reflec- 
 tions by a study of the life of the subject of this 
 sketch, Mr. T. F. Glasgow, who was born in At- 
 
 ] lanta, Ga. , in 1856. His father, A. J. Glasgow, 
 left the State of Georgia, just prior to Gen. Sher- 
 man's invasion in 1863, and went to the eastern 
 part of Texas, near Mt. Vernon, where he died 
 shortly afterward, leaving his wife with a family of 
 three children. T. F. Glasgow was the eldest of 
 
 i these children, and was about eight years of age 
 at the time of his father's death. His mother 
 
 , was married again, and moved to Lake County, 
 
 \ West Tenn., where she died in 1869. The 
 little brother then died, and T. F. and his sister 
 Mina, were the only ones left. At the age of 
 twelve years the former hired out, worked a year, 
 and when in his thirteenth year took a farm on 
 
 • shares, hired three boys and raised about 4,000 
 bushels of corn. The next year he rented land, 
 raising a crop, and this he continued the following 
 year, making enough money to send his sister to 
 school at Memphis, She was married at the age of 
 fifteen to Mr. G. W. Marr, Jr., and is now living in 
 the northern part of the Lone Star State, In 1873 
 Mr. Glasgow accepted a position with Capt, Nail, 
 who was then running a steam ferry at Point 
 Pleasant, and acted as pilot and collector until 
 in June, 1874, He then came to Mississippi 
 
 I County, Ark,, and engaged with Mr. J. W. Will- 
 iams, with whom he remained about eighteen 
 
--r->- 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 501 
 
 months, after which he took a trip to Texas to 
 visit his sister. He remained with her about 
 eighteen months, and then received a letter from 
 Mr. Williams requesting him to return, which he 
 did in about 1876, and remained with that gentle- 
 man as overseer until 1882. One year later he 
 rented about 100 acres of land from the above 
 mentioned gentleman, and worked at agricultural 
 pursuits for one year, after which he went to Pecan 
 Point, where he worked for R. \\'. Friend until 
 July 1, 1884. In 1886 he rented a farm of W. P. , 
 Hale, just west of Osceola, where he has con- j 
 tinned since, and is now in partnership with Mr. 
 N. L. Avery, under the firm name of Glasgow 
 & Avery. They have over 500 acres of cotton, 
 and Mr. Glasgow has some of the best crops in the 
 county, having picked ten acres of cotton that 
 averaged one and a fourth bales to the acre. They 
 employ fi-om forty to 150 hands, and have about 
 100 people on the place the principal part of the 
 time. The firm has recently bought 825 acres of 
 land on Sandy Bayou, of which they expect to open 
 uj) KM) acres this fall. Mr. Glasgow has onions 
 as large as breakfast plates, and has shipped 400 
 barrels of potatoes from six acres of land, leaving 
 fully one-third of them for the hands. He was 
 married on the 20th of May, 1888, to Miss Ger- 
 trude Ashburn, a native of Mississippi County, 
 and the daughter of George Ashburn who came to 
 Mississippi County, Ark., with his father when a 
 boy (1829). Mr. Glasgow is a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity. Lodge No. 27, Osceola. 
 
 J. P. Goodin, a well-known and popular young 
 citizen of Golden Lake, was born in Fulton County, 
 Ky., in 1866, and is the elde.st of two children 
 born to Ephraim and Elizabeth Goodin. The father 
 was a native of Kentucky, and was for a long time 
 owner of the celebrated Nowlin farm in that State, 
 and also a breeder of tine stock, his reputation for 
 thoroughbred horses becoming known to turf-goers 
 from Maine to California. He died in 1868; his 
 widow still survives him. and is a resident of 
 Dallas, Texas. J. P. Goodin was reared on the 
 parental farm in Kentucky, and upon reaching his 
 eighteenth year removed to Tennessee, where he 
 remained two years. He then went to Texas, but 
 
 not finding the advantages and prospects as bright 
 as he anticipated, lie remained only a few months 
 and retraced his steps northward. On reaching 
 the State of Arkansas he stopped in Mississippi 
 County, and finding the climate and people suit- 
 able to his tastes he determined to locate at that 
 place, where he immediately engaged in overseeing. 
 In 1887 he bovight a trsict of 160 acres of land on 
 Tyronza Bayou, which was all wild, l)ut he has 
 now cleared and put four acres under cultivation, 
 all the result of his own industry, besides acting 
 as foreman of the tramway for Mr. Lee Wilson. 
 His brother, J. E. Goodin, is also employed by 
 Mr. Wilson, and Mississippi County certainly has 
 no more energetic and industrious young men than 
 these two. They are slowly but surely paving the 
 way to future wealth, and before the hand of time 
 has passed over many years, these two brothers 
 will be among the leading men of Mississipj)! 
 County. 
 
 Alexander Goodrich, merchant and postmaster, 
 Osceola. The public services of Mr. Goodrich, 
 during his residence in the county, have been char 
 acterized by a noticeable devotion to the welfare 
 of this county, and his ability and fidelity in all 
 positions of trust have made a lasting impression 
 upon the sjshere of jniblic duty. For many years 
 his name has not only been connected with the 
 official affairs of the county, but he has also be- 
 come prominent as a much esteemed citizen and 
 a successful business man. His birth occurred in 
 White County, 111., November 2. 1888, and he 
 pursued the arduous duties of the farm and at 
 tended the public schools of Illinois until twenty 
 years of age. Afterward he worked in a sawmill 
 owned by his father, for two years, and then, in 
 1862, abandoned all work to enlist in Company K. 
 Eighty-seventh Illinois Infantry, United States 
 Army. He went to Memphis, Tenn., in May, 1863, 
 was ordered to report to Gen. Grant at Vicksburg, 
 and was there through the siege of that city. On 
 July 5, the day after the surrender of that city, 
 Mr. Goodrich went on the campaign to Jackson, 
 Miss., and on the fall of that city, he returned to 
 Vicksburg, but immediately left for Natchez and 
 New Orleans. Late in September, 1863, he went 
 
502 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 on a campaign to Southwest Lonisiaua, and in 
 December of the same year was ordered to report 
 to the adjutant-general of Illinois, being then 
 assigned to recruiting duty. In April, 1864, Mr. 
 Goodrich joined his regiment in Louisiana, and in 
 November of the same year, marched to White 
 River, Ark. In January of the following year, he 
 was ordered to Helena, Ark. , where the regiment 
 remained until ordered home. He was mustered 
 out in July, 1865. In 1866 he returned to Helena, 
 Ark., where he remained two years engaged in the 
 planting business, and then came to Osceola, where 
 he commenced mercantile pursuits. He served the 
 city seven years as its mayor, four years as post- 
 master, and represented Missouri County in the State 
 Republican conventions of 1884 and 1888. He was 
 married on the 8th of May, 1872, to Miss Marjory 
 McDonald Conway, of Scotland, and six children 
 were born to this union : Margaret L. , who died at 
 the age of two years; Leon A., born September 
 15, 1875; Mary E., born May 10, 1878; Abaishai 
 D., born December 29, 1879; Charles C, born 
 August 23, 1882, and James M., born June 13, 
 1884. Mr. Goodrich, aside from his stock of gen- 
 eral merchandise, carries a stock of furniture, also 
 undertaking supplies, and is engaged in planting, 
 also in buying and shipping cotton. He received 
 his commission as postmaster at Osceola about 
 May 1, and is now filling that position for the second 
 time. He is a member of the K. of H., Monroe 
 Lodge No. 2167, at Osceola, and represented this 
 lodge at the meeting of the Grand Lodge at Hot 
 Springs, in September. 1888. He is at present 
 presiding officer of the lodge. He takes a decided 
 interest in educational matters, and has held the 
 position of director for a number of terms. He 
 was the seventh of ten children born to A.baishai 
 and Margaret (Smith) Goodrich, the father a na- 
 tive of Pennsylvania, and the mother a native of 
 Scotland. The former was a successful tiller of 
 the soil in Illinois, and died in that State in 1865. 
 He was a descendant of William Goodrich, who came 
 to America in about 1840, and the subject of this 
 sketch is of the seventh generation. The great- 
 grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. 
 The mother died in 1871. 
 
 Charles Goodrich, jeweler, of Osceola, Ark., 
 was born in Carroll County, 111., in 1848, and was 
 the eldest in a family of eight children born to 
 Joseph and Louisa (Derouse) Goodrich, natives of 
 Missouri and Illinois, respectively. The father 
 follows the occupation of farming, and is at pres- 
 ent residing in Iowa. Charles spent his youth in 
 Iowa, till about fifteen years of age, when he at- 
 tended the public schools, later going to Carroll 
 County, 111., when he soon engaged with a 
 jeweler and watch-maker to learn that trade in 
 Galena. He remained at Galena four years, and 
 during that time completed his trade; subsequent- 
 ly removed to Iowa, where he worked at this call- 
 ing in various localities till 1863. Returning to 
 Illinois he enlisted in Company C, Forty-eighth 
 Illinois Infantry, and was assigned to duty with 
 Sherman, being wounded at the battle of Fort 
 McAlister. He was in the hospital at Savannah, and 
 at Beaufort, S. C, till June, 1865; then went to 
 Washington City, and participated in the grand 
 review, June 15, 1865, receiving his discharge at 
 Louisville, Ky. , in October, same year. Soon after 
 he again visited Iowa, working at his trade, and 
 shortly after went to Canada, where he worked in 
 Montreal for a time. He later became located at 
 Chester, 111., remaining there till the fall of 1868, 
 when he returned to Iowa, and was married at 
 Red Oak Junction, in the fall of 1868. Then he 
 went to Missouri, settling at Bethany, Hari'ison 
 County, for two years; thence to Savanna, 111., 
 remaining till the fall of 1871, and then to Sedalia, 
 j Mo., for one year. Going back to Chester, 111., 
 ' he stopped about one year, and then lived at Cairo 
 for three years, moving finally to Gayoso, Mo. 
 ! Here he engaged in business for himself. One 
 year after he became a citizen of New Madrid, con- 
 tinuing there till 1879. At this time his wife 
 died. There had been six children born to this 
 union, of whom three had preceded their mother 
 to their heavenly rest : Maud died while at school at 
 Bardstowu, Ky. , at the age of sixteen years; Lester 
 died in Illinois; Frederick died in Osceola, in 1888, 
 at the age of ten years; Birtell died in 1872 at about 
 three years of age; Eugene died at the age of four- 
 teen months, in 1872 ; Mabel died in 0.sceola at four 
 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 503 
 
 years of age, in 1882. After his wife's death in 
 1879, Mr. Goodrich engaged in the sewing ma- 
 chine business in Pemiscot and New Madrid 
 Counties, Mo., and Mississippi County, Ark., fol- 
 hjwiiig this business for three yeaVs. In 1881 he 
 married Cornelia Dowd, a native of Illinois, soon 
 after which he settled in Csceola, where \n' has 
 continued in business ever since. He commenced 
 his career here in the sewing machine business, 
 I nit after a year started a jewelry store, princi- 
 pally repairing. From year to year he has been 
 increasing his stock which is now very complete, 
 and he enjoys a good trade. He carries a stock of 
 about $3,000, comprising jewelry, watches, clocks 
 and sewiutr machines. To his second marriage 
 three children were born: Lena, Lillian and Char- 
 ley. Mr. Goodrich is a member of Samaritan 
 Lodge. A. O. U. W., of Osceola. His first wife 
 was Mattie E. Conquest, a native of Indiana, 
 and a daughter of Richard Conquest, who was an 
 officer in the Mexican War, and quite a traveler. 
 In the Civil War he was a lieutenant in the Second 
 Colorado Cavalry. He died at Hastings, Neb., in 
 18S7. 
 
 Laurence W. Goshorn, a successful and popu- 
 lar farmer of Canadian Township, is the second 
 child of a family of seven children born to Russell 
 B. and Kittie (Ward) Goshorn, of Ohio and Ten- 
 nessee, respectively, and was born in Mississippi 
 County, Ark., June 17, 1857. His grandfather 
 was an eminent physician and druggist of Cincin- 
 nati in the earlier days, and died in 1872, at the 
 mature age of ninety-two years; and his father, 
 Russell B., was one of the first physicians who 
 settled in Mississippi County, having commenced 
 to i>ractice medicine in Osceola in 1840, where he 
 was very successful. The elder Goshorn bought 
 considerable land in Chiekasawba. where he lived 
 for .some time and then movr-d to the river at Bar- 
 tield. From there he went to Hale's Point, Tenn., 
 and .Taimary 1, 1869. transferred his home to Dy. 
 ersburg in the same State. In 1875 he returned 
 to Mississippi County, Ark., settling at Hickman's 
 Bend, anil from there moved to Missouri, where he 
 remained one year. He made a short visit to Ar- 
 kansas again, and in November. 1878. went to 
 
 Florida, where he died at Live Oak, December 31. 
 1881. Laurence remained at home with his par- 
 ents until the year 1874, and then moved with his 
 uncle. William W. Ward, to Mississippi County, 
 where he has since resided. In 1881 he bought 
 eighty acres of land, and commenced cultivating a 
 farm. On January 8, 1882, he was married to 
 Miss Mary Ann Wetsel, a granddaughter of 
 "Cedar"' James Williams, a celebrated character 
 and pioneer of that county, but in the same year 
 Mr. Goshorn lost his wife. He is principally en- 
 gaged on his farm, but is interested to some ex- 
 tent in land and timber speculation, in which 
 direction he is well known for his shrewdness and 
 good business ability. Mr. Goshorn does not take 
 an active part in politics, and is independent in his 
 belief, preferring to see the man who is be.st fitted 
 to look after the interests of the country occupy the 
 presidential chair than to side with any particular 
 party. 
 
 L. W. Gosnell. The life and character of this 
 public-spirited citizen of Mississippi County will 
 bear a much more detailed history and analysis 
 than are presented on this page. Though a young 
 man, he has wielded a remarkal^le influence, and 
 to-day a review of his career since locating here, 
 without a dollar, rising to a position of worth and 
 affluence, demonstrates him to be an individual 
 above the ordinary. Young Gosnell attended 
 school at Jonesboro, Tenn., until eighteen years 
 of age. always applying himself diligently to his 
 studies. After clerking two years for an uncle he 
 went to Middle Tennessee, and was occupied in work 
 on railroad construction for about two years. In 
 March. 1870, he concluded to seek his fortune 
 farther west, and came to Arkansas, engaging as 
 clerk in the store of Mr. Williams, at Barfield, for 
 one year, after which he settled in Chiekasawba, 
 where he was interested in wielding the ferule for 
 about one year. This occupation not being entirely 
 suited to his tastes, he I'esumed clerking, being in 
 the employ of J. B. Tisserand. who had estab- 
 lished the first permanent store in what is now 
 Blythesville: and after one year spent in discharg 
 ing the duties of that position, he was admitted as 
 a partner, the firm taking the name of J. B. Tis- 
 
504 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 serand & Co. Subsequently it was changed to L. 
 W. Gosnell & Co., under which title it still con- 
 tinues. This house carries a stock of goods valued 
 at SO, 000, and (>very transaction being thoroughly 
 honest and reliable, the members draw to their 
 establishment a large and lucrative custom. The 
 builiiing in which they are now located was erect- 
 ed in 1870. They also own extensive tracts of 
 land in the county, 900 acres comprising what is 
 known as the Cook farm, one and one-half miles 
 west of Blythesville, 400 of which are under culti- 
 vation. This place was the home of the old Ind- 
 ian Chief Chickasawba, who had a hut on one 
 of the mounds there, and where he died many 
 years ago. Besides this tract, they have 400 acres 
 under cultivation in various sections, and last year 
 they shipped 970 bales of cotton. The entire 
 amount of their superior land aggregates about 
 3,000 acres, Mr. Gosnell owning j_a half interest 
 and also an interest in another general store. He 
 was married in 1879 to Miss Bettie Hill, an esti- 
 mable lady, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter 
 of J. W. Hill. They have three children: Mervin, 
 Kate and Laura. The pleasant residence of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Gosnell which was erected in 1882, in 
 the village of Blythesville. is a home indeed, and 
 at once a monument and a reward of patient con- 
 tinuance in welldoing, hard toil and sober living. 
 Mrs. Gosnell is a member of the Methodist Church. 
 Mr. Gosnell ranks as a noticeable illustration of 
 that indomitable push and energy which charac- 
 terize men of determination and will. His success 
 is unusual, but due largely to his excellent judg- 
 ment, and strict honesty and upright dealings, 
 and the proud position he now occupies as a rep- 
 resentative citizen is a just tril)ute to his worth. 
 W. P. Greene, a prominent farmer of Missis- 
 sippi County, is the lifth in a family of eleven chil- 
 dren born to Abraham and Elizabeth (Lathrage) 
 Greene, natives of South Carolina and (ieorgia, 
 respectively. The father was a well-known and 
 extensive farmer, who died January 15, 1872, the 
 mother surviving him until the year 1882. Mr. 
 Greene was bom in Georgia, in the year 1839, and 
 remained in that State luitil he reached the age of 
 seven years, when he moved to the. Sta^e of Mis- 
 
 sissippi, which he made his home until 1882. At 
 the outbreak of the Civil War. he enlisted in Com- 
 pany D. Fourth Mississipi)i Infantry, and took part 
 in the battles of Fort Donelson and Port Gibson, 
 was through the siege of Vicksburg, at Chickasaw, 
 and in all the battles thiough the celebrated catu- 
 paign in Georgia, with Johnston and later on with 
 Hood. He also took part in the battle at Franklin, 
 Tenn., and finally surrendered in South Carolina, 
 on May 0. 1805, returning to his home in Mis- 
 sissippi, after the war was over. On December 4. 
 1804, he was married to Miss Anna Uay, of Ala- 
 bama, and resided with his Ijride in Mississippi 
 until 1882. He was engaged in government work 
 for three years at Plum Point, and during this 
 time lost his wife and three of their tive children. 
 The names of the children are Charles Henry (de- 
 ceased). John Wesley (deceased), Harvey Calhoun 
 (deceased), Mary Ella, wife of Mr. Andrews, a 
 resident of Mississippi, and Kate Elizabeth, who 
 makes her home with the married sister. On Sep- 
 tember 5, 1884, Mr. Greene was married a second 
 time, his next wife being Mrs. Bettie Biales, a 
 widow lady of Alabama, and this union has given 
 them one child, a boy named Walter. His present 
 home is a few miles south of Osceola, in Mississippi 
 County, and during his five years' residence in 
 Arkansas, he has never failed to make a good crop. 
 During the summer of 1889, he bought and entered 
 320 acres of land in the northern part of this coun- 
 ty, intending to take possession of it in the fall, 
 and to imjirove it on an extensive scale. Mr. 
 Greene has been in the best of health during his 
 five years' stay in Mississippi County, and speaks 
 in the highest terms of this section and its produc- 
 tions. In addition to his farms, he owns a small 
 herd of very fine cattle, and a magnificent team, 
 and his present prosperity has sprung from almost 
 nothing, his first start in life finding him compara- 
 tively poor. Mrs. Greene has one child l)y her 
 previous marriage, Lee B. , and the entire family 
 ai'e members of the Methodist Ej)isco[)al Chui-ch, 
 South. 
 
 W. H. Grider, the subject of this sketch, was 
 born in Jackson County, Ark., in the year 1855, 
 and, with the exception of an occasional trip to 
 
 -("I ® 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 505 
 
 Momphis, TeLUi., and othor rivtn' towns, he has 
 spent his life within its borders. His paternal an- 
 cestry can be traced back to the landing of the 
 ^[ayflower on the American coast. The lirst 
 maternal ancestor of which he has record enrolled 
 his name on the Declaration of Independence. 
 His grand uncle, Henry Grider.of Kentucky, repre- 
 sented the Bowling Green district in Congress for 
 several terms, and while serving in this capacity 
 won great distinction for his able statesmanship; 
 he was contemporary with Clay, Calhouu, and other 
 eminent men. An uncle, Jesse Grider, served in 
 the Confederate army, and for gallant service on 
 the battle lield was promoted to the rank of colonel. 
 Frank Grider, the grandfather, came to Arkansas, 
 about the time it was made a State, with his family, 
 from Bowling Green, Ky. , lirst to Tennessee near 
 Moscow, and thence to Jackson County, Ark. At 
 this time his son. John H. Grider, was but eight- 
 een years of age. The latter married Miss Maria 
 L. Morris, a native of that county, about the year 
 1846. He settled down to tilling the soil in Jack- 
 son County, but afterward moved to Phillips 
 County, where he spent the remainder of his days, 
 dying in 1871, having lived a useful and honor- 
 able life. At this time W. H. Grider was attend- 
 ing school in Lebanon, Tenn. , and graduated 
 about a year later; and after the death of his 
 mother, who lived until 1875, he made his home 
 with his uncle, Col. Jesse Grider, of Crittenden 
 County, with whom he remained until the latter" s 
 death some live years later. DiU'ing this time 
 he was engaged in studying law with the firm 
 of Adams & Dixon, of Memphis, Tenn., and in 
 ISSO was married to Miss Sue J. McGavock, one 
 of the wealthiest and most refined and cultivated 
 young ladies of Mississijjpi County, Ark., she 
 being a daughter of John Harding and Georgia 
 (Moore) McGavock. The former (now deceased) 
 was a mem!)er of a family of that name who be- 
 came illustrious in the annals of Virginia, having 
 come from Scotland to this country in the early 
 part of the last century. After his marriage Mr. 
 Grider took charge of the estate and at once identi- 
 fied himself with the more advanced farming and 
 stock raising interests of the county, a position 
 
 which he has continued to occupy since that time, 
 and to what extent may be inferred when the fact 
 is mentioned that he now has 1,300 acres of land 
 under cultivation, the most of which was cleared 
 under his supervision. He rents out a large portion. 
 He also owns several thousand acres of land heav- 
 ily covered with timber, a portion of which he 
 manages each year to bring under the plow, and 
 when reduced yielding at least a bale of cotton to 
 the acre. In addition to conducting his plantation 
 he is also interested in merchandising, having a well 
 stocked store, and operates a cotton gin and saw- 
 mill, and in his different occupations employs from 
 fifty to 100 men. His residence faces and is about 
 one-half mile from the river. It wasl)uilt in 1855 
 and is a building 54x74 feet, two stories in height, 
 with a porch twelve feet wide running the whole 
 length and breadth of the house, and at the time 
 of its erection was considered a marvel of beauty 
 and convenience, as all the timber was hand-sawed 
 and the work well done. It was erected by Mr. 
 McGavock' s slaves, of whom he had a great many, 
 and each room was finished in a certain, distinct 
 kind of wood, one being in black walnut, one in 
 sassafras, another in red gum, and one in ash, each 
 room being designated by these names. The house 
 is approached by a handsome undulating lawn, 
 200 yards in extent, over which are scattered soiue 
 magnificent forest oaks, elms, walnut, maple and 
 box elder trees, that are thoroughly appreciated 
 by the family. They have also a handsome fiower 
 garden near the house, and ornamental shrrtbbery 
 assists in making their home all that the heart of 
 man could desire, or that a refined and educated 
 taste could wish. With a wife whose womanly 
 graces and virtues are well known, and his two 
 bright little daughters, Georgie and Josephine, Mr. 
 Grider is happy and contented. He is assisted on 
 his plantation by C. L. Mooj'e, who is the maternal 
 uncle of Mrs. Grider. He is a gentleman of fine 
 attainments, being a gi-aduate of the University of 
 Mississippi, and ever since the war has lieen 
 identified with the interests of Mississippi County, 
 in which he has filled many offices of public trust, 
 such as county and probate judge. He is at 
 present postmaster of Sans Souci, the name of 
 
^. 
 
 ^ s 
 
 r>(i() 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Mr. (iiiders ])lantRtion. During the war he did 
 flood service for the Confederacy. 
 
 William P. Hale. It cannot V)e expected, iu a 
 WDvk of this kind, where but brief biographical 
 sketches of prominent citizens of the county are 
 pres(>nted. that a lengthy laudatory article should 
 be written of each one, and yet at times there are 
 met with some who have been so intimately and 
 closely identified with the county, and whose 
 names are so familiar to all, that it is only just to 
 dwell upon what they have done, and the influence 
 of their career on others, not as empty words of 
 praise, but the plain statement of a still plainer 
 truth. Mr. Hale was born in Maury County, 
 Tenn., on the ;^(Hliof July. 183!l, and is the fourth 
 in a family of elev»>ii children born to Bird S. and 
 Martha Ann (Dyer) Hale. The father died in his 
 fortieth year, and left this large family of small 
 children. In ISrio. throe years after his death, 
 Mrs. Hale, being desirous of keeping the family 
 together, came to Mississippi County, and settled in 
 Osceola, on the 2(Hh of November. Directly upon 
 their arrival William P. Halo began gathering corn, 
 and the next year rented fifty-four acres, on which 
 he ]-aised a large crop. From this time on, until 
 reaching his nuijority, he continued to farm on 
 routed land, and succeeded in keeping the family to- 
 gether. When tweuty-one years of age (IS(')O) he 
 selected Miss Orlean J. MoKinney as his wife. Her 
 father. Judge L. H. McKinney, is an old settler of 
 this county, and one of its most prominent citizens. 
 After his marriage Mr. Hale bought KU) acres of 
 land, but the war breaking out about this time, 
 agricultural pursuits were almost wholly suspend- 
 ed, although they farmed enough to supply the 
 wants of the family. In 1S(>(') Mr. Hale bought 
 100 acres for §o.lHU\ with twenty-five acres under 
 cultivation, and here he lived for nine years. He 
 had built a number of cabins, an ice-house, and 
 soon a cotton-gin. which brought him iu a large 
 income, in addition to his own crops. He also 
 cleared up all his farm, which is now wholly under 
 cultivation. In 1870 he erected a store building 
 in Osceola, engaged in mercantile pursuits, and 
 thus continued in that place until 187i). when he 
 sold the I'oods and has since rented the store. 
 
 In 1875 he erected a tine residence in Osceola, 
 at a cost of $4,000, and it is still one of the 
 best residences in the town. One year later Mr. 
 Hale, in partnership with his brother, F. B.. 
 bought a large tract of land of 1 , 200 acres, 250 of 
 which were cleared. The brother moved upon this 
 place, and in four years time he had cleared up a 
 large tract, all of which was yielding extensive and 
 profitable crops. During eight years of this farm 
 ing they made enough to jiay for the entire plan 
 tation, and, in 1884, Mr. Hale bought his brother' s 
 interest for §13,000, all of which was made on the 
 place. He has since added f')t)0 acres, making his 
 plantation now about 1,700 acres, and he has in 
 this tract nearly 1,000 acres under cultivation. 
 This extensive place is located two and a half 
 miles above Osceola, and it is one of the finest 
 in Mississippi County. He is also the owner of 
 other tracts, iu all of which he has about 1,150 
 acres under cultivation. He manages all the laud 
 himself, and estimates that it brings him in an in- 
 come of at least $12 [)er acre net. In 1872 he 
 leased a building in Osceola, which he converted 
 into a steam gin, and at the expiration of the lease 
 bought the property, and soon built a large and 
 good gin. This was destroyed by fire two years 
 later, and, as Mr. Hale had bought a large tract 
 in the upper part of the town, on which there was 
 a large gin, he did not rebuild. From this tract 
 he has sold most of the lots on which the upper 
 part of Osceola is built. He has erected at least 
 I ten buildings in the town, and has been active in 
 contributing to its prosperity. Since living in 
 town Mr. Hale has always been an active man in 
 I the affairs that promised to promote the interests of 
 I the locality. He has held the office of alderman, 
 and served several times as school director. To 
 his maiTiage were born fifteen children (six of 
 whom are living): Bland William, married Miss 
 Tee Driver, and lives in Tennessee ; Martha E. , died 
 in infancy; Edward J., married Miss Carrie Bost- 
 wick. and resides on his father's farm; Ida Maud, 
 wife of S. M. -Jackson, of Dyersburg, Tenn. : James 
 H., at present attending school; Maggie Lee. died 
 at the age of three years; Franklin Bird, died ir. 
 infancy; Harry Joplin. aged seven yeais; Beulah 
 
 9 
 
> 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 5(17 
 
 OrlouH, live years; Walter P., died at the age of 
 three months, and four died aiiiianK>d. The fam- 
 ily are members of the Baptist Churc;h. Mr. Hale 
 is a member of the Masonic Lodge, Chapter and 
 Commaiidcry. He is also a member of the K. of 
 H. of Osceola. 
 
 Hon. J. P. K. Hale, a prominent merchant of 
 Osceola, owes his nativity to Maury County, Tenn., 
 where he was born in 1842, being the sixth 
 of eleven children of Bird S. and Martha Ann 
 (Dyer) Hale. The parents were also natives of 
 Tennessee, but were of Virginia stock. The father 
 was a farmer and trader, and was well known in 
 that section. He died April 17, 1852, leaving a 
 family of eleven children, eight girls and three 
 boys. Three years after his death, on November 
 5, 1855, the widow of Mr. Hale started for Missis- 
 sippi County, Ark., and arrived at Osceola Novem- 
 ber 21, of that year. Since that time Mrs. Hale 
 has died, and, also, one of the children. The fam- 
 ily have made this county their home ever since, 
 and the sons have worked very hard to keep the 
 family together. Hon. J K. P. Hale was reared 
 to comprehensive knowledge of the agricultural in- 
 terests of the day, and in 1863 began farming on 
 his own responsibility. In 1874 he was elected 
 clerk of the circuit court, and ex officio clerk of the 
 county, probate and common pleas courts, and re- 
 corder of Mississippi County. On January 31, 
 1 889, he was elected to the State legislature to fill 
 the unexpired term of J. O. Blackwood (deceased), 
 and has served one session. He also served as jus- 
 tice of the peace for many years. In 1870 Mr. 
 Hale, in partnership with his brother, W. P. Hale, 
 opened a general store in Osceola, but the former 
 sold out to his partner after a short time, and re- 
 turned to the duties of the farm. In 1882 he 
 opened a grocery store, and in 1S89 a drygoods 
 store, and is conducting both establishments at this 
 time. He chose for his life's companion Miss Ma- 
 lissa A. Tucker, who became his wife in 1862. 
 She died August 14. 1880. On March 21, 1881, 
 he married his present wife, who was originally 
 Miss Mary E. Pollard, of Posey County, Ind. 
 Three children were born to this union; Lillian 
 Bird, born May 12, 1882; Mary Pollard, born May 
 
 27, 1884, and Helen, who was born February 29, 
 1888, and died March 21 of the same year. Mr. 
 Hale is a member of Osceola Lodge No. 27, A. F. 
 & A. M. , and Osceola Chapter No. 57, now being 
 treasurer of the Lodge, and H. P. of the Chapter. 
 He has occupied every station in lodge, chapter 
 and commandery, and has served as district deputy 
 grand master for the Second district of Arkansas, 
 and for the Western district of Tennessee. He 
 has the name of being one of the brightest Masons 
 in the State. He is also the moderator of the Os 
 ceola Baptist Association, and clerk of the church 
 at Osceola. Mr. Hale and most of the family are 
 members of the Baptist Church. He was instru- 
 mental in securing and assisting in the incorpora- 
 tion of the town of Osceola. 
 
 Franklin Bird Hale, another prominent farmer 
 of Osceola, whose time thus far has been sf)ent in 
 furthering the agricultural interests of the county, 
 is a native of Maury County, Tenn., born January 
 1, 1851, and is the tenth in a family of eleven 
 children born to Bird S. and Martha Ann (Dyer) 
 Hale [see sketch of J. K. P. Hale]. Franklin 
 Bird Hale's experiences have been in the direction 
 of agricultural pursuits, and in this calling he 
 has met with the results due a lifetime of active 
 energy. He began for himself at the age of nine 
 teen, by renting land, and after one crop moved 
 to Pope County, where he remained nearly a year. 
 There he met and married Miss Mary M. Wells, a 
 native of this State. Her father came to Arkansas 
 about 1855, where he accumulated considerable 
 property, but lo.st most of it during the war. He 
 died about June, 1874. Mr. Hale then returned 
 to Osceola, where he clerked for his brother, W. 
 P. Hale, in a general store, for three years, aftei- 
 which he engaged in a general store for himself, 
 continuing this about one year. In connection 
 with his bn)ther, W. P., he bought a tract of land 
 known as the Witherspoon farm, consisting of ■ 
 1,200 acres, 190 acres of which were cleared. They 
 have since opened 400 acres of this. In the year 
 1884 Mr. Hale sold his interest to his brother for 
 $10,000. and then bought a tract of eighty acres 
 adjoining the town, and .some town lots. This 
 tract is under cultivation. Mr. Hale has purchased 
 
 :rv- 
 
^- 
 
 r)08 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 a fine residence iu town, and has now one of the 
 most pleasant places in Osceola. He has also bought 
 a tract of forty acres, one-half of which is under 
 cultivation, and in 1S80 he bought another forty- 
 acres tract, all under cultivation. He has also one- 
 fourth interest in eighty acres of wild land. He is 
 a member of the Osceola Blue Lodge No. '27; is a 
 member of Osceola Chapter No. 57, and also 
 of the Hugh De Payen Commandery No. 1, 
 K. T., at Little Rock. He is Past Master of the 
 Blue Lodge, and is Principal Sojourner in the 
 Chapter. He has served as school director for a 
 number of years. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Hale were born eight children (four now living): 
 James L. (attending school at Altus, Ark. ). Charles 
 Franklin (deceased), Elizabeth Pearl (deceased), 
 Emma Wells (died in May, 1888), Grace (died in 
 March, 1882), Willie P., Pearl and Charles. The 
 family are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. 
 Hale is active in all matters that promise to con- 
 tribute to the good of this section. He is improv- 
 ing the grade of his stock; has some tine breed- 
 ing animals, horses and cattle, and has quite a 
 niiiiiber of thoroughbred Chester hogs. The 
 beautiful residence and lawn of Mr. Hale are 
 ornaments to the town, and the fine farm, under 
 a high state of cultivation, is only another exam- 
 ple of the enterprise of this prominent family. 
 
 A. L. Harden. There is in the development 
 of every successful life a principle which is a lesson 
 to each man following in its footsteps; for let one 
 be industriously ambitious, and honorable in his am- 
 bitions, and he will rise, whether having the prestige 
 of family and wealth or the obscurity of poverty. 
 We are led to these reflections in looking over the 
 life of Mr. Harden, who has attained his present 
 enviable position as a leading agriculturist "of Mis- 
 sissippi County, Ark., by indomitable energy and 
 pluck. He was born in Florida in 1838, being the 
 second of three children bom to William and Mar- 
 tha Harden, and is of German descent, as both his 
 father and grandfather, John Harden, were born 
 in Germany, the latter of whom l)ecame an exten- 
 sive farmer of Georgia. A. L. Harden was reared 
 on a farm in Tennessee, and received no educa- 
 tional advantages in his youth, but iu 18(56 began 
 
 farming for himself, and at once identified himself 
 with the more advanced agricultural and stock 
 raising interests of this community, a position he 
 has continued to occupy since that time. Although 
 his first efforts for himself were on rented land, 
 since coming to Mississippi County, in 1859, 
 he has prospered. In 1874 he purchased a small 
 farm of forty acres on the river at Daniel's Point, 
 but at the end of one year came to Chickasawba 
 Township, and bought a timber tract of 160 acres, 
 and while clearing his land farmed on rented ground. 
 At the present time he has '200 acres in all — seventy 
 acres under cultivation, with forty more soon to be 
 put under the plow, and his land will readily 
 yield a bale of cotton to the acre. He also runs a 
 dry-goods store on his farm. He has built three 
 dwelling houses on his place, and has set out a 
 large orchard of choice varieties of fruit; also 
 owning a house and lot in Blythesville. His mar- 
 riage to Miss Rebecca Wilson, a native of Alabama, 
 was consummated November 5. 1866, and they are 
 the parents of the following children: Martha, 
 who died at the age of nineteen years: MilHdge 
 F., Arthur A., Malinda A. and Robert. 
 
 R. G. Hardin. For a period now closely ap- 
 proaching a quarter of a century, this highly hon- 
 ored resident of Chickasawba Township has been 
 identified with the interests of Mississippi County, 
 his settlement here dating fi'om about 1865. He 
 came to Osceola, Ark., by boat, in 1861, and in July 
 of the same year he espoused the cause of tlie 
 Confederacy, and proved a gallant soldier during 
 the Rebellion. He became first lieutenant in Cupt. 
 Charles Bowen's company, and with him partici- 
 pated in the battles of Port Hud.son, Champion's 
 Hill and others. After the battle of Shiloh, Capt. 
 Bowen resigned his position, and Mr. Hardin was 
 chosen captain, and in this capacity served in and 
 around Vicksburg and was also at Jackson. About 
 this time' he was promoted to the command of 
 Company E, Ninth Arkansas Infantry, and was 
 in all the battles of the Georgia campaign, but 
 at Gadsden, Ala., on account of ill health, he 
 was compelled to resign his position and return to 
 Mississippi County, Ark. His youthful days, up 
 to the age of about sixteen years, were spent at 
 
 -C « 
 
9 W^ 
 
 l±. 
 
 ]\riSSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 509 
 
 Rome, io which place he acquired a fair knowledge 
 of the common branches, and he then engaged in 
 riatboatiug, continuing this occuijatiou for a num- 
 ber of years, after which he acted as pilot for 
 some time. After his return to Arkansas in Sep- 
 tember, 1864, he opened a boot and shoe store in 
 Osceola, which he conducted with fair success 
 nearly ten years, then purchasing a farm on Pemis- 
 cot Bayou, but three years later removed to his 
 present farm, which is situated one mile northwest 
 of Blythesville and embraces a tract of eighty 
 acres, thirty -five being then under cultivation. He 
 has made all the improvements, such as building 
 fences, setting out orchards, etc. , and his land is 
 capable of yielding one bale of cotton to the acre. 
 He also raises some stock. On the 28th of Febru- 
 ary, 1864, he was married to Miss P. A. Trout, a 
 native of Indiana, and by her has had the following 
 children: Nora, who died September 5, 1888; Ida, 
 who died in infanc)'; Ara, Nina, Lou, who died at 
 the age of four years; Samuel T., Emma (deceased), 
 Robert G., John, who died at the age of two years; 
 Herman, and Ojga. Mr. Hardin is a member of 
 Chickasawba Lodge No. 134, F. & A. M., and 
 was a charter member of Osceola Lodge, and in 
 company with Dr. Fearing and Capt. Bennett 
 went to Jonesboro for examination to secure the 
 dispensation. He was afterward Master of the 
 latter lodge for a number of years, which position 
 he has also filled in the Chickasawba Lodge for a 
 long period. He has always been interested in edu- 
 cational matters, and is now serving as school di- 
 rector. He was the fourth of five children born 
 to Mark and Lavina (Lamb) Hardin, who were na- 
 tives of Kentucky and Indiana, respectively; the 
 former was a trader by occupation, and ran a pro- 
 duce boat on the river. He died in 1837, and his 
 wife in 1851. 
 
 G. W. Harrington. Ever since locating in 
 Mississippi County, Ai'k., Mr. Harrington has en- 
 joyed the reputation of being a substantial and 
 progressive farmer, and has also been considered 
 an intelligent and thoroughly po.sted man on all 
 the euiTent topics of the day. His father, L. R. 
 Harrington, is a Tennesseean, and is now living in 
 that State in retirement, although he had pre- 
 
 viously followed the occupation of farming. He 
 was married there to Miss Brunetta Binkley, also 
 a native of the State, who gave birth to our subject 
 in, 1836, he being the eldest of their four children. 
 She died in 1873. G. W. Harrington was reared 
 to a farm life in his native State, and it was here 
 that he received his early scholastic training, it 
 being only such as the common schools of his day 
 afforded. At the age of twenty-two years he be- 
 gan farming for himself, and as it was an occupa- 
 tion with which he had always been familiar, his 
 success was au assured fact. In 1857 he emigrated 
 to Arkansas, and for ten years farmed on rented 
 land near where he now lives, but purchased, in 
 1865, a farm in North Chickasawba Township, 
 amounting to eighty acres, partially improved, 
 and on this fertile farm he has made many more 
 improvements, and has it nearly all under cultiva- 
 tion. At the breaking out of the war, he enlisted 
 in the Confederate army. Company H, Fifteenth 
 Tennessee Regiment, and was in the battles of 
 Belmont, Shiloh, Perry ville and Murfreesboro; 
 and after the last named battle, he returned to 
 Arkansas, and was married at the close of the war 
 to Miss Mary Crawford, of Mississippi County, by 
 whom he became the father of the following chil- 
 di'en: Lydia, Ida, Lizzie, Nannie, Larkin, Charles, 
 Samuel, George and JefFerson. Mr. Harrington 
 is quite an active politician, and a public-spirited 
 citizen. His wife is a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. 
 
 Alexander Harris, a native-born son of Mis- 
 sissippi County, Ark., has become one of its most 
 enterprising and reliable citizens, and, although 
 young in years, he is yet old in experience, and has 
 done much in a quiet, unassuming way to promote 
 the advancement of its interests. His birth oc- 
 curred on Crooked Lake in 1855, he being the 
 second in a family of four children, and the son 
 of John C. and Martha (Ford) Harris, who were 
 Pennsylvanians by birth, and were there reared 
 and married. After moving to Cincinnati, Ohio, 
 Mr. Han-is engaged in pattern making, and shortly 
 after began running a trading boat on the Ohio 
 and Mississippi Rivers; and while on one of his 
 trips down the latter river, ho learned of the ex- 
 
Ml 
 
 510 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ceeding fertility of the soil of Arkansas, and here 
 determined to "pitch his tent." which he accord- 
 ingly did in the year 1850, settling on a tract 
 of wild land on the shores of Crooked Lake in 
 Mississippi County. After living on this property 
 long enough to clear 100 acres of land and make a 
 pleasant home, he sold out and made a new settle- 
 ment in the vicinity, on which he made valuable 
 and extensive improvements, and resided until his 
 death in 1S70; he is still survived by his widow, 
 who resides in the Blue Grass State. Like most 
 of the youth of that vicinity, Alexander, as he grew 
 uj>, devoted his time and attention to farming, but 
 received very meager advantages for acquiring an 
 education. After the death of his father, he went 
 to Kentucky with his mother, but at the end of 
 one year returned to Mississippi County, and in 
 1877 made his first crop on rented land, after 
 which he began clerking in a store for Mr. Robin- 
 son. In 1885 he purchased a tract of land, forty 
 acres in extent, partially improved, and now has 
 seventeen acres under cultivation; and, besides 
 this, only a short time ago he purchased eighty 
 acres more. Since 1885 he has been clerking in 
 Blythesville, in the mercantile establishment of L. 
 W. Grassell & Co., but still looks after his farm to 
 some extent, devoting the most of it to stock rais- 
 ing, which enterprise has received the best part of 
 his attention for some time. In 1886, he erected 
 a pleasant and siibstantial dwelling-house in the 
 village of Blythesville, in which he and his wife, 
 whose maiden name was lona Lynch, and whom 
 he married in 1885, are now living. Mrs. Harris 
 is a daughter of Josiah Lynch, an old settler of 
 this section, and is a consistent member of the 
 Baptist Church. Mr. Harris is a member of Chick- 
 asawba Lodge No. 134, of the F. & A. M., and 
 is a representative young man of his township. 
 He is energetic and enterprising, frugal in his 
 tastes, and is expecting to reduce many acres of 
 his farm to cultivation in the near future, and we 
 can safely predict for him a bright and prosperous 
 future. 
 
 Dr. William K. Harrison. It is an historical 
 fact that the first English immigrants to Virginia 
 were a superior race, with enlarged views of gov- 
 
 ernment, liberty and law, who sought out homes 
 in obedience to impulse prompted l)y lofty ambi- 
 tion, and sincere desire to benefit their race. From 
 these ancestors sprang men in great numbers, who 
 subsequently became prominent in different locali- 
 ties. The Harrisons are from one of the oldest 
 families of Virginia. Dr. William K. Harrison is 
 a native of Crockett County, Tenn., born in 1849, 
 and is the son of William Harrison and the grand- 
 son of William Harrison, who was a native of Vir 
 ginia, and who was left fatherless when a small 
 boy. William, the father of the subject of this 
 sketch, married Miss Ann Catties, daughter of 
 Robert Catties, who, when a boy and while cross- 
 ing the ocean, was shipwrecked. His father and 
 mother were lost, but his sister and himself were 
 saved, and bound out when very young. The peo- 
 ple with whom he lived spelled his name Cattle, 
 but he thought the name was originally Catlet. 
 Dr. Harrison was reared to agricultural piu-suits 
 in West Tennessee, and received such educational 
 advantages as the subscription schools of that State 
 afforded. Later he studied medicine and gradu- 
 ated at the University of Medicine at Louisville, 
 Ky., in the class of 1874. The same year he came 
 to Mississippi County, Ark., and settled on French- 
 man's Bayou, where he built up a good practice, 
 and his reputation is surpassed by none in the 
 county. The Doctor adds his evidence that Ar- 
 kansas is as healthy as any State in the Union, and 
 that if the people lived as they do anywhere else, 
 instead of subsisting, for the most part, on bacon 
 and cornbread, with black coffee and whisky, and 
 paying no attention to cleanliness, they would en- 
 joy as good health as in any other State. The 
 Doctor is a man of ample business experience, full 
 of enterprise and of safe judgment. He is now 
 the owner of about 1,800 acres of land in this coun- 
 ty, of which he has about 1,000 acres under culti- 
 vation, 700 of which he has placed under the j)low 
 himself. In addition to this he owns about 2,000 
 acres in Greene County near Paragould. On his 
 Mississippi County farm he keeps about 130 peo- 
 ple. Dr. Harrison was married, in 1876, to Miss 
 Ella Davies, a lady possessed of many estimable 
 qualities of mind and heart, and the daughter of 
 
 ^c 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 511 
 
 Dr. J. F. Davies. When a boy the latter came 
 with his father, J. F. Davies, who was also a doc- 
 tor, and a native of Virginia, to Mississippi Coun- 
 ty, Ark. Prior to this and while living in Greene 
 County, Ark., Dr. Davies, Jr., was elected to rep- 
 resent his district in the State senate. After com- 
 ing to Mississippi County, which was just after 
 the war, he took part in all public enterjirisos, 
 practiced medicine and establisli(<d a store which 
 he conducted for years. He died in 188 1. Dr. 
 and Mrs. Harrison are the parents of three bright 
 children, viz. : William F., who is the fourth Will- 
 iam Harrison in direct line; Cora and Ed. Davies. 
 Dr. Harrison is a gentleman of very agreeable man- 
 ners, of fine personal appearance; and being a man 
 of wealth and good family he partakes of that easy 
 refinement and culture which are to the manor Ijorn. 
 Mrs. Harrison is also a stem of the same Virginia 
 stock, and has a very commendable pride in her 
 family. As may be expected they are people of 
 superior tastes and habits, using their surplus 
 wealth in the material improvement of the com- 
 munity in which they live. The Doctor is a mem- 
 ber of the I. O. O. F. , having joined a lodge in 
 Tennessee, from which he took his Card. Mrs. 
 Harrison is a worthy member of the Presbyterian 
 Chnrch. 
 
 •J. A. Hayes was a stripling of about sixteen 
 years when the Rebellion l)roke out, yet he en- 
 listed for active service in the war, and his strug- 
 gles and the severity of his service are not to be 
 overlooked. He was born in the " Palmetto State," 
 in the village of Cheraw, on the Peedee River, in 
 1846, and in 1861 enlisted in Coits' battery of 
 light artillery, and for some time afterward was on 
 duty in and around New Berne. From 1803 until 
 September 27, 1864, he was at Petersburg; but in 
 the latt(>r year he was taken prisoner at the iron 
 l)ridgo near that city, this being the first time he 
 was ever absent from roll-call except on one occa- 
 sion when he was relieved from duty by his su- 
 perior oflicer on account of a wound received while 
 in the seven-days' tight at that place. After being 
 captured ho was taken to City Point, then to Point 
 Lookout, Va., and was kept in imprisonment at the 
 latter place until the close of the war. In the 
 
 summer of 1865 he made his way back to his home 
 in South Carolina, the most of the journey being 
 made on foot, and in the fall of the same year was 
 engaged in contracting for ties for the Cheraw & 
 Darlington Railroad. In October, 1865, he emigrated 
 westward to Memphis, Tenn., where he engaged in 
 agriciiltural pursuits, being an employe of Rev. A. 
 H. Kerr, on Big Creek. Here he continued to 
 reside until 1875, when he came to Mississippi 
 County, and opened up a tract of wild land on 
 Little River; but owing to the high water of 1882 
 he sent his family to Virginia, and returned to 
 Memphis, Tenn., where he engaged with Oggell 
 Bros, in the hardware business. The following 
 year he returned to Mississippi County, Ark. , and 
 settled on a plantation belonging to J. W. Jeffer- 
 son, where he has opened up about '2.C0 acres of 
 land, and has now under the plow 1,0()0 acres, em- 
 ploying about 125 hands to assist him in keeping 
 the farm in good condition. The yield of his land 
 is about three -fourths to one bale of cotton to the 
 acre. Since coming to the county he has pur- 
 chased 320 acres of land, and owns a good residence 
 in the town of Osceola. He was married in 1872 
 to Miss Lula Scott, a native of Prince Edward 
 County, Va. , and a daughter of Samuel B. Scott, 
 who was a descendant of the same family as Gen. 
 Winfield Scott. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes are the 
 parents of the following children: James M. , who 
 died in infancy; Nannie L. and Algie, also died in 
 infancy; Annie Gertie, Eddie, Pearl and liuby 
 (twins, two years old), and Ernest, an infant. M*. 
 Hayes belongs to Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M., at 
 Osceola, and is also a member of the A. O. U. W. 
 Will H. Hayes, sheriff of Mississippi County, 
 and a prominent farmer, residing near Elmot, was 
 born in Tennessee, in 1852, and while growing up 
 was instructed in all the details of farm life. At 
 the age of twenty he engaged in commercial pur- 
 suits, which he continued for two years. In 1874, 
 he came to Mississippi County, Ark., and was en 
 gaged in a general store, at Osceola, where he con- 
 tinued for a period of two years, but failing health 
 caused him to abandon this, and he afterward 
 engaged in agricultural pursuits on rented land. 
 At the end of two years he purchased his present 
 
^1 
 
 512 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 farm near Elmot, autl there he has since remained, 
 engaged in the arduous duties of the farm. The 
 success which seems to attend his efforts in this 
 industry is well merited, for no one is more thor- 
 oughly interested in this calling or gives it greater 
 attention. There were 900 acres in the tract, 
 with about ninety acres cleared, when he first pur- 
 chased it. Now he has 300 acres under cultiva- 
 tion, and this large tract is all capable of being 
 cleared and cultivated, and is de-stined to become 
 a fine plantation. Mr. Hayes has always been act- 
 ive in politics, and in 1886 he was elected sherifF 
 of Mississippi County, and so successful was his 
 career in this office, and so well did he conduct 
 the afPairs of the same, that he was re-elected in 
 1888. He has always taken a deep interest in 
 educational matters, and has served as director 
 almost all the time that he has been a resident of 
 this county. Mr. Hayes is a married man, his 
 union with Miss Sallie McKinney having trans 
 pired in March, 1876. She is a native of Arkan- 
 sas, and the daughter of one of the early settlers 
 of this county. They became the parents of these 
 children: Lulu Maud. Harrie D. , Bessie G. and 
 Lemon. Mr. Hayes' parents, S. D. and Martha 
 (Smith) Hayes, were natives of North Carolina 
 and Tennessee, respectively. The father was a 
 successful agriculturist. 
 
 J. R. Hearn. In endeavoring to trace the 
 genealogy of Mr. Hearn, we find that his paternal 
 ancestors came originally from the land of thistles 
 and oatmeal. He was born on Blue Grass soil in 
 1832, and was the fifth of sis children that grew 
 to maturity, born to Joseph and Rebecca (Austin) 
 Hearn, the latter being a Kentuckiau, in which 
 State the father was occupied in tilling the soil. 
 In the fall of 1834 they came to Arkansas, settling 
 on the Mississippi River below Osceola, which 
 country was then almost a complete wilderness in- 
 habited by Indians and wild animals, and here 
 Mr. Hearn opeued a woodyard, and began farming 
 in a small way. Later he sold this property and 
 bought some wild land near where Elmot now is, on 
 which place he died in 1850, before having made 
 any improvements. The opening of the farm then 
 devolved upon oui- subject, who was then about 
 
 eighteen years of age, and for five years he strug- 
 gled manfully to get the property in good shape 
 for farming, his labors being reasonably successful. 
 He was married when about twenty three years of 
 age, at which time Miss Eliza Boyles, a daughter 
 of W. J. Boyles, became his wife. After the cele 
 bration of this event he rented land and continued 
 farming in this manner until the death of his 
 wife's parents in 1871. when he moved on their 
 old homestead, which embraced a tract of 160 
 acres, only fifteen of which were under the plow. 
 He has since cleared and put under cultivation 
 forty acres, and owing to the fertility of the soil 
 finds no trouble in raising a bale of cotton to the 
 acre. In his conduct of this estate he gives each 
 detailed portion of the work his personal close 
 supervision, and this care and method ever exer- 
 cised have contributed to place him among the 
 foremost farmers of this vicinity, as he is one of 
 the most intelligent citizens. He is not active in 
 politics, but uses his own judgment in support- 
 ing the various candidates for office. He is at 
 present holding the office of justice of the peace. 
 In 1868 he had the misfortune to lose his estima- 
 ble wife, she having borne him three children: 
 Howard Hazzard, William Akin Percy (who mar- 
 ried a Miss Fleming, and resides on his father's 
 place), and Thomas Elliot. His union with his 
 present wife took place in the year 1872, her maid- 
 en name having been Susan E. Morrow. The six 
 children which have been given them are Editha 
 Lee, Joseph Guilford, Luther May, James Hale, 
 John Franklin and Lillie Bruce. 
 
 Jerry L. Hearn is one of the native-born resi- 
 dents of Mississippi County, Ark., and on account 
 of long acquaintance and a thorongh knowledge 
 of his many sterling qualities, he is held in high 
 esteem by the residents thereof. He was born in 
 the year 1851, and was one of the sons of Jerry 
 Lynch, but at the age of eleven years was adojjted 
 by G. A. Hearn, an old settler of the county, and 
 spent one year in Osceola, attending school, then 
 moved with his adopted father to Clear Lake, 
 where G. A. Hearn died in 1881. Here Jerry 
 L. Hearn spent the most of his youth, and after 
 attaining manhood was married to Miss Sarah 
 
 
:±-jy 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 )]3 
 
 Mobley, also a native of the comity. When twen- 
 ty-two years of age he purchased a farm of 108 
 acres near Clear Lake, and ever since then has 
 devoted much of his time and energies to putting 
 his farm in good condition, all necessary buildings 
 forming a 2:)rominent feature of the improvements. 
 By his perseverance and industry his lands now 
 aggregate 300 acres, with forty acres one mile 
 west of Blythesville, and the amount of land on 
 these two farms comprises 120 acres. Ho has 
 been the owner of the property where he now 
 makes his home since 1875, his surroundings being 
 exceptionally pleasant, and has everything conven- 
 ient and comfortable about his home. He has 
 always been active in politics, and in ISB-l secured 
 the contract to carry the mail from Blythesville to 
 Osceola; does also a good trade in carrying pas- 
 sengers and doing business for the people of those 
 places. He and his family are members of the 
 Meth(3dist Episcopal Church, and he is a member 
 of Chickasawba Lodge No. 13-4, of the F. & A. 
 M. The following are the children born to his 
 marriage: Lizzie, Mattie, Minnie and Harry. 
 
 Dr. Elliott Hickman (deceased). On the 10th 
 of December, 1858, there died at his home in Mis- 
 sissippi County, Ark., a man who was thoroughly 
 conscientious in the discharge of every duty, and 
 who had given to his county the best energies of 
 his life. In the community in which he lived, and 
 among the people who knew him best, the influence 
 of his pure and noble life is still felt to a remarka- 
 ble degree. His birth occurred in North Carolina 
 in 1782, and, at the age of seven years, he was 
 taken to the State of Tennessee by his father, who 
 settled in the iminediate vicinity of Nashville. His 
 father, William Hickman, was an old veteran of 
 the .Revolution, and for services rendered during 
 that war he received an extensive land grant in 
 the State of Tennessee. Our subject attended 
 school in Nashville, and in- early youth entered the 
 drug store of his brother-in-law, Roger B. Sap- 
 pingtou, who at that time was a leading physician, 
 a prominent citizen, and the only druggist in the 
 place. Ho remained with Dr. Sapi)ington, study- 
 ing under his directions, and after the completion 
 of his medical studies settled in Franklin. Will 
 
 iamson County, where he entered upon the prac- 
 tice of his chosen calling. After a residence of a 
 few years in this place he was married to Miss 
 Julia Ann Dudley, a Virginian by birth, and a 
 daughter of Col. Guilford Dudley, of Revolution- 
 ary fame. Col. Dudley wrote a history of that 
 war, which was published in the Southern Literary 
 Messenger, and it was pronounced one of the best 
 of that period. During that war his property in 
 North Carolina was entirely destroyed by the 
 British, but he removed to Tennessee, retrieved 
 his fortunes to some extent, and became one of the 
 noted men of Middle Tennessee. In 1812-15, Dr. 
 Hickman was appointed by Gov. William Carroll 
 superintendent and surgeon of the war hospi- 
 tal at Fayetteville, Lincoln County, Tenn., and 
 here he resided until 1835, when he moved his 
 family to Memphis, where he was engaged in fol- 
 lowing his profession up to the year 1840, when 
 he bought a tract of land of about 1,000 acres, 120 
 miles above Memphis, in Mississippi County, Ark. , 
 the place being now known as Hickman's Bend. 
 Here he instituted many improvements, and soon 
 had his home surrounded by many comforts and 
 luxuries. From the gallery of his old home could 
 be had a most magnificent view of the river as it 
 sweeps around the bend many miles above, and 
 disappears in the south behind wooded points 
 and fertile fields of cotton. In this lovely home 
 among magnificent giant forest trees he dispensed 
 his hospitality in an exceedingly liberal manner, and 
 became noted throughout all the region for his 
 polished manners. Although a slave-owner, he 
 would never employ an overseer, and among his 
 humble retainers, he was happy in making them 
 happy. His advice was given freely to all, and in 
 him they ever found a kind and liberal friend in- 
 stead of a hard taskmaster. His memory is still 
 loved and reverenced among his old servants who 
 are still living. Hickman Township and Hickman's 
 Bend were named in his honor. His estimable wife 
 sui-vived him until November 11, 1862, when she 
 too died. Their children's names are as follows: 
 Frances, who married Col. Elliot H. Fletcher [see 
 sketch]: Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Muri)hy, a mer- 
 chant of New Orleans; William, Julia Ann, who 
 
 ^^ 
 
r.i4 
 
 HISTOEY OF AEKANSAS. 
 
 ilied when just entering womanhood; Sarah, and 
 Thomas, who died in 1863; seven children died in 
 infancy. 
 
 D. W. Hicks. It was in 1873 that Mr. Hicks 
 first became a resident of Mississippi Connty. Ark. . 
 and since then he has become one of the truly hon- 
 ored and respected residents of this section. His 
 birth occurred on Blue Grass soil in 1845, and he 
 was the fourth of a family of eight children born 
 to Armstrong and Mary (Duerson) Hicks, who are 
 both residing in Kentucky, and are each eighty- 
 two years of age. The father was a miller. Like 
 the majority of youths, D. W. Hicks learned his 
 father's occupation, and attended the common pub- 
 lic schools near his home until sixteen years of age, 
 at which time he enlisted in the Confederate army 
 under Jolin H. Morgan, and was an active partici- 
 pant in the battles of Hartsville. Tenn. , Snow 
 Hill, Tenn. , Lebanon, Ky. , and in numerous minor 
 engagements. He was with Morgan on his Ohio 
 raid in 1863, and was at the battles of Corydon and 
 Buffington Island, but was captured at Richmond, 
 Ind , and sent to Camp Chase, where he was held 
 a prisoner for twenty-three months. After being 
 released at the end of May, 1865, he returned to 
 his home in Kentiicky, with the consciousness of 
 having been one of the tried and true soldiers of 
 the "lost cause.'" His career as a soldier was 
 marked by fearlessness and courage. He worked in 
 a roller factory for six months, then went to New 
 Orleans, where he remained a short time, after 
 which he returned to Kentucky, and made his 
 home at Hickman for five years. Since that time 
 he has resided in Mississippi County, Ark., the 
 first five years of his residence here being spent in 
 farming in the vicinity of Osceola. In 1878 he 
 came to Chickasawba Township, where he farmed 
 on rented land for some time, being also engaged 
 in teaching school. His first purchase of land was 
 in 1880, amounting to 113 acres, at Shady Grove, 
 but he has since bought fifty at Hickman's Bend, 
 a fine place, all of which is under cultivation. 
 This year (1889) he is farming eighty acres of corn 
 and cotton. He is always interested in enterprises 
 that will reflect credit upon this section, and al- 
 though not an active politician he has served as 
 
 justice of the peace and school director for two 
 years. He is a member of Chickasawba Lodge 
 No. 134, of the F. & A. M. In 1882 his mar- 
 riage with Miss Mary Lillard was celebrated. She 
 was born in Tennessee., is a member of the Metli 
 odist ChurcL, and has borne Mr. Hicks a son 
 named James. Mr. Hicks is expecting soon to 
 make a visit to his parents at Hickman, Ky. , whom 
 he has not seen for sixteen years. 
 
 J. N. Hill (deceased). In the year 1878 there 
 died at his home in this county, J. N. Hill, who had 
 been a prominent resident of the county since 
 1867, and who, during his residence here, was 
 closely identified with the agricultural interests of 
 the community in which he resided. He had first 
 come to the county in 1858, when a boy, with his 
 father, John Hill, but in 1865 returned to his 
 State of Tennessee, and was married there the 
 same year, to Miss Julia Helmes, a daughter of 
 William Helmes, of Mount Zion, Tenn., hci- 
 birthplace being in Lebanon, Tenn. Upon per- 
 manently locating in Mississippi County, Ark., at 
 the above mentioned date, he settled on the Ellis 
 place, which was owned by Maj. Ferguson, of 
 Nodena, and in 1871 bought the place on which 
 his widow is now residing, which continued to be 
 his home up to the time of his death. He was an 
 industrious, frugal farmer, and, with the assistance 
 of his worthy wife, succeeded in accumulating con- 
 siderable {jroperty. Endowed with good common 
 sense, and of a sympathetic nature, he was among 
 the foremost in every commendable enterprise, and 
 his death was keenly felt by all who knew him. 
 His first purchase was eighty acres of land, and 
 his estate at the time of his death amounted to 
 about 700 acres, of which 220 were under the 
 plow, the principal crop being cotton. At the 
 time of his death he left a widow and four chil- 
 dren to mourn his loss, the eldest child being but 
 nine years of age: Ella-E., a young lady; C. F. , 
 who resides with his mother, and is an assistant 
 on the plantation; G. W., a lad at home, ami 
 Agnes, the youngest of the family. 
 
 Joseph M. Hill, a prosperous farmer and en- 
 terprising citizen of Frenchman's Bayou, was born 
 at Nashville, Tenn., in 1857. He was the young- 
 
 y\: 
 
est child liorii to John H. and Lina Ann (Cottlos) 
 Hill, who moved to Mississippi County, Ark. , 
 from Nashville, in 1858, and settled on French- 
 man's Bayou, where he purchased 600 acres of 
 land. The father cleared up about 100 acres of this 
 land, and was engaged extensively' in stock rais- 
 ing until his death, in ISOfl, his wife dying tlu^ 
 same year. Joseph M. Hill attended the schools 
 at home for some time, and then entered an acad- 
 emy at Covington, Tenn., and later one at Canton, 
 receiving in his youth as go6d an education as 
 could be obtained. Upon reaching the age of 
 eighteen he began farming for himself on rented 
 land, and being a young man of perseverance and 
 a determination to succeed in whatever he under- 
 took, he soon placed himself in an independent 
 position. In Feltruary, 1884, he was married to 
 Mi.ss Mollie Woodward, of Tennessee, a daughter 
 of Lewis Woodward, a well-known and prominent 
 citizen of Tipton County, in both political and 
 church matters, who died in 1880. This union 
 gave Mr. and Mrs. Hill three children: Nellie, 
 Mary and Joseph Nelson, comprising one of the 
 happiest families in Mississippi County. Mr. Hill 
 is a member of the K. of O. at Louise, Ark. , and is 
 spoken of by his friends as certain to be one of the 
 leading men in this county at some future day. 
 His brother, Bethel L. , attended the same schools, 
 and afterward farmed for a while. He was mar- 
 ried to Miss Ralph, of Tennessee, and as he grew 
 to mature age became a very prominent man in 
 local circles. He served two years as justice of 
 the peace, and in 1886 was elected assessor of Mis- 
 sissippi County, remaining in that capacity until 
 his death, in 1889. at the age of thirty four years. 
 The father of these boys entered the pulpit after 
 moving to this county, and attained a wide-spread 
 celebrity for his foi-cible sermons and versatility 
 as an expounder of the Gospel. 
 
 R. D. Holt. Island No. 10, formerly in the 
 Mississippi River, and the scene of a heavy artilh^y 
 duel during the War of the Rebellion, was the 
 birthplace of the subject of this sketch. There 
 he was l)orn in 1848. and some years later he 
 came with his father, R. J. Holt, to Mississippi 
 County. Ark., and settled on his present property. 
 
 Here the elder Holt died in 1863, leaving a wife 
 and five children. The mother, whose maiden 
 name was Miss Mary Bone, was a native of New 
 Madrid, Mo., and there she grew to womanhood. 
 R. D. Holt and his brother John, who now lives 
 near, took hold of the home plac(< after the death 
 of the father, and although there were but fifteen 
 acres cleared at that time, they went to work and 
 soon cleared about 10(1 acres, each Ijrother owning 
 a half interest, in addition to which they each have 
 a farm of from eighty to 160 acres. The farm 
 lies on Lake Como, in the southwest part of the 
 county, in what is called the Nauvoo settlement, 
 named thus on account of the Mormons having 
 settled there early in the 50' s. R. J. Holt, the 
 father of R. D., was one of them at that time, he 
 having previously been a Methodist, and after a 
 few years of Mormonism he returned to his old 
 faith, in which he died. Those who adhered to 
 the faith went to Salt Lake, and among the last to 
 go was one Sol. Spain, who got away just before 
 the blockade in 1861. On the property of Mr. 
 Holt there are eleven well-defined Indian mounds, 
 which have never been explored. The largest is 
 about fifteen feet high, and over 100 feet in cir- 
 cumference at the base. This is now used as a 
 burying place by Mr. Holt, whose father, mother, 
 brother and sister, an uncle, a brother in- law and 
 his wife and two children are buried there. His 
 brother has one child buried there, and a sister 
 has two children. Mr. Holt was married in 1871 
 to Miss Sophrona Barney, of Mississippi County, 
 and the daughter of John Barney, one of the 
 pioneers of Mississippi County, Ark. Three chil- 
 dren are the fruits of this union: I\Iary, Leroy and 
 Mattie, all at home. Mr. Holt is a member of the 
 Wheel. 
 
 John C. Holt. In the sketch that precedes 
 this has been given an outline of the life of Mr. R. 
 D. Holt, brother of the subject of this sketch. 
 John C. Holt was born at Nauvoo, Mississippi 
 County, Ark., in 1858, his parents. R. J. and 
 Mary (Bone) Holt, coming from Island No. 10, in 
 the !Mississip[)i River, the year before. John C. 
 Holt improved every opportunity for an education, 
 but school facilities were not what thev are at the 
 
present day. After reaching mauhood Mr. Holt 
 was absent for about fourteen months, but returned, 
 firm in the settled lielief that Mississippi County 
 was the place for him. In connection with his 
 brother, R. D. Holt, Mr. Holt has opened up 160 
 acres of land, and is now the owner of '226 acres, 
 with about 112 acres under cultivation. His prin- 
 cipal occupation is cotton raising, and he averages 
 about three-fourths of a bale to the acre, at a cost 
 of $6 per acre. He has progressive, modern ideas 
 of farming, and is a man who will sivcceed in any 
 undertaking. He was married, in 187S, to Miss 
 Virginia Ashburn, daughter of Jason Ashburn, who 
 came to Mississippi County in 1835, and who was 
 one of the pioneer settlers of the county. To Mr. 
 and Mrs. Holt have been born four children: 
 Cordy, now a young man; Harry, Phinney and 
 Ivey. Mr. Holt is a member of the Masonic lodge 
 at Fi-enchman's Bayou, and also of the Methodist 
 Church. 
 
 Rev. James F. Jernigan, pastor of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, South, of the Osceola Cir- 
 cuit, was born in Henry County, Tenn., May 18, 
 1851, being sixth in a family of seven children 
 born to Rev. ^^'. H. and Dicy (Moore) Jernigan, 
 natives of Middle Tennessee. There the father 
 followed farming for a long time, but being con- 
 verted, he began preaching nearly fifty years ago. 
 James' paternal grandfather, Jesse, and his wife, 
 Rebecca, were pioneers of Western Tennessee, go- 
 ing there from Middle Tennessee in 1823, where 
 the old gentleman lived, following farming and 
 carpentering, till his death, which occurred in Jan- 
 uary, 1857, at the age of eighty-three years. Rev. 
 W. H. Jernigan later removed from Tennessee to 
 Independence County, Ark., and settled near Sul- 
 phur Rock, where he brought a tract of 200 acres. 
 On this land he has made many improvements, pro- 
 viding a comfortable home for the family till about 
 1883. The mother died August 10, 1878, at the 
 age of sixty-four years. The estate still belongs to 
 the family, but Mr. Jernigan, Sr. , makes his home 
 with his youngest son, L. C. Jernigan, a merchant 
 at Sulphur Rock. In 1865 this estimable man 
 (our subject's father) taught the first free school 
 in Independence County. He was a teacher for a 
 
 long time in Tennessee, and has always been active 
 in school and church work. He has continued 
 preaching up to the present, and during the sum- 
 mer of 1888 assisted his son in a series of pro- 
 tracted meetings, covering a period of nearly three 
 months. On the 23d of July, 1889, at the house 
 of his youngest son, he made the remark, that for- 
 ty-nine years previous a chain of two links had 
 been formed; subsequently seven links more had 
 been added, and to this increasing chain thirty - 
 eight more links, representing his grandchildren, 
 were added, making in all a chain of fifty- four 
 links. During this long period there have been 
 but eight breaks in this family chain, the death of 
 five children and three adults. This respected 
 pioneer has lived in Northeast Arkansas thirty 
 years, and during that time has never had a chill; 
 in fact, as will be seen from the above, the health 
 of the entire family has been remarkable. Our 
 subject remained at home, working on the farm, 
 till about the age of twenty three years, during 
 which time he attended school in the vicinity of 
 his home, and in 1872 was a student at a five- 
 months' session at Spring Hill Academy, Henry 
 County, Tenn. From his sixteenth year, when- he 
 was converted, he has been a diligent student of 
 the bible, and works on theology, feeling from that 
 early age that there were fields for labor in the 
 coming years, in which a knowledge of those books 
 would be his greatest if not his only help; and so 
 with these years of preparation, by private study 
 and his father's help, he became well qualified for 
 active usefulness. He entered the ministry of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South, White River 
 Conference, which was held in 1874 in Searcy, 
 White County, Ark., his first charge being Salem 
 Circuit, Fulton County, where he remained one 
 year. He was then changed to West Point Cir- 
 cuit, White County, and thence, after one year, to 
 Pleasant Valley Circuit, Jackson County. In 1878 
 he was changed to Newport Station for one year; 
 thence to Lee County, for one year; in 1880 to Clay 
 County, Boydsville and Oak Bluff Stations; in 1881 
 to Corning Station, same county; in 1882-83, 
 Jamestown Circuit, Independence County; in 1884 
 -85, at Vanndale Circuit; in 1886-87, in Marion 
 
 "TT 
 
^j{.nc 
 
 -AWRE NCE 
 
 Lauf 
 
 \NSAS 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 oil 
 
 Circuit, Crittenden County, and in 1888 back to 
 Sulphur Rock Circuit, his old, boyhood home. 
 In ISS'.I he was appointed to Osceola Circuit, in , 
 Mississippi County, which charge he is filling at 
 the present time. Brother Jernigan can justly be 
 called a revivalist, for in all these years his min- 
 istry has been marked with wonderful success. 
 In 1882, 175 conversions resulted from his efforts, 
 and two-thirds of this number united with the 
 church; in other years nearly as many, and this 
 year (1889) during about eight months' labor he 
 had 1 1 S accessions to the church. He has held pro- 
 tracted meetings at Carson's Lake, Golden Lake, 
 Pecan Point, Mill Bayou, Dunavant's C^hapel, 
 Louise Chapel, Elmot and Osceola, and at all these 
 meetings great interest has been manifested, and 
 many conversions made. Indeed, the degree of 
 interest manifested among the people who have 
 been attending his various meetings is sufficient to 
 impress a thoughtful person as being wonderful. 
 Religious matters have here been the chief topic of 
 conversation, and the thoughts of almost all seem 
 to dwell on the "big meetings." Brother Jerni- 
 gan has been married twice; the first time Novem- 
 ber 14, 1877, to Miss Kate D. Shoup, a native of 
 Marshall County, Miss., who came to this State 
 with her parents in her youth. She died Septem- 
 ber 9, 1878. He married the second time, October 
 11, 1881, Miss Lizzie I. Camp, a native of Tennes- 
 see, born in Memphis, and the daughter of Dr. M. 
 V. anil Sallie C. (Shed) Camp. Her mother died 
 in 1888, but her father is at the present time a 
 prominent physician of Walnut Ridge. He was 
 on the editorial staff of the first secession paper 
 published in Alabama, and later served as captain 
 in the Confederate army. Brother Jernigan at 
 present resides at Walnut Ridge, where he has a 
 pleasant home, presided over by his estimable wife. 
 In personal appearance, as will be seen by a glance 
 at the accompanying portrait, he is a man of 
 striking personal appearance, with an intellectual 
 expression superior to the average. Slightly above 
 the ordinary height, also incrlining somewhat tu 
 stoutness, with an erect carriage, it is apparent 
 that physically he has been generously endowed by 
 nature, and as a result makes a commanding pres- 
 
 ence in the pulpit. Such endowments, when com- 
 bined with the earnest and entreating expression 
 of the eye, and the ringing tones of eloquence as 
 he expovmds the truths of the Divine Story, contrib- 
 ute materially to the success which follows every 
 meeting. He also strives to have the congregation 
 see that what he says is not the labored production, 
 studied for oratorical clfoct, Init that each word 
 springs from the sincere heart, and that he feels 
 with all an enthusiast's power, the truth and passion 
 of the Holy Law. His preaching, at proper inter- 
 vals, is often enlivened by an appropriate anec- 
 dote, containing a moral, clothed in a few pleas- 
 ing and often humorous sentences, which relaxes 
 the tension of the hearer's mind, as it also points 
 more directly to the open door of truth. In con- 
 versation with various members of th(> different 
 churches in Mr. Jernigan' s charge, it is found that 
 his efforts are jiistly appreciated, for, from no one 
 are heard words of censure or unkind criticism, but 
 from all, terms of the highest praise. 
 
 R. L. Joiner. It can not be denied that a man 
 who lives according to the highest principles of 
 what he conceives to be right, helping others and 
 in a word, keeping as his aim the Golden Rule, 
 will receive the most sincere esteem of his fellow 
 creatures. Such a one is the subject of this 
 sketch. Born in Shelby County, Tenn. , he is the 
 son of R. S. Joiner, and the grandson of Jack 
 Joiner, who emigrated from North Carolina when 
 R. S. Joiner was a small boy. The latter was 
 also a native of Shelby County, Tenn. R. L. 
 Joiner was born on the corner of Poplar ami 
 Second Streets, Memphis, Tenn.. and there re 
 mained until eighteen years of age, receiving a 
 good practical education in the schools of that 
 city. At the above mentioned age he left the 
 State of his nativity and journeyed to Crittenden 
 County, Ark., where he remained for about five 
 years. In 1868 he came to Mississippi County, 
 Ark., and in the year 1880 .settled on what is 
 known as the Parker place, west of Frenchman's 
 Bayou, where he has cleared by contract about forty 
 acres since coming to the county. Mr. Joiner is 
 a wide-awake, stirring farmer, and his improve- 
 ments about the place are all of a superior order. 
 
■v« 
 
 nis 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 In 1880 he was united in marriage with Miss M. 
 L. Price, daughter of Mrs. Mary E. Price, of 
 Lee County, Miss., and the fi-uits of this union 
 have been three chiklren: Ada Mary, Anna Ruth 
 and Emma Blanche, all at home. Aside from his 
 own farm, Mr. Joiner rents about sixty-two acres, 
 and is engaged in cotton planting on the same, 
 averaging about three-fourths of a bale of cotton 
 to the acre. He is a member of the Agricultural 
 Wheel. 
 
 Dr. Walter D. Jones, Osceola. There are few 
 men of the present day whom the world acknowl- 
 edges as successful more worthy of honorable men- 
 tion, or whose history affords a better illustration 
 of what may be accomplished by a determined 
 will and perseverance, than Dr. W. D. Jones. He 
 was born in Newburg, N. Y., in 1842, and was the 
 fifth of eight children born to Dr. William and 
 Charlotte M. (Wheeler) Jones, the father a native 
 of Shoreham, Vt. , and the mother of New York. 
 The paternal ancestors were of Welsh descent, and 
 the maternal of German. Dr. William Jones be- 
 gan the study of medicine at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., 
 in his youth, secured his diploma, and has been a 
 practicing physician for over fifty years. During 
 that time he has risen to the position of one of the 
 leading practitioners among the Eclectic school of 
 physicians, and is well known in the profession 
 throughout the length and breadth of the United 
 States. He has held the office of president, treas- 
 urer, and has been one of the board of censors of 
 the Eclectic Medical Society of the State of New 
 York. He is now living in retirement at his fine 
 home in Newburg, N. Y. Dr. Walter D. Jones 
 passed his youth as a student in the public schools 
 of Newburg, and naturally, perhaps, he evinced at 
 quite an early age, a strong desire for the study of 
 medicine, and a precocious ability for the practice 
 of that profession. His greatest desire seemed to 
 be to reach a proud position in the ranks of emi- 
 nent medical men, with whom he has always been 
 associated. He was solicited, in 1872, by the late 
 Prof. R. S. Newton, Sr. , professor of surgery in 
 the Eclectic Medical College of New York City, to 
 accept the chair of professor of anatomy. In 1878 
 he was proffered and .solicited by Prof. Frank- 
 
 lin, professor of surgery in the Homoeopathic Col- 
 lege of St. Louis, Mo., to occupy the chair of 
 surgery in that institution, but having a few days 
 previous closed his contract with the A. L. Clum 
 Medicine Company, declined. At the age of seven- 
 teen he entered the medical department of the Uni- 
 versity of Pennsylvania, remaining there one 
 year, after which he entered the Jefferson Medical 
 College, where he spent but one j'ear, and then re- 
 turned to the University. In 1861, after one year 
 in the last mentioned institution, he enlisted as a 
 private in the Third New York Infantry, and was de- 
 tailed to the Hy geia Hotel Hospital, at Fortress Mon- 
 roe. He was in the battle of Little Bethel, was then 
 detailed to the Adams House Hospital, at Balti- 
 more, Md. , and later mustered out at Albany, 
 N. Y. At the end of one month he enlisted in the 
 Fifteenth New York Cavalry, and was soon sent to 
 Virginia, where he was in all the fighting of the 
 Shenandoah Valley; was in the battle of Port Royal, 
 Lynchburg, Winchester, Sheridan's raid from 
 Winchester, Va. , to the White House, Waynesboro, 
 Dinwiddle Courthouse, Five Forks, Appomattox 
 Courthouse, Clover Hill, and was present at Gen. 
 Lee's surrender, on April 9, 1865. He took part 
 in the grand review at "\\'ashington, on the 23d of 
 May, of that year, and was mustered out at Cloud's 
 Mills, Va., in July. That year he returned to 
 Philadelphia, entered the University, resumed his 
 studies and graduated in 1860. He subsequently 
 returned to Newburg and engaged in the practice 
 of his chosen profession with his father, continu- 
 ing there two years. After this he was in Brook- 
 lyn two years, then in St. Louis four years, and 
 then, in 1879, he came to Osceola, Ark. He discon- 
 tinued the practice of his profession while in St. 
 Louis, to accept a position with the A. L. Clum 
 Medicine Company, of Red Wing, Minn., and came 
 to Osceola in the interest of that company. Seeing 
 a favorable opening, he located, and has remained 
 here since, devoting his time entirely to the relief 
 of suffering humanity. He has built up an exten- 
 sive practice, and is one of the leading physicians 
 of the county. He is of pleasing address and most 
 agreeable manners, possessed of a mind clear, pen- 
 etrating and comprehensive, thoroughly posted in 
 
'-^ 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 519 
 
 his profession, and a practitioner of decided talent. 
 He has bought a farm of '210 acres, fifty of whicli 
 are under cultivation, and he is clearing up the 
 remainder. The Doctor was married in 1868, to 
 Mrs. Mary E. Wines, a native of Brooklyn, L. I. 
 (at that time), and of English descent. She died 
 in 1870, leaving one child, Edith Helen, who died 
 in infancy. Dr. Jones took for his second wife 
 Mrs. Frances Carrie Goff, a native of Georgia, and 
 the daughter of William A.. (Toff, who followed the 
 occupation of an architect. Mrs. Jones was a 
 widow with one child, Jessie, when married to the 
 Doctor. Dr. Jones is the only Eclectic practitioner 
 in Mississippi County. He was chairman of the 
 Republican executive committee for eight years, 
 was president of the board of health for four 
 years, was alderman four years, and has been 
 United States deputy marshal. He affiliates with 
 the Republicans in his political preferences, and is 
 the leading member of his party in Mississippi 
 County. 
 
 Benjamin F. Jones, one of the most influential 
 men in Mississippi County, and a man who, dming 
 his residence here has not only become one of the 
 largest and wealthiest landholders, but is also con 
 nected with the well-known and prosperous mer- 
 cantile tirm of Ward & Jones, is a native of Illi- 
 nois. His parents, James and Elvira (Henderson) 
 Jones, were natives of Kentucky, and some time 
 before the war the father, with his family, consist- 
 ing of his wife and small children, moved to Illi- 
 nois. There both parents died, the father in 1860 
 and the mother in 1868. In 1866 Benjamin F. 
 Jones came to Mississippi County, Ark., and at the 
 age of seventeen years commenced working on a 
 farm, where he continued for several years. In 
 1869 he embarked in mercantile pursuits in O.sce- 
 ola, which he continued for about seven years, 
 when, owing to financial difficulties, he sold out to 
 his partner, the latter agreeing to pay all indebt- 
 edness, which he did in full. After this, for a 
 number of years, he was engaged in planting cot- 
 ton, at which be was very successful. About 1885 
 he bought the interest of L. Ward, of the firm of 
 L. Ward & Son, located on Frenchman's Bayou, 
 and formed a partnership under the firm name of 
 
 Ward & Jones. Since that time the firm has been 
 very prosperous, their annual sales running from 
 $40,000 to $50,000, and in connection they also 
 carry on cotton planting quite extensively, the firm 
 being the owners of over 2,000 acres of the rich 
 land about Frenchman's Bayou, which ranks among 
 the most fertile tracts on the continent. They have 
 about 300 acres under the plow, the r(<mainder yet 
 in timber, but each year they adil greatly to their 
 cleared land. Mr. Jones is the owner of over 1,000 
 acres in his own right, and stands among the fore- 
 most young business men in the county. He is al- 
 ways ready with open hand to encourage any legit- 
 imate enterprise, and is a benefit and an honor to 
 any community in which his lot is cast. He is a 
 member of McGavock Lodge No. '2754, Knights 
 of Honor, located at Frenchman's Bayou. He 
 wedded Miss Nannie Ashburn, daughter of Jack 
 Ashburn, one of the pioneers of the county, who 
 came with his father from Kentucky when a boy, 
 or in the year 18'29. He died when his daughter 
 Nannie was but a child. His wife was Mary Ball. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Jones' union was blessed by the birth 
 of six children, all living, and the eldest about 
 fourteen years of age. They are named as follows: 
 Harry, Cora, Maud, Pearl, Annie, and Francis , an 
 infant four months old. In all his ideas and tend- 
 encies Mr. Jones is progressive and enterprising, a 
 useful member of society, personally and in busi- 
 ness circles. 
 
 T. B. Jones, a successful planter and a promi- 
 nent merchant of Frenchman's Bayou, is a native 
 of Illinois, and the son of James Jones, who died 
 in Illinois. T. B. Jones obtained a good practical 
 education in the schools of his native State, and 
 afterward went to the Lone Star State, where he 
 remained for two years. At the age of twenty- 
 three years he came to Mississip[)i County, Ark. , 
 located there, and although his means were very 
 limited, he went to work with the determination to 
 succeed, and is now the owner of 113 acres, of 
 which he has sixty under cultivation. On this he 
 averages about one bale of cotton to the acre, and 
 in addition he has a general store in which he 
 keeps a full line of goods necessary in a country 
 neighborhood. He has placed about thirty acres 
 
 ■^^^=^Fr 
 
Si 
 
 a w_ 
 
 r)20 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 under cultivation, made all the other improve- 
 ments, building a fine frame residence with about 
 2, 000 feet of flooring and two stories high. He 
 also has a fi'ame storehouse '20x50 feet, four tene- 
 ment houses and a barn. His marriage occurred 
 in 1881 with Miss Lizzie Hightower, of Mississippi 
 County, where she was born and reared. Her 
 father, William Hightower, settled in Mississippi 
 County, Ark. , at an early day. He was origiuall}' 
 from East Tennessee, his wife being a native of 
 this county. They died in Mississippi County, 
 Ark., when Mrs. Jones was small. To Mr. and 
 Mrs. Jones has been born one child, a daugh- 
 ter named Claudia. Mr. Jones is a member of the 
 Masonic Lodge No. 157, Frenchman's Bayou. 
 His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. 
 
 Dr. D. C. Joyner. The people of Mississippi, 
 as well as surrounding counties, are familiar with 
 the name that heads this sketch, and for many 
 years Dr. Joyner has been successfully occupied 
 in the prosecution of his chosen piofession. Dur- 
 ing that time his career as a practitioner and 
 thorough student of medicine has won for him no 
 less a reputation than have his personal character- 
 istics as a citizen and neighbor. He was liorn in 
 Stewart County, Tenn. (Dover), in 1838, and was 
 reared in Smithland, Livingston County, Ky. He 
 was educated at Bethlehem, and in the Presbyterian 
 Academy, located at Salem, Crittenden County. 
 In 1857 he commenced the study of medicine in 
 the office of Prof. F. L. Sim. of Golconda, 111. . 
 where he .studied for two years, and then entered 
 the Louisville University, from which institution 
 he graduated in 1861. Later he came to Missis- 
 sippi County, commenced practicing on French- 
 jnaa's Bayou, when there were but few planters, 
 and soon built up a very lucrative practice. Not 
 satisfied merely with his profession, the Doctor has 
 engaged in other pursuits, and having built a large 
 store room, sold goods for about fifteen years. 
 He sold out his stock of goods in 1888 to W. 
 H. PuUen & Co. , to whom he rents the building, 
 and the Doctor now has a complete stock of drugs 
 in a building which he has erected just across the 
 way, and where he now keeps a full line of all the 
 
 requisites necessary for a first-class store. He has 
 also been interested in planting cotton, having 
 owned a plantation of 240 acres, of which he put a 
 considerable share under cultivation, but this he 
 has recently sold. The Doctor agrees with other 
 prominent medical men, that .\rkansas is as healthy 
 as any other Southern State, and the people are 
 as exempt from disease, if they use the same care, 
 as in other States. Especially does this apply to 
 those who keep all mud holes and stagnant pools 
 filled up or drained off. Dr. Joyner was a Whig 
 in his political preference before the war, and says 
 he is the same now, but since coming south he 
 has allied himself with the Democratic party. Dur- 
 ing the war he enlisted in the Twenty-third Ar 
 kansas, and served most of the tiine in the State. 
 acting at one time as courier to some of Price's com- 
 manders. His marriage with Miss Medora Ward, 
 daughter of Capt. L. Ward, occurred in Memphis, 
 and soon afterward they moved to Frenchman's 
 Bayou, where they have lived ever since, with the 
 exception of about six months, when they resided 
 iu Arkansas County, near Dewitt. This union 
 has been blessed by six children: Leon, at home 
 and a cripple from birth; DeWitt C, at home; 
 Effie L., Clide V., Constance (Birdie), and Ruth 
 Kerr, an infant. The Doctor is a member of the 
 K. of P., of Progress Lodge, Memphis, Tenn., 
 and is also a member of McGavock Lodge No. 
 275-1, K. of H. Mrs. Joyner is a member of the 
 Methodist Church. 
 
 W. C. King, a physician whose skill has won 
 him a large practice, and a man who stands high in 
 the estimation of his fellow citizens, was born Jan- 
 uary 13, 1838, at Raleigh, Shelby County, Term., 
 and was the fifth in a family of nine children. 
 His parents were John R. and Dosha (Hector) 
 King, of North Carolina and Missouri, respective- 
 ly. The father was engaged in mechanical pur- 
 suits, and had made Tennessee his home for fifty 
 year.s, dying there in 1882, four years after the de- 
 mise of his wife. In his youth young King re- 
 ceived the best education obtainal)le, and attended 
 school at home until his seventeenth year. He 
 then took ten months" study at Bethel College, Mc- 
 Lemoresville, Tenn.. and afterward attended school 
 
 ^-* 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 521 
 
 iit Biirtlett for several years. In 1858 he began 
 the study of medicine with Drs. Duncan and Pryor 
 as his preceptors, both well-known physicians of 
 that period, and in the fall of that year entered 
 the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, 
 where he remained until his graduation, in March, 
 1S61. He then returned to Tennessee, and, the 
 war having just about commenced, enlisted in Com 
 pany D, Fourth Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers, 
 remaining with them one year, and at the re-or- 
 gauization was transferred to Company A. The 
 Doctor took part in the battles of Shiloh, Murfrees- 
 boro, Chickamauga and Missionary Pidge, being 
 captured at the last named place and taken to 
 Rock Island, 111., where he was held a prisoner 
 until October 30, of the following year, and then 
 escaped. He immediately returned home, and in 
 the summer of 1805 began to practice his profes- 
 sion in Raleigh, Tenn., where he remained until 
 1867. He then moved to Coahoma County, Miss., 
 and in 1868, was married to Miss Alice Burrow, of 
 Georgia, a daughter of Rev. Reuben Burrow, a 
 noted Cumberland Presbyterian preacher, whose 
 ability as an orator and revivalist was often com- 
 mented upon by the press. At the beginning of 
 the war Mr. Burrow raised a company of men, and 
 was placed at the head as captain. After a year's 
 service he was promoted to the rank of major of 
 his regiment, and from that to colonel, in which 
 capacity he served in Gen. Forrest's command 
 through all his battles. At the close of the war 
 he again entered the pulpit, and continued preach- 
 ing until his death, in 1888. This gifted man was 
 early imbued with the spirit of oratory and began 
 preaching when only nineteen years of age. Dr. 
 King continued to make Coahoma his home until 
 1879, practicing medicine all the while with great 
 success, in the meantime engaging in planting 
 and also merchandising. He lost his wife in that 
 year, who died leaving him four children to cher- 
 ish in her stead. Their names are Kate, wife of 
 J. M. Rol)inson, of thiscounty ; Mal)el. Dosha, who 
 died in infancy, as also did John R. Soon after 
 the death of his wife, the Doctor returned to Ten- 
 nessee, where he resided in the neighborhood of 
 his old home until 1887. On June i>, of that year. 
 
 he came to Mississippi County, Ark., and settled 
 at Pecan Point, where he remained for six month.s, 
 and then moved to Frenchman's Bayou, where he 
 has located permanently, and purchased a residence 
 in the most thickly settled portion of the place. 
 He was an entire stranger on his arrival, but soon 
 built up a tine practice and won many friends by 
 his agreeable manners and genial disposition. The 
 Doctor has been a Mason since 1865, formerl)' be- 
 longing to Woodlawn Lodge at Bartlett, Tenn., 
 and now a member of Frenchman's Bayou Lodge 
 No 251, in which he is J. D. His wife was a 
 woman of considerable literary attainments, and 
 when only fifteen years of age she wrote the fare- 
 well address to Company D, of the Raleigh Vol- 
 unteers. It might be well to <juote a few of the 
 Doctor's opinions upon a sul)ject that has agitated 
 the Southern people to some extent. He takes 
 great interest in the comparative difference between 
 the white and colored labor of the South, and con-' 
 tends that the result of white labor is much more 
 satisfactory and pi'ofitable; that the climatic in- 
 fluences are not particularly injurious to people of 
 the North and East, and that they will tind the 
 condition of health in this county equal to that of 
 the western district of Tennessee, or any other 
 point in the Mississippi Valley. He has practiced 
 medicine .in both Tennessee and Mississippi, as 
 well as in Arkansas, and states facts that have come 
 under his immediate observation. He has noticed 
 that the citizens of this county who take proper 
 care of themselves enjoy as good health as the in 
 habitants of almost any other locality, but such 
 occupations as hunting, trapping, etc., are trying 
 to the strongest constitutions, and people who in- 
 dulge in such pursuits are subject to frequent at- 
 tacks of illness. 
 
 Louis A. Lafont, a prominent farmer near Os- 
 ceola, was born in New Madi'id County, Mo., in 
 1826, and was the third child in a family of nine 
 children born to Anthony and Frances Lafont. of 
 Missouri and Indiana, respectively. The father 
 moved to New Madrid County in 1810, and was re- 
 siding there at the time of the great earthquake in 
 the latter part of that year, and during which he 
 lost his first wife, who. like many others, died from 
 
fright on tliat occasion. Mr. Louis A. Lafont 
 gives a vivid description and recalls many interest- 
 ing experiences and incidents of that wonderful 
 yet disastrous phenomenon, which he remembers 
 having heard his father tell about. The elder La- 
 font died there in 1848, his second wife following 
 him in 1857. Louis remained in that section dur- 
 ing his youth, and attended some of the best 
 schools in that district, and also at New Albany, 
 Ind., his education occupying about eleven years 
 of his life altogether. He received his first com- 
 mercial experience at Point Pleasant, Mo., in 
 1848, where he engaged in general merchandise 
 business, and 'remained at same for three years. 
 In 1853 he moved to Metropolis, 111., and entered 
 into mercantile life at that point, also manufactur 
 ing brick and contracting for erecting buildings. 
 His reputation was rapidly pushed to the front in 
 that line, and soon afterward he built a large flour- 
 mill for himself, which he put up at an expense of 
 $30,000, besides many fine and expensive private 
 residences. He continued in various business en- 
 terprises at Metropolis for eighteen years, and dur- 
 ing that time was one of the foremost men in ad- 
 vancing and improving the town. In 1872 Mr. 
 Lafont moved to Mississippi County, Ark. . and 
 settled on Frenchman's Bayou, where he com- 
 menced farming and dealing in merchandise. He 
 remained there fifteen years, and then moved to 
 Sans Souci, where he has resided ever since. In 
 1853 Mr. Lafont was married to Miss Malinda 
 Chote. of Massac County, 111., and nine children 
 have been born to this union, of whom six have 
 died. The names of all are Augustus (deceased), 
 Eugene, Lina, Fannie, Mary (deceased), Willie 
 (deceased), Charles (deceased), Walter (deceased), 
 and Dickey (deceased). Mr. Lafont met with a 
 sad misfortune in disagreeing with his wife, and 
 was legally divorced; after a suificient period of time 
 he was married to Miss lola Hanna, of Illinois, 
 daughter of Dr. John Hanna, of Massac County, 
 111. , from which union they have had three chil- 
 dren: Clarence (deceased). Edgar (deceased) and 
 Grover Cleveland. Sans Souci has a valuable citi- 
 zen in Mr. Lafont and one to whom she can point 
 with pride. No man has displayed more enter- 
 
 prise and desire to see his county and his town 
 (Osceola) take rank among the most important 
 places of Arkansas than this gentleman, and cer- 
 tainly no citizen enjoys a greater popularity than 
 he does, both in business and social circles. 
 
 Clarence Lafont. Nowhere in all Mississippi 
 County is to be found any young man of more 
 energy or force of character than Clarence Lafont 
 possesses, and no young agriculturist is deserving 
 of greater success in the conduct and management 
 of a farm than he. His birth occurred near where 
 Osceola now stands, on what is called Hill Place, 
 and he is the son of N. B. and Viola V. (Willson) 
 Lafont. The father was born in the State of Mis- 
 souri, and moved to Osceola. Ark., in about 1867. 
 Being a man alive to all business enterprises, he 
 not only engaged in agricultural pui-suits, but in 
 connection also carried on merchandising for two 
 years. After this he continued farming, and in 
 1870 purchased about 300 acres of land on French- 
 man's Bayou, located there and cultivated about 
 200 acres of land. He was a man well known and 
 much respected for his many good qualities, and 
 his death, which occurred in 1885, was universally 
 regretted. He left two children: Miss Ella, now 
 residing in Osceola, and Clarence. The latter re- 
 ceived his education at Covington, Tenn., and in 
 the public schools of Osceola. After the death of 
 his father he cleared 100 acres of land, and now all 
 together has 300 acres of cleared land and several 
 hundred acres of timber. This year, besides his 
 own land, he has rented 100 acres, and runs from 
 thirty to seventy-five hands, whom he supplies 
 from his store. This year he will raise on the 
 home place some 200 bales of cotton, at a cost of 
 about .$10 per bale. Mr. Lafont is only twenty- 
 three years of age, but for good management and 
 other business qualifications his equal is not to be 
 foiind in the county. He carries on a farm of from 
 100 to 300 acres, and, while cotton is the principal 
 crop, he also raises enough corn to last through the 
 year. 
 
 F. R. Lanier. A lifetime of hard, earnest en- 
 deavor, in pursuing the various occupations in 
 which he has been engaged, especially in his 
 farming enterprises, coupled with strict integrity. 
 
 f 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 523 
 
 
 honesty of purpose and liberality, has tended to 
 place Mr. Lanier among the highly honored and 
 .successful men of Mississippi County. H<! was 
 born in the city of Nashville, Tenn., in 1829, and 
 is a son of Isaac H. and grandson of Isaac Lanior, 
 the latter being one of a large family that were 
 born in the State of North Carolina. The mater- 
 nal grandfather, Bernard Vanleer, was an iron 
 manufacturer of Pennsylvania, but afterward re- 
 moved to Tennessee, where he followed the same 
 occupation, and made a large fortune, his son-in- 
 law, Isaac H. Lanier, being associated with him 
 in this business. When the latter had acquired 
 sutKcient means he came to Mississippi County, 
 Ark., in 1832, and purchased a tract of land, con- 
 sisting of 1,500 acres, on which he moved his fam- 
 ily four years later, his children being Samuel B. 
 and F. R. His landed possessions increased until 
 they finally reached an extent of 3,000 acres, all of 
 which was acquired by strict perseverance, and at- 
 tention to business. His death, which was lament- 
 ed by all who knew him, occurred in 1847, but, 
 unlike many men, he left his wife and two sons 
 well j)rovided for. His eldest son, S. B. , died in 
 1872, and his widow survived him until 1884, 
 when she, too, died, having made her home with 
 her son, F. R., up to the time of her death. The 
 latter was favored with exceptionally fine educa- 
 tional advantages, which he improved to the ut- 
 most extent, and after attending the common 
 schools of Nashville he went to school at Ran- 
 dolph, and also to the Mountain Academy at Cov- 
 ington, Toun. , becoming thereby well equipped to 
 fight his own way in the world. At the age of 
 twenty years he went to Brownsport. Tenn., and 
 built what was known as Brownsport Furnace, it 
 being the first hot-blast furnace built in the State, 
 and was for many years one of the largest ftirnaees 
 in the State. After managing this successfully 
 for about four years he sold out, and moved back 
 to the plantation, on which he remained until the 
 breaking out of the war between the States. In 
 1861 he was elected to represent the people of Mis- 
 sissippi County in the convention that passed the 
 ordinance of secession, which convened the 4th of 
 March, 1861, and in which the State was withdrawn 
 
 from the Union, and Mr. Lanier signed his name 
 to this ordinance. Only two copies are in exist 
 euce, one of which he has in his possession, and 
 keeps in a safe in Memphis. In company with the 
 late Dr. Luke P. Blackburn, who was afterward 
 governor of Kentucky, ho volunteered as aid on 
 the staff of Gen. Sterling Price, and it was but a 
 short time until be was appointed inspector of 
 mines and furnaces for the Confederate States, 
 which position he held until he was captured at 
 Selma, Ala., in April, 1865, by Gen. Wilson, from 
 whom he succeeded in making his escape. He 
 then, after the surrender of the Southern army, 
 made his way home, which he reached without any 
 means whatsoever with which to improve his farm 
 and clear it of debt, it having become badly in- 
 volved for security debts. He settled in Memphis, 
 and engaged in the real estate business, in partner- 
 ship with Mr. Monsarratt and Maj. R. C. Winter 
 smith, the firm taking the name of Monsarratt. 
 Lanier & Co. They did exceptionally well in this 
 business for a few years, then Mr. Lanier em- 
 barked in the oil industry, establishing the Bluff 
 City Oil Company, the oil being manufactured from 
 the cotton seed. He remained in this business 
 until he acquired sufficient means with which to 
 clear his farm from debt — it being involved to the 
 extent of $75,000— and in 1885 settled on the old 
 homestead, which he commenced to put in tillable 
 shape once more, it having grown up to brush and 
 wood during his absence. Since returning he has 
 cleared about 300 acres in the home place and 130 
 acres in a farm adjacent. He employs about lOd 
 people on his plantations. In 1882 he made a trip 
 to Europe, in the interest of the cotton-seed oil busi 
 ness, and visited all the principal cities of Great 
 Britain — Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Manches 
 ter, Leeds, Hull, on the North Sea, and took a 
 pleasure trip to Paris. He investigated many of 
 the cotton-seed oil-mills of the old world, and says 
 that they make much more oil in Europe than thev 
 do in the United States, although they get the 
 most of their seed from this country, Egypt and 
 India. In 1855 he was married to Miss Martha 
 Norvell, a daughter of Moses Norvell, a merchant 
 of Nashville, Tenn. . who died there the year be- 
 
A 
 
 r)24 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 fore his daughter's marriage, followed by his wife 
 a few years later. Mrs. Lanier died in Memphis, 
 Tenn. , in 1885, never having borne any children. 
 Mrs. Lanier, the mother of our subject, died in 
 1884, at her son's home in Memphis. Mr. Lanier 
 has always been active in politics, and is a Democrat 
 in his views. He also belongs to the I. O. O. F., 
 and for many years has been a member of the Epis- 
 copal Church. 
 
 Felix R. Lanier, Jr., is a member of the well- 
 knovm and .substantial mercantile tirm of L. A. 
 Morris & Co., of Osceola, and although quite a 
 young man he has attained a place among the 
 mercantile interests of the county, which is by no 
 means an inferior one, and one which many older 
 in years and experience might well feel proud to 
 occupy. His birth occurred in Mississippi County, 
 Ark., in 1857, and he is the youngest child born 
 to Samuel B. and Fannie (Falls) Lanier. [See 
 sketch of Felix R. Lanier, Sr. ] His paternal 
 grandfather, Isaac H. Lanier, was greatly inter- 
 ested in iron manufacturing in Tennessee, and 
 came to this county at an early day, being one of 
 the pioneers of the county. Soon after coming 
 here, he was joined by his sons, Felix and Samuel, 
 and they purchased a large tract of laud on the 
 river eight miles below where Osceola now stands. 
 There they made many extensive improvements, 
 but the old farm has since been entirely swept away. 
 Upon the death of the grandfather, the estate be- 
 came the property of the boys, and after the death 
 of Samuel, his brother Felix became the owner of 
 the property. Felix R. Lanier, Jr. , assisted on the 
 farm and attended the school at Memphis until the 
 age of eighteen years. He then returned to the 
 arduous duties of the farm, and this occupation 
 continued until a short time since. On February 
 20, 1888, he was united in marriage to Miss Lloyd 
 Taylor, a native of Osceola, and the result of this 
 union has been one child, a son named Felix. In 
 February of 1888, the year of his marriage, Mr. 
 Lanier entered the business of L. A. Morris as 
 partner, under the firm name of L. A. Morris & 
 Co. They do a general commission business, buy- 
 ing country produce, cotton, etc. Having been a 
 resident of Mississippi County all his life, Mr. 
 
 Lanier has seen many changes in the country, and 
 always takes an active intei'est in all things per- 
 taining to the welfare of the county. He is a 
 member of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 J. A. Leatherwood is a man whom nature seems 
 to have especially designed to be a planter, for, 
 owing to his desire to keep out of the beaten 
 path, and to his adoption of new and improved 
 methods, together with industry and good judg- 
 ment, he has met with more than the average 
 degree of success in pursuing his calling. He 
 was born in Tishomingo County, Miss., in 1858, 
 and there received his education in the dis- 
 trict schools, which, in his day, were not of the 
 best. At the age of nineteen years he began clerk- 
 ing in a store belonging to S. N. De Woody, who 
 was afterward succeeded by J. J. Comon & Co. , of 
 whom Gov. Stone, of Mississippi, was the ' ' Co. ' ' 
 and the leading member of the firm. He remained 
 with them for about three years, acquiring a 
 thorough knowledge of the business in all its de- 
 tails. In 1885 he came to Mississippi County, 
 Ark., where he settled on a plantation with his 
 brother, J. D. Leatherwood, thej- renting a tract 
 of land consisting of 200 acres, which they devoted 
 to the raising of cotton, and employed from twenty 
 to thirty hands. Two years later they rented the 
 Idaho Landing plantation, which place they have 
 leased for seven years. They have a steam cotton- 
 gin, and aside from this and farming they are quite 
 extensively engaged in conducting a mercantile 
 establishment, and are in possession of the landing 
 at the river, where they conduct a large woodyard. 
 J. A. Leatherwood is a member of Lodge No. 180, 
 of the K. of H. J. D. Leatherwood is a native of 
 Tishomingo County, Miss., where he was born in 
 1861, his educational advantages being about the 
 same as his brother's. On reaching manhood he 
 engaged in the livery business in luka, Miss., but 
 at the end of three years came with his brother to 
 Mississippi County, Ark., where he has since been 
 following the occupation of a jalanter and mer- 
 chant. In 1887 he was married to Miss Dixie Dean 
 of luka. Miss., by whom he had one child. Lloyd, 
 who died in infancy. 
 
 James Liston. There are many citizens of for- 
 
 ^ <i 
 
'.^ 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 525 
 
 eign birth represented within the pages of this 
 volume, but none are more deserving of mention 
 than Mr. Liston, who was born in Irehmd in 1838, 
 and was the youngest in a family of four children, 
 the result of the union of Patrick and Julia (Ahern) 
 Liston. The parents emigrated to the United 
 States in 1847, settled in Kentucky and there the 
 father followed agricultural pursuits. Thoy passed 
 the balance of their days in that State, the mother 
 dying in 1853 and the father in 18(57. James Lis- 
 ton attended St. Peter's school in Louisville, un- 
 til fifteen years of age, when he went to Iowa and 
 was engaged in working on a farm for two years. 
 He then came back to Louisville and clerked in a 
 wholesale grain house until 18()'2, when he went to 
 Nashville, Tenn., and was employed as wagon 
 master until 186f). After this he returned to 
 Louisville, where he commenced the grocery and 
 general hauling business until 1870, when he discon- 
 tinued this and commenced railroad contract work 
 on the Louisville & Paducah Railroad, also the 
 Brownville & Durham Railroad. He then resumed 
 his former business in Louisville, which he carried 
 on tor one year, and then, in 1873, came to Osceola, 
 where he worked for W. P. Hale as general work- 
 man for about six j^ears. During this time he started 
 a small store, which was conducted by his family. 
 In 1S7U he started his present extensive business, 
 which has been growing larger every year. Mr. 
 Liston purchased quite extensive town property, 
 which is yearly advancing in value. He also owns 
 a half interest in a tract of 100 acres in the south- 
 ern part of the county. He is quite active, polit- 
 ically, and has held the offices of justice of the peace 
 and treasurer of the county, also the position of al- 
 derman, with the exception of four years, ever since 
 the incorporation of the town in 187-1. Mr. Lis- 
 ton buys all country produce, cotton, etc., and has 
 a well selected stock of goods. He met Miss 
 Honora O'Donell, also a native of Ireland, and 
 was united in marriage to her in 1857. This happy 
 union has been blessed by the birth of three chil- 
 dren, only one now living, Anna. The two de- 
 ceased are Patrick and Michael. Mr. Liston is an 
 active worker in school matters, and all things prom- 
 ising to contribute to the good of this section. 
 
 William Long is deserving the success which 
 has attended his efforts throughout life, for it has 
 been his aim to be upright and honest, and he has 
 wronged no one but has aided many. He has 
 always been frugal and industrious, those sterling 
 qualities being inherited from his sturdy Scotch 
 and German ancestors, and he is an acknowledged 
 representative agriculturist of the county. He was 
 born in White County, 111., in 1830, and was the 
 fourth of a family of seven children born to the 
 marriage of Harbart Long and Mrs. Elizabeth 
 (Rutledge) Peak, the former being born in North 
 Carolina and the latter in South Carolina. The 
 father was a sturdy tiller of the soil, and met his 
 death by drowning in 1835, followed by his wife's 
 death five years later. Like so many of the sub- 
 stantial citizens of this county at the present time, 
 our .subject was initiated into farm "life from the 
 very first, and this has continued to be the call- 
 ing to which his attention has been directed. He 
 settled in the northeast part of Mississippi County 
 in 1853, and first worked as a farm hand, and later 
 rented ground for a few years. In 1860 he bought 
 eighty acres in Chickasawba Township, near the 
 present town of Blythesville, on which he began im- 
 mediately to make improvements, and soon had a 
 house built and a number of acres under cultiva- 
 tion, but the war interfered with his labors, for he 
 was taken prisoner in 1864. After obtaining his 
 release he entered the Confederate service, being 
 a member of Capt. Sawyer's company. Twenty- 
 third Arkansas Cavalry, and was on scout and 
 skirmish duty. Since the cessation of hostilities 
 he has given his time to developing and improving 
 his property, and has fifty of his 160 acres of land 
 under tillage. His farm is very advantageously 
 situated, about one mile from Blythesville, and can 
 nearly all be cultivated. On it, at the present 
 time, is a splendid orchard with many varieties of 
 choice fruits. In 1877 he and T. P. Davis built a 
 horse-gin which they operated one year, then an 
 engine was put in, and the next year Mr. Long 
 became proprietor of the property, which he has 
 since improved and enlarged considerably. In the 
 fall of 1888 he ginned 464 bales of cotton. He 
 was united in marriage in May, 1857, to Miss M. 
 
\ 
 
 526 
 
 HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 A. Turpin, and their union was blessed in the 
 birth of the following family : Mary E. , wife of A. 
 J. Nippin, of this county; Alice, who died at the 
 age of three years; Hettie, who died in infancy; 
 Martha Ann, Emma D.. John H. , and one that 
 died in infancy unnamed. Mrs. Long is a member 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Long 
 has inherited many of the sterling qualities of his 
 father, and is in every way a conservative, public- 
 spirited citizen. 
 
 John A. Lovewell, a prominent farmer, and at 
 present deputy sheriff of Mississippi County, Ark., 
 is a native of Warrick County, Ind. , born in 1848, 
 and the younger of two sons born to William A. 
 and Charlotte (Bohall) Lovewell, natives of New 
 York and Indiana, respectively. The father was 
 a building contractor, and while following this 
 business in Natchez, Miss., in 1850, he was taken 
 sick and died. The mother followed him to the 
 grave nine years later. She was married again 
 after the death of her fir.st husband, and in 1856 
 the family emigrated to Arkansas. John A. Love- 
 well was taught the rudiments of farming in the 
 State of Arkansas, and commenced for himself at 
 an early age. He came to Osceola in 1863, and 
 in 1870 rented land and made his first crop. Two 
 years later he met and married Mrs. Margaret 
 Murray, nee Edington, a native of Mississippi 
 County, and the daughter of William B. Edington, 
 who came to Arkansas at an early period, and 
 bought from the Indians the land where Osceola 
 now stands. He was extensively engaged in till- 
 ing the soil there until his death. Since his mar- 
 riage Mr. Lovewell has been engaged in farming 
 on a .small scale, and the energetic and wide-a- 
 wake manner in which he has taken advantage of 
 all methods and ideas tending to enhance the 
 value of his property has had a great deal to do 
 with his obtaining the competence which ho now 
 enjoys. In 1881-82, he was the county assessor, 
 and prior to this he was constable for two years. 
 At present he is serving as deputy under Sheriff 
 Hayes. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Love- 
 well have been born seven children, four now liv- 
 ing: James H. , John Freeman, Poindexter Dunn 
 and Hugh McVeigh. Those deceased are Lena 
 
 who died August 28, 1874, at the age of three 
 years; Margaret Lula, who died in infancy, and 
 Harry G., who died July 16, 1886, at the age of 
 three years. 
 
 Dudley Lynch, another prominent tiller of the 
 soil in Mississippi County, Ark., is a native of the 
 Blue Grass State, where he was born on the 28th 
 of March, 1815, and is one of sixteen children born 
 to Jerry and Mary Ann Lynch, natives of South 
 Carolina and Kentucky, respectively. The father 
 was a prominent farmer in his native State, and 
 died in Hickman. Dudley Lynch assisted his 
 father in the necessary duties upon the farm until 
 fifteen years of age, and then began working on a 
 Government snag boat, which occupation he fol- 
 lowed during the winter season for a number of 
 years. On April 13, 1837, he came to Arkansas, 
 settled in Mississippi County, where he was engaged 
 in getting out cypress stave shingles, and was also 
 engaged in the general lumber business. At the 
 same time he entered a tract of land, 160 acres, on 
 which he still resides. Mr. Lynch was married to 
 Miss Wallace in 1846, and two children were the 
 result of this union, both now deceased; Robert 
 Dennis and Mary. His second marriage was with 
 Elizabeth Hearn, a native of Kentucky, and the 
 daughter of Joseph Hearn, an early settler of this 
 county. Three living children are the result of 
 this marriage: Beckey, wife of Mr. McKinney; 
 Martha, wife of Mr. Martin, residing on our sub- 
 ject's farm, and Dudley, who married Miss Jennie 
 Lock, and resides at Lynch Landing. Mrs. Lynch 
 died January 2, 1861. For his third wife Mr. 
 Lynch chose, in 1865, Mrs. Martha Ann Bertt 
 (widow of Joseph Bertt, a native of Wisconsin). 
 Mrs. Bertt was a native of Missouri, and was the 
 mother of one child by her first marriage, V. V. 
 Bertt, who is at present mail agent on the Anchor 
 Line steamboats. Mr. Bertt enlisted in the Con- 
 federate army soon after his marriage, and served 
 with Gen. Price. He was wounded at Springfield, 
 and died there soon after. His son, V. V. Bertt, 
 attended the public schools of Osceola for a num- 
 ber of years, and spent his youth on his step- 
 father's farm. In 1887 he was employed on the 
 Government works at Memphis, and on February 
 
 ^31 - 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 527 
 
 28, 1889, he secured his appointment as mail agent 
 on the above named steamboats, which position he 
 holds at the present time. Van. , as he is familiarly 
 called, is a young man of pleasing manners, cour- 
 teous and agreeable, and one of the rising young 
 men of this section. To the marriage of Mr. and 
 Mrs. Lynch these children have been born: 
 Minerva Emma, wife of F. L. McGee, residing 
 near Elmot; John D. , who died at the age of seven- 
 teen years; Peter Calvin, who was accidentally shot 
 on the 21st of November, 1884; Julia Ann, James 
 L. and Lena Lillian. On the tract of land that 
 Mr. Lynch originally entered he now has the en- 
 tire tract under cultivation, all well fenced, with a 
 good orchard. He has other farms which he has 
 improved, and his children are residing on these. 
 Lynch' s Landing, which was opened on Mr. 
 Lynch's jilace in ISSl, was named in honor of him. 
 Margaret L. McFadden, the widow of Kobert 
 McFadden, and a daughter of John Hill, was born 
 in Tennessee in 18-iO. Her father moved to Mis- 
 sissippi County, Ark., in 1858, and settled on 
 Frenchman's Bayou, being one of the pioneers of 
 of that section. Here he bought a tract of land 
 which had very few improvements on it, but he 
 soon put it in such good condition that he sold it 
 at a handsome profit. He next bought IfiO acres 
 of land, with about half of it cleared, on Carson's 
 Lake, and after an active and busy life died, in 
 1872, at this place, two years previous to his wife's 
 decease. His daughter, Margaret, was married, in 
 ISfifi, to Mr. McFadden. of Tennessee, in which 
 State the young couple made their home until Mrs. 
 McFadden' 8 father died, when they removed to 
 Arkatisas, and settled in Mississippi County. One 
 •hundred and sixty acres of partly improved land 
 were purchased on Frenchman's Bayou, which Mr. 
 ^IcFadden added to during his life until he had 
 all together 500 acres of the best land in that sec- 
 tion, and 100 acres of it cleared. He was an ac- 
 tive worker in educational matters, and served 
 several terms as school director. His natural 
 leaning toward oratory led him to adopt the pulpit, 
 and shortly afterward he was ordained a ]\rission- 
 ary Baptist preacher. It was in this capacity that 
 he became widely known, and he was one of the 
 
 most highly esteemed citizens of that section. His 
 death occurred in 1884, and since his demise Mrs. 
 McFadden has continued the farming interests; 
 up to date she has cleared sixty additional acres, 
 besides buying 200 acres more. She is a woman 
 of tine business aliility, and understands thorough- 
 ly how to conduct her various affairs. She also 
 owns a herd of fine stock, and her natural shrewd- 
 ness and good judgment in all matters of business 
 are well known. Mrs. McFadden is a member of 
 the Frenchman's Bayou Baptist Church, and lis- 
 tens to sermons from the same pulpit in which her 
 worthy husband preached in his life-time. Their 
 union sfave them five children: Paulina, who died 
 at the age of twelve years: Katie Lee. who died 
 in her third year; James R., who died when 
 three years of age; Laura and John R. , the latter 
 attending school at Crardner, Tenn. In John 
 H. Hill's family there were eleven children, of 
 whom two died in infancy, and nine lived to ma- 
 turity: Parthenia, married to Joseph Holmes, and 
 died in 1877; Martha Ann, married in 1855, her 
 husband being James Grant, and died August 25, 
 1862; the next child was Mrs. McFadden; then John 
 M. , who died in 1879; George Washington, who 
 died from yellow fever in 1873; Andrew J., who 
 died in 1877 ; Kate V. , wife of John Sissel, a resident 
 of Frenchman's Bayou; Bethel, who died in 1889, 
 and Joseph N. Mrs. McFadden is a charming 
 lady, and very popular with her neighbors, and 
 though often urged to change her widowhood and 
 become once more a bride, she still remains true to 
 the memory of her departed husband. 
 
 Edward J. McGavock (deceased) was a man well 
 known to the early settlers of Mississippi County. 
 Ark., and was respected for his manly, straight- 
 forward course through life, and beloved by all for 
 his noble Christian qualities of mind and heart. He 
 was a son of Jacob McGavock of Nashville, Tenn.. 
 and was liorn in that city December 17, 1828, be- 
 ing favored in his youth with exceptionally fine 
 educational opportunities, which ho did not fail to 
 improve. He entered the Nashville University, of 
 which institution his grandfather, Felix Grundy, 
 and his uncle, J. M. Bass, were trustees at the same 
 time that Gen. Andrew Jackson was a member of 
 
 :r 
 
A 
 
 528 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 the board, aud to his excellent natural abilities he 
 added a line education. About the year 1832, Fe- 
 lix Grundy, with his two sons-in-law, John M. 
 Bass and Jacob McGavock, came to Mississippi 
 County, Ark. , and purchased large tracts of land 
 at and about Pecan Point, which included the 
 Shawnee Village and Dickinson's Mill, the whole 
 13urchase consisting of about 20,000 acres, besides 
 about 3,000 acres on the lower end of Island No. 
 35, lying opposite Pecan Point. All this property 
 is still retained in the family, with the exception of 
 1 , 500 acres, now owned by E. W. Friend of Pecan 
 Point. Edward J. McGavock was the third child in 
 a family of seven children born to Jacob and Louisa 
 C. (Grundy) McGavock [a history of whom is given 
 in the sketch of Dr. McGavock]. After leaving 
 college, he was married to Miss Ella Young of 
 Mississippi, aud soon after began taking charge of 
 the Pecan Point plantation, which he successfully 
 managed until the opening up of the war, when he 
 enlisted in the Fifty-seventh Tennessee Regiment, 
 Confederate States Army, and was an active par- 
 ticipant in many fierce engagements. He was at 
 Franklin, Tenn., where the Confederate troops 
 made one of their finest charges, and during his 
 military career was appointed to the position of 
 assistant quartermaster-general, which position he 
 held until the close of the war. He then returned 
 to the Pecan Point plantation, in Mississippi Coun- 
 ty, where he continued to make his home until his 
 death, which occurred April 7, 1880, in New Or 
 leans, La., having been, during life, among the 
 foremost planters of Mississippi County, and a 
 man of irreproachable moials. His first wife died 
 in 1861, after giving birth to three children, all of 
 whom grew to maturity : Frank Young McGavock, 
 a sketch of whom appears farther on; Louise, 
 the wife of Dr. Tyner, of Texas, where she died 
 withoiit issue, and Ella, who was married to Shel- 
 don Wilson, of New Orleans, and now resides in 
 Florida, the mother of one child. While at Col- 
 umbus, Miss., in 1866, Mr. McGavock was married 
 to Miss Elizabeth Scott Eskridge, by whom he be- 
 came the father of two children: Mary Eskridge, 
 who is an accomplished young lady, and has been 
 attending school at Baltimore, Md., and Ed. J., 
 
 who is receiving his education at Hanover, Va. , 
 and is now at Hot Springs, Ark., for his health. 
 Mrs. McGavock' s father. Judge T. P. Eskridge, 
 was a resident of Crittenden County, Ark., but 
 originally came from Virginia, where he belonged 
 to one of the first families of that State. He re- 
 ceived a collegiate education, and shortly after (in 
 1821) came to Mississippi County, Ark., the coun- 
 try at that time being almost wholly a wilderness, 
 inhabited by Indians and wild animals. He be- 
 came a member of the superior court of the Terri- 
 tory, and took an active part in all the affairs of 
 the State until his death, which occurred in Crit- 
 tenden County in 1835. He left two children: B. 
 Byrum E. and Elizabeth Scott E. His death was 
 deeply lamented by his widow and children, and 
 by his many friends throughout the Territory. His 
 wife was Miss Mary Byrum, a daughter of Benja- 
 min S. Byrum, of Concordia Parish, La. They 
 are of old French Huguenot stock, their ancestors 
 having taken refuge in America in the last century. 
 Mrs. McGavock and her family are pleasantly sit- 
 uated on the bank of the Mississippi River at 
 Pecan Point. The house is a large, old-fashioned 
 biiilding, and is siuTounded by a large peach and 
 apple orchard, back of which is one of the finest 
 plantations in the county, consisting of 1,000 acres 
 of land, of which 300 or 400 acres are in a fine state 
 of cultivation. The sisters and brothers of E. J. 
 McGavock are Mrs. J. B. Lindsley, Nashville: Mrs. 
 James Todd, Louisville, Ky. ; Dr. F. G. McGavock, 
 Ark. ; John J. McGavock, Fayetteville, Ark. 
 
 Dr. F. G. McGavock, proprietor of the McGa- 
 vock plantation, and whose postoflice is in the 
 southern part of Mississippi County, is one of 
 those rare characters now so seldom met. A real 
 Southern gentleman, in his veins flows the best 
 blood of America, and of this the Doctor is justly 
 proud. His mother was the daughter of Felix 
 Grundy, of Nashville, Tenn., who was contempo- 
 rary with Andrew Jackson. Mr. Grundy, in com- 
 pany with his two sons-in-law, Jacob McGavock 
 (father of the subject of this sketch) aud John M. 
 Bass, all of Nashville, made large purchases of 
 land in the southern part of Mississippi County, 
 Ark., about the year 1833, on which they opened 
 
^. 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 7^2U 
 
 up large plantHtions with slave labor. At the same 
 time they held their residence in Nashville, where 
 Dr. F. G. McGavock was born in the year 1882. 
 James McGavock, the great-great-grandfather of 
 the Doctor, came from County Antrim, Ireland, in 
 1728, and settled in Rockbridge County, Va., 
 where he became acquainted with Miss Mary Cloyd, 
 daughter of David Cloyd, to whom he was mar- 
 ried in 1700. They then moved to Wythe County, 
 Va. , where they raised a large family, and became 
 very wealthy in the course of time. His son, 
 Hugh McGavock, was proprietor of the Max Mead- 
 ows estate, which is still in the family. Here was 
 Ijorn Jacob McGavock, the father of the Doctor, 
 in 171(0. At the age of twenty-two he went to 
 Nashville, Tenn., acting as deputy in the circuit 
 clerk's office for a few years, when he was ap- 
 pointed United States circuit clei'k, which position 
 he held until the breaking out of the Rebellion, 
 when he acted in, the same capacity for the Confed- 
 eracy. When the Federal troops took Nashville, 
 Mr. McGavock was arrested for high treason, but 
 was released on the evidence of Judge Catron, 
 then of the Suisrerae Court of the United States, 
 who testified that Mr. McGavock had turned his 
 l)Ooks over to the United States intact, having hid- 
 den them in his cellar, while other clerks allowed 
 their books and records to be destroyed. Mr. 
 McGavock was married to Miss Louisa C. Grundj', 
 who was about ten years his junior, and both 
 lived to a ripe old age, dying in Nashville, Tenn. , 
 within one year of each other, he at the age of 
 ninety -one years, and she at the age of eighty-one. 
 They reared seven children, all of whom have had 
 large interests in Mississippi County. Armie, wife 
 of Judge Henry Dickenson, inherited the planta- 
 tion known as the Dickenson Mills; it is now 
 owned by Jacob McGavock Dickenson, her son, a 
 rising young lawyer of Nashville, Tenn. Col. 
 Randall W. McGavock was killed at the head of 
 his regiment at Raymond, iEiss. , in the Confeder- 
 ate cause; he was a graduate of the University 
 of Nashville. Sallie, wife of Prof. J. B. Linds- 
 ley,of Nashville, was given a large estate near Pecan 
 Point, which is now owned by her son, J. McGa- 
 vock Lindsley, who resides in Nashville, but spends 
 
 part of his time on the estate. Ed. J. McGavock 
 [see portrait and sketch]. F. G. , the subject of 
 this sketch [see portrait]. John J., of Fayetto- 
 ville, Ark., who recently disposed of a large es- 
 tate in the county. Mary, wife of James Todd, 
 of Louisville, Ky., owns 3,000 acres of the McGa- 
 vock estate at the foot of Island 35, opposite Pe- 
 can Point. Dr. F. G. McGavock graduated fi-om 
 the University at Chapel Hill, N. C. , and also from 
 the University of Nashville. Shortly after gradu- 
 ating Dr. McGavock married Miss Mary M. Bos 
 tick, daughter of John Bostick, of Triune, Tenn. 
 On her marriage she came in possession of a large 
 number of slaves, whom the Doctor used in open 
 ing up the Shawnee Village estate, consisting of 
 1,800 acres of woodland, on the ground that the 
 noted outlaw, John A. Merrill, made famous by 
 making it his stronghold. Previous to that it had 
 been the camp of the Shawnee Indians, and there 
 now stands on this estate one of the largest 
 mounds in the county, which contains bones and 
 pottery of a race apparently superior to and ante- 
 dating the Indians. In plowing and digging on 
 this place the remains of what appears to have 
 been a brick pavement are found. In some in- 
 stances large pieces of well-preserved brick, which 
 had been buried for ages, have been brought to the 
 surface. This is all within a square of about 
 twelve acres, around which, on three sides, is a 
 well-defined ridge. There were about three acres 
 cleared at the time the Doctor took hold, and in 
 1880 he made his only living daughter a present 
 of the estate, with over 700 acres under a tine state 
 of cultivation. The Doctor made his home in Tri 
 une, Tenn., in summer, until after the death of 
 his wife, which occurred at the Gayosa House, in 
 Memphis, the day the Federal gun-boats were fight- 
 ing in front of that city. He was at her bedside 
 when he was made prisoner, but was given permis- 
 sion to attend his dead. He took his two little 
 daughters to Nashville, after which he returned to 
 his plantation. About this time the people of the 
 vicinity organized what was known as the Shawnee 
 Legal Association, to protect themselves against 
 outlaws and guerrillas. The Doctor was made 
 leader and judge, and received the endorsement of 
 
 \ 
 
Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut, in command of the 
 Sixteenth Army Corps, at Memphis, and also of 
 the Confederate general, Sterling Price. Vested 
 with this authority the Doctor compelled every 
 man to either join the conclave or get out of the 
 neighborhood. Where a capital offense was com- 
 mitted the culprit was secured and turned over to 
 either the Confederate or Federal authorities, ac- 
 cording to circumstances. For theft or other petty 
 offenses, horsewhipping and an order to leave the 
 county were deemed sufficient. If the culprit 
 failed to leave, however, it generally went hard 
 with him when caught again. During the war 
 Dr. McGavock demonstrated the fact that cotton 
 could be successfully cultivated with white labor, 
 and that even delicate women could be brought 
 from an entirely different climate to successfully 
 work in the cotton-tield without injury to their 
 health. The negroes were freed and scattered; 
 white men would be conscripted by the Confeder- 
 ate troojas; cotton was in demand and l)rought from 
 70 to 90 cents per pound. The Doctor went to 
 New York, where he engaged sixty-five Irish girls 
 at Castle Garden, from fourteen to forty-five years 
 of age, and with these made a contract for one 
 year at $20 per month each, and board. Without 
 experience, but with a little showing, these girls 
 made a crop for the Doctor on which he cleared 
 $45,000, after paying all expenses, and allowing 
 rent for the land. He was watchful in regard to 
 their health and comfort, and the large dining room 
 was presided over by a corps of waiters who 
 served meals prepared by the best skilled cooks 
 and bakers to be found. A barrel of whisky, in 
 which a few ounces of quinine were dissolved, was • 
 issued to them at the rate of three drinks of two 
 drams each, at intervals during the day. The 
 Doctor always had a hospital with a skilled nurse, 
 liut it was very seldom used, as very little sickness 
 prevailed during the two years of their stay, and 
 but one death occurred. These girls worked on 
 the Pecan Point plantation, and during this time 
 the Doctor paid the expenses of a Catholic priest 
 to come and attend to their spiritual welfare, all 
 being members of that church. A few years later he 
 secured fifty- five German men from Castle Garden, 
 
 and employed them successfully for one year on his 
 Nodena plantation; but the best hands he ever 
 worked were eighteen Chinamen, just from China, 
 whom he secured in Chicago. These he employed 
 on the Shawnee Village place, but they, like the 
 others he imported, were enticed away by ill advis- 
 ers or fiiends. In 1879 Dr. McGavock moved to his 
 present place, known as ' ' McGavock ' ' (the gover- 
 nor having so named the postoifice), which at that 
 time was but a wilderness. It is now one of the 
 finest plantations in the county, with about 640 
 acres under cultivation. Here the Doctor used 
 both white and colored labor, and thinks the white 
 can stand the climate and work as well as the negro. 
 Since moving to McGavock the Doctor has aban- 
 doned the practice of medicine, which at one time 
 was very extensive. He goes now only when called 
 by another physician in consultation. When first 
 coming to Mississippi County he established a 
 nursery for the culture of fruits and flowers, experi 
 menting with almost all the varieties from the 
 leading nurseries of the East and North. He has 
 successfully raised apples, peaches, plums, pears, 
 api'icots, nectarines, cherries, figs, almonds, Eng- 
 lish walnuts, filberts, and small fruits, and grapes of 
 every known variety. For bees he thinks this is a 
 perfect paradise, as all the flora of the woods are 
 honey-bearing. He has raised within the county 
 the following crops: Grass and vegetables, oats, 
 rye, wheat, millet, buckwheat, tobacco, peanuts, 
 white and sweet potatoes, clover, timothy, and all 
 garden produce, with perfect success. The Doctor 
 is now interesting himself in the improvement of 
 the cattle of his district, having recently imported 
 a fine Jersey bull from England, and now has 
 about 100 head of the finest Jersey cows in the 
 State. His daughter, Monoah, is the wife of 
 William S. Bransford, of Nashville, Tenn., where 
 they now reside. Mrs. Bransford is the owner of 
 the Shawnee Village plantation. They have two 
 bright little girls — Bessie and Louise. In 1881 
 Dr. McGavock was elected to re]iresent the county 
 in the State legislature, which he did to the satis 
 faction of his constituents and the State, but, owing 
 to his home interests, he refused to accept the 
 second term. He is a member of the Odd Fellows 
 
-\^ 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 531 
 
 and of the Masons; also of the Knights of Honor, 
 of FriMiohman's Bayou, where McGavock Lodge 
 was named in his honor. He is a man who has made 
 fortunes, at one time being worth as much as 
 $1,000,000, But wealth to him is but a means, 
 and not an end, so he lavishes it as freely as he 
 makes it. His hospitality is unbounded; all are 
 welcome. To his equals he is courteous, to his in- 
 feriors kind, and all receive that consideration due 
 their station. Being a man of decided views and 
 of an active temperament, he often shows his 
 roughest side out, while those who know him best 
 are his best friends. As he is probably better 
 known than any man in the county, he has a host of 
 friends, and can be classed as the most remarkable 
 man in Mississippi County. 
 
 John Harding McGavock (deceased). A glance 
 at the genealogy of Mr. McGavock' s family will 
 show that both his paternal and maternal ancestors 
 have been extensive real estate owners, and great 
 men of prominence. The McGavocks are of 
 Scotch-Irish descent, and came to America before 
 the Revolutionary War, settling in Virginia. 
 About 1796. one of them, David, having married 
 a Miss McDowel, moved with his family to 
 Davidson County, Tenn., and purchased a large 
 tract of land, upon a part of which the city of 
 Nashville now stands. One of his sons, Frank 
 Preston McGavock, married a Miss Amanda Hard- 
 ing, a daughter of John Harding, and a sister of 
 Gen. William G. Harding, the owner of " Belle 
 Meade,"' a noted stock farm near Nashville. This 
 couple became the parents of John Harding, the 
 suljject of this sketch. He was reared in Nash- 
 ville and educated in the State College in that city, 
 receiving a diploma signed by Gen. Andrew Jack- 
 son and other notables of the State. After grad- 
 uating in Nashville he went to Harvard, where he 
 again received a diploma signed by Edward Ever- 
 ett, Greenleaf, Kent, and others. Upon his return 
 to his home, his grandfather Harding, who some 
 years before had come down the (Cumberland, 
 Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in a skiff, and had 
 made large purchases in Mississippi County, in- 
 duced him to leave Nashville, and try the wilds of 
 Arkansas. After this, although still claiming 
 
 Nashville as his home, he spent a part of each year 
 in Mississippi County, adding by purchase and 
 entry to the already valuable tract given him by his 
 grandfather, dividing his time between business 
 and bear-hunting, in both of which he was emi 
 nently successful. In 1853 ho married Mi^^ 
 Georgia Moore, a daughter of Joseph I. Moore, of 
 Columbus. Miss., she being a young lady of cult- 
 ure and refinement, and of one of the first fami- 
 lies of the State. He died in 1861, just at the 
 outbreak of the Civil War, at his father's house, 
 near Nashville. Of the four children born to 
 him, only one remains, Mi's. Sue McGavock Grider, 
 wife of Henry Grider. After the death of J. H. 
 McGavock, his widow- married, in 1868, William A. 
 Erwin, of Jackson, Miss., he belonging to a prom- 
 inent family of that State, and who died in 1882, 
 leaving one daughter, Georgia, now at school. 
 Mrs. Erwin makes her home with her daughter, 
 Mrs. Grider, at the old homestead "Sans-Souci," 
 near Osceola, Ark. During the Civil War the 
 hou.se was used by Gen. Pope as a hosjiital, the 
 yard as a cemetery; though, since, the bodies have 
 been removed and placed in a National cemetery. 
 The fleet when it first came down the river to at- 
 tack Fort Pillow, which is a few miles below Sans- 
 Souci, was anchored in the river opposite the 
 house. This house, which was built by John H. 
 McGavock, has a broad piazza, 12x74 feet in front, 
 the pillars of which are of swamp cypress, in 
 their natural state, except having the bark stripped 
 off, and being painted. They are fluted in the 
 most beautiful and artistic manner, having the 
 appearance of the work of a skillful artist, and are 
 the admiration of every l)eholder. Mrs. Grider 
 preserves as an heirloom the cradle in which all of 
 her mother's children and her own have been rocked. 
 This is a turtle shell, measuring four feet two and 
 one-half inches by three feet seven inches, pol 
 ished and varnished on the outside, and mounted 
 upon rockers of mahogany, and wadded and lined 
 on the inside with (juilted blue satin. The turtle 
 was caught by Mr. McGavock, out of the Missis- 
 sippi River at his own landing. 
 
 Frank Young JIcGavock. For many years, or 
 since locating in this county, Mr. McGavock has 
 
532 
 
 HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 enjoyed the reputation of being not only a sub- 
 stantial and progressive farmer, but an intelligent 
 and thoroughly -posted man in all public affairs. 
 He has always been noted for honorable, upright 
 dealing, and has kept the name he bears, which 
 has descended to him from a long line of illustrious 
 and honored ancestry, pure in the sight of God 
 and man. The first of the family of whom we have 
 any knowledge was the father (name imknown) of 
 James McGavock, who belonged to a wealthy 
 family of Ireland, and who came to America in 
 1728, settling in the State of Virginia, where he 
 took a prominent part in the Revolutionary War, 
 being a soldier in the Colonial army. James Mc- 
 Gavock was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 
 1720, and accompanied his father to Virginia, be- 
 ing married in that State about 1760 to Miss 
 Mary Cloyd, of Rockbridge County, that State. 
 Their son Hugh was the original owner of ' ' Max 
 Meadows," one of the finest estates of the "Old 
 Dominion, ' ' which is still in possession of the Mc- 
 Gavock family. His son, Jacob, the grandfather 
 of our immediate subject, was born on that farm in 
 1790, and in 1812 went to Nashville, Tenn., being 
 appointed a short time afterward to the position of 
 United States circuit clerk, which position he held 
 until after the Rebellion. He was a very success- 
 ful financier, and in company with his father-in- 
 law, Felix Grundy, and his brother-in-law, J. M. 
 Bass, all wealthy residents of Nashville, he came to 
 Missi.ssippi County, Ark., about the year 1832, 
 where he purchased tracts of land many thousands 
 of acres in extent. He afterward bought out the 
 others' interest, and subsequently a large portion 
 of his fine estate fell to the late Edward J. Mc- 
 Gavock, a sketch of whom appears in this work. 
 The latter died in 1881, and his wife in 1861. 
 Frank Young McGavock was but two years old at 
 the time of his mother's death, and from that period 
 until the close of the war he made his home with 
 his maternal aunt, Mrs. Laura Whitfield, whose 
 husband was the eldest son of ex-Gov. Whitfield, of 
 Mississippi, and here he continued to make his 
 home until the close of the war, when he was put 
 in charge of his grandfather, Jacob McGavock, of 
 Nashville, Tenn. , with whom he remained until 
 
 eighteen years of age. His maternal grandfather 
 was Frank Young, of Columbus, Miss., who was a 
 leading man of his day. Mr. McGavock, our 
 subject, was given every advantage for acquiring a 
 good education, and was graduated from the Nash- 
 ville University, at which institution his father had 
 been educated, and of which his grandfather and 
 great-grandfather were among the founders; and 
 after leaving college he entered the wholesale gro- 
 cery business at Memphis, Tenn. , continuing until 
 he was twenty-five years of age. At that time he 
 was married to Miss Theresa E. Perkins, a daugh- 
 ter of Samuel and Theresa (Ewin) Perkins, of 
 Franklin, Tenn., and after their marriage they re- 
 sided in that place one year, then coming to their 
 present tine estate, the McGavock plantation, which 
 adjoins Pecan Point. Here they have a very pleas- 
 ant home, and are the parents of one child, a bright 
 little daughter, named Theresa P. , in whom all 
 their affections and hopes are centered. Mr. Mc- 
 Gavock belongs to the only family of his name and 
 generation living in Mississippi County. 
 
 Hon. H. M. McVeigh, attorney, Osceola. Mr. 
 McVeigh is one of those men, too few in number, 
 who fully recognize the truth so often urged by the 
 sages of the law, that of all men, the reading and 
 thought of a lawyer should be the most extended. 
 Systematic reading gives a more comprehensive 
 grasp to the mind, variety and richness to thought, 
 and a clearer perception of the motives of men 
 and the principles of things; indeed, of the very 
 spirit of laws. This he has found most essential 
 in the prosecution of his professional practice. Mr. 
 McVeigh was born in Fauquier County, Va., in 
 1839, and was the second in a family of ten chil- 
 dren born to Hiram and Mary E. (White) Mc- 
 Veigh, both natives of Virginia. The father was 
 engaged in commercial pursuits until his death, in 
 1865. The mother is still living and resides in her 
 native State. Mr. McVeigh is a self-educated man, 
 having had no advantages other than the common 
 schools. His father, having failed in business, was 
 not able to give him a collegiate education, and, 
 when fourteen years of age, young McVeigh 
 entered a printing office and learned that art. 
 When about eighteen years of age, he began the 
 
 *77 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 58:^ 
 
 study of law and partly supported himself by act- 
 ing as local editor of a daily paper. In 1800 and 
 1801 lie studied law at Hanuibal, Mo., and was ad 
 mitted to the l)ar at that place the summer before 
 ho was tweuty-one years of age. While pursuing 
 his legal studies he also edited, for a short time, the 
 Hannibal (Mo.) Daily Messenger, and during his 
 experience as a printer he worked at the cas(> in the 
 office of the Hannibal Courier, Quincy (111.) Daily 
 Herald, Keokuk (Iowa) Gate City, Palmyra (Mo.) 
 Sentinel, Huntsville (Mo.) Citizen, and the Mexico 
 (Mo. ) Ledger; also other papers. During this 
 time he carefully studied the style in which the ed- 
 itors expressed their thoughts, and paid particular 
 attention to the style of the selected matter. When 
 sixteen years of age he began to write paragraphs, 
 which were accepted and printed by the editors. 
 At the outbreak of the late Civil War, being a na- 
 tive Virginian, and trained to believe that his 
 State, like the king, "could do no wrong," he re- 
 sponded to the call of Gov. Jackson, of Missouri, 
 for troops, and went into camp under Gen. T. Har- 
 ris, of Northeast Missouri. He was present and 
 participated in several conflicts between the Federal 
 and Confederate troops in Missouri, and after the 
 siege and battle of Lexington, in which he took 
 part, he was appointed assistant ordnance officer, 
 with the rank of lieutenant. Upon the disbanding 
 of the Missouri State Guards, he received author- 
 ity to recruit a company for the Confederate ser- 
 vice, but was captured in Northeast Missouri by a 
 Federal cavalry regiment, and, after remaining a 
 prisoner on parole for nearly a year, was finally 
 exchanged. He again entered the Confederate 
 service, and remained in active duty in the Trans- 
 Mississippi department from the winter of 1802 until 
 the surrender, at which time he was the enrolling 
 officer of Missis'iippi County. After the close of 
 the conflict, and immediately upon the organization 
 of the courts of Arkansas, Mr. McVeigh began the 
 practice of law iu that State. He also began a 
 regular systematic cours(> of study, supplied him- 
 self with books, and soon had in his possession 
 translations of all the ancient classics, and the best 
 English standard works on history! poetry and 
 essays. A taste for reading thus acquired he con- 
 
 tinues to this day, and has thus given himself an 
 education particularly adapted to his situation and 
 circumstances in life. It will be seen from this 
 account, that though without a thorough early ed- 
 ucation, he has so improved the later years of his 
 life that he is now known throughout the State as 
 a gentleman of literary ability and learning. He 
 was married on November 1, 18R4, to Miss Susan 
 Fletcher, a native of Mississippi County, Ark. , 
 and the daughter of Col. Elliot H. Fletcher, a 
 distinguished citizen of Arkansas [see sketch]. 
 Mr. McVeigh continued to devote himself exclu- 
 sively to the practice of law until 1872, when he 
 was nominated by acclamation as the Democratic 
 candidate to represent Mississippi County in the 
 State legislature. He had been nominated by the 
 Democrats in 1870, but. on account of a severe at- 
 tack of malarial fever, which confined him to his 
 bed, he declined to be a candidate at that time. 
 However, he accepted the nomination in 1872 and 
 at once entered upon his canvass, meeting in debate 
 Judge Charles Fitzpatrick, then the leader of the 
 opposite party iu Mississippi County. It was dur- 
 ing the fall of this year that the race trouble broke 
 out in this county, resulting in the death of the 
 sheriff and the invasion of the town of Osceola by 
 from 400 to 500 armed negroes, who threatened 
 to burn and destroy the place. Mr. McVeigh was 
 in the town when the negroes entered, and, moimt- 
 ing a platform in fiont of a store (the same upon 
 which the sheriff had been killed the day before), 
 he called the insurgents around him and addressed 
 them in the interest of peace and order. They 
 listened attentively, although very menacing at first, 
 and at the conclusion of a fifteen minutes' speech 
 he put it to a vote as to whether they should 
 peaceably disperse and go to their homes. They 
 voted in the affirmative, and at the end of a half 
 hour, the town was cleared of their ))resence, and 
 the threatened damage averted, for at least the 
 time being. It will l)e seen in the historical por 
 tion of the volume the fiiuil result of this insur 
 rection. In the fall Mr. McVeigh was elected to 
 the legislature. During the session, which com- 
 menced in January, 1N73, he introduced the bill to 
 found the Arkansas a.sylum for the insane, a 
 
measure which originated with him, and which he 
 had declared his inteation to bring about before he 
 went to the capital. The bill was referred to the 
 committee on ways and means, and, after many de- 
 lays, that committee reported against the passage 
 of the bill. Mr. McVeigh, through a friend, 
 asked for a consideration of the bill in committee 
 of the whole House, and on February 4, 1873, he 
 made a speech in favor of the same that caused his 
 name to be known throughout the State of Arkansas. 
 The committee rose, and unanimously reported in 
 favor of the bill. The next day it passed the 
 House, almost unanimously, passed the Senate by a 
 similar vote, was signed by the governor and be- 
 came a law. The appropriation, owing to the de- 
 preciation of State scrip, in consequence of the 
 Brooks-Baxter war, which immediately followed, 
 was insufficient to carry on the work, and the build- 
 ing was not erected until Mr. McVeigh was re- 
 turned to the legislature, in 1881. He brought the 
 subject up again, and the legislature made a suffi- 
 cient appropriation to complete the work. This 
 magnificent structure was opened for the reception 
 of patients in 1882, and the very first article 
 to be placed in the parlor of the asylum was a 
 life-size oil painting of Mr. McVeigh, placed there 
 by the board of trustees in acknowledgment of 
 his earnest and successful efforts in behalf of the 
 insane of the State. Mr. McVeigh took a very 
 active interest in the legislature of 1873, always 
 aiming to advance the real interests of the State. 
 He made an effective speech against Brooks' peti- 
 tion to contest the right of Gov. Baxter to hold 
 the office of governor. His speech against the 
 metropolitan police bill, against the so-called 
 civil rights bill and other extreme and revolu- 
 tionary measures, introduced at this session, were 
 highly commended by all parties at that time. 
 Upon the adjournment of the legislature Mr. Mc- 
 Veigh was appointed prosecuting attorney for the 
 Eleventh judicial circuit, composed of Poinsett, 
 Cross, St. Francis, Crittenden and Mississippi 
 Counties. He held this position for nearly two 
 years, or until the adoption of the present State 
 constitution, and to the entire satisfaction of the 
 good people of the circuit. He continued to prac- 
 
 tice law with increasing success until the year 1880, 
 when he was again urged to become a candidate 
 for representative. He was elected by a large 
 plurality, and served through the session of 1881. 
 He was an active member of the House, and during 
 the session induced the legislature to adopt the 
 law limiting the right to donate the public lands to 
 actual settlers. The measure was advocated while 
 making his canvass before the electors of Mississippi 
 County. On the 4th of July, 1881, by invitation, 
 he addressed an audience of over 6,000 people at 
 Ozark, Ark. , on the subject of Local Option. In 
 1883 he was appointed by the governor as one of 
 the board of visitors to the State University and 
 there, by invitation of the students of the institu- 
 tion, he delivered the commencement oration. His 
 subject was "The Responsibility of Freemen." 
 The governor of the State, the president. Gen. D. 
 H. Hill, the faculty of the university, senators and 
 representatives in Congress, judges and distin- 
 guished men from different parts of the State were 
 present, besides the students and citizens living in 
 the vicinity. The address was highly commended 
 both by the press and by all present. On Septem- 
 ber 24, 1883, Mr. McVeigh was proposed and 
 elected a member of the Pennsylvania Historical 
 Society, an honor unsought and unexpected by him. 
 He is also a member of the Arkansas Historical 
 Society. He has written the "Primitive History 
 of Arkansas'" during the French and Spanish oc- 
 cupation; giving an account of the settlement in 
 the State for the last century, beginning with 
 Henry De Tonti's settlement at Arkansas Post, in 
 1685. The work is in manuscript and was under- 
 taken merely to preserve the early history of the 
 State, and not from a desire for literary distinction. 
 He has given a full account of the invasion of the 
 country by De Soto, his line of march, and has 
 taken great pains to identify the localities men- 
 tioned by the historians who accompanied that 
 expedition. Except the time Mr. McVeigh served 
 in the legislature, he has been engaged exclusively 
 in the practice of law, and no man in Eastern Ar- 
 kansas has been more assiduous in his devotion to 
 the duties of his profession. His business has al- 
 ways been very good, and he has made it the aim 
 
,u 
 
 of his life to deserve the implicit confidence of 
 his clients. Had Mr. McVeigh's lot been cast in a 
 more central or thickly .settled county, his 'ora- 
 torical powers and literary attainments must have 
 placed him in the prominent ranks of noted men; 
 as it is, he is earnestly working in the practice of 
 his profession and only ambitious for the good-will 
 of his fellow-men. To the marriage of Mr. and 
 Mrs. McVeigh were born nine children : Frances, the 
 eldest daughter, married, June 25, 1889, the Rev. 
 G. H. Smith, of Independence Coiinty, Ark., a 
 talented young minister of the Methodist denom- 
 ination; Elliot, Jesse, Anna Bland, Agnes, Rose, 
 and Susan, are the ones now living; and those de- 
 ceased are Sallie. at the age of four years, and 
 Mary, who died at the age of fourteen. The fam- 
 ily are members of the Episcopal Church. y 
 
 Hugh R. McVeigh, of the firm of H. R. & E. 
 F. McVeigh, real estate agents of Osceola, Missis- 
 sippi County, Ark., was born in Hannibal, Mo., 
 in 1854, and is one of the responsible men of Os- 
 ceola, who has enlisted his service in the incessant 
 activity of tht> real estate market and the magni- 
 tude of that enterprise in this city. He is the 
 ninth in a family of ten children born to Hiram 
 and Mary E. (White) McVeigh, both of whom 
 were natives of Virginia. The father followed 
 commercial pursuits in Virginia until about 1850, 
 when he moved to Hannibal, and was there en- 
 gaged in business until his death, which occurred 
 in 1865. Mrs. McVeigh is still living and resides 
 in her native State. Hugh R. McVeigh attended 
 the private schools in Missouri until thirteen years 
 of age. and then moved with his mother to Balti- 
 more, Md. , where he was employed as errand boy 
 in a store for three years. In 1809 Mr. McVeigh 
 went to Philadelphia, where he was engaged as 
 stock keeper for Morgan Bush & Co., and there 
 remained until in May, 1874, when he came to 
 Osceola, Ark. He there studied law with his 
 brother, Hon. H. M. McVeigh, and was admit- 
 ted to the bar in 1879. On June 21, 1876, he 
 was appointed deputy clerk, of the Mississippi 
 County circuit court, which position be held un- 
 til October 30, 1884. On September 6, of the 
 same year, he was elected circuit court clerk, and 
 
 was comj)liniented by being re-elected to the same 
 position in 1886. At the expiration of this term 
 he declined to be re-nominated, and has since 
 been engaged in the real estate business. The 
 firm does a general business, buying and sidling 
 land, and investing capital in landed property. 
 These gentlemen are using every inducement, and 
 are doing all they can to advertise the advantages 
 of investment in thi.s section. Mr. McVeigh takes 
 an active interest in all things that will contribute 
 to the advancement of the county, and is a liberal 
 supporter of all worthy enterprises. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic fraternity, Osceola Lodge No. 
 27, Osceola Chapter No. 57, and Memphis (Term). 
 Commandery No. 4. 
 
 Elliot Fletcher McVeigh, a member of the real 
 estate firm of H. R. & E. F. McVeigh, is a young 
 man whose energy and sense mark him as an effi- 
 cient factor in the consummation of the firm's many 
 enterprises. He was born in Mississippi County. 
 Ark., in 1867, and is the second in a family of 
 nine children born to H. M. and Susan (Fletcher) 
 McVeigh [see sketch of Hon. H. M. McVeigh |. 
 Elliot McVeigh .secured a good practical education 
 in the public schools of Osceola, and when sixteen 
 years of age he engaged as clerk with N. L. Avery 
 & Co. , with whom he continued for three years. 
 He then went to St. Louis, but only remained 
 there a short time. On January 1, 1886, he was 
 appointed by County Clerk McVeigh as deputy, 
 and upon the accession of Mr. Driver to the office 
 of county clerk, Elliot McVeigh was retained, and 
 he is now engaged in that office. Nowhere in the 
 county is there to be found a young man of more 
 energy or determined will or force of character 
 than Mr. McVeigh; and in no locality is there 
 any one who is more worthy the esteem and con- 
 fidence of the community than he. He possesses 
 marked artistic ability, inherited from a long line 
 of ancestors, many of whose descendants are noted 
 artists, and in Mississippi County, which is noted 
 for its self-made men, Mr. McVeigh gives every 
 promise of rising to distinction. 
 
 Daniel Mann is a native-born resident of Mis- 
 sissippi County, Ark., and as such is looked upon 
 with respect and esteem by those who know who 
 
 V 
 
536 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 and what he is. His birth occuned in 1853, he 
 being one of a large family of children born to 
 William W. and Nancy Mann, the former a native 
 of Kentucky and the latter of Arkansas. "William 
 Mann spent his youth and early manhood on his 
 old home farm in his native State, coming in 1848 
 to Arkansas, and settling on Clear Lake, in Mis- 
 sissippi County, where he entered and purchased a 
 tract of land embracing 600 acres. He improved 
 this farm in a great measure, but, in addition to 
 following the plow, was engaged in blacksmithing 
 and tanning, giving these occupations his whole 
 attention after Daniel was large enough to attend 
 to the farm, which enterprises proved a decided 
 success. He died in February, 1882. Daniel 
 Mann was married, at the age of twenty-one years, 
 to Miss Sarah Carter, a Tenuesseean by birth, and 
 afterward began residing on a portion of his 
 father's farm, becoming the possessor of 16(1 acres 
 in 1879, thirty of which he has cleared. Upon 
 the death of his father the old homestead was di 
 vided, and sixty-four acres of wild land fell to Dan- 
 iel. On this property he has built a good house, 
 and has about ten acres under the plow. In the 
 fall of 1887 he took a trip to Illinois, and Iwught 
 a pair of fall-blooded Poland-China hogs, the only 
 ones in the township, and intends soon to purchase 
 a thorough-bred Durham animal, Iteing interested 
 in improving the stock of the county. His leisure 
 moments are devoted to hunting and fishing, and 
 he has won quite a reputation as a bear-lumter, 
 having killed large numbers of them. During the 
 hunting season his house is the resort of hunting 
 parties from Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee, 
 who always have good sport, and bag plenty of 
 game when Mr. Mann is the leader. He is a pa- 
 tron of education, believes in elevating the stand- 
 ard of the schools in Mississippi County, and is 
 now serving as school director. He and wife have 
 become the parents of seven children, those living 
 being Martha Agnes, William W. , Lula F. and J. 
 Hugh. Those deceased are William I., and two 
 who died unnamed. 
 
 S. M. Marks. Nowhere within the limits of 
 Mississippi County, Ark. , can there be found a man 
 who takes greater interest in its agricultural and 
 
 stock affairs than Mr. Marks, or who strives more 
 continually to promote and advance these interests. 
 Like so many native-born Kentuckians, he has 
 been energetic and enterprising, and since 1879 
 has been the owner of a good farm of 160 acres in 
 Chickasawba Townshi]). which was at the time of 
 his purchase heavily covered with timber. He has 
 opened up about thirty acres, has erected substan- 
 tial buildings on his place, and for some time has 
 been interested in the propagation of stock, having 
 in his possession a fine young horse of Highland 
 and Cleveland Bay stock. His land yields a bale 
 of cotton to the acre, and sixty bushels of corn. He 
 was born in 1846, being the third in a family of 
 seven children burn to Samuel and Sarah (Keesee) 
 Marks, who were also Kentuckians. During his 
 infancy his parents moved to Missouri, where the 
 father died a few years later: and from the time 
 he was able to work until 1861 he assisted in the 
 support of his mother and a sister. In the fall of 
 that year he enlisted in Company G, Sixth Illinois 
 Cavalry, and was in the Second Brigade, Fifth 
 Division of the Fourth Army Corps of the Depart- 
 ment of the Cumberland, and took an active part 
 in the engagements at Port Hudson, Nashville and 
 Franklin, and in a number of campaigns and minor 
 engagements. He was mustered out of service at 
 Selma, Ala., November 5, 1865, and received his 
 discharge at Springtield, 111. The three following 
 years he was engaged in farming in tbe vicinity 
 of the latter city, and up to 1874 was employed in 
 tilling rented land. At that date he came to Ar- 
 kansas and made a crop on Carson' s Lake, but then 
 returned to Illinois, and for two years was engaged 
 in following various occupations. Since that time 
 he has resided in Mississippi County, Ark. , where 
 he was married, in 1879. to Mrs. Amelia Ellen 
 Lawrence, nee Bowen, a daughter of John M. C. 
 Bowen. His wife is a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, and Mr. Marks is a member of 
 Chickasawba Lodge No. 134, of the F. & A. M. 
 
 Capt. Daniel Matthews (deceased). From 
 among the many estimable citizens of Mississippi 
 County who have passed to their long home, but 
 who, from an early day. were intimately and prom- 
 inently associated with the county's development, 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 53-; 
 
 
 the name of Capt. Matthews cau not be omitted. 
 Of Pennsylvania nativity. h(^ was horn in Hunting 
 don County in the year 1814, and about 1835 came 
 to Arkansas, and lived fur some time at what is 
 now known as Milliken's. Subsequently he ran a 
 boat from Cincinnati to New Orleans, which call- 
 ing he continued to pursiie until 1850, engaging 
 at that time in the mercantile trade in Osceola, 
 Ark., at which place he conducted a store until his 
 death, in 1884. He was one of the best-known 
 men that ever ran on the Ohio and Mississippi 
 Rivers, and throughout Mississippi County, Ark. . 
 his name was synonymous with integrity, industry, 
 and perseverance. For two years he was engaged 
 in business in New Madrid. Mo., investing money 
 in that place to the amount of $25,000. but met 
 with heavy losses, and became involved to the ex- 
 tent of $7,000. He left that town with only $15 
 in his pocket, and went to New Orleans, where, 
 through the kindness of friends, he was again 
 started in business, and had paid all his debts and 
 also had his goods paid for at the end of a few 
 years. In 184'.l he was married to Miss Mary 
 Young, a daughter of Andy and Elizabeth Young, 
 and located at Osceola, in Mississippi County, 
 where they became the parents of three children: 
 T. A. . MoUie C. and Beulah, Mollie C. being the 
 wife of H. D. Tomlinson, of Osceola, and the 
 mother of two children. Beulah is married to O. 
 B. Ferguson, of Ripley, Tenn. , and is the mother 
 of one child. Mr. Matthews was in business at 
 Osceola for thirty four years, and during this time 
 accumulated a property valued at $75,000. No 
 one unacquainted with him can realize what a ben- 
 etit his life was to this county, or what an influence 
 he exerted upon all those around him. His etforts 
 in behalf of the poor and oppressed, without re- 
 gard to race or color, will long be remembered, 
 and his methodical business, coupled with strict 
 integrity, may well be emulated by the rising gen- 
 eration. After his death, which occurred on the 
 2d of May, 1884, his body was taken in charge bj' 
 the Masons, of which he had long been a member, 
 and was buried by that order in Elmwood Ceme- 
 tery, at Memphis, Tenn. His son. T. A. Matthews, 
 was educated in the Christian Brothers' Institiite, 
 
 34 
 
 at St. Louis. Mo., from which institution he was 
 graduated in 18(58. Capt. Daniel Matthews, dur- 
 ing his life, had but one serious accident, and that 
 back in the 30' h, in an eastern railroad collision, 
 near Harrisljurg. his native State, where he lost a 
 leg, afterward making his way through life with a 
 cork leg. Mostly through his exertions the St. 
 ISIatthew's Catholic Church at Osceola was built. 
 This is a very fair frame structure for a town of 
 such proportions as this. One of his relatives was 
 living at Johnstown, which was lately destroyed by 
 the great Pennsylvania Hood. 
 
 M. B. Maxwell. Although this gentleman has 
 been a resident of Mississippi County, Ark. , only 
 for a short period, he has been an important factor 
 in the growth and prosperity of the same since 
 1878, and has been identified with all worthy en 
 terprises. He was born in the State of Tennessee, 
 in 1855, and was engaged in raising cotton in Tip- 
 ton County of that State until the above mentioned 
 date, at which time he came to Mississippi County, 
 Ark., and first rented a plantation, putting in a 
 crop of cotton, amounting to about forty acres in 
 all. He now has 260 acres of land which he rents, 
 200 acres being in cotton and the rest in corn, and 
 the most of the land he has opened up himself. 
 He employs about twenty-five hands to attend to 
 the crop, and by economy and close adherence to 
 his occupation he has become possessed of consid- 
 erable means. Miss Mollie Freezer became his 
 wife in 1877, she being a daughter of Peter and 
 Rebecca Freezer, who were born in Tipton County. 
 She died in 1885, leaving two children, Lurenda 
 and Lena. His present wife was Miss Emily 
 Bringle, of Mississippi County, a native of Teniies 
 see, her parents, John and Sarah Bringle. l)eing 
 also natives of that State. 
 
 L. A. Morris, the subject of the portrait ap- 
 pearing on another page of this volume, and the 
 head of the mercantile firm of L. A. Morris & Co., 
 general merchants at Osceola, Ark. , can justly be 
 recorded among the self-made men of Mississippi 
 County. No one is more justly entitled to an 
 enviable place in the history of Mississippi County 
 than he, for, though young in years, he has been 
 usefully and honorably identified with the interests 
 
 » v^ 
 
538 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 of this county, and with its advancement in every 
 worthy particular. Mr. Morris owes his nativity 
 to Alabama, where he was born in 1855, and is the 
 second in a family of six children born to the Rev. 
 F. C. and Sallie A. (McFeat) Morris. The par- 
 ents were respectively from Alabama and South 
 Carolina, were married in South Carolina, but 
 soon afterward moved to Alabama, where they 
 remained a short time, thence came to Osceola, 
 in 1857. The father preached throughout Mis- 
 sissippi County and West Tennessee for many 
 years, and was a man remarkable for his Christian 
 purity and benevolence and high sense of honor. 
 He died in 1876. The mother had died of cholera in 
 1866. L. A. Morris spent his youtli in Osceola, 
 attending private schools mostly, and in 1872 he 
 began clerking in the store of Capt. D. Matthews, 
 where he continued for seven years. He then 
 went to Pecan Point and clerked for R. W. Friend 
 for eighteen months, at which time he became a 
 partner in the business under the firm title of 
 Friend & Morris. In December, 1883, he bought 
 a tract of 1,000 acres, well improved, with 200 
 acres under cultivation, and a store that had been 
 establii^hed several years at Plum Point, Tenn. 
 He soon withdrew from the firm of Friend & Mor- 
 ris to conduct his large interests at the above men- 
 tioned place, where he continued in business until 
 January. 18SU, when he leased his farm, and sold 
 stock, etc., in the store to Johnson Bros., who are 
 conducting it now. Mr. Morris was postmaster at 
 Plum Point for a number of years, and filled that 
 position creditably and well. On the subject's 
 large farm there are 300 acres under cultivation, 
 1 00 of which were opened by himself. He erected 
 a tine residence at a cost of $2,000, also put up a 
 cotton-gin, outbuildings, and a number of cabins, 
 etc. Since buying the estate the Government has 
 built a levee, and is at present engaged in revet- 
 ing the bank along the river front, which improves 
 his place to a great extent. On October 1, 1887, 
 Mr. Morris opened a branch store at Osceola, and 
 since closing at Plum Point, he has centered his 
 whole attention at the Osceola store, which is con- 
 ducted in partnership with F. R. Lanier, Jr. 
 He has an extensive stock of general merchandise. 
 
 and does a commission business, also, of buying 
 cotton and all farm produce. To Mi'. Morris' 
 marriage have been "born three children: Carrie 
 E. : Maggie May, who died at the age of three 
 years, and Plumie E. Mr. Morris is a member of 
 the A. O. V. W. Lodge, Osceola. Though still a 
 young man, Mr. Morris' business capacities, and 
 extensive experience with the resources of this 
 county, have enabled him to take a foremost place 
 in its affairs, while his pleasing, social qualities 
 and gentlemanly manners make him a jileasant 
 companion and friend. 
 
 F. M. Mosley. It was in 1849 that Mr. Mos 
 ley first became a resident of Arkansas, having 
 come from his native State of Tennessee, where he 
 was born in 1832, with his parents, of whom he was 
 the fourth of their nine children. Harrison Mos- 
 ley and Mary Davis Evans, the parents, both Vir- 
 ginians, were married in their native State, and 
 soon after moved to Tennessee, where the father 
 followed the life of a farmer until his death, in 1849. 
 In the fall of that year the remainder of the family 
 came to St. Francis County, Ark., where F. M. 
 Mosley resided until 1859, when he came to Mis- 
 sissippi County, where he farmed on rented land 
 until the close of the war; then, in partnership with 
 H. T. Blythe, purchased a tract of land in Chicka- 
 sawba Township, on which they erected a horse 
 cotton-gin. A few years later they put in steam 
 machinery, but in 1873, Mr. Mosley sold his in- 
 terest in the gin, as well as his farm of 160 acres, 
 and purchased his present property, one mile west 
 of Blythesville, which comprises a tract of eightj' 
 acres, of which fifty are under cultivation. He took 
 possession of this place in 1879, all of which was 
 covered with woods at that time, and since then he 
 has cleared fifty acres and built an excellent dwell- 
 ing house; he also has a tine collection of fruit 
 trees. It is one of the most pleasant places in all 
 the neighborhood, and is the result of thrift and 
 energy, which are among the leading characteristics 
 of Mr. Mosley. His land is exceptionally produc- 
 tive, and readily yields a bale of cotton to the acre. 
 He has been married twice, first in 1854, to Mary 
 Thompson, of Arkansas, who died in 1872, leaving 
 one child, Tabitha Ellen, the wife of Dr. Jones. 
 
 "a* 
 
,u 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 W.) 
 
 His second union took place in the fall of 1872, 
 and was with Miss Alice Williams, a daughter of 
 James H. Williams, whose sketch apjiears in this 
 work. They have three children : Francis M. , who 
 died in infancy in 1875; James H. and Willie 
 Bacchus. He i.s a patron of education, is a prac- 
 tical and successful farmer, and by reading and 
 observation has become well posted in business af- 
 fairs. 
 
 Thomas H. Musgrave. The following is a brief 
 sketch of the career of Mr. Musgrave, a man whose 
 present substantial position in life has been reached 
 entirely through his own perseverance; and the 
 facts connected with his agricultural operations, 
 and their results, only show what a person with 
 courage and enlightened views can accomplish. 
 He first saw the light of day in the Old North 
 State, in 1847, and eleven years of his youth and 
 early manhood were spent in attending .school. His 
 primary training was received in the schools of 
 Branch ville, Charleston and Columbia, S. C, and 
 in 1855, he came with his father to Somerville, 
 Teun. , where he attended the academy three years; 
 in 1859 he went to Peoria, 111. , and attended the 
 High School one year; in 1863 he entered the St. 
 Louis University, where he remained till he com- 
 pleted his collegiate career, graduating in 1868. 
 He came immediately to his home in Arkansas, 
 where he rested for a short time, and then obtained 
 employment at Hale's Point, Tenn., as a book- 
 keeper, which position he held until 1873, when he 
 returned to his farm in Mississippi County. His 
 property then consisted of 560 acres of land, with 
 about twenty acres in cultivation, but with an 
 incumbrance of $1,700, part of the purchase money 
 due the vendor. He set earnestly and persistently 
 to work to clear his land of debt, which he soon 
 did, and then began to clear it of the timber and 
 pre[)are it for cultivation. He not only succeeded 
 in paying for his land and clearing 150 acres more 
 on the same farm, but also added to his lands from 
 time to time, until he has owned over 4,000 acres, 
 and now owns about 2,500 acres of superior laud, 
 with 150 acres this year in cultivation, and two 
 small farms "lying out" for want of tenants. He 
 has sold considerable property, some of which was 
 
 well improved, and a part of which he cleared. On 
 his extensive domains is some of the choicest land 
 to be found in the State. A bale of cotton can 
 easily be raised to the acre, some of his tenants 
 occasionally making more. Nine families now live 
 on and cultivate his lands, but Mr. Musgrave says 
 he has room for and would gladly furnish fifty more 
 with homes. A large area, which, twenty five years 
 ago, was the bed of the Mississippi River, has been 
 added to this tract of land by the river shifting its 
 channel, and now, where a few years since steam 
 boats plowed the turbid waters of this mighty 
 stream, can be seen some of the finest fields of cot- 
 ton and corn in the State. Mr. Musgrave possesses 
 decided literary tastes, and has been quite an ex 
 tensive student of both law and medicine. He has 
 never taken a very active part in the political affairs 
 of his county, though he served three terms as 
 justice of the peace, but refused to qualify after 
 having been elected the fourth time. He was nomi- 
 nated by the Democratic convention for county sur- 
 veyor, and fully indorsed by the Republican con- 
 vention for the same position, all without his knowl- 
 edge; but, when elected, declined to discharge the 
 duties, preferring the quiet and easy life on his 
 farm. Although not an active politician, he is a 
 close and diligent student, keeping well posted and 
 fully abreast with the times; possessing a bold and 
 vigorous mind, he does not swerve one iota from 
 what he deems to be just and right. His reputa- 
 tion for honesty and integrity has been often tried 
 and found pure, and his financial ability has been 
 more than once put to the test, but never without 
 credit to himself; his social (jualities are well known 
 and appreciated, and he has hosts of friends whose 
 confidence and esteem are his highest eulogium. 
 An excellent portrait of him appears in this work. 
 He was the second of three children born to Will- 
 iam R. and Mary E. Musgrave, both of whom were 
 born in North Carolina, and were there reared and 
 married, moving shortly after to South Carolina, 
 where the father engaged in the steamboat busi 
 ness, and later worked in the machine shops at 
 Charleston. He afterward became connected with 
 the railroad business, which he discontinued in 1857. 
 prior to coming to Arkansas, following this occu 
 
540 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 pation in Somerville, Tenn., to which State he 
 removed in 1855. Upon coming to Arkansas he 
 located in Mississippi County, and there engaged 
 in the saw mill business, which was continued until 
 I860. At that date he bought 556 acres of land 
 in Hickman Township, a portion of which land 
 was cleared and under cultivation. He continued 
 to improve his pro{)erty, and soon had over 100 
 acres in cultivation, the rest being devoted to rais- 
 ing stock. In 1862 the war put an end to these 
 operations, and he engaged in commercial life, 
 operating mainly in Lauderdale County, Tenn., 
 though he bought large quantities of cotton in the 
 adjoining counties of that State, and some in the 
 northeastern counties of Arkansas. He died at Co- 
 lumbus, Ky.. June 14, 1864, ending an active and 
 well spent life. William R. Musgrave was a very 
 affable and well-known man, greatly esteemed by 
 numerous friends. His widow died in the spring 
 of 1884, at Rocky Mount, N. C. 
 
 F. Musick. It is a well known fact that cir- 
 cumstances in life may make or mar the prospects 
 of man to a certain extent, but a determined spirit 
 will bend even the force of circumstances to its 
 will. The career of Mr. Musick since his arrival 
 ujwn the stage of human action is abundant proof 
 of this trite saying. He was born in Virginia, and 
 his parents, Russell and Elizabeth (Dowell) Mu- 
 sick, who came from Virginia to Mississippi Coun- 
 ty, Ark., in 1855. located on Frenchman's Bayou, 
 where they purchased 160 acres of land, with 
 about five acres cleared. Here, with the help of 
 his sons, six in number, Mr. Musick cleared about 
 eighty acres, but sold out previous to the war, 
 and, in 1864, moved to Alexander County, 111. 
 There the father and mother passed their last 
 days, dying within four days of each other, and 
 only a short time after reaching Illinois. The 
 children, four sons and one daughter, came back to 
 Mississippi County, in 1865, and here F. Musick, 
 the subject of this sketch, commenced planting 
 cotton. In 1870 he purchased 180 acres of land, 
 with about sixteen acres cleared, to which he after- 
 ward added about eighty acres more. This place 
 he sold to Henry Criegher, and then purchased 
 his present property, consisting of 160 acres on 
 
 the Bayou, with about sixty acres cleared. To 
 this he has since added about eighty acres more, 
 which he has under a fine state of cultivation, and 
 raises about one bale of cotton to the acre. He 
 has built five houses on the place, one barn, and 
 two store buildings, one 16x70, and the other 
 20x24, in which he carries a well-selected stock of 
 general merchandise, valued at from .f3,000 to 
 $7,000. This business he established about seven 
 years ago in company with his brother. In 1885 
 the firm dissolved partnership, and F. Musick con- 
 tinued the business. His sales run from 18,000 
 to $10,000 per annum. Mr. Musick's first mar- 
 riage was to Miss Martha Barham, daughter of 
 James Barham, a native of Tennessee. ' Mrs. 
 Musick died in 1874, leaving two children: J. A. 
 F. , a young man at home assisting his father in 
 the store, and C. C. , who died when seventeen 
 years of age. Mr. Musick's second marriage was 
 to Mrs. E. M. Young, whom he wedded in Octo- 
 ber, 1884. She is a daughter of Mrs. Lierley, of 
 Lawrence County, Ark. Two children were the 
 result of this union: Callie (a son) and Clara. 
 Mr. Musick is a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
 also of the K. of H. , and he is a memlier of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Silas F. Myers has been a resident of Missis- 
 sippi County, for the past thirty-six years, and 
 has spent a lifetime in pursuing the noble voca 
 tion of agriculture, having learned this occupation 
 of his father who was an extensive tobacco planter 
 in Kentucky. His life has not been without ad 
 venture or self-denying experiences, yet success 
 has attended him both in material affairs and in 
 the esteem which has been accorded him by those 
 among whom he has so long made his home. He 
 was born in Macon County, 111. , but at the age of 
 eighteen months was taken by his father to Davis 
 County, Ky. , and remained on the latter' s tobacco 
 plantation until 1852, or until he was twenty -two 
 years of age. His father, who bore the name of 
 Levi Myers, died about 1837, and the mother, 
 whose maiden name was Elizabeth Campbell, 
 was a daughter of Henry Campbell, of Virginia. 
 Abraham Myei's, the paternal grandfather, was a 
 German. To Levi Myers and wife a family of 
 
 ^?1«- 
 
l/irla^, kt', J/£4^yy7e0^ 
 
 %.ml 
 
 Mississippi CouNTr,ARKAMSAS. 
 
<5 !^ 
 
 .4 3> 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 541 
 
 nine children were born, of whom Silas F. Myers 
 is the only surviving member. The latter came to 
 Missi.ssippi County, Ark., and raised a crop of cot- 
 ton the same year on rented land, and has since 
 raised a crop of from 50 to 125 acres of cotton 
 each year. He has nearly always worked on new 
 ground, and has cleared sixty-three acres in one 
 place, fifteen in another, and ten, twenty five, eighty, 
 twenty and sixteen acres, respectively. In 1876 he 
 purchased land to the amount of 118 acres, all of 
 which he has under the plow. He is very pleasantly 
 situated, and his residence is substantial and roomy, 
 being 72x34 feet, with a hallway running through 
 the center, and a large porch extending around 
 the house. It was built by his individual labor 
 with the exception of about one week's work, when 
 a carpenter was employed, and is excellently fin- 
 ished inside and out. Four families and three 
 single men are employed to keep the farm in order, 
 and on the place are five good workmen's cabins. 
 He has a large orchard, well stocked with different 
 varieties of peaches, apples, pears, plums, etc. 
 Two years after coming to Mississippi County, 
 he was married to Miss Sarah T. Williamson, 
 a daughter of Richard and Harriet (Willing- 
 ham) Williamson, who were formerly from Ala- 
 bama, but removed to Tennessee when Mrs. Myers 
 was a small child, and when she was fourteen 
 years of age came to Mississippi County. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Myers' children are as follows: Joseph 
 B. , a commercial traveler for a Memphis, Tenn., 
 house; James H. , a planter residing at Nodena, is 
 married, his wife's maiden name being Nora Cis- 
 sell, a daughter of Levi Cissell; and Minnie O. , 
 Nancy Ardella, and Cora Elizabeth, at home. 
 Three children died in infancy, and one son died 
 when eleven years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Myers, 
 their daughter, Nancy Ardella, and son, James H. , 
 are members of the Presbyterian Church at No- 
 dena, while Miss Minnie O. belongs to the same 
 church at Osceola. Mr. Myers is a member of 
 Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M., of Osceola. 
 
 George W. Neel, a prominent farmer near 
 Blythesville, Ark., was born in Obion County, 
 Tenn., in 1858. He was the eleventh in a family 
 of fifteen children born to John T. and Martha A. 
 
 (Simmons) Neel. Both parents were natives of 
 Tennessee, where the father's occupation was 
 farming, and where he died on December 12, 
 1864. The mother still resides in that State. 
 George W. Neel attended the public schools of 
 that period, but his educational advantages were 
 very limited, and he did not receive the schooling 
 his ambition desired. He remained at home until 
 his majority, and in November, 1882, was married 
 to Mrs. Nancy J. Ray, a young widow lady of that 
 vicinity. After his marriage Mr. Neel purchased 
 a farm, and settled upon it with his bride, where 
 he resided until the year 1886, when he exchanged 
 his Tennessee farm for one in Arkansas, a fine tract 
 of forty acres, all under a high state of cultivation, 
 and bearing grass, clover, corn and cotton ; has also 
 a splendid orchard, with which he has taken great 
 pains to bring to as near perfection as possible. 
 He is a member of the Masonic order and the Ag- 
 ricultural Wheel, and is one of the most enterpris- 
 ing and energetic of the younger farmers in this 
 section. Mr. Neel is held in the highest regard 
 by his neighbors, and deserves the success that has 
 come upon his efforts. To the union of Mr. and 
 Mrs. Neel were born four children: Elizabeth La- 
 vina, Georgie Elnora Belle, Flora Dora Lee and 
 James Edwards. 
 
 William H. Oglesby, M. D. Since Dr. Ogles- 
 by's location in Mississippi County, Ark., he has 
 shown himself eminently worthy of the confidence 
 and trust reposed in him by all classes, and has 
 proved himself to be a physician of decided merit. 
 He was born on Blue Grass soil in 1854, and up 
 to 1860 resided on a farm in the country, but at 
 that date his father, W. A. Oglesby, departed this 
 life, and the family then took up their abode in 
 Owensboro, whore William H. attended school un 
 til about fifteen years of age, making good use of 
 his time while opportunity offered. Imbued with 
 a determination to secure a good education, he en- 
 tered the Kentucky Wesleyan University at Mil- 
 lersburg, which institution he attended two years, 
 and then clerked for two j'ears in a store, his leis- 
 ure moments being given to the study of medicine, 
 for which science he had a predilection. The 
 years of 1875-76 were spent in Slaughtersville, 
 
9 li^ 
 
 542 
 
 HISTOET OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 where he pursued his medical researches, and he 
 then entered the medical department of the Uni- 
 versity of Louisville, taking lectures during the 
 winter of 1876-77. In the latter year he came to 
 Mississippi County, Ark. , and began clerking for 
 J. B. Tisserand; but some live months later he en- 
 tered upon the practice of his profession, which he 
 has continued with a rapidly increasing practice, 
 up to the present time. In the winter of 1884-85 
 he attended lectures at the Memphis Hospital Med- 
 ical College, graduating from that institution in 
 March, 1885. Dr. Ogle.sby is a hard student, and 
 keeps thoroughly apace with the strides which are 
 being constantly made in his profession, and takes 
 a number of leading medical journals. He has a 
 very pleasant and comfortable home in the village 
 of Blythesville, his residence being erected in 1881 ; 
 and in addition to this has eighty acres of arable 
 laud, of which sixty are under cultivation. The 
 Doctor is a man-ied man. Miss Cullie Waggoner 
 becoming his wife in 1879. She is a daughter of 
 James Waggoner, an old settler of the county. 
 She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 and she and the Doctor are the parents of two chil- 
 dren, Gipsy and Mary Lorine. Dr. Oglesby has 
 always been a patron of education, and is at pres- 
 ent a member of the school board of Blythesville. 
 His parents, W. A. and Katie (Harding) Oglesby, 
 were the parents of five children, of whom he was 
 the fourth. Both parents were Kentuckians, the 
 father being a planter of that State, which occupa- 
 tion he followed throughout life. 
 
 J. B. Perkins, a gentleman of wonderful ability, 
 was born in Tennessee in 1849, and is the oldest 
 living child of George W. and Elizabeth (Herron) 
 Perkins, of Tennessee. The father was a farmer, 
 and emigrated to Arkansas in 1859, where he set- 
 tled in Randolph County, and entered a tract of 
 land upon which he made a home for his family 
 until the first alarm of war brought a distressing 
 separation. He enlisted in the Confederate army, 
 and, after a brave struggle for the cause he under- 
 took, met death like a soldier should at Memphis, 
 in 1862. The family continued to reside in Ran- 
 dolph County until 1864, when they moved to Mis- 
 sissippi County and settled at Beaver Point. There 
 
 they farmed and rented land for several years, and 
 in 1875 came to Cross Bayou, where they settled 
 on fifty acres of wild land, which has since then 
 become greatly improved through the efforts of J. 
 B. Perkins. He has erected several substantial 
 buildings, and put about forty acres under a high 
 state of cultivation. His land will yield three- 
 quarters of a bale of cotton to the acre; and, besides 
 this, he has raised a fine orchard. In 1874, Mr. 
 Perkins was married to Miss Sarah Starling, a na- 
 tive of Columbia County, Ark. , and a daughter of 
 John Washington Starling, an old settler of that 
 county. Four children were born to the parents: 
 Sallie, George Washington, Eddie and Minnie, the 
 two latter deceased. John Perkins, a brother of 
 Mr. Perkins, moved to this county at the same 
 time with the latter, and both brothers bought 
 land adjoining. John bought sixty-six acres, on 
 which he made a great many improvements and 
 erected buildings, and cleared about thirty-five 
 acres, which he put under a good state of cultiva- 
 tion. He was married in 1873 to Miss Mary Ben- 
 nett, a daughter of John Bennett, one of the pio- 
 neers of Mississippi County. Eight children were 
 born to this union, of whom two have died. The 
 names of their children are John F. , Mary E., 
 William, Rosa Lee, James Troy (deceased), Cor- 
 delia (deceased) and Nancy. Mr. Perkins was a 
 representative citizen of Mississippi County, and 
 took an active part in educational matters, serving 
 as school director for several terms. He was also 
 a member of the Agricultural Wheel, as was also 
 his brother, J. B. Perkins. His death occurred 
 on December 16, 1887, leaving a large circle of 
 friends and his family to mourn their loss. The 
 mother of these two brothers is still living in this 
 vicinity, and enjoying the best of health, at the 
 age of sixty years. 
 
 C. H. Powell, farmer and merchant, Osceola. 
 The father of Mr. Powell, Joseph Powell, was a 
 native of Virginia, who, after reaching manhood, 
 was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Ann Walton, 
 a native of Kentucky. The father followed agri- 
 cultural pursuits for many years, and in about 
 1859, moved to Mississippi Coimty, Ark., where 
 for a year or two he made his home with Mr. 
 
Lynch. He then rented land and continued tilling , 
 the soil, and, in connection, also handled cord-wood 
 for the steamboats. He was killed during the war 
 by a neighbor. He was the father of seven chil- 
 dren, of whom C. H. Powell was the third. The ' 
 latter was born in Hindman, Ky., in the year 
 1847, and was but seventeen years of age when 
 his father was killed. He then sent his mother 
 back to Kentucky, while he engaged as clerk at 
 Hindman for a time, and later returned to Arkan- 
 sas, where he was united in marriage to Miss 
 Sarah Harrington, a native of Mississippi County, 
 and the daughter of Whiting Harrington, one of 
 the leading settlers of this section. After marriage. 
 Mr. Powell opened a tract of land belonging to his 
 wife, and began tilling the soil. He has made 
 many improvements, cleared about thirty acres, 
 wliich are in a high state of cultivation, has a fine 
 orchard, and in 1888 he erected a good residence. 
 In 1887, he purchased two acres near the town, 
 and on this has erected four tenant hoiLses. He 
 began a general grocery business at Lynch's Land- 
 ing in 1884, and remained there four years, with 
 a constantly increasing trade. In 1887, he leased 
 a lot a short distance up the river, erected a build- 
 ing, and still continues his former trade with un- 
 usually good success. The fi'uits of his union with 
 Miss Harrington were fourteen children (six now 
 living): William Joseph; Sallie, wife of Joseph 
 Violet, and resides with her parents; Eula, wife 
 of William Mitchell, and lives in the vicinity; Fan- 
 nie, at home; Lucy, died at the age of five years; 
 John (deceased), Elisha, at home, and Cornelius 
 Prewitt. The remainder died in infancy. Mr. 
 Powell is not active in politics, biit votes with the 
 Democratic party. He is deeply interested in local 
 improvements, and also in school matters, having 
 served as director for six years. 
 
 G. W. Pratt is a name familiar to residents of 
 Mississippi County. Its owner is a prominent 
 saw- mill operator at Pecan Point, who was born in 
 Decatur County, Tenn., in 1843, and was the old- 
 est child in a family of nine children born to Rich- 
 ard T. and Mildred (Walker) Pratt. The father 
 was one of the leading farmers, and a pioneer of 
 West Tennessee, where he resided up to the time 
 
 of his death, in 1 874, ten days after the demise of 
 his wife. This was an incident that ke])t firmly 
 imbedded in the minds of their children, and did 
 not remove its melancholy impression for many 
 years afterward. Upon ret\irning home from the 
 funeral of his faithful wif<( the father seemed to 
 have a presentiment of his coming fate, and, weighed 
 down by the grief and sadness of his Ixuvavemont, 
 told his children that death would claim himl)efore 
 many days. Exactly ten days afterward he passed 
 away, and his words were verified. G. W. Partt 
 remained at home until sixleen years of age, when 
 he commenced flat- boating on the Mississippi Kiver, 
 and continued at that employment until 1860. 
 He then went to clerking on one of the large river 
 steamboats until 1861, when the rumors of war 
 came penetrating through hills and valleys, and 
 calling the men to arms. Like many other chival- 
 rous young men of the South, he cast his fortunes 
 with the Confederacy, and enlisted in Company 
 K, Fifth Tennessee Regiment, commanded by Col. 
 Travis, and was elected to the rank of corporal. 
 At the liattle of Shiloh he received a terrible wound, 
 and was granted a furlough of sixty days. At the 
 end of that time, having recovered, he organized a 
 
 cavalry company with Capt. D commanding, 
 
 and served as first lieutenant for three months, 
 when the company was divided into two, and he 
 received the rank of captain. He then joined Col. 
 Cox's regiment, and campaigned through East 
 Tennessee, and was in almost innumerable skir- 
 mishes and minor engagements during the entire 
 time. In the spring of 1865 the company dis- 
 banded after almost continual fighting throughout 
 its entire service, and he returned home. After 
 the death of his wife he went to Bartlett, Tenn., 
 and engaged in carpenter work to some extent, but 
 afterward moved to Brunswick, where he remained 
 seven years. In 1873 he was married to Miss 
 Ella Johnston, of Fayette County, Tenn., who 
 lived but two years after marriage, and died, leav- 
 ing one son, John, who is now attending school at 
 Princeton, Ky. In 1876 Mr. Pratt was married, 
 at Oakland, Tenn., his second wife being Miss 
 Nannie, a sister of his former wife. This lady 
 lived but eighteen months, and after her death he 
 
^1 
 
 spent several moDths seeking a location in which 
 to settle. He finally decided on Pecan Point, and 
 moved to this point in 1882, entering at once 
 into his trade of carpentering and building with so 
 much success that now almost every building in 
 that place can truthfully be said to have been 
 erected by him. In February, 1888, he purchased 
 a saw-mill, which he erected on the river bank, 
 that has a capacity of 10,000 feet of lumber per 
 day, and the demand largely exceeds the supply. 
 Mr. Pratt has also built a tramway two miles in 
 length, extending to the timber region, and as soon 
 as the woods become exhausted he will build it 
 farther out. He has several tramcars running, 
 and a force of fourteen men at work constantly. 
 Mr. Pratt is a member of the Masonic fi-aternity, 
 Pecan Point Lodge, under dispensation at the 
 present time. He is also a member of the K. of 
 O. , Pecan Point, and Eastern Star, and attends the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church at this point, taking 
 an active interest in all afiFairs of the Sunday-school. 
 He has been one of the leading spirits in all things 
 that promise to be to the advantage of this section, 
 and is one of Mississippi County's most enterpris- 
 ing and valued citizens. Mr. Pratt is a good busi- 
 ness man, and an admirable mechanic and archi- 
 tect. He is a great friend of the children for miles 
 around, and it is a pleasure to see the little tots 
 leave everyone else and flock around him whenever 
 he puts in an appearance. His own pluck and 
 determination have placed him in an independent 
 position, and his courteous manner has won him 
 many friends. 
 
 Dr. Robert C. Prewitt, a prominent physician, 
 of Osceola, Ark., was born in Missouri in 1844, 
 and from an early age displa^'ed an eagerness for 
 study and a desire for a professional life. He was 
 the eldest of six children born to Joseph E. and 
 Naoma (Nash) Prewitt, natives of the ' ' Blue Grass 
 State." The father was a successful tiller of the 
 soil, and followed this occupation in his native 
 State until his removal to Missouri, which took 
 place in 1838. He located in Pike County, and 
 was one of its earliest settlers. The paternal 
 grandfather, Robert C. Prewitt, was a native of 
 Virginia, and came to Kentucky at an early day, 
 
 where he followed farming. He participated in 
 the War of 1812, was taken prisoner at the battle 
 of Raisin River, and was held by the Indians all 
 winter. He afterward returned to Kentucky, but 
 subsequently emigrated to Missouri, where he died 
 in 1850. The maternal grandfather, William N. 
 Nash, was a native of Virginia, but emigrated to 
 Kentucky, where he died and is buried. Dr. 
 Robert C. Prewitt improved the educational ad- 
 vantages offered him in the common schools, and 
 in 1861 began the study of medicine with his uncle, 
 Dr. Robert C. Prewitt, in Pike County, Mo. Dur 
 ing 18(52-08 he attended lectures at St. Louis 
 Medical College, but the year previous to this he 
 enlisted in the Confederate army, was sent to 
 Southwest Missouri, where he participated in the 
 battles of Fulton, Mount Zion Wilson Creek and 
 Lexington. He was taken prisoner at the last- 
 named place, but became ill, and soon returned 
 home. In January, 1864, the Doctor went to 
 Kentucky, and located at Athens, Fayette County, 
 where he began the practice of his profession. In 
 October, of the same year, he married Miss Lottie 
 C. Stephens, a native of Kentucky, and the daugh- 
 ter of Edwin Stephens, also a native of the " Blue 
 Grass State," and a merchant of Lexington, who 
 died of chol(<ra in 1849. Dr. Prewitt remained in 
 Athens until 1873, when he went to Helena, Ark., 
 and bought a farm on Old Town Ridge. He re- 
 mained there for four years, and then came to 
 Osceola, Ark., where he has been practicing ever 
 since, and has acquired no inferior reputation for 
 his ability as a physician and surgeon. In 1877 
 he opened a line drug store in the place, which 
 was practically the first in Osceola, and ran this 
 for eight years. In 1879 he took a course of lec- 
 tures at Louisville, Ky., and graduated from the 
 Kentucky School of Medicine the same year. Tbe 
 Doctor is a member of the county examining board, 
 is ex-president of the Mississippi County Medical 
 Society, is a member of the State Medical Society, 
 and is ex-president of the Tri- State Medical Asso- 
 ciation, of Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee. 
 To Dr. and Mrs. Prewitt were born six childi'en ; 
 Joseph E., Laura (attending school at Richmond. 
 Ky.), Robert C. and Sarah. Two were born dead. 
 
 ^' 
 
<5 k^ 
 
 .k 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 545 
 
 W. H. Pullen. It was in the capacity of a mer- 
 chant that Mr. Pullen tirst became acquainted 
 with the people of Mississippi County, aud they 
 with him, and such has been his record as a 
 business man, that his success is assured. He 
 came to Frenchman's Bayou from Memphis in 
 July, 1888, and bought out Dr. Joyner's store, 
 since which time he has enlarged the build- 
 ing and added to the stock, so that now he has 
 the largest and best selected stock of goods in 
 the county outside of Osceola. Mr. Pullen has 
 been recently appointed postmaster at Bardstown. 
 He was born in Sardis, Panola County, Miss. , but 
 moved with his parents to Memphis, where he was 
 reared and educated. When but sixteen years of 
 age young Pullen embarked in business for him- 
 self by working for the Hernando Insurance Com- 
 pany for a number of years. He was also engaged 
 with Lemon & Gale, of Memphis, in the dry goods 
 business. At the age of twenty seven he came to 
 Mississippi County, and, as above .stated, bought out 
 the store of Dr. Joyner. He carries a stock of gen- 
 eral merchandise valued at about $6,000, and is one 
 of the promising young business men of the county. 
 He chose his life companion in the person of Miss 
 Lou Haynes, daughter of Samuel H. Haynes, a 
 Kentuckiaii by birth, who was colonel in the Union 
 army during the war, and who had two brothers in 
 the Confederate army. To Mr. and Mrs. Pullen 
 has been bom one child. King Haynes Pullen, a 
 bright baby boy, the delight of the family. Ben- 
 jamin K. Pullen, father of W. H. Pullen, was a 
 native of North Carolina, who came to Memj^his, 
 Tenn. , before the war, and during the war was in 
 the Confederate service. He occupied a position 
 as captain of the commissary department in a Mis- 
 sissippi regiment. When Memphis fell into the 
 hands of the Union army, he brought his family to 
 Panola County, Miss. After the war the family 
 moved back to Memphis. A lirother of our sub- 
 ject, Charles Lesslie Pullen, now one of the editors 
 of the Sunday Times of jNIemphis, has been elected 
 an honorary member of the Folk- Lore Society, of 
 London, England, a very exclusive club, he being 
 among the few members receiving that honor in 
 the United States. 
 
 J. L. Quarles, who is numbered among the 
 prominent agriculturists of Mississippi County, 
 Ark., is a native of Tallahatchee County, Miss., 
 where he remained until the breaking out of the 
 late war, when he enlisted in Company D, Twen 
 ty-seventh Mississippi Volunteer lufantrj^ and 
 served in Alabama and Tennessee, also taking 
 part in the Perry ville. Ky., battle. He was in the 
 battles of Murfreesl)oro, Chickamauga, and in the 
 latter battle was wounded, by having a minie ball 
 enter his neck aud come out near the spinal col- 
 umn. He next took part in the battle of Lookout 
 Mountain, where the company went in thirty-seven 
 strong, and only six returned unscathed. He was 
 at Missionary Ridge, Resaca (Ga. ), New Hope 
 Church, Atlanta, Jonesboro, and Franklin (Tenn.), 
 and was mustered out and paroled at Grenada. 
 Miss., after which he returned to Tallahatchee 
 County, and there followed agricultural pursuits 
 for two years. From there he went to Carroll 
 County, of the same State, and after tilling the 
 soil until December, 1887, he and family took pos- 
 session of Shawnee Village, for Mrs. W. S. Brans- 
 ford, of Nashville, Tenn. Mr. Quarles superin 
 tends the whole place, which consists of 1,400 
 acres, with 700 under cultivation. He thinks Ar- 
 kansas one of the best countries in the world in 
 which to raise live stock, especially mules, and 
 says he has twenty head on the place for which he 
 would not take $140 per head. These muJes have 
 lived entirely on the range, winter and summer, 
 with no expense except a little attention in the way 
 salting, etc. Mr. Quarles says you may take a 
 mule out of the plow in July, when it is almost 
 worked to a shadow, and in a few weeks it will be 
 fat and in good condition. The above mentioned 
 gentleman is a member of the firm of Quarles 
 Bros., who are now renting 300 acres of the War- 
 ner farm, in this county, near McGavock. Mr. 
 Quarles chose for his life companion Miss L. F. 
 Merrill, of Carroll County, Miss., where their chil- 
 dren were all born. These are named as follows: 
 B. W. , now at home; Anna Merrill, J. L., Jr.. 
 Merrill, Oliver P. and Lucy F. They lost one 
 child, the eldest, at the age of three years. Mrs. 
 Quarles is the daughter of J. W. S. Merrill, of Car- 
 
 -7- 
 
54fi 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 roll County, Miss., where he is a civil engineer of 
 considerable note He has been elected assessor 
 and collector of Le Flurf County, and has been 
 surveyor of the United States laud office for many 
 years. Mr. Qiiarles has been a member of the 
 Masonic Lodge of Greenwood, IMiss. , for the past 
 eighteen years, and he and wife and three eldest 
 children are members of the Christian Church. 
 
 J. W. Quinn. Since locating in Mississippi 
 County, Ark., Mr. Quinn has enjoyed the reputa- 
 tion of being, not only a substantial and progres- 
 sive planter, but an intelligent and thoroughly- 
 posted man in all public affairs; and a short sketch 
 of his life will be of more than passing interest to 
 the people of this locality. He was born in the 
 "Palmetto State,'' in the year 1854, and was the 
 eldest of four children born to the marriage of 
 Lawson Quinn and Sarah Hampton. The father 
 was an energetic tiller of the soil until the break- 
 ing out of the Rebellion, but at that date he laid 
 down the implements of peace, to don the weapons 
 of warfare, and was a faithful soldier in the Con- 
 federate army until he was killed at the battle of 
 Petersburg, in 1864. His widow afterward became 
 the worthy companion of W. P. Miller, and re- 
 moved to East Tennessee, coming in 1874 to Mis- 
 sissippi County, Ark. J. W. Quinn, the subject 
 of this sketch, remained with his mother until 
 1877, when he was taken sick, and went to East 
 Tennesspe for medical treatment, and after recov- 
 ering his health, to some little extent, he attended 
 school for a short time. In 1878 he made a trip 
 to the home of his liirth, where he remained for a 
 .while, then after a brief visit in Tennessee, he 
 returned to Mississippi Coimty, Ark. The follow- 
 ing spring (1879) he rented thirty acres of land 
 hei'e, and made his first crop, and so well did he 
 succeed that he has since continued to follow that 
 occupation. As rent he gave every fifth bale of 
 cotton, and realized on the crop exactly $1,000. 
 He was very successful the next year also, so that 
 in 18S3 he was able to purchase a tract of eighty 
 acres, three miles north of Osceola, for which he 
 paid the sum of 11,750. Thirty acres were under 
 cultivation, and since then he has put the entire 
 tract under the plow, erecting good buildings, and 
 
 making other valuable improvements. Finding 
 this farm insufficient to keep him employed 
 throughout the year, he rented land of his neigh- 
 bors, and, notwithstanding the Hoods and other 
 discouraging features, he succeeded in raising 
 good crops and did well. In January, 1886, he 
 made a trip to Texas, thinking to improve his 
 health by a change of scene and climate, but not 
 liking it in the " Lone Star State," he returned to 
 Arkansas in September of the same year, and lie- 
 gan working for William P. Hale, with whom he 
 entered into partnership about Christmas, being 
 engaged in managing the latter' s large planta- 
 tion, five miles above Osceola. They have (1889) 
 700 acres in cotton and corn, and realized on 
 their last year's crop $6,000, their farm giving 
 employment to twenty-seven families, numbering 
 over 100 people. They are also quite extensively 
 engaged in raising a good grade of stock, and 
 have some of the finest Durham cattle in this 
 vicinity, as w(>ll as blooded Berkshire hogs. In 
 November, 1883, Miss Mattie Spred, of this coun- 
 ty, became his wife, she being a daughter of one 
 of the pioneer settlers of this section. Their union 
 resulted in the birth of three children: Eddie 
 Lawson, and Earl and Eleanor (twins), the latter 
 dying in infancy. Mr. Quinn is a member of 
 Lodge No. 27 of the A. F. & A. M., of Osceola. 
 
 John H. Rainey. There are few men, if any, 
 who have occupied a more prominent jjosition or 
 contributed more toward the development of the 
 resources of Mississippi County, than Mr. Rainey, 
 a man whose history has been so intimately con 
 nected with the affairs of Chickasawba Townshi]). 
 that to mention one necessitates a sketch of the 
 other. He was born in Jackson County, Ala., in 
 1833, the son of Samuel H. Rainey. a prominent 
 farmer of that State. The latter removed to the 
 State of Arkansas, in 1844, with his wife, whose 
 maiden name was Sarah Kelso, and his family of 
 six children, and settled in Mississippi County, near 
 where our subject now resides. He remained one 
 year on this place, then moved to Osceola, and en- 
 tered a farm of 160 acres two miles north of the 
 town, on which he made many necessary improve- 
 ments, and soon had a pleasant and comfortable 
 
 ^; 
 
'^ 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 Ml 
 
 home ill the woods. On this farm ho resided un- 
 til bi.s death in ]8r>4, his wife havinjr departed 
 this life two years earlier. John H. Rainey was 
 reared ou his father's woodland farm, and hia 
 character was so molded in yonth that it was 
 perhaps natural for him to look upon farming as 
 the only calling with which he should identify 
 himself in after life. At the age of twenty one 
 years he left homo to carve out his own fortnius 
 and for a number of years worked as a farmhand, 
 but in 18fiO he was appointed by Sheriff Charles 
 Bowen, to the oflice of deputy sheriff of the 
 county, and was given entire charge of affairs 
 when the war broke out. as Mr. Bowen was anxious 
 to join the army. He continued to discharge his 
 duties very satisfactorily until 1862, when the 
 Federal troops took possession of the county, and 
 he was then compelled to turn his attention to 
 other matters. He took no part in the war. but 
 during hostilities met with several stirring adven- 
 tures. He continued to farm on rented land until 
 1S66, then purchased a tract of land embracing 
 160 acres near Osceola, nearlj' all of which place 
 he succeeded in clearing, and soon after Ijought 
 320 acres adjoining, on which he cleared another 
 1 60 acres, thus making 320 acres under plow. In 
 1881 he sold the latter farm and moved to Chicka- 
 sawba Township, purchasing wild land to the ex- 
 tent of 660 acres, on which he moved, and began 
 immediately to improve with good buildings and 
 by clearing his place from brush and timber. He 
 has continued from time to time to purchase laud 
 until he is now the owner of about 4,200 acres, 
 with some 300 acres under cultivation, and has 
 the timber of 700 acres deadened for removal. In 
 1885 he removed to a farm he had piirchased in 
 Cooktown, and two years later bought one and one- 
 half acres in North Chickasavvba, on which are 
 a cotton gin. a store house and a small residence. 
 Mr. Rainey has cleared over 600 acres alone, 
 which is a tine record for one man. His life has 
 been one of unremitting toil, and though he com- 
 menced for himself without much means be is now 
 in possession of fine property, the result of honest 
 industiy and perseverance, and thoroughly deserves 
 the respect which is accorded him. He has now 
 
 attained the age of tifty-six years, and for the re- 
 mainder of his days can take the world easier, and 
 enjoy the fruits of his early toil. On his lands 
 are extensive tracts heavily covered with valuable 
 timber, which will prove a source of wealth as 
 soon as it can be put on the market. Mr. Rainey 
 contemplates the immediate erection of a saw- 
 mill, as he will require large (juanties of lumljer 
 in erecting numerous houses on his own farm. He 
 was married in 1879 to Miss Sarah H. Brown, a 
 native of the State and a daughter of one of the 
 old pioneers of this section, and to their union 
 have been born the following interesting little 
 family: Sarah J., Samuel H. and John H. He 
 always voted the Democratic ticket, and is an act- 
 ive advocate of public schools, having served in 
 the capacity of director for a number of years. 
 He commands the respect and esteem of all for 
 his sterling integrity, sober and sound judgment, 
 broad intelligence and liberal and progressive 
 ideas. His wife is a consistent member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Rainey has 
 also held the following offices: In 1873-74 he 
 was county assessor, in 1875-76 county surveyor, 
 and is now a member of the Board of Equaliza- 
 tion, to equalize the assessment of county property. 
 To this office he was appointed by Gov. Eagle. 
 
 Pamic Reed is one of the leading agriculturists 
 of Mississippi County, Ark., and since locating 
 here, many years ago (in 1845), has seen. many 
 changes in the growth and development of this 
 community. He was born in the " Hoosier State " 
 in 1820, and was reared to the occupation of black- 
 smithing, but after leaving home, on the 8th of 
 June, 1843, he spent two years in flat-\)oating cm 
 the river, and after a short time spent in Illinois, 
 came to Mississippi County, Ark., locating at 
 Hickman's Bend, where he was engaged in l)oating 
 and rafting, and kept a wood yard. At that time 
 all the white settlers lived contiguous to the river, 
 the interior lieing still occupied by the Indians, 
 and wild animals of all kinds roamed the woods at 
 will. After residing in this locality until the 20th 
 of May, 1854, he moved to Kansas, where he fol- 
 lo\yed teaming for some time, and during the Kan 
 sas War was in the battle of Ijawrence, and a 
 
^'. 
 
 uumber of other engagements in the spring of 
 1856. The following year he loaded all his effects 
 on a flat-boat and floated down the Missouri and 
 Mississippi rivers to Hickman" s Bend, in Mississippi 
 County, Ark., at which place he landed on the 
 22dof December, 1857, then buying land on Buford 
 Lake, where he soon had a good home. The 
 most of his attention was given to stock farming, 
 in which enterprise he was verj' extensively en- 
 gaged during the Rebellion. He continued to 
 make this his residence for about twenty years, 
 opening up some sixty acres in the meantime, but 
 sold out in 1875 and came to Clear Lake, where 
 he purchased the farm on which he is now residing, 
 which comprises a tract of about 100 aci'es under 
 cultivation of some of the best laud in this sec- 
 tion, the most of which he devotes to the raising 
 of corn and cotton. He has been so unfortunate 
 as to lose four wives, but is at present living hap- 
 pily with his fifth wife. His lirst union was to 
 Miss Nancy J. Cotton, whom he married Novem- 
 ber 9, 1847. She was a native of Missouri and 
 died in Hlinois, February 12, 1849, and was buried 
 with her child. His second marriage was to Miss 
 Ellen Pints, of Mississippi County, whose death 
 occurred on the 11th of April, 1851, she leaving a 
 daughter named Elner, who died in the State of 
 Kansas at the age of six years, on the 30th of 
 June, 1857. Susan Sawyer, a native of Tennessee, 
 and a member of a well-known family of that 
 State, became his third wife February 12, 1852, 
 but she left him again a widower on the 12th of 
 April, 1874. Mr. Reed next espoused Miss Caro- 
 line A. Mannen, a native of Mississippi County, 
 who died a short time after her marriage, in 1875, 
 also being buried with her child. His fifth and 
 present wife, was Mrs. M. J. Rackley, a Kentuckian 
 by bii-th, who was the mother of four children by 
 a previous marriage. She and Mr. Reed have one 
 child, a daughter, named Rebecca Susan. Mr. 
 Reed's various occupations through life have been 
 somewhat diversified, but unlike the old saying, 
 "jack of all trades and master of none," he has 
 been reasonably prosperous in every enterprise to 
 which he has given his attention, and now, during 
 his declining years, can look back over a useful 
 
 and well-spent life. He has always been quite an 
 active politician, and has affiliated with the Demo- 
 cratic party. 
 
 E. D. Rhea, M. D.. a physician and surgeon 
 of more than ordinary ability, was born in the 
 State of Tennessee in 1835, and like the majority 
 of the farmers' boys of his day acquired only a 
 common school education. At an early age, how- 
 ever, he evinced an eageme.ss for study and a desire 
 for professional life, and acquired the taste for 
 scientific learning, medicine having a particular 
 fascination for him. When twenty five years of 
 age he went to Missouri, having previously studied 
 medicine, and was engaged in practicing his profes- 
 sion there until 1862, when he enlisted as a surgeon 
 in the Fourth Missouri Regiment, Confederate cav- 
 alry, and served in the Trans-Mississippi Depart- 
 ment, in Marmaduke" s division, until the close of the 
 war, after which he came to Arkansas and located 
 in Fulton County, near Salem, remaining there in 
 the active practice of his profession until 1876. 
 During 1874-75 he represented Fulton County in 
 the first Democratic legislature convened after the 
 Reconstruction Act, and was an active member of 
 that body during the stormy times of the Brooks- 
 Baxter war. Since 1876 he has practiced his pro 
 fession in Mississippi County, and has acquired no 
 inferior reputation as a physician and surgeon. 
 When the village of Blythesville was laid out 
 he purchased property and built one of the 
 first bouses in that place, and has since been 
 quite extensively engaged in fruit raising (in con- 
 nection with his practice), in which he has had 
 remarkable success. Since 1881 he has owned 
 an eighty-acre farm near Blythesville, thirty of 
 which he has opened, and on which he has 
 built a house and made other improvements. In 
 1879 he was married to Miss Sarah Walker, a 
 daughter of John Walker, one of the early pioneers 
 of the county, but in March, 1885, was called upon 
 to mourn her untimely death. She left two chil- 
 dren, Maggie, and Lizzie, the latter dying at the 
 age of nine months, six months after the mother. 
 Miss Fannie Blackwell, of Lauderdale County, 
 Tenn., became his wife September 17, 1886. The 
 Doctor was the youngest of a family of twelve chil- 
 
 ^ 
 
".i:. 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 o49 
 
 dren l)oiu to Joseph M. and Kittie (Myers) Rhea, 
 who were horn in Tennessee and Maryland, respect- 
 ively. The father was a school teacher for many 
 years, and also followed the occupation of farming. 
 They both died in 1860. he in August and she in 
 February. 
 
 J. W. Rhodes is one of the more recent acquisi- 
 tions to the agricultural and mercantile interests 
 of Mississippi County, Ark., but he has already 
 been found to be one whose leading characteristics 
 are progr(>ssive and enterprising in their nature, 
 and thus of much worth to the people of this com- 
 munity. A native of Hines County, Miss. , liorn 
 near Vicksburg. he was only four years old when 
 his father (in 1857) removed with him to the "Lone 
 Star State." Here the latter died in 1866, his 
 wife and children, consisting of seven boys and 
 three daughters, removing to the State of Tennes- 
 see the following year. J. W. Rhodes resided at 
 home with his mother until sixteen years of age, 
 spending his boyhood days as other youths of the 
 community, and received a fair education in the 
 common schools. He then obtained a position with 
 Cunningham, Wicks & Malone, commission mer- 
 chants of Memphis, Tenn., with whom he remained 
 two years, then went to Bay Springs, Miss., and 
 worked as a book-keeper for J. M. Nelson & Co., 
 for one year. He again returned to Memphis, 
 Tenn., and secured employment with the Charles- 
 ton & Memphis Railroad Company, where he kept 
 books, and afterward clerked on the river for the 
 Memphis & Osceola Packet Company, and was em- 
 ployed in this capacity on different steamboats of 
 that line for about four years. In 1876, he leased 
 the Crowell Landing for a term of five years, but 
 bought the landing in 1878. This was washed 
 away in the freshet of 1883, biit Mr. Rhodes soon 
 jiurchased thirty-seven acres of land, on which he 
 is now living, and established a landing called 
 Golden Lake, which took its name from the post- 
 office, which he had established, and of which he 
 has been postmaster since 1885. He first estaVi- 
 lished a store in 1883, at Crowell Landing, but 
 when the land began to be washed away at that 
 point, he moved his goods t)ack farther inland, to 
 his present location, where he and I''. .\. Norton 
 
 formed a partnership under the linn name of 
 Rhodes & Norton, which continued until tiieir es- 
 tablishment caught fire, and was consumed, Janu- 
 ary 22, 1888. Their loss was estimated, over and 
 above their insurance, which amounted to $2,000, 
 at $5,000. Directly after the fire. Mr. Rhodes 
 erected a substantial fi'ame building, 36x()0 feet, 
 on the site of the burnt building, and is now carry 
 ing one of the largest and most complete stocks of 
 goods in the county, valued at $5,000. He also 
 owns a fine cotton-gin, and is now replacing the 
 old machinery with the latest improved in the 
 market, its capacity being twenty-five bales per 
 day. He has iu bis plantation aliout 120 acres, 
 eighty five of which are under the i)low, and is 
 improved with good buildings, his residence being 
 an exceptionally tine one. His peach orchard is 
 also one of the l)est along the river. In the year 
 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara M. 
 Pulliam, a daughter of E. Pnlliam, of Bartlett. 
 Tenn. Mrs. Rhodes is a lady of culture and re- 
 finement, and she and Mr. Rhodes are the parents 
 of the following children, two girls and two boys: 
 Ella Nelson, Lucy Pulliam, Joseph Wicks, Jr., 
 and Charles Robert. A great deal of liusiness is 
 done at Golden Lake, Mr. Rhodes acting as agent 
 for the steamboats at that point. He is a mem- 
 ber of the K. of H. , and his wife is a njember of 
 the Methodist Church. 
 
 Leon Roussan. editor and publisher of the 
 Osceola Times (which he purchased in 1870). is a 
 gentleman of ciolture, of large general information, 
 and has proven himself to be a man of good judg- 
 ment in directing the editorial policy of his paper. 
 He was born in Ste. Genevieve, Mo., in 1838, and 
 was the second in a family of seven children l)orn 
 to Michael and Sophia (Janis) Roussan. Tlie 
 parents were natives of Missouri, but were descend- 
 ants of early French pioneers iu tliat section. 
 Leon Roussan attended the public and private 
 schools of his native town until sixteen years of 
 age, when he entered the newspaper office of the 
 Ste. Genevieve Plain Dealer, and there remained 
 one year. He then clerked in a store until 18(51, 
 when he enlisted in Company C, First Confederate 
 Battalion, and was assigned to Mississippi River 
 
 > ^> 
 
^1 
 
 550 
 
 HISTOEY OF ABKANSAS. 
 
 division. He was in the siege of Island No. 10, 
 was there captured and taken to Johnson's Island, 
 Lake Erie, where he remained some six months, 
 and was then exchanged at Vicksburg. Later he 
 joined the Forty-second Tennessee Regiment, and 
 was elected lieutenant of Company C. He was in 
 the Georgia campaign, and was wounded at At- 
 lanta. After the close of the conflict Mr. Roussan 
 went to St. Louis, where he clerked for a year, 
 and then moved to Randolph, Tenn. , where he en- 
 gaged in commercial pursuits. In 1870 he came 
 to Osceola, and bought the paper which he now 
 conducts. The Times is one of the old and well- 
 established papers of this portion of the State, and 
 has ever exerted a potent influence in public af- 
 fairs and the general interests of Mississippi Coun- 
 ty — never more so than in late years, whilst under 
 the supervision of its present editor. It has a 
 good patronage, and commands the respect and 
 confidence of the entire reading public among 
 whom it circulates. At the incorporation of Osce- 
 ola, in 1872, Mr. Roussan was active in promoting 
 a harmonious organization, and was elected its 
 first mayor. Since then he has been justice of the 
 peace, and is at present county examiner. In 1879 
 his marriage was consummated with Miss Adah 
 L. Pettey, a native of the " Lone Star State." and 
 the daughter of Dr. F. M. Pettey. Mr. Roussan 
 is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 
 27, of Osceola, and is also a member of the Arkan- 
 sas Press Association. 
 
 Hon. L. D. Eozell. Every life has a history of 
 its own, and although in appearance it may seem to 
 possess little to distinguish it from others, yet the 
 political career and experience of Mr. Rozell, as 
 well as his connection with the agricultural and 
 stock raising affairs of this community, have con- 
 tributed to give him a wide and popular acquaint- 
 ance with nearly every citizen of Mississippi Coun- 
 ty, if not personally, then by name. He was born 
 in Davidson County, Tenn. , in 1836, and was the 
 second in a family of seven children born to Rev. 
 A. B. and Henrietta (Burnett) Rozell. The father 
 was an extensive farmer, and was also a well-known 
 and popular Methodist preacher in Middle Tennes- 
 see, where he died in 1886. The mother died in 
 
 I 1845. The paternal grandfather, Solomon Rozell, 
 
 I was a native of North Carolina, and was one of the 
 pioneers of West Tennessee, settling near Mem- 
 phis, which at that time was composed of less than 
 half a dozen huts. The maternal grandfather was 
 
 ! a very early settler in Middle Tennessee, and both 
 families became well known in the localities where 
 they cast their lot. As L. D. Rozell was reared as 
 an agriculturist, it is but natural that he should 
 permanently adopt that calling as his life occupa- 
 tion, and he has always followed it. He attended 
 the common schools when a boy, and at his major- 
 ity engaged in tilling the soil for himself. In 
 1862 he enlisted in Company C, First Tennessee 
 Confederate Cavalry, and participated in the bat- 
 tles of Holly Springs, Spring Hill, Chickamauga, 
 Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin, Nashville and others. 
 In 1865 Mr. Rozell came to Mississippi County, 
 Ark., and settled on the river about ten miles 
 
 ! above Osceola, on a tract of land purchased by his 
 father in 1855. In 1867 Miss Margaret Bowen 
 became his wife. She was born in Mississippi 
 County, and was the daughter of Reese Bowen, 
 who died in 1856, and was one of the earliest set- 
 tlers in this county. The year previous to his 
 
 j marriage Mr. Rozell purchased a tract of 100 acres 
 of partially improved land, to which be has since 
 added, until he now owns 1,200 acres of excel- 
 lent bottom soil, with 350 acres under cultivation. 
 He has erected good buildings, fences, etc., and is 
 now enjoying the result of his labor. He has a 
 good grade of stock mixed with Darham, and has 
 a fine bull for breeding purposes. He has taken 
 an active interest, politically, in the affairs of the 
 county, and has held many positions of public 
 trust. He was elected justice of the peace in 1868, 
 
 I and in 1871 represented his county in the Legis- 
 lature, to the satisfaction of his constituents and 
 the public in general. In 1886 he was elected 
 county judge, was re elected in 1888, and is hold- 
 ing that position at the present. He is active in 
 school matters, and has served as director for many 
 years. In all things that promise to contribute to 
 the good of this section the Judge may be counted 
 upon to take a leading part. By his marriage to 
 Miss Bowen, he became the father of eight chil- 
 
 
drtMi. two of whom are deceased. Those living 
 (ire Ashley. William, Martha, Bascom, Lockey 
 and Shoemaker. Margaret aud Emma died in in- 
 fancy. The Judge is a member of Lodge No. 27, 
 A. F. & A. M. 
 
 A. A. Rounsaville. The occupation which this 
 gentleman now follows has received his attention 
 the greater part of his life, and it is Ijut the truth 
 to say that in it he is thoroughly posted and well- 
 informed, and his labors in this direction have con- 
 tributed very materially to the reputation Missis- 
 si [>pi County enjoys as a rich farming region. 
 Like many of the residents of the county he is a 
 Tennesseean by birth, having been born in 1839, 
 and was the eighth of eleven children born to 
 Clayborn and Elizabeth Rounsaville, who were 
 horn, reared and married in the State of Alabama, 
 and shortly after removed to Tennessee. In 1851 
 they resolved to move still farther to the west, and 
 accordingly settled in Mississippi County, Ark. , 
 where they opened up a large section of land, on 
 which they spent the remaining years of their 
 lives, the father dying in ISHT, and the mother in 
 1854. From earliest youth A. A. Rounsaville has 
 been familiar with the duties of farm labor, and 
 up to the breaking out of the late war he was en- 
 gaged in following this occupation, aud in attend- 
 ing the old time subscription schools. He espoused 
 the cause of the Confederacy and joined Capt. 
 Fletcher's company, aud was a participant in the 
 battles of Shiloh and Farmington, but after the 
 latter battle was discharged from service on ac- 
 count of sickness, and returned home. In 1864 he 
 re-enlisted in Price's command, and accompanied 
 that general on his raid through Missouri, taking 
 an active part in all the battles of that campaign. 
 After his surrender at Shreveport, La., in 1865, 
 he returned to Mississippi County, Ark., where, un- 
 til liS()8, he was engaged in rafting and wood- 
 chopping. The three following years he farmed 
 the old family homestead, and in 1871 bought a 
 tract of forty acres, one mile east of Blythesville, 
 on which farm he has since built a commodious 
 and substantial dwelling house, and has reduced 
 twenty-five acres to cultivation and otherwise 
 added greatly to its improvement. He has pur- 
 
 chased forty more acres of land, and also is the 
 owner of some valuable town property. His lands 
 are fertile, and will produce one bale of cotton to 
 the acre, and forty bushels of corn. He also 
 gives considerable attention to the propagation of 
 a good grade of stock. He was married in 1868 
 to Mrs. Nancy Hudgins, formerly Miss Synclear. 
 
 H. T. Rounsaville is a brother of A. A. Roun- 
 saville, whose sketch appears above, and like his 
 brother, is careful and painstaking in the cultiva- 
 tion of his land, and thorough in everything con- 
 nected with its management. It is, perhaps, not 
 to be wondered at that he is meeting with success 
 in his chosen calling, for he has always attended 
 strictly to the details of farm work, and is one of 
 the intelligent and enterprising class of citizens 
 who would give life to any community in which 
 thej' might settle. His birth also occurred in Ten- 
 nessee, in the year 1842, he being the youngest 
 child living born to his parents, and up to the age 
 of twenty-one years his time was divided between 
 working on the farm and in attending school, where 
 he received a good practical education, and from 
 that time until he arrived at the age of thirty-one 
 years, he traveled about through thirteen different 
 States. After his return to th(< State of Arkansas, 
 in 1871, he purchased a small but exceedingly fer- 
 tile farm of forty acres, one mile east of Blythes- 
 ville. which was then heavily covered with timber, 
 and now has twenty-six acr(>s in a high state of 
 cultivation; has built good fences and made other 
 improvements, securing a pleasant and comforta- 
 ble home, which he is enjoying with his wife 
 (whose maiden name was Amanda Sawyer, and 
 whom he married in 1873) and his three children, 
 Margaret Ann, Franklin Monroe and Joel Alvin. 
 Mrs. Rounsaville is a daughter of William Sawyer, 
 a pioneer settler of this section. 
 
 Rucker Brothers. Nowhere in Mississippi 
 County, Ark. , are there to be found individuals of 
 more energy, determined will, or force of charac- 
 ter than these young men possess, aud no merchant 
 or agriculturist is deserving of greater success in 
 the conduct of his store or the management of 
 his farms than they. The firm comprises Albert 
 Ct. and Egbert E. Rucker, both of whom were born 
 

 — rf i' 
 
 552 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 in Lauderdale County, Term., the former's birth 
 occurring November 19, 1855, and the latter' s 
 December 1, 1856. Like most of tlie youths of 
 their county, as they grew up they devoted their 
 time and attention to farm life, receiving in the 
 meantime good common school educations. After 
 attaining his majority Albert engaged in farming 
 for himself, following this occupation until tv\renty- 
 eiglit years of age, when he engaged in commercial 
 business at Bartield, in connection with Egbert E. , 
 who had been following that business ever since 
 attaining his majority, and succeeded Carr & Co. 
 On the 20th of November, 1888, they purchased a 
 tract of land, comprising eighty acres, of Z. T. 
 Williams, the most of which was under cultivation, 
 and about the same time they purchased forty 
 acres of J. \V. Buckner. In May, 1889, they 
 bought Kifl acres two miles west of Bartield, which 
 they intend improving and clearing at once. Their 
 stock of general merchandise is valued at about 
 $4,(100, and in connection with this work, which is 
 proving quite remunerative, they buy and ship cotton 
 and all farm products, and own a half interest in a 
 cotton-gin at Hickman's Bend. While engaged in 
 farming, Albert raised 4,500 bushels of corn on 
 seventy-two acres of land, at Hickman's Bend, 
 this crop only requiring his time and attention for 
 about sixty days, and shows the productiveness of 
 the soil at this point. In the vicinity of Bartield, 
 the cotton crop has averaged one bale to the acre 
 for the past five years. There are three saw- 
 mills within a radius of three miles from their 
 home, each having a capacity of 50,000 feet of 
 lumber per day, and this lumber is moslly shipped 
 from Rucker Brothers' landing. Bartield is the 
 best business point between the northern limits of 
 the county and Osceola, being the main shipping 
 station for Chickasawba, and last year 2, 500 bales 
 of cotton were shipped from that point. The 
 Rucker Brothers have acquired an enviable repu- 
 tation for safe, thorough, and reliable transactions 
 in the affairs of every day life, and have done 
 much to increase and extend the trade and intiu- 
 ence of Bartield. They are members of the Bap- 
 tist Church, and are men who have always endeav- 
 ored to follow the teachings of the golden rule, 
 
 and have gained the esteem and approbation of 
 their fellow men. Egbert was married, February 
 15, 1884, to Miss Florence Chambers, a native of 
 Tennessee, and is now tilling the duties of post- 
 master of Barfield, and prior to the year 1888, 
 held the office six years. Their parents. James 
 M. and Julia A. (Chadwickj Rucker, were born in 
 Virginia and Ohio, respectively, and while a yoving 
 man, the former moved to Tennessee, and after- 
 ward to Arkansas, his marriage taking place in 
 Mississippi County in 1847. They subsequently 
 made their home in Tennessee, where the father's 
 death occurred in 1879. His widow is still resid- 
 ing on the old homestead in that State. 
 
 Hon. J. F. Ruddell. Among the citizens of 
 Mississippi County, Ark., long and favorably iden- 
 tified with its social and business interests, is Mr. 
 Kuddell. whose biography will no doulit lie read 
 by old and young, for there is always an instinct- 
 ive curiosity to know the true and inner history of 
 men who have had such a close association with 
 the affairs of this county from primitive date. Ho 
 was born in Miami County, Ohio, in 1826, being 
 the fourth in a family of five children born to 
 Archibald and Ann (Neal) Ruddell, who were en- 
 gaged in following agricultural pursuits in the 
 " Buckeye State. " Later they removed to Boone 
 County, Ky. , where the father remained until his 
 death, in 1838. His widow afterward became the 
 worthy companion of Jordan Bass, and in 1836 
 emigrated to Arkansas, and died at the home of 
 our subject in 1873. J. F. Ruddell, brought up 
 to a knowledge of farm duties, very naturally chose 
 that occupation as his calling in life when it be 
 came necessary for him to select some permanent 
 industry, and the experience he has since had has 
 proven the wisdom of his judgment. He attended 
 the common schools until 1836, then made his 
 home in Kentucky with an uncle until 1840. after 
 which he worked as a farm hand for several years. 
 In 1843 he made a trip to Arkansas, Imt in 1847 
 located permanently at Osceola, Mississippi Conn 
 ty. where he ran a trading post on the river 
 for one year. In the fall of 1849 he came to 
 Chickasawba Township, entered eighty acres of 
 Government land, and after making many improve- 
 
 ^1 
 
'A^ 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 55:5 
 
 nionts and living on this Iract for many ycM's. hi> 
 sold out and bought \W acres at Clear Lake. 
 Three years later he came to Blythesville, where 
 he now has 120 acres near the village, all under 
 cultivation, with fair building.s and a good small 
 orchard. The laud is very productive, and will 
 readily yield one bale of cotton to the acre. He 
 also owns eighty acres on Dogwood Ridge, twenty 
 being under the plow. When the Keliellion broke 
 out he joined Capt. Fletcher's company, which 
 was known as the Fletcher Rifles, and was in the 
 battle of Shiloh, where he was wouuded; was 
 captured at Murfreesboro, being afterward ex- 
 changed; Chickamauga and Decatur, Ala., where he 
 was again taken prisoner, and was kept in captivity 
 until the close of the war. After leaving the bat 
 tie field he returned home, and again took up the 
 implements of farm life. From 1854 to 1801 he 
 liUed the office of justice of the peace, and after 
 returning from the war was again tendered that 
 position, which he accepted. In IST-l he was 
 chosen to represent his county in the State legis- 
 lature, and served to the entire satisfaction of his 
 constituents for one term. At the present time he 
 is a member of the Tax Equalization Board, and 
 as he has always been an active advocate of schools, 
 he has served many years as school director. In 
 1850 he married Miss Nancy Mobely, a daugh- 
 ter of John Mobely, one of the old pioneers 
 of Mississippi County, who came here in 182(5 
 fi'om Missouri. Mrs. Ruddell died in 1862, leav- 
 ing five children, who are now also dead: John 
 T. , Louisa A. , Charles A. , Emily E. and Sarah E. 
 In 1867 he man-ied Amanda Mobely, a sister of 
 his first wife, but she. too, died leaving him again 
 a widower with two children to care for: Thomas 
 O. (deceased), and Martha A., who is attending 
 school at Lexington, Ky. Mr. Ruddell married 
 his present wife, who was Mrs. Margaret Walker, 
 in 1889. In 1888 he made a visit to relatives in 
 Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, but saw no coun- 
 try that, in his estimation, was so desirable as 
 Mississippi County, Ark. , and here he is contented 
 to pass his declining years among his many tried 
 and true friends. 
 
 Elisha Sawyer. The father of <iur subject. 
 
 3S 
 
 Noah Sawyer, is well remembered by th(* early 
 citizens of this county as a man worthy the re- 
 spect and e.steem of all, and a short sketch of his 
 life will be interesting to his relatives and numer- 
 ous friends. He was born in North Carolina, and 
 went to Tennessee at an early day, being married 
 there to Miss Martha Henderson, also a native of 
 th(» ' ' Old North State. " They resided in the State 
 of their adoption until 1852, at that time coming 
 to Arkansas, and settling at Daniels' Point, on the 
 river, where they entered KiO acres of land, fifty 
 of which he cleared and ])ut under cultivation, and 
 made a comfortabl(> home until 1857. Ho then 
 sold out, but later bought a farm of 200 acres 
 on Long Lake, which at the time of his purchase 
 was a wilderness, and on this farm Elisha Sawver 
 cut the first cane for clearing. They soon had a 
 house erected, and here Mr. Sawyer lived until 
 1873, respected and esteemed by all who knew 
 him. In 1871 he bought 100 acres near what is 
 now Blythesville, and on this made his home un- 
 til 1878, when he quietly breathed his last. His 
 entire course through life had been one marked 
 with singular honesty and fidelity of purpose, and 
 to every charitable object he was a liberal contribu 
 tor, and was a man held in high esteem by all who 
 knew him. He held the office of justice of the 
 peace for a number of years, and when a mere boy 
 united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
 lived up to its rules throughout his whole life. 
 He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. His 
 wife departed this life in 1865. Elisha Sawyer 
 attended the common schools for a short time, 
 learned the details of farm work on his father's 
 farm, and after the close of the Rebellion began 
 farming for himself. When the mutterings of 
 war began to be heard throughout the land, he 
 espoused the cause of the Confederacy, and joined 
 Capt. Fletcher's company, participating in the 
 battle of Shiloh, in which engagement he was 
 wounded three times. He was sent to the hospi- 
 tal, l)eing shortly after discharged, and returned 
 home. After farming with bis father for two 
 years, he bought a piece of land which he began 
 to improve, and in 1881 purchased a farm of 160 
 acres on Clear Lake, which he cleared, and made 
 

 his home until tlu" winter of 1889, when he moved 
 to his present pl.ice of abode. At the death of his 
 father he inherited one half of the old homestead, 
 amounting to 140 acres, and with what he has 
 purchased his lands comprise 500 acres, with 180 
 under the plow. He has a good orchard on his 
 old Clear Lake farm, and says his fruit is of choice 
 varieties. Miss Missouri A. Chisum, a native of 
 Tennessee, became his wife in 1804, and to them 
 were given two children, of whom one is dead — 
 Rebecca. Mi's. Sawyer and daughter are mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 William H. Scarboro. It is an undeniable 
 truth that the life of any man is of great benefit 
 to the community in which he resides, when all his 
 efforts are directed toward advancing its interests, 
 and who lives according to the highest principles 
 of what he conceives to be right, helping others, 
 and caring for those who are unable to do for them- 
 selves. Mr. Scarboro is one of these men. He 
 was born in Tennessee in 1856, being the third of I 
 eight children of Calvin R. and Mary J. (Hodges) 
 Scarboro, who were also Tennesseeans, where the 
 father carried on the business of a saddler and 
 farmer. He is still residing in that State, his home 
 being at Mifflin. William H. Scarboro received 
 the advantages of the common schools in his youth, 
 and was an intelligent and studious pupil. Al- 
 though he was reared a farmer's boy, he has never 
 given that occupation his attention until within the 
 last year, since which time he has entered upon 
 that calling with a perseverance that can not fail 
 of favorable results. At the age of twenty-one he 
 secured the United States mail contracts in Hen- 
 derson County, of which he was deputy sheriff and 
 constable for five years, and was married there Sep- 
 tember 30, 1879, to Miss Ada A. Clay, a native of 
 that State. In 1882, under the impression that he 
 could better his fortunes, he came to Arkansas, 
 settling at Blythesville, where he engaged as a clerk 
 for Richardson & Triplett, with whom he remained 
 until 1884, when he embarked in business on his 
 own responsibility, and successfully conducted a 
 general mercantile establishment for two years. 
 The two following years were spent at carpenter- ; 
 ino-. in the "Lone Star State," but in the winter 
 
 of 1888 he returned to Mississippi County, Ark., 
 where he purchased a farm i-mbracing 280 acres of 
 land, and since that time has attended to his adopted 
 profession with care and perseverance, and is now 
 in possession of a competence which has more than 
 realized his most sanguine expectations. He is 
 one of thi> representative young men of the county, 
 and will, without doubt, be among the foremost 
 men of his times. He and wife became the parents 
 of four children: Nellie Lorance, Ellie Lee (de- 
 ceased), Willie Harris and Mary Ethel. 
 
 Samuel Spencer Semmes, eldest son of Adminil 
 Raphael and Ann E. (Spencer) Semmes, was liorn 
 in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 4, 1838. While a youth 
 he received his education at the Jesuit College 
 (Spring Hill), near Moliile, Ala., fi-om which in- 
 stitution he graduated in 1855. He was reared in 
 South Alabama, and was admitted to the bar in 
 Washington County, of that State, in 1859, sub- 
 sequently graduating at the law school in New Or- 
 leans, La., in 1860, in which city he was residing 
 and practicing his profession when the war broke 
 out. True to his convictions, he enlisted in the 
 Confederate service, as second lieutenant in the 
 First Regiment of Louisiana Infantry (regulars), 
 commanded by the late Gen. A. H. Gladden, and 
 was promoted to the rank of captain. He went 
 through the war under Gen. Bragg, in the Army 
 of the Tennessee, and was a participant in the bat- 
 tles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Mis- 
 sionary Ridge, Atlanta, etc. At the close of the 
 war he engaged in agricultural pursuits in South 
 Alabama, and in the practice of law, which he con- 
 tinued imtil 1874; then he removed to Mississijipi 
 County, Ark., where he has since resided, occupied 
 in the practice of his profession. He was elected 
 county judge in 1882, and held the office one term. 
 Mr. Semmes was married to Miss Pauline Semmes, 
 a daughter of the late Gen, Paul J. Semmes. of 
 Columbus, Ga. (who was killed at the battle of 
 Gettysburg), in 1863, and the fruits of this union 
 are five children, three sons, Paul J. , Raphael and 
 Oliver, and two daughters, Mary and Anna. The 
 first two named are living in Osceola, Ark., and 
 Oliver is at Macon. Ga. , where he is studying for 
 the priesthood as a Jesuit. Mr. Semmes lost his 
 
 
 ^ 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 000 
 
 wifi' in 1S77, and his second marriage took place 
 inliSSI, to his present wife, who was originally 
 Miss Frances H. Morris, diuighl cr of the late Rev. 
 F. C. Morris, a Presbyterian minister of Osceola, 
 Ark. To this union were born three children: 
 Spencer, Frank Morris, and Catherine. Mr. 
 Semmes' homo, just outside the town of O.sceola, 
 is one of the most comfortable and attractive in 
 Northeast Arkansas, and is a tine example of what 
 can i)e accomplished in the way of ornament and 
 usefulness by a little taste and indu.stry. His 
 father was the late Admiral Raphael Semmes, of 
 Confederate fame, whose ancestors came to Ameri- 
 ca with Lord Baltimoi'e, and settled in Maryland. 
 Admiral Semmes entered the United States Navy 
 as a lad of fourteen, where he remained until he 
 resigned his commission, to take part in the late 
 war, in behalf of the Confederates. At that time 
 he was commander, and on duty at Washington 
 as a member of the lighthouse board. His career 
 as commander of the Confederate States steamers 
 ' ■ Sumter ' ' and ' 'Alabama ' ' have already become 
 a matter of history. The mother of the subject of 
 this sketch is a daughter of the late Rev. Oliver 
 M. Sjiencer, of Cincinnati, Ohio, whose father re- 
 moved to that place as one of the pioneer settlers 
 from Elizabeth. N. J., in the latter part of the last 
 century. Mrs. Semmes (the mother) resides in 
 Mobile, Ala. Cai)t. Semmes is the eldest of six 
 children born to his parents. His eldest brother, 
 Oliver J. Semmes, and eldest sister, Mrs. Colston, 
 reside in Mobile, Ala. His next two sisters, Mrs. 
 Luke E. Wright and Mrs. Charles B. Bryan, and 
 youngest brother, Raphael Semmes, live in Mem- 
 phis, Tenn. It is not strange that during the years 
 of ('a]>t. Semmes' residence in Mississippi County, 
 he should have become one of its best known and 
 most valued citizens. Gifted by nature with an 
 indomitable spirit of perseverance, and a refined 
 taste, a thorough and complete collegiate education 
 expanded these, teaching him to see a beauty and 
 harmony in nature, while the study of law and the 
 practice of that profession illustrated by many 
 valuable examples the study of mankind. It was 
 with an education thus completed, and a fortune 
 shattered in the Civil War, as qualifications for 
 
 future usefulness, that ho turned his steps toward 
 Mississippi County. Here, amid an impoverished 
 pojmlation, and where strife and turmoil reigned 
 for many years, fortune was hard to win, and many 
 trials lay beside his path; yet, from the first, his 
 ability, moral courage, purity and truth of charac- 
 ter were recognized by all. His indomitable will 
 soon won him a leading place at the Osceola bar, 
 while his election to the office of county judge was 
 an unsought expression of the people's confidence 
 aad esteem. The economy in the administration 
 of the county affairs during his term of office, in 
 which time the court-house was erected under his 
 supervision, was the redeemed pledge of his faithful- 
 ness and care. Now, as the years are rolling by, a 
 glance at the home life of Capt. , or Judge, Semmes, 
 as he is familiarly called, would reveal a pleasant 
 cottage, which his horticultural tastes have literally 
 surrounded with ornamental plants and Howers, an 
 interesting family, presided over by Mrs. Semmes, 
 a lady of education, with many refined and pleasing 
 graces, happy children, whose merriment dashes 
 across the path of troubled life like sunshine through 
 the rift of drifting clouds. And so, amid an atmos- 
 phere of peace, respected and esteemed by all, 
 diligently pursuing his professional duties, while 
 perhaps finding greater pleasure during his leisure 
 hours in the cultivation of his garden, and the 
 adornment of his home, the subject of this sketch 
 (and of the accompanying ]>ortrait) passes his days, 
 receiving the well earned praises of his fellow 
 men. 
 
 Ra])hael Semmes, second son of S. S. Semmes 
 [see sketch], was born in Mobile, Ala. , in the year 
 1867, and is one of the promising young business 
 men of the county. Ho attended the public schools 
 of O ceola but a short time, and while still a small 
 boy secured employment in a baker's shop, at very 
 small pay, and there remained for six months. At 
 aliout sixteen years of age he went to Pecan Point, 
 where he engaged as clerk for L. A. Morris, and 
 continued in that capacity for one year. He then 
 came to Osceola, and worked with N. L. Avery as 
 clerk in a subordinate capacity, and at a small sal- 
 ary. His capabilities were recognized, and he was 
 advanced year by year, and in 1888 was admitted 
 
556 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 in the business as a partner under the firm title of 
 N. L. Avery & Co. Mr. Semmes chose Miss Lulu 
 Sullivan for his companion during the chiingiug 
 scenes of life, and was united in marriage to her 
 on June 6, 1888. She was born in Mississippi 
 County, and is the daughter of one of the old set- 
 tlers of this county. This union has been blessed 
 by the birth of one child, Norman L. The fam- 
 ily are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. 
 Semmes' life, as may be seen, is an example of per- 
 severance, indiistry and energy; rising under unfa- 
 vorable circumstances as far as education and home 
 assistance are concerned, he has shown by his grad- 
 ual advancement, step by step, that he possesses 
 business capacity of an unusually high ordei-. 
 Now, as a partner in a large store, the future has 
 rich promises for him. 
 
 J. M. E. Sisk is a man well known to the early 
 settlers of Mississippi County, Ark., and is re- 
 spected for his straightforward course through life, 
 and beloved by all for his noble, Christian qualities 
 of mind and heart. His birth occurred in Jackson 
 County, Ala., in 1833, he being the third of eight 
 children born to Willis Sisk and Frances (Money) 
 Sisk, who were originally from North Carolina. 
 The father was a farmer and mechanic, and died 
 in Alabama in 1873, followed by his wife in 1886. 
 The knowledge that J. M. E. Sisk acquired was 
 only such as could be learned on the home farm, 
 for his school days only amounted to about thirteen 
 months. At the age of nineteen years he com- 
 menced a mercantile career in Tennessee, but one 
 year later abandoned this occupation to take up 
 farming in his native State, which received his 
 attention until 1856: Two years later he came to 
 Mississippi County, Ark., and settled in Chicka- 
 sawba Township, where he purchased eighty acres 
 of land, on which he erected a house, added other 
 improvements, and made his home until 1869, be- 
 ing one of the well-known and respected residents 
 of the community. At the latter date he purchased 
 another farm, which embraced 160 acres, which 
 bv industry and good management he soon made 
 into a pleasant home, but in 1882 he sold this farm 
 also. Since that time he has resided on a 140- 
 acre farm on North Chickasawba, where he has 
 
 erected good fences and a residence, and has one of 
 the best orchards in the county. In the spring of 
 188U he started a grocery store in Blythesville, 
 and by his agreeable and pleasant manners, and 
 fair dealing, he is securing a good patronage. He 
 entered the Confederate service in 1863, Capt. 
 Barton's company, and served in the Trans-Missis- 
 sippi Department, participating in the battle of 
 Helena. He was sent home in July, 1884, and did 
 not again enter the service. In 1875 he was ap 
 pointed constable of Chickasawba Township by the 
 Governor, and was afterward elected lo the office, 
 serving in all about nine years. He has also been 
 school director six years, and assisted in organizing 
 the school districts and churches. He was married 
 in 1858, while a resident of Alabama, to Miss 
 Nancy L. Temple, of that State, and to them have 
 been given the following children: James P., who 
 is married and lives in the county; Hiram W., 
 also married and residing in St. Francis County; 
 John W., married and residing in Chickasitwba: 
 Jesse D., married and making his home in Osceola; 
 Evan W. , Benoni, Frances (widow of Thomas 
 Perry), Sarah (deceased), Susa (wife of B. J. Rook). 
 Charlotte, Roberta (deceased) and Alice. Seven 
 of the family are members of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. 
 
 Carroll L. Smith. In the early settlemeut of 
 Arkansas, and among the families who were closely 
 identified with its material affairs and associated 
 with its progress and development, were the 
 Smiths. A respected representative of this family 
 is found in the subject of this sketch, who was born 
 in Tennessee in 1839, and in 1841 was brought to 
 Mississippi County, Ark., by his parents, James 
 M. and Edna (Jones) Smith, who were born, reared 
 and married in North Carolina, removing shortly 
 after the latter event to East Tennessee, and still 
 later to West Tennessee, and thence to Arkansas. 
 After coming to the latter State they resided for 
 nearly two years on Mill Bayou, where they landed 
 in 1845, and in 1847 removed to Clear Lake, set- 
 tling on a tract of 157 acres. At that time there 
 were only three families on the Lake, and there were 
 not more than twenty acres under cultivation. Mr. 
 Smith began at once to make imjirovements in the 
 
way of clearing land and l)ailding, and made his 
 lioiun on this property until liis death, in 18(54, at 
 the age of fifty-three years; the mother expiring 
 the following year, aged about fifty-five years. 
 Like so many of the substantial citizens of this 
 county at the present time, he was initiated into 
 the mysteries of farming fi'om his earliest youth, 
 and to this calling he has since given his attention. 
 As there were no schools near his home until he 
 was twelve years of age, his early educational 
 advantages were very limited. When the mutter- 
 ings of war began to be heard throughout the land 
 he joined Capt. Fletcher's company, and was at 
 the battle of Shiloh when that captain was killed. 
 He also took part in the engagements at Mur- 
 freesboro, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Missionary 
 Ridge, and in the Georgia campaign. He was cap- 
 tured at Franklin, Tenn. , and was kept a prisoner 
 until the close of the war, when he returned home 
 and resumed the peaceful pursuit of farming. In 
 1868 he sold the old homestead and bought his 
 present home farm of 160 acres, now owning in all 
 400 acres with 160 under the plow. On this place 
 he has a good residence and outbuildings, and near 
 the house is an extensive orchard of choice varieties 
 of frnit. He votes with the Democratic party, and 
 in the various affairs of the county he exerts an 
 influence which is felt by all, being particularly 
 active in supporting the cause of education. He 
 has been married three times, the first time in 
 October, 1860, to Miss Mary Ann Renfro. who 
 died in 1862, leaving one child, which also soon 
 died. He then remained a widower until 1870, at 
 which date he wedded Miss Mary E. Murry, a 
 native of Mississippi County, her death occurring 
 in 1883. Three children blessed this union: Will- 
 iam, Norah and Rebecca. In 1884 his marriage 
 to Miss Amanda Langley was consummated, and 
 by her he has also had three children: lona, 
 Albert Sidney Johnson and Grover Cleveland. 
 Mr. Smith has one of the finest places in the 
 county, and has surrounded his home with many 
 conveniences and comforts. His farm is rapidly 
 increasing in value under his able management, 
 and he is looked upon as one of the leading agri- 
 culturists of this section. 
 
 Thomas H. Starling, a gentleman who has won 
 the confidence and respect of his neighl)ors since 
 his arrival at Cross Bayou, was born in Columbia 
 County, Ark., in 1851, and is a farmer by occupa- 
 tion. He is the elde.st child of John W. and Sallie 
 Ann (Hood) Starling, natives of North Carolina and 
 Tennessee, respectively, who came to Arkansas at an 
 early period. The father was a prosperous farmtu- 
 until the outbreak of war, when he gave up his 
 home and family to take up the cause of the Con- 
 federacy. He fought gallantly in some of the 
 noted battles now portrayed in the pages of his 
 tory, until he received his discharge on account of 
 ill health. In 1863, he removed with his family to 
 the northern part of Missoiu'i, and remained there 
 until 1866; but thinking the outlook along the 
 Mississippi River more promising in which to re- 
 build his shattered fortune, he placed his family 
 and possessions on a flat-boat, and spent one year 
 on the river looking for a suitable location. He 
 finally settled in Mississippi County, where the 
 father and son togrether bought 100 acres of land 
 on Cross Bayou, in which place there were but 
 few settlers at that time, and immediately began 
 improving and cultivating his purchase. The 
 land was then in a wild state, but since then they 
 have added to it, and now have about 350 acres 
 cleared and fenced. Thomas owned fifty acres 
 himself, and in 1886, he bought his father's tract, 
 upon which there were about twenty acres under 
 cultivation. The land will easily average three- 
 quarters of a bale of cotton to the acre, and, in ad- 
 dition to this, he has forty head of tine cattle, and 
 pronounces this section to be a splendid cattle 
 range — a piece of information which may be of in- 
 terest to farmers in other portions of the State. 
 His first marriage was with Miss Sarah Ratton, of 
 this county, who lived but two years after their 
 union, and died without leaving any children. 
 His second wife, Mrs. Sarah Robinson, he married 
 in 1876. an amiable widow lady, who bore four 
 children: Jacob Wishy, Thomas Jefferson Will- 
 iam Cornelius and Jesse Brooks. Mrs. Star- 
 ling had three children liy her former marriage: 
 James Alfred, Mary L. and an infant, the two lat- 
 ter deceased. The family are members of the 
 
Baptist Church, and Mr. Starling is a member 
 of the Agricultui'al Wheel. He has also served 
 two terms on the school board, and is a prominent 
 man in his section. 
 
 George W. Stewart. Of Hickman County, Ky. , 
 nativity, Mr. Stewart, from the date of his birth, 
 in 1830, has resided either in Kentucky or in Ar- 
 kansas. Up to the age of fourteen, his days were 
 spent in his native State, but he was not favored 
 with much of an education. His father, Thomas 
 Stewart, was married, after growing up, to Miss 
 Nancy Jane Johnson, both of whom were Ken- 
 tuckians, and followed the occupation of farming 
 in their native State until their death, which oc- 
 curred when George W. was a small lad. In 1845, 
 the latter moved to Arkansas, and spent the first 
 year and a half on Island No. 30, after which he 
 came to Mississippi County, Ark. , and lived above 
 Osceola for a few years, engaged in the cord-wood 
 business. He was married in 1855, to Miss Mary 
 E. Boole, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of 
 one of the old settlers of this county. After his 
 marriage, he came to Clear Lake, where he farmed 
 on rented land for a few years. At that time the 
 country was a wilderness, and Mr. Stewart had but 
 few neighbors. In 1871 he bought a farm of eighty 
 acres on Clear Lake, of which eighteen were under 
 cultivation, and shortly after bought nearly 180 
 acres more, and now has a tract of 100 acres under 
 cultivation. His land is favorably situated in a 
 good community, and under favorable circum- 
 stances, he can easily make a bale of cotton to the 
 acre, and from fifty to sixty bushels of corn. On 
 this farm are to be seen largo numbers of cattle, of 
 which he makes a specialty. His union with Miss 
 Boole has been blessed in the birth of seven chil- 
 dren: James, who died at the age of twenty-five 
 years; Virginia, who died in 1888; George, who 
 died in 1874; Sallie, wife of Jesse Deason; and 
 Robert, Lucy and Ollie, who reside with their 
 parents. 
 
 A. L. Tansil, a tri^e type of the progressive 
 farmer and enterprising merchant, was born in 
 Dyer County, Tenn., in 1845. He is the eldest 
 in a family of seven children born to John B. and 
 Nancy (Finly) Tansil, of Tennessee, where the 
 
 father was a well-known farmer who died in 1868, 
 the mother soon following him! In early youth 
 Mr. Tansil had few educational advantages, but 
 attended school for several years after the war. 
 On reaching maturity he began life as a farmer, 
 and though still following that occupation, he es- 
 tablished a store which was the first place of busi- 
 ness in what is now the thriving town of Finley, 
 Tenn. His business grew to considerable propor- 
 tions under his judicious management, and in ad- 
 dition to it he built a cotton-gin which gave an impe- 
 tus to the place, and soon the town of Finley grew 
 and became an active, busy trading center. In 
 1874, thinking to better his then prosperous con- 
 dition, and always on the lookout for more promis- 
 ing fields, he moved to the State of Missouri, and 
 from there to Texas, remaining, however, only one 
 year in the latter place, and then returned to Fin- 
 ley. Here he formed a partnership with an 
 uncle, A. Finley, under the firm name of A. Fin- 
 ley & Co., and continued in commercial life 
 under these conditions for two years, when his 
 spirit of independence prompted him to seek other 
 fields, and he again turned his attention to Texas. 
 In that State he did not find as favorable an open- 
 ing as he had hoped for, and believing that he had 
 passed over a better country on his way, he turned 
 backward and settled in Mississippi County, Ark. 
 Here he located on Mill Bayou, and commenced 
 farming with great success, and two years after 
 started the first Imsiness house at this point. He 
 started a small store, which, from the first, was 
 a pronounced success and grew rapidly from year 
 to year until the spring of 1885, when his in- 
 creased trade demanded larger quarters, and he 
 built an extensive store, filling it with a com- 
 plete and judiciously assorted stock of general 
 merchandise. The star of Mr. Tansil" s success 
 seemed to be shining the brightest at this period, 
 when, without any warning, the results of his 
 many years' patient toil and industry were swept 
 away by fire on the night of December 5, 1885. 
 His new store with its recently accumulated stock, 
 several bales of cotton, and a large crib containing 
 over 1,000 bushels of corn, were burned to the 
 ground. This misfortune rendered him almost 
 
 w ^ 
 
 ¥ 
 
-U © 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 559 
 
 peiiiiiloss, iiad instead of starting in business again 
 at tills ]K)iiit, he removed with his family up the 
 White Kiver; but seeing no advantages to be de- 
 rived there that would equal his former home in 
 Mississippi County, he soon returned and settled 
 one mile south of Barfield, where he leased a cot- 
 ton gin and forty acres from the Williams estate; 
 and the same industry that characterized his early 
 days is now starting him on the road to foitune 
 again. In 1889 he bought 100 acres of good land 
 with about thirty acres under cultivation, and soon 
 after purchased forty acres of wild land, which he 
 will immediately put under cultivation also. He has 
 again commenced in business at Barlield, of which 
 he intends to allow his son Guy to take the manage- 
 ment, while he devotes the greater part of his time 
 to his cotton-gin and crops. On June 18, 1868, 
 Mr. Tansil was married to Miss Sarah H. Spence, 
 of Finley, Tenn., a daughter of George E. Spence, 
 whose father, ilai'k, was one of the pioneers of 
 Dyer County, that State, where he amassed a 
 large fortune. To this union were born eight chil- 
 dren: Belle, wife of J. H. Daniels; Annie; Min- 
 nie, who died in 1885; Guy, Dixon, Nannie, who 
 died in 1888; Frankie and Susie. Mr. Tansil is 
 certainly one of the self-made men of Mississippi 
 County. He is held in high esteem by his neigh- 
 bors, has served four terms as magistrate, takes an 
 active interest in all matters that promise to be 
 for the county's good, and in school affairs, and 
 is the possessor of a happy and interesting family. 
 G. W. Thomason is not only one of the most 
 successful and enterprising planters of Mississippi 
 County, but be is also a lawyer of thorough pre- 
 paratory training, both literary and professional. 
 His boyhood was passed in assisting on the farm 
 and attending school. He was studying at college 
 at the Ineakine out of the war, but he flung aside 
 his books to enter the Confederate Army, enlisting 
 when nineteen years of age in Company H, Fifth 
 Tennessee Volunteers, and was assigned to the 
 Western army. After participating in the de- 
 structive battle of Shiloh, he was transferred to the 
 Fifty second Tennessee Kegiment, and promoted 
 to the rank of third lieutenant. After this he par- 
 ticipated in the battles of Perryville, Murfreesboro, 
 
 and then in that most disastrous battle at Franklin, 
 Tenn. Just jH'evious to this battle he was pro- 
 moted to captain, his command being fragments of 
 five regiments, and was the only officer left of that 
 company. He was captured during that engage 
 ment, and was sent to Johnson's Island, where he 
 remained for about seven months. After his re- 
 lease, the war being over, he returned to his 
 brother' s law office at Paris, Tenn. , and began the 
 .study of law. He remained in that city until 1808, 
 when he was admitted to the bar in that place, 
 but soon afterward left for Dyersl)urg, where he 
 remained one year, engaged in the practice of his 
 profession. On the 5th of April, 1869, he came 
 to Osceola, Mississippi County, Ark., and here re- 
 sumed his practice. As a lawyer Mr. Thomason 
 possesses solid, substantial talent, and is a man 
 who will succeed under any and all circumstances. 
 His practice is steadily and substantially increas- 
 ing, and covers a wide extent of territory. In 
 1871 he was united in marriage to Mrs. C. J. Josey, 
 wee Borum, a native of Kentucky. She died on 
 the 31st of May, 1887, leaving one child, a daugh- 
 ter, Lola Maud. He is active, politically, and 
 votes with the Democratic party. He was the 
 fifth of nine children born to Richard Lee and 
 Elizabeth (Smith) Thomason, natives of North 
 Carolina. The father's people were pioneers in 
 Tennessee, and there the father cultivated the soil 
 and passed his last days. 
 
 H. D. Tomlinson owes his nativity to Fort Don- 
 elson, Tenn. , where he was born in 1859, his parents 
 being Uriah Douglas and Mattie (Outlaw) Tom- 
 linson, who were also Tennesseeans. The latter is 
 dead, but the father is still living, and resides near 
 Clarksville. After his mother's death, which oc- 
 curred when he was about fifteen years of age, H. 
 D. Tomlinson began making his home with an 
 uncle, J. J. Tomlinson, at Canton, Ky., where he 
 remained until nineteen years of age; then went to 
 Memphis, Tenn. (in 1879), and engaged as clerk 
 with the Lee line of steamers, remaining in this 
 capacity on these boats until 1SS3, at which date 
 he became accjuainted with Miss Mary Matthews, 
 a daughter of Capt. Daniel Matthews, and their 
 marriage was consummated on the 31st of May, 
 
560 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 1883. The following November tJiey settled ia 
 Osceola, since whicL time Mr. Tomlinson has con- 
 ducted hi.s father-in law's plantation in so satisfac- 
 tory a manner that he is realizing a handsome profit 
 thereby. He and wife are the parents of two chil- 
 dren: Beulah Patience and Daniel Douglas. Mr. 
 Tomlinson is a member of Lodge No. 27, of the 
 A. F. & A. M., at Osceola. As stated elsewhere, 
 Mrs. Tomlinson' s father, Capt. Daniel Matthews, 
 was one of the bi^st and most favorably known in- 
 dividuals in Mississippi County, prominently con- 
 nected with the farming interests of this region 
 over a long period of years. A personal acquaint- 
 ance with nearly every citizen of the difPerent 
 townships in this county tended to make him 
 very popular, for he lived an honest, upright life 
 in the sight of his fellow men. After reachino- 
 manhood he was united in the bonds of matrimony 
 to Miss Mary Young, whose mother was Elizabeth 
 Young, of Hickman's Bend, Mississippi County. 
 Ark. , which town was washeii away in the flood of 
 1883, and, for a number of subsequent years, her 
 father ran a merchant's boat on the river. Upon 
 selling out, he embarked in business in Osceola, 
 having previously anchored his boat at the landing 
 known as the Stone Boat Landing, and purchased a 
 fine farm of 162 acres, nearly all of which was 
 under cultivation at that time. The purchase was 
 made about the year 1856, and the farm was just 
 west of the town, and now comprises a tract 550 
 acres of which are under the plow. It is managed 
 by his son-in-law, Mr. Tomlinson, who rents out 
 a portion of the land. Seventy-five people, black 
 and white, are employed to keep the place in good 
 farming condition, and the average yield of cotton 
 to the acre is about three-fourths of a bale. Ten 
 acres are also devoted to raising timothy hay and clo- 
 ver, which will average about three tons of cured hay 
 per acre. Off of one acre of ground has recently 
 been gathered 150 bushels of potatoes. Capt. 
 Matthews died May 2, 1884; his death left a void 
 in the hearts of all impossible to fill, for he was a 
 man above most men, and one esteemed for his 
 sincere worth. 
 
 Samuel S. Triplett, whose life has been an act- 
 ive one, and who has by his own industry and intelli- 
 
 gent management secured a substantial footing 
 among the citizens of this community, was born 
 in Frankfort, Ky., in 1856, being the fifth in a 
 family of seven children. His parents, George 
 W. and Mary E. (Spotts) Triplett, were born in 
 Kentucky and Alabama, respectively, and were 
 married in Frankfort, in the former State. The 
 father was a noted river man, and was a well- 
 known steamboat captain for many years on the 
 Kentucky and Ohio Rivers. His death occurred 
 at Atlanta, Ga., in 1867, his widow dying in Ar- 
 kansas, in 1883, while on a visit to her son, Sam- 
 uel S. During the latter' s youth he attended 
 school in the neighborhood of his home, but at the 
 age of fourteen years, he began making his home 
 with an uncle, who was a tiller of the soil, and 
 when the latter removed with his family to St. 
 Joseph, Mo., he accompanied him. In this State 
 he was engaged in clerking with vari9us firms for 
 a period of three years, and in 1877 he came to 
 Arkansas, and settled in Chickasawba Township, 
 where he worked as a farm hand for H. T. Blvthe, 
 for about one year, then embarked in the business 
 for himself on rented land. After continuing thus 
 employed for some time, he entered the mercan- 
 tile store of J. L. Edrington, as clerk, securing at 
 the end of one year an interest in the business, 
 the firm taking the name of Edrington, Triplett & 
 Co., which partnership continued for two years. 
 He then became associated in business with Z. W. 
 Richardson for a short time, but during these 
 years had been engaged in the occupation of farm- 
 ing, to which he began devoting his entire atten- 
 tion in the year 1884, continuing until 1887, when 
 he resumed his mercantile career again, only to 
 abandon it in the fall of the following year, selling 
 out to N. L. Avery & Co. However, he has since 
 been associated with the above firm in the capa- 
 city of clerk. In 1885 he purchased a tract of 
 wild land amounting to 120 acres, and of this he 
 cleared forty acres, which is now under cultivation. 
 the soil being very fertile, and the whole tract till 
 able. The place is improved with a good house 
 and other buildings, and in addition to this, he has 
 since purchased 500 acres of laud. His wife, 
 whom he married in 1885, and whose maiden nam." 
 
UriSSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 r)f)i 
 
 was Kittie Snow, inherited 800 acres of land from 
 her father's estate, of which 130 are being tilled. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Triplett are the parents of a son 
 named Blythe. Mr. Triplett is not an active poli- 
 tician, but in 1S88 was elected one of the levee 
 commissioners. Mrs. Triplett' s father, John M. . 
 Snow, was a pioneer of Mississippi County, and 
 had a landing on the river known as Snow' s Land 
 ing, which was situated a short distance above 
 Barfield. Iii 1882 he came to BIythesville and re- j 
 sumed merchandising, which calling he pursued ' 
 until his death, in December, 1884, ho being the 
 oldest merchant in the county at that time, and 
 was one of its best known and most highly respect- 
 ed citizens. 
 
 T. E. Turner. Within the limits of Missis- 
 sippi County, there is no more successful planter 
 to be found than Mr. Turner, who is thoroughly 
 identified with the farming interests of the same. 
 His birth occurred six miles east of Brownsville, 
 Haywood County, Tenn., and he is the son of Ed- 
 ward N. Turner, who came with his father, Gerry 
 Turner, a native of North Carolina, to Haywood 
 County, Tenn., at an early date. Here Edward 
 N. Turner chose, for his life companion. Miss Caro- 
 line Cpckrum, the mother of T. E. Turner. The 
 latter remained with his parents until nineteen 
 years of age, and received a common- school edu- 
 cation. His father, being one of the wealtliy plant- 
 ers, wished to give his son an excellent education, 
 but the latter was of a different mind, and was 
 married instead to Miss Almeda Barham, of Mc- 
 Nairy County, Tenn. Gf the seven interesting 
 children born to this marriage five died in infan- 
 cy, and two are now living: James Lee and John 
 Edward, both of whom are living on Buffalo Island, 
 with their grandmother, Mrs. Barham. In 1885 
 Mrs. Turner was riding in a wagon with her 
 mother and brother, the latter driving; the brother 
 was accidentall}' thrown from a spring seat, which 
 so frightened the spirited team, that they ran 
 away, throwing Mrs. Turner and her mother to 
 the gi'ound. Jlrs. Turner received injuiies from 
 which she died, after having suffered fourteen days. 
 The boy had his arm broken, and Mrs. Barham 
 received injuries from which she will never re- 
 
 cover. Mr. Turner, whose standing as a success- 
 ful planter and a much esteemed and respected 
 citizen, is well established in the county, is now 
 principally engaged in the raising of cotton. 
 He has rented 150 acres of the Cissell place, about 
 six miles southwest of Gsceola, and employs from 
 ten to twenty hands. In a good year he raises 
 over a bale of cotton to the acre, and at an expense 
 of about 10 to the acre. He is a member of the 
 K. of H., located at Osceola, and is also a mem- 
 ber of the A. G. TJ. W. of the same place. 
 
 John W. tlzzell. Among the many estimable 
 citizens of Mississippi County, Ark., who have 
 passed to their long home, but who, from an early 
 day, were intimately and prominently associated 
 with the county's development, the name of John 
 W. Uzzell can not be omitted. He was born in 
 Columbia, Tenn., and is the son of Elisha and 
 grandson of Thomas TJzzell, who commanded 
 a vessel in Gen. Lafayette's fleet when coming to 
 the succor of Gen. Washington during the Revolu- 
 tionary War. After that war Thomas Uzzell set- 
 tled in Isle of Wight County, Va., where he se- 
 cured a large tract of land, married, and became 
 the father of two childi-en, a son and a daughter. 
 The family all died with the exception of Elisha, 
 the son, who inherited the property. The father 
 had emancij)ated all his slaves before he died, and 
 after Elisha came into possession of the property 
 he sold it, and moved to Columbia, Tenn., where 
 he remained until 1859. He then went to live with 
 his son, John W. Uzzell. in Mississippi County, 
 Ark., and died there in 1864 at the age of eighty 
 four years. John W. Uzzell was married in 1859 
 to Miss L. T. Evans, daughter of George H. 
 Evans, who was the nephew of Gen. Tipton, for 
 whom Tipton County, Tenn., was named. Jesse 
 Evans, father of George H. Evans, came in the 
 canebrakes from Tipton County, Tenn., to Missis- 
 sippi County. Ark., about the year 1841, and 
 brought only his servants with him at that time. 
 He opened a small tract of land where the widow 
 of George H. Evans now lives, and there died in 
 1844. At that time his son, George H. Evans, who 
 was living in Tipton County, Tenn., in order to 
 hold his place, moved his family on it, while 
 
 ^ 
 
5G2 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 be went to Helena to prove up, which he did 
 the same winter. Mrs. Uzzell, whose memory is 
 very good, remembers the first meeting she ever 
 attended in the ueighliorhood, her fatlier and the 
 preacher being the only men in the congregation 
 who wore coats, all the rest, and there was a house 
 full, wearing hunting jackets, and all carried guns. 
 Upon entering the chm-ch they would dejjosit 
 their guns in a corner behind the preacher. The 
 men also carried side-arms, generally knives, and 
 were prepared for all emergencies. On coming to 
 Arkansas in 1844, the family came in a barouche, 
 and on the trip from the river over to her grand- 
 father's Mrs. Uzzell r(fmembers that th(>re was but 
 one opening from the river ferry to the farm, a 
 distance of twelve miles. The cane on each side 
 of the road was so high that it would form an arch 
 over the top of the barouche. In 1859 they selected 
 the spot where Mrs. Uzzell' s house now stands to 
 erect a bailding, and in choosing a spot to dig the 
 well, which they wanted a certain distance from 
 the road, they were oljliged to stand Mrs. Uzzell in 
 the saddle on the back of a gentle horse to make 
 an object for her father to go by, on account of the 
 cane. The place is now one of the pleasantest and 
 most desirable to be found in the county, and the 
 velvety lawn and brilliant beds of flowers attract 
 the eyes of all beholders. In the rear of this 
 stands the large double log-house. Back of the 
 house is a large cistern which will hold 500 barrels, 
 and there is also a good well. Mrs. Uzzell owns 
 now, with her family, about 2,000 acres of land, 
 with about 300 acres under cultivation, and keeps 
 about ten families on the place. They raise nearly 
 three-fourths of a bale of cotton to the acre, al- 
 though they sometimes run more than a bale to the 
 acre. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Uzzell were 
 born ten children, nine of whom are living at the 
 present. The father of these children died in 1884. 
 He was a member of Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M. , 
 of Osceola, Ark. 
 
 George Walker. As might naturally be ex- 
 pected, mention is made in the jiresent work of 
 many citizens of Missii-sippi County, Ark., now 
 prominent in their different callings, who were 
 born in the county, and whose homes have always 
 
 been here. Mr. Walker is one of these, and his 
 experience refers to the agricultural interests of 
 the county. He was born in 1850, and was the 
 fourth in a family of seven children born to John 
 and Sarah AValker, nee Chadwick, both of whom, 
 with their parents, were early pioneers of this por- 
 tion of Arkansas. The father was engaged in fur- 
 trading with the Indians during the primitive 
 period of the county's history, but later embarked 
 in cutting and selling cord-wood, which enterprise 
 he continued to make his chief calling until the 
 breaking out of the Rebellion. From that period 
 until 1862 he settled on a farm in Chickasawba 
 Township, which place continued to be his home 
 until his death, in 1875. George Walker has 
 given farming his time and attention from <>arly 
 boyhood, and in this work has met with substan- 
 tial results. His first purchase of land was made 
 when twenty one years of age, and comj)rised a 
 tract of thirty-foiir acres, one mile west of Blythes- 
 villc; but in 1881 he made a piu'chase of forty 
 acres, about the same distance ea.st of th(> town. 
 His home property is well improved with excellent 
 buildings (his residence being erected in 1885), or- 
 chards, etc., and during all these years, in addi- 
 tion to managing his land, he has been in the tim- 
 ber business, rafting this product down the river, 
 which business he is now engaored in. Helen, a 
 daughter of William Buckner, an old pioneer of 
 the county, became the wife of Mr. Walker when 
 he was about twenty-one years of age, but only 
 lived about one year after marriage, giving liirth 
 to a son, James B. , now aged sixteen. His second 
 marriage took place in 1876, and was to Miss 
 Emma Thompson, of Mississippi County, Ark., a 
 daughter of William Thompson, also a pioneer of 
 the coiuity, who was killed during the lat(» war, in 
 the battle of Shiloh. Mr. Walker is a member of 
 Chickasawba Lodge No. 134, of the F. & A. M., 
 and he and his wife are the parents of an inter- 
 esting little family of three children, whose names 
 are as follows: Cora, Charles and Sarab. 
 
 Luther Walker is recognized as one of the pros- 
 perous agriculturists of this region, where he was 
 born in 1855. His grandfather, Hardiman Walk 
 er, was one of the earl}' pioneers of Missouri, and 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 r.fi:} 
 
 was residing near Cotton Plant, in that Stat(\ dur- 
 ing the earthquakes of ISll. His son, John 
 Walker, was born in the State of Virginia, and at 
 the age of about fifteen years began to hunt and 
 trap in the woods of Missouri, and until about twen- 
 ty-five years of age, followed this occupation for 
 his father, having under his management several 
 Indians, who were expert trappers and hunters. 
 At the above mentioned age, he was married to 
 Miss Sarah Chadwick, who was born in Ohio, and 
 moved to Hickman Bend, where he settled on some 
 land and began farming in a limited way, being 
 also engaged in operating a wood-yard until 1861, 
 at which date he removed to Chickasawba Town- 
 ship, and bought 160 acres near where Blythes- 
 ville is now situated. On this tract he made some 
 valuable improvements, in the way of buildings, and 
 here resided until his death, in 1876, his wife hav- 
 ing died in ISOO. They were the parents of eight 
 children, of whom Luther is the fifth, and after his 
 father's removal to Chickasawba Township, he 
 went to Illinois, and made his home with an uncle 
 for ten years. During this period his time was 
 employed in assisting at farm labor, and in attend- 
 ing school; he also traveled some through Iowa 
 and Minnesota, with his relatives, but upon the 
 settlement of his uncle in Northwest Missouri, he 
 returned to his father's home in Arkansas, and the 
 same year made a crop on his father's plantation. 
 The next year he came down the river and rented 
 laud above Barfi^ld, on which he lived until 1882, 
 then went to Blythesville and purchased a lot, and 
 built a house in the village. In 1888 he purchased 
 a tract of land comprising sixty-six acres, on which 
 he cleared fifteen acres and resided until three 
 years ago, since which time he has resided in Bar- 
 field. He now has 320 acres, with 100 under cul- 
 tivation, which will yield a bale of cotton to the 
 acie. The dwelling house is in excellent condi- 
 tion, and near it is a fine apple and peach orchard. 
 His marriage lo Mi.ss Bell Buckner was celebrated 
 in 1874, but she died the following year, and in 
 1878, he wedded Kittie Buckner, a sister of his first 
 wife, and a daughter of Bill Buckner, an old pio- 
 neer of this section. The last union has resulted 
 in the birth of four children: Billie, Maud, Lizzie. 
 
 and Berde Jesamine. Mr. Walker has always 
 been a patron of education, and is now serving as 
 school director. 
 
 AVilliam \V. AN'ard, an extensive stock raiser 
 and farmer, was born in Tennessee in 1836. He 
 was the fourth in a family of five children, and is 
 the son of William L. Ward, of Kentucky, who 
 first settled in Tennessee, and in 1831 moved to 
 Mississippi County, Ark., where he started a large 
 wood-yard and cultivated a farm. The father, 
 meeting with good success and making a great 
 many improvements on his farm, after a few years' 
 residence sent for his family, and proceeded to 
 make their future home in this county. His farm 
 in Canadian Township was, at that time, one of 
 the finest on the river, and he resided on this 
 place until hi.s death, in 1851, his estimable wife 
 following him in the year 1881, at the age of 
 eighty-two years. William W. Ward attended 
 Parker's Academy at Richmond, Ohio, in his 
 youthful days, which was then one of the best in- 
 stitutions of learning in Ohio, accessible to both 
 sexes, and where Mr. Ward' s two sisters were also 
 educated. After the father's death he took charge 
 of the farm, which he has operated ever since, and 
 may be called a general farmer, as ho aims to pro- 
 duce a variety of crops, and has been very success- 
 ful in that desire. In addition to his farm, which 
 consists of sixty acres under a tine state of cultiva- 
 tion, he also deals in stock, and owns a herd of 
 fine cattle and hogs. At one time the river 
 threatened to absorb a good portion of his farm, 
 but at present it has changed, and is tilling and 
 adding a number of acres to the place instead. 
 The elder Ward during his life was an active man 
 in politics and a brilliant speaker. He was several 
 times elected and held various offices in this 
 county, being at different periods justice of the 
 peace, county judge and representative, but his 
 son William does not seem to follow his father's 
 footsteps in that direction, and takes little interest 
 in politics, although at one time he served iis mag 
 istrate in his county. He is alive to the interests 
 of Mississippi County, and is active in promoting 
 its welfare by enterprise and good citizenship. 
 
 W. P. West. This name carries with it an 
 

 564 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 essence of fortitude and courage, aud the owuer 
 of it is a man who has gone through the dangers 
 of war and the vexations of after-life, and come 
 out triumphant at the end. He is a planter near 
 Pecan Point, and was born in 1839 at Selma, Ala. 
 He was the oldest child born to John and Louisa 
 (McLean) West, the father being a well known 
 planter and merchant in Alabama, and the grand- 
 father one of the pioneers of Dallas County, 
 Ala. Mr. West remained at home and attended 
 school until his twentieth year. At the outbreak 
 of the war he entered the Confederate army and 
 enlisted in Company A, Fourth Infantry, and was 
 assigned to duty in Virginia. At Manassas his 
 regiment had the honor of supporting Gen. Jack- 
 son, when the remark was made that gave that gen- 
 eral the soubriquet of ' ' Stonewall, ' ' and made him 
 famous in history, namely; "There stands Jack- 
 sou and the Virginians like a stone wall." Mr. 
 West was badly wounded at this battle, and 
 unable to fight any longer. Conseqiiently he was 
 discharged and returned home to recover. In 
 October of the same year he re-enlisted, becoming 
 a member of Compan}^ E, Seventeenth Alabama 
 Regiment, and was assigned to the Western army 
 under Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston. He took part 
 in the battle of Shiloh, and was again severely 
 wounded and sent home to recuj)erate, but though 
 on the brink of death in two instances, it did not 
 damjjen his ardor for battle in the least, and he 
 joined the army a third time, entering into the 
 ranks of the Twenty-fourth Alabama Battalion as a 
 lieutenant of cavalry, and taking part in the battles 
 of Resaca, Ga. , Kenesaw Mountain, New Hope 
 Church, Peach Tree Creek, Jonesboro, and in 
 an almost innumerable number of minor engage- 
 ments. His bravery won for him the rank of 
 adjutant-general of his brigade, and at the cessa- 
 tion of war he was surrendered by Gen. Lee at 
 Columbia, S. C. After peace had been estab- 
 lished he returned to his home in Autauga County, 
 Ala., where he was engaged in planting and farm- 
 ing for five years. On the 14th of April, 1861, he 
 was married to Miss Bettie Zeigler, who died in 
 1865, and left one son, William McLean, now a 
 contractor on the Georgia Pacific Railroad. His 
 
 second wife was Miss Laura Hoffman, of Alabama, 
 whom he married on the 11th of October, 1868, 
 but after a short and happy married life of nine 
 months this lady died. In 1869 Mr. W'est moved 
 to the State of Mississippi, and settled on the 
 Yazoo River, where he met and was married to Miss 
 Matilda Booth, of Mississippi, a daughter of Will- 
 iam Booth, who built the first frame house on the 
 Yazoo River above Yazoo City. Mr. Booth was 
 also one of the projectors of the Mi.ssissippi Central 
 Railroad, and after its completion was for several 
 years a director of that road, and one of the most pop 
 ular railroad men in the South. He held the office 
 of sheriff of Carroll County a number of terms, and 
 was also representative from that county, and later 
 on State senator. Mr. Booth came originally from 
 New York State to Mississippi, in 1818, and was 
 one of its most influential and valued citizens for 
 many years. Capt. West left the Yazoo River in 
 1880, aud moved to Coahoma County, where he 
 bought a plantation of 1,800 acres, and placed 1150 
 acres under cultivation, besides making a great many 
 improvements. In 1886 he sold out his place and 
 came to Mississippi County, Ark. , settling at Pecan 
 Point, where he farmed on rented land for one 
 year, and then moved to Phillips County. After a 
 short residence in the latter place, he returned to 
 this county and bought 600 acres of land, which 
 he is now clearing, and expects to have 500 acres 
 under cultivation next year. The Captain is very 
 striking in appearance, and would not fail to be 
 noticed in any company. He is six feet tall, hearty 
 and robust, and carries with him that courteous, 
 pleasing addi'ess, that is always evident iu the true 
 Southern gentleman. He has not escaped his full 
 share of misfortune, and on one occasion he was 
 almost ruined by the Yazoo River floods, being 
 compelled to sell a fine plantation in Le Flore 
 County, Miss., in order to obtain a fresh start. 
 But he possesses that spirit of enterprise and an 
 indomitable will that are steadily overcoming all 
 obstacles, and carving a fortune out of the green 
 woods of Mississippi County. Capt. West has but 
 recently purchased his land, but on every side 
 men are at work clearing away the timber, and 
 erecting buildings for the crop of 1890. He will 
 
 ^ 
 
^^ 
 
 . 7C, /^ eyi>^yCrzi/ 
 
 Lawrence County, Arkansas 
 
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 'my 
 
 erect a iiue dwelling for bimself on an elevated 
 site near the river bank, with a grove of noble trees 
 to make a natural park, and expects to have one of 
 the most comfortable homes on the Mississippi 
 River. His present crop of 300 acres of cotton 
 has been well cultivated, and shows the watchful 
 eye of a man who has made cotton -planting the 
 business of his life. Mr. and Mrs. West are the 
 parents of seven children, three of them having 
 died in infancy: Henry, Minnie and Robert; and 
 those still living are Ludie, Ida, Robert and Mary. 
 He has an interesting family, in which he takes 
 great pride, and wants nothing to complete his hap 
 piness, unless it is to have his two daughters, who 
 are attending school in Kentucky, by his side at 
 home. Capt. West is a member of the K. of O., 
 and Mrs. West, a devout Christian lady, attends 
 the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 O. S. Wigley, who stands in the front rank of 
 Mississippi County's prominent farmers, was born 
 at Atlanta, CJa., in 1847. His parents were George 
 W. and Mahala (Kyle) Wigley, of that State, where 
 the mother died in 1854. The father married 
 again, in 1856, and in 1859 moved to the State of 
 Arkansas, settling in what is now Cross County. 
 He began farming in this locality until 1865, when 
 he moved to Mississippi County, and remained 
 there until his death, in 1872. George W. Wigley 
 attained a high degree of popularity wherever he 
 made his home, and at the time of his death, was 
 one of the most substantial citizens of Mississippi 
 County. O. S. Wigley remained at home until 
 the first outbreak of war, and as the tales of battle 
 came to his home, his bosom was fired with the 
 ambitions and longings indulged in by every triie 
 soldier. He enlisted in Dobbin's regiment, and 
 took part in many a hot skirmish and gallant 
 charge, and also accompanied Gen. Price in his 
 noted raids through Missoiui. He can relate many 
 an incident of these dark and bloody times, which 
 thrills the ears of his listeners, and would fill a vol 
 ume. Mr. Wigley returned to Arkansas with Gen. 
 Fagin, and surrendered in April, 1865. He then 
 went home, and joined his father in moving to 
 Mississippi County, Ark., and for awhile was en- 
 gaged with him in farming. In 1869 he was mar 
 
 ried to Miss Savauah Bennett, of Tennessee, a 
 daughter of Capt. B. F. Bennett, a prominent 
 planter and merchant, who met his death from 
 being kicked by a savage horse. After his marriage 
 Mr. Wigley was retained by his f.ither-in-law as 
 ovi>rseer, and remained with him in that capacity 
 for (>ight years. He then rented land and farmed 
 for five years, aft(»r which he bought a farm neai' 
 Pecan Point, and after improving it, sold the land 
 to R. W. Friend. In 1886 he moved to his pres- 
 ent residence, where he farms some 170 acres, 
 and this year has had about 185 acres in crops. 
 Mr. Wigley farms on purely scientific principles; 
 he makes a study of it, and the crops he produces 
 are among the finest in Mississippi County. He 
 is also engaged, quite extensively, in stock raising, 
 and has made a success of that business by jjrop- 
 erly feeding his stock, and taking good care of them. 
 To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wigley were born 
 seven children: Florida Ann (wife of Charles 
 Bell), Mamie Frances (wife of Johnson St. Clair), 
 Georgie Franklin, Walter (who died in infancy), 
 as did Oliver and two others, unnamed before their 
 deaths. Mr. Wigley has lately joined the Melli 
 odist Episcopal Church, and has always held the 
 esteem of his fellow-citizens. 
 
 John W. Williams, the son of William Will- 
 iams and Sallie Philips, was born in the county 
 of David.son and State of Tennessee, in the year 
 1821. He immigrated to, and settled in. the good 
 County of Mississippi, State of Arkansas, in 1841), 
 subsequently being married to Anna Fletcher, eld- 
 est daughter of Elliott H. Fletcher and Frances 
 Hickman, in the year 1858. By this marriage, 
 and at this time of writing, there are three living 
 children: Susan F. , Elliot and Sallie P. He now 
 resides on his farm, one mile above Elmot, h'ont- 
 ing on the Mississippi River. 
 
 James H. Williams. The entire life of Mr. 
 Williams has been one unmarked by any unusual 
 occurrence outside of the chosen channels to which 
 he has so diligently and attentiveh- given his time 
 and attention. A native of the State of Tennessee 
 (born near Nashville in 1826), he has given his at- 
 tention to tilling the soil, and the manner in which 
 he has acquired his present estate denotes him to 
 
1 
 
 :^(>(\ 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 bp an energetic, successful agriculturist. His early 
 scholastic advantages were received in bis native 
 State, and, after attending the common schools, he 
 entered a college in that State, which he attended 
 niitil twenty years of age, after which he engaged 
 in the lumber business in the city of Nashville. 
 His wife was formerly Miss Mary E. Finley, of 
 Lebanon, Teun., whom he married in LS-IT, she 
 being a sister of Jesse J. Fink'y, a United States 
 senator from Florida. After making several an- 
 nual trips to Mississippi County, Ark., he settled 
 here in 1849, and on the first of January of the 
 following year he took possession of a tine tract of 
 land, comprising 480 acres, situated about four 
 and a half miles north of Osceola. It was at that 
 time covered b}' a dense cauebrake, with the ex- 
 ception of twenty acres which were cleared, and 
 here Mr. Williams entered actively upon his work, 
 and his career since that time has been marked by 
 industry and strict attention to his calling. He 
 has 100 acres under cultivation, and in'addition to 
 this property has KiO acres of cleared land on Big 
 Lake. In ISSO he erected a tine residence on his 
 estate, which is now one of the pleasantest homes 
 in this section of the country; and everything 
 about his home indicates the enterprise and thrift 
 which have ever characterized his efforts. He has 
 always taken an active interest in the develojiment 
 and improvement of Mississippi County, and has 
 also been quite an active politician. In 1856 he 
 was chosen justice of his township, and in 1876 
 was elected to represent his county in the State 
 legislature, having filled, since completing his 
 term of service, the offices of school director and 
 justice of the peace. Mr. Williams' wife departed 
 this life in 1858, leaving a family of four children: 
 William F. , married to Miss Kizer; Sallie, wife of 
 N. G. Cartwright, of Osceola; Alice, wife of F. M. 
 Moseley, of Blythesville, and Katie, wife of Ben. 
 H. Bacchus, a druggist of Osceola. In 1861 Mr. 
 Williams married his second wife, Miss Nellie 
 Heath, of Illinois, who died in 1872, leaving four 
 children: Edward H., who is married to a Miss 
 Dunn, of Florida, and is a merchant of Elmot; 
 Henry E. , who is superintendent of Goodrich Iron 
 Works, belonging to James C. Warner; Zerlena 
 
 W. and Maggie. Miss Mary Dunkle, of Missouri, 
 became Mr. Williams' third wife, but died the 
 third year of her marriage. He wedded his pres- 
 ent wife in 1882, she being a Mrs. Sarah A. Dun- 
 navant, wee Alexander, of Crockett County, Tenn., 
 widow of Leonard Dunnavant. Mrs. Williams was 
 the mother of three children by her first marriage, 
 who are as follows: Robert, a pilot on the Missis- 
 sippi River; Reid and Lillie, all of whom make 
 their home with Mr. Williams. His wif^ belongs 
 to the Cumberland Presbyterian (Jhuroh, and he 
 to the Presbyterian. He is also a member of 
 Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M., of Osceola. He 
 was the seventh of a family of cbildi'en born to 
 Josiah F. and Margaret (Phillips) AVilliams, the 
 former a planter of Tennessee, who purchased, in 
 1837, a large tract of land in the southern part of 
 Mississippi County, Ark. , which he conducted for 
 abovrt eight years, then selling out to Mr. Lanier 
 in 1843. Mr. and Mrs. Josiah F. Williams were 
 very fortunate in the growing-up of their children, 
 twelve of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. 
 The three eldest daughters married Ewings (three 
 brothers), jirominent men. The fourth daughter 
 married Dr. Henry Whitaker; the fifth married 
 Mr. I. C. Warner, the great "Iron King of the 
 South;'' the sixth married Mr. John A. Dunkin, 
 a wholesale merchant, of Nashville, Tenn, ; the 
 seventh married Dr. Kennedy, of Chattanooga. 
 One granddaughter married Mr. Henry Watterson, 
 editor of the Courier Journal, of Louisville. The 
 sons were all good men, and married well. Mrs. 
 Williams died near Nashville, in the year 1845. 
 Mr. J. F. Williams died at the same place, in the 
 year 1852, having been a great sufferer for five 
 years with cancer in his eye. He left a noble 
 record for his family. 
 
 Edward H. Williams. He whose name heads 
 this brief sketch is one of Mississipjii County's 
 most active and enterprising business men, alive 
 to all current topics, and public-spirited and pro- 
 gressive in all matters tending to benefit the com- 
 munity. He was born near Elmot, in 1859, his 
 parents being James H. and Nellie (Heath) Will- 
 iams [for whose history see sketch of James H. 
 Williams], As Edward grew toward youth and 
 
-Jl 9 
 
 i^ 
 
 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. 
 
 507 
 
 I'iirly iiKUihood lie attended school in tlie iieigb- 
 horhood of his home, siiid worked on tlie farm 
 for his father until lie was twenty-one years 
 old, at which time he enyajjed as a clerk for 
 A. Goodrich of Osceola, with whom he remained 
 one year. After icntini^ and tillinif his father's 
 farm for two years, he started from home with the 
 int-ention of going to Florida, tint stojiped in Ala- 
 l);ima, and attended school at Florence for some six 
 niiinths, after which he concluded that his native 
 .State was good enough to suit him, so he returned 
 and went into business with D. T. Waller, which 
 partnerslii]) was dissolved at the end of twenty 
 months. Mr. Waller purchasing his inti-rest. He 
 then liDUgllt out N. W. Goodrich, and for two years 
 was associated with A. Goodrich, purchasing his 
 partner's interest at the end of that time; he has 
 conducted affairs in a very satisfactory manner, 
 |>roving himself toi)e a man of rare business aliility 
 and etliciency. He keeps an excellent assortment of 
 general merchandise, his stock being valued at about 
 $4,000. and has w'on the re|)ntation of being one 
 of the first business men in Mississii)pi County. 
 He is enterprising and energetic, studying largely 
 the interests of the people, and fully justifies the 
 confidence and esteem which are bestowed upon him. 
 In connection with his mercantile interests he is 
 managing his father's farm, growing cotton, and 
 has been [Kjstmaster at Fjlmot since INlay, 1885. 
 His estimable wife was formerly Mi.ss Maude Dunn, 
 of Pensacola. Fla., to whom he was married on the 
 17th of March, 1885, and by her he has one child, 
 Edward James. Mrs. Williams is connected with 
 the Catholic Church. 
 
 William F. Williams is one of the best known 
 and most highly respected i-esidents of Mississippi 
 County. Ark., and is a man whose life has been an 
 active one. and not without the substantial rewards 
 of success. His grandfather, Josiah Williams, was 
 a resident of Nashville, and a man of enterprise 
 and discretion. He liecame an extensive landholder 
 in Mississippi County, purchasing his y)roperty at 
 what was then known as Social Bend, about the 
 year 1835, which property was managed by his 
 sons, James H. and his brothers, who were then 
 young men. the place b(>ing well stocked with 
 
 slaves. About IS51), .James H. Williams puichased 
 a farm near Elmot, above Ost^eola, and with the 
 help of his slaves, h(( opened up about 200 acres, 
 and on this farm he is still residing. William F. 
 Williams was the eldest of eight chililren born to 
 his parents, and received some educational ad- 
 vantages in the schools of Osceola. After reaching 
 manhood, he was united in tl)(^ bonds of matri- 
 mony to Miss Christina Kieser, a daughter of 1''. 
 W., and granddaughter of John Kieser, who came 
 from Germany to the United States in 1881, bring- 
 ing with him his wife and two children, F. W. 
 Kieser being the only one of the latter that is liv- 
 ing. The grandfather is still living, at the ad- 
 vanced age of eighty-nine years, and divides his 
 time about equally between Kentucky and Osceola, 
 Ark. F. W. Kieser is also living, in Kentucky. 
 William F. Williams, after his marriage, which oc 
 curred in 1875, moved onto his father-in-law's 
 place, which adjoins Osceola, and is now manag- 
 ing BOO acres of land. He pays an annual rental 
 of $3,000 for his land, and his principal crops are 
 1 cotton and corn, the yield of the former l)eing 
 about three-quarters to one bale, or forty bushels 
 of corn, to the acre. There is nothing that he has 
 ever tried to make grow on his land that has not 
 thrived, whether grain or fruit. He is also en- 
 giiged in stock dealing, and thinks the farmers of 
 this region have thoroughly awakened to the fact 
 that it -pays to raise a good grade of stock. The 
 mules of Mississippi County are becoming espe 
 cially noted; Mr. Williams has also some Holstein 
 cattle, which he considers a better breed for 
 this region than any other. He has a fine male 
 animal, which was imported from Holland, and al 
 though but two years old, weighs 1,218 pounds. 
 His hogs are of the Berkshire breed, brought from 
 Kentucky, and are very fine. He keeps a few 
 sheep, which he finds fairly profitable, but thinks 
 the country here too level for them to thrive well. 
 Mr. Williams has acted as school director for a 
 number of years, anil from his own observations 
 has seen a decided improvement in the standard 
 of schools since the year 1S70. and (consequently a 
 decided improvement in the people of this section. 
 The education of his three children. May, Fred 
 
:^i 
 
 568 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 and James, is being attended to by their mother, 
 who is a lady of culture and refinement, and was 
 educated at Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Memphis, 
 Tena. Mrs, Williams is a member of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, South, at Osceola: Mr. 
 Williams has passed the Blue Lodge and Chapter 
 of the A. F. & A. M. , of Osceola, and is a charter 
 member of Apollo Commandery at Forest City, 
 Ark. He is also a member of the K. of H. 
 
 William R. Williams, although still a young 
 man, has risen to a position in the agricultiiral af- 
 fairs of the county which many men older in years 
 and experience might envy. His life has been 
 without any material change from the ordinary 
 pursuits of farm toil, but yet has not been devoid 
 of substantial results. He was born in Memphis, 
 Tenn. , in the year ISS-t, and in 1861 came, with 
 his father, to Mississippi County, Ark., where the 
 latter resided until his death, in 1880. William 
 E. Williams received educational advantages far 
 beyond the average, and these advantages he did 
 not fail to improve, but applied himself diligently 
 to his books, and acquired an excellent education 
 which proved of great benelit to him in later years. 
 His plantation, which is situated in the southern 
 part of Mississippi County, comprises 300 acres, 
 of which eighty are cleared and under cultivation, 
 and in good seasons average about one bale of cot- 
 ton to the acre. He has several good log houses 
 on his property, and is doing a fairly prosperous 
 business. In Mississippi County, Ark., he was 
 married to Miss Sallie Baskin, of Phillips County, 
 Ark. , and by her became the father of two inter- 
 esting children — Anna, who died at the age of 
 three years, and Ella, a little girl of seven years, 
 at home. Mr. Williams is an agreeable and intelli- 
 gent gentleman, and one who is ever ready to 
 reach out a helping hand to the needy, or to engage 
 in any legitimate enter) irise which might tend to 
 benefit the county. 
 
 B. A. Williamson (deceased) was a prominent 
 farmer of Mississippi County, Ark. , and was born 
 in the Blue Grass State, in 1820. He passed his 
 youth on his father's farm, and subsequently 
 learned the brickmason's trade. Later in life he 
 went to Louisville, Ky. , worked at his trade for 
 
 about eight years, and then in 18ri.") he came to 
 Arkansas, where he settled on the Mississippi River, 
 about three miles al)ove Osceola. He located on a 
 tract of wild land, which he soon submitted to a 
 course of improvement, and which was transformed 
 into a remarkal)ly pleasant home. After making 
 many improvements he sold out in 1861, at a large 
 advance, and then bought a choice location in the 
 vicinity, which Mrs. Williamson still owns. Mr. 
 Williamson was married in November, 1861, to 
 Miss Lithe Jane Hale [see sketch of Hale Bros,], 
 and immediately afterward the war broke out. 
 Farming was almost suspended, but Mr, Williamson 
 found employment at his trade, and nearly all the 
 brick chimneys of that time were of his construc- 
 tion. He made many improvements on his farm, 
 erecting buildings and clearing about seventy acres. 
 In 1871, after an unusually active and prosperous 
 life, Mr. Williamson received his final summons. 
 Since then Mrs. Williamson has opened up about 
 twenty acres, has conducted the home place, and 
 now has no trouble in renting the farm for $600 or 
 $700 annually. This land is very productive, and 
 has often yielded one and a half bales of cotton to 
 the acre. In 1884 Mrs. Williamson bought a 
 pleasant residence in Osceola, which she has im- 
 proved and made into a pleasant home. To the 
 marriage of Mr. ^nd Mrs. Williamson were born 
 six children, only one now living: Eliza Ann died 
 at the age of ten years; Alary Elizabeth is the wife 
 of Ahner Driver, and resides in this county; James 
 Edward died at the age of seven years; Levina 
 died at the age of fifteen years, and two died in 
 infancy. Mrs. Williamson has since married her 
 deceased hu.sband's brother. Bland W. Williamson. 
 The family are now living in a very pleasant cot- 
 tage in Osceola. 
 
 Robert E. L. Wilson is numbered among the 
 younger of the successful and rising agriculturists 
 of this county, and none will have a brighter fu- 
 ture, or will make better use of their advantages 
 than he. The citizens of Mississippi County are 
 proud to claim him as one of its sons, for he was 
 born here in the year 1863. His father, Josejjh L. 
 Wilson, came from Tipton County, Tenn.. in 1847, 
 and purchased a tract of land in Mississippi County 
 
comprising several thousand acres, the most of 
 wliieh has descended to his son, Robert E. L. . who 
 owns 2,700 acres. The latter has cleared and pnt 
 under the plow over 200 acres, l)ut has 260 under 
 cultivation, on whic^h he has erected thirty houses, 
 which are used by his tenants. His r(>sidence is a 
 handsome structure, covering an area of over 3,00t) 
 square feet, is beautifully and comfortably fur 
 nished inside, and is in the center of a large and 
 well kept lawn. Among the other buildings which 
 Mr. Wilson has erected is a saw mill, which is sit 
 uated about four miles from the river, at Idaho 
 Landing, and has a capacity of 14.000 feet per 
 day. From this mill he has a tramway of about 
 six miles in length, extending from the river back 
 into his timber lands, and here he has some thirty 
 men engaged in lnml)ering. He ships large (pian 
 titles of lumber from his mill to Chicago annually, 
 the principal demand being for ash lumber, of 
 which he has a large sujiply still in the tree. The 
 gi'eater part of his cultivated lands he devotes to 
 the raising of cotton, which enterprise gives em- 
 ployment to about 100 people; and one year he 
 gathered eighty bales of cotton from eighty acres 
 of land, and at another time nineteen bales from 
 eighteen acres of land, each bale weighing over 
 500 pounds. The expense of cultivating an acre 
 of cotton and laying it by is about $7. In the 
 year 1885 Miss Lizzie Beall became his wife, she 
 being a daughter of S. A. Beall, of Mississippi, 
 formerly of Pennsylvania, who came to Mississippi 
 County, Ark., in 1805, and settled on Frenchman's 
 Bayou. He is now engaged in managing his son-in 
 law's mill and mercantile e.stablishment, the latter 
 comprising a large and well-selected stock of gen- 
 eral merchandise. Two children were born to the 
 marriage of Mr. Wilson, only one of whom is 
 living, Mabel Victoria. Tiny died at the age of 
 eighteen months. Mr. Wilson is one whose in- 
 tegrity and honor have never been ijuestioned, and, 
 although a young man, his views relating to matters 
 of Inisiness, as well as on general and po|inlar 
 topics of the day, are considered unusually sound. 
 He is a member of McGavock Lodge, K. of H. , at 
 Frenchman's Bayou, and his wife is a consistent 
 member of the Presbyterian ("iiurch. She is a re- 
 
 36 
 
 fined and well-educated lady, and shows unusually 
 good taste in the arrangement of her home. This 
 young couple bid fair to become not only one of 
 the wealthiest, but, what is of far more importance, 
 one of the most highly honored, families in the 
 county. 
 
 Andrew B. Young, who is now successfully 
 following the occupation to which he was reared, 
 and which has been his life-work, a calling that 
 has for ages received undivided efforts from many 
 worthy individuals, and one that always furnishes 
 sustenance to the ready worker, now resides on his 
 large plantation near Osceola. He was born in the 
 northern part of Mississijipi County, in 1844. and 
 was the tenth in a family of eleven children born 
 to James and Elizabeth (Gallaway) Young. The 
 parents were natives of Indiana and Kentucky, and 
 were married in the last named State. They emi- 
 grated to Mississippi County at a very early day, 
 and at the time of their settlement here their near- 
 e.st neighbor was eight miles distant. Mr. Young 
 conducted a ferry, sold a few goods to the Indians, 
 and supplied the wants of the few people who 
 passed that way. He entered 160 acres, made all 
 the improvements, and had it all under cultivation 
 at the time of his death. His wife survived him 
 several years, and died in 1867. Andrew B Young 
 aided in clearing the farm, and received a good 
 practical education in the common schools. He 
 enlisted in the Confederate service in 1S64, and 
 participated in the battles of White River, Austin, 
 and several skirmishes. He started on the Missouri 
 raid with Gen. Price, but was taken sick and returned 
 home. His three brothers, James, Erasmus and 
 George, were also in the service; the former served 
 the entire time, but the latter died in Kentucky. 
 In 1865, Andrew rented land, and began farming 
 on his own responsibility, continuing until 1872. 
 Previous to this, in 1871, he liought 160 acres, two 
 miles north of Osceola, with only twenty acres 
 cleared, and the following year he built a gooil 
 residence, moved on his own farm and began im 
 provements on an extensive scale. He has good 
 barns, etc. , and has the entire tract under a high 
 state of cultivation at the present. In 1884 he 
 purchased 300 acres adjoining, on which there wei-e 
 
 9 'y 
 
J^^ 
 
 570 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 about twenty acres cleared, aud siuce then Mr. 
 Young has opened up nearly 160 acres more. He 
 is also (juite exteasively engaged in stock raising, 
 both cattle and mules. Mr. Young's farm is one 
 of the best in the county, and all of the land, with 
 proper cultivation, will yield a bale of cotton to 
 the aero. He was married, in 1867, to Miss Cath- 
 erine Bowen, a daughter of Reece Boweu. one of 
 
 the earliest settlers in this section [see sketch of 
 Capt. Bowen]. Six children were bom to them 
 (two of whom are deceased) : Nena died in infancy : 
 Austin also died in infancy; Logan A., attending 
 school at Brigham, N. G. ; Fannie Lee, attending 
 school at Anchorage, Ky. : James Reece and Joseph. 
 Mr. Young is a member of the Methodist Church, 
 and Mrs. Young of the Presbyterian. 
 
 » < <- 
 
 m(M 
 
 I 
 
 > ♦ < • 
 
 Poinsett County— The Records of the Courts— Formation or the County and Selection or the 
 Seat of Law— List of Local Officers— Election Statistics— Centers of Population— 
 SociETiiis, Etc. — Local Instruction — Moral Organization.s— The Southern 
 Confederacy— TnK County Bounded— Its Tofogkaphy and Geology- 
 Its Wonderful Soil and Its Products— Population — 
 Railroads— Names of Early* Settlers- 
 Private and Family Records. 
 
 Lo! I declare I deem him blest 
 
 Whose foot, here puu.«ing. findeth rest. — Anaii. 
 
 S a consequence of the de- 
 struction of the eai'ly rec- 
 ords of Poinsett County, 
 by fire, but little can be 
 said pertaining to its early 
 courts. Inasmuch as the 
 
 kerson, by Robert Thomas, followed by the killing 
 of James Hamilton, at the hand of James Staats. 
 Two murders of a more recent date have occurred 
 here. With the exception of these and some minor 
 crimes, a peaceful progress has been enjoyed. 
 
 Poinsett was organized in accordance with the 
 
 ^1^^ creative act was approved j provisions of an act of the General Assembly of the 
 
 February 28, 1838, it is ' State, approved February 28, 1838. Its territory 
 
 originally belonged to Lawrence County, and sub- 
 sequently, and up to its formation as a separate 
 county, to Greene. 
 
 Bolivar, a point about three miles north of the 
 present site of Harrisburg, was chosen for the seat 
 of justice, and here, in 1838, the first court-house 
 and clerk's oflice, consisting of a log cabin, was 
 erected. The county seat thus remained until 
 September, 1856, when it was moved to Harris- 
 burg, where it has since continued. The first 
 
 evident that the county court was or- 
 ganized soon thereafter, or in the 
 spring of that year, and that the cir- 
 cuit court was held also in the same 
 year. The county belongs to the Sec- 
 ond judicial circuit, of which J. E. 
 Riddick is the present judge. 
 The first murder committed in Poinsett Coun- 
 ty was the killing, in 1848, of Parker Furnish, by 
 John Edwards. The next was that of John Wil- 
 
 ^ 
 
commissioners of the uew coiiuty seat were A. B. 
 Scott and A. B. Puckett. Here, also, a log-cabin 
 court-Lonse was erected in 1857, and in 1859-60 
 a fine brick court-house was constructed, costing 
 18, 800, by A. Hamilton, contractor. In the spring 
 of 1872 this building, together with the public 
 county records, was destroyed by fire. Then, for 
 a year or more, the building now known as Sloan's 
 boarding house was used as a court-house, after 
 which the Methodist Episcopal Church edifice and 
 one other structure served a similar purpose. In 
 1875 the court-house was rebuilt, by Contractor 
 
 A. Hamilton, and is still standing. The Poinsett 
 County jail was erected in 1886, at a cost of 
 $1,600. It is a one story frame, containing two 
 rooms, and a hallway six feet wide running length- 
 wise of the building. Prior to its construction 
 the prisoners were kept in a cage, constructed for 
 the purpose, in the court-house. 
 
 The following is a list of the names of the 
 county officers, with dates of their terms of ser- 
 vice, from organization to the present: 
 
 Judges: William Harris, 1838-40; Richard 
 Hall, 1840-44; Rollis Perry, 1844-46; W. H. 
 Harris, 1846-48; G. W. M."stacy, 1848-50; W. 
 H. Harris, 1850-54; S. H. Henton, 1854-56; W. 
 H. Harris, 1856-63; W. C. Malone, 1863-64; A. 
 
 B. Scott, 1864-66; B. Harris, 1866-68; G. W. 
 Sloan, 1868-72; H. A. Hays, 1874-76; D. .W. 
 Beecker, from April, 1876 to end of Hays' term; 
 J. T. Haley, 1876-78; N. J. Willis, 1878-80; J. 
 T. Roy, 1880-82; T. H. Jones, 1882-84; A. A. 
 Cojjpage, from March 4, 1884, vice Jones, left the 
 county; E. A. Owens, 1884-86; Jasper Wright, 
 1886-88; J. T. Roy, present incumbent, elected 
 in 1S8S. 
 
 (Jlerks: Thomas Jones, 1838-40; William 
 Thrower, 1840-42; L. H. Suftin, 1842-48; R. H. 
 Stone, 1848-60; M. W. Lewis, 1860-62; O. Y. 
 Neely. 1862-64; W. C. Malone, 1861-68; G. W. 
 Mott^. 1868-70; J. T. H. Mayors. 1870-73: T. H. 
 Sparks, 1873-78; T. H. Jones, 1878-80; W. G. 
 Godby, 1880-86; T. A. Stone, 1886-88; A. A. 
 Coppage, present incumbent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Sheriffs: W. G. Arledge, 1838-40; James 
 Staats, 1840-44; R. H. Stone. 1844-48: J. David- 
 
 son, 1848-56; T. S. Stanley, 1856-60; J. David- 
 son, 1860-62; J. Shen-od, 1862-64; W. B. Staf- 
 ford, 1864-68; A. Thorn, 1868-72; A. S. Thorn, 
 1872-74; J. S. Smith, 1874-78; J. H. Hall. 
 1878-80; T. B. Sparks, 1880-86; Add Han-is, 
 present incumbent, first elected in 1886. 
 
 Treasurers: Richard Hall, 1838-40; Charles 
 Shaver, 1840-42; William Smith, 1842-46; Sam- 
 uel Read, 1846-48; J. P. Mardis, 1848-52; J. M. 
 Hale, 1852-56; B. Brown, 1856-62; A. J. Good- 
 loe, 1862-65; J. Z. H. Mayors, 1865-66; William 
 Ainsworth, 1866-68; James P. Jones, 1868-72; 
 H. J. Thorn, 1872-74; E. Mitchell, 1874-80; J. 
 J. Smith, 1880-82; W. C. Landers, 1882-86; 
 William Ainsworth, present incumbent, first elect- 
 ed in 1886. 
 
 Coroners: J. C. Shaver, 1838-40; B. McCaven, 
 1840-42: B. P. Marcum, 1842-44; T. F. Arledge, 
 1844-46; Daniel McMiUin, 1846-48; J. M. Broad- 
 way, 1848-50; G. J. Ward, 1850-52; E. Robinson, 
 1852-54; J. E. Dukes, 1854-56; J. M, Cross, 
 1856-58; W. H. Smith, 1858-62; B. Brown, 1862- 
 64; J. H. Hall, 1864-65; W. S. Griffin, 1865-68; 
 John Jones, 1868-74; F. Walbrink, 1874-78; J. 
 P. Jones, 1878-80; W. J. Sligh, 1880-82; S. G. 
 Stone, 1882-84; Lewis Minton, 1884-86; James 
 Houston, 1886-88; James Aston, present incum- 
 bent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Surveyors: A. T. Robertson, 1840-42; J. D. 
 Carnes, 1842-44; H. Scott, 1846-50; M. Halk. 
 1850-60; J. E. Sparks, 1860-62; M. Halk, 
 1862-66; J. E. Sparks, 1866-68; T. B. Smith, 
 1868-72; E. A. Owens, 1872-74: J. M. Steel, 
 1874-76; B. Harris, 1876-78; J.M. Steel, 1878-80; 
 H. Scott, 1880-84; A. W. Scott, 1884-86; W. 
 Scott, 1886-88; Winfield Scott, present incum- 
 bent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Assessors: E. Hindman, 1862-66; J. S. Smith, 
 1866-68; M. S. Godly, 1868-70; W. H. Cook, 
 1870-72; V. J. Bradsher, 1872-74; W. Ainsworth, 
 1874-76; A. W. Thornton, 1876-78: W. H. Wade, 
 1878-80; Shelby Bottis, 1880-82; D. C. Powell. 
 1882-84; H. H. Houghton, 1884-86; Eli Bickley, 
 1886-88; Paul McLean, present incumbent, 
 elected in 1888. 
 
 The Democratic party is the mo.st popular ia 
 
 :rz 
 
r 
 
 i 
 
 ±==lL: 
 
 ] 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Poinsett County, judging from the results of the 
 recent election. At the September election, 1888, 
 for the office of governor, James P. Eagle, Demo- 
 crat, received fi40 votes; C. M. Norwood, com- 
 bined opposition, 161. At the November election, 
 1888, for president of the United States, Cleve- 
 land. Democrat, was given 402 votes: Harrison, 
 Republican, 119; Streeter, United Labor, 21. Lo- 
 cal politics, of course, occupy considerable atten- 
 tion at different times, surpassed only by the promi- 
 nence of more important questions than party loy- 
 alty. 
 
 Harrisburg, the county seat, is situated on the 
 Helena Branch of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & 
 Southern Railroad, near the geographical center 
 of the county, on lands formerly owned by Benja- 
 min Harris, one of the pioneer settlers, and after 
 whom it was named. A postoffice was estalilished 
 here in 1857, the first postmaster V)eing William 
 Thrower, who erected a log- cabin, which he used 
 as a hotel and postoffice. The same year James 
 Davidson and Joab Hale opened the first store in 
 the place. The town had a slow but substantial 
 growth until 1882, when the road referred to 
 reached it, and since that time its advance has 
 been more rapid. It now comprises five general 
 stores, three drug stores, one restauiant, a meat 
 market, two hotels, three blacksmith and wood- 
 shops, and the Kennedy-Moreloek' s Stave Com- 
 pany' s factory, said to be the largest stave factory 
 in the State; also the hardwood lumber factory 
 of D. C. & I. R. Cole, two grist-mills and cotton- 
 gins, two church edifices, a public school-house 
 and a full complement of doctors, lawyers and 
 ministers: also a real estate firm. It is pleasantly 
 located, and does a large amount of business. Its 
 population is about 700. 
 
 Bay Village, a little town ten miles southeast 
 of Harrisburg, lies in both Poinsett and Cross 
 Counties, with the postoffice in the latter. Its 
 site was settled by Charles Shaver, in 1826, but the 
 village was not estalilished until 1874, when Eli 
 Rooks opened the first store. The second store 
 began an existence under the management of J. G. 
 Hamilton, and the postoffice was located there in 
 1876. The town was named by Col. Wheat on on 
 
 account of its nearness to the bay. It now con- 
 tains seventeen families, two general stores, a 
 blacksmith and wood-work shop, a cotton-gin and 
 grist-mill and a Methodist Episcopal Church edi- 
 fice, the church organization having been estab- 
 lished over fifty years ago; this has now a mem- 
 bership of 180, with Rev. J. I. Maynard, pastor. 
 
 Greenfield and White Hall are stations on the 
 same railroad with Harrisburg. the former being 
 north and the latter south of that place. 
 
 Weiner, in the northwest part of the county, 
 is a station on the St. Louis. Arkansas & Texas 
 Railroad, and contains a depot, postoffice, general 
 store and hardwood factory. 
 
 Fisher, in the southwest part of the county, 
 on the last-mentioned railroad, is made up of a 
 depot, postoffice, general store and a stave factory. 
 
 Marked Tree and Tyronza are stations on the 
 Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis Railroad, in 
 the eastern part of the county. The former in- 
 cludes a depot, postoffice and a general store, and 
 the latter a depot, postoffice, two general stores, 
 and a stave factory. 
 
 Secret societies apparently thrive here. Poin- 
 sett Lodge No. 184, A. F. & A. M. , was organized 
 under a dispensation granted by the Grand Lodge 
 of the State in 1865. The first principal officers 
 were Eli Hindman, W. M. ; James E. Sparks, S. 
 W. ; Jefferson Wright, J. W., and J. S. Brook- 
 field, Sec. The membership at this time is forty- 
 five. H. H. Houghton is the present W. M. 
 
 Harrisburg Chapter No. 76, has a membership 
 of twenty- two. The present officers are T. B. 
 Sparks, H. P. : E. L. Jacobs, K. ; James Aius- 
 worth, S. 
 
 Harrisburg Council has a membership of fif 
 teen. 
 
 Eastern Star Chapter has thirty- five members. 
 It is named Evergreen Chapter No. 76. 
 
 Harrisburg Lodge No. 55, I. O. O. F., was 
 organized March 18, 1873, with five charter mem- 
 bers. The first officers were J. H. Hull, N. G. ; T. 
 W. Eskridge, V. G. ; W. M. Elsberry, Treas., and 
 L. E. Stancell, Sec. This lodge has been discon- 
 tinued, and another. White Hall Lodge No. 77, 
 was organized at White Hall, and since moved to 
 
 ^ 
 
IS w_ 
 
 ^ s> 
 
 iL 
 
 POINSETT COUNTY. 
 
 573 
 
 Harrisburg. It- has thirty members, and is now in j 
 a prosperous condition. 
 
 Bolivar Lodge, Knights of Honor, was organ- 
 ized in January, 1889, with sixteen charter mem- 
 bers. Its membership is now twenty-one, and it 
 is in a flourishing condition. 
 
 The report of the State superintendent of pub- 
 lic instruction for the year ending June 30, 1888, 
 indicates beyond question the progress the county 
 is making in reference to popular education. At 
 the time mentioned the scholastic population was: 
 White, male 62'2, female 511, total 1,133; colored, 
 male 111, female 89, total 200. Number of pupils 
 taught in the public schools — white, males 304, 
 females 270, total 57-i; colored, males 40, females 
 31, total 71. Number of school districts, 16. 
 Number of teachers employed — males 15, females 
 5, total 20. Average monthly salaries paid teach- 
 ers — first grade, males $45.00, females $35.00; 
 second grade, males $30.00, females $28.50. 
 Amount expended for the support of the schools — 
 for teachers' salaries $3,868.50, building and re- 
 pairing $1,265.44, purchasing apparatus, etc., 
 $233.90. treasurer's commissions $247.80, total 
 $5,615.64. 
 
 Accoi'ding to this showing, only 50 per cent of 
 the white, and 351 per cent of the colored scho- 
 lastic population were taught in the public schools. 
 However, only six out of the sixteen school dis- 
 tricts, failed to report the enrollment in the schools. 
 Eight of the school districts have built new houses 
 since 1886. All are well fmnished with patent 
 seats, blackboards, and other necessary apparatus. 
 The average length of term taught per year is five 
 months. In a majority of districts a tax of five 
 mills is voted. The public school system is re- 
 garded much more favorably than formerly, and, 
 ;dl things considered, very good results are being 
 obtained. 
 
 The first Baptist Church in Poinsett County 
 was organized in 1840, at Bolivar, then the county 
 seat. The first Missionary Baptist minister was 
 Rev. John A. Nutt, whose circuit extended from 
 Wittsburg to Chalk Bin IT. The result of his la- 
 bors was the organization of all the pioneer 
 churches in Greene, Poinsett, and St. Francis 
 
 Counties. In 1858, a small uunil)er organized' 
 themselves into a Baptist Church under the leader- 
 ship of Elder Pierce. These continued intact, 
 worshiping in the court-house until the summer of 
 1809, when they erected a frame edifice, called 
 Bethel, two miles south of Harrisburg. It still 
 continues a strong and prosperous church, with 
 about 100 members. The j)re.seut pastor is Rev. 
 J. W. Bell. In October, 1887, a number of mvm 
 bers withdrew from this church, and organized a 
 church in Harrisburg, the next year building their 
 present frame church edifice. The church has 
 grown to a membership of twenty- five. Rev. J. S. 
 Edmonds is pastor in charge. There are three Bap- 
 tist Churches in the county, one in Bolivar, one in 
 Harrisburg, and another two miles south of Har- 
 risburg. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at 
 Harrisburg, had its origin in 1840. It grew out 
 of the work of Parson Shook and wife, who traveled 
 throughout this section from 1840 to 1844. In 
 1845 he was joined by Rev. John M. Steele, an 
 old pioneer preacher, whose labors ended here in 
 1880. He was the leading spirit in founding 
 Methodism in this section of country. At first 
 services were held in groves and settler's homes, 
 later in the court-house, and the first house of 
 worship was built in 1859, at old Bolivar, and the 
 first at Harrisburg in 1868. The old edifice at 
 the former was a two-story fi'ame, with Masonic 
 hall above. It was consumed by tire in 1882. 
 Another two-story frame structure was built at 
 Harrisburg in 1884, in connection with the Ma 
 sonic fraternity. Rev. R. G. Brittaiu is now the 
 pastor in charge. The membership is 153, and 
 the Sunday-school membership is about 100. 
 There are eleven organizations of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South, here. 
 
 A Christian Church organization is in existence 
 at Greenfield — making fifteen church organizations 
 within the county. Many of these have Sunday- 
 schools connected with them, and all are doing good 
 service in the cause of Christianity. A majority 
 of the heads of families are connected with one 
 or another of the denominations. A few church 
 organizations exist among the colored people. 
 
 •» 
 ^ 
 
574 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 The approach of the War of 1861-65 found 
 the people of Poinsett County generally in sym- 
 pathy with the proposed Southern Confederacy, 
 and in favor of its establishment. The first com- 
 pany of soldiers raised here for the Confederate 
 army was organized early in 1861, by Capt. Smith, 
 and was mustered for three years. The next com- 
 pany was raised soon after by Capt. Ben. Harris, 
 for the twelve months' service. The former was 
 assigned to Col. Adams' regiment, the Fifth Ar- 
 kansas Infantry, and the latter to Col. Tappan's 
 regiment, the Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry. At 
 the expiration of twelve months, Capt. Harris re- 
 signed and the company re-enlisted for three years, 
 or during the war, electing J. M. LeVesque cap- 
 tain and A. J. Willis first lieutenant. After the 
 battle of Shiloh, these companies were consolidated 
 and assigned to the Fifth Arkansas Mounted In- 
 fantry. Subsequently Capt. LeVesque returned 
 to the county and recruited another company, 
 which was assigned to the Twenty-ninth Trans- 
 Mississippi Mounted Infantry. Prior to the battle 
 of Helena, this company had lost forty-one men, 
 and it entered into that engagement with fifty nine 
 men, and came out with only twenty-seven, having 
 lost twenty-eight killed and four captured. Three 
 of the regimental officers were killed in this en- 
 gagement: Col. Hart, Maj. Joseph Martin and 
 Adj. W^illiam Rector. The remaining members re- 
 ceived an additional force, recruited by Capt. W. 
 G. Godbey, making their number eighty, and it 
 served to the close of the war. Cajit. William 
 Trator organized a company in 1861. in what is 
 now Cross County, then in Poinsett, which was 
 also assigned to the Fifth Arkansas Infantry. It 
 lost during the war 80 per cent of its enlistment. 
 No company was raised here for the Union army. 
 
 The position of Poinsett County, in Northeast 
 Arkansas, is a favorable one. It is bounded north 
 by Craighead, east by Mississippi, south by Crit- 
 tenden and Cross Counties, and west by Jackson, 
 comprising all the territory emliraced in Townships 
 10, 11 and 12 north, in Ranges 1 to 7 inclusive, 
 east of the fifth principal meridian of the United 
 States surveys; tbus making its length from east 
 to west fortv-two miles, and its width from north 
 
 ' to south eighteen miles. Its area, therefore, in- 
 cluding the beds of its lakes and streams, is 756 
 square miles, or 483,840 acres. The State owns 
 about 10,000 acres in the county, and the St. 
 Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Com- 
 pany about 3,000, the balance being owned by in- 
 dividuals. 
 
 About one-fourth of the county's surface is 
 hilly and broken, and the balance comparatively 
 level, much of it being prairie. Crowley's Ridge 
 runs north and south through the center, varying 
 in width from three to five miles. The St. Fran- 
 cis River runs from north to south through the 
 eastern part of the county, the Bay River from 
 north to south on the east side of Crowley's Ridge, 
 the L'Anguille from north to south west of Crow- 
 ley's Ridge, and Bayou De View from north to 
 
 I south through the extreme western portion. These 
 streams and their various tributaries furnish the 
 drainage of the entire county. The St. Francis 
 River widens out, especially in the northern part, 
 and covers a large tract of territory known as the 
 ' ' Sunk Lands, ' ' which were sunk beneath the level 
 surface in the earthquakes of 1811-12. The 
 L'Anguille bottom is mostly a bluish clay, and on 
 the "crab-apple barrens" a white clay. The 
 prevalent timber in L'Anguille bottom is red and 
 white oak, small scattering sweet gum and post 
 oak on the ' ' post oak land. ' ' The growth on the 
 adjacent ridges is white and black oak, poplar and 
 occasionally some pine; on the branches, poplar, 
 gum, ash, elm and dogwood. 
 
 In Townships 10 and 11 north. Ranges 5 and 6 
 east, there is a peculiar soil of extraordinary fer- 
 tility, occupying a portion of the St. Francis bot- 
 tom, known as the "black wax land," which was 
 formerly overflowed by the backwater of the Mis- 
 sissippi. This soil will produce from fifty to sev- 
 enty-five bushels of corn to the acre. The soil of 
 Morell prairie is sandy, biit is also good C(3rn land, 
 yielding forty to fifty bushels of corn to the acre, 
 while the adjacent uplands of the Crowley Ridge 
 produce from thirty to forty bushels. From the 
 Narrows of the Crowley Ridge to Bolivar and 
 Harrisburg, the quarternary gravel is quite con- 
 spicuous on the higher grounds, and of a coarse 
 
 
character; some pieces woi;ld weijrh several pounds. 
 On Spencer Creek, some little sandstone is seen 
 underlying the gravel and resting on sandy clay. 
 At Hurricane Creek, near Harrisburg, the Crowley 
 Ridge is about three miles wide. The material 
 passed through, in sinking wells in the L'Anguille 
 bottom, is usually twenty feet of yellow clay, under- 
 laid by thirty to forty feet of light-colored sand, a 
 moderately soft water being generally obtained at 
 sixty feet. Immediately at the foot of the ridge, 
 water is often obtained at twelve feet, the water 
 getting gi-adually deeper for one mile into the bot- 
 tom, where it is generally the deepest seated.* 
 
 The low, level surface in the eastern part of 
 the county is covered with a heavy growth of cy- 
 press, oak, gum and ash. Its western part was 
 re-surveyed for the United States in the winter 
 of 1856-57, by William Ainsworth and Granville 
 McPherson. From the streams, wells, springs 
 and cisterns, good water sufficient for all purposes 
 is liberally furnished by nature. 
 
 A rich vein of coal extends north and south 
 through Poinsett, ranging along Crowley's Ridge. 
 The strata, which has a thickness of seven feet, 
 can be reached at a depth of forty feet. Deposits 
 of ferruginous earth and iron ore are found in 
 various localities. A mineral spring called Entoba 
 Spring, is situated four miles east of Harrisbiirg. 
 The waters of this spring have been subjected to 
 a chemical analysis and found to contain valuable 
 medicinal properties. 
 
 At present, and for many years, the lumbering 
 industry of Poinsett County is and will be a great 
 source of income, especially to those engaged in 
 the business, and to those owning the timber. 
 There are a number of saw-mills here engaged in 
 cutting the timber into lumber, for which the 
 shipping facilities are excellent. The permanent 
 industry and source of income to the people in 
 general is agriculture, coupled with the raising of 
 live stock, for which the county, on account of the 
 great fertility of its soil, the mildness of the 
 climate, and its abundant supply of water, is so 
 well adapted. In 1X80, according to the United 
 States census, there were but 297 farms, with 
 
 •Quotations from State Geological Report. 
 
 only 7,979 acres of improved lands within this ter- 
 ritory, and from the number of acres cultivated in 
 1879, the loading cereal and vegetable productions 
 were as follows: Indian corn, 87,133 bushels; 
 oats, 3,490; wheat, 1,529; Irish potatoes, 1,869; 
 sweet potatoes, 2,634; cotton, 1,514 bales. The 
 same census report shows the number of head 
 of live stock then in the county to be as fol- 
 lows: Horses, 500; mules and asses, 206; neat 
 cattle, 3,676; sheep, 288: hogs, 6,361. These 
 figures show that in 1880 Poinsett County was 
 but slightly improved and developed. 
 
 At this writing the prices 'of land hereabouts 
 are from $5 to $15 for improved, and from $3 to 
 15 for unimproved lands. With proper cultivation 
 the uplands will yield 900 pounds of seed cotton, 
 thirty-five bushels of corn, fifteen bushels of wheat, 
 and forty bushels of oats to the acre; while from 
 the bottom lands 1,500 pounds of seed cotton, fifty 
 to sixty bushels of corn, twenty bushels of wheat, 
 and fifty bushels of oats, to the acre, may be ob- 
 tained. Tobacco will yield 1.600 pounds, and 
 Irish and sweet potatoes from 200 to 300 bushels 
 per acre. These amounts, however, are only ac- 
 quired by thorough cultivation. Clover, millet, 
 and the tame grasses succeed well, but as yet 
 have not been cultivated to any considerable extent. 
 Fruits of all kinds, common to the latitude, es- 
 pecially small fruits, succeed admirably. 
 
 The population of Poinsett County, at the end 
 of each census decade, as given in the reports of 
 the United States census, has been as follows: 
 1840, 1,320; 1850, 2.308; 1860, 3,621; 1870. 
 1,721; 1880, 2,192. Originally the county con- 
 tained much more territory than at present, which 
 accounts for the larger population in 1860. The 
 immigration since 1880 has been large, so that the 
 next census will show a great increase. It is now 
 estimated at 5.000. 
 
 Three railroads cross the entire territory of the 
 county. The Kansas City, Fort Scott &, Memphis 
 traverses its eastern portion in a southeasterly di- 
 rection; the Helena liranch of the St. Louis, Iron 
 Mountain & Southern Railroad passes north and 
 south a few miles west of its center, by way of Green- 
 field, Harrisburg and White Hall, and the St. 
 
^ 
 
 « w. 
 
 576 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad passes through 
 the western portion of the county by way of 
 Weiner and Fisher, ia a direction a little west of 
 south. The combined length of the main lines of 
 these railroads within these boundaries is at least 
 sixty-two miles. The railroad property forms a 
 large proportion of the taxable wealth of the 
 county. 
 
 The territory of Poinsett, lying as it does in 
 the flat country between the Mississippi River and 
 the hilly and mountainous country to the westward, 
 was not settled so early as the latter. The early 
 immigrants, being mostly from the hilly and roll- 
 ing countries of the East, sought a country of like 
 contour west of the Mississippi, and consequently 
 passed over the rich lands of the valley proper to 
 the more elevated lands found to the west- 
 ward. The settlement of the territory now em- 
 braced within the county began during the decade 
 of the 20' s, and progressed very slowly until 
 recently. Prominent among the early settlers was 
 Richard Hall (subsequently county judge), who 
 came from Mississippi in 1828. The next year 
 came William and Benjamin Harris, from Alabama. 
 William afterward served as first county judge. 
 Dr. Theophilus Griffin was a prominent pioneer 
 settler, as was also Dr. John P. Hardis. Harrison 
 Ainsworth and family came from Mississippi in 
 1836, and Robert H. Stone from Tennessee in 
 183'J. Ainsworth settled near Bolivar. Owing to 
 the slow settlement of the country the few pioneer 
 settlers for many years had to live with their fami- 
 lies isolated from society, without near neighbors, 
 and comparatively like hermits. Too much praise 
 can not be given to the brave and noble men and 
 women who penetrated the "western wilds," for- 
 saking the old home and all its dear associations, 
 and endured the hardships and privations of fron- 
 tier life, in order to provide pleasant homes and a 
 competency for their posterity. 
 
 James Ainsworth, a farmer by occupation, is a 
 Mississippian by birth, and has inculcated in him 
 the sterling qualities of the better class of citizens 
 
 of that State. He was born in Monroe County in 
 1831, and is the eldest of ten children born to Har- 
 rison and Susan (Spencer) Ainsworth, a brief his- 
 tory of whom is given in the sketch of William 
 Ainsworth, treasurer of Poinsett County. James 
 became familiar with farm life through his father, 
 who was a successful agriculturist, and his early 
 scholastic advantages were only such as could be 
 obtained in the common schools. After remaining 
 under the parents' roof until thirty years of age, as- 
 sisting in clearing the old home farm, he concluded 
 it was time for him to start out in life for himself, 
 and after purchasing and selling several farms, he 
 bought his present place, consisting of 138 acres, 
 of which fifty are under cultivation. In addition 
 to what he raises he is engaged in buying and sell- 
 ing stock, and finds this a profitable way in which 
 to invest his money. He has taken quite an inter- 
 est in local politics, and in his views is a Democrat. 
 Socially he is a member of Lodge No. 184, A. F. & 
 A. M. , of which he has been treasurer for the past 
 fifteen years, and he also belongs to Chapter No. 
 74, R. A. M., in which he holds the position of 
 scribe. He was married in Poinsett County, in 
 1868, to Emily Hale, but her death occurred ten 
 years later, and he was mamed, in 1879, to Sarah 
 Stevens, by whom he has three children: James 
 Thomas, Katie Bell and Ollie Lou. Mrs. Ainsworth 
 is an intelligent lady, a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South, and is a daughter of 
 Moses and Marion Stevens, who were born in Geor- 
 gia and emigrated to Arkansas at an early day, 
 and both died in Craighead Coiinty, Ark. 
 
 William Ainsworth. The name borne by this 
 substantial citizen is not an unfamiliar one. 
 
 My footsteps press where, centuries ago, 
 
 The red men fought and conquered, lost and won. 
 
 The Ainsworth family was first represented in Ar 
 kansas, in 1836, by Harrison Ainsworth, who was 
 born in the State of South Carolina, and was there 
 married to Susan Spencer, whose birth also occurred 
 in East Tennessee. On coming to Arkansas, they 
 settled on a farm north of where Harrisburg is 
 now situated, the county at that time being a vast 
 wilderness of woods and canebrake, and was filler! 
 with roaming tribes of hostile red men and wild 
 
POINSETT COUNTY. 
 
 -14* 
 
 animals. Here the father, by the aid of his faith- 
 ful wife, succeeded in clearing his farm, and this 
 place was his home until his death, in 1S45, his 
 wife surviving him, and making her home on the 
 old farm until her demise in 1866. William Ains- 
 worth aided his parents materially in clearing the 
 farm, but his youthful days were also spent in ac- 
 quiring a thorough knowledge of the "three R's" 
 in the public schools near his home. His birth 
 occurred in Pontotoc County, Miss., on March 23, 
 1835, a short time prior to his parents' removal to 
 this State, and at the age of twenty-three years, 
 on the 6th of March, 1859, he was married in 
 Craighead County, Ark., to Miss Martha White, 
 and soon after purchased a timber tract, embracing 
 160 acres, which he immediately commenced to 
 clear, and now has eighty-five acres under the 
 plow. He has added to his original purchase, his 
 acreage at the present time amounting to 600. 
 His property is well improved, with good buildings 
 and orchard, and for some time he has been acting 
 as agent for a number of companies in the pur- 
 chase of real estate, and is doing well in this busi- 
 ness. He has always taken an active interest in 
 politics, and has almost invariably voted the Dem- 
 ocratic ticket, as the principles of this party thor- 
 oughly coincide with his views. He was elected 
 on this ticket to the office of county treasurer, in 
 1868, and served one term, being elected again in 
 1886 and 1888. He was county assessor in 1872 
 and 1873. He has always been interested in edu- 
 cational matters, and as a member of the school 
 board Mr. Ainsworth has done a great deal to 
 raise the standard of education in his community. 
 He has filled nearly all the chairs in the Masonic 
 order, and is now a member of Poinsett Lodge 
 No. 184. In 1878 he was called upon to mourn the 
 death of his excellent wife, she having borne him a 
 family of five children: Sarah E. (Mrs. Rice); 
 Charles Thomas, married, and residing near his 
 father: Margaret Jane (Mrs. Graj'), also residing 
 near her father; John Calvin and Lee Garland. 
 Mrs. Ainsworth was a daughter of Rev. Thomas S. 
 and Sarah White, who were natives, respectively, 
 of Tennessee and Alabama. They came to Greene 
 County, Ark., in 1S3S, and settled near Jonesboro, 
 
 where they spent their declining years, his death 
 occurring in 1868, and hers in 1878. In 187'.t, 
 Mr. Ainsworth was married, in Poinsett County, 
 to Miss Martha Ellen Gray, a native of Alabama, 
 and their union has boon blessed by the birth of 
 three children: Richard Baxter, Poindexter D, 
 and Logan Cleveland. Mr. Ainsworth can well 
 remember the time when it took eight days to go 
 to Memphis, Tenn., for supplies, and can see great 
 changes in the country since that time, he having 
 been one of the leading men to institute these 
 changes. He has been a member of the Methodist 
 Church for many years, and his wife also belongs 
 to the same church. 
 
 J. H. Allen, farmer and teacher, Harrisburg, 
 Ark. It has long since been acknowledged that 
 no matter what a man' s occupation in life may be, 
 a very necessary element to his success is a good 
 education, and doubtless this is one cause of Mr. 
 Allen's success in life. He was born in Mecklen- 
 burg County, N. C, on the 30th of September, 
 1839, and is the sou of Col. William Allen, one of 
 the early settlers of North Carolina, and a native 
 of that State. When a young man, the latter was 
 united in marriage to Miss Sarah Hunter (subject's 
 mother), also a native of North Carolina. After 
 his marriage the Colonel settled a large plantation 
 in Mecklenburg County, N. C, and entered land 
 in the Catawba purchase. The grandparents of 
 J. H. Allen, on both sides, were natives of Dublin, 
 Ireland, and the grandfathers were Revolutionary 
 soldiers, and fought for American liberty. The 
 ancestors on both sides were among the Irish 
 peasantry. Grandfather Hunter was in the battle 
 of King's Mountain. J. H. Allen's time in early 
 life was divided between assisting on the farm and 
 in attending the common schools. Subsequently 
 he entered Davidson College, and graduated from 
 that institution in the freshman class of 1856. 
 Mr. Allen is one of three survivors of that class of 
 twenty-two, who left the college on that memor- 
 able June day. One, James Steward, a farmer 
 in Brazil, South America; anoth<>r, George Mor- 
 row, tilling the soil in South Carolina, and the 
 subject of this sketch, are the ones living; the rest 
 are with the honored dead of the late struggle. 
 
 ^f> 
 
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Mr. Allen took the course of 1858-59 in Cokesbury 
 Theological Institute, in South Carolina, and left 
 that institute to marry Miss H. R. Thrower, a 
 beautiful lady, to whom he had been betrothed for 
 seven years, but only reached her bedside in time 
 to see her die. In 1861 he enlisted in the cause 
 of the South, was in the battle of the Wilderness, 
 and was severely wounded at Malvern Hill; was a 
 brave and gallant soldier. He was paroled at 
 Richmond, at the general surrender in 18(35, and 
 returned home, only to find all his property de- 
 stroyed. He then engaged in his chosen profes- 
 sion, teaching, and followed this in Mississippi 
 and Arkansas for many years. He has been three 
 times married, and is the father of fourteen chil- 
 di'en. He came to Arkansas in 1870, and has 
 taught in the schools of this State for eighteen 
 years. He has 160 acres of land, forty acres 
 under cultivation: is a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, and of the I. O. O. F., Lodge 
 No. 77, White Hall. He takes much interest in 
 public enterprises. His word is his bond, always 
 careful to perform his promise, and "owes no man 
 anything," thereby fulfilling the Divine injunc- 
 tion. 
 
 W. T. Beatty is a general merchant, post- 
 master and magistrate at Perkins, Ark., and has 
 been engaged in the first mentioned business since 
 February, 1888. He keeps a full line of groceries, 
 dry goods, boots and shoes, and shelf hardware, 
 and, in addition to this manages a steam cotton- 
 gin, of which he is the owner. His store building 
 and residence are in one, and, although he is now 
 living quietly, his life has been rather an eventful 
 one. He was born in Madison County, Tenn., in 
 1844, and is the seventh of ten children born to 
 John and Martha A. Beatty, who were born in the 
 ' ' Old North State. ' ' They removed to Madison 
 County, Tenn., at an early day. and here the 
 father ojaened up a good farm, on which he resided 
 until his death, in 1854, his excellent wife passing 
 from life in 1865. John Beatty was of English 
 descent, was a Democrat in politics, and a Mason, 
 and held office in this order. The maternal grand- 
 father, Joseph Tarburton, was a German, and was 
 a soldier in the Mexican War. W. T. Beatty re- 
 
 ceived his early schooling in Tennessee, and when 
 war was declared, although only sixteen years of 
 age, he enlisted from Madison County. Tenn. , in 
 Company E, Sixth Tennessee Infantry, for three 
 years, or during the war, and went into service at 
 Spring Creek, in that State. He was in the battle 
 of Shiloh, but was afterward discharged at Tupelo, 
 Miss., being under age. He remained inactive 
 for about four months, a portion of the tin;e being 
 sick with typhoid fever; but after 7'ecovering he 
 enlisted in the State Militia of Mississippi, and was 
 then transferred to the Fifteenth Tennessee Cav- 
 alry, under Gen. Forrest, and remained with him 
 until the close of the war. He returned to Ten- 
 nessee in 1866, and for some time was engaged in 
 farming and saw-milling, and also followed rail- 
 roading, being on the Belmont branch of the Iron 
 Mountain road from 1874 to 1880, with headquarters 
 at Columbus, Ky. From that time until 1882 he 
 was in the Government employ, working on the Mis- 
 sissippi River, and made his headquarters at Plum 
 Point, Tenn. In the spring of 1883 he came to 
 Marked Tree, Ark., and after following the occupa- 
 tion of saw-milling for one year he went to Harris- 
 burg, and embarked in the hotel and livery busi- 
 ness. This enterprise he abandoned in 1885, and 
 removi^d to Cross County, where he followed mill- 
 ing, but returned in 1886 to Marked Tree. Here 
 he has since been engaged in general merchandis- 
 ing. He is a Democrat, and since September, 
 1888, he has held the office of magistrate, and 
 since May of the same year has been postmaster at 
 the office called Perkins. He belongs to the school 
 board in District No. 14, and has always taken an 
 interest in matters pertaining to education, being 
 now the president of the Union Debating Society. 
 He was married in Madison County, Tenn. , in 
 1869, to Miss Nancy Ann Williford, of that State, 
 and her death occurred in Columbus, Ky. , October 
 1,1880. She left two children: Wyatt Jefferson 
 and Martha Ada (Mrs. Lucas), both of Paragould. 
 In November, 1883. Mr. Beatty wedded, in Harris- 
 burg, Miss Cynthia Ann Maynard, a native of Ten- 
 nessee. She is a member of the Baptist Church. 
 Since the construction of the railroad through Lit- 
 tle River Township land has greatly increased in 
 
 
^ 
 
 viiliKN and it is only a question of a few years when 
 this township will be one of the best farming regions 
 in the county. 
 
 Elijah Bennett, farmer and stock raiser, Buf- 
 falo Lick, Ark. All his life Mr. Bennett has fol- 
 lowed, with substantial success, the occupation to 
 which he was reared and in which be is now en- 
 gaged — fanning — and is recognized as one of the 
 prominent tillers of the soil in Greenfield Town 
 ship. He is the fourth in a family of ten children 
 born to Thomas and Martha (Rollins) Bennett, na- 
 tives of Alabama. Thomas Bennett was a farmer, 
 and in this occupation continued all his life. He 
 came to Craighead County in 1867, settled near 
 Jonesboro, and bought a tract of partly improved 
 land, where he remained until his death, in 1882. 
 His excellent wife stills survives him, and resides 
 in Craighead County. Elijah Bennett was born in 
 Russell County, Ala., in 1839, and, naturally per- 
 haps, early exhibited taste for farm life, which was 
 cultivated on a tract of land in Alabama. He re- 
 ceived his education in the district schools of Cal- 
 houn Count}', and in 1801 was married, in Chambers 
 County of that State, to Miss Celia Smith, a na- 
 tive of Alabama. Her death occurred in 1873, 
 and she loft four children: J. F., W. W., Lutie 
 (now Mrs. Smith) and Robert. In 18(31, the same 
 year of his marriage, Mr. Bennett enlisted in Capt. 
 Earl's Company Second Alabama Cavalry, and en- 
 tered the service at Montgomery, Ala., in Fergu- 
 son's Brigade. He was on skirmish duty most of 
 the time, but was in the battle of Atlanta, Ga. 
 He was paroled at Augusta, Ga. , in 1865, after 
 which he returned to AlaV)ama, and in 1869 emi- 
 grated to Poinsett County, where he purchased a 
 timber tract of 160 acres. He at once commenced 
 to improve forty acres, and is now one of the rep- 
 resentative farmers of the county. He raises con- 
 siderable stock, horses, cattle, hogs, etc., and 
 makes a success of this. He was married again in 
 1874. to Delia Goodlow, a native of Harrisburg, 
 Ark., and her death occurred in 1870. Mr. Ben- 
 nett's third marriage took place in Craighead 
 County, in 1879, to Mi.ss Martha Wimpey, a native 
 of Floyd County, Ga. Her father moved to Craig- 
 head County, Ark. . when she was quite yoimg. 
 
 Eight children were born to this union: Lydia, 
 Thomas, John, Isabella, Jennie. Ella, Elsie and 
 R. Zella. Mr. Bennett, though not an office-seeker, 
 takes an active part in politics, and votes with the 
 Democratic party. He al.so takes great interest in 
 school matters, and has been a member of the 
 school board. He is a member of the Agricultural 
 Wheel, and is a substantial supporter of all pul)lic 
 enterprises. Mrs. Bennett is a member of the 
 Missionary Baptist Church. 
 
 Bledsoe & Tillery, dealers in general merchan- 
 dise, also millers and ginners. Bay Village. Ark. 
 The field of enterprise opened up in the mercantile 
 t line is a large one, and many prominent citizens of 
 I Bay Village are engaged therein. Among the 
 representative houses that of Bledsoe & Tillery is 
 entitled to due recognition. The above firm was 
 established in Bay Village in 188-4, by the present 
 proprietors, who bought out Stone, Shaver & Co. , 
 and since then they have refitted the machinery, 
 and made everything new except the corn buhrs. 
 The individual members of the firm are W. L. Bled- 
 soe and F. F. Tillery, the former being the senior 
 member. He was born on the 18th of July, 1849, 
 and is the son of Stephen and Mary Nichols (Jen- 
 nings) Bledsoe, natives of Middle Tennessee, and 
 both members of the Baptist Church. The father 
 was an enterprising agriculturist, and in his polit- 
 ical views affiliated with the Whig party. He was 
 the fat'ner of three children: Sarah A., who died in 
 1883, was the wife of D. H. Pitman; Susan F., is 
 the wife of G. H. Grubbs, a farmer, and lives in 
 Lincoln County, Tenn., and William L. , one of 
 the subjects of this sketch. He was left fatherless 
 at the age of nine years, and during the ten years 
 of his mother's widowhood he remained with her, 
 and secured but a limited education in the com- 
 mon schools. After her second marriage, in 1808, 
 he started out on the broad highway of life for 
 himself, and became a sturd}' son of toil, continu- 
 ing at this in Tennessee for ten years. In Febru- 
 ary, 1870, occurred his mam age to Miss Calister 
 Moore, daughter of James and Martha Moore, na- 
 tives of Marshall County, Tenn. This happy 
 union resulted in the birth of three children: AVil- 
 lie, James and Orah. Their mother died in 1886, 
 
lil! 
 
 580 
 
 HISTOBY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 and Mr. Bledsoe took for his second wife Miss 
 Fannie Roy, daughter of Judge Roy, and a native 
 of Tennessee. Two childi-en were the fruits of this 
 marriage: Maud and Elmer. In 1878 Mr. Bled- 
 soe left the farm and embarked in the grocery busi- 
 ness, which he carried on in Middle Tennessee for 
 two years. In 1880 he moved to Harrisburg, 
 Poinsett County, Ark., tilled the soil here for a 
 year, and then moved to Bay Village, where he 
 still continued farming. Three years later he en- 
 gaged in his present business, and is making a 
 success of the same, having erected new buildings 
 etc., and secured a lucrative [)atronage. The firm 
 own a tract of land of sixty -three acres, and are 
 engaged extensively in the raising and selling of 
 stock. They also farm extensively, and have this 
 year over 150 acres of cotton, seventy-five acres 
 in connection in Poinsett County. Aside from 
 this they own live acres in Bay Village, and 210 
 acres, 180 under cultivation. In their mercantile 
 business they carry a stock of goods valued at 
 $2,000, and their annual sales equal $20,000. 
 F. F. Tillery, junior member of the above men- 
 tioned firm, was born October 16, 1856. in Ala- 
 bama, but was reared in Middle Tennessee, where 
 he received but a limited education. His parents, 
 William and Jane (Cunningham) Tillery, were also 
 natives of Alabama. AVilliam Tillery followed till- 
 ing the soil in early life, and at the age of thirty 
 years, being fairly well educated, he entered the 
 ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
 which work he continued with successful results 
 for thirty five years, or until his death, which oc- 
 curred in 1863. He was an honored member of 
 both the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, 
 and was a much revered gentleman. Although he 
 never enlisted in the service, he went with those 
 of the soldiers with whom he was acquainted to 
 wait upon and attend to their wants, and died 
 while thus striving to do good. Mrs. Tillery sur- 
 vived her husband twenty-five years, reared her 
 children to maturity, and during the last five years 
 of her life lived happily with them. She united 
 with the Methodist Episcopal Church at the age 
 of sixteen, and lived a consistent member of the 
 same until her death, in 1888, having been a mem- 
 
 ber of the same for fifty-foiu' years. She reared her 
 family at a time when educational opportunities 
 were vei"y limited, and the training and instruc- 
 tion she gave them were all they ever received. F. 
 F. Tillery was the twelfth of thirteen children, 
 seven of whom are now living — six daughters 
 and one son — all married, viz. : Mrs. Francis Van 
 Martindale, Mrs. Sarah A. McKenney, Mrs. Mar- 
 garet Roper, Mrs. Mary Bledsoe, Mrs. Harriet 
 Smith and Mrs. Julia Goodloe, the subject of this 
 sketch being the only son living. He started out 
 in life at the age of eighteen, and entered the em 
 ploy of a saw-mill man, with whom he remained 
 for some time. After this he embarked in agri- 
 cultural pursuits, and continued at this until No- 
 vember 30, 1880, when he made a visit to Harris- 
 burg, and although he had no intention of a per- 
 manent stay, his practical eye soon saw that right 
 there was a chance for a man with progressive 
 ideas to make a start in life. He first began by 
 teaming, and in connection with this carried on 
 farming and trading, which he continued until 
 1884. He then embarked in merchandising with 
 Mr. W. L. Bledsoe, at Bay Village. On Febru- 
 ary 14, 1879, he was first married to Miss Lebecea 
 Merrill, who was a daughter of Garrett and Amy 
 (Walker) Merrill, natives of Alabama and Middle 
 Tennessee, respectively. Mrs. Tillery lived about 
 twenty -three days after marriage, and in Febru- 
 ary, 1880, Mr. Tillery married Miss Mellie A. 
 Merrill, sister to his first wife. They have the 
 following, family: Mary F., Robert Lee, Minnie 
 O., Arthur B., Tillie M., died in infancy; Willy 
 D. and Pearl. Mr. Tillery casts his vote with the 
 Democratic party, and is a member of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church, as is also Mrs. Tillery. 
 
 Theo Brownfield is one of the progressive, in- 
 telligent and enterprising agriculturists of Poinsett 
 County, and was born in Warren County, Middle 
 Tennessee, in 1846, and of his parents' nine chil- 
 dren he was the eldest. His youthful days were 
 spent in the State of Illinois, and he received a 
 good j)ractical education in the schools of Jackson 
 County. He started out in life for himself, by 
 driving stock through Illinois, Iowa and Minne- 
 sota, but after his marriage, which occurred in 
 
 
-I — ^s\^ 
 
 POINSETT COUNTY. 
 
 581 
 
 Jaekaoii County, 111., in 1865. to Miss Ellon Dale, 
 he settled down to farming. Growiriw dissatisfied 
 with that location, and thinking he could better his 
 financial condition, he came to Harrisburg, Ark., 
 in November, 1809, and, after residing in the town 
 for one month, he purchased a timber tract of 160 
 acres, in Greenfield Township, and in a compara- 
 tively short time had forty acres fenced and partly 
 cleared. He sold this property in 1872, however, 
 and bought another farm, adding, in 1881, eighty 
 acres more — this being the farm on which he is 
 now residing. He has been an active member of 
 the Democratic party, and belongs to the school 
 board of his district, the Agricultural Wheel, and 
 is a member of Lodge No. 184, of the A. F. & A. 
 M. He and wife are the parents of the following 
 family: Fayette. William and Oscar (twins), Mary 
 Edna and Anna — living; those deceased are Free- 
 man A., whose death occurred in 1882; Zella S., 
 who died in 1875, and Estella, whose death oc- 
 curred in 1879. Mr. Brownfield is a son of Robert 
 and Edna (Kerby) Brownfield, the former a native 
 of .Mabama. and the latter of Warren County, 
 Tenti. They were married in the latter State, and 
 in 1849 emigrated to Marion County, 111. After a 
 short residence in St. Francis County, Mo., they 
 returned to Illinois, in 1852, and resided there and 
 in Jackson County until 1865, and from that time 
 until the father's death, in 1875, they resided in 
 Clay County. The mother died in February, 1862. 
 Mrs. Isabella F. Burt, is the relict of John M. 
 Burt, who was born in South Carolina in 1807. 
 Her father, John, and her mother, formerly Letta 
 Meltage, were born in Rutherford County, N. C. , 
 and moved to Northern Alabama about 1825, in 
 which State the father's death occurred in 1840, 
 his death being preceded by his wife's about one 
 year. He was a hatter by trade, but also followed 
 the occupation of farming, and he and his wife 
 were active and worthy workers in the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South. Their children were as 
 follows: William, who was born about ISIO, was a 
 farmer by occupation, and about 1856 came to Cross 
 County. .\rk. H(> was a Master Mason, a member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, and liecame the 
 father of a large family of children, seven of whom 
 
 live in Cross Coimty at the present time. He died 
 in 1859; Isabella F. (Mrs. Burt), was their second 
 child, and llacjjel, their last, she lioing the widow 
 of Allen Burt, a farmer who died in Lonisana in 
 1851. His wife and six children survive him, and 
 in the year 1856, came to Poinsett County. Ark., 
 and here the mother is still living at the age of 
 seventy-seven years. Mrs. Isabella F. Burt spent 
 her girlhood days in her native State, and there 
 received a good education in the common schools. 
 In December, 1829, she was married to John M. 
 Burt, a son of William and Mehathalona (Mosely) 
 Burt, whose native State was South Carolina. 
 They were farmers there, and in 1856 moved to 
 Arkansas, where they became the owners of 640 
 acres of land, and at the time of the father's death, 
 in 1861, they had about 130 acres under cultiva 
 tion. To them were born four children: Martha 
 A., -wife of J. H. Hall, a sketch of their son, John 
 W. Hall, being given in this work: Mary J., wife 
 of Eli A. Bradner (she died in 1870, and her 
 husband and four children survive her): Lucy I., 
 who first married Green Hall, and afterward 
 Thomas W. Eskridge, and died in October, 1874, 
 and John W. , who died in Alabama at the age of 
 four years. Mrs. Isabella Burt can distinctly re 
 member many interesting anecdotes connected with 
 the early history of Poinsett County, and can re- 
 member when Memphis, Tenn. . was their nearest 
 market of any importance, and when "Old Farm 
 Hill " was the nearest church, and Old Bolivar the 
 county seat. The houses of the settlers were 
 mostly of logs, hand-sawed by the men, and Mrs. 
 Burt's old home contains a floor of split logs, and 
 another of whipsawed logs. Tiieir clothing was 
 all home-made, and a suit of jeans was considered 
 a very stylish attire in those days. Mrs. Burt was 
 left a widow with four children, just on the eve of 
 the late war, and during that time, her slaves, 
 numbering abotit twenty -five, left her. Owing to 
 the respect and liking, which her intelligence and 
 kindly manners always inspired, she was left tin 
 molested by the Union soldiers, and devoted her- 
 self to rearing her children, and the manner in 
 which this noble woman fulfilled her trust is evi 
 dent in looking upon her children who have grown 
 
 sfv" 
 
Ai 
 
 582 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 to mature years. She is remarkably well preserved 
 in years, the ' ' ravages of time ' ' having had but 
 little effect upon her vigorous intellect. Since 
 1874, she has been spending her time under the 
 loving care of her children and grandchildren, 
 and is at present making her home with her grand- 
 sou, John W. Hall. 
 
 D. C. & I. R. Cole are prominent lumber 
 mauufacturers of Poinsett County, Ark., and have 
 been established in business since May, 1^86, their 
 mill having a capacity of 1,500,000 feet per year. 
 They are situated two and one half miles north of 
 Harrisburg, and have their own tramway of three 
 and one-half miles, and employ from fifteen to 
 twenty men, to whom they aim to give employment 
 the year round. Isaac R. Cole, the senior mem- 
 ber of the firm, was born in Darke County, Ohio, 
 in 1833, and inherits a fair share of the energy and 
 push which are so characteristic of the inhabitants 
 of that State. He was the sixth of eight children 
 born to James and Sarah (Rupple) Cole, who were 
 born in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, respect- 
 ively, at an early day they settled in Darke County, 
 Ohio, and in February, 1836, emigrated overland 
 to St. Joseph County, Ind., where they settled on 
 a farm and made their home the remainder of their 
 clays, the former's death occurring iu July, 1856, 
 and the latter' s in October, 1860. In this county 
 and State Isaac R. Cole received his education and 
 was initiated into the mysteries of farm work. 
 After having farmed for himself for a number of 
 years he, in 1871, engaged in the milling business 
 in North Liberty, Liberty Township, St. Joseph 
 County, and in 1886 moved his mill to Poinsett 
 County, Ark. , where he has his present plant. Be- 
 ing a man of excellent business qualifications and 
 experience, he has built up an extensive business 
 and readily disposes of immense quantities of lum- 
 ber annually, as his shipping facilities are good. 
 In 1850 he was married, in the " Hoosier State,"' 
 to Miss Eliza J. Rush, but she was called to her 
 long home three years later, leaving a son, James 
 Arthur. Miss Mary Ellen Reamer became Mr. 
 Cole's second wife, their union taking place in 
 1860. She was born in the State of Indiana, and 
 she and Mr. Cole have an interesting little family 
 
 of three children: Alma Alice (Mrs. Nelson, a 
 resident of St. Joseph County, Ind.), Benjamin 
 F. and Mabel B. at home. Mr. and Mrs. Cole are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Chiuch, at 
 North Liberty, Ind. , and he was Worshipful Mas 
 ter of Lodge No. 266, of the A. F. & A. M., at 
 North Liberty, Ind. During his residence in this 
 county (since 1886) he has noticed a gradual im- 
 provement each year, and has taken an active in- 
 terest in promoting the growth and improvement 
 of the same. Churches and schools always receive 
 his patronage, and on his and his brother's land, 
 which amounts to 2,600 acres, many homes are 
 being erected and clearings made, and a school- 
 house will soon be erected thereon. 
 
 L. J. Collins, M. D., is one of Poinsett County's 
 most trustworthy physicians and surgeons, and as 
 he has obtained a liberal share of public favor, it is 
 one of the best of proofs of his skill and care. He 
 was born in Fulton County, Ky. , in 1857, and is 
 the third in a family of three children, born to 
 Leroy and Evaline (Murphy) Collins, who wore 
 Tennesseeans, and emigrated to Fulton, Fulton 
 County, Ky., at an early day, where the father 
 followed the trade of a mechanic. He still resides 
 in Fulton, but his wife died many years ago, when 
 our subject was Imt a small lad. L. J. Collins 
 was taken to Carroll County, Tenn. , after his 
 mother's death, and there remained until he at- 
 tained his eighth year, when he returned to Ful 
 ton County, Ky., and was educated in the schools 
 of that county. From earliest manhood the study 
 of medicine always had a fascination for him. and 
 he determined to make that his calling through 
 life; and in order to fit himself for active work he 
 entered the Hospital Medical College of Louisville, 
 Ky. , and was graduated from that institution in 
 1877. His first experience as a practitioner was 
 gained in Hardeman County, Tenn., but he only 
 remained there a short time when he entered upon 
 the practice of his profession in Wittsburg, Cross 
 County, Arl^ After a short stay of three months 
 in this place he located in Bay Village of the same 
 county, remaining here until the first of January, 
 1881, when he came to his present location, and 
 has a paying practice in the town and surrounding 
 
 rFl^ 
 
' >£. 
 
 POINSETT COUNTY. 
 
 583 
 
 country. He has been an active politician for years, 
 and always vote.s the Democratic ticket, and in 
 I81S8, was elected by that party to the State legis- 
 latui'e from Poinsett County, and is now ably dis 
 charging the duties incumbent upon this office. 
 Socially he is a member of the A. F. & A. M. In 
 1876 he was married, in Hardeman County, Tenn. , 
 to Miss Amanda Hurst, a native of Hardeman 
 County, Tenn. To their union were born the fol- 
 lowing children: Henry, Dixie and LaFayette. 
 Although the Doctor has resided here only a few 
 years, he has noticed a decided change for the bet- 
 ter in the public-school system, and in the growth 
 and prosperity of the county. 
 
 A. A. Coppage, clerk of the county and pro- 
 l)ate court, and also county recorder, was born in 
 Marion County, Ky. , on the I'ith of January, 
 1847, l)eing the seventh of twelve children born 
 to the union of Hardin Coppage and Sally C. 
 Robertson, both natives of Marion County, Ky. , 
 the former a farmer and stock dealer by occupa- 
 tion. He died in Davis County, Ky. , in 1886, at 
 the age of seventy-five years, his excellent wife's 
 death occurring two years earlier. A. A Coppage 
 received the education and rearing which usually 
 fall to the lot of the farmer's boy, and in April, 
 1877, he left home and came to Greene County, 
 Ark., where he engaged in general merchan- 
 dising at Bethel, and after successfully con- 
 tinuing there for three years he moved to Harris- 
 hxvcg. He had also been engaged in teaching 
 .school while in Greene County, and after his locat- 
 ing in Poinsett County, he was elected to the of- 
 fice of deputy county clerk, serving from 1883 to 
 November, 1S88, and discharged his duties in so 
 efficient a manner that in the fall of the latter year 
 he was elected to his present office. By appoint- 
 ment he was made county judge in 1884. and filled 
 the position with ability for six mouths. He has 
 shown his approval of secret o.rganizations by be- 
 coming a member of the A. F. & A. M. , and 
 the I. O. O. F. , holding the position of secretary in 
 the latter. He was married at Bethel, Greene 
 County, Ark., in 1880, to Mrs. Bettie Going, form- 
 erly Betty Sloan, a native of East Tennessee, roared 
 in Poinsett County, Ark. Three children have 
 
 been born to their union: Effie and Abl)ie, being 
 the only ones living. He has two step- children: 
 Clyde and May Going. 
 
 Prof. Robert L. Cowan, educator, Harrisburg, 
 Ark. Originally from Warrick County, Ind., 
 where his birth occurred on the 14th of March, 
 1852, Prof. Cowan is possessed of those advanced 
 ideas and progressive prinei[>les regarding educa- 
 tional matters which make his name familiar 
 throughout this part of the State. His parents, 
 Rev. John D. and Elizabeth (Knight) Cowan, were 
 natives of Tennessee and Indiana, respectively. 
 The father was a graduate of Princeton College, 
 New Jersey, and about 1849 or 1850 ho was ordained 
 to the Pre.sbyterian ministry. He at once re- 
 ceived the appointment of principal of Newburg 
 Academy, at Newburg, Ind., which position he 
 filled with honor until 1858, when he was made 
 financial agent of Union College, at Virginia, Cass 
 \ County, 111. He remained in this position until 
 near the close of his life, in 1865. At the age of 
 sixteen, in company with two others of about the 
 same age, he rode from Holly Springs, Miss., to 
 Texas, and was forty days making the journey. 
 They lost themselves in the wild and unbroken for- 
 ests of Eastern Arkansas, wandered around for sev- 
 eral days, and at last found Crowley's Ridge, 
 which they followed north for some distance; then 
 crossed over White River Valley, thence south to 
 the Arkansas River, and after crossing this stream 
 were near the present site of the city of Little 
 Rock. From there they went to Shreveport, and 
 then to Texas. Mr. Cowan remained in that State 
 for four years, and during that time served as a 
 soldier in the Texan army. He was wounded by 
 arrows, and carried the scars to his grave. As pay 
 for his services in the army he received a quarter 
 of a league of Texas land (about 320 acres). In 
 the meantime he had united with tiie Presbyterian 
 Church, and was sent by the presbytery to attend 
 Princeton College, as before stated. Prof. Cow- 
 an's paternal grandfather, David Cowan, was a 
 native of Tennessee, and a farmer by occupation; 
 was one of Gen. Jackson's soldiers in the battle of 
 New Orleans, and met his death by being accident- 
 ally shot during a bear-hunt in 1832. His father, 
 
 :fv~ 
 

 ^J. 
 
 584 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 John Cowan, was a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, 
 and an early settler of Virginia, although later in 
 life he drifted westward to Tennessee. His Inother, 
 David Cowan, came to America with him, and 
 made his home in Pennsylvania. His son, Edgar 
 Cowan, was United States senator from Pennsyl- 
 vania during the war. Prof. Cowan's maternal 
 grandfather, Isaac Knight, was a native of Penn- 
 sylvania, and emigrated with his father, Abraham 
 Knight, to Henderson, Ky., in the year 1790. Two 
 years later he was captured by the Indians, by 
 whom he was kept a prisoner for two and a half 
 years. He then escaped in the Straits of Macki 
 naw, by being hidden on a English trading vessel 
 by a colored cook. He lauded on terra firma in 
 Detroit, and made his way home, after a perilous 
 trip of six months. He followed agricultural pur- 
 suits, and opened up several large farms in South 
 ern Indiana. His death occurred in 1858. Rev. 
 John D. Cowan and Elizabeth Knight were mar- 
 ried on the 20th of May, 1851, and Prof. Robert 
 L. Cowan is their only child. His mother died on 
 the lyth of August, 1854, and the father was 
 married the second time on the 28th of December. 
 1859, to Miss Mary A. Bell, daughter of A. W. 
 Bell, a prominent farmer of Central Illinois. To 
 this union was born one child, Alex. B., whose 
 birth occuiTed on the 2d of March, 1861, and who 
 is married and has two children. He is the pres- 
 ent manager of the Western Union Telegraph 
 Company, at Quincy, 111., and he, with his son, 
 four years of age, and the subject of this sketch, 
 are the only survivors bearing the family name. 
 Prof. Cowan passed his boyhood days in poring 
 over his books at home, and later attended the 
 Presbyterian Academy in Macon County, 111. Af- 
 ter completing his studies in that college, in 1875, 
 he went to Evansville, Ind., and tilled the position 
 of professor in the scientific department of the 
 public high school of that city for five years. In 
 1880 he was elected county examiner of Vander- 
 burgh County, which position he held until 1SS8, 
 and then accepted the position of assistant engi- 
 neer of the Danville, Olney & Ohio Railroad, 
 while making the survey fi'om Olney to Paducah, 
 Ky. After this he was an engineer in the sub-ma- 
 
 1 rine work in the building of the bridge across the 
 Ohio River, at Henderson, Ky. Following this 
 Prof. Cowan was assistant engineer in the Ijuilding 
 of the Toledo, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad, 
 
 1 between Toledo, Cincinnati and St. Louis. He 
 then returned to Decatur in poor health, and re- 
 mained in that city one year, when, in November, 
 
 ' 1886, he came to Poinsett County, Ark. After lo- 
 cating here he followed the timber business, and 
 then engaged in teaching, having charge of the 
 
 I Harrisburg schools in 1887 and 1889. His mar- 
 riage occurred on the 20th of December, 1889, to 
 Miss Maud Sloan, daughter of Judge G. AV. 
 Sloan, who keeps a hotel and is undertaker at Har- 
 risburg. Prof. Cowan is a member of the Presby- 
 terian Church, and Mrs. Cowan belongs to the 
 
 I Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of 
 the A. F. & A. M., Lodge No. 64, Evansville, and 
 holds the position of reporter of Lodge No. 3380, 
 
 1 Knights of Honor (Bolivar Lodge). He takes an 
 
 ! active part in jiolitics, votes with the Republican 
 party, is chairman of his county committee, and is 
 a member of both the State Central and Congres- 
 sional committees. He takes an active interest in 
 and gives his support to all public enterprises. 
 
 L. H. Davis, M. D., physician and surgeon, 
 Harrisburg, Ark. The above mentioned gentleman 
 is one of the most successful and prominent phy- 
 sicians in Poinsett County, and is ever to be found 
 by the bedside of sick and suffering humanity. He 
 was born in Ozark County, Mo., on the 22d of 
 December, 1858, and is the son of Dr. Newland A. 
 and Eliza N. (Drake) Davis, natives of Tennessee. 
 [For further particulars of parents see sketch of 
 John C. Davis. ] Dr. L. H. Davis was the fifth of 
 six living childi'en born to his parents and their 
 names appear in the following order: Mrs. E. 
 Frierson, wife of J. C. Frierson, and now residing 
 in JonesVjoro, Ark. ; Mrs. Alice Legg, wife of D. 
 H. Legg, who is a descendant of one of the oldest 
 families of Cross County, and is magistrate of that 
 county; Mrs. M. A. Gilliland, wife of the present 
 school commissioner of Poinsett County; Thomas 
 L., married and living in Harrisburg, is a medical 
 student; L. H. , and John C. , a druggist at Harris- 
 burg. Dr. L. H. Davis always had delicate health, 
 
 "?; 
 
la. 
 
 POINSETT COUNTY. 
 
 585 
 
 and spent much of his time during l)oyhood in 
 attending school. At the age of seveuteiui years 
 he entered as clerk the drugstore of Dr. D. A. 
 Graves at Forest City, and lemained in that posi- 
 tion for three years. During his twenty- tirst year 
 the Doctor taught school in Woodruff County at 
 Pum[)kin Bend, and at the same time liegan the 
 study of medicine. The following year he read 
 medicine under the tutelage of I'r. Whitsett, at 
 Marion, Ark . and during 18S2 and 1883 he at 
 tended the Memphis Medical College He then 
 practiced one year in the Little River Country, in 
 Eastern Poinsett County, after which he returned 
 to the same college and graduated in the class of 
 1885. In the same year he came to Bay Village, 
 Cross County, and began the practice of his pro- 
 fession, which he continued for eighteen months. 
 He then came to Harrisburg, where he has remained 
 ever since, and where he enjoys a large and paying 
 practice. In February, 1887, he wedded Miss 
 Lillian Florence Watkias, daughter of Prof. Wat- 
 kins, president of Marshall Institute. They were 
 married at Memphis, where Mrs. Davis' family 
 still reside. Mrs. Davis' sister, Mrs. Fanny Ander- 
 son, of Millington, Tenn. , is the possessor of one 
 of the most noted madstones in that State. It is 
 an heirloom of the Watkins family. To the Doc- 
 tor and wife has been born one child, Willie 
 Mary W. , a sweet little girl of about twelve 
 months. Dr. Davis is medical examiner and a 
 member of the K. of H. . at Harrisburg, and is a 
 conservative Democrat. 
 
 John C. Davis, druggist and apothecary, Har- 
 risburg, Ark. One of the most popular and effi 
 cient druggists in the town of Harrisburg is Mr. 
 John C. Davis, whose flourishing establishment is 
 located in one of the busiest portions of that town. 
 He established his present business in 1888, and 
 carried a general stock of drugs, patent medicines 
 and fancy groceries. His birth occurred on the 
 2'2d of September, 1867, in Crittenden County, 
 Ark., and he is the youngest in a family of five 
 children born to Dr. N. A. and Eliza M. (Drake) 
 Davis, natives of Tennessee. Dr. N. A. Davis was 
 reared in the country, and received his education in 
 the common schools of Tennessee. He learned the 
 
 37 
 
 printer's trade, and followed that for some years, 
 when he began the study of medicine, and gradu- 
 ated from the St. Louis Medical College in the 
 class of 1850. He first began the j)ractice of his 
 profession at Ozark, Christian County, Mo., and 
 was married at Bolivar, Mo., on the 1st of Decem- 
 ber, 1843, to Miss Eliza :\[. Drake, daughter of 
 Jacob and Anna (Williams) Drake, natives of East 
 Tennessee. Mrs. Davis is a distant relative of J. 
 Q. Adams, and a second cousin of Oovernor Taylor, 
 of Tennessee. After his marriage. Dr. Davis re- 
 moved to Christian County, Mo. , where he remained 
 iintil the spring of 1S61. He was outspoken in 
 all his political views, and when the war broke out 
 he joined Gen. Price's army as surgeon, and held 
 that position during the entire struggle. In 1866 
 his family joined him in Louisiana, and from there 
 they moved to Crittenden County, Ark. , where they 
 made their home until 1870. In that year they 
 moved to Cross County, and from there, in 1873, 
 he moved to Forest City, where his death occurred 
 in 1876. The mother remained on the home place 
 until 1878, and then made her home with her son, 
 John C. Davis, until her death, in 1888. The latter 
 was reared in town, and spent his schoolboy days 
 in Forest City and the schools of Marion and Crit- 
 tenden Counties. In 1882 he entered the drug 
 store of his uncle. Dr. T. C. Whitsett, of Marion, 
 as a clerk, and continued with him two years. He 
 then went to Jonesboro', and worked as a clerk 
 until 1886, after which he was on the railroad until 
 Februarj', 1887. He then came to Harrisburg, 
 and purchased a half- interest in the drug business 
 of M. D. Simmons & Co. , with whom he continued 
 until March, 1888, and then withdrew, and estab- 
 lished himself in his present business, which he is 
 now prosperously conducting. He is a conserva- 
 tive Democrat, and gives his support to all enter- 
 prises for the good of the county. 
 
 W. R. Dedman, postmaster, Greenfield, Ark. 
 This much respected citizen has been postmaster 
 at the above mentioned place ever since the oflSce 
 was established, which was in 1886, a flag station 
 on the Helena branch of the Iron Mountain Rail- 
 road. In connection with his official duties he 
 is also engaged in agricultural pursuits, an occupa- 
 
 =^ 
 
A: 
 
 586 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 tion to which he was reared. His birth occurred in 
 Madison County, Ala., in 1851, and he was the 
 only child born to the union of F. D. and S. A. 
 (Thacker) Dedman, the father a native of Alabama, 
 and the mother of Virginia. F. D. Dedman was 
 reared to manhood in his native State, and here 
 tilled the soil. In 1869, he emigrated to Poinsett 
 County, Ark. , settled in Bolivar Township, entered 
 land, and there made a permanent home. At pres- 
 ent he is residing in Craighead County, Ark. . W. 
 R. Dedman became familiar with the duties of the 
 farm, and received the rudiments of an education 
 in the district schools of Tennessee. He com 
 menced farming for himself in Poinsett County, 
 in 1869, and later bought a timber tract of land of 
 200 acres, which he immediately commenced im- 
 proving, building a good frame house, setting out 
 an orchard, etc. , and he now has about twenty- 
 eight acres under cultivation. The Iron Mountain 
 Railroad runs through his land. Mr. Dedman 
 was married in Poinsett County, Ark., in 1871, to 
 Miss A. H. Schockley, a native of Cherokee County, 
 Ala., and the daughter of A. J. and Frances 
 Schockley, natives of Alabama. Her parents came 
 to Poinsett County, Ark., in 1869, settled in 
 Bolivar Township, and there purchased land. Her 
 father died in 1870, but the mother survives him, 
 and is residing on the old homestead. Mr. Ded- 
 man, after marriage, settled in Bolivar Township, 
 and in 1880 purchased his present property. He 
 was engaged in the grocery Ijusiness here in 1886 
 and 1887, but closed out in the latter part of the 
 last mentioned year. He has taken quite an active 
 part in politics, votes with the Republican party, 
 and is a prominent man. He has been a member 
 of the school board for about seven years or more, 
 and has held other offices of public trust. Socially, 
 he is a member of White Hall Lodge, No. 77, 
 I. O. O. F., at Harrisburg. To his happy mar- 
 riage have been born six children : Eudora, Miuuie 
 Bell, William Oliver, Ida Lou, Nellie M. and 
 Sarah Frances. Mr. Dedman has always taken an 
 interest in all that pertains to the good of the com- 
 munity, and is a liberal supporter of all laudable 
 enterprises, 
 
 J. A. W. Ellzey is salesman and book keeper 
 
 for the general mercantile firm of A. S. Thorn 
 & Co., of Marked Tree, Ark. He was born in 
 Pontotoc County, Miss., in 1851, being a son of 
 Dr. James Ellzey, of Georgia. The latter, in con- 
 nection with his practice, was an extensive planter: 
 he was married in his native State to Miss Martha 
 A. Stevens, whose birthplace was the "Old North 
 State." The father, 'vho was a Democrat in pol- 
 itics, died in 1869 in Pontotoc County, Miss.. 
 whither he had moved at an early day. His widow 
 passed from life in 1882. To them were born 
 eleven children. Our subject, J. A. W. Ellzey 
 (one of the seven sons), was engaged in school - 
 teaching in the State of Mississippi, and in the 
 spring of 1879 he went to Milam County, Tex., 
 where he followed the same occupation for nearly 
 one year. In November. 1879, he came to Poin- 
 sett County, Ark., and was engaged in teaching 
 and farming up to 1884, when he accepted his 
 present position with the above mentioned firm. 
 He is not a very active politician, but usually votes 
 the Democratic ticket, and socially is a member of 
 the Masonic order. He was maiTied in Poinsett 
 County, in January, 1881, to Miss Mollie C. Will- 
 iams, who was born in Poinsett County, and is a 
 daughter of B. D. and A. J. (Mardis) Williams, 
 who were born in Alabama and Tennessee, respect- 
 ively. The father's death occurred in 1862, and 
 his widow, now Mrs. Thorn, still survives and 
 makes her home at Marked Tree, Ark. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Ellzey became the parents of five children 
 (three of whom are now living) : Birdie ; Beatrice, 
 who died in May, 1886: Thaddeus and Willie 
 (twins), the latter dying in July, 1885, and Willie. 
 Foster Freeman is the efficient postmaster at 
 Harrisburg, and is now serving his second consec- 
 utive term, having previously served in this capac- 
 ity under Garfield's administration. For about 
 twelve years he was editor and proprietor of Free- 
 man's Express, the last paper being issued on the 
 15th of October, 1888. He was born in Griffin, 
 Ga. , in 1842, and is the eldest of a family of six 
 children born to Robert K. and Mary E. (Sessions) 
 Freeman, who were also natives of the State of 
 Georgia, but moved to Northern Alabama in 1850, 
 where the father became a well-known medical 
 
!.£: 
 
 POINSETT COUNTY. 
 
 587 
 
 practitioner. In IcSHG he came to Jonesboro, Ark. , 
 but bis death occurred in Poinsett County, two 
 year.s later, his excellent wife surviving him until 
 1888. Their children are L. C. (Mrs. G. W. 
 Baxter, residing in Stanton, Tenn.), Robert K. 
 (deceased). Mary N. (Mrs. Griffin). L. D. (who re- 
 sides at Wynne, and is editor of the Wynne Rip- 
 saw), and Foster. From his earliest recollections 
 up to 186], the latter's time was occupied with 
 the monotonous duties of farm life, and in the 
 meantime he acquired a fair education in the pub- 
 lic .schools in the vicinity of his home. Upon the 
 bursting of the war cloud which had threatened 
 the country for some time, he laid down the im- 
 plements of farm life to don the rebel uniform, 
 and enlisted from St. Clair County, Ala., in Com- 
 pany A, Tenth Alabama Volunteer Infantry, Con- 
 federate States Army, and went directly to Vir- 
 ginia, becoming a member of Wilcox's Brigade. 
 He was in the entire Virginia campaign, and sur- 
 rendered on the "Jth of April, 1865, at Appomat- 
 tox Court- House. Mr. Freeman then returned to 
 St. Clair County, Ala. , and was married there, in 
 
 1867, to Miss Elizabeth J. Gibson, a native of that 
 State. He was engaged in farming there until 
 
 1868, when he removed to Tennessee, and the fol- 
 lowing year settled in Poinsett County, Ark., where 
 he purchased and improved a farm of 160 acres. 
 He also gave considerable of his attention to grist- 
 and saw-milling, but recently exchanged his mills 
 for the old homestead in Alabama. He is rather 
 conservative in politics, but usually casts his vote 
 with the Democratic party, and is now a memljer 
 of the county central committee; he has been 
 county school examiner two terms, and in this ca 
 pacity did much to raise the standard of schools. 
 He has always been interested in every worthy 
 movement, and has aided materially in the general 
 development of the county. He is a member of 
 Lodge No. 184 of the A. F. & A. M., and is now 
 holding the position of s(<cretary of that lodge. 
 He and wife were members of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, South, and to their union were born 
 the following children: R. L. . Elizabeth D., S. C, 
 Sally B. and Foster. Elizabeth D. is the wife of 
 Mr. Beards, and is residing in the county. 
 
 W. F. Furnish is a farmer, and is also en 
 gaged in the saw-milling business, his mill being 
 located in Bolivar Township, and is in operation 
 the most of the year, giving employment to about 
 nine men. Mr. Furnish was born at Old Bolivar, 
 in 1846, and was the elder of two children born to 
 Parker W. and Annice (Smith) Furnish, who were 
 born, respectively, in Missouri and Teimessee. 
 Parker W. Furnish removed to Arkansas, in 1844, 
 while still a single man, but was married soon 
 after, and in addition to opening up a farm was en- 
 gaged in carpentering until his death, which oc- 
 cun-ed in August. 1848, he being killed. His 
 widow survived him until 1885, wh(>n she, too, 
 passed to her long home. The early youth of our 
 subject was spent in following the plow and in 
 attending the district schools, where he acquired 
 sufficient education to lit him for the duties of 
 everyday life, and from the age of fifteen up to 
 twenty-two years of age, he assisted in the support 
 of his mother. He was man-ied in 1868 to Miss 
 Barthena Ainsworth, a daughter of Harrison Ains- 
 worth, one of the pioneers of Poinsett County. 
 The year following her death, which occvu-red in 
 1872, Mr. Furnish wedded Miss Mary E. Hall, of 
 Louisiana, a daughter of Philip and Martha (Hicks) 
 Hall, who were Tennesseeans, and came to Ar- 
 kansas, in 1856, engaging in farming. Mr. Fur- 
 nish farmed in Bolivar Township until 1879. then 
 went to Dunklin County, Mo. , remaining there, 
 engaged in the occupation of farming until 1880, 
 when he returned to Poinsett County, .\rk. , and 
 has since matle the farm where he now lives his 
 home. He owns 160 acres, with fifty under 
 cultivation, raising corn, and also stock. He 
 is a Democrat, and belongs to Lodge No. 77 of 
 the I. O. O. F. He served in the Rebellion from 
 1863 until the close, being a member of W. G. 
 Godfrey's company, was a participant in a 
 number of skirmishes, and after the cessation of 
 hostilities he returned home. He and his wife are 
 the parents of four children: Walter Lee, James 
 Logan, Willie Gertrude and Thomas Richmond. 
 He has also taken to raise three childn>n belonging 
 to his wife's brother: Martha Elizabeth, Thomas 
 Joiner and Philip Addison. 
 
A 
 
 -^ V 
 
 ■)88 
 
 HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Gant Bros., general merchants, Harrisburg. 
 Ark. One of the leading characteristics of our 
 commercial fabric is the size and extent of the 
 mercantile business in the various cities of Poinsett 
 County. A vast capital is invested in this import- 
 ant industry, and many persons, are furnished re- 
 mimerative employment. Among the leading es- 
 tablishments of this kind, none are more desoiving 
 of more favorable mention and consideration than 
 that of Gant Bros., the individual members of 
 the firm being J. G. , J. B. and J. W. Gant. 
 They are the sons of James W. and Sarah (Keller) 
 Gant, natives of Tennessee and North Carolina, 
 respectively. The parents were married in Ten- 
 nessee in 1852, and the father opened a drug 
 store in Memphis, which he conducted successfully 
 until 1856, when he removed with his family to 
 what is now Craighead County, Ark., where he 
 bought land, and opened up a large plantation. 
 In 1857 he was elected school commissioner, served 
 one term, and after this he acted as surveyor and 
 sheriff until 1801. Ho was then appointed as 
 Government purchasing agent, serving in that 
 capacity until his death, in 1868. He was a prom- 
 inent member of the Masonic fraternity, and a 
 devout Methodist. Ho was noted for liberal and 
 progi'essive ideas, and was a strong Democrat. He 
 was one of eighteen children, and his brothers are 
 as follows: John, farmer, of Texas; Benjamin, 
 presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 and who died in his pulpit, at Nashville, about 
 1860; Howard, blacksmith, in Missouri; William, 
 merchant, at Spring Hill, Tenn. There are a 
 number of others supposed to be living, but their 
 exact location is not known. His only sister, Mrs. 
 Polly Hall, is the wife of a farmer, and lives in 
 Izard County. Ark. Mrs. Sarah (Keller) Gant is 
 the daughter of Uriah and Julia Keller, natives 
 of South Carolina. Her father was a tiller of the ' 
 soil. Mrs. Gant is one of a family of eleven chil- 
 dren, eight of whom lived to be grown, and these 
 are now living: John, farmer; Julia, wife of Mr. 
 Gayor, and is living at luka. Miss.; Mattie I., 
 wife of Mr. Hughes, a hotel-keeper at Jonesboro, 
 Ark., and Henrietta M., wife of Mr. Whisenhunt, 
 a farmer of Craighead County, Ark. To the mar- 
 
 riage of James W. Gant and Miss Sarah Keller 
 were born the three sons, J. G. , J. B. and J. \V., 
 and one daughter, Julia E., wife of J. W. Rooks, 
 a hotel-keeper at Harrisburg, Ark. Mrs. Gant 
 was left a widow just on the eve of the groat Civil 
 War, with four small children to support. How- 
 ever, she bravely undertook the task, and first 
 engaged in farming, and then kept a boarding 
 house. The children were able to assist her after 
 a little, and later relieved her of their support alto 
 gether. She now makes her home with them, and 
 no mother is thought more of than she is by her 
 children, who vie in making her declining years 
 happy and comfortable. She is the owner of 
 several good homes in Craighead and Poinsett 
 Counties, and is living for her children, bestowing 
 all the wealth of a mother's love on them. .1. G. 
 Gant, the senior member of the firm of Gant 
 Bros., was born in 1853, reared to farm life, 
 educated at Jonesboro, and at the age of eighteen 
 embarked in the grocery business. He sold out, and 
 then returned to farm work, which he continued 
 for three years. He then entered the saloon busi 
 ness, which he followed with success until 1883, 
 when the above firm was organized. They carry 
 a large stock of general merchandise, and buy 
 and sell grain and cotton. J. G. Gant was mar- 
 ried, in October, 1888, to Miss Lena Lewis, of 
 Woodruff County. J. B. and J. W. were educated 
 at Jonesboro and Harrisburg, and also took a 
 commercial course at Ledding's Commercial Col- 
 lege, at Memphis. In 1884 J. B. was married to 
 Miss Jennie Mitchell, of Harrisburg. They have 
 one child, Nellie, who is now four years of ago. 
 J. W. is unmarried. All are members of the 
 Masonic fraternity, and all Democratic in their 
 political views. J. B. is a member of both the I. 
 O. O. F. and K. of H. orders. The brothers are 
 all members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 and give their unqualified support to all move 
 ments conducive to the good of the community. 
 In addition to their mercantile pursuits they are 
 the owners of 1,200 acres of land, 300 acres under 
 cultivation, and are extensively engaged in stock 
 raising. They are experimenting in several lines 
 of stock, have Holstein cattle (graded), Short- 
 
 :7i 
 
r 
 
 /s. 
 
 ^X.. ^-/^-^.^^ 
 
 Osceola . 
 MissiSBiPPi County, Arkansas . 
 
 7' 
 
.^ 5) 
 
 ^ 
 
 POINSETT COUNTY. 
 
 589 
 
 horn, Durham (large red), and handle Berkshire 
 and Poland-China hogs. They also raise horses, 
 common cattle, sheep and Angora goats. 
 
 G. T. Garvey. Among the best-known houses 
 engaged in the grocery business in Harrisburg, is 
 that of G. T. Garvey, who, in connection with his 
 store, conducts a restaurant, his business having 
 l)een established in 1888. Although he is a young 
 man, and has only been in business in the town but 
 a few years, yet his name has already become .syn- 
 onymous with upright, honorable dealing, and his 
 establishment is a favorite resort for those who 
 wish to procure the best brands of the articles he 
 keeps in stock. He was born in the "Old North 
 State" in 1861, was the younger of two children 
 born to W. F. and Sarah (Burgess) Garvey, who 
 were also born in that State. The father was a 
 salesman in a store, but gave up this work in 1861 
 to enlist from Edgecombe County in the Thirtieth 
 North Carolina Infantry, but died in 1865 from ex- 
 posure during his service. His widow still survives 
 him, and resides in Poinsett County, with her son, 
 G. T. Garvey. The latter' s early days were divided 
 between farming and learning the painter's trade, 
 his education in the meantime being received in the 
 district schools of Halifax County, N. C. After 
 reaching manhood he went to Baltimore, Md. , but 
 removed from there to Poinsett County, Ark., in 
 1886, and was first engaged in the milling business 
 for D. C. Cole; he was married here, in December, 
 1888, to Miss Annice Usery, a native of the county, 
 having in February prior to his marriage em- 
 barked in his present enterprise. He is a member 
 of Lodge No. 3380 of the K. of H. . of Bolivar, 
 and is a Democrat: his wife is a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He belongs 
 to the Methodist Protestant Church, having his 
 membership still in North Carolina. 
 
 James M. Gilliland. county examiner and 
 teacher, Harrisburg, Ark. Since his residence in 
 this county, Mr. Gilliland has l)een very promi- 
 nently identified with the material affairs of this 
 community, indeed, far more so than the average 
 of men. Particularly in educational matters is 
 this true. He was originally a native of Tennes- 
 see, where his birth occun-ed in Tipton County, on 
 
 the 14th of December, 1844, but he was reared 
 in Shelby County of the same State. He is the 
 son of Samuel and Eliza (McFerrin) Gilliland. 
 the father a native of Virginia, and the mother 
 of Alabama. Samuel Gilliland was one of the 
 very early settlers of Shelby County, and, at the 
 time of his first residence, remembers seeing 
 Memphis when it was a very small village. He 
 was a farmer, and opened a large tract of land ; he 
 was also a minister in the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and labored in that field until forty-five 
 years of age, when he was forced to abandon his 
 chosen profession on account of ill health. He 
 was a Democrat, though conservative in his views. 
 His death occurred in Tennessee in 1856. His 
 excellent wife survived him, and in 1860 removed 
 with her family to Poinsett (now Cross) County, 
 Ark. , where she bought a large tract of land, 200 
 acres of which she cleared and put under culti- 
 vation. She erected good houses and barns, set 
 out orchards and otherwise improved the plantation. 
 Mrs. Gilliland was the sister of the late lamented 
 Rev. John B. McFerrin, general manager and field 
 agent of the Methodist Book Concern, of Nash- 
 ville, and possessed his sterling qualities. Her 
 death occurred at Wittsburg, Cross County, Ark. , 
 in 1871. She was an esteemed member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. James M. Gilliland 
 was the third of seven children born to his parents. 
 Mrs. Anna Wilson, who died in 1867, at the age of 
 twenty- four, leaving her husband and four chil- 
 di'en; Mi-s. Sallie Elvers, widow of R. E. Rivers; 
 James M. ; John W. , a farmer, who died and left 
 a wife and one child in 1881 ; Mrs. Alice Thomas, 
 Mrs. Ella Durham, and Samuel, who was accident- 
 ally drowned in St. Francis River. The shock of 
 this event caused the mother's death on the day 
 following. James M. Gilliland became familiar 
 with the details of farm life in his youth, and re- 
 ceived the rudiments of an education in the com- 
 mon schools of Tennessee. Later he attended 
 Marshall Male Academy, at Marshall, Miss., but 
 his studies were interrupted by the breaking out 
 of the late war, which caused him to leave school 
 in order to assist his mother during that struggle. 
 As the excitement increased, however, he deemed 
 
Aj 
 
 590 
 
 HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 it best to join the army, and accordingly in the 
 year 1862, at the age of seventeen, enlisted for 
 one year in Company B. Twelfth Tennessee In- 
 fantry, under Col. Preston Smith, and was with 
 his regiment at the battle of Corinth. After the 
 retreat from that city Mr. Gilliland was discharged 
 on account of age, under the provision of the 
 Confederate Congress, and returned to Arkansas 
 for a short time. He then enlisted in McGee's 
 Battalion (cavalry), under Gen. Marmaduke, and 
 participated in the battles of Helena, White River 
 and numerous skirmishes in White County. Here 
 during an encounter with the Third Iowa Cavalry 
 Mr. Gilliland had his horse killed, and he was 
 taken prisoner. He was conveyed to Camp Doug- 
 las, Chicago, where he was kept a prisoner for 
 about two years. On the 12th of April, 1865, 
 they were started to the mouth of Red River, and 
 arrived at Cairo on the night that President Lin- 
 coln was assassinated. From there they were sent 
 to New Orleans, thence returned to Shreveport, 
 where they were placed on board a Confederate 
 transport, and were ordered to report to their 
 command. There being no command to which to 
 report, on arriving at the mouth of Red River, 
 about 200 of the soldiers, including Mr. Gilliland, 
 started on foot to their homes in Northern Ai'kan- 
 sas. This tiresome and perilous journey was ac- 
 complished, with great labor but without serious 
 loss, in about one month. On his arrival at home 
 Mr. Gilliland engaged in farming, and March 14, 
 1872, was the occasion of his marriage to Miss 
 Anna Davis, daughter of Dr. N. A. and Mrs. 
 Eliza M. (Drake) Davis, natives of Tennessee. 
 The fruits of this union were the following chil- 
 dren: Eliza Alice, Mary E., John D., who died in 
 infancy; Anna V., J. Landon, Florence C. and 
 Lillian M. Mr. and Mrs. Gilliland are members 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he 
 is a member of the following orders; Masonic, 
 Odd Fellows and K. & L. of H. He, like his father, 
 is a Democrat, but is conservative. He has served 
 in different official capacities in the county, iirst 
 as mayor of Wittsburg, from 1871 to 1872, then 
 as justice of the peace in Cross County, two years, 
 was a member of the board of registrars for two 
 
 \ years, andisone^of Poinsett County's representa- 
 tive citizens. He moved to Harrisburg, in Novem- 
 
 I ber, 1886, and has followed the profession of 
 teaching a portion of the time since. He was ap- 
 pointed county examiner in January, 1888. and is 
 the present incumbent. He has taught in the 
 schools of Cross, Woodruff, Craighead and Poin- 
 sett Counties, and is one of the progressive edu- 
 cators of this county. He is an earnest advocate 
 of improved methods in education, and under his 
 direction the schools of Poinsett County, are in 
 a very prosperous condition. He is the owner of 
 127 acres of land in Cross County, fifty acres of 
 which are under cultivation, and he also owns a 
 house and lot in Harrisburg. 
 
 James M. Griffin, planter and proprietor of a 
 grist and saw-mill and cotton-gin, resides in Bolivar, 
 near the county seat of Poinsett County, and has 
 been a resident of this county from his birth, which 
 occiarred in 1850, being the fifth of seven children 
 born to Theophilus and Eliza Ann (Thrower) 
 Griffin, who were born in the " Old North State " 
 and the "Blue Grass State," respectively. They 
 both removed from Poinsett County, Ark., at a 
 very early day, and after their marriage settled 
 near where our subject is now residing, where they 
 cleared and improved a farm. The father was also 
 a practicing physician and surgeon, and in early 
 times he was called upon to attend the sick in all 
 parts of the county, and well as in the counties ad- 
 joining. He was successful in alleviating the suf- 
 ferings of his fellow-mortals, and was a man who 
 was esteemed for his many worthy qualities of 
 mind and heart. His wife was called to her long 
 home in 1877. James M. Griffin received such 
 education as Poinsett County afforded in his youth- 
 ful days, and from his earliest recollections he has 
 been familiar witli the details of farm labor. At 
 the age of twenty years he began doing for him- 
 self, and after his marriage, in Poinsett County, in 
 November, 187-1, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Freeman, 
 of Alabama, he settled down to tilling the soil, and 
 now owns an exceedingly fertile tract, embracing 
 200 acres, with eighty acres under cultivation. He 
 devotes the greater part of this to the raising of 
 cotton and corn, and has 100 acres under fence. 
 
 
i^ 
 
 POINSETT COUNTY. 
 
 591 
 
 He is a Democrat, and socially is a member of the 
 K. of H. He and wife belong to the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, at Pleasant Valloy, of which 
 he has been steward, trustee and superintendent. 
 He has been an active worker for churches, schools 
 and, in fact, all worthy enterprises, and is in every 
 respect a public-spirited citizen. He and wife be- 
 came the parents of the following children: Eva 
 Engeuia, Louis Christopher, Mattie Lon, Jim and 
 Hubbard Hugh, living, and Nora Bettie, who died 
 September 2, 1888, at the age of four years. 
 
 Wilson Hall is a farmer and blacksmith, and also 
 the proprietor of a cotton-gin and gristmill in 
 Bolivar Township. He was born in this county on 
 the 6th day of January, 1836, and is the youngest 
 of eight children born to Richmond and Mary 
 (Cook ) Hall, the former a native of North Carolina, 
 and the latter of Mississippi. They were married 
 in the latter State, and came to what is now Poin- 
 sett County, Ark., in 1828, when it was a wilder- 
 ness of woods and canebrake, and entered a large 
 tract of land, on which they settled and began 
 clearing. Mr. Hall took a great interest in the 
 improvement of the county, and was also quite 
 active in politics, and the able manner in which he 
 discharged the onerous duties of the offices to 
 which he was elected won for him the respect and 
 confidence of his fellow-men. He tilled the office 
 of county and probate judge for many years, was 
 sheriff of the county for some time also, and in the 
 fall of 1844 was elected to represent his county in 
 the State legislature. His death occurred in 1863, 
 his wife having passed away in 184(); they had 
 been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 for many years. Wilson Hall, our subject, has 
 followed in the footsteps of his father, and has 
 been a farmer all his life. His early education 
 was received in the district schools of Poinsett 
 County, but he afterward supplemented this by 
 attending school at Batesville, Ark., where he 
 acquired a good practical education. At the age 
 of twent3'-two years he began tilling the soil on his 
 own responsibility, having at that time married 
 Miss Rebecca G. Bradsher, a native of Tennessee, 
 and a daughter of John and Cynthia (Stafford) 
 Bradsher, of North Carolina, who were early emi- 
 
 grants to this county, the father dying many years 
 ago; the mother is a resident of this county. Mr. 
 Hall's first purchase of laud was a timber tract con 
 sisting of 320 acres, and hero he settled in the tim- 
 ber, where he cleared some fifty acres. He now has 
 nearly 100 acres under the plow, and devotes a por- 
 tion of the remainder to his stock, the raising of 
 which receives much attention. Socially, he is 
 a member of Lodge No. 154, A. F. & A. M., at 
 Harrisburg, and his political views are in accord with 
 the Democratic party, but he is not a strict partisan. 
 He served a short time during the Rebellion, and 
 from 1862 to 1863 he was a member of W. G. 
 Gobey's company. He was called upon to mourn 
 the death of his estimable wife in 1877, she having 
 borne him a family of ten children, eight of whom 
 are living: John Wesley, who is married and 
 resides near his father; Joseph Franklin, also 
 a married man, living near by; Thomas Jefferson, 
 who makes his home with his father; William 
 Price, married and residing in Craighead County ; 
 Richmond, who died in 1886, at the age of twenty- 
 one years; Lama Ann, died in 1862, at the age of 
 four years; James Henry, Wilson, Mary Cynthia 
 and Nancy Clementine. During Mr. Hall's resi- 
 dence of half a century in this county, he has wit- 
 nessed almost incredible changes for improvement, 
 and where once was a vast wilderness of woods now 
 can be seen finely cultivated farms and comforta- 
 ble homes. 
 
 John W. Hall, though still comparatively a 
 young man, has become well known in agricultural 
 circles, and is recognized as a careful, energetic 
 farmer, who by his advanced views and progres- 
 sive hal)its has done much to improve the farming 
 interests of his section. He was born in Limestone 
 County, Ala., in 1852, and was the only child ijorn 
 to J. H. and Martha A. (Burt) Hall, who were also 
 from that county, the father being one of its 
 progressive agriculturists. In 1856 they emi- 
 grated to Poinsett County, Ark., and the father's 
 career has been a somewhat checkered one, as he 
 has been engaged in a number of different occupa- 
 tions, and has resided in several different States. 
 After being engaged in land speculations in this 
 countv until 1864, he went to Memphis. Tenn., 
 
 r 
 
A 
 
 592 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 and, although he conducted a farm near there, he 
 made his home in the city. Leaving there in 1808, 
 he removed to Omaha, Neb. , where he worked at the 
 carpenter's trade, but shortly after returned to 
 Poinsett County, and opened a farm of 100 acres, 
 on which his son, John W., is now residing. In 
 1878 he gave up active farm work and removed to 
 the town of Harrisburg, where, two years later, he 
 was elected to the ofl&ce of county sheriff. In 
 1889, when the much-talked of Oklahoma lands 
 were thrown open to the settlers, Mr. Hall removed 
 there, and is now keeping a hotel. His wife died 
 March 12, 1888, John W. Hall received a good 
 education in the city of Memphis, but did not en- 
 gage in farming until the age of eighteen years. 
 He then settled on a woodland farm, which he com- 
 menced immediately to improve, and now has 363 
 acres, with 225 under cultivation, and also oper- 
 ates a horse cotton gin. He always votes the 
 Democratic ticket, but is not an active politician. 
 He is a member of Lodge No. 184, of the A. F. 
 & A. M. , at Harrisburg, and in this order also 
 belongs to the Chapter, No. 70. He was made 
 a Maaon on his twenty-first birthday. He also be- 
 longs to Lodge No. 77 of the I. O. O. F. He 
 was married in Cross County, November 24, 1887, 
 to Miss Mamie S. Meacham, a native of Mississippi, 
 and a daughter of John and Minta (Pennell) Mea- 
 cham, who were also born in that State, but re- 
 moved to Poinsett County, in 1878, where the 
 father died in 1885. The mother is now residing 
 near Bay Village. Mr. Hall and his father have 
 opened up several farms, which they have sold at 
 a good profit, and he (as well as his father) owns 
 a claim in Oklahoma. The latter enlisted in Capt. 
 Benjamin Harris' company of infantry, of the 
 Thirteenth Arkansas Regiment, in 1801, becoming 
 first lieutenant of this company. He participated in 
 the battles of Belmont and Shiloh, but returned 
 home after his term of enlistment had expired, at 
 the end of one year. Our subject and his wife are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 Rev. J. T. Haly, farmer and stock-raiser. 
 White Hall, Ark. This njuch esteemed and re- 
 spected citizen is the sou of Charles and Mary 
 (Walker) Haly, natives of North Carolina and Vir- 
 
 ginia, respectively. Charles Haly is of the old 
 English stock of Halys, who were early settlers of 
 North Carolina. He followed farming, and he 
 and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Chiu'ch. In his political views he affiliated with 
 the Democratic party. Rev. J. T. Haly is the 
 ninth of eleven children born to his parents. 
 Thomas, a mechanic, was one of the first settlers 
 of Houston, Tex., where many monuments of his 
 handiwork, in the shape of buildings, etc. , may 
 still be seen; he died there about thirty years ago, 
 and a large number of descendants . still reside 
 there. Mrs. Susan Rily was the wife of Martin 
 Rily, a farmer of Dunklin County, Mo., where she 
 died about 1860. Charles died in North Carolina 
 at the age of twenty-one years. Stephen D. went 
 from North Carolina to Tennessee, thence to Mis 
 souri, where he dealt in fine stock; he moved with 
 Thomas Benton to Oregon at an early day and has 
 never been heard from since. The third child, 
 Mary, wife of a farmer of Middle Tennessee, died 
 there about forty years ago. William, a farmer, 
 mechanic and a Methodist minister, died in Ten- 
 nessee, in 1881. Julia was the wife of Hugh 
 Austin, a farmer of Lincoln County, Tenn. ; she 
 died at Harrisburg, Ark., about 1879. Benjamin, 
 a farmer with a large family, died about thirty- 
 four years ago in (now) Conway County, Ark. , and 
 part of his family still reside there, and the others 
 in Oregon. Patsey married Reuben Willbanks, a 
 farmer and mechanic, who died in Saline County, 
 Ark. Rev. J. T. Haly was born in Rockingham, 
 eleven miles east of Danville, N. C. , on the 5th of 
 October, 1812, and was reared and educated in 
 Middle Tennessee. He began life for himself at 
 about the age of twenty-two years, and in 1S34 
 was united in marriage to Miss Mary Austin, a 
 native of North Carolina and of Irish descent. By 
 this union he became the father of these children: 
 Matilda, wife of Joseph Hall, died in Poinsett 
 County, Ark., in 1879; Betty, wife of Thomas 
 Hawkins, both of whom died in this county; Mollie, 
 wife of Alex. Steward, a farmer, and lives in Poin 
 sett County, Ark. ; Rachel, wife of Stephen Haly, 
 lives in Oregon; Julia, wife of John Howard, also 
 lives in Oregon; Pinckney, died at the age of three 
 
^. 
 
 POINSETT COUNTY. 
 
 593 
 
 years, and McHaly, who joined the army at the 
 age of eighteen years and was killed at the battle 
 of Atlanta, Ga. , in 1864. The mother of these 
 children died in Poinsett County, Ark., in 1876, 
 and was a worthy and consistent member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Haly took for 
 his second wife, in 1879, Mi-s. Martha Wiley, 
 widow of William Wiley, by whom she had four 
 children: Mary, wife of John Rily, a farmer, and 
 lives in Cross County, Ark. ; Greene died in 1870, 
 at the age of eleven years; Anna, wife of Abijah 
 Williams, a farmer, lives in Poinsett County, and 
 Martha Jane, wife of John Sears, a miner, and 
 lives near Santa F6, N. M. Mr. Haly moved to 
 Arkansas in 1856, and found this part of the State 
 wild and unbroken. He bought 100 acres, and 
 began to open new land, there being but twenty 
 acres cleared, and has added to and sold land until 
 he now owns 140 acres, with about fifty acres 
 cleared and under a high state of cultivation. He 
 has a good orchard, and is in every way fixed to 
 pass his declining years in comfort. He can tell 
 many interesting stories of early life in Arkansas, 
 and says that at the time of his first residence 
 here it was a common thing to see fifty or 100 
 deer in a day, and occasionally one might find a 
 bear. Turkeys, raccoons and wolves were very 
 plentiful, but, as be was a man of industrious 
 habits, Mr. Haly did not follow hunting to any 
 great extent. When he first came here there were 
 but five small farms between his place and Harris- 
 burg, and, with the exception of Joseph Reeves, 
 there are none living here now who were residents 
 at that time. About the year 1859 Mr. Haly was 
 elected school commissioner, and held that position 
 until 1862. In 1877 he was elected county judge, 
 and served one term in that ofiice. He votes with 
 the Democratic part}'. He and family are mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for 
 fifty years he has been a class-leader in the same, 
 and for five years has been an elder. 
 
 A. Hamilton, blacksmith and wagon-maker, and 
 proprietor of an undertaking establishment, is one 
 of the leading business men of the county, and was 
 born in West Tennessee in 1830, being the eldest 
 of three children born to James and Elizabeth 
 
 Hamilton, who were natives, respectively, of South 
 Carolina and Kentucky. When a young man the 
 father went to Tennessee, where he followed the 
 occupation of farming, and where his wife died, a 
 number of years after their location. He afterward 
 removed to Arkansas, and died in Harrisl)urg in 
 1876. A. Hamilton acquired a good practical edu- 
 cation in the schools near his home in Tetmessee, 
 and like the majority of boys, followed in the foot- 
 steps of his father and learned the blacksmith and 
 wagon-maker's trade. He was married in that 
 State, in 1853, to Miss Annie E. Huddleston, and 
 there continued to make his home for three years, 
 at which date he moved to Arkansas. While en 
 route, on the 7th of September, he passed through 
 a dense timber land, where the corner stone for 
 the present town of Harrisburg was being placed, 
 and, liking the locality, he determined to make 
 his home in the vicinity. He erected a log house 
 that year, and in March, 1865, put up a good 
 frame dwelling-house and store-house, in which he 
 is doing his business at the present time. He has 
 been engaged in merchandising for the past thirty- 
 two years, and during bis long career here has estab- 
 lished himself firmly as a substantial citizen and an 
 honest and reliable business man. Ho has always 
 voted the Democratic ticket, but is not a strict 
 partisan. He assisted in incorporating the town, 
 and was a member of the town council for some 
 time. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and 
 the I. O. O. F. , and has been a member of the 
 former lodge since 1859. In addition to conduct 
 ing his store he is interested in the milling busi 
 ness, and has built up a paying trade. Upon the 
 opening of the war Mr. Hamilton remained at home 
 the first year, but in 186'2 enlisted in a company 
 under Col. Dobbins, and was an active participant 
 for about eighteen months. He is the father 
 of two children: Pleasant M. , and N. E. (Mrs. 
 Clounch). 
 
 William C. Harris, farmer and miller, Harris- 
 burg, Ark. ^\'orthy reference to the agricultural 
 affairs of Poinsett County would be incomplete 
 without due mention of Mr. Harris, among others 
 engaged in tilling the soil, for he is not only 
 prominent in that respect, but, as a citizen and 
 
594 
 
 HISTORY OF AEKANSAS. 
 
 neighbor, is held in the highest esteem. His 
 birth occurred in Poinsett County, Ark., on the 
 21st of July, 1848, and he is the eldest of eleven 
 children, eight now living, born to Benjamin and 
 Martha (Thomas) Han-is, natives, respectively, of 
 Alabama and Kentucky. Benjamin Harris figured 
 prominently in the afPairs of both State and coun- 
 ty, first being elected to the office of magistrate, 
 then representative, and afterward filled the posi- 
 tion of senator. He came to Arkansas with his 
 parents at an early date, and it was for this family 
 that Harrisburg received its name. He was a 
 memlier of the Masonic fraternity, a Democrat in 
 his political princijales, and, with his family, was a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The 
 eight childi-en now living of the eleven born to his 
 marriage are as follows: Schuyler, died at the age 
 of thirty-three years; Addison, sheriff of Poinsett 
 County; Mrs. Elvira Merchant, at Harrisburg; 
 Mrs. Mary Wrice; Benjamin, present senator of 
 the Twenty-ninth district; Sophia, Fanny, Irvin, 
 farmer and merchant; Lee, died in 1888. at the 
 age of twenty-five years, and Mrs. Melvina Perry, 
 at Paragould, Ark. Early in life William C. 
 Harris was taught the principles of farming, and 
 when it became necessary for him to start out in 
 life for himself, he very natVirally and wisely chose 
 the occupation to which he had been reared. From 
 that time to the present his success has been such 
 as only a thorough acquaintance with his calling 
 and years of experience might lead him to achieve. 
 His education was received in the common schools 
 of Poinsett County, and in 1862 he enlisted in the 
 army, Company K, Twenty-third Arkansas Cav- 
 alry, Adams' command, and jwrticipated in these 
 battles: luka, Corinth, Port Hudson, and others of 
 minor note. At the last mentioned place his com- 
 mand was jsaroled and came home. After this Mr. 
 Harris performed scout duty until the close of the 
 war, when he was mustered out of service, under 
 Col. Lisle, at Wittsburg, in 1865. After the sur- 
 render Mr. Harris returned to his farm, and in 
 September of the same year his marriage with 
 Miss Virginia Hays took place. She is the daugh- 
 ter of Henry and Mary (Stencell) Hays, natives of 
 North Carolina, who came here in 1855. To the 
 
 marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Harris were born the 
 following family: Walter, who died in 1885, at 
 the age of twenty years; Mittie, died in infancy; 
 Melvira, Grace, Willie, died at the age of five 
 years, and Maggie. In 1870 Mr. Harris began 
 opening a tract of land, and now has 140 acres, 
 with forty under cultivation. In addition to this 
 he is senior member of the firm of W. C. Harris 
 & Co. , owners of 440 acres of timber land, and the 
 owners also of a saw-mill, cotton gin and grist- 
 mill, with which they do a good business. The 
 mill was established in 1888. 
 
 J. M. Harris is a native-born resident of the 
 county, his birth occurring in 1843, and ever since 
 starting in life for himself he has enjoyed the 
 reputation of being not only a substantial and pro- 
 gressive planter, but an intelligent and thoroughly 
 posted man in all public matters. His brothers and 
 sisters are as follows: Mary F. (Mrs. Johnson), 
 Calvin H. , who was killed at the battle of Cbicka- 
 mauga; W. S. , a resident of the county; J. M., 
 B. F., who is married and resides near by: C. H., 
 S. A. (Mrs. Settle, residing in Cross County, Ark. ); 
 Susan (Mrs. Magee, of Scott Township), and Alice 
 (deceased). The parents of these children, W. H. 
 and J. P. (Copeland) Harris, were born in Ala- 
 bama, and in 1829 the father removed to Arkansas, 
 and squatted on a tract of land near where our 
 subject now lives. He took an active part in the 
 early history of Poinsett County, and always voted 
 the Democratic ticket. He was elected by that 
 party to the office of county judge, serving a num- 
 ber of years. His death occurred here, in March, 
 1879, but his widow is still living, and resides on 
 
 ! the old homestead. J. M. Harris was educated in 
 the schools of the county, and in 18(32 dropped 
 both farm work and schools to engage in the Ee- 
 bellion, serving in Company K, Adams' regiment, 
 and was a participant in the battles of Corinth, 
 Port Hudson and numerous skirmishes. After the 
 final surrender, he returned to Poinsett County, 
 with the consciousness of having served his cause 
 faithfully and well, and was married here the same 
 year, to Miss C. A. Staucell, a native of North 
 
 • Carolina, but her death occurred in 1870, she hav- 
 ing borne one child, C. H. , who is at home. Mr. 
 
Is li^ 
 
 POINSETT COUNTY. 
 
 595 
 
 Harris took for his second wife (in 1873) Miss R. 
 D. Reeves, a daughter of J. F. Reeves, one of the 
 early pioneers of the county, but he mourned her 
 death the follovs^ing year. He took for his third 
 wife Miss N. E. Conn, by whom he has live chil 
 dren: Sally A., Etta, Dove, Grover G. and Fran- 
 cis. After his first marriage, Mr. Harris purchased 
 !i farm of forty acres, and, by additional purchases, 
 is now the owner of 320 acres, with 100 acres under 
 cultivation. He is also engaged in stock dealing, 
 and raises to some extent, his cattle being of the 
 Durham breed. He is an active agriculturist, and, 
 in addition to his farm, operates a saw and grist- 
 mill and a pottougin in Scott Township, his vari- 
 ous enterprises netting him a lucrative annual in- 
 come. Socially, he is a member of the K. of H. 
 He is a member of the school board, and he and 
 his wife belong to the Baptist Church. 
 
 Add Harris, county sheriff, was chosen to oc- 
 cupy his present position by the Democratic party 
 in 1880, and is now filling the duties of his second 
 term, in a manner highly creditable to himself and 
 to the satisfaction of the community at large. He 
 is a native-born resident of the county, his birth 
 having occurred in 1847, and from earliest boy- 
 hood he has been familiar with the duties of farm 
 life, and his youth was also spent in attending the 
 public schools, where he acquired a good practical 
 education. He started out in life for himself at 
 the age of eighteen years, and his labors to acquire 
 a competency have met with fair results. Having 
 grown to manhood in this county, he has seen a 
 great change take place, and has noted a gradual 
 improvement yearly in its growth and prosperity. 
 He is a member of the school board in District No. 
 8, and has always been a patron of education and a 
 believer in free schools. He is a son of Benjamin 
 and Martha (Thrower) Han'is, who wore born in 
 Alabama and Kentucky, respectively, but in 1829 
 Benjamin came with his father, William Han'is, 
 to what is now Poinsett County. Ark., and squatted 
 on the land near where our subject now resides, 
 the country at that time being almost a wilderness, 
 inhabited l)y Indians and wild animals. Here the 
 grandfather died, a few years ago. Benjamin 
 Harris was married in this county, and settled on 
 
 the farm which is now occupied liy our subject. 
 They reared a family of eleven children, the names 
 of those living being as follows: \\'illiam, who is 
 married and is a resident of the county ; Add, the 
 subject of this memoir: Elvira (Mrs. Sparks), of 
 Harrisburg; Mary Ann (Mrs. liice). residing near 
 Paragould ; Sophia, residing with her brother Add : 
 Frances (Mrs. Ervin), a resident of Bolivar Town- 
 ship; Benjamin, a lawyer of Harrisburg, and Mai 
 vina (Mrs. Perry), of Paragould. The father of 
 our subject took an active part in the early history 
 I of the coiinty, and was quite a prominent poli- 
 tician, being the first man elected to the State 
 Legislature from this district, and was also a State 
 senator in 1877. During the Rebellion he was 
 captain of a company in the Thirteenth Arkansas 
 Regiment of infantry, and was a participant in the 
 battle of Belmont, but was taken sick and con- 
 fined in the hospital at Memphis, Tenn. , for some 
 time. His death occurred in this county, in 1881. 
 His widow resides with her son Add. 
 
 Hon. Benjamin Harris, of the Twenty-ninth 
 Senatorial District, was born in Poinsett County, 
 Ark., in 1854, and is the sixth of eleven children 
 born to Benjamin and Martha (Thrower) Harris, a 
 short history of whom is given in the sketch of 
 Add Harris, sheriff of Poinsett County. The 
 family are of Scotch descent, and first came to the 
 United States from their native land in 1680, 
 taking up their abode in Nelson County, Va., in 
 which State the paternal grandfather served as a 
 captain in the Revolutionary War. The youthful 
 days of our subject were divided between working 
 on the farm and attending school, and as he grew 
 up he learned the lessons of industry, persever- 
 ance and economy, which have .stood him in good 
 stead in later years. Becoming familiar with the 
 intricacies of surveying, he was elected to the office 
 of county surveyor, at the age of twenty-two years, 
 and afterward entered upon the study of law: and 
 after being admitted to the bar, in 1879, he com 
 menced practicing the profession at his old home, 
 and the enviable reputation he has acquired has 
 been gained largely through his own individual 
 efforts, and at the expense of diligent study and 
 hard practical experience. He has been known liy 
 
\ 
 
 596 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 the people of the community from infancy, and 
 they have had every opportunity to judge of his 
 character and qualifications, and their confidence 
 in him has been intelligently placed. In 1885 he 
 was elected to the house of representatives, and 
 in 1888 was chosen a State senator. Socially, he 
 is a Mason. In 1881 he was united in marriage to 
 Miss Mary A. Reeves, a native of Missouri, but he 
 was called upon to mourn her loss in 1887; she 
 was the mother of two children: Frederica and 
 Jachchot Fay. Frederica died in September, 1884. 
 Hazlewood Bros. & Co. , druggists, Harrisburg, 
 Ark. The profession of the druggist is one which 
 operates effectively, in time of need, in arresting 
 and alleviating the most acute pains and ailments 
 to which the human Iwdy is heir, and therefore de- 
 serves the most thankful and appreciative considera- 
 tion on the part of the public. This firm was organ- 
 ized under the above name in January, 1889, at 
 Harrisburg, but previous to that time the business 
 had been carried on at Wynne, under the title of 
 Hazlewood Bros. A change was then effected, 
 and Mr. J. S. Minton bought an interest, and be- 
 came a member of the house. Soon after this the 
 Harrisburg house was organized, and the present 
 name adopted. The firm is progressive, having a 
 handsomely appointed store, fully stocked with a 
 choice selection of drugs, chemicals, and the most 
 popular patent medicines. A .stock of goods val- 
 ued at about $4, 000 is carried, and a good business 
 is enjoyed. Although young men, they have the 
 proper amount of energy and business ability to 
 make a success of whatever they undertake. They 
 are, with the exception of Mr. Minton, natives of 
 Arkansas, but he is a native of Tennessee. The 
 latter is a son of J. A. and M. C. Minton, and was 
 born February 18, 1864. His parents are natives 
 of Mississippi and Tennessee, respectively. They 
 came to Arkansas in 1 869, and the father has since 
 been engaged in different lines of business, prin- 
 cipally merchandising, but for the last five years 
 he has been holding the office of justice of the 
 peace and mayor. To his marriage were born 
 four children: William T., farmer; Louis G., 
 salesman and insurance agent in Harrisburg; J. S. 
 and Annie E. Mr. Minton, Sr. , is a member of the 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Church; he has been a member 
 of the Masonic _ fraternity since 1858, and in his 
 political views affiliates with the Democratic party. 
 The senior members of this firm, J. A. and J. W. 
 Hazlewood, are the sons of John A. and Sallie 
 (Crook) Hazlewood, natives of Mississippi and 
 Tennessee, respectively. The parents came to 
 Arkansas at an early date, were married here, and 
 here the father carried on agricultural pursuits for 
 many yeai's. He and wife were members of the 
 Methodist Church. They reared a family of five 
 children: J. A., Alice, the wife of W. W. Nelms, 
 who is a bookkeejier at Bay Village; J. W., Leon- 
 idas (deceased), and H. W., a young man resid- 
 ing with his mother, and who conducts her farm. 
 Mrs. Hazlewood was the daughter of J. A. Crook, 
 an old and highly respected farmer and superin- 
 tendent of plantations. He belongs to the family 
 of that name who are prominently connected with 
 the early hi.story of West Tennessee, also a rela- 
 tive of the famous Gen. Crook. The members of 
 the firm of Hazlewood Bros. & Co. each received a 
 common school education by their own efforts, and 
 at their own expense. They are public-spirited 
 and enterprising, contributing to school and church, 
 and to all public enterprises as far as their means 
 will permit. 
 
 Benjamin F. Hogan, Sr. , farmer. Bay Village, 
 Ark. Mr. Benjamin F. Hogan, a respected resi- 
 dent of this county for many years, and a man of 
 extensive and popular acquaintance, was originally 
 fi-om Randolph County, Ark., where his birth oc- 
 curred December 2, 1833. His parents, Martin and 
 Zilphia (Myers) Hogan, were among the earliest 
 settlers of that State, and the father opened up new 
 land in that county, cultivating the same all his 
 life. Benjamin F. Hogan is the fourth in a family 
 of eleven children, all deceased with the exception 
 of Henry, a farmer of Randolph County; Joseph, of 
 that county, and John, also a farmer of that county. 
 Benjamin F. 's time in his youthful days was divided 
 between working upon the home farm and in attend- 
 ing the common schools of the period, where he re 
 ceived a fairly good education. At the age of twenty- 
 three years he married Miss Sarah Hogan, a native 
 of Poinsett County, and the fruits of this union 
 
 
-^ 
 
 POINSETT COUNTY. 
 
 597 
 
 were nine children, seven of whom sire living at 
 the present time: William, Walter, Mary, Lucinda, 
 Joannah, Benjamin and Thomas. The first five of 
 these children are all married, and are residing in 
 Poinsett County. Mrs. Hogan died about 1877, 
 and in 1878 Mr. Hogan married his present wife, 
 who was formerly Mrs. Mary Young, a native of 
 Tennessee, and to this union were born two chil- 
 dren, Samuel and James, seven and live years of 
 age, respectively. Mr. Hogan has followed agri- 
 cultural pursuits during life, and in 1888 bought 
 his present farm, which consists of forty acres, all 
 under fence, and all but live acres under cultiva- 
 tion. He found his present land a wilderness, but 
 this he has improved, and now has one of the most 
 pleasant homes in the county. He and wife are 
 members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and 
 Methodist Episcoiaal Church, respectively. He is 
 a Democrat in politics, and in 1863 joined the 
 army under Col. Dobbins, and was with Gen. 
 Price on his famous raid through Missouri. He 
 received his discharge at Wittsburg, in 1865. He 
 has these step-children: Leona, wife of B. S. 
 Eakins a farmer, living in Poinsett County ; Jane, 
 wife of William Hogan, a farmer, living near Bay 
 Village; W. S. James, Charley James and George. 
 His own children, William and Walter, are farm- 
 ers, the former in this county and the latter in 
 Cross County: Mary is the wife of Asa Byrum, and 
 is Jiving near Bay Village; Lucinda J. is the wife 
 of James Jordan, and is living in this county; 
 Josephine is the wife of James Herod, and lives in 
 this county; B. F. and Thomas are both single, 
 and reside with their father. 
 
 E. L. Jacobs, M. D. Twenty-nine years de- 
 voted to the service of humanity sums up in a line 
 the career, thus far, of Dr. E. L. Jacobs. He was 
 born in Hardeman County, Tenn., in 183'2, being 
 the youngest in a family of three children born to 
 Henry and Jane C. (Dillard) Jacobs, the former a 
 native of Middle Tennessee, and the hitter of North 
 Carolina. After their marriage, in Tennessee, they 
 settled in Pontotoc County, Miss., where they 
 opened up an extensive plantation, on which they 
 resided until their respective deaths, in 1854 and 
 1866. On this plantation Dr. Jacobs spent his 
 
 youthful days, and there received his eai'ly educa- 
 tion, which was of a somewhat meager description. 
 In 1857 he settled at Bolivar, Poinsett County, 
 Ark., but three years later made a location at Har- 
 risburg, whore he entered upon the practice of his 
 profession, and has followed it ever since. So 
 cially, he is a member of Poinsett Lodge No. 184, 
 A. F. & A. M. , of which li(> has been Worshipful 
 Master several years. He has never been an active 
 politician, but has voted the Democratic ticket. 
 He is a member of the town council, and he and 
 wife, whose maiden name was Sarah A. Conn, and 
 whom he married in 1855, are members of the 
 Baptist Church. Two children blessed their 
 union, E. J., wife of A. C. Thrower, being the only 
 one living. Mrs. Jacobs is a daughter of Levi and 
 Elizabeth (Duke) Conn, who were born in Ken- 
 tucky and Tennessee, respectively. They were 
 early immigrants to Poinsett County, Ark., and 
 here spent their declining years. 
 
 Dr. H. L. Jacobs. The name of Dr. Jacoljs 
 is one of the most respected in this community, 
 and during his residence in this county he has en- 
 joyed a practice among the be.st families, and is 
 kept very busy; while with the medical fraternity 
 his reputation is by no means local, and ho is known 
 for his remarkable cures throughout this section of 
 country. He was born in Pontotoc County, Miss. , in 
 1852, and is the eldest in a family of ton children 
 born to Clinton W. and liebocca Jane (Conn) J acobs, 
 who were Tennesseeans and removed to Pontotoc 
 County, Miss., in 1840. The fatlior afterward re- 
 moved to Poinsett Co. , Ai'k. , and hero purchased a 
 woodland farm, and made his home until his death, 
 in 1887, his wife having passed from life in 1877. 
 Mr. Jacobs was an active member of the Demo 
 cratic party, a Chapter Mason, and, during the 
 Civil War, served for some time under Capt. Brisco. 
 Dr. Jacobs, our subject, spent his early youth and 
 manhood on his father's farm, and acquired 
 a good practical education in the district schools of 
 Poinsett County. After studying medicine for 
 some time under the well-known physicians, Jacobs 
 and Gilks, ho went before the board of examiners, 
 and was licensed to practice, in January, 1884, 
 and bj- the ability with which he has managed his 
 
^:^ 
 
 598 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 cases, be has become one of the well known physi- 
 cians of the county, and stands well with the med- 
 ical brotherhood. He has a good plantation of 
 eighty acres, but only has seven acres under culti- 
 vation. He supports the principles of the Demo- 
 cratic party, and he and wife, whom he married in 
 Poinsett County, Ai'k. , in December, 1S84, and 
 whose maiden name was Mary E. Sparks, are con- 
 sistent members of the Missionary Baptist Church. 
 Mrs. Jacobs was born in Crittenden County, Ark. , 
 and she and the Doctor are the parents of two 
 children: Harry Clinton and Mary Bertha. 
 
 J. A. Jelks, M. D. , was born in Halifax County, 
 N. C, in January, 1807, and, although he was 
 reared on his father's extensive plantation in that 
 State, he was never compelled to farm labor, 
 owing to the numerous slaves his father always 
 kept, they numbering about sixty the year round. 
 His education up to the age of nineteen years was 
 received in his native county, and he then entered 
 upon the study of medicine, under the tutelage of 
 that well-known physician, James B. Yellowly, re- 
 ceiving his first course of lectures at the University 
 of Pennsylvania, after which he entered Rutger's 
 Medical College of New York City, from which he 
 graduated in February, 1829. Subsequently re- 
 turning to his native heath, to enter upon his prac- 
 tice, he was married there, in 1830, to Miss Ma- 
 tilda Ann Crowell, and the following year they re- 
 moved westward. After spending one year in 
 Lawrence County, Miss., they went to Hinds Coun- 
 ty, in the vicinity of Raymond, that State, making 
 that place their home until December, 1833. Their 
 next move was to Fayette County, Tenn., but after 
 a residence there of three years, they returned to 
 Mississippi, to Chidahoma, and here his wife was 
 called to her long home, in 1837, she having borne 
 him a daughter, Cynthia Louise, now Mrs. Latta, 
 residing in Cross County, near Cherry Valley. 
 After the death of his estimable wife, the Doctor 
 returned to Fayette County, Tenn., and resided 
 there until coming to Poinsett County, Ark., in 
 1850. He was again married, in Tennessee, to 
 Miss Bettie J. , a daughter of William Guerrant, 
 her birth having occurred in the State of Virginia. 
 The Doctor was so unfortunate as to lose this wife 
 
 in Poinsett County, in 1869, she having borne him 
 a family of seven children, whose names are as fol^ 
 lows: William Robert, a widower, residing in Crit- 
 tenden County; Charles E., who was in Capt. Le- 
 Vesque's company, and died in the army in 1865: 
 Caspar W., a farmer, married and living in Cross 
 County ; James H. , also in Cross County ; Thomas 
 D. (deceased) ; Mary T. , and Ada G. (Mrs. Jordan), 
 who also lives in Cross County. For his third wife 
 he took, in 1871, Euna A. Allen, a daughter of 
 Lyman S. and Angeline (Whitford) Allen, who 
 were born at Ticonderoga, N. Y. The father was 
 a teacher by profession, and followed that occupa- 
 tion with success for over thirty years. He removed 
 to Iowa at a very early daj', and was one of the 
 first settlers of Buchanan County. He was county 
 supervisor for years, and held the office of magis- 
 trate. The ])aternal grandfather, Joel Allen, was 
 a soldier in the War of 1812, and was a first cousin 
 of Gen. Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame. The 
 Allen family are of English descent, and can trace 
 their ancestry back to the year 1635. Oliver 
 Whitford, the maternal grandfather, was also a 
 soldier in the War of 1812, was born in York State, 
 but emigrated to Pennsylvania, where he died. 
 He was also of English origin. Lyman S. Allen 
 died in 1870 at the age of seventy six years, and 
 was followed to the grave by his wife in 1884. 
 From the time of his settlement until 1885 Dr. 
 Jelks resided in Scott Township, but at that date 
 he removed to Harrisburg, and, since starting on 
 his professional career, he has practiced continu- 
 ously until within the past eighteen months. Dur- 
 ing his long years of practice here he has proved 
 himself to be a physician of ability, his prac- 
 tice being very large, and among the best class 
 of citizens. Socially, he is a member of Lodge 
 No. 184, of the A. F. & A. M. , and in this order 
 has advanced to the Chapter. He was the eld 
 est of five sons and two daughters born to Rob- 
 ert and Mary (Nicholson) Jelks, who lived for a 
 long time in Halifax County, though the mother 
 was born and reared in Edgecombe County. The 
 father afterward moved to Alabama, and became a 
 wealthy planter of that State. He was married 
 three times, but had no issue by his first wife. 
 
 [71 
 
±=dt^ 
 
 His last union resulted in the birth of three sons, 
 two of whom survive. His death occurred in 
 1846, in Russell County of that State, his wife 
 having died in North Carolina in 1829. He was a 
 stanch Democrat, and a member of the Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 John Jones, postmaster. White Hall, Ark. Mr. 
 Jones was born in Abbeville District, S. C. , and is 
 the son of Robert and Mary (Conn) Jones, natives 
 of South Carolina, and of Irish descent. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Jones were among the first settlers of South 
 Carolina, and there the mother died when her son 
 John was but an infant. He was taken and reared 
 l)y his grandfatlier, John Conn, and his father went 
 to Alabama, where he was married the second 
 time. After the death of his grandparents our 
 subject was taken to Alabama by his father, and 
 received his education in the common schools of 
 that State. His father was a miller, and was very 
 successful in this occupation. He was a member of 
 the Christian Church, and his death occurred in 
 Alabama in 1862. John Jones was reared to farm 
 labor, and began his own career at the age of fif- 
 teen years. When eighteen years of age he left 
 Alabama for West Tennessee and worked for 
 money to enable him to attend school. This was 
 in 1837, and he returned to Alabama, where he 
 went to school for about two years, after which he 
 was elected to the office of constable, although he 
 continued to farm until 1842. He took for his life 
 companion Miss Martha Thurmau, a native of Ala- 
 bama, and after marriage began farming on rented 
 land, where he remained for fourteen years. In 
 185(5 he moved to Poinsett County, Ark., and pur- 
 chased the farm on which he now resides. At first 
 he purchased 100 acres of wild land, and began to 
 improve it, living in a tent until he could erect a 
 cabin. He cleared about eight acres the first year, 
 and since then has continued to clear and other- 
 wise improve his farm, until now he has 200 acres 
 of land, with 120 acres cleared. About 1869 he 
 erected a gin and grist-mill, and has since con- 
 ducted that business in connection with tilling the 
 soil. In 1887 that mill was destroyed by fire, but 
 was rebuilt in 1888. The year 1887 was an unfort- 
 unate one for Mr. Jones, as he had his residence 
 
 and all the contents destroyed by fire in that yeai-. 
 To his marriage were born these children: J. P., 
 a farmer, living in Scott Township, and is magis 
 trate for his township; Isaac L., now twenty-one 
 years of age, lives with his father; AVilliamC, 
 born in 1844 and died in 1868, and Josepliine E., 
 born in 1846. Mr. Jones had two sons in the Con 
 federate army; one, William C, sickened and 
 died in Columbus, Miss., his father being present 
 and attending to his wants until his death; the other 
 son, J. P., came out without injury. Mr. Jones 
 votes with the Republican party, and takes an act- 
 ive interest in politics. He held the office of jus- 
 tice of the peace before the war, and has filled 
 many local positions of trust and responsibility, 
 such as coroner and school trustee, and has been 
 postmaster for the last twelve years. During the 
 year 1851 Mr. Jones held the office of tax-collector 
 in Limestone County, Ala., under a bond of 
 $75,000. He is a member of Harrisl)nrg Lodge 
 No. 184, A. F. & A. M., and his family arc 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 J. P. Jones is another successful farmer of the 
 county, of which he has been a resident since No- 
 vember, 1856, having come here from his native 
 State of Alabama at that date. He was born in 
 1842, and is the eldest of four children of John 
 and Martha A. (Thurman) Jones, the former born 
 in South Carolina and the latter in Alal)ama. 
 They were married in the latter State, and there 
 the father followed the occupation of a ])lanter 
 until his removal to this State. He located on a 
 woodland farm, where he has made his home up to 
 the present date, and during his residence here he 
 has been quite an active politician; he has filled 
 the office of postmaster at White Hall for some ten 
 years, and was also justice of the peace in 1858. 
 He and his wife now reside near their son, J. P., 
 who from his earliest youth has been familiar with 
 farm life. He received his early schooling in Ala- 
 bama, but in 1861 he dropped his books and aban- 
 doned the plow to enlist in the Confederate army, 
 becoming a member of Capt. Harris' Company of 
 the Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry, and served east 
 of the Mississippi River. He was at Belmont. 
 Shiloh, and also in many skirmishes. At the ex- 
 
 r|^ 
 
600 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 piration of his term of service he left the army 
 aud returned home, and was married the following 
 year in Poinsett County, to Miss L. D. Eskridge, 
 who was l)orn in West Tennessee. Her death oc 
 ciirred in January, 1884, and in November of the 
 same year he espoused Miss J. A. Stafford, a na- 
 tive of West Tennessee, and a daughter of J. D. 
 and Hester Ann (Han-ison) Stafford, who removed 
 from North Carolina to Arkansas in 1880. Here 
 the father died in 1880. and the mother four years 
 later. Mr. Jones has a farm of 200 acres, with 
 fifty acres under cultivation, on which he raises 
 cotton principally. He devotes considerable at- 
 tention to stock, and in connection with his father 
 operates a cotton-gin. He is a Republican in his 
 political views, and for the past ten years has acted 
 as justice of the peace of his township. He filled 
 the office of county treasurer for nearly five years, 
 and has been a member of the school board for 
 many years. He is a member of Lodge No. 77 of 
 the I. O. O. F. , at Havrislnirg. and he and his wife 
 are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 South. 
 
 J. W. Kaisner, planter, of Bay Village, Ark. 
 This enterprising citizen owes his nativity to Ran 
 dolph County, Ark., where his birth occurred in ] 
 1845. He was the youngest of a family of three 
 children, and the only one now living, born to James 
 and Polly (Winnehan) Kaisner, natives of Tennes- 
 see and Arkansas, respectively. James Kaisner, 
 when a young man, came with his father to Ran- 
 dolph County, and there died in the year 1845. 
 The mother died in Februaiy, 1855. Grandfather 
 Winnehan was a Methodist minister. J. W. Kais- 
 ner was reared by his grandfather Kaisner to farm 
 life, and received a practical education in the 
 district schools of Marion County, Ark. During 
 the late unpleasantness between the North and 
 South he enlisted in the Fourth Missouri Infantry. 
 Confederate army, in February, 1862, and served 
 three years, or during the war. He participated in 
 the following battles— luka, Corinth, Vicksburg, 
 Champion's Hill and others of less note. He was 
 paroled at Jacksonport, in June. 1865, after which 
 he came to Crittenden County, Aik. , and there re- 
 mained until January, 1866, when he entered Poin- 
 
 sett County. He there followed farming in a suc- 
 cessful manner, and in 1867 purchased 160 acres 
 of land, with twenty-five acres under cultivation. 
 He commenced at once to improve, and now has 
 220 acres with sixty-five under cultivation. He 
 raises considerable stock, and over his meadows 
 roam horses and cattle, principally the latter. He 
 is not active in politics, but votes with the Demo- 
 cratic party, and though often solicited to run for 
 office has never done so. Socially, he is a member 
 of the I. O. O. F., and also of the Agricultural 
 Wheel. Mr. Kaisner selected for his companion 
 in life Miss Jane Morrison, a native of the Blue 
 Grass State, and was man-ied to her in Poinsett 
 County, in 1868. After his marriage Mr. Kais- 
 ner settled on his present property, and there he 
 has since resided. He and wife are both church 
 meml)ers, he of the Methodist and she of the 
 Baptist denomination. To Mr. and Mrs. Kaisner 
 has been born one child, James Todd. Mr. Kais- 
 ner has seen many changes in the country since his 
 residence here. At first they were obliged to go 
 twenty miles to market, and a trip to Memphis 
 was made in eight or ten days. He is, in every 
 sense of the word, a self-made man, and to his own 
 industry and enterprise is due his success. 
 
 J. B. Lynch, the junior member of the firm 
 of Grant & Lynch, general merchants of Weiner, 
 Ai-k., was born in Giles County. Tenn. . in 1860, 
 and since February, 1889, he has been engaged in 
 his present business. The firm caiTy a complete 
 and select stock of groceries, canned goods, dry 
 goods, boots and shoes, shelf hardware, furniture, 
 etc., and will soon put in a stock of clothing for 
 their fall trade. They are wide-awake, plucky and 
 reliable, and fully deserve the paying trade which 
 they have secured. Mr. Lynch is the third in a 
 family of nine children born to W. F. and Susan 
 E. (Gibles) Lynch, who were Tennesseeans, the I 
 father an undertaker by trade. He remained at 
 Lynchville, Tenn., until his death, which occurred 
 in 1882, his wife having passed from life in 1876. ; 
 The father was an Odd Fellow, and was a man 
 whom everybody respected aud admired. In 1882 
 J. B. Lynch came to Jackson County, Ark. , and 
 began farming; in the fall of that year he went to 
 
,[> 
 
 POINSETT COUNTY. 
 
 601 
 
 Johnson Connly, eind aftor residini; in the town of 
 Clarksville for some time, he leturned to Jackson 
 County, and came to Poinsett Connty in 1884, whore 
 his attention was for some time given to railroad- 
 tie contracting, continuing this till up to the time 
 of embarking in his present business. His efforts 
 in this direction are meeting with good results, and 
 he can, with every assurance of success, look for- 
 ward to a prospero>is future. Socially, he is a 
 member of Lodge No. 184, of the A. F. & A. M., 
 of Harrisburg, and in politics, although not very 
 active, he usually votes the Democratic ticket. 
 
 J. J. Mardis, attorney at law. The name of 
 Mardis is identified with the professional standing, 
 the welfare and material and social happiness of 
 Poinsett County, of which he is a native-born 
 resident, his birth occurring November 18. 1850. 
 He is the youngest of a family of six children of 
 John P. and Delilah (Hamrick) Mardis, the former 
 a native of Virginia and the latter of Alabama. 
 They were early settlers of Poinsett County, and 
 entered Government laud, on which they resided 
 until his death, which occurred in 185t); in addition 
 to managing his farm, he was actively engaged 
 in the practice of medicine, his services being re- 
 quired over a very lai'ge area. His widow still 
 survives him, and resides on the old homestead. 
 Their childi'en are as follows: Amanda J. (Mrs. 
 Thorn), B. R. J. (married, and residing on the old 
 homestead), N. B. (a widower, residing in Scott 
 Township), and J. J. (our subject.) The latter 
 was educated in the schools of Han-isburg and 
 vicinity, and, after reading law in that town for 
 some time, he was admitted to the bar in 1880, 
 since which time he has been actively engaged in 
 practicing his profession, and is considered by all 
 to be a practical thinker and an earnest and forci 
 ble speaker. His property has been acquired 
 through his own exertions, and 100 acres of his 
 farm are under cultivation. He was married here in 
 April, 1872. to Miss Sue Han-is, and of seven chil- 
 dren born to their union six are living: John A., 
 Agnew. Henry, Maggie Lee, Simmie and Freddie. 
 Dovie died in August. 1880, at the age of eleven 
 years. Mrs. Mardis is a daughter of John and 
 Sarah (Copeland) Harris, who were Tennesseeans, 
 
 aod came to Poinsett County, Ark., in 1829, taking 
 up their aVjode on a farm near Harrisl)urg. where 
 the father died in 1885, the mother in 1884. Mr. 
 Mardis has taken quite an active interest in pol- 
 itics, and always votes with the Democratic party: 
 he served on that ticket in the capacity of magis 
 trate for six years. He is a member of the A. F. 
 & A. M. , Harrisburg Lodge, No. 184, and al.so be- 
 longs to the K of H. He and wife are members 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and since Do 
 cember, 1887, have been residents of Harrisburg. 
 where Mr. Mardis has built up a large and con 
 stantly increasing clientage. He is well versed in 
 the intricacies of the law, and is thoroughly com 
 petent and reliable. 
 
 Michael Mayer, fanner and stock raiser, Weiner. 
 Ark. The reader is herewith handed a plain state 
 inent of a useful life; for certainly, if what is of 
 the most use is of the most value, then, indeed, it is 
 in recording the lives of representative men that 
 biography is to be useful to posterity. Mr. Mayer 
 was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1844, and was 
 the seventh in a family of eight children born to 
 the marriage of Michael and Mary (Mark worth) 
 Mayer, the father a native of Bavaria, and the 
 mother of Canton Worms, France. Michael Mayer. 
 Sr. , was reared in his native country, and V)ecame a 
 successful agriculturist. He owned a very large 
 vineyard, but sold out in 1853 and came direct 
 from Germany to Illinois, where he later purchased 
 land in Vermilion County, and made his home 
 for some time. Later he moved to Danville. 111., 
 where his death occurred in October, 1870. and 
 one year later his excellent wife also closed her 
 eyes to the scenes of this earth. The early life 
 of Michael Mayer, Jr. , was passed between assist- 
 ing on the farm and in attending the public 
 schools of Danville, 111. When the late war broke 
 out he enlisted in Company B, Tenth Illinois Cav- 
 alry, Independent Regiment, at Camp Butler. 
 Springfield, 111., and was assigned to the Western 
 Department. He was in the battles of Wilson's 
 Creek, Pea Ridge. Prairie Grove. Arkansas Post. 
 Little Rock. Saline River. Pleasant Hill, Helena. 
 Vicksburg, Nashville, was at Stone River, siege 
 of Atlanta, and was in the memorable march to 
 
 irr. 
 
jil±r=±: 
 
 A 9 
 
 602 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 the sea. He was at Mobile, New Orleans, and 
 was also in the Red River campaign ; was also in 
 the battles of Corinth and Pittsburg Landing. 
 He received his discharge at San Antonio, Tex., 
 in 1865, but was on the border during that winter, 
 guarding the railroads. He then returned to Dan- 
 ville, 111., and engaged in merchandising, which 
 he continued for about five years. In 1866 he 
 was married, in Danville, 111. , to Miss Mary Klaege, 
 a native of Germany, and the daughter of John 
 and Mary (Geise) Klaege, also natives of Germany. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Klaege came to the United States in 
 1856, settling in the city of Brooklyn, where the 
 father was employed for some time, and then 
 moved to Danville, 111., in 1865. He died there 
 in the fall of 1868. The mother moved to Poin- 
 sett County, Ark., in 1882, and made her home 
 with the subject of this sketch until her death, 
 which occurred one year later. Michael Mayer 
 continued his mercantile pursuits, as before stated, 
 for five years in Danville, 111. ; then embarked in 
 contracting, and worked on the I. B. & W. R. R. 
 He remained iu Danville until 1881, when he 
 moved to Poinsett County, and in September pur- 
 chased a timber tract of 280 acres. He now has 
 good buildings, and has 100 acres under fence. He 
 also owns 160 acres partly under cultivation, with 
 a good two story house, etc. He raises consider- 
 able cattle of the Ayrshire grade, and is one of the 
 wide-awake farmers of the county. He votes with 
 the Democratic party, but is not very active in 
 politics. While living at Danville, Mr. Mayer 
 was a member of the board of alderman, and since 
 livino' here he has been a member of the school 
 board, he being deeply interested in educational 
 affairs, having been instrumental in organizing the 
 school district. Mr. and Mrs. Mayer are members 
 of the Catholic Church. To their united lives 
 has been born one child, Emma Elizabeth, who 
 is now Mrs. J. M. Steele [see sketch], and re 
 sides in Poinsett County. They have an adopted 
 son, Thomas Leonard, whom they took when four 
 years of age. He now bears the name of Thomas 
 Mayer. 
 
 P. J. Murray is possessed of those advanced ideas 
 and progressive principles regarding agricultural 
 
 life which seem to be the chief prerogative of the 
 average native of Illinois. He was born in Kane 
 County in 1852, and is the eldest of four children 
 born to Patrick and Ann (Kane) Murray, botli of 
 whom were born in the ' ' Emerald Isle. " At an 
 early day they emigrated to the United States, and 
 after residing some time iu Pennsylvania, they 
 removed to Illinois, and here they both died iu 
 Kane County, some years ago. P. J. Murray 
 received such education as the district schools of 
 Kane County afforded, and his youth and early 
 manhood were spent in aiding in the development 
 of the home farm. • After working in the pineries 
 of Northern Michigan for some time, he went to 
 Louisiana, and in January, 1882, came to Poinsett 
 County, where he engaged in mercantile business, 
 and also had the contract for grading five miles of 
 the Kansas City & Memphis Railroad. After 
 completing one mile the company raised the grade, 
 and Mr. Murray threw up the job, then returning to 
 his store, to which he gave his undivided attention 
 for some eighteen months. He then commenced 
 farming, and purchased a timber tract of eighty 
 acres, which he began immediately to improve. 
 He now has forty acres cleared and under cultiva- 
 tion, and is making a good living. He is an active 
 Democrat in his political views, and is at present 
 serving his third term as magistrate. He was 
 instrumental in organizing a good school in his 
 district. Socially, he is a member of the A. F. & 
 A. M. , and belongs to Jouesboro Chapter. He 
 was married in Little River Township, in 1883, to 
 Miss Lydia A. Davidson, a native of Dunklin 
 County, Mo., and a daughter of Zachariah and 
 Sarah Davidson, who were natives of that State. 
 They removed to this county in 1877, and the 
 father is now living with Mr. Murray, his wife 
 having died some years ago. Two childi'en have 
 been born to Mr. and Mrs. Murray: Zachariah 
 and Feli.K. Since locating here Mr. Murray has 
 seen many changes take place, and the country 
 rapidly fill up with a good class of settlers. The 
 soil here is fertile, and will readily yield fifty 
 I bushels of corn to the acre. 
 
 1 T. H. Peck, through good management and 
 energy, has become the owner of 180 acres of ex- 
 
 «7 
 
-<! 9 
 
 a. 
 
 cellent laud, of which about forty acres are under 
 cultivation, and eighty are in timber land. He 
 was born in Jefferson County, Term., in 18;i4, and 
 is the eldest of a family of six children born to the 
 marriai^e of William R. Peck and J. C. Arledge, 
 the former a Tennesseean, and the latter a native 
 of South Carolina. The latter attended school in 
 Columbia, in her native State, lieing a schoolmate 
 of Gen. Wade Hampton. The parents were mar- 
 ried in the latter State, and in 1846 removed to 
 Poinsett County, where they resided on a farm in 
 Bolivar Township until their respective deaths, in 
 1846 and 1872. The early educational advantages 
 of T. H. Peck were somewhat limited, as he re- 
 mained faithfully by his mother, assisting her on 
 the farm until he was twenty- five years of age. In 
 1869, he was married in Crittenden County, Ark., 
 to Miss Mary M. Dean, a native of Mississippi, 
 whose death occurred in 1870, she having borne 
 Mr. Peck two children; William L., who is mar- 
 ried and resides in the county, and George W. 
 In the latter part of 1870 Mr. Peck was married, 
 in Poinsett County, to Miss Mary S. Ware, of 
 Middle Tennessee, but after bearing one child, 
 Mary O. , she died in 1873. He espoused his third 
 wife. Miss Mary E. Allen, a native of South Caro 
 Una, in 1875. In 1861, Mr. Peck enlisted from 
 Poinsett County in Company C, Capt. Benjamin 
 Harris' Company, and was in the battles of Shiloh 
 and Belmont, being wounded in the former engage- 
 ment by a gun-shot. After serving one year, he 
 returned to Poinsett County, and for some time 
 was engaged in buying and selling land, but for a 
 number of years has given his attention to farm- 
 ing. He is an active politician, voting the Repub- 
 lican ticket, and has served as magistrate of his 
 township for seven years. He has always been 
 deeply interested in schools, and for a number of 
 years has been a member of the school board. He 
 belongs to the Agricultural Wheel. 
 
 George C. Peters is the senior meml)er of the 
 tirm of Peters & Oats, who are the proprietors of 
 a saw-mill at Weitier, Ark., which has an extensive 
 capacity and a forty-hoise-power engine. They 
 manufacture hardwood lumber, of all kinds, and 
 make a specialty of wagon materials, shipping their 
 
 product to Hawley, Paddock & Co., and the Mis- 
 souri Car & Foundry Works, at St. Louis, Mo. 
 Th(*y have been established in business here some 
 little time, and, judging from the patronage they 
 already command, they can look forward to a pros- 
 perous and successful future. Mr. Peters was born 
 in Dutchess County, N. Y., in 1853, and possesses 
 the many admiral)le (jualities which are so charac^ 
 teristic of natives of the "Empire State." He 
 was the third of five children born to Henry W. 
 and Caroline E. (Flint) Peters, also natives of 
 New York, and inherits English blood from his 
 father. The latter was for many years one of the 
 honest "sons of the soil," but is now living in 
 Poughkeepsie, N. Y. , retired from the active duties 
 of life. His children are Alfred H. , who resides 
 in Poughkeepsie, and devotes his time to literature, 
 being a contributor to the Century and Harpers' 
 magazines, also other noted periodicals; Jacob O., 
 who is married and resides on the old homestead 
 of 400 acres, near Amenia, N. Y. ; G. C. ; K. E., 
 wife of S. F. Davidson, residing in Topeka, Kas., 
 and is chief clerk in the treasurer's office of the 
 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, and Car- 
 rie, a twin sister of Jacob O. . who resides in Pough- 
 keepsie. George C. Peters was reared principally 
 in the City of New York, but received the greater 
 part of his education at Poughkeepsie, in Bisbee's 
 Military Academy, and after eom])leting his course 
 there he went to New York City, and engaged in 
 business on Wall Street, but removed from there 
 some time after to Topeka, Kas. (in 1874), and had 
 charge of the Wells-Fargo Express Company, and 
 later the Adams Express Company. In 1879 he 
 went to San Juan County, Colo., on a prospecting 
 tour, but soon after returned to New York, and, in 
 1880, went to Chicago, and until 1885 was em- 
 ployed in the Union Stock Yards. In the latter 
 year he came to Harrisburg, Poinsett County, Ark. , 
 and from there moved to Weiner, where he dealt 
 in stock until embarking in his present enterprise. 
 He was married in 18S9 to Miss Belle F. Duke, a 
 native of \\'ayne County, Iowa, their marriage 
 taking place in Poinsett Count}'. She is a daugh- 
 ter of James M. and Ann E. (Scudder) Duke, and 
 from them inherits Scotch blood. Her mother was 
 
 r^ 
 

 a member of the same family as Dr. Seudder, of 
 C!hicago. Mr. Peters has seen many improve- 
 ments in the county since locating, and considers 
 this an exceptionally healthy locality. It is an ex 
 cellent grazing region, and in any ordinary season 
 will pasture stock the year round. He has SOO 
 acres of land, which he expects soon to open to 
 settlers; and he and his business partner have a 
 timber tract of 240 acres. He has always been 
 interested in schools, and, owing to his influence 
 in District No. 2, the building is equipped with 
 all modern improvements, and they have adopted 
 the Harpers' and Standard systems of books. 
 
 B. F. Powell is a well-to-do planter of the coun- 
 ty, this occupation having received his attention 
 from early boyhood, and after his marriage, which 
 occurred in Poinsett County, Ark., in 1872, he 
 purchased a timber tract embracing 160 acres of 
 laud, and now has 100 acres cleared and under 
 cultivation, which he devotes to raising cotton and 
 corn. He is independent in his political views, 
 but is an active advocate of schools, and has been 
 a member of the school board in his district for 
 twelve years, in every respect being a public- 
 spirited citizen. On the 26th of February, 1862 
 he enlisted in Company A, Twenty third Arkansas 
 Infantry, and was a participant in the battles of 
 Corinth, luka, Port Hudson and others, remaining 
 on active duty until the close of the war. The 
 maiden name of his wife was Miss S. L. J. Clam- 
 jtet, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of 
 Henry and Mary (Riley) Clampet, also of that 
 State, who came to Arkansas at an early day. 
 The mother died a few years ago, but the father is 
 still living, a resident of this county. The union 
 of Mr. and Mrs. Powell was blessed in the birth 
 of eight children, five now living: Mary H., Sue E., 
 Arthur Lee, David C. and Daisy, Those deceased 
 are Laura M., who died in 1882, at the age of 
 eight years; Anna Jane, whose death occurred 
 in 1885, at the age of five years, and Henry 
 E. , who died in 1889, at the age of eleven years. 
 Mr. Powell was born in Greene County, Ala., in 
 1845, and is the fifth in a family of eight chil- 
 dren born to James E. and Harriet H. (Burton) 
 Powell, who were born in the ' ' Palmetto State, ' ' 
 
 but settled in Alabama, and in 1849 removed to 
 Poinsett County, Ark., making this State their 
 permanent abode until their respective deaths, 
 March 4, 1861, and June 27, 1861. The father was 
 a farmer throughout life. 
 
 John W. Rooks, real estate agent and hotel- 
 keeper, Harrisburg, Ark. This prominent and 
 successful citizen is a native of Tennessee, whose 
 birth occuiTed in Shelby County, December 5, 
 1848, and is the son of Joseph Rooks, a native of 
 Middle Tennessee, who was married in his native 
 State to Miss Melinda Montgomery, also a native 
 of Middle Tennessee. They moved to Arkansas 
 about 1856, settled on the Bay Road, five miles 
 east of Harrisburg, in Bolivar Township, and there 
 the father opened up 160 acres of wild land, clear- 
 ing about fifty acres, and erecting buildings, etc. 
 Later he moved to the west side of Crowley's 
 Ridge, in Scott Township, and there purchased 
 240 acres of land, of which he cleared 100 acres. 
 He was a farmer and brick mason, and a very in- 
 dustrious, enterprising man. He was a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity, and he and his family 
 were consistent members of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. South. He died in 1860. The 
 mother Mrs. Melinda (Montgomery) Rooks, was 
 born in Bedford (now Crawford) County. Tenn., 
 in the year 1807, and is still living. She is 
 the daughter of William and Mary (Lyons) Mont- 
 gomery, natives of North Carolina, and early set- 
 tlers of the State of Arkansas. Her father was 
 a farmer, and removed to Middle Tennessee about 
 1800. When a very old man, he returned to his 
 native State to settle up a legacy, and was never 
 afterward heard from. Her mother died in Mid 
 die Tennessee, when about fifty years of age. 
 Mrs. Rooks was one of five children born to her 
 parents, and is the only one living. She was mar- 
 ried at the age of seventeen years to Mr. Rooks, a 
 son of one of the oldest families of North Carolina, 
 and in 1856 removed to Arkansas. To their union 
 were born twelve children, ten of whom lived to 
 be grown, became married and had families. The 
 children were as follows: Mrs. N. E. Flowers, died 
 in 1870 and left two children; Eli, who was en- 
 gaged in merchandising at Bay Village, and who 
 
 ^- 
 
-K^ 
 
 POINSETT COUNTY. 
 
 605 
 
 died December 15, 1878; James W., died in 1864 
 at the age of forty years; Martha A., widow of 
 Henry Gilbert; Sarah J., wife of T. C. Broadater; 
 Eliza, wife of J. W. Killongh; James K. , died 
 about 1867; Michael K. died in his tenth year; 
 Mary E., died in infancy; Evalyn, wife of Kev. 
 A. C. Griffith, an elder in the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, at Harrisbiirg; John W. (subject of this 
 sketch), and one who died unnamed. Mrs. Hooks 
 furnished three sons for the late war, and one son- 
 in-law. William, one of the sons, died during 
 that struggle, but the others served the entire time 
 without harm. As before stated, Mrs. Kooks was 
 left a widow in 1860, just at the outbreak of the 
 late war, and she bravely struggled to support her 
 family, but lost all her property during the con- 
 flict. She was left in debt to the amount of 
 $2, 500, but this, by skillful management, she con- 
 trived to pay off. She has long been a Christian, 
 and a consistent member of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, of which her children are also mem- 
 bers. In 1868 she gave up housekeeping, and 
 has since made the homes of her children happy 
 by her presence. Her son, John W. Rooks, was 
 taught the principles of farm life when young, 
 and received his education in the common country 
 schools, and supplementing the same by a course 
 in the high school, at Harrisburg, under the tutor- 
 ship of Prof. C. O. Turbeville. In 1871, when 
 twenty-one years of age, he began clerking in the 
 store of Kellough, Mitchell & Co., at a place 
 called Lick Skillet, live miles south of Harrisburg, 
 and worked one year. In 1871 he began clerking 
 in Wittsburg, and continued in that work until 
 1875, when he opened a general store under the 
 tirm name of J. W. Rooks & Co. This business 
 he continued with success until 1882, when he 
 sold out and built a store at Cherry Valley, in 
 Cross County, Ark. In 1885 he sold out and re- 
 turned to Harrisburg, where he built the Rooks 
 House and opened that hotel to the public. This 
 he built in 1S78, and it was destroyed by fire, with 
 all its contents, in 1882. The same year the pres- 
 ent hotel was built, and this he still conducts. 
 In the year 1887 Mr. Rooks originated the real 
 estate firm of Rooks <& Ainsworth, it being the 
 
 only recognized real estate firm in Poinsett County, 
 and they do a very successful business. Mr. 
 Rooks has always taken a decided interest in poli- 
 tics, and has twice been defeated for county treas- 
 urer by a small majority. He served one term as 
 deputy clerk for T. B. Sparks. He votes with the 
 Democratic party, and is an earnest temperance 
 worker. On the 18th of April, 1877, he was united 
 in marriage to Miss Julia E. Gant, daughter of 
 J. W. and S. S. (Keller) Gant, natives of North 
 Carolina, who settled in Craighead County, Ark. , 
 in 1860. To Mr. and Mrs. Rooks were born the 
 following children: Mary B. , Joseph W. , and 
 Harry G. Mr. Rooks is a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity, also the K. of H. , and he and wife are 
 active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 Judge John T. Roy, Poinsett, Ark. Judge Roy 
 is a man who needs no introduction to the readers 
 of this volume. His birth occurred in Shelby 
 County, Tenn., April 15, 1834, and he is the 
 son of Merida and Susan (Gentry) Roy, natives 
 of South Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. To 
 the parents were born ten children, eight of whom 
 lived to be grown. They are named as follows: 
 John Thomas ; W. A. , farmer and stock raiser, lives 
 in Jackson County, Ark., and is justice of the 
 peace; Eliza, wife of Lemuel Crane, a farmer re- 
 siding in Shelby County, Tenn. ; Frances, wife of 
 William Crarage, a book keeper; Jesse; Merida, a 
 farmer, and resides in the house where he was 
 born; Alfred, a farmer, who lives in Scott Town- 
 ship; Daniel, farmer, living in Scott Township; 
 Nathaniel G. , died at the age of seven years, and 
 Elmira, died in childhood. The father of these 
 children, Merida Roy, was born September 19, 
 1805, and died May 1, 1885. He was well edu- 
 cated, was a farmer, and followed tilling the soil 
 all his life. He was also a minister in the Prim 
 itive Baptist Church, a member of the Masonic 
 order, and in politics a Democrat. His wife, 
 Susan (Gently) Roy, was the daughter of Thomas 
 Gentry, a native of Virginia, and a near relative 
 of Merideth Gentry, the famous senator from 
 Tennessee. Judge John T. Roy assisted his 
 father on the farm until grown, and December 3, 
 1853, he was united in marriage to Miss Frances 
 
 ^ 
 
^ 
 
 606 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Goswick, a native of Tennessee, and the daughter 
 of George W. Goswick, a native of South Carolina. 
 To the Judge and wife were born eight children, 
 five of whom are now living: Susan, wife of W. D. 
 Gray, a farmer, living in Poinsett County; Theo- 
 dosia A., married to Joseph Cooper; Martha M., 
 wife of Joshua Curtis, farmer; Frances, wife of 
 William Bledsoe, merchant, of the firm of Bledsoe 
 & Tillery, at Bay Village, Cross County, Ark. , and 
 William Edward, at home. The childi-en deceased 
 were named: Annie D., Luella and Ophelia P. 
 The mother of these children died in June, 1876. 
 She was a member of the Primitive Baptist 
 Church. Mr. Roy has remained single since that 
 time. He came with his family to Poinsett County 
 in 1872, and bought 160 acres of land, which he 
 cleared and improved. He has forty-five acres 
 under cultivation, has a good orchard, and is one 
 of the representative farmers of the county. He 
 has served as a school director for nine years, and 
 in 1880 was elected presiding judge of the county 
 court, serving two years. lu 1888 he was again 
 elected to the same office, which position he still 
 holds. He is a man whose decisions are not made 
 carelessly and without study, but are the result of 
 much care and painstaking, so that all feel that he 
 can be relied upon. In 1862 he enlisted in Com- 
 pany D, Capt. J. Hazlewood Twelfth Tennessee 
 Cavalry, but in July, 1864, left the army on account 
 of sickness, and was in the hospital until in Novem- 
 ber of the same year. He then returned home, and 
 served as a courier and recruiter until the close 
 of the war, and consequently participated in very 
 few engagements. Judge Roy is a man honored 
 and respected by all acquainted with him, and is a 
 liberal supporter of all schools and churches and 
 all laudable public enterprises. In his political 
 views he is Democratic. 
 
 A. W. Scott, surveyor of Poinsett 'Coimty, 
 Ark. , is now serving his third term. He was born 
 in Adams County, Ind., in 1852, and is the eldest 
 of the family of five children of Hamilton and 
 Jane (French) Scott, who were born, respectively, 
 in Ohio and Indiana. The father removed to the 
 latter State at an early day, and was married there 
 in 1851. After opening up a good farm and resid- 
 
 ing on it until 1879, he came to Poinsett County 
 and settled on land in West Prairie Township. 
 This land he improved and resided on until his 
 death, in 1888, his wife having passed from life in 
 1859. He married again in 1861, this wife dying 
 in 18R6. The children of the first union are as 
 follows : Thaddeus W. died in Poinsett County 
 in 1886 at the age of thirty-three years; L. W. died 
 in 1886, aged thirty years; H. W. died in 1888, 
 aged thirty-one years; James B. died in 1887, aged 
 eighteen years; and A. W. , our subject. The 
 latter received his education in the schools of An- 
 derson, Ind., and after leaving school he was en- 
 gaged in teaching for some years. After coming 
 to Poinsett County, in 1879, he began farming, pur- 
 chasing an unimproved farm in West Prairie Town- 
 ship, and is now the owner of some 800 acres of 
 land. He has always been an active politician, and 
 votes the Democratic ticket, and was elected by 
 that party to his present position, the duties of 
 which he has filled to the satisfaction of all con- 
 cerned. Besides this, he has filled the otfice of 
 constable of his township, and has been school 
 director in his district. In his present official ca- 
 pacity he has noticed a decided improvement in the 
 agricultural districts, and the country is being set- 
 tled up and land rapidly improved. He was mar- 
 ried in Madison County, lud. , in 1876, to Miss 
 Margaret Boxley, a native of Hamilton County, 
 her death occurring in Madison County, in 1877, 
 after having borne a daughter. Grace L. 
 
 A. C. Shaver, justice of the peace, postmaster 
 and farmer, Bay Village, Ark. Born in Poinsett 
 County (now Cross County) on the eighth of Oc- 
 tober, 1844, Mr. Shaver has ever since resided 
 here, and is accounted one of the representative 
 men of the county. He is the son of W. A. and 
 Matilda (Stone) Shaver, natives, respectively, of 
 Missouri and Tennessee. The parents were early 
 settlers of this section, coming here about 1826, 
 and the father held the office of justice of the 
 peace for a number of years. He was Democratic 
 in his political principles, and he and his wife 
 were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 They reared to maturity seven children: A. C. ; C. 
 R., a farmer living in Cross County, Ark. ; Fanny 
 
 
" A , 
 
 ^ . 
 
 POINSETT COUNTY. 
 
 cm 
 
 died in 1880, and was the wife of J. B. Henshaw, 
 a mechanic; Josephine died in 1SS;1, and was the 
 wife of Henry MoAden, a farmer of Poinsett 
 County; Jerliue. wife of James Copelaud, a farmer 
 of Cross County, Ark. ; T. J. engaged in general 
 mechanics in Bay Village, and Rebecca, wife of 
 Rev. J. I. Maynord. The father of these chil- 
 dren died on the 19th of April, 1875, and the 
 mother in September, 18(59. A. C. Shaver, like 
 most of the youths of the vicinity, passed his boy- 
 hood days in assisting on the farm and in attending 
 the common schools, although he received the prin- 
 cijial part of his education by his own individual 
 efforts, and in 1862 enlisted in Col. McGee's regi- 
 ment, Arkansas Cavalry. He was wounded at 
 Helena on the 4th of July, 1864, and was never able 
 to enter service after that. He left with the rank of 
 orderly sergeant. At the age of twenty-five he 
 startedout for himself by marrying, in 1869, a Miss 
 Georgia Brooks, and by her became the father of 
 five interesting children: Willie W., Sallie A., 
 M. G. , Myrtie, and Olive W., all living. Since 
 bis marriage Mr. Shaver has followed agricultural 
 pursuits, cotton -ginning, merchandising, etc., and 
 in all has been successful. He has three times 
 been elected to the office of justice of the peace, 
 twice in Cross County and once in Poinsett County, 
 and is now holding that position and discharging 
 the duties of the same in a very able and efficient 
 manner. He was appointed postmaster in 1883, 
 and is still holding that position. He is the owner 
 of 17f) acres of land, 120 in Poinsett County and 
 fifty-five acres in Cross County, with fifty acres 
 under cultivation. He lives on the old homestead, 
 just over the line in Cross County, and is one of 
 the stirring, industrious farmers of the County. 
 He and his wife and two oldest children are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to 
 which he contribntes liberally, as he does to all 
 public enterprises. In politics he votes with the 
 Democratic party. 
 
 M. D. Simmons & Co. , druggists of Harrisburg, 
 Ark. Among the more recent acquisitions to the 
 business interests of the town is the establishment 
 of which Mr. Simmons is a member, which has 
 secured a reputation such as one might think be- 
 
 longed to an older established house. Their store 
 was opened in February, 1882, and, after renting 
 a building for some years, they, in 1888, put up 
 their present substantial frame business house, 
 into which thc>y moved in the spring of that year. 
 The senior member of the firm, Mr. Simmons, was 
 born in Marshall County, Miss., in 1859, and is 
 the eldest in a family of three children born to 
 John and Victoria E. (Douglas) Simmons, the for- 
 mer a native of Tennessee, and the latter of Mis- 
 sissippi. John Simmons removed to Cross County, 
 Ark., in 1860, and located near Vanndale, and in 
 1871 located in Wittsburg, Ark., where the mother 
 died, in 1872. The father was a Mason and a 
 memlier of the K. of H. He now makes his home 
 in Vanndale. M. D. Simmons received his early 
 education in the public and high schools of Witts- 
 burg, and after attaining a suitable age he began 
 the study of pharmacy under a physician of that 
 place, and was prescription clerk in his store for 
 some years. Mr. Simmons is not a very active 
 politician, but has served as a member of the town 
 council. He has belonged to the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, South, for a number of years, is 
 an active worker for the cause of Christianity, 
 and has been superintendent of the Sunday-school 
 for a number of years. He was married in Clarks- 
 ville, Tenn., on the 18th of June, 1884. to Miss 
 Hardin Duncan, a native of that State, and by her 
 is the father of two children: Bessie May and 
 Louise Kendrick. Mrs. Simmons is a daughter of 
 John and Mary Elizabeth (Johnson) Duncan, the 
 former a native of Scotland, and the latter of Ten- 
 nessee. John Duncan removed to Tennessee at an 
 early day, and settled in Nashville in 1844, where 
 he followed the occupation of painting. He is 
 still living, and resides with Mrs. Simmons, but 
 the mother died in Little Rock, Ark., in 1884, 
 where they wer(( residing at the time. 
 
 J. Logtan Smith, junior member of the firm of 
 Sparks & Co., Harrisbnrg, Ark. Born on the 5th 
 of February, 1837. at Old Bolivar, Poinsett Coun- 
 ty, Ark. , Mr. Smith is one of the old settlers of 
 the county and a much respected citizen of the 
 same. He is the son of William and Sarah (Clark) 
 Smith, natives of Tennessee and North Carolina. 
 
\\^ — ^ 
 
 608 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 xespectively. William Smith and wife came to ' 
 Arkansas iu 1831, wheu the country was very un- 
 settled, and began improving wild land. He held 
 the position of county treasurer in 1 844. and was a i 
 prominent and enterprising citizen. He and wife 
 were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. 
 Their family consisted of thirteen children, all of 
 whom are now deceased except J. Logan and J. 
 W. , who is a minister in the Christian Church, and 
 resides in Craighead County, Ark. Mrs. Sarah 
 Smith's father was one of the early settlers of 
 Greene County, Ark., and built the first water- 
 mill in that county. J. Logan Smith's facilities 
 for an education in youth were not of the best, 
 and what schooling he did receive was in the old 
 court-house at Old Bolivar, a log structure about 
 20x28 feet in dimension, with fire-place, punch- 
 eon benches with pin legs, and the writing desks 
 were puncheons supported by pins driven in the 
 wall. Mr. Smith can distinctly remember the 
 original chimney was stick and clay, which wore 
 afterward supplanted by brick. The school was of 
 course a subscription school. Early settlers fre- 
 quently built their houses without nails, and the first 
 sawecl lumber was manufactured l)y hand and with 
 a whip-saw. Mr. Smith was reared on a farm, 
 and spent some time as a brick- maker. At the 
 age of twenty two he enlisted in Company F, 
 Sixth Arkansas Infantry, and was in the battles of 
 Shiloh and Perry ville, Ky. , where he was wounded 
 and taken prisoner. At the end of thirty days he 
 was exchanged, and took i>a,ri in the battle of Stone 
 River, where he was again wounded, and after 
 lying in the hospital at Ringgold, Ga. . until Feb- 
 ruary, 1863, joined the army again. He was in 
 the battle of Chickamauga, and at that engage- 
 ment received two wounds. He was also at Mis- 
 sionary Ridge, Tenn., then at Ringgold Gap, and 
 after this at Resaca, Kenesaw (Ga. ), Smithfield 
 (N. C), and surrendered at Greensboro (N. C.) He 
 then came to Poinsett County, Ark., tilled the soil, 
 and, in February, 1866, was united in marriage to 
 Miss Lucinda Stanford, daughter of William and 
 Matilda (Hall) Stanford, natives of Tennessee and 
 early settlers of Arkansas. To Mr. and Mrs. 
 Smith were born the following children : Lockie L. , 
 
 wife of Thomas C. Ainsworth, a farmer of Poinsett 
 County; Rutha V., keeps house for her father; 
 Roger Williams, Joseph T. and Logan S. (twins), 
 who live at home. Mrs. Smith died on the 18th of 
 October, 1881, and was a worthy and much-esteemed 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, an 
 active Sunday-school and church worker, a loving 
 wife and mother, whose memory will remain green 
 in the hearts of her many relatives and friends 
 long after her body has moldered to dust. 
 
 For none return from that quiet shore. 
 
 Who cro.ssed with the boatman cold and pale. 
 We hear the dip of the golden oar, 
 
 We watch for a gleam of the snowy sail; 
 But, lo! they have passed from our yearning hearts. 
 
 They have crossed the stream, they are gone for aye. 
 We may not sunder the vale apart 
 
 That hides from our vision the gates of day; 
 We only know that their bark no more 
 
 Will sail with ours o'er life's stormy sea: 
 Yet somewhere, I know, on that unseen shore. 
 
 They watch, and wait, and beckon to me. 
 
 In June, 1865, Mr. Smith, at the request of the 
 people, was appointed by Gov. Murphy, then mil- 
 itary governor, to fill the position of assessor and 
 collector for his cotmty, and in the following year 
 was elected to till the same office, which he did until 
 the reconstruction, in 1868. He then followed 
 farming until 1874, when he was elected sheriff, 
 and re-elected in 1876. He again returned to the 
 farm, and there remained until 1881, when he em- 
 l)arked in the mercantile business, continuing at 
 the same until 1884, when he again became a tiller 
 of the soil. In 1888 he became a member of the 
 above mentioned firm, but during his entire life 
 he has followed farming. He is the owner of five 
 farms of over 1,000 acres of land, 200 acres under 
 cultivation. He takes much interest in stock raising 
 and has Jersey and Short-horn cattle, and Berk- 
 shire hogs. Mr. Smith became a member of Poin 
 sett Lodge No. 184, A. F. & A. M., and is a mem 
 ber of the Chapter and Council, Harri.sburg; is 
 also a member of Lodge No. 74, K. and L. of H. 
 Council No. 29 was organized in 1887. He is a 
 Democrat in his political views. 
 
 J. J. Smith is a successful farmer of the couii 
 ty, and was born in Henderson County, Tenn., in 
 
^ 
 
 1847, being the third of eleven children born to 
 J. C. and Susan (Johnson) Smith, who were also 
 Tennesseeans, the former being a gunsmith by trade. 
 In 1850 he settled in Poinsett County, Ark., and 
 made the town of Bolivar his home until the county 
 seat was changed to Harrisburg, when he moved 
 to the latter place, this being in the year 1857. 
 In 18G3 he settled on an excellent farm in Craig- 
 head County, near Jonesboro, and here worked at 
 his trade until his death, in 1885, at the age of 
 sixty-six years. He was a Democrat, and held the 
 office of deputy sheriff of the county for many 
 years, and in 1860 was elected county treasurer, 
 winning, during his official career, the respect and 
 esteem of all who knew him. His worthy wife 
 died in 1883. J. J. Smith was educated in the 
 subscription schools of Bolivar and Harrisl)urg, 
 and at the age of twenty years started out in life 
 for himself, and is now one of the well-to-do agri- 
 culturists of the county. His first purchase of 
 land was a timber tract embracing 100 acres, and 
 this he commenced clearing, and added to until he 
 now owns 560 acres, with over 200 acres under 
 cultivation, his being one of the largest farms in 
 the county. He is extensively engaged in stock 
 dealing, and his farm is devoted principally to 
 raising cotton and corn. He is a Democrat, and 
 as such was elected, in 1880, to the office of treas- 
 urer of Poinsett County. He has always been a 
 patron of education, and socially is a member of 
 the K. of H. Having been a resident of this 
 county fi'om earliest youth, he has witnessed the 
 gradual growth and improvement, and has aided 
 largely in bringing about this desirable result. He 
 is a thoroughly self-made and self reliant man, 
 and his opinions on all subjects are acknowledged 
 to be sound and unbiased. He and wife, whose 
 maiden name was Mary Davidson, a native of 
 Harrisl)urg, and whom he married in 1867, are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, at Pleasant Valley, and are the parents of 
 the following family: Hattie, Lucy, Dovie, Emis- 
 ley, Johnny, Jennie, Dexter, Augustus, Grover C. 
 and Elizabeth, who died in infancy. Mrs. Smith 
 is a daughter of James and Harriet (Lokey) David- 
 son, who were Tennesseeans, the father a farmer 
 
 by occupation, and an early settler of Poinsett 
 
 County, Ark. He was a sheritT of this county for 
 
 i many years, and was one of the most energetic and 
 
 j enterprising men of the county. He engaged in 
 
 I merchandising in Harrisburg, in 1861, and later 
 
 became a soldier in the Confederate army, dying 
 
 in 1862, in Cross County. His wife siu-vived him 
 
 some years, her death taking place in 1872. 
 
 W. A. Smith has been a resident of Poinsett 
 County, Ark., all his life, and his example of in- 
 dustry, and earnest and sincere endeavors to sue 
 ceed in life, especially in the occupation of farm- 
 ing, are well worth imitation. He was born in 
 1860, and of his parents' five children he is the 
 second. In boyhood, he attended the district 
 schools near his home, and finished his education 
 in Harrisburg, under the tutelage of Prof. J. P. 
 Leake. He was taught the rudiments of farm work 
 by his father, who was a successful agriculturist, 
 and after leaving school, he engaged in this busi- 
 ness, and was married in Poinsett County, in 1884. 
 to Miss Mary Etta Wright, a native of Greenfield 
 Township, and a daughter of J. L. and Jane (Ish 
 mael) Wright, who were early pioneers of Poinsett 
 County. Mr. Smith first bought a forty acre tim- 
 ber tract, but now has some thirty-two acres under 
 cultivation, on which are good buildings, fences 
 and orchards. He is a Democrat in politics, and a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Chiirch, South, 
 while his wife belonged to the Christian Church. 
 She died quite recently, having borne two children : 
 Charles O. and an infant. Being a native of the 
 county, Mr. Smith has naturally taken a deep inter- 
 est in its welfare, and is an active and public-spir- 
 ited citizen. His parents, William C. and Margaret 
 (Ainsworth) Smith, were born in Poinsett County, 
 and in 1853, the father began opening up a farm 
 in Bolivar Township, and here his widow is resid- 
 ing at the present time. His death occurred on 
 the 16th of November, 1876, having been an enter- 
 prising resident and an active member of the Dem 
 ocratic party all his. life. William Smith, the pa 
 ternal grandfather, was an early pioneer of this 
 section in 1832, and was one of the prominent ag- 
 riculturists of Bolivar Township. He was county 
 treasurer for a number of years. 
 
filO 
 
 HISTORY OP ARKANSAS. 
 
 L. E. Stancell, deputy sheriff of Poinsett 
 County, Ark., was born in Northampton County. 
 N. C. , in 1847, being the fourth of seven children 
 born to William E. and Caroline E. (Long) Stan- 
 cell, their births having occurred in North Caro- 
 lina and Virginia, respectively. The father was a 
 planter and merchant, and in 1854 came to Arkan- 
 sas, and settled near the present town of Harris- 
 burg, where he entered a timber tract, which he 
 commenced improving, but only lived to conduct 
 the work for two years, his death occurring in the 
 month of October, 1856. His wife survived him 
 until 1809, when she, too, was called to her long 
 home. After the death of his father, L. E. Stan 
 cell took the management of the home farm on his 
 own shoulders, and although he was compelled to 
 work hard, he managed to acquire a fair English 
 education, in the district schools of the county. In 
 January, 1861), he was married to Miss Lura A. 
 Malone, who was born in Tennessee, and died in 
 1870, and, after remaining a widower until 1881, 
 Mr. Stancell wedded Miss Mittie O. Mitchell, also 
 of Tennessee, and a daughter of M. A. Mitchell 
 and wife, nee Hindman, natives of Tennessee, who 
 came to Poinsett County. Ark., in 1856. The 
 mother died in 1879, but the father is still living, 
 and resides with Mr. Stancell. From 1872 to 
 1880 Mr. Stancell was engaged in the grocery 
 business, but at the latter date sold out, and has 
 since given his attention to farming, bnt from 18S8 
 to January, 1889, also conducted a grocery. This 
 business he then gave up to assume the duties of 
 sheriff. Socially, he is a member of Poinsett 
 Lodge No. 184, of the A. F. & A. M., and of 
 White Hall Lodge No. 77, of the I. O. O. F. He 
 and wife are members of the Baptist Church, and 
 are the parents of two children: Lola Elizabeth 
 and Lela G. Mr. Stancell is a supporter of Dem- 
 ocratic principles, and has held the office of justice 
 of the peace for six years. In 1864 Mr. Stancell 
 enlisted in Capt. W. G. Godfrey's company, and 
 was afterward with Price on his raid through Mis- 
 souri, but surrendered in May, 1865, and returned 
 to Poinsett County, where, as stated above, he has 
 since made his home. 
 
 Thomas B. Steele, attorney, Harrisburg, Ark. 
 
 Of the many prominent names that make up the 
 strength of the Arkansas bar is that of Thomas 
 B. Steele, who is a true type of the progressive, 
 yet conservative, and cultured Arkansas man. He 
 was born at Batesville, Independence County, Ark. , 
 i on the 18th of April, 1855, and is one of seven 
 children born to Rev. John M. and Narcissa 
 (Brookfield) Steele, and grandson of Rev. Isaac 
 Brookfield, who was originally from New Jersey, 
 and was one of the pioneer preachers of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. He, with Rev. 
 John M. Steele, was the founder of a great many 
 churches of that denomination on Crowley's 
 Ridge, their territory extending from Chalk Blnff 
 to Helena. Rev. John M. Steele was born in 
 Hardeman County, N. C, on the 2d of March, 
 1810, and remained in his native State until 1836, 
 when he moved to Arkansas, where, for a number 
 of years, he spent his time as an itinerant preacher. 
 He was without a permanent home until about 
 1843, when he took for his second wife Miss Nar 
 cissa Brookfield, a history of whose parents ap- 
 pears in the church history of the counties trav- 
 ersed by Crowley's Ridge. The seven children 
 born to Rev. John M. Steele and wife are as fol 
 lows: Mrs. Nancy J. Harris, residing in Bolivar 
 Township; Rev. J. R., an elder in the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, Texas; Mrs. Mary E. Dudley, 
 who died in 1874. leaving three children; Mrs. S. 
 Ann Keck, in Bolivar Township; Mrs. Martha C. 
 Bettis; Thomas B. and James M., Jr., physician 
 and surgeon at Weiner, Ark. Thomas B. Steele 
 began in early life to assist on the farm and to at- 
 tend the schools of Poinsett County. He attended 
 the high school at Harrisburg, and finished in 
 Arkansas College, at Batesville, in 1875. After 
 this he began the study of Blackstone, under the 
 tutelage of J. C. Brookfield, was admitted to the 
 bar in 1878, and licensed to practice in the circuit 
 and all inferior courts of the State. He at once 
 located at Harrisburg, and has since been success- 
 fully devoting himself to the practice of his pro- 
 fession. On the 18th of September, 1887, he 
 abandoned his single state, and was united in mar- 
 riage to Miss Dora E. Guyer, a daughter of B. Y. 
 and Mary A. (Bomar) Guyer, natives of New York 
 
-< 9 
 
 ^ 
 
 POINSETT COUNTY. 
 
 611 
 
 and Tennessee, and of English and French descent, 
 respectively. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Steele occurred in the Lone Star State, where her 
 parents were living at that time. One child has 
 been born to thi.s union —Archie W., whose birth 
 occurred on the Mist of August, 1888. Mr. Steele 
 is the owner of about four acres in the oldest part 
 of Harrisbnrg, and one business block on Main 
 Str(>et. In addition to this, he is the owner of 
 400 acres of timber land in Poinsett and Craighead 
 Counties, with about fifteen acre.s undei' cultiva- 
 tion. He votes with the Democratic party, and is 
 quite active in politics, having made the canvass 
 for representative in 1888, but was defeated by 
 L. J. Collins. He takes a prominent part in all 
 matters relating to education or for the public good. 
 Dr. James M. Steele, physician and surgeon, 
 Weiner. Ark. Dr. Steele is a son of the well- 
 known pioneer. Rev. John M. Steele, and is the 
 youngest in a family of seven children. He was 
 born in Batesville, Independence County, Ark. , on 
 the 25th of February, 1861, and his brothers and 
 sisters are named as follows: Mrs. Jane Harris, 
 wife of W. C. Harris, a farmer near Harrisburg; 
 John E., a minister of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church at Meridian, Tex. ; Mrs. Mary Dudley, 
 wife of N. P. Dudley, and who died in June, 
 1876; Mrs. Ann Keck, wife of T. W. Keck, a 
 farmer, living in Poinsett County; Mrs. Kate 
 Battis. wife of J. W. Battis, a farmer near Harris- 
 burg, and Thomas B. Steele, an attorney and 
 counselor at law, at Harrisburg. Dr. James M. 
 Steele's parents. Rev. J. M. and Narcissa (Brook- 
 field) Steele, were among the earliest settlers of 
 Crowley's Ridge. The father was born near 
 Raleigh, N. C, in 1810, and received his educa- 
 tion in that State and in Tennessee, having re- 
 moved with his father to that State in 1824. He 
 began life as a millwright, and in 1829 he was 
 united in marriage to Miss Mary Seit, a native of 
 Tennessee. Two children were the fruits of this 
 union: A. C a farmer, who died from injuries re- 
 ceived in the war, in 1865, leaving a wife and two 
 children, and AVilliam M.. who died in 1881, leav- 
 ing a family of five children. Rev. Steele lost 
 his wife in Saline County, Ark., in 1832. He had 
 
 moved there in 1830, and a short time after his 
 wife's death was conv(>rtod and united with the 
 Methodist Episcopal ('hurch. He immediately 
 entered the ministry of the Arkansas Methodist 
 Episcopal Conference, and began his notable life- 
 work. His labors for the first four or five years 
 were in Northwest and Southwest Arkansas, and 
 after that time on Crowley's Ridge, in St. Fran 
 cis County. He was there married, in 1848, to 
 Miss Narcissa Brookfield, daughter of Rev. Isaac 
 and Nancy Brookfield, and the same year he was 
 sent by the conference to the Indian Territory, 
 where he remained four years. He then returned 
 to Batesville, Ark., and after this time his field was 
 Crowley's Ridge, from Chalk Bluff to Helena and 
 the Black River country. After startmg over fifty 
 churches, this devout and truly Christian man 
 closed his eyes to the scenes of this world in 1S81. 
 Dr. James M. Steele attended the schools of 
 Harrisburg, then Washington high school, in 
 Independence County, and also attended one term 
 at Vanderbilt University, at Nashville, Tenn. He 
 began the study of medicine in 1876. under Dr. 
 Beecher, and then spent several seasons as a drug 
 clerk. In 1884 and 1885 he took a medical course 
 in Memphis Hospital College, and in the last men 
 tioned year began practicing at Weiner. Poinsett 
 County, Ark., where he has l)uilt up a large and 
 paying practice. He was married, on the 14th of 
 March, 1886, to Miss Emma E. Mayer, daughter 
 of Michael and Mary (Klaege) Mayer, natives of 
 Germany. To the Doctor and wife was born one 
 child, Austin G. , now a bright boy of six months. 
 They lost one child, Edgar M. , at the age of three 
 months. Dr. Steele owns eighty acres of land, 
 twenty acres under cultivation, and in connection 
 with his practice is engaged in farming and stock 
 raising. He votes with the DiMuocratic party, hut 
 is conservative. H(* is a member of the school 
 board, and one of the leading men of the county. 
 Mrs. Steele is a member of the Catholic Church. 
 T. A. Stone, a gen(>ral merchant of Harris 
 burg. Ark., carries a full line of hats, caps, cloth 
 ing, boots and shoes, groceries, etc. , and although 
 he has only been established in business here since 
 November, 1883, he has built up a paying patron- 
 
M 
 
 612 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 age. He is a native born resident of the county, 
 his birth occurring in ]840, and he is the second 
 of a family of seven children born to Robert H. 
 and Emily (Shavei-j Stoue, the former a native of 
 Sumner County, Tenn. , and the latter of Phillips 
 (now Poinsett) County, Ark. Robert H. Stone came 
 to the State of Arkansas when a young man of eight- 
 een years (in 1839), and was the fourth county clerk, 
 elected in 1846, holding the position nearly four- 
 teen years. He was also sheriff of the county in 
 1845-46, and at the time of his death, in 1859, he 
 was tilling the position of county clerk. His es- 
 timable wife survived him until 1870, when she, 
 too, passed to her long home. T. A. Stone was 
 reared to farm life, and received a fair education 
 in the schools of his native county. He was mar- 
 ried here in 1868, to Miss Mary Frances Goodwin, 
 a native of Alabama, and a daughter of Peterson 
 and Mary (Burt) Goodwin, also of that State, 
 who came to Arkansas in the year 1856, both being 
 now residents of the county. After his marriage 
 Mr. Stone purchased a farm of 120 acres in Scott 
 Township, it being partly improved at the time, 
 and now has about fifty acres under cultivation. 
 He has taken quite an active part in the political 
 affairs of the county, and always votes with the 
 Democratic party, and was elected on that ticket 
 in 1886, to the office of county clerk, his term ex- 
 piring in 1888. He is a member of the A. F. & 
 A. M. , and he and wife belong to the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South. Of an interesting 
 family of four children born to them, two are now 
 living: Albert Sidney and Minnie Lura. 
 
 Samuel G. Stone, general merchant. Bay Vil- 
 lage, Ark. In including, in this work, the sketches 
 of prominent business men of Poinsett County, 
 none are more deserving of recognition than 
 that of Samuel G. Stone, who for a number of 
 years has carried on an extensive mercantile 
 establishment at Bay Village. He was born near 
 Harrisburg, Ark. , December 23, 1859, and is the 
 son of S. D. Stone, a native of Middle Tennessee, 
 and a successful agriculturist. He was married 
 in his native State, to Mrs. Matilda (Hall) Wilson, 
 also a native of Middle Tennessee, and they soon 
 afterward moved to Arkansas, and settled in Poin- 
 
 sett County, where they passed the remainder of 
 their lives. Both were members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. Mrs. Stone had been married 
 twice before; first, to William Stanford, by whom 
 she had two children, Thomas and Lucinda, and 
 then wedded Berry Fentrel, by whom she had one 
 child, Richmond Fentrel. To her marriage with 
 Samuel D. Stone were born two children: Robert 
 A., a farmer, married, and residing near Harris- 
 burg, and Samuel G., the subject of this sketch. 
 The latter, like the ordinary country boy, received 
 his education in the common schools, and started 
 out in the world for himself at the age of eighteen. 
 He began first by hauling logs and lumbering, 
 which he continued for some time, and then was 
 for a short time engaged in tilling the soil. In 
 1882, he met and married Miss Ida L. Goodwin, 
 daughter of Peterson and Mary A. (Bert) Good- 
 win, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, re- 
 spectively. Mr. Goodwin is one of the sturdy sons 
 of toil, and is now residing in Poinsett County, 
 Ark. To Mr. and Mrs. Stone were born the fol- 
 lowing children: William (died at the age of three 
 months); Lulu M., Mary Belle and Ollie P. In 
 1884, Mr. Stone was elected constable, which posi- 
 tion he held until 1886, when he was re-elected, and 
 was also made marshal and deputy sheriff at the 
 same time. In November, 1887, he engaged in mer- 
 chandising at Bay Village, which he continued 
 alone until February 1, 1888, when J. H. Van- 
 diver bought an interest in the business, and they 
 continued together until January 1, 1889. Mr. 
 Stone then bought Mr. Vandiver out, and is now 
 engaged alone in the business. He carries a gen- 
 eral stock of goods, does a good business, and is 
 in a prosperous condition. Aside from his store, 
 he is the owner of 320 acres of land, and has one 
 farm of 1 20 acres, well improved, and fifty-five acres 
 under cultivation. This farm lies three miles east 
 of Harrisbvirg, and another farm of eighty acres 
 lies four miles east of Harrisburg, the latter all 
 woodland. Another tract of timber land, 160 acres 
 in all, lies si.K miles east of Harrisburg, and another 
 eighty-acre tract lies on the Bijttom Belt road. In 
 addition to this, Mr. Stone is the owner of six lots 
 and one dwelling-house in Harrisburg. He has 
 
 -7f 
 
Jacksqm County, Arkansas. 
 
-^ 
 
 POINSETT COUNTY. 
 
 ni3 
 
 acquired all his property by his own industry, and 
 deserves much credit for it. He and Mrs. Stone 
 are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 to which he is a liberal contributor, as well as to 
 all other worthy and laudable enterprises. 
 
 Thomas B. Sparks, general merchant, Harris- 
 burg, Ark. Thomas B. Sparks, the senior member 
 of the well-known and thoroughly established firm 
 of T. B. Sparks & Co., is a native of Middle Ten- 
 nessee, where his birth occurred February 27, 1 840. 
 His father, Thomas Sparks, was a farmer and 
 trader by occupation, and was married in Virginia, 
 to Miss Mary Booth. He moved to Arkansas in 
 18r)U, and died near Jonesboro about 1878. Both 
 he and wife were members of the church, he of 
 the Methodist Episcopal, and she of the Baptist 
 Church. Their childi'eu, ten in number, are as 
 follows: Mrs. Sarah A. Stroud (residing near 
 Jonesboro), Mary E. (widow of H. Parr, residing 
 at Jonesboro), T. B., A. W. (a farmer, residing at 
 Harrisburg, Ark.), W. M. (a traveling salesman 
 for a wholesale clothing house, at Cincinnati), G. 
 N. (merchant at Wynne, Ark.); the rest of the chil 
 dren are deceased. Thomas B. Sparks began life 
 for himself by entering the army, enlisting Febru- 
 ary 17, 1S62. in Company A, Twenty third Arkansas, 
 with J. D. HilHs, as captain. He took part in the 
 disastrous battles of luka and Corinth, and was 
 captured at Port Hudson, paroled and returned 
 home. In the autumn of the same year he was 
 exchanged, after which he entered the service in 
 the same company and regiment, but cavalry. On 
 the reorganization, his elder brothers, James E. 
 and T. B. , were elected captain and lieutenant, re- 
 spectively, of Company A, which position they 
 each held until the close of the war. After enter- 
 inc the cavalry, the subject of this sketch was in 
 the White River campaign, but surrendered at 
 Wittsburg, in July, 1865. After the termination 
 of hostilities, he returned home, and engaged in 
 tilling the soil for one year, after which he entered 
 the employ of his l>rother. James E. Sparks, as 
 clerk. In the year 1868 his marriage to Miss El- 
 vira Harris was consummated. She is the daugh- 
 ter of Capt. Benjamin and Martha (Thrower) 
 Harris, who were among the earliest settlers of 
 
 this county, and were the founders of the town of 
 Harrisburg, which was named in their honor. Mr. 
 Harris was a successful agricidturist, and figured 
 prominently in the affairs of his county and State, 
 holding the offices of representative, judge, and 
 was also senator of the Twenty- ninth District of 
 Poinsett, Jackson and Mississippi Counties. He 
 was a Democrat in politics, and was a prominent 
 Mason. Mr. Sparks continued to work as a sales- 
 man until 1873, when he was elected clerk of the 
 circuit court of Poinsett County, and was twice re- 
 elected. He was defeated in 1S78, and subse- 
 quently returned to mercantile work, which he 
 continued until 1880, when he was elected sheriff 
 and collector. He was twice reelected, thus plainly 
 showing his efficiency as a puVilic man. and served 
 in that office until 1886, since which time he has 
 given his undivided attention to merchandising. 
 He and Mrs. Sparks are members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, and are much respected by all 
 who know them. He is a member of the A. F. & 
 A. M. (being High Priest of the Chapter) and of 
 the K. of H. He is a Democrat, and is active in his 
 support of all schools, churches and public enter- 
 prises generally. In January, 1887, the present 
 firm of Sparks & Co. was formed, the individual 
 members being T. B. Sparks and J. L. Smith. 
 They carry a stock of goods valued at from $6,0(»() 
 to $8,000, handle cotton and grain, and are doing 
 the largest business of any firm in town. 
 
 A. S. Thorn & Co. .general merchants. of Marked 
 Tree, Ark. A. S. Thorn is an example of the suc- 
 cess attending hard work and honest dealing, and 
 his trade is solidly established and reaches over 
 the surrounding country. They carry an excellent 
 and select stock of general goods, and the l)uilding 
 in which they do business is their own, and they 
 also own a good fi-ame hotel. Their store was es 
 tablished in 1886, and, as stated above, they art- 
 doing a prosperous business. A. S. Thorn was 
 born in York District, of South Carolina, in 18;-!-l. 
 and is the third of a family of ten children born to 
 Jesse and Frances (Miller) Thorn, who were born 
 in South Carolina and North Carolina, respectively. 
 The father was a planter, and in 1838 removed to 
 the "Blue Grass State." and from there to Poin- 
 
A' 
 
 614 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 sett County, in 1848, but entered land in Craij;- 
 head County, and in 1874 moved to Jonesboro. 
 where he lived a retired life until his death, in 
 1875. He took considerable interest in local poli- 
 tics, and, although originally a Whig, he afterward 
 became a Republican. His wife's death preceded 
 his by one year, she having borne him the follow- 
 ing children: William Jasper, who in 1861 enlisted 
 from Crittenden County, in Capt. Barton's regi- 
 ment of cavalry, and while trying to capture a 
 vessel, in 1862, was shot, dying a short time af- 
 terward, in the month of April ; John Newton, an- 
 other son, resides in Craighead County, and is en- 
 gaged in farming; A. S., our subject; Mary, who 
 died young; D. H. , who is married and resides in 
 Jonesboro; Harvey J., who was killed in 1871 by 
 a falling tree; Zilla, who died in 1864; Martha 
 (Mrs. Hubbs) residing in Craighead County; Sarah 
 (Mrs. Abraham Brown), also of that county, and 
 Caledonia (Mrs. Gwinn), also residing there. A. 
 S. Thorn received no educational advantages in 
 his youth, but educated himself after reaching 
 manhood. He began farming in Craighead Coun- 
 ty, and was married there, in 1856, to Miss Ollie 
 Owen, of Tennessee, but her death occurred the 
 same year. He next wedded, in Poinsett County, 
 Miss Nannie Bradsher, of Tennessee, their union 
 taking place in 1859. She bore Mr. Thorn one 
 child, Ida, and died in 1866. This daughter mar- 
 ried a Mr. Hydrick, in 1882, and is living in Scott 
 TownsLiip. In 1867 Mr. Thorn's third imion was 
 consummated, his wife being Miss Amanda J. Mar- 
 dis, of Alabama, and their marriage has resulted 
 in the birth of three children: Willie N. , Ruth 
 and Bessie Beatrice. In 1866 Mr. Thorn removed 
 to Scott Township, and purchased a partially-im- 
 proved farm of l,o50 acres, and put 250 acres 
 under cultivation. He has since divided with his 
 children, but still owns 150 acres there, all under 
 cultivation. He remained on this farm until No- 
 vember, 1884, when he moved to Little River 
 Township, and the following year embarked in his 
 present business, at which he is doing well. He 
 had previously been engaged in the same enter- 
 prise at Harrisburg, in 1872, the firm name being 
 D. H. Thorn & Co., but at the end of eighteen 
 
 months he sold his interest. He has a good farm 
 of 320 acres, with about 120 acres under cultiva- 
 tion, and gives considerable attention to raising 
 stock. He read law while living in Scott Town- 
 ship, and in 1872 was admitted to the bar, and 
 since that time has practiced more or less. He is 
 independent in his political views, and on the 13th 
 of March, 1868, he was elected sheriff of Poinsett 
 County, and served until the latter part of 1874. 
 He is a member of Lodge No. 184 of the A. F. & 
 A. M. , at Harrisburg, and in this order is a mem- 
 ber of Poinsett Chapter, No. 77. He and wife be- 
 long to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 
 A. W. Thornton has passed the uneventful life 
 of the farmer, and has continued steadily to 
 pursue ' ' the even tenor of his way, ' ' and is now 
 classed among the prosperous farmers of Poinsett 
 County. His birth occurred in Giles County, 
 Tenn., in 1846, and he was the fifth of eight chil- 
 dren born to Leecel and Sarah Jane (Austin) 
 Thornton, the former born in South Carolina and 
 the latter in Tennessee. The father was taken to 
 Tennessee when a youth, and was there reared and 
 educated, and made that his permanent home until 
 his death, which occurred in 1888, his worthy wife 
 still surviving him, and making her home in Ten- 
 nessee. In early life he was a Whig in his politi- 
 cal views, but later he became a Democrat. A. W. 
 Thornton was initiated into the mysteries of farm 
 life by his father, who was a successful agricul- 
 turist, and received his early scholastic training in 
 the district schools of Giles County. In 1862 he 
 abandoned farm life for the time being to join 
 the Confederate army, and was a member of Com- 
 pany E, Thirty-second Tennessee Infantry, and 
 was mustered into service at Murfreesboro, and 
 afterward participated in the battles of Chicka- 
 mauga, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, 
 and in 1864 received a gun-shot wound at Resaca, 
 and was confined in the hospital at Forsyth, Ga., 
 until fully recovered. He rejoined his company in 
 August, 1864, and was again wounded by a gun- 
 shot at Atlanta, Ga. , and was sent to the hospital 
 where he had j)reviously been cared for, and was 
 later taken to Cuthbert, Ga. In 1864, he again 
 rejoined his command, and was with Hood on his 
 
 >^ <j 
 
^k 
 
 POINSETT COUNTY. 
 
 filE 
 
 campaign in Tennessee. After his return to his 
 home in Giles County, he remained there until 
 1871, when he came to Poinsett County, where he 
 has since been engaged in farming and school-teach- 
 ing, and in both these occupations has become well 
 known. His farm comprises 160 acres, and since 
 1883, he has cleared thirty acres and jiut them 
 under cultivation. His property is well improved 
 with good buildings and fences, and in addition to 
 his f aim- work, his attention is given, to a considera- 
 ble degree, to stock raising. He votes the Dem- 
 ocratic ticket, but is not an active partisan. In 
 1877 and 1878 he tilled the office of county assess- 
 or, and is the present justice of his township, and 
 is serving his fourth term. He is a patron of 
 schools, and is a member of Harrisburg Lodge No. 
 184, of the A. F. & A. M., and was secretary of his 
 lodge for about two years. He has also filled that 
 position for the I. O. O. F. , he being a member of 
 White Hall Lodge No. 77. He is a member of 
 the Agricultural Wheel. He was married in this 
 county, in 1877, to Miss Harriet Frances Wright, 
 and by her has four children: James Arthur, 
 Thomas Jefferson, Leecel La Fayette and William 
 Harvey. 
 
 William Usery, blacksmith and farmer, Harris- 
 burg, Ark. Tennessee has furnished to this county 
 a number of representative men, and among them 
 might be mentioned William Usery, who was born 
 in Bedford County, of that State, in 1832. He is 
 the son of Allen and F. Elizabeth (Johnson) Usery, 
 both natives of North Carolina, and early settlers 
 of Tennessee, to which State they emigrated in pio- 
 neer times. They were members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. William Usery was brought 
 up as an agriculturist, and it was but natural 
 that he should permanently adopt that calling, as 
 his life occupation; and this he has always fol- 
 lowed. He received his education in the common 
 schools of Tennessee, and at the age of eighteen 
 years learned the blacksmith's trade, which he fol- 
 lowed in connection with farming. In 1849 he 
 came to St. Francis County, Ark. , and worked at 
 his trade for two years. He was first married in 
 1851, to Mrs. G. (Stephens) Fisher, and one child 
 was born to this union, Frances, who is now the 
 
 wife of William A. Garvey, and resides in Poinsett 
 County, Ark. Mrs. Usery died in 1850, and in 
 1859 Mr. Usery selected his second wife in the 
 person of Mrs. lloxy (Franks) Casbeer, widow of 
 Joseph Casbeer, who was a native of Tennessee, 
 and a farmer by occupation. By her first marriage 
 Mrs. Usery became th(i mother of three children: 
 Jerusha A., widow of Frank Thiville, a farmer of 
 St. Francis County, who died in 1880, leaving 
 his widow and two children; Thomas and Chossley. 
 Mrs. Usery is the daughter of Chessley and Jerusha 
 (May) Franks, the former a local Methodist Epis- 
 copal preacher of Tenne.sseo. Elder Franks came 
 to Arkansas at a very early date, and here married 
 Miss May, a member of one of the oldest families 
 of Northeast Arkansas. Mrs. Usery is the fourth 
 of eight children born to her parents, her birth oc- 
 curring in St. Francis County, Ark., in 1829. 
 She spent her school days in that county, and after 
 her marriage to Mr. Usery, in 1859, they resided 
 in St. Francis County for thirteen years. Mr. 
 Usery engaged in blacksmithing and farming. In 
 1872 he moved to Harrisburg and bought 4(50 acres 
 of land, but has since sold some of this, and is now 
 the owner of 300 acres adjoining the city, with 
 about fifty acres under cultivation. He lives in the 
 center of this, just across the corporation line. He 
 has the best buildings, the largest orchard, l)ear- 
 ing all kinds of fruit, and is considered one of the 
 substantial men of the county. By his marriage 
 were born two children: Florence, wife of a min- 
 ister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and re 
 siding in Texas, and Annis, wife of George Garvey, 
 a merchant at Harrisburg. Mr. Usery and family 
 are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 and he is a Royal Arch Mason. He is also a 
 member of the I. O. O. F. He and his excellent 
 wife can relate some very interesting reminiscences 
 of early times, how lumber was made with a whip- 
 saw, how the clothing and boots and shoes were 
 made by the old .settlers, and how Bolivar was at 
 one time the county-seat. 
 
 Jasj)er M. Vanhoozer, farmer and stock raiser, 
 Harrisburg, Ark. Located in the midst of one of 
 the finest agricultural centers of Poinsett County, 
 the farm which Mr. Vanhoozer owns and occupies 
 
 
^=A 
 
 616 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 is concodecl to be iimoiiy tlic lu'st ia the vicinity; 
 and this is saying not a little, for on every hand 
 may be seen superior farms, whose ownership de- 
 notes thrift and prosperity, ilr. Vanhoozer lirst 
 saw the light of day in Lincoln County, Tenn., 
 where his birth occurred on the 7th of September, 
 IS 45. His parents, Jacob and Mary (Ketchum) 
 Yanhoozer, were natives of Tennessee, and the 
 father was one of the pioneers of Middle Tennes- 
 see. He was a participant of one of the Indian 
 Wars, and died in the year 1846, on the 26th of 
 September. They were members of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church, and much respected citizens.. 
 The mother, after surviving the death of her hus- 
 band for about twenty-seven years, died in 1873. 
 They were the parents of four children, two sisters 
 and Jasper N. now living. One sister, Gestin, 
 married Joseph Birdwell, and now resides in the 
 Lone Star State. The other sister, Fenton, is the 
 wife of Jesse Hardgrove, and resides near the old 
 homestead, in Tennessee. Jasper M. Vanhoozer 
 received a fair education in the common schools of 
 Tennessee, and at the age of seventeen years, he 
 left the farm of his father and enlisted in the Con- 
 federate army, in Comi)any A, Forrest's Cavalry, 
 and participated in the skirmish at Athens and 
 Corinth. After the last named battle, Mr. Van- 
 hoozer re-enlisted in Company E, Thirty-second 
 Tennessee Infantry, under Gen. Hood, and was in 
 the battles of Franklin, Nashville and Murfrees- 
 boro. He was wounded at Port Hindman, in 1863, 
 and at Murfreesboro, in 1864. Here his services 
 ended, as he never regained his health sufficiently 
 to return. After cessation of hostilities, he re- 
 turned to Tennessee, and engaged in tilling the 
 soil, which industry he has since carried on. By 
 his marriage, which occurred in June, 1867, to 
 Miss Susan Darnell, he became the father of four 
 children, two now living: Nancy Ann, wife of 
 Charles Presley, a farmer now living in Tennessee, 
 and Benjamin Lewis, a farmer, unmarried, and 
 residing in Poinsett ('ounty. Mrs. Vanhoozer was 
 the daughter of James and Susan (Merrill) Darnell, 
 natives of Tennessee. In 1869, Mr. Vanhoozer 
 and family moved to Poinsett County, Ark. , and 
 here purchased forty acres of partially improved 
 
 hind. He has added to this tract from time to time, 
 until he now has 270 acres on Crowley's Ridge, 
 with about sixty-five acres under cultivation. He 
 also has 20Q acres in St. Anguille Bottom, and is 
 improving the same; has twenty-seven acres under 
 cultivation. He rents land for cotton. Mr. Van- 
 hoozer votes with the Democratic party, but is con- 
 servative in politics. Mrs. Vanhoozer died in 1883, 
 and in the same year Mr. Vanhoozer was married 
 to Miss Sarah Hall, daughter of Newton G. and 
 Sarah J. E. (Robertson) Hall, natives of Missis- 
 sippi. By this anion Mr. Vanhoozer became the 
 father of the following children: Leana C. , James 
 L. and Sarah A. Mr. Vanhoozer is an honored 
 member of the Masonic fraternity, and holds mem- 
 bership in Harrisbui-g Lodge No. 184, and was 
 treasurer of that lodge for a number of years. He 
 is a member of White Hall Lodge No. 77, I. O. 
 O. F. , and is at present treasurer of that society. 
 He has served as school director a number of years, 
 and has always taken an active interest in and 
 given his support to all enterprises for the good of 
 the community, and is one who believes in pro- 
 gressive farming. 
 
 B. F. Webber is one of the successful agricul- 
 turists of this region, and as such deserves honor- 
 alile mention among these pages. He was born on 
 Blue Grass soil in 1839, and was the fifth of nine 
 children born to F. X. Webber, who was a native 
 German. The father came to the United States 
 when young, and was married in Kentucky' to Arti- 
 missa Ellen Hays, who was a native of that State. 
 In 1851 they removed to St. Francis County, Ark., 
 and from here Mr. Webber enlisted in the Rebel 
 army service, in 1862, and died the following year. 
 B. F. Webber was initiated into the mysteries of 
 farming in early youth, and received a fair English 
 education in the schools of St. Francis County. 
 In 1863 he came to Poinsett County. Ark., and 
 was married here, in 1869, to L. C. Calvert, a 
 native of Phillips County, Ark., who came here 
 with her parents at a very early day. Both her 
 father and mother are now deceased. After his 
 marriage Mr. Webber settled on a farm iieai- where 
 Tyronza is now situated, and here made his home 
 until 1880, when he purchased 160 acn^s of unim- 
 
 
'.iL 
 
 POINSETT COUNTY. 
 
 017 
 
 proved land, and now has about fifty acres under 
 cultivation, and has his farm nicely improved, with 
 good residence and out buildings. He has in- 
 creased bis acreage to 200, and this he devotes 
 principally to raising cotton, also giving consider 
 able attention to stock. Mr. Webber is a Demo- 
 crat, a member of the Agricultural Wheel, and he 
 and wife and children (L. C, Nettie Ann and 
 Laura Rozella) are in communion with the Mis- 
 sionary Baptist Church. The following are their 
 children: Laura Kozella, William Bedford, Nettie 
 Ann, Edna, Charles, Franklin, Katie Nora, Ed- 
 ward Lee, James A., Lonnie, Toney and Thomas. 
 Mr. Webber and his family have enjoyed excep- 
 tionally good health since locating here, and they 
 consider it an extremely healthy locality, as well I 
 as a fine farming region, never having had to call i 
 in a doctor. 
 
 Hon. N. J. Willis, farmer, Harrisburg, Ark. 
 The name that heads this sketch is borne by one of 
 the most highly respected and esteemed residents 
 of Poinsett County. Let a man be industriously 
 ambitious, and honorable in his ambitions, and he 
 will ri.se. whether having the prestige of family or 
 the obscurity of poverty. Mr. Willis was born in 
 Caswell County, N. C, on the 31st of January, 
 1835, but attained his growth in Tennessee. His 
 parents, John T. and Elizabeth (Ward) Willis, 
 were also natives of North Carolina. The father 
 was a thorough going, industrious farmer, and 
 an active member of the Masonic fraternity, and 
 held the office of junior warden in that organiza 
 tion sevei'al years. He was a Democrat in politics, 
 and he and wife were members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. Their family consisted of six 
 children: George W., died in the army in 18(58, 
 was a farmer of White County, Ark. ; Mary, wife 
 of a farmer living in Cross County, Ark. ; Flora 
 A., wife of James Maloney, a farmer of Illinois; 
 Nancy, wife of Capt. J. M. LeVesque, county 
 clerk, and the largest farmer in Cross County, Ark. ; 
 Sarah, died in 1804, and was the wife of Samuel 
 Allen. N. J. Willis, the fourth child in order of 
 birth, spent his boyhood days in Tennessee, when 
 school op|)ortunities were very limited. DiU'ing 
 that time his vocation was farming, and at odd 
 
 39 
 
 times he was busy over his books, of which lie was 
 very fond. At the age of twenty he began work- 
 ing for himself, and then spent a year in school 
 to Prof. Phillips, near Somerville, Tenn. The 
 next year, 1850, he came with ('apt. LeVesque, to 
 Poinsett (now Cross) County, Ark., and followed 
 agricultural pursuits for two years. In 1857 he 
 married Miss Nancy Shannon, daughter of Archi- 
 bald and Nancy (Allen) Shannon, the former a 
 native of Tennessee. To Mr. and Mrs. Willis 
 were born five children (two of whom are living): 
 John T. died in infancy; Thomas J. died at the 
 age of seventeen; James M. died at the age of 
 four years; Samuel H. , a farmer and miller, 
 now resides with his father, and Ollie A., who is 
 now thirteen years of age, is at home. Judge 
 Willis lived in Poinsett County (now Cross), until 
 1875, and then moved to Poinsett County proper. 
 In 1874 he was elected justice of the peace, and 
 in 1879 was elected county judge, serving one 
 term. In 1881 he was elected representative, and 
 re-elected to the same position in 1883, thus 
 showing his popularity with the ))ub!ic. In 1886 
 he engaged in ginning and milling, and the same 
 year moved to Harrisburg, but continued to super- 
 intend his farm. He is the owner of 828 acres of 
 land in Poinsett County, besides two lots with 
 good houses on them, and the gin and mill at Har- 
 risburg. In March, 1802, he enlisted in the Con- 
 federate army, Capt. Joe Martin's Thirteenth Ar- 
 kansas Infantry (mounted), and in 1863 was pro- 
 moted to the rank of lieutenant of Company C, 
 which position he held until the war closed. He 
 was in the battles of Greeneville, Helena, and went 
 with Gen. Price in his raid through Missouri and 
 Arkansas. He left the main army at Fort Smith, 
 and operated on White River until 1864, when he 
 joined the main army at Camden, and continued 
 with the same until the surrender at Wittsburg, 
 Ark., in 1865. He served his county and State in 
 the most acceptable manner during the war, but 
 has rendered it even more valuable service, not 
 only as a reliable public official, but as an indus- 
 trious farmer and lawaliiding citizen. He is now 
 living in comparative retirement. He is a member 
 of the Masonic order, also the K. of H. , and in 
 
M'. 
 
 his views affiliates with the Democratic party. 
 He and Mrs. Willis are members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, in which he has held the office 
 of class-leader, has also been superintendent of 
 the Sunday-school, and he is a liberal contributor 
 to all laudable enterprises. 
 
 John R. Willis, postmaster of Buffalo Lick, Ark. , 
 has held the position he now occupies for the ])ast 
 six years, and has ably discharged the duties in- 
 cumbent upon the office. He was born in Oldham 
 County, Ky. , in 1837, but received his education in 
 Saline County, Mo., and up to the age of eighteen 
 years was an attendant at the district schools, and 
 was engaged in farm labor on the old homestead. 
 After attaining the above mentioned age he entered 
 the employ of Majs. Russell & Wardell, being 
 master of a wagon train leaving Leavenworth for 
 any given point in the far West. After remaining 
 in the Government employ for about seven years 
 he, in 1862, joined the Eighteenth Mississippi Cav- 
 alry, commanded by Col. Jenkins, and was in the 
 battles of Franklin, Nashville and Fort Pillow, and 
 in other minor engagements, serving until hostili- 
 ties ceased, when he was paroled at Memphis, Tenn. 
 He was captured three times, one time being 
 taken prisoner at Holly Springs, Miss., by the 
 Seventh Kansas Regiment, of which W. F. Cody, 
 better known as Buffalo Bill, was a member, the 
 latter having been in his employ while he was a 
 teamster in the West. Mr. ^\'illis was engaged 
 in farming in Cross County, Ark., until 1879, 
 when he crossed to Poinsett County, Ark., and 
 here has since made his home, his farm of 200 
 acres being finely improved, with good buildings, 
 fences, etc. , and 100 acres are under cultivation. 
 He also operates a steam cotton-gin, and raises some 
 stock. He is independent in his political views, 
 but usually votes the Democratic ticket. He has 
 held the office of magistrate, and for many years 
 has been an active worker for the cause of temper- 
 ance. He is a patron of education, is a member 
 of the school board, and also belongs to the board 
 of equalization. He is a Mason, being a member 
 of Arcadian Lodge, at Vanndale, Cross CoiTnty, and 
 also belongs to the Agricultural Wheel. He was 
 married, in Cross County, Ark., in 1872, to Miss 
 
 Mary Harvey, a native of Shelby County, Tenn. . 
 and to their union six children have been born: 
 Lillian, Lewis, Henry X., Mary, Ethel and Edna. 
 Mr. Willis is the youngest of eleven children born to 
 Lewis and Polly (Ryle) Willis, the former a native 
 of Virginia, and the latter of North Carolina. They 
 settled on a farm in Boone County, Ky. , at an 
 early day, and in 1835 moved to Oldham County, 
 where the mother died in 1845. In 1848 Mr. 
 Willis settled in Saline County, Mo. , where he 
 farmed and made his home until his death, in 1850. 
 J. B. Wilson is possessed of those advanced 
 ideas and progressive principles regarding agricult- 
 ural life which seem to be among the chief char- 
 acteristics of native Tennesseeans. He was born 
 in Shelby County, of that State, in 1829, and is 
 the elder of two children Ijorn to John B. and Mary 
 Ann (Cowan) AVilson, who were also Tennesseeans. 
 The father followed the trade of cabinet-making 
 until his death, which occurred in Middle Tennes- 
 see, in 1833, but his widow survived him until 
 1874, dying in Poinsett County. Ark. The early 
 advantages received by our suliject were such as 
 usually fall to the farmer's laoy, and at the early 
 age of fourteen years, owing to the death of his 
 father, he was compelled toput his shoulder to the 
 plow, in order to assist in the support of his wid- 
 owed mother. He was married in Tennessee, in 
 1857, to Miss Mary Houston, a native of Tennes- 
 see, and a niece of Gen. Sam Houston. Her par- 
 ents, John and Martha (Gillespie) Houston, were 
 Tennesseeans, her grandfathers having been among 
 the earliest settlers of that State from Virginia. 
 J. B. Wilson removed to Poinsett County, Ark., in 
 1857, and located in Greenfield Township, where 
 he purchased a partially improved farm, consisting 
 of 179 acres, and now has eighty acres under culti- 
 vation, which he devotes to cotton and corn. By 
 his wife, who died in 1873. he became the father 
 of seven children, three now living: Mary L. (Mrs. 
 Bennett, residing in Craighead County), David B. 
 and Ida. In 1874 Mr. Wilson married Mrs. Mary 
 Jane (Wilkison) Kelsoe, she having been born in 
 the State of Alabama, but was reared in Poinsett 
 County. Six of their seven children are living: 
 Ellen, Eland, Thomas Payne, Robert Ingersoll, 
 
 n- 
 
1^ 
 
 Joe Voltaire and Andy Bradlaw. In December, 
 1861, Mr. WilsoQ went to Decatur, Macon County, 
 111., anil was there engaged in gathering supplies, 
 for the Union Army. The following year he went 
 to Memphis, Term., and from that time until 1865 
 he was on the city police force. In the latter year 
 he returned to Poinsett County, where he has 
 since made his home. Although not a politician, 
 he votes with the Republican party, and has advo- 
 cated its principles alone and single-handed at all 
 times, and was one of two men of Arkansas who 
 voted for Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency, in 
 1865. He has always advocated the building and 
 sustaining of good schools, and has for many years 
 been a member of the school board in his district. 
 He has been a Mason since 1850. He is also a 
 member of the Agricultural A\'heel. He has ever 
 contributed liberally for the support of every en- 
 terprise for the building up of the county, and is 
 considered one of its good citizens. 
 
 J. L. Wright, one of Poinsett County's repre- 
 sentative farmers and stockmen, was born on Blue 
 Grass soil in 1836, being the second of four 
 children of Joseph and Sarah (Ford) Wright, who 
 were also natives of that State, to which the 
 paternal grandfather had moved at a very early 
 day. Joseph Wright removed to Arkansas in 
 1842, and settled in Greenfield Township, where, 
 in 1848, he entered the land on which he had first 
 squatted, comprising 160 acres, and commenced 
 making improvements, and here made his home 
 until his death, which occurred August 19, 1876. 
 He was a member of the Masonic Lodge of 
 Harrisburg, and was a man whom all esteemed 
 and respected. His excellent wife passed from 
 this life in 1852. J. L. Wright in assistintj his 
 father in clearing the home farm, became familiar 
 with the duties of agricultural life, and after ac 
 quiring a fair education in the old sulsseription 
 schools of Poinsett County, he, at the age of twenty 
 years, started out to fight the battle of life for 
 himself. He was married in 1S57 to Miss Jane 
 Ishmet, a native of St. Frauds County, and a 
 daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Lane) Ishmet, 
 who were born in Illinois and Tennessee, respect- 
 ively. They removed from the former State to 
 
 Poinsett County, Ark., during the early history of 
 this region, and also made their home in Greene 
 County. The father's death occurred many years 
 ago, but the mother is .still living and makes 1km- 
 home with her daughter, Mrs. Wright. After 
 his marriage, Mr. Wright settled on the farm 
 where he now lives, and in 1861 enlisted from here 
 for three years in Capt. Hillis' company, and was 
 assigned to the Fifteenth Arkansas regiment, but 
 was honorably discharged a short time after. He 
 then volunteered in Capt. Kitchens' regiment, and 
 was a participant in the battle of Little Rock. At 
 the close of the war he returned to Poinsett Coun- 
 ty, and has since devoted his energies to putting 
 his farm in good tillable condition. His first pur- 
 chase of laud was in 1858, and consisted of forty 
 acres, but by his own good management and energy 
 he now owns 660 acres, with over 200 acres under 
 cultivation, which constitutes one of the finest 
 farms in the county. He makes a specialty of 
 raising a good grade of Durham cattle and Berk- 
 shire and Poland-China hogs, and in all his views 
 he is progressive and enterprising. He is not an 
 active politician, but usually votes the Democrat 
 ticket, and socially is a member of Harrisburg 
 Lodge No. 184, of the A. F. & A. M. He is one 
 of the oldest members of the Christian Church, 
 his wife also belonging to that church; and not in 
 church matters alone has ho been active, for he 
 has always been interested in the progress and ad- 
 vancement of schools, and was instrumental in 
 organizing the district in which he resides. His 
 children are as follows: James J., who died in 
 1858; Harriet Frances (Mrs. Thornton), Eliza 
 Jane, Mary Etta Gertrude (Mrs. Smith), Sarah 
 Ellen, Jennie Kate, Joseph William, Julia, James 
 Charley and Lou Oilie (twins), the latter of whom 
 died in 1879 at the age of fen months; and Ida 
 Lou. Mr. Wright's brothers and sisters are: John 
 J., who was married, served in the late war, and 
 died in 1872; J. L. , Jasper, who married, and is a 
 resident of the county; Elizabeth, who was the 
 wife of James Wilson, and died in 1869; Malvina, 
 now Mrs. McBroom, a resident of Harrisburg; 
 and Joseph H. , who is married and resides in Boli 
 var Township. 
 
A 
 
 <S w_ 
 
 -^ 9 J 
 
 620 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Jasper Wright. The life of this gentleman 
 has been rather an uneventful one, but clearly dem- 
 onstrates how much can be accomplished and ac- 
 quired under the most unfavorable circumstances. 
 He was born in Barren County, Ky., in 1840, and, 
 after assisting his father on the home farm until 
 twenty-seven years of age, he began doing for 
 himself, but dropped his farming implements in 
 1861 to enlist in the Crittenden Rangers, a cavalry 
 company organized in Crittenden County, Ark. ; 
 and was in the battles of Chickamauga, Corinth 
 and Knoxville. He was paroled at Chester, S. O. , 
 in 1805, and returned to Poinsett County, which 
 place has since been his home. He was married 
 here, in 1867, to Miss Martha Jane Huston, a Ten- 
 nesseean by birth, but her death occurred in 1875, 
 she having borne a family of four children; Har- 
 riet Jane (Mrs. Albright) and John William are 
 the only ones now living. The following year Mr. 
 Wright wedded Miss Laura Stevens, a Georgian, 
 by whom he became the father of two children 
 — Elizabeth and Bessie —but he was called upon to 
 mourn her death in 1884. His next matrimonial 
 venture was in 1885, his wife's maiden name be- 
 ing Josephine McClellan; she was born in Tennes- 
 see, and to them has been given one child, Lloyd 
 D. In 1868 Mr. Wright purchased a timber 
 tract of eighty acres, but sold it in 1879, and pur- 
 chased another tract consisting of the same num 
 ber of acres. He has added eighty acres to this, 
 and has lifty acres under cultivation. He has 
 always voted the Democratic ticket, and has served 
 as justice of the peace for some years, and in 1886 
 was elected county and probate judge, serving two 
 years. Socially, he is a member of the Agricultu- 
 ral Wheel, and also belongs to Harrisburg Lodge 
 of the A. F. & A. M. He and wife are worthy 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He 
 is one of five children born to Joseph and Sarah 
 (Ford) Wright, natives of Tennessee and Ken- 
 tucky, respectively. In 1844 they removed to 
 Poinsett County, Ark. , and here spent the rest of 
 their lives, the father's death occurring in 1876, 
 and the mother's in 1854. 
 
 W. L. Wright. Not without justice, Mr. Wright 
 is conceded to hold a representative position among 
 
 the prominent and successful agriculturists of Poin- 
 sett County, for he started out in life for himself 
 at the age of twenty-one years with no means, and 
 is now the owner of 240 acres, with about thirty- 
 live acres under the plow. He was born near 
 Helena, Ark. , in 1848, and his youth was spent in 
 assisting on the home farm and in attending the 
 public schools of St. Francis County. He removed 
 to Illinois with his parents, but returned to Crit- 
 tenden County, and was married here November 
 15, 186y, his wife being Miss Arena Johnson, a na- 
 tive of that county. After raising four crops in 
 Crittenden County, he, in 1872, went to Macoupin 
 County, 111., and after taking charge of his father's 
 farm for three years he settled in Mississippi 
 County, and engaged in farming. In the month of 
 March, 1880, he came to Poinsett County, Ark., 
 and first purchased a farm of forty acres. This 
 he sold at a later period, and bought eighty acres, 
 and has added to it until he now has 240 acres, as 
 stated above. He is a Democrat in his political 
 views, and for the past eight years has given his 
 attention to pastoral work, he being a member of 
 the Missionary Baptist Church. He has three 
 charges in Mississippi County, one at Frenchman's 
 Bayou, one at Cross Bayou, and the other at New 
 Hope. Last year he was pastor of a church at 
 Philadelphia, Crittenden County. He is a public- 
 spirited citizen, and is deeply interested in the 
 cause of education, having given his children such 
 advantages as he could afford. Their names are: 
 Clara Idella, Mattison McMullen, Maud Jane, Bed- 
 ford Whitfield and Milton Edward. Mr. Wright 
 has noticed many changes for the better since 
 locating in this vicinity, and, judging from a moral 
 and Christian standpoint, the county is rapidly im- 
 proving. Mr. Wright numbers the fifth of his 
 parents' nine children. Both his father and mother, 
 W. I. and Jane (Gazell) Wright, were born in 
 Kentucky, were married there, and in 1845 re- 
 moved to Arkansas, and up to the year 1853 the 
 father was a Baptist minister of Phillips County. 
 At the latter date he removed to St. Francis Coun- 
 ty, but returned to the former county in 1861, 
 remaining two years. From that time until 1867 
 he resided on a farm in Poinsett County, and his 
 
!<£ 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 621 
 
 next move was to Macoupin County, 111., and after 
 living in the town of Girard for three years he 
 purchased a farm, on which he resided until his 
 
 death, in February, 1875. His wife still survives 
 him, and is now a Mrs. Sims, whose residence is 
 in Raymond, 111. 
 
 "»-*—♦ — »*« — » !< ■ 
 
 ;ifiifSc^ XXII. 
 
 ■ > ♦ < ■ 
 
 Independence County— Formation and Organization— Public Structures— Catalogue of Offi- 
 cials — The Franchise— Administration of Law— The Coming of the Pioneers— Location of 
 the County— Its Water Courses— Numerous Personal and Business Sketches— Timber 
 AND Mines— Lands and Crops— Census Returns— Railroads— Religious Growth 
 —Towns— Popular Instruction— War Record— Facts and Statistics. 
 
 In ancient times the sacred plow employ'd 
 
 The kings and awful fathers of mankind, 
 
 And some * * have held the scale of empire 
 
 Then, * * with unwearied hand, * * * 
 
 Seized the plow, and greatly independent lived. — Thomson. 
 
 *HE county of Independence 
 was organized in accord- 
 ance with the provisions of 
 an act of the legislature 
 of Arkansas Territory, ap- 
 proved October, 20, 1820. 
 As then organized it em- 
 braced much territory which has 
 since, from time to time, been cut 
 off and included in other counties 
 as they were formed. Originally 
 it composed a part of Lawrence 
 .SV) County. 
 i \-f^ 1'^^ town of Batesville having 
 ^r^ been established prior to the organ- 
 ">«r_. ization of the county, and being 
 centrally located, as well as enjoy- 
 ing the advantages of a navigable river, was chosen 
 as the seat of justice, and as such still continues. 
 The first coui-t-house, a brick structure, was erected 
 in 1821 , close to the bank of White River, and above 
 
 the mouth of the bayou, on the public square, as 
 shown by the town plat. The present court-house, 
 which stands on block 15, at the comer of Broad 
 and Main Streets, was erected in 1857 by Messrs. 
 J. H. Peel and J. E. Wamac, at a cost of $10,000. 
 It is a plain two-story brick building, with six 
 rooms on the first floor, and court-room, jury and 
 witness-rooms on the second. It has a wooden 
 tower containing a town clock. The Paul Jail 
 Company, of St. Louis, Mo., is now repairing the 
 two-story stone residence of the jailer, and complet 
 ing a new jail attached, for the contract price of 
 $7,500. It stands on the opposite side of the same 
 block on which the court-house is located, the jail 
 proper having seven cells for prisoners. 
 
 The county has a poor farm and asylum for 
 the use of the paupers. It is six miles northeast 
 of Batesville, and has good buildings, and about 
 fifty acres under cultivation. The county furnishes 
 food and clothing for the indigent, the superintend- 
 ent caring for them for the use of the farm. 
 
 f 
 
 \ 
 
Aj 
 
 f)22 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 1832-36 
 1838-44 
 1848-54 
 1856-58 
 1862-64 
 1866-68 
 1872-74 
 
 1836-42 
 1847-52 
 18r6-60 
 1862-64 
 1866-68 
 1872-74 
 1876-82 
 
 The following is a list of names of county 
 officers of Independence County from its organiza- 
 tion, with date of their terms of service: 
 
 County judges: James Boswell, 1829-32; 
 Richard Peel, 1832-40; D. W. Lowe, 1840-44; 
 John Kyler, 1844-46; John Mannikin, 1846-48; 
 D. W. Lowe, 1848-54; J. C. Brickey, 1854-56; 
 N. Peed, 1856-64; H. Hogan, 1864-66; G. W. 
 Shaw, 1866-68; H. Hogan, 1868-72; commission- 
 ers, 1872-74; Henry Neill, 1874-76; W. M. Steel, 
 1876-78; S. A. Hail, 1878-80; W. M. Steel, 
 1880-82; R. H. Griffin, 1882-80; A. J. Craig, pres- 
 ent incumbent, first elected in 1886. 
 
 Clerks: R. Searcy, 1820-21: T. Curran, 
 1821-27; J. Redmond, 1827-32; C. H. Pelham, 
 William Moore, 1836-38; C. H. Pelham, 
 
 D. W. Lowe, 1844-48; W. R. Miller, 
 R. R. Kellogg, 1854-56; Henry Powell, 
 J. A. Price, 1858-62; M. A. Wycough, 
 
 R. Harpham, 1864-06; Robert Neill, 
 R. Harpham, 1868-72; W. H. Berry, 
 
 E. M. Dickinson, 1874-86; M. A. Wy- 
 cough, present incumbent, first elected in 1886. 
 
 Sheriffs: Charles Kelly, 1820-32; J. Egner, 
 1832-35; J. H. Egner, 1835-36; H. A. Engles, 
 W. L. McGuire, 1842-47; A. Alexander, 
 U. E. Foot, 1852-56; G. W. Daugherty, 
 John Bailey, 1800-62; Dan James, 
 John Palmer, 1864-06; F. D. Denton, 
 J. J. Palmer, 1868-72; J. W. Kennedy, 
 John Bailey, 1874-76; R. R. Case, 
 R. M. Desha, 1882-86; McCurdy Hail, 
 present incumbent, first elected in 1886. 
 
 Treasurers: J. H. Egner, 1836-40; S. B. Wy- 
 cough, 1840-50; B. Lee, 1850-54; G. W. Dough- 
 erty, 1854-56; Thomas Womack, 1856-58; R. 
 Harpham, 1858-60; T. Chaplain, 1860-64; Frank- 
 lin Perrin, 1866-68; J. Van Emberg, 1868-72; J. 
 H. Foster, 1872-74; B. F. Howard, 1874-80; R. 
 H. Lee, 1880-86; J. A. Hinkle, 1886-88; L. C. 
 Lindsay, present incumbent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Coroners: John Reed, 1820-21; John Bean, 
 1821-23; J. L. Daniels, 1823-27; John Ruddell, 
 1827-29; A. Cresswell, 1829-30; Robert Bruce, 
 1830-32; J. Carroll, 1832-35; J. Merri weather, 
 1835-36; C. McArthul, 1836-38; H. W. Bandy, 
 
 1838-40; W. W. Baltimore. 1840-42; George 
 Case, 1842-48; William O" Conner, 1848-52: Mar- 
 tin Cason, 1852-54; G. M. Miniken (or Minni- 
 kin), 1854-56; William O'Conner, 1856-58; H. 
 Blevins, 1858-60; J. Thomas, 1860-62; J. Bethel, 
 1862-64; S. J. McGuffin, 1866-68; Charles Caw, 
 1868-72; W. R. Joplin, 1872-78; C. B. Grig.sby, 
 1878-80; C. D. McCormack, 1880-S2; K. E. Law- 
 rence, 1882-84; Kent Lawrence, 1884-86; W. S. 
 McGuire, 1886-88; J. L. Ellis, present incumbent, 
 elected in 1888. 
 
 Surveyors: C. H. Pelham, 1827-30; J. Trim- 
 ble, 1830-35; E. Frazier, 1835-40; Samuel Wel- 
 din, 1840^2; A. Bowman, 1842-44; A. Manning, 
 1844-46; George Gill, 1846-48; T. S. Carter, 
 1848-52; J. Ireland, 1852-56; E. D. Rushing, 
 1856-58; C. P. Head, 1858-60; Robert Neill, 
 1860-62; Z. D. Bozart, 1862-64; James Grisham, 
 1864-66; J. S. Carter, 1866-68; J. S. Smith, 
 1868-72; J. M. C. Southard, 1872-76; W. A. 
 Hill, 1876-78; J. M. C. Southard, 1878-82; John 
 Hindman, 1882-88; G. M. Thompson, present in- 
 cumbent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Assessors: W. H. Grigsby, 1862-64; E. D. 
 Rushing, 1864-66; R. H. Lee, 1866-68; T. A. 
 Baxter, 1868-72; E. C. Patchell, 1872-74; D. R. 
 Ford, 1874-76: William Taylor, 1876-82; T. B. 
 Padgett, 1882-84; Thomas Owens, 1884-86; C. 
 H. Webb, 1886-88; Josiah Martin, present incum- 
 bent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Delegates in constitutional conventions: 1836, 
 John Ringgold and Townseud Dickinson: 1861, 
 M. S. Kennard, U. E. Fort and F. W. Desha; 
 1864, C. C. Bliss; 1868, Peter G. Misner and 
 George W. Dale; 1874, J. W. Butler and J. 
 Rutherford. Peyton Tucker represented Inde- 
 pendence County in the council of the Second 
 Territorial legislature, in 1821, and J. Ringgold 
 represented Independence and Jackson Counties 
 in the senate of the First State legislature; at the 
 same time T. Dickinson representing Independence 
 County in the house. 
 
 The political aspect of the county may be in- 
 ferred from the votes cast for the several candi- 
 dates at the last State and Presidental elections, 
 which were as follows: September election, 1888, 
 
A 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 623 
 
 for governor, James P. Eagle (Dom.), 2,012; C. 
 M. Norwood (Com. Opp.), 2,051; for secretary of 
 State, B. B. Chism (Dem.), 2,002; George W. 
 Terry (Com. Opp.), 2,050; Presidential election, 
 1888, Cleveland (Dem.), 1,789; Harrison (Rep.), 
 324; Streeter(U. L.), 1,220; Fisk (Prohibition), 36. 
 
 As the county was created October 20, 1820, 
 it is most likely that the lirst session of court was 
 held in the latter part of that year or early in the 
 year following; but no record of any court appears 
 on tile until the " ' Common Pleas ' ' court convened 
 at Batesville on Monday, November lU, 1821, 
 with Judges Richard Pee] and William Moore, 
 presiding. This court assumed jurisdiction over 
 all business, including county, probate and crim- 
 inal affairs. So far as the record shows, this 
 was the last term of the common pleas court. The 
 same volume of records immediately following the 
 last proceeding of the above shows that in Janu- 
 ary, 1822, the Hon. Richard Searcy, judge of the 
 First judicial district, appeared and produced his 
 commission as such, and opened the first term of 
 the circuit court at Batesville. A grand jury was 
 then chosen, and sworn to perform their duties, 
 and Thomas Dickinson was appointed prosecuting 
 attorney for the term. This court had jurisdiction 
 now over all kinds of business, and was the only 
 court held until 1829, when the county court was 
 created by the legislature. 
 
 Judge Searcy presided over the circuit court 
 until November, 1825, when he was succeeded by 
 Judge James Woodson Bates. The first term of 
 the county court began April 5, 1830. with James 
 Boswell, judge presiding. 
 
 The circuit court now belongs to the Third 
 judicial district, composed of the counties of 
 Jackson, Lawrence. Stone, Randolph, Independ- 
 ence and Sharp, with Judge J. W. Butler, of Bates- 
 ville, presiding, and J. L. Abernethy, of Evening 
 Shatle. as prosecuting attorney. The sessions of this 
 coui't are held in Independence County, commenc- 
 ing on the first Monday of January and July of 
 each year. The sessions of the county court begin 
 on the first Mondays of January, April, July and 
 October, and the probate court the first Mondays of 
 Februarv. Mav. .\ugust and November. 
 
 The legal bar of Independence County is com- 
 posed of the following named attorneys: H. S. 
 Coleman, J. C. Yancey, Robert Neill, W. A. Bev- 
 ens, J. J. Barnwell, Ex. -Gov. Elisha Baxter, Sam- 
 uel Peete, W. B. Padgett, Charles Bourne, J. C. 
 Bone and W. B. Ruddell. 
 
 Independence County has been comparatively 
 free from the perpetration of the grosser crimes. 
 Since the Civil War there has been only one exe- 
 cution for the crime of murder committed here — 
 the hanging of Jesse Kemp for the mui'der of Mar- 
 ion Hulsey. He was tried on a change of venue 
 and executed in Sharp County. Another person 
 suffered capital punishment in the county for a 
 murder committed elsewhere. 
 
 French traders and trappers ascended White 
 River long before the permanent settlement of the 
 country traversed by it began. A party of these 
 people encamped and hunted bear in the region 
 now known as Oil Trough Bottom, in Independ- 
 ence County. Here they slew many bear, from 
 which they rendered the oil, filled their barrels 
 and had a surplus left. This letter was put into 
 wooden troughs and left in the camp, the intention 
 probably being to return for it. However, no one 
 called, and the oil spoiled in the troughs. Hence 
 the name Oil Trough Bottom. These traders and 
 hunters left many marks of their travels at various 
 places up and down the river, which were plainly 
 visible to the pioneer settlers. Not a few of the 
 streams and other natural objects were named by 
 the French and Spaniards. . 
 
 The permanent settlement of this territory is 
 believed to have commenced about the year 1810, 
 or perhaps a little earlier. John Reed located at 
 the site of Batesville in 1812. Samuel Miller, of 
 Tennessee, came in 1813, and subsequently settled 
 on the creek that bears his name in this county. 
 Col. Robert Bean ran the first keel-boat up White 
 River and established himself at the mouth of Polk 
 Bayou (Batesville) in 1814. James Micham settled 
 near the same place in the same year. In 1817, 
 James Trimble and his family, including Jackson 
 S. Trimble, who now lives at Sulphur Rock, and 
 who was then a small child, came from Kentucky 
 and chose a location five miles southwest of Bates- 
 
 6 "V 
 
A 
 
 624 
 
 HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ville. Col. Hartwell Boswell, John H. Einggold, 
 John Redmond and Henry Engles all came from 
 the same State to Batesville some time prior to 
 1820. 
 
 The following named persons composed the 
 first grand jury empaneled for the county in the 
 circuit court, in January, 1822: George Teil, Byrd 
 Candrey, James Akin, John Morgan, Henry Mor- 
 ris, David Magness, John Cochran, William Sneed, 
 George Trimble, Peter Taylor, William Matney, 
 Benedict White, Joshua Minyard, Amos Friend, 
 William Friend, Robert Bruce and Morgan Mag- 
 ness. These, of course, were all prominent pioneer 
 settlers. John Magness, father of Morgan Mag- 
 ness, was also a pioneer of note. Space only per- 
 mits the mention here of a few of the most 
 prominent early residents, but two of whom, so 
 far as known, are now living: James Mieham 
 and Jackson S. Trimble. For other pioneers the 
 reader is referred to the list of early county offi- 
 cers and biographical sketches. 
 
 Independence County, located in the north- 
 eastern part of the State, is bounded north by 
 Izard, Sharp and Lawrence Counties, east by Jack- 
 son, south by Jackson and White, and west by 
 Cleburne and Stone. It has an area of 700 square 
 miles, a considerable portion of which remains un- 
 improved. 
 
 Its boundary lines are as follows: Beginning on 
 the line dividing Townships 14 and 15 north, where 
 Black River lastly crosses it in its downward course; 
 thence west on the township line to the range line 
 between Ranges 4 and 5 west; thence north to the 
 corner between Sections 13 and 24, Township 15 
 north, Range 5 west; thence west on section lines 
 to the southwest corner of Section 18, Township 15 
 north, Range 7 west; thence south 45° west seven 
 and a half miles to White River; thence down White 
 River to the mouth of Wolf Bayou; thence up 
 Wolf Bayou to the line dividing Townships 12 and 
 13; thence east to the northeast corner of Town- 
 ship 12 north, Range 8 west; thence south on the 
 range line to the line dividing Townships 10 and 
 11 north; thence east on the township line to the 
 line dividing Ranges 3 and 4 west; thence north 
 on the range line to White River; thence down 
 
 White River to the mouth of Black River; thence 
 up Black River to the place of beginning. 
 
 The surface of the county, in general, is quite 
 broken and hilly, and in some places it might be 
 considered mountainous. Along the streams there 
 are beautiful valleys, and on the summits of the 
 ridges between the streams many tracts of fair 
 table lands are seen. A large proportion of the 
 hilly lands are so completely covered with stone 
 and bed rock as to render their cultivation impos- 
 sible. The famous Oil Trough Bottom is a tract 
 of very rich alluvial land, fifteen miles in length 
 and about three miles in width, lying on the south- 
 west side of White River, in the southeast part of 
 the county. It is level, but not subject to over- 
 flow, and is especially well adapted to the pro- 
 duction of wheat and com. At its head is the Oil 
 Trough Ridge, with a height of 152 feet. In this 
 ridge is a black limestone capable of a superior 
 polish. About five miles above Batesville a bold 
 headland on the south side of White River, known 
 as "Shields' Bluff," or White River Mountain, is 
 a conspicuous object. This mountain is some 570 
 feet above the river, and is a noted land-mark in 
 Arkansas as having been the point where the old 
 Cherokee line commenced at White River, and ran 
 southwest along the dividing ridge, of which it 
 forms the terminating bluff on the river. 
 
 From Miller's Creek to Batesville the hills are 
 from 130 to 240 feet in height. Red shales, run- 
 ning downward into brown and black shales, with 
 calcareous septaria, occupy the base of the hills 
 around Batesville; these shales are surmounted 
 by 150 to 180 feet of sandstone. Between Bates- 
 ville and the " Big Spring," there are high ridges 
 elevated about 450 feet above White River, com- 
 posed in their upper part of both compact and 
 cellular chert; the latter partaking of the character 
 of buhr-stone. The descent from these chert ridges 
 to the "Big Spring" is some 260 feet. (State 
 Geological Report). Building stone of excellent 
 quality exists in unlimited quantity in Independ- 
 ence County, and in the cavernous limestone re- 
 gions, hundreds of caves, from small to great 
 dimensions, are numerous. 
 
 White River, the largest stream in the countv. 
 
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 625 
 
 passes through it in a direction a little south of 
 east, leaving the larger portion of the area to the 
 north. The creeks that flow into this river from 
 the south are Wolf Bayou, which forms a portion 
 of the western boundary of the county. Green - 
 briar, Salido and Goodie; and those flowing 
 into it fi'om the north are Lafferty, Spring 
 Creek, Polk Bayou and Big Creek. South Big, 
 Elbow, Fourteen Mile, Ten Mile and Departeo 
 Creeks drain the extreme southern part, flowing 
 southward. Cura and Dota Creeks, in the north- 
 eastern portion of the county, flow into Black 
 River, where the latter forms a portion of the east- 
 ern boundary line. With the streams here named, 
 and their various tributaries, the locality is well 
 drained. Many springs abound, the most noted of 
 which is Big Spring, about six miles northwest of 
 Batesville. Here a volume of the clearest water 
 rises from a cavernous passage at the foot of an 
 amphitheatre of hills of cherty, siliceous lime- 
 stone, sufiicient in quantity to turn a small grist- 
 mill, which stands a short distance below. This 
 spring is quite a noted locality in Independence 
 County. Good well water can be obtained at vari- 
 ous places at a moderate depth, while cisterns are 
 generally in use. From the several sources named 
 an abundant supply of water is obtained for all 
 purposes. White and Black Rivers are both nav- 
 igable to points above this vicinity. The former 
 may be traversed by the large steamers that ply the 
 lower waters, as far up as Batesville, and by small 
 vessels, to Leadville in Missouri. The latter is 
 navigable for boats of medium size as far as Poca- 
 hontas, in Randolph County, and for smaller ves- 
 sels to points at a greater distance above. 
 
 Independence is in the mineral belt of this part 
 of the State. The ores found are oxides of iron 
 and manganese, galena and occasionally copper 
 pyrites. The richest beds of manganese are located 
 in the vicinity of Lafferty Creek and the town of 
 Cushman, to which latter place the railroad has 
 been extended from Batesville, on Jiccount of the 
 rich mineral deposits thereabouts. Lead has been 
 mined to some extent on Cura Creek, in the 
 northeast part of the county. Throughout this 
 mineral belt mangfanese ore is found in different de- 
 
 grees of purity, from that which is worthless, up 
 to the best, which is very rich and remarkably free 
 from phosphoms and silica. It is usually detected 
 between a top covering of burnt flint and limestone 
 at various depths beneath. The principal mines 
 now worked are the Southern Mine and the Turner 
 Mines, both in Stubbs Township. The Keystone 
 Iron & Manganese Company, of Johnstown, Pa., 
 one of William Carnegie's companies, own the for 
 mer and control the latter. They have a very exten- 
 sive plant of machinery at the Southern Mine, and 
 generally keep about fifty men employed. The ore 
 from this and the Turner Mines is of the finest de- 
 scription. Considerable work is being done in other 
 mines in the way of developing them. 
 
 There are millions of tons of the better class 
 of ore in this belt awaiting only the investment of 
 the intelligent capitalist to reap a rich reward for 
 his investment; but capital is necessary.* 
 
 The timber growth of Oil Trough Bottom is 
 pin oak, red oak, water oak, elm, pecan, black wal- 
 nut, sweet gum, hackberry and buckeye, with an un- 
 dergrowth of large pawpaw, grape vines, spice- 
 wood, etc. The bottom lands, though of limited 
 extent, in the northwest part of the county sup- 
 port a growth of black walnut, Spanish oak, ash, 
 and over-cup oak, with an undergrowth of spice 
 and large grape-vines, A similar growth of tim- 
 ber is found in the valleys throughout the county. 
 Much of the upland is covered with black and 
 white oak, hickory and dogwood, and the princi- 
 pal growth on the cherty limestone land consists of 
 black-jack, sassafras and persimmon. 
 
 A large proportion of the more broken lands 
 still belong to the United States, and are sulijoct 
 to homestead entry. The State also owns consid- 
 erable, which can be procured very cheap. The St. 
 Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad Com- 
 pany have a large amount of laud within the coun- 
 ty, and the balance belongs to individuals. The 
 soil of the Oil Trough Bottom is unsurpassed in fer- 
 tility. It is dark colored and of a clayey coasis 
 tency, having a depth of from five to six feet. It 
 yields from a bale to a bale and a half of cotton, 
 fifty to one hundred bushels of corn, and from 
 
 •From the Batesville Guard of October 26, 1888. 
 
 s \ 
 
A 
 
 ® k^ 
 
 026 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 twenty to forty bushels of wheat per acre. The 
 soil of the other bottom lands are generally com- 
 posed of alluvial deposits, and are very rich and 
 productive, while that of the uplands is, as a rule, 
 light and sandy. Much of the upland will not pro- 
 duce more than from five to ten bushels of wheat, 
 and from ten to twenty bushels of corn, and from 
 one-half to three-fourths of a bale of cotton per 
 acre. All kinds of fi-uit trees flourish and do 
 well when cultivated, even where scarcely any 
 thiug else can be grown. A State Geological 
 Report pulilished before the late Civil War, speaks 
 of the soil in general as follows: "A considerable 
 diversity of soil is to be found in Independence 
 County, corresponding to changes in the underlying 
 geological formations. Though the surface is 
 considerably broken, still there are extensive areas 
 of table land underlaid by cherty subcarbonifer- 
 ous limestones. These soils are rich, and being 
 based on red clay, are retentive and durable; they 
 are similar in composition to the land in the bar- 
 rens of Kentucky. There are, also, extensive 
 tracts of bottom land, bordering on the numerous 
 small streams which water this county, that are 
 well adapted for cultivation." 
 
 Much of the timber of the county has been 
 cut into logs and rafted down White River to dis- 
 tant market points, while some has been sawed into 
 lumber and shipped away by rail; an abundant 
 supply, however, remains for domestic purposes, 
 and wood for fuel seems almost inexhaustible. 
 Thus far the county's chief sources of income have 
 been the growing of cotton and corn and the rais- 
 ing of live stock. It is believed, however, that 
 ere long the mineral products will become equally 
 profitable. When thousands of men are employed 
 to dig the ores from the earth, and other thousands 
 are engaged in manufacturing the products at or 
 near home, and home markets are established for 
 the surplus farm yield, greater prosperity must 
 reign ! 
 
 In 1880 the United States census showed that 
 Independence had 2,405 farms and 84, 766 acres of 
 improved land. From these the vegetable pro- 
 ductions for the year 1879 were asfollo<vs: Indian 
 corn, 691,188 bushels; oats, 61,209 bushels; wheat, 
 
 57,104 bushels; hay, 396 tons; cotton, 11,156 
 bales; Irish potatoes, 11,251 bushels; sweet pota- 
 toes, 16,583 bushels; tobacco, 21,726 pounds. In 
 the production of tobacco, the county then ranked 
 seventh in the State. It will be interesting to com- 
 pare with these figures the productions of the pres- 
 ent year (18S9), when the census of 1890 shall be 
 published. The number of head of live stock here 
 in 1880, was: Horses, 8,742; mules and asses, 
 2,297; neat cattle, 15,553; sheep, 11,351; hogs, 
 32,911. The livestock as shown by the abstract 
 of taxable property for the year 1888 was: Horses, 
 4,199; mules and asses, 2,707; neat cattle, 20,570; 
 sheep, 5,642; hogs, 26,675. By comparison it 
 will be seen that since 1880 there has been a 
 large increase in horses, mules and asses, and neat 
 cattle, but a decrease of nearly 50 per cent in the 
 number of sheep and a large apparent decrease in 
 the number of hogs. In 1880, and for years prior 
 thereto, the Arkansas Woolen Mills, located on 
 Sullivan Creek, some seven miles north of Bates- 
 ville, were in operation, manufacturing all kinds 
 of woolen goods. These mills furnished a home 
 market for wool, in consequence of which the rais- 
 ing of sheep in the county had become a leading 
 industry. On the 9th of May, 1882, these valuable 
 mills were washed away and destroyed in a flood. 
 Thus the home market for wool was to some ex- 
 tent overthrown. This, together with the reduced 
 price of wool in general, probably accounts for the 
 I falling off in the number of sheep. There was no 
 real decrease in the number of hogs raised, though 
 the figures might indicate such to be the case. 
 
 In 1880 the county real estate was assessed for 
 taxation at $1,465,271, and the personal property 
 at $865,869, making a total of $2,331,140, the 
 taxes upon which amounted in the aggregate to 
 $34,719. In 1888 real estate was assessed for tax- 
 ation at $2,464,413, and the })ersonal jiroperty at 
 11,759,488, making a total of $4,223,901 ; the total 
 amount of taxes charged thereon was $55,445.90. 
 These figures show that since 1880 the taxable 
 wealth of the county has almost doubled. 
 
 The population of Independence County at the 
 end of each census decade since its organization 
 has been as follows: 1830, 2,031; 1840, 3,669: 
 
 -f 
 
tt- 
 
 1850, 7,7G7; 1860, 14.307; 1870, 14,506; 1880, 
 18,086. The colored populatiou in 1860 was 
 1,337; in 1870, 90S, and in 1880, 1,382. 
 
 The Batesville branch of the St. Louis, Iron 
 Mountain & Southorn Kailroad was completed to 
 Batesville in 188'2 and extended on to Cushman 
 in 1880. It leaves the main line at a point near 
 Newport. This is the only railway outlet with 
 which this locality is favored. 
 
 The Methodists were the pioneer religious 
 workers in Independence County, the Bapti.sts 
 coming next. Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, there are now Batesville station, Eev. J. C. 
 Brown, pastor — membership 220; Sulphur Rock 
 circuit, embracing live appointments. Rev. D. W. 
 Reid, pastor, with an aggregate membership of 590; 
 Bethesda circuit, having about five appointments. 
 Rev. A. P. SafiFold, pastor, with an aggregate mem- 
 bership of 510; and Jamestown circuit, including 
 .seven appointments, Rev. T. A. Craig, pastor, with 
 an aggregate membership of 460. Some of the 
 circuits perhaps embrace a few appointments be- 
 yond the county limits. All these organizations 
 belong to the Batesville district of the White River 
 conference, of which Rev. H. T. Gregory, of Bates- 
 ville, is the presiding elder. 
 
 There are within the county the following Bap- 
 tist Church organizations, pastors and member- 
 ships: Batesville, Elder A. J. Barton, 00; Bell- 
 view, Mt. Olivet, Maple Spring and Union Grove, 
 James Purcelley, respective memberships 60, 76, 
 87 and 55; Center Grove, R. B. Belomy, 172; Eu- 
 topia, M. M. Burge, 41; Martin's Chapel, G. \V. 
 James, 23; New Prospect, 25; Olive Branch, O. 
 M. Wood, 46; Providence, J. D. Faulkner, 21; 
 Pleasant Plains, C. W. Betts, 44; Rehobeth, J. W. 
 Goodwin, 95; Sulphur Rock, J. W. Bell, 7; and 
 Cave Spring, J. L. McCord, 83. All of these be- 
 long to the Independence Association of Mission- 
 ary Baptists. 
 
 St. Paul's Episcopal Church, at Batesville, with 
 a membership of al)out 90, is the only organiza- 
 tion of that denomination within the county. 
 
 The Batesville Presbyterian, is the only "Old 
 School" church organization within the county. 
 A. R. Kennedy, D. U. , is the pastor, and the 
 
 membership is 128. The Cumberland Presbyter- 
 ians have the following organizations and pastors: 
 Jamestown, Philip Jeffrey; New Hope, James 
 Bone; Sulphur Rock and Mount Zion, Henry Gib- 
 son. These will average about forty members 
 each. In addition is a mission at Batesville, with 
 Rev. A. N. Nunn as pastor. 
 
 Other denominations of less numerical strength 
 within the county, having few organizations, are 
 the Christian, Methodist Episcopal, and perhaps 
 some others. The colored peojjle have two Method- 
 ist and one Baptist Church organizations in Bates- 
 ville. Sunday-schools are generally taught in con- 
 n(>ction with the stronger churches. I'pon the 
 whole the community is well supplied with church- 
 es and schools. 
 
 Batesville, the county seat, is situated on the 
 north side of White River, at the mouth of Polk 
 Bayou. In 1812, one John Reed, from Missouri, 
 cut down the first tree on the site where it now 
 stands, and erected a small store house, and with 
 a supply of notions and whisky traded with the 
 Indians, trappers and hunters. His example was 
 followed during the next five years by C. Kelly. 
 Robert Bean, Boswell, Ringgold and Hedmoud. 
 The town was named after Judge James Woodson 
 Bates, the first delegate to Congress from Arkan- 
 sas Territory. The principal trade of the place 
 during its early existence was that of supplying 
 the settlers with groceries and provisions, for 
 which hides and furs from the then numerous wild 
 animals were taken in exchange. At that period 
 the only means of intercourse with the older States 
 was by keel-boats, and the trade was principally 
 with New Orleans. But as time passed on and the 
 country improved, Batesville became, as it now is, 
 a beautiful and substantial city of nearly, if not 
 quite, 3,000 inhabitants. It is attractively located 
 on a jjlane inclining from the north toward White 
 River, and on both sides of Polk Bayou— the busi- 
 ness portion being mostly east of the latter stream. 
 
 The business part of the town begins at Chest 
 nut Street and extends up Main Street on both 
 sides for about five blocks. In this vicinity, ex- 
 tending out also on the cross streets, are nineteen 
 substantial buildings of sandstone, this stone hav- 
 
A 
 
 628 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ing been procured near by. These nineteen build- 
 ings embrace the Arlington Hotel, the cotton ware- 
 house and twenty stores. There are seven brick 
 buildings (all two stories except one), containing 
 fourteen stores. Two buildings are covered with 
 corrugated iron, and many others are made of 
 wood. Many fine brick, stone and frame resi- 
 dences are also found. The Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, and the Baptists have each a large 
 and commodious stone church edifice; the Presby- 
 terians have a fine brick, and the Episcopalians a 
 neat frame building. The colored people have 
 three church houses. The public school-house is 
 a large two-story brick, with a onestory stone 
 building attached. The Arkansas College, a sub- 
 stantial brick structure of two stories, occupies a 
 commanding position in the eastern part of town. 
 There are also numerous other fine buildings and 
 manufacturing establishments here, indicating 
 thrift and energy above most places. 
 
 Batesville contains two banks, fourteen general 
 stores, eleven groceries, two book and notion stores, 
 three hardware stores, three drug stores, one dry 
 goods and clothing store, two millinery, one fur- 
 niture and two jewelry stores, two auction houses, 
 one music and sewing machine store, a merchant 
 tailor, two harness stores, three meat markets and 
 a bakery; also a full complement of mechanics and 
 their shops; the town is also supplied with two 
 public halls, two large and commodious hotels — 
 the Arlington and the McDowell House — and sev- 
 eral smaller ones, a numl)er of restaurants, two 
 livery stables, a telephone exchange, connecting 
 the town with Jamestown, Melbourne, Barren 
 Fork, Cushman, Sulphur Rock, the Oil Trough 
 district and Newport, a Pacific Express office, the 
 Batesville Iron Works, a steam plaiiing-mill and 
 sash and door factory, two steam saw mills, two 
 flouring-mills, a wool carding-mill, a cotton-gin, a 
 large canning and evaporating factory, a neat rail- 
 road depot, a well arranged post office, an abstract 
 office, etc. The professions are also supplied. 
 The various prominent secret societies are well 
 represented. 
 
 The trade of the place is extensive. Several of 
 the leading stores do a large wholesale business, 
 
 supplying the country merchants and merchants 
 of many smaller towns with goods. 
 
 During the cotton season of 1887-88 over 
 20,000 bales of cotton were shipped from this 
 point, 12,000 of which belonged to the trade proper 
 of Batesville, and the number of car loads of 
 other commodities shipped away were as follows: 
 Cedar, 824; railroad ties, 89; manganese ore, 
 152; zinc ore, 2; stone (dressed), 127; lime, 
 16; general merchandise, 171; cotton, 1,013; cot- 
 ton seed, 32; total, 2,426. About a mile from 
 the court-house is the fair gi-ound of the Inde- 
 pendence County Agricultural and Mechanical 
 Fair Association, being an enclosure of twenty 
 acres, containing a good race track, a grand stand 
 and an agricultui'al hall. Very near the fair 
 ground is Oaklawn Cemetery, owned by the cor- 
 poration of Batesville. The town is incorporated, 
 and has a full set of corporate officers and five 
 aldermen. The present mayor is the Hon. J. C. 
 Yancy. As a prosperous, growing and beautiful 
 little city, and one whose cleanliness is proverbial, 
 Batesville certainly compares most favorably with 
 any in Northeast Arkansas. 
 
 This is a terminal point in the navigation of 
 White River. It is the head of navigation for the 
 large steamers that ply the lower waters, and the 
 foot for the smaller up-river crafts. A powerful 
 steam elevator belonging to the railroad company 
 transfers the freight between the railway and the 
 boats. * 
 
 The place also contains two weekly news- 
 papers, the Batesville Guard, a Democratic paper 
 of general news, now in its thirteenth volume, 
 edited and published by M. Y. Todisman, and the 
 Wheel, in its third volume, edited and published 
 by Messrs. Martin and Bradley, deaf-mutes. The 
 latter advocates the cause of the order known as 
 the ' ' Wheel, ' ' an organization professedly opposed 
 to tyranny and monopoly. Both of these papers 
 are ably conducted, and have proven a prominent 
 factor in the influence exerted toward the advance- 
 ment of the community. 
 
 Cushman, situated at the present terminus of 
 
 * For the history of Batesville acknowledgments 
 are made to the Batesville Guard. 
 
 ^ 
 
liL^ 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 r)29 
 
 the railroad, nine miles northwest of Batesville, 
 contains three general stores, three groceries, a 
 blacksmith and wood shop, a postoffice, several 
 dwellings, etc. Though only three years old, its 
 growth has been steady. 
 
 Jamestown, on the Batesville and Clinton road, 
 seven miles south of Batesville, contains four gen- 
 eral stores, a postoffice, a blacksmith and wood 
 shop, three school-houses, a public school building, 
 a grist-mill and cotton-gin, and about 200 inhabi- 
 tants. 
 
 Newark is on the railroad, in the ea.stern part of 
 the county, and has a depot, post-office, four gen- 
 eral stores, a drug store, two saloons, a still house, 
 a saw and grist-mill and cotton-gin, a church edi- 
 fice, a school house, and about 300 people. 
 
 Pleasant Plains, on the Batesville and Little 
 Eock road, about twenty miles south of the former 
 place, is comprised of three general stores, a 
 blacksmith and wood shop, postoffice, academy, a 
 church bouse, and about 200 inhabitants. 
 
 Sulphur Kock, on the railroad, eight miles east 
 of Batesville, is a substantial old village, contain- 
 ing a postoffice, eight general stores, three drug 
 stores, two groceries, pottery works, several me- 
 chanics' shops, a hotel, livery stable, two churches, 
 two school-houses — academy and free school, 
 lodges of several secret societies, and a complement 
 of professional men. The town is incorporated 
 and does a large amount of business. Its popula- 
 tion is about 500. 
 
 The educational facilities of Independence 
 County are best shown by the following statistics, 
 from the report of the State superintendent of 
 public instruction, for the year ending Jime 30, 
 18S8: Scholastic population, white, males, 3,599; 
 females, 3,2(58; total, 0,867; colored, males, 289; 
 females, 276; total, 564; total white and colored, 
 7,432. Number of pupils taught in the public 
 schools, white, 3,682; colored, 337; total, 4,019; 
 number of school districts, 81; number of teachers 
 employed, males, 76; females, 12, or a total of 88. 
 Average monthly salaries paid teachers of first 
 grade, males, .|45.00; females, $40.00; in second 
 grade, males. $37.50; females, $30.00; third 
 grade, males, $32.50, females, $25.00. There was 
 
 expended for the support of the i)ublie schools 
 during the year, $21,202.15 for teacher:,' salaries; 
 $521.84 for treasurer's commissions, and $1,504.89 
 for other purposes; total $23,228.88. The num- 
 ber of districts voting tax was 32. According to 
 these official statistics, about 72 per cent of the 
 white and about 60 per cent of the colored 
 scholastic population were taught in the public 
 schools during the year. It is believed, however, 
 that the statistics do not give the* whole number 
 of pupils who received instruction in the schools. 
 The free school system is gaining popular favor 
 and becoming more and more efficient. 
 
 The Arkansas College, located at Batesville, 
 is a noted institution of learning, under the man- 
 agement of the Presbyterian denomination. It 
 was founded in 1872, and has long been an 
 established success. Then, as now. Rev. I. J. 
 Long was president of the faculty. There are 
 four courses of study: Primary, common school, 
 bachelor of science, and the classical, mathematical 
 and scientific. The college buildings consist of 
 a large two- story brick and a large one-story stone 
 house. They are pleasantly located in the eastern 
 part of the city. The school is well patronized 
 both at home and from abroad. 
 
 There has always been in Independence County 
 a strong sentiment of loyalty to the general gov- 
 ernment. Out of about 1,800 votes cast in the 
 county for delegates to the State convention before 
 the first guns were fired in the Civil War, only 
 about 300 were given to the candidates favoring 
 secession. As soon, however, as the ' ' dogs of 
 war" were let loose, the loyal sentiment was sup- 
 pressed and the secession element became pi'edomi- 
 nant. Many Union men refugeed to the North, 
 and many others were pressed into the Confederate 
 service. Companies for the Confederate army 
 began to be organized in the spring of 1861, and 
 before the struggle was over the county had fur 
 nished about fifteen companies for that army. 
 These were commanded respectively by Capts. \V. 
 E. Gibbs, John H. Dye, George W. Rutherford, 
 J. AV. Cullins, S. C. Jones, S. Carson, J. S. Tracy, 
 W. S. Smalley, T. J. Morgan, N. Floyd, E. Bride- 
 well, S. J. McGuffin, James McCauley and others. 
 
\ 
 
 630 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Tlie most of these companies served in the Seventh 
 and Eighth Arkansas Confederate regiments. On 
 the 3rd of May. 1862, Gen. Curtis, of the Federal 
 army, arrived at and established his headquarters 
 at Batesville, and sent portions of his army to 
 occup}' other points in this part of the State. 
 Immediately afterward a battalion of six com- 
 panies, commanded respectively by Capts. Turney, 
 H. V. Gray, Davis and others, was organized at 
 Batesville under the charge of Col. Eli.sha Baxter, 
 for the Federal army. After marching this bat- 
 talion to Helena. Col. Baxter, who declined fur- 
 ther to command it, turned it over to Lieut. -Col. 
 Bundy, of Chicago, who assumed command. This 
 battalion was raised principally in Independence 
 County. In the fall of 1803, Col. Baxter recruited 
 and organized another battalion of six companies 
 at Batesville, known as. the Fourth Arkansas 
 Mounted Infantry, or " Steele Guards," the latter 
 name being in honor of Gen. Steele. The nucleus 
 of this battalion was the company of Capt. Will- 
 iam P. Berry. This command was also raised 
 mostly in Independence County. It served about 
 a year for the Union cause, and was disbanded 
 without having been mustered into the United 
 States service. A number of loyal men joined Col. 
 Phelps' Missouri and other Federal regiments. 
 By the best authority it is estimated that from first 
 to last about 1,000 men of the county served in 
 the Union army. 
 
 Gen. Curtis remained with his army at Bates- 
 ville until nearly July 1, 1862. This place was re- 
 occupied about the 1st of January, 1804, by a 
 Federal force i;nder Col. Livingston, who held it 
 for several months, and at the close of the war, 
 and for some time after, it was garrisoned by 
 Federal troops. In January or February, 1864, 
 while Col. Livingston commanded the post of 
 Batesville, he sent a forage train into the country 
 under an escort of about ISO soldiers. This force 
 was attacked, a few miles out, by a Confederate 
 force under Capt. George Rutherford. The escort 
 was defeated, with some loss in killed and wounded, 
 the forage train was captured and some forty-odd 
 wagons were burned, and the mules taken away by 
 the Confederates. This was known as the ' ' Waugh 
 
 Fight,'" and was the only engagement in the coun 
 ty between the contending parties worthy of men- 
 tion. The county was over run by both armies, the 
 results of which were somewhat felt b)' private cit- 
 izens. 
 
 Independence County is undoubtedly in the 
 center of a community rich in everything that 
 tends to contribute to the happiness and welfare of 
 man. Liberally supplied by nature with unsur- 
 passed advantages of soil, climate and location, it 
 needs no argument to convince the most skeptical 
 of its desirability as a place of residence. Time 
 will demonstrate the wonderful resources here 
 awaiting development. 
 
 William R. Albright was born in North Caro- 
 lina on the 16th of November, 1841), and is a son of 
 Alvis and Mary (Stockard) Albright, both of whom 
 were born in North Carolina, also, and were there 
 reared, educated and married. Five sons and five 
 daughters blessed their union: Samuel, George 
 A., Alson G., Peggie, Nancy A., Julia E. , William 
 R. , Franklin P., Mary Jane and Harriet E. Alvis 
 Albright was a Mason, and he and wife were mem- 
 bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in 
 which faith he died, on March 3, 1881. Hi.s 
 widow still survives him, and finds a pleasant home 
 among her children, but the most of her time is 
 sjient in Izard County, with one of her childi-en. 
 William R. Albright acquired a good practical 
 education in Independence County, and was mar- 
 ried on the 22d of February, 1877, to Miss Mary 
 Ann Meacham, who was also born, March 2, 1855, 
 in this State and county. Their family numbers 
 four children, three sons and one daughter; Alvis 
 E. and William F. (twin sons, born June 22, 
 1880), Oscar A. and Cora L. Mr. Albright owns 
 a farm of 300 acres, and is careful and painstaking 
 in the cultivation of his land, and is very thorough 
 in everything connected with its managememt. 
 One hundred acres he devotes to the raising of the 
 different cereals. He has been secretary and con- 
 ductor, holding also other offices in the order of 
 the I. O. O. F., of which organization he is a 
 member, and he and Mrs. Albright have been 
 
 ^' 
 

 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, for some time?. 
 
 William Allen, farmer and stock i-aiser, Cord, 
 Ark. The sulijoct of this sketch is so well known that 
 an introduction to the public seems unnecessary. 
 Mr. Allen is a native Tennesseean, born in Wilson 
 County, on the 24th of November, 1815. and is 
 the son of George and Sallie (Johnson) Allen, na- 
 tives, respectively, of South Carolina and North 
 Carolina, the former born on the 2d of August, 
 1781, and died in Juno, 1807, and the latter born 
 on the 23d of June, 1780, and died in 1851. They 
 wore married in Wilson County, Tenn., in 1805, 
 and in ISIS he, with his family and nine other 
 families, took a keel-boat and sailed, on the Cum- 
 l)erland River, for the Red River country. On 
 their arrival at Chickasaw Bluffs (now Memj)his), 
 they were informed that the commissioners were 
 negotiating for the Northwest Territory; and as the 
 treaty was successfully completed, and the Terri- 
 tory included the portion of countiy they were then 
 in, they settled there, two miles east of the present 
 site of the town of Memphis. They remained in 
 the western part of Tennessee for six years, en- 
 gaged in farming and hunting, and bought a herd 
 of wild cattle, which they had great difficulty in 
 managing. Some stories connected with their wild 
 woods experiences were very exciting and interest- 
 ing. Seeing that the rapid settlement of the coun- 
 try was dispersing the game, Mr. Allen removed 
 with his family to Independence County, Ark., 
 settled in Oil Trough Bottom, which was then a 
 dense and pathless canebrake, abounding in wild 
 animals, and after remaining there a few months, 
 came to Bayou Curie Creek, and bought a small 
 farm, where he passed his last days. He was an 
 old line Whig, and was under Gen. Jackson in 
 the War of 1812. His father was a Revolutionary 
 soldier. He was a great lover of hunting, and 
 followed this ])ursuit as long as he lived, killing a 
 deer only a few months before his death. He died 
 at the age of seventy-seven, and his wife at the 
 age of seventy-live, both members of the society 
 of the Latter Day Saints. William Allen was 
 reared to farm life, and received a limited educa- 
 tion in the common schools of Arkansas. He was 
 
 but fourteen or fifteen years of ago when he came 
 with his parents to this State, and was well schooled 
 in the woodcraft of those pioneer days. He was 
 reared principally on liear and deer meat. H(> as- 
 sisted his father in clearing land, and in other farm- 
 work, until seventeen years of age, when he hired 
 to a man at Batcwville, to assist a gang of men in 
 clearing 300 acres of the heavy bottom land opposite 
 Memphis. Here he worked for three months at $ 1 2 
 per month (his first earned money), and then re- 
 turned to his home in Arkansas. He then engaged 
 in farming, raised a crop, and hired out the same 
 year to William Strong for $20 per month. Strong 
 was a Government contractor, and young Allen 
 worked on the Memphis & Little Rock Railroad, 
 known then as the St. Louis & Little Rock road. 
 In 1837 Mr. Allen secured emj)loyment as fire- 
 man on a steamboat, and later assisted in the build- 
 ing of a house in Batesville. During the winter 
 of 1838 he worked in Oil Trough Bottom, gather- 
 ing com, and in 1839 he made a crop on the same 
 farm. On the 26th of Jaiuiary. 1840, li» wedded 
 Miss Sarah Speers, a native of Lauderdale Coun- 
 ty, Ala. , and the same year made a crop in Law - 
 rence County. Also, the same year, he moved to In- 
 dependence County, andon the 23dof March, 1841, 
 settled on the place where he now lives. W'hen 
 he first came there, there were a small log cabiti on 
 it, and 800 rails split. He at once began clearing 
 land, and erected suitable buildings, erecting the 
 house in which he now lives in 1843. During that 
 year and the two following he ran rafts of cypress 
 logs to New Orleans, and on his retui-n from that 
 city, in 1849, he bought a land warrant for $125 
 from a Mexican soldier (James Bullard), and laid 
 the same on the 160 acres of land where he lived, 
 thus securing title to the same. Since that time 
 he has added to his farm, until he has now 480 
 acres, with 200 acres cleared. He has on this 
 farm three tenant houses. To his fir.st marriage 
 were born seven children, only one now living, 
 William T., who was bora December 30, 1863, is 
 married, and is one of the prosperous farmers of 
 Independence County. Of the deceased, all of 
 whom were daughters: Two died in infancy; Mrs. 
 Nancy J. Lawrence was born on the lOth of Febru- 
 
A^ 
 
 632 
 
 HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ary, 1841, and died in September, 1866; Mrs. Polly 
 A. Young, was born October 20, 1846, and died in 
 September, I860; Mr.s. Julia Y'oung, was born on 
 the 8th of April, 18-49, and died on the 6tb of 
 March, 1881, and Mrs. Sarah E. Lambert, born 
 March 23, 1851, and died on the 11th of Novem- 
 ber, 1874. The mother of these ehildi-en, Mrs. 
 Sarah (Speers) Allen, died on the 13th of Novem- 
 ber, 1875, and was a woman loved and esteemed by 
 all who knew her. On the 25th of December, 
 1876, Mr. Allen mat-ried Mrs. Abbie Ann (Mc- 
 Dougall) Smart, relict of William P. Smart, a 
 farmer of Tennessee. She is the daughter of Rob- 
 ert and Amanda (May) McDougall, the latter still 
 living and making her home with her daughter 
 (Mrs. Allen). She is now eighty-seven years of 
 age. Mrs. (Smart) Allen has four children : Rufus, 
 living in Oregon; Abbie A. is the wife of Andrew 
 Parr, farmer of Black River Township; Amanda 
 is the widow of Nelson N. Winkles, and Latie is 
 the wife of William Winkles, and lives in Black 
 River Township. Mr. Allen has given his attention 
 to agricultural pursuits all his life, and has been 
 successful. He votes with the Republican party, 
 but does not take an active part in politics. His 
 first presidential vote was cast for William H. 
 Harrison, and his last for Benjamin Harrison. He 
 gives an amusing accoimt of the former campaign, 
 of the log-cabin, cider di'inking, cheering, etc. 
 During the late war he remained at home, never 
 entering the service, but was in sympathy with the 
 Union. He has never aspired to office, though 
 frequently solicited by his fi'iends to do so; has 
 never submitted, but has served his full share on i 
 the grand jury. He is a member of Bayou Dota 
 Lodge No. 126, A. F. & A. M. Mrs. Allen is a 
 member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
 Dr. Sterling W. Allen. The name of Allen 
 is one of the most influential in Floral, and one 
 of the most respected in this community. Dr. Al- 
 len is a native of Wilson County, Tenu. , born Feb- | 
 ruary 13, 1822, and received his education in pri- 
 vate schools. He then began the study of medicine, 
 graduated from Memphis (Tenn. ) Medical College, 
 in 1848, and began practicing the same year. He 
 married Miss Melissa Carter, of South Carolina, 
 
 born in the year 1825. and the fruits of this union 
 were three living childi-en — Sarah Jane, Mary W. 
 and Martha L. Dr. Allen was in the late war as 
 a surgeon under Gen. McRhea, and participated 
 in the battles of Ironton, Pilot Knob and West 
 Port. Aside from his profession, he is also engaged 
 in agricultural pursuits, and is the owner of 1,260 
 acres of land. In politics his principles coincide 
 with those of the Democratic party. He and Mrs. 
 Allen are members of the Methodist Church, and 
 are held in high esteem by all acquainted with 
 them. The Doctor is a genial, generous gentle- 
 man, and is liberal and progressive in his ideas. 
 His parents, John and Sarah (Craig) Allen, were 
 both natives of South Carolina, but later in life 
 they moved to Fayette County, Tenn. , where they 
 passed the remainder of their days. To their mar- 
 riage were boru twelve children, the Doctor being 
 the only survivor. The grandparents were from 
 the Emerald Isle. 
 
 Dr. John Farrell Allen, a retired physician of 
 great prominence, now residing in Batesville, was 
 born in New Madrid County, Mo., March 29, 1824. 
 He is a son of Samuel W. and Cecelia (LeSieur) 
 Allen, his father a native of Alexandria, Va. , and 
 his mother a native of Missouri. The maternal 
 grandfather was a French Canadian, whose ances- 
 tors came originally from France to Canada, and 
 from there he moved to the State of Missouri, about 
 the beginning of the eighteenth century, residing 
 in that State until the time of his death. The 
 paternal grandfather, Salathiel, was a Virginian bj- 
 birth, and a sea captain who was lost at sea from his 
 own vessel, together with a cousin, John Farrell, for 
 whom our subject was named. Samuel W. Allen, 
 the father of Dr. John F., died in 1863, followed by 
 the mother in 1868. They were among the early 
 settlers of Southeast Missouri, and were married 
 in 1823, having but one child, a son. An inci- 
 dent worth noting is that for four generations only 
 one son has been born to each family. The Doctor 
 was reared in New Madrid County, and received 
 his degree of A. B. in Perry County, at a Roman 
 Catholic college. At the age of twenty years he 
 began the study of medicine, spending two years 
 under a private instructor, Dr. John Kirkwood. 
 
.u 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 638 
 
 I 
 
 He then entered the University of Pennsylvania, at 
 Philadelphia, Penn. , and graduated in the spring 
 of 1S47. From there he came to Batosville, where 
 he remained but a short time, when he moved to 
 New Orleans. He stopped here only a few months, 
 however, and iu 1848 returned to Batesville and 
 began to practice his profession, making this place 
 his j)ermanent home. The Doctor's skill soon re- 
 ceived a widespread reputation, as he was (>arnest 
 in his profession, and made it his study and l)usi- 
 ness. His practice was at one time proliably the 
 largest in Northern Arkansas, but within the last 
 few years he has retired from the practice of his 
 pi'ofession. He has accumulated considerable real 
 estate, and owns several good farms, which are 
 cared for by tenants. The Doctor has the credit 
 of having given the Arkansas College, located at 
 Batesville, its name, and is a trustee of that excel 
 lent institution of learning. He is one of the 
 pioneer physicians who could append M. D. to his 
 name, and became one of the most po|)nlar in 
 Independence County, and the number of his 
 friends are many. Dr. Allen was married. April 
 25, 1849, to Miss Mary E. Agnew, of Pennsylva- 
 nia, a daughter of Dr. James Agnew, of Pitts- 
 burg, who graduated from the University of 
 Pennsylvania in 1800, twenty-four years before the 
 subject of this sketch was born. She is a sister of 
 Chief Justice Agnew, of Pennsylvania. The Ag- 
 new family are lineal descendants of the Howells, 
 Mrs. Allen's grandfather, Richard Howell, being 
 governor of New Jersey for many consecutive 
 years, and she is also a tirst cousin of the wife of 
 the Confederate leader, JefF. Davis. Mrs. Davis is 
 a Howell. Dr. and Mrs. Allen are the parents of 
 four daughters and one son, only two of whom now 
 survive the mother. Those yet living are Sarah 
 (Mrs. Theodora Maxtield), Samuel W. and Mary. 
 The latter and the Doctor are members of the 
 Presbyterian Church, and he takes great interest 
 in religious matters, as in educational affairs also, 
 at Arkansas College, and has done a great deal for 
 the advancement of school interests in Independ- 
 ence County. He has been identified with Bates- 
 ville for forty-three years, as one of its leading 
 spirits, and has the reputation of a skillful physi- 
 
 cian, and, as far as he himself is concerned, has 
 never been upon a bed of sickness, though now in 
 his sixty-sixth year. Active and earnest in all he 
 undertakes, he says, jociilarly, he could never find 
 time to be sick. At heart, however, he attributes 
 to God all his blessings, good health being one of 
 the many. 
 
 Andrew Allen, one of the most extensive jilant- 
 ers and land-owners of Independence County, 
 resides in Greenbriar Township. He was born at 
 Arkansas Post January 4, 1827, and when but six 
 weeks old was taken l)y his parents to Independ- 
 ence County, which county has ever since been his 
 home. Abraham and Sebella Allen, parents of 
 Andrew, settled six miles east of Batesville, after- 
 ward removing to a point south of the river, where 
 the father died, May 22. 1873: he was a farmer 
 and blacksmith, and at the time of his death was 
 one of the most wealthj' men in the county. Abra- 
 ham Allen was born in Orange County, N. C, 
 where he was reared and married; he afterward 
 lived some time in Tennessee before his removal 
 to Arkansas, in 1827. He was of Irish-English 
 descent, served in one of the Indian wars, and was 
 'well known and respected. His father, Samuel 
 Allen, was one of the pioneers of Independence 
 County, where he lived a number of years, but 
 spent the latter part of his life in Texas. The 
 maternal grandfather of our subject was Andrew 
 Allen, brother of Samuel, and he was also an early 
 settler of Independence County, where he and wife 
 died, leaving several sons and daughters. The 
 mother of our subject died when he was young, 
 and the father married again. Andrew received 
 a limited common-school education, and at the age 
 of twenty-one years engaged in farming for him- 
 self. In 1861 he enlisted in Company D, Eighth 
 Arkansas Infantry, and did service in Kentucky 
 and Tennessee until after the battle of Shiloh, 
 when the army was re-organized at Corinth, Miss. , 
 and he was discharged. He later joined Gen. 
 Price's army, and was with him on the raid in 
 Missouri and Arkansas. In 1867 Mr. Allen mar 
 ried Emily P., daughter of Madison C. and I^Iary. 
 E. Snapp, natives, respectively, of Virginia and 
 East Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Snapp were mar- 
 
4- — ^ 
 
 -^u 
 
 Tied in Tennessee, and soon after moved to Arkan- 
 sas, thence to Polk County, Mo. , where Mrs. Allen 
 was born. Mrs. Snapp died in 1871, and Mr. 
 Snapp, in Missouri, in February, 1889; he was 
 a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have one son, 
 Robert Lee. Mr. Allen has resided on his pres- 
 ent farm since the war. He owns about 1,800 
 acres of land, 1,500 of which are fine bottom land; 
 he inherited a large amount from his father, but 
 has enlarged his property by his own efforts, and 
 is one of the most successful and enterprising 
 farmers in the cbunty. He devotes some attention 
 to good cattle-breeding, and takes great interest in 
 stock raising. Mr. Allen's residence is four miles 
 southeast of Batesville. Politically, he is a Dem- 
 ocrat. 
 
 William A. Allen, an extensive and highly-re- 
 spected farmer of Batesville, was born in 1842, 
 within eight miles of that place. His parents 
 were Abraham and Isabella Allen, of North Caro- 
 lina, who, on their journey to the West, first settled 
 in Tennessee, and then in the State of Arkansas. 
 They moved to Independence County in 1827, and 
 located within six miles of Batesville, and after- 
 ward to a point south of the river, where the father 
 ilied, in 1873, over eighty years of age. He left a 
 fortune of 120,000, and considerable landed estate 
 at the time of his death, and had been oue of the 
 most successful farmers of that period. He was 
 upright and honest in all his dealings with man- 
 kind, and his name was one that commanded re- 
 spect in every grade of society. William A. 
 Allen was the youngest of the family, and re- 
 mained with his parents until the latter days of the 
 war between the North and South, when he en- 
 listed in Company C, of Col. Dobbins' regiment, 
 and fought for the Confederate cause. His ca- 
 reer through the war was short, but brilliant, and 
 though not on the victorious side, after the sur- 
 render at Jacksonport, he still bore the honors of 
 a brave soldier. In 1866 he was married to Miss 
 Nancy A., daughter of Joel and Matilda McClen- 
 don, of Mississippi. Mrs. MoClendon, the mother, 
 died three years after her arrival in Independence 
 County, and the father survived her for four years, 
 leaviugf four sous and six daughters at the time of 
 
 his death, of whom five are yet living. Mr. Allen 
 and his wife have had their union blessed with sis 
 children, although one of them has since died. 
 The names of those living are Abraham, Andrew, 
 George William, Ida and Emily. The family re- 
 sided on the old farm south of the river until Feb- 
 ruary, 1889, and then moved to Batesville, where 
 Mr. Allen has a fine residence. He owns thi'ee 
 tracts of laud comprising about 840 acres, and has 
 some 300 acres under cultivation. Part of his 
 land he inherited from his father, and his own 
 good judgment and natural ability have added the 
 rest. He is a Democrat in politics, and a strong 
 upholder of the principles of that party, and is a 
 member of Neill Lodge No. 285, A. F. & A. M. , of 
 Jamestown. Mr. Allen also belongs to the I. O. Q. 
 F., being a member of the Batesville Lodge. He 
 is one of the leading farmers of Independence 
 County, and a man whose opinion and advice are 
 always received with the fullest confidence. Mrs. 
 Allen is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, and is well known for her generosity 
 and the interest she takes in all matters pertaining 
 to that church. 
 
 John D. Aydelott. a successful farmer of Oil 
 Trough, is the son of A. P. Aydelott and Martha 
 J. Aydelott, who were the parents of twelve chil- 
 dren, John D. being the fourth child. Five lived 
 to be grown: M. J., J. D., A. W., S. E. and A. 
 ' P. Aydelott, Jr. , who is also a successful farmer in 
 i Oil Trough. A. P. Aydelott, Sr., was one of the 
 oldest settlers of Oil Trough Bottom, comiuK to 
 I Oil Trough in 1844, bringing the first stock of 
 goods that was sold in Oil Trough. He bought 
 240 acres of land from Joe Egner, and cleared 200, 
 and farmed and made stock raising a success. At 
 the beginning of the Civil War Mr. A. P. Aydelott 
 was opposed to the States seceding, but after they 
 did he cast his lot with the Confederacy. In poli- 
 tics before the war he was a Whig, but afterward 
 a Democrat. A. P. Aydelott came to Arkansas 
 from Tennessee in 1836, first settling in Little 
 Rock, afterward Elizabeth, thence to Oil Trough, 
 where he and his wife (whom he married in 1844), 
 Martha J. Birdsong, also of Tennessee, lived hap- 
 pily together until death claimed the father and 
 
 ^'* 
 
'-^ 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 035 
 
 husband, October 16, 1880. His widow and the 
 mother of our subject, followed August 26, 1884. 
 They were buried in the family graveyard on the 
 farm. They were both members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South. The five children living 
 are all doing well. One girl, S. E., is an invalid, 
 and lives with the youngest brother. 
 
 ■John Bailey, farmer, Floral, Independence 
 County, Ark. Tennessee has given to Independ- 
 ence County many prominent citizens, but she has 
 contributed none more universally respected or 
 more worthy of esteem than the subject of this 
 sketch. He was born in Smith County on the 
 12th of September, 1822, and is the son of Wiatt 
 W. Bailey and Dolly (Tinsley) Bailey, both natives 
 of Virginia, the father born in .Campbell County, 
 and the mother in Amherst County. They moved 
 to Smith County, Tenn. , in 1818, and here the 
 father was elected sheriff of the county, in the 
 spring of 1838, which office he held for six years. 
 He died in that county in 1804, and the mother in 
 1871. The paternal grandparents, William and 
 Sarah Bailey, were natives of Campbell County, 
 Va. , and died at a good old age in Smith County, 
 Tenn. John Bailey is now successfully following 
 the occupation to which he was reared, and which 
 has been his life work, a calling that has for ages 
 received undivided efforts from many worthy indi- 
 viduals, and one that always fiu-nishes sustenance 
 to the ready worker. He came to Izard County, 
 Ark., in 1853, resided there three years, and in 
 1856 came to Independence County, where he was 
 elected sheriff in 1860. This position he held two 
 years, during which time he was a resident of 
 Batesville, removing to his present home in 1863. 
 He is the owner of 2,000 acres of land, a part in 
 Independence County, and some in different coun- 
 ties of the State. He has about 150 acre* of this 
 land under cultivation, with most of it in cotton 
 and corn. Mr. Bailey was married to Charlotte 
 B. Nail, of Tennessee, in 1844. She died four 
 years later, leaving two children, Dorothea Ann 
 and Charlotte Olive, the latter dying two months 
 after its mother. For his second wife Mr. Bailey 
 chose Miss Sarah E. Harper, a native of Smith 
 County, Tenn., born December 1, 1834. To them 
 
 were born ten children : William H. , Harriet E. , 
 John B., Edward Everett, James Madison, Archi- 
 bald D., Thomas Franklin, Mary Frances, Emily 
 J. and Martha Ann. Mr. Bailey served during 
 the late unpleasantness between the North and 
 South, from July 17, 1864, until the surrender. 
 He was at the battles of Big Creek, Pilot Knob, 
 and in many minor engagements. He served under 
 Col. Dobbins. In November, 18()4, he returned 
 to his duties on the farm, which he continued until 
 his election to the office of sheriff of Independence 
 County, in 1874, which position he held for one 
 term. He then returned to his farm. He and 
 wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, his first wife also being a mem- 
 ber. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at 
 Cedar Grove, also an Odd Fellow in good standing 
 in Batesville Lodge. In politics he is a Democrat, 
 and is also an enthusiastic supporter of all public 
 enterprises. He is at present school director of 
 District No. 40, Independence County. 
 
 Peter K. Baker, farmer and stock raiser, Dota, 
 Ark. The subject of this sketch needs no intro- 
 duction to the people of Independence County, 
 Ark., for he is one of the oldest and most esteemed 
 citizens of the same, and one whose integrity and 
 honesty of purpose are unquestioned. He was born 
 in Middle Tennessee, on the 23d of February, 
 1819, and is the tenth of a family of eleven chil- 
 dren born to John and Nancy (Carter) Baker, na- 
 tives of North Carolina. The father was born 
 about 1776, and could remember some incidents of 
 the Revolution. He was a farmer, and followed 
 this calling all his life. He was married, in his 
 native State, to Miss Carter, who was born in 1789. 
 and afterward they moved to Tennessee on a 
 pack-horse, carrying two children. This was in 
 1807. They resided there about sixteen years, 
 and then, in about 1823, moved to VVe.st Tenne.s- 
 see, where they spent the remainder of their 
 days, the father dying in 1842, and the mother in 
 1844. Both were Christians, the father a member 
 of the Methodist Church, and the mother of the 
 Baptist. Of the eleven children born to their 
 marriage only two are now living — James G., a 
 successful farmer, married, and living in Calloway 
 
 i) X> 
 
J^': 
 
 mci 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 County, Ky. , and Peter K., who represents this 
 sketch. The latter passed his youthful days in 
 assisting on the farm, and in attending the com- 
 noon schools of Henry County, Tenn. At the age 
 of eighteen years he began learning the cabinet- 
 maker' s trade, and spent the succeeding five years 
 engaged in this vocation. After this he worked at 
 the carpenter and millwright trades, but conducted 
 his farm all the time. In November, 1856, he 
 sold his land in Tennessee, and came to Arkansas, 
 where he purchased his present farm, then 1(50 
 acres, with thirty acres cleared, and with some 
 very poor buildings on it. After this he bought 
 and improved land until he had 530 acres. Since 
 that time he has settled his two sons on farms of 
 his own, but reserved for himself 240 acres as the 
 home place. He has cleared over 200 acres of 
 land, and has now on his home place 140 acres in 
 a high state of cultivation. He has one of the 
 best farms in Black River Township, if not in In- 
 dependence County. Good buildings, fences and 
 orchards adorn his property, and beautiful flowers 
 make his home very attractive. Mr. Baker has 
 been twice married; first, in November, 1842, 
 while in West Tennessee, he led to the altar Miss 
 Elizabeth Browning, a native of South Carolina. 
 Five children were born to this union: Alonzo S. , 
 born July 10, 1843, and died in the war, in 1863; 
 Melissa L. was born on the 10th of March, 1844, 
 and died on the 14th of September, 1869; Eras- 
 mus F. was born on the 13th of December, 1846, 
 is married and lives in the Lone Star State; Will- 
 iam L. was born on the 13th of December, 1849, 
 and died on the '10th of June, 1855; Angus C. 
 was born on the 26th of January, 1853, is mar- 
 ried, and lives on his own farm, adjoining his 
 father's place; he is a prosperous farmer, and is 
 also engaged in the profession of teaching. Mrs. 
 Baker departed this life in September, 1878. She 
 was a good wife, a fond and loving mother, and a 
 consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. In November, 1879, Mr. Baker was 
 again married, taking for his second wife Mrs. 
 Nancy L. (Cleveland) Parks, widow of Ambrose 
 Parks, a farmer of Indiana. No children were 
 born to this union. Since his residence in Arkan- 
 
 sas Mr. Baker has been principally engagbd in 
 tilling the soil, although for five years after the 
 late war he ran a steam gin and grist-mill on his 
 farm. In 1871 he was severely injured by a fall 
 from a wagon, and this prevented him from doing 
 much work. After this he sold his milling interest, 
 bought a stock of goods, and, in connection with 
 his farm, carried on merchandising until 1877. 
 He was also appointed postmaster. At the above- 
 mentioned date he sold his store, but retained the 
 postoffice until 1888. Since then he has given his 
 attention exclusively to agricultural pursuits. In 
 1856 Mr. Baker was elected justice of the peace, 
 and transacted the business incumbent upon that 
 office in a creditable and satisfactory manner until 
 1862, when military authority usurped the reins of 
 government, thus throwing civil officers out. In 
 1874 he was elected to the same office, and served 
 two years. In 1880 he was re-elected for two 
 years. Mr. Baker came to this settlement at a 
 time when there were very few people in Black 
 River Township, only 100 voters in the township, 
 and only two stores in Batesville, but recently 
 started, and one in Sulphur Rock. Jacksonport 
 was the nearest market of any importance, and 
 wild game was plentiful. Abundance of good 
 water is on his farm, and mineral of some kind 
 (likely iron) underlies a part of the timber portion. 
 During the late war Mr. Baker remained at home 
 unharmed, on account of his mechanical skill as a 
 millwi-ight, and owing to his peaceable disposition; 
 and in compliance with a petition signed by a 
 large number of both parties, asking that he might 
 remain at home. When the State considered the 
 question of secession Mr. Baker voted that it 
 remain in the Union, but, being defeated in this 
 particular, and being left in the South, his sym 
 pathies svere with the Confederacy. He main- 
 tained his opinions, slept with unlocked doors and 
 answered all calls from both armies in person. 
 Notwithstanding, the devastating hand of war 
 grasped all his personal property, and he was left 
 at the terminus of the war as though just starting 
 in life. He holds no prejudice against either 
 party, but votes with the Democrats. He does 
 not take an active part in politics. His first presi- 
 
 ^1 
 
'\ 
 
 iyd^^cc4^ 
 
 Mississippi Coumty, Arkansas 
 
i 
 
liL 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 637 
 
 dential vote was for James K. Polk. He was 
 never a slave-owner. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are 
 church members, he a Methodist, and she a Bap- 
 tist, and the former a trustee of his church, also 
 having filled the position of steward in the same 
 for years. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and a 
 member of Dota Lodge. 
 
 Francis M. Baker, merchant, Desha, Inde- 
 pendence County, Ark. Among the prosperous 
 enterprises in Desha is that of Francis M. Baker, 
 general merchant, of that beautiful and prosperous 
 town. He owes his nativity to Independence 
 County, Ark., where he was born on the 14th of 
 October, 1842, and is the son of John Baker [see 
 sketch elsewhere]. Francis M. Baker passed his 
 youth in his native county, and received his edu- 
 cation in the neighborhood schools. During the 
 late conflict he was in several prominent battles, 
 that of Perryville and Chickamauga, and in the 
 latter serious battle was severely wounded. He 
 selected for his life companion Miss D. A. Steward, 
 of Independence County, and was united in mar- 
 riage to her on the 18th day of January, 1871. 
 They have an interesting family of nine children, 
 Annie C, Augusta, John R. , Jennie, Marion, 
 Delia, Ernest, Lulu and George. Mr. Baker is 
 the owner of ninety acres of valuable land, but his 
 principal occupation is merchandising. He is a 
 Mason in good standing, being a member of 
 Neill Lodge, Independence County, Ark., and 
 has been a member of this organization for twen- 
 ty-three years. He is a stanch Democrat, and has 
 voted that ticket for the past twenty-tive years. 
 He also takes a great interest in public affairs. 
 
 David L. Baker, farmer and stock raiser, 
 Jamestown, Ark. Still a young man, INIr. Baker 
 has risen to a position in agricultural affairs in this 
 county which many older in years and opportuni- 
 ties might envy. He is a citizen whom Independ- 
 ence County is proud to claim as one of her sons, 
 having been born here November 0, 1851. He is 
 of good old Tennessee stock, the son of John and 
 Annie (Beeler) Baker, both of whom were born 
 in that State. The parents came to Arkansas in 
 18^50, were among the very earliest settlers, and 
 are still residing on their farm, in Independence 
 
 County, respected and esteemed by all. There 
 has been but one death, and that Ijy accident, 
 on the father's place during the forty-nine years 
 he has lived there. David L. Baker received a 
 thorough education in the private schools of In- 
 dependence County, and remained under the pa- 
 rental roof until his marriage, which occurred in 
 Independence County, on the 22d of September, 
 1874, to Miss Annie J. Pate. Three children are 
 the fruits of this union: John Henry, Margie Lee 
 and Robert Franklin. Mr. Baker is the owner of 
 203 acres of valuable land in Ind(*pendence County, 
 and other valuable property. He is a Mason, be- 
 longing to Neill Lodge, Jamestown, and also a 
 member of the Methodist Church, as is his wife. 
 In his political views he aiSliates with the Demo- 
 cratic party. 
 
 Angus C. Baker, farmer and stock raiser. This 
 gentleman, one of the progressive young farmers 
 of the county, was originally from Henry County, 
 Tenn., where his birth occurred on the 26th of 
 January, 1853. His father, Peter K. Baker, is 
 well known throughout the county as one of its 
 representative citizens. [See sketch on previous 
 page. ] Brought up as an agriculturist it was but 
 natural that Angus C. Baker should permanently 
 adopt that calling as his life occupation. He re- 
 ceived a good practical education in the common 
 schools of Independence County. Ark., and later 
 attended Washington high school, near Batesville, 
 where he remained until 1876, and then entered 
 Gardner's Academy, in Weakley County, Tenn., 
 there taking a year's course. During the winter of 
 1876-77 he taught his first school, in Bayou Dota 
 Academy, and since that time has taught both 
 select and public schools in his own county. He 
 has been twice married; first, September 15, 1878, 
 to Miss Mary E. Best, daughter of William Best, 
 a prominent farmer of Black River Township. 
 Four children were born to this imion, who are 
 named as follows: Percy K. , born September 15, 
 1879; Orville M. L. was born on the VMh of No- 
 vember, 1881; Ernest E. was bom on the 15th of 
 October, 1884, and Roy C. was born on the I'Jth 
 of November, 1888, and died on the 7th of Janu- 
 ary, 1889. Mrs. Baker died on the 24th of No- 
 
^ 
 
 638 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 vember, 1888. She was a loving wife and mother, 
 and a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. Mr. Baker's second marriage took place 
 in December, 1888, to Miss Burrilla.A. Best, sister 
 of his first wife. His principal occupation has been 
 that of farming, but, in connection with this, 
 he has been engaged in mercantile pursuits. From 
 1880 to 1887 he carried on a general mercantile 
 business on his farm, and at the same time acted 
 as assistant postmaster. In the winter .of 1887 he 
 sold his store, and worked as a salesman for J. R. 
 Bullington, of Sulphur Rock, until December 1st, 
 when he entered the clerk's office at Batesville, 
 and there remained until the spring of 1889. He 
 then returned to his farm of 160 acres, with sixty 
 acres under cultivation, a good orchard, and lately 
 he has erected a nice residence. He votes with the 
 Democratic party, but is not a political enthusiast. 
 He and Mrs. Baker are members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. 
 
 C. M. Ball has long been associated with the 
 agricultural interests of Independence County, 
 Ark., the residents of which have had every op- 
 portunity to judge of his character, for he was 
 born here June 13, 1834, and naught can be said 
 of him but to his credit. Eighty acres of his 219- 
 acre farm are in an excellent state of cultivation, 
 and his buildings and fences ai'e in good repair, 
 and his farm is well stocked. His father, B. F. 
 Ball, was born in Loudoun County, Va., in 1807, 
 and in that county he was reared to manhood and 
 educated. In 1826 he moved to Arkansas, where 
 he was married to Elizabeth Dillard, who was also 
 born in North Carolina. They were married in 
 1832, and to this union were born fourteen children, 
 seven being still living. Mr. Ball was called upon 
 to mourn the loss of his wife by death, August 9, 
 18-49, and he was afterwards wedded to Miss Mi- 
 nerva Baker, of Virginia, and their marriage resulted 
 in the birth of four children, only one being now 
 alive. At the time of his death, June 24, 1889, 
 he was the owner of 205 acres of land. He and 
 wife were connected with the Methodist Church, 
 and he was a member of the Masonic lodge. C. M. 
 Ball, our subject, was educated in Independence 
 County, near Batesville, and was there married 
 
 to Miss Nancy A. Anderson, a North Carolinian, 
 their uaion taking place July 9, 1858. Two sons 
 and four daughters were given them, the four 
 daughters, only, being alive: Mary E.. wife of J. 
 B. Gray; Caledonia, wife of J. W. Meacham; 
 Flora B. , wife of W. T. Home, and Emma, who 
 is still at home. Like his father, Mr. Ball is a 
 Mason, and he also belongs to the Agricultural 
 Wheel, but has neglected to attend the latter or- 
 ganization for some time. He is universally re- 
 spected by his fellowmen, and is a man on whose 
 word one can rely. He and family worship in the 
 Methodist Chiirch. 
 
 Warren G. Ball may be classed among the 
 many successful agriculturists of Independence 
 County, Ai-S. He was born in this county October 
 26, 1837, and there his early scholastic advantages 
 were enjoyed, but only such as the common schools 
 afforded. These opportunities he improved to the 
 iitmost, however, and his subsequent contact with 
 business life, coupled with much reading, has tended 
 to place him among the intelligent men of the 
 county. After reaching mature years he united 
 his fortunes with those of Miss Sarah A. Jackson, 
 a Tennesseean by birth, and of a family of three 
 sons and five daughters born to their marriage six 
 are living and all reside with their parents: Tabitha, 
 William L., Laura C, Julia, Agnes and Gracie. 
 Mr. Ball's land, which amounts to 185 acres, is ex- 
 ceedingly fertile and well located, and ninety acres 
 are under the plow. All the buildings are in good 
 condition, and the farm is well supplied with all 
 necessary stock. In addition to this property, Mr. 
 Ball also owns a grist-mill, which turns out an ex- 
 cellent product. He is a Mason, and has been sec- 
 retary of his lodge one year, and senior warden 
 two years. He has always taken a deep interest in 
 educational matters, and has held the office of 
 school director five years, and is still filling the 
 position. He has also been constable, and dis- 
 charged the duties of this office to the satisfaction 
 of those concerned. He and wife are uiembersof 
 the Methodist Church. 
 
 John F. Barnes, M. D., though only thirty- 
 two years of age, is however, conceded to be one 
 of the leading dentists of Independence County. 
 
 vis r- 
 
 1^ 
 
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 630 
 
 He is a native of the county in which he now re- 
 sides. When a child, he was taken by his parents 
 to the State of Iowa, where his youthful days were 
 spent in assisting on the home farm and in attend- 
 ing the public schools, where he acquired a good 
 practical education. In 1873, he returned with 
 his people to Independence County, Ark., and in 
 1883 began the study of medicine under Dr. Moore, 
 a traveling dentist, and remained with him until 
 1888, traveling over the State of Arkansas. In 
 1888 here turned to Sulphur Bock, where he has 
 since made his home, and has acquired an excel- 
 lent patronage. He is a married man, Miss L. 
 Cora Hurt, of Independence County, becoming his 
 wife on the 7th of April, 1886, she being the 
 daughter of Thomas Hurt (deceased), one of the 
 pioneers of the county. Dr. Barnes is a Bepubli- 
 can in his political views, and is now filling the 
 office of city marshal. His parents, Archibald and 
 Lucinda (Mateby) Barnes, were born in Wilkes 
 County, N. C, and were there reared, educated 
 and married. Soon after the latter event, they came 
 to Independence County, Ark. , but subsequently 
 moved to Iowa, where they remained until 1873, 
 then returning to Arkansas. The father is still 
 living, but the mother died February 6, 1883, at 
 the age of fifty-nine years, eight months and twen- 
 ty-five days. Mr. Barnes is a Mason, a Bepubli- 
 caii, and a successful farmer. He is probably of 
 English ancestry. He and wife became the par- 
 ents of the following family: Nancy (Reeves); 
 William P., who died at Helena, Ark., while a 
 .soldier in the Union Army; Martha L. (Smith); 
 Sarah H. (Harmon); G. W., who died in 1888, 
 at the age of thirty-two years; Mary L. (Martin); 
 Lucinda J., who died when a child, and John F. 
 
 J. M. Bartlett, ex-mayor of Batesville, is of 
 Indiana nativity, born in Owen County, on the 
 4th of November, 1844, and since his location in 
 this county, in 1883, he has been closely indenti- 
 fied with its material affairs, and associated with 
 its progress and development. His parents, 
 James C. and Surah (Alexander) Bartlett, were 
 natives of Kentucky and North Carolina, respect- 
 ively. The father settled in Owen County, Ind. , 
 in 1831, locating at Gosport, and was a tanner by 
 
 trade, which occupation he followed for years. 
 He subsequently engaged in tilling the soil, and 
 has lived on the same farm for fifty years, residing 
 within fo\ir miles of Gosport. In their family were 
 twelve childi-en, four only, now living: Louisa, 
 wife of James Alverson; Richard P., Jesse M. and 
 Jackson A. The father was married the second 
 time, in February, 1859, and one child was born 
 to this union, Lawrence, who is now at home. 
 The maternal grandfather of J. M. Bartlett emi- 
 grated to Indiana and located in what is now 
 Owen County, then a territory adjoining the Indian 
 Nation. He erected a house within half a mile of 
 the Indian Nation line. He was a farmer by oc- 
 cupation, and died in that county in his eighty- 
 fourth year. The paternal grandfather died in 
 Kentucky. J. M. Bartlett's youth and early man- 
 hood were passed in his native county, and there 
 he attended the schools which favored him with a 
 good education. Reared to the arduous duties of 
 the farm, he continued this pursuit until in Octo- 
 ber, 1875, when he removed to Paris, 111., and 
 there remained about one year. From there he 
 went to St. Louis, where he was engaged in the 
 livery business for six years, and after that was 
 with the Christian Manufacturing Company, for 
 one year. In 1883 became to Batesville, ' Ark. , 
 and in 1884 he embarked in the livery business, 
 which he still carries on. He owns a fine sand- 
 stone quarry near Batesville, and is president of 
 the Zinc-Blende Mining Company, who are operat- 
 ing over 250 acres of mining land, with a capital 
 stock of §1,500,000. He was elected mayor of 
 Bate.sville, in 1886, and reelected in 1887. which 
 position he held until 1889. He owns a stone 
 building on Main Street, two stories high, 38 feet 
 front and 120 feet long, the lot 150 feet deep. 
 Mr. Bartlett is also a stockholder and director in 
 the Batesville Telephone. On the 2d of Septem- 
 ber, 1869, at Charleston. 111., Miss Mary A. Duni- 
 vin, a native of Coles County, became his wife. 
 One child was born to this union, Edwin C. Mr. 
 Bartlett is a member of the I. O. O. F.. K. of H.. 
 and he and wife are members of the K. & L. of H. 
 Elisha Baxter, ex-governor of the State of Ar- 
 kansas and whose name has been famous before the 
 
 ^ ^ r - 
 
 .re 
 
^ 
 
 040 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 nation for many years, was born in Rutherford 
 County, N. C, September 1, 1827. HLs father 
 waa William Baxter, bom in Ireland about the 
 year 1759, and a weaver by trade, who emigrated 
 to America in the year 1789, settling for a time in 
 Mecklenberg Count3^ N. C. , where he soon after- 
 ward married Miss Sarah Berryhill. This happy 
 union gave them four daughters and five sons 
 whose names are Margaret, James, Joseph, Wil- 
 liam, Andrew, Thomas, Sarah, Carolina and Mary. 
 After his marriage he removed to Rutherford 
 County. N. C. , where he resided until his death, 
 in 1852, leaving a very large estate behind him, 
 the result of his energy and good business ability. 
 About the year 1810 he married his second wife, 
 Catherine, daughter of James Lee, of Virginia, 
 and from this marriage were born three daughters 
 and five sons: Jane, Elizabeth, Esther, John, 
 David, George, Elisha and Taylor. John became 
 a very prominent attorney^ and for several terms 
 was elected a member of the North Carolina legis- 
 lature and speaker of the house in 1852. He 
 moved to Knoxville, Tenn. , in 185-t, and was a 
 member of the constitutional convention that adopt- 
 ed the present constitution of that State. He was 
 appointed United States circuit judge by Presi- 
 dent Hayes in 1878 for the States of Tennessee, 
 Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan, and was one of the 
 most brilliant men of his time. John died at Hot 
 Springs, Ark., March 2, 1887; David perished at 
 sea on an ocean voyage to Australia in 1851, and 
 George died in 1854. Taylor became a prosperous 
 farmer in Kansas, while Eliaha was one of Ar- 
 kansas" most noted governors. Elisha Baxter re- 
 ceived a good moral training in his youth, bat, 
 much to his regret in after life, he did not have 
 the facilities for attending the higher schools and 
 academies that are now within the reach of every 
 young man in America. In 1848 he commenced 
 his mercantile career at Rutherfordton, in company 
 with his brother-in-law, Spenser Eaves, and in 
 1849 he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet, 
 daughter of Col. Elijah Patton, of Kutherford 
 County. He shortly afterward withdrew from 
 commercial life and farmed for two 3'ears, and in the 
 fall of 1852 moved to Arkansas. In the early part 
 
 of 1853 he again entered into business, this time 
 at BatesvUle, in company with his brother Taylor, 
 under the firm name of E. Baxter & Bro. He had not 
 been a merchant at Batesville very long befoi-e he 
 found that the nature of trade and the habits of 
 the people were essentially different from those of 
 North Carolina, and this, in connection with his 
 love of politics and activity in that direction, soon 
 led to disastrous results. In 1855 they suspended, 
 giving up all of their property, and paying their 
 debts in full, and ended their business career as 
 honorably as the_v had conducted it. This unfor- 
 tunate occurrence did not break the spirit of these 
 determined men, however, and the brother, who had 
 never been compelled to do a day's labor before, 
 at once mounted a building, just before the store 
 they had vacated, and began learning the car- 
 penter's trade. In this he succeeded, and soon 
 regained part of his fallen fortune. Elisha repaired 
 
 ; to the ofiice of the Independent Balance, a news- 
 paper published at Batesville, by U. E. Fort, 
 and edited by M. Shelby Kennard. Here ho found 
 employment for twelve months, and devoted his 
 leisure hours to the study of law under the super- 
 vision of the Hon. H. F. Fairchild. He soon after- 
 ward was admitted to the bar, and since then has 
 practiced his profession, except when filling office. 
 He was a Whig in politics, and a strong adherent 
 of that party until it disbanded, in 1855. Mr. Bax- 
 ter then attempted to co-operate with the Demo- 
 cratic party, but could not agree with them on the 
 
 1 question of secession. As a Whig, he was elected 
 and served as mayor of Batesville, in 1853, and in 
 1854 was elected a member of the legislature from 
 Independence County, which had not elected a 
 Whig to any position for twenty years. In 1858 
 he was atrain elected to the legislature as a non- 
 partisan, and in 1860 was defeated for prosecuting 
 attorney of the Third judicial di.strict by F. W. 
 Desha. When the war came on he tried to be 
 neutral and loyal to the government of the United 
 States, so that when Curtis came into Batesville 
 with 20,000 Federal troops, in the spring of 1862, 
 his position enabled him to do a great deal of good 
 for the citizens of Batesville; and during the two 
 
 , months that the place was occupied by the Federal 
 
 T" 
 
-k^ 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 041 
 
 army he was incessantly engaged in reclaiming 
 property, collecting vouchers, and procuring the 
 release of prisoners, without the hope or prospects 
 of reward. At that time he believed his course 
 would he appreciated, but Curtis had scarcely left 
 when he was notified by some friendly Confeder- 
 ates that he could not safely remain in the country. 
 Accordingly, he left on short notice, with but very 
 little provision made for himself and family. Over- 
 taking Curtis at Jacksonport, he was tendered the 
 command of the First Arkansas Federal regiment, 
 then just ready to be organized, but declined, and 
 as he said to General Curtis: 
 
 Not because I think you ought not to whip the rebel- 
 lious but because I feel that I, who am Southern born 
 and raised, ought not to take arms against my neighbors 
 and friends. 
 
 He did not get to see or hear fi'om his family for 
 almost a year, and in the spring of 1863 he was 
 captured by a squad of Southern cavalry com- 
 manded by Col. Newton. On arriving at head- 
 quarters he received such courtesy from Col. New- 
 ton, and discovered in him such military genius, 
 that afterward, when he became governor, and felt 
 it his duty to appoint a major-general for active 
 operations in the field, he did not hesitate to be- 
 stow the commission on Col. Newton, who had 
 paroled him at Fredericktown, Mo. , with an escort 
 of two men, and required him to report to Gen. 
 Holmes at Little Rock. He had scarcely left New- 
 ton's camp when he came in full view of the Fed- 
 eral army, in which one of his friends urged him 
 to join them, but he replied that he had given his 
 pledge of honor to report at Little Rock, which he 
 did, and Gen. Holmes unceremoniously turned him 
 over to the civil authorities, who assigned him to 
 the Pulaski County jail to await an indictment for 
 treason against the Confederate States. In due 
 time the indictment was found, and he was ar- 
 raigned before Judge Ringold, William M. Ran- 
 dolph acting as district attorney. The case was 
 continued until the next term of court, and through 
 the agency of some friends he managed to escape 
 from jail, and after concealing himself for eigliteen 
 days near Little Rock, without any shelter and 
 barely enough foo<l to live, he succeeded in making 
 
 his way into the Federal army, then at Little Rock, 
 Gen. Steele having captured and occu])ied that 
 place on September 10, 1803. In all this time he 
 was abused, verbally and through the press, being 
 branded as a coward by the True Democrat, of Lit- 
 tle Rock, citing his refusal to take command of the 
 First Arkansas Federal Regiment, when tendered 
 him by Gen. Curtis, as a proof. Stung by these 
 retieetions, he made haste to apply to Gen. Steele 
 for authority to recruit a regiment for the Federal 
 service. Armed with such authority, he proceeded 
 to Jacksonport and recruited the Fourth Arkansas 
 Mounted Infantry, and reported to Gen. R. R. 
 Livingston, at Batesville, where he commanded 
 the post until the spring of 1804, when, under the 
 organization of the Murphy or war government, he 
 was elected a member of the supreme court. Under 
 the constitution of 1804 he could not hold two 
 offices at one time, so, after much hesitation, he 
 resigned his command of the regiment, which de- 
 volved uj)on his brother as senior captain, as well 
 as by order of Gen. Steele. Fourteen days after 
 becoming a member of the supreme court of the 
 State, he was elected, over his protest, to the sen- 
 ate of the United States for the long term. He 
 repaired to Washington, taking his family with 
 him for safety as far as Illinois, and presented his 
 credentials, under the State government then ex- 
 isting in Arkansas, but was not permitted to qual 
 ify as senator. After the war was over he returned 
 with his family to Batesville, and resumed the 
 practice of law. In 1808, upon the suggestion of 
 the Hon. H. C. Caldwell, he was appointed reg- 
 ister in bankruptcy for the First Congressional dis- 
 trict of Arkansas, by the Hon. Salmon P. Chase, 
 then chief justice of the United States. During 
 the same year he was appointed judge of the Third 
 judicial circuit for four years, by Gov. Clayton. 
 In 1872 he was nominated by the Republican party 
 for governor, upon a platform pledging him to do 
 what he could to enfi-anchise all such persons as 
 had been disfranchised on account of their partici- 
 pation in the rebellion. He accepted the nomina- 
 tion, and, after the most laborious and extensive 
 canvass ever made in the State, he was elected by 
 a majority of 3,242 votes over his competitor, 
 
A: 
 
 642 
 
 HISTOBY OF AEKANSAS. 
 
 Joseph Brooks, perhaps the most able debater ever 
 known in Arkansas. His election was duly de- 
 clared by the senate of the State, the only tribunal 
 that had any authority to count, or in any manner 
 control the returns. He was qualified as governor 
 early in 1873, and undertook to redeem his pledges 
 to the people and give them an honest government. 
 His administration was certainly the most eventful 
 and fruitful of any State government in the United 
 States. This remarkable epoch in the .history of 
 Arkansas, known as the Brooks-Baxter war, is too 
 long for narration in this sketch, and indeed per- 
 tains more to the history of the State than to these 
 two individuals. In 1878 at the earnest solicita- 
 tion of people from all parts of the State, he be- 
 came a candidate for United States senator, but 
 was defeated by the Hon. J. D. Walker, a Demo- 
 crat. He was called to till the office of governor 
 of Arkansas, at the most trying period in the his- 
 tory of that State. The conflict that culminated 
 during his administration, was not the question as 
 to which of two contestants should be governor of 
 the State for a single term; but in reality it was a 
 representative struggle between principles of the 
 utmost importance to the welfare of the State, and 
 Gov. Baxter held firm to his pledges and principles 
 throughout the entire struggle. During the trouble, 
 when President Grant suggested that both he and 
 Brooks act as governor jointly, Mr. Baxter replied: 
 
 I am either governor or I am not governor, and I will 
 consent to nothing that will, in whole or in part, recog- 
 nize Mr. Brooks as governor. 
 
 In his profession of the law. Gov. Baxter has 
 achieved a splendid rejjutation, although not en- 
 tering it until his maturer years, and being subject 
 to many interruptions. He is a man possessing a 
 strong natural moral disposition, and has a dread 
 of violence and bloodshed, as was manifest 
 throughout his administration. Gov. Baxter and 
 wife are the parents of six children: Millard P., 
 Edward A.. Catherine M., wife of N. M. Alexan- 
 der; George E. and Hattie O., and Fannie E. , who 
 died in childhood. The Governor has been a 
 member of the Methodist Church since 1844, and, 
 by act of their separation, has become a member of 
 the Southern branch. 
 
 Dr. William J. Bell is a prominent medical 
 practitioner of Independence County, and was born 
 in the State of Alabama, February 17, 1835. He 
 was the second born in the family of six children 
 of Wesley and Elizabeth (Bell) Bell. Wesley Bell, 
 who was a native of South Carolina, was born in 
 1808; he was of English descent, and was a 
 mechanic and farmer. When a young man he re- 
 moved from Soiith Carolina to Alabama, where he 
 married and resided until about 1840, when he 
 located in the western part of Tennessee, subse- 
 quently, on accoimt of ill health, removing to 
 Arkansas, where he died in 1857. His wife, who 
 was also a native of South Carolina, was born in 
 1812, and died about 1847. The paternal grand- 
 father of our subject was John Bell, who served 
 during the Revolutionary War, and died at the 
 advanced age of ninety-seven years, his wife living 
 to l)e eighty- five years of age. William J. received 
 the advantages of a common school education in 
 Lawrence County, Ark., and in 1857 began the 
 study of medicine; in 1858 he attended a course of 
 medical lectures in Memphis, Tenn., and the fol- 
 lowing year entered upon the active practice of his 
 chosen profession in the neighborhood where he 
 now resides. He is now one of the leading physi- 
 cians of Independence County, and has built up 
 an extensive practice, answering calls at a distance 
 of thirty or forty miles. Dr. Bell owns 305 acres 
 of land, all of which is under cultivation; sixty- 
 five acres lie on the White River bottom, and the 
 balance, where he resides, about eleven miles west 
 of the county seat. June 16, 1868, he married 
 Miss Christina McFarland, who was born in Inde- 
 pendence County, in 1846, being a daughter of 
 Alexander G. and Sarah J. McFarland, early set- 
 tlers of the county. Dr. and Mrs. Bell have six 
 children, viz.: Clete A., James E., Ida V., Ver- 
 tula A. , William E. and Ross A. The parents are 
 both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South. Dr. Bell has been a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity since 1859. and is also a member of the 
 I. O. O. F. , both of which orders he has at various 
 times represented in the Grand Lodge. In poli- 
 tics he is in sympathy with the Democratic parly. 
 
 William C. Best, Dota, Ark. There are many 
 
-d. 9 
 
 ^ 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 643 
 
 incidents of peculiar interest presented in the life 
 of Mr. Best which cannot be given in the brief 
 space allotted to this sketch. He is known over a 
 large region of the country tributary to Dota, his 
 reputation being that of a man honorable and re- 
 liable in every walk of life, and it may be said, 
 without the least arrogance, that he is a self-made 
 man. His birth occurred in Georgia, on the 9th of 
 April, 1826, his pareut.s, Thomas and Nancy Best, 
 also being natives of the same State. The father 
 was born in Lincoln County, and the mother in 
 Wilkes County, in 17V)7 ; he was a tiller of the soil 
 for many years, of quiet demeanor, and universally 
 respected by all who knew him. The mother died 
 in Alabama, in 1S62, and the father survived her 
 until 1880, when his death occurred at the home of 
 his son, William C. Best, in Arkansas. Both par- 
 ents were members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, the mother having belonged for forty 
 years, and the father for sixty years. The paternal 
 grandparents were natives of North Carolina. Will- 
 iam C. Best grew up on the farm with his father 
 and mother, and received his education in the 
 schools of Alabama, having moved to this State in 
 the year 1840, at the age of fourteen. When 
 twenty-one years old he began his own career, and 
 for three years worked on the farm. On the 5th of 
 December, . 1850, he was married to Miss Mary J. 
 Pope, in Macon County, Ala., and the fruits of 
 their marriage are ten children, five sons and five 
 daughters. James S. Best, the oldest son, was 
 born on the 17th of December, 1851, in Macon 
 County, Ala. , and is now a minister of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church, South. He was married to 
 Miss flattie J. McDonald on the 6th day of Octo- 
 ber, 1873. Sarah J. Best was born in Macon 
 County, Ala., on the 19th of March. 1854; was 
 married to Joseph G. McDonald on the 2Sth day of 
 March, 1871, and died September 18, 1875, leav- 
 ing two cliildren, a boy and girl. Mary E. Best 
 was born in Macon County, Ala., Aj)ril 27, 1856; 
 was married to .Angus C. Baker September 6, 1878, 
 and died on the 19th of November, 1887, leaving 
 four boys. Emma J. Best was born in Macon 
 County, Ala., April 16. 1858, and departed this life 
 September 1:5, 1885. Andiew Thomas Best was 
 
 born in Macon County, Ala., July 27, 1861; was 
 married to Miss Etter Sorrolls. January 22, 1885, 
 and is now living on a farm adjoining his father. 
 William C. Best, Jr., was born in Macon County, 
 Ala., on the 21st of November, 1862, and is well 
 educated, having attended some of the best normal 
 institutions of learning in the State of Mississipjji. 
 He is now engaged in teaching in the public schools of 
 his own county. Lovda Best was born in Tallapoosa 
 County, Ala., August 18, 1866, and died March 
 25, 1882. John W. Best was born in Lee County, 
 Miss., on the 30th of August, 1869, and is now liv 
 ing with his parents. He is a bright and studious 
 young man. Burrilla A. Best was born in Inde- 
 pendence County, Ark., on the 22d of March, 1872 ; 
 was married to Angus C. Baker December 20, 1888, 
 and is \xo\s residing at Sulphur Rock, Ark. Alonzo 
 Best, born in Independence County, Ark., Febru- 
 ary 23, 1875, is the youngest of the family, and 
 consequently is a great pet. When the war broke 
 out Mr. Best was engaged in farming in Macon 
 County, Ala. In 1862 he was occupied in making 
 salt at the Central Salt Works, in Clark County, 
 Ala. , and about the middle of December returned 
 home. Immediately following this he was em- 
 ployed by the government to go to Mobile, Ala., 
 with a company of hands to help to fortify the 
 town. Remaining there something over three 
 months, he reached home about the Ist of April. 
 1863, and at once joined the Sixty first Alabama 
 regiment, Company A, under Col. W. G. Swan- 
 son; Clanton's brigade. They were then ordered 
 to Montgomery, and later to Pollard, being sta 
 tioned there until 1864, when they were sent to 
 Virginia and attached to Gen. Battle's brigade, 
 Rhodes' division and Early's corps. The following 
 engagements were participated in: Battle of the 
 Wilderness, May 5. 18(i4 ; Spottsylvania, on the 
 12th of same month, and Winchester, September 19, 
 1864 — made famous by Gen. Sheridan' s ride. Here 
 he was severely wounded by a gun-shot, and was 
 captured, made prisoner of war, and held at Win 
 Chester until the 10th of December, when he was 
 sent to Baltimore, remaining there until January 8, 
 1865. Upon being sent to Point Lookout he was 
 held there until June 5. 1865, when he was dis 
 
^: 
 
 644 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 charged, and again joined his family, whom he 
 found living in Tallapoosa County, Ala. He re- 
 mained there until the fall of 1867, when he moved 
 to Lee County, Miss., but not being satisfied here, 
 moved to Independence County, Ark. He found 
 himself in possession of $180, a team of horses and 
 wagon, a few household goods, and eight children. 
 He rented for two years the same farm which he 
 purchased in 1871, giving his note for the amount. 
 By the closest economy and industry he "succeeded 
 in paying for it. To the original 160 acres he 
 added from time to time, until he is now owner of 
 360 acres, nearly 200 of which are under cultivation, 
 and about seventy of it he has cleared himself. 
 When he first settled on the farm the only build- 
 ings on the same were two unfinished log rooms. 
 Now he has a well -completed house of six rooms, 
 good barns and out-lmildings, a fine orchard; raises 
 his own stock, and has some of the best of work 
 horses and mules. His principal crops are cotton> 
 corn, oats, wheat, etc., and he is known as a tine 
 melon raiser, having this fruit early and late. In 
 1878 he erected a large gin house, which he has 
 conducted ever since, with unusual success. He 
 spends the autumn months engaged in ginning, and 
 has averaged 250 bales each year for eight years. 
 He votes with the Democratic party, and finds 
 much of interest in local politics. He takes a great 
 interest in conventions, and has once been a dele- 
 gate to the Democratic State Convention. He has 
 been a member of the Temperance Council Grange 
 and Agricultural Wheel. Mr. Best and family are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
 he is a steward and trustee of the same. 
 
 Judge William C. Bevens (deceased). From 
 an early period in the county's history Judge 
 Bevens gave to Independence the very best en- 
 ergies of his life, as one of its most worthy and 
 respected citizens; and to the community and all 
 among whom he lived the example of a life well 
 and usefully spent, and the influence of a charac- 
 ter without stain. His birth occurred in Charles- 
 ton, S. C. , on the 2l8t of December, 1806, where 
 he studied law and afterward practiced his pro- 
 fession in Greenville, in the northern part of his 
 native State. He removed to the Lone Star State 
 
 in 1840, settling at Austin, and there j)racticed his 
 profession until 1846. He then moved to Bates- 
 ville, Ark., where he joined a number of his rela- 
 tives who had moved there from North Carolina. 
 Here he was elected to the legislature of Arkan- 
 sas, and served with great acceptability in the 
 sessions of 1852-53. So great was his popularity 
 and prominence, that he was elected judge of the 
 circuit court of the Third judicial circuit in 1856, 
 and was much esteemed for his sterling integrity, 
 sober, sound judgment, broad intelligence and lib- 
 eral, progressive ideas. His decisions were not 
 made without careful and painstaking study of the 
 evidence adduced, and all felt that his judgment 
 could be relied upon. During the late war he took 
 his family south, where he remained a quiet citizen 
 until the cessation of hostilities. He died at 
 Little Rock, in September, 1865, while on his way 
 home to Batesville. Judge Bevens had three 
 beautiful daughters, the belles of the country in 
 their youth. One of them married ex-Gov. Will- 
 iam R. Miller, another became the wife of Maj. 
 William E. Gibbs, and a third is the wife of Hon. 
 James W. Butler, the present judge of the Third 
 judicial circuit of Arkansas. 
 
 John C. Bone, dealer in furniture, sash and 
 doors, coffins and undertakers' supplies, Batesville. 
 The business men of Batesville are a pushing, ac- 
 tive, persevering and enterprising set, . and "the 
 weakest must go to the wall." Certainly Mr. 
 Bone is not one of the latter class, for, to all in- 
 tents and purposes, he is an ideal business man. 
 He is a native of Izard County, Ark., born Octo- 
 ber 20, 1849, and after remaining on the farm un- 
 til twenty years of age engaged in the mercantile 
 business as clerk, following it for a number of 
 years. He then studied law, and was admitted to 
 the bar in 1877, at Batesville, but never practiced. 
 He again returned to mercantile pursuits, which he 
 followed two years, and then took charge of his 
 present business, which was run by his father in- 
 law, Charles L. Gorsuch, who was killed by hav- 
 ing a house fall on him during a fire. Mr. Bone 
 has since continued the business, has erected a 
 planing-mill, and now carries it on in connection 
 with his other interests, employing several hands. 
 
 
Ho is self-educated and self-made in every respect. 
 He was married on the ]2tb of December, 1877, 
 to Miss Nettie M.' Gorsiich, and they have two 
 children living: Charles E. and Harry C. Mr. 
 Bone is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Chap- 
 tor and Council. He and wife are members of the 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and are esteemed 
 and respected citizens. His parents, Elihu C. and 
 Charlotte J. (Jeffrey) Bone, are natives of Wilson 
 County, Tenn., and Izard County, Ark., respect- 
 ively. The father immigrated to Izard County, in 
 1841. locating near Barren Fork one year, entered 
 land at Mount Olive, Izard County, and there fol- 
 lowed agricultural pursuits. He was also a Cum- 
 berland Presbyterian minister. By his marriage, 
 which occurred in 1844, be became the father of 
 seven children, four living; Miles N.. John C, 
 Levisa J. and Henry F. Th<> remainder of the 
 children died when young. The parents died 
 when the children were quite young, and they were 
 obliged to look out for themselves. The maternal 
 grandfather, Jehoiada Jeffery, and his wife Mary, 
 settled at what is now Mount Olive, in Izard Coun- 
 ty, in 1816. They were originally from North 
 Carolina and Tennessee, and after living in Jones- 
 boro, 111. , for some time, they moved to Arkansas, 
 coming through by land on pack-horses. They 
 were the first settlers of Izard County, their near- 
 est neighbors being about thirty-five miles distant. 
 He was a member of the Territorial legislature of 
 Arkansas, about 1824, from Independence County, 
 and afterward from Izard County, when he intro- 
 duced the bill creating Fulton County. 
 
 Gabriel J. Bradley is one of the industrious 
 farmers of Greenbriar Township, Independence 
 County. He is a native of Randolph County, 111., 
 and was bom July 13, 1831. His parents were 
 Isaac A. and Jlary T. (Jones) Bradley, of whom 
 the former was born in Sumner County, Tenn. , in 
 1806, and the latter was a native of Adair County, 
 Ky. , born about 1813. They were married in 
 Randolph County, 111., but removed to Perry Coun- 
 ty in 1834, where Mrs. Bradley died about 1854 
 and her husband about 1883, both having been 
 members of the Baptist Church. Isaac A. Brad- 
 ley was one of the commissioners of Pen'y County 
 
 seven years; he was a son of Joshua Bradley, a na- 
 tive of North Carolina, who lived some years 
 in Sumner County, Tenn., and then moved to 
 Jackson County, 111., where he died; he was of 
 Irish descent. Col. Gabriel Jones, the maternal 
 grandfather of Gabriel J. Bradley, was born in 
 Virginia, from which State he went to Kentucky, 
 and when Mrs. Bradley was about seven years old 
 removed to Randolph County, 111. Mr. Jones was 
 killed at Chester, 111., in a storm daring the war; 
 he represented Randolph County in the legisla- 
 ture in an early day, and was a colonel in the Black 
 Hawk War. Gabriel J. Bradley was the eldest of 
 the family of five sons and one daughter. He re- 
 mained at home, and most of the time until nine- 
 teen years of age attended the common schools. In 
 1857 he married Mrs. Malinda Wilson, daughter 
 of William Osburn. She died in 1883, leaving five 
 children, viz. : James, Ada, Ann. Emma and Zee 
 In August, 1885, Mr. Bradley married Edie E. 
 James, of Independence County. She is a daugh- 
 ter of Henry B. and Eveline James, of Coffey Coun- 
 ty, Tenn. , who removed to Independence County, 
 Ark., before the war, where Mr. James died; his 
 widow is still living. One child has lieen born to the 
 last marriage of Mr. Bradley— Ethel. Mr. Brad- 
 ley removed from Perry County, 111., to Independ- 
 ence County, Ark., in 1806, and has since lived in 
 Greenbriar township. He has a good farm of 168 
 acres, about 100 of which are under cultivation. 
 He is an enterprising farmer, and devotes his entire 
 attention to his occupation. His political sympa- 
 thies are with the Democratic party. Mrs. Bra<llcy 
 is a member of the Methodist Church. 
 
 William L. Brewer has been familial' with tlie 
 duties of farm life from early boyhood, and has now 
 an excellent farm of 160 acres in Independence 
 County, Ark., of which about fifty acres are under 
 cultivation. Having been born in this county, on 
 the 30th of March, 1831, he is well known by many 
 here, and the utmost confidence is placed in his 
 honor and integrity. His parents, Willis anil 
 Isabella (West) Brewer, were born in North Caro- 
 lina and Tennessee, the former's birth occurring in 
 17i)6, and their union resulted in the birth of ten 
 children, seven of whom are living at the present 
 
A'. 
 
 646 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 time. Willis Brewer was a farmer, but gave much 
 of his attention to stock raising, iu which enterprise 
 he was quite successful. His views on the subject 
 of religion coincided with the Baptist faith, but he 
 was not a member of any church, although his wife 
 had for many years been a member of the Metho- 
 dist Church. She died in full communion with 
 this denomination March 9, 1S61, and was fol- 
 lowed to her long home by her husband in 1864. 
 Their son, William L. Brewer, was educated in 
 Independence County, near Batesville, and after 
 reaching manhood was married to Mrs. Meacham, 
 whose birth occurred in North Carolina on the 24th 
 of February, 182V). One child has been born to 
 them. He is a Mason and was junior warden 
 of his lodge for one year, and he and Mrs. Brewer 
 have been worthy members of the Methodist 
 Church for some time. 
 
 J. R. Bullington, merchant and druggist, Sul- 
 phur Rock, Ark. Among the important mercan- 
 tile establishments which contribute not a little to 
 the growth and prosperity of the town of Sulphur 
 Rock, that of Mr. Bullington takes a prominent 
 place. He was born in Spartanburg County, 
 S. C, December 24. 1847, and was the son of 
 John J. and Julia (Tinsley) Bullington, and 
 grandson of Samuel Bullington, who was a farm- 
 er by occupation and an early settler of South 
 Carolina. John J. Bullington was born in 1812, 
 and died in 1877. He was also a tiller of the soil 
 and came to Independence County, in 1857. He 
 settled on new land in the forest, and improved a 
 large tract. He was not active in politics, and 
 until the war was a Democrat. After that he affil- 
 iated with the Republican party. He was a zeal- 
 ous member of and an active worker in the Centre 
 Grove Baptist Church. His wife was born in 
 South Carolina, in 1818, and was married to Mr. 
 Bullington in that State about 1837. Her death 
 occurred in Independence County, Ark., in 1868. 
 She was also a member of the Baptist Church. J. 
 R. Bullington was the fifth of eight children — only 
 two now living — born to his parents. The chil- 
 dren are named as follows: Ona E., born in South 
 Carolina, in 1848, and is the widow of William 
 Bishop — she now lives in Charlotte; J. R. 
 
 (subject); William W. was born in 1855, was a 
 farmer and salesman, and died September 21, 
 1888. J. R. Bullington passed his school days 
 in picking cotton, gathering corn and clearing 
 new ground, and at the age of twenty-one years 
 found himself possessed of the rudest elements of 
 an education. When twelve years of age he was 
 a ready reader of music, and, being a lover of the 
 "art divine," began at an early age to perfect 
 himself in this delightful pursuit. His father was 
 a music teacher. When twenty years of age our 
 subject formed the acquaintance of Prof. J. D. 
 Walker (son of William Walker the well-known 
 author), in whose company and with whom he 
 taught singing school for five years. After his 
 twenty-first year he spent twenty-one days in 
 school, after which he began farming, biit poor 
 health caused him to abandon hard labor. After 
 this he spent six weeks in school, and the next 
 year (1870) he began teaching school and did noth- 
 ing until 1876 except teach. He then attended 
 school, but again had to abandon this work on 
 account of his health. At that time he entered the 
 employ of Dr. Vaughn, at Sulphur Rock, at 110 
 per month, and remained with him until 1886. 
 He was deputy postmaster from 1877 to 1886. 
 During the last mentioned year he conducted the 
 drug department and acted as book-keeper for A. 
 M. James. Then, in February, 1887, he opened a 
 drug and grocery business for himself, adding to 
 the same until he had a large general store, and 
 does a general furnishing business, with the pros- 
 pect of enjoying a full share of the future business 
 at Sulphur Rock. He is a stockholder, director and 
 treasurer of the Sulphur Rock Railroad. Mr. 
 Bullington met Miss Jessie Robinson, daughter 
 of Dr. F. M. Robinson, of Indian Bay, Monroe 
 County, Ark. , and was united in marriage to her 
 on the 22d of December, 1886. They have one 
 child. Jack, who was born on the 22d of June, 
 1888. Mrs. Bullington is a member of the Cum- 
 berland Presbyterian Church, and while Mr. Bul- 
 lington does not hold membership in any society, 
 he is a strong believer in the Bible, and is a man 
 well and favorably known. 
 
 Judge William Byers (deceased). Pennsylvania 
 
 el 
 
•^ 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 647 
 
 has given to Independence County many estimable 
 citizens, but she has contributed none more hirrhly 
 respected, or, for conscientious discharge of duty 
 in every relation of life, more worthy of respect 
 and esteem than was the subject of this sketch. 
 He was born on the 4th of March, 1810, being 
 a son of Dr. John and Sarah (Bonner) Byers, also 
 natives of Pennsylvania. Dr. John Byers was of 
 Irish descent, and had seven brothers, all of 
 whom were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. 
 Judge William Byers remained in his native State 
 until about eight years of age, after which he 
 moved with his parents to near Mount Vernon, 
 Ohio. There he grew to manhood, receiving a 
 limited education, so far as the fiicilities of school- 
 ing were concerned, and might be called a self- 
 made man in every sense of the word. Early in 
 life he commenced the study of law under Mr. 
 Delno, a very famous lawyer, and was admitted to 
 the bar, at Mount Vernon, Ohio, where he prac- 
 ticed a short time. He was married the first time 
 at Fredericksburg, Ohio, and came with his family 
 to Batesville, Ark., in about 1838, where he prac- 
 ticed his profession. He soon became very prom- 
 inent, and was sent to the legislature, where he 
 served one term. He was next elected circuit 
 judge, and served on the bench for a number of 
 years. After this he was elected to Congress, but, 
 owing to some fi'audulent circumstances, never took 
 his seat. He never sought office, but was pushed 
 and urged by his friends to accept, and was ever 
 after a public man. He always filled every office 
 with honor and to the satisfaction of his constitu- 
 ents. Although commencing life with limited 
 means, he became very wealthy, until the late war, 
 when he lost all his property; but it was charac- 
 teristic of the man that he took everything with 
 the utmost calmness and composure. His first 
 wife was Miss Lucy Manning, of Ohio, by whom 
 he had three children, only one living, Mrs. Hugh 
 Stewart, of Memphis. He was married the second 
 time, in 1850, to Mrs. Emily (Burton) Wilson, a 
 daughter of Dr. P. P. Burton, a very prominent 
 physician. Six children were born to this union, 
 four now living: John, in Texas; Clayton, a civil 
 engineer, in Old Mexico; Wren; and Nellie, wife 
 
 of Dr. McMurtle. Mrs. Byers is a cousin of old 
 Judge Clayton, of Mississippi, who is one of the 
 prominent ifien of that State. By her marriage to 
 Mr. Wilson, Mrs. Byers became the mother of two 
 children, George, and Nannie, wife of Carroll H. 
 Wood. George Wilson went through the late war. 
 Mr. Byers was a prominent Mason, and was the 
 father of that secret organization in Batesville. 
 He was for a number of years editor of the Bates- 
 ville News. He died of paralysis at the home of 
 his daughter in Memphis. Mrs. Byers owns the 
 block where she lives, and is a very wide-awake, 
 energetic lady. She is a meml)er of the Episcopal 
 Church, and is much respected by all who know 
 her. She is of Scotch descent. Her maternal 
 grandmother was born, reared and educated in 
 Edinburgh, Scotland, and spoke very fluently some 
 seven languages. When nineteen years of age 
 she came to America, and located at Lynchburg, 
 Va. She died near Sandusky, at the age of one 
 hundred and five years. The grandfathers on both 
 .sides came from England, and also settled in Vir- 
 ginia. They were all Revolutionary officers during 
 the war. The father of Mrs. Byers first moved to 
 Mississippi, and, being a graduate of the old Jef- 
 ferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, practiced 
 his profession for a number of years. He then 
 came to Batesville, practiced a short time, and 
 then moved to Little Rock, Ark. , where he passed 
 his last days. He is said to have been the hand- 
 somest man in that city. He had been married 
 three times, and was the father of twenty-six 
 childi'en — three now living by the first marriage, 
 three by the second, and three by the third. 
 
 Rev. William Canon, who has ministered to 
 the spiritual wants of his fellowmen in Independ- 
 ence County for many years, is a native of Ruther- 
 ford County, Tenn., born on the I'Jth of February, 
 1832. His father, John Canon, was born in North 
 Carolina in 1790, and served faithfully and well 
 in the War of 1812. He participated in the battle 
 of Horseshoe Bend, and in several minor engage- 
 ments. He died in Carroll County, Tenn., in 
 1865. His wife, who had been originally Miss 
 Elizabeth Dickson, was born in North Carolina in 
 171)2, and died in the year 1875. Rev. William 
 
648 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Canon received a good English education in Bethel 
 College, McLemoresville, Tenn. He remained 
 with his father in Carroll County, Tenn., until 
 1857, when he moved to Searcy, White County. 
 Ark., and fi'om there to Independence County, in 
 the same year. There he has since remained. He 
 was a delegate to the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Conference, which convened at Evansville, Ind. , 
 in 185U, and was sent as a delegate to the Memphis 
 Conference, in 1878. By his union to Miss Kate 
 McFarland, of Independence County, Ark., he 
 became the father of two children, only one now 
 living, Albert D., who is engaged in commercial 
 pursuits at Batesville. The youngest, Willie H., 
 is no more. Mr. Canon is the owner of 140 acres 
 of land in Independence County, and has a com- 
 fortable home. During the war he was in the 
 Confederate service, joining McCauley's volun- 
 teers in 1863. He was then transferred to Col. 
 Newton's regiment, and was made chaplain, which 
 position he held until his health failed, and he was 
 honorably discharged. He is a man of great public 
 spirit, and one who takes decided interest in public 
 affairs. He is a Mason, in good standing. He 
 and his estimable lady are members of the Cum- 
 berland Presbyterian Church. In politics, he is a 
 Prohibitionist, from the Democratic party. 
 
 Thomas B. Carpenter. A lifetime devoted 
 with perseverance and energy to the pursuits of 
 agriculture have contributed materially to the suc- 
 cess which has attended Mr. Car]>enter's efforts. 
 He was the fourth of six children born to Jesse 
 and Polly A. (Sidwell) Carpenter, and was born on 
 the 2d of October, 1828, in Alabama. His father, 
 who was a native of Virginia, came to Arkansas 
 while it was still a territory (about 1833 or 1834), 
 and located in St. Francis County, where he fol- 
 lowed carpentering, and was a general worker in 
 wood, and at the same time conducted farming. 
 Thomas B. Carpenter was brought to Arkansas in 
 his early youth, and was educated in the subscrip- 
 tion schools of his adopted State. In 1853 he was 
 united in marriage to Miss Tabitha A. Tuggle. a 
 native of the Blue Grass State, and their family 
 now consists of five children: Margaret L. , born 
 in 1855; James T. , who died at the age of six 
 
 months; Dicie, who was born in ]8fil; Jesse Lee, 
 whose birth occurred December 7, 1864, and Polly 
 Alice, born February 26, 1868. In 1854 Mr. Car- 
 penter made his first purchase of land, which 
 consisted of 197 acres, and by hard work, managed 
 in a few years to put forty acres under the plow, 
 and to erect a good double log house, barns, etc., 
 also a cotton-gin. In 1877 he sold this farm and 
 purchased a tract of 211 acres in Christian Town- 
 ship, and has made some valuable improvements 
 on this farm, also, improving seventy- five acres. 
 After making this his home for twelve years, he 
 sold it in July, 1889, for a consideration of 13,000, 
 and now thinks of giving up farm life, and engag- 
 ing in mercantile pursuits. He is a Democrat in 
 politics, and he and wife are members of the Mis- 
 sionary Baptist Church. He has given his chil- 
 dren good educational advantages, and they are 
 now well qualified for any commercial position or 
 pursuit. The youngest son, Jesse, has for some 
 years been engaged as clerk in the mercantile house 
 of a Mr. Van Ronlde, of Newport, Ark. , and is 
 now the trusted manager of his employer's busi- 
 ness. With this son, Mr. Carpenter contemplates 
 embarking in business. Richard, the eldest son, is 
 a successful farmer of Jackson County; Margaret 
 is the wife of M'. P. Young, and resides in the 
 county; Polly A. is still at home. 
 
 Thomas E. Carter, an extensive property owner 
 of Sulphur Rock, was born in Prince William 
 County, Va. , at the mouth of Bull Run, on the 
 3d of October, 1824, and is a son of James P. and 
 Elizabeth (Davis) Carter, both of whom were also 
 born in Prince William County, Va. , the former's 
 birth occurring on the 23d of May, 1785, and the 
 latter' s on the 23d of October, 1786. The father 
 died in 1860, and his wife at the age of eighty-five 
 years. They were married in their native county, 
 and there resided until 1838, when they came to 
 Arkansas and located in Independence County, 
 where both spent the remainder of their days. Mr. 
 Carter was a carpenter and house-joiner, at which 
 he worked, in connection with farming, all his life. 
 The farm on which he located on coming to Inde- 
 pendence County is situated three miles northeast 
 of Batesville, and is known, far and near, as the old 
 
 
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 640 
 
 'k. 
 
 Carter place, and is noted for chalybeate springs 
 located thereon. The paternal grandfather was 
 born in England, and came to the United States 
 before the Revolution, in which war he served on 
 the side of the colonists. The maternal grand- 
 parents were William and Elizabeth Davis, and 
 were extensive planters of Virginia. Mrs. Davis 
 was a native of Scotland, and lived to be one hun- 
 dred years old. When the Carter family first came 
 to Arkansas, Independence County was very thinly 
 populated, and the farm on which they settled was 
 an immense canebrake. Schools and churches 
 were very few and far between, but our subject, 
 Thomas E., acquired a fair education," his teachers 
 lieing U. E. Fort 'and Burr Lee. At the age of 
 twenty one years he commenced to clear a farm 
 near Batesville, but sold out in 1856, and moved to 
 Big Bottom, where he opened a mercantile estab- 
 lishment on the plantation owned by Col. Morgan 
 Magness, where he continued his enterprise until 
 the breaking out of the war. In 1862 he enlisted 
 in the Confederate service, and after the close of 
 hostilities returned home and resumed his mercan 
 tile enterprises at Akron, as a member of the firm 
 of Owen, Moore & Co., but in three years sunk 
 1150,000. He then retired to his farm and took 
 up agriculture and stock raising as an occupation, 
 in which he has amassed another large fortune. 
 His first business transaction in life was to pur- 
 chase a farm for .|600, on credit, and he now owns 
 800 acres of some of the finest bottom land in the 
 State, besides other valuable property. Mrs. Eliza 
 (Adams) Hulsey, a native of Fayette County, Tenn. , 
 born in IS'io, became his wife in 1856, but her 
 death occurred three years later, she having borne 
 a family of two children: Susan, wife of Allen Brad- 
 ford, and Elizabeth, who died when quite young. 
 On the 15th of August, 1860, Mr. Carter wedded 
 Mis.s Mary Adams, a sister of his first wife. She 
 too was born in Fayette County, Tenn., and died 
 the year after her marriage. In 1863 Nancy Ann 
 Magness became his third wife. She is a daughter 
 of Josiah Magness, and was born in Fayette Coun- 
 ty. Tenn., October 23, 1834, and, by Mr. Carter, 
 is the mother of four children: Mary, wife of 
 Thomas Nisbett; Noah, Alice and Eddie. Mr. 
 
 41 
 
 Carter has been a member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church for forty-nine years, and in his 
 political views is a Democrat. He belongs to the 
 I. O. O. F , and has become a prominent citizen 
 of the county, owing to his sound judgment, pro 
 gressive ideas and unimpeachable honesty. 
 
 Christopher Case, farmer, Batesville. No name 
 is justly entitled to a more enviable place in the 
 history of Independence County than the one which 
 heads this sketch, for it is borne by a man who. 
 though young in years, has yet been honorably 
 identified not only with the agricultural interests 
 of this county, but with its advancement in every 
 worthy particular. He was born in the city of 
 Batesville, Ark., on the 4th of December, 1851, 
 received his education, and j)assed his youth in tliat 
 city. He learned the harness- maker's trade, and 
 followed this in Batesville until his marriage, after 
 which he engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 
 1883 he moved to where he now resides, and has 
 since been engaged in tilling the soil and stock 
 dealing quite extensively. He owns over 208 acres 
 of good land, with 200 under cultivation. He deals 
 principally in cattle, is at present engaged in the 
 dairy business, and has forty head of good milch 
 cows. He makes two trips a day into Batesville, 
 and is doing a good business. He was manned, in 
 1880, to Miss Cora Knowles. a native of Missouri, 
 and they are the parents of three children : Eva, 
 Henry K. and Robert R. Mrs. Case is a meml^er 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Case's 
 parents, George and Sarah (Ridgeway) Case, are 
 both natives of Pennsylvania. The father emi- 
 grated to Mansfield, Ohio, thence to Illinois, and 
 to Independence County, Ark., in about 1837. 
 While in Illinois he met and married Miss Ridge- 
 way, who had moved with her parents to that State. 
 After coming to Arkansas, Mr. Case located in 
 Batesville, where he carried on the mercantile busi- 
 ness for some time. He died at Hopefield, Ark , 
 in 1864. The mother is yet living, and resides in 
 Batesville. They were the parents of seven chil- 
 dren, now living: Mrs. Eliza Jolilin. JIrs, Mary 
 Maxfield, Mrs, M. A. Joblin. Robert R., Chris 
 topher, Dr. J. W. and George R. 
 
 Simeon Cason is an enterprising farmer of In- 
 
 f 
 
jvJ: 
 
 650 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 dependence County, Ark., and the energetic man- 
 ner in which he has ever taken advantage of all 
 methods and ideas tending to enhance the value of 
 his property has been the means of obtaining the 
 competence he now enjoys. His farm consists of 
 117 acres of excellent land, of which sixty-five 
 acres are in a high state of cultivation. He was 
 born in Georgia, August 25, 1823, and is a son of 
 Hillary and Mary (Smith) Cason, natives of the 
 " Old North State," the former's birth occurring 
 April 3, 1779. Their marriage took place about 
 1803, and of thirteen children born to them (seven 
 sons and six daughters) only two are living: Simeon, 
 and a daughter, who is the wife of Jesse Ward, 
 and now a resident of Washington. Hillary 
 Cason was a member of the Baptist Church, and 
 his wife was a Methodist. Simeon Cason was edu- 
 cated in the common schools of Madison County, 
 111., and, after attaining manhood, was married to 
 Miss Sarah J. Leggett, a native of Arkansas, who 
 died on the 6th of November, 1887, leaving him 
 with a family of six children: George, John B. , 
 who died November 9, 1867; Zachariah, Henry 
 Clay, James Y. and Mary V. Mr. Cason after- 
 ward married Mary A. Swan, and to them were 
 given seven children, three of whom subsequently 
 died. Those who survive are: Mary A.. Drucilla, 
 William T. and Benjamin F. Mr. Cason has held 
 the office of justice of the peace and constable for 
 the past fourteen years, and has been junior warden 
 in the Masonic lodge. He and Mrs. Cason have 
 long been members of the Methodist Church, and 
 have always liberally contributed to churches and 
 schools. In 1861 he joined the army, and was in 
 a number of hotly-contested engagements. He was 
 also a soldier in the war with Mexico, being first 
 sergeant in Capt. A. R. Porter's company. First 
 Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry, commanded by Col. 
 Archibald Yell. He was captured with Maj. 
 Bourland, Maj. J. P. Gaines and Capt. Cassius 
 M. Clay, at Incarnation. Mexico, and taken from 
 there to the City of Mexico, remaining until the 
 city was captured by Gen. Wintield Scott. 
 
 W. E. Chambers, merchant, Batesville. That 
 the city of Batesville has a bright future before 
 it is beyond all question. Situated as it is, with 
 
 excellent railroad facilities, it could not be other- 
 wise; noting this fact many wide-awake merchants 
 are locating in this town, which affords the best 
 inducements to energy and enterprise. Among 
 those recently established may be mentioned Mr. 
 Chambers, who. although a young man, is old in 
 his mercantile experience. He was born in Harde- 
 man County, Tenn., July 24, 1866, and his parents. 
 William C. and Fannie M. (Moore) Chambers, are 
 natives of Mississippi and Tennessee, respectively. 
 The father carried on the mercantile business the 
 most of his life at Saulsbury, Tenn. In 1886 he 
 came to Batesville, Ark., and died there January 17, 
 1887. The mother is still living. Their family 
 consisted of two living children — Mrs. Ella Beane, 
 of Newark, Ark. , and W. E. The latter was fav- 
 ored with good educational advantages in Tennes- 
 see, and in 1886 came with his parents to Bates- 
 ville, Ark., and engaged in the insurance and real 
 estate business with T. B. Padgett for some time. 
 He subsequently clerked a short time for O. P. 
 Moore & Bro. In December, 1887, he engaged 
 in merchandising, and has since carried it on. He 
 has a select line of merchandise, and is doing well. 
 He was married, December 1-1, 1887, to Mi.ss Mattie 
 M. Colton, of Ripley, Miss. Mr. and Mrs. Cham- 
 bers are members of the church. Mr. Chamliers 
 is the owner of considerable property in the State 
 of Tennessee. 
 
 Robert A. Childress, a prosperous farmer of 
 Independence County, was born in Franldin Coun- 
 ty, Va., in 1813. He is a son of John W. and 
 Sarah (Ferguson) (Jhildress, both native of Vir- 
 ginia. The Childress family are of English origin, 
 but the family has lived in the State of Virginia 
 for several generations. The grandparents, Robert 
 and Rachel Childress, both lived and died in that 
 State. John W. remained in his birth place until 
 the year 1817, when he moved to Missouri, and in 
 1819 again changed his location, settling in Ran- 
 dolph County, Ark. In 1829 he came to Inde- 
 pendence County, and was one of the earliest set- 
 tlers of that section, where he made his residence 
 until old age began to creep upon his shoulders, 
 when he went to live with a son in Galveston, 
 Tex., where he died. His wife resided in Inde- 
 
:£: 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 651 
 
 pendence County up to the time of her death, in 
 1840. Robert A. was the oldest child of this 
 couple, and iu his youth received a somewhat lim- 
 ited education in Independence County, on account 
 of the very meager facilities for learning offered in 
 that State. But after reaching his majority he 
 returned to Virginia, where the educational advan- 
 tages were greater, and attended some of the higher 
 schools of that State until he had procured a satis- 
 factory education. In 1841 he was married to Miss 
 Martha A. Waugh, who was born in Virginia in 
 1823, and died in ISfiO. This marriage gave them 
 nine children, of whom four are yet living: Thomas 
 B. , Julia C. (wife of Joseph B. Pritchett), Lewis 
 W. and John \V. In 1802 Mr. Childress married 
 again, his second wife being Mrs. Josephine Sulli- 
 van, an amiable and pleasant widow lady, raised in 
 Mississippi, and a daughter of Dr. Samuel Halli- 
 burton, who has also passed away. This union 
 gave them four children, of whom two lived to ma- 
 turity, and those yet living are Samuel K. and 
 Sarah J., wife of J. E. Moore. His third wife was 
 Mrs. Lucilla J. Cross, a widow, youngest daugh- 
 ter of Col. John Miller, an influential and prom- 
 inent citizen of Independence County. Mr. Chil- 
 dress has resided at his present home since 1840, 
 excepting five years spent at Batesville, where he 
 was engaged in business. He owns 642 acres of 
 land, and has about 325 acres under cultivation, all 
 of it comprising some of the richest land in the 
 State. He has held the office of justice of the 
 peace for a number of years, and has proven him- 
 self to be an efficient officer, and a valuable man 
 for the position. He is held in high esteem by the 
 entire community, and enjoys that distinction which 
 an old settler is entitled to. He was a member of 
 the Masonic fraternity until the war, but since then 
 has not been identified with any secret society. 
 He has been a memljor of the Presbyterian Church 
 since 1833, and an elder for over forty years. His 
 wife is a memljer of the Baptist Church, and the 
 children, ("xcepting two. l)elong to the Cumb(*rland 
 Presbyterian Churcli. In politics Mr. Ciiildress 
 is a stanch Democrat. 
 
 J. N. Cliurchill, farmer and merchant, of Black 
 River Township, and postmaster at Charlotte, .\rk. , 
 
 is one of the representative citizens of Independ- 
 ence County, and is a recognized leader in the 
 public affairs of his locality. He was originally 
 from North Carolina, born in Iredell County, in 
 January, 1835, and the son of Charles C. and Ma 
 tilda (Johnson) Churchill, natives, respectively, of 
 Connecticut and North Carolina. The former was 
 a relative of the three Churchill brothers, who came 
 to one of the early colonies of Connecticut. Charles 
 C. Churchill was born in 1791, and emigrated to 
 North Carolina in 1829, where he met and mar- 
 ried Miss Johnson. His principal vocation was 
 tilling the soil, but he was well educated, and his 
 true worth was soon appreciated. He was elected 
 sheriff of his county, and served with credit in that 
 capacity for some time. In 1842, be removed to 
 Tennessee, bought a plantation, and successfully 
 tilled the soil until his death, which occurred in 
 1845. He was an old-line Whig, and exerted 
 quite an influence in the politics of his county. 
 He was a Mason, and a man universally respected. 
 His excellent wife survived him until in April, 
 1887, and then died at the ripe old age of seventy- 
 four years. She was for sixty years a devoted 
 Christian, a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. J. N. Churchill is the third of a family 
 of seven children (five of whom are living): Samuel 
 B., died at the age of fifty-four years (1885), and 
 was a farmer and stock raiser of Texas; Harriet 
 J., consort of one Grady Pickens, who was killed 
 in Hood's retreat from Nashville; J. N. (subject of 
 our sketch); W. P.. a farmer, married, and is liv- 
 ing in Independence County; Curtis .T. , died on 
 the 7th of April, 1877, at the age of forty-five 
 years, a farmer and justice of the peace; Mary A., 
 widow of William Hammond, who was a farmer of 
 Black River Township; Marcia M. V.. wife of W. 
 H. Walden, a merchant and farmer of Black River 
 Township and postmaster of Hazel Grove. J. N. 
 Churchill was reared from early boyhood to the 
 arduous duties of the farm, and secured his edu- 
 cation in the common schools of North Carolina 
 and Tennessee. At the age of nineteen, or in 1852. 
 he came to Independence County and joined his 
 brother, who had made his appearance in that 
 county the year previous. In 1854 J. N. returned 
 
A^ 
 
 652 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 to Tennessee, and spent one year in Oak Grove 
 Academy (Fayette County), having earned the 
 money in Arkansas which enabled him to obtain 
 that part of his education. Having completed the 
 year at school, he returned to Arkansas in 1855, 
 and spent the ensuing four years in wielding the 
 ferrule, conducting private schools in that State. 
 On May 12, 1858, he wedded Miss Charlotta 
 T. Hogan, daughter of Elijah Hogan, one of the 
 first settlei's of Arkansas. Heaven blessed this 
 union with four childr-en, all of whom are living: 
 Charles D. , born August 1, 1851), is a merchant of 
 Charlotte, but contemplates merchandising in con- 
 junction with his brother, Curtia J. (who was born 
 in 1860), under the firm name of Churchill Bros., 
 in Sulphur Rock; Mary M. was born on the 11th 
 of March, 1861, and is the wife of W. H. Ward, a 
 school teacher and farmer of Black River Township; 
 and Lucy, wife of Dr. Robert C. Door, a successful 
 physician of Black River Township. Mrs. Churchill 
 departed this life on the 23d of March, 1889. She 
 was a model mother and wife, and had long been a 
 devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 Since his marriage. Mr. Churchill has followed 
 the different avocations of teaching, cotton gin- 
 ning, threshing grain, and has also been engaged 
 in merchandising. He built the first steam gin in 
 Independence County, reduced the toll of ginning, 
 and brought the second separating thresher into 
 the county. In 1872, he embarked in the mercan- 
 tile business on his farm, the present site of Char- 
 lotte postoffice, and established a branch store at 
 Sulphur Rock, which he conducted for five years. 
 At present he is erecting a large store building in 
 Sulphur Rock, in which to do a general mercantile 
 business. The first land Mr. Churchill ever se- 
 cured was from land bought with wages received in 
 compensation for teaching his first school in Arkan- 
 sas (180 in gold), with which he purchased eighty 
 acres of land. This policy he followed for several 
 years, or until 1859, when he bought 320 acres, 
 and lived on the same for fifteen years, clearing 
 about seventy-five aci'es. He then bought 160 
 acres, cleared forty acres of the same, and in 1873 
 moved to that place (Charlotte), where he has ever 
 since lived. He now owns about 3,000 acres of 
 
 land, and has cleared over 200 acres. He served 
 in the late war about six months, but having been 
 elected justice of the peace, and being a teacher, 
 he was allowed to remain at home unmolested. 
 However, he lost most of his personal property, 
 and so, like a number of the old citizens of this 
 county, had to begin anew when the war was 
 over. In addition to his own family, Mr. Churchill 
 has reared, and given the same opportunities in the 
 common schools as his own children, ten orphan 
 children. He votes with the Democratic party, 
 and has a great deal of influence, politically. He 
 holds a membership in the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and also belongs to the Masonic frater- 
 nity. He was W. M. of Bayou Dota Lodge No. 
 126 for twenty years, and is the only charter 
 member left of that lodge. He is a member of the 
 Chapter and Council at Sulphur Rock. Mr. 
 Churchill has always taken an active interest in and 
 given his support to all public enterprises for the 
 good of the county, and is now chairman of the 
 executive committee on removal of county site from 
 Batesville to Suljihur Rock. 
 
 Churchill Bros., general merchants, Sulphur 
 Rock, Ark. The above mercantile firm, successors 
 of J. N. Churchill & Sous, consists of these 
 brothers, C. D. and J. C. Churchill, who succeeded 
 their father in the business at Charlotte, Black 
 River Township, Independence County, on the 
 15th of February, 1889. C. D., the senior mem- 
 ber of the firm, is a native of Independence Coun- 
 ty, Ark., and was born on the 1st of August, 1859. 
 He is the eldest child born to J. N. Churchill, 
 whose sketch may be seen preceding this, and 
 was reared to the duties on a farm. He was edu- 
 cated in Bayou Dota Academy, and later spent 
 one year at Mountain Home Male and Female 
 Academy, at Mountain Home, Baxter County, Ark. 
 During the winter seasons, when not attending 
 school, he spent his time in his father's store as 
 salesman, there learning the principles of the busi- 
 ness which have since made him a successful 
 merchant. He was married, on the 16th of 
 December, 1880, to Miss Callie Linn, daughter of 
 J. H. Linn (deceased), who was a farmer, and also 
 filled the position of county judge of Baxter 
 
 ^ i 
 
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 653 
 
 County, Ark. By this union two children were 
 born: Daisy P., eight years of age, and is now 
 living with her grandmother Linn, and attonding 
 school at Mountain Home, and Oscar Linn, who is 
 six years of age, lives with his father, and attends 
 school at home. Mrs. Chm-chill's death occurred 
 on the 31st of October, 1887. The early training 
 of Mr. Churchill fitted him for a commercial life, 
 and his future prospects are indeed bright. J. 
 C. Churchill, the junior member of the same firm, 
 was born in this county on the 1 1th of September, 
 1863, and he, like his brother, was reared to farm 
 life, and was educated in Bayou Dota Academy, 
 where he spent ten months in the study of den- 
 tistry, under the tutelage of Dr. W. G. Rosebor- 
 ough, of Batesville. He was obliged to abandon 
 the study of dentistry from the fact that one of his 
 eyes was injured from the accidental discharge of 
 a gun. Since then his entire time has been 
 directed to commercial pursuits. On the 22d of 
 January, 1885, his marriage to Miss Amanda Sor- 
 rells was consummated. She was the daughter of 
 R. L. Sorrells, a native of Illinois, and a farmer 
 of Black River Township. C. D. Churchill first 
 engaged in business at Sulphur Rock, in the spring 
 of 1879, under the name of Churchill & Son, and 
 in the spring of 1880 the title was changed to 
 C. D. Churchill. In September of the last men- 
 tioned year he removed to Hazel Grove, where he 
 continued until the summer of 1887, when he 
 removed to Charlotte; then, in January, 1888, he 
 became a member of the firm of Churchill & Sons, 
 composed of J. N. Churchill and the subjects of 
 this sketch. Under this name they continued busi- 
 ness until the 15th of February, 1889, when the 
 present firm was formed. They recently erected 
 a large store-building at Sulphur Rock, 82x60 
 feet, consisting of three large commodious rooms, 
 in which they became located about the 1st of 
 September, and now carry on a general mercan- 
 tile business. Both are members of Bayou Dota 
 Lodge No. 126. A. F. & A. M., and also hold 
 membership in Council U. D. and Danley R. A. 
 Chapter No. 59, at Sulphur Rock. C. D. Church- 
 ill is a member of Walnut Grove Church, Meth- 
 odist Episcopal, South. They vote with the 
 
 Democratic party, and exert quite an influence in 
 local politics. J. .C. Churchill is notary public 
 for Independence County. They take an intere.st 
 in all improvements for the public good, and con 
 tribute liberally to their support. 
 
 J. C. Cobb, an honored ex-Federal soldier of 
 the Eighth Tennessee Cavalry, was born in Fulton 
 County, Ky. , in 1838, and grew to manhood on 
 Blue Grass soil, but his educational advantages in 
 his youth were of the luost meager description. 
 He was left an orphan when a small lad, and was 
 reared by strangers, but left- the family with whom 
 he made his homo, before he attained his majority, 
 on account of ill treatment, and started oiit to seek 
 his own fortune. Ho first went to Mississippi 
 County, Mo. , where he found a home with Dr. 
 Snuzer, near Charleston, and remained with him 
 until the war became an assured fact, when he 
 joined the Federal forces at Indianapolis, Ind., 
 being a member of the Eighth Tennessee Cavalry, 
 and served honorably and well throughout the 
 war, and was mustered out of service at Bull's 
 Gap, in East Tennessee. He participated in the 
 engagements at Elizabeth (Ky.), Franklin, Harts- 
 ville. Galena, Clarksville, Knoxville, Jonesboro, 
 and Bull's Gap, Tenn. At the latter engagement 
 he was quite severely wounded, being shot from 
 his horse and having his jaw l)roken. He served 
 in Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, 
 Alabama and Florida. In 1883 his application for 
 a pension was recognized, and he received back 
 pay to the amount of $1,233. He returned to 
 Kentucky at the close of the war, and was man-ied 
 four months afterward, to Miss Nancy Whitlock, 
 who was born in Kentucky, in 1841, and by her 
 has a family of three living children: Martha A.. 
 wife of Walker Duunagan; Mary L., and Myrtle 
 May. Those deceased are John J. . who died when 
 eight years of age; Elizabeth, at the age of six 
 months, and Emma J., when ten months old. 
 About one year after the war Mr. Cobb removed 
 with his wife to Arkansas, but only remained a 
 short time; then they returned to Kentucky, and 
 remained six years. Since that time they have 
 been residents of Arkansas, and up to January 1. 
 1889, resided five miles from Sulphur Rock, but at 
 
 \ 
 
A^ 
 
 654 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 that date moved to the town, where they have since 
 made their home. They are quite well-to-do, and 
 each of their children owns forty acres of land, 
 which was deeded to them by their parents. Mr. 
 Cobb is a son of Amsy and Lettie (Ryan) Cobb, 
 the former of whom was a native of North Carolina, 
 and at an early day became a citizen of Kentucky, 
 and lived and died in that State. The mother was 
 born in Newcastle, Ky. , and of their five children, 
 four are still living: J. C, Anna, wife of A. Mc- 
 
 Nutt; Elizabeth, wife of Bert Watton, and . 
 
 The maternal grandparents were John and Alsie 
 (Smith) "Whitlock. John was born in North Caro- 
 lina, but was left an orphan in his youth, and ran 
 away to Kentucky. He lived in Monroe and Phil- 
 lips Counties, but died in Crittenden County, at 
 the age of seventy-six years, followed by his wife, 
 who was of Kentucky stock, at the age of sixty -six 
 years. 
 
 William L. Coble, a highly-respected and well- 
 known farmer and stock raiser of Independence 
 County, is a son of Anthony and Nancy (Burris) 
 Coble, of North Carolina and Virginia, respectively, 
 whose marriage occurred in the latter State. The 
 parents emigrated to Indiana about the year 1820, 
 where their children were born, and in 1849 moved 
 to the State of Ai-kansas, locating near the town of 
 Sulphur Rock, in Independence County, where the 
 father purchased a small tract of land and com- 
 menced farming in connection with his trade as a 
 carpenter. He remained here until 1860, con- 
 tracting for and building a great many houses in 
 that time, and then sold his farm and moved to 
 Jackson County, where he rented some land. He 
 resided in Jackson County for three years, but 
 finding the desire to return to Independence County 
 too strong to resist, he moved back to that place 
 and j)urchased 160 acres of land, upon which he 
 erected a dwelling, barns and all necessary ad- 
 juncts to a well-regulated farm, and resided there 
 until his death, January 8, INSl, at the age of 
 ninety-one years. Mrs. Coble died in 1866, and 
 was buried in what was then McGuire's cemetery, 
 while her husband lies in Surrounded Hill ceme- 
 tery. His son, William L. Coble, was educated 
 at private schools in Sulphur Rock, and in connec- 
 
 tion with his brother, F. A. J. Coble, cleared, im- 
 proved and put the farm on a paying basis long 
 before the father's death. In 1864 he enlisted in 
 the Forty-sixth Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry, Col. 
 Baber's regiment, and served as a courier for al- 
 most the entire time. After peace had been es- 
 tablished, in 1865, he returned to his home, and 
 was shortly afterward married to Miss Mary J. 
 Hinkel, a daughter of Selsor and Sarah E. (Hop- 
 kins) Hinkel, of Missouri. Nine children were 
 born to this union, which was a very happy one in 
 every way, and four are still living: Laura, born 
 March 2, 1875: Cordelelia. born September 4, 1879; 
 Edna Asia, born July 13, 1883; W'illiam L., born 
 November 7, 1888 ; all of whom are bright children, 
 and Mr. Coble intends to give them the best edu- 
 cation obtainable. At the time Mr. Coble came in 
 possession of his farm, it consisted of 320 acres, 
 with 160 acres under cultivation. He now owns 
 480 acres, with 200 acres cleared, and under good 
 cultivation. He is a Democrat in politics, and a 
 strong supporter of that party and its men, and 
 in religious and educational matters he is one of 
 the county's most liberal contributors, as also one 
 of its most progressive. Mr. and Mrs. Coble are 
 both members of the Christian Church. 
 
 George Cook, farmer, Independence County, 
 Ark. Mr. Cook's birth occurred in Tennessee, on 
 the 28th of August, 1826, and he was reared and 
 educated in his native State. He was also married 
 there, on the 26th of November, 1846, to Miss 
 Elizabeth Haskins, who was also born, reared and 
 educated in Tennessee. His parents, John D. and 
 Mary (Montgomery) Cook, were both natives of 
 Tennessee, in which State they were married. 
 George Cook came to Arkansas in 1849, locating 
 near Sulphur Rock, Independence County, where 
 he farmed for one season. He then moved to a farm 
 west of Batesville, where he entered forty acres of 
 land, and cleared about five acres, erected a single 
 log house, etc., but in 1854 sold this. He then 
 moved to a farm on White River, Washington 
 Township, where he has resided for the past twelve 
 years. His children were all born in Arkansas, 
 except John D. Cook, his eldest son, who was born 
 in Tennessee. The latter was married ia Arkan- 
 
 & - 
 
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 655 
 
 sas, and is now living on a farm in Oil Trough 
 Bottom, wberti he rents a farm and carries on the 
 business of general merchandising in connection 
 with farming. Another son, William Thomas 
 Cook, is deceased; Mary Ann Cook married Mr. 
 John Morgan, and now resides in Oil Trough 
 Bottom; J. H. Cook married Miss Mattie Glover, 
 who is now deceased (J. H. resides on the farm 
 with his father); B. A. Cook married Miss Rebecca 
 Holloway, and now resides in Oil Trough Bottom; 
 Jane M. Cook married Mr. G. F. Mannz, and now 
 resides in Christian Township, Independence Coun- 
 ty ; Martha Price Cook married Mr. Thomas Glover 
 (deceased), and is now residing with her father; 
 George M. Cook resides at home with his parents. 
 Our subject's education was obtained in the sub- 
 scription and public schools of this county. When 
 he tirst came to Arkansas all was wild and unset- 
 tled, wild animals abounded, and all the hardships 
 necessary in a new country were experienced by 
 this pioneer. He is a Wheeler in politics. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Cook are members of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, as are also their daughters, Martha 
 and Jane, and their son, J. D. Mr. Cook takes an 
 active interest in religious and social progress, and 
 has always been a liberal contributor to all such 
 causes. 
 
 Virgil Y. Cook, one of Independence County's 
 most enterprising merchants and farmers, and also 
 one of its wealthiest men, is a son of William D. 
 and Pernecia (Dodds) Cook, the father a Kentuckian, 
 and a son of John Cook, one of the pioneer mer- 
 chants of that State. Mr. Cook was born in Boyds- 
 ville. Graves County, Ky., on the 14th day of No- 
 vember, 1848, and received his education in the ad- 
 joining county, at what was then known as Spring 
 Hill Academy, but previous to that he had attended 
 the subscription schools of Boydsville. His life 
 was uneventful until the outbreak of the war be- 
 tween the States, when he joined the command of 
 Gen. N. B. Forrest. He enlisted in the Twelfth 
 Kentucky Cavalry, and served twelve months, and 
 at the end of that time was transferred to the 
 Seventh Kentucky Cavalry, formerly Seventh Ken- 
 tucky Infantry, where he was in the capacity of a 
 ]}rivate soldier. Mr. Cook took part in the battles 
 
 at Okolona (Miss.), Paducah (Ky. ), Tishimingo 
 Creek, Han'isburg (Miss.) and a great many other 
 engagements, and was in Gen. Forrest's Pulaski 
 campaign, in the fall of 1864, after which that 
 general was transferred to Gen. Hood's command, 
 for the purpose of making the raid on Nashville, 
 in the winter of 1864, He also took part in the 
 battles at Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville, 
 and later, in the spring of 1805, was with Gen. 
 Forrest on his Alabama campaign, which termi- 
 nated at Selma, on the 2d of April, 1865, and then 
 surrendered at Gainesville, Ala., on May 10, 1865. 
 Though serving as a private, Mr. Cook's record 
 through the war would put to blush the actions of 
 many men who held superior rank. He has in his 
 possession yet the parole record received at Gaines- 
 ville, on the occasion of his surrender, and values 
 it highly, simply as a relic of those days. The 
 brigade to which he belonged was the famous 
 Kentucky brigade organized and commanded by 
 Gen. Abe Buford, who afterward commanded the 
 second division of Gen. Forrest's cavalry corps. 
 After the surrender Mr. Cook returned to his home 
 in Kentucky, where he remained until the year 
 1806, and then moved to Grand Glaize, Ark., 
 where his father, previous to the war, had carried 
 on business in partnershij) with Mr. M. F. Thoma- 
 son, under the iirm name of Cook & Thomason. 
 Upon his arrival Mr. Cook, in comi)any with Mr. 
 Thomason, re-organized the tirm and did business 
 until the year 1874. when the partnership was 
 dissolved, and Mr. Cook went to the town of 
 Olyphant, on the St. Louis &Iron Mountain Rail- 
 road, where he conducted a large business, with fair 
 success, until 1884. He then came to Oil Trough 
 Bottom, and located on his Midland farm, about 
 one mile and a half west of Elmo, where he estab- 
 lished himself in business, and still remains. He 
 is one of the most successful merchants and plant- 
 ers in that section, and his actions have always 
 l)oen characterized by an energy and enterprise 
 that could not end otherwise. He owns 2,300 
 acres of land in Oil Trough Bottom, of which 1,600 
 acres are under cultivation, which he leases annu- 
 ally for a stipulated sum. Altogether Mr. Cook 
 owns about 8,000 acres in Independence, Jackson, 
 
 > "V 
 
^- 
 
 650 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Clay and Greene Counties, and the total amount 
 that he has under cultivation is 2,000 acres. He 
 was united in marriage to Miss Ophelia Lamb, a 
 daughter of Enos and Frances (Parish) Lamb, of 
 Tennessee, his wedding taking place at Jacksou- 
 port, Ark., on June 29, 1871. Six children have 
 been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cook: Neva, M'hitfield, 
 May, Jennie, a baby who died in infancy, and 
 Varina. In business Mr. Cook carrieg a large line 
 of general merchandise, in fact everything that is 
 to be found in a first-class establishment, besides 
 dealing in lands and having an interest in one of 
 the finest ranches in Texas. He has erected a 
 splendid dwelling and several buildings on his 
 Midland farm, and owns a cotton-gin on the same 
 farm that has no equal in Arkansas. His brother, 
 Barnett M. Cook, is associated with him, but gives 
 his attention, specially, to dealing in stock, cattle 
 and horses, of which he has quite a herd. Barnett 
 M. was also in the Confederate army, serving as 
 a private soldier in the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, 
 and took an active part in all the engagements and 
 campaigns in which his regiment participated. 
 He is a bachelor of forty three years of age, having 
 been born on the ISth of September, 1846, at 
 Boydsville, Graves County, Ky. The maternal 
 grandfather, Capt. John C. Dodds, commanded 
 a company of soldiers in a Kentucky regiment un- 
 der Gen. Jackson, in 1814-15, and participated 
 in the battle of New Orleans, on the 8th of Janu- 
 ary, 1815. His father took an active part in the 
 Revolutionary War, serving with the South Caro- 
 lina troops, of which State he was a native, and 
 died after that war on his way with his family 
 from South Carolina to Kentucky, whither his 
 widow with his children proceeded, settling in 
 Caldwell County, near Princeton. 
 
 A. J. Craig, probate and county court judge 
 of Independence County, was born on the farm 
 upon which he now lives, one mile east of James- 
 town, in 1844. He is a son of John L. and Mar- 
 garet A. (Hardin) Craig, the former of whom was 
 born in Alabama, in 1801, and the latter in Law- 
 rence County, Ark., about 1817. When a young man 
 Mr. Craig removed to Independence County, Ark. , 
 where he married, and spent the remainder of his 
 
 life, his death occurring in 1864; he was one of the 
 earliest settlers of the county, locating in the dense 
 woods, where he cleared a farm and reared his 
 family. Mr. Craig was a member of the Metho- 
 dist Church, of which church his widow, who is 
 still living, is also a member. The latter is a 
 daughter of Joseph Hardin, who was one of the 
 pioneers of what is now Lawrence County. A. J. 
 Craig was the fourth child in a family of live sons 
 and three daughters. He received a common- 
 school education, and during the last two years of 
 the late war, served in the Confederate army, in 
 Company C, Morgan's regiment. Price's cavalry 
 troops; he was at the battles of Cape Girardeau, 
 Helena, Pilot Knob, and many skirmishes, oper- 
 ating in Missouri, Kansas and Indian Territory, 
 until the sui'render at Jacksonport, in June, 18G5, 
 when he returned home. In 1867 Mr. Craig mar- 
 ried Louisa, daughter of Cary and Margaret Simms, 
 who came to Independence County, when she was a 
 little girl. Mrs. Craig, who was a native of South 
 Carolina, died in 1878, leaving one son and two 
 daughters. In 1879 Mr. Craig married Dorcas 
 Engles, of Independence County. She is a daugh- 
 ter of "William D. and Margaret Engles, natives, 
 respectively, of Kentucky and Missouri, who re- 
 moved to Independence County, Ark. , when young. 
 Mr. Engles died in 1845; he was a member of the 
 Methodist Church. Mrs. Engles is still living, 
 aged seventy-one years; she is a daughter of Job 
 and Elizabeth Stark, who both died in Independ- 
 ence County, as did the parents of Mr. Engles. 
 One son and one daughter have blessed the second 
 marriage of our subject. Judge Craig has spent 
 his entire life on the farm of his birth, which con- 
 tains 127 acres, about eighty acres of which are 
 under cultivation; forty acres he inherited from 
 his father, and the balance he has earned. From 
 1878 to 1886 he served as justice of the peace, 
 being elected to the office of county and probate 
 judge in 1886, serving in that capacity with much 
 ability, and was re-elected to the same office in 
 18S8. He is a Democrat politically, and he and 
 wife are members of the Methodist Ej>iscopal 
 Church, South. 
 
 M. R. Craig, proprietor of meat market. Bates- 
 
>> 
 
 ville. Dealing in articles necessary for our daily 
 sustenance, it is not surprising that the number of 
 those engaged in the butchering business should be 
 large, but this field of enterprise is also a large 
 one. Among those engaged in this pursuit is Mr. 
 Craig, a native of Greenbriar Township, Independ- 
 ence County, Ark., born on the KJth of March, 
 1851, and the sou of John L. Craig, who was a 
 native of Tennessee. The father came to Bates- 
 ville when a young man, taught school for several 
 years, and was married in Independence County, 
 to Miss Margaret Harding, a native of Arkansas. 
 They then located in Oil Trough Bottom, and af- 
 terward moved to Greenbriar Township, where he 
 purchased a farm, and there died in 18(54. The 
 mother is still living, and resides on the old home- 
 stead, in Greenbriar Township. They were the par- 
 ents of eight childi-en, seven now living: John, 
 was killed in Tennessee, while serving in the army; 
 Lizzie, wife of P. Tucker; Joseph, Andrew, James, 
 Mark R., Laura, wife of AV. L. Dunaway, and 
 Jane, wife of William Cullens. M. R. Craig at- 
 tained his growth in Greenbriar Township, and as- 
 sisted on the farm until twenty-one years of age. 
 At about 1875 he engaged in the butcher's busi- 
 ness in Batesville, and has since carried it on. He 
 owns a timber tract of land of forty acres, and is 
 also the owner of town property in Batesville. He 
 has been a member of the council of Batesville. 
 In the year 1871 he selected Miss Sarah Elms as 
 his companion in life, and the fruits of this mar- 
 riage are four living children: Baswoll W. , Mag- 
 gie, Andrew J. and Abernathy. One, deceased, was 
 named Robert Henry. Mr. Craig is a member of 
 the I. O. O. F. and the K. of H. 
 
 Georse Washiugrtou Crow, a minister of the 
 Missionary Baptist Ciiurch, of Independence Coun- 
 ty, is a son of Robert and Margaret (Killinger) 
 Crow, and was the fourth in a family of eight 
 children bora to the parents, his birth occurring 
 April 8, 1819, in what is now Smyth County, Va. 
 The grandfather, George W. Killinger, was a pri- 
 vate soldier in Gen. George Washington's army, 
 and fought in many of the battles under that 
 famous hero. The family on lioth sides are de- 
 scendants of old Virginians. lu 1823 Robert 
 
 Crow emigrated to Boane County, Tenn., and lo- 
 cated near Kingston, the county seat, where his 
 son, George W., gi-ew to manhood and received 
 his education. In 1837 the father moved to the 
 State of Alabama, which place he made his resi- 
 dence until his decease, and is now buried at 
 Gravel Hill, De Kalb County, in that State. Two 
 years later his son, George W. Crow, was married 
 to Miss Sidney Hines, of Tennessee, by whom he 
 has had four children: William Harrison, who was 
 killed in the battle of Seven Pines, in 1802; Eliza 
 A., who was married to Mr. H. Fike, of Alabama, 
 at the residence of the bride's father, in 1859, but 
 lost her husband in 1871 ; Palestine, who was mar- 
 ried to Mr. Joseph Wilburn, of Alabama, but now 
 residing in Stone County, Ark. , and the last child 
 dying in infancy. In 1847 Mr. Crow lost his first 
 wife, who was buried in Garrett Cemetery, De- 
 Kalb County, Ala., and in 1849, he was married 
 to Miss Avadney J. Dutton, of Alabama. l)y whom 
 he had eight children, all living until they had 
 reached their maturity excepting one; Mary, wife 
 of William Tate; Nancy E., married to Mr. New 
 ton Cooper, and now residing near Mr. Crow; Ed- 
 mond Thomas, who was married to Miss Amahda 
 Cooper; Bankston W., who was married to Miss 
 Fannie Ellis, and residing near the father' s home ; 
 Margaret Spurgeon, wife of Rev. James L. Brown, 
 this daughter dying in 1879: Jane, who was mar- 
 ried to John Tate, and John D. , at home. Mr. 
 Crow was ordained by the Missionary Baptist 
 Church, in 1869, at Gravel Hill, DeKalb County. 
 Ala. That year he moved to Arkansas and located 
 near Sulphur Rock, where he purchased the farm 
 upon which he still resides. He owns 35(') acres 
 of land, with about ninety-tive acres under culti 
 vation, and in partnership with his son, Bankston 
 W., owns 160 acres, with twenty five acres under 
 cultivation, and good buildings and improvements. 
 Mr. Crow has worked faithfully in the interests of 
 the church, and many times has contril)uted to its 
 sui)port from his own private means. In 1887 the 
 congregation at Maple Springs attemjited to erect 
 a church to be paid for by sul).scrii)tion, and Mr. 
 Crow came nobly forward with $112.00 for that 
 purpose. He is at present the pastor at Ma])le 
 
A 
 
 058 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Springs, but formerly was occupied a great part of 
 the time in filling such vacancies as occurred in 
 that section. Four of his children also attend the 
 father's church. In politics Mr. Crow is a Demo- 
 crat, and previous to coming to Arkansas, had held 
 the office of treasurer of De Kalb County, Ala. , for 
 two years. He has always been to the fi-ont in any 
 enterprise for the advancement of religious and 
 educational matters, and is a citizen of whom the 
 county may and does feel proud. 
 
 Capt. John W. Cullins, a prominent farmer 
 and stock raiser of Greenbriar Township, Inde- 
 pendence County, purchased his present farm of 
 320 acres, which is situated near Jamestown, in 
 1855; there was at that time little improvement on 
 the land, which is now one of the best farms in the 
 county. xMr. Cullins was born in Abbeville Coun- 
 ty, S. C, in 1S28, and, receiving a limited educa- 
 tion, he hired out on a farm at the age of fifteen, 
 in which capacity he was employed until 1846. In 
 the latter year he enlisted in Company C, Col. 
 Coffee's regiment of Alabama Infantry, and served 
 twelve months in the Mexican War, participating in 
 the battle of Vera Cruz; he was honorably dis- 
 charged at New Orleans in June, 1847, and after 
 spending some time in Alabama, went to Missis- 
 sippi, two years later returning to South Carolina, 
 where he married and lived until his emigration to 
 Independence County, Ark., in 1855, where he 
 has since made his home. He devoted his entire 
 attention to farming until 1867, when he built a 
 store on the present site of Jamestown, and for 
 twelve years engaged in merchandising in part- 
 nership with Jacob Pate. Mr. Cullins has accumu- 
 lated considerable property, owning in all 540 acres, 
 about 220 acres of which are under cultivation, 
 beside real estate in Jamestown. During the Civil 
 War Mr. Cullins served about four years in the Con- 
 federate army; the first year as captain of Com- 
 pany C, Desha's battalion, operating in Alabama 
 and Mississippi, and subsequently assisted in or- 
 ganizing Company C, Arkansas Cavalry, of which 
 he was appointed captain, in which capacity he 
 served until the close of the struggle. He was in 
 the battles of Marks' Mill, Big Blue, with Gen. Price 
 on his raid through Missouri and Kansas, surrend- 
 
 ering at Jacksonport in June, 1865, after four 
 years of the hardships of war. Mr. Cullins first 
 married in 1851, Mary Ann, daughter of Johnson 
 and Margaret Simms, of South Carolina, who 
 moved to Tennessee, in 1852, and three years 
 later to Independence County, Ark., where Mr. 
 Simms died before the war. Mrs. Cullins, who 
 was also a native of South Carolina, died in 1856, 
 leaving two sons, John S. and William S. In 1857 
 Mr. Cullins married Mary, daughter of Jolj Starks. 
 Mrs. Mary Cullins was born in Independence 
 County, where she died in 1867, the mother of 
 three children, Henry N., Francis M., and Estella, 
 wife of William D. Hatton. Mr. Cullins next 
 married, in 1868, Martha M. Davis, daughter of 
 Jesse and Margaret Flinn. She is a native of 
 Guilford County, N. C. One daughter, Ida. 
 has blessed this union. Mr. Cullins was the only 
 child of Elijah and Mary fSwain) Cullins, l)oth 
 natives of Abbeville Coimty, S. C, who removed 
 to Georgia when he was only a year old. There 
 the mother died soon after, and the father was 
 subsequently twice married, having three children 
 by his second wife and three by the third. He was 
 a farmer by occupation, and spent the latter part 
 of his life in Alabama, where he died soon after the 
 war, a member of the Baptist Church. Capt. Cul- 
 lins belongs to the Neill Lodge, of Jamestown, 
 of the A. F. & A. M., and he and wife are mem 
 bers in good standing of the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church. 
 
 Hon. F. D. Denton, of Batesville, is a native 
 of that town, born there on the 28d of November, 
 1841, and is one of the representative citizens of 
 the county. His father, William F. Denton, was 
 a native of Tennessee, and when a young man was 
 united in marriage to Miss Margaret F. Desha, a 
 native of Washington City, D. C. William F. 
 Denton emigrated with his father, John Denton, to 
 Washington County, Ark., in early territorial days, 
 and there the latter died. He was a soldier in th(> 
 War of 1812, under Gen. Jackson, and had followed 
 agricultural pursuits all his life. The maternal 
 grandfather, liobert M. Desha, was captain in the 
 United States marine service, at Washington. He 
 emigrated to Arkansas, and located at Helena, and 
 
U® w_ 
 
 - < > 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 659 
 
 subsequently, leaving his wife and two children 
 there, while on his return to Washington, was 
 stricken down with yellow fever, and died at New 
 Orleans, in 1822. The great-grandfather, Gen. 
 Jo. Desha, was governor of Kentucky from 1824 
 to 1828, and was the first Democratic governor of 
 the State. He commanded a division of Kentucky 
 troops under Gen. Harrison. He died in Ken 
 tucky. William F. Denton came to Independence 
 County, Ark. , in about 1835, and one year later 
 was made prosecuting attorney of this county. He 
 was a lawyer by profession, and died in August, 
 1845. The mother is still living. Of the four 
 children born to their marriage, two only are now 
 living, Frank D. and Elvira F. , wife of J. P. 
 Boyd. One son, William F., was killed during the 
 war, when only eighteen years of age. The other 
 child, was Frances J. Mrs. Denton's brother, 
 Capt. F. W. Desha, for whom our subject is named, 
 was a captain in Yell's Arkansas regiment, in the 
 Mexican War, and lieutenant- colonel commanding 
 the Seventh Arkansas Battalion, C. S. A., in the 
 Civil War. F. D. Denton attained his growth, and 
 received a fair education in Batesville, but subse- 
 quently pursued his studies at Fayetteville (Ark. ), 
 College and Center College, at Danville, Ky. He 
 was attending the last named institution, and was 
 deeply immersed in his studies, when the breaking 
 out of the war caused him to abandon his liooks 
 and seek his home. Soon after he enli.sted in 
 Company C, Desha's battalion, and served until 
 the close of the war. He was in Gen. Johnston's 
 army, and participated in the battles of Perryville, 
 Chickamauga, and was in Johnston's campaign 
 through Georgia. He was wounded at Murfrees- 
 boro, by a gun-shot in the neck, cutting his wind- 
 pipe, and lay on the battlefield two days. He 
 was also wounded at the battle of New Hop? 
 Church, Ga. , by a gun-shot in the side. He was 
 then captured, and left in a hospital. He was 
 carried to Nashville, where some ladies took care 
 of him. He was exchanged in 1863, and again 
 joined his regiment in Tennessee. After the sur- 
 render he returned to his home, arriving there in 
 August, 1805, and engaged in tilling the soil. In 
 18()0, he was elected sheriff, which position he 
 
 held until the reconstruction. In 1.S70, he en- 
 gaged in merchandising, l)ut carried this on for 
 only about two or three years, as he was quite un 
 fortunate in this business venture. In January, 
 1877, he established the Batesville Guard, and 
 ran this paper in an able and capable manner until 
 in July, 1885. In October of the same year he 
 was ap[)ointed postmaster, and conlirmod in Jan- 
 uary, 1886. Mr. Denton was married, in 1868, to 
 Miss Mattie A. Lewis, a native of Holly Springs, 
 Miss., and to them were born seven children, four 
 now living: William F., Desha, Estella, and Kosa. 
 Mr. Denton is a member of the I. O. O. F. , K. of 
 P., K. of H., and K. and L. of H. He was elect- 
 ed to represent his county in the legislature, in 
 1881, and re-elected in 1883, serving two terms. 
 Col. Eobert M. Desha, a prominent farmer of 
 Independence County, was born in that county in 
 the year 1847, and is a son of Col. Franklin W. 
 and Elizabeth (Seavey) Desha, of Washington, D. 
 C. , and Independence County, Ark., respectively. 
 The parents were married in Independence County, 
 and settled upon the land now occupied by the 
 Desha family, and where the father died April 80, 
 1869. He was a graduate from the law and lit- 
 erary department of the Transylvania University, 
 at Lexington, Ky., and became a successful lawyer 
 as well as one of the most influential men in this 
 county. He was prosecutor of his district at the 
 outbreak of war, and was also a member of the 
 convention that declared the State of Arkansas 
 out of the Union. Upon reaching his sixteenth 
 year he entered a business house at Clarendon, 
 where he occupied a position of trust for some 
 time, and then went to Kentucky, to attend col 
 lege. He commenced to practice his profession at 
 Batesville, and continued in the law at that point for 
 twenty-tiTe years. At the outbreak of war be 
 tween this country and Mexico, he enli.sted in 
 Company D, First Arkansas Mounted Infantry, in 
 which he held the rank of lieutenant, and on the 
 occasion of the captain's death, at the battle of 
 Buena Vista, Lieut. Desha was promoted to fill 
 his place. During the Civil War he again enlisted 
 and organized what was known as Desha's bat- 
 talion, which he commanded until after the battle 
 
 ■nr 
 
of Shiloh. when he resigned on account of ill 
 health, and returned to his home. Mr. Desha was 
 at one time a member of Capt. Rutherford's com- 
 pany in Price's raids through Missouri, and was 
 afterward severely wounded at the Fitzhugh tight, 
 in Arkansas. After his return home he again re- 
 sumed his practice and became one of the most 
 promising men of Arkansas, as also one of the 
 wealthiest. His father was Robert Desha, a son 
 of one of Kentucky's most famous governors in 
 the early days. Robert Desha entered the United 
 States marine service, and was for a good many 
 years a captain in that body. Col. Desha's mother 
 was a descendant of the famous Bledsoe family, 
 whose name figured so prominently in the early 
 history of Tennessee; while the Desha family are 
 of French descent, the name being formerly De 
 Shaze. The mother was a daughter of James and 
 Martha Seavey, of Virginia, who were married in 
 Alabama, and moved to Batesville, Ark., in 1829, 
 being then among the first settlers of that country. 
 Mr. Seavey was of Scotch descent, and served 
 under Gen. Jackson in the War of 1812. He af- 
 terward became a prominent farmer in Independ- 
 ence County, where he resided until his death, in 
 1835, his wife following him the same year. 
 Their daughter, Mrs. Desha, is still living, and has 
 been a member of the Presbyterian Church for 
 over forty years. She was the mother of eleven 
 children, of whom two sons and two daughters are 
 yet living: Robert M. , Benjamin, Mary and Liz- 
 zie. Col. Robert M. Desha, the oldest, now owns 
 about 700 acres of land, and has some 250 acres un- 
 der cultivation in valuable bottom land. In politics 
 he is a strong Democrat, and from 1882 to 1886 
 he was one of the best sheriffs Independence 
 County could ever boast of. He is very largely 
 interested in stock dealing, ginning, milling and 
 farming, and is a model and influential citizen. He 
 belongs to Mill Lodge No. 285, A. F. & A. M., 
 and has held all the offices except master. As far 
 as popularity is concerned. Col. Desha has a host 
 of friends in Independence County. He is an act- 
 ive politician and of value to his party, his services 
 being well appreciated. He also belongs to the 
 Royal Arch Chapter and Eastern Star. 
 
 Dr. Lycurgus A. Dickson, a prominent physi- 
 cian and surgeon, of Desha, Independence County, 
 is a native of Murfreesboro, Tenn. , and was born 
 in 1827. His parents were Enos H. and Cynthia 
 (Howell) Dickson, both of Tennessee. Enos H. 
 Dickson was a cabinet-maker by trade, and was a 
 son of William Dickson, a native of North Caro- 
 lina, who died in Tennessee; the latter was a sol- 
 dier in the Revolutionary War, participating in the 
 battle of King's Mountain. Lycurgus A. was next 
 to the youngest of a family of seven sons, and is 
 the only one now living; he was left an orphan at 
 the age of fourteen years, and lived with an uncle. 
 G. B. Lanham, till nearly grown. His education 
 was that which he could obtain in the common 
 schools, and at the age of nineteen he engaged in 
 teaching, which profession he followed several 
 years. In 1851 he began the study of medicine, in 
 Gibson County, Tenn., and in 1853-54 attended 
 the medical department of the University of Nash- 
 ville, Tenn., graduating from Jefferson Medical 
 College, Philadelphia, in 1855. He began the 
 practice of his chosen profession in Gibson County, 
 Tenn., where he remained until 1856; in the latter 
 year he removed to Independence County, Ark. , 
 where he has ever since been actively engaged in 
 practice, with remarkable success. During the war 
 he served two years as surgeon of the Eighth Ar- 
 kansas Infantry, operating in Arkansas, Kentucky 
 and Tennessee. In January, 1863, Dr. Dickson 
 married Elizabeth G. , daughter of Judge Henry 
 Neill. Mrs. Dickson was born not far from where 
 she now lives. Their children are: Maude M. , 
 wife of Dr. F. E. Jeffery; Dr. Henry N. , a grad- 
 uate of the medical department of Vanderbilt Uni- 
 versity, of Nashville, Tenn. ; Robert L. , Florence 
 (deceased), Paul Lanham, Elizabeth Adair, and 
 Enos H. The Doctor owns 280 acres of land, with 
 150 acres under cultivation. He is one of the old- 
 est physicians in the county, and is a leader in his 
 profession. His practice is large and remunera- 
 tive, and he has the respect and confidence of a 
 large number of friends and patrons. Politically, 
 he is a Democrat. He is a member of the A. F. 
 & A. M. Mi-s. Dickson is a member of the Meth- 
 odist Church. 
 
 V 
 
^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 Mississippi CouNTr,ARKAN3AS . 
 
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 661 
 
 John H. Dickinson, clerk of the circuit court, 
 Batesville. The public services of Mr. Dickinson, 
 since 1880, have been characterized by a noticeable 
 devotion to the vyelfare of Independence County, 
 and his fidelity in his position of public trust has 
 made a lasting impression upon the sphere of pub- 
 lic duty. He was born in the city of Batesville, 
 Independence County, on the 1 1th day of February, 
 1849, and is one of three children now livinfj, born 
 to the union of Benjamin and Maria L. (Slater) 
 Dickinson, early settlers of Batesville. The father 
 was a general business man, and kept hotel for 
 several years. The three children now living are 
 named as follows: Edward M., Elizabeth C. and 
 John H. The latter was reared principally in San 
 Joaquin County, Cal., and there he received a 
 good practical education. At the age of twelve 
 years he began learning the printer's trade at 
 Stockton, Cal., in the office of the Stockton Inde- 
 pendent, and there continued until twenty-one 
 years of age. He then went to Delaware to visit 
 his father, and subsequently came to Independ- 
 ence County, where he engaged as clerk in a 
 country store. He continued in this business for 
 some time, and in 1888 was elected to his present 
 position. On the 31st of December, 1879, his mar- 
 riage with Miss Virginia Byers, was consummated. 
 Mr. Dickinson is a member of the Masonic frater- 
 nity ; a member of the K. of H. , and he also be- 
 longs to the K. of P. 
 
 William P. Dotson, a practicing physician and 
 surgeon, of Union Township. Independence Coun- 
 ty, resides on a farm four miles north of Cushman 
 postoffice. He was born in Surrey County, N. C, 
 in 184fj, and is one of two children born to John 
 H. and Elizabeth Dobson, both natives of North 
 Carolina. John H. was born in 1807 and died in 
 his native State in 18(56; he was of English-Irish 
 descent. Mrs. Dobson, whose maiden name was 
 Martin, was born in Wilkes County in 1817, and 
 died in 1867; her ancestors were Dutch. William 
 P. was reared in North Carolina, where he was 
 given the advantages of a common -school educa- 
 tion. He obtained his medical knowledge at the 
 University of Louisville, Ky., and. since the year 
 1868, has been actively engaged in the practice of 
 
 medicine. He located in Independence County, 
 Ark., in 1870, where he has ever since resided and 
 devoted the greater part of his attention to his 
 practice, which is extensive and lucrative. In 
 1875 Dr. Dobson married Miss Kittie Williamson, 
 a native of Arkansas, who was born in 18r)6. Their 
 six children are: John K., William T., David E., 
 Burrus C. , Archibald H. and Mary E. The mother 
 is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, and the family is one well-known 
 and respected. The Doctor owns 480 acres of land, 
 of which he cultivates 125 acres. His politics have 
 been Democratic ever since he cast his first presi- 
 dential vote for Seymour and Blair. 
 
 John S. Dodd, a well-known resident and farmer 
 of Independence County, was born in that county 
 on the 17th of May, 1841, and is a son of Abner 
 H. and Mary Jane (Martin) Dodd, natives of Ten- 
 nessee and Kentucky, respectively, the latter com- 
 ing to Arkansas, with her parents, when only three 
 years of age. The father moved to that State with 
 his father, in 1812, when the country was very 
 sparsely settled. At that time, as well as John 
 S. Dodd can recollect from his father's account, 
 there were but one or two families in Greenbriar 
 Township, and a few in Oil Trough. There was 
 also a settler livinij at what is now known as Ma<j- 
 ness Ferry, from whom that place received its 
 name. John S. Dodd received his education in 
 Independence County, and grew to manhood in 
 that place. It was here he met and won his wife, 
 and also where he enlisted in the army, when the 
 Confederacy's call to arms was heard. Ho l)ecame 
 a member of Company D, Eighth Regiment, Arkan- 
 sas Volunteer Infantry, in 1861, and served until 
 December of the same year, when he was dis- 
 charged at Nashville, Tenn. , and returned home. 
 In 1862 he re- enlisted, becoming a member of Col. 
 Ganse's regiment of infantry, and remained with 
 that regiment until 1864, but having only one op- 
 portunity to engage in battle, and that at Helena. 
 Ark. He was afterward detached from his regi 
 ment and served in the engineer corps until the 
 army disbanded, in 1865, when he returned home. 
 Mr. Dodd was united to Miss Mary Ann Wood 
 at the home of the bride's parents, in Independ- 
 
662 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ence County, on September 26, 1867, and this 
 happy marriage has given them seven children, of 
 whom six are still living: Mary Ann, born Novem- 
 ber 3, 1869; Joseph Abner, born March 21, 1871; 
 William M., born February 21, 1873, (deceased); 
 Melville J., born April 10, 1876; Benjamin Hardin, 
 born November 17, 1878; John H. , born June 20, 
 1880; Edna E., born May 22, 1880. Mrs. Dodd 
 was a daughter of William M. and Lydia A. Rob- 
 ertson, who moved to Arkansas in 1851, where the 
 father carried on his trade of wagon-making in 
 connection with his farming interests. From his 
 father's estate Mr. Dodd inherited eighty acres of 
 land in Christian Township, with about twelve acres 
 under cultivation. He now has 150 acres under 
 cultivation, besides owning considerable more, and 
 has erected some good buildings, barns and cribs 
 upon the latid. He also ovfus a grist-mill and 
 cotton-gin, and is looked upon as one of the most 
 progressive men in that section. He is certainly 
 deserving of success for the enterprise displayed to 
 make his community the foremost in that county. 
 His children are being educated at the public 
 schools, although the oldest children have attended 
 the subscription schools principally. Mrs. Dodd 
 and her eldest daughter are members of the Mis- 
 sionary Baptist Church and devout Christians, 
 while Mr. Dodd, although not a regular attendant, 
 is one of the most liberal and open-hearted men in 
 the community toward religious and educational 
 matters. 
 
 John G. Dodd is one of the successful small 
 farmers of the county, and although his property 
 only comprises eighty- seven acres of land, it is ex- 
 ceedingly fertile and well tilled, and consequently 
 yields a larger annual income than many larger 
 farms. He, like his father, John Dodd, was born 
 and reared in Greene County, Tenn. , the latter' s 
 birth occurring on the 15th of April, 1801, and his 
 on the 16th of June, 1841. John Dodd was reared 
 and educated in his native State, and was there 
 married to Miss Catharine Girdner, who was also 
 a Tennesseean, and to them a family of four sons 
 and four daughters was given. The living mem- 
 bers are: Martha M., William W., John G., Mary 
 L. , Catharine L. and Samuel R. Mr. Dodd was a 
 
 successful farmer, and continued to follow that 
 occupation until he was called to his long home, on 
 the 12th of March. 1860, followed by his wife on 
 the 18th of January, 1878. The elementary school- 
 ing of John G. Dodd, our subject, was received in 
 Greene County, Tenu., and he was there also ini- 
 tiated into the mysteries of farming on his father's 
 plantation. Concluding that he could do better at 
 that occupation in some other locality, he moved 
 to Independence County, Ark., in 1870, and here 
 he has continued to make his home, his land, which 
 is not under cultivation, being devoted to propagat- 
 ing the usual farm stock. He was married in Bax- 
 ter County, Ark., August 16, 1875, to Miss Juli- 
 ette S. Horton, also a native of Greene County, 
 Tenn., and the two children which have been given 
 them are William E. and Orpha C, both of whom 
 reside with and assist their parents. Mr. Dodd 
 has manifested his social spirit by joining the 
 Masons, and has served as secretary of his lodge 
 for about six years. He was president of the Agri- 
 cultural Wheel one year, and has held the office of 
 justice of the peace six years. He and wife are 
 connected with the Baptist Church, and he has 
 been a liberal contributor to all worthy enterprises, 
 and is especially interested in the cause of educa- 
 tion. In 1862 he joined the Confederate army, 
 and served under Gens. Wheeler, Fegram, Vaughn, 
 Morgan, Breckinridge and Early until he was hon- 
 orably discharged, on the 27th of April, 1865. 
 
 James P. Dorr, M. D. , one of the progressive 
 citizens of Black River Township, and an eminent 
 physician and surgeon of the same, is the son of 
 Dr. Francis A. and Mary J. (Powell) Dorr, natives 
 of Selsea, Germany, and Ohio, respectively. Dr. 
 Dorr, Sr. , came to Ohio at the age of tw^elve years, 
 and spent his boyhood days in musical and literary 
 studies. In his early manhood he entered a med- 
 ical school in Cincinnati, and later graduated at 
 Keokuk Medical College, Iowa. He was then 
 married, and after living several years in Indiana, 
 Illinois and Iowa, in 1870 moved to Jacksonjiort, 
 Jackson County, Ark., and there practiced his 
 profession. He remained there until the spring 
 of 1889, when he went to Hot Springs, opened an 
 office, where he is at present practicing. Dr. 
 
 -?- 
 
k^ 
 
 Jamps P. Dorr was born in Iowa on the 'Uh of 
 December, 1856, and .spent his school days in that 
 State and in Arkansas. He began the study of 
 medicine in 1877, his father and Dr. Strauss (a 
 doctor of natural sciences) being bis instructors. 
 During the year.? of 1879, 1880 and 1881, he 
 attended the llissonri Medical College, at St. 
 Louis, and graduated from that institution in the 
 class of 1881, l)ut bad [)racticed, however, several 
 months prior to his graduation. In the spring of 
 the last mentioned year, he located where he now 
 lives, and has since been practicing in this section. 
 He has built up one of the largest practices in the 
 county, and has been very successful, as his many 
 patients, yet living, can testify. He is the owner 
 of eighty acres of land on Dota Creek, but gives 
 his entire time to his practice. He is the fourth 
 of a family of eleven children, nine of whom are 
 living; J. F. Dorr (merchant, whose present loca- 
 tion is not known), Hattie (deceased, wife of Marion 
 F. Israel, a merchant of Richland and Keokuk, 
 Iowa), T. B. R. (a farmer of Black River Town- 
 ship), Samuel Asbton (a saddler, lives at Hot 
 Springs), James P., R. C. (an M. D., of Black 
 River Township, and enjoys a lucrative practice). 
 A. P. (is a successful practicing physician, at Sul- 
 phur Rock), B. J. (is also an M. D., and is prac- 
 ticing his profession at Tupelo, Jackson County, 
 Ark.), Grace G. (lives with her mother at Sulphur 
 Rock). Mary and J. P. (the eldest of the family) 
 died in childhood. James P. came from a long- 
 lived people, his parents both surviving, his father 
 aearly seventy, and the mother sixty five years of 
 age. The latter' s parents both lived to the extreme 
 age of one hundred years. Dr. Dorr, Sr. , was an 
 active Democrat, and his son, Dr. James P. Dorr, 
 is also a Democrat, and is quite an influential citizen 
 in his county, politically. On the 15th of Novem- 
 ber, 1888, the latter married Miss Mary E. Had- 
 dock, daughter of Jordan Haddock, of Independ- 
 ence County, Ark. The Doctor takes a great 
 interest in the building of schools, and, in fact, in 
 all put)lic enterjirises. 
 
 Richard Madison Duck, farmer and stock 
 raiser, Oil Trough, Ark. Prominent among the 
 many enterprising and industrious farmers of In- 
 
 dei)endence County appears the name of Mr. Duck, 
 whose Isirtb occurred in Rutlierford County, N. C, 
 on the 2d of November, 1816. He is the son of 
 Robert and Margaret (McClure) Duck, both na- 
 tives, also, of North Carolina. The paternal 
 grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
 War, and the maternal grandfather was a captain 
 in the Continental army, and participated in the 
 battle of King's Mountain. Richard Madison 
 Duck received his education in his njitive State, 
 and, after remaining upon a farm until about sev- 
 enteen years of age, sought employment at the 
 carpenter's trade. At the end of a year he found 
 work with a carpenter and cabinet-maker by the 
 name of Smith, a New Englander, with whom he 
 worked about one year, receiving all his instruc- 
 tion from this man. The thorough drilling he ob- 
 tained enabled him to become very proficient in his 
 trade as a carpenter, and this business he followed 
 until he came to Arkansas, which was in the year 
 1850. Mr. Duck selected as his wife Miss Martha 
 Jane Redwine, of Chattooga County, Ga., and 
 was united in marriage to her on the 22d of De- 
 cember, 1842. They became the parents of nine 
 children, five daughters and four sons: Olivia D., 
 born on the 15th of January, 18-14, and the wife 
 of John Bratton, of Searcy County, Ark. ; George 
 A., born August 19, 1845. and died May 13, 1886: 
 Melvin Lafayette, born August 17, 1847, married, 
 and now resides in the Lone Star State; James B., 
 born August 23, 1849; Robert D., born on the 
 29th of December, 1851, and now resides with his 
 parents; Nancy A. maiTied Jesse McCroskey, who 
 died in February. 1885; Mary S. married Elijah 
 Nichols, and now resides at Oil Trough; Martha 
 Jane resides at home, and IMargaret O. married 
 Alfred P. Aydelott, of Independence County, Ark., 
 and now resides on a farm in Chri.stian Township. 
 After coming to Arkansas Mr. Duck purchased a 
 tract of land in Searcy County, in partnership with 
 Samuel P. Williamson. This tract consists of 
 about 300 acres, some fifty-tive acres under culti- 
 vation, and Mr. Duck soon became the owner of 
 260 acres. Later he sold this tract, and in 18(i() 
 moved to Independence County, bought land in 
 Liberty Township, and there lived until after the 
 
 - v" 
 
M 
 
 mi 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 war. He was in the Confederate service, enlisting 
 in the latter part of 1861, in Col. Crabtree's regi- 
 ment of Arkansas Volunteers, and served princi- 
 pally on detached service, as tanner and shoemaker 
 for the army of the Confed(>racy. In 1865 he was 
 mustered out, and in 186',) he bought the farm 
 upon vjrhich he is now living. There were at that 
 time 113 acres in the lot, but at present he has 233 
 acres, with about 100 acres under cultivation. He 
 has a tine orchard, with fruit of all kinds in abund- 
 ance. Mr. and Mrs. Duck have been members of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1845, and 
 he has contributed liberally to the support of the 
 church. Mr. Duck is also a member of McGuire 
 Lodge No. 20S, Oil Trough, Independence County, 
 Ark. , of which he was one of the charter members, 
 and the only one now living. He is Democratic in 
 his political views, and is a friend to progress. 
 
 N. E. Duffey, deputy circuit court clerk, and 
 one of the representative men of the county, was 
 born in Bristol, Conn., on the 12th day of Au- 
 gust, 1849, and is the son of Nicholas and Mary 
 (Hogan) Duffey, natives of County Westmeath, Ire- 
 land. The parents emigrated to America at an 
 early day, and located in Connecticut. From 
 there thej^ removed to Illinois, in 1859, and settled 
 in Madison County, near Edwardsville, where the 
 father followed agricultural pursuits, and where he 
 remained for several years. The mother died in 
 1851. Of their family there are three childi-en 
 now living: James, Owen, and Nicholas E., who 
 is the youngest of the family. He was principally 
 reared in Illinois, and there received his education. 
 At once, with the energy and industry of his fore- 
 fathers, he devoted himself to tilling the soil, and 
 this continued until in April, 1872, when he came 
 to Arkansas, and located at Batesville. He first en- 
 gaged in the livery business, which he continued 
 for a number of years, and then embarked in mer- 
 chandising. This he carried on in Oil Trough 
 Bottom for about five years, and three years in 
 Batesville. The last few years he has been practi- 
 cally retired, with the exception of settling up his 
 business. Since January, 1889, he has been acting 
 as deputy circuit clerk. He is the owner of 
 about 600 acres of land, with 240 under cultiva- 
 
 tion. By his maiTiage. which occurred in 1878, 
 to Miss Eglantine Gainer, a native of Arkansas, 
 he became the father of three children: Mollie, 
 Gainer and Nora. Mrs. Duffy is a member of the 
 Episcopal Church. He is a very public- spirited 
 citizen, and is always ready to assist any public 
 enterprise. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. , 
 and is also a member of the K. of P. 
 
 Thaddeus W. Dumas, business manager of the 
 Co-operative Wheel Store, Pleasant Plains, Ark. 
 The mercantile interests of this portion of Independ- 
 ence County, have been ably represented for sev- 
 eral years by Mr. Dumas, who is a pleasant, genial 
 gentleman, and a good business man. His birth 
 occurred in Lowndes County, Miss. , on the 20th of 
 November, 1837. and he was one of six interesting 
 children born to Winchester and Louisa (Jenkins) 
 Dumas, both of whom were natives of South Caro- 
 lina. They removed to Tipton County,. Tenn.. in 
 1864, and there the closing scenes of their lives were 
 passed. Thaddeus W. Dumas came to Arkansas 
 in 1873, and settled in Independence County, where 
 he has since remained. He received his education 
 in the Manual Labor School of Franklin College, 
 Tenn. , under the management of Toll)ert Fanning. 
 During the late conflict he served in the Third 
 Kentucky Regiment, and participated in the battles 
 of Belmont, Shiloh, Port Hudson, Jackson, and 
 several less important engagements. He chose for 
 his companion in life. Miss Phcebe James, whom 
 he married in 1878. They have no children. Mr. 
 Dumas possesses 160 acres of mountain land, and 
 on the same are several fine mineral springs. He 
 is a Jacksonian Democrat in politics, is a member 
 of the Wheel, and in religion a Baptist. 
 
 Robert W. Earnheart is one of the leading farm- 
 ers and business men of Washington Township, 
 Independence County. He owns over 1,000 acres 
 of land, of which only about 225 acres are culti- 
 vated, but comprise one of the finest farms in the 
 vicinity. Mr. Earnheart is also the proprietor of 
 a distillery, which has a capacity of ten gallons of 
 whisky per day, and is situated on his farm, seven 
 miles west of Batesville. Mr. Earnheart is a na- 
 tive of North Carolina, and was born January 25, 
 1849. His parents were Edward and Sarah i Mull) 
 
^ 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 665 
 
 [ 
 
 Earnheart, the former of whom was bora in North 
 Carolina, May 10, 1811, and died iu 1850; the 
 latter was boru March 2, 1819, and died in Arkan- 
 sas, June 28, 1859. In 1853, after the father's 
 death, the family removed to Arkansas. There were 
 six children, only three of whom are now living. 
 Robert W., who was the youngest child, was reared 
 in Independence County, Ark., and his (nliioation 
 consisted of but four months' attendance at the 
 common schools. At the age of twelve years he 
 began providing for himself, and has principally 
 devoted his attention to farming, at which lii^ has 
 been very successful. December 29, 1869, Mr. 
 Earnheart married Miss Martha E. Harmon, also a 
 native of Independence County, who was born Oc- 
 tober 23, 1850. Mrs. Earnheart died January 15, 
 1886, the mother of six children, viz. : Lee Edward, 
 Joseph W., Robert S. , Emma I., Jefferson B. 
 (deceased) and Martha P. February 9, 1887, Mr. 
 Earnheart married Miss Mattie Winston, and their 
 union has been blessed with one child. Mrs. Earn- 
 heart was born in Independence County, May 12, 
 1867. Our subject and wife are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the for- 
 mer is also a member of the Masonic order. He 
 is politically a Democrat, and is one of the most 
 extensive farmers in Washington Township. 
 
 William J. Erwin, an enterprising and prosper- ; 
 ous farmer of Independence County, was born in 
 Maury County, Tenn. , on October 22, 1833. He is 
 a son of Alexander K. and Elizabeth (Wilson) Er- 
 win, of the same State. The paternal grandfather 
 was an early settler of Tennessee, and a soldier 
 in the War of 1812. His son, Alexander K. , was 
 reared in that State, and followed the occupation 
 of a farmer until the spring of 1840, when he emi- 
 grated to Independence County, Ark., making the 
 entire journey with his family in wagons. He lo- 
 cated in Washington Township, where he entered 
 a tract of land in the woods, upon which he lived 
 until 1870, when he moved to Batesville, where he 
 lived up to the time of his death, in 1S72, his wife 
 following him six years later. They were the par- 
 ents of seven children, of whom three are still liv- 
 ing: William J., Laura, wife of Dr. D. C. Ewing, 
 and Martha, wife of Clinton McGuire. William 
 
 J. Erwin was only seven years of age when his 
 parents arrived in Independence County, and he 
 remained on the farm until he had reached his 
 maturity, receiving in that time a fair education. 
 In 1862 he enlisted in McCaulcy's cavalry com- 
 pany. Seventh Regiment, and served in that body 
 until the surrender. Mr. Erwin took part in all 
 the principal engagements west of the Mississippi 
 River, and, although disjilaying a recklessness in 
 battle sometimes that was marvelous, he was 
 never wounded or cajitured. After the surrender 
 he came home and resumed his work on the farm, 
 starting in with a determination to make that his 
 business and to be successful at it. He has never 
 aspired to be a politician, and rather shuns the 
 notoriety that public office would bring— the only 
 position he would ever consent to filling l)eing that 
 of judge of election. In 1871 he moved to where 
 he now resides, within one mile of Batesville, and 
 in 1873 built a fine residence. He owns altogether 
 about 1,000 acres, and has some 650 acres under 
 cultivation, of which 550 acres are situated in Oil 
 Trough Bottom, being some of the most valuable 
 land in that section, and adapted to any growth. 
 Mr. Erwin raises corn, cotton and hay, also cattle, 
 sheep and hogs. In 1866 he was married to Miss 
 Cornelia Glenn, by whom he had six children, 
 three of them yet living: William A., M. E. and 
 Nellie. His wife died after a happy married lif(^ 
 of fourteen years, and he was united to Miss Ida 
 Lipscomb, of Maury County, Tenn. , on June 26, 
 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Erwin are members of the 
 Presl)yterian Church, and the former belongs to 
 the Royal Arch Masons, and in politics is a Dem 
 ocrat. 
 
 D. C. Ewing, M. D., a well known physician 
 of Batesville, was bom in Madison County, Tenn. , 
 on November 7, 1846, and is a son of David C. and 
 Sophia (Dixson) Ewing, of North Carolina and 
 Tennessee, respectively. The elder Ewing immi- 
 grated to Tennessee about the year 1819, and 
 settled in Madison County, where he died iu 1858, 
 his wife following him in 1888. They were the 
 parents of ten children, of whom six are yet liv 
 iug: Elizabeth C, wife of W. S. Carson, a grand- 
 nephew of the celebrated scout and Indian fighter, 
 
_jj^ 
 
 666 
 
 HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Kit Carson; Jane W., who was married to James 
 Steed, and died in 1871; Adeline E., wife of James 
 F. Bray: Newton A. ; the Doctor: Joseph D. .who 
 died in Los Angeles. Cal. ; Fannie, wife of Gran- 
 ville Ingram, and Margaret, wife of Robert Davis, 
 deceased. The Doctor was reared on his father's 
 farm, in Madison County, Tenn. , and received his 
 education at the Madison Academy. On September 
 13, ISni, he enlisted in Company A. Thirty-iirst 
 Tennessee Infantry, and served sixteen months, 
 afterward joining Company B, Twenty-first Ten- 
 nessee (Forrest's) Cavalry, in which he continued 
 until his surrender at Gainesville Junction, Ala., 
 to E. R. S. B. Canby, who was killed by Capt. 
 Jack, a celebrated Indian chief. The Doctor 
 served in a number of the most important battles, 
 and, though one of the foremost in the ranks and 
 in the thickest of battle, he was never once 
 womided nor captiu-ed. After the war was over 
 he remained in Madison County, Tenn., where he 
 read medicine under Dr. D. M. Spencer, at the 
 same time obtaining a knowledge of the drug busi- 
 ness in a store at that place. In 1869 he entered 
 the medical department of the University of Louis- 
 ville, and upon graduating, in 1871, came to Arkan- 
 sas and located at Batesville, where he has been a 
 resident and practiced medicine ever since. He 
 has built up a large and lucrative practice, and is 
 well known throughout this section, not only for 
 the skill displayed in his profession, but also for 
 his personal qualities. The Doctor is a member of 
 the Arkansas State Medical Society and the Amer- 
 ican Medical Association. He also belongs to the 
 Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Honor, and 
 was an alderman of Batesville for four years. On 
 July 2, 1874, he was married to Mrs. Laura A. 
 Cox, of Mississippi, but reared in Arkansas. He 
 has made his home one of the most attractive in 
 Batesville. The Doctor owns considerable town 
 property, and bis residence is unsurpassed. 
 
 Elisha M. Flinn is a native of Guilford County, 
 N. C, and was born in 1828. He is a son of Dr. 
 Jesse W. and Margaret (Bowen) Flinn, both of 
 North Carolina. Dr. Jesse W. Flinn was born 
 September 4, 1801, and lived in North Carolina 
 until our siibject was three or four years of age, 
 
 when he removed to Madison County, Ky. , and 
 thence, in 1839, to McMinn County, Tenn. , where 
 Mrs. Flinn died in 1844. Mr. Flinn married again, 
 and in 1857 located in Independence County, Ark., 
 where he spent the remainder of his life as a farmer 
 and stock raiser, also practicing medicine to some 
 extent; when young he was for several years en- 
 gaged as a circus performer ; his death occurred 
 in Greenbriar Township in 1873. John Flinn, pa- 
 ternal grandfather of Elisha M. , was of Irish de- 
 scent, and served as a soldier in the Revolution; 
 he died in North Carolina at the advanced age of 
 one hundred and four years, still retaining his eye- 
 sight. The maternal grandparents of oui- subject 
 died when Mrs. Flinn was ipiite small. To Jesse 
 W. and Margaret Flinn were born three children. 
 Elisha M. received his early education in the com- 
 mon schools, and afterward attended for eighteen 
 months Eastmalla Academy, Eastern Tennessee, 
 which qualified him to teach, which profession he 
 followed only one term as assistant. In 1852 Mr. 
 Flinn married Elizabeth, daughter of William and 
 Tempie Moore, natives of North Carolina, who 
 spent the latter part of their lives in Independence 
 County, Ark. Mrs. Flinn was born in McMinn 
 County, Tenn., and died in 1864, leaving one 
 daughter, Mary, now the wife of Jefferson Porter. 
 In 1866 Mr. Flinn married Anna Todd, a native of 
 Randolph County, who died in 1872. Three chil- 
 dren were born to the latter union, viz. : James R. , 
 Emma Vernettie, and Jesse Lee (deceased). I\Ir. 
 Flinn located on his present farm in Independence 
 County in 1856, and for the past thirty-three years 
 has made his home there. He has 200 acres of 
 fine farm land, of which 140 acres are under cultiva- 
 tion. He traded extensively at one time, driving 
 stock to Georgia and Florida. In the latter part of 
 1861 he enlisted in Company C, Col. Newton's 
 regiment of Arkansas cavalry, and served as or- 
 derly sergeant, and quartermaster three and a 
 half years; he was in the battles of Little Rock, 
 Cape Girardeau, Jefferson City, and others, and 
 was with Gen. Price on his raid through Missouri 
 and Kansas. During service he was twice slightly 
 wounded. After the war he returned to his farm, 
 to which he has since devoted his entire attention. 
 
 ^'* 
 
^« — ^ 
 
 ,u 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 667 
 
 He is politically a Democrat, and for fifteen years 
 has been a member of the A. F. & A. M. , Neill 
 Lodge, of Jamestown. 
 
 Kobert Gardner. Indej)endence County, Ark., 
 has won an enviable reputation as a prosperous 
 farming country, and this reputation has boon 
 acquired through the enterprise and energy of such 
 agriculturists as Mr. Gardner. He is now residing 
 one mile southeast of Elmo. He was born in Gib- 
 son County, Ind. , on the 3d of October, 1843. 
 He received an excellent common school education 
 in his native county, but in 1878 emigrated to Ar- 
 kansas and located in Independence County, where 
 he continued farming, having learned the details 
 of this work in his youth of his father, who was a 
 successful agriculturist. Off and on, for the tirst 
 ten years of his residence here, he rented land of 
 \V. D. Hodges. Mrs. Mary L. Bennard became 
 his wife in February, 1874. She was born in Ar 
 kansas, and died on the ISth of January, 1882, 
 being buried in the Kirk family cemetery. She 
 left four children: John and Sallie (twins), who 
 were born on the 4th of July, 1873; Mary, born 
 August 22, 1879, and Edna, born October 29, 1881. 
 Mr. Gardner's second union was to Mrs. Minerva 
 Scanlan, a native of Arkansas, their union being 
 consummated January 6, 1882. He has always 
 been a warm friend of education, and has kept his 
 two eldest children in school for the past eight 
 years, their attendance being ten months out of the 
 year. He is one of the trixstees of the school, and 
 prides himself upon the fact that their school is one 
 of the best in the county, and that none but the 
 best teachers are employed, the salaries they offer 
 being suflSciently large to command only the 
 best educators. While in Indiana he was a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic order, and belonged to Gib.son 
 Lodge No. 420, of Hazleton. His parents, John 
 and Mary (Nixon) Gardner, were born in Indiana. 
 
 W. A. Glass. The manufacturing industries of 
 Independence County, Ark., are ably represented 
 by the pottery ostaljlishment belonging to Mr. 
 Glass, which is located at Sulphur Rock. Mr. 
 Glass was born in Texas, in 1858, and came with 
 his parents to Saline County, Ark. , where he grew 
 to manhood and was educated. At the early age 
 
 of fourteen years he commenced learning the pot- 
 ter's trade, serving an apprenticeship under his 
 father, and at the age of about twenty years be^an 
 working on his own account, and operated a pot 
 tery establishment in Benton for some time, and 
 then followed the same occupation in Bradley 
 County for about one year. Since that time he has 
 been in Sulphur Kock, with the exception of three 
 years, when he returned to Benton, and since June 
 19, 18S8, he has had a permanent [jottory establish- 
 ment at this place, which he considers a fine loca- 
 tion, as the clay is of a superior quality, and the 
 advantages for shipping are good. He has a very 
 large trade, and although his establishment turns 
 out 3,000 gallons per week, he can hardly supply 
 the demand. He was married in Saline County, 
 Ark., to Miss Mary Glidewell, who was born in 
 Tennessee, but was reared in Arkansas. To them 
 have been born four children : John C, William 
 A., and Lula. Frederick died at the age of two 
 years. Mr. Glass is a son of Lafayette and Eliza 
 H. (King) Glass, the former of whom was born in 
 Tennessee, on the 5th of July, 1830, and the latter 
 on the 5th of December, also of that year. The 
 father lived for many years in Saline County, but 
 died in Mississippi. He and wife were the parents 
 of seven children. W. A. being the third of the 
 family. Grandfather Glass was born in Tennessee, 
 emigrated to Texas at an early day, then came to 
 Arkansas, and made his home in Sebastian County 
 until his death. He was a hatter by tratle, and was 
 a Master Mason, as was his son Lafayette. 
 
 John W. Glenn, a retired merchant, and one of 
 Batesville's leading citizens, was born in Inde 
 pendence County, on April 29, 1850. His parents 
 were William W. and Martha E. (Hassell) Glenn, 
 of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. 
 The father emigrated to Tennessee at an early 
 period, and met and won his wife in that State. In 
 1828 or thereabouts he moved to what is now In- 
 dependence County, Ark., and located on the old 
 homestead, where he now resides. The Indians 
 were still here when he arrived, and all the dangers 
 of a pioneer's life were fully experienced. Wild 
 game of every description abounded in plenty, and 
 in retui'n for the warfare made upon his stock by 
 
 
^1 
 
 668 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 the savage animals in that country the elder Glenn 
 hunted considerably. His first residence was a lit- 
 tle log cabin covered with clapboards, and this 
 section was chosen on account of his wagon break- 
 ing down at that point. After stopping awhile and 
 looking over the country, he concluded that it would 
 be about the right place to locate, and immediately 
 commenced building a home. Jeanette Hassell, 
 Mr. Glenn's father-in-law, came with them, and 
 built a home near by. He had but two cliildien 
 with him, Martha E. and Mary, the latter shortly 
 after being married to James Wilson, a Presby- 
 terian minister, who emigrated to Arkansas with 
 them, and after the war removed with his wife to 
 Arkadelphia, where he resided until his death. 
 Mr. Wilson was an officer in the late war, and served 
 with distinction throughout the entire fight. Mr. 
 Hassell died from a stroke of paralysis, at the 
 home of his son-in-law, W. W. Glenn, in this 
 county. He was a large slave-owner, and had accu- 
 mulated a fortune in real estate. W. W. Glenn 
 was born in 1808, and came to Independence 
 County when in his thirty- second year. He passed 
 through all the trials and obstacles of a new country 
 with a determination of purpose that eventually 
 made him a successful man, and he is now very 
 wealthy. He is in his eighty -first year, but is still 
 as active as a man with twenty years' less weight on 
 his shoulders, and has been a resident of Inde- 
 pendence County for over sixty years, watching it 
 grow from infancy to a thriving and populous cen- 
 ter of civilization. Five children were born to the 
 elder Glenn and his wife, four of whom grew to 
 maturity, and three still living: John W. , Mrs. A. 
 M. Hickerson, and Mrs. T. R. Taylor (whose hus- 
 band is the owner of the Arlington Hotel). Those 
 deceased were the first child, who died in in- 
 fancy, and Mrs. Nellie Irwin, the latter, a noble 
 woman and loving sister. The father, W. W. 
 Glenn, was sheriff of Independence County for a 
 number of years, whose name was a terror to evil- 
 doers, and it was through his efforts that a great 
 many of the desperate characters of earlier j'ears 
 were run to earth. He also held the office of coun- 
 ty judge, besides a number of minor positions, all 
 of which he filled honorablv. John AV. Glenn 
 
 was educated in Batesville, and at various other 
 places, and upon finishing his college life com- 
 menced merchandising at the former city in 1872. 
 He carried on this business until 1886, when he 
 was burned out, causing a loss of $15,000. Since 
 then he has been winding up the affairs of his old 
 business and dealing in real estate. He owns be- 
 tween 2,000 and 3,000 acres of land, some of it 
 lying in the river bottom, and very valuable, and 
 has a large amount of it under cultivation, one 
 farm of 400 acres producing some of the best 
 crops in that section. He also deals extensively 
 in horses and mules, and owns some of the best an- 
 imals in Arkansas. In 1875 Mr. Glenn was mar- 
 ried to Miss Sarah E. Maxfield, a daughter of 
 Uriah Maxfield, and sister of Maxfield Bros., 
 prominent merchants of this locality. This mar- 
 riage has given them five children: Edgar H. , 
 Nora A. , Elfie M. , Nellie L. and June. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Glenn are both members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, and Mr. Glenn belongs to the 
 K. of H. and K. & L. of H. Both parents 
 have attended the Methodist Church for a great 
 many years, and are held in high esteem by the 
 entire community. 
 
 H. H. Goodwin. Among the representative 
 farmers of Independence County, Ark., there are 
 none more favorably known, or more highly re- 
 spected, than Mr. Goodwin, for, like the majority 
 of farmers, he has been sober, honest and indus- 
 trious, and has won the property he now owns by 
 the sweat of his brow. He is a native of the 
 county, born in 1844, and is a son of O. P. Good- 
 win, a Virginian by birth, born in Hanover County, 
 in 1810. When about twenty-five years of age he 
 moved to the State of Arkansas, and has since been 
 a resident of Independence County, where he is 
 well and favorably known. His wife, whose maid- 
 en name was Elizabeth Hotchkiss, was born in 
 Roane County, Tenn. , in 1817, and bore him fif- 
 teen children, the following of whom survive: O. 
 P. , who married Miss Carrie Bryant, a native of 
 Mississippi; J. W., who wedded Miss Bettie Searcy, 
 a native of Arkansas; P, J., who married Miss 
 Emma Gibson, an Alabamian by birth; Martha G., 
 who wedded William Hurt, a native of Arkansas; 
 
 ^ 6 
 
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 669 
 
 ^ 
 
 ( 
 
 Emma G., the wife of Richard Lee, of Arkansas; 
 O. P. autl H. H. The latter, like the majority of 
 farmers' sons, devoted his time and attention to 
 farming as he was growing up, and in the mean- 
 time acquired a good, common-school education. 
 After reaching mature years he was married to 
 Miss Mary Pope, a Georgian by birth, their nup- 
 tials taking place March 6, 1870, and to their 
 union have been born six children: Albert S., Rob- 
 ert E., Elizabeth M., Kirby A., Hattie, and an 
 infant unnamed. Mr. Goodwin is a Mason, and has 
 held the office of treasurer of his lodge for three 
 years. During the Rebellion he joined McBride's 
 forces in August, 1862, and his first hard tight was 
 at Prairie Grove. After receiving his discharge 
 on the 16th of May, 1865, he returned home, and 
 resumed the peaceful pursuit of farming, which 
 occupation he has since industriously followed. 
 He is an enthusiastic patron of education, and for 
 five years has served in the capacity of school di- 
 rector. Mrs. Goodwin is a daughter of M. L. and 
 Melvina Pope, who were native Georgians. The 
 father was killed at the battle of Baker's Creek, 
 Miss., May 16, 1863, and was followed to his long 
 home by his wife in 1867. Mr. Goodwin owns a 
 good farm of 1 20 acres, of which about fifty are 
 under cultivation, and since his marriage has cleared 
 fifty acres of woodland. 
 
 E. R. Goodwin, druggist, Batesville, Ark. 
 There is no branch of business more important in 
 the whole list of occupations than that of a chem- 
 ist and druggist. A prominent and representative 
 establishment devoted to this branch of industry, 
 is that of Mr. Goodwin, who, for a number of 
 years, has been before the public in this line, and 
 whose house is one of the best in the city. He 
 was born in Panola County, Miss., on the 19th of 
 December, 1845, and is the son of Albert G. and 
 Maria A. (Moore) Goodwin, both natives of Suf- 
 folk, Nansemond County, Va. They were mar- 
 ried in Virginia, and emigrated to Mississippi 
 about 1838, locating in Panola County, where 
 they remained until 1849. They then removed to 
 Perry County, Ark., and in December, of the same 
 year, moved to Batesville, of the same State. 
 While living in Perry County the mother died, in 
 
 1859, and ten years later the father died in Bates- 
 ville. He was a merchant by occupation, but the 
 war almost ruined him financially. They were 
 the parents of eight children, only three living: 
 Albert F., Charles E., and Eugene R., who is the 
 youngest of the three living. He was but four 
 years of age when he went to Memphis with his 
 parents, and was but fourteen when ho came to 
 Batesville. He received the principal part of his 
 education in Memphis, Tenn., for after coming to 
 Batesville ho remained in the store with his father 
 until the opening of the conflict between the North 
 and South. In 1862 he enlisted in Capt. McGuf- 
 fin's company, and served until the surrender, in 
 June, 1865. He was with Price's raid through 
 Missoiui, and was in almost a continuous fight. 
 At the close of the war he returned to Batesville, 
 and began clerking in a dry-goods store. In Octo- 
 ber, 1868, he started clerking in a drug store, and 
 in 1872 he entered in partnership vnth A. W. 
 Lyon, continuing until March, 1875, when Mr. 
 Goodwin engaged in the business for himself, and 
 this has since continued, a period of seventeen 
 years. He carries a general line of drugs, sta- 
 tionery, etc. He was married in 1871 to Miss 
 Louisa F. Davies, a native* of South Carolina, who 
 bore him foui- children: Lillio F., Cora D., Mabel 
 T., and Lula H. Mr. and Mi's. Goodwin and 
 family are members of the Presbyterian Church. 
 He is a member of the K. of H., and also the Le- 
 gion of Honor. 
 
 Abraham Gossett is the proprietor of Distillery 
 No. 154, at Newark, Independence County, Ark., 
 which was established in November, 1888, and has 
 a capacity of fifty gallons per day, which, it is ex- 
 pected, will soon be increased to seventy-five gal- 
 lons per day, consuming all the sui'plus com raised 
 in that portion of the county. Mr. Gossett is a 
 native of Independence County, and was born 
 February 2, 1862. His parents are Allen and 
 Charlotte (Brannan) Gossett, both natives of Ten- 
 nessee, who, in early life, removed with their par- 
 ents to Arkansas, where they married. They are 
 active members of the Missionary Baptist Church, 
 and are among the most prominent residents of 
 Independence County, where they now reside. 
 
.^ 
 
 670 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Allen Gossett was in tbe Confederate service four 
 years dm-ing the late Civil War, serving a greater 
 portion of the time as orderly sergeant; he has 
 been a farmer all his life, and has been most suc- 
 cessful in his chosen occupation. He is a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity, and his political sym- 
 pathies are with the Democratic party. Nine chil- 
 dren have been born to the parents of our subject, 
 viz.: Abraham, Robert M., Cassandra, Florence 
 (wife of William Kenman, a farmer of Independ- 
 ence County), Williamson and John (twins), Mad- 
 ison, Lena and Sarah (deceased); the latter was 
 married to William Bruce, and died at the age of 
 twenty-two years. Abraham Gossett received a 
 common-school education, and at the age of twenty- 
 one years began farming for himself, but after one 
 year, abandoned the farm, and engaged in trading, 
 in which he was successful for a time. In 1881 he 
 turned his attention to the mercantile business in 
 Johnson ville, Humphreys County, Tenn., and two 
 years later removed to Newark, Ark., where he 
 engaged in the same business, and built the second 
 business house in that place. He continued mer- 
 chandising until January 1, 1889, when he deter- 
 mined to devote his entire time and attention to 
 distilling, of which he is making a great success. 
 April 22, 1885, Mr. Gossett married Miss Black- 
 head Tomblinson, a daughter of John N. Tomblin- 
 son. Mrs. Gossett is a native of Independence 
 County. They have two children: Owen and 
 Newel. Mr. Gossett is a member of the Baptist 
 Church, the I. O. O. F. , and Masonic fraternity. 
 
 Capt. Hiram Vardeman Gray (deceased). The 
 above name is familiar to all the old citizens of In- 
 dependence County, for it was borne by a man who 
 was honest and upright, and whose life was without 
 reproach in his intercourse with his fellowmen. 
 Capt. Gray was born on the 22d of April, 1822, in 
 Graves County, Ky. , and was the son of Capt. Gil- 
 son and Rachel (Hodge) Gray, natives of North 
 Carolina, who were among the early settlers of 
 Graves County, Ky. The father was a captain in 
 the War of 1812. In their family were five chil- 
 dren. George M., a school teacher by profession, 
 who went to Illinois in 1849, was elected and 
 served two years as sheriff of Massac County. 
 
 Later he represented a senatorial district in the 
 Illinois legislature. In 1857 he contracted con- 
 sumption and died at the age of thirty- nine years. 
 Gilson, farmer and youngest son, on hearing that 
 his brother Hiram had enlisted in the war, came 
 to the home of his brother, ind then, learnin£r that 
 the latter was at Helena, joined him there. He 
 was his brother's nurse, remaining as such till his 
 death, which occurred in Memphis in 1876, at the 
 age of forty-eight years. Celia was the wife of 
 Luke Ogden, a farmer of Kentucky, and her 
 death occurred in 1852, at about thirty years of 
 age. Malenia was the wife of Tillman H. Steele, 
 a soldier of the Mexican War, and a farmer. She 
 and her husband came to Arkansas in 1854, and 
 here her death occurred in 1867, at the age of 
 forty years. Capt. Hiram V. Gray was reared as 
 all other farmers' boys, but was left an orphan 
 when but a lad, and he and his brothers and sisters 
 were left to look out for themselves. As might be 
 supposed, his educational advantages were not of 
 the best, but being naturally of a studious turn of 
 mind he improved spare moments and became an 
 average scholar. His early life on the farm gave 
 him a strong constitution physically, and made him a 
 practical, sensible man, and fitted him in an admira- 
 ble manner for the public life he was destined to 
 live. During his early manhood he followed agri- 
 cultural 2)ursuits, and in 1840 was married to Miss 
 Mahala Sweeny, a daughter of David Sweeny, who 
 was a school teacher and a native of Tennessee. 
 After his marriage Capt. Gray lived in Kentucky 
 and tilled the soil until 1852, when he came to 
 Arkansas, and at first stopped in White County. 
 Not being pleased with the country, he started to 
 return to his native State, but when he reached 
 Black River Township, and became acquainted 
 with some of the people, he concluded to settle 
 there. He at first entered eighty acres of land, 
 which he improved, and later bought 400 acres of 
 J. N. Tunstill, which he added to this tract. He 
 erected good buildings on the same and cleared 
 forty acres of the land. Subsequently he bought 
 160 acres about four miles from the first, which 
 was woodland. In 1854 he was elected to the 
 office of constable, which office included the duties 
 
 ^S 
 
of deptity sheriff, in which capacity he served, 
 having been re-elected twice, until the breaking 
 out of the war, in 1861. Being a strong Union 
 man and his politics well known, he found plenty 
 of opportunities to argue his opinions. In the 
 spring of 1862, while in Batesville, he was asked 
 under what flag he would fight, and made this 
 answer: "I will be found iiuder the stars and 
 stripes, battling for God and liberty," upon 
 which he was struck by a citizen and surrounded 
 by 100 others, one of whom had a rope to hang 
 him. Being a highly respected Mason, some of 
 the members of that order interfered in his behalf, 
 and this saved his life. Later, in May, 1862, 
 Mr. Gray organized a company of 100 men, and, 
 on the 24th of June, he joined Curtis' army at 
 Batesville, and was mustered in at Jacksonport. 
 From there he went to Helena, where he remained 
 stationed to await orders. While lying there one- 
 half of his command, unused to malarial atmos- 
 phere, sickened and died. Capt. Gray, himself, 
 took sick with measles, and after sixty of his men 
 had died, he and the remnant of his command 
 were sent to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, for their 
 health. Capt. Gray was sent to the Fifth Military 
 Hospital, and, notwithstanding that he was at- 
 tended by the best medical skill that could be pro- 
 cured, and the most careful nursing, he continued 
 to decline tintil December 2, 1862, when death 
 came to his release. At present there are but 
 eleven of his company of 100 men living, seven in 
 Independence County. In this brief memoir it is 
 impossible to do justice to the person whose mem 
 ory it is designed to commemorate. His memory 
 is perpetuated in Independence County by having 
 his name given to the G. A. R. Post at Sulphur 
 Itock, No. 33. His premature death left Mrs. 
 (iray a widow with six children in the country of 
 the enemy, and in the ibidst of the greatest fratri- 
 cidal contest the world has ever known. Her oldest 
 child was twenty years of age and the youngest 
 six. ^Irs. Gray soon lost all her property, and 
 was so harassed bj' the soldiers that she had to 
 take refuge in another State, going to St. Louis in 
 the spring of 1S63. In 1864 she moved to Illi- 
 nois, and. afti'r a .short residence in that State, 
 
 moved to Potosi, Washington County, Mo., where 
 she met Gen. Price's army, and was robbed of her 
 all. Thus she was left entirely without funds, and, 
 to add to her trouble, her eldest son was taken pris- 
 oner. However, on account of physical disability, 
 and at the instance of some of his friends in the 
 Confederate ranks, young Gray was released after 
 a short time and allowed to return to his home. 
 The subsequent trials of Mrs. Gray would fill vol- 
 umes, and this continued until the close of the 
 war, or in the fall of 1865. They then returned 
 to their home in Arkansas, to find that the ruthless 
 hand of war had taken everything movable away, 
 the house alone remaining. Here she passed the 
 remainder of her days, her death occurring on the 
 14th of October, 1884, at the age of sixty years. 
 She was the widow of Capt. Gray, at her death, 
 never having married again, and devoted her life 
 to her children. Capt. Gray and wife were both 
 Christians, he having received the ordinance of 
 baptism on his death-bed. Mrs. Gray had been 
 for forty years a member of the Baptist Church. 
 They were the parents of seven children: Henry 
 C, born in August, 1841, was reared to farm life, 
 was unmarried, and when the war broke out joined 
 his father's company. He was one of the unfor- 
 tunates who died at Helena, his death occurring 
 in August, 1862; Sally A. was born August 2, 
 1851, and died at Potosi, Mo., on the 30th of De- 
 cember, 1864; AVilliam C. was born on the 2d of 
 December, 1842, in Marshall County, Ky., and 
 was reared to farm life. His education was lim- 
 ited, but through his own efforts he is a good 
 practical scholar. He came with his father to this 
 State in 1852, and his career up to 1865 has been 
 given. On the 31st of January, 1867, he married 
 Mrs. Martha (Edward.s) Burt, a native of Tennes- 
 see, and by her he has one child, Lydia A., who 
 was born on the 5th of February, 1868, and is at 
 present her father's housekeeper. Mrs, Gray 
 died of consumption on the 30th of June, 1870; 
 and. May 2, 1875, Mr. Gray mamed Miss Amelia 
 A. Anderson, a native of Arkansas. Three chil- 
 dren were born to this union: William C, born 
 on the 9th of February, 1876; Thomas B., born 
 on the 15th of September, 1877, and John H.. 
 
 V 
 
Jd 
 
 « k_ 
 
 672 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 born on the 20th of September, 1879, and died in 
 November. 1880. Mrs. Gray died on the 4th of 
 October, 1879. She was an excellent woman, and 
 a devoted member of the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church. Mr. Gray continued farming un- 
 til his thirty- fourth year, when, on account of bad 
 health, he picked up the basket and chair-making 
 trade, which occupies his attention at the present 
 time. He votes with the Republican party, and 
 is a member of the Wheel. Capt. Gray's next 
 child was Mary A. , wife of W. H. Gires, a farmer 
 of Black River Town.ship; Benjamin J., was born 
 on the 14th of January, 1847, and was married on 
 the 6th of November, 1869, to Mrs. Margaret 
 (Alexander) Hall, and has the following family: 
 Hiram V., born January 3, 1871; James W., born 
 December 24, 1872; Sarah A., born October 15, 
 1875, and Robert B., December 30, 1878. Mr. 
 
 B. J. Gray and his three sons are all natural 
 musicians, all playing the violin. His principal 
 occupation is that of a farmer. He votes with the 
 Republican party, and like his brother, W. C, 
 is a member of the A. O. U. W. The next child 
 of Capt. Gray is James G., who was born on the 
 7th of February, 1853, and on May 7, 1874, he 
 married Miss Susan Kennedy, a native of Arkan- 
 sas, and seven children were born to this union, 
 five of whom are now living: Ida, born on the 
 2l8t of February, 1875; Joseph I., born on the 
 19th of March, 1881; Nellie Zora, born on the 
 19th of February, 1884; Elam, born on the 10th 
 of February, 1886, and James G., born on the 
 16th of February, 1888. Those deceased are: 
 Martha J., died on the 15th of May, 187S, at the 
 age of one year, and the others were unnamed. 
 James G. Gray has followed agricultural pursuits 
 all his life, and also votes with the Republican 
 party. He is a member of the Wheel. He and 
 his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist 
 Church, and are highly- esteemed citizens. 
 
 Hon. E. C. Gray, born in Guilford County, N. 
 
 C, on the 9th of October, 1830, is a son of John 
 Gray, a native of Randolph County, of that State, 
 who was there reared to manhood, educated, 
 and married, the latter event being to Miss Ver- 
 linda Robbins, by whom he became the father of 
 
 two sons and four daughters. After following the 
 life of a husbandman in his native State until 1850, 
 he removed to Arkansas and settled in Independ- 
 ence County, where he became the owner of 500 
 acres of land, and died in 1878. His wife had pre- 
 viously expired in her native State, in 1844. They 
 had been worthy members of the Methodist Protest- 
 ant Church. E. C. Gray received an excellent ed- 
 ucation in Trinity College, North Carolina, but it 
 was then known by the name of the Union Insti- 
 tute. After his removal to Arkansas with his par- 
 ents, in 1850, he was married to Miss Ann S. 
 Meacham, a native of Independence County, Ark., 
 and their union resulted in the birth of eleven sons 
 and six daughters. Of this large family fourteen 
 are still living: Julius B., Aurelius G., Mary M., 
 Sarah A. , Dr. Christopher C. , Dr. Elisa J. , James 
 E., William A., Queen E., Thornsberry A., John 
 W. , Virgil O. , Aurora, and Lillie. Mr. Gray is a 
 wealthy planter of Arkansas, being the owner of 
 1,300 acres of land, of which there are about 400 
 acres under cultivation. In 1877 he was elected 
 to represent his county in the State legislature, and 
 discharged the duties of this office in a manner 
 very satisfactory to his constituents. He has also 
 served as justice of the peace, and during the late 
 war (in 1862) enlisted under Col. Dobbins, in a 
 company of Arkansas cavalry. He was discharged 
 at Jacksonport in 1865, and after his return home 
 resumed tilling the soil. His wife is a member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and, al- 
 though not a member of any church, he is a liberal 
 contributor to churches and schools. 
 
 A. G. Gray. The subject of this sketch is a 
 native-born resident of the county, and as such is 
 looked upon with respect and esteem by his many 
 acquaintances. His birth occurred on the 18th of 
 December, 1854, and he is one of fourteen surviving 
 members of a family of seventeen children, born 
 to E. C. Gray and Ann S. (Meacham) Gray, his 
 wife, the former of whom was born in North Car- 
 olina, in 1830, and was educated in Trinity Col- 
 lege, of that State. He was a member of the Agri ■ 
 cultural Wheel for about four years, but withdrew 
 on account, as he thought, of the political senti- 
 ments which had crept in. He is one of the leading 
 
 ^ 
 
^ 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 673 
 
 farmers of this locality; was elected to represent 
 Independence County in the State hjgislature in 
 1875 to fill the term of 1876, and received the 
 largest vote of any man who ever ran for office in 
 this county. He served faithfully and efficiently 
 for one year, discharging his duties in a manner 
 which needs no additional words of compliment. 
 He has been justice of the peace for about eight 
 years, and in this capacity also has been a faith- 
 ful servant of the jiublic. In 1801 he enlisted in 
 the Confederate army as a sergeant and served as 
 such until the final surrender, when he returned 
 home and again engaged in farming, and has be- 
 come one of the most substantial husbandmen of 
 the county. His wife has long been a member of 
 the Methodist Church. From this sterling pioneer 
 sprang the subject of this sketch, and, like his 
 father, he has become an honored and respected 
 resident of the county. His education was re- 
 ceived in Independence and Sharj) Counties, and 
 his attention, while growing, was given to farming 
 his father's land. He was married in Independ- 
 ence County to Miss Ella Albright, a native of the 
 State, and a daughter of Alvis and Mary Albright, 
 who are well-remembered pioneers of the county. 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Gray have been born five chil- 
 dren: Bertha F., G., Stella, Justin and Albert. 
 A. G. Gray, like his father, was a member of the 
 Agricultural Wheel, withdrawing for a like reason. 
 He is also a member of the Masonic lodge, in 
 which he has held the office of senior warden for 
 about three years. He is a Methodist in faith and 
 his wife a Presbyterian, and both are deeply con- 
 cerned in all good works, being especially inter- 
 ested in churches and schools. 
 
 Hon. Robert H. Griffin resides in White River 
 Township, Indejiendence County, Ark. He was 
 born in Meigs County, Tenn. , May 2"), 1836, and 
 is a son of William and Mary (King) Griffin, natives 
 of Greene Connty, Tenn. W'illiam Griffin was a 
 farmer by occupation, and was also a shoemaker by 
 trade. He removed with his family to Roane Coun- 
 ty, Tenn., when our subject was young, where 
 they remained until 1860, in the latter year lo- 
 cating in Independence County, Ark., which was 
 his home until his death, that occurring Novem- 
 
 ber 25, 1863, at the age of sixty- four years. His 
 first wife, the mother of Robert H. , was a daughter 
 of Robert King, a native of North Carolina, who was 
 a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Griflin 
 died in Roane County, Tenn., amember of the M(>th- 
 odist Episcopal Church, of which church Mr. Griffin 
 was also a member. He afterward married Hnnnali 
 Cliauncy, who died in Texas; she was a member of 
 the Baptist Church. Politically, Mr. Griffin was a 
 life- long Democrat. To the jiarents of the subject 
 of this sketch, five sons were born, viz.: John S., 
 who is a farmer in Iowa; Robert H. ; Joseph W., 
 engaged in the livery business at Whiting, Iowa; 
 Thomas M., and William; the last two died in 
 childhood. Robert H. received his early educa- 
 tion in his native State, and at the age of twenty 
 one began for himself. He married, August 5, 
 1856, Margaret Chauncy, daughter of John and 
 Hannah Chauncy, of Roane Country, Tenn. She 
 was born January 13, 183-1. Mrs. Griffin died in 
 Independence County, Ark., July 21, 1877, the 
 mother of seven children, viz. : Mary E. , who died 
 when quite young; James A., a farmer of Inde- 
 pendence County; Lettie J., wife of T. J. Davis, 
 of Texas; Sarah J., wife of Odell DeVauglum. also 
 of Texas; John R., of Texas; William H. , at home, 
 and Joseph S., at home. In 1878 Mr. Griffin 
 married Elizalieth Rice, of Independence County. 
 She is a daughter of William Rice, and was born 
 August 15, 1855. Four childi-en have been born 
 to this union: Eva, who died at the age of two 
 years: Robert A., Ethel and Alda. Mr. Griflin 
 has always been engaged in farming. In the fall 
 of 1S60 h(> located in White River Township, In- 
 dependence County, where in a few years he pnr- 
 
 1 chased land, which has ever since been his home. 
 
 I He owns 415 acres, of which 100 acres are under 
 cultivation. In 1872 he was elected justice of the 
 peace, in which capacity he served eight years; he 
 was then elected county and probate judge, .serving 
 three terms. Ho afterward represented the count} 
 
 I in the General Assembly. In August, 1862, he 
 was mustered into Company A. Col. Shaver's regi 
 ment, and served until the surrender at Jackson 
 port. Ark., June 5, 1865, as second lieutenant, 
 
 i participating in many battles, among them Prairie 
 
A 
 
 674 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Grove, Pilot Knob, Trading Post and Big Blue. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Griffin are members of the Cumber- 
 land Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder. 
 Judge Griffin is a Democrat, and is one of the most 
 enterprising and influential citizens of the county. 
 McCurdy Hail, sheriff and collector of Inde- 
 pendence County, was bom in Greene County, Ark. , 
 on the 15th of September, 1851, and is the son of 
 Dr. William P. A. Hail, a native of Tennessee, 
 who, after growing to manhood, was united in 
 marriage to Miss Sarah Underwood, also a native 
 of Tennessee. In 1851 the parents immigrated to 
 Arkansas, locating in Greene County, at Greens- 
 borough, and here the father practiced his profes- 
 sion until 1852. He was a graduate of the Ten- 
 nessee Medical College, and was a physician and 
 surgeon of considerable note, having followed this 
 business all his life. He was a surgeon in the 
 Mexican War. At the above mentioned date he 
 moved to Smithville, Lawrence County, where he 
 received his final summons in 1857. The mother 
 died in the spring of 1863, at Powhatan, the coun- 
 ty seat of that county. They were the parents 
 of seven children, only two now living: Stevadson 
 A. and McCurdy. The latter passed his youth 
 and early manhood in Lawrence County, but the 
 only education he obtained was by self -application; 
 and although reared in town, when old enough he 
 engaged in agricultural pursuits, thus continuing 
 for four years. He then embarked as clerk in a 
 store, at Evening Shade, and remained there until 
 1871, when he moved to Hickory Valley, subse- 
 quently working on the construction of the Kansas 
 City Railroad as a carpenter. In 1873 he engaged 
 in merchandising at Hickory Vallej', Independ- 
 ence County, but lost nearly everything by being 
 burned out in 1879. In 1886 he was elected sher- 
 iff and collector of this county, and was compli- 
 mented by being reelected in 1888. It is but a 
 statement of the truth when it is said that no man 
 could be found more capable to fill that position 
 than Mr. Hail. He was postmaster at Hickory 
 Valley from 1873 to 1884. By his marriage to 
 Miss Mary A. Meacham, in 1873, he became the 
 father of five children: Willie A., McCurdy, Jr., 
 Lizzie W. , Nettie and Lena. Mrs. Hail is a mem- 
 
 ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. , and K. & 
 L. of H. He is the owner of 300 acres of land, 
 with eighty acres under cultivation, and he also has 
 a house and lot in Batesville. 
 
 Mrs. Lou C. Hathcock (whose maiden name 
 was W^atts), the relict of Seaborn A. Hathcock, 
 was born in Independence County, Ark., March 
 16, 1860, and is a daughter of Mrs. Manerva O. 
 and William T. Watts, who were born February 
 24, 1812, and January 22, 1831, respectively. 
 They moved from Perry County, Mo. , to Independ- 
 ence County, Ark., in 1849, where the father is 
 now making his home with his daughter, Mrs. 
 Hathcock. Mrs. Watts died October 2, 1883, 
 leaving one single daughter, also residing with 
 her sister. Mrs. Hathcock was reared and educated 
 in Independence County, Ark., and was hero mar- 
 ried, March 4, 1874, to Seaborn A. Hathcock, who 
 was born in the State of Mississippi, November 20, 
 1847. He there acquired his scholastic training, 
 and came to Arkansas May 24, 1873, here engag- 
 ing in the mercantile business in Sulphur Rock. 
 After a career which marked him as one of the 
 successful and representative business men of the 
 count}', his death occurred on the 7th of January, 
 1888. He was always noted for his intelligence, 
 energy and honesty, and won the confidence and 
 esteem of all with whom he had business or social re- 
 lations. He left a wife and four interesting children 
 to mourn his loss, the names of the latter being 
 Minnie L., Henry C, Eddis W., Virgie O. Mr. 
 Hathcock was a Democrat in his political views. 
 Mrs. Hathcock is residing at her home at Sulphur 
 Rock, where her family and the duties attendant 
 upon domestic life engage her time and attention. 
 She is not a member of any church, but is a be- 
 liever in the Christian faith, and supports the cause 
 by precept and example. 
 
 C. R. Handford & Co. , manufacturers of 
 mountain red cedar, telegraph poles, railway piling, 
 sawed and split fence po.sts, cedar shingles and 
 pickets, oak, yellow pine, sycamore, walnut, ash and 
 Cottonwood lumber, have the largest enterprise of 
 the kind in this part of the State, and do an im- 
 mense business in the manufacturincr line. This 
 
 *^; 
 
-d 9 
 
 K^ 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 f)75 
 
 business was established in 1884, and has been in 
 successful operation since its organization. The 
 firm employs a great many hands, and carries on 
 business the year round. The senior member of 
 this firm, Charles R. Haudford, was born in Mor- 
 gan County, Ohio, in 1842, and was partly reared 
 in that State, and in Philadelphia, Penn. He sub- 
 sequently moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and thence 
 to Kansas, leaving Philadelphia in 1854. In 1856 
 he arrived in Wyandotte County, Kas., just as 
 the border trouble was beginning, and there he 
 worked at the lumber business, and at farming, se- 
 cui'ing such education as the time afforded. He 
 came to Arkansas in 1872, in August, before the 
 Iron Mountain Railroad was built, and located in 
 Pulaski County, going then to Saline County. He 
 was married in Iowa, to Miss Sarah Brown, who 
 bore him six children: Myrtle, Stanley, Charles, 
 Jack, Willie and Frances. In 1884 Mr. Hand- 
 ford came to Batesville with his family, and in 
 that year the present business was established. He 
 owns a nice residence in that town, and is also in- 
 terested as a stockholder in the Bank of Bates- 
 ville. His parents, Joseph and Narcissa (Robert- 
 son) Handford, were natives of Philadelphia, Penn., 
 and Ohio, and descendants of English and Scotch 
 ancestors, respectively. Charles R. Handford en- 
 listed in the Federal army while living in Wyan- 
 dotte, Kas., in 1862, Company A, Sixth Kansas 
 Cavalry, and served until August, 1865. He par- 
 ticipated in all the principal engagements, and was 
 never sick a day, nor was he ever wounded or cap- 
 tured. The jimior member of the above-mentioned 
 firm, J. S. Handford, was liorn in the city of Phila- 
 delphia, in 1854, and went to Kansas with his 
 parents. He engaged first as a clerk in a dry 
 goods store, and was thus occupied for a uuml)er 
 of years. In 1870 he engaged in the saw- mill 
 business in Arkansas, and carried this on for about 
 twelve years, being interested in it at the present. 
 He became a member of the firm at Batesville in 
 1884. He was elected president of the Batesville 
 Bank on the 1st of July, 1889, at its organization, 
 and now holds that position. He was married in 
 December, 1879, to Miss Abbie J. Boyer, a na- 
 tive of Illinois, and to them were born five chil- 
 
 dren. Mr. Handford is a member of the A. F. 
 & A. M. , and is also a member of the K. of P. 
 
 Anthony B. Harrelson, farmer and stock raiser, 
 Dota, Ark. Mr. Harrelson is a native of Lawrence 
 County, Tenn., born on the 30th of March, 1837, 
 and when sixteen years of age, emigrated with his 
 parents to Independence County, Ark., landing in 
 Black River Township on Christmas day, 1853. 
 His father, Vincent Harrelson, was a native of the 
 Blue Grass State, born in 1800, and when a young 
 man was wedded to Miss Mary Anthony, also a 
 native of Kentuclcj', and born in 1802. After mar- 
 riage they came to Arkansas, and there the father 
 died in 1875, and the mother — previous to this — 
 in 1861. The father tilled the soil successfully all 
 his life. During his youthful days lie was a play- 
 mate of David Crockett, of pioneer fame, and they 
 were great friends. Both the parents were church 
 members — the father a Baptist and the mother a 
 Methodist. The maternal and paternal grandpar- 
 ents were natives of Kentucky, in which State they 
 passed their last days. Anthony B. Harrelson 
 passed his boyhood days on the farm, and not being 
 favored with many opportunities for attending 
 school, his educational advantages, in consequence, 
 were quite limited. He began life for himself at 
 the age of twenty-three, by following agricultural 
 pursuits on his father's farm, and this continued 
 until 1862, when he enlisted in the Union army. 
 Company A, First Arkansas Infantry, for si.\ 
 months' service, and was discharged at St. Louis. 
 He then moved to Illinois. Previous to this, in 
 1860, he led to the matrimonial altar Miss Phoebe 
 A. McDonald, daughter of John and Jane (Brown) 
 McDonald, natives of Mississippi. The McDonald 
 family emigrated to Arkansas in the 50' s, and 
 after a few years' residence in this State, returned 
 to their native State, where the parents passed the 
 remainder of their days. To Mr. and Mrs. Har 
 relson were born nine children, seven of whom are 
 living: William F. , born in IS'il, is now married, 
 and engaged in tilling the soil near his father: 
 Mary E., wife of W. D. Bowlby, a farmer of Black 
 River Township; Labau V. , married and engaged 
 in farming on the farm of his father; John A. 
 Logan (deceased); Burrilla (deceased); James El- 
 
J^l 
 
 G76 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 don, at home with his father, and eighteen years 
 of age; Thomas Monroe, age sixteen, at home; 
 Charles L., at home, and fourteen years of age; 
 and Mattie Nora, eleven years of age. For several 
 years after the war Mr. Harrelson rented land in 
 Illinois, and returned to his home in Arkansas in 
 1807, where he has resided continuously ever since. 
 He also rented land in Arkansas until about twelve 
 years ago, when he traded for 136 acres of land, 
 and on this he is now located. He has 100 acres 
 under cultivation; has good buildings, orchards, 
 and fences, and is doing well. In the year 1885 
 he erected a cotton gin, and has been very success- 
 ful in this enterprise. Mr. and Mrs. Harrelson 
 have taken great interest in school and church mat- 
 ters, and have given their children each a fair 
 education. Mrs. Harrelson is a member of the 
 Baptist Church. Mr. Harrelson takes an active 
 part in politics, and he votes with the Union Labor 
 party. He holds membership in the following so- 
 cieties: The G. A. R., H. V. Gray Post No. 33, 
 Sulphur Rock; A. F. & A. M. , and Ladies' Chap- 
 ter, and also the Agricultural Wheel. He came to 
 Independence County when there were verj' few 
 settlers in the County, and when wild game was 
 plentiful. Where fine farms and growing towns 
 are at present situated once flourished heavy tim- 
 ber. Mr. Harrelson is one of the progressive citi- 
 zens of the community, and has aided materially 
 in developing this part of the county. 
 
 James W. Headstream is well known in Wash- 
 ington Township, Independence County, as an en- 
 terprising and successful farmer. He first located 
 there in 1845, at which time he entered a consid- 
 erable tract of land, and devoted his entire atten- 
 tion to the pursuit of agriculture. He now owns 
 340 acres in Independence Couaty, 150 acres of 
 which are under cultivation, and about 200 acres in 
 Stone County, Ark. His early experiences in the 
 county (which has for so many years been his home) 
 were those of the pioneer, and his present pros- 
 perity is the result of many hardships endured and 
 the practice of economy as well as good manage- 
 ment and enterprise. Mr. Headstream was born in 
 Hickman County, Tenn., about the j^ear 1827. His 
 parents were John P. and Harriet (Hassel) Head- 
 
 stream. John P. Headstream was a native of 
 Sweden, and was bom in 1810. When a young 
 man he left his native country and came to Nash- 
 ville, Tenn., afterward locating in Hickman Coun- 
 ty, where he married. About 1835 he removed 
 to Helena, Ai-k. , his death occurring in 1844 in 
 Monroe Count}% Ark. His wife was born in 
 North Carolina, in 1812, and lived imtil 1880. 
 Of their nine children but three are now living. 
 In 1849 James W. married Rachel M. Ford, whose 
 birth occurred in Tennessee in 1831. She was the 
 daughter of James G. and Martha A. (Roland) 
 Ford. She lived to be the mother of twelve chil 
 dren, of whom six survive, viz. : Harriet O. , who 
 married Claiborn Pierce; Sarah P., wife of John 
 Olvey ; James P. ; Margaret, who married Robert 
 Baird; Felix J. and Virginia L. In 1869 Mr. 
 Headstream married Mahulda Pierce, who was also 
 a native of Tennessee, and was born in 1837. 
 Seven children have been born to this union, all 
 living, viz. : David R. , Anna J. , Dora H. , Laura A. , 
 Samuel B., Maude and William T. B. Mrs. Head- 
 stream is a daughter of Zadock and Nancy Pierce. 
 Mr. Headstream is a Democrat in politics, and he 
 and wife are membei's of the Presbyterian Church. 
 They reside near Victor postoffice, six miles west 
 of Batesville, and are among the earliest settlers 
 of the township. 
 
 John A. Hinkle, of the firm of Hinkle & Co., 
 Batesville, owes his nativity to Izard County, Ark., 
 where his birth occurred the 20th of December, 
 1852. His father, Jolin D. Hinkle, was a native 
 of Tennessee, and after reaching manhood was 
 united in marriage to Miss Arena Beckham, also a 
 native of Tennessee. They emigrated to Arkansas 
 in the 40' s, locating in Izard County, and there he 
 followed the profession of teaching, but in connec- 
 tion carried on farming also. The father died in 
 1852, but the mother is still living. She was mar- 
 ried the second time to Stephen Taylor, by whom 
 she had five children, three living: Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Williams, Mrs. Amanda Bone and Mrs. Emeline 
 Haley. Mr. Taylor died in 1876. The mother re- 
 sides on the old homestead in Izard County, and 
 enjoys fairly good health. John A. Hiukle secured 
 a fair education in the common schools, and re- 
 
 
 "■% i>\ 
 
mained on the farm until seventeen years of age. 
 He then engaged as a clerk for Hinkle & Son (his 
 uncle and cousin), at Lunenburg, where he re- 
 mained until 1876, after which, in May of that 
 year, he embarked in merchandising for himself at 
 Melbourne. He carried on business at that place 
 until 1883, when he sold out and removed to Bates- 
 ville, where he carried on the business alone. The 
 firm was changed in 1885 to J. A. Hinkle & Co., 
 by adding Jeff P. Hinkle, a cousin, and thiis con- 
 tinued until H. H. Hinkle, another cousin, and 
 brother of Jeff P. , became a member of the firm, 
 and the title was changed to Hinkle & Co. This 
 firm carry a full line of general merchandise, valued 
 at from $12,000 to $15,000. They are doing a 
 good business. Jeff' P. died in April, 18S9. 
 H. H. Hinkle retired from the business in 18S8, 
 and engaged in the banking business, which bank 
 was consolidated into a stock company in July, 
 1889, with H. H. Hinkle as ca.shier. Thus John 
 A. was left alone to run the mercantile department. 
 Mr. Hinkle has a wide experience in merchandis- 
 ing, having followed the business from seventeen 
 years of age. He was married, in 1879, to Miss 
 Talitha Kilpatrick, of Hazlehurst, Miss., and the 
 daughter of William A. Kilpatrick. Mrs. Hinkle 
 is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Hinkle 
 is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the 
 Batesville Telejihone Company; is also vice-pres- 
 ident of the board of directors of Batesville Tele- 
 phone Company; is a member of the board of 
 directors of Batesville Printing Company, and of 
 the board of directors of the Bank of Batesville. 
 "William D. Hodges, who is classed among the 
 most independent and progi'essive farmei-s of 
 Northeast Arkansas, was born August 18, 1833, 
 and is a son of Fleming and Sarah (Kimzey) 
 Hodges, both natives of North Carolina. The 
 father died in the State of Alabama about the year 
 1843, and the mother was again married some 
 time afterward, her second husband being David 
 C. Whitehead of that State. They emigrated to 
 Arkansas in 1855, where the mother died in 1878. 
 The birthplace of William D. Hodges was in Flat 
 Rock, N. C, and he received the greater portion of 
 his education at Burrett College, in Spencer, Tenn. 
 
 In 1879 he was married to Mrs. Mary Hinkle, a 
 charming widow, by whom he had one child, 
 William D., Jr. Mr. Hodges commenced in busi- 
 ness for himself in 1855. and continued up to 1862, 
 accumulating in that time considerable property, 
 and being quite a large slave-owner. In 1862 he 
 enlisted in the Confederate army, and served about 
 three years in the commissary department, and at 
 the close of hostitilities he returned to Independ- 
 ence County, and again commenced farming and 
 milling. In connection with those two I)ranehe8 
 he operates a cotton-gin, which has been one of the 
 most successful in that section. Mr. Hodges is a 
 ]>ublic spirited and enterprising citizen, and is 
 always foremost in aiding and encouraging any- 
 thing, which, in his judgment, will advance the 
 interests of his county and State. He is a Demo- 
 crat in politics and has held several offices, but has 
 declined time and again to fill any political office 
 for the last year or two. He attends the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church with his wife, and is always 
 interested in educational and religious matters, 
 and in secret orders he is a member of Jackson- 
 port Lodge No. 91, A. F. & A.M., as well as of 
 Danlis Chapter of the R. A. M., at Oil Trough. 
 Mr. Hodges is one of the largest land owners in 
 this section, his land comprising 8,000 acres, with 
 some 850 acres under cultivation. The balance, 
 which is almost all bottom land, and situated in 
 Jackson and Independence Counties, is rented by 
 tenants, and some of it used for grazing purposes. 
 He owns 200 head of cattle, horses and mules, and 
 at one time kept a great many sheep, but finds the 
 latter are not an advantage financially. 
 
 H. M. Hodge, examiner of puljlic instruction 
 and loan agent, Batesville. The history of every 
 community is made up, so far as its more inter- 
 esting features are concerned, of the events and 
 transactions of the lives of its prominent, repre- 
 sentative citizens. In any worthy history of 
 Independence County, an otitline of the career 
 of the subject of the present sketch should not 
 fail to be given, together with a sketch of 
 his family. His parents, Louis and Willie (Cav- 
 enar) Hodge, are natives, respectively, of North 
 Carolina and Tennessee. They are still living in 
 
 
078 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 the latter State, and are happy and comfortable in 
 their declining years. H. M. Hodge owes his 
 nativity to Marshall County, Tenn. , where his birth 
 occurred March 13, 1849. He received his educa- 
 tion at the Morrisville Male and Female College, 
 at Marshall, graduating from the same in 1869, 
 and subsequently became a teacher in that institu- 
 tion. One year later he went to Western Tennes- 
 see, and here wielded the ferrule' for four years. 
 In 1875 he came to Independence County, Ark., 
 and here continued his former occupation for sev- 
 eral years. In 1885 he turned his attention to the 
 manganese mines, and was very successful in this. 
 He had charge of the Keystone mines for one year, 
 and was one of the first men employed. He was 
 also acting collector. He now owns a mining in- 
 terest in Izard County, and property in Batesville. 
 He was married, in 1871, to Miss Fannie Benton, 
 and both he and wife are members of the Cumber- 
 land Presbyterian Church. In April, 1889, he re- 
 ceived his appointment as public instructor. Mr. 
 Hodge is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and 
 is also a member of the K. of H. 
 
 Robert H. Hodges, M. D. Among the people 
 of Independence County, the name of Dr. Hodges 
 is a familiar one, for during his twelve years' prac- 
 tice here he has won an enviable reputation, not 
 only as a practitioner, but as a citizen and neigh- 
 bor. He was born in Tennessee, May 1, 1850, 
 but reared and educated in the State of Kentucky, 
 and at the age of twenty -three years began the 
 study of medicine under W. A. Lively, M. D. 
 He is a graduate of the medical department of the 
 University of Louisville, and has been a citizen of 
 Independence County since September 1, 1877. 
 He is a member of the Independence County 
 Medical Society, also the Stale Medical Society of 
 the State of Arkansas. He owns some valuable 
 property at difFerent places in the county, and a 
 comfortable and pleasant home in the town of Sul- 
 phur Rock. He was married to Mrs. D. J. Mag- 
 ness, nee Bone, December 10, 1879, and the hapj^y 
 results of their union are two boys, Eugene and 
 Armstrong, and three girls, Ethelind, Jessamine 
 and Nettie Roberta. Dr. Hodges is a modest, con- 
 servative and unassuming gentleman, and he and 
 
 his wife are both consistent members of the Metho- 
 distrEpiscopal Church, South. 
 
 Hon. William P. Huddleston is the name of a 
 prominent farmer and a fitting representative of 
 Independence County, who moved to that locality 
 when the surrounding country was a wilderness, 
 and has remained to see its present fortieth year 
 of civilization under the leadership of sturdy 
 spirits like himself. He was born in McNairy 
 County, West Tenn., on March 24, 1836, and is a 
 son of William P. and Sarah (Hodges) Huddleston, 
 of Claiborne County, East Tenn. The father was 
 a man of more than ordinary ability, and for a 
 number of years was a teacher in the public schools 
 of his native State, and a noted scholar. In 1849 
 he emigrated with his family to Independence 
 County, Ark., and located in what is now Gains- 
 boro Township, where he purchased a tract of land 
 and began a home. He filled many civil offices 
 with distinguished ability. None but the pioneers' 
 of Arkansas can fully understand the dangers and 
 hardships that surrounded the early settlers of this 
 State, when, for days and weeks, they had to con- 
 tend with the terrors of a new country without the 
 support and companionship of any civilized beings 
 besides themselves. On May 1, 1877, the elder 
 Huddleston died, and was followed by his wife on 
 April 3, 1886. William P. Huddleston grew to 
 manhood with his parents, assisting them with the 
 duties of the farm, and in the early struggles of 
 his life displayed the same strong character and 
 firmness of will that characterized his father. He 
 commenced in life on a farm of eighty acres, but his 
 industry and tine judgment have increased it to 500 
 acres, of which '200 acres are under cultivation. 
 During the struggle between the Union and the 
 rebellious States he was an ultra-Union man. In 
 the spring of 1861 he became a member of the 
 Arkansas State militia, and from the 28th of May, 
 1862, until the close of the war, served in the 
 Federal army as dispatch-bearer and scout. It 
 was in the stirring times of battle that the finer 
 metal of the man was discovered; when the modesty 
 and unassuming appearance of the individual gave 
 way to the brave and gallant soldier in many a 
 charge through shot and shell. On July 28, 1861, 
 
 
_J| 9 
 
 ^ 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 079 
 
 Mr. Huddleston was married to Miss Martha J. 
 ^\'!U•d, of Lincoln County, N. C, who emigrated 
 to Arkansas with her parents in 1859. This union 
 was a happy one, and six children were given to 
 the parents, of whom four are yot living. After 
 the death of this wife Mr. Huddleston was married 
 on September 9, 1877, to Miss Orpha E. Blair, 
 and by this marriage has had four sons and one 
 daughter. Mrs. Huddleston is a native of East 
 Tennessee, and came to Arkansas with her mother 
 ill 1809. Her father, Napoleon Blair, was a sol- 
 tlier in the Confederate army, and met his death 
 from a wound received at the battle of Atlanta, 
 (la. Politically Mr. Huddleston was formerly a 
 supporter of the Democratic party, and still ad- 
 heres to the true principles of Democracy as laid 
 down by Jefferson. In 1885 he identified him- 
 self with the labor organization, known as the Ag- 
 ricultural Wheel, and was elected to the lower 
 house of the XXVIIth General Assembly of Arkan- 
 sas as the candidate of that body, which position 
 he tilled with distinguished ability and to the 
 satisfaction of his constituents. He is a member 
 of the Knights of Honor and a Royal Arch Mason. 
 He has filled all the stations in the Blue Lodge with 
 distinction to himself and satisfaction to the craft. 
 He is a past High Priest of Dannerly Chapter No. 
 57, of Sulphur Rock, Ark. He is an active mem- 
 ber of the Missionary Baptist Church, and a liberal 
 contributor to the cause of Christianity and suf- 
 fering humanity wherever dispersed about the in- 
 habitable globe. 
 
 Wiley B- Huddleston has become closely ident- 
 ified with the progress and development of Inde- 
 pendence County, Ark. He was born in McNairy 
 County, West Tenn., March 2, 1843, and is one of 
 six surviving members of a family of eleven chil- 
 dren born to W. P. and Sarah Huddleston. who 
 were also Tennesseeans, the former's birth occur- 
 ring in Claiborne County. He was a farmer and 
 teacher by occupation, and in both callings l>ecame 
 well and favorably known. He emigrated to Ar- 
 kansas iu the year 1849, and settled in Independ- 
 ence County, eight miles northeast of Batesville, 
 where he endured the privations incident to pioneer 
 life. He was an active member of the Baptist 
 
 Church for a period of forty- five years, filling many 
 important stations, among which were the positions 
 of deacon, clerk of the association, church clerk, 
 and licensed minister. He filled several civil of- 
 fices with dignity to himself and satisfaction to his 
 constituents. He died May 1, 1877, in his sixty- 
 seventh year. Sarah, his wife, survived him nine 
 years, and died April 2, 1880. in her seventy- 
 third year. She was a consistent member of the 
 Baptist Church for more than thirty-five years, 
 and died in the full triumph of a living faith. 
 Wiley B. Huddleston was reared in Independence 
 County, Ark., receiving the greater part of his 
 education near Rolla, Mo. After returning home 
 he was married to Miss Martha H. Wainwright, a 
 native of Arkansas. Soon after this event he set- 
 tled on a farm consisting of 134 acres, which 
 yields annually a golden harvest of the diversified 
 products of this climate. This result has enabled 
 him to become an independent and prosperous 
 citizen. To him and his worthy companion eight 
 children were born, of whom six were boys and 
 two girls. Six are now living. He is a m(>mber 
 of the institution of F. & A. M. , and has filled a 
 number of stations in the order with credit to 
 himself and satisfaction to his lodge. He is a 
 member of organized labor. He was formerly 
 identified, politically, with the Republican party, 
 but is now a nonpartisan, and votes for men and 
 measures, and not for party. He and his wife, 
 Martha H. , are members of the Baptist Church. 
 
 Kelley Monroe Hulsey, farmer and stock-raiser. 
 Among those who have become intimately associ- 
 ated with the farming and stock-raising intere.sts 
 of this county we cannot fail to mention Mr. Hul- 
 sey, who, from a very early period in life, has 
 given his attention to this channel of business-life, 
 gaining for himself a reputation which may be a 
 .source of pardonable pride. He is the son of Kel- 
 ley and Sarah (Smalley) Hulsey, the former prob- 
 ably a native of Georgia, and the latter of South 
 Carolina. The elder Hulsey was married in Ar- 
 kansas, about 1820, and was a successful agricult- 
 urist all his life. He served five years in the War 
 of 1812, and participated in one of the principal 
 battles. His father, Charles Hulsey, probably 
 
 IZ 
 
680 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 moved to Arkansas abont 1811 or 1812, and was 
 one of the earliest settlers of the northeast part of 
 the State. Joseph Smalley, the maternal grand- 
 father of the subject of this sketch, moved to Ar- 
 kansas abont 1812. Kelley Monroe Hulsey was 
 born on the 12th of December, 1827, in Independ- 
 ence (Jounty, Ark., within one mile of his present 
 home. Like other farmer boys, he early learned 
 the principles of farm life, and received his educa- 
 tion in the schools of the county. He was one of 
 live children born to his parents: Allen (deceased), 
 Rachel A. (deceased), Charles (deceased), Warren 
 and Kelley M. After the death of his first wife 
 the brother married Miss Eliza Adams; Rachel A. 
 Hulsey married Mr. John W. Fowler, by whom she 
 had one child (she and her husband are now both 
 deceased) ; Kelley M. Hulsey chose for his compan- 
 ion in life Mrs. Mary Jane (Wiley) Gibbons, and 
 was married to her on the 20th of October, 1850. 
 In 1863 he enlisted in Col. Dobbins' cavalry, and 
 served until cessation of hostilities. He partici- 
 pated in the battles of Helena, Little Rock, Grand 
 Prairie, and numerous skirmishes. In 1870 he 
 purchased 148 acres of land, in its virgin state, 
 and eighty acres of this he has cultivated, and is 
 now living on the same. It is considered one of 
 the finest small farms in Independence County, 
 beautifully situated, on the banks of White River. 
 While Mr. Hulsey has not attempted to raise fancy 
 stock, he has upon his farm good grades of horses, 
 cattle, sheep and hogs. He is a member of Mc- 
 Guire Lodge No. 208, A. F. & A. M., Oil Trough, 
 Independence County, Ark. , and he and wife are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He 
 has filled the offices of justice of the peace and con- 
 stable in a very satisfactory and creditable manner. 
 John M. Hurley, farmer and stockman, was 
 born in Franklin County, Tennessee, in 1850, and, 
 at the age of ten months, he was removed by his 
 parents to Independence County, Ark., and here 
 has received his education and rearing. At the age 
 of fourteen years he moved with his parents to the 
 State of Illinois, and dui-ing his four years' resi- 
 dence in that State his time was employed in 
 attending school, his educational advantages being 
 excellent. They next settled in Jasper County, 
 
 Mo., near Carthage, where John M. made his 
 home for eight years, then removing to Benton 
 County, Ark. Prior to this, he had spent about 
 eighteen months in Colorado, and had worked in the 
 mines in Leadville, accumulating thereby quite a 
 sum of money. He was married in Benton County, 
 to Miss Anna Hale, a native of the county, and two 
 children blessed their union: William M. and Fan- 
 nie C, who died at the age of four months. In 
 March, 1876, his wife died in Dallas County, Tex., 
 and he was afterwards married to Miss Sarah J. 
 Haddock, who was bom in Independence Coimty, 
 Ark. Three of their four children are living: 
 Charles A. , James A. , who died at the age of three 
 years; W. W. and Thomas W. Since 1878 Mr. 
 Hurley has resided in Independence County, and 
 has turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, 
 being engaged in tilling forty acres of his eighty- 
 acre farm. He is a Republican in politics, and is a 
 member of the Agricultural Wheel. His father, 
 John Hurley, was born and reared in Tennessee, 
 and was married there to Miss Sarah A. Har- 
 rington. He is yet living, and resides in Webb 
 City, of Jasper County, Mo. The mother died in 
 1875, on her birthday (the 14th of October), at 
 the age of fifty-five years. The paternal grand- 
 father was born in the State of Maryland, was an 
 early resident of Tennessee, and a hatter by occu- 
 pation. He was of Scotch descent and lived to be 
 107 years old. His wife was a Denton. John 
 Hurley, the father of our subject, reared a family 
 of fifteen children, eleven sons and four daughters. 
 The first ten childi-en were sons, then came a 
 daughter, then another son, and afterwards three 
 more daughters. Of the ten sons who grew to 
 manhood none of them ever drank liquor or used 
 tobacco until after they were grown. All are mar- 
 ried and have families of their own. They held a 
 family reunion in January, 1889, and the father 
 was there, aged seventy- seven years. 
 
 J. B. James, of the general mercantile firm of 
 A. M. James, of Sulphur Rock, Ark. . was born in 
 the State of Texas, in 1855, but was reared mainly 
 in Randolph County, Ark., whither his parents 
 moved when he was quite young. His rudimentary 
 education was acquired in the common schools, and 
 
 er - 
 
in 1878 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Anna 
 M. (Robison) Bonner. Possessing keen business 
 foresight, ho conehided to embark in tlie general 
 mercantile business, which he did at O'Kean, in 
 ISSl, and remained there some three years, when 
 lie closed out his business at that place, and came 
 to Sulphur Kock and opened up his present gen- 
 eral mercantile establishment. In 1887 he again 
 engaged in busiue.ss at O" Kean, and gave it in charge 
 of his stepson, W. F. Bonner, the latter receiving 
 a one-half interest in payment for his services. 
 The style of the firm is James & Bonner. Mr. 
 James has resided at Sulphur Rock for five years, 
 and is doing an exceptionally good business. His 
 stock is valued at about $4,(XiO, and his annual 
 sales amount to $20,000. Besides this possession 
 he owns a business house and lot and a line resi- 
 dence property. His wife assists him in the store, 
 and deals in general millinery goods, and shows 
 remarkable taste in arranging her stock and in the 
 goods she sends out. She is a highly-educated 
 lady, and received her education in the schools of 
 Alton, 111. Mrs. James was born and reai'ed in 
 Wheeling. ^\'. Va. , and during the Civil War at- 
 tended school at St. Louis. Her father was a Ger- 
 man by descent, and was a tobacco merchant in 
 Wheeling. Mr. James has been jsostmaster of 
 Stilphur Rock for the past eighteen months, and 
 his step-daughter. Miss Bertie Bonner, is his prin- 
 cipal deputy. He is a Democrat, and belongs to 
 the K. & L. of H. 
 
 Dr. Finis E. Jeffery, senior member of the tirm 
 of Jeffery & Dickson, physicians and surgeons of 
 Jamestown, Independence County, was born in 
 Izard County, Ark., in 1855. He is a son of Hon. 
 Miles and Sarah (Williams) Jeffery, the former 
 born in Missouri, in 1816, and the latter in Izard 
 County, Ark. , about 1820. The parents were mar- 
 ried in Izard County, which county was always 
 their home, the father dying in 1868, and the 
 mother in 1875, both members of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church. Hon. Miles Jeffery was 
 reared in the wilds of Arkansas with no educational 
 advantages, but liecame one of the most intluential 
 men of the county, and held many positions of 
 trust and honoi-. taking an active interest in every- 
 
 thing pertaining to tlie upbuilding of the com 
 munity. He sc^rved as justice of the peace for 
 many years, was sheriff of Izard County from 1844 
 to 1846, and from 1856 to I860 represented that 
 county in the legislature with credit and di.stinc- 
 tion. In his death the county was deprived of one 
 of its most valuable men. Hon. Miles Jeffery was 
 a son of Judge Jehoiada Jeft'ery, who was of a Vir- 
 ginian family of English descent, and in 1816 re- 
 moved to the White River country. Ark., settling 
 in what is now Izard County, where h(< sjtent the 
 rest of his life. In 1824 he represented Independ- 
 ence County in the Territorial legislature, and 
 brought forward a bill to make a new county, call- 
 ing it Izard, for the then governor of Arkansas; he 
 subsequently represented Izard County in the legis- 
 lature, and brought forward anothc^r bill to divide 
 the county, naming the new county thus formed, 
 Fulton, for the man then governor of the State. 
 For perhaps a dozen years he served as judge of 
 the county and probate courts of Izard County, and 
 was one of its most prominent men. He was a 
 soldier in the War of 1812, and had a personal en- 
 counter with an Indian, whom he killed and whose 
 scalp he brought into camp; he died at his White 
 River residence in 1846, esteemed by many. The 
 maternal grandfather of our subject was also a pio- 
 neer of Izard County, but in an early day went to 
 California and was never afterward heard of. Dr. 
 Finis E. was one of the younger members of a 
 family of nine sons and six daughters. He was 
 reared on a farm, receiving a good education at 
 the common schools and the La Crosse Collegiate 
 Institute. He began the study of medicine in 1 876, 
 with Dr. O. T. Hunt (deceased), of Izard County, 
 and graduated in 1879 from the University of 
 Louisville, Ky., after a two years' course; he was 
 in a class of 105, and was one of ten who stood 
 the best examination, being awarded the degree 
 of honor. He immediately returned to Arkansas 
 and began practice in partuershiji with Dr. L. A. 
 Dickson, of Jamestown. Dr. Jeffery is now one of 
 the leading medical practitioners of the county, 
 and has an extensive and remunerative practice. 
 June 10, 1886, he married Maud Dickson, daughter 
 of his former partner, Dr. L. A. Dickson. Mr.s. 
 
682 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Jeffery is a native of Greenbriar Township, Inde- 
 pendence County. Dr. JefiFery is a prominent 
 member of the Independence County Medical So- 
 ciety, the Arkansas State Medical Society, and the 
 American Medical Association. He is the present 
 mayor of Jamestown, and takes an active interest 
 in all public enterj)rises, being one of the influen- 
 tial men of his town. He is a member of the A. F. 
 & A. M. , and belongs to the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church. Mrs. JefiPerj^ is a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 
 L. C. Jernigan, of the general mercantile firm 
 of L. C. Hathcock & Co. . wa.s born in Henry Coun- 
 ty, Tenn., in 1854, but has been a resident of In- 
 dependence County, Ark., since 1859, and was 
 prominently identified with its agricultural inter- 
 ests up to 1883. Although he never attended 
 school for more than three months at a time, he re- 
 ceived the fovirth first-grade certificate ever issued 
 in Independence County, and taught school with 
 marked success from 1875 to 1883. In the latter 
 year he became associated with Mr. Hathcock as 
 salesman, in his general mercantile store, but upon 
 the death of the senior member of the firm of S. 
 A. Hathcock & Co., Mr. Jernigan became con- 
 nected with the business, and has remained thus 
 interested up to the present time. He is the owner 
 of some valuable real estate in the county, and had 
 done much to build up the commercial standing of 
 the city of Sulphur Rock, and was one of the first 
 members of the city council. -January 16, 1883, 
 he was married to Miss Victoria, a daughter of 
 Rev. J. W. Bell, of Cotton Grove, Tenn., and two 
 children, Bonnie P. and Kate C, have blessed 
 their union. The paternal grandfather moved from 
 his native State of North Carolina to Tennessee, 
 and there spent the rest of his days. His son, our 
 subject's father, was born in North Carolina, and 
 now resides in Sulphur Rock, and makes his home 
 with his son, L. C. The family have been mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Church for generations, and 
 Mr. Jernigan, the father, has always been known 
 for his uprightness and purity of character. L. 
 C. Jernigan' s older brother, T. M. , joined the 
 Confederate army before he was eighteen years 
 of age, and during his four years' service, was a 
 
 participant in nearly all the regular engagements, 
 and was neither wounded nor taken prisoner. His 
 brother, James F., is a noted Methodist divine, and 
 although he received a limited early education, dur- 
 ing his early manhood he formed the resolution of 
 devoting his life to the ministry, and was very suc- 
 cessful from the first. After several years' preach- 
 ing in different counties in Arkansas, he was given 
 charge of the Sulphur Rock circuit, and in one 
 year's work, over 150 souls were converted to 
 Christianity. He is now located at Osceola, White 
 River conference. He was first married to a Mrs. 
 Shoup, at Jacksonport, Ark., and after her death 
 he wedded Miss Lizzie Kamp. The mother of our 
 subject was born in 1814 and died in 1878. In 
 1889 the brothers and sisters held a family re-union, 
 the first time all had been together in ten years. 
 It was a joyful and happy occasion, and when the 
 time for parting came, the old father read a chapter 
 in the sacred family Testament, and led in prayer. 
 Instead of feeling sorrowful, all were shouting at 
 the parting. Many will see this who knew and 
 loved the good old father and grandfather, now 
 eighty-two years old, recalling the name of Will- 
 iam H. Jernigan with tender memories. 
 
 John Kimmer is the youngest but one of the 
 family of eight children, five sons and three daugh- 
 ters, born to Henry and Sarah Kimuier, both of 
 whom were natives of North Carolina, where they 
 spent their lives. Henry Kimmer was a farmer by 
 occupation. John Kimmer was born February 2, 
 1815, and was reared in his native State of North 
 Carolina,- where he received a common-school edu- 
 cation. In the year 183(5 he married Miss Esther 
 Eford. Mrs. Kimmer was born in North Carolina 
 in 1817, and died in Arkansas, March 3, 1888, 
 leaving nine children, four sons and five daughters, 
 viz. : Henry, Margaret, wife of John York; Sarah 
 A., who married William McBride; Mary, now 
 Mrs. William Fulbright; George AW, Robert, Lou- 
 isa, wife of J. B. Fulbright; Martha, now Mrs. A. 
 D. York, and Jacob. About the year 1867 Mr. 
 Kimmer removed with his family to Independence 
 County, Ark. , where they have since resided. He 
 owns a fine farm of 267 acres, about sixty acres of 
 which he has under cultivation. In polities he is a 
 
 *F|« — *" 
 
« k. 
 
 '-^ 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 683 
 
 Democrat, and, as an enterprising farmer and well- 
 to-do citizen of tbe township, he is most hif^hly re- 
 spected. He resides about two miles southeast of 
 Cusbman postoffice. 
 
 C. C. Kirkland, a well-known planter and cot- 
 ton-raiser of Independence County, Ark., was born 
 in Alabama, in 1826, and is a son of Richard and 
 Elizabeth (Anderson) Kirkland. who were born in 
 South Carolina and East Tennessee, and were mar- 
 ried in Alabama, whither the mother was taken when 
 a child, but where the father moved after reaching 
 manhood. Mrs. Kirkland died in 1882, at the age 
 of seventy-five years. Mi". Kirkland died in 1845, 
 aged fifty three years. Five of their eight children 
 are now living: Two brothers, besides our subject, 
 reside in Arkansas; Lucinda is the widow of Will- 
 iam Tate, and resides in Tate County, Miss. ; W. 
 R., died in Alabama, at the age of thirty-five years; 
 J. W., died in Mississippi, aged about thirty-five 
 years, also; Martha, who married Mr. Garrison, 
 died in Mississippi, and Ellen, wife of Ed John- 
 son, now resides in Memphis, Tenn. C. C. Kirk- 
 land grew to manhood in Northern Alabama, and 
 in 1860 came to Independence County, Ark. Dur- 
 ing the Rebellion he served in the Confederate 
 army three years; was at the battle of Helena, was 
 a participant in a great many skirmishes, and was 
 assistant ordnance master on Price's raid through 
 Missouri. Since the war he has been engaged in 
 farming, and for eight years past he has been col- 
 lecting agent for the Singer Sewing Machine Com- 
 pany during four or five months of each year. He 
 was first married, in 1851, to Miss Charlotte Parks, 
 who was born in Alabama, in 1829, and the result 
 of their union has been six children: W. T., who is 
 now employed with The Goodspeed Publishing 
 Company; Mary E. , wife of W. P. Sneed; Frances 
 C. ,wifp of Tom Hardin; James W., Calvin A., and 
 Joan, wife of John A. Thomas. In 1872 Mr. Kirk- 
 land was called upon to mourn ' the death of his 
 wife, and after remaining a widower for some time 
 he was united in the bonds of matrimony with Miss 
 Jane Whaley, by whom he has one child, Cora. 
 Mr. Kirkland has always supported the men and 
 measures of the Democrat party, and has shown 
 his approval of secret organizations by becoming a 
 
 member of the Masonic fraternity, in which order 
 he has ascended to the Royal Arch degi-ee. He 
 has a good and fertile farm of ninety acres, im- 
 proved with buildings, fences and orchard, and 
 supplied with all necessary stock. 
 
 Martin Lacy is one of the prosperous general 
 merchants of Independence County, Ark., and by 
 his superior management and rare business ability 
 and efficiency, he has done not a little to advance 
 the reputation the county enjoys as a commercial 
 center. He was l)orn in the " Emerald Isle " in 
 1846, and two years later was brought by his 
 mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Lacy, to America, but the 
 latter' s death occurred soon after her arrival in 
 New Orleans. He was then taken in charge by 
 his father, James Lacy, who had previously come 
 to the United States, and was removed by him to 
 Missouri, where he was reared and educated. 
 Martin Lacy is the only surviving member of two 
 children born to this couple, and after first acquir- 
 ing a fair knowledge of the English branches, in 
 the common and subscription schools of Clark 
 County, he entered on a cours(> of study in the 
 Christian Brothers' College, of St. Louis, and was 
 graduated from this institution in 1869, at the age 
 of twenty-two years, his course there lieing marked 
 by hard study and rapid progress. After leaving 
 school he engaged as a clerk and book-keeper with 
 M. L. C. Bevans, of Canton. M(3. . and after remain- 
 ing thus employed for about four years, he went 
 to Shreveport, La. , where he was occupied as book- 
 keeper with John "W. Bowers & Co.. wholesale 
 grocers. At the end of two years he removed from 
 there to Winchester, Mo., and again resumed his 
 old occupations of clerking and book-keeping, but 
 this time was an employi? of John Hennessy. In 
 the year 1877 he came to Arkansas, and filled the 
 latter position for N. E. Duffy, at Oil Trough, 
 Ark. , where he remained three years, purchasing, 
 in April, 1880, a stock of general merchandise, 
 and embarking in business at Oil Trough, in a 
 store-house which had previously been erected for 
 the purpose. His stock consists of dry goods, 
 boots, shoes, clothing, hats, caps, hardware, tin- 
 ware, drugs, etc., and Mr. Lacy is also engaged in 
 dealing in cotton. Upon his shelves will at all 
 
 ii "*y ' 
 
 V 
 
Af 
 
 684 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 times be found an excellent assortment of the various 
 articles in which he deals, and in all his relations 
 with the public, he is strictly honest and fair. He 
 is assisted by James M. Nichols. He is a commu- 
 nicant of the Catholic Church, and his wife is a 
 Baptist. On the 24th of March, 1880, he was 
 married to Miss Sallie E. Toler, a native of Mis- 
 souri, the wedding taking place at the home of the 
 Ijride's parents, in Oil Trough. They have had four 
 chOdi'en: Martin, who was born December 31, 1880, 
 and died March 81, 1882; Jesse, born May 18, 
 1883: Dollie May, born December 5, 1884, and 
 James Edwin, whose birth occurred March 26, 
 1888. Mr. Lacy has always supported the prin- 
 ciples of the Democratic party. 
 
 Byron Lacy is a prominent merchant, and the 
 postmaster of Elmo, Ark. The olde.st of two chil- 
 dren, he was born January 16, 1860, in Dublin, Ire- 
 land. His parents were Frank and Fanny I. (Byron) 
 Lacy, natives of Ireland, and both fiom among 
 the oldest families in that country. The father 
 received his education in France, and was one of 
 the most polished and gallant men of his day, while 
 the mother was educated at the home of her par- 
 ents by private tuition. Mrs. Lacy' s father, Thom as 
 Byron, occupied a high position on the Queen's 
 Bench, Dublin, and at the time of his decease, was 
 succeeded by Mr. Frank Lacy, who held the of- 
 fice until its abolishment, when he was retired on 
 full pay until his death, in 1885, at the advanced 
 age of eighty-iive years, his wife having gone be- 
 fore him ten years. The second child was a 
 daughter, Ada Lacy, who was born June 8th, 
 1862, and was married, in 1887, to Mr. Edgar Lit- 
 tle, who occupies a position of trust in the Bank 
 of Ireland, Dublin. Byron Lacy came to America 
 in the spring of 1880, and located at Elmo, where 
 he was employed by M. & W. D. Hodges on their 
 farm. He remained in this position for a short 
 time, and then applied for and obtained the post of 
 watchman on the A\'hite River bridge near the St. 
 Louis & Iron Mountain Railroad, two miles below 
 Newport, Ark. He remained in this capacity un- 
 til the autumn of 1881, when, in company with a 
 friend, he went into the business of hunting, trap- 
 ping and trading in furs up to the spring of 1882. 
 
 His tirst experience in commercial life, was with 
 Mr. Oliver Bro^vu, who kept a grocery and bakery, 
 and with whom he remained until the beginnine 
 of 1884, and then bought Mr. Brown out, and con- 
 tinued the business for two years longer at Newport. 
 In the summer of 1886, he retired fi'om business 
 at Newport, and returned to Elmo, and in January, 
 1887, purchased the .stock of merchandise of G. A. 
 Duck & Bro. , at that place. The stock consists of 
 general merchandise and plantation supplies, and 
 Mr. Lacy's shelves will at all times contain a fine 
 assortment of every line in which he deals. In 1887 
 Mr. Lacy was united in matrimony to Miss Laura 
 Hodges.a daughter of W. D. Hodges, and this happy 
 marriage has given them two children: Fannie and 
 Mable. Mr. Lacy is a member of the Episcopal 
 Church, while his wife attends the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, and is much admired for her active 
 work in that faith. Upon locating in America, Mr. 
 Lacy declared his intention of becoming a citizen 
 of the United States, and at the proper time re- 
 ceived his naturalization papers, voting the Demo- 
 cratic ticket since then. He is a charter member 
 of Newport Lodge No. 26, Knights of Pythias; and 
 postmaster of Elmo, Ark. He has become one of 
 the leading citizens of Independence County, and 
 has set an example worthy of emulation not only 
 by his former countrymen, but by the rising gen- 
 eration of America. His thrift, enterprise and 
 ability have procured for him the success that al- 
 ways attends those virtues. 
 
 Wbitmill Leggett, a pioneer of Independence 
 County, Ark., was born on the lOth of January, 
 1829, in the old log cabin on the place where he 
 now lives. He is the son of Whitmill, Sr. , and 
 Elizabeth (Masters) Leggett, the father a native 
 of North Carolina, and the mother of Pennsyl- 
 vania. The elder Leggett came to Tennessee and 
 served about two years in the War of 1812, under 
 Gen. Jackson. He got his brother to take his 
 place while he came on and settled in what is now 
 Ruddell Township, Independence County. The 
 county was then a territory, and called Lawrence 
 County. He was among the very first settlei's of 
 this locality, and erected a little log cabin of rough 
 character. Everything was wild and unbroken. 
 
 ^1 
 

 ^' Sharps + Roads, 
 
 Independence County.Arkansas. 
 
3n 
 
^ 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 685 
 
 a few Indians were here, and the woods abounded 
 in wild animals. The clothes and shoes were all 
 home-made, and one pair of shoes was to last 
 through the year. Although they experienced 
 many hardships, they at the same time enjoyed 
 themselves most thoroughly. He moved to the farm 
 where Whitmill Leggett, Jr., now lives, in about 
 1825, and bought the land of the government. 
 There were no improvements whatever at that 
 time, but he set to work, and after several years of 
 hard work had made considerable changes. He 
 died on this place in 1855. The mother died 
 in 1864. They were the parents of a large family 
 of children, two now living: Jeremiah, and Whit- 
 mill, who was reared and educated in the district 
 where he now lives. He has followed the duties 
 on the farm from early childhood, and this he con- 
 tinues at the present time. He owns 240 acres of 
 land, with 150 under cultivation, over half of which 
 he has cultivated himself. In the conduct of his 
 estate, Mr. Leggett gives each detailed portion of 
 work his personal and close observance, and the 
 care and methods ever exercised have contributed 
 to place him among the foremost farmers of the 
 vicinity, as he is one of the most intelligent citi- 
 zens. He had one brother, Zechariah, who was 
 killed at Chickamauga during the war. Mr. Leg- 
 gett was married, in 1855, to Miss Virginia Lean- 
 eave, by whom he has two children living: Ee- 
 becca and Lou May. He was married the second 
 time, in 1873, to Miss Victoria Ann Mack, who bore 
 him three children: Emma A., Rachel C. and 
 Whitmill, Jr. Mr. Leggett is a Royal Arch Mason, 
 and has been a member of that fraternity for over 
 thirty years. Mrs. Leggett is a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South, as is her 
 daughter, Emma A. 
 
 L. C. Lindsey, treasurer of Independence Coun- 
 ty, is still less than thirty-eight years of age, but is 
 holding, nevertheless, one of the most important 
 and responsible offices in the county and discharg- 
 ing the duties of this position with an energy, effi- 
 ciency and ability surpassed by few, if any, pub- 
 lic officials. He was born in Lawrence County, 
 Tenn., September 30, 1851, and is the son of 
 Daniel and Sallie (Dalton) Lindsey, the father a 
 
 native of Tennessee and the mother of North Car- 
 olina. They were married in the former State, and 
 in 1853 emigrated to Independence County, Ark., 
 located first in Liberty Township, then in Inde- 
 pendence, where ho purchased a tract of land. He 
 owned the first mill in the county, which was run 
 by water power. He was also the first mechanic 
 in that section and there resided until his death, 
 which occurred in December, 1862. The mother 
 is still living. Ten children were born to this 
 union, three now living — Mary, wife of Jacob 
 Elms; Lewis C. , and Tennessee, wife of Robert 
 Simmons. The father was justice of the peace for 
 a number of years and deputy sheriff in Tennes- 
 see. L. C. Lindsey was but two years of age when 
 he came with his parents to Arkansas, and here he 
 was reared and received his education. He assist- 
 ed on the home place until the death of his father, 
 and in 1871 removed to Greenbriar Township, In- 
 dependence County, where he still resides. He 
 owns 120 acres of land, with about 90 acres under 
 cultivation. He was elected to his present office in 
 September, 1888, but previous to this had served 
 as deputy sheriff from 1886 to 1888 under Mc- 
 Curdy Hail. For his companion in life he chose 
 Miss Elizabeth C. Pritchard, who became his wife 
 in 1876. They have five children -Sallie, Lenora, 
 Daniel, OUie and Ii-a. Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
 the former is a Democrat in his political views. 
 
 Dr. Henry G. Logan, of Independence Coun- 
 ty, was born in Cleveland County, N. C. . January 
 30, 1847, and is a son of John R. and Saiah P. 
 (Jackson) Logan, natives of York District, S. C. 
 The family is of Scotch-Irish descent, and the i)a- 
 ternal grandfather of our subject was John B. 
 Logan, a native of Virginia, who spent the greater 
 part of his life in York District, S. C, where he 
 died. John R. Logan was an extensive farmer, 
 and acquired considerable means, though he was a 
 heavy loser by the war. He was one of the most 
 prominent men of his county, and held many posi- 
 tions of trust and honor. He was a representative 
 in the State legislature four years, and was a life 
 lone Democrat. Both he and his wife were mem- 
 bers of the Missionary Baptist Church, though 
 
f 
 
 686 
 
 HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Mrs. Logan was formerly a Presbyterian. They 
 had ten children, viz.: Benjamin F., Leonardas 
 M., Henry G. , Elizabeth Bomer, Emily Herndon, 
 Amanda McBrayer and Ida Hogue, living; and 
 David J., who was captain of Company F, Eigh- 
 teenth South Carolina Confederates, and was killed 
 by pickets in the trenches of Petersbiu'g, June 18, 
 1864; John Pinkney was killed at Hatch's Kun, 
 February 6, 1865, while serving in the Twelfth 
 North Carolina Infantry; Hugh G. died at the 
 age of three years. The mother died in 1865, at 
 about the age of fifty-one years, and Mr. Logan 
 afterward married a Miss Allison, of York District, 
 S. C, who now resides at the old homestead, in 
 Cleveland County, N. C. John R. Logan died in 
 Cleveland County, N. C, April U, 1884, aged 
 seventy- three years. Henry G. received his early 
 education at Shelby, N. C. In May, 1864, he en- 
 listed in Company D, Second North Carolina Re- 
 serves, and served as first lieutenant until the close 
 of the war, surrendering at Greensboro, N. C 
 After the close of the war he attended school one 
 year, and the following two years engaged in 
 teaching. He also learned photography, at which 
 profession he worked at Shelby. While traveling 
 through North and South Carolina and Mississippi 
 he studied medicine, and, in 1874, attended a 
 course of medical lectures at Louisville Medical 
 College. In 1879-80 he attended the Atlanta 
 Medical College, where he graduated, returning to 
 Arkansas, where he entered upon the practice of 
 his chosen profession. He has been very success- 
 ful as a physician, and now has an extensive prac- 
 tice. In 1874 he married Sarah Howell, daughter 
 of Henry Howell, of Independence County. She 
 was born in 1855, and reared in Mississippi. They 
 have two children living, viz. : Emma E. , aged 
 eight, and Jefferson D. , aged five. Marion P. died 
 at the age of three years. 
 
 Isaac J. Long, D. D. , president of the Arkan- 
 sas College, located at Batesville, one of the most 
 noted institutions of learning in that State, is of 
 Scotch-Irish ancestry. His paternal grandfather, 
 Joseph Long, was born in Virginia, but in early 
 life removed to East Tennessee and settled on the 
 Holston River, in Hawkins County, where the 
 
 father of the Rev. Isaac Long, was born and grew 
 to manhood. Dr. Long's maternal grandfather 
 was Luke Hamilton, of Scotch parentage, but born 
 in the North of Ireland. In early life he emi- 
 grated to America and settled on Rocky River, in 
 what was then Pendleton District, now Ander- 
 son County, S. C. Isaac Long, Sr. , was a lieu- 
 tenant in Gen. Jackson's command during a part 
 of the War of 1812, and at the close of that con- 
 test he went with his kinsman. Col. Joseph Cal- 
 houn, to South Carolina, and settled among his 
 relatives in Abbeville District, then known as 
 "Calhoun Settlement;" but the climate being un- 
 favorable to his health, he soon removed to Ander- 
 son, where he was married in 1816, and on May 
 23, 1844, died from the sting of a poisonous spider 
 before completing his fifty-seventh year, his widow 
 following him in 1848. Rev. Isaac J. Long was 
 the fifth son and youngest child of his parents, and 
 was born near the Savannah River, in Anderson 
 District, S. C, on the 23d of February, 1834. 
 His early life was spent at the home of his parents, 
 and at the time of his father's death he had only 
 reached the age of ten years. After his mother's 
 death, four years later, he was left to act upon his 
 own judgment, and immediately began his battle 
 with the world. The only schooling he obtained 
 during his parents' lifetime was nine months at- 
 tendance, when in his eighth j'ear, and this was 
 reached after a walk of nearly three miles along a 
 lonely country path. The start obtained in this 
 manner, however, developed a strong desire for an 
 education, and many difficult points were mastered 
 and problems solved by studies pursued at night 
 by the light of pine knots, gathered at the close of 
 the day's labor. On reaching the age of sixteen 
 years, and squaring up accounts with his fellow- 
 men, he found his worldly possessions amounted 
 to only two suits of clothes and a single barrel 
 shot-gun, worth about |6. Thus equipped he 
 started out to seek fame and fortune. His first 
 engagement was to labor as a common farm hand 
 on a cotton plantation at a compensation of $5 per 
 month and his board, rising at 4 o'clock in the 
 morning and working though the day with the 
 foremost laborer on the place. In this way he saved 
 
 ^. 
 
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 687 
 
 lip enough money to complete bis English educa- 
 tion. His classical and mathematical course was 
 obtained chietly at Tbaliau Academy, in South Car- 
 olina, where, in addition to keeping up with his 
 classes, be tilled the laborious position of tutor 
 for three hours each day, as a means of defraying 
 expenses. Receiving encouragement and assistance 
 from a fiiend and pastor, the llev. David Hum- 
 phreys, he entered Center College, at Danville, Ky. , 
 in 1855, and graduated from that institution with 
 the second honor in a class of twenty seven 
 gathered from thirteen States. Having chosen 
 the ministry (Presbyterian) as a profession, he en- 
 tered the Theological Seminary at Danville, four 
 days after graduating from college, and remained 
 here for some for some time enjoying the instruc- 
 tion received from men of national reputation. 
 In 185U he was selected as one of the principals of 
 the preparatory department of his alma mater, and 
 here began his work as an instructor in ancient 
 languages, in which he has been identified during 
 a large portion of his subsequent life. He was 
 licensed to preach after the usual examinations by 
 the Presbytery of Transylvania, at Lebanon, Ky. , 
 on the 12th of April, 1860, and after preaching 
 the gospel for several months, he resigned his 
 position as instructor, and repaired to the Theo- 
 logical Seminary at Columbia, S. C, for the pur- 
 pose of attending the lectures given by the cele- 
 brated Dr. Thornwell, professor of theology at 
 that institution. He entered in October, 1860, and 
 remained a portion of that winter and spring, e.x- 
 pecting at the close of the session to return to Ken- 
 tucky, but the Civil War beginning in the spring 
 of 1S()1, thwarted all his plans. He then accepted 
 a call to the jiastorate of Concord Presbyterian 
 Church, in Sumter County, S. C, and was or- 
 dained and installed by the Presbyter}' of Harmony, 
 October 31, 1M61. At the outbreak of war, al- 
 though strongly opposed to secession, yet believing 
 that bis allegiance as a citizen was due primarily 
 to the State, his fortunes were cast with the South- 
 ern Confederacy. He served for a time as an inde- 
 pendent volunteer chaj)lain, accepting neither com- 
 mission nor comf)ensation from the government. 
 Dr. Long founded an academy at Batesville, by 
 
 employing teachers and boarding them partly with- 
 out compensation, and giving a part of his own 
 time to the work. This formed the nucleus from 
 which the Arkansas College was organized, in the 
 fall of 1872, and of which he was elected the first 
 president, with the professorship of ancient lan- 
 guages and moral science, holding this position at 
 the present time, besides preaching regularly to 
 his pastoral charge. This institution has been 
 pressed forward by Dr. Long's perseverance in 
 the face of many discouragements and difficulties 
 incident to such an undertaking, until it has 
 achieved a success almost unprecedented. He 
 was married at Itonia, S. C, on August 30. 185'.l, 
 to Miss Callie Penelope, second daughter of the 
 Rev. J. L. Kennedy, A. M., a widely-known and 
 eloquent Presbyterian clergyman, who was also an 
 eminent classical teacher in the northwestern part 
 of South Carolina, and at one time professor of 
 mathematics in Oglethorpe University, Georgia. 
 Mrs. Long is of Scotch Irish descent, and a rela- 
 tion and namesake of Mrs. William Preston, of 
 South Carolina. Dr. Long and his wife are the 
 parents of seven children, sis sons and one daugh- 
 ter, of whom three sons died in infancy. Eugene 
 R. was born in Sumter County, S. C, December 
 10, 1862; the only daughter, Irene, was born Octo- 
 ber 3, 1864; Ross K., bom June 12, 1871, and 
 Mack H., born July 24. 1873. Dr. Long is a 
 thoughtful, deliberate speaker, and a profound 
 theologian and logician. In addition to his labors 
 here as a minister, he has founded and conducted 
 the Arkansas College, at Batesville, of which he 
 has been president since its commencement. He 
 is a thorough educator, and many young men and 
 women of Batesville and elsewhere have ahundant 
 reason to feel grateful that they were placed under 
 his care. He is one of the most useful men in 
 the community, and one whom the people greatly 
 appreciate. 
 
 M. C. Long, an enterprising business man of 
 Jamestown, Independence County, is a dealer in 
 general merchandise, farm implements, etc., and 
 is also postmaster. He was born in McMinu 
 County, Tenu.. in 1851, and is a son of William R. 
 and Susan C. (Scoggin) Long, natives, respective- 
 
 
'vt* — «>- 
 
 088 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ly. of Tennessee and North Carolina. They were 
 married in the latter State in 1850, and subse- 
 quently in 1857 removed to Independence County, 
 Ark., where Mr. Long died in March, 1889. Mrs. 
 Long is still living, and is about fifty-eight years 
 of age; the former was a tanner by trade in early 
 life, Vj)ut afterwards turned his attention to farm- 
 ing. He served a shoi't time in the Civil War. He 
 is a son of Moses Long, a native of Tennessee, who 
 died in that State in 1880. The parents of our 
 subject were both members of the Baptist Church. 
 They had ten children (six living), of whom M. C. 
 was the eldest. The latter attended the common 
 schools and one year at high school in Houston, 
 Mo. , after which he taught one year in Texas, with 
 which exception he has lived in Independence 
 County since six years of age. In 1875 he married 
 Ruth A., daughter of William and Emeline Jessup, 
 the former a native of Indiana, and the latter of 
 North Carolina. They lived several years in Greene 
 County, Mo., and soon after the war removed to 
 Lawrence County, thence to Independence County, 
 where Mr. Jessup died in June, 1889. He was a 
 blacksmith, and served as justice of the peace sev- 
 oral years in Missouri. Mrs. Jessup is still living. 
 Mrs. Long is a native of Missouri. Mr. Long 
 engaged in farming a short time after marriage, 
 and, then in 1878, established a grocery in James- 
 town, in connection with which he taught school. 
 In 1882 he enlarged his stock, and now keeps a 
 general stock of merchandise, valuing the same at 
 about $4,000. In 1878 he was appointed post- 
 master, which position he still holds. He served 
 two terms as mayor of Jamestown, and is one of 
 the most influential citizens of the place. Mrs. 
 Long is a member of the Baptist Church. They 
 have five children, and the family is most highly 
 respected by all who know them. The great-grand- 
 father of Mr. Long, George Long, was a native of 
 Virginia, where he prol)ably spent his life; he was 
 a prominent Baptist minister. 
 
 Andrew G. McCauley, merchant, and notary 
 jjublic, Pleasant Plains, Ark. As might naturally 
 be expected, mention is made in the present work 
 of many citizens of Independence County, Ark. , 
 now prominent in their different callings, but none 
 
 more so than Mr. McCauley, who represents the 
 mercantile interest of this vicinity. Born in Cov- 
 ington, Tipton County, Tenn., on January 29, 
 1851, he is the son of John A. and Emaline, 
 (Cheek) McCauley, both natives of North Carolina. 
 The parents were married in 1844, and five years 
 later moved to Arkansas, where the father received 
 his final summons. His excellent wife still sur- 
 vives. They became the parents of six childi'en, 
 all now living with the exception of one. Andrew 
 G. McCauley secured a good practical education in 
 the private schools, and subsequently engaged in 
 merchandising at Pleasant Plains (then Fairview), 
 Independence County, Ark., in 1875, and has con- 
 tinued there since. He carries a first-class stock 
 of goods, such as dry-goods, boots, shoes, hats, 
 caps and general supplies. He has assisting him 
 Mr. Blackburn, an accomplished salesman, who 
 gains many customers by his pleasant, social man- 
 ners. Mr. McCauley is also notary public, has been 
 postmaster for thirteen years, and also filled the 
 office of justice of the peace in a satisfactory man- 
 ner for four years. His marriage was consummated 
 in 1878 to Miss Gertrude Gan-etson, of New Jer- 
 sey, and they have two children, Beulah B. , aged 
 nine years, and Garrie G. , who died at the age of 
 seventeen months. Mr. McCauley is the owner of 
 120 acres of fine land, and also valuable property 
 in the town of Pleasant Plains. He is a stanch 
 Democrat and a firm l)eliever in Democracy. He 
 also takes a great interest in the progress of the 
 State and county. 
 
 Eli McClain, M. D., a young physician of ac- 
 knowledged merit in Independence County, Ark., 
 was l)orn in Randolph County, this State, April 24, 
 1859, and is one of four surviving members of a 
 family of eight children born to the marriage of 
 Matthew McClain and Alcy HufPstedler, that mar- 
 riage occun-ing August 7, 1851, in the State of 
 Tennessee, where they were born, the former May 
 20, 1822, and the latter November 27, 1882. They 
 moved to this State in the year of their marriage, 
 procuring a place in Randolph County, where the 
 father continued to till the soil up to his death. 
 April 29, 1864. His widow married John S. Camp- 
 bell, August 7, 1867. They, with all the children 
 
 ^ 
 
that have an-ived at the years of accountability, 
 are members of the Christian Church. The Mc- 
 Clain children still surviving are: Margaret, born 
 October 23, 1856; Martin, bom January 14, 1801; 
 Julia, born December 23, 1862, and Dr. Eli. At 
 first, the latter attended school in his native coun- 
 ty, but a strong desire to study medicine led him 
 to enter the Medical College of St. Louis, Mo. , in 
 which institution he made progress sufficient to 
 justif)' him in entering into active professional life, 
 which he did in his native State, and has continued 
 successfully in this calling up to the present date, 
 and many can testify to his ability. He is an 
 active member of the Christian Church, and is un- 
 married. 
 
 William B. McClendon, farmer, Jamestown, 
 Ark. For many years, or since his location in this 
 county, the reputation which Mr. McClendon en- 
 joys has been not only that of a substantial and 
 progressive farmer, but of an intelligent and thor- 
 oughly-posted man in all public affairs. He is the 
 son of Joel and Matilda (Mauldin) McClendon, 
 the former a native of North Carolina. The father 
 moved to Alabama while young, from there to Mis- 
 sissippi in 1840, and in 1853 to Independence 
 County, Ark., where he departed this life in 1858. 
 Mrs. McClendon came to Arkansas with her hus- 
 band, and died at their home in 1857. William 
 B. McClendon was born in Springville, St. Clair 
 County, Ala. , on the 28th of December, 1838, and 
 began business for himself at the age of twenty 
 years. He married his present wife, Mrs. Martha 
 J. (Morgan) McClendon, the same year. Her 
 parents, John and Mary Morgan, were natives of 
 South Carolina, and both are deceased. Mr. Mc- 
 Clendon, by his marriage, became the father of ten 
 children, seven living: David E., aged twenty -nine 
 years; Laura E., aged twenty -seven years; Cynthia 
 E., aged twenty one years; Henry C, aged eight- 
 een years; George D., aged sixteen years; Bertha 
 A., aged thirteen years, and Claude O., aged seven 
 years. The three deceased are: Thomas J., aged 
 twenty-four years; Neaty E., aged eleven months, 
 and Effie. aged four weeks. Mr. McClendon owns 
 260 acres of excellent land in Independence Coun- 
 ty, on which he has a pleasant home with all mod- 
 
 ern improvements. He was with the Eighth Ar- 
 kansas Regiment, Govan's Brigade, Cleburne's 
 Division, Hardee's Corps, Army of Tennessee, for 
 over three years during the late war; was wounded 
 and captured at the battle of Murfreesboro, but 
 made his escape, and came back to his home in In- 
 dependence County, in 1864, where he l)egan lifi- 
 anew by renting land for four years. In 1868 he 
 bought land in the woods, his present farm. He 
 has held the office of justice of the peace for two 
 years; is a member of the Masonic lodge at James- 
 town, and is a Democrat in politics. He has also 
 been a member of the Missionary Baptist Church 
 for thirty years. 
 
 Dr. M. McClure is the owner and manager of 
 "The Batesville Steam Patent Roller Flour Mills," 
 supposed to have cost over $20,000, including 
 steam cotton-gin, with steam compress for baling; 
 also wood-working machinery, planing-mills, re- 
 saws, and woolen mills; also the owner of very 
 valuable city property and thousands of acres of 
 land in this and adjoining counties. He left home 
 when but seven years old, and has paddled his own 
 canoe ever since. From what we can learn from 
 his fi-iends, he educated himself and made all his 
 property by his untiring industry, notwithstanding 
 his father's estate (who died when the Doctor was 
 but two years old) left a competency to have edu- 
 cated all the heirs, if it had been properly man- 
 aged by the administrator. The above shows what 
 a boy can do if he has the will and determination. 
 Dr. McClm'e was born twenty miles north of Mays- 
 ville, Ky., and obtained the most of his education 
 in Ohio. He graduated in the dental profession in 
 Cincinnati. Practicing his profession in Decatur, 
 111., for six years, he went South in 1858, and settled 
 in Batesville, Ark., where he has remained since. 
 He married a Miss H. A. Sigler, in Ross County, 
 Ohio, in 1861. He joined the Confederate army 
 in 1864, and surrendered as assistant surgeon, at 
 Jacksonport, in I860. He put several thousand 
 dollars in a newspaper. The North Arkansas Times, 
 a Democratic sheet, now owned by Batesville Print- 
 ing Company, and slill Democratic. We under- 
 stand Dr. McClure has about (juit his profession, 
 but still keeps things moving. 
 
 ^ 
 
A 
 
 690 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 William L. McGuire, farmer, Batesville. The 
 name that heads this sketch is one long and worth- 
 ily identified with Independence County, and, 
 indeed, no history of this immediate vicinity would 
 be complete which failed to make proper men- 
 tion of Mr. McGuire. Originally from St. Louis 
 County, Mo., his birth occurred near the city 
 proper now, on the 5th of September, 1840. His 
 father. Elam S. McGuire, was a native of North 
 Carolina, but emigrated to Missouri while single, 
 and was married in St. Charles County, of that 
 State, to Miss Catherine E. Lewis, who was a 
 native of Virginia, but who had emigrated to Mis- 
 souri with her jaarents. They moved to St. Louis 
 County a short time afterwards, and located near 
 St. Louis, where he followed tilling the soil for 
 one year. He lived in a little cabin, cut wood 
 and haiUed it to St. Louis. In 1841 he moved to 
 Independence County, Ark., and stopped in Bates- 
 ville, where subsequently he and his brother, Wil- 
 liam L., engaged in farming in what is now 
 Greenbriar Township. They farmed in partner- 
 ship for a number of years. He then moved to 
 Batesville and carried on the drug business until 
 about 1856, when he bought and moved upon the 
 Lee farm, adjoining his flouring-mill property, 
 a mile and a half northeast of the town, which he 
 had purchased three or four years before, and 
 which farm, with a part of the mill property (210 
 acres, 100 under cultivation), is owned and culti- 
 vated by his heirs. He there remained until his 
 demise, in December, 1858. The mother died in 
 December, 1888. He and his wife, being faithful 
 Christians, members of the Presbyterian Church, 
 were among the few to organize a Presbyterian 
 Church in Batesville, in 1849. He was elected 
 and ordained a ruling elder. They gave a hearty, 
 cheerful, helping hand to all religious, educa- 
 tional and benevolent efPorts and enterprises in the 
 community. They were the parents of seven chil- 
 dren — all living: William L., Charles E., Thomas 
 W., Walter S., John AV., Elam A., and Laura B. 
 The father was postmaster at Batesville through one 
 administration (Taylor and Filmore' s) and was also 
 school commissioner. He was a Whig in politics, 
 and was also a Know Knowing. He was a promi- 
 
 nent Mason. William L. McGuire was but one 
 year old when he came to this county, and here he 
 received a good, thorough education. He attended 
 the Literary and Military Institute in St. Louis 
 County, Mo. , for some time, and was there at the 
 time of the death of his father. He then came 
 home and there remained. His father was a man 
 who believed in making his boys useful, and re- 
 quired their assistance in his business. There the 
 son tirst learned in some degree the ways and forms 
 of business — drug store and postofiice, and fur- 
 ther on, milling, running of machinery, etc. When 
 his father sold out his drugs and moved on the 
 farm, he being the oldest, naturally became the 
 leader in carrying out the directions of his father ' 
 until his death, when he became more the mana- | 
 ger on the farm, on which he has continued, with ( 
 the exception of two years in the employ of his | 
 uncle, E. R. McGuire, and cousin, J. C. McGuire, 
 in Oil Trough Bottom, this county, in charge 
 of a gin and mill; and one year in the employ 
 of his aunt, Mrs. S. S. Watson, St. Charles 
 County, Mo. He is a member of the Presbyterian 
 Church, and in his politics he affiliates with the 
 Democratic jjarty. In 1862 he enlisted in Com- 
 pany C, Dobbins' Regiment and served through 
 the war. He was wounded twice at LaGrange, 
 Ark., by a pistol shot, once in the right leg and 
 once in the shoulder. He was in a great many 
 hard skirmishes and witnessed many hardships. 
 
 James Clinton McGuire, a prominent and suc- 
 cessful farmer of Independence County, is a son of 
 Edwin R. and Emeline (Craig) McGuire, of North 
 Carolina and Missouri, respectively, and is the old- 
 est of four children born to the parents, the next 
 in order being Mary E. , Cordelia and William E. 
 The father was one of the earlier settlers of this 
 county, having come here in 1837, and locating at 
 Oil Trough Bottom. He was one of the largest 
 land-owners in Independence County at that period, 
 owning about 1,700 acres, with some 600 acres 
 under cultivation, and resided there in content- 
 ment and prosperity from 1837 to 1864, when he 
 was burned out of house and home by a band 
 of marauding jayhawkers, who were roaming 
 over the country plundering honest settlers. He 
 
 ^ 
 
'k^ 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 fU»l 
 
 was well known and active in political circles, as 
 well as all [lublic enterprises, and was a man who 
 commanded considerable influence in his day. He 
 attended service at the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 and was an honorable man in every action. Mr. 
 McGuire was also a member of the Masonic fra- 
 ternity, and took an active part in developing and 
 organizing lodges. He belonged to Mount Zion 
 Lodge No. 10, and was also a member of Bates- 
 ville Chapter No. 9, besides being at one time a 
 member of De Molay Commandery, at Louisville, 
 Ky. His son, Jamos Clinton McGuire, was born 
 at Oil Trough on the 17th of October, 1839, and 
 received his education at that place. In early life 
 he showed some of his father's characteristics, and 
 the course he pursued in after life fully entitles 
 him to be "a chip o' the old block." He is a 
 member of the same Lodge and Chapter as his 
 father was before him, and the same iron will and 
 determined character mark his career as they did the 
 older man. He now owns about 700 acres of land, 
 and has placed some 500 acres under cultivation, 
 and is a true representative of the progressive 
 farmer. In 1871 he was married to Miss Mattie 
 E. Erwin, who has been a devoted wife. She is a 
 member of the Presbyterian Church, while her 
 husband attends the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 Richard A. McHenry is an extensive farmer of 
 Big Bottom Township, Independence County. He 
 was born in Batesville, Ark., January 12, 1840, 
 and is a son of James and Mary (Parker) McHenry, 
 natives, respectively, of Tennessee and Kentucky. 
 James McHenry went to Kentucky when quite 
 young, where he married, subsequently settling at 
 Batesville, Ark., when there were but few people 
 living in that part of the State; he was a mechanic 
 by trade, but devoted the greater part of his atten- 
 tion to farming. He died in Batesville, in 1844. 
 Of his five children, our subject is now the only one 
 living. Mrs. McHenry afterward married Will- 
 iam May, to which marriage one daughter was 
 born, now deceased. The mother died in Inde- 
 pendence County, in 1862, aged about forty-eight 
 years. When but thirteen years of age, Kichard 
 A. left home to work for himself, engaging at any- 
 thing that he could, farming and working on a 
 
 steamboat. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Company 
 K, Eighth Arkansas Confederate Infantry, and 
 sei-ved nine months, being discharged at Nashville, 
 Tenn., on account of disability. In 1803 he re- 
 enlisled, and was under command of Capt. Knight, 
 Col. Sweet's regiment, during the Missouri raid, 
 participating in several skirmishes — among them 
 Pilot Knob, Independence and Kansas City. After 
 the war Mr. McHenry returned to Independence 
 County, Ark., and turned his attention to farming, 
 his first purchase being eighty acres of land in the 
 bottoms of the White River. He now owns 880 
 acres of as fine farming land as there is in the 
 county, which he has acquired through enterprise 
 and good management. January 21, 1863, he 
 married Rose Tunstall, a daughter of Thomas Tun- 
 stall. She was born in Independence County, 
 April 4, 1847. They have three children living — 
 Richard K. , Katie N., wife of James Brooks, a 
 farmer of Independence County, and Rosa L. 
 Those deceased are: Mary E., James L. , James 
 I. and an infant. Mr. McHenry is a Royal Arch 
 Mason, and in politics is a Democrat. He is an in- 
 dustrious farmer, and has been very successful in 
 his chosen occupation. 
 
 John Lemviel McKee. From this brief and in- 
 complete review of the life record of Mr. MeKee 
 it will be seen that his life from earliest youth up 
 to the present time has not been uselessly or idly 
 spent. He is a progressive planter, residing in 
 Christian Township, but was born in Tennessee, in 
 February. 1S39. and is a son of John and Bar- 
 bara Ann (Smith) McKee, who were born, reared, 
 and married in North Carolina. The parents emi- 
 grated to Arkansas in 1848, and located one mile 
 west of where our subject now resides, on what is 
 known as the Newport and Batesville road. His 
 land was heavily covered with timber, and con- 
 sisted of 160 acres, and during a fourteen years" 
 residence on this place he cleared and improved 
 the entire tract. This property he sold in 1862, 
 and bought the farm on which his .son, Jolui 
 Lemuel, is now residing, and here lived until his 
 death, which occurred during the war. He was 
 followed to his long home by his good wife in 
 1870. The subject of this sketch received the 
 
v4' — ^ 
 
 692 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 greater part of bis education in Arkansas, and re- 
 mained with his parents on the farm until the 
 breaking out of the late Rebellion, when he volun- 
 teered as a private in Company G, First Arkansas 
 Infantry, and served until wounded at the battle 
 of Chiekamauga, having taken an active part in 
 the battles of Bull Run, Manassas Gap, Mur- 
 freesboro, Shiloh, and in various skirmishes. He 
 was honoralily discharged in 1864, by reason of 
 disability caused by the wound received at Chieka- 
 mauga, the ball having penetrated the left eye, and 
 lodging just above the left ear. He remained in 
 the hospital at Marietta, Ga. , for about seven 
 months after the battle, and after recovering suf- 
 ficiently to travel he was discharged, and returned 
 home, which place he reached about the middle of 
 May, 1864. October 28, 1866, he wedded Miss 
 Lucy McCravy, a daughter of John and Permelia 
 (Newton) McCravy, the former a native of North 
 Carolina, and the latter of Alabama, in which 
 State Mrs. McKee was also born. In 1860 Mrs. 
 McKee came to Arkansas with her married sisters, 
 Mrs. Eliza Kennemur and Mrs. Mary Haney, but 
 her early education was received in her native 
 State. Mr. and Mrs McKee have two children, 
 Jesse H. , who was born on the 'ilst of Sep- 
 tember, 1867, and died October "28, 1867, and 
 George F. , whose birth occurred on the 13th 
 of December, 1868, he being now the mana- 
 ger of the home farm. Mr. McKee has always 
 lived the life of a farmer, and, although he has 
 been a life-long Democrat, he has never held an 
 office, or aspired to do so. Mrs. McKee and their 
 son, George, are members of the Methodist Epis 
 copal Church, and, although Mr. McKee has never 
 united with a religious denomination, he has 
 always contributed liberally to the support of 
 churches. His uncle, George McKee, held the 
 position of major in the volunteer army through- 
 out the Mexican War. 
 
 Y. M. Mack, farmer, Batesville. The subject 
 of this sketch, well and favorably known to a host of 
 acquaintances in this community, is a fair example 
 of what can be accomplished by industry and per- 
 severance. He was born November 13, 1838, his 
 birth occurring in Wayne County, Tenn., and is 
 
 the son of A. W. and Serene (Hutson) Mack, the 
 father a native of Rockingham County, N. C, and 
 the mother of Maitry County, Tenn. The father 
 emigrated to Maury County at an early day, and 
 there met and married Miss Hutson. After resid- 
 ing here for twenty-two years they removed to 
 Wayne County, of the same State, and there re- 
 mained for another twenty- two years. In the fall 
 of 1854 he came to Independence Count}', and 
 located four miles northeast of Batesville on what 
 is known as Blue Creek. He bought a tract of 
 land, with about fifty acres under cultivation, 280 
 acres in all, and there resided until his death, 
 which occurred on the 7th of May, 1876. W^hile 
 living in Tennessee he held a number of minor 
 offices. He was a carpenter by trade, having 
 learned the same in Maury County, Tenn. , and 
 followed this for many years. He was born in 
 1793, and was eighty-three years of age at the time 
 of his death. His great-grandfather was a native 
 of Scotland, and was an early emigrant to North 
 Carolina. Some of the family were soldiers in the 
 Revolutionary War. The mother died August 9, 
 1844. There were eight childi-en in their family, 
 six daughters and two sons, three now living: 
 Aseneth R. , wife of John W. Ingalls ; Young M. , 
 and Victoria A. D. L. J., wife of Whitmill Leg- 
 gett. Y'oung M. came to Independence County, 
 with his parents, when about sixteen years of age, 
 and here he received the principal part of his edu- 
 cation. In 1861 he enlisted in Company H, De- 
 sha's battalion, and this was consolidated into the 
 Eighth Arkansas at Shiloh, in 1862. He enlisted 
 as a private and was promoted to corporal, ser- 
 geant, second, third and first lieutenant, and final- 
 ly to the rank of a captain. He was at the bat- 
 tle of Perryville, was in all the engagements of the 
 Army of Middle Tennessee, and was in the 120 
 days' fight during the fall of Atlanta. He was 
 wounded, by a gun- shot, in the right arm, at New 
 Hope Church, was taken to the hospital at Macon, 
 Ga. , and there remained four weeks. He was 
 again disabled at Franklin, Tenn., but not seri- 
 ously. He was within twenty feet of Clayborne 
 when that officer was shot. Capt. Mack was cap- 
 tain of Company H, Eighth Arkansas, and served 
 
 A 
 
 :?; 
 
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 <-m 
 
 with great bravery in every oBice. He went home 
 on an eighty days' furlough, but the war was over 
 when the time expired, and he surroiidorod at 
 Jacksouport in 1865. They were mustered in with 
 eighty three men, and at the close there were but 
 twenty-three left. After cessation of hostilities 
 Capt. Mack engaged in agricultural pursuits, and 
 has carried on this calling ever since. When he 
 left the army he did not have a decent suit of 
 clothes. He is now the owner of 300 acres of ex- 
 cellent land, with 160 acres under cultivation. He 
 has a good residence and all out-buildings are in 
 good condition. By his marriage, which occurred 
 in 1874, to Miss Lou Gilbreath, a native of Arkan- 
 sas, he became the father of six children : Maud 
 M. , Minnie P., Leonidas L. , Sidney C. , Louie D. 
 and Jeff D. Mrs. Mack and two daughters are 
 members of the Methodist Church. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic Blue Lodge and Chapter, the 
 K. of H, and the K. & L. of H. 
 
 Col. Morgan Magness (deceased) was one of 
 the earliest settlers and most prominent residents 
 of the State of Arkansas. He was a son of Jona- 
 than Magness. and was born in Davidson County, 
 Tenn., December 18, 1796, his death occurring in 
 Independence County, Ark., September 1, 1871. 
 When sixteen years of age he removed with his 
 parents from Tennessee to Independence County, 
 Ark., locating on Miller's Creek, northwest of 
 Batesville; one year later the family removed to a 
 point sis miles southeast of Batesville, and subse- 
 quently settled in Big Bottom Township, where 
 they entered land, and from that time were most 
 prosperous. Col. Magness won very distinguished 
 success as a farmer, and at the time of his death 
 was one of the most substantial men in the State; 
 he was also extensively interested in stock rais- 
 ing and planting. He represented Independence 
 County in the lower house of the State legislature 
 several years, and his honorable service in that 
 capacity will long be remembered by his constitu- 
 ents. His first wife was Keziah Elliott, a native of 
 North Carolina, who died in Independence County, 
 Ark., leaving no children. In 1845 Col. Magness 
 married Susan Dunnigan. who was born in Dick- 
 son County, Teuu., in 1815. To this union were 
 
 bom five children, four of whom gr<«w to maturity, 
 viz.: William D., D. P. W. (a jilanter and stock 
 raiser, died in November, 1875, at about the age 
 of twenty-five years), Elizabeth F. (now the wife 
 of Joseph J. Waldrop, a prominent farmer of Inde- 
 pendence County, Ark.), and Morgan J. (who was 
 born in 1855, and died December 2, 1882). Mrs. 
 Magness died March 16, 1877. William D. Mag- 
 ness was born in Big Bottom Township, Independ- 
 ence County. August 1, 1846. He received the 
 advantages of a common school education, and re- 
 mained at home the greater part of the time until 
 his father's death, having spent some time with 
 him in Texas during the latter part of the war. 
 He then began farming for himself, and is now 
 the owner of about 1,000 acres of fine land. Feb- 
 ruary 5, 1879, he married Mary E. Edgar, a native 
 of Jefferson County, East Tenn., who was born 
 March 15, 1852. They have one son, Morgan E. 
 Politically, Mr. Magness is a Democrat; his father 
 was formerly a Whig, and during the latter |)art 
 of his life sympathized with the Democratic party. 
 Benjamin Magness is one of the influential men 
 and enterprising farmers of White River Town- 
 ship, Independence County. His birth occurred 
 in Rutherford County, N. C, January 27. 1821. 
 and he is a son of Jacob and Eda(Webb) Magness, 
 who were also natives of Rutherford County, N. 
 C. Of their family of eleven children, five grew 
 to maturity, and but two are now living, our sub- 
 ject and a sister, Mrs. Sallie Chetwood, of North 
 Carolina. Benjamin Magness was an extensive 
 and successful farmer in his native State, where he 
 spent the whole of his life, his death occurring at 
 the age of seventy-seven years; his wife died when 
 sixty-three years old. Both were consistent mem- 
 bers of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which 
 church he served as deacon for over forty years. 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject was also 
 named Benjamin Magness: he was a native of North 
 Carolina, and served in the Revolutionary War. 
 Mrs. Magness was a daughter of Robin Webb, also 
 of North Carolina. Benjamin Magness, subject of 
 this sketch, received his education in his native 
 county, and remained on his father's farm until 
 1840. In the latter vear he married Charlotte Me- 
 
 f 
 
 s r,- 
 
A 
 
 9 k^ 
 
 694 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Brayer, daughter of Samuel INIcBrayer, of Cleve- 
 land County, N. C. Mrs. Magness only lived a 
 short year after her marriage. Mr. Magness next 
 married Adaline Sweega, who was a native of Ruth- 
 erford County, N. C. Her father was Elijah Sweega. 
 To this union were born seven children, five sons 
 and two daughters, viz. : Robert L. , a farmer of 
 Independence County, Ark. ; Alonzo, also a farmer; 
 Almina, wife of John McFarland, of North Caro- 
 lina; George O., merchant at Newark, Ark. ; Elijah, 
 engaged in farming in Independence County; 
 Susan, who died in North Carolina, and Jacob, en- 
 gaged in merchandising in Independence County. 
 Mrs. Magness died in 1865, at the age of thirty- 
 two years. Mr. Magness subsequently married 
 Barbara Ann Rice, who was born November 24, 
 1843. The following children have blessed this 
 union: Martha A., wife of Frank Martin, of Newark; 
 John M. , a farmer; William W., also a farmer; 
 Ella (deceased), Amanda W., Julia, Benjamin A., 
 Hugh T. E. D.. Gertie A. P., Bonnie B. and 
 Leona. After his first marriage, Mr. Magness 
 worked a farm of 365 acres, which his father gave 
 him in Rutherford County. In 1858 he removed 
 to Arkansas, locating in Independence Coxmty, 
 where his first purchase consisted of 330 acres; he 
 now owns 1,000 acres of good farm land, and is 
 one of the most extensive farmers in the county. 
 For forty-eight years he has been a member of the 
 Missionary Baptist Church. He is also a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity, and though taking no 
 active part in politics, his sympathies are with the 
 Democratic party. He supports liberally the cause 
 of education, and is ever ready to assist in the ad- 
 vancement of its interests. Mr. Magness is one of 
 the most substantial men of Independence County, 
 and is highly respected by all who know him. 
 
 Isaac Magness is a properous farmer and stock- 
 man, residing on Section 14, Christian Township, 
 Independence County, Ark. , his postoffice address 
 being Oil Trough. He is a son of Josiah and Pari- 
 lee (Williams) Magness, his maternal grandfather 
 being Isaac Williams; the paternal grandfather was 
 a soldier in the W'ar of 1812, and a participant in 
 the battle of New Orleans. Isaac Magness was 
 born in Fayette County, Tenn., May 24, 1836, and 
 
 was there reared to manhood and educated, but 
 came with his parents to Arkansas in 1857. They 
 resided in Cross County until 1867, then moved to 
 Independence County, and purchased 130 acres of 
 land, a portion of which was under cultivation, and 
 here resided until the father's death, in 1870, he 
 being the owner of 1 50 acres at that time. His wife 
 died in 1880. Isaac Magness enlisted in the Con- 
 federate army in 1862, and was a member of Col. 
 Bob Shaver's regiment, serving until June, 1885, 
 and was a participant in the battle of Little Rock, 
 and numerous skirmishes. After bis return from 
 the war he again took up the implements of farm 
 life, and has continued in this calling up to the 
 present time. His first purchase of land was in 
 1870, and consisted of eighty acres, but he sold 
 this two years later and purchased land in Christian 
 Township, which he also sold in 1879. His present 
 farm consists of 243 acres, and at the time he pur- 
 chased it there were but fifteen acres under culti- 
 vation, and it was only improved by a small log 
 cabin. He now has 130 acres cleared and 110 
 acres under cultivation, and on this is an excellent 
 frame dwelling-house and other good buildings. 
 He i.s a member of McGuire Lodge No. 208, of the 
 A. F. & A. M., at Oil Trough, and has always been 
 known as a liberal and public spirited citizen. He 
 was married on the 1st of September, 1868, to 
 Miss Missouri Hungatte, a native of Arkansas, 
 whose father was born in Illinois and her mother 
 in Indiana. To them the following family have 
 been given: Willie Lee, who was born on the 22d 
 of August, 1869; Elisha T., whose birth occurred 
 September 9, 1871; John M. , who was born Feb- 
 ruary 22, 1 875, and Hardy Marquis, born January 
 4, 1880. The eldest child. Miss Willie Lee, was 
 married to James Monroe Nichols on the 26th of 
 May, 1889, her husband being a son of John G. 
 and Nancy (McGuire) Nichols. 
 
 Jacob F. Martin, one of the well-to-do and 
 most highly respected farmers of Washington 
 Township, Independence County, resides five miles 
 southwest of Victor postoifice. He was born in 
 Independence County, August 18, 1839, and is a 
 son of John and Sarah (Fulbright) Martin, natives, 
 respectively, of Tennessee and North Carolina. 
 
 
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 695 
 
 The parents of John Martin were early settlers of 
 Lawrence Connty, Ark., where they died. John 
 Martin was married in Independence County, where 
 he died about 1858. He was a farmer by occupa- 
 tion. The mother of our siibject died in 1887, 
 and of her eleven children ten lived to be grown. 
 Jacob F. was the sixth child. He was reared in 
 his native county, but was deprived of the advant- 
 ages of an education, his help being required at 
 home. In 1859 he married Miss Elizabeth F. Net- 
 tles, who was born in the State of Tennessee, April 
 15, 1841. Of the nine children who have blessed 
 their union but four survive, viz. : Henry, Frances 
 (now the wife of William F. Shaw), Laura and Min- 
 nie. In 1861 Mr. Martin enlisted in the Civil War 
 on the Confederate side, serving faithfully until 
 the surrender, in 1865. He is a stanch Democrat 
 in politics, and east his first presidential vote for 
 John Bell, of Tennessee. He owns 353 acres of land, 
 about 115 acres of which he has under cultivation. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Martin are members of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church, South, in which they take 
 an active interest. The family is most highly es- 
 teemed by their many friends, and their long resi- 
 dence in the county has made their name a famil- 
 iar one here. 
 
 Adam Martin, of the firm of Martin & Bradley, 
 publishers of The Wheel, at Batesville, Ark., is 
 a native of Sulphur Rock. Independence County, 
 Ark., and the son of Hon. John G. Martin, a 
 native of North Carolina. The elder Martin was a 
 successful agriculturist by vocation, and became 
 a very prominent man later in life. He was 
 elected to the house of representatives in 1878, 
 and served one term. He was also justice of the 
 peace before the war, and discharged such duties 
 as were incumbent upon that office in a capable 
 and efficient manner. He died at Sulphur Rock 
 in 1881. He was married in Indiana, and in about 
 1849 located at Sulphur Rock, where his widow 
 still lives. Twelve children were born to their 
 union, three of whom are mutes, two sons and one 
 daughter, all of whom were educated at the same 
 school and were graduates. Six children are now 
 living: Mrs. Sallie J. Bradley, George D.. Mrs. 
 Lee TuUev, Urban, Pike and Adam, all of whom 
 
 reside at Sulphur Rock, except Pike, who is in 
 Little Elm. Tex. Adam Martin graduated at 
 Little Rock, Ark., in 1869. and was in school for 
 seven years, in the first school which was organ- 
 ized for the deaf and dumb. He was appointed 
 teacher in 1878, following this profession for four 
 years, and resigned in 18S2. He learned a part of 
 the printer' 8 trade at the Deaf and Dumb Institute, 
 and he and his partner established the Sulphur 
 Rock Wheel in 1887. One year later they moved 
 their paper to Batesville. where they have since 
 continued its publication. They have a large cir- 
 culation, and issue a good, spicy sheet. Mr. 
 Martin was married in 1882 to Miss Eunice N. 
 Walls, at Holly Grove, Monroe County, A.rk., and 
 she is also a mute. They have two sons, Ralph 
 H. and Adolphus W. W. Mr. Martin is a mem- 
 ber of the old Presbyterian Church of Little Rock, 
 and is also a member of the Wheel and Alliance. 
 He and his partner are both mutes and get along as 
 well as most business men. During the year 1880 
 Mr. Martin traveled extensively through Texas, 
 New Foundland, Canada, and all the New Eng- 
 land States. Most of the time was spent on the 
 ocean. During this trip Mr. Martin met with 
 about 1 , 500 mutes. 
 
 George L. Massey is a man of more than ordi- 
 nary energy and force of character, and no agricul- 
 turist of this region is deserving of greater success 
 in the conduct and management of his farm than 
 he. He, as well as his father, Jason Massey, was 
 born in Orange County, N. C the latter's birth 
 occurring in 1802, and the former's. May 6, 1830. 
 The latter was married, in his native State, to 
 Rachel Peirson, also a native of the ' ' Old North 
 State," and to their union wore born two sons, of 
 whom our subject is the only one now living. The 
 father was of Irish descent, and both he and wife 
 were earnest members of the Methodist Church at 
 the time of their death, the father's demise occur- 
 ring in 1882, and the mother's in 1871. George 
 L. Massey received a good practical education in 
 the common schools of Tennessee, and at the age 
 of sixteen years removed to Arkansas, and was 
 afterward married in that State to Miss Margaret 
 E. Lowe, who was a native of Arkansas, and died 
 
 # 
 
 \. 
 
<5 W. 
 
 696 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 in March, 1874, having become the mother of four 
 sons and one daughter, three of the family surviv- 
 ing: Edwin L., who married Miss Missouri Gunn, 
 a native of Mississippi, who died in March, 1874 
 (he afterward married Miss Vida E. Morgan, a na- 
 tive of Alabama); Ida, wife of Frank J. Leggett, a 
 native of Arkansas, and Henry M., who wedded 
 Mattie McClendon, of Alabama. After the death 
 of his first wife Mr. Massey married Miss Sarah 
 Jane Bryant, who was a native of Mississippi. 
 Her parents, Richard and Elizabeth Bryant, were 
 Virginians, and became the parents of twelve chil- 
 dren, six of whom are now alive. Mr. Bryant 
 died in April, 1876, and his wife in December, 
 1873. Mr. Massey owns land to the amount of 
 1,000 acres, and has about 300 acres under cultiva- 
 tion. In 1862 he joined the army, and after par- 
 ticipating in the battle of Helena and other engage- 
 ments, he was discharged in 1865, and returned 
 home to again take up the implements of the farm. 
 Mr. Massey is a Mason, and a member of the 
 Agricultural Wheel. He is a liberal contributor 
 to schools and churches, and he and wife are mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Church. 
 
 David B. Maytiekl, farmer, Desha, Ark. No 
 worthy reference to the agricultural affairs of this 
 county would be complete without mention of 
 Mr. Maytield, among others engaged in tilling 
 the soil. Besides this, he enjoys to an unlimited 
 extent the confidence and esteem of all who 
 know hi7ii, and is one of the influential men of 
 the county. His birth occurred in Cobb County, 
 Ga., February 26, 1840, and he is the son of 
 Elisha and Elizabeth (Blackwell) Mayfield, both 
 natives of Georgia. The mother died in 1841, and 
 the father then married Miss Catherine Blackwell, 
 a sister of his first wife. The elder Maytield re- 
 moved to Izard County, Ark. , in 1858, and there 
 he received his final summons in 1869. His second 
 wife followed him to the grave in 1888. David B. 
 Mayfield received his education in the private 
 schools of Georgia. He entered the Civil War at 
 its commencement, and was with his regiment, the 
 Eighth Arkansas, until the surrender. He was in 
 active service, and participated in the battles of 
 Chiekamauga and Shiloh, being woimded in the 
 
 last named battle. He was captured at Lookout 
 Mountain, and, after a long confinement at Rock 
 Island, made his escape and went to Canada, where 
 he remained until after the surrender. He then 
 came to Batesville, Ark., where he met and mar- 
 ried his present wife, Mrs. Elizabeth (Massey) 
 Mayfield, in 1867. They have two children living 
 and two deceased. Those living are Jesse and 
 William, who are now at home. Mr. Maytield is 
 the owner of 380 acres of land. He is a member 
 of the I. O. O. F. , and is a prominent member 
 of the Wheel. He and Mrs. Maytield are members 
 of the Methodist Church, and are much esteemed 
 citizens. 
 
 B. F. Mayhue possesses those qualities of in- 
 dustry and energy which are characteristic of 
 people of Ohio nativity. He was bom in Scioto 
 County, August 28, 1843, and was one of nine 
 sons and three daughters born to the marriage of 
 Amos Mayhue and Margaret Stumbaugh, who were 
 also of Ohio birth. They were reared, educated 
 and married in that State, and there the father be- 
 came possessed of about eighty acres of land, which 
 he gave to his youngest son. He subsequently 
 removed to Illinois, and afterward came to Arkan- 
 sas, and in these two States served the public in the 
 capacity of justice of the peace. He and wife are 
 members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
 B. F. Mayhue received his schooling near Shaw- 
 neetown. 111., and while a resident of that State 
 was married to Miss Sarah A. Fowler, on the 10th 
 of October, 1861, and their marriage has been 
 blessed in the birth of seven children; Benjamin 
 W., William A., Marion M., Mary M., Sarah A. 
 and Dora C. On the 22d of July, 1883, he was 
 called upon to mourn the death of his wife, she 
 having been a native of Illinois, and a daughter of 
 William and Amy Fowler. Mr. Mayhue afterward 
 married Miss Matronia Steed, a Kentuckian, their 
 marriage taking place on the Tith of November, 
 1883. Their family consists of three sons and one 
 daughter. Mr. Mayhue has eighty acres of his 
 160-acre farm under cultivation, well siipplied with 
 all necessary stock and buildings. He is a Mason, 
 and was a member of the Agricultural Wheel, but 
 resigned his membership in that organization, not 
 
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 (•>U7 
 
 because ho objected to its principles, but to the 
 way it was conducted. lu 1862 he enlisted in the 
 army, under Capt. McCaleb, and the first hard 
 combat in which he took part was Mobile Bay, Ala. 
 After receiving his discharge, in November, LSGS, 
 he returned home and resumed his farming opera- 
 tions, to which he has since given his attention. 
 Mrs. Mayhue is a member of the Methodist Church. 
 James A. Meacham, an energetic tiller of the 
 soil, in Independence County, Ark. , was born on 
 the west fork of the Cumberland River, in Mont- 
 gomery County, Tenn. , October 29, 1810, and is 
 one of three living members of a family of eight 
 children born to John W. Meacham and Mary 
 Allen, both of whom were born in the State of 
 Tennessee, the former a native of Montgomery 
 County, where he was also reared and educated. 
 He was an industrious and fairly successful agri- 
 culturist, and showed his approval of secret socie- 
 ties by joining the Masonic order, of which he was 
 an active member. In 1814 he moved to the State 
 of Arkansas, which at that time was a Territory, 
 and the nearest market where he could sell the 
 products of his farm, and the results of his hunt- 
 ing and trapping expeditions, and purchase neces- 
 sary articles, was St. Louis, Mo. His wife was 
 a member of the Methodist Church. James A. 
 Meacham was educated in the common schools of 
 Independence County, attending a school taught 
 by John Daniels, in Batesville, which was the tirst 
 house of the kind erected in the town. He was 
 married to Miss Mary N. Eenley, a Georgian, who 
 was bom on the 23d of January, 1812, their nup- 
 tials taking place on the 30th of April, 1835. Of 
 six daughters and two sons born to them, five of 
 the family are still living. Mr. Meacham owns 
 220 acres of fertile land, and. by industry and 
 judicious management, has put about 120 acres 
 under the plow. He has been a member of the 
 Masonic order for about thirty years, and is an 
 active member of the Methodist Church. He was 
 a border ranger for one year during the 30' s, 
 but his services were not afterward needed. James 
 A. Meacham, who is still a hale and hearty old 
 man, has sixty-six grandchildren, and twenty-one 
 gi-eat-gi-andehildren. 
 
 T. A. Meacham is a prosperous farmer of In- 
 dependence County, Ark., and was l)orn in this 
 county Septemlier 14, 1831, being a sou of John 
 W. Meacham, who was born in Orange County, 
 N. C, May 8, 1786, and was reared and educated 
 in Virginia, and afterward married in Montgomery 
 County, Tenn., on the 24tli of December, 1809, to 
 Miss Mary Allen, who wjis also a native of the 
 "Old North State." James and T. A. Meacham, 
 and Margaret Carter are the only ones of th(Mr 
 family of eight eliildren who are now living. The 
 father was a farmer. T. A. Meacham was reared 
 and educated in Independence County, and was 
 married on the 13th of March, 1856, at which date 
 Miss Elizabeth Allen, also a native of the county, 
 became his wife. The following children havi- 
 been born to this union: MoUie A., Sarah A., 
 James A., Eliza E., Leona. JefF, Cora L., William 
 A. and Robert R. Mr. Meacliam's acreage amounts 
 to 500, of which there are about 150 acres under 
 cultivation, which he has cleared and put under 
 the plow himself, and in tilling his broad acres he 
 has met with more than average success. He has 
 shown his approval of secret organizations by join- 
 ing the Masonic Lodge, and in this order held the 
 position of junior warden for some time. He 
 served in the late war under Gen. Hindman, and 
 in 1862 participated in his first hard battle at 
 Prairie Grove, Ark., which combat lasted for about 
 twenty-nine hours. He and family attend the 
 Methodist Church, and. owing to their long resi 
 dence in the county and their many admirable 
 qualities, they enjoy an extensive acquaintance and 
 are highly resjjected. 
 
 F. B. Meriwether is a native-born resident of 
 the county, his birth occurring in 1861, and he re- 
 ceived his early scholastic training in the common 
 and graded schools of his native county. From his 
 earliest youth he clerked in his father's store, and, 
 after attaining a suitable age, became a partner 
 with his father in a store in Batesville, and was 
 married, in 1880, to Miss Queen Berry, whose birth 
 occurred in Mitchell, Tenn., in 1862. To them have 
 been born two children, but only one is living, 
 Nettie. The wife died on the 3d of September. 
 1887. After his father's death, Mr. Meriwether 
 
<s »^ 
 
 698 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 engaged in business with G. W. Browning, and 
 came to Sulphur Rock, where he was engaged in 
 merchandising until 1880, and has since been in 
 the lumber business. He is quite well fixed finan- 
 cially, and the father, at the time of his death, 
 owned nearly 2,000 acres, his estate being one of 
 the largest and richest in the county. F. B. Meri- 
 wether is one of the leading young business men 
 in Independence County, and, as a young man, is 
 very popular with his associates. Unlike most 
 persons to whom a competence is left, he has not 
 foolishly squandered it, but has continued to add 
 to it, and is now ranked among the wealthy resi- 
 dents of the county. His parents, W. D. and 
 Eleanor Meriwether, were Kentuckians, the former 
 being a native of Shelby County, where he was 
 born September 5, 1822. He was taken by his 
 parents to Mississippi, thence to Independence 
 County, Ark., where both his father and mother 
 died. At the time of his marriage, he had 
 very little property with which to commence life, 
 but he opened a country store on his forty -acre 
 farm, and at the breaking out of the war, owned 
 an extensive tract of land, a lucrative mercantile 
 business, and thirty-five negroes. He was a very 
 heavy loser during the war, and during this period 
 the most of his time was spent in St. Louis and 
 Little Rock. After the war he again opened busi- 
 ness on his farm, and did exceptionally well until 
 1871, when he and family moved to Sulphur Rock, 
 and for the next eight years were engaged in busi- 
 ness at this point. From that time until 1883, when 
 the father died, they were occupied in merchandis- 
 ing at Batesville. He was one of the shrewdest 
 and most successful merchants of the State, and 
 was justly called the " Cotton King of Northeast 
 Arkansas." In his family were twelve children: 
 Mary, who died when six years of age; Julia, the 
 wife of G. Brown; Buck, George, Martha, Jo- 
 hanna, wife of Dr. J. W. Hodges; William, Frank 
 B. (our subject), Clinton, David, who died at the 
 age of three years; Eliza, who died at the age of 
 three and one-half years, and Thomas, who died 
 when an infant. The maternal grandfather died 
 at the age of one hundred and three years. 
 
 Killis J. Mills, an enterprising farmer and 
 
 stock raiser of Greenbriar Township, Independence 
 County, was born in White County, Tenn. , in 
 1835. His parents were James and Rachel (Pen- 
 nington) Mills, natives, respectively, of South Caro- 
 lina and Tennessee. At the age of five years James 
 Mills went with his mother to White County, 
 Tenn., his father, Lewis Mills, having been killed 
 in the War of 1812. He was a farmer by occupa- 
 tion, and spent the greater part of his life in White 
 County, Tenn., where he died in 1883. His wife 
 is still living in White County, aged about seventy- 
 four years; she is a member of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church, and is a daughter of John 
 Pennington, also of White County, where he died, 
 having made his home there for many years. To 
 James and Rachel Mills were born three sons and 
 six daughters, of whom our subject was the third. 
 In February. 1858, Killis J. married Lean, daugh- 
 ter of Thomas and Deidamia Elms, who located in 
 Independence County in 1859. Mrs. Elms is still 
 living. Mr. Elms was a teacher by profession, 
 and for several years served as sheriff in Putnam 
 County, Tenn. ; he died in 1 860. Mrs. Mills is a 
 native of White County, Tenn. The year after his 
 marriage Mr. Mills located in Van Buren County, 
 but throe years later removed to his present farm 
 in Independence County, which was then' unim- 
 proved; he has two farms, 136 acres in all, which 
 he now has well improved and under cultivation. 
 During the late war he served nearly four years in 
 the Confederate army ; he first enlisted in Company 
 D, First Arkansas Infantry, in which he served 
 nearly three years, subsequently joining Capt. 
 McGuftin's company of cavalry, remaining until 
 their surrender, at Jacksonport, in June, 1865; he 
 participated in the battles of Prairie Grove, Hel(>na 
 and Little Rock, and while serving in the cavalry 
 was with Gen. Price on his raid through Missouri. 
 At the close of the war Mr. Mills returned to his 
 home, and again turned his attention to farming, 
 at which he has been very successful. He is a 
 member of Neill Lodge No. 82, A. F. & A. M. , at 
 Jamestown. Politically, he was reared a Whig, 
 but is now a Prohibitionist. Mrs. Mills is a mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Church. They have two 
 children — James T. and Elizabeth. 
 
u 
 
 .L 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 699 
 
 H. L. Miniken, a prosperous business man of 
 Batesville, and one of its leadinir citizens, was 
 born in that city on August 9, 1850, and is a son 
 of John and Jane (Middleton) Miniken, of Washing- 
 ton County, Penn. The Miniken family were early 
 settlers of Pennsylvania, whose ancestors origin- 
 ally came from England. The great-grandfather's 
 brother was a noted Tory, who, at the outl)reak of 
 the Revolution, returned to England, where all trace 
 of him was lost. John Miniken emigrated to Zanes- 
 ville, Ohio, and remained at that place for a few 
 years, when he traveled further west, making the 
 trip by water. The boat in which he took passage 
 contained a great number of emigrants, and 
 one day an explosion occurred, which completely 
 wrecked the vessel and killed a number of people. 
 Fortunately, however, the greater portion of them 
 were picked up out of the water, and among the sur- 
 vivors was Mr. Miniken, who returned home, and 
 again started west with his family, but traveling this 
 time by wagon, and coming all the way overland. 
 He arrived at Batesville, with his family all in good 
 health, and immediately entered into the drug 
 business at that place, afterwards carrying a large 
 stock of general merchandise. Mr. Miniken rose 
 rapidly in the estimation of the people in his 
 new home, and after residing here some time, rep- 
 resented Independence County in the legislature 
 for one term, and also served as county judge. 
 He was was a very prominent man and influential 
 citizen up to the time of his death, in 1852. The 
 mother is still living and enjoying fair health. 
 They were the parents of fifteen children, of whom 
 only four are living: Julia, wife of Charles Bag- 
 ley, a resident of California; Jane A., wife of the 
 Rev. P. Hickerson; Helen, and Harvey L. , the lat- 
 ter being the youngest of the family. He was 
 reared and educated in Batesville, were ho was 
 engaged for some years in the livery business. In 
 1879 he commenced dealing in general merchan- 
 dise, a business he has continued ever since, meet- 
 ing with great success, owing to his method of 
 transacting business. Mr. Miniken has adoj)ted 
 certain rules for his establishment from which he 
 never deviates. His practice is to sell the best 
 goods at the lowest price, to be fair and square in 
 
 all of his actions, and these methods have given 
 him a reputation and enlarged his business to such 
 an extent that he is now looked upon as an author- 
 ity in commercial circles. He was married, in 1882, 
 to Miss Sarah J. Lawton, of Washington Coun- 
 ty, Penn. . by whom he has had one child — Dona 
 hue L. Mr. Miniken is a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity, and a stockholder in the Building and 
 Loan Association of Batesville and St. Louis. He 
 also has an interest in the Batesville Canning and 
 Evaporating Company. 
 
 D. C. Montgomery is a man well remembered 
 in Batesville, and one with whom many of the old 
 landmarks of that city are associated. He was 
 born in Guilford County, N. C, in 1810. and was 
 reared and educated at that place. Upon reaching 
 his maturity he learned the carpenter's trade, and 
 after becoming proficient in that, moved to the 
 State of Illinois, where he followed his avocation 
 of carpentering for some years. He next moved 
 to Missouri, and there formed the acquaintance of 
 Urban E. Fort, at one time a well known and pop- 
 ular citizen of Independence County, and from 
 him learned of the opportunities offered in Bates- 
 ville. He came to that place in 18-10, and. after a 
 few years' residence, was one of its most prosper- 
 ous and enterprising young mechanics. It was 
 here that he met his first wife, Miss Pheamster, by 
 whom he had one child, who died in infancy, and 
 was shortly afterwards followed l)y the mother. In 
 1859 he was married to Miss Mary A. Rutherford, 
 a sister of ex- State Senator Rutherford, but had 
 no children by this wife. In time, Mr. Montgom- 
 ery became the leading carpenter and contractor in 
 Batesville. and many of the old buildings were 
 erected by him and his then young associates, 
 George Case, Samuel B. Wycough and Thomas 
 Wamac. At the close of the war, or about 1867. 
 he moved to his late residence, some six miles from 
 Batesville, where he led a quiet and easy exist- 
 ence up to the time of his death. He was one of 
 the thirteen persons who formed the organization 
 of the Presbvterian Church in Batesville. many 
 years ago, all of whom have since died, and he was 
 one of the leading spirits in all public enterprises. 
 Mr. Montgomery was one of the few men who were 
 
 » r 
 
JiJ- 
 
 700 
 
 HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 not afraid to express their candid opinion on polit- 
 ical or religious subjects, and in every case his 
 views were correct and judgment good. He hold 
 a high place in the hearts of his fellow- citizens, 
 and out of the entire community it would have 
 been impossible to pick his enemy. During the 
 war he was appointed postmaster at Batesville, and 
 previous thereto was elected, through his own 
 merits, to the legislature for five successive terms, 
 and tilled the position honorably. Mr. Montgom- 
 ery helped to build the first house in Hughes' ad- 
 dition to Batesville, and had no superiors in his 
 trade. He left no children at his death, but his 
 widow still survives him, and resides on the home 
 farm, where she owns some 300 acres of land, with 
 about 100 acres under cultivation, and which is 
 creditably managed by her brother, James Ruth 
 erford. Many of the citizens of Batesville have 
 passed away to their eternal sleep, but none have 
 ever left a void in the hearts of their fellowmen 
 as did Mr. Montgomery, who, although his form 
 has departed forever from the gaze of loving friends, 
 his name still lingers, and will last in their memory 
 as long as life remains in the community. 
 
 Jesse A. Moore, a well-known and respected 
 citizen of Independence County, is a native of Jef- 
 ferson County, Tenn. , where he was born Febru- 
 ary 7, 1840. His father, I. W. R. Moore, was also 
 born in the same county and State in the year 
 1808. It was there he met and married Miss Julia 
 Moore, of Hawkins County, Tenn. , whose parents, 
 Hugh and Sarah Moore, of Virginia, had first set- 
 tled in that place shortly after marriage, and some 
 years later moved to Jefferson County. This hap- 
 py marriage was productive of seven children, 
 three sons and four daughters: George L., a resi- 
 dent of New Orleans ; Hugh L. , who married Miss 
 Eliza Dickson, of Hawkins County, Tenn. ; Mary, 
 wife of John Coke, of Tennessee; Martha R., wife 
 of Matterson Love, a native of North Carolina; 
 Julia Ann, who married Lucian Welch, of North 
 Carolina; Sarah, not married — now residing in 
 Chattanooga, Tenn., and Jesse A., who, like his 
 father, married a Moore, the lady being Miss Eli- 
 zabeth Moore, of Arkansas. This union gave Mr. 
 Moore and his wife three boys and two girls, of 
 
 whom three children are still living: Jessamie, Mal- 
 colm and Ernest. By industry, economy and good 
 management Mr. Moore has accumulated quite a 
 snug competence. He owns about 400 acres of 
 land, and has 200 acres under cultivation, besides 
 possessing ten town lots in a valuable portion of 
 Moorefield. He is a member of the Masonic fra- 
 ternity, and has held the ofBee of Worshipful Mas- 
 ter for four years, and was also elected a member 
 of the legislature in 1873, but through some polit- 
 ical chicanery Mr. Moore was not allowed to take 
 his seat in that body that year. In 1885, how- 
 ever, he was elected and served in the legislature, 
 and also has charge of the postoffice at Moorefield. 
 His wife is a regular attendant of the Methodist 
 Church, and a devout Christian lady. 
 
 M. M. Moore, grocer at Sulphur Rock, is a son 
 of James F. and Anna G. (Dillingham) Moore, 
 both of whom were born in North Carolina, the 
 former' s birth occurring in Iredell County, and the 
 latter's in the year 1813. They were married in 
 Independence County, Ark. , whither the father 
 came in 1819, and the mother with her parents 
 when a child. They reared their family in this 
 county and here the father was engaged in black- 
 smithing, carriage-making, farming and stock rais- 
 ing. In these enterprises he accumulated a large 
 fortune, and died in 187'2, at the age of sixty-tive 
 years, and his wife when thirty five years old. He 
 was a Whig in politics, and two of the four chil 
 dren born to himself and wife are now living. The 
 paternal grandfather, John Moore, was born in 
 Scotland and came to the United States, locating 
 in North Carolina, where he married and spent 
 his life, dying at the age of one hundred years. 
 M. M. Moore grew to manhood in Indejiendence 
 County, but owing to the scarcity of schools in his 
 youth, he received a limited early education. 
 Brought up to a knowledge of farm life, he very 
 naturally chose that as his calling at first, but when 
 the war broke out laid down his farm work to en- 
 list in the Confederate army. He participated in 
 the battle of Shiloh, where he was wounded, and, 
 accepting Lincoln's proclamation, he did not return 
 to service, but came home and resumed farm work, 
 continuing until 1875, when, with keen business 
 
 ^ 
 
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 701 
 
 foresight and realizing the advantages to be gained 
 in conducting a grocery, he embarked in the busi- 
 ness at Sulphur Rock. In connection with this he 
 looks after the interests of his farm, which com- 
 prises ",240 acres. He is a member of the Metho- 
 dist Church, and in his political views is a Repub- 
 lican. He was first married when twenty-seven 
 years of age to Miss Fannie Rushing, who died in 
 1876, having borne the following children: John, 
 who died when six years of age; Mary, wife of 
 Everett Murphy; Daniel, Susie, who died at the 
 age of ten years; Rosa and Enoch. His second 
 wife was Miss Mary Moore, and their two children 
 are named John N. and Fannie. In his younger 
 days Mr. Moore taught school for about ten years 
 in Northern Alabama and some in Independence 
 County, Ark. 
 
 Col. T. J. Morgan, farmer and stock raiser, 
 and one of the best known men in Independence 
 County, was born near Hamburg, S. C, in the 
 year 1827. He is a son of John and Mary Ann 
 (Vaughn) Morgan, of Edgefield District, South 
 Carolina, and Augusta. Ga. . respectively, who 
 were married in Abbeville District, South Caro- 
 lina, where they resided until 1882, and then 
 emigrated to Independence County, Ark. The 
 parents were among the earlier settlers, and came 
 here when Independence County was a wilderness. 
 They bought some land and began improving it, 
 and in time, as the country began to settle up, the 
 father became one of its leading men. He was a 
 successful farmer and a highly res]iected citizen, 
 and for some years held the office of justice of the 
 peace, being also associate judge of the Imlepend- 
 ence County court. His father, William Morgan, 
 was also a native of South Carolina, of Irish and 
 Welsh descent, and fought in the War of 1812. 
 In 1832 he moved to Texas, where he resided until 
 his decease, his occupation during that time being 
 that of farmer, trader and saw-mill operator. His 
 father, Elias Morgan, was a native of Ireland, who 
 emigrated to America when a young man and re- 
 sided in South Carolina for the remainder of his life. 
 The maternal grandfather. Thomas J. Vaughn, 
 was a prominent contractor and builder, of Eng- 
 lish and Welsh oritrin, who died when Mrs. John 
 
 Morgan was a girl. Col. Thomas J. Morgan was 
 the oldest of four sons and seven daughters, of 
 whom four are yet living, and all residing in Inde- 
 pendence County. He is strictly a self-made man. 
 having attended school but very little in his young- 
 er days, but is possessed of a wonderful amount of 
 knowledge and information on almost every con- 
 ceivable subject, which his natural ability and fine 
 intellect have enabled him to understand thorough- 
 ly. At eighteen years of age he enlisted in Com- 
 pany D, of Yell's Arkansas regiment, and at the 
 battle of Buena Vista was a member of Wood's 
 division of Gen. Taylor's army. He gave four 
 year's service to the Confederacy, and distinguished 
 himself in every action, winning promotion from a 
 private up to his present title. He left the army at 
 Corinth, Miss., and shortly afterward assisted in 
 the organization of Company C, of Col. Robert 
 Newton's regiment of Arkansas Cavalry, and com- 
 manded that company until the fall of 180:5, when 
 he was promoted to colonel, his regiment being 
 known as Morgan's regiment. He never lost a day 
 by sickness or any other cause, and was in almost 
 every battle of note, as weU as Price's raids through 
 Missouri. After the surrender at Jacksonport he 
 returned to his home and family to enjoy the peace 
 he was so well entitled to. Col. Morgan was mar- 
 ried in 1855 to Miss Sarah Elizabeth, daughter of 
 Abram and Sebilla Allen, of Alabama, who were 
 among the early settlers of this State, first locating 
 in the river country, and a few years afterwards 
 moving to Independence County, where Mr. Allen 
 became a successful and wealthy farmer. Nine 
 children were born to Col. Morgan and his wife, of 
 whom five sons and two daughters are still living 
 Eliza Jane, wife of H. F. Dwight; Andrew David, 
 Jefferson D., Mar}' Ann, wife of John T. Powell; 
 William A., Thomas E. and John A., all of them 
 having been well educated. Col. Morgan and his 
 family lived in different portions of Arkansas and 
 bought land in various sections. He owns 340 
 acres in one tract, 640 acres in another and 150 
 acres in still another, besides giving each of his 
 children a generous portion, and has about 300 
 acres under cultivation. In 1874-75 he represented 
 his county in the legislature, after repeated solicitn- 
 
jy: 
 
 702 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 tion, but since then he has had no further political 
 aspirations. He is a Democrat in politics, and a 
 member of the A. F. & A. M., belonging to Neill 
 Lodge No. 285. His grandfather, Elias Morgan, 
 was a cousin of the famous Gen. Daniel Morgan, 
 of Revolutionary fame, and it is believed that they 
 were the only two of the Morgan family who ever 
 came to America. 
 
 Judge Henry Neill, retired tanner of Green- 
 briar Township, owes his nativity to Mason County, 
 Ky. , where his birth occui'red in 1808, and he is 
 a prominent citizen of this county, respected and 
 esteemed for his sterling integrity, sober, soimd 
 judgment, broad intelligence and liberal, progress- 
 ive ideas. He is a man whose career has been 
 above reproach. His parents, Robert and Mag- 
 daleua (Black) Neill, were natives of Wilmington, 
 Del., and the father's birth occurred in 1767, the 
 same year in which Gen. Jackson was born. The 
 mother was born some years later, in the latter 
 part of the eighteenth century. They removed to 
 Mason County, Ky., at an early day, and later 
 crossed the Ohio River and settled in the Buckeye 
 State. There the father died at the age of eighty- 
 three, and the mother at the age of eighty one 
 years. She was a member of the Presbyterian 
 Church. The paternal grandfather of Judge 
 Neill, Robert Neill, was a native of the Emerald 
 Isle. Judge Neill, the sixth of nine children, live 
 sons and four daughters, born to his parents, 
 received a limited common school education, and 
 began for himself at the age of seventeen by learn- 
 ing the tanner' s trade. Before reaching his twenty- 
 first year he went to Northeast Missouri, and found 
 a position in a tan- yard, remaining there about 
 three years. In 1832 he came to Independence 
 County, where he followed his trade in a tan-yard 
 until 1834, and then established one of his own on 
 his present farm. This he continued until his age 
 would not permit of further work. In 1830 he 
 married Miss Dorcas Stark, daughter of Job and 
 Elizabeth Stark, natives of Kentucky and North 
 Carolina, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Stark went 
 to Missouri when single, were married there, and 
 there remained until 1832, when they came to 
 Independence County, and there passed their last 
 
 days, the mother dying in 1844 and the father in 
 1845. Both were members of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church for many years. Mr. Stark followed 
 the occupation of a farmer all his life, and served 
 faithfully and well in the War of 1812. Judge 
 and Mrs. Neill reared six children: Job S., who 
 was killed at the battle of Oak Hill, on the 10th of 
 August, 1861, while serving in the Confederate 
 army; Robert, Elizabeth, wife of Dr. L. A. Dick- 
 sou; Florence, wife of Captain George Rutherford; 
 Delia, widow of M. D. Hulsey, who was murdered 
 in 1869; Henry L., who died with consumption, 
 aged twenty-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Neill cel- 
 ebrated their golden wedding in 1886, and were 
 the recipients of many tokens of affection and 
 esteem by their numerous relatives and friends. 
 In 1846 the Judge was elected to the legislature 
 and served one term. He was register of the 
 United States laud office at Batesville one year, 
 was county supervisor a few years, and, after the 
 war, was county judge. He was a man whom all 
 relied upon, for his decisions were not made with- 
 out careful and painstaking study of the evidence 
 adduced. He also discharged si;ch duties as are in- 
 cumbent upon the office of justice of the peace for 
 several years. He is a member of the Masonic fra- 
 ternity, Neill Lodge being named for him; was a 
 charter meml)er, and Master for a number of years. 
 He is an honorary member of Mt. Zion Lodge, 
 Batesville, aud was Master over iour years. He 
 also belongs to the Chapter at Batesville. He is 
 Democratic in his political preferences, and cast his 
 first presidential vote for Martin Van Buren, in 
 1836, and has voted for every Democratic candi- 
 date since. Mrs. Neill has been a member of the 
 Methodist Church for forty years. 
 
 Gen. Robert Neill, one of the best known law- 
 yers of Northeast Arkansas, was born in Inde- 
 pendence County, November 12, 1838. His par- 
 ents were Henry and Dorcas (Stark) Neill, natives 
 of Kentucky and Missouri, respectively. The 
 father was principally reared in Southern Ohio, 
 and from the town of Aberdeen in that State, he, 
 about the time of his majority, went to New Or- 
 leans, the trip being made on a fiatboat. He next 
 came to St. Louis, Mo., by steamboat. After re- 
 
siding in Missoiu-i a year or two he redo on horse- 
 back from St. Louis to the then Territory of Arkan- 
 sas, arriving at Batesville on ]\[ay 1, 1832, and 
 soon afterward settled in Greenbriar Township, on 
 the place where he still resides. Job Stark, the ma- 
 ternal grandfather, a native of Kentucky, arrived in 
 Independence County, Ark., with his family, in the ' 
 month of December, 1832, and purchased a farm 
 three miles east of Batesville, whore he resided 
 until his death. He was a noted Itidian tighter in 
 his earlier days, and took part in the War of 1815. 
 Robert Neill, the paternal grandfather, was born 
 and reared in the State of Delaware, and emi- 
 grated to ' Kentucky, near Maysville, about the 
 year 1800, where he resided for some time, and 
 then moved to Southern Ohio, where he remained 
 until his death, when he was over eighty years old. 
 Henry Neill was a tanner by trade, and soon after 
 his arrival in Arkansas established a tannery, where 
 he now resides, and did business in that line for 
 forty-eight years. In 1846 he was elected a mem- 
 ber of the legislature and served one term, and, in 
 the years 1847-48, he held the office of register 
 of the United States land office at Batesville. 
 Later on he was elected judge of the county and 
 probate coui-t, serving from 1874 to 1876. and was, 
 before that, a justice of the peace for several years. 
 He was one of the most prominent citizens of In- 
 dependence County, and a man of gi'eat influence, 
 and though now in his eighty-second year, still en- 
 joys much activity for his age. The mother is yet 
 living in good health, in her seventy-third year. 
 They were the parents of eight children, of whom 
 four are yet living: Gen. Kobert Neill, Elizabeth, 
 wife of Dr. L. A. Dickson; Florence, wife of Maj. 
 George AV. Ilutberford, and Delia, widow of Mar- 
 ion Hulsey. Gen. Kobert Neill received a fair 
 English education in his youth, in the schools of 
 the county, and in 1859 went to Ohio and took a 
 course in land surveying. He followed that pro- 
 fession until the outbreak of the war, in 1861, and 
 then enlisted at Batesville, in Company K, First 
 Regiment of Arkansas Mounted Riflemen, Con- 
 federate Army. He entered service as a private, 
 but was soon promoted to the grade of first ser 
 geant, and at Corinth, Miss., in 1862, received the 
 
 rank of first lieutenant, and later that of captain 
 of the company, on the death of his captain. His 
 bravery was rewarded, and his gallant actions 
 through the war won for him promotion up to his 
 present title. Gen. Neill took part in the battles 
 at Oak Hills, Mo., Richmond, Ky., and the skir- 
 mishing around Corinth, Miss., in 1862, and in 
 the spring of 1864 was captured in Louisiana, 
 while attempting to make his way back to his reg- 
 iment. Ho was taken as a prisoner to Camp Chase, 
 and from there to Fort Delaware, where he was 
 confined for seventeen months. After the surren- 
 der, in 1865, he returned to his home and taught 
 school for three months, and then entered into the 
 tanning business with his father until 1866. when 
 he was elected clerk of the circuit clerk, an office 
 he held until the reconstruction of the State, in 
 
 1868. During this time he read law and in No- 
 vember. 1868, was admitted to the bar, but entered 
 into commercial life until 1872, when he commenced 
 to practice his profession, which he has continued 
 ever since. Ho has the reputation of being one of 
 the ablest lawyers in Arkansas, and as a speaker 
 has but few superiors. In 1874 he was appointed 
 lieutenant-colonel in the State Guards, b}- Gov. 
 Baxter, and gave efficient aid to the State during 
 the Brooks-Baxter embroglio. Gen. Neill was 
 severely wounded and disabled for many months 
 at the battle of Oak Hills in 1861, while fighting 
 on "Bloody Hill," by a musket ball passing 
 through his left thigh; in the same battle his 
 brother. Job S. Neill, a youth of twenty years, 
 who belonged to the same company, was killed on 
 the field, after displaying great courage and cool- 
 ness. In 1877 he was appointed a brigadier-gen- 
 eral in the State militia, by (tov. Jliller. his for- 
 mer law partner, and assigned to the command of 
 the fifth military district of the State, a position 
 which his large army experience rendered him en- 
 tirely capable of filling with credit. In April, 
 
 1869, Gen. Neill was married to Miss Mary Adelia 
 Byers, one of Batesville's fairest daughters and 
 almost a native of the town. Ten children have 
 resulted from this union, of whom seven are living: 
 Arthur. Ernest. Hugh, Clare. Ella Byeis, Es-ther 
 Annie and Robert, Jr. Geu. and Mrs. Neill are 
 
704 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 members of the Mt>tb()dist Episcopal Church, 
 South; the former is a member of the order of 
 Free and Accepted Masons, and a companion of 
 the Royal Arch degree; has been a member of the 
 Masonic fi-ateruity since 1861, and has served for 
 two years as a district deputy grand master of 
 Masons of Ai-kausas. He is a stockholder in the 
 Batesvillo Telephone Company, the Batesville 
 Water and Electric Light Company, the Batesville 
 Printing Company and the Batesville Building and 
 Loan Association, for which last named corpora- 
 tion he is attorney. He is also the Arkansas attor- 
 ney for the St. Louis Manganese Company, a for- 
 eign corporation, engaged in mining and shipping 
 manganese ore from Independence County, and is 
 the attorney for the Adler Bank, located and doing 
 business at Batesville. In June, 1888, he attended 
 the National Democratic Convention at St. Louis, 
 as one of the delegates from the First Congres- 
 sional district of Arkansas, and was the vice-presi- 
 dent of the convention from his State. 
 
 W. T. Nesbit is a young man who is rapidly 
 and surely making his way to the front among the 
 energetic business men of Independence County, 
 and, although only twenty nine years of age, he has 
 built up a large patronage by strict attention to 
 each minor detail of his chosen calling, and can not 
 fail to succeed. He is a native resident of Independ- 
 ence County, and was born May 28, 1860, being 
 there brought up and educated; and in addition to 
 attending the common schools, he entered the 
 Arkansas College, at Batesville, in which institu- 
 tion he finished his education. His attention dur- 
 ing his early youth was given to assisting his father 
 on the farm, but in 1884 he gave this up to engage 
 in the mercantile business in Sulphur Rock, where 
 he does an annual business of about 130,000. He 
 has recently built a business house, 60x24 feet, 
 which is the only two-story business house in the 
 town. His average stock amounts to nearly $4. 500, 
 and his credit l)usiness amounts to $12,000. He 
 employs two clerks. On commencing business for 
 himself, in 1883, his capital amounted to about 
 $2.50, but as mentioned in the beginning of this 
 sketch, his success is owing to his energy, excel- 
 lent business qualifications and attention to details. 
 
 Mr. Nesbit' s wife, whom he married in 1885, was 
 formerly Miss Mollie Carter, also a native of Inde- 
 pendence County, Ark. They have one child. 
 William E. Mr. Nesbit is a son of W. H. and 
 Catherine (Herrington) Nesl)it, both Tenne.sseeans, 
 who emigrated to Arkansas about 1850, whei-e the 
 father died ten years later. The mother is still 
 living and is the worthy companion of William 
 Wilson. To her first marriage five children were 
 born, of whom our subject is the youngest. The 
 great-grandfather was a native of Ireland, who emi- 
 grated to the United States and settled in North 
 Carolina, where the grandfather was born. He 
 afterwards moved to Mississippi. The father was 
 a soldier in the Mexican War. He is a member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, a Democrat, and 
 belongs to the Blue Lodge and Chapter in the A. 
 F. and A. M. , also holding membership in several 
 benevolent associations. 
 
 William B. Norvell is a prosperous agricultur- 
 ist of this region, and successfully manages his 
 farm of 240 acres, which lies in section 84, Gains- 
 boro Township, and is an exceedingly fertile tract 
 of land. In addition to this, he has devoted his 
 attention to the profession of school-teaching, in 
 which occupation he has met the universal ap- 
 proval of those whom he has served. He was 
 born in Bedford County, Tenn. , on the 23d of 
 July, 1846, and is a son of E. M. B. and Jerusha 
 (Arnold) Norvell, who were born in Bedford 
 County, Tenn., and North Carolina, respectively, 
 and were married in the former State in 1837; 
 nine of their ten children being yet living. The 
 father was a farmer by occupation, a member of 
 the I. O. O. F. , and he and wife were consistent 
 members of the Baptist Church. William B. Nor- 
 vell first attended the common schools of Bedford 
 County, Tenn. , and then entered as a student the 
 Cedar Grove Academy, in which well-known insti- 
 tution he remained for some time and received an 
 education of more than ordinary thoroughness. 
 Miss Sarah A. Rogers became his wife, she having 
 been born in Independence County, Ark. , and 
 their marriage has resulted in the birth of three 
 sons and five daughters, one daughter being a deaf 
 mute. Mr. Norvell has held the ofiice of justice of 
 
 w 
 
the peace for about two years, and for about six 
 years has been a school director. While iu Ten- 
 nessee he joined the Masonic and I. O. O. F. 
 lodges, and still holds his membership in that 
 State. He belongs to the Agricultural Wheel, and 
 he and wife are members of the Baptist Church, 
 in which he is an ordained deacon. Mr. Norvell 
 is an exceptionally intelligent man, and is thor- 
 oughly posted on all the current topics of the 
 day, and takes an active interest in all enterprises 
 tending to benefit the county. 
 
 Robert G. Osborne, one of the leading citizens 
 of the county of Independence, was born in Hay- 
 wood County, North Carolina, November 27, 1853, 
 and is a son of Enoch M., and N. E. (Howell) 
 Osborne, also natives of Haj'wood County, North 
 Carolina. Enoch M. Osboiiie died in Independ- 
 ence County, Ark., in 1876, at the age of sixty- 
 one years; his widow is now residing in Ashe- 
 ville, N. C. , having returned to her native State 
 after her husband's death, for the purpose of 
 educating her children. They removed in 1855 
 from North Carolina and bought 550 acres of land 
 in Independence County, Ark., which they cleared 
 and cultivated. Enoch M. Osborne was a man of 
 great enterprise and ability, and was a very suc- 
 cessful farmer. He and wife were members of 
 the Missionary Baptist Church, and of their family 
 of eight children, seven are now livinsr, viz. : 
 Robert G. ; William H. , a minister of the Missionary 
 Baptist Church, now located at Jonosboro, Tenn. ; 
 Thomas S., a lawyer of Ft. Smith, Ark. ; James 
 H., a merchant of Asheville, N. C. ; Fannie, wife 
 of Thomas Drummond, land agent at Greenville, 
 Tenn.; Joseph C. died October 21, 1888, at the 
 age of twenty years, while attending college at 
 Asheville, N. C. ; Mary A. with her mother, and 
 John M. also at college. Robert G. , the eldest 
 child, received his education in Independence 
 County, Ark., and after the death of his father 
 continued farming on the old homestead, which he 
 now owns. He also owns 193 acres in White 
 River Township. 160 in Black River Township, as 
 well as town property in Sulphur Rock, all of which 
 has become his through close application and en- 
 terprise, that have won for him so much success 
 
 in his chosen occupation of farming. In 1880 
 Mr. Osborne married Aiuaiida E. McPhearsou. a 
 daughter of Joseph McPhearson, now deceased. 
 She was born in Alabama in 1860. Of the live 
 children born to their marriage three are living, 
 viz. : Fannie, Morgan and Maudie, the last two 
 twins. Adolphus and Willie are deceased. Polit- 
 ically, Mr. Osborne is a Democrat, as was also his 
 father. The family is of English descent, and is 
 widely known and highly respected in Independ- 
 ence County. 
 
 Joseph Ottinger. Within the limits of Inde- 
 pendence Co\inty, Ark., there is no man of more 
 progressive spirit or of greater recognized worth 
 than Mr. Ottinger. Born in Cocke County, Tenn., 
 June 15, 1838, he is a son of Michael and Eliz- 
 abeth (Winter) Ottinger, also Tennesseeans, the 
 former's birth occurring in Greene County, in 1802. 
 He was also educated in this county, and, as he 
 grew up, learned the lessons of industry, frugal 
 habits and economy — lessons which he ever re- 
 membered and which stood him in good stead in 
 after life. He became a wealthy planter of that 
 State, and at one time owned 1,020 acres of land. 
 He was married in 1823, and eleven children were 
 born to himself and wife, six of whom are yet liv- 
 ing. He held the office of constable for some time. 
 He and wife were members, iu good standing, in 
 the Lutheran Church. He died iu 1877. followed 
 by his wife a few years later, in 1881. Josejih 
 Ottinger was educated near Newport, Tenn., and 
 for a number of years has been a resident of Inde- 
 pendence County, Ark. He owns 239 acres of 
 average land, and, from his earliest recollections, 
 has been familiar with farm work (a secret, doul)t- 
 less, of his success). He was married near Now- 
 port, Tenn. , to Miss Sarah A. Davis, who was born 
 and reared in that State. To them a family of 
 nine children have been given, eight sons and one 
 daughter, and eight of the family are still living. 
 Mr. Ottinger is a member of the Masonic order, 
 and has held the office of secretary and treasurer 
 of his lodge. He is also a member of the Agri- 
 cultural Wheel, and he and wife are connected 
 with the Baptist Church, and are always interested 
 in enterprises tending to benefit their adopted 
 
 r 
 
700 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 county. The maternal grandparents were Penn- 
 sylvanians, who were among the pioneer settlers ' 
 of Tennessee. 
 
 Margaret F. Owen, widow of John M. Owen, 
 of White River Township, Independence County, 
 was born in Alabama in 1850. She is a daughter 
 of Michael K. and Matilda (Dutton) Crow, both 
 natives of Virginia. Michael K. Crow was born in 
 1825; he grew to manhood in Virginia and Tennes- 
 see, and was married in Alal)ama, to which State 
 his parents had removed. In 1860 he emigrated 
 to Arkansas, locating on a farm in Independence 
 County, where he spent the remainder of his life. 
 He was a Confederate soldier, and was wounded by 
 the fall of a horse at the battle of Helena. He 
 died in 1883, and his wife, who was also born in 
 1825, died in 1881. A double monument marks | 
 their graves in the neighborhood in which the lat- 
 ter part of their lives was spent. They were the 
 parents of seven children, viz.: Margaret F., 
 Mary M. , Reuben M. , George ( who died in infancy), 
 William C, Riddie A. and Thomas J. Though 
 not a member of any church, Michael Owen was a [ 
 great Bible student, and was exceedingly charitable. 
 He was of German descent, while his wife was of 
 Irish origin. Margaret F. attended the common , 
 schools of Independence County, and at the age of ; 
 eighteen years married John M. Owen, who was 
 born in Big Bottom Township, Independence Coun- 
 ty, in 1836, being nearly fifteen years her senior. 
 They were blessed with live children, viz. : Alfred 
 C. , Edward, Thomas, Eunice and Mabel. Mr. 
 Owen served the Confederacy four years during the 
 late war, and lost his health while in the army. 
 He died March 22, 1884, leaving a good farm, upon 
 which his widow now resides. He was a member 
 of the Christian Church, and in politics was a 
 Democrat. 
 
 T. B. Padgett, real estate and insurance agent, 
 Batesville. In all business communities the matter 
 of insurance holds a jiromincnt place. It is a 
 means of stability to all business transactions, and 
 a mainstay against disaster, should devastation by 
 fire sweep property or merchandise away. Among 
 those engaged in the insurance business in Bates- 
 ville is Mi\ T. B. Padgett, who is a native Vir- 
 
 ginian, born in Fairfax County, in September, 
 1839. The Padgett family comes of Virginia 
 stock, settling there at an early day. William B. 
 and Harriet T. (Ossmonj Padgett, parents of T. B. 
 Padgett, were also natives of Virginia, and the 
 father was a farmer by occupation, which pursuit 
 he carried on for years. He died in Virginia, and 
 the mother in Missouri. T. B. Padgett passed 
 his youth and early manhood in the grand old 
 State of Virginia, and there received a good com- 
 mon education. Early in life he was apprenticed 
 to the drag business in Washington City, D. C, 
 and there remained until 1860, when he came to 
 Batesville, Ark., and engaged as clerk in the drug 
 trade. In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, Seventh 
 Arkansas Infantry, and served until the close of 
 the war. He was in the battles of Chickamauga, 
 Murfreesboro, Shiloh, and all the principal engage- 
 ments of the Western army. He was wounded 
 both at Murfi-eesboro and Chickamauga, and quite 
 severely at the last named place, being disal)led 
 from duty for some time. He ranked as second 
 lieutenant. After the surrender he went to Alex- 
 andria, Va., and after remaining there a little over 
 a year, he returned to Batesville. He again en- 
 gaged in the drug business, and carried it on until 
 1875, when he commenced in his present business. 
 He represents fifteen of the leading insurance 
 companies, is a thorough-going, persevering and 
 enterprising business man, and is deserving of all 
 business success. He has been a member of the 
 town council, and has also tilled the position of 
 town treasurer, recorder, covmty assessor, and 
 deputy collector for ten years. He was married 
 in 1868 to Miss Elvena Maxfield, by whom he has 
 four children living. He was married the second 
 time, in 1882, to Miss Martha E. Moore, and two 
 children were born to this union. 
 
 Robert A. Patterson is a native farmer and 
 stock raiser of Independence County, where he has 
 lived all his life. He was born in 1824, and is a 
 son of Thomas and Martha (Bruce) Patterson. 
 Thomas Patterson was born in Tennessee, where 
 he grew to manhood and married, and soon after 
 the War of IS 12 moved to Missouri, settling on the 
 James Fork of White River, from which location 
 
 ^ 
 
1^ 
 
 he was driven away by the Indians. He then re- 
 moved to Indei^endence County, Ark., and settled 
 on a small improvement on Polk Bayou, where he 
 improved a good farm, to which he devoted his at- 
 tention the remainder of his life; he was among 
 the pioneer settlers of White River Township, and 
 his death occnrred in 1S57. Mrs. Patterson was a 
 native of North Carolina, and survived hor hus- 
 band until 1875. Of their large family three sons 
 and seven daughters lived to be gi'ovvn, of whom 
 oui" subject was the third born. The mother was 
 a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Patter- 
 son served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Robert 
 A. was deprived almost entirely of anj' school ad- 
 vantages, as the country was so sparsely settled, and 
 schools were not organized. He lived at home 
 until twenty-one years of age, when he worked one 
 year as a mill hand, and afterward engaged in ' 
 farming. In March, 1848, he married Mary Ann, 
 daughter of Johnston and Elizabeth Clark. Mr. 
 Clark was reared in Illinois, but was married in 
 Missouri, in which State the parents lived until 
 Mrs. Patterson was nine years old. They then re- j 
 moved to Independence County, Ark. , where Mrs. | 
 Clark died, in November. 1802. Mr. Clark died 
 the same month in St. Louis while servinij as lieu- 
 tenant of an Ai'kansas regiment, Federal army; he 
 was a millwright by trade, and also a farmer. Of 
 the nine chikh'en born to Mr. and Mrs. Patterson 
 seven are living, viz. : Mary J., wife of William I. 
 Marshall; Sarah I., wife of J. M. Patterson; 
 Thomas S. . Robert A. R., John H. , George W. 
 W. and Lauretta. After his marriage Mr. Patter- 
 son settled on his present farm, which was then 
 entirely unimproved; of his 288 acres he now has 
 about sixty under cultivation. He also carries on 
 wagon-making in connection with his farming. He 
 is one of the oldest residents of Independence 
 County, whose birth occurred here, and is one of 
 the best known and most respected citizens. Mr. 
 Patterson was formerly a Democrat, but since the 
 war he has been a Republican. He is a member ; 
 of the A. F. & A. M. . and he and wife are con- 
 sistent members of the Methodist Church. Mrs. 
 Patterson's maternal grandfather, Lewis Roan, 
 was a native of England, and when but twelve 
 
 years of age came to America, where he fought all 
 through the Revolution for the freedom of the 
 colonies. He reared a large family in this country, 
 where he spent the remainder of his life. James 
 Clark, paternal grandfather of Mrs. Patterson, was 
 an early settler of Illinois. He afterward liveil 
 some j'ears in Missouri and snbse«piently located 
 in Independence County, Ark. , where he died. It 
 is supposed that all of the family, except himself 
 and one sister, were killed by the Indians when he 
 was a boy. 
 
 William C. Pearce, postmaster, justice of the 
 peace and notary public. Oil Trough, Ark. A 
 representative citizen of Independence County, 
 and a man recognized and respected as such wher- 
 ever known is Mr. Pearce. He never engaged very 
 largely in agricultural pursuits, but is generally in 
 business, and is also occupied in his official duties. 
 He owes his nativity to Henderson County, Tenn., 
 where he was born on the 18th of March, 183(), 
 and is the son of John and Lucy (Collins) Pearce. 
 John Pearce came to Arkansas, with bis family, 
 in bSoO, located on land near Fairview, Independ- 
 ence County, where he remained for about eight 
 years. He cleared about twenty-five acres, erected 
 log houses, stables, etc., but exchanged this for 
 land nearer B'airview, and made this his home for 
 fifteen years. The mother died in 1875, and he 
 one year later. William C. Pearce received his 
 education principally in the schools of Independ 
 ence County. In 1858 ho left the parental roof to 
 engage as clerk with Col. James H. Patterson, who ^ 
 carried a general line of merchandise in Jackson 
 County, and remained there until ISfil, when he 
 enlisted in Company A. Eighth Regiment, Arkansas 
 Volunteer Infantry, in the capacity of private, hos- 
 pital steward and druggist. He participated in all 
 the battles in which his command engaged, but 
 space will allow the mention only of some of the 
 most prominent: Shiloh. Mnrfreesboro, Chicka- 
 manga. Missionary Ridge. Buzzard Roost, Resaca, 
 and, in fact, all the engagements of the Atlanta cam 
 paiga. Jonesboro Vieing the la.st. He was with 
 Gen. Hood in his campaigns, during his command 
 of the Confederate army, but left his company on 
 a sixty days' furlough in the latter part of the war. 
 
708 
 
 HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 The conflict closed before the expiration of the fur- 
 lough, so he remained at home. In 1865 he put 
 in a crop on a farm near Pleasant Plains, Inde- 
 pendence Conoty, and in October of the same year, 
 engaged in business with Mr. A. J. Cheek, the 
 latter furnishing the means, and Mr. Pearee man- 
 aging the business and receiving a salary for his 
 services. He continued in business with Mr. 
 Cheek until in March, 1868, after which he passed 
 his time in collecting for other business men until 
 1869. He was then united in marriage to Miss 
 Sarah Calhoun, of Arkansas, but originally fi-om 
 South Carolina. Her father was a cousin of John 
 C. Calhoun of historical fame. To Mr. and Mrs. 
 Pearee were born five childi'en : Zachary H. , born 
 in 1870 and died in 1885; his body is interred in 
 the cemetery at Maple Springs, Independence 
 County. Mollie, Lama, Cornelia and Culbert L. 
 Mr. Pearee moved to Oil Trough in 1875, and was 
 engaged in various occupations until appointed 
 postmaster under President Garfield's administra- 
 tion, in 1882. The same year he was elected jus- 
 tice of the peace, and notary public in 1887. He 
 has taken a great deal of interest in politics, ident- 
 ifying himself with the Democratic party, to which 
 he has always strongly adhered. While Mr. Pearee 
 is not a member of any Church, he has always been 
 a strong friend to religious and social advancement, 
 and contributes liberally to all. He is a great 
 friend to education, and his children have had good 
 ojjportunities for schooling. He was made a Mas- 
 ter Mason in 1866, was exalted to the first sublime 
 degree of Royal Arch Mason in 1868, and at this 
 time is a member of MeOuire Lodge No. 208, Oil 
 Trough, Independence County, Ark. He is also 
 a member of Oil Trough Chapter No. 84, Oil 
 Trough, Ark. 
 
 John L. Pierce is worthy in every way of being 
 classed among the successful agriculturists of this 
 region, for by his own industry he has become the 
 owner of 320 acres of land, about seventy of which 
 are in a high state of cultivation, and 100 acres of 
 land he lias cleared himself. His birth occurred 
 in McMinn County, Tenn., January 11, 1838, and 
 he was educated near Athens, and, after attaining 
 manhood, was married there to Miss Lucie Herod, 
 
 who was a native of the State. Of eight sons and 
 three daughters born to them, eight of the family 
 are still living, and one is at home with his parents, 
 helping to till the farm. Mr. Pierce is a Mason, 
 a member of the Agricultural Wheel, in which 
 organization he has held the office of vice-president, 
 and he and wife, for a number of years, have been 
 earnest and consistent members of the Baptist 
 Church. The manner in which Mr. Pierce has 
 acquired his present estate denotes him to be an 
 energetic, successful agriculturist, and the secret 
 of his success, perhaps, lies in the fact that he was 
 reared from earliest boyhood on a farm and inher- 
 ited some of the sterling qualities of his Scotch 
 ancestors. His parents, Thomas and Elizabeth 
 (Wyatt) Pierce, were born in Tennessee and Vir- 
 ginia, respectively, and became the parents of two 
 sons and nine daughters, five of the family sur- 
 viving: Sarah, Ursulia, LinaM., David and John. 
 The father died in 1868, followed by his wife in 
 1872, she having been a member of the Lutheran 
 Church for many years. The paternal grand- 
 father was a Scotchman, who came to America 
 many years ago. 
 
 William Ramsey, farmer, Batesville. Nowhere 
 within the limits of Independence County can 
 there be found a man who takes greater interest in 
 its agricultural and stock affairs than Mr. Ramsey, 
 or who strives continually to promote and advance 
 these interests to a higher plane. He has a native 
 pride in this county, for he was born here, and it is 
 but natural that he should strive to see all its mat- 
 ters placed on a footing equal, if not superior, to 
 the affairs of other counties in the State. He is 
 the son of Allen D. and Helen F. (Slater) Ramsey, 
 and the grandson of William Ramsey, who settled 
 in what is now Independence County, Ark., in 
 about 1819, when there were but few settlers in 
 tliis country. He was a farmer by occupation, and 
 died in Independence County. During his early 
 residence in this county he underwent many hard- 
 ships, and had many stirring adventures. He was 
 sheriflF of Independence County at one time. Allen 
 D. Ramsey was born on the place where the fami- 
 ly now resides, and there passed almost his entire 
 life. Perhaps few men in North Arkansas, aside 
 
' f 
 
 £ 
 
 Mississippi CouNnAflHANSAa . 
 
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 701) 
 
 from those in professional or politioiil life, were 
 better known. He was edueateii near Alexandria, 
 Va., and was possessed of a high order of intelli- 
 gence. He was an honored, influential and exem- 
 plary citizen. He died December 31, 1878. The 
 mother is still living, and is a native of North 
 Carolina. Her parents were natives of Scotland, 
 and came to the United States at an early day. 
 Her mother came to Ai-kansas, and located at 
 Batesville. To Mr. and Mrs. Allen Ramsey were 
 born five children, three now living: Margaret, 
 William and Maria. The two deceased were 
 Mary, married George Weaver, who is also de 
 ceased, and left one child, Allen R. Weaver, who 
 makes his home with the subject of this sketch, 
 and David. William Ramsey (subject) was born 
 and reared on the farm where he now lives. 
 Being reared to the arduous duties of the farm, he 
 has always followed this calling, and has made a 
 complete success of the same. The family now 
 own 1,050 acres of land, with about 325 acres un- 
 der cultivation, and the principal productions are 
 corn, cotton and hay. Mr. Ramsey also raises 
 some stock. He is an enterprising young man 
 and a first-class farmer. He is a member of the 
 Episcopal Church, and his mother and family are 
 members of the same. When the Ramsey family 
 first settled in Independence County, Indians were 
 here, and all kinds of wild gam^ abounded. The 
 now fine and productive river bottoms where then a 
 dense canebrake. One incident that the father 
 used to relate to his children was that, when the 
 first steamboat came up the river, that had a whis- 
 tle, it roused every one from their slumbers, and 
 the people were very much frightened. The great 
 grandfather of the subject of this sketch, at a very 
 early date, lived in Kentucky, where he met with 
 experiences worthy of record. On one occasion, 
 while in the hay field, in comjiany with a hired 
 man, a party of Indians came upon them unaware. 
 The hired man started to run, but was killed by 
 the savages. Mr. Ramsey's great-gi"andfather was 
 taken prisoner, and kept as such for a long time, 
 finally being sold to some French traders for a 
 pair of lilaukets. He was then so far from home, 
 that the only way to return in safety, and avoid 
 
 being recaptured, was to cross the ocean to France 
 and back again, which he did. He at last made 
 his way to his family, who had mourned him as 
 dead, after an absence of three years. 
 
 C. T. Rosenthal, dealer in hardware, stoves, 
 tin-ware, etc. , Batesville. Among the resources of 
 the town of Batesville, which go to make up its 
 commercial fabric, the trade carried on in hard 
 ware, stoves, tin-ware, etc., forms a most import- 
 ant feature. Prominent among those engaged in 
 it is Mr. C. T. Rosenthal, who has been in this 
 line of business for twenty five years. In 1865 he 
 engaged as clerk in the wholesale hardware house 
 of Pratt & Fox, then the largest hardware firm in 
 St. Louis. He remained with them over three 
 years, after which he went to Helena, M. T., and 
 there worked for Clark, Conrad & Miller for a short 
 time. He then returned to St. Louis and entered 
 the firm of Adolphus Meier & Co., remaining with 
 them about three years, or until they sold out 
 to McCombs, Keller & Byrnes, with whom he 
 remained until 1878, although the firm again 
 changed, this time to McCombs, Caruth & Byrnes. 
 At the above mentioned date, Mr. Rosenthal came 
 to Batesville, Ark., engaging in business for him- 
 self. The first two years the firm was Rosenthal 
 & Stritter, and since that time 'he has carried on 
 the business alone. He has one of the neatest and 
 best stocked hardware stores in Arkansas. Mr. 
 Rosenthal has been an alderman three terms, and 
 was school director for one term of two years. He 
 owns the building that he occupies, which is a large 
 two- story stone building, and which he has had 
 erected since coming to Batesville. He does a 
 good business, carries a large stock of goods, and 
 employs five men. 
 
 Joseph M. Runyan, who has a reputation of 
 owning some of the best stock in Independence 
 County, and is also an experienced farmer, is a son 
 
 of and Elizabeth (Burke) Runyan. of 
 
 Tennessee, in which State Jose[)h was l)om and 
 educated. His early life was spent on the home 
 farm, but in 1842, when he was united in marriage 
 to Miss Sarah Baker, also of Tennessee, he com- 
 menced to make a home for his bride. Three 
 children were born to them in that State, and seven 
 
 3?: 
 
liL 
 
 no 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 in Arkansas, of whom eight children are still living. 
 Their names are Jerome, born in Tennessee in 
 1S66; John Richmond, born in Tennessee in 1867; 
 Russell M., born in 1869; Cora B., born in Ten- 
 nessee in 1871; William D., born in 1873; Katie, 
 born in 1877; Josie, born in 1880; Bertha, born in 
 1882; Thomas J., born in 1884, and dying at the 
 age of three years, and James C, born in 1887, 
 dying in 1888. Mr. Kunyan moved to Arkansas 
 in 1870, and located in Christian Township, where 
 he rented land and farmed up to 1876, when he 
 purchased 160 acres of heavily-timbered land, com- 
 prising sycamore, which was 6 feet in diameter; 
 oak trees, 5 feet in diameter; walnut, d^ feet; Cot- 
 tonwood, 8 feet : box elder. 2 J feet; pecan 5 feet: hack 
 berrj', 4 feet, and corn that was 20 feet tall. This 
 was the condition Mr. Runyan found the land in 
 upon his arrival, and out of the 160 acres he has 
 now placed eighty acres in cotton and 30 in corn, 
 besides gathering 2,800 pounds of cotton seed, 
 that being the average of the field. He has raised 
 386 bushels of corn from three acres of ground, 
 and 41 bushels of wheat to the acre. Also from 
 seventy- five to 100 bushels of oats per acre. Mr. 
 Runyan is also cultivating 500 acres of new land, 
 and has placed sixty acres in clover, from which 
 he expects to get three and one-half tons at the 
 first cutting; one and one-half tons at the second, 
 and the signs are very favorable toward getting 
 one and one-half tons per acre at the third cutting. 
 He also raises a tine stock of cattle and Berkshire 
 hogs, as well as high-grade poultry. His land has 
 upon it a fine orchard of apple, pecan and pear 
 trees, and several good dwellings, barns, cribs, etc. 
 He is a member of the Missionary Church, while 
 his wife and the three oldest children attend serv- 
 ice at the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Run- 
 yan is a member of McGuire's Lodge, A. F. & A. 
 M. , Oil Trough, and also belongs to the Knights of 
 Honor and Royal Arcanum. In politics he is a 
 stanch Democrat, and has served one term as justice 
 of the peace, but only held the office from a sense 
 of duty, as he can not well spare the time. 
 
 Hon. James Rutherford, ex-State senator, a 
 highly- esteemed citizen of Independence County, 
 was born in Rutherfordton, Rutherford County, 
 
 N. C, on July 7, 1825. This county was named 
 after Gen. Rutherford, of Revolutionary fame, and 
 a distant relative of the senator's. AV alter B. 
 Rutherford, the father, was a Scotchman, who emi- 
 grated to America when twenty years of age, and 
 resided for twenty-five years in Rutherford County, 
 afterward moving to Batesville, Ai-k., in 1850, 
 where he died October 17, 1865. The elder Ruth- 
 erford was a man firm in his convictions, and sen- 
 sitive of his honor, and up to the time of his 
 death was a citizen of considerable influence in the 
 community. His father, Alexander Rutherford, 
 was one of the leading lawyers of Edinburgh, 
 Scotland, and his wife, Sarah (McTyre*) Ruther- 
 ford, was a native of Georgia, who died in Inde- 
 l^endence County, Ark., in 1870, at the age of 
 seventy-five years. They were the parents of nine 
 children: Catherine, Isabelle, Alexander, Walter, 
 James, William, Mary A., Amelia and George. 
 James Rutherford remained in North Carolina un- 
 til the age of twenty-three years, when he moved 
 to Batesville, in 1849, two years in advance of his 
 parents, and has resided at that place ever since. 
 His education was limited to a common school and 
 academic course, but his natural abilities and liter- 
 ary tastes soon placed him on a level with some of 
 the smartest men of that section. It has been a 
 common belief that for one to be successful in 
 after life he must, as a rule, sow his wild oats in 
 boyhood, but in Mr. Rutherford's case this theory 
 has been exploded. He has never sowed his wild 
 oats, has never gambled, drank, nor sworn an oath, 
 and in his later life he has remained always the 
 same practical, moral man, and becoming more 
 successful year after year. He owns several valua- 
 ble farms, having nearly 1,000 acres under culti- 
 vation, and raises almost everything that the soil 
 will produce, commencing his life with only 160 
 acres of land. Public offices have been bestowed 
 upon him, on account of his intelligence, tact and 
 integrity, and these talents have commanded for 
 him the respect of every citizen interested in pub- 
 lic affairs. In 1861 he went into the State service 
 as fii'st lieutenant of Dye's company, in Colonel 
 
 *This name is spelled Tyrie, by Capt. George W. 
 Rutherford. 
 
 v 
 
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 711 
 
 Shaver's regiment, afterward known as Seventh 
 Arkansas Regiment, and then transferred to the 
 Confederate service. He commanded a company 
 at the battle of Shiloh. in which the lieutenant- 
 colonel was killed, and Mr, Rutherford was imme- 
 diately promoted to fill his place, serving until the 
 reorganization, in August, 1862, when he resigned 
 and came home. AtBatesville he accepted the po- 
 sition of provost marshal, remaining in that ca- 
 pacity for four or five months, and for the balance 
 of the war he was enrolling officer at that town. 
 At Grand Glaize he was taken prisoner, on Febru- 
 ary 4th, 1863, and detained at Little Rock for 
 three months. Senator Rutherford became an Odd 
 Fellow at Lincolnton, N. C, and is the oldest liv- 
 ing member of the Batesville Lodge. He is a 
 member of no other secret order. In politics he 
 was a Whig from boyhood until the death of that 
 party, when he became a Democrat. He was a 
 Secessionist in theory, but contended that it was 
 bad policy to secede, although he stood firmly with 
 the Confederacy to the bitter end. For the last 
 six years he has attended as a delegate to the State 
 conventions of the Democratic party, but has never 
 taken an active part in politics, except when can- 
 vassing for himself. In 1850 he was elected jus- 
 tice of the peace, just one year after moving to the 
 county, and served four years. In the trouble- 
 some times of 1874 he was elected a delegate fi'om 
 Independence County to the constitutional con- 
 vention that framed the present constitution of the 
 State, and in 1879 he was elected for four years 
 as State senator for the counties of Independence 
 and Stone. During the session of 1880 he was 
 chairman of the finance committee, and also of the 
 special senate committee on revenue, and re- 
 ported the famous revenue law which Gov. 
 Churchill vetoed. Senator Rutherford was mar- 
 ried in Batesville, on November 112th, 1802. to 
 Miss Maria Louisa Hynson, of Independence 
 County, a daughter of Henry Hynson, one of that 
 county's well known merchants. Mrs. Rutherford 
 is a charming lady, and is almost her husband's 
 equal in tact and good judgment. In fact, it is 
 partly due to her advice and good management 
 that the senator has built up his fortune. Their 
 
 marriage has been blessed with four sons and two 
 daughters; George L.. James B., "William A., 
 Medford M., May B. and Sophia A. The senator 
 is a man who never allows politics to interfere with 
 his friendships, as is shown by the fact that some 
 of his political opponents are his personal friends. 
 He is regarded as the best financier in Independ 
 ence County, and, as an eminent citizen of Arkan- 
 sas says of him, " He has an undisputed charac- 
 ter for honesty and integrity, and is strictly moral " 
 Capt. George W. Rutherford, a prominent cit- 
 zen and leading farmer of Independence County, 
 was born in Rutherfordton, Rutherford County, 
 N. C, on July 10, 1883. and is a son of Walter 
 B. and Sarah (McTyre) Rutherford, the former a 
 native of Scotland, and the latter, who was also of 
 Scottish origin, from Fairfield County, S. C. The 
 elder Rutherford landed at Charleston. S. C, in 
 December, 1815, some six months after the battle 
 of Waterloo was fought, and while the world was 
 still ringing with the news of Napoleon's defeat. 
 His voyage across the ocean occupied four weeks, 
 and the vessel encountered many heavy storms in 
 that time, causing consternation on board. Alex- 
 ander Rutherford, the father of Walter B., was at 
 one time a captain in the British Reserves, and an 
 old friend of Robert Burns. He resided in Scot- 
 land and practiced law up to the time of his death. 
 Walter B. Rutherford was a tanner by trade, hav- 
 ing served seven years' apprenticeship at Edin- 
 burgh, Scotland, and still pursued that occupation 
 in South and North Carolina. In 1830 he made a 
 trip to Arkansas, coming the entire distance on 
 horseback, and after returning to North Carolina, 
 where he resided until 1850, he moved with his fam- 
 ily to Independence County, traveling all the way 
 by wagons. Following his arrival here he bought 
 a section of land in 1S3'.I, comprising 640 acres, with 
 about seventy-five acres under cultivation, and which 
 is the farm upon which Capt. George W. now resides. 
 The land was purchased from a man named Dilling 
 ham, who settled here in 181 t, and the old house, 
 which was built in 1816, is still standing on the place. 
 The elder Rutherford died in 1865, and the wife fol- 
 lowed him five years later. They were the parents 
 of nine children, of whom five are still living. 
 
712 
 
 HISTORY OP ARKANSAS. 
 
 Caj)t. Rutherford was the youngest of this family, 
 and received his education in the schools of North 
 Carolina. He came to Arkansas with his parents 
 when seventeen years of age. and has always been 
 a farmer. In 1862 he enlisted in the Second Ar- 
 kansas Cavalry, and served until the close of the 
 war, taking part in the battle of Helena, and a 
 great many cavalry skirmishes, and on one occa- 
 sion captured a train of Federal soldiers. He raised 
 a company of partisans under ui'ders of Gen. Hind- 
 man, in 1862, being joined to Chrisman's battal- 
 ion of Arkansas Cavalry, and subsequently to 
 Dobbins' regiment of Arkansas Cavalry. In May, 
 1 864, he was captured at Sugar Loaf Springs, and 
 taken to the Little Rock penitentiary, where he 
 was confined in a cell, though only at night, for 
 eleven months, and after obtaining his liberty, re- 
 turned home, to once more lead a peaceful life 
 and cultivate the land. Capt. Rutherford owns 
 about 1,000 acres, and has some 350 acres under 
 cultivation. His farm is well improved, and 
 adapted to the stock business, in which he is an 
 extensive dealer. In 1868 he was married to Miss 
 Florence Neill, a daughter of Judge Henry Neill, 
 and has had ten children by this marriage, of whom 
 nine are living: Anna and Lizzie, Mary and Amelia 
 are twins; Delia, George and Neill. twins; Nina 
 and Genevieve. Mrs. Rutherford is a member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a devout 
 Christian. She has made her home one of the 
 most pleasant in Northeast Arkansas, and is a de- 
 voted wife and fond mother. 
 
 Calvin Rutherford, farmer and stock raiser, 
 Elmo, Ark. Mr. Rutherford owes his nativity to 
 Cocke County, Tenn., where he was born in 1848. 
 He left his native county in 1871, journeyed to Ar- 
 kansas, and located in Oil Trough Bottom, Chris- 
 tian Township, Independence County. The same 
 year he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine 
 Baker, a native of Tennessee, and after coming to 
 Arkansas he rented land, thus continuing until in 
 1887, when he bought forty acres. Heaven has' 
 blessed his married life with four children — Lounz, 
 Oscar, Mary and John. The forty acres purchased 
 by Mr. Rutherford was at tliat time very heavily 
 timbered, but of this he has cleared twenty acres, 
 
 and has built on the same a good log house. He 
 is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, McGuire 
 Lodge No. 208, Oil Trough, Independence County, 
 and takes a prominent part in all public enterprises, 
 whether of a religious, social, or educational nature, 
 in his county and State. He has two children in 
 school, and contemplates educating them as far as 
 his means will permit. He is the son of Calvin 
 and Nancy (Lane) Rutherford, natives of Ten- 
 nessee, and the grandson of Lane, who was 
 
 a soldier in the Mexican War, and drew a pension 
 until his death. Mr. Rutherford is not only a 
 public spirited, enterprising citizen, but is a man 
 universally respected by all acquainted with him. 
 In the history of Independence County, in its de- 
 velopment and growth, Mr. Rutherford has borne 
 a prominent part for the last eighteen or twenty 
 years. 
 
 James F. Saffold, a popular and enterprising 
 farmer and stock raiser, of Independence County, 
 is a son of James F. and Elizabeth (Hulsoy) .Saf- 
 fold, both natives of that county, where James, Jr., 
 was born on the 2d of July, 1854. The elder 
 SafFold was a noted and brilliant politician during 
 his life, as also a leading spirit in all public enter- 
 prises for the advancement of his county. He was 
 elected to represent Independence County in the 
 State legislature, and filled the office with credit 
 to himself and to the satisfaction of his constitu- 
 ents, besides filling several minor positions. On 
 the occasion of his death, at the age of forty -five 
 years, the county lost one of her most valued citi- 
 zens and one whom she well appreciated. He be- 
 longed to McGuire Lodge No. 208, A. F. & A. M. , 
 and was also a member of Oil Trough Chapter No. 
 84. His loss was deeply mourned by the public, 
 as well as his wife and six children, to whom he 
 was a kind husband and an indulgent father. He 
 was strictly a self-made man, having received but 
 a limited education in his youth; but the brain and 
 power of the man were equal to any emergencj', and 
 in after life he had educated and qualified himself 
 for any position he might have been called uj)oii to 
 fill within the gift of the people, or in the ordinaiy 
 demands of business. His son, James F. Satl'old, 
 Jr., follows closely in the light of his father's 
 
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 71 H 
 
 ll>£ 
 
 uiauy f^ood ([ualities, and is a roijresentative citi- 
 zen of the conuty. Added to what he inherited 
 fiom his father's estate, he now owns 250 acres of 
 land, with 175 acres under cultivation, and has 
 (irected one good dwelling, several tenant houses 
 and barns upon the place. Mr. Saffold is not a 
 member of any particular religious faith, but he 
 has contributed to a great many causes, both re- 
 ligious and educational; and outside of his large 
 circle of friends in Christian Township, is well 
 known throughout Independence County. 
 
 Allen H. Saviors, farmer and stock raiser, Dota, 
 Ark. One of the foremost men among the agri- 
 culturists of Independence County, is he whose 
 name appears above, and who has borne an influ- 
 ential part in promoting the various interests of the 
 county. His birth occurred in what is now Jack- 
 son County, Ark., on the 81st of December, 184-1:, 
 and he has always made this State his home. He- 
 was reared between the handles of a plow, figura- 
 tively speaking, and received his education in the 
 common schools of Jackson County. Although 
 his educational attainments were rather limited, ho 
 improved his time in later years, and is now con- 
 sidered one of the well-posted and intelligent cit- 
 izens of the county. He is the second in a family 
 of six children, born to John C. and Martha (Oli- 
 ver) Saylors, natives of Missouri, who came to 
 Arkansas about 1820 or 1824, and first settled at 
 Litchfield, in Jackson County. A few years later 
 they sold out and moved a few miles further south, 
 where they opened up a large tract of land, 160 
 acres. He then moved three miles east of Jack- 
 sonport, and there died, in 1855. At that time 
 he was the owner of 480 acres. He was the first 
 clerk of Jackson, and also held the office of mag- 
 istrate for a number of years. The mother died in 
 1859. at the age of forty-four years. She was a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The 
 six childi'en born to their union are named as fol- 
 lows: Eliza J. (wife of Oliediah Wilkinson, died 
 in 1871). Allen H., Annette S. (died in 1863, at 
 the age of sixteen years), John R. (died in 1869, 
 at the age of twenty years), Mary M. (wife of 
 Craig Simmons, lives in Craighead County, and 
 was born June 10. 1852), Charles A. (died at the 
 
 45 
 
 age of four years. 1858). In 1859, after the 
 death of his mother, Allen H. Saylors began life 
 for himself, and at the age of fifteen engaged in 
 the calling to which he was reared, and this con- 
 tinued until 1862, when he joined the Southern 
 army, and was on duty several months. He then 
 came home, and, to escape the strife, went to thi' 
 "Lone Star State;" but he found that it was '"war 
 times" of a certainty, and the following year joined 
 the army again, entering Col. Morgan's regiment, 
 Campbell's brigade cavalry. He was in the battles 
 of Pleasant Grove, Marks' Mill, the Saline River 
 tight, and besides was in a number of sharp skirm- 
 ishes. In an engagement at Pilot Knob, in the 
 fall of 1864, he was wounded by a piece of bomb- 
 shell. He was with Gen. Price on his rai<l through 
 Missouri, and his army was disbanded in Texas, in 
 May, 1865. At the close of the war Mr. Saylors 
 return to Arkansas, and in July, 1868, united his 
 fortune with that of Miss Nannie Timstall, also a 
 native of Arkansas. To their maiTiage were bom 
 two children; Mary Lavenia, born on the 8th of 
 September, 1869, and Nannie E., born on the 4th 
 of September, 1873, and died on August 30, of 
 the following year. Mrs. Saylors died on the 13th 
 of September. 1873, in full communion with the 
 Methodist Ejjiscopal Church. She was an excel- 
 lent mother and wife. Mr. Saylors was married a 
 second time on the 15th of October, 1874, to a 
 cousin of his first wife. Miss Martha Tunstall. 
 Seven children have been the result of this union: 
 Gertie, born on the 20th of April, 1876; Martha 
 A., born on the 15th of October, 1877; James H. . 
 born on the 25th of February, 1879; Claude, born 
 October 5. 1880, and died March 24, 1881; Logan, 
 born on the (ith of October, 1883; John Guynii. 
 bom October 7, 1885, and Sylvia, born November 
 3, 1887. Mr. Saylors' principal occupation has 
 been farming, and he first bought eighty acres, 
 the most of which he has improved. Since his 
 first purchase he has added to this at different 
 times, and now is the owner of 240 acres, eighty 
 of which are in a high state of cultivation. He 
 has good orchards, good buildings, and his prin- 
 cipal crops are corn and cotton. At different times 
 be has followed the vocation of merchandising, and 
 
 r 
 
^f 
 
 714 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 has also been ene;aged in the livery business, but 
 at the same time carried on agricultural pursuits. 
 Mr. Saylors votes with the Labor party, but does not 
 take an active part in politics. He served as con- 
 stable, and also acted as deputy sheriff in Jack 
 son County until deposed by the war. In Septem- 
 ber, 1888, he was elected magistrate of his town- 
 ship, which office he now holds to the satisfaction 
 of all. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Newark 
 Lodge, No. 52, and is also a member of the 
 Agricultural Wheel. He takes an active part in 
 all public enterprises, and contributes liberally to 
 their support. Mrs. Saylors is a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 A. N. Simmons, farmer and miller, Batesville. 
 Ark. The milling industry' is well represented in 
 Batesville by the above named gentleman, who is 
 a progressive business man. and who is also closely 
 associated with the farming interest of Indepen- 
 dence County, Ark. He was born in Weakley 
 County, Tenn., on the 28th of August, 1833, and 
 is the son of Anthony N. Simmons, a native of 
 North Carolina, who, after growing up, married 
 Miss Penelope O'Neil, also a native of North Car- 
 olina. In 1882 they emigrated to Tennesse, located 
 in Weakley County, and after remaining there a 
 short time, emigrated to Gibson County. At one 
 time be and a man by the name of Nolen, bought 
 160 acres of land apiece where Memphis now 
 stands, but owing to the sickness of Mr. Simmons, 
 he gave up his part, thus depriving himself of an 
 independent fortune. He died in Gibson County, 
 Tenn.. in 1834, and the mother in 1854. The 
 father was a farmer, a mechanic, and was said to 
 be the finest cabinet-workman in the State. Of 
 their six children, three are living at the present 
 time: Joseph, Fordice and Anthony N. The latter 
 was reared in Tennessee until fourteen years of age, 
 and secured but a limited education. In the spring 
 of 1848 he removed with his mother to St. Francis 
 County, Ark. , and while living there the county was, 
 respectively, St. Francis, Jackson and Woodruff 
 Counties. In 1861 Mr. Simmons enlisted in Com- 
 pany C, McCrea's regiment, and served thirty-six 
 days, when he was taken sick and sent home. He 
 was detailed to take charge of some negroes. While 
 
 living in St. Francis County he was engaged in 
 farming, and also carried on the milling business. 
 In 181)5 he came to Independence County and 
 located where he now lives. He bought a mill, 
 ran it for some time, and then bought another. 
 Since living here he has erected several mills, and 
 has carried on the milling business for thirty-three 
 years. He erected the first stone mill on the 
 bayou. He owns 210 acres of land, with about 
 sixty acres under cultivation, but turns his atten- 
 tion principally to his milling business. He now 
 owns two mills, both running most of the time. 
 By his marriage to Miss J. A. O'Neil, in 1S54, he 
 became the father of five living children: Samuel, 
 John. JefFerson, Fannie (second wife of G. I. 
 Dwinal) and Delbert. Mr. Simmons is a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity, and he and his wife are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He 
 also filled the office of the justice of the peace in a 
 very successful and satisfactory manner while liv 
 ing in Woodruff County. 
 
 Drury D. Smart. Among the many eminent 
 and enterprising agriculturists of Independence 
 County, Ark. , worthy of mention in these pages, is 
 Mr. Smart, who has been identified with the farm- 
 ing interests of the community since 1856. He is 
 a son of Reuben and Margaret (Melton) Smart, na- 
 tives of Rutherford County, N. C. , and he was born 
 in the same place. He partly completed his edu- 
 cation in his native county, and after the death of 
 his father, in June. 1S45, he and his mother, in 
 the fall of that year, emigrated to East Tennessee, 
 and here finished his schooling and e:rew to mature 
 years. From 1856 to 1859 he worked as a farm 
 hand in Independence County, Ark., but at the 
 latter date removed to Little Rock, and engaged 
 in stage driving, being employed by Messrs. Hanger 
 & Gaines, who were extensive mail contractors, and 
 remained with them about two years. In 1861 he 
 again returned to Oil Trough Bottom, where he 
 gave his attention to tilling the soil until 1862, at 
 which date he enlisted in Col. Dobbins" Cavalry 
 regiment of Arkansas Volunteers, and remained 
 in the army until 1865, participating in the battles 
 of Helena and Marks' Mills, where 1.300 of Gen. 
 Steele's command were captured, together with 
 
V 
 
 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 nn 
 
 ninetj'-six wagons and teams and four pieces of 
 artillery, this blow effectually putting an end to 
 the Ked River expedition. In 1864 he was in the 
 saddle forty-two days, in pursuit of Gen Steele's 
 command, who was attempting to form a jupction 
 with Gen. Bunks in his Ked River expedition, hut, 
 us stated above, the attempt only met with failure. 
 June 5, 1865, he was mustered out of service and 
 returned to civil life, locating in Cache Township, 
 Jackson County, Ark. He was married in the 
 summer of the same year to Miss Sarah Obarr, of 
 Jackson County, a native of Georgia, from which 
 State her parents emigrated to Arkansas, in 1848 
 or 1849. After making three crops in Jackson 
 County, he returned to Oil Trough Bottom, and was 
 an extensive farmer of that region until 1871, when 
 he moved to Faiilkner County, this State, and 
 homesteaded eighty acres of heavily-timbered land, 
 and at once set energetically to work to clear and 
 improve his land. He cleared and put forty acres 
 under cultivation, built a good double log house 
 and other buildings, and made many other valuable 
 improvements during his twelve years' residence in 
 the county. In 1885 he returned to Independence 
 County, the hul) around which he had so long re- 
 volved, and has since been farming on land belong- 
 ing to E. L. Watson, of Newport, Ark. Mj-. Smart 
 and his wife are the parents of six children, two 
 of whom have attained their majority : James D. , 
 Jesse Y., Reuben T., JohnM. . Alice L. A., and 
 William Asher. Mr. Smart is a patron of educa- 
 tion, and is giving his children good advantages. 
 He is a Democrat in politics, and while in Jackson 
 County, held the office of justice of the peace of 
 Cache Township. He was a member of the Wheel 
 during its existence, and he and wife are in com- 
 munion with the Missionary Baptist Church. 
 
 Capt. John T. Smith, farmer and stock raiser, 
 Oil Trough, Ark. Like so many of the representa- 
 tive citizens of this county and township. Mr. 
 Smith is a native Tennesseean, born in Williamson 
 County of that State, June 14, 1841, and is the son 
 of Daniel Smith, who was also a native of that 
 State. When a young man the latter was united 
 in marriage to Miss Martha Ragsdale, a native of 
 Tennessee, and whose father was a colonel in the 
 
 AVar of 1812, and participated in the battle of New 
 Orleans, and died in 1862 at the age of eighty- 
 seven years. The paternal grandfather was also a 
 soldier in the War of 1812, and died in Tennessee, 
 in 1849, of Asiatic cholera. Capt. John T. Smith was 
 but eight years old when he moved with his parents 
 to Humphreys County, Tenn., and there attended the 
 private schools of the coilnty. He was reared to 
 agricultural pursuits, and assisted his father on the 
 farm until the breaking out of the late war, when 
 he enlisted in the Forty-second Tennessee Volun- 
 teer Infantry, Confeilerate Army, as a private. 
 Upon the organization of the company he was 
 elected to the position of orderly sergeant, sei-ving 
 in that capacity until 1862. He was captured, witli 
 his regiment, at Fort Donelson, and afterward, when 
 the regiment was reorganized at Port Hudson, La.. 
 Mr. Smith was promoted to the rank of .second 
 lieutenant, in which capacity he served until May, 
 1863, when he received his commission as captain 
 and commissary, serving as regimental commissary 
 until the battle of Franklin, Tenn. He then re- 
 ceived a furlough to go home, which was the close 
 of his military career. In 1886, in partnership 
 with Mr. M. Reeves, he bought a stock of general 
 merchandise, and carried on the business of a mer 
 chant at Buffalo postoffice, on Buffalo River, Tenn. 
 Mr. Reeves died that year, and Mr. Smith there- 
 upon closed out and engaged in farming, purchas 
 ing a tract of land on Buffalo River, Humphrey 
 County, Tenn,, the tract comprising 2(10 acres. In 
 1866, he was married to Miss Margaret Owens, a 
 native of Tennessee. One child. Mollie A., was 
 born to this union. Mrs. Smith died, in 1867, of 
 cholera, and was buried in the cemetery at Buffalo. 
 In 1868 Mr. Smith took for his second wife Miss 
 Lou Gray, of Perry County, Tenn.. and to this 
 union were born live children, all living: Cordelia 
 C, born December 15, 1869: Dorsey Thomas, born 
 November 9, 1870; Margaret L, , born March 21. 
 1872; William Martin, born March 10, 1874, and 
 Lou .Jennie, born November 20. 1875, The mother 
 of these children died July 8, 1876, and is interred 
 in Perry County, Tenn. May 20. 1877, Capt. Smith 
 married Miss Eliza S, Teas, a native of Humphreys 
 Conntv, Tenn. , and the fruits of this union were four 
 
^^ 
 
 (16 
 
 HISTOEY OF AEKANSAS. 
 
 children: Florence Agnes, born in February, 1879; 
 Amanda R. , born April 1, 1880; Robert Ernest, 
 born October 3, 1883, and Lillian, born August 2, 
 1885. Capt. Smith moved to Arkansas January 
 30, 1879, purchased 160 acres of land in Section 
 11, Christian Township, the principal part of it 
 being timber land, with about thirty acres cleared, 
 and on this were several log-cabius. The Captain 
 has cleared sixty- five acres since he became the 
 owner, and now has ninety-five acres itnder cultiva- 
 tion. He has added by purchase 120 acres, but, 
 selling eighty acres of this, has now 200 acres left. 
 He has good buildings on his farm, and has an 
 excellent orchard. Capt. and Mrs. Smith are mem- 
 bers of the Christian Church, and Cordelia is also 
 a member of that church. Capt. Smith is a mem- 
 ber of McGuire Lodge No. 208, A. F. & A. M., is 
 also a member of Oil Trough Chapter No. 84, R. 
 A. M. In politics he affiliates with the Republican 
 party, and is an ardent supporter of all enterprises 
 for the good of the county. 
 
 John W. Starues, farmer and stock raiser, 
 Jamestown, Ark. Mr. Starnes is a man whom na- 
 ture seems to have especially designed to be a tiller 
 of the soil. The pursuit of agriculture has af- 
 forded him high gratification, and in the conduct 
 of a farm the principles which he has held have 
 been peculiarly adapted to the successful develop- 
 ment and improvement of the varied elements of 
 farm life. He was born in Haywood County, N. 
 C, on the 27th of September, 1823, and the son 
 of Benjamin Starnes, a native of North Carolina, 
 who, after reaching manhood, was united in mar- 
 riage to Miss Sophia Snyder, who was also a native 
 of North Carolina. Later in life they moved to 
 Tennessee, and there passed the remainder of their 
 days. Their family consisted of ten children. 
 John W. Starnes began for himself at an early 
 age, and when twenty -one years of age, was united 
 in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Chapman. Six in- 
 teresting children were the result of this union. 
 His second marriage was in 1864, to Miss Susan 
 McDougal. They have no children. Mr. Starnes 
 has some very valuable land, 500 acres in all, and 
 on this has several fine mineral springs that have 
 quite a local reputation. He thinks that he has 
 
 valuable mineral also on his place. In politics, he 
 is identified with the Democratic party. He is a 
 member of the Agricultural Wheel, and he and 
 wife are members of the Christian Church. 
 
 L. D. Stone, dealer in musical instruments, 
 stationery, etc. , is a native of Arkansas, and the 
 son of Rufus and Fannie A. (Flournor) Stone, who 
 were both natives of Independence County, Ark. 
 The grandparents were early settlers of this coun- 
 ty. Rufus Stone and his brother were killed in 
 the late war, the brother at the battle of Chicka- 
 mauga. The former was taken prisoner, and while 
 in prison at Little Rock, in trying to escape, jumped 
 o£F into the Mississippi River just below Memphis, 
 and was drowned. The mother died in Memphis 
 of the small-pox. L. D. Stone was the only child 
 born to this union, and was left an orphan when 
 but a lad. He was educated principally at Bates- 
 ville, and took a commercial course at Lexington, 
 Ky. In February, 1886, he engaged in his present 
 business, and has since carried it on. He has an 
 extensive trade, which he has built up entirely him- 
 self, and his career affords an excellent example 
 of what pluck and energy can accomplish under 
 adverse circumstances and against keen competi- 
 tion. He carries a full line of musical instru- 
 ments, stationery, etc. Aside from this, he is the 
 owner of about 380 acres of White River bottom 
 land, which is under cultivation, and carried on by 
 tenants. He deals extensively in stock. 
 
 Hon. John Christopher Stroud, present repre- 
 sentative of Independence County in the State 
 legislature, resides on a farm about one mile west 
 of Graham postoffice. He was born in Independ- 
 ence County, October 3, 1854, and is the eldest 
 child and only son of 'the five children born to 
 Andrew J. and Mary Ann (Winkle) Stroud. An- 
 drew J. Stroud was born near Knoxville, Tenn., 
 March 3, 1826, his parents having settled in Ten- 
 nessee at an early day. When a young man he 
 went to Kentucky and for four years was a resi- 
 dent of Paducah, MeCracken County, where he 
 was married. In 1854 he removed to Independ- 
 ence County, Ark., where he died in 1881, having 
 always been a farmer by occupation. His wife 
 was born in North Carolina, in 1829, and is still 
 
 & — 
 
living. Andi'ew J. was a son of Christopher 
 Stroud, a native of North Carolina, whose father 
 was born in Iroland. John C. received his early 
 education in the free schools of his native county 
 and completed his studies in the Washington High 
 School of his home township. At the age of nine- 
 teen he began teaching school, which profession i 
 he successfully followed until 1886. In the latter 
 year he was elected to represent the county in the 
 State legislature, and two years later was again 
 chosen to fill the same position, serving his con- 
 stituents honorably. He takes an active interest 
 in politics and was formerly a Democrat, but now 
 is an Independent. He also takes an active part 
 as a member of the I. O. O. F. , and has several 
 times represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge. 
 Mr. Stroud owns 290 acres of fine creek bottom 
 land, about seventy- five acres of which he has un- 
 der cultivation. December 3, 1879, he married 
 Miss Adelia Barnes, who was born in Independence 
 County, January 19, 1860, and is a daughter of 
 George W. and Martha J. Barnes. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Stroud have four children, Emma A., Estella, 
 William A. and Martha J. Our subject is one of 
 the most popular young men of the community, 
 and is deserving of the public favor bestowed on 
 him. He is well-to-do and is highly esteemed by 
 all who know him. 
 
 N. J. Suit, a successful horticultm-ist of 
 Batesville was born on the 17th of February, 
 1831, in the town of Sardis, Mason County, Ky., 
 and is the son of John and Angeletta (Grover) 
 Suit, who were also natives of Kentucky. The 
 grandparents on both sides were natives of Penn- 
 sylvania, and resided in Maryland, and then in 
 Kentucky at an early day, in fact in the days of 
 Daniel Boone. John Grover, the maternal grand- 
 father, once lived in a fodder house and baked his 
 corn cakes on a hoe, liut by hard labor and honesty 
 he accumulated a comfortable fortune. He was a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His 
 death occurred at the age of eighty-four. He 
 served for some time in the War of 1812, and both 
 he and his wife died in Kentucky. They were among 
 the first settlers of that State. John Suit was also 
 a farmer and died in Kentucky. He was also a 
 
 successful tiller of the soil and belonged to the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and was one of the 
 most moral men who ever lived. The mother mar- 
 ried the second time to James Engles, and in 1843 
 emigrated to Arkansas, coming there by water, and 
 settled near batesville. They located near Sul- 
 phur Rock, and there lived for several years. He 
 was a carpenter by trade and died near Moonfiold. 
 There were but two children born to the first mar- 
 riage, of whom N. J. is the only one now living, 
 William H. having died. By the second mairiage 
 Mrs. Suit became the mother of nine children. 
 She died in 1884. At her death she had about 
 seventy-three childi'en, grandchildren and great- 
 grandchildren. N. J. Suit was about twelve years 
 of age when he came with his parents to Arkansas. 
 He received a limited education, there being no 
 good schools. At the age of about sixteen years 
 he served an apprenticeship at the tanners' trade, 
 and followed the business until about 1880, or 
 for over thirty years. In 1865 he moved to Bates- 
 ville, and ran a tannery for some two years. In 
 1868 he built the tannery he now owns and ran 
 this until 1880. Since that time he has been en- 
 gaged in the nursery business. He has a good 
 fruit orchard of pears, peaches, apples and small 
 fruits. He has planted all the trees and carried 
 on the business quite successfully ever since. He 
 owns forty acres of land on which his orchard is 
 located, and is one of the prominent fruit growers 
 of the county. He was married in 1854 to Miss 
 Susan F. Wright, and to them was born one child, 
 deceased. Mr. Suit's second marriage was to 
 Miss Melissa J. Quails, in 1861, and three chil- 
 dren were born to this union : Etta, wife of Henry 
 Richards, of Spencer County, Ind. ; Walter, and 
 Florence, wife of George Wade, and the mother 
 of one child. Mr. Suit's third marriage was 
 with Mrs. Margaret Herrin, a native of Tennes- 
 see, whose parents came to Arkansas, in 1849. 
 Mrs. Suit is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. 
 
 Ephraim Drake Swain owns a fine farm of N40 
 acres, in Washington Township. Independence 
 County, situated about one and a quarter miles 
 east of Victor po--tiil1ic(>. He wa> Ihum (Vtulier 2. 
 
At 
 
 718 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ] 
 
 1828, in what is now Yadkin Coiinty, N. C. , and 
 his parents were Michael and Elizabeth (McGiiire) 
 Swain. Michael Swain was also a native of North 
 Carolina, and was born in 1809; he died in the 
 house in which he was born, and which was always 
 his home, January 8, 1886. He was a farmer, of 
 English descent, and for about forty years prevr- 
 oiis to his death was afflicted with blindness. The 
 mother of our subject was born in North Carolina 
 in 1811, and died in her native State in May, 1882. 
 Ephraim D. was the third in a family of twelve 
 children, five of whom are living. He lived with his 
 parents until about twenty-four years of age, re- 
 ceiving his education in the subscription and free 
 schools of the State in which he was born. In 
 1854 he married Miss Lucinda Chappel, a native 
 of North Carolina, who was born in 1830. Of the 
 nine children who have been born to them five sur- 
 vive, viz. : Sarah, Pleasant M. , James M. , Rosa 
 and Buck. Mr. Swain emigrated from North Car- 
 olina in 1871, and settled in Independence County, 
 Ark., where he has since resided and been success- 
 fully engaged in the pursuit of farming. He has 
 300 acres of his large farm under cultivation, and 
 is one of the well-to-do and most enterprising farm- 
 ers of the township. His first presidential vote 
 he cast for Pierce, and he still votes the Demo- 
 cratic ticket, thoiigh not an active politician. Mrs. 
 Swain is a member of the Missionary Baptist 
 Church. The paternal grandfather of our subject 
 was also Michael Swain, whose life was spent in 
 his native State of North Carolina. 
 
 John Thomas Tarpley, merchant and farmer, 
 Elmo, Ark. This name is not unfamiliar to those 
 in the vicinity of Elmo, as well as to those in the 
 county, for he who bears it is numbered among the 
 highly-respected citizens of this community. Born 
 on the 16th of October, 1857, he is the son of John 
 Wesley and Sarah Elizabeth (Phillips) Tarpley, 
 who were originally from Alabama. The parents 
 came to Arkansas in March, 1S70, located in Inde- 
 pendence County on what is known as the Baily 
 farm, where the father died on the June following, 
 after an illness of three years. In their familj^ 
 were eight children: Edward Everett, born on the 
 5th of February, 1855, residing in Independence 
 
 County; John Thomas, Dora Ann, married M. J. 
 Harris; Eugene, lives in Texas; Lucella, married 
 F. M. Copps; Belle P., lives in Boone County; 
 Murillah, married Mr. William L. McMullen, and 
 lives in Christian Township, and Finis Wesley, 
 now attending school. John Thomas Tarpley com- 
 menced business for himself at the age of twenty- 
 one years, first as a farm hand, and in 1881 he 
 rented land. In 1885 he made his first purchase 
 of land, twenty acres, all under cultivation, and in 
 1888 he bought twenty acres more adjoining his 
 first purchase, this being also under cultivation. 
 In 1885 he also purchased 120 acres in Jackson 
 County, all of which was covered with heavy tim- 
 ber, which Mr. Tarpley has cleared and has about 
 thirty acres under fence. On the 20th of January, 
 1889, he purchased a stock of drugs and groceries, 
 which he opened up in Elmo, and is now carrying 
 on in a ver}' successful manner. He contemjilates 
 putting in a good line of dry goods in the near 
 future, and will have one of the best stores in the 
 township. In his political principles he is closely 
 associated with the Republican party, as was his 
 father before him. His grandparents on both sides 
 were old-line Whigs in their political views. Mr. 
 Tarpley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, is a member of the Masonic fra- 
 ternity, McGuire Lodge No. 208, and Oil Trough 
 Chapter No. 84. He is active in all enterprises, 
 whether religious, social or educational, and con- 
 tributes liberally of his means to each and all. 
 
 Hon. J. S. Trimble. A worthy history of In- 
 dependence County, Ark., could not be given with- 
 out mentioning the name of Mr. Trimble, who for 
 over three-score-years and ten, has been a promi- 
 nent resident of the county. During his long term 
 of years here, his good name has remained un- 
 tarnished, and he has well and faithfully per- 
 formed every duty, both public and private, that 
 has fallen to his lot. He is a native of the Blue 
 Grass State (Kentucky), his birth having occurred 
 at Smithland, in Livingston County, March 28, 
 1815. His father's name was James Trimble; he 
 was born in Augusta County, Va., in 1774. His 
 mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Stewart; 
 she was born in Culpeper County, Va. . in 1 782. 
 
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 il'J 
 
 ^ — V — ; 
 
 After their marriage his father moved to Ken- 
 tucky, in quite an early day, wliere Mr. Trimble 
 was born, as above stated. In 1817, his parents 
 moved to what was then a portion of Missouri Terri- 
 tory, but which is now the State of Arkansas, and 
 here J. S. Trimble grew up to manhood, his early 
 education being received in the common schools of 
 the country and at Batesville. Immediately af- 
 ter completing his school dajs, he commenced to 
 apply himself closely to agricultural pursuits, and ! 
 in 1850, he was elected from Independence Coun- 
 ty, Ark., as a member of the lower house of the 
 State legislature. He was always a Jeffersonian, 
 and a Jackson Democrat of the strictest sect; he 
 believed in the strict construction of organic law, 
 both State and National ; he also believed that it was 
 by strict construction, alone, that the rights of the 
 minority were to be protected in the government; 
 and, if the declaratory and restrictive clauses of 
 the constitution be removed, the rights of the few 
 could not be maintained or protected. His great 
 speech in the house of representatives, December 
 24, 1850, and the introduction of the joint reso- 
 lutions on Federal relations, which were published 
 in the Arkansas Banner at the time, places 
 him at once in the front rank as a sound and al)le 
 debater. In 1856 he was elected to the senate 
 of the same body, and served by re-election until 
 1804. At this date, he was again chosen to the 
 same position, by the soldiers in the service of the 
 Confederate States, by virtue of a bill passed for 
 that purpose, but, owing to the unsettled condi- 
 tion of affairs at that time, this legislature was 
 disorganized after the first year of its existence. 
 Thus, Hon. J. S. Trimble has served his county 
 nine years in the State senate, and four years in 
 the house of representatives, making thirteen 
 years' service, as a faithful legislator, and in both 
 of these capacities he has discharged his duties 
 with ability, and to the entire satisfaction of his 
 constituents. This was during the most turbulent 
 times of our American history. He has always 
 believed in the State rights doctrine, and when 
 South Carolina withdrew from the Union, he was 
 a warm advocate of secession, and was a strong 
 friend of the South during its entire struggle; 
 
 and, although exempt from military duty 
 (by virtue of his being a member of the senate 
 of Arkansas during the entire war), yet he was 
 too strong a Southern sympathizer not to partic- 
 ipate in the great war Ijotween the States, which 
 he considered just, and for some time served in the 
 Confederate mail service, in the State of Texas. 
 After the war, he was elected Treasurer of Inde- 
 pendence County, on only a few days' notice, to 
 fill out an unexpired term of R. Lee, deceased, and, 
 althougli there were three worthy candidates in 
 the field, who had for some time been canvassing 
 the county, he was elected by a very large major- 
 ity. He gave bond for S40,nOO, served the peo- 
 ple faithfully, quit the office with clean hands, 
 but declined re-election. Mr. Trimble has al 
 ways kept up with the times in reading, has shown 
 himself to be a man of strong native intellect, 
 sound judgment, sterling principles, well posted 
 in governmental affairs, and is perhaps as highly 
 esteemed and respected as any man in the county. 
 In 1850, he was married to Miss Catherine P. Ham- 
 ilton, of Conway County, Ark. , and l\v her he be- 
 came the father of one child, a daughter bamed 
 Elvira, who is now the wife of Joseph Wright, of 
 Sulphur Rock, Ark. Mr. Trimble lived in Green 
 briar Township, Independence County, for about 
 seventy two years, and on New Year's eve, 1886, 
 moved into his new buildings in Sulphur Rock, 
 to be near his only child and grandchiklren dur 
 ing his declining years. He is of old Virginia 
 stock, his father, James Trimble, having been born 
 in that State, in 1774. His mother was also a 
 Virginian, bom in Culpeper County, and after their 
 marriage moved to Kentucky, in quite an early 
 day, where they reared the must of their family, 
 ten children in all. three only of whom survive 
 The father was a surveyor by occupation. Immi 
 grating to Arkansas in 181 7. he used to get contracts 
 of surveying, and return his work to St. Louis, 
 Mo., before there was any land office established 
 in the State. Shortly after his removal to Sulphur 
 I Rock, Mr. T. assisted in having the town incorpo- 
 1 rated, and became first mayor, but declined a re- 
 election. In his younger days, he was active in 
 the cause of education and temi)erance, and has 
 
9 k_ 
 
 720 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 never lost interest in either cause. He is a rapid 
 and impressive speaker, and as a legislator has 
 few equals, being always in his seat when the 
 senate was in session, and his place was never va- 
 cant at the meetings of the committees with which 
 he was connected. Mr. Trimble was always 
 prompt, industrious, efficient and conscientious. 
 With his superior business qualifications, clear 
 head, and excellent practical common sense, he 
 was much respected by his associates, and soon be- 
 came one of the most honored and influential mem- 
 bers of the senate. His social and domestic at- 
 tachments are very strong. His friendship is sin- 
 cere and true; his grasp of the hand warm and cor- 
 dial. Of him it might be said: 
 
 "His life is gentle, and the elements 
 So mixed in him, that Nature might stand up 
 And say to all the world, this is a man." 
 
 H. W. Vaughan, M. D., deserves honorable men- 
 tion, as one of the successful practicing physicians 
 and surgeons of Sulphur Rock, Ark. He was born 
 in North Carolina, July 16, 1828, and was reared 
 in Fayette County, Tenn. , where he also received 
 his literary education, and, in 1849, began his 
 study of medical lore under an instructor, entering 
 in 1850 the Louisville Medical College, where he 
 took a regular course of lectures. He came to Ar- 
 kansas soon after, and, in 1856, located in Inde- 
 pendence County, where he was for years the only 
 college practitioner, and enjoyed a lucrative and 
 extensive practice, his patients being among the 
 best class of citizens in the county and in North- 
 east Arkansas. Sulpjiur Rock was a very small 
 place, indeed, at the time of his location, and con- 
 sisted of one store and a postoffice. The Doctor 
 has been married twice — the first time to Miss 
 Maria L. Tumey, a native of Independence Coun- 
 ty, and of this union four children were born; Ella 
 v., Solon. Phoebe M. and Clarence P. Mrs. 
 Vaughan, after having performed well and faithful- 
 ly the duties of a wife and mother, was called to 
 her final home on the 14th of August, 1873. The 
 Doctor is a son of S. F. and Phoebe Vaughan, the 
 former of whom was a Virginian, who subsequent- 
 ly became a citizen of North Carolina, and after- 
 ward of Tennessee. He died in the State of Mis- 
 
 sissippi, in 1856, at the age of fifty -eight years. 
 Dr. Vaughan is a Master Mason, and in his political 
 views is a Democrat. His wife belongs to the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Joseph J. Waldrip of Big Bottom Township, 
 Independence County, was born in Lauderdale 
 County, Ala., November 4, 1839. He is a son of 
 Thomas W. and Serena Waldrip, natives, respect- 
 ively, of Maury and Giles Counties, Tenn. The 
 father of Thomas W. Waldrip was James Waldrip, 
 a native of South Carolina, of Irish descent, his 
 ancestors having emigrated to this country about 
 1690. Several of them served in the War for Inde- 
 pendence, and James Waldrip took part in the 
 War of 1812, participating in the battle of New 
 Orleans. He died in Lafayette County, Miss. , at an 
 advanced age, having been a life-long farmer. 
 Thomas W. was born August 14, 1805, and died 
 in the fall of 1875, in Panola County, Miss. 
 When young, he moved, with his parents, to Lau- 
 derdale County, Ala., where he was reared on a 
 farm; he educated himself after he was grown, and 
 engaged in teaching, but abandoned that profes- 
 sion for farming, in which he was most successf nl. 
 February 8, 1831, he married Serena German, 
 who was born May 13, 1814, and was a daughter 
 of Joseph German, an early settler of Tennessee, 
 who was born January 18, 1784, and died in Mon- 
 roe County, Miss. , at the age of eighty-four years. 
 He was an en tensive farmer, who moved from Ten- 
 nessee to Lauderdale County, Ala. , and thence to 
 Monroe County, Miss. Ten children were born to 
 Thomas W. and Serena Waldrip, but four of whom 
 arenow living, viz. : Joseph J., Thomas ^\'., afarmer 
 of Independence County; Amanda Louisa Aldridge, 
 wife of John W. Aldridge, also a farmer of Inde- 
 pendence County, and Romelia Catherine, wife of 
 W. M. Keating of Independence County. Those 
 deceased are Eliza J. Rieder, William P. Waldrip, 
 Fannie E. Aldridge, Rachel E. Carpenter, James 
 M. Waldrip, and Mary A. Bivens. The parents 
 were members of the Missionary Baptist Church, 
 and took an active part in church work. They 
 settled in Panola County, Miss., in 1856, where 
 they made their home the remainder of their lives. 
 Thomas W. was a stanch Democrat in politics and 
 
4^ 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 ?1\ 
 
 served several years as justice of "the peace; his 
 wife died in PanoUt County, Miss., in 1885. 
 Joseph J. Waldrip received a common school edu- 
 cation, and at the age of eighteen left his home 
 for Northern Alabama, where for a short time ho 
 worked and went to school; he tlien returned to his 
 home and assumed control of his father's farm 
 until 1861. March 28, of the latter year, he was 
 mustered in Pettis" artillery, which was afterward 
 known as the Hudson Battery, and was the first 
 battery organized to leave the State. Although 
 n>peatedly tendered an office, Mr. Waldrip refused 
 to accept a more responsible one than that of 
 sergeant. He served faithfully until the sur- 
 render of his company, June 13, 18(35, and took 
 part in many of the principal battles of the war, 
 among them Shiloh, Corinth, Port Gibson, Siege 
 of Vicksburg and others. At Shiloh he was 
 severely wounded in the left side by a bursting 
 shell, at Port Gibson received a flesh wound, and 
 at Vicksburg was wounded in the right side. At 
 the close of the war he returned to Mississippi 
 and worked on a farm until 1868, when he went 
 to Arkansas and engaged in the mercantile busi- 
 ness until 1870. He then turned his attention 
 exclusively to farming and stock-raising, and now is 
 one of the most enterprising and successful agricul- 
 turists of Independence County. December 28, 
 1869, he married Elizabeth Magness, daughter of 
 Col. Morgan Magness. She was born in Inde- 
 pendence County, September 22, 1852. They are 
 the parents of four children, viz.: Thomas M. , 
 William J., Joseph R. and Mirtle (deceased). 
 Mr. Waldrip has been a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity since 1866; he is a member of the 
 Council, and has frequently represented his lodge 
 in the Grand Lodge, both in Mississippi and Ar- 
 kansas. He is a Democrat politically, and in 1874 
 was elected justice of the peace, in which capacity 
 he served two years. 
 
 Dr. M. C. Weaver, of Independence County, 
 now engaged in merchandising, is the youngest of 
 seven sons and one daughter born to Abram and 
 Mary ( Burton ) Weaver, and was born in Phila- 
 delphia, in the year 1855. The parents were 
 natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, respectively, 
 
 who settled in Chester Valley, Pa., after their 
 marriage, and in 1859 moved to Batesville, Ark., 
 where Mrs. Weaver died in 1867, and the father 
 at Pocahontas, in 1882. The elder Weaver was a 
 lawyer and real estate dealer in Memphis, Tenn. , 
 at one time, who afterwards practiced his profes- 
 sion in Pocahontas. He was a member of the 
 'I. O. O. F., and a leading man of Northeast Ar- 
 kansas. His wife was a member of t\w Episcopal 
 Church and a daughter of Dr. P. P. Burton, a 
 prominent physician of Virginia, who moved to 
 Batesville in 18-11, and contributed largely to the 
 building up of that town. In 1847 or 1848 he 
 removed to Little Rock, where he practiced his 
 profession for twenty -five years, and died in that 
 city in 1875. Dr. M. C. Weaver was educated at 
 Batesville and St. John's College at Little Rock. 
 His choice for a profession was medicine, and in 
 1877 he graduated from the Louisville Medical 
 College, and began practicing in Greenbrier Town- 
 ship. The following year he went to Kentucky, 
 where he remained a short period, but soon 
 returned to Independence County, and engaged in 
 practicing at Jamestown until 1888. The Doctor 
 about this time had built up a large practice, but 
 his mercantile interests became so pressing that 
 he was forced to abandon his chosen profession, 
 although now he is one of the leading merchants 
 in that section. In 187S he was married to Miss 
 Theodora, a daughter of the Rev. C. H. Albert of 
 Pennsylvania, in which State Mrs. Weaver was 
 born. The Rev. Albert, during his life, was an 
 eloquent minister, whose fame as a speaker had 
 rapidly spread to the surrounding country soon 
 after his arrival. He was the first Episcopal min- 
 ister to settle in Independence County after the 
 war, and was killed after a long life of usefulness 
 by a runaway horse. Doctor Weaver and his wife 
 have two daughters, and are members of the Epis- 
 copal Church at Batesville. In politics he is a 
 Democrat, but owing to his large commercial inter 
 ests. has always declined to accept office of any 
 kind. The Doctor has a splendid residence and 
 magnificent home in Jamestown, situated on the 
 spot noted as being the birthplace of Congiessman 
 Samuel Peele. 
 
4 
 
 722 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Calvin Houston ^Vebb, farmer, stock raiser and 
 ex-assessor of Independence County, Ai'k. Al- 
 though a young man, Mr. Webb has, by his native 
 energy and progressive ideas put into execution, 
 won for himself an enviable reputation that entitles 
 him to a place among the representative citizens of 
 the county. He owes his nativity to this county, 
 where he was born on the 18th of April, 1855. 
 His parents, Holland Revere and Luciuda E. 
 (Hogan) AVebb, were natives, respectively, of Ten- 
 nessee and Arkansas, the former born on the 27th 
 of Jivne, 1825, and died on the 21st of February, 
 1876. The father was reared to agricultural pur- 
 suits, received his education in Weakley County, 
 Tenn. , and came to Arkansas at an early day, 
 settling on a farm in the foothills of Black River 
 Swamp. Here he was surrounded by wild game, 
 from liear down to quail, and there lived a bachelor 
 life until he met and formed the acquaintance of 
 Miss Hogan (daughter of Hamblin Hogan, one of 
 the very early pioneers of this country, who is 
 spoken of in another part of this history), and a 
 love match was the result. They were married on 
 the 8th day of June, 1854, Squire Thomas Lloyd 
 officiating. At the time of his marriage, Mr. 
 Webb was the possessor of 160 acres of land, 
 twenty under cultivation, and a rude log hut. 
 Many were the interesting stories of pioneer life 
 that they were able to tell their children in after 
 years. Once, when the father was absent at court, 
 a bear came and robbed the bean patch. Mrs. 
 Webb was alone in the house, which was without 
 doors, and the nearest neighbor quite a distance 
 away. Mr. Webb continued farming until his 
 children were large enough to need some school 
 advantages, and in order to give them the best, in 
 1866 he built a school-house on his farm, for the 
 benefit of his own and the neighbors' children, and 
 this was attended by young and old for about two 
 years, doing a great amount of good. Mr. Webb 
 was itn active and influential Democrat, and was a 
 member of Bayou Dota Lodge, A. F. & A. M. 
 At the time of his death he owned 600 acres of 
 land, with 100 under cultivation, and all the im- 
 provements good. Though he never held member- 
 ship in any church, he was a man of perfect morals 
 
 and strict integrity, and contributed liberally to all 
 public enterprises for the public good. His excel- 
 lent wife survives him, and makes her home with 
 her sou, the subject of this sketch. She owns and 
 controls 160 acres of the old homestead, which 
 makes her a bountiful living. She is a member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Since 
 the death of her husband she has never mari'ied. 
 To Holland and Lucinda Webb were born the fol- 
 lowing children: C. H. (subject), Sarah T. , born 
 on the 5th of November, 1856, and the wife of 
 Joseph McDaniel, died in spring of 1S84, a farmer 
 of Black River Township; Fredonia A., born on 
 the 10th of February, 1858, and the wife of Henry 
 McDaniel, also one of the farmers of the county, 
 and Luciuda Holland, born on the 16th of July, 
 1876, and now living with her mother. C. H. 
 Webb was reared to the occupation of farming, 
 and attended several months in his father's school. 
 By this means the children all received a fair edu- 
 cation. C. H. began life for himself at the age 
 of nineteen by raising a crop on his father's farm, 
 and received half of the same. On the 21st of 
 May, 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss 
 Mary C. Killingsworth, daughter of E. R. and 
 Sarah A. (Martin) Killingsworth, and a native of 
 Arkansas. Her father was one among the first 
 brick masons of Bates ville. Mr. Killingsworth 
 was a large contractor and builder, and in the 
 50' s was engaged in erecting brick buildings in 
 that city; later he turned his attention to agricul- 
 tural pursuits. Mrs. Killingsworth was a daugh- 
 ter of Adam and Elizabeth Martin, and a sister of 
 Senator George Martin [see sketch]. After his 
 marriage Mr. Webb lived on his father's farm for 
 two years, and at the latter' s death he sold his 
 portion of the same, and then purchased the farm 
 on which he now lives. This farm consists of 
 eighty acres, with fifty under cultivation, twenty 
 of which he has cleared himself. On this farm lie 
 has erected one of the finest farm-houses in Black 
 River Township. He has a good orchard of five 
 acres, a nice vineyard, and has perhaps one of the 
 finest farms in the county. In addition to his 
 home place, he has bought 200 acres joining it, 
 and has ninety acres under cultivation. He has 
 
 
• >. 
 
 three tenement houses on it, and gives homes and 
 employment for three families. Mr. Webb believes 
 in thorough farming, and so in addition to his 
 crops of corn and cotton, he raise's all kinds of 
 grain. He depends entirely for his support on the 
 products of his farm. He was reared a Democrat, 
 and voted with that party until the Wheel was 
 organized in his county. He was solicited as a 
 charter member June 27, 1884, for Wheel No. 
 388, and since that time has thoroughly identified 
 himself with that order, and in 1886 was nominated 
 by the farmers for assessor, and elected. He has 
 served in that capacity with credit to himself and 
 his constituents. He and his wife are members of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a mem- 
 ber of Sulphur Rock Lodge No. 1189, K. & L. of 
 H. , and is one of those liberal, free-hearted men 
 upon whom depends, to a great extent, the future 
 progress of his country. His future prospects 
 look bright. 
 
 R. D. Williams. The merchants of Batesville 
 have the reputation of being among the most en- 
 terprising in Arkansas, and Mr. Williams stands 
 in the foremost ranks of commercial life at that 
 point. He was born in Henry County, Tenn., on 
 October 28, 1836, and is a son of William R. and 
 Evaline (Moody) Williams, of Kentucky and Ten- 
 nessee, respectively. The parents were married in 
 the latter State and moved to Arkansas about the 
 year 1839, locating in Independence County. They 
 remained here two years and then removed to 
 Lawrence County, now Sharp County, and located 
 near the county seat. Evening Shade. They were 
 among the early settlers of that section, where the 
 father's occupation was farming, and where they 
 resided imtil the time of their death. They were 
 the parents of eight children, of whom three only 
 are living at present: Richard D., Cordelia, wife 
 of M. G. Wainright, and Nancy J., wife of W. T. 
 Cunningham. Richard was only three years old 
 when he came to Lawrence County with his par- 
 ents, and was educated in the common schools of 
 that place. Some idea of the schools of that i)eriod 
 may be obtained from the one he attended, which 
 was merely a log cabin, and had nothing l)ut the 
 bare earth to serve as a tloor. He remained on 
 
 the farm until he reached maturity, and then oc- 
 cupied a responsible position with a business house 
 at Evening Shade, in which he was emjtloyed for 
 two years. In 1858 he became a merchant himself, 
 and carried on a profitable business until the war 
 commenced, when he left it in charge of a friend 
 and enlisted in Company D, Fourteenth Arkansas 
 Regiment. He was taken violently ill shortly after 
 joining the army and returned home, but after re- 
 covering he again enlisted, becoming a member of 
 Wade's Company, and served a short time in 
 Price's raids through Missouri. He was captured 
 near his home soon after this raid, l)Ut after two 
 weeks' confinement was paroled, and after the sur 
 render returned home and took charge of his busi- 
 ness at Evening Shade, continuing there until the 
 fall of 1887, when he moved to Batesville and 
 0])('ned up a large and well stocked store. He 
 still retains his interest in the business at Evening 
 Shade, however, the firm there' being Williams, 
 Price & Co. , while that one at Batesville is known 
 as R. D. Williams & Co. He owns about 1,200 
 acres of land in Sharp County, and has about 500 
 acres under cultivation. Mr. Williams is a true 
 representative of the wide-awake, active and en- 
 terprising business man, and his ability has made 
 him one of the mo.st successful men in commercial 
 circles in Batesville. He was married in 1867 to 
 Miss Mary E. Shaver, by whom he has one child 
 living — Clara. He lost this wife," and was again 
 married in 1882, his second wife l)eing Mrs. Mat- 
 tie Wasson, widow of \V. G. Wiisson. Mr. M'il- 
 liams is a member of the Masonic fraternity and 
 the Knights of Honor, and, with his wife, attend-; 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 James Alfred Williamson, M. D.. a prominent 
 physician of Elmo, whose name is familiar in many 
 homes throughout Independence County, is a son of 
 Alfred and (Caroline Virginia (Sanders) William.son, 
 the former a native of Maine, and the latter of 
 Kentucky. The parents were married near what is 
 now Saloma. Taylor County, Ky., where James 
 Alfred was born, on the 20th of March, 1857. 
 The parents moved from Kentucky the same year, 
 and settled in Arkansas, at a point near Batesville. 
 where the father commenced i)racticing his pro 
 
724 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 fession in addition to cultivating a farm. The Doc- 
 tor was reared on the home farm, and educated in 
 the schools of Independence County. After grad- 
 uatinsr from these schools he took a course in liter- 
 ature at the Batesville High School, and in 1880 
 commenced the study of medicine under his father. 
 He received his first course of lectures at the Mis- 
 souri Medical College, of St. Louis, Mo., in 1882 
 and 1883, and afterward located at Elmo, Ark., 
 where he practiced until the fall of 1884, when he 
 matriculated at Vanderbilt University, and gradu- 
 ated that term, also graduating from the medical 
 college at Nashville, Tenu. , in 1885. Dr. William- 
 son was married to Miss Henry Clay Tunstall, of 
 Arkansas, a daughter of Clay and Nancy (Arnold) 
 Tunstall, both natives of Tennessee, but among 
 the earlier settlers of the former State, and Clay 
 Tunstall' s name is associated with much of Inde- 
 pendence County's early development. To the 
 Doctor' s marriage were born three children : Jessie, 
 Basil and Imogene, and they contribute to make 
 this one of the brightest and happiest homes in 
 Northern Arkansas. The Doctor has built up a 
 large practice in this section, and enjoys the con- 
 fidence of everyone with whom he comes in contact. 
 He is a general practitioner, and skillful in his pro- 
 fession, having made it the study of his existence. 
 In the winter season, when pneumonia, bronchitis, 
 croup and kindred diseases are jirevalent, he has 
 his hands full, and in the summer months, when 
 malarial affections are lurking everywhere, he is 
 one of the busiest men in that county. In politics 
 the Doctor is a Democrat, and in religious faith he, 
 with his wife, attends the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. Dr. Williamson is a member of McGuire 
 Lodge No. 208, Oil Trough, Independence County, 
 and filled the chair of Senior Warden at one time, 
 but is now the Senior Deacon. He also belongs 
 to Oil Trough Chapter No. 84, at Oil Trough, and 
 holds the position of Captain of the Host. 
 
 W. G. Wilson is the mayor of Sulphur Rock, 
 Ark., and is the proprietor at that place of one of 
 the best livery stables in the county. He is a native- 
 born resident of the county, his birth occurring in 
 1837, and during his early youth and manhood he 
 attended the subscription schools, and worked with 
 
 his father on the home farm. On the 26th of Jan- 
 uary, 1859, he was married to Miss Mary E. West, 
 a native of the ' ' Bay State, ' ' who came with her 
 parents to Arkansas when a child. Her death oc- 
 curred on the 27th of January, 1873, and she left 
 her husband and three children to mourn her loss, 
 the names of the latter being: Ed. M. , Charley G. 
 and Florence, who died aged twenty -seven years, 
 the wife of Solon Burkett, and left two children. 
 Mr. Wilson took for his second wife Miss R. F. 
 Morgan, a native of Alabama, and the following 
 childi'en have been given them: Emma, Myrtie, 
 Bertha, Fay, and Julia A. Two children died 
 when quite small. When ihe thunders of war re 
 sounded through the land, Mr. Wilson enlisted in 
 the Confederate army, in the First Arkansas Cav- 
 alry, and served from July 26, 1862 to June 5, 
 1865, surrendering at the latter date. He was in 
 Little Rock, Helena, and various fights in Missouri, 
 being with Price on his raid through the latter 
 State. After the war he returned home and re- 
 sumed farming, continuing until 1885, when he 
 came to Sulphur Rock and embarked in his pres- 
 ent business, which is one of the most popular es- 
 tablishments of the kind in the county, and is meet- 
 ing with well-deserved success. He has a fine 
 farm, two miles north of Sulphur Rock, and is well 
 fixed in a worldly point of view. In April, 1889, 
 he was elected mayor of Sulphui- Rock, Ark., and 
 also served part of an unexpired term of the pre- 
 vious year. Besides this, he served one term as 
 constable and four terms as justice of the peace. 
 He belongs to the Blue Lodge of the A. F. &A. M., 
 is a Royal Arch Mason, and Royal and Select 
 Master Mason, and is a member of the K. and L. 
 of Honor. In his religious views he is a Methodist. 
 He is one of the substantial residents of the county, 
 and is well known and highly respected by all. 
 His parents, William M. and Hannah (Masters) 
 Wilson, were born in Tennessee and Missouri, re- 
 spectively. The father moved to the mother's na- 
 tive State after reaching manhood, and afterward 
 went to Arkansas, and located in Independence 
 County, where he died in November, 1864, at the 
 age of seventy-five years, followed by his wife in 
 November, 1868. Of the ten children born to 
 
 *^ 
 
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 725 
 
 them, only two are living — our subject, W. G. 
 Wilson and his sister, Mrs. Davidson. 
 
 Samuel M. ^\'yatt, a genial and popular farmer 
 and stock raiser, of Independence County, was 
 born in Davidson County, Tenn., in 1S37, and is 
 a sou of Isaac and Eleanor (McCutchen) Wyatt, of 
 North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, the 
 mother dying when Samuel was four years of age. 
 The father moved to Gibson County, Tenn., the 
 following year after her death, where he resided 
 until 1857, and then came to Independence Coun- 
 ty, Ark., spending the balance of his life in that lo- 
 cality. He was a prosperous and highly-respected 
 farmer at the time of his death, in 1885, and a 
 member of the A. F. & A. M. His parents both 
 died when he was still very young, and he was 
 reared by an uncle in Tennessee. After the death 
 of his wife he sincerely mourned her absence, and 
 remained a widower all his life. Mrs. Wyatt' s 
 parents were natives of Ireland, who emigrated to 
 America and settled in Tennessee, where they re- 
 sided until their decease. The father, John Mc- 
 Cutchen, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and 
 fought under Gen. Jackson, at the battle of New 
 Orleans. Samuel was the fourth child of one son 
 and four daughters born to his parents, and re- 
 ceived a good common school education in his 
 young days. He moved to Arkansas with his fa- 
 ther and sisters, and has made that State his home 
 ever since. When the war broke out he cast his 
 lot with the Confederate army, and enlisted in 
 the First Arkansas Mounted Riflemen, operating 
 through Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, 
 Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, Florida, and, in 
 fact, all the Confederate States. He took part in 
 almost all of the principal battles during that mem- 
 orable period, besides a great number of skirmishes 
 and minor engagements, and though the Confed- 
 eracy had followers for her cause whose names 
 are far better known to the world, she had no 
 braver soldier than Mr. Wyatt. After his surren- 
 der at Jacksouport, in 18(55, he returned to his 
 farm, and again commenced cultivating the soil. 
 In 1S()7 he was married, in Independence County, 
 to Mrs. Mary Gainer, a charming young widow, 
 and a daughter of John and Tobitha Rodman, of 
 
 famous old Bourbon County, Ky. Two sons and 
 one daughter were born to this union: Isaac R., 
 John and Mamie. Immediately after his marriage 
 Mr. Wyatt settled on 'VN'hite River, and commenced 
 farming in that neighborhood, residing there ever 
 since. He has become one of the leading farmers 
 in that section, and now owns about 1,000 acres of 
 land, in different tracts, with about 500 acres un- 
 der cultivation. He inherited a portion of his 
 land, but the greater part has been derived from 
 his own industry and enterprise, and outside of 
 being a practical farmer he is a wide-awake and 
 energetic business man. In politics he is a Dem- 
 ocrat, and has been a stanch adher(>nt to that party 
 all his life. Mrs. Wyatt is a member of the Epis 
 copal Church, and a devoted wife and mother, who 
 makes her home one of the most pleasant iu Indi' 
 pendence County. 
 
 William C. Wyatt is a successful farmer and 
 stockman of Independence County, Ark. . iind is a 
 man who, by his sterling characteristics and genial 
 and hospitable disposition, has won a host of warm 
 friends, and the universal respect of those whom 
 he meets. He is a son of James and Martha 
 (Davis) Wyatt, the former a native of North Caro- 
 lina, and the mother of old Virginia, and of Swiss 
 and Scotch descent, respectively. The paternal 
 ancestry is traced back as far as the great-grand- 
 father, and the grandfather particijiated in the 
 Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, in the 
 latter war taking part in the battle of New Orleans. 
 His death oecuiTed while coming home from that 
 battle. In the year 1852 James Wyatt emigrated 
 with his family to Arkansas and located in Inde- 
 pendence County, where he turned his attention to 
 farming, an occupation which he had always fol- 
 lowed, on forty acres of land which he had pur 
 chased. He cleared this of timber, and many of 
 his early days were spent in hunting, his trusty 
 
 I rifle bringing down many wolves, bear, panthers, ( 
 deer and wild turkeys. In 18(57 Mr. Wyatt re 
 turned to Tennessee, where he had lived a numl>er 
 
 i of years, to dispose of his possessions there, and 
 after receiving the money for the sale of his land 
 he started for his home in Arkansas, but. after 
 crossing the Tennessee River, he disappeared and 
 
'.^ 
 
 120, 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 has never been heard from since. He is supposed 
 to have been killed for his money, and his family 
 mourn him as dead. William C. Wratt was one 
 of his eight children, and was the fourth in order 
 of birth, this event occurring on the 5th of January, 
 1842. He came to Arkansas when ten years of 
 age, and was reared to farm life and educated in 
 this State. When the war broke out he enlisted 
 in Company B, Eighth Arkansas Volunteer Infan- 
 try, United States Army, and participated in the bat- 
 tles of Stone River, Perryville, being captured at 
 the former battle on the Slat of December, 1862, 
 anil was exchanged on the 22d of March, 1863. 
 In the same engagement in which he was captured 
 he was severely wounded, having his left arm 
 broken, but thinks he has now entirely recovered. 
 After being exchanged at Petersburg he returned 
 home on furlough, and this ended his services as a 
 soldier. On the 18th of January, 1866, he was 
 married to Miss Mary M. Dodd, a native of Arkan- 
 sas, and a daughter of Abner H. and Mary Jane 
 (Martin) Dodd. the father born in Tennessee and 
 the mother in Kentucky, the latter being a great- 
 granddaughter of Col. Ben Hardin, of Kentucky. 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt have been born the fol- 
 lowing children: William Abner, who was born on 
 the 25th of November, 1866; Andrew David, who 
 was born August 11. 1869; George Washington, 
 who was born July 24, 1877, and Edna Inez, born 
 January 14, 1887. Mr. Wyatt made his first pur- 
 chase of land in 1876, it consisting of forty acres 
 of timber land, and has added to it until he now 
 has seventy-eight acres in the home farm, the re- 
 mainder being inherited by Mrs. Wyatt from her 
 father's estate. About fifteen acres were under 
 cultivation, and he now has thirty-five acres cleared 
 and improved. He has a good frame dwelling 
 house and substantial barns, stables, etc. His en- 
 tire acreage at the present time amounts to 290 
 acres, with sixty- five under cultivation. He and 
 wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, 
 and he is a Democrat in his jiolitical views, and is 
 a warm friend of progress, and a liberal contributor 
 to all worthy enterprises. 
 
 M. A. Wycough, county clerk of Independence 
 County, and one of its most scholarly men, was 
 
 born February 3, 1835, and is a son of Samuel B. 
 and Malinda H. (Bandy) Wycough, of Lincoln 
 County, N. C. In 1835 the parents emigrated to 
 Independence County, Ark., and located at Bates- 
 ville, where their son was born. The father was 
 a carpenter, and master of his trade, as some of 
 the finest buildings in Batesville, and also some of 
 the first, will testify. He held the office of county 
 treasurer for five successive terms, and also repre- 
 rented Independence County in the legislature for 
 one term, and was one of the most prominent and 
 brilliant politicians in Independence County at 
 that period. His word carried considerable weight, 
 and his influence was eagerly sought after by 
 others. The Wycough family are of German ori- 
 gin, and the name has been illustrious for several 
 generations as soldiers, statesmen and honorable 
 men. The grandfather was a soldier in the War 
 of 1812, and his bravery was often the theme of 
 conversation among his fellow-comrades, while 
 Samuel B. Wycough, though dying in 1880. his 
 brilliant career in the political arena is still remem- 
 bered in Arkansas. The mother died in 1864, 
 leaving: eight children, of whom five are still liv- 
 ing: Marion A., Martin A. R. , Samuel B. , Henry 
 C. and William H. , the latter a Presbyterian min- 
 ister in Texas. M. A. Wycough was reared and 
 educated at Batesville. The facilities for attend- 
 ing school at that period were very limited, conse- 
 quently young Wycough did not receive quite the 
 learning that he wished for, but his natural ability 
 and bright intellect made up for any deficiency. 
 At fifteen years of age he occupied a position of 
 trust for several years, with a firm in Batesville, 
 and then followed the carpenter's trade for a 
 number of years after his marriage. In 1861 he 
 enlisted in Capt. McGutfin's company, and accom- 
 panied Gen. Price in his raids through Missouri, 
 and while on a scouting expedition, he received a 
 gunshot wound in the left foot. After the war 
 Mr. Wycough entered into commercial life up to 
 the time of his election to the present office, in 
 1879. He took charge of the position in 1880, 
 and his distinguished services have been recog- 
 nized to that extent that he has been re elected 
 five times in succession — the first and third terms 
 
 <s - 
 
 
*-^ 
 
 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY. 
 
 727 
 
 [ 
 
 without opposition. Iq 185(5 he was married to 
 Miss Emma A. Bevins, and has had thro(< childnMi 
 by this union, of whom one is yet living, Ralph, 
 who resides in Colorado. Mr. Wyeough was mar- 
 ried a second time, in 1870, to Miss Sarah J. Ken- 
 nedy, by whom he has had two children, one of 
 them, Jessie, still living. He is a stanch Demo- 
 crat, and that party has no more able and loyal 
 supporter. Mr. Wyeough and wife are both mem- 
 bers of the Presbyterian Church, and are much 
 respected by their neighbors and follow citizens. 
 
 M. A. R. Wyeough, who has the honor of be- 
 ing the oldest native-born individual in Batesville, 
 was born in that city, on November 27, 1839, and 
 is a son of Samuel B. and Maliuda H. (Bandy) 
 ^^'ycough, of North Carolina, who emigrated to 
 Arkansas, in February, 1835, and located at Bates- 
 ville, where the father died. Mr. Wyeough was 
 reared and educated in Batesville, and reached his 
 nuiturity in the same year that the Civil War com- 
 menced. He enlisted in Company K. First Ar- 
 kansas Mounted Riflemen, and served with that 
 body until after the battle of Murfreeslioro. in 
 1863, when he was granted a furloiigli and returned 
 to his home. He again entered the army, joining 
 Crabtree's cavalry, and was assigned to the quart- 
 ermaster's department. He was present at the 
 battles of Oak Hill, Elkhorn. Farmington, Mur 
 fi'eesboro and in Price's raids through Missouri, 
 up to Jefferson City, where he was captured and 
 taken prisoner to St. Louis, Mo. . and kept in con- 
 tineiueat until February 25. 1865. He was then 
 exchanged, and went to Richmond, but immediately 
 left for Mobile and from there to Jackson, Miss. , 
 where he was paroled, and came home. On his re- 
 turn he commenced farming and speculating, and 
 also keel boating to some extent from Jacksonport 
 to Batesville. Shortly after settling down at Bates- 
 ville again, he was elected deputy sheriff, collector 
 and clerk, liolding that office for about twelve 
 years, and for a short period was engaged in the 
 United States revenue office. He has also been 
 the assistant assessor of Independence County, but 
 during all this time he still continued looking after 
 his farm interests, and at the present time owns 
 about 2,000 acres of land, with some 800 acres 
 
 , under cultivation. In 1865 Mr. Wvcouwh was 
 married to Mrs. Catherine E. Cullens, a pleasant 
 lady and widow of James Cullens. Four children 
 were born to this marriage, two boys, now deceased, 
 and two girls: Monnie M. , wife of C. W. Maxfield, 
 and Nettie A. The wife died in 1872, and on July 
 14, 1873, he was again married, his second wife 
 being Miss Mary E. Neely, by whom he has had 
 
 j three children: LilJie Lee, and two boys, now de- 
 ceased. This wife died in 1877, and after his 
 period of mourning, Mr. Wyeough was maiTied a 
 third time, the lady being Miss E. A. Boone, of 
 
 I Callaway County, Mo., by whom he has had two 
 children, Emma A. and Agnes B. Mr. Wyeough is 
 a Mason and has been secretary of the Blue Lodge 
 for some time. He is a member of the Knights of 
 Honor, and in religious faith belongs to and at- 
 tends the Methodist Episcopal Church, with his 
 wife, having served on the official l)oard for a num- 
 ber of years. For several years he was engaged 
 in commercial life, but gave it up on finding that 
 his farms would need all of his attention, and 
 
 ! since then he has built uj) and improved it so well 
 that he now owns one of the finest farms in North- 
 east Arkansas; together with some very valuable 
 town property. He is an enterprising man. and a 
 prominent figure in Batesville circles, where he 
 enjoys a large degree of popularity. 
 
 Col. J. C. Yancey, a prominent attorney of 
 Batesville, and a man of brilliant attainments, 
 whose words of eloquence have often been heard 
 in the halls of justice, was born in Orange County, 
 Va. , on July 10, 1853. He is a sou of James E. 
 and Mary E. (Waller) Yancey, both natives of the 
 same county in Virginia, who moved to Jefferson 
 County, Ky., in 1859. and remained at that place 
 until 1873, when they repaired to Phillips County, 
 Ark., in which ])lace the father died in 1876, while 
 the mother still survives him, and resides in that 
 county. They were the parents of sis children: 
 Archilles N., Charles C, Elizabeth, Amelia, John 
 C. and George W. Col. Yancey was reared in 
 Virginia and Kentucky, and received his education 
 from the schools of both States, his inclination for 
 the law being developed at an early age. At eight- 
 
 ] een years of age he began the study of law, and 
 
 nr>c 
 
'k 
 
 in 1874 was admitted to the bar in Crittenden 
 County, Ark. , where he practiced about one year. 
 He then formed a partnership with Col. A. Crockett, 
 a grandson of famous Davy Crockett, and moved 
 to Arkansas County, Ark., to practice. They re 
 mained at this place until 1878, when Col. Yancey 
 came to Batesville, and established a law office, 
 where he practiced alone until 1882, and then 
 formed a partnership with Col. H. S. Coleman, 
 under the firm name of Coleman & Yancey. In 
 1885 Col. Yancey was elected to the XXVth Gen- 
 eral Assembly, serving one term, and in 1889 
 was elected mayor of Batesville, an office he holds 
 at the present time, and fills with distinction. In 
 1884 he was married to Miss Ella A. Dunnington, 
 
 by whom he has had three children: Nona W., 
 Dunnington A. and James C. Col. Yancey is a 
 man of excellent ability, and one whose oratory 
 at times is grand. His shrewdness and foresight 
 have won for him many cases, where facts and 
 argument were needed, and his eloquent addresses 
 to many a jury have given him victory where it 
 needed a man who could play upon the human 
 heart. He is attorney for the Keystone Mining 
 Company, and is president of the Telephone Com- 
 pany of Batesville. Also president of the Char- 
 coal and Chemical Plant, and a principal stockholder 
 in the Bank of Batesville, and also interested in the 
 Batesville Printing Company, and Oil Trough Tel- 
 ephone Company. 
 
 -In- 
 
 :fv: 
 
SHAKP COUNTY. 
 
 729 
 
 SiiAiti- County — Lo(;ation and TopooitAi-iiY -Tiih Watkk Sui'FLy— Minkkals, Timbkk and 8uii.- 
 Pkoducts— Valuation of Puoperty— Public Highways— Population— Erection of the 
 County— The J.egal Centkk— County BuiLDiN(is— Days of the Pioneers- Law 
 AND EyuiTY Practiced— The Stkugqle over Slavery and Secession 
 —Villages Located and Described— School Statistics- 
 Church People— Catalogue of County Offi- 
 cers—Personal and Business Memo- 
 randa—Elections. 
 
 ' The liusy world shoves angrily aside 
 The man who stands with arms akimbo set 
 Until occasion tells him what to do."' 
 
 ^HARP COUNTY, lying in the 
 northern tier of coiinties in 
 Arkansas, is bounded north 
 by Oregon County, Mo., east 
 by Randolph and Lawrence, 
 south by Independence, and 
 west by Izard and Fulton 
 counties, in Arkansas. It has an 
 area of 290 square miles, or about 
 377,600 acres, of which nearly 
 60,000 belong to the United States, 
 about 20,000 to the State, and the 
 remainder to individuals, and to 
 mining, timber and railroad com- 
 panies. 
 
 The boundary lines of the county 
 are as follows: Beginning at the 
 southeast corner of Township 15 north. Range 4 
 west; thence north on the range line to the line 
 between Townships 18 and 19 north; thence east 
 on the township line to the south-east corner of 
 Section 85, Township 19 north. Range 3 west; 
 thence north on section lines three miles; thence 
 west on the section line one mile; thence north on 
 
 46 
 
 section lines live miles; thence in a northwesterly 
 direction on the line between Sharp and Ran- 
 dolph Counties to the State line; thence west, 
 about eighty rods, to the line dividing Ranges 
 4 and 5 west; thence south on the range line 
 to the northeast corner of Township 19 north, 
 Range 5 west; thence west to the northwest 
 corner of said Congressional township; thence 
 south to the southwest corner of the same; thence 
 west on the township line to the northwest corner 
 of Section 1, Township 18 north, Range 7 west: 
 thence south on section lines to the middle of said 
 township; thence east one mile to the range line; 
 thence south on the range line to the northeast 
 corner of Section 36, Township 16 north. Range 7 
 west; thence west one and a half miles; thence 
 south on sub-divisional lines to the middle of Town- 
 ship 15 north; thence east on section lines to the 
 line between Ranges 4 and 5 west; thence south 
 on the range line to the line between Town- 
 ships 14 and 15 north; thence ea.st on the town- 
 ship line to the place of beginning. 
 
 The most of the surface lies high and dry, and 
 is drained by waters flowing south tributary to 
 
 i V 
 
■^j]^ w- 
 
 730 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 White River, and others flowing east tributary to 
 Black River. It is classed in the State with the 
 northern barrens and hill region. Its surface pre- 
 sents a variety of features, some portions being 
 hilly and broken, others rolling or undulating, 
 with summit plateaus, while still other portions 
 eshil)it a level or flat surface. The ridges, which 
 are from tifty to three hundred feet high, show 
 outcroppings of sandstone and cherty limestone. 
 
 The principal difficulty encountered on some 
 of the uplands consists in the loose rocks and 
 bowlders lying scattered on the surface or slightly 
 embedded in the earth; but, when these are re- 
 moved, there remains a light soil, easily cultivated 
 and always possessing to a greater or less extent 
 the elements of fertility. The valley and bottom 
 lands are dark loams, very rich and productive, 
 usually drained by clear and never- failing streams 
 of wholesome water. The latter, however, com- 
 pose but a small percentage of the area of the 
 county. A large portion of the uplands, as well 
 as all of the valley lands, are comparatively free 
 from rocks, and as the growth of timber is light 
 upon the former it is easily cleared for the plow. 
 
 Spring River, flowing from the great Mammoth 
 Spring of Fulton County, enters Sharp from tte 
 north, near the middle of the north line of Town- 
 ship 19 north. Range 5 west, flows thence in 
 a southeasterly direction across the county, and 
 contains several good mill seats on its route. 
 South Fork, its principal tributary from the west, 
 enters the county at the northwest corner of 
 the Congressional township just described, and 
 empties into Spring River in the same township. 
 Martin's Creek rises in the extreme northern por- 
 tion, and flowing southwardly, empties into Spring 
 River, in Range 3 west. Many smaller streams 
 empty into this river within the county. Straw- 
 berry River enters from the west, and flowing a 
 little south of east on its general course, crosses 
 the south central portion, its route also offering a 
 number of desiraVjle sites for mills. Piney Fork, 
 another important stream, makes its appearance 
 from the west a few miles south of Strawberry 
 River, and empties into the latter in the south- 
 west part of Township 17 north. Range o west. 
 
 William's, or South Big Creek, and also Reed's 
 Creek flow into Strawberry River from the south, 
 while North Big Creek. Mill and Harry's Creeks 
 join it from the north. Many smaller streams also 
 find an outlet here. Polk Bayou and Sullivan's 
 Creek, rising in the southwestern portion of 
 the county, flow into White River. Cave Spring, 
 a large body of water, flows through a cavern a 
 few yards from the road leading from Evening 
 Shade to Batesville. at a point about ten miles 
 south of the former place. There are numerous 
 springs in this vicinity, all producing cold, clear 
 and pure water unexcelled in quality. Good 
 well water can also be obtained in many places at 
 a moderate depth, but where springs are not con- 
 venient, cisterns are generally in use. The streams 
 mentioned are not sluggish, but run with a swift 
 current, thus making the water pure and healthful 
 for stock. 
 
 Sharp County lies in the mineral belt, and zinc 
 has been successfully mined and smelted at Cala- 
 mine, on Section 22, Township 16 north. Range 4 
 west, in its southeast part, and also on Sections 
 12, 28 and 29, Township 18 north, Range 4 
 west, and there are indications of its existence 
 in other localities. Evidences of the presence 
 of copper have been discovered in Section 32, 
 Township 17 north. Range 6 west. Some two 
 miles from Calamine, in Sections 22, 23, 25 and 
 30, Township 10 north. Range 4 west, and the 
 surrounding region, lies an immense bed of pot 
 iron or looking-glass ore. Here, before the late 
 war, iron was successfully made in a rude furnace, 
 operated by Bevens & Co. The iron was of a 
 fine quality, and found a readj' sale then. The 
 supply of ore is said to be almost inexhaustible. 
 Hematite is found in various parts of the county, 
 cropping out and lying loosely about the ground. 
 Lead ore has also been found in the county, but 
 its extent has not been ascertained. The best 
 of lime has been made at Calamine and other 
 points, and a light-grey, nearly white, marble, 
 which takes on a fine polish, and has been used 
 for grave-stones, lies in illimitable (juantities near 
 Highland, and but a few miles from Hardy. Good 
 building stone may be had in various sections. 
 
SHARP COUNTY. 
 
 731 
 
 The timber growth of tlip county includes pine, 
 all the varieties of oak, walnut, hickory, ash, syca- 
 more, elm, gum and cedar. In the southwestern 
 portion is a belt of yellow pine, of excellent quality. 
 This pine region is about fifteen miles long and 
 from two to five miles wide. Several good saw- 
 mills are now at work in this region, converting 
 the pine trees into lumber for the local trade. * 
 
 The resources of the county are almost entirely 
 agricultural, but the natural mineral and horti- 
 cultural provisions, if developed, might be made 
 very profitable. But little scientific farming has 
 been done. Clover and the tame grasses, thousrh 
 they are said to do well, have scarcely been 
 introduced. Individuals seem content to raise 
 such crops of cotton and corn as the land will 
 produce without re-fertilizing it. More thorough 
 methods of farming must come. In 1880 the 
 county contained 1,183 farms and 44,674 acres of 
 improved land. The vegetable productions for 
 the year 1879, as shown by the United States 
 census of 1880, were as follows: Indian corn, 
 432,570 bushels; oats. 52,241 bushels; wheat, 
 18,908 bushels; hay, 282 tons; Cotton, 4,350 
 bales; Irish potatoes, 4,285 bushels; sweet pota- 
 toes, 5,917 bushels; tobacco, 10,070 lbs. 
 
 The number of head of live stock, as given by ; 
 the same census, was: Horses, 2,186; mules and j 
 asses, 960; neat cattle, 8,653; sheep, 8,458; hogs, I 
 19.731. The number, as shown by the assessment 
 rolls for 1888, was: Horses, 2.31 1 ; mules and asses, 
 1.003; neat cattle, 11,149; sheep, 7,535; hogs, 14,- 
 497. The apparent decrease in the number of sheep 
 and hogs is accounted for by the fact that the as- 
 sessment rolls show only those on hand when the 
 assessment was taken, and do not, like the census 
 of 1880, include the number slaughtered and oth- 
 erwise disposed of during the year. The census of 
 1890 will show a large increase over that of 1880. 
 The county is well adapted to the raising of live 
 stock, the winters being so mild and the range so 
 extensive that but little shelter or feed are required. 
 The stock industry can easily be made a very pro- 
 fitable occupation. 
 
 *CJuotalions from North Arkansas Land Company's 
 description of Sliarp County. 
 
 In 1880 the real estate of Sharp County was 
 assessed for taxation at $426, 363, and the personal 
 property at $363,420. making a total of $788,783, 
 on which an aggregate amount of taxes to the 
 extent of $11,596 was charged. In 1888 the real 
 estate assessment was $754,901, and personal prop 
 erty, $502,085, making a total of S1,256,9S6. 
 The total taxes reached $ 1 2, 752. This comparison 
 shows that since 1880 the taxable wealth of the 
 county has increased nearly sixty per cent, while 
 the amount of taxes charged is only a trifle more. 
 
 The Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis Rail- 
 road passes through and across the northern part 
 of the county, in the valley of Spring River. It 
 is assessed for taxation here at $173,4U6. 
 
 The population of the county in 1870 was : 
 White. 5,286; colored, 114; total 5,400. In 1880 
 it was white, 8,871; colored. 176; total 9,047. 
 This shows an increase from 1870 to 1880, of a 
 little over sixty-seven per cent of the white popu- 
 lation and a little over fifty-four per ceat of the 
 colored. The immigration l)eing somewhat rapid, 
 the next census will probably present a still larger 
 growth. 
 
 The organization of this territory was in accord- 
 ance with an act of the General Assembly of the 
 State, approved in July, 1868. It was named after 
 E. Sharp, one of the representatives of the dis- 
 trict composed of Lawrence, Randolph and 
 Greene Counties, and who presented the bill for 
 its formation. The territory composing it was 
 nearly all taken fi-om Lawrence County. By sub- 
 sequent acts of the General Assembly, the original 
 boundary lines have been slightly changed .so as to 
 conform to the present limit, as elsewhere noted. 
 The county is now divided into eighteen municipal 
 townships. 
 
 Upon the organization of the county the seat of 
 justice was located at Evening Shade, where it still 
 remains, though strenuous efforts have been put 
 forth for a change to a more central point. Soon 
 after the seat of justice was determined upon, work 
 was commenced for the construction of a court- 
 house which was completed not later than 1H70. 
 This house was a two-story frame, al)0ut 40x60 feet 
 in size, with office rooms below, and the court-room 
 
 :e 
 
732 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 above. It stood until 1879, whea it was consumed 
 by fire, together with nearly all of the public 
 records. It is not known how the fire occiUTed. 
 Since then the county has rented and still con- 
 tinues to rent a building for a court-house. A 
 very substantial wooden jail with an eighteen-inch 
 wall made of planks securely spiked together, 
 containing two rooms with a "cage" in one of 
 them, was constructed soon after the county was 
 organized. It is still standing and is in use. The 
 county owns a "poor farm" consisting of 165 
 acres, located in Washington Township, on which 
 there are good and comfortable buildings for the 
 use of the paupers of the county, and the super- 
 intendent of the farm. The contract for the 
 keeping of the paupers is annually let to the low- 
 est responsible bidder. The poor are here well 
 cared for. 
 
 Among the pioneer settlers of (now) Sharp 
 County were John King, who settled where Center 
 postofiice is now located; Robert Lott, who located 
 two miles west; Nicholas Norris and his son-in-law, 
 William McKinley, who settled on Strawberry 
 River, all about the year 1810. Prominent among 
 the pioneers along Spring River were William 
 Morgan, at the mouth of Rock Creek; William J. 
 Gray, William Williford, Solomon Hudspeth, 
 Colby Crawford, Stephen English, Robert J. 
 Moore, Joseph Kellett, John Walker, Samuel 
 Beasley and L. D. Dale. Ferguson B. Boothe 
 settled at the head of Martin's Creek, John C. 
 Garner and his four sisters farther down, and Jo- 
 seph Kellett at the mouth of the same creek. Mr. 
 Garner and two of his sisters, Mrs. Wilkinson and 
 Mrs. Baker, all at a very advanced age, are living 
 at this time. John and Joseph Hardin, R. P. 
 Smithee, John MUliggan and J. W. Mobley were 
 early settlers on Reed's Creek. John M. Vanhoo- 
 zer, William Norris and Serrel Mobley early made 
 a home on South Big Creek. The first settlers in 
 the southwest part of the county were John Luce, 
 Josiah Richardson, Plummer Baxter, A. J. Hodges 
 and Judge A. H. Nuun, whose settlement dates 
 fi-om early in the 40' s, and Col. William G. Math- 
 eny, a pioneer of 1849. 
 
 The many very old jjeople now residing in the 
 
 county, who have lived here nearly all their lives, 
 prove that this is a remarkably healthy section, 
 notwithstanding all that can be said to the con- 
 trary. Several of the old settlers named are over 
 eighty years of age, and two ladies, Mrs. Sarah 
 Galloway and Miss Mary Caton, mention of whom 
 should not be omitted, are ninety-eight and eighty- 
 eight years of age, respectively. In 1876 there 
 were in the county, by actual count, seventy-four 
 persons each over seventy years old. 
 
 The county court of Sharp County convenes 
 for its regular sessions on the first Mondays of Jan- 
 uary, April, July and October of each year, and 
 the probate court on the first Mondays of February, 
 May, August and November. The circuit court 
 convenes for its regular sessions on the first Mon- 
 days of June and December of each year. This 
 county belongs to the Third judicial district, of 
 which J. \V. Butler, of Batesville, is the present 
 judge. 
 
 The legal liar of the county consists of the fol- 
 lowing named attorneys: Col. J. L. Abernethy, 
 S. H. Davidson (present State senator), John B. 
 McCaleb, W. A. Turner, and A. J. Porter, the 
 present county judge. 
 
 There has never been an execution for the of- 
 fense of murder committed within Sharp County. 
 A few years ago, however, one Joseph Camp was 
 tried at Evening Shade, upon a change of venue 
 from another county, for the killing of one Hulsey, 
 was found guilty, and was hanged for the otfense. 
 For crimes committed within the county, there 
 has been no conviction for murder in the first de- 
 gree, and but one in the second degree, and two 
 for manslaughter. Neither have there been but 
 few homicides. The laws are generally well en- 
 forced, and the citizens are law-abiding. 
 
 At the beginning of the Civil War of 1861-65, 
 the citizens of this locality were, with only a few 
 exceptions, in full sympathy with the proposed 
 Southern Confederacy, and did all in their power 
 to help establish it. There were but a few Union 
 men, and they refugeed to the North. A number 
 of companies of soldiers commanded, respectively, 
 byCapts. M'illiam Adams, William G. Matheny, A. 
 H. Nunn, M. V. Shaver, and perhaps others, were 
 
 ^} 
 

 
 ■^cA^ot, 
 
 Mississippi UoiiMTV Ahkamsas. 
 
SHAEP COUNTY. 
 
 733 
 
 recruited and organized in Lawrence County, from 
 that part which now composes Sharp, for the Con- 
 federate army, in which they served during the 
 war. No engagement worthy of mention took 
 jilace here, until the spring of 1864, when Col. 
 Freeman and Maj. M. V. Shaver, with the Third 
 Missouri Confederate Cavalry, met Col. Woods, 
 with a Kansas regiment of Federal cavalry, on the 
 Baker farm on Martin's Creek, in what is now the 
 northern part of the county. On this occasion the 
 Federal troops were routed and compelled to fall 
 back toward headquarters, at Batesville, suffering 
 some loss. There was no bushwacking amoncr the 
 citizens during the war, but several persons were 
 killed by scouting parties passing through. The 
 territory was generally over-run and devastated of 
 its provisions, in consequence of which considera- 
 ble suffering resulted for the want of food. 
 
 Sharp County can boast of no large towns, but 
 it has a number of small villages distributed to 
 suit the convenience of the people. 
 
 Ash Flat, located on Section 10, in Richwoods 
 Township, contains four general stores, a drug 
 store, a grocery and saddlery store, two blacksmith 
 shops, two church edifices (one of which is also 
 used for school purposes), a grist and flouring-mill 
 and cotton-gin coml)ined, a saw-mill and cotton- 
 gin combined, one hotel, a lodge each of Masons, 
 Eastern Star, and Knights and Ladies of Honor, 
 one physician, and has a population of about 200. 
 It is located in the best agricultural district of the 
 county, and enjoys a considerable trade. 
 
 Some time prior to 1849 a postoffice was estab- 
 lished in the hollow south of the east end of what 
 is now the business street of Evening Shade. The 
 office was so situated that after 3 o'clock P. M. of 
 each day it remained in the shade of the tall pines 
 standing on the rising groimds south and west, and 
 for this reason it was named Evening Shade, the 
 name that the place still retains. In June, 1849, 
 Samuel Cammack opened the first store here. The 
 site of its location is now occupied by the business 
 street of the town, immediately in front of the 
 present store of R. D. Williams. The building 
 containing the gootls was a canvas tent, with the 
 rear end boarded up, the lock used at the front being 
 
 a large and savage female bull-dog. In September 
 following, J. W. Shaver joined Mr. Cammack in 
 the business, and together they formed the firm of 
 Shaver & Cammack. About 1852 a party of na- 
 tives met J. M. Hiland, a young man from Ten- 
 nessee, in a saloon kept by one William Vanghaii, 
 and there gave him rum until he became intoxi- 
 cated, after which he was induced to play cards. 
 The victim was soon dispossessed of his money — a 
 considerable amount. Upon sobering up, he ex- 
 claimed: "They gave me rum, and hooked my 
 money." In consequence of this. Evening Shade 
 was, for many years, vulgarly called ' ' Hook lium. ' ' 
 
 At the beginning of the Civil War, Evening 
 Shade contained three stores and a saloon, and 
 about 100 inhabitants. It now has two general 
 stores, two groceries, a drug store, bookstore, two 
 hotels, mechanics' shops, a large public school- 
 house, three church edifices, three grist-mills, two 
 cotton-gins, five saw-mills, in the town and its im- 
 mediate vicinity; two shingle-mills, two wool-card- 
 ing mills, a bed spring manufactory; a lodge, 
 Chapter and Eastern Star lodge of the Masonic 
 fraternity, and a lodge each of Odd- Fellows, 
 Knights of Honor and Knights and Ladies of 
 Honor, also five physicians, a real estate agent and 
 an insurance agent. Society is refined and culti- 
 vated; the town offers attractive advantages; it is a 
 pleasant place in which to live, and a large amount 
 of business is transacted. The population is about 
 350. The Sharp County Record, a weekly news- 
 paper, in its twelfth volume, is published here by 
 E. G. Henderson, its proprietor. It is well edited 
 and advocates Democratic principles, though ably 
 serving the general interests of its community. 
 
 Hardy, located on Spring River and on the Kan- 
 sas City, Fort Scott & Memphis Railroad, consist* 
 of the railroad buildings, a general store, drug 
 store, saloon, blacksmith shop, cotton-gin, a school- 
 house, church and Masonic hall combined, and 
 about twenty families. Williford, on the same 
 river and railroad, ten miles below Hardy, has 
 three general stores, a saloon, cotton-gin, black- 
 smith shop, railroad section house, a school- house 
 used also for religiojis services, and two stone 
 quarries. 
 
<S w_ 
 
 734 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 At each of these places is a postofiSce, the one 
 at Evening Shade being the only money order 
 ofiBce within the county. Other postoffices and 
 post-hamlets, the latter having a store or black- 
 smith shop, and sometimes both, are Armstrong, 
 Calamine, Canton. Center, Coats, Grange, King's 
 Mills, Loyal, Martin's Creek, Maxville, Polk Bayou, 
 Poughkeepsie, Reed's Creek, Sidney and Winsted. 
 
 The subject of education has not been lost sight 
 of in the progress and advancement of other mat- 
 ters. In 1873 a two-story frame college building, 
 40x80 feet in size, was erected at Evening Shade, 
 and a college was incorporated, but never supplied 
 with a faculty. The building, however, was used 
 for school purposes until 1882, when it was con- 
 sumed by fire. In general, the people of Sharp 
 County are in favor of popular education. This is 
 evidenced by the fact that nearly, if not all, the 
 districts recently voted a local school tax for 1889. 
 The following statistics are taken from the offi- 
 cial report of the State superintendent of public 
 instruction for the year ending June 30, 1888: 
 Scholastic popiUation — White 3,909; colored 66; 
 total 3,975. Enrollment in the public schools — 
 White, 2,'2'28; colored, 13; total, 2,241. Number 
 of districts 06; number reporting enrollment 45; 
 teachers employed 45; number of institutes held 2; 
 number of teachers attending 33: average monthly 
 salaries paid teachers — first grade, males $42.50, 
 females $40.00; second grade, males $37.50, 
 females $35.00; third grade, males $27.50; females 
 $25.00. If these figures indicate a true condition 
 of the schools of the county, it readily appears 
 that only 57 per cent of the white and only 20 
 per cent of the colored scholastic population at- 
 tended the public schools. In submitting the 
 above figures to the State superintendent, P. H. 
 Wilkerson, the county examiner, complaining of the 
 failure of school directors to make full reports, said: 
 ' ' The reports are never correct excepting the num- 
 ber of children; all other data are almost entirely 
 neglected." Evidently the school law should be 
 thoroughly revised, so as to compel full and com- 
 plete reports of all school officers. It is argued 
 here by those most favorable to popular education 
 that all school tuition taxes should be levied by 
 
 the State, collected into the treasury, and distrib- 
 uted pro rata to the scholastic population of the 
 State. This would give to each and all an equal 
 share of the school fund, and dispense with all 
 contention and quarreling in school districts about 
 the levy of taxes. The amount expended in Sharp 
 County for the sujjport of the public schools for 
 the year referred to was $7,499.75. 
 
 The religious denominations of Sharp County 
 are the Methodist Episcopal, South, Baptist, Chris- 
 tian, Cumberland Presbyterian and one or two 
 organi;zations of the Methodist Episcopal and 
 Methodist Protestant Churches. The Methodist 
 Episcopal Church at Evening Shade belongs to 
 the Evening Shade Circuit, the other appointments 
 all being in Izard County, where proper men- 
 tion is made. Ash Flat Circuit of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Chui'ch, South, Rev. F. M. Smith, pas- 
 tor, has eight appointments: Ash Flat, Shiloh, 
 Liberty Hill, Bethlehem, Pleasant Hill, Pleas- 
 ant Ridge, Stacy Church and Hickory Flat — 
 the latter two being in Izard County — with an 
 aggregate membership of 320. The Mammoth 
 Spring Circuit, composed of Mammoth Spring, 
 in Fulton County, and Hardy and AVilliford, 
 in Sharp County, Rev. J. F. Troy, pastor, has 
 a membershiji of forty-five, as given in the last 
 conference minutes. The Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, at Maxville, in this county, be- 
 longs to Bethesda Circuit, in Independence Coun- 
 ty. All these belong to the Batesville District. 
 An organization of this denomination at Cala- 
 mine, another at Cross Roads and another in 
 that vicinity belong to the Calamine Circuit, of 
 Newport District. Other appointments outside 
 of the county belong to this circuit. Rev. S. W. 
 Register is the pastor, and the aggregate mem- 
 bership is 231. 
 
 The Baptist Church organizations within the 
 county are Evening Shade, Ash Flat, Bethlehem, 
 Pleasant Hill, George's Camp Ground, aud Big 
 Creek. Rev. J. L. Foard is pastor of all except 
 the latter, of which Rev. William Johnson has 
 charge. 
 
 Of the Christian Church the following organi- 
 zations are well known: Ash Flat, Evening Shade, 
 
Center, Blannville, Poughkeepsie, and one in the 
 Higginbottom neighborhood, iu the northeast part 
 of t)ie county, none of which have a regular pas- 
 tor at this writing. 
 
 The Cumberland Presbyterians have a congre- 
 gation at Mt. Carmel, one near Calamine, and one 
 near Highland. Rev. A. C. Evans is pastor at 
 Mt. Carmel. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Church has an organ- 
 ization at Powell's Chapel, six miles east, and one 
 at Pine Hill, four miles northwest of Evening 
 Shade. The Methodist Protestants have an organ- 
 ization at Liberty Hill. 
 
 The following is a list of the names of the 
 county officers of Sharp County, together with 
 the date of terms served by each from the organi 
 zation of the county to the present time: 
 
 Judges: Solomon Yeager, 1868-72; commis- 
 sioners, 1872-74; C. G. Wilson, 187-4-76; C. G. 
 Hunn, 1876-78; A. J. Porter, 1878-80; W. G. 
 Matheny, 1880-86; J. M. Montgomery, 1886-88; 
 A. J. Porter, present incumbent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Clerks: N. McLeod, from August, 1868, until 
 after election; "W. T. Cunningham, 1868-72; J. 
 P. Cochran, 1872-76; J. M. Wasson, 1876-78; T. 
 J. Davidson, 1878-80; J. M. Wasson, 1880-82; R. 
 E. Huddleston, 1882-86; Joshua Waim, present 
 incumbent, first elected iu 1886. 
 
 Sheriffs: James K. Jones, 1868-72; T. Y. 
 Huddleston, 1872-80; A. C. Higginbottom. 1880- 
 83; George R. Hall, present incumbent, appointed 
 iu 1883, elected in 1884, and served continuously 
 since. 
 
 Treasurers: D. C. Wolfe, 1868-72; Robert 
 Gray, 1872-78; T. J, Spurlock, 1878-80; W. G. 
 Hor'ton, 1880-82; E. G. Henderson, 1882-84; C. 
 W. Shaver, present incumbent, first elected in 
 1884, and served continuously since. 
 
 Coroners: J. G. Wolfe," 1868-72; J. T. Mc- 
 Cord, 1872-74; A. R. Hipp, 1874-80; J. D. 
 
 Hankins, ; A. T. Porter, 1884-86; Charles 
 
 Horn. 1886-88: B. H. Couch, present incumbent, 
 elected in 1888. 
 
 Surveyors:. W. B. Leverton, 1872-76: T. A. 
 McGea, 1876-78: W. W. Hill, 1878-80; T. J. 
 Gay, 1880-82: W. W. Hill, 1882-86; D. D. Spur- 
 
 lock, 1886-88; Horace Hill, present incumbent, 
 elected in 1888. 
 
 Assessors: T. Cunningham, 1868-71; F. Goss, 
 1871-72; J. R. Metcalf, 1872-74; J. J. T. Mc- 
 Adams, 1874-76; J. W. Bristow, 1876-78; R. B. 
 Bellany, 1878-84; A. C. Higginbottom, 1884-86: 
 John Norman, 1886-88; A. C. Higginbottom, 
 present incumbent, elected in 1888. 
 
 The political aspect of the county is shown by 
 the number of votes cast for candidates as follows: 
 At the September election in 1888, for governor, 
 James P. Eagle (Dem.), 983; C. M. Noi-wood 
 (combined opposition), 711. At the November 
 election for president, Cleveland (Dem.), 1)13; 
 Harrison (Rep.), 115: Streeter (U. L. ), 407: 
 Fiske (Pro.), 2. 
 
 Mr. J. L. Abernethy of Evening Shade, Sharp 
 County, Ark., was born at Morganton, on the 
 Little Tennessee River, in Loudon County, East 
 Tenn. . on the 3d of March. 1835. He is the young- 
 est son of Rev. Berry and Myra (Cobb) Aber 
 nefhy, formerly of Lincoln County, N. C. The 
 Abernethy family are purely Scotch -Irish blood. 
 As early as the sixteenth century. Rev. John Aber- 
 nethy, a dissenting minister of the Presbyterian 
 faith, in the Highlands of .Scotland, attained gn-at 
 distinction as a theologian and author. Later, Dr. 
 John Abernethy, another member of the family, 
 who emigrated to London, was greatly renowned 
 as a physiologist and surgeon. He was a pupil of 
 Sir Astley Cooper, and gave medical lectures for 
 thirty-five years at St. Bartholomew Hospital. Hi- 
 wrote and published many books on medical and 
 kindred topics. Mcllwain, in 1835, published a 
 book entitled " Memoirs of Abernethy," which was 
 re-published in America by the Harpers, and is ex- 
 tensively read. Mr. Abernethy' s ancestors came 
 to America [)rior to the Revolutionary War, set- 
 tling first in Virginia and then in North Carolina. 
 To a man they stood for the colonies, and against 
 the British. His parents emigrated from North 
 Carolina to Tennessee 'seventy-four years ago. 
 Rev. Berry Abernethy was licensed to exhort by 
 Bishop Asbury. and to preach by Bishop Roberts, 
 
 r 
 
-C, .a 
 
 736 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 of the Methodist Church. In his day, he was a 
 minister and revivalist, and well known in the 
 Holston conference. In 1844 he went with the 
 Church South, and fully maintained his Christian 
 character as a minister and a citizen for about sixty 
 years, and died at Rhea Springs, Rhea County, 
 East Tenn., in 1871, aged eighty- eight years. Mr. 
 Abernethy's mother is still living, at the age of 
 eighty-nine years, and is a hale, hearty and active 
 old lady — a woman remarkable for her strong na- 
 tive intellect, and is thoroughly posted in the great 
 events which have transpired during her long and 
 pleasant life. The parents had eight children: 
 Eliza D., Susan R., Martha M. and Artie A. ; John 
 C. , A. Sylvester, James T. and Joseph L. Eliza D. 
 and Sylvester are dead; balance, except the subject 
 of this sketch, now living in East Tennessee. Dr. 
 John C. Abernethy is an eminent physician and 
 surgeon. He was surgeon of the Sixty-second Ten- 
 nessee Confederate Regiment and Brigade, sur- 
 geon of Gen. Vaughan's brigade at Vicksburg. 
 James T. , who was residing in Missouri at the be- 
 ginning of the war, adhered to the Union side of 
 the controversy, and became colonel of the Tenth 
 Tennessee Cavalry. The subject of this memoir 
 was educated at the Morganton Academy, under 
 the Rev. T. K. Munsey, and Hiawassee College, 
 under Profs. Doak, Bruner and Duncan. He first 
 studied medicine with Dr. Bickwell, at Madison- 
 ville, Tenn. , and attended lectures in 1855-56 at 
 the University of Nashville. Subsequently, in 
 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate service. He 
 enlisted as a private in Capt. Cawood's company, 
 Forty-third Tennessee Regiment, commanded by 
 Col. J. W. Gillespie and Lieut. -Col. D. M. Key, 
 now United States judge, residing at Chattanooga. 
 He was soon transferred to the medical service, 
 and was assigned to duty at Loudon Post, in charge 
 of the sick and woianded, where he remained until 
 the spring of 1863. He then resigned for the pur- 
 pose of aiding Col. John A. Rowan in raising the 
 Sixty-second Tennessee Regiment, with a view of be- 
 ing surgeon in the field. After the formation of the 
 regiment, he was, on account of domestic afflictions, 
 compelled to decline the position, and his place 
 was filled by his brother. Mr. Abernethy retired 
 
 to Rhea Springs, and had no further connection 
 whatever with the war of the States. He began the 
 study of law in August, 1863, and gave it unremit- 
 
 I ting attention for more than two years, when he was 
 licensed to practice by Judge E. T. Hall, of Knox- 
 
 j ville, Tenn., and Chancellor D. C. Trewhitt, of 
 Chattanooga, Tenn. He was fir.st admitted to the 
 bar at Washington, Rhea County, Tenn. Subse- 
 
 I quently, he removed to Knoxville, and practiced 
 there until 1870, when, having professional busi- 
 ness in Arkansas, he visited that State, and was so 
 well pleased with the country, and especially with 
 his prospective wife, that he removed to the State 
 of Arkansas, and located at Evening Shade, the 
 county seat of Sharp County, where he has since 
 remained, engaged in the practice of the law, and 
 in farming. In 1880 Mr. Abernethy was the 
 Democratic elector on the Hancock and English 
 ticket, for the Fourth Congressional district of Ai-- 
 kansas, and made a thorough canvass of the same. 
 
 j He is now serving his third term as State's attor- 
 ney for the Third judicial circuit of Arkansas, and 
 
 ' is faithfully discharging the duties of the office 
 
 , to the best of his ability. In 1858 he was mar- 
 ried to Miss Mary A. Johnston, a daughter of 
 James H. Johnston, a leading citizen of Monroe 
 County, Tenn. By her he had three children. 
 One, Josejjh L. , is dead; the others, Allie and Eifie, 
 their mother having died July 9, 1863, he brought to 
 Arkansas in 1871. They are accomplished young 
 ladies. John B. McCaleb, an attorney of good 
 promise, married Miss Allie, and they have three 
 children. Robert E. Huddleston married Miss 
 Effie. They reside at Ash Flat, and have charge 
 of the high school at that place. Mrs. Huddle- 
 ston is an accomplished music teacher, and now 
 has charge of a large class of pupils. In the fall 
 of 1871, Mr. Abernethy married the widow of 
 James S. Shaver, on Reed's Creek, Sharp County. 
 She was the daughter of James P. Monger, de- 
 ceased, and is a native of Roane Coimty, East 
 Tenn. The Shaver and Shelby families are closely 
 connected, and were noted people in Southwestern 
 Virginia, and Upper East Tennessee many years 
 
 ago. Mrs. Abernethy had one son by Mr. Shaver, 
 
 James R. Shaver, who is now engaged in the stndv 
 
SHARP COUNTY. 
 
 of law in his step-father's law oflict'. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Abernethy had three children : -Artie and John 
 Loudon living, and Elsie Pearl, who is dead. Mr. 
 Abernethy owns a farm of about 400 acres, situated 
 on Piney Fork of Strawberry River, one and a half 
 miles from town. On this he has two neat and 
 substantial residences, and about 110 acres in cul- 
 tivation. His home residence is in the suburbs of 
 Evening Shade, surrounded by shrubbery, flowers, 
 forest trees and orchards of the different kinds of 
 fruits. He calls it ' ' Forest Home. ' ' Evening 
 Shade is 
 
 " The loveliest village of the plain, 
 Where health and plenty cheer the laboring swain." 
 
 At the beginning of the National troubles in ISGO- 
 61, Mr. Abernethy doubted the expediency and 
 right of separate State action, and was in favor of 
 remaining in the Union, but after the disruption 
 was an accomplished fact, and the tragedy of war 
 began, he allied himself to the cause of the South, 
 and remained faithful thereto. He believes in 
 maintaining the supremacy of Federal States and 
 individual rights under the laws, and in a revenue 
 tariff, and in a strict construction of the constitu- 
 tion in every article and section thereof. Whilst 
 he is a Democrat from principle and choice, he is 
 conservative, and is neither loud nor illiberal in the 
 expression of his political opinions. He is not a 
 member of any church, but believes all denomina- 
 tions of Christians are meritorious and doing good, 
 more or less. In matters of faith, he is attached 
 to the old-fashioned Methodist doctrines and polity, 
 and thinks the best religion is to live well, die 
 poor, and go to Heaven. 
 
 William Jasper Adams, a farmer of North 
 Townshij), one mile soiith of Armstrong postoffiee, 
 was born in Pulaski County, Mo., May 16, 1836, 
 being the fourth child of a family of nine chil- 
 dren. He was raised in Missouri, receiving his 
 limited education in the common schools. Septem- 
 ber 2, 1859, he married Miss Sarah M. Lee, who 
 was born in Phelps County, Mo., September 2, 
 1S42, and died January 13, 1878. She was the 
 mother of seven children (five of whom are living): 
 William M., John H. (deceased), Elizabeth (de- 
 ceased), Halcoyn (wife of Alex. Smittle), Orlena, 
 
 Bethelda and Thomas S. Mr. Adams married his 
 second wife, the widow Gardner, in February, 
 1879; she was a daughter of Wiley and Matilda 
 Jones, of Tennessee, who were among the early 
 settlers of Phelps County. They have had two 
 children: James M. and Nettie M. Our subject 
 worked three years in Public Iron Works, was two 
 years in the livery stable business, and has been a 
 farmer. In 1887 he came to Sharp County, Ark., 
 where he now resides. He has about 120 acres of 
 land, some eighty-five under cultivation. May 11, 
 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Confederate army, 
 and served about four years, having been wounded 
 in the right arm by a gunshot. He was in the 
 battle of Lexington. He is a member of the 
 Knights of Honor; in politics is a Democrat, hav- 
 ing cast his first presidential vote for Buchanan. 
 His wife is a member of the Baptist Church. Our 
 subject's parents were William and Charlotte (Ma- 
 lone) Adams, who were born and raised in Wash- 
 ington County, Ky. , he having been Iwrn in 1808 
 and she in 1811. Mr. Adams was a farmer, and 
 came to Pulaski County, in 1833, his nearest 
 neighbor being twenty miles away. He returned 
 to Kentucky in 1840, remaining till 1-S43, when he 
 returned to Pulaski County, his father coming 
 with him, and settling on the Merrimac, in Dent 
 County. He died August 18, 1885. He was a son 
 of Coonrod and Rebecca (Hawk) Adams, who died 
 in 1S4G and 1848, respectively. They wore about 
 the first settlers of Dent County, and were of 
 Dutch descent. 
 
 Jeremiah Pitt Baird, one of the early settlers 
 and leading farmers of Union Township, residing 
 one and one-half miles east of Williford postoffiee, 
 was born in Smith County, Tenn., October 10. 
 1824, the son of Jeremiah and Mary (Pennington) 
 Baird. His father, of Scotch descent, was born in 
 Rowan County, N. C, about 1785, and died in Law- 
 rence County, Ark., in 1857. He married in North 
 Carolina, emigrated from that State to Kentucky in 
 1817, resided there for one year, when he moved to 
 Smith County, Tenn., and from tbere to Lawrence 
 County, Ark., in 1841. Mrs. Baird was Iwrn in 
 Montgomery County, N. C, near 1791. and died in 
 Lawrence County, Ark., about 1N51. Our subject. 
 
4 
 
 738 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 the only child livinn; of a family of nine, received 
 most of his education after arriving at maturity, his 
 parents being poor, and he being obliged to work 
 instead of attending school. After coming to Ar- 
 kansas he lived vpith his parents till their death. 
 In 1859 he married Miss Susan A. More, v?ho was 
 born in Tennessee about 1830, and died October 8, 
 1884, in Lawrence County. In 1888 he married 
 Isabelle (Wassen) Crawford, a widow. Mr. Baird 
 enlisted in 18fi3, in the Union Army, in Company 
 C, First Missouri Cavalry, participating in the 
 battle of Jenkins' Ferry, and was discharged in 
 1865. He has resided on Spring River since 1841, 
 and has about 200 acres of laud, eighty-five under 
 cultivation. He has held the ofiBce of justice of the 
 peace several terms in Lawrence County, and was 
 one of the assistants of the county court, when it 
 consisted of the judge and two justices. He is a 
 Republican, voting first for Zaehary Taylor. He 
 and his wife are members of the Christian Church, 
 as was his first wife. Mr. Baird is an influential 
 citizen, well-to-do and highly resjaected. 
 
 James P. Cochran, of the firm of J. P. Cochran 
 & Son, general merchants and dealers in farming 
 implements, was born in De Kalb County, Tenn. , 
 in 1832. His parents were William T. and Jane 
 K. (Duncan) Cochran, of Smith and DeKalb Coun- 
 ties, Tenn. , respectively, being married in the lat- 
 ter place. The parents moved to Dresden, Weak- 
 ley County, Tenn., when James was very young, 
 and resided there until their decease, Mr. Cochran 
 dying in 1802, and his wife several years after 
 their arrival. The elder Cochran was a tailor and 
 clothier, and, later in life, established a general 
 merchandise store. He built uji a large trade, and 
 was one of the most popular merchants of that 
 section in his day, bearing a reputation for hone.sty 
 and enterprise that has been well guarded by his 
 son. He fought in one of the Indian Wars, and 
 was a member of the I.O.O.F. His father, Henry 
 Cochran, of Scotch-Irish descent, died in Smith 
 County, Tenn., where he had resided for a great 
 number of years. The mother of James P. Coch- 
 ran was a member of the Christian Church, and 
 died in , that faith. Her father, Josiah Duncan, 
 was an old resident of De Kalb County, Tenn. , 
 
 where he died. James P. Cochran is the eldest of 
 two sons and three daughters. He was educated 
 at the Dresden (Tenn.) Academy and schools in 
 the vicinity, receiving a good English education 
 and business training. At thirteen years of age 
 he held a position of trust with a firm in Dresden, 
 and remained with them eight years. The experi- 
 ence gained in commercial life during that time 
 made him one of the shrewdest business men in 
 his section, although just attaining his manhood, 
 and shortly afterward he entered into partuershij) 
 with his father, in the same place, and continued 
 with him until an excellent opportunity was pre- 
 sented at Hickman, Ky. , to which place he re- 
 moved and established a livery business. Mr. 
 Cochran's marriage occurred at Dresden, in 1857. 
 to Julia, daughter of David and Harriet Shaver, 
 natives of Tennessee, where Mr. Shaver died, 
 when his daughter was very young. The mother 
 afterward moved to Sharp County, where she died 
 a few years later. Mrs. Cochran's death occurred 
 on the 27th of December, 1866; she was the moth- 
 er of one son and one daughter. Mr. Cochran 
 was again married on January 10, 1870, his second 
 wife being Miss Martha M. Shaver, a sister of his 
 first wife, this lady dying March 23, 1886. In 
 1861 he moved to Salem, and established himself 
 in business, but was compelled to close up on ac- 
 count of the war. In 1865 he was apjaointed clerk 
 of Fulton County, and in 1866 was re-elected, and 
 held the office for three years. He moved to 
 Sharp County, in 186U, and in 1872 was elected 
 clerk of Sharp County, holding that office for four 
 years. He next occupied the present building 
 and commenced a commercial career, and since 
 then has been one of the most successful business 
 in Sharp County. The firm have a fine stock of 
 goods valued at $5,000. Besides this, Mr. Cochran 
 owns several good farms and some 2,000 acres of 
 land in Sharp County. He is a representative 
 merchant, a shrewd and fair-dealing business man, 
 and one of the most progressive citizens of this 
 section. He has in his possession the first dollar 
 he ever earned, and has kept it as a memento of 
 the early days when he had nothing in the world 
 but his own pluck and determination to succeed. 
 
 ^ 
 
SHARP COUNTY. 
 
 ?30 
 
 lu politics Mr. Cocbrau is a Democrat, and in re- 
 ligious faith a Methodist, as also were his two 
 wives. 
 
 David Collins, a farmer of North Township, 
 nine miles northeast of Afton postoifice, Fulton 
 Comity, was born in Indiana, Jnue 2, 1835. His 
 grandfather, Aaron Collins, who was bom in North 
 Carolina and married there, moving to Morgan 
 County, Ind. , and afterward coming to Missouri 
 about 1884, where he died. David's father, Stephen 
 Collins, was born in Kentucky about 1800, but 
 came to Indiana with his parents when quite young; 
 there he married Mary Lang, moving to Missouri 
 in 1837, and in 1803 went to Lawrence County, 
 and died there in 1864. Our subject's mother was 
 born in Ohio about 1801, and died in Fulton 
 County, Ark., in 1881. She was the mother of 
 five childi-en. David being the third; he was raised 
 in Douglas County, Mo., his schooling being lim- 
 ited to three months. He lived at home till after 
 his father died, and in 1867 married Miss Martha 
 Hopper, who was liorn in Indiana in 1841. They 
 have a family of twelve children: Lee, Aaron T., 
 Rosa T. , Daniel N., David (infant), now living. 
 Mr. Collins was a resident of Lawrence County for 
 six years, and has resided in Sharp County since 
 1869. He has 160 acres of land, twenty-five acres 
 of which are under cultivation. In 1862 he en- 
 listed in the Confederate army, and served about 
 two years. In politics he is a Democrat, his first 
 presidential vote being for Cleveland. He is a 
 good citizen and highly respected. 
 
 Sam H. Davidson, of Sharp County, was born 
 near Camden, Benton County, Tenn. , January 2'J, 
 1846. He is a son of John Wallace and Susan L. 
 (Prance) Davidson, born in Huntsville, Ala., in 
 1814, and Montgomery County, Tenn., in 1818, 
 respectively. The parents were married in Hum- 
 phreys County, Tenn.. in 1836, and lived in that 
 State, at Camden, until 1805, when they moved to 
 Graves County, Ky. In 1866 they lived a short 
 time at Jackson, Mo. , but during that year changed 
 their residence to Randolph County, Ark., and in 
 1867 to Doniphan, Ripley County, Mo., thence to 
 Evening Shade, Ark., in 1869, where the father 
 died in October, 1870. Previous to 1852, the 
 
 elder Davidson was clerk of the circuit court of 
 Benton County, Tenn., and after that year he 
 practiced law up to the time of his death. In 
 1859-60 he was a member of the Tennessee legis- 
 lature, representing Benton and Humphreys Conn - 
 ties in the house, and was present at the extra 
 session that paved the way for the secession of 
 Tennessee, giving earnest support to the vigorous 
 war measures of the governor, Isham G. Harris. 
 For many years he was a zealous Mason, and was 
 a member of the Methodist Church from 1865 uu 
 til his death. His father, John Davidson, was 
 born in "Virginia or North Carolinji during the lat- 
 ter half of the eighteenth century, removed to and 
 was an innkeeper in Huntsville, Ala., and died 
 there in 1815. His mother was Mary Wallace, of 
 Scottish ancestry, noted for her beauty and culture 
 among the early settlers of North Alabama. The 
 father of John Davidson was Abraham Davidson, a 
 native Pennsylvanian, a soldier of the Revolution, 
 who settled in North Carolina, and afterward in 
 Montgomery County, Tenn., and who died in Ben- 
 ton County, Tenn., in 1838. The father or grand- 
 father of Abraham, James Davidson, was a native 
 of Scotland, who came with his family, and settled 
 near the Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania, and 
 claimed to be the first Davidson to settle in North 
 America. The mother of Sam H. Davidson is still 
 living, a devout Christian, and has been a member 
 of the Methodist Church for more than forty yeai-s. 
 She is a daughter of John Prance, of Scotch and 
 Irish descent, who died in Montgomery County, 
 Tenn. His wife. Mary Cooper, was born in Mont- 
 gomery County, Tenn. , and died in McCracken 
 County, Ky. Sam H. David.son is the seventh child 
 of five sons and five daughters, of whom seven are 
 still living. He attended the Camden (Tenn. ) Acad- 
 emy until 1861, when the Civil War closed up the 
 schools of West Tennessee, after which he pursued 
 his studies at home until the latter |)art of the war, 
 when he enlisted, serving first in the Tenth and 
 afterward in the Nineteenth Tennessee Cavalry, 
 and taking part in many sharp engagements and 
 brilliant dashes, under Gen. N. B. Forrest, during 
 his operations in Tennessee, Kentucky and Mi.ssis- 
 sippi. In 1866 he began the study of law with his 
 
 ^^r 
 
740 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 father, and in 1868 he was examined and admitted 
 to practice iu all the courts of the State of Mis- 
 souri, by the circuit coiirt of Ripley County, at 
 Doniphan. In 1869 he came to Evening Shade, 
 and at the first term of the circuit court of Sharp 
 County, held by Judge (afterward Governor) Bax- 
 ter, he was admitted to practice in the inferior 
 courts of Arkansas. A few years afterward, on 
 examination, he was licensed to practice in the 
 supreme court of Arkansas, and his practice has 
 extended through Fulton, Izard, Sharp and Inde- 
 pendence Counties, and in the supreme court at 
 the capital of the State. In 1870 he served as 
 county attorney for Sharp County; in 1872 the 
 Governor appointed him county superintendent of 
 public schools. In 1872-73 he was editor and 
 part owner of the Sharp County Herald, a Demo- 
 cratic newspaper. He has frequently been called 
 by his brethren of the bar to preside as special 
 judge of the circuit court in Fulton, Izard and ad- 
 joining counties. In 1874 he was defeated for 
 delegate to the constitutional convention, but in 
 1876, after a sharji contest, he was elected to the 
 lower branch of the General Assembly, and after 
 his term expired he was re-elected without opposi- 
 tion, and at the organization, in 1S79, received a 
 very flattering vote for speaker of the house. He 
 never sought office afterward, but iu 1888, with- 
 out any solicitation on his part, he was nominated 
 by the Democratic party of the Second senatorial 
 district as their candidate, and, after a hotly-con- 
 tested campaign, defeated the Union Labor and 
 political Wheel nominee for State senator, carrying 
 every county in the district, his majority reaching 
 nearly 2,000; and, while he did not seek the place 
 in any sense, he lacked but three votes, on several 
 ballots, of election as president /^''o tern of the sen- 
 ate (lieutenant-governor) at the close of the legis- 
 lative session of 1889. Mr. Davidson is a hold- 
 over senator, and will be a member of the session 
 of 1891. He has been a Mason for about eighteen 
 years, holding membership in the Lodge, Chapter 
 and Council, and has been Master of his Lodge and 
 District Deputy Grand Master, and for more than 
 ten years has served his Chapter as High Priest. 
 He is also a member of the Knights of Honor, and 
 
 has held the offices of Past Dictator, Reporter and 
 Grand Representative. In the State conventions of 
 his party he has served several times on the com- 
 mittee to formulate a platform, and, in 1884, he 
 was secretary of the convention held in Little Rock 
 which nominated candidates for State offices, and 
 selected delegates to the National Democratic Con- 
 vention, at Chicago, that nominated Cleveland. 
 Mr. Davidson was married in 1870, to Virginia, 
 daughter of William and Frances French, and has 
 live children. He has a pleasant and comfortable 
 home at Evening Shade, a number of town lots 
 there and in other villages, and about 1,000 acres 
 of land in various portions of the county. He is 
 devoted to his family and his friends, and an earn- 
 est worker for the promotion of the material pros- 
 perity of Arkansas. 
 
 Dr. John O. Durham, a prominent physician 
 and druggist at Ash Flat, was born in Shelby 
 County, Tenn., in the year 1851. He is a son of 
 the Rev. Dennis and Sarah (Harper) Durham, 
 the former a noted and eloquent divine who was 
 born in Georgia, in the year 1824, and the latter 
 in North Carolina in 1832. The parents were 
 married in Shelby County, where the mother is 
 still living. The Rev. Durham during his life 
 had been a Missionary Baptist minister for 
 twenty years, and his fame as an eloquent and 
 gifted speaker was widesj)read. Ho also served 
 sixteen days in the Confederate army with General 
 Forrest, and in the short time of his stay in the 
 army he made many warm friends among the boys 
 in gray. Mr. Durham died in 1873, after a long 
 and useful life. His father was Grisham Durham, 
 of Irish descent, who was born in South Carolina, 
 and in after years moved to Lawrence County, 
 Ark. , where he was appointed county survej'or 
 for a number of years, and died iu 1850. The 
 mother of Dr. John O. Durham was a daughter of 
 James Harper, of North Carolina, a brick mason 
 by trade, who was one of the first settlers of Mem- 
 phis, Tenn. , and helped to build the first brick 
 building in that city. The Doctor is the oldest of 
 four sons and three daughters, and spent the greater 
 portion of his younger days on a farm. When 
 eighteen years of age he began the study of medi- 
 
 Tl 
 
SHARP COUNTY. 
 
 741 
 
 cine with Dr. Ed. Irby, and Dr. B. A. Mathews, 
 of Cuba, Tenn., and under these able instructors 
 he acquired a thorough knowledge of the intricate 
 study of medicine. In 1873 the Doctor com- 
 menced to practice, and since that time he has 
 steadily raised himself to the top of his profe.ssion. 
 He was married, in 1870, to Miss Elizabeth J. 
 Smith, a daughter of James and Lucy Smith, of 
 Lawrence County, Ark., her father being at one 
 time one of the most illustrious of Lawrence 
 Coiuity's citizens. Mr. Smith served in the Con- 
 federate army through the war, and was taken a 
 prisoner to Little Eock, where he died, his wife 
 following him to the grave in 1869. The Doctor 
 and his wife have had nine children, of whom one 
 son and two daughters are still living. In 1876 
 he moved to Calamine, Ark., whore he practiced 
 for about one year, and then came to Ash Flat, 
 where he has been residing ever since. His skill 
 as a physician has given him a large practice, and 
 as an individual he has won a host of friends. He 
 is a self-made man in the true sense of that term, 
 and is in every way worthy of the success which 
 has fallen to his lot. In politics the Doctor is a 
 Democrat, and has also been a member of the A. 
 F. & A. M., of Ash Flat, since 1880, holding the 
 offices of Secretary, Junior Warden, and at the 
 present time Senior Deacon. He also belongs to 
 Royal Arch Chapter No. 50, Evening Shade, and 
 was at one time Master of Third Vail. He is now 
 a Royal Arch Captain, and a member of Eastern 
 Star, Adah Chapter No. 32, of Ash Flat. He is 
 also a member of the Knights and Ladies of 
 Honor, and has been Protector and Treasurer. 
 The Doctor and his wife are both members of the 
 Missionary Baptist Chiireh, he for a period of 
 twenty-two years, and Mrs. Durham for fifteen 
 years. 
 
 Wilej' Marshal Edwards, a leading farmer, 
 was bom in Wilson County, Tenru, January 8, 
 1836, where he was reared and received his lim- 
 ited education. In 1859, while yet unmarried, he 
 started West to seek his fortune, locating in Sharp 
 County, Ark., where he has since resided. His 
 parents were Michael and Sarah (Bennett) Ed- 
 wards, who were born in Tennessee in 1812 and 
 
 1815, respectively, his father having died in 1886 
 in Tennessee, where he had always resided, with 
 the exception of 1871 and 1872, when he was in 
 Arkansas; the mother of Wiley died in Tennessee in 
 1876. His grandfather, William Edwards, was a 
 native of South Carolina, but came to Tennessee 
 in an early day. In this family there were seven 
 children, four of whom are living: Sarah (residing 
 in Tennessee), Rebecca (residing in Tennessee), 
 Robert H. (residing in Jackson County, Ark.), and 
 the subject of this sketch, who was the second 
 child. In June, 1861, Mr. Edwards enlisted in 
 the Confederate Army, Company E, Twenty-first 
 Arkansas Regiment, under Capt. Nunn, and served 
 for four years, participating in the battle of Cor- 
 inth, Miss. At the close of the war he returned to 
 Sharp County, and married Mrs. Maria (Simson) 
 Barnett, a widow, in 1874; she was born on the 
 farm where our subject now resides, in 18-19, and 
 died in 1879. By this marriage there were three 
 children, John B., Marshall AV., William O. In 
 1880 he married Anna Lock, a native of Tennessee, 
 she having been born in 1858. They have six chil- 
 dren : James C. . George, Etta, Orra and two not 
 named. ]\Ii'. Edwards has 800 acres of land, 
 about 200 cultivated, located on Strawberry River. 
 This is a fine stock farm. Mr. Edwards is a mem- 
 ber of Masville Masonic Lodge, and is a Democrat, 
 having cast his first vote for Gen. Scott. 
 
 Charles W. English, a fanner, of Union Town- 
 ship, four miles west of Ravenden postoffice. was 
 born in Sharp County, Ark., June 19, 1S50, the 
 son of Edward N. and Sariih (Hudspeth) English. 
 Edward N. , a farmer, of English descent, was lx)rn 
 in Tennessee; he was in the service of the Confed- 
 erate army, was taken prisoner, and died at Alton, 
 111., in 1864. He came from Tennessee, with his 
 parents, to Sharp County, in an early day. his 
 father being one of the first settlers. Our subject's 
 grandfathers were Samuel Hudspeth and Stephen 
 English. His mother was born in 1826, and reared 
 in what is now Sharp County; she is yet living, 
 and the mother of six children, of whom Charles 
 W. was the eldest. He was educated in the com 
 mon schools of Sharp County: in 1867 married 
 Miss Sarah Williford. who was bom in 1850, and 
 
742 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 reared in Sharp County, and died in 1S71. She 
 was the mother of three children, none of whom 
 are living. He married Miss Mollie Fair in 1873: 
 she was born in Sharp County in 1857, and died 
 in 1883. By this marriage he has four children, 
 three living: Green T. E., Saphronia and Khoda 
 B. In June, 1888, he married Miss Nancy S. 
 Howard, who was born in Lawrence County, Ark. , 
 in 1860. Mr. English has resided where he now 
 lives since 1878, having 270 acres of land, about 
 sixty acres on Spring River bottom, all in cultiva- 
 tion. He is a Democrat, having cast his first pres- 
 idential vote for Greeley, and is a good citizen, 
 highly respected and well-to do. 
 
 David R. Ford, a well known farmer, ginner 
 and miller, of Sullivan Township, was born in 
 Smith County, Tenn. , in 1827, and is a son of 
 James G. and Martha (Rowland) Ford, of Smith 
 County, born in 1803 and 1802, respectively. The 
 parents lived in that cotinty until the year 1844, 
 and then moved to Arkansas, and settled on White 
 River, in what is now Stone County, where they 
 lived among the early settlers for the rest of their 
 days. The father died in 1866, and the mother in 
 1868, both members of the Methodist faith. The 
 elder Ford was a farmer by occupation, and a 
 soldier in the Seminole War, in Florida. He was 
 a son of Zachary Ford, of Virginia, one of the 
 early settlers of Smith County, Tenn., where he 
 farmed and held the office of justice of the peace 
 for a great many years. The Ford family are of 
 French descent. David Rowland, the father of 
 Mrs. J. G. Ford, was born and reared in North 
 Carolina, and was also one of the early settlers of 
 Smith County, Tenn., where he died at an ad- 
 vanced age. David R. Ford is the third child of 
 three sons and five daughters, and moved to the 
 State of Arkansas with his parents in 1844. In 
 1855 he was married to Martha P. Headstream, 
 daughter of John and Harriet Headstream. The 
 father was a native of Sweden, and a sailor for a 
 number of years before coming to America. He 
 was married in Tennessee, his wife's native State, 
 and moved to Phillips County, Ark., afterward to 
 Monroe County, where he died. Twelve children 
 were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ford, of whom eight 
 
 sons and one daughter still survive. Soon after 
 their marriage they settled at a point about eight 
 miles above Batesville, where they resided imtil 
 February, 1887, when Mr. Ford concluded to move 
 to their present farm, some ten miles south of 
 Evening Shade. He now has 350 acres of laud 
 under cultivation, owning altogether about 7(10 
 acres, besides operating a cotton-gin, corn-mill and 
 thresher, and his present prosperity is due entirely 
 to his own enterprise and energy. Before the war 
 Mr. Ford was captain of a company of militia, and 
 when the ontljreak occurred he enlisted in New- 
 ton's regiment of cavalry, Arkansas' troops, and 
 served about one year and a half. After the war 
 he was elected justice of the peace, and held the 
 office two years, and in 1874 was elected assessor 
 of Independence County, a position he filled with 
 distinction for the same length of time. He is a 
 Democrat in politics, and a valnable man to his 
 pai-ty, being a strong supporter of his principles. 
 John C. Garner, one of the early settlers of 
 Sharp Coimty, and postmaster of Martin's Creek 
 postoffice since its establishment- in 1876, in his 
 residence, was born in Williamson County, Tenn., 
 December 4, 1808, son of John and Sally (Coch- 
 ran) Garner. John was bom in Tennessee, and was 
 drowned in Spring River, Arkansas, about 1820. 
 He was one of the first settlers of Sharp County, 
 having come from Illinois about 1818. The mother 
 of our subject was born in Tennessee, about 1778, 
 of Welsh descent, and died in Sharp County, near 
 1860. She was the mother of six children, three 
 of whom are now living, oiir subject being the first. 
 He was of Scotch and Irish descent, raised in Sharp 
 County, and never saw a schoolhoiise till twenty 
 years of age, and never went to school. John C. 
 has been a resident of Sharp County since about 
 1818; he helped to clear the farm on which he 
 resides, and endiired many hardships incident to 
 pioneer life. He was a noted hunter, and shot 
 many deer where Monmouth Spring Village now 
 stands. In 1828 he married Miss An'ena Gray, 
 born in Boone County, Mo., in May, 1811, and 
 who died in 1854; she was the mother of ten chil- 
 dren (five of whom are living): Milton (deceased), 
 Redman (deceased), Sally (deceased), Hiram, Bet- 
 
sey (wife of William RatclifF ), Lewis (deceased), 
 Calvin (deceased), Nancy (wife of Elijah Ratcliff). 
 Helena (wife of James A. Graves) and Harden. In 
 1857 John C. married Mrs. Mary (Farris) Rice, 
 who was born and raised in Tennessee. She was 
 born in 1805, and died in 1887. Our subject has 
 resided on the place he now owns, for some forty 
 years, and has sixty acres of land. He resides 
 with his son, Hiram, who farms the place. It 
 contains 120 acres, forty under cultivation. Hiram 
 was married, in 1859, to Miss Martha Rice, who 
 was born in Tennessee, in 1837, and who died in 
 1881, She was the mother of six children, two of 
 whom are living. Mary (deceased), Sarah (de- 
 ceased), Rosetta (deceased), Permetta, Indiana 
 (deceased) and Arazana. Hiram was married the 
 second time in October, 1882, to Melinda (Mc- 
 Canny) Brown, a widow. The subject of this 
 sketch is a member of the Christian Church, as are 
 Hiram and his wife. Hiram served in the Federal 
 army about one year, and has held the office of 
 constable two years. John C. is a Republican, 
 and cast his first presidential vote for Martin Van 
 Buren. Hiram cast his first presidential vote for 
 Bell, of Tennessee. 
 
 John L. Gawf is a well-to-do farmer of A^'ash- 
 ington Township, and grandson of Edmond Gawf, 
 of North Carolina, who died in Tennessee. John's 
 father, George W. Gawf, was born in Tennessee, 
 in 1818, and went when a boy with his parents to 
 Tennessee, where he married. He was a farmer, 
 and in 1852 he went to Carroll County, Ark., and 
 to Sharp County in 1864, where he is still living. 
 He is of Dutch descent. His wife was Mary A. Doss, 
 born in 181',), by whom he had eight children, six 
 of whom are living: William, James P., Margaret 
 Stoddard, Mary Ann Montgomery, Jerusha Shaw, 
 and John L. , the subject of this sketch, the eld- 
 est, who was born in Henderson County, Tenn., 
 December 25, 1840; he was raised until eleven 
 years of age in Tennessee, w^here he received jiart 
 of his schooling, and the remainder in Sharp Coun- 
 ty, In 1867 he married Miss Margaret C. John- 
 son, who was born in Tennessee, Knox County, in 
 1847, and whose father was Jahue Johnson, a 
 Baptist minister, and old citizen of Sharp County, 
 
 where he now resides, and whose mother was Ue- 
 bocca John.son. Maigaret is the mother of nine 
 children, eight of whom are living: William W., 
 Mary A. R., Jehu L., John H., Catherine E., 
 James M., Samuel N. and Dora B, Mr. Gawf 
 has a farm of 280 acres, on which he has resided 
 since 1870, 150 acres of which are cultivated. He 
 served in the Confederate Army, in Company (i. 
 Fourteenth Arkansas Regiment, in the battles of 
 Pea Ridge (Ark.), Corinth and luka (Miss.), Delhi 
 (La.), and various other skirmishes, and was dis- 
 charged in 1865. He is a Democrat in politics, 
 and is an influential citizen and well -to do. His 
 two eldest children are members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. 
 
 Dr. William A. Gibson,one of Mill Creek's lead- 
 ing citizens and physicians, was born in Franklin 
 County, Ala., in 1840. He is a son of W. N. and 
 Nancy (Crocker) Gibson, both born in the year 
 1815, the former in Tennt>ssee, and the latter in 
 North Carolina, and were united in marriage in 
 the State of Alabama, where they have resided ever 
 since, with the exception of several years' sojourn 
 in Texas. In religious faith both parents have 
 been Primitive Baptists for a great length of time, 
 and the father for a number of years was tax col- 
 lector and assessor of Walker County, Ala. He 
 is at present justice of the peace of his county, 
 and has hold that office several years, having 
 also been a member of the A. F. & A. M. for the 
 past forty years. His father was Jacob Gibson, 
 of Tennessee, who resided in Alal)auia some length 
 of time, but died in the State of Arkansas. The 
 father of Jacob Gibson was Jacob Gibson, a Revo- 
 lutionary soldier of early days, who died in Walker 
 County, Ala. On the mother's side, James Crock- 
 er, Mrs. W. N. Gibson's father, was an Irish- 
 man, who emigrated to the United States when 
 a young man. His wife was also a native of Ire- 
 land, but they were married in North Carolina, 
 and, after a long residence in .Mabama, lioth 
 died in that State. Dr. William X. (xibson is 
 the second child of two sons and one daughter. 
 He was educated at the common schools, and, by a 
 close application to his studies hiins(<lf, and, after 
 having thoroughly mastered his liooks, he taught 
 

 744 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 school for a number of years, in the meantime 
 reading physic all the while. After the war was 
 over he attended the Mobile Medical College, and 
 immediately set out to carve his name in the temple 
 of fame. He practiced in Alabama until the year 
 1874, and then moved to Sharp County, Ark., 
 where he still resides. The Doctor owns 160 acres 
 of land on Mill Creek, of which forty- live acres are 
 iinder cultivation. When he first arrived in Sharp 
 County he had very little, if anything at all, in the 
 way of wealth, but, by his shrewdness in trading, 
 his energy and his natural abilities, besides being 
 a skillful physician, he soon placed himself in an 
 independent position. In 1867 the Doctor was 
 married to Mrs. Eliza M. Wilkins, a daughter of 
 Thomas and Sidney Price, of North Carolina, and 
 by this marriage has one son, Ellis Lee. In poli- 
 tics he is Democratic, and gave his vote to Cleve- 
 land in 1888. He has been a member of the A. 
 F. & A. M. since his twenty-first year, and at pres- 
 ent belongs to Smith ville Lodge No. 29. Mrs. 
 Gibson has been a member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, South, for twenty-four years. 
 
 J. W. Graddy & Bro. , farmers and proprietors 
 of a saw-mill, are sons of Lewis and Matilda (Ford) 
 Graddy. The father, a farmer of Scotch and Irish 
 descent, was born in Tennessee, and died in 1862. 
 His widow was born in North Carolina, and is now 
 living. They were married in Alabama, and came 
 to Mississippi, where they resided till 1858, when 
 they removed to Arkansas. Matilda is the mother 
 of seven children (five now living): Edward F., G. 
 W., Mary J. (deceased), Sarah F. (deceased), Nancy 
 C, J. B. and J. W. J. B. Graddy, the oldest child 
 and junior partner of this firm, was born in Octo- 
 ber, 1846, in Alabama. He lived in Mississippi 
 till the age of twelve years, when he came to Sharp 
 County, Ark. He attended school in both States. 
 In October, 1865, he married Miss Mahala E. Bell, 
 who was born in Kentucky in 1845; they have had 
 seven children: Lewis W. , Charles S. , Clara E., 
 Margaret C, John H. , George W. and Lucy E. 
 Mr. Graddy served all through the war, a part of 
 the time in the Confederate army, in Capt. Nunn' s 
 company, and the remainder in the Union army. 
 He has eighty acres of land, twenty acres being 
 
 under cultivation. J. W. Graddy, the second child, 
 and senior partner of this firm, was born in Ala- 
 bama, August 8, 1848, and received his education 
 in Mississippi and Sharp County, Ark. In 1869 
 he married Miss Alice Hamilton, who was born in 
 Arkansas in 1849. Their family consists of six 
 children: William A. (deceased), Benjamin F., 
 James P., Winnie A., Martin L. and Artie M. He 
 has eighty acres of land, about thirty-five being 
 under cultivation. He is a member of the I. O. O. 
 F. In 1887 this firm erected a saw-mill and cot- 
 ton-gin at a cost of $2,000, the capacity of the mill 
 being 8,000 feet per day. Both are good business 
 men, and have secured a good trade. They are 
 Democrats in politics, and J. W. served one term 
 as justice of the peace. 
 
 William P. Hamilton, of the firm of Hamilton 
 & Tindel, proprietors and owners of the Hamilton 
 flour and saw- mills and rail factory, one mile 
 east of Evening Shade, was born in Independence 
 County in 1850, and is a son of James A. and 
 Catherine E. (Metcalf) Hamilton, natives of North 
 Carolina, and born in 1822 and 1830, respectively. 
 The parents were married in that State, and in 
 1849 moved to Independence County, Ark. The 
 following year the}' came to what is now Sharp 
 County, and located near Evening Shade, and in 
 1868 the family settled on the farm where William 
 P. Hamilton now resides. The saw-mill was 
 erected in 1865, and purchased by the elder Ham- 
 ilton in 1868, who immediately established a Hour- 
 mill and rail factory, which business he continued 
 with great siiccess until his death, in 1884. The 
 present firm, however, was established in 1872. 
 The flour-mills have a capacity of 100 bushels of 
 wheat and 200 bushels of corn per day; the saw- 
 mill a capacity of 1,200 feet of lumber per day. 
 The elder Hamilton was a member of the A. F. & 
 A. M. , Evening Shade lodge, and with his wife at- 
 tended the Christian Church a great number of 
 years. Mrs. Hamilton, who is still living, is a 
 daughter of Andrew K. Metcalf, of North Carolina; 
 he was born in that State in 1808, moving to Inde- 
 pendence County in 1849, where he resided six 
 years, and then came to what is now Sharp County. 
 His wife is still living at the age of seventj'-nine 
 
SHARP COUNTY. 
 
 745 
 
 years. William P. Hamilton was married, in 1872, 
 to Ruth J., (laughter of Young and Jane Richie. 
 His wife was born in Mississippi, where her mother 
 (lied when thi> daughter was very young, and 
 where the father still resides. She moved to 
 Arkansas with au uncle, and was here married to 
 Mr. Hamilton. This union has given them two 
 sons and one daughter. Mr. Hamilton has lived 
 on the old farm ever since 1808, and has about 
 forty-tive acres of land under cultivation, owning 
 altogether 160 acres. He is a Democrat in poli- 
 tics, and has been a member of the I. O. O. F. 
 since 1874, holding the offices of secretary and 
 grand secretary during that time. He also belongs 
 to the Evening Shade Masonic Lodge, and has held 
 the offices of junior warden, master and several 
 others. Mr. Hamilton and his wife and oldest son 
 are members of the Christian Church. They are 
 a well-known family in this vicinity, and are held 
 in the highest esteem by their neighbors. 
 
 E. G. Henderson, editor of the Sharp Comity 
 Record, was Iioi-n in Catoosa County, Ga. , in 1850, 
 and is a son of Charles and Sophia A. C. (Ussery) 
 Henderson, born in Halifax County, Va., in 1803, 
 and Charlotte County, Va., in 1810, respectively. 
 The parents were married in North Carolina in 
 1830, and shortly afterward settled in Virginia. 
 They remained in that State a few years, and then 
 moved to Alabama, and from there to Georgia, 
 where the elder Henderson died in 1853. The 
 family continued in Georgia several years after the 
 father's death, and in 1856 moved to Izard County, 
 Ark. From that place they changed their residence 
 to Batesville. where they resided until ISfi'J, and 
 then moved to Little Rock. A few years later the 
 mother came to Evening Shade, where she still 
 lives. She is a daughter of John Ussery, a native 
 of Virginia, who enlisted in the War of 1812, but 
 who never engaged in active service, as peace was 
 declared shortly after his entrance into the ranks. 
 E. (Jr. Henderson is the youngest of five sons and 
 five daughters, of whom four are yet living. He 
 was educated in Batesville, and in his eighteenth 
 year went to Little Rock, where he remained one 
 year, learning the printer's trade. He then moved 
 to Jacksonport, and farmed in Jackson County for 
 
 47 
 
 two seasons, but as the sea is to the mariner, .so wa.s 
 printer's ink to young Henderson, and he gave up 
 his agricultural i)ursuits to enter the office of the 
 Herald, in Evening Shade, as a compositor. He 
 remained in that capacity until the year 1874, and 
 then, in partnership with J. W. Clark, he estab 
 lished the North Arkansas Democrat. In 1870 
 he was made postmaster, and at the same time en- 
 gaged in the grocery and stationer's business, con- 
 tinuing in that until 1882, when he was elected 
 treasurer of Sharp County, and held the office for 
 two years. In 1884 he purchased the Sharp County 
 Record, which paper he still (^dits and jiublishes, 
 and has not only made it the leading exponent of 
 Democratic principh's in Sharp County, but also a 
 magnilicent news gatherer. Mr. Henderson was 
 married in September, 1879, to Miss Minnie Tnr- 
 ney, daughter of the Rev. Dani(4 M. and Isabella 
 B. Turney, now residents of South Dakota. Mrs. 
 Henderson was born in Mattoon, 111., and died 
 June 23, 1889, at her home in Evening Shade. 
 Three children were born to this marriage, of whom 
 two are still living. Mr. Henderson is a member 
 of Evening Shade Lodge No. 143. A. F. & A. M., 
 "Rural" Royal Arch Chapter No. 50; I. O. O. F., 
 and K. of H. His eldest brother served in the 
 Confederate army, and fought almost through the 
 entire war. He was killed in 1864, about twenty- 
 five miles above Batesville, on the White River, by 
 a scouting party. Another brother, Charles E., 
 gave two years' service to the Confederate cause, 
 and was severely wounded at the battle of Augusta. 
 Ark., in 1865, but recovered, and is now a farmer 
 of Sharp County. The mother of Mr. Henderson, 
 although very near the advanced age of eighty 
 years, is still living and is as active and capable of 
 doing as much work as many other women fifteen 
 or twenty years younger. Mr. Henderson, in the 
 rush and huiry of his active life, still finds the 
 time to devote to her, and though stern to the out- 
 side world as a rule, he is one of the gentlest of 
 sons. 
 
 Thomas I. Herrn. teacher, also a farmer and 
 stock dealer in Highland Township, was born in 
 Independence (now Izard) County, in 1861. His 
 parents were John and Malinda (Fiidey) Herrn, of 
 
 »fV^ 
 
A e ^ 
 
 746 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Tennessee and Arkansas, respectively, who were 
 united in marriage in Independence County. The 
 father was a farmc^r by occupation, who died in Ozark 
 County, Mo., in 1863. He was a son of Thomas 
 Herrn, one of the pioneers of Arkansas. His wife's 
 father was Isaac Finley, who settled in Izard 
 County, Ark. , at a very early day, and died there 
 in the year 1865. Thomas I. Herrn received but 
 little schooling until bis thirteenth year, and then at- 
 tended Evening Shade high school for three years. 
 He subsequently went to the State University at 
 Fayetteville, and afterward taught school himself 
 for four years. In 1883 he was married to Kate, a 
 daughter of James P. and Julia Cochran, whose 
 history appears in this volume. By this marriage 
 he has had one son and two daughters, the latter 
 living. After his marriage Mr. Herrn moved to 
 Evening Shade, and taught school for two years, 
 but gave that occupation up to commence farming 
 at South Fork. He now has 600 acres of land, 
 with about seventy-five acres under cultivation, 
 which, on his arrival, was destitute of improve- 
 ment. In politics he is a Democrat, and is zealous 
 in upholding the principles of that party. Mr. 
 Herrn is one of that type of men who present a 
 strong example for the younger generation to fol- 
 low. He was thrown on his own resources at the 
 age of thn-teen, and went to work for $8 a month, 
 on a farm. 
 
 Jasper N. Higginbottom, whose success as a 
 farmer and stock raiser has seldom been equaled, 
 was born in Independence County, in 1846. His 
 parents were James and Nancy (Ward) Higginbot- 
 tom, who were born in Kentucky, in 1801, and 
 South Carolina, in 1809, respectively, and were 
 married in Perry County, Tenn., about the year 
 1840. The parents moved to Independence Coun- 
 ty, Ark., in 1846, and four or five years later 
 changed their residence to Lawrence County, where 
 the father died. The elder Higginbottom was a 
 well-known boatman on the Ohio and Mississippi 
 Rivers, and in his later days quite an extensive 
 farmer. His father was Oglesbury Higginbottom, 
 a native of Ireland. The mother of Jasper died 
 in 1877, in the religious faith of the Christian 
 Church. Jasper was the eighth child of eight sons 
 
 and six daughters, of whom only two sons and one 
 daughter are yet living. His education was some- 
 what limited on account of the facilities for attend- 
 • ing school not being so good as they are at the 
 present day, but his natural shrewdness and quick- 
 ness of comj)rehension made up for any deficiency 
 in that respect. In 1868 he was married to Miss 
 Sarah Wilmuth, a daughter of Edward and Mary 
 Wilmuth, of Kentucky, and by this marriage has 
 had twelve children, of whom seven are still living. 
 Mr. Higginbottom continued to reside in Lawi-ence 
 County until 1877, when he moved to his present 
 farm, in Sharp County, where he owns about tiOl) 
 acres of land, and has some 120 acres under culti- 
 vation. In addition to his farm, he deals in stock 
 on an extensive scale, and has the reputation of 
 being one of the best men in the business in that 
 section. He is noted for his fair dealing in all 
 business transactions, and is one of the most pop- 
 ular men in Sharp County. In politics, Mr. Hig- 
 ginbottom is a Democrat, and that }>arty has in 
 him a representative who strongly su[)ports their 
 principles and men. 
 
 Kussel Jordan, justice of the peace, a prosper- 
 ous farmer and stock raiser, is the youngest of 
 three sons and six daughters. lie was born in St. 
 Clair County, Ala. , December 22, 1827, and is the 
 son of Stephen and Sarah (Deerman) Jordan, of 
 South Carolina, where they were reared and mar- 
 ried. The parents removed to St. Clair County, 
 Ala. , soon after their marriage, where the father 
 died when Russel was but two or three years old. 
 The mother married a second time, her next 
 husband being Peter Roadland. who died shortly 
 before Russel left St. Clair County, and the moth- 
 er's death occurring after the war. The elder 
 Jordan was a farmei', and a soldier in the War of 
 1812, fighting under Gen. Jackson at the battle of 
 New Orleans. He was of Irish descent, as was 
 also the father of Mrs. Jordan, William Deerman. 
 Upon looking over the thousands of schools and 
 colleges now in every part of our countiy. it is 
 hard to conciMve the difficulty that early settlers 
 had to contend with in oi'der to procure an educa- 
 tion for their children. But the facilities then 
 were not near what they are now, and where there is 
 
 
 n^ 
 
« — »- 
 
 ^ 
 
 no excuse for any civilized being to be uneducated 
 at the present day, at that period it was (Mitirely 
 different, and the children who were eager for an 
 education, in the unsettled j)ortions, were unable to 
 attend school. This was the case of Russel Jor- 
 dan, Init, though seriously handicapped as he was, 
 lie managed to obtain a few years' study at the com- 
 mon schools, and when unable to attend, applied 
 himself to his books and mastered what he desired 
 to learn. On January 2, 1847, he was married to 
 Martha, daughter of Levi and Jane Watson, of 
 North Carolina, who moved to Sharp County, in 
 1852, where they have since died. Mrs. Jordan 
 was born in St. Clair County, Ala., where her 
 parents resided some time, and died in 1861. Six 
 children were born to this marriage, of whom three 
 are yet living. His second marriage was in 1862 
 to Nancy J. , daughter of Harvey D. and Josephine 
 Worthington, of North Carolina and Kentucky, 
 respectively. The parents moved to Arkansas, 
 about the year 1856, and settled in Prairie Coun- 
 ty, where the father died. Mrs. Worthington is 
 now residing in Kentucky, her daiighter's birth- 
 place. Seven sons and four daughters were born 
 to Mr. Jordan's second marriage, all of them still 
 living, and, remembering his early experience in 
 attending school, he has spared no pains in giving 
 them the best education obtainable. In 1852 he 
 moved to Mississippi, and from there to what is 
 now Sharp County, Ark. , the following year, 
 where he settled on a farm. His land at that time 
 had but seven or eight acres cleared, but now he 
 has over 100 acres cleared and under cultivation, 
 and owns about 210 acres altogether, all the result 
 of his own industry and good management. Mr. 
 Jordan is a well-known and popular man in his 
 vicinity, and mingles in public life considerably, 
 having for the ])ast thirty years held several public 
 otfices, such as de]iuty sheriff, justice of the peace 
 (his present official capacity) and others. In 
 politics he is a Democrat and a stanch adherent 
 to that party. He enlisted in the Confederate 
 army during the war, becoming a member of Col. 
 Freeman's regiment of cavalry, and performed 
 some excellent work in a numlier of battles. Mr. 
 Jordan is a member of the A, F. &. A. M., and has 
 
 been master a great many years of Curia Lodge 
 No. 144. He also belongs to " Rural" Royal Arch 
 Chapter No. 50, at Evening Shade, and has hel.l 
 several of the offices, and is a member of Eastern 
 Star, having been for .some time past worthy 
 patron. At one time he was commissioned to or- 
 
 ' ganize chapters of his fraternity through.Mit North 
 Arkansas, and succeeded in establishing quite a 
 number. 
 
 John B. McCaleb, a prominent attorney at 
 Evening Shade, was born at Evening Shade, Ark., 
 October 24, 1856. He is a son of Col. James 
 H. and Frances A. (Jenkins) McCaleb, of Knox 
 County, Tenn., and Bowling Green, Ky., respect- 
 ively. The mother was married in her fourteenth 
 year to William French, and soon after moved to 
 Little Rock. After a short residence in that place, 
 they came to Evening Shade, at a time when there 
 were but one or two families living there, and 
 where Mr. French died. In 1854 Mrs. French 
 was married to Col. McCaleb, who had come from 
 Tennessee, and both have resided in Evenino' 
 Shade up to the time of their death. The father- 
 was a farmer and hotel proprietor for twenty- live 
 years, and was one of the best- known hotel men in 
 Northeast Arkansas. In earlier days the elder 
 McCaleb held the office of justice of the peace. 
 He served almost through the entire war. and per- 
 formed the duties of a soldier in different capaci- 
 ties in the Confederate army, and was colonel of a 
 regiment of militia in the home guards stationed 
 at Pocahontas. He was a member of the A. F. & 
 A. M., and was master of Evening Shade Lodge 
 
 [ for a number of years. Col. McCaleb" s father was 
 James H. McCaleb. of North Carolina, who died 
 in Evening Shade after a few years' residence. 
 Col. McCaleb's forefathers originally came from 
 North Ireland to this eountiT. and the lineHge of 
 that family extends back to the earlier part of the 
 eighteenth century. The father of Col. McCaleb's 
 wife was William Jenkins, a Kentuckian. who 
 moved to Illinois at an early period, and died 
 there about the year 1873. His daughter, Mrs, 
 McCaleb, had three children by each husband, of 
 whom John McCaleb is the oldest of three broth 
 ers — sons by the last husband. John McCnleli 
 
748 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 was educated at Evening Shade, and began life 
 for himself when fifteen years of age. In 1878 
 he commenced tlu; study of law with the Hon. 
 Sam H. Davidson, teaching school in the mean- 
 time. In 1881 he was admitted to the bar by 
 Judce R. H. Powell, and since then has practiced 
 his profession in Sharp, Izard, Fulton and Baxter 
 Counties, also holding a license to practice in the 
 supreme court of Arkansas and Missouri, and is 
 one of the most promising attorneys in Sharp 
 County. On January 10, 1883, he was married to 
 Allie, daughter of Col. Joseph L. Abernethy, and' 
 has had four children by this marriage, one son 
 and two daughters still living. Mr. McCaleb 
 owns some town property, besides aboiit 1,500 
 acres of wild land in Sharp County, and his pros- 
 perity is due entirely to his own enterprise and 
 shrewdness. In politics he is a Democrat and is 
 chairman of the county Democratic Central Com- 
 mittee. He has been a member of the A. F. & A. 
 M. since his majority, belonging to Evening 
 Shade Lodge No. 143, and has held almost all of 
 the offices, being master for two terms. He is also 
 a member of Royal Arch ( Rural ) Chapter No. 50, 
 and has been high priest. Also a charter member 
 of Knights of Honor, and Knights & Ladies of 
 Honor, and is dictator of the former. 
 
 John C. McKinney, a leading farmer of Law- 
 rence County, Smithville postoffice, was born in 
 Alabama, February 20, 1839, a son of James and 
 Patsey M. (Holder) McKinney. James was born 
 in North Carolina, April 3, 1819, was reared and 
 married in Alabama, came to Polk County, Mo. , 
 about 1844, and in 1857 moved to Sharp County, 
 where he resided until his death, in 1863. His 
 father, Francis McKinney, of Scotch and Welsh 
 descent, was born in South Carolina. He served 
 throughout the Revolutionary War, and died in 
 Polk County, Mo. Our subject's mother was born 
 in Alabama in 1820; she died about 1867, being 
 the mother of ten childi-en, five of whom are now 
 living: Thomas M. , Elizabeth A., William B.. 
 Samuel B. , and John C. our subject, who came to 
 Polk County, Mo. , at the age of eight years, where 
 he received his education. On March 4, 1860, 
 he married Lucinda Daily, who was born in Polk 
 
 County in 1839, and died in September, 1882. 
 She was the mother of six children, all living: 
 Sarah J., wife of William Hollen: Melvina J., wife 
 of Jeff D. Estes; Mary A., Davis L., Milliam G., 
 Dora J. In November, 1884, he married Hannah 
 Williams, who was born in Louisiana in 1855. Mr. 
 McKinney has 285 acres of land, about 100 culti- 
 vated, located on Strawberry River. He enlisted 
 in Company F, Shaffer's regiment. Seventh Ar- 
 kansas Infantry Volunteers, and served until May, 
 1865. He was a private the first year, corporal 
 the second, and afterward captain of a company 
 till the close, when he retui'ned home and resumed 
 farming. He has been a resident of this county 
 since 1875, and has held the office of justice of the 
 peace two years. He is a Democrat, having east 
 his first presidential vote for Breckinridge. He is 
 a member of Masonic Lodge No. 29, at Smithville. 
 His wife is a member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 William C. Matheny, retired farmer and ex- 
 coiinty judge, was born in Roane County, Tenn., 
 September 9, 1824, his parents being Samuel and 
 Sytha (Grimsley) Matheny. The former, whose 
 birth occurred in Virginia, June 18, 1796, was a 
 son of Elijah and Mary (Davis) Matheny, natives 
 of Virginia, the Mathenys being of French descent. 
 His parents moved in 1799 to East Tennessee, 
 where he was raised and where Samuel died (in 
 Overton county) in 1881. The latter was a farmer, 
 althoiigh he served an apprenticeship at the cabi- 
 net trade. His wife Sytha Matheny, was born in 
 Washington County, Tenn., in 1793. and died in 
 Roane County, that State, in 1838. Her jiarents 
 were natives of Culpeper County, Va. , and moved 
 to Tennessee in an early day. She was the mother 
 of twelve children. Eleven grew to maturity and 
 married, and five are now living, all in Tennessee, 
 except our subject, who also has two half sisters and 
 one half brother by his father's second marriage. 
 His parents being poor, William C. received but a 
 common school education, and that in Tennessee, 
 where he was raised. December 13, 1849, he mar- 
 ried Miss Louisa F. Terry, who has born in what 
 is now Putnam County, T(^nn., November 9, 1831. 
 She is a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Terry, 
 the father having died in Tennessee, where the moth- 
 
 
er is still living, tbougli blind. The family of our 
 8ul)ject consists of seven children — Allison B., l)orn 
 September 30, 1850; Sarah E., bora January 14, 
 lSr)3, wife of James W. Smith, of Sharp County; 
 Mary A., born November 15, 1855, wife of Milton 
 T. Ofield, of Izard County; Columbus D., born 
 January 14, 1858; Elijah, born July 23, 1861; 
 Grimaley H. , born April 7, 1806, and Ira J., born 
 August 24, 1868. In May, 1847, Mr. Matheny 
 enlisted in Capt. Huddleston's Company, Four- 
 teenth Regiment, United States Infantry, in Over- 
 ton, Tenn. , and served in the Mexican War, being 
 with Gen. Scott at the taking of the City of Mexi- 
 co, {)articipating also in the battles of Contreras, 
 Cherubusco, Melina Delva, Castle of Chapultepec, 
 and at the gates of the city, being discharged as 
 second sergeant at New Orleans July 25, 1848. 
 He now tb'aws a pension of $8 a month. In 1861 
 he organized a company in Sharp County, and was 
 mustered into the Confederate service in September 
 of the same year, and served as captain until May 
 8, 1862, when he was promoted to lieutenant-col- 
 onel of the Twenty-first Arkansas Regiment of In- 
 fantry, which position he held until the close of 
 the war. May 17, 1863, he was captured at Vicks- 
 bnrg and taken prisoner to Sandusky Bay, Ohio, 
 and kept there till exchanged, March 3, 1865, at 
 Richmond, Va. At the battle of Corinth, Miss., 
 October 3, 1862, he received a liullet wound in the 
 left forearm, breaking the bone. In 1866 he was 
 elected representative of Lawrence County (which 
 then included Sharp), and served one term. In 1872 
 he was again elected to represent Sharp County, 
 serving one term. In 1880 he was elected county 
 and probate judge of Sharji County, and served for 
 three consecutive terms, and is one of Sharp Coun- 
 ty's most influential citizens. Politically, he is a 
 Democrat, and himself and wife are members of 
 the Primitive Baptist Church. He has a farm of 
 160 acres, about 70 of which are cultivated. 
 
 John S. Medley, owner and proprietor of the 
 extensive saw and planing-mill and shingle factory 
 two miles south of Evening Shade, was born in 
 Parke County, Ind., in 1848. Ho is a son of Capt. 
 Philip and Rachel (Barnes) Medley, of Indiana 
 and Kentucky, respectively, who were married in 
 
 Indiana, and in 1853 removed to Fulton County, 
 111., and from there to Schuyler County, 111., after 
 the war, where the father died about the year 
 1870, and his wife one year previous. Both were 
 members of the Union Baptist faith. The elder 
 Medley was a miller by occupation, and a man of 
 fine business ability. In 1862 he joined the Thir- 
 teenth Illinois Infantry, and commanded Company 
 I, serving about six months, when he was forced 
 to resign on accountjof poor health. He was a 
 member of the A. F. & A. M., and a son of Rev. 
 Samuel Medley, of Scotch -Irish descent, a noted 
 preacher of Kentucky, who died in Illinois. The 
 grandfather of John S. Medley, James Barnes, 
 was a farmer, and died in the State of Indiana. 
 John S. Medley is the third child of eight sons 
 and three daughters, of whom eight are yet living. 
 He received his education partly at the common 
 schools and by self- tuition, and at the age of seven- 
 teen years his ability was so well recognized that 
 he was taken into partnership with an extensive 
 saw mill firm, and has continued in that business 
 ever since. He thoroughly understands the busi- 
 ness, and has met with success in every instance. 
 In 1869 Mr. Medley moved to Evening Shade, 
 where he resided up to 1870, when he married 
 Mrs. Nancy Sharp, a widow lady, of Indiana, who 
 died six months after their wedding. In 1889 he 
 was again married, his second wife being Miss 
 Lily Green, of Illinois. Mrs. Medley's mother is 
 still living, but the father died when she was a 
 young girl. Mr. Medley owns about 1,200 acre.s 
 of land in the vicinity of Evening Shade, and has 
 about 125 acres under cultivation, with several 
 good buildings and barns. His mills have the 
 reputation of turning out some of the best work in 
 Sharp County, and. as a citizen and business man, 
 he enjoys a popularity that must be gratifying 
 even to the most egotistical, although Mr. Medley 
 is as modest as he is popular. His mills have a 
 capacity of about 8,000 feet of lumber, and about 
 20,000 shingles per day, and has also a planing at- 
 tachment. In politics he is a Democrat, and has 
 been a member of the I. O. O. F. since his matur- 
 ity, holding all of the otfices during that period. 
 William G. Meeks, a pioneer farmer of Sullii 
 
750 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 vau Township, was born in Breckinridge County, 
 Ky., in 1819. He is a son of the Rev. William 
 and Nancy (Goatley) Meeks, of North Carolina and 
 Maryland, respectively, who moved to Kentucky, 
 and were married there at a very early day, and 
 when young William was sixteen years old, settled 
 in Spencer County, Ind., where the father died 
 about 1846, and the mother some time afterward, 
 in Illinois. The elder Meeks was a Baptist min- 
 ister, and well known for his eloquence in the pul- 
 pit. He is a son of Priddy Meeks, of North Car- 
 olina, who was one of the first settlers of Kentucky, 
 and an associate of the famous Daniel Boone. 
 William G. Meeks' grandfather, John Goatley, was 
 a native of Scotland, who came to America with 
 his parents when four years old. He served through 
 the Revolutionary War, with the exception of one 
 year, in which he was badly disabled, and died in 
 Kentucky, with honors showered upon him for his 
 record through that period. William G. Meeks is 
 the seventh child of eight sons and four daughters, 
 and in his youth received a very limited education, 
 as the facilities for attending school were quite 
 scarce in those days. He commenced in life for 
 himself at the age of twenty, and, in 1843, was 
 married to Millie, daughter of Pleasant and Re- 
 becca Galloway. Mrs. Meeks' mother is still liv- 
 ing at the age of ninety-six years, but the father 
 died in the State of Indiana, where Mrs. Meeks 
 was born. In 1840 Mr. Meeks came to what is 
 now Sharp County, but did not move on his pres- 
 ent place until 1849, which was then but very little 
 improved. He now owns about 280 acres of land, 
 with some 120 acres under cultivation, all the re- 
 sult of his own energy, and is one of the most en- 
 terprising farmers of Sharp County. Mr. Meeks 
 enlisted in the Confederate army during the war, 
 and was enrolled in Company D, Fourteenth Ar- 
 kansas Infantry, holding the rank of lieutenant. 
 He afterward became a member of Freeman' s regi- 
 ment of cavalry, and later took part in Price's 
 raids through Missouri and Kansas. Mr. Meeks 
 performed some creditable work during the war, 
 and won a reputation as being a gallant and effi- 
 cient soldier. He surrendered at Jacksonport in 
 Juno, 1865. and returned to his home. When Mi'. 
 
 Meeks first settled in this vicinity the country was 
 nothing but a wilderness, and had no inhabitants 
 but a few venturesome spirits like himself, who 
 were seeking a home in the West, unless, indeed, 
 the wild animals that infested the country at that 
 time could be called its inhabitants. His nearest 
 postoffice and trading post was at Batesville, some 
 twenty miles distant; but since that period he has 
 lived to see this portion of Arkansas grow up into 
 a populous and thriving country, and can now tell 
 the younger generation how the streets and by-ways 
 of the present civilization were once the path of 
 the fleet-footed deer and the prowling wolf. The 
 names of Mr. Meeks' children are : Nancy, wife of 
 Francis Kent; Sarah, wife of A. J. Green; Benja- 
 min F., Thomas J., Eliza, wife of J. E. G. Ball, 
 and Willie Ann, wife of J. D. Cargle. 
 
 Isaac N. Jlorgan, a substantial farmer of Mor- 
 gan Township, is a native of Tennessee, having 
 been born in Franklin County in 1837. His 
 father was Harris Morgan, who was born in Ten- 
 nessee, in June, 1810, and who is now living in 
 Sharp County. Ark., where he came in 1840, Mor- 
 gan Township being named in his honor before the 
 war. He was a blacksmith by trade, but carried 
 on farming in connection therewith. His wife was 
 born in North Carolina in 1816, but died in Sharp 
 County in November, 1881. She was the mother 
 of ten children, three of whom are now living. 
 Elizabeth, Sarah and Isaac, all of whom reside in 
 Sharp County. Isaac N. acquired most of his 
 education after reaching manhood, but received 
 what little schooling he had in Sharp County. In 
 October, 1865, he married Miss Salina Carver, 
 who was born in Mississippi in 1843. Her par- 
 ents were J. D. and Frances Carver, natives of 
 Mississippi, who came to Ai'kansas in 1851. The 
 father is dead, but the mother still lives in Sharp 
 County. The family consists of three daughters 
 and three sons: Tennessee B. , Amanda L., Mary. 
 William T., Joseph and Isaac B. Our subject 
 entered the Confederate service in 1861. in the 
 Seventh Arkansas Volunteers, under Col. Robert 
 Shaver, participating in the battles of Shiloh, 
 Corinth and Bowling Green, and at the close of 
 the war returned to Sharp County and resumed 
 
SHARP COUNTY. 
 
 751 
 
 farming. He has a good farm of 347 acres, about 
 100 of which are under cultivation. He is a Dem- 
 ocrat, and both he and hi.s wife are members of | 
 the Baptist Church. 
 
 Judge Addison H. Nunu, one of the pioneers 
 of Sullivan Township, was born in Williamson 
 County. Tenn., in 1814. He is a son of William 
 R. and Rebecca W. (Stone) Nunn, the former born 
 in Pendleton District, S. C. , about 1783, and the 
 latter in Mecklenburg, Va. The parents were 
 married in Williamson County, Tenn., and resided 
 there until the year 1855, when they moved to 
 Texas, where the father died in 1862. The elder 
 Nunn was an extensive merchant and real estate 
 dealer, and a very successful business man, finan- 
 cially. He first started in life without a dollar, , 
 but by his natural abilities, shrewdness in busi- ! 
 ness transactions and enterprise, he left a fortune 
 at his death. He held the office of justice of the 
 peace for three years, and was a member of the 
 I. O. O. Y. His father, Francis Nunn, was a 
 Noi-th Carolinian, and when William R. was about 
 thrfee years old removed first to Georgia and then 
 to the State of Tennessee in 1806, where he died 
 at the age of sixty years, his wife, Marcy (Rice) 
 Nunn, dying in Tennessee, at the age of eighty- 
 tive years. The Nunn family are of French origin, 
 but on the mother's side the family are English. 
 Judge Nunn's grandfather, William Stone, came 
 from England with his parents, and settled in Vir- 
 ginia, and were afterward among the first settlers 
 of Maury County, Tenn. Judge Nunn was the 
 eldest of thirteen children, who received their edu- 
 cation in the early days at a log cabin school. In 
 1837 he w'as married to Amanda, daughter of Jere- 
 miah and Catherine Baxter, born in North Caro- 
 lina and Tennessee, respectively. Eleven children 
 were given to this marriage, of whom four sons and 
 three daughters are yet living. His second mar- 
 riage was in 1863, to Mrs. Mary Bowman, a widow 
 lady, and a daughter of Men-iman Arnn, of Vir- 
 ginia, where his daughter was also born, in Pitt- 
 sylvania County. Ten children were born to Mr. 
 and Mrs. Nunn, of whom three sons and five daugh 
 ters are still living. In 1843 Judge Nunn moved 
 to Arkansas, and pitched his tent upon the same 
 
 spot where he now resides. This section of Arkan- 
 sas was then a wilderness, whose only inhabitants 
 were wild animals, the nearest postoftice and trad- 
 ing point being the town of Batesville, which was 
 then a very small place. He has made this his 
 home ever since, and at one time owned over 2,0(tO 
 acres of land. He now owns about l,IMtO acres, 
 and has 100 acres under cultivation, owning one 
 of the finest farms in Sharp County. In 1861 he 
 organized Company I, and joined MeCarver's reg- 
 iment of Arkansas infantry, and for the first four 
 months was stationed at Pocahontas, then at Fort 
 Pillow, and lastly at Corinth, where he was dis- 
 charged after six months' service. After the war 
 he returned home, and for several years was justice 
 of the peace, an office he also held in Tennessee. 
 In 1845 he was elected county and probate judge 
 of Lawrence County, and at the expiration of bis 
 term, on two different occasions, was re-elected. 
 In 1 874 he was elected supervisor of Sharp County, 
 and in 1878 county and probate judge for two years. 
 Before the war. Judge Nunn established the Sidney 
 postoffice, and was postmaster for three years; and 
 after peace had been declared he had the office re- 
 stored, and was appointed jwstmaster again. In 
 politics, he has been a Democrat ever since the war, 
 and was a Whig before that event. He became a 
 member of the I. O. O. F. in 1845, and a Mason 
 several years later, and is a member of the Royal 
 Arch Chapter. Judge Nunn is well known and 
 luiiversally respected throughout Northeast Arkan 
 sas. He is one of its oldest inhabitants, and has 
 lived to see that portion of the State grow u]) from 
 its infancy, to be dotted with productive farms, 
 thriving towns and enterprising citizens. He has 
 been a member of the Presbyterian Church since 
 his fourteenth year, as also were both wives, and 
 was an elder for over forty years. 
 
 Abner J. Porter, judge of the county and pro 
 bate court of Sharp County, and a leading attorney 
 of that place, was born in \\ illiamson County, 
 Tenn., in the year 1831. He is the son of Will 
 iam C. and Judith R. (Owen) Porter, the former 
 born in Rockingham County, N. C. in 1803, and 
 the latter in Davidson County. Teim., in 1804. 
 The parents were married in Williamson County, 
 
 ■»Pv 
 
2iJ 
 
 752 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Tenn.. in 1824. and resided there until the year 
 1830, when they moved to Weakle_y Coiinty, Tenn., 
 and from there to Springfield, Mo., in 1856. In 
 1860 they settled in Sharp County, Ark., where 
 the father died in 1878, and the mother in 1881. 
 The elder Porter was a prominent farmer and a 
 leading citizen of Sharp County during his life, 
 and was held in the highest esteem by his fellow- 
 citizens. He was a son of Dudley Porter, of 
 North CaroHna, who removed to Tennessee in 1811, 
 and died three months after his arrival. His 
 father was John Porter, who lost another son at 
 the battle of Charleston, during the Revolution. 
 Judge Porter's parents had eleven sons, of whom 
 seven are living: Their names are Robert G. , a 
 resident of Sharp County;. William G. , a tobac- 
 conist of Springfield, Mo.; Judge Abner J. Porter; 
 Rev. Peter O. , of Sharp County; Jesse W., re- 
 siding in the same county; Henry W. , of Ran- 
 dolph County, and Felix R., a prominent lawyer of 
 Springfield, Mo. Five of them gave their services 
 to the Confederate cause — Abner J., John W., 
 Jesse W., Benjamin F. (who was captured and 
 died in prison at Chicago), and Felix R. In his 
 youth Judge Porter received a common school edu- 
 cation, and also applied himself to the higher 
 branches of education, which he mastered without 
 the aid of a teacher. He had commenced the 
 study of law at Springfield, Mo., when the war 
 called him from his books, and he joined Capt. 
 Thomason's company of the Fifty- second Volunteer 
 Tennessee Infantry. In the spring of 1862 he was 
 sent home on furlough, on account of disability, but 
 after recovering from hi.s afflictions he re-joined 
 the army under Gen. Forrest's command, becom- 
 ing a member of Col. Wilson's Tennessee regi- 
 ment. He held the rank of orderly sergeant in 
 Capt. Dudley's company, and served about one 
 year longer, taking part in a number of engage- 
 ments during that time. Judge Porter was mar- 
 ried in Weakley County, Tenn., in 1866, to Miss 
 Mary J. Carter, a daughter of Jerome and 
 Mary (Matthews) Carter, of North Carolina 
 and Tennessee, respectively, and they are the 
 parents of five sons and three daughters: Ada J., 
 William C. , Thomas J., James O. , Ida R. , Mary 
 
 E., John W. and Granville D. In 1867 the 
 Judge arrived in Sharp County, and located at 
 Evening Shade, where he entered the grocery busi- 
 ness, and practiced law until 1875. He then set- 
 tled on his present place of residence, and com- 
 menced farming, and now has about 100 acres un- 
 der cultivation, owning 320 acres altogether in two 
 farms. He is considered to be one of the best 
 farmers in Sharp County, and has also continued 
 the practice of law, with gratifying success, both 
 in the justice and circuit courts. In 1878 he was 
 elected judge of the county and probate courts for 
 two years, and filled the office with distinction. 
 The soundness of his judgment and the coiTect- 
 ness of his views made him the most available 
 man for that position, and he was again elected in 
 1888. In politics he is a Democrat, and has been 
 one all his life. He is strong in upholding the 
 principles and men of his party, and is one of 
 its stanchest adherents. The Judge has been a 
 member of Evening Shade Lodge No. 141, A. F. 
 & A. M., since 1867, and is also a member of 
 Royal Arch Chapter No. 52, at Evening Shade. 
 He belongs to the Baptist Church, while his wife 
 is a Presbyterian. 
 
 Elijah Ratliff is a farmer of Union Township, 
 near Martin's Creek postoffice. His grandfather 
 was one of the first settlers of Pike County, Ky. , 
 where he died. Robert R. , the father of our sub- 
 ject, was born in Kentucky, about 1816; was mar- 
 ried there to Polly Edwards, and in 1854 emi- 
 grated to Texas County, Mo. , being one of the 
 early settlers of that county. In 1862 he moved 
 to Arkansas. He was a soldier in the late war, was 
 captured and taken prisoner to Alton, 111., where 
 he died in 1866. His wife, who died about 1865, 
 was the mother of nine children, our subject being 
 the sixth. He was raised and received most of his 
 schooling in Texas County, Mo. In 1871 Elijah 
 married Miss Nancy Garner, who was born in 
 Sharp County, Ark., in 1849, the daughter of John 
 and Rena Garner. They have six children living: 
 John R., William H., Martha E., Mary J., George 
 W. (deceased), Albert and James. Mr. Ratliff 
 has resided in Sharp County since 1870, and has 
 about 400 acres of land, about ninetv of which are 
 
 ^ 
 
SHARP COUNTY. 
 
 under cultivation, 200 acres in Fulton County, 
 Ark., and '200 on Martin's Creek. In politics he is 
 a Democrat. Laving cast his first presidential vote 
 for Cleveland. Our subject and his wife are both 
 members of the Christian Church. 
 
 Michael Van Buren Shaver, farmer and mer- 
 chant, was born in Sullivan County, East Tenn., 
 April 7, 1832. His parents were David and Har- 
 riet (May) Shaver. David, Jr., was born in Sulli- 
 van County, Tenn., in 1799, where he always re- 
 sided, and died in 1843. He was a son of David 
 Shaver, Sr. , merchant and slave owner, who was 
 born in Buncombe County, N. C, and whose father 
 (Michael's great grandfather), was killed in the 
 Revolutionary War. The Shavers are of French, . 
 German and English descent. Michael's mother 
 was bom in Tennessee, in 1800, and died in Sharp 
 County, Ark., in 1881; her parents were Samuel 
 and Catherine May. Mr. May was born in Lon- 
 don, England, and was a physician by profession, 
 and a wealthy citizen. His wife was a Shelby, of 
 one of the old families of the United States. Isaac 
 Shelby, an uncle of Catherine, was governor of 
 Kentucky, and a noted man. Ferdinand M. and 
 our subject are the only children living of a family 
 of eight. M. Van was raised in Tennessee, where 
 he received a common school education. At the 
 age of nineteen years he came to Independence 
 County, Ark. The next year he located in Fulton 
 County, cleared a farm in the woods, and in May, 
 1866, married Mary Livingston. They have had 
 five children (four of whom are now living) : Shelby 
 L. , Hattie M., Jimmie (deceased), Emma and Mat- 
 tie. In 1861 he raised a company of infantry in 
 Fulton County, Seventh Arkansas, of Col. Robert 
 Shaver's regiment, under Gen. Hardee; was cap- 
 tain of his company one year, when he came home, 
 formed a battalion, was elected major, and served 
 in that capacity during the war. At Augusta, 
 Ark., he was wounded in the left leg, where the 
 bullet still remains. He was also with Gen. Price 
 on his raid through Missouri. After the war he 
 returned to Fulton County, of which he was ap- 
 pointed sheriff l)y Gov. Murphy, and served two 
 years, when ho removed to where he now resides. 
 He has a natural stock farm of 350 acres, 125 of 
 
 which are under cultivation, the same being finely 
 watered by Reed's Creek. In 1880 he erected a 
 grist mill at a cost of $4,000, and in May, 1882, it 
 was totally destroyed by high water; having no 
 insurance, it was a total loss. In 1866 he opened 
 a general store where he now resides, but retired 
 in 1880 on account of health, and in 1887 resumed 
 business in partnership with his son. He is a 
 Democrat, having cast his first presidential vote 
 for Buchanan. Mr. Shaver was engaged in a hard 
 fight on Martin's Creek, and selected the battle 
 ground for the first fight in Fulton County. 
 
 Ferdinand May Shaver, farmer and merchant, 
 two and a half miles west of Grange postolfice, is 
 a brother of M. Van Shaver, and was born in 
 Sullivan County, Tenn., July 14, 1836, where he 
 resided till the age of fourteen years, and received 
 his schooling, which is very limited, and came to 
 Arkansas with his parents in 1850, where he has 
 since resided. In 1870 he married Miss Mary J. 
 Gardner, who was bom in Lawrence County, Ark., 
 in 1847. She is the daughter of John H. R. 
 and Susana Gardner, her father a Baptist minister, 
 who came to Independence County in the early 
 days. Mr. Shaver's family consists of six chil- 
 dren, Julia M. , Edwin V., David L., James F., 
 Lulu B. and an infant. The subject of this sketch 
 served in the Confederate army as a cavalryman, 
 fi'om 1862 till the close of the war, taking part in 
 the Augusta fight. He was engaged in business 
 in Fulton County previous to the war, and in 1867 
 opened a general store in Sharp County, where he 
 has since been in business, carrying a valual)le 
 stock of goods. He has about 700 hundred acres 
 of land in Sharp County, 200 acres under cultiva- 
 tion; 300 acres in Independence County, and eighty 
 acres in Lawrence County. Politically, he is a 
 Democrat, having cast his first presidential vote 
 for Breckinridge. 
 
 Tliomas C. Sims, a prominent farmer and sttx-k 
 raiser of Sullivan Township, was horn in Ruther- 
 ford County, Tenn.. in 1832. His parents were 
 the Hon. Leonard H. and Louisa (Beatty) Sims, 
 born in North Carolina in 1807, and Virginia in 
 1808, respectively, and were united in marriage in 
 Rutherford County. Tenn. In 1839 the parents 
 
 >» 
 y 
 
754 
 
 HISTOKY OF AEKANSAS. 
 
 removed to a point near Springfield, Mo., but in 
 1847 returned to Tennessee, and in 1859 they came 
 to Independence County, Ark., where the father 
 died in 188(3, and the mother in Tennessee the fol- 
 lowing year. The elder Sims was at one time one 
 of the most brilliant politicians in Tennessee. He 
 twice represented Rutherford County in the legis- 
 lature, and from 1842 to 1845 or 1846, represented 
 Greene County, Mo., in the State legislature. 
 During the Polk administration be was a member 
 of the National Congress from Missouri (at large), 
 and in 1860 was elected to represent Independence 
 and Stone Counties in the State senate. He was 
 again elected in 1874 for the long term of four 
 years, and his oratory while a member of that body 
 was noted for its eloquence. He was a man of su- 
 perior abilities, a close observer of men and events, 
 and a shrewd politician, and never suffered defeat 
 in a political contest. When a member of the 
 senate he served on the committee on Federal 
 returns, and was one of the ablest men of that 
 body, and was also an ardent advocate for the pay- 
 ment in full of the State debt. During his first 
 term in the Arkansas State senate he delivered the 
 memorial address on the late Senator Lusburrow, 
 who was the senator from Pulaski County during 
 that session, but had recently committed suicide 
 while the senate was in session. This was one of 
 the most eloquent and able addresses ever heard in 
 the senate chamber, and Mr. Sims was the recip- 
 ient of many flattering compliments and consider- 
 able praise on this occasion. He was also a promi- 
 nent member of the A. F. & A. M. , Curia Lodge, and 
 of the Royal Arch Chapter. In politics he had been a 
 Democrat all his life, and was a strong supporter of 
 that party. Thomas C. Sims was the fourth child 
 of seven sons and five daughters, and received a 
 good common school and academic education. In 
 1854 he was married to Sarah J., daughter of 
 Judge A. H. Nunn, and by this marriage has had 
 ten children, of whom four sons and three daugh- 
 ters are still living. In 1855 he moved to what is 
 now Sharp County, and settled on a farm with but 
 very little improvement, but since that time he has 
 placed 145 acres under cultivation, owning alto- 
 gether some 346 acres, besides a number of town 
 
 lots in Hardy, and all the result of his own industry, 
 business tact, and good management in farming 
 and trading. He taught school for several years 
 before and since the war, and, on the outbreak of 
 hostilities between the North and South, he en- 
 listed in Company G, of Col. Shaler's regiment, 
 and served almost three years in the Confederate 
 army, holding the rank of first lieutenant for two 
 years. He fought in a number of battles in Mis- 
 souri, Kansas, and portions of the Indian Territory, 
 and was with Price on his raids through Missouri 
 and Kansas. He was present during the snin>n- 
 der at Jacksonport, in 1865, and returned home 
 after the war was over. In politics, Mr. Sims has 
 always been a Democrat, and was appointed post- 
 master of Sullivan Springs for several years. He 
 is a member of Evening Shade Lodge No. 143, 
 A. F. & A. M., and, with his wife, has been a 
 member of the Presbyterian Church for over thirty 
 years. His grandfather, Swepson Sims, of North 
 Carolina, resided in Rutherford County, Tenu., for 
 about forty-five years, where he was a noted physi- 
 cian in his day. His father was Leonard Sims, a 
 Scotchman, who settled in North Carolina at a very 
 early period. William Beatty, the grandfather of 
 Thomas C. Sims, was a native of Virginia, and 
 died in Rutherford County, Tenn. , where he had 
 resided a great many years. Joseph Sims, the 
 great- uncle of Thomas C. Sims, first settled at 
 Welchmere, now known as Lebanon, Tenn. , and 
 was the first man to cut down a tree in that place. 
 Leonard H., the father of Thomas C. Sims, was a 
 great hunter in his yoimger days, and a celelirated 
 shot. His early experience with the Indians had 
 given him a skill with the rifle that was marvelous, 
 and to the present day many a tale may be heard 
 of the great work done by him in the far West. 
 
 James G. Sims, an enterprising and popular 
 farmer, of Sharp County, was born in Greenes 
 Covmty, Mo. , in 1841. He is a son of Hon. Leonard 
 H. and Louisa (Beatty) Sims, of whom an extended 
 sketch is given in the biography of T. C. Sims. 
 When, in his seventh year, Mr. Sims removed with 
 his 2>arents to Tennessee, where the}- resided until 
 the year 1859, and then came to Independence 
 County. He was reared on a farm, and received a 
 
 ~^; 
 
^ 
 
 good common scbool oducatiou in his youth, and ' 
 in early youth displayed the disposition and charac- 
 ter of a man whose future life woiild V)e success- 
 ful. He was imbued with the same traits of 
 energy and force which characterized his illustrious 
 father, and though not following directly in the 
 footsteps of the elder Sims, he has made a path 
 for himself that may serve as an example for many 
 others. In ISfil, he joined Company K, of th(> 
 First Ai'kansas Infantry, and served one year 
 through Missouri, Ai'kansas, Kansas and the In- 
 dian Nation, taking part in the battles at Wilson's 
 Creek, Pea Ridge and others. The same comj)any 
 soon after re-organized, with Mr. Sims a mem- 
 ber of it, and took a leading part in the memorable 
 l)attle of Shiloh. His next campaign extended 
 through Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee 
 and Kentucky, and he took part in the liattle at 
 Richmond ; on Kirby Smith's raid through Ken- 
 tucky: afterwards at the battles of Chickamauga 
 and Atlanta, and then returned with Hood to Ten- 
 nessee, where he fought in the battles at Franklin 
 and Nashville. Shortly after this campaign, he re- 
 turned home and resiimed his farm work, and, in 
 18()7, was married 1^ Miranda, daughter of Perry 
 and Margaret West, of Arkansas. Mrs. West died 
 when her daughter was a child, and the father 
 died in 187-4, in Sharp County. Mrs. Sims was 
 born in Texas, and with her marriage to Mr. Sims, 
 has had nine sons and one daughter. In 1808 
 they settled on their present farm, about four .miles 
 northeast of Evening shade, where Mr. Sims 
 owns 700 acres of land, and has about 200 acres 
 imder cultivation. He is one of the leading farm- 
 ers and citizens of Sharp County, and is held in 
 high esteem by the entire community. In politics 
 he is a Democrat, and was a member of the board 
 of equalization of Sharp County. He was also a 
 member of the Agricultural Wheel, and in 1888 
 was vice-president of the Sharp County Wheel. 
 He also belongs to Evening Shade Lodge No. 143, 
 A. F. & A. M. , and has been a member since 1874. 
 John T. Sparks, a farmer of Strawberry Town- 
 ship, Smitbville postoffice, Lawrence County, was 
 born in Alabama, February 8. 1843. His father, 
 John Sparks, was born in Alabama about ISI 1, and 
 
 died there in 1847, and Sarah (Bowlou) Sparks, his 
 mother, was bom in Georgia in 1815, dying in 
 Lawrence County in 1.S87. The family consisted 
 of eight children, three of whom are living: John, 
 James L. and Isaac, all residing in Sharp County, 
 our subject being the eldest. John T. was raised 
 in Alabama till the age of eleven years, when he 
 went to Tennessee with his parents, remaining 
 there till he was eighteen years of age, when his 
 mother and family removed to Lawrence County, 
 Ark., living there a short time, and finally moving 
 to where our subject now lives. He received his 
 education in Arkansas, and, in 181)0, married Miss 
 Susan Webb, who was born in Polk County, Mo. . 
 in 1845, and died in 1871: she was the mother of 
 two children, both living; Mary J. (wife of James 
 Wheeler) and William N. In 1872 Mr. Sparks 
 married Miss .\lvira Hill, who was born in Law- 
 rence County, Ark., in 1850, the daughter of Daniel 
 and Delia Hill, Mr. Hill being a native of "Virginia, 
 and one of the early settlers of Lawrence County, 
 where his wife was born. By this marriage there 
 was a family of five children, three living: Ellen 
 O., Causette and Edward B. In April, 1862. our 
 subject enlisted in the Confederate army, serving 
 under Capt. Huddleson until 1805: he was in aU 
 the battles west of the IMississippi River, in the 
 cavalry. At the close of the war he resumed farm- 
 ing, and has also held the offices of constable of his 
 township and justice of the peace four years. He 
 is a Democrat, and he and his wife are memliers of 
 the Missionary Baptist Church. 
 
 Ashley Taylor, a prominent farmer of Rich- 
 woods Township, is a son of J. Millidge and Hes- 
 ter A. (Cravens) Taylor, of Missouri and Arkansas, 
 respectively. J. Millidge Taylor moved to the 
 State of Arkansas, with his parents, in 18Ut, and 
 met the lady who became his wife in Lawrence 
 County, where Ashley was born in 184(5. The 
 elder Taylor was a son of J. \V. Taylor, one of the 
 earliest settlers of Lawrence County, and died in 
 1852. his wife surviving him a good many years. 
 They were the parents of ten chiliiicn, «f whom 
 Ashley was the seventh, and four of them are still 
 living: William W. and Millidge. residents of 
 Texas; Mary, wife of John Saffell. and Ashley. 
 
 3 . 
 
 V 
 
756 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Ashley Taylor remained on the home place until 
 the year 1863, when he joined the Confederate 
 army, becoming a member of one of the Arkansas 
 regiments, in which he did gallant service. On 
 September 12, 1864, he was captured at Thomas- 
 ville, Mo., and taken to the prison at St. Louis. 
 From there he was changed to a prison at Alton, 
 111., but again returned to St. Louis, where, with 
 five others, he was sentenced to be shot. The six 
 men awaited their doom with the greatest fortitude, 
 realizing that what was to be was according to the 
 fortunes of war, but shortly before the hour set 
 for the execution a kind Providence saved them 
 from the fate they expected, and others were 
 chosen instead to face the executioners. He was 
 then returned to Alton, 111., and afterward to Rock 
 Island, where he was held until June 22, 1865, 
 and then released. On his return to Arkansas Mr. 
 Taylor ran a carding machine at Evening Shade 
 for several years, and finally commenced farming 
 again, his occupation previous to the war. He was 
 married in 1875. to Miss America E. Barnett, a 
 daughter of James and Jane Barnett, of Sharp 
 County, and by this marriage has had one son and 
 four daughters. Mr. Taylor lost his wife on Sep- 
 tember 21, 1887. He resided in Lawrence County 
 until 1885, and then moved to Sharp County, but 
 did not settle on his present place until 1887. The 
 land comprises 200 acres, of which 1 20 acres are 
 under cultivation, all of it being accumulated by 
 Mr. Taylor himself. He is a Democrat in politics 
 and a strong supporter of his party. Mr. Taylor 
 is a member of Ash Flat Lodge No. 159, F. & A. 
 M., and of Royal Arch Chapter No. 50. at Even- 
 ing Shade. He is also a member of the Famous 
 Life Association of Little Rock, his wife, during 
 her life, being a member of the same association. 
 S. Price Turner, one of the leading merchants 
 of Ash Flat, was born in Dent County, Mo., in 
 1862. His parents were George \V. and Leon E. 
 (Dougherty) Turner, both natives of Tennessee, 
 who resided in Dent County, Mo. , bef,ore the war. 
 The family moved to Baxter County, Ark. , in 
 1864, and from there to Izard County, and, in 
 1866, settled in Sharp County, coming to Ash 
 Flat one year later. The father entered into com- 
 
 mercial life on his arrival, and was a successful 
 business man up to the time of his death, in Janu- 
 ary, 1885, being one of the most prominent mer- 
 chants and leaders in mercantile affairs in that 
 place. He was an officer in the Confederate army, 
 and served through the war with great distinction, 
 and was also a member of the A. F. & A. M. , and 
 Knights and Ladies of Honor. His start in Ash 
 Flat was, similar to that of other self-made men, 
 on almost nothing, but, being a man of energetic 
 and determined spirit, he made a success where 
 many others would have made a failure, and, at 
 the time of his death, left a considerable fortune. 
 Mr. Turner and his wife were both members of the 
 Christian Church, and Mrs. Turner still survives 
 her husband, at the age of fifty- four years. She 
 is a daughter of Sakiah Dougherty, a brave officer, 
 who met death at the battle of Wilson's Creek, in 
 1861. S. Price Turner has resided in Ash Flat 
 ever since five years old, with the exception of one 
 year at Fayetteville. He attended the State Uni- 
 versity in his youth, and at the age of eighteen 
 was taken into partnership with his father, and re- 
 mained with him until the elder Turner's death, 
 when he succeeded to the business. He has car- 
 ried on the business in the same enterprising man- 
 ner that characterized the father, and has upheld 
 the reputation made by the elder Turner. Mr. 
 Turner, in connection with other members of his 
 family, owns over 1,200 acres of land in Sharp 
 County, besides considerable real estate in Ash 
 Flat, and in the State of California. He was mar- 
 ried, February 19, 1885, to Miss Fannie David- 
 son, a daughter of Dr. Benjamin H. and Atella J. 
 Davidson, both deceased, the former being one of 
 ! the leading physicians of this county during his 
 life. Mr. Turner and his wife are the parents of 
 one son and two daughters, and they comprise one 
 of the most interesting and happie.st families in 
 Ash Flat. In politics he is a Democrat, and in 
 I 1884 cast his vote for Cleveland. He is also a mem- 
 ber of Ash Flat Lodge No. 159, A. F. & A. M., 
 and was senior warden for two terms. Royal Arch 
 j Chaj)ter, Evening Shade, claims him as a mem- 
 ber, as do the Knights and Ladies of Honor. 
 1 Anderson Huston Vance, farmer and justice of 
 
 
V 
 
 B .F. Jones 
 Frenchmans Bayou. 
 Mississippi County, Arkansas. 
 
9 W 
 
 the peace, of Washington Township, was liorn in 
 AlHl)ania, November 15, 1837. His parents were 
 William and Sarah (Hudson) Vance. William was 
 born in North Carolina about 1776, and died in 
 March, 1866, in Sharp County, Ark., when about 
 eighty-six years of age. Ho emigrated from North 
 Carolina to Tennessee in an early day, with his 
 parents (who were born in Ireland), and from Ten- 
 nessee to Arkansas, in 184S, and located live miles 
 south of where the county seat now is. He was a 
 farmer. His wife died in October, 1858. in Sharp 
 County. She was the mother of fourteen children, 
 all of whom grew to maturity, only four of whom 
 are now living: Nancy Clark, Claring Norman, 
 Anderson H. and Mai'y A. Shirley. All but Mary 
 reside in Sharp County, and she in Independence 
 County. The subject of this sketch, the eleventh 
 child, was raised in Sharp County, where he re- 
 ceived his limited education. In 1859 he married 
 Miss Margaret C. Johnson, who was born in East 
 Tennessee, September '2, 1840, and died June 26, 
 1878. She was the mother of three children, one 
 of whom is living, William Huston. December 3, 
 1888, he married Sarah J. (Hardester) Douglas, a 
 widow, who was born in Independence County, in 
 1851. Mr. Vance was in Evening Shade before 
 the town was thought of. In June, 1862, he en- 
 listed in the Confederate army. Company F, under 
 Col. Bob Shaver, serving four years, and partici- 
 pating in the battles of Pleasant Hill (La.) and 
 Jenkins' Ferry (Ark. ). He is, and has been since 
 1867, a member of the Masonic order, and once 
 represented his lodge in th(^ grand lodge. In 
 1874 he was elected justice of the peace of Wash- 
 ington Township, and s(>rved eight successive years, 
 and was again elected to the same oflBce in 1888, 
 and is now serving his fifth term. He is a Demo- 
 crat in jiolitics. He has 174 acres of land, and 
 cultivates seventy-five acres of it. He and his first 
 wife were members of the Missionary Baptist 
 Church, his present wife being a memlier of the 
 Melhodist Ejjiseopal Church, South. 
 
 Samuel J. Walker, general merchant and stock 
 dealer, was born in Stewart County, Tenn., in 
 1821). His parents were John and Susan (Thomas) 
 Walker, the former born in Virginia in 1804, and 
 
 the latter in Tennessee in 1806. The parents were 
 married in Stewart County, where they resided 
 until the year 1852, and then moved to what is now 
 Sharp County, and lived there until the time of 
 their death. John Walker's father was Samuel 
 Walker, who was born in Ireland and fought in 
 some of the early wars of this country. He was a 
 blacksmith and woodworker by trade, and moved to 
 Tennessee when John was a boy, where the latter 
 grew to manhood and was married. Samuel J. is 
 the fourth child of a family of eight sons and four 
 daughters. He moved to Shaqi County, Ark., 
 with his parents, and was married in that place to 
 Miss Elizalieth Baker, a daughter of Newton and 
 HaiTiet Baker, of Sharp County. Mr. Walker lost 
 his wife in 1874, after a happy married life, and 
 also a son. His second wife was Mrs. Mary Dun- 
 can, a widow lady, and a daughter of Ephraim and 
 Olive Perkins, of Missouri, and by this maiTiage 
 he has three children: Minnie J., Maudee and Sam- 
 uel. With the exception of one year's residence in 
 Randolph County, Mr. Walker has lived on his 
 present place ever since his arrival in .\rkansas. 
 He then liad only two acres of land under cultiva- 
 tion, which he had fenced in a very primitive man- 
 ner, but has increased the number U) 300 acres 
 under cultiv.ation, and owns about 1,5(10 acres alto- 
 gether. He is also an extensive dealer in stock, 
 merchandise and general trading, and is one of the 
 most successful and energetic men in Sharp (bounty. 
 Mr. Walker has secured all of his prosperity by 
 his own efforts since the war. Before that event 
 he had considerable real estate and farms, but lost 
 everything, and after peace had been declared he 
 started in life without a dollar. He served three 
 years in the Confederate army, and was a nien]bt>r 
 of AVood's battalion, on Gen. Price's staff. After 
 two years' service he was discharged ou account of 
 disalnlity, and sis months later re enlisted in Col. 
 Love's regiment as a private, where he remained 
 until the close of the war. Few men served their 
 country better than Mr. \\'alker diil, whilf lighting 
 for the Confederacy. He took part in a great 
 many engagements, and was with Price on his iiiein- 
 orable raids through Missouri. At home he was 
 captured by the enemy and taken prisoner in the 
 
 (T 
 
^ 
 
 a k^ 
 
 758 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 fall of 1863, and was held about two months at Pilot 
 Knob, afterward taking the oath of allegiance. 
 Later ou he was forced into the service again, and 
 surrendered at Jacksonport. In politics, Mr. Wal- 
 ker was a Whig, and cast bis first vote for Scott, 
 in 1852, but since the war he has become a true 
 Democrat. He has been a meiujaer of the A. F. & 
 A. M. (now belonging to Wilson Lodge No. 132, at 
 Hardy), for twenty years, and has in that time 
 helped to organize two lodges, also holding all of 
 the principal offices. He is also a member of the 
 Knights & Ladies of Honor, and the Famous Life 
 Association at Little Rock, having belonged to the 
 latter for five years. Mrs. Walker is also a mem- 
 ber of the same association. Mr. Walker is a gen- 
 tleman of great popularity in this locality, and is 
 also counted as one of its wealthiest men. He is 
 full of energy and life in all enterprises, and Sharp 
 County has in him a citizen of whom she may feel 
 proud. 
 
 David D. Walker, a retired farmer, residing in 
 Hardy Village, was born in Stewart County, Tenn. , 
 November 16, 184:4, but came to Sharp County 
 with his parents, who were among the early set- 
 tlers, iu tlie winter of 1852. His father, John 
 Walker, died in Sharp County, and his mother, 
 Susan (Thomas) Walker, died in the same county 
 in 1874. Of a family of twelve children our sub- 
 ject and ii brother are the only living members, 
 David being the eleventh. He was raised in Sharp 
 County, but his education was very limited, he 
 having had no opportunity of going to school. In 
 1866 David married Miss Permelia Webb, who 
 was born in Tennessee, in 1844, the daughter 
 of Thomas J. and Batharba Webb. Mr. Webb 
 was born in Arkansas and his wife in Tennessee, 
 both having died iu Arkansas. Mr. Walker's fam- 
 ily has consisted of eight children (two of whom 
 are living): Sarah H. (deceased), Susan M. (de- 
 ceased), Mary E. (deceased), Samuel J. (deceased), 
 Lucy Ann, John W. (deceased), Margie E. (de- 
 ceased) and Newton R. Mr. Walker has about 
 300 acres of land in Hardy Township, some 200 
 being under cultivation. In 1864 he enlisted in 
 Capt. Adams' company, in the Confederate army, 
 and served till the close of the war, participating in 
 
 the battles of Martin' s Creek and Dardanelle. He 
 is a member of Wilson Lodge No. 132, A. F. & 
 A. M., at Hardy, and is a Democrat in politics, 
 having cast his first presidential vote for Seymour 
 and Blair. He and his wife are both members of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 
 Joshua Wann, county and circuit court clerk of 
 Sharp County, was born in Jackson County, Ala. , 
 in 1836. His parents were the Hon. Joshua and 
 Lydia (Collins) Wann, born in North Carolina iu 
 1796, and Virginia in 1800, respectively, who emi- 
 grated to Kentucky with their parents, and were 
 there married. They afterward moved to Tennes- 
 see, and from there to Alabama, where young 
 Joshua was born, and then came to what is now 
 Sharp County, Ark., where the father died shortly 
 after their arrival. The mother was a Missionary 
 Baptist, and died in that faith in the year 1879. 
 She was a daughter of Thomas Collins, a native of 
 Virginia and of English descent. The elder Wann 
 commanded a company of soldiers during the re- 
 moval of the Indian tribes from Alabama and 
 Georgia in the earlier days, and later in life whs a 
 representative from Jackson County, Ala., wheu 
 the capital was situated at Tuscaloosa. He held 
 the office of assessor and collector of that county 
 for several years, and was a member of the A. F. & 
 A. M. in good standing. He was in the battle of 
 New Orleans, in the War of 1812, and died in 
 Jackson County, Ala., before young Jo.shua was 
 born. Joshua Wann is the seventh child of four 
 sons and six daughters. One of his uncles, Will- 
 iam Wann, was at one time a member of the Ten- 
 nessee legislature, and died in Lawrence County, 
 Mo. His brother, Landen A. , fought in the Mex- 
 ican War, and died at Tampico during the cam 
 paign. Joshua Wann received his education at 
 the common schools, and early in life, the fathei- 
 being deceased as well as the elder brothers, the 
 support of the family devolved upon him. In 
 1860 he was married to Miss Zilpha J. , daughter 
 of Dr. Burwell and Edith Dawson, of North Caro- 
 lina. Dr. Dawson located in Independence County, 
 Ark., about the year 1857, and wrote for his family 
 to join him there, but upon their arrival they found 
 that death had been before them, and the husband 
 
 5) 
 
'k 
 
 SHARP COUNTY. 
 
 750 
 
 and father had passed away. Mrs. Dawson sur- 
 vived her husband until after the war, and died in 
 Sharp County. Mr. and Mrs. Wann have one 
 daughter, Laura A., wife*of (i. S. Jernigan. The 
 family resided on a farm in Scott Township until 
 18S6, when Mr. Wann was elected to his present 
 office, and then removed to Evening Shade. He 
 was re elected in 1888, and has filled the office in 
 a highly creditable manner. He gave three years' 
 service to the Confederate cause, and held the rank 
 of captain of Company B, Thirty-lifth Arkansas 
 Infantry, for three years, performing heroic work 
 in Texas, Louisiana and Missouri. He was at the 
 battles of Prairie Grove, Little Rock, Saline River, 
 Jenkins' Ferry, and many others, and later on 
 joined Gen. Price's army, and commanded a com- 
 pany of cavalry in Col. M. D. Baber's regiment. 
 He was present in all the raids through Missouri and 
 Kansas, and was actively engaged until the sur- 
 render at Jacksonport, in 1805. In politics, Mr. 
 Wann has been a Democrat all his life; in 1874-75 
 he represented Sharp County in the legislature, 
 and was present during the first session after the 
 adoption of the new constitution. He is a charter 
 member of Reed's Creek Lodge, A. F. & A. M,, 
 and has been master, warden and secretary. He 
 also belongs to the Knights and Ladies of Honor 
 and Eastern Star at Evening Shade. Mrs. Wann 
 has been a member of the Mission.irv Baptist 
 Church since her youth, and is a devout Christian. 
 Mr. W'ann's success has been due entirely to his 
 own shrewdness and ability, and he is one of the 
 most popular and influential citizens of Sharp 
 Coimty. He has an interest in a small farm in 
 Scott Township, and is an enterprising and pro- 
 gressive man. 
 
 Capt. John M. Wasson, a prominent citizen of 
 Sharp County, Ark. , is the oldest of a family of six 
 children, and was born in Lawrence County, Tenu., 
 in 1835. He is a son of William Lee and Jane 
 (Matthews) Wasson, born in 1810 and 1813, re- 
 spectively, in the State of Tennessee, where they 
 resided until 1841 and then moved to Searcy 
 County, Ark. , but soon afterward came to Lawrence 
 County, Ark. The elder Wasson was one of the 
 pioneers of that section, and settled on a large 
 
 farm, which he made one of the most successful in 
 Lawrence County, and in connection with which 
 he ran a blacksmith shop until his death, in LSf57. 
 His father, John Wasson, of Scotch Irish descent, 
 died in Lawrence County, Tenn. Capt. Wasson's 
 grandfather, Thomas Matthews, was a successful 
 farmer during his life, and is also buried in Law- 
 rence County, Tenn. The Captain received a 
 "log cabin" education in his youth, and studied 
 one term in Smithville. Upon reaching his ma- 
 turity he was offered a position in one of the firms 
 at Smithville, and remained with them for several 
 years, afterward going into partnership in the 
 grocery business at Evening Shade with L. S. 
 Bobo, under the firm name of Wasson & Bobo. In 
 the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Company B, of the 
 Twenty-first Arkansas Infantry, and commanded 
 that company as captain until the fall of Vicksburg, 
 where he was captured and paroled and then 
 came home. He was again captured at home in 
 1863 and imprisoned for a short time at St. Louis, 
 and from there taken to Camp Chase, Ohio, and 
 then again transferred to Johnson's Island. Ohio, 
 where he was held until May, ISf)."), and then pa- 
 roled and returned to his home. Altogether he was 
 kept a prisoner for one year and a half, and soon 
 after his release he surrendered in June. 18(»5, at 
 Jacksonport. Capt. Wasson fought well for the 
 cause he undertook, and received many words of 
 praise for his gallant actions during tue war. His 
 operations extended through Arkansas, Alabama 
 and Mississippi, and he took part in the battles at 
 Corinth, Baker's Creek, Black River, siege of Vicks- 
 burg and many others. While at the lirstuamed 
 battle he received a gunshot wound in the right leg 
 and left arm, and in his career through the war had 
 many thrilling escapes from death. In ISfid he 
 was married to Amanda, a dauglifei' of Williniu 
 and Frances French, liorn in Bowling (J reen, K\.. 
 in 1820 and 1824, respectively, who immediately 
 after their marriage moved to Arkansas and settled 
 in Lawrence County, where the father died wiien 
 Mrs. Wasson was a little girl. The mother was 
 afterward married to Col. James H. McCaleb, who 
 died in May, 1885. Mrs. Wasson wa.s born in 
 that portion of Lawrence County which is now 
 

 760 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Sharp County, and is the mother of nine children, 
 of whom seven are living. After the war Capt. 
 Wasson entered into commeroial life at Evening 
 Shade, but finding that farm life was more eon- 
 genial, he carried on that buKiness, and at 
 present has a fine farm, consisting of seventy- 
 tive acres under cultivation, about eight miles north- 
 west of Evening Shade. In 1876 he was elected 
 clerk of Sharp County and served two years, and 
 was again elected in 1880, filling the office with 
 credit. He has been a Democrat in politics all his 
 life, and is a member of the Masonic order at 
 Evening Shade, also belonging to the Knights of 
 Honor at the same place. Mr. and Mrs. Wasson, 
 both, have been members of the Christian Church 
 in good standing for several years. 
 
 Allen Weaver, one of the first settlers of North 
 Township, resides at what is known as Indian 
 Camp Spring, located near Martin's Creek. His 
 great-grandfather, William Weaver's father, was a 
 soldier in the Revolutionary War, and fought by 
 the side of Gen. Washington. The grandfather 
 was also William Weaver. His wife was Kesiah 
 W^eaver, who died in Tennessee at an advanced 
 old age. The father of our siibject, James Weaver, 
 was born in 1812, in North Carolina, but came to 
 Tennessee with his parents when two years old. 
 He was there married to Jane Whitted, in 1836. 
 She was a native of North Carolina, and died Jan- 
 uary 29, 1875, in Sharp County. In 1851 James 
 Weaver came to Polk County, Mo. : in 1852 went 
 to Crawford County; the next year to Oregon, and 
 in 1857 to where our subject now lives, where he 
 died June 18, 1889. On coming to this place he 
 piirchased from the government 240 acres of land, 
 at 12 J cents per acre; there are now eighty acres 
 under fence. The subject of this sketch is the 
 onlv child of James and Jane Weaver, with whom 
 he resided until their deaths. His education was 
 limited, and mostly received at home. September 
 7, 1865, he married Miss Josephine Hollinay, of 
 Knox County, Tenn., born in 1840, a daughter of 
 Zachariah and Eliza Hollinay, her father born in 
 North Carolina, and her mother in Tennessee. Mr. 
 Allan Weaver's family consists of six living chil- 
 dren, two having died: Eliza J. (deceased), born 
 
 September 15, 1866; William A., born September 
 7, 1867; Margaret E., born October 3. 1862 (de 
 ceased); Joseph L., born .4.ugust 15. 1870; Delila 
 D., born March 21, 1873; Joseph N. , born April 
 14, 1876; John W., bom December 12, 1877, and 
 Orlean S. , born November 26. 1881. died Novem- 
 ber 28, 1883. Mr. Weaver enlisted, on the 12th 
 of September, 1863, on the Federal side, in Com- 
 I^any D, Tennessee Regiment of Light Artilleiy, 
 and was discharged July 20, 1865, at Nashville. 
 He was in the battle of Nashville, and numerous 
 skirmishes. September 2, 1878, he was elected 
 justice of the peace for North Township, and re- 
 elected in 1880 for another term, having been an 
 able and efficient officer. In politics he is a Re- 
 publican, but was formerly a Democrat. He owns 
 200 acres of land, having given forty to his sou, 
 William, who was recently married. Winsted post- 
 olfice was established at Mr. Weaver's house July 
 1, 1888, he being appointed postmaster. When 
 he first located here the nearest postoffice was ten 
 miles on Martin's Creek, called Red Bank, and his 
 nearest neighbor two miles away. He and his 
 wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. 
 On this farm are traces of an ancient silver mine, 
 supposed to have been worked by the Spaniards. 
 
 J. M. Williams, proprietor and owner of Even- 
 ing Shade carding factory and saw and corn-mills, 
 was born in Sharp County, in 1858. His parents 
 were John W. and Margaret (^\■orley) Williams, 
 of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, 
 who were married in Tennessee, and came to what 
 is now Sharj) County, about the year 1854. where 
 they resided until the demise of the father, in 
 1871, and his wife, in 1888. Both were members 
 of the Baptist faith for many years. The elder 
 Williams fought in the Confederate army almost 
 from the beginning to the end of the war, and had 
 many a nari'ow escape from both death and the 
 enemy, although on one occasion he was severely 
 wounded, and at another time was captured. He 
 was a son of Joseph Williams, of North Carolina; 
 he was a member of the A. F. & A. M. , Evening 
 Shade Lodge. Michael Worley Deitch, the grand- 
 father of J. M. Williams, died in Tennessee, and 
 was a well known resident of that State. J. M. 
 
 ^' 
 
Williams is the fourth son of three sons and five 
 (lauf^hters. and did not receive much cdncation, 
 owing to limited school facilities. He began 
 farming for himself at the age of twenty years, 
 and continued in that occupation for three vears. 
 He then turned his attention to milling, a business 
 for which he seems to be especially adapted, and 
 has remained at it ever since. In August, 1879, 
 he was married to Sarah, daughter of Lewis 
 Graddy, but lost his wife in 18S4, and by this 
 marriage had two childi-en, one of them, a daugh- 
 ter, still living. In 1886 he was married to Mat- 
 tie, daughter of John W. and Emma Bristow, 
 natives of Boone County, Ark., who moved to 
 Sharp County after the war, where Mrs. Bristow 
 died. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
 Williams, of whom one daughter is still living. 
 Mr. Williams is a member of the A. F. & A. M. 
 (Evening Shade Lodge), and has been junior deacon 
 for two years, and is also a member of the Order 
 of Eastern Star. He is one of the most enterpris- 
 ing and popular citizens of Sharp County, and a 
 man who takes every opportunitj- to make that 
 county one of the most progressive in Arkansas. 
 
 Samuel Yates, farmer, of Union Township, six 
 miles north of Martin's Creek postoffice, was born 
 in East Tennessee, July 24, 1830; son of Nathaniel 
 and Margaret (Davie) Yates, both natives of Ten- 
 nessee, born in 1803 and 1805, respectively, where 
 they each died. Nathaniel Yates was a soldier in 
 the Revolutionary AVai\ Our subject was the 
 fourth of a family of seven children, live of whom 
 are now living. He was raised in Tennessee, 
 receiving his education in the common schools. In 
 1853 he married Miss Jane Davis, born in Ten- 
 nessee in 1829, the daughter of Benjamin and 
 Eleanor Davis, who both died in Tennessee. Mrs. 
 Davis is the mother of eight children, all liv- 
 ing: Eleandora (wife of C. C. Heaves), Mary M. 
 (wife of Robert Wood), Nancy C. (wife of Broad- 
 foot Wells), John, William (in Texas), Thomas 
 A., Benjamin N. and John S. In 1871 Samuel 
 Yates came to Independence County, Ark., re- 
 sided there till 1881, when he removed to Sharp 
 Coiinty, where he now lives. He has 160 acres of 
 land, about fifty of which arc under cultivation. 
 
 He is now serving his third term as justice of the 
 peace of riiioii Township, and gives good satis 
 faction. He is a Democrat in politics. 'S\v» 
 Yates is a member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 Lemuel A. Yeagor, a well known and j)ri)iiiiiient 
 farmer of Piuey Fork Township, was born in 
 White County, Tenn., in 1.S27. He is a son of 
 Solomon and Nancy (Dearing) Yeager, born in 
 East Tennessee and South Carolina, respectively, 
 and married in White County, Tenn., where they 
 resided until the year 1850, and then moved to 
 what is now Sharp County. Ark., the father dying 
 there in December, 188(5, and the mother several 
 years previous, both of them being members of the 
 Baptist faith. The elder Yeager was a farmer, 
 and for twelve years justice of the peace in \\'hite 
 County, Tenn. He was afterward elected county 
 and probate judge of Lawrence County, for two 
 years, and for six years in the same capacity at 
 Sharp County. He was a son of Solomon Yeager. 
 of Virginia, who fought in the Revolution, and 
 whose parents came originally from Germany to 
 this country. Lemuel A. Yeager' s grandfather, 
 John W. Dearing, was a South Carolinian, who 
 lived many years in White Coimty, Tenn., and 
 died in the northern part of Missouri. Lemuel 
 was the second child of two sons and one daughter, 
 and received a good common school edtication in 
 his youth. He was married, in 1840, to Louisa, 
 daughter of John and Elizabeth Hobinsou. of 
 Virginia and North Carolina, respectively, who 
 resided in White County, Tenn., when Mrs. Y^eager 
 was born. Nine children were the results of this 
 marriage, of whom eight are still living. In 1850 
 Mr. Yeager and his family moved to what is now 
 Sharp County, Ark., and, in 18(')1, settled on the 
 farm where he now resides. The land was but 
 very little improved at that period, and covered 
 with timber, but since then he has cleared sixty 
 acres, and put them under cultivation, and owns 
 altogether about 240 acres. In ISOS he was 
 elected sheriff of La\NTence County for four years, 
 but when Sharp County was brought in he refused 
 to move to Lawrence County, and resigned his 
 office after one year's service. In politics, he was 
 formerly a Whig, but is now a Republican. 
 
762 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Iflff'lSt XXI¥. 
 
 -^+-5- 
 
 Lawkence County— Period of Settlement— The Mound Builders— Boundary of the County- 
 Topography— Rivers OR Creeks— Timber, .Soil and Products— Minerals and Other 
 Uesources— Live Stock— Taxables— Population— Railroads— Legal Matters- 
 The Civil War— School Affairs— Church Strength— The County 
 Created — Its Officers, Buildings and Seat of Justice — 
 Political Statistics — 'J'owns and Villages — 
 Personal Notices. 
 
 On the overwork'd soil 
 Of this planet enjoyment is sharpen'd by toil; 
 And one seems, by the pain of ascending the height. 
 To have conquered a claim of that wonderful sight. — Meredith. 
 
 ^I^AWRENCE COUNTY had 
 ,/^v its pioneer settlements along 
 ^i'' the water courses, and the 
 first location that can posi- 
 tfe 'j ti vely be mentioned was that 
 of 1812, though undoubt- 
 edly previous ones were 
 made. Prominent among the first 
 settlers were the McKnights, Taylors, 
 Finleys, Hillhouses, Richardsons, Ja- 
 cob Fortenberry, John Spotts, Sam- 
 uel Raney and the parents of Will- 
 iam J. Hudson,* who settled on Straw- 
 berry River; Col. William Stuart, 
 John Richie, James Kuykendall, Hi- 
 ram Darter, Isaac Morris and the 
 Way lands, on Flat Creek; Ferguson 
 Sloan, Booker Bennett, the Imbodens. Wyatts,the 
 Wellses, John Hardin, James Couch, William B. 
 Marshall, and a Mr. Berry, on Spring River. The 
 latter was shot and killed at his plow by an unknown 
 person soon after coming, and was among the first 
 » The Hudsons settled in 1813. 
 
 men murdered in the country. William B. Marshall 
 was an early politician, and served twenty years in 
 the legislature. Other early pioneers were the 
 Thornburgs, near Smithville, G. W. Jackson, near 
 Running Water, Col. John Miller, and Robert 
 Smith, who sold goods at Davidsonville, when that 
 was the countj' seat. 
 
 There was a French settlement on the east side 
 of Black River, at what is now Clover Bend, headed 
 by Peter Lamew, a Frenchman, and the tract 
 known as the Spanish Grant, on the same river, at 
 Lauratown. was settled by Charles Logan and 
 William Russell, assignees of John Baptiste Janis. 
 to whom the grant was confirmed. Henson Ken- 
 yon settled near this grant. 
 
 John S. Fickliu, the original owner of the site 
 at Powhatan, and also the Houghtons, Watsons, 
 Capts. T. J. Warner, and John A. Lindsey were 
 early residents near Black River. The eastern 
 part of the county was settled later than the west- 
 ern. All but one or two of those mentioned have 
 passed away. The names of many others are well 
 remembered. At first some suffering resulted from 
 
 -7i: 
 
' >r 
 
 LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 763 
 
 the want of bread, a few not bi'inn; able to obtain 
 grain, while those wiio had it were obliged to 
 pound it into meal with the pestle and mortar. 
 As soon as grain could be had and mills were con- 
 structed a new era of prosperity set in, for game 
 and wild honey were abundant and easily obtained, 
 and vegetables were grown without trouble. 
 
 An anecdote is told concerning the appearance 
 of the first steamboat that ascended Black River. 
 Having received notice of its arrival, the early set- 
 tlers — men, women and children — for miles around 
 assembled on Sunday at the site of Powhatan, 
 where it stopped at the landing. It was a great 
 curiosity, for onlj- a few of the pioneers had ever 
 seen such an invention. After viewing it for a 
 time from the banks, many of them boarded it. 
 Presently the engineer let off some steam, which 
 so frightened the "natives'" that all ran, a few 
 jumping into the water and making for the shore, 
 while others, upon reaching land, hid in the brush. 
 The boats now pass daily, but excite no wonder 
 or astonishment. Before the present transporta- 
 tion facilities peltry was shipped to Arkansas Post, 
 on "flats.'' 
 
 Ancient mounds have been discovered on the 
 bottom lands on the Spanish Grant, at Lauratown, 
 on the east side of Black River, and on adjacent 
 lands, and also in the same locality on the west 
 side of the river. Other smaller mounds have been 
 fotmd on the bottom lands of Cooper's Creek, near 
 Smithville. A few of the former have been opened, 
 revealing the presence of pottery, lead, copper 
 images, Indian arrow-heads, etc. The paint on a 
 portion of the pottery is well preserved. 
 
 Lawrence County, situated in Northeast Arkan- 
 sas, is bounded north by Sharp, Randolph and 
 Greene Counties, east by Greene and Craighead, 
 south Ijy Craighead, Jackson and Independence, 
 and west by Sharp County, and contains an area of 
 some 582 square miles, of which only al)Out one- 
 sixth is improved. 
 
 Its boundary lines are as follows: Beginning at 
 the northwest corner of Township 18 north. Range 
 3 west; thence east to the northeast corner; thence 
 south to the middle of Spring River: thence down 
 the middle of Spring River with its meanders to 
 
 Black River; thence up the middle of Black River 
 to its first crossing, from the north, of the line di- 
 viding Townships 17 and 18; thence east on the 
 township line to the middle of Cache River, in 
 Range 3 east; thence down t\w middle of Cache 
 River to the lines dividing Townships 14 and 15 
 north; thence west on the township line to the line 
 dividing Ranges 3 and 4 west; thence north on the 
 range line to the place of beginning. The fifth 
 principal meridian of the public land surveys 
 passes through the county a little east of the center. 
 
 Cache River crosses the line between Townships 
 17 and 18 north, on the northern boundary of Sec- 
 tion 3, Township 17, Range 3 east, and flows thence 
 in a southwesterly direction on the county's eastern 
 boundary to its southeast corner, at or near the 
 southeast corner of Section 33, Township 15 north, 
 Range 2 east. Village Creek enters from the north 
 in Range 2 east, and flows in a southwesterly di- 
 rection, passing out in Range 1 west. Running 
 Water Creek enters the county from the north in 
 Range 1 east, and flows in a southwesterly course 
 through Range 2 west. Black River, a large and 
 beautiful stream — navigable for boats at all sea- 
 sons of the year — miikes its appearance fi-om the 
 north in the eastern [)art of Range 1 west, and pro- 
 ceeds in the same general direction as the streams 
 above named, flowing out in the western part of 
 Range 2 west. Spring River enters from the north, 
 about two miles east of the north we.st corner of tile 
 county, and flows in an eastern and southeastern 
 direction to its confluence with Black River at the 
 center of Section 15, Township 17 north. Range 1 
 west. So far as it flows through Ranges 1 and 2 
 west, it forms the boundary between Lawrence and 
 Randol[)h Counties. Strawberry River enters near 
 the middle of the western boundary line, and flows 
 southeasterly and empties into Black River a short 
 distance below the southern boundary of the county. 
 These streams and their tributaries famish ex- 
 cellent drainage. 
 
 The valley or bottom lands of Black River, ex 
 tending through the county a little west of the 
 center, vary in width from three to seven miles. 
 These lauds are [)artially subject to overflow early 
 in the spring, about once in three years, but the 
 
 t' 
 
J^l 
 
 764 
 
 HISTOET OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 water always subsides in time for the raising of 
 crops. East of this valley the land is compara- 
 tively low and level, with alternate ridges or 
 slight elevations between the streams. Buncom 
 Ridge lies between Black River Valley and Run- 
 ning Water Creek, and extends from the north- 
 ern boundary of the county south to the line be- 
 tween Townships 15 and 16 north. Bramlett's 
 Ridge extends between Running Water and Vil- 
 lage Creeks. The western line of Black River 
 Valley is bordered with a bluil, averaging about 
 fifty feet high. This bluff extends from near the 
 northern boundary close to Spring and Black Riv- 
 ers down to Powhatan, then bears to the west- 
 ward and widens out the valley. The rock forma- 
 tion crops out along it from its northern extent to 
 a point several miles below Powhatan. West of 
 this bhifP are the table lands, becoming higher as 
 they increase in distance from the river. These 
 are traversed with the valleys of the smaller 
 streams. Iron, lead and zinc abound in this sec- 
 tion, and have been mined to a limited extent, but 
 no mining is now being done. Numerous springs 
 abound in that portion of country lying west of 
 Black River Valley, and on the table-lands well 
 water can be obtained at a depth of from forty to 
 eighty feet. East of Black River Valley water is 
 found at a depth of from fifteen to twenty-live 
 feet, and in all parts of the county good cisterns 
 can be constructed with but little expense. 
 
 The timber of the territory east of the St. 
 Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad con- 
 sists principally of post, white and willow oak, 
 with red oak interspersed. On Bramlett's Ridge 
 white and red oak, walnut, and sweet gum are the 
 most numerous. On Buncom Ridge white oak 
 and sweet gum prevail, with some black oak and 
 walnut interspersed. On Black River Valley the 
 principal growth is black and red oak, sweet gum, 
 elm, sycamore, cypress and tupelo. In the west- 
 ern part, on the table-lands, several varieties of 
 oak and black hickory are found, but of much 
 lighter growth than elsewhere in the county. 
 Many kinds of lesser value grow in all parts. Ex- 
 cellent saw and rail timber abounds in abundance. 
 A great variety of soils is peculiar to the coun- 
 
 ty, and nearly all is of good quality. None can 
 be found that does not produce well, with proper 
 cultivation. The soil of the valleys is mostly al- 
 luvial, and on the uplands is composed of vegeta- 
 ble mold, clay and sand, well adapted to the 
 growing of Indian corn, oats, wheat, cotton, the 
 tame grasses, clover, and all kinds of vegetables. 
 Fruits common in this latitude, especially peaches, 
 do well here. But little attention has as yet been 
 devoted to horticulture. A few individuals have 
 turned their attention to growing peaches for the 
 market, with excellent success. 
 
 Lumbering and farming constitute the principal 
 resources of the county at present. The former is 
 a great industry, and the supply of timber is suffi- 
 ciently abundant to last for many years. There 
 are twenty-three saw-mills, about twenty shingle- 
 mills, two spoke factories and three stave factories 
 in full operation, giving evidence of progress and 
 growth and advancing prosperity. Many hands 
 are employed in these mills, and the lumbering 
 business has become extensive. 
 
 In 1880, according to the census, there were 
 1,250 farms within the county, with 46,808 acres 
 of improved lands, fiom which the vegetable pro- 
 ductions for the year 1879 aggregated: Indian 
 corn, 522,720 bushels; oats, 40,851 bushels; 
 wheat, 18,662 bushels; hay, 414 tons; cotton, 
 j 6,480 bales; Irish potatoes, 3,809 bushels; sweet 
 potatoes, 3,145 bushels; tobacco, 4,600 pounds. 
 These figures show that corn and cotton were then, 
 as now, the staple products. There are about 
 twenty five cotton-gins, but only a few gi-ist mills 
 here. Watermelons are extensively raised and 
 shipped to Northern markets. 
 
 The census of 1880 also shows the presence of 
 2,574 horses; 1,008 mules and asses; 9,670 head 
 of neat cattle; 4,336 sheep, and 30,515 hogs. 
 By the assessment rolls of 1888 there were then 
 within the county 2,860 horses; 1,395 mules and 
 I asses; 14,113 head of neat cattle; 4,396 sheep, and 
 
 18,131 hogs. 
 I The real estate asssessment in 1880 was $631, 
 i 079, and of personal property $442,577, making 
 I $1,073,650, as the total assessed value of taxable 
 I property, on which total taxes charged amounted 
 
 ^; 
 
to |2(», 141.00. lu 1888 the roiil estate, iacluding 
 the railroads, was assessed at $1,671,839, and the 
 personal property at $948,628, a total of $2,620, - 
 467, and the total amount of taxes charged was 
 $41,478.62. These figures show that since 1880, 
 the taxable property has considerably more than 
 doubled, while the taxes have but little more than 
 doubled. The county has good public buildings, 
 is entirely out of debt, and its scrip is worth a 
 hundred cents on the dollar. The railroads, which 
 now constitute a considerable portion of its taxa- 
 ble wealth, were assessed in 1888 as follows: 
 St. Loais, Iron Mountain & Southern. .1278.140.00 
 Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis 252,763.00 
 
 Total 530,903.00 
 
 The county's rapid growth as shown by these 
 statistics, its vast resources, the great facilities for 
 the development of agriculture, horticulture, and 
 especially stock raising, where stock lives through 
 the year on the grasses and mast of the forest 
 without shelter; and where the climate is mild and 
 not subject to the extremes of heat and cold; where 
 churches and schools abound; and the shipping 
 facilities, both by rail and water, are excellent, and 
 the people are kind, moral and sociable, ought to 
 be sufficient inducements to turn the tide of emi- 
 gration to this country, instead of toward the cold 
 region of the West and Northwest — to Oklahoma 
 or elsewhere. Here the industrious cannot fail to 
 prosper. 
 
 The population of Lawrence County iu 1870, 
 after it was reduced to its present limits, was 5, 735 
 white and 246 colored, a total of 7,981. In 1880 
 it was 8,815 white and 467 colored, a total of 
 8,782. There is no manner of truly ascertaining 
 the exact present population, but the census takers 
 of 1890 will certainly find a wonderful increase 
 over that of 1880. 
 
 The St. Louis. Iron Mountain & Southern Rail- 
 road enters the county from the north, in the east- 
 ern part of Range 2 east, and runs in a south- 
 westerly direction, by way of Walnut Ridge, Hoxie 
 and Minturn, passing out near the middle of Range 
 1 west. Its length, within 'these boundaries, is 
 twenty three miles. The Kansas City, Fort Scott 
 & Memphis Railroad enters about four miles east 
 
 of the northwest corner, and runs in a southeast- 
 erly direction, by way of Ravenden, Imboden, 
 Black Rock, Portia, Hoxie and Sedgwick. Its 
 length, within the county, is thirty-one miles, mak 
 ing a total of fifty-four miles of railroad through 
 this immediate section. 
 
 The first term of the circuit court was held, as 
 provided in the act creating the county, at the 
 bouse of Solomon Hewit, on Spring River, and the 
 next session convened " at the new house of Rich- 
 ard Murphy, Esq., in Spring River Township." 
 After that it was held at Davidsonville, the place 
 selected for the seat of justice. This court, aside 
 from the juri.sdiction usually held by circuit courts, 
 exercised jurisdiction over all county and probate 
 business until 1829, when the county court was 
 organized. The terms of the circuit court now 
 convene at Powhatan in March and August, and 
 at W^alnut Ridge in March and September of each 
 year. 
 
 The county court was created tmder the Terri- 
 torial laws, in 1829, its first session having been 
 held in April, 1830. It then consisted of a judge 
 and .several justices of the peace as associates, and 
 remained thus composed until after 1836, when 
 the State was admitted into the Union. It then 
 comprised a judge and two associates, until 1873, 
 when a board of commissioners constituted the 
 court. During all of this period, after 1836, the 
 county court judge, presiding alone, held the pro- 
 bate court. Since the adoption of the constitution 
 of 1874, the county court has consisted of a single 
 judge, and he, by virtue of his office, is judge of 
 the probate court. The terms of the former are 
 held at Powhatan for the entire county, beginning 
 on the first Monday of January, April, July and 
 October, of each year, and of the probate court for 
 the Western district at Powhatan on the second 
 Mondays of the same months, and for the Easti-rn 
 district, at Walnut Ridge, on the third Moudiiys 
 of the same months. 
 
 The resident attorneys constituting the legal 
 bar of Lawrence County, are M. D. Ruber, R. P 
 Mack, Charles C. Rogers, John K. Gibson. Z. M. 
 Cypert and Charles Coffin. The latter two live at 
 Walnut Ridge, and the others at Powhatan. 
 
766 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 There have been a few legal and some illegal 
 executions of criminals within the territory. Dur- 
 ing the early days of its existence, as originally 
 constituted, when courts and officers were few, the 
 old settlers often took the administration of justice 
 into their own hands, and for murder, raj^e, arson 
 and horse stealing, usually selected certain ones to 
 run down the perpetrators, who, when caught, 
 were brought back and hung without the use of a 
 court or jury. For lesser crimes offenders were 
 tied, stripped and flogged. Hanging and flogging 
 thus constituted the only modes of punishment in- 
 flicted by Judge Lynch and his associates. This 
 manner of acknowledging crime ceased generally 
 when the Territory was divided into several counties, 
 and courts and oflScers became more numerous. 
 However, only a few years ago, a mob composed 
 of iudividuals outside of the county, forcibly took 
 from the jail at Powhatan, a negro, incarcerated 
 therein on a charge of committing rape, and hanged 
 him. For capital crimes men have been legally 
 tried and sent to the penitentiary for long terms, 
 and a few, some half dozen, have been executed. 
 Two of the latter, however, were tried in this 
 county, on change of venue, from other counties. 
 Society is now well regulated, and property and 
 persons are preserved in safety. 
 
 The people of Lawrence County were originally 
 opposed to a separation of the States of the Fed- 
 eral Union, but when actual war came they were 
 found to be, with very few exceptions, in full sym- 
 pathy with the Southern cause. A few of the ' ' old- 
 line Whigs"' adhered to their Union sentiments 
 throughout the struggle, and were saved by the 
 efforts of their Southern, sympathizing neighbors 
 from punishment at the hands of Confederate sol- 
 diers. On the other hand, many adherents of the 
 South were saved by Union citizens from punish- 
 ment by Federal soldiers. Though opposed in sen- 
 timent there was no quarrel or fighting among 
 themselves. In 1860 this county, including all of 
 what is now Sharp, and about tweuty-tive square 
 miles afterward set off to Randolph, had a pop- 
 ulation of 10,000. Out of this number of peo- 
 ple not less than seventeen companies of soldiers 
 were recruited and organized for and served in 
 
 the Confederate army. After the Federal army 
 obtained possession of the country, and toward the 
 close of the war, a few individuals left here and 
 joined it. The tir.st company organized in the 
 county was that of Capt. Z. P. McAlexander, re- 
 cruited in the spring of 1861. Among the captains 
 and first commanders of other companies were the 
 following named: Robert Jones, T. J. Warner, 
 Dr. Andrew Balfour, William C. Sloan, W. G. 
 Matheny, James H. Herndon, Dr. John R. Wells, 
 Wiley Jones, James C. Holmes, Mr. Wann, James 
 M. Phelps, Charles A. Stewart and John A. Lind- 
 say, besides others. 
 
 While the Federal army under Gen. Curtis had 
 possession of this part of Arkansas, in the summer 
 of 1862, a post was maintained about three months 
 at Smithville. Meanwhile Confederate forces 
 scoured the country, keejiing watch and reporting 
 the movements of their enemies. Two slight skir- 
 mishes, in which a few were killed and wounded, 
 took place between the opposing forces within the 
 county, one about four miles west of Smithville, 
 and the other a mile and a half north of Powhat- 
 an. No property was burned by either army, but 
 both passed and re-passed, and camped here so 
 constantly during the war period, that provisions 
 were all consumed, and citizens left in a destitute 
 and suffering condition. 
 
 As was the case with nearly if not all the coun- 
 ties mentioned in this work, the educational facilities 
 of Lawrence County were very meager prior to the 
 inauguration of the free school system. Statistics 
 at hand show that, in 1881, the scholastic popula- 
 tion consisted of 2.935 white, and 168 colored 
 children, and that of these only 1,450, less than 
 one-half, were taught in the public schools. There 
 were then twenty- one male and five female teachers 
 employed, and the amount expended for the sup- 
 jiort of the schools for the year ending June 30, 
 1881, was $5,573.90. The report of the State 
 siiperintendent of public instruction for the year 
 ending June 30, 1888, shows that the scholastic 
 population consisted of 3,950 white, and 303 col- 
 ored children, and that of these 2,353 white, and 
 198 colored, much more than one-half, were taught 
 in the public schools; that there were forty-four 
 
 ^7 
 
 -^p 
 
LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 7(57 
 
 male and eight female teachers employed, and that 
 the amount expended for the support of the schools 
 during the year was 115,319. Sfi. The same report 
 shows that the average monthlj' salaries which were 
 paid teachers were as follows : First grade — males, 
 $42.20; females, $35.50. Second grade— males, 
 $33.83; females, $30.18. Third grade-males, 
 $32.54; females, none. A much better class of 
 teachers than formerly are now being employed. 
 The free school system has to a great extent out- 
 grown the prejudice formerly existing against it, 
 and it is now becoming popular, and is better and 
 better sustained as the years go by. At this writ- 
 ing there are fifty-two school districts, and fifty- 
 five white and three colored schools within the 
 county. 
 
 The Methodists and Baptists organized the pio- 
 neer Christian societies of the county, followed at 
 a later date by other denominations. 
 
 The Methodist E])iscopal Church, South, is now 
 the strongest here, and its various organizations be- 
 long to the Newport district of White River confer- 
 ence, of which Rev. F. E. Taylor is presiding elder. 
 Powhatan and Walnut Ridge constitute a station, 
 with a membership of about 100, and of which 
 Rev. G. W. Smith is the present pastor. Portia 
 circuit has about eight appointments or preaching 
 places, and a membership of nearly 135, with Rev. 
 •J. H. Anderson as pastor, ^^'aluut Ridge circuit 
 has several appointments in the eastern part of the 
 county, and a membership of about 300. Smith - 
 ville circuit has six appointments, and a member- 
 ship of 496, with Rev. W. T. Ready as pa.stor. 
 Hoxie mission includes Hoxie, Black Rock and 
 other points, with a large, scattering membership, 
 and with Rev, S. D. Evans as pastor. 
 
 Of the Missionary Baptist Church there are the 
 following church organizations: Pleasant Hill, on 
 Strawberry River; Bethany, on Ridge Creek; New 
 Hope, seven miles west of Powhatan; Clear Spring, 
 on Stinnett's Creek; Pleasant Grove, in the Flat 
 Woods near Spring River; Cross Roads, near Por- 
 tia: Stranger's Home and two or three others. 
 Some of them have a small and others a very large 
 membershi]). 
 
 Of the Free Will Baptist Church, three organ- 
 
 izations are within the county — Mt. Zion ami Har 
 mony, on Caney Creek, and Jerusalem, on Ridge 
 Creek, with an average membership of alwut fifty 
 each. Elders G. W. Hassell and C. L. Sneed are 
 pastors. 
 
 Lebanon Church, seven miles southwest of 
 Powhatan, the oldest society of the Presbyterian 
 Church here, was organized in 1852, by Rev. Sam- 
 uel J. Baird. It has a very small membership. 
 Powhatan was first organized in the year 1807. and 
 in 1875 it was re-organized by Rev. Thomas U. 
 Welch, of Little Rock. It has a membership of 
 fourteen. Walnut Ridge Presbyterian Church was 
 organized in 1870 or 1877, also by Rev. Welch. 
 The present pastor is Rev. Isaac J. Long, of Bates- 
 ville, president of Arkansas College, who preaches 
 there twice a month. Black Rock Presltyterian 
 Church was organized in December, 1888, by Rev. 
 R. B. Willis, evangelist of Arkansas Presbytery, 
 with seventeen original members. Rev. W. S. 
 Baker, a licentiate, during his vacation from the 
 '< Theological Seminary, is preaching at Powhatan, 
 Black Rock and Lel)anon. 
 
 Of the Christian denomination three organiza- 
 tions are worthy of mention: New Prospect, on 
 Steep Bank Creek, one at Opposition, and one 
 at Portia. Nearly all the church organizations 
 throughout this vicinity maintain Sunday-schools, 
 having also regular preaching, and do good work 
 in the moral vineyard. The settled portions of 
 the county are well supplied with churches and 
 schools. 
 
 The county of Lawrence was organized in ac 
 cordauce with an act of the legislature of the Ter- 
 ritory of Missouri, approved January 15. 1815, by 
 Gov. William Clark. It was named in honor of 
 Capt. Lawrence, who distinguished him.self in the 
 United States navy during the War of 1812-15. 
 [ At this time the whole of what is now .Vrkansas was 
 I a part of the Missouri Territory, and this county 
 was carved out of the original subdivision known 
 as New Madrid, and was de.soribed as follows: 
 " Beginning at the mouth of Little Red River, on 
 the line dividing said county [New Madrid] from 
 the County of .Vrkansas; thence with said line to 
 the River St. Francis; thence up the River St. 
 
A J 
 
 768 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Francis to the division liue between the counties of 
 Cape Girardeau and New Madrid; thence with 
 said last-mentioned line to the western boundary 
 line of the Osage purchase; thence with the last- 
 mentioned line to the northern boundary of the 
 county of Arkansas; thence with the last-mentioned 
 line to the place of beginning," By a careful 
 study of the above it will be seen that Lawrence 
 county originally comprised a large portion of 
 Southeast Missouri and of Northeast Arkansas — 
 enough territory to make a State. Since then, 
 from time to time, other counties have been formed 
 out of this, until it has been cut down to its pres- 
 ent limits. By an act of the legislature, approved 
 March 26, 1887, two judicial districts were formed, 
 — the Eastern and the Western — with Black River 
 as the dividing line between them; and Walnut 
 Ridge was made the seat of justice for the Eastern 
 district. 
 
 The act creating the county provided that the 
 first county court and circuit court to be holden for 
 said county should be held at the house of Solo- 
 mon Hewit, on Spring River. Later, at the Oc- 
 tober term, 1815, Louis De Munn, William Robin- 
 son, William Hix, Sr., Morris Moore, Solomon 
 Hewit, Andrew Criswell and Isaac Kelley, commis- 
 sioners appointed to select the permanent seat of 
 justice for the county, or a majority of them, re- 
 ported to the county court that they had fixed the 
 permanent seat of justice on Big Black River, near 
 the mouth of Spring River, and purchased the 
 town site fi'om their several owners, for the sum of 
 $255. Soon after a town was laid out on the site 
 selected, and named Davidsonville. At this place 
 the county seat remained until 1829, when it was 
 removed to Jackson in what is now Randolph 
 County. No vestige of Davidsonville at this 
 time can be found. May 22, 1837, David Orr, 
 Alexander Smith and William Thompson, commis- 
 sioners previously appointed to select a new site 
 for the seat of justice, reported that they had lo- 
 cated the county seat on fifty acres of land in Sec- 
 tion 33, Township 17 north, Range 8 west, donated, 
 by James H. Benson tor the purpose. To this 
 place, where a town was laid out and named Smith- 
 ville, the county seat was immediately removed. 
 
 and remained there until 1868, when, in accord- 
 ance with the act of the legislature creating Sharp 
 County, it was removed to Clover Bend, on Black 
 River, six miles south of Powhatan. Afterward 
 the question of removing the seat of justice to the 
 town of Powhatan, was submitted to the voters of 
 the county, at an election held November 15, 1869, 
 on which occasion 207 votes were cast in favor of 
 the removal, and only six against it. In accord- 
 ance with this decision of the people, the records 
 were taken to Powhatan, which became the final 
 and permanent seat of justice. 
 
 At all the former county seats, excepting Clover 
 Bend, but ordinary public buildings were used. 
 In 1873 the first court-house at Powhatan, a large 
 two-story brick structure, with offices below and 
 court-room above, was completed by Thornton & 
 Jones, of Little Rock, at a cost of between $16,- 
 000 and $17,000. It was destroyed by fire in the 
 month of March, 1885, supposed to have been the 
 work of an incendiary. The records, however, 
 which were in a vault that had been attached to 
 the building after its original construction, were 
 saved in good condition. The present court-house 
 was constructed in 1888, by the contractors. Boon 
 & McGinnis, at a cost, including the pay of the 
 commissioner, J. P. Coffin, and the removal of the 
 debris of the old building, of about $12,000. It 
 stands on the site of the former building, and is a 
 handsome modern two-story brick structure, on a 
 ! rock foundation, with fine offices and fire-proof 
 vaults below and the court and other rooms above. 
 The jail, near the court-house, is a substantial stone 
 house, containing iron cells. When the county 
 was divided into judicial districts, a two-story 
 frame court-house, with the clerk's office and two 
 jury rooms on the first floor and the court-room on 
 the second, was erected at Walnut Ridge, at the 
 expense of the citizens of that district. The coun- 
 ty offices authorized to be held there are managed 
 by deputies. 
 
 The following is a list of the county officers of 
 Lawrence County as compiled from the report of 
 the secretary of State, showing also the time served 
 by each. 
 
 Judges: James Campbell, 1829-32; T. S. 
 
Drew, 1832-33; Joha Hardin, 1833-40; J. G. 
 Floyd, 1840-44; J. Ficklin, 1844-46; A. H. 
 Nunn, 1846-50; Johu Milligiin, 1850-52; G. Mc- 
 Gehey, 1852-56; W. G. Smith, 1856-58; George 
 McGehey, 1858-60; G. S. Wainright, 1860-62; G. 
 McGehey, 1862-64; Solomou Yeager, 1864-66; G. 
 McGehey, 1866-68; Josiah Dent, 1868-72; com- 
 missioners, 1872-74; J. N. Hillhouse, 1874-76; ■ 
 David Wagster, 1876-78; Alex. Jackson, 1878-84; 
 W. A. Townsend, 1884-86; David G. Smith, 
 1886-88; W. A. Towusend, present incumbent, 
 elected in 1888. 
 
 Glerks: Lewis DeMunn, 1815-19; R. Searcy, 
 1819-21; H. Sanford, 1821-25; R. Richardson, 
 1825-27; H. R. Hynson, 1827-29; D. W. Lowe, 
 1829-38; J. S. Brown, 1838-42; J. B. Wilmeth, 
 1842-46; A. Hammond, 1846-48; L. B. Toney, 
 1848-50; N. G. Steadman, 1850-53; J. N. Hill- 
 house, 1853-58; Z. P. McAlexander, 1858-60; 
 
 A. Lowe, 1860-64; H. W. Harlow, 1864-66; A. j 
 Lowe, 1866-68; J. H. Snj^der, 1868-72; William 
 McBride, 1872-73; J. P. Goffin, 1873-88; Glay 
 Sloan, present incumbent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Sheriffs: Joseph Hardin, 1819-25; J. M. Kuy- 
 keudall, 1825-36. T. McGarroU, 1836-44; L. 
 Toney, 1844-40; L. B. Poer, 1846-50; G. C. , 
 Straughan, 1850-54: W. J. Hudson, 1854-56; T. 
 G. Steadman, 1856-60; J. D. Wyatt, 1860-62; 
 
 B. F. Matthews, 1862-66: J. H. W. Gampbell, 
 1866-68; J. B. Judkins, 1868-72; AV. G. Was- 
 son, 1872-78; W. A. Townsend, 1878-80; John 
 Darter, 1880-86; C. A. Stuart, present incumbent, i 
 first elected in 1886. 
 
 Treasurers: G. T. Stewart, 1836-40; J. B, 
 Wilmeth, 1840-42; Henry King, 1842-44; F. B 
 Wilmeth, 1844-46; G. G. Straughan, 1846-50 
 Edward Holt, 1850-56; James McGarroll, 1850-62 
 L. W. Robertson, 1862-64; E. Taylor, 1864-66 
 Edward Holt, 1866-68; Samuel Sharp, 1868-72 
 J. N. Gampbell, 1872-78; W. Ghilders, 1878-82 
 M. D. Hudson, 1882-88; J. N. Gampbell, present 
 incumbent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Surveyors: John Rodney, 1827-30; J. M. 
 Cooper, 1830-35; N. W. Grawford, 1835-36; T. 
 Johnson, 1836-38; John Kidd, 1838-40; L. B. 
 Lang. 1840-42; G. Durham, 1842-46; T. John- 
 
 son. 1846-52; J. T. Perkins. 1852-54; T. John 
 son, 1854-56; Alfred Gay, 1856-60; J. Pattun, 
 1860-62; T. Johnson, 1802-64; Alfred Gay, 
 1864-66; T. B. Goforth, 1866-68; H. L. Roberts, 
 1868-71; J. P. Goffin, 1871-72; G. Matthews, 
 1872-74; I. T. Morris, 1874-76; Johu Darter, 
 1876-80; W. Brannon, 1880-86; M. H. Ageo, 
 1886-88; William Matthews, present incumbent, 
 elected in 1888. 
 
 Assessors: G. W. Wright. 1862-64; B. F. 
 Matthews, 1864-66; Alfred Gay, 1866-68; J. W. 
 Houghton, 1868-70; S. G. Sharp, 1870-72; J. 
 B. Judkins, 1872-74; G. G. Dent, 1874, to Feb- 
 ruary, 1876; M. D. Hudson, from February, 1876; 
 W. A. Townsend, 1876-78; E. A. Vinson, 1878- 
 80; T. J. Moore, 1880-82; James H. Doyle, 
 1886-88. J. H. Moseley, 1882-84; Samuel A. 
 Harris, 1884-86; J. N. Ghilders, present incum- 
 bent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Representatives in constitutional conventions: 
 1836, Robert Smith, Thomas S. Drew. David W. 
 Lowe and Henry Slavens; 1861, M. D. Baber and 
 S. Robinson; 1864, none; 1868. Bouldin Duvall; 
 1874, Philip K. Lester. 
 
 The political aspect of the county can be 
 readily be ascertained by reference to the number 
 of votes cast at the November election in 1888, for 
 the candidates for the presidency and for congress- 
 men. For president: Cleveland (Dem.), 1,416; Har- 
 rison (Rep. ), 427; Streoter (U. L. ). 1 54 ; Fisk (Pro. ). 
 10. For Congress: W. H. Gate {Dem.), 1,292; L. 
 P. Featherstone (combined opposition), 690. At 
 the State election held in Se]>teml)er, 1888, James 
 P. Eagle, Democratic candidate for governor, re- 
 ceived 1,503 votes, andC. M. Norwood, opposition 
 candidate for the same office, received 762 vdtes. 
 
 Alicia, a town on the Iron Mountain Railroad, 
 near the southern boundary of the county, con- 
 tains three general stores, a sawmill, cotton-gin, 
 church, school house and a number of dwclliiii.' 
 houses. 
 
 Black Rook, on the western side of liluck 
 River, where the Kansas City. Fort Scott A; Mem- 
 phis Railroad crosses the same, comi)rises five gen- 
 eral, eight grocery, two drug, one liardware nud 
 one millinery stores: live hutels. .several lioardiiig 
 
770 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 houses, two meat markets, one wholesale flour store, 
 a bakery and restaurant, ten saw-mills (seven of 
 which have shingle mills attached), one separate 
 shingle mill, one planing mill, one lumber drying 
 kiln, one heating factory, one lath mill, a wagon 
 felloe factory, one undertaker's store, several 
 mechanics' shops, a stone quarry, a weekly news- 
 paper, a school -house, two churches (Methodist and 
 Presbyterian), and a population of about 1,000. 
 It is also the headquarters for three steamboats, the 
 "George W. Decker," the "Hope" and the "St. 
 Augustine." The latter makes daily round trips 
 between Black Rock and Pocahontas. The Bowlder 
 Publishing Company, of Black Rock, publish a 
 stanch Republican paper of seven columns, issued 
 weekly, which was first organized August 24, 1888, 
 and edited by J. G. Cash, as a Democratic paper. 
 It was purchased by the above company February 
 2, 1889, and is the only paper published in Black 
 Rock. It is a fearless critic on every course of 
 human events, and each issue is replete with in- 
 teresting matter. George Dent is editor. 
 
 Black River and its tributaries above Black 
 Rock, aggregate a thousand miles of waterways, 
 through a well timbered country, uncrossed by a 
 railroad. The outlet for the timber of this vast 
 section is through Black Rock, by way of Black 
 River and the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis 
 Railroad. The town was incorporated October 7, 
 1884. It has all been built since the completion 
 of this railroad. 
 
 Clover Bend, a 2,000-acre plantation on Black 
 River, eight miles below Black Rock, with 1,300 
 acres in cotton at this writing, has a supply store, 
 saw and grist-mill, cotton-gin, church, school- 
 house and a few dwellings. 
 
 Dosy is a postoffice four miles southeast of 
 Clover Bend. 
 
 Egypt, a postoffice, is six miles southeast of 
 Minturn. 
 
 Hoxie, at the crossing of the St. Louis, Iron 
 Mountain & Southern, with the Kansas City, Fort 
 Scott & Memphis Railroads, contains a general 
 store, several groceries and restaurants, four hotels, 
 a church and a school house and some dwellings. 
 
 Imboden. on the Kansas City, Fort Scott & 
 
 Memphis Railroads, eight miles northwest of Black 
 Rock, includes three general stores, two groceries, 
 two saloons, a hotel, livery stable, school-house, 
 church, and dwellings. 
 
 Lindsay is a postoffice on the railroad, four miles 
 southwest of Hoxie. 
 
 Minturn is also on the railroad, six miles south- 
 west of Hoxie; two general stores, a hotel, cotton- 
 gin, church, school-house, etc., are here. 
 
 Opposition is a postoffice in the northwest part 
 of the county. 
 
 Parsonville, five miles east of Minturn, is but a 
 postoffice. 
 
 Portia, a railroad village, two miles southeast 
 of Black Rock, supports three general stores, two 
 groceries, a drug store, two saw-mills, a church, 
 school-house and dwellings. 
 
 Powhatan, the county seat, on the western 
 bank of Black River, two miles below Black Rock, 
 proves a profitable center for four general stores, 
 one grocery, one drug store, a spoke factory, 
 blacksmith and wagon shop, two hotels, two 
 churches — Methodist and Presbyterian — a school - 
 house, livery stable, the county buildings, a ferry 
 across the river, and about 250 inhabitants. It is 
 a very old town, the site of which was settled by 
 John Ficklin, and its location is a most pleasant 
 one. 
 
 Ravenden, on the Kansas City, Fort Scott & 
 Memphis Railroad, five miles northwest of Imbo- 
 den, contains three general stores, a hotel, church, 
 school -house, etc. 
 
 Sedgwick, on the same railroad, at the eastern 
 boundary of the county, consists of a saw mill, 
 store, grocery, school-house and a few dwellings. 
 
 Smithville, for many years the county seat, sit- 
 uated ten miles west of Powhatan, has four gen- 
 eral stores, a drug store, hotel, livery stable, and 
 about 350 inhabitants. 
 
 Stranger's Home, a store and postoffice, is seven 
 miles southeast of Clover Bend. 
 
 Strawberry is a village of log houses on Straw- 
 berry River, containing two general stores, a school- 
 house, church, etc. 
 ! Taylor includes only a store and postoffice on 
 Strawberry River. 
 
 7^ 
 
LAWKENCE COUNTY. 
 
 '1^ , 
 
 Walnut Ridge, ou the Iron Mouutaiu Eaih-oad, 
 one and a half miles north of Hoxie, the seat of 
 justice for the Eastern district, contains seven gen- 
 eral stores, four groceries, a bakery, meat market, 
 three hotels, two livery stables, a cotton-gin and 
 grist-mill, two churches, a school- house, the court- 
 house, a weekly newspaper, and its complement of 
 dwelling houses. In size it is the second town in 
 the county. The Telephone, now nearing the 
 completion of its third volume, is a neat and well- 
 edited Democratic newspaper, published there by 
 its proprietor, George Thornburg. It ably sup- 
 ports the interests of the community. 
 
 All of these places are supplied with a post- 
 office, and those located on the railroads have 
 depots. A proportionate number of physicians 
 are found, besides notaries public, insurance and 
 other agents, 
 
 Bonita Springs is a noted summer resort, one 
 mile west of Black Rock, where there are mineral 
 springs and a hotel. Lodges of Masons, Odd 
 Fellows, Knights of Labor, Wheelers and other 
 orders, exists at various places throughout the 
 coimtv. 
 
 Jacob S. Allison, a farmer and stock raiser 
 whom Lawrence County can feel proud to claim as 
 a citizen, was born in Burke County, N.C., Novem- 
 ber 12, 1837. He is a son of Bird and Elizabeth 
 (Davis) Allison, of the same State. The elder 
 Allison was a farmer in North Carolina, until the 
 year 1 859, when he moved to Cocke County, Tenn. , 
 and from there to Alabama, where he now resides 
 with his wife, very near the age of one hundred 
 years. Jacob remained with his parents in North 
 Carolina, until he gi'ew to manhood, and then started 
 in life on his own account. In 1861 he enlisted in 
 the Twenty second North Carolina Infantry, and 
 served in that company until the close of the war. 
 He took i)art in the liattles around Richmond, at 
 Manassas, Chancellorsville, the seven days' l)attle, 
 in the Wilderness, the fights and siege at Peters- 
 burg, Cedar Creek, and others, besides twenty or 
 more skirmishes. He was wounded twice, through 
 the .shoulder, at Shepherdstown, by v^'" l"i11«. and 
 
 had one finger shot off. His service for the cause 
 was brilliant, and there are few that are superior. 
 After receiving his discliarge he returned to the 
 State of Tennessee, where he remained up to 1871, 
 when he moved to Arkansas and located at Clover 
 Bend. He first bought some land near Stranger' s 
 Home, and has since then added to it on different 
 occasions, until now he owns about 1,400 acres of 
 rich bottom land, with about 200 acres under cul- 
 tivation. He has ten houses altogether on his 
 land, eight of them being on the home farm. 
 When Mr. Allison first came to Lawrence County, 
 all he possessed was $90 cash, and two beds, and 
 was in debt to the extent of SI 00, which he has 
 since paid. He now owns a fine farm, and is con- 
 sidered to be one of the most substantial men in 
 Lawrence County. He was married, in 1809,' to 
 Miss Sallie Store}', of Tennessee, a daughter of 
 William Storey, and has had seven children by his 
 marriage: William, Clara, Rose, Pearl, Lizzie, 
 Robert Lee and Zola. Mr. Allison is a Master 
 Mason, and he and Mrs. Allison are both members 
 of the Eastern Star Chapter. 
 
 Sidney W. Andrews, of Sexton & Andrews, 
 druggists, was born in Jefferson County, 111., Jan- 
 uary 12, 1855, and is a son of Seymour Andrews 
 and Martha C. (Hendricksou) Andrews, now resid- 
 ing in Centralia, 111. The parents had ten chil- 
 dren born to them, five of whom are still living. 
 S. \V. Andrews being the only one in Arkansa.s, 
 however. Mr. Andrews was reared in Centralia, 
 and received a common school education. In the 
 year 1871 he learned telegraphy, in Centralia. 111., 
 and accepted a situation as telegraph operator at 
 Georgetown, 111. Soon thereafter he emigrated to 
 Arkansas, and in 1S74 entered the emi>l(>y of the 
 St. Louis, Iron Mountain &; Southern Railway 
 Company as agent and operator at Bradford, re 
 maining in their service at Bradford and Walnut 
 Ridge until January, INH7, when Le formed a 
 partnership with Joseph K. Sexton in the drug 
 traile, and has had fair success. He is a Mason, 
 and a member of the Knights and Ladies of Honor, 
 also of the Methodist Epi.scopal Church, South, 
 and is treasurer of the town. He was united in 
 we.llock to Mrs. Belle E. (Haney) Matthews. May 
 
A 
 
 772 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 3, 1883, and has had two children: Sidney Mills, 
 born March 7, 1884, died with whoojjing cough 
 August 16, 1884; Alonzo Bertrand, born October 
 29, 1885, died with membraneous croup August '24, 
 1889. His wife is also a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South. 
 
 Joseph Bagley (deceased) was born in Bed- 
 ford, Penn. , February 2'S, 1802, and is the son of 
 Samuel Bagley, a native of Scotland (who came to 
 the State of Pennsylvania at a very early day), and 
 Martha (Bentle) Bagley. He was reared in the 
 neighborhood of Bedford, or Bedford Springs, 
 Penn., and in his younger days drove a hack, and 
 did considerable freighting between Philadelphia 
 and the above named places. When between the 
 age of twenty one and twenty-two he enlisted in 
 the United States regular army for five years, and, 
 on one occasion, was sent with his company up the 
 Missouri River, as far as the mouth of the Yellow- 
 stone. After his five years' service was up he 
 was discharged from the army, at Jefferson Bar- 
 racks, and came to Illinois, where he resided one 
 year. From there he traveled down the Missis- 
 sippi to Jacksonport, Ark. , about the year 1829 or 
 1830, and was there married to Miss Annie Gibson, 
 of Lawrence County, daughter of Jacob Gibson. 
 Within a short time after his marriage he moved 
 to this section, and commenced farming, until his 
 death, April 0, 1872, at the age of seventy years. 
 His grave is on Col. Ponder" s farm, at Old Walnut 
 Ridge. He was among the early settlers of this 
 section, and lived, until his death, about live miles 
 northwest of Walnut Ridge. He and wife were 
 the parents of nine children, only two of whom are 
 yet living, Lavira, the wife of Thomas C. Hennes- 
 see, and Isam J., both residents of Campbell 
 Township. Isam J. was reared on the homestead 
 farm, and was born December 18, 1847. He led 
 a placid life on the farm, with nothing eventful oc- 
 cuj'ring to disturb the serenity of his existence un- 
 til March, 1864, when he enlisted in Company F, 
 Thirteenth Missouri Cavalry, and was a gallant 
 soldier through the remainder of the war. He was 
 married to Miss Elizabeth Sailing, of Crawford 
 County, Ark., and out of nine children has five 
 still living: Estella, Charles, John, Alfred and 
 
 Edward. Mr. Bagley fir.st rented his land for 
 three or four years, near Walnut Ridge, and then 
 bought 120 acres north of tliat town. Since then 
 he has added to it, and now owns 460 acres. He 
 also operates a cotton-gin upon the farm, and deals 
 very largely in stock. He is a member of the Ma- 
 sonic fi'aternity, and in politics a Democrat, hold- 
 ing the office of justice of the peace for one term. 
 William W. Baley, farmer and cotton ginner, 
 was born in McNairy County, Tenn., in the year 
 1835. His parents were Benjamin and Nancy 
 (Holman) Baley, of North Carolina, who had set- 
 tled in Tennessee with their parents when children. 
 Later in life they married and moved to Hender- 
 son County, remaining there until the war eom- 
 ! menced, when they transferred their home to Bal- 
 I lard County, Ky., where the father died in 1867, at 
 the age of seventy-four years. After his death the 
 mother came to Arkansas with one of her sons and 
 a daughter, and settled in Searcy County, where 
 she died in 1870, aged sixty-eight years. She was a 
 member of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which 
 : she had been an earnest worker all her life. Mr. Ba- 
 ( ley is the oldest of five childi'en yet living. Seven 
 were born to his parents, but two of them have died. 
 He was reared in Tennessee, and commenced farm- 
 ing for himself in Henderson County in the year 
 1855, where he remained until 1862, when the call 
 to arms was issued, and on June 17 of that year 
 he enlisted in Company K, of the Seventh Kansas 
 Cavalry, and served three years and two months. 
 He was in the foremost ranks of every battle in 
 [ which the Seventh Kansas was engaged, and can 
 recount some of the narrowest escapes a soldier 
 ever had in time of war. Twenty-eight different 
 times he was shot through the clothes he wore, the 
 bullets not even scratching his skin, and on four 
 occasions had the horse he rode shot from under 
 him. His service through the war was honorable 
 and brave, and the lustre of his valor can never be 
 tarnished by time. He received his discharge from 
 the army in November, 1864, at St. Louis, Mo. , and 
 joined his family in Kentucky. Five years later 
 he moved to Thomasville, Mo., and from thence to 
 Arkansas, coming here in 1870, and locating on Big 
 Creek, in this county. He came to his present 
 
home iu 1872, which, at that time, was but veiy lit- 
 tle improved. Since then a great change has taken 
 place in the condition of the land. He owns 100 
 acres, 125 acres of which are under cultivation. 
 He also has a cotton-gin set up on his place and in 
 1888 ginned 312 bales of cotton. Mr. Baley's wife 
 was formerly Miss Jane C. Wadey, of Tennessee, 
 born in 1829. They have a family of four chil- | 
 dren living: Richard M., Mary E., John G., Rob- 
 ert L. Mary E. is the wife of William B. Doyle, 
 and the others are all married except the youngest. 
 They have lost two children — Sarah Ann and 
 Jeanette E. Mr. Baley and wife are members of 
 the Christian Church, and the former of Dry Creek 
 Masonic Lodge No. 453. In politics he is a Re- 
 publican. 
 
 "William J. Ball, retired merchant and farmer, 
 was born near Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, 
 Tenn., September 13, 1825. He is a son of W. 
 T. Ball, an Englishman, and a native of Worcester- 
 shire, whose histories and adventures would till a 
 volume. The elder Ball was a soldier in the Eng- 
 lish army, and fought under the famous Welling- 
 ton. He took jjart in seven battles against the 
 great Napoleon, and fought under Blucher on the 
 memorable field of Waterloo. He was a member 
 of the British army at the battle of New Orleans, 
 but the principles of liberty were so strongly in- 
 stilled in his mind that he found it impossible to 
 fight against them, and deserted the ranks to join 
 the younger nation in its struggle against the mother 
 country. After the war had ended, he came to the 
 State of Tennessee and settled in Rutherford Coun 
 ty, where he was married to Miss Jane Jordan, a 
 native of that State, whose father was one of its 
 pioneers. He resided in Rutherford County, one 
 mile from Murfreesboro, up to the year 1835, when 
 he moved to Bradley's Creek, of the same county, 
 and lived there till 1851, then selling out and mov- 
 ing to (Jibson County, where he lived until 1867. 
 He then moved back to Rutherford County, where 
 he died in 1873. W. J. Ball remained with his 
 father in Rutherford County until his eighteenth 
 year, and then received the contract for carrying 
 the mails by stage coach through that section until 
 the fall of 1858. He then moved to Lawrence 
 
 County, Ark., and l)i>nght a farm in Spring River 
 Township for farming purposes, but shortly after- 
 ward entered into l>usiiiess at I'owhataii. and was 
 a dealer in general merchandise up to the time of 
 war, and during that period had charge of a dis- 
 tillery, on Martin's Creek, for the government. In 
 January. 1860, he moved to Gibson County, 
 Tenn., more for the purpose of giving his children 
 the advantages of a good schooling than anytliing 
 else, but while there, engaged in the general nier 
 chandise business. At the expiration of a year hi- 
 returned to Lawrence County, and settled upon 
 the place he now occupies, and liegan selling goods. 
 He had been an active business man up to the year 
 1886, when he turned the business over to his son. 
 who continues at it with the same enterprise that 
 characterized his father. In 1868 Mr. Ball was 
 appointed postmaster at Opposition, and still has 
 charge of the office. He owns 320 acres of land 
 on his home place, with about 180 acres cleared, 
 and has eighty acres in clover and meadow, and 
 about 10(1 acres iinder cultivation. .Mr. Ball was 
 married on September 13, 1846. to Miss Mary 
 Crouse, of Rutherford County. Tenn., a daughter 
 of Harmon G. Crouse. There are five children 
 living by this marriage: George W.; Samuel H. . 
 Joseph, now carrying on the business here; Eliza- 
 beth, wife of Joseph Hallowell; Hattie, wife of F. 
 M. Graves, and William T. and John, who are 
 deceased, the former in 1882 and the latter in 18SSt. 
 Mr. Ball and his family are all members of the 
 Christian Church, of which he is clerk, and he is 
 also a Royal Arch Mason. 
 
 Sam. H. Ball, a prominent merchant of Rav 
 enden, Lawrence County, was born in Rutherford 
 County, Tenn., in November, 1850. and is a son 
 of William J. Ball, whose adventurous career has 
 been jiortrayed in the sketch preceding this. 
 Mr. Ball remained with his father in his store 
 luitil he reached his twenty eighth year. He then 
 established a store for himself in 1S7U, at Ojipo.si 
 tion, Ark., and carried on a profitable business up 
 to the year 1882. In 1883 he moved to Raven- 
 den, built a magnificent residence and a large, 
 commodious store, and put iu a large st<K'k of 
 merchandise, where he has lieen liolding forth 
 
Aj! 
 
 774 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ever since. His store is two stories in height, 
 the upper story being devoted to furniture, under- 
 takers' goods, clothing, etc. ; the lower, dry goods, 
 boots and shoes, groceries and general planta- 
 tion supplies. He handles both cotton and stock 
 to a great extent, and altogether does a business 
 of $35,000 to $40,000 annually. He is also inter- 
 ested in a large cotton-gin, and besides owns two 
 large farms, situated on Spring River, one in 
 Lawrence and the other in Randolph County, 
 being a farmer as well as a successful merchant. 
 The third business house opened in Ravenden, 
 after the location of the Kansas City, Springfield 
 & Memphis Railroad, was by Mr. Ball, and he is 
 the leading man of the place. In November, 1878, 
 he was married to Mrs. Margaret Williford, of Ran- 
 dolph County, a charming widow. Since then 
 five children have been added to the family: Cleo, 
 Luther, Marvin, Ernest and Lillian. Both Mr. 
 and Mrs. Ball are consistent members of the Chris- 
 tian Church. The former is a Democrat politi- 
 cally, a Mason and a member of Ravenden Lodge 
 No. 451, of which he is Junior Warden. 
 
 Joseph M. Barlow, farmer and stock raiser, 
 came from Illinois to the State of Arkansas in the 
 fall of 1879. His occupation on his arrival was 
 simply farming until the year 1888, when he 
 moved to his present place, known as the Cross 
 Roads farm, which consists of 342 acres of land, 
 with about 140 acres under cultivation, and now 
 has a good frame residence, a cotton-gin, grist- 
 mill and blacksmith-shop, besides his interests in 
 stock raising. Mr. Barlow also owns a farm near 
 by, which he rents out. This place consists of 1 20 
 acres, of which forty acres are under cultivation, and 
 contains a fine orchard of about 100 peach and 
 apple trees, besides a great number of small fruits. 
 There are also a good frame and a log house on the 
 land, which is situated one mile southeast of Portia. 
 Mr. Barlow is a son of John and Sinah (Finley) 
 Barlow, of Illinois, and was born in Montgomery 
 County, 111., July 14, 1841. His father died while 
 still a young man, in 1854, and he remained with 
 his mother until his nineteenth year, when he mar- 
 ried and commenced farming on his own account. 
 In the spring of 1861 he enlisted in the army and 
 
 served until expiration of enlistment, and in July, 
 1862, he once more enlisted, in the Third Illinois 
 Cavalry, and was discharged shortly afterward on 
 account of general disability contracted in service. 
 In June, 1864, he entered the army again for the 
 third time, and served until he was mustered out, 
 October 19, 1865. Mr. Barlow first entered the 
 ranks as a private, but soon afterward was promoted 
 to be a sergeant, and his record through the war 
 is one that can be placed among the best of that 
 period. He took part in the battles at Haines' 
 Bluff, Arkansas Post, and a hot scrimmage at 
 Memphis, in 1865. He was also in the campaign 
 against Hood at Nashville and in the fight at that 
 place. Mr. Barlow was married, November 17, 
 1859, to Miss Catherine Chapman, of Montgomery 
 County, 111. , who died in that locality in 1868. The 
 children by this wife are Dora A. , wife of John 
 Davenport, and a son, who lived until his seven- 
 teenth year. He was again married on February 
 18, 1869, to Mrs. Nancy L. Klutts, a widow lady, 
 of Montgomery County, and this union has given 
 them two children: ^inah J. and Clara E. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Barlow are both members of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, in which the former is 
 district steward, and Mr. Barlow is a member of 
 G. A. R., Lawrence Post No. 8, and is adjutant of 
 that post. He is also a ]\Iaster Mason and senior 
 deacon of his lodge, and belongs to the Knights 
 of Honor. In politics he is a Republican, and was 
 elected justice of the peace for his township, and 
 at the expiration of his term was elected county 
 coroner. At the end of that term he was nomi- 
 nated for county and probate judge by the Wheel, 
 and endorsed by the Republicans, as the latter 
 made no nominations. Mr. Barlow has adopted 
 Arkansas as his future residence, and expects to 
 live and die in Lawrence County. 
 
 Clark S. Beach, an extensive stock raiser, 
 farmer and fruit grower, of Lawrence County, was 
 born in Wayne County, Mich., on March 27, 1843. 
 His parents were Arctus and Esther (Gibbs) Beach, 
 of New York State, who moved to Michigan about 
 the year 1840, and settled at Detroit, where the 
 elder Beach's occupation was farming and dealing 
 in stock. He remained at that place for twelve 
 
years, and then moved to St. Clair County, where 
 he continued his previous occupation and also kept 
 a hotel. His death occurred at the latter place in 
 1886, leaving a name that was widely known and 
 highly respected. C. S. Beach grew to manhood 
 in Wayne and St. Clair Counties, and remained 
 with his father until he had reached his twenty- 
 first year. April 8, 1805, he enlisted in the 
 Eighth Michigan Cavalry, and served until the 
 close of the war, taking a brave part in many en- 
 gagements and small skirmishes. He was mus- 
 tered out September 22, 1865, after the South had 
 been conquered and returned home and rented his 
 father's farm for eight years in St. Clair County. 
 He then bought a farm in that county, and went 
 to work upon it, and, after several years' labor, with 
 fair success, he sold out and moved to Arkansas, 
 locating in Lawrence County. He bought the land 
 upon which he now resides, in 1880, which con- 
 sisted of 200 acres, unimproved, and at the pres- 
 ent time has seventy-five acres cleared and under 
 cultivation. The land has a comfortal)le house 
 upon it, with out-buildings and all conveniences, 
 and a line orchard of about 600 trees of different 
 varieties. Mr. Beach was married in St. Clair 
 County, Mich., April 4, 1871, to Miss Hannah 
 M. Shears, a Canadian lady, and they now have 
 sis children : Sarah Esther, Mark A. , Henry H. , 
 Emma L. , Mary A. and Eva E. Mrs. Beach is a 
 member of the Seven-Day Adventist Church, and 
 Mr. Beach belongs to Aurora Lodge No. 423, A. 
 F. & A. M. , at Walnut Ridge, being a Master 
 MasoD. 
 
 George B. Borah is a minister of the Gospel, 
 who has followed in the footsteps of his father 
 Chesterfield G. Borah, a physician of note and a 
 minister. Mr. Borah's father was born in Cald- 
 well County, Ky., in 1814, and by his earnest en- 
 deavors in that direction was made a professor of 
 religion when quite a young man. He found a 
 faithful partner in the per.son of Miss Samarimus 
 Perkins, also a native of his State, a young lady 
 well fitted to assist him in his chosen field of labor. 
 In 1845 Mr. Borah and his wife, seeking new 
 pastures for their work, came to Arkansas and 
 settled on Reed's Creek, in Lawrence County. He 
 
 preached the Gospel and practiced medicine until 
 death ended his labors in March, 1868. He was a 
 prominent man in his time and one who took an 
 active part in the affairs of his county. His wifo 
 still survives him and makes her home with Inn- 
 son, George B. Borah, the eldest of six children, 
 of whom two only lived to the age of maturity, 
 the other being Samarimus A., now the wife of N. 
 
 E. Judkins. When George B. Borah arrived at 
 the age of manhood he enrolled himself in the 
 ranks of the Confederate army under Gen. Price, 
 and took part in the raids through Mis.souri and 
 Kansas. During a lull in the war he was given a 
 sixty days' fm-lough to go home, and afterward 
 went to Jacksonport, where he surrendi-red June 
 5, 1865. He adopted the |)rofession of religion in 
 1874, and was ordained to preach in 1876. Since 
 then he has had charge of four churches, besides 
 assisting at others whenever his services were 
 called upon, and has been an indefatigable worker. 
 His efforts have been appreciated, and he is now 
 recognized as one of the ablest ministers in that 
 county, and is beloved by all with whom he comes 
 in contact. He was married in 1866 to Miss 
 Melissa Wayland, a daughter of Sisco Wayland, 
 one of the pioneers of Arkansas, and nine children 
 have blessed their union. Six of them are living: 
 Willie L., John N., Joseph H., Richard P., Flor- 
 ence and Mary Ethel. Those deceased are Samar- 
 imus M. , Josaphineaud Milton A. Mrs. Borah is a 
 valuable assistant to her husband in church work, 
 and a lady whose Christian influence is manife.sted 
 in many ways. Mr. Borah is a member of the A. 
 
 F. & A. M. He is the owner of eighty-five acres 
 of land under cultivation, besides considerable un- 
 improved lands in other sections. 
 
 George W. Brady, merchant and postmaster, 
 of Smithville, is a son of Jeremiah Brady, of North 
 Carolina, who came to Arkansas in his childhood, 
 with his father, James W. Brady, one of the pio- 
 neers of Lawrence County. Jeremiah Brady was 
 reared and grew to manhood in this county, where 
 he was also married to Miss Nancy MeCarrell, a 
 native of the same place, and where their sun. 
 George W., was born, October 8, 1858. Mr. 
 Brad)', the father, was a farmer and blacksmith. 
 
-^ — \^ 
 
 Ti% 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 and resided here until the war, when, tired with a 
 desire to battle for the cause of the Confederacy, 
 he left the peace and quiet of his family for the 
 turmoil and dangers of war. He died at Mul- 
 berry, Ark. . and previous to his death his faithful 
 wife had passed away, thus leaving George bereft 
 of both parents in quick succession. George W. 
 Brady received a good common school education in 
 his youth, and, after his school days were over, 
 entered into commercial life at Smithville, for two 
 years. He next made a trip to Texas, in 1876, and 
 remained about eighteen months in the Lone Star 
 State. On his return to Smithville he again occu- 
 pied a position in one of the business houses, and 
 in 1878. after obtaining a thorough knowledge of 
 commercial affairs, he established a business of his 
 own, which, by his enterprise and fair dealings, 
 has won for him a large patronage. Previous to 
 1885 Mr. Brady had been appointed deputy post- 
 master, but in that year he received his appoint- 
 ment as postmaster, and has held the office since 
 then. He was married September 7, 1871), to Miss 
 Lee L. Raney, a daughter of Morgan Raney, of 
 Lawrence County, and by this marriage has had 
 two children: J. Clarence and Claud Carter. 
 
 George W. Bridges is a son of John and Jane 
 T. Bridges, the former of whom was a native 
 of Missouri, and his mother a Virginian. He was 
 born in that portion of Lawrence County, now 
 known as Randolph, in 1856. His parents settled 
 in Arkansas when they were children, about the 
 year 1829, and were married when they reached 
 the age of maturity. They have always made 
 Lawrence County their home, where the father 
 died in 1858, at the age of thirty-eight years, with 
 the proud consciousness of having performed his 
 duty to his country, having been a survivor of the 
 Mexican War, through which he served with the 
 eulogium of his commanding officers upon his 
 bravery. The mother contracted a second mar- 
 riage with William Ferguson (now deceased), and 
 had one child by her second husband, who was a 
 captain in the Confederate army. Mr. Ferguson 
 died in June, 1865, shortly after he returned home 
 from the war. Mr. Bridges is the third child of 
 his parents, and was reared in Randolph and Sharp 
 
 Counties, returning to the former in 186it, where 
 he remained until February 28, 1888, and then 
 moved to his present place of abode. He has up- 
 ward of 100 acres of land under cultivation, and 
 has also turned his attention to cotton planting. 
 He was married to Miss Bettie A. Glenn, in 187'J, 
 a young lady of Ballard County, Ky. They have 
 had six children, one of them deceased. Those 
 living are: Charlie Emma, Mamie Ana, SallieH. , 
 Andrew O. and George William. Mr. Bridges is a 
 member of the A. F. & A. M., of Ravenden, and is 
 a popular resident of Lawrence County. His wife 
 is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South. 
 
 Thomas F. Buchanan, an enterprising farmer 
 and stock raiser, of Spring River Township, was 
 born in Lawrence County, Ark., November 14, 
 1854. He is the son of Thomas, and Eliza (Wei- 
 thy) Buchanan, of Missouri, who moved to Arkan- 
 sas after their marriage and settled in Lawrence 
 County, where the older Buchanan died in 1854, in 
 the prime and vigor of his manhood. Thomas F. 
 remained with his mother until he had attained his 
 maturity, and then commenced to take his own 
 part in the world. He has been farming the 
 greater portion of his life, and the experience 
 gained during that time has made him one of the 
 best farmers in his county. When still a young 
 man, he visited the city of Memphis, Tenn., with 
 a view of making it his future home, but after a 
 residence of fourteen months, he decided to come 
 back ty Lawrence Country, and has remained here 
 ever since. On August 20, 1876, he was married 
 to Miss Sarah Huffman, daughter of John Huff- 
 man, and two years after his marriage he bought 
 the tract of land upon which he now resides, and 
 commenced cultivating the soil. He now owns 
 120 acres, with about thirty-live acres cleared, and 
 has built a large double house upon it, besides 
 giving his attention to a small but well selected 
 orchard of two acres, with several different varie- 
 ties of fruit. Mr. Buchanan and his wife have 
 four daughters: Effie. Ruby, Ella and Orlana, and 
 all four of the girls are members of the Missionary 
 Baptist Church. He takes great interest in edu- 
 I cation and is a member of the school board. 
 
LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 [ 
 
 Benjamin R. Bush, fanner and stock raiser, of 
 Lawrence County, was ))orn in Wilson County. 
 Tenn., February IIJ, 1838. His parents were S. 
 L. and Elizabeth (Tate) Bush, of the same State, 
 who iiuuiigrated to Arkansas in 1840, and settled 
 in Lawrence County, where the father practiced 
 medicine up to the time of his death, about the 
 year 18r)'2. He reared a family of three sons and 
 one daughter, all of whom lived until their matur- 
 ity. Benjamin R. remained with his mother until 
 his twentieth year, when he niarriod and purchased 
 a farm of his own. His bride was Miss Mary Orr, 
 a young lady who was reared in this county, who 
 proved a \isefnl helpmate and faithful wife. Mr. 
 Bush farmed on his land for several years, and 
 then bought more and added to it from time to 
 time, until he now owns about 400 acres of the best 
 laud in Arkansas, with 1 50 acres cleared, and all of 
 it situated four miles west of Minturn. There is a 
 good residence, two barns, two cribs, and all other 
 necessaries upon the land, besides a lino orchard of 
 three acres, with peach and apple trees. He had 
 almost nothing he could call his own when he first 
 started in life, and has accumulated his fine prop- 
 erty by shrewdness, good judgment and industry, 
 and has set a worthy example for others to follow. 
 In 1802 he enlisted in Col. Lindsay's company 
 (afterward C'ol. Baber's), and served one year. 
 He then joined Col. Reeves' regiment, and re- 
 mained with it until the close of the war, when he 
 surrendered, and was paroled June 5, 1865, at 
 Jacksonport. He took pait in the engagements at 
 Cane Hill, Ark., and Price's raids through Mis- 
 souri, also the fight at Pilot Knob, besides numer- 
 ous other sharp encounters, liearing himself in a 
 soldierly manner through the entire campaign. 
 Mr. Bush lost his first wife in 1880. and afterward 
 married Jfiss Ellen (iuthry. Five children were 
 bom to him by his first wife: Joseph W., George 
 R.. Sauford, Charles, and Mary Elizabeth, wife of 
 William McC'lure; also two children by his second 
 wife, who.se names are Clarence and Katie. Both 
 parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Chiirch. and Mr. Bush is a member of the K. of H. 
 and the Agricultural Wheel. 
 
 M. V. Camp, physician and surgeon of Walnut 
 
 Ridge, has been a resident of Northeast Arkansas 
 for the past twenty-one years. He was born in 
 Bibb County, Ala., June 11, 1830, and is the son 
 of James Camp, of South Carolina, who was one 
 of the first to manufacture the ore into wire in the 
 iron furnaces of Birmingham. Ala. He was mar 
 ried to Miss Mary Luoney. of South Carolina, wlio 
 died in Mississippi about the year 1870, aged 
 eighty years. Eight girls and four l)(jys were born 
 to them, four of them still living. Martin Van 
 Buren Camp was the youngest of this large family, 
 and was reared on a farm. He had bren given a 
 liberal education at the city of Birmingham, prin 
 cij)ally at "Old Elyton," and was the leader in 
 Greek and Latin in his class. After his college 
 days were over he embarked in the newspaper busi- 
 ness at Butler, Choctaw County, Ala., and bought 
 the plant of the Southern Democrat. This paper 
 he edited from 1837 to 1800. and hisal)ility pnshe.l 
 it to the fir.st place among the newspapers of Ala 
 bama. It was the second paper in that State to 
 advocate secession, and the Doctor still has cc)|)ies 
 of his first literary effort in his library at home. 
 In 1861 he enlisted in Capt. Maner's regiment, 
 and was created a sergeant (Mississippi troops) and 
 then under Col. (afterwards Maj.-Gen. ) Lowrv. 
 with whom he served three months. He afterward 
 organized a company of volunteers, with Dr. R. B. 
 Stephens, of Tupelo, Miss., of which he wits cap- 
 tain, while Dr. Stephens was made surgeon. The 
 com])any formed part of Col. W. M. luges' Twelfth 
 Regiment Mississi])pi Cavalry, in Gen. S. W. Fer- 
 guson's brigade, and did excellent service all 
 through the war. Dr. Camp came to Jonesboro. 
 Ark., after they had disbanded, and was engaged 
 in teaching school in Craighead County. He then 
 attended a course of lectures at the University of 
 Louisville, and when through moved to Gainesville, 
 where he practiced fur fourteen years. In I8.S5 he 
 located in Walnut Ritlge, where he has .succeeiled 
 in i)uilding up a fair practice. He has no desire 
 to accumulate a large amount of pro(>erty, but be- 
 lieves in giving his children a good education under 
 his own supervision, so that his money will be ju- 
 diciously expended. The Doctor is a member of 
 the Masonic and Odd Fellows' fraternities, and of 
 
 
<& k_ 
 
 U 9 
 
 778 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 the Cross Roads Baptist Church, near Portia. He 
 is a Democrat in politics, but has never held any 
 public office excepting that of county examiner of 
 public instruction, in Greene County. He was 
 married May 2, 1860, in Sumter County, Ala., to 
 Miss Sarah C. Sheid, of that State, a daughter of 
 Jesse G. Sheid. Her parents had three girls and 
 two boys born to them, one of them deceased. 
 Those living are Lizzie I. , the wife of Rev. James 
 F. Jernigan, a minister of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, South, and residing in Walnut Ridge; 
 James Sheid, now studying medicine with his 
 father; Mary Ann, who graduated in June, 1889, 
 from the Bellevue Collegiate Institute, of Cale- 
 donia, Mo., and Alice E., at home. Mrs. Camp's 
 mother died July 17, 1888, aged fifty-one years. 
 She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyte- 
 rian Church, and came from what is known through- 
 out South Carolina as the " Old Horseshoe Robin- 
 son Stock." 
 
 John N. Campbell, treasurer of Lawrence Coun- 
 ty, Ark. , is a native of Cumberland County, N. C. , 
 where he was born April 3, 1820. His father was 
 Miirdock Campbell, of Scotland, born of Scotch 
 and Irish parentage, who was raised and married 
 in North Carolina. After his marriage the elder 
 Campbell moved to Lawrence County, Tenn. , and 
 settled on a farm, where he began the cultivation of 
 the soil and rearing his children. From there he 
 moved to the State of Arkansas in 1843, settling in 
 what is now Lawrence (bounty, where he resided 
 up to the time of his death, about the year 1852. 
 John N. Cambell reached his maturity in the State 
 of Tennessee, and came to Arkansas in 1843, where 
 he settled, in Lawrence County, on a farm, and 
 tilled the soil for a number of years. In 1872 he 
 was elected county treasurer and at the expiration 
 of his term was re elected, serving from 1872 to 
 1878. In 1888 his party, seeing the fitness of the 
 man for the position and recognizing his abilities, 
 once more elected him to office. He previously 
 discharged the duties of justice of the peace for 
 twelve years, and also served as deputy sheriff and 
 constable. Mr. Campbell was married, in 1846, 
 to Miss Mary J. Childers, of Virginia, and they are 
 now the parents of three sons and one daughter. 
 
 all of them having attained maturity and mar- 
 ried. Their names are: William M., John D., 
 Alex C, and Sarah A., wife of John C. Overstreet, 
 the entire family residing in Lawi-ence County. 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are mt^mbers of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and stand 
 high in the regard of those surrounding them. 
 
 John Casper, farmer and blacksmith, whose 
 work at the forge and anvil has placed him as an 
 expert in his trade, was born in Rowan County, 
 N. C, May 5, 1827. He is a son of George and 
 Nancy (Leonard) Casper, both of the same county 
 and State, who died in their native place. Mi-. 
 Casper is one of a family of four sons and four 
 daughters, of whom five are still living, three 
 brothers and two sisters, the latter residing in 
 North Carolina, and the former, David, Jacob 
 Alexander and John, living in Lawrence County. 
 John Gasper is the oldest of the three brothers 
 living, and was reared in Rowan County, N. C, 
 where he remained with his father until his twenty- 
 sixth year. He moved west in 1853 and settled 
 in Lawrence County, Ark., where he bought a 
 small section of land and commenced clearing and 
 improving it. On March 8, 1854, he was married 
 to Mrs. Sarah M. Blackwell, a widow lady, of 
 North Carolina, who also possessed a small im- 
 provement on government land. Mr. Cas[)er im- 
 mediately set to work clearing his land, and they 
 now have about seventy-five acres under cultiva- 
 tion. The home place comprises about 380 acres 
 altogether, with a good log house and other build- 
 ings built upon it, and an orchard. He also owns 
 240 acres in other sections, and fiom the fact that 
 he commenced on almost nothing at all, has done 
 remarkably well. He owes it all to his own thrift 
 and business tact, and is now considered as one of 
 the sul)stantial farmers of Lawreuce County. Mr. 
 Casper enlisted in the Confederate army in 1863, 
 and was a member of the Seventh Missouri Cav- 
 alry, and afterward transferred to the Seventh 
 Arkansas Infantry. He took part in many a hard 
 fought battle — at Little Rock, Pilot Knob and in 
 Gen. Price's I'aids through Missouri, besides sev- 
 eral battles of lesser importance. He was paroled 
 at Shreveport, La., at the close of the war, and 
 
 ^-* 
 
e k. 
 
 At 
 
 LA WHENCE COUNTY. 
 
 77» 
 
 rotnrned homo to resume his labor upon the farm. 
 In 1877 Mr. Casper lost his faithful wife, who 
 (lied October 4, leaving him one child, George W. 
 He again married, his second wife being Mrs. Har- 
 riet E. Harris, a widow, of North Carolina, and 
 has one child by this marriage- Etter E. Mr. 
 Casper is a member of the Old School Presbyterian 
 Church, in which he is an elder, and is also a mem- 
 ber of the Agricultural Wheel, being vice-presi- 
 dent of the local Wheel. He has been unfortunate 
 in the loss of his second wife, who died February 
 13, 1884, leaving behind her a record of useful- 
 ness and many virtues. 
 
 John A. Cathey, one of the oldest merchants in 
 Lawrence County, was born in Shelley (Jounty, 
 Tenn., in the year 1840. He is the son of John 
 A. Cathey, of Maiiry County, Tenn., who was 
 reared on a farm, and finally adopted the tailoring 
 trade, which he followed until his death occurred, 
 in 1SS31, at Jacksonport, Ark, in which place he 
 had settled in 1848, for the purpose of working. 
 He was married to Miss Narcissa Turnage, of Ten- 
 nessee, who died shortly after the decease of her 
 husl)and at Jacksonport. Five sons were born to 
 them, two of them yet living: James H. and John 
 A., both living in Arkansas. The children who 
 have died are William T. , David L. and an infant. 
 David was killed by accidentally shooting himself 
 during the war. John A. Cathey, for whom this 
 sketch is intended, is the youngest member of the 
 family living. He came to Arkansas with his par- 
 ents, and remained with them, until he grew to 
 manhood, in Jackson County. He enlisted in the 
 Confederate army in 1861, and was enrolled in 
 Company G, First Arkansas, and served until the 
 close of the war,, when he surrendered at Jackson- 
 port. He participated in the battle of BuU Eun, 
 at Shiloh, and was so severely wounded in that en- 
 gagement that he lay disabled for some two 
 months. He also took part in the battles of Perry- 
 ville (Ky.), Murfreesboro (Tenn.), Chickamauga, 
 Chattanooga, and then a three months' campaign 
 from Dalton to Atlanta. He was at Franklin, 
 Tenn., during the terrible slaughter (Hood's) at 
 that place, and afterward in another hot campaign 
 at Nashville. He has been wounded at different 
 
 times, and bears a war record thai few men can 
 equal at the present day. When the war was over, 
 it would naturally seem that after witne.s.sing and 
 taking part in the terrible carnage of his numerous 
 battles, he would prefer a peaceful life, l)ut, strange 
 to say, his occupation was Initchering while in 
 Jacksonport, as though he had not yet been satiated 
 by the sight and smell of blood. From Jackson 
 port he moved to Newport, and lived there for 
 eight years, then settled down in Lawrence County, 
 where he is now considered the oldest establisln'd 
 merchant in that section. He carries a large stock 
 of general merchandise, and is noted for his square 
 dealing throughout the county. In fact, lie is the 
 founder of the town that bears his name. He was 
 appointed postmaster from 1881 to 1885, and lias 
 held several local offices. His wife was Miss Sarali 
 W. Roberts, of Alabama, who died in 1809. Mr. 
 Cathey afterward married a sister of his first wife. 
 Miss Eliza Roberts, and they have had two chil- 
 dren by this union, I'jliza I. and Bertha Lee. They 
 are members of the Methodist ]<j|)iscopal Church, 
 and Mr. Cathey is a member of Dry Creek Lodge 
 No. 458, F. & A. M. 
 
 Burrel M. Childers, a well-known and popular 
 farmer and stock raiser, was born in Madison 
 County, Ala., October 9, 1821. His father, John 
 Childers, was a native of Georgia, who moved to 
 the State of Alabama when a young man, and wa.s 
 there married to Miss Rutlia Cown. The parents 
 remained in Alabama until the year 1824, and 
 then settled in Tennessee, where they resided up 
 to 1838, when they selected Arkansas as their 
 future home, and located in Lawrence County. 
 The elder Childers had an eventful history in his 
 younger days, and was a soldier in the Black Hawk 
 War. He reared a family of eleven children, five 
 sons and six danghtera, of whom Burrel M. Chil- 
 ders is the only survivor. Burrel remained with 
 his father until he was of mature age, and then 
 enlisted in the Mexican War of 1840. After the 
 war was over and the treaty had been made, he re- 
 ceived his discharge, and returned to Lawrence 
 County. He settled on his present place in 1849, 
 when this ])ortion of .\rkansas was nothing more 
 tjian a wilderness, ami has lived to see it trrow up 
 
A 
 
 <» w. 
 
 780 
 
 mSTOEY OF AEKANSAS. 
 
 into a populous and thriving community. Mr. 
 Childers bas since then cleared up about seventy- 
 five acres, and put them under cultivation, besides 
 owning 160 acres adjoining. He did, at one time, 
 own over 1,000 acres, but has divided up with his 
 children. When war was announced between the 
 North and South he gave his services to the Con- 
 federacy, and joined Col. Shaver's regiment. He 
 was elected lieutenant, and held that rank until 
 the close of hostilities. During that time he took 
 part in the fights at Pilot Knob, Independence, 
 Kansas City, Big Blue and Miner's Creek, where 
 Gen. Marmaduke was taken prisoner. After the 
 war he returned to Lawrence County, and has 
 since then been occupied in farming. His first 
 marriage was to Miss Narcissa Beavers, of Illinois, 
 who died in 1856. This wife left, two children, 
 who grew to maturity, were married, and left 
 childi-en of their own. Mr. Childers next married, 
 in this county, Mrs. Hopkins, a widow lady, of 
 Indiana, who died in 1883. There are three chil- 
 dren living by this wife, whose tmmes are: C. F., 
 wife of Joseph Lollar; Julia, wMow of A. B. 
 Hogard, and Hezekiah. His present wife was 
 united to him in 1884, her former name being 
 Aveline Grider, a daughter of Martin Grider, one 
 of the j)ioneers of Randolph County. There are 
 three children by this marriage: Maxie, Stonewall 
 Jackson and Cbaldon. Mr. Childers is a member 
 of the Masonic order, and is a Royal Arch Mason, 
 belonging to the Eastern Star. He attends the 
 Christian Cliurch, while his wife is a member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, and also of the 
 Eastern Star. In the early days of his settlement 
 in Arkansas, Mr. Childers was a hunter of no 
 mean pretences. He made a regular business of 
 hunting for ten years, and together with his brother, 
 killed tliirty-six bears, six panthers and a great 
 number of wild cats, in one spring, besides a 
 quantity of deer. He has a record of killing eleven 
 deer in one day, while a companion of his, Ji 
 Frenchman, killed eleven deer and two bears the 
 same day. Mr. Childers is a genial and active 
 gentleman, though well advanced in life, and is 
 very much thought of by his neighbors. He is 
 full of anecdote, and it is a pleasure to listen to 
 
 the reminiscences of his early days, which none 
 can tell so well as an old settler. 
 
 William Childers. a well-known boniface and 
 liveryman of Imboden, was born in this county in 
 the year 1844. His parents came to Arkansas in 
 childhood, and were located in the soiithwostern 
 part of Lawrence County. He is descended fi'om 
 an old family of Virginians; his grandfather, Isam 
 Childers, moving from that State to Arkansas, with 
 his family, in 18'J4, where he reared his family of 
 four boys and two girls, Alexander C. Childers, his 
 third son, being the father of William Childers. 
 Isam Childers was a veteran of the War of 1812, 
 and died in 1858 at an advanced age. Alexander 
 C. Childers was born in Virginia, in 1815, and 
 moved to the State of Arkansas, with his father, 
 when in his childhood. When war was declared 
 between this country and Mexico, he was one of 
 the first to follow the lead of Gens. Scott and Tay- 
 lor in the land of cactus, and distinguished himself 
 on many a battlefield. He died in 1860 while in 
 the very prime of life, and left a shining example 
 behind him for his sons to follow. James Childers, 
 one of his brothers, represented this county in the 
 legislature for several terms, and was one of the 
 prominent men of Arkansas. The mother of Mr. 
 William Childers was a daughter of Jacob Forten- 
 bery ; her name was Matilda, and she was born in 
 Virginia in 1810, and died in 1844, when he was 
 an infant. She left four children: Elisabeth, the 
 wife of D. Christian ; Nancy, the wife of Lee Holt, 
 now residing in Texas; Absalom F., a Baptist 
 minister in Alabama, and William Childers, of 
 Lawrence County. Mr. Childers commenced to 
 make a career of his own at the age of sixteen 
 years, and entered the army during the war. He 
 was a member of Company E, First Arkansas, 
 and gallautly upheld the reputation of his fore- 
 fathers as model soldiers. On August 10, 1861, 
 he was dangerously wounded and forced to desist 
 from fighting. He lay idle for three months, but 
 the old fighting instinct compelled him to enter the 
 ranks again, and he joined McCorvess' regiment. 
 Fourteenth Arkansas, in which he fought until his 
 capture at Port Gibson. He regained his lil)erty 
 three months later, and after the fall of Vicksburg 
 
 :^; 
 
sr* 
 
 Indepenoemce County, ARKAHSfts. 
 
LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 781 
 
 T 
 
 re-joined the army at Washington, Ark. He was 
 again made prisoner and taken to Little Rock, Ark. , 
 and transferred from there to Rock Island, 111., 
 where he was kept until Leo's surrender. After 
 bis release he went to Leavenworth, Kas. , and 
 made a trip across the plains to Denver City, Col., 
 remaining in that place six mouths befoi'e his re- 
 tiu-n home. He has, since that time, resided in 
 Lawrence County, where he is entraeed in farmins', 
 stock raising, and as a hotel keeper and liveryman 
 he enjoys a well -deserved reputation. He is one 
 of the most extensive stock dealers in the county, 
 an occupation to which he has given much atten- 
 tion since the war, and his was the first ship- 
 ment made over the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & 
 Southern Railroad. He has devoted himself 
 largely to trading in horses, mules, cattle, hogs 
 and sheep. Mr. Childers is prominent in all 
 political matters, and was twice elected treas- 
 urer of Lawrence County by the Democrats. He 
 was also nominated for sheriff, but was beaten by 
 his opponent. His first business ventui-e in this 
 county was with W. Childers & Co., at Smithville, 
 Ark., and the second with a firm composed of W. 
 C. Sloan, Q. C. Jones and himself, dealers in mer 
 chandise, of which Mr. Childers was the manager. 
 He sold his interest to W. C. Sloan two years later, 
 and since that time has had charge of the widely- 
 known Delmonico Hotel and a well-ecjuipped livery 
 stable attached. He was married, January 15, 
 1865, to Miss Clara A. Wells, a lady of Lawrence 
 County, Ark., and daughter of John Wells, of 
 Virginia, who was one of the principal stock dealers 
 in Arkansas, before his death in 1858. ' Mrs. 
 Childers' mother was Eliza A. Grayson, of Louisi- 
 ana, before her mamage. She died in Imi)oden 
 in the year 1886, aged sixty years. Nine children 
 were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wells, all of them de- 
 ceased excepting the wife of William Childers. 
 Mr. Childers and his wife have had eight children, 
 three of whom are dead, namely: Robert E. L. , 
 Nancy S. and Doney Belle. Those living are: 
 Chiirles O. , Mollie May, William Sloan, John 
 Crockett and Grover Cleveland. Mrs. Childers is 
 a charming lady and universally beloved for her 
 kindness of heart and gentle disposition. Her 
 
 husband is a Master Mason and a leader in the 
 affairs of his county. They are generous and lib- 
 eral in all their undertakings, and respected b\ 
 everyone. 
 
 Hon. Charles Coffin is one of the principal 
 Democrats of Northeast Arkansas, and a man well 
 known over the entire State. He has all the ante- 
 cedents which combine to produce a man stanch 
 and true to the real Democracy, and for several 
 years past has been an earnest advocate of Demo- 
 cratic principles in this State. He was born at 
 Rogersville, Hawkins County, Tenn., on the 28d 
 of April, 184'2, and, with his parents, removed to 
 Knoxville, Tenn. , when but five years of age. He 
 there remained until December, 1865, when he re- 
 moved with his mother and brothers to Memphis, 
 and resided there until July, 1809, when the family 
 came to Lawrence County, his present home. The 
 ancestry of Mr. Coffin goes back over 200 years 
 to Tristam Coffin, an English yeoman, who came 
 to Newberryport, Mass., in 1642, but being driven 
 from there on account of his religious belief - a sym- 
 pathy for persecuted Quakers — went and settled 
 the Island of Nantucket. He is the ancestor of 
 all of that name in America. The family celebrated 
 the two-hundredth anniversary of his death in 1881. 
 Mr. Coffin, with a brother and two cousins from Ten- 
 nessee, were the only representatives present from 
 the Southern branches of the family, and there 
 were nearly 600 present. Mr. Coffin's grandfather, 
 the Rev. Charles Coffin, D. D. , a Presbyterian 
 minister, and a graduate of Harvard, emigrated 
 from Newberryport, in 1804, to Greeueville, Tenn., 
 where he founded and was president of Greeueville 
 College until 1827. He held the same position 
 in the East Tennessee University, at Knoxvill(>. 
 from 1827 until 1S36, and died at Greeueville, in 
 1852. He was the educator of many of the most 
 prominent, influential and distinguishe<l men of 
 the South, of the last generation, one of whom was 
 the late Gen. Grandison D. Royston, of this State. 
 His portrait is frescoed in the ceiling of tiie library 
 room in the capitol at Na.shville, as one of the 
 pioneer Utterati of Tennessee. Mr. Coffin's father, 
 Charles Hector Coffin, was born on the 24th of 
 April, 1804, at Newberryport, Mass., and was a 
 
782 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 merchant of Kuoxvilk', an active railroad man, 
 and imder Gov. Campbell's administration was 
 president of the hrancb Bank of Tennessee, at 
 Eogersville. He died at Columbia, Tenn. , on the 
 19th of June, 1854. He had married Miss Eliza 
 Park, a native of Knoxville, Tenn., born on the 
 22d day of September, 1811, and the daughter 
 of James Park, who was of Irish birth, and a 
 merchant by trade. Mr. Park died in 1853, at the 
 age of eighty- four years. His wife, who was 
 formerly Sophia Moody, of Wilmington, Del., 
 died in 1862, when over eighty years of age. She 
 ■was the mother of twelve children, of whom Rev. 
 James Park, D. D., a distinguished Presbyterian 
 minister at Knoxville, is one. Mrs. Coffin (mother 
 of the subject of this sketch) died in this county, 
 in 1874, and lies buried at Knoxville, Tenn. 
 Charles Coffin has been not so much a student of 
 books as an independent thinker. He went through 
 the freshman and sophmore years in the Tennessee 
 University, at Knoxville, and the junior year at 
 Princeton, N. J., but the war closed his school 
 life. He was a Southerner by birth, his home 
 was there, all his interests and his heart were with 
 "his people." He believed neither in secession 
 nor coercion, but seeing his people in trouble and 
 danger, his warm heart went out in sympathy for 
 them, and he loft the college, gave up all that 
 promised to be a brilliant literary career, for he 
 had all the requisities which only needed to be 
 molded, cultured and trained, and resolutely set his 
 face homeward, where he was eagerly welcomed. He 
 enlisted as a private on the 10th of August, 1861, 
 when but nineteen years of age, in Capt. Ben M. 
 Branner's cavalry company (at Cumberland Gap), 
 afterwards Company I, Second Tennessee Cavalry, 
 under Col. Henry M. Ashby. Mr. Coffin was in 
 Gen. Zollicoffer's command, and participated in 
 all his engagements until the hitter's death at Mill 
 Springs, Ky., on the I'Jth of Jamtary, 1862. Mr. 
 Coffin was afterwards in the campaigns in Ken- 
 tucky, under Gen. Kirl)y Smith, participating in 
 the battle of Murfreesboro, December 31, 1862, 
 and North Carolina, January 1, 1863, and on the 
 19th, 20th and 2 1st of March, 1865, he wasatBen- 
 tonville, N. C, where Gens. Joseph E. Johnston 
 
 and Sherman fought their last great battle. He was 
 in the fight between Wheeler and Kilpatrick, Feb- 
 ruary 11, 1865, at Aikin, S. C, and with Johnston 
 in Wheeler's cavalry corps during the campaigns 
 of the Carolinas in the last mentioned year. He 
 was captured at Somerset, Ky. , under Brig. -Gen. 
 John Pegraui, March 31, 1863, and exchanged at 
 City Point, Va. , on the 22d of April; was captured 
 again at Lancaster, Ky., on the 31st of August, 
 1863, while under Col. John S. Scott, of Lou- 
 isiana, and was a prisoner at Camp Chase, Ohio, 
 for seven months, and the eight montlis following 
 at Fort Delaware. He was exchanged at Savannah, 
 Ga., on the 12th day of November, 1864. He was 
 sergeant major of his regiment, but surrendered 
 and was paroled at Charlotte, N. C, under the 
 cartel between Johnston and Sherman, May 11, 
 1865, as adjutant, in which position he was then 
 acting. Mr. Coffin was a grocery merchant at 
 Memphis, Tenn., from March, 1867, to July, 
 1869, and was engaged in mercantile pursuits at 
 Clover Bend, in this county, from July, 1869, to 
 March, 1871. In 1873 he edited the Observer, 
 at Pocahontas, Ark., until August, 1874, and also 
 taught school in that time. In September, 1874, 
 he was licensed to practice law and located at Wal- 
 nut Ridge, where he has since resided. In 1876 
 he was co-editor of the Little Rock Gazette, but 
 one year later he resumed the practice of his pro- 
 fession, at Walnut Ridge. Mr. Coffin is a Dem- 
 ocrat, of Whig antecedents, having been reared 
 by Whig parents. He became a Democrat after 
 the war, and in 1873 was elected from Randolph 
 County, as a Democrat, to the extraordinary ses- 
 sion of the legislature, and served eighteen days 
 during the Brooks-Baxter war, at the call of Gov- 
 ernor Baxter. In 1878 he was elected prosecut- 
 ing attorney, and re-elected in 1880 for the Third 
 judicial district. In the summer of 1888 he was 
 a candidate for the Democratic nomination to Con- 
 gress for the First Arkansas district, against Hon. 
 W. H. Cate, of Jonesboro, and gave the latter a 
 close and exciting race. He was afterwards given 
 an unsolicited and unanimous nomination as rep- 
 resentative to the State legislature (being not even 
 a candidate) by the Democratic convention of his 
 
 ^^ 
 
county, iuid won the light by a good majority. He 
 made the cauvass as a "straight Democrat,'' 
 against the combined Republican, Union Labor 
 and Wheeler opposition, and wears the laurels of 
 a hard earned victory. In the legislative session 
 following (1888-89) ho was a strong advocate and 
 leader of the effort to organize the Democratic 
 members of the legislature for Democratic pur- 
 poses. His heart was in the work and he labored 
 indefatigably and gallantly for the sake of .all the 
 principles he holds most dear. He was chairujan 
 of the house committee on penitentiary, also a 
 member of the house committee on railroads, 
 ways and means and education. Mr. Coffin intro- 
 duced several important bills, among them the fol- 
 lowing: To regulate the practice of pharmacy; to 
 inspect cattle for butchering purposes in cities of 
 first and second class; to repeal features of the 
 labor contract law (Mansfield's Digest, Section 
 4441), which makes valid contracts for labor made 
 beyond the limits of State. He also had the honor 
 of framing the State Democratic platform of 1888, 
 in which the State canvass and victory were won 
 from the Union Labor and Republican parties com- 
 bined. Mr. Coffin owns a farm of eighty acres 
 near Walnut Ridge, and is a strong advocate of 
 grass farming, being one of the first to introduce 
 clover into this section of the State. He was bap- 
 tized in infancy, but is not a member of the 
 Church, though a Presbyterian in his views, and 
 assists in maintaining ministers and church enter- 
 jirises. Mr. Coffin is a member of that large class 
 of mankind who have never seen tit, from various 
 causes, to enter the "conjugal state of felicity," 
 although a previous biographer has dryly remarked 
 that "he is young enough to reform. ' ' He has 
 l)(>en known to say, in reference to his loneliness 
 and alisence of a life companion, that "a Coffin 
 is the last thing on earth a woman wants.'' Mr. 
 Coffin has for his motto: " Never do anrthing to 
 be ashamed of." His style of oratory is earnest, 
 fluent and pointed, speaks impromptu and gets at 
 the "meat" of the question. He is an honor- 
 able, upiright citizen in all that the terms imply. 
 
 Joseph W. Coffman, a prominent farmer of 
 Duty Township, was born in McLean County, 
 
 Ky., in 1838. His parents, Benjamin and Eliza 
 Ijeth (Gossett) Coffman, are natives of Virginia, 
 and of German descent. Homo of the family were 
 extensive farmers in Virginia, while others had 
 various occupations. The father was l)orn in the 
 year 1802, and came to Kentucky with his parents 
 in 1804, where he grew to maturity, and was mar- 
 ri<'d. He died in ISufj, from a very painful 
 accident, having his head mashed while moving a 
 hogshead of tobacco. He was a firm adherent of 
 the Universalist Church, and a member of the A. 
 F. & A. M., while his death was a source of sin- 
 cere regret among a large circle of friends. The 
 mother, who was some ten years j'ounger than her 
 husband, died in 1844. Benjamin Coffman and 
 Elizabeth (Gossett) Coffman were the parents of 
 eight children: William A., Nancy, Ephraim 
 A., Benjamin ¥., Daniel M., Eli.sha, Elizabeth, 
 and Joseph W., of whom William A. and Elisha 
 are deceased. Joseph W. Coffman was the third 
 child, and remained on the farm in Kentucky with 
 his parents until his twenty-first year, when he 
 accepted a lucrative position with a large tobacco 
 firm, and commenced his own career. On October 
 19, 1856, he was married, and moved to the State 
 of Arkansas, wher(> he settled in Hempstead 
 County, on a farm which he rented the first year, 
 but at the expiration of that time was able to 
 purchase a farm of his own. A few years later, 
 that announcement of war, which broke up so 
 many happy homes, also filled him with the desire 
 to aid the Confederacy, and he enlisted in W. H. 
 Prescott's company, and served for three years. 
 He took part in a gi-eat number of engagements, 
 and carried himself through that bloody e|)och in 
 history in a manner that won the admiration and 
 respects of his comrades. After the war had 
 ended, he returned to Lawrence County, in l8l<<5, 
 and settled at a point within one mile and a half 
 of where he now resides, and, in 1878, moved to 
 the present place, where he has been employed in 
 agricultural pursuits ever since. Jlr. Coffman 
 was married to Miss Rebecca Bowen, a daughter 
 of John W. and Ann (Kenerly) Bowen, natives of 
 South Carolina and Virginia, res])ectively. who 
 were prominent farmers and large slave-owners 
 
 4, 
 
784 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 before the war. The father was born in 1805, of 
 English descent, and died in the year 1869, while 
 the mother, who was of Dutch origin, was born 
 in 1804, and died in 1864. Thoy were the parents 
 of five sons and three daughters, three of them yet 
 living, and Mrs. Coffman is the sixth child of that 
 number. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
 Coffman, of whom seven are still living. Their 
 names are: F. AVarren, Mary C, wife of B. A. 
 Welbon, living in the State of Washington; John 
 B. , Elizabeth, who died in her thirteenth year; 
 Benjamin A., at home; William M., who died at 
 thirteen years of age; Jennie, algo dead; Flora, 
 Lena and Josie at home. Mr. and Mrs. Coffman 
 are both members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, in which they are active workers, 
 while Mr. Coft'man is a trustee, steward, and also 
 superintendent of the Sunday-school, and has 
 represented the church in several conferences. He 
 is a prominent man, and a leader in all enterprises 
 concerning the welfare of his county, and one 
 whose advice and judgment are sought for on 
 many occasions. He is a member of Lodge No. 
 ITjO, and has belonged to that organization forever 
 tln'rty years. Mr. Coffman' s father contracted a 
 second marriage after the death of his first wife, 
 and by this wife had nine children: John T., 
 Jacob B., Samuel R., Solomon E., George P. 
 (who met his death at the hands of an assassin), 
 Frank P. , Susan F. , James Lewis, Ezekiel. Ezekiel, 
 George, Frank, James and Samuel are deceased. 
 James W. Coffman, M. D., a gentleman well 
 known throughout Northeastern Arkansas as one 
 of its leading physicians, and a fruit grower of 
 well-deserved reputation, was born in 1847 on a 
 farm in what is now known as McLean County, 
 Ky. He is the son of Jacob N. and Nancy (Gish) 
 Cott'man, both natives of Pennsylvania, who re- 
 moved to the State of Kentucky in 1808, when 
 they were children. In 1857 Mr. Coffman and his 
 family removed to Arkansas, and settled in Law- 
 rence County, where ho entered into the cultivation 
 of cotton on an extensive scale. His death occurred 
 in 1879, at the age of sixty -seven years, fourteen 
 years after the demise of his wife. Ten children 
 were born to them, of whom two only are living, 
 
 one of them being a daiighter, Mrs. Mary S. Benne- 
 lield, and James W. Coffman. Mr. Coffman re- 
 sided in Lawrence County until the age of sixteen 
 years, when he enlisted in the Confederate army 
 under Gen. Price during the declining years of the 
 late war, participating in some of the daring raids 
 through Missouri and Kansas. At the close of 
 that eontiict he returned home, and engaged in the 
 more peaceful avocation of cotton planting. In 
 1868 he commenced the study of uiedicine, with his 
 brother (now deceased), who was a graduate of the 
 University of Louisville, Ky. , as his preceptor. 
 He entered the same university in the fall of 18(59, 
 fi'om which he graduated in 1871, and later on en- 
 tered the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadel- 
 phia, graduating in 1883. He commenced the 
 practice of medicine at Powhatan in 1871, and re.- 
 moved to Black Rock in 1883, where his personal 
 popidarit}' and large practice attest to his efficiency 
 as a skillful physician. His wife, a pleasant and 
 attractive lady, was formerly Miss Mollie F. Warner. 
 The Doctor embarked in general merchandising in 
 1883-84 at Black Rock, and has been deservedly 
 fortunate, being the owner of considerable prop- 
 erty in that town and the outlying district. He 
 has one of the finest fruit orchards in the north- 
 eastern portion of this State, comprising twenty- 
 five acres of young trees just producing fruit, 
 which he planted in the fall of 1S85 as an ex- 
 periment, and which have proven a .success be- 
 yond his most sanguine expectations. They will 
 yield on an average one and one-half bushels to the 
 tree this year. Besides this, he has planted out 
 small fruits in proportion, and has been equally 
 successful with them. He is a strong Democrat; 
 one of the most industrious and energetic citizens 
 of Black Rock, and takes a active part in all public 
 and private enterprises that tend toward the ad- 
 vancement of his county. 
 
 J. Bowen Coffman. deputy clerk of Lawrence 
 County, for the Eastern District, was born in Hemp- 
 stead County, Ark., November 17, ISCA. He is a 
 son of Joseph W. Coffman, of McLean County, 
 Ky. , who came to Arkansas in 1 856, and located 
 in Hempstead County, where he resided until the 
 war was ended, and then settled in Lawrence 
 
LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 785 
 
 Comity, his present rewitlonoi*. Tlic clclcr (joffmiin 
 WAS jiiarricd to Miss Kobecca Bowen, of Alabama, 
 and tliis nnion gavo them ten cliildrcn. SovBn of 
 ihi'Ui arti now living, six of them in this county. 
 J. JJowcn (V)ITnian was five years old when ho came 
 to Lawrence County. He received a good district 
 school education, and also attended scliool at Pow- 
 hatan. He then taught school in Lawrence Coun- 
 ty for three terms, and in Fulton County for the 
 same length of time. He was appointed deputv 
 clerk under Clay Sloan, February 14, 1887, and 
 when the district was divided he came over to Wal- 
 nut Kitlge, in April, 1887, to take charge of the 
 Eastern District. He fills the position in a highly 
 creditable maimer, and enjoys the confidence of 
 his fellow citizens. He is a meml)er oi the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, and also of the Walnut 
 Ridge Silver ('Ornet Band. Mr. Cofi'man has hosts 
 of friends, and well merits the resjx'ct and esteem 
 accorded him. 
 
 Rufus M. Dail, farmer and stock raiser, is a 
 son of WillL;un and Nancy (Overttm) Dail, natives 
 of North Carolina and Virginia, resjjectively. 
 William Dail moved to the State of Tennessee, and 
 was there married when a young man. He settled 
 on a farm in Anderson County, where Rufiis was 
 born, July 11, 1828, and remained there until his 
 death, in 1877, at the age of eighty- four years. 
 He served in the War of 1812, and drew a pension 
 for his heroic performances during that event. 
 Eufus M. Dail gnnv to manhood on the farm, and 
 remained with his father until that time. He was 
 married in June, 1858, to !Miss Christina Skaggs, 
 of Knox County, Tenn. , and settled on a farm with 
 his wife, up to the year I87i), when he moved to 
 Arkansas, and located in Randolph County. He 
 remained at that place for six years, and had 
 brought his farm up to the highest grade of per- 
 fection, when he sold out and came to Lawrence 
 County, arriving here in 1881). He has resided 
 here ever since, and cultivates the soil, farming, 
 on an average, seventy acres annually. Mr. Dail 
 was elected and served as justice of the peace in 
 Anderson County, Tenn., for eight consecutive 
 years, and was also elected deputy sheriff, in which 
 capacity he served four years. He was an old 
 
 time \\ liig originally, and since tlii^ war has be 
 come identified with the Democratic party. His 
 family is com])os<>d of six children: Nancy J., wif(( 
 of James Hill, of Lindseyville; Sarali Ann, single; 
 Martha I., wife of Charles Basket; Naomi, wife of 
 Tiiomas Howard, and Kden S. He has l(jst three 
 other children: Leroy, who died at the age of 
 twenty-five years; William K. , who died in his 
 twenty fourth year, and James M., at tlie age of 
 fourteen. Mr. an<l Mis. Dail are lioth meniliers 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and 
 Ml-. Dail was formerly a iueml).er of the Masonic 
 fraternity. He is highly res|>ected, and his valu 
 al)le advice and aid in all enterprises regarding 
 the advancement of iiis community are very much 
 appreciated. 
 
 (ireene 1'. Dean, an enterprising and prosper- 
 ous farmer of Dent Townshij), was born in Law- 
 rence Cimnty, in the year 1S48. He is the son of 
 William and Hettie (Roney) Dean, nativesof Ten- 
 nessee and Arkansas, resp(>ctively. His father set- 
 tled in the latter Statci at the age of eighteen 
 years, having started in life for himself at an early 
 age, and established a good blacksmith trade, which 
 ho followed until the time of iiis death, in ISIil. 
 He was an active politician and a noted temper- 
 ance worker in his day, and was a member of the 
 society known as Sons of Temperance. He was one 
 of the main pillars of the Methodist Episcopal 
 (/hurch, South, and also tilled the office of justice 
 of the peace for a numlier of years. The mother 
 died in IS")-!. She was a descendant of one of the 
 oldest families in Arkansas, and a lady universally 
 loved for her many excellent (jualities. This cou]ile 
 had nine children, seven of them living to maturity, 
 since which time two have died. 5Ir. (ireene P. 
 Dean was the fourth child, and has grown right uji 
 with the county be resides in. He started in to 
 learn his father's trade at the ago of fifteen, and 
 after his death he worked with ^ladison Smith, of 
 this county, for three and one half years. He is a 
 self-made man, and even during the bnsie.st por- 
 tion of his younger days f(junil time to apply him 
 self to his books. He hired himself out on a farm 
 aftin- leaving the blacksmith trade, and att<>nded 
 school for several years, and, in tlie fall of 1S07, 
 
786 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 turned tutor himself, and opened a private school. 
 He met with splendid success, and continued his 
 teaching until 1S71. Ho also had charge of a 
 school in Duty Township, this county, in 1877. 
 Mr. Dean was married in December, 1870, to 
 Miss Elizabi'th T. Phillips, of Arkansas, whose 
 ]iarents came to that State from Tennessee, in 
 IS4U, and settled in Lawrence County. Mrs. 
 Dean's grandparents were at one time the most ex- 
 tensive iron dealers in Tennessee, controlling sev- 
 eral of the largest foundries in that State. Ten 
 children were born to this couple: William A., 
 Thomas Oscar, Nettie Oberia, Eugene D., Asa 
 Belle, Francis Marion, Mary Edna, John Foster, 
 Homer Lee and Ernest D. Mr. and Mrs. Dean 
 are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, and Mr. Dean of the Farmers' Alliance. He 
 takes a deep interest in politics, and is a Democrat. 
 The office of justice of the peace has been filled by 
 him in Duty Township, and ho has also occupied 
 several local positions, besides being a director in 
 the schools. Mr. Dean is one of Lawrence County' s 
 most influential and prosperous men. He has 300 
 acres under cultivation, and owns considerable 
 other land in different sections. 
 
 William Deeter is a farmer of Lawrence County, 
 and was born in Miami County, Ohio, in 1831. 
 His parents, Jacob and Elisabeth (Williams) 
 Deeter, came from Ohio in 1839, and settled in 
 Clay County, lud., where his father cultivated the 
 land, and also followed his occupation as a stone- 
 mason. They resided here until the father's 
 death, in 1885, at the age of seventy-three years. 
 Both parents were members of the Christian 
 Church, in which faith the mother died in 1876 in 
 her sixty-sixth year. Mr. Deeter is the second of 
 seven children, and grew to manhood in the State 
 of Indiana, with the exception of a short time 
 served in apprenticeship at the carriage and wagon- 
 making trade, in Ohio, when in his eighteenth year. 
 On his return to Indiana he followed that trade 
 until the war commenced, but for the greater part 
 as a journeyman worktn'. He enlisted in the army 
 July 15, 1862, and was a member of Company I, 
 Eighty- fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving 
 until 1865, when he received his discharge at 
 
 Washington, D. C. Mr. Deeter did considerable 
 guard duty in the army, and, after the battle of 
 Chickaniauga, was detailed for repair duty. He 
 returned to Clay County, Ind., after the war hatl 
 ended, and purchased a small farm, on which he 
 lived until the fall of 1878. He then came to Ar- 
 kansas and settled on the place he is now occupy 
 ing, having cleared about 100 acres of the land with 
 his own hands, and getting it under cultivation. 
 Mr. Deeter' 8 first marriage occurred in 1852 to 
 Miss Mary E. Congleton, a young lady of Clay 
 County, Ind., who died, a member of the Christian 
 Church, on the 14th of March, 1803. By this mar 
 riage he was presented with three children, two of 
 whom died in infancy. The one living is Martha 
 I. , now the wife of C. R. Moon, a resident of 
 Wilton Springs, Mo. His second marriage took 
 place in September, 1865, to Miss Catherine Now- 
 port, an Ohio lady, who is now the happy mother of 
 nine children, namely: Elisabeth, wife of J. H. 
 Still; Mathias, Henry, Clara, wife of Isaac Wells; 
 Laura, Isaac, David J., Barton W.,. George W. 
 Mr. Deeter and his wife are members of the Christ 
 ian Church, of which he is the organizer. He is 
 also an elder of that church, and a director of the 
 schools, being a strong advocate of the latter. He 
 is a man well appreciated for his good qualities, 
 and is beloved by his flocks to whom he pi'eaches 
 regularly. 
 
 Swan C. Do well, dealer in drugs, books and 
 stationery. Walnut Ridge, Ark. It is to the skill 
 and science of the druggist that suffering hu- 
 manity look for alleviation from pain. The phy- 
 sician may successfully diagnose, but it is the 
 chemist who prepares the remedy. Mr. Dowell 
 has been engaged in the above business since 1880, 
 and in that time a trade has been built up second to 
 no other drug house in the city. His birth occurred 
 in Breckinridge County, Ky., on October 20, 
 1856, and he is the son of Christopher M. Dowell, 
 also a native of the Blue Grass State, who came 
 to Arkansas in February, 1867, and who located 
 near Clover Bend, in Lawrence County, where ho 
 remained for tour or five years. He first rented land, 
 but afterwards bought 160 acres, and sul)sequently 
 (in 1876) went to Minturn to live near his two 
 
sons, J. T. aud Swan, who were there, in business, 
 and there ]ie passed the remainder of bis days. 
 Ho was a pioneer settler and a iii(>mber of the Ma- 
 sonic fraternity. He was marriod to Miss Eliza- 
 beth Ann Brandenburg, a native of Brandenburg, 
 Ky., and the daughter of Solomon Brand<>nburg, 
 who Weis a native of Hampshire County, ^\'est Va. 
 To them were born five children, two now living — 
 John Thomas, proprietor of an hotel in Minturn, 
 on the Iron Mountain Railroad, aud Swan C. (the 
 subject of this sketch). The latter became famil- 
 iar with the duties on the farm in early life, and 
 received his education in the common schools. 
 \\'hen fifteen years of age, he went to Clover Bend 
 ;ind engaged as a clerk for his cousin, J. H. Dow- 
 ell, by whom, subsequently, he was promoted to 
 l)0okkeei)er. Five years later he went to Minturn, 
 and with his brother formed a partnership in a 
 general store under the firm name of J. T. Dowell 
 & Bro. In 1880 they dissolved i)artnorship, and 
 Swan C. came to Walnut Ridge, where he engaged 
 in tlie drug business. He has i)een fairly success 
 ful in his calling, and for the last three years has 
 bi'en engaged in the real estate business with J. P. 
 CoUin, of Powhatan, under the firm name of Coffin 
 & Dowell, and they control about 2,500 acres of 
 land for sale. Mr. Dowell individually owns 5,000 
 acres. He is a Democrat in politics, aud at jires- 
 ent is mayor of the city. His marriage was con- 
 summated in 1878 to Miss Alice Wall, a native of 
 St. Louis, Mo., and the daughter of William \\'all 
 (deceased). The fruits of this union were five 
 children — Walter, Mamie, Agnes, Oliver and jVly- 
 sius. Mrs. Dowell is a memlier of the Catholic 
 Church. 
 
 Andrew C. Estes, deputy sheriff for the Eastern 
 District of Lawrence Count v, was l)orn in O'Brien 
 County, Ala., October 10, 1859. He is a son of 
 Thomas and Elisabeth (Belcher) Estes, of Ala- 
 bama, who settled in Arkansas, when their son 
 Andrew C was very young. They located in 
 Carroll County, where they resided until the war, 
 when the elder Estes enlisted in the Confederate 
 army, and was killed near Smithville, Ark., dur- 
 ing the latter part of that period. Four children 
 were born to the ]iarents. two of tliem .still living. 
 
 After the father's death, his wife removed to 
 Lawrence County, and settled on a farm three 
 miles west of Walnut Ridge, and lived there until 
 the month of October, 1.S88, when she moved to 
 Scott County, Mo. , where she is at present resid- 
 ing. Mr. Andrew C. Estes was reared on a farm 
 and received only an ordinary education in his 
 boyhood. His avocation was farming until the 
 year 1882, when ho was elected constable of 
 Campbell Township. He served four years in this 
 position, and was then appointed deputy sheiifl' 
 for the Eastern District, in Novoniljer, 1888, by 
 C. A. Stewart, sheriff. That entire portion of 
 Lawrence County, is now under his jurisdiction, 
 and he fills the bill to perfection in every way. On 
 November 20, ISOI, Mr. Estes was united in mar- 
 riage to Miss Amanda McGuinnis, of Illinois, and 
 four children have been th(! r((sult of this union: 
 Elizabeth, Eliza Ann, Tliomas Edward Jefferson 
 and Maudie May. They are both members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, at Old Walnut 
 Ridge, and in politics Mr. Estes is a Democrat. 
 
 John T. Evans, farmer and stock raiser, of 
 Black River Township, wasliorn in Tippah County, 
 Miss., Jime 23, 1837. He is a son of Thomas 
 Jefferson and Miriam (Rainey) Evans, who, after 
 their marriage, first moved to Fayette County. 
 Tenn., and then to Tipton County, and on March 
 1, 1851, arrived at Batesville, Ark., where they 
 settled on a farm. The elder Evans was a Union 
 soldier during the war, and died at Batesville, Ark., 
 while in the service, his two sons, John T. and 
 David F., also belonging to the same regiment, al- 
 though John first enlisted in the Confederate army. 
 After joining the Union forces, John remained 
 with them until his comjiany disbanded, and then 
 went to Illinois, where he resided until the war was 
 over. When peace had once more been assured 
 he returned to Arkansas and located in this (Law- 
 rence) county. He first settled on a portion of 
 land belonging to the railroad, but afterwards 
 bought the tract of land upon which he now re- 
 sides, and shortly after its purchase added forty 
 acres more, having now about seventy acres under 
 cultivation, with several substantial dwellings on 
 the land. ^^r. Evans has also given a great deal 
 
A 
 
 3 kw 
 
 788 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 of his atteutiou to fruit growing, and can now lioast 
 of a splendid pnach and apple orchard. After his 
 marriage he started in life with very little, so far 
 as worldly wealth was concerned, Imt being the 
 possessor of a stout heart and a determined spirit, 
 hesocn lifted himself above want and now owns a 
 fine farm, a comfortable home, and is looked ui^on 
 as one of the best farmers in Lawrence County. 
 He was married in Lawrence County, on May 3, 
 1S6S, to Mrs. Mary E. Craig, an amialile and 
 pleasant widow, of Union County, N. C. , who came 
 to Arkansas with her father, Jason Hargett, in 1851, 
 when a young girl of eighteen. Mrs. Evans has 
 one daughter l)y her first marriage, Fannie C. Har- 
 gett, who is now the wife of William H. Leonard; 
 and two children by her second husliand, Miriam 
 Emmeline and John A\'illiam. Miriam Einmeline 
 is now the wife of Lewis H. Richey, who is a renter 
 on Mr. Evans' ])lac('. They are the parents of one 
 child, Fannie Ella. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are both 
 members of the Christian Church. 
 
 Hartwell B. Farmer is a son of Capt. John 
 Farmer, of North Carolina, and Nancy Farmer, 
 of the same State, who moved to Tennessee in the 
 year 182i), and settled on a farm in Williamson 
 County, where Hartwell was born on December 
 20, 1830. The father was a carpenter and wheel- 
 wright, but also cultivated the soil. In the latter 
 years of his life he moved to the State of Ken- 
 tucky, and located in Graves County, where he 
 died aboiit 18fi2. He was a captain of militia, and 
 a survivor of some of this country's earlier wars 
 before his death. Hartwell B. remained with his 
 father until his eighteenth year, but being fired 
 with the ambition to make his own way in life, he 
 started out with that worthy object in view, and 
 located at Haywood County, in the western portion 
 of Tennessee, where he learned the blacksmithing 
 trade. By close application to his duty he soon be- 
 came an expert, and thereafter followed that occu- 
 pation for several years. In 18'J0 he moved to 
 Lawrence County, Ark., and bought a tract of 
 land, the same upon which he now resides. It 
 comprises 120 acres of rich bottom land, and is 
 situated two miles fi'om Portia. He has cleared 
 about sixty acres upon which stands a good double 
 
 log-house, also an orchard of 200 peach, apple, 
 plum and pear trees, besides smaller fruits. Mr. 
 Farmer enlist(^d in the Confederate Army in 1 S()2, 
 becoming a member of Col. Shaver's regiment of 
 infantry, and served until his ca}>ture,ou December 
 25, 1863, when he was taken prisoner to Rock 
 Island, and held until near the close of the war. 
 He was paroled June 5, 18(')5, at Jacksonport, 
 Ark. Mr. Farmer was first married, in 1852, to 
 Miss Martha King, and has one daughter by this 
 wife, Margaret Ann, wife of Hiram Corkins. He 
 was married again, in Tennessee, to Miss Sallie 
 Cook, and has two children by this marriage. 
 Their names are Napoleon P. and Lee Thomas. 
 Afterward he was married a third time to Miss 
 Martha Ogden, a native of Lawrence County, and 
 has had six children by this wife: Delilah P., 
 Jennie B., Blunt H., Sarah E. L., Milton H. and 
 Simon Cleveland. Mr. Farmer and his wife are 
 both members of the Missionary Baptist Church, of 
 which the former is a deacon, and also a membei- of 
 the Masonic order since 1852. He is a Master 
 Mason, and together with his wife is a member of 
 the Eastern Star, a degree in Masonry. Mr. 
 Farmer also served his county as justice of the 
 peace for ten years, filling that ofiice with a dig- 
 nity that won for him the highest respect. 
 
 Joseph Finley (deceased) was one of the oldest 
 settlers in Lawrence County. He had recorded in 
 the county clerk's bfifice the first deed for land 
 east of Black River, in this section of country. 
 His native State was Kentucky, where he was born 
 January 18, 1814. He came to Arkansas at a very 
 early day, and located west of the river, on Straw- 
 berry Creek, and, in 1846, came over on the east 
 side of the Black River. Mr. Finley was consid- 
 ered to be one of the best farmers in that portion 
 of Arkansas, and when his death occurred had 
 two splendid farms of 160 acres each. He was 
 noted far and wide for his generosity and good- 
 heartedness, and, at the time of his death, was 
 mourned by not a few. Stock raising was also 
 part of his business, and his knowledge as a 
 breeder of cattle enabled him to make considei'able 
 money in that line. Mr. Finley' s grave is on the 
 home farm, three miles west of Walnut Ridge, a 
 
 3^ 
 
LAWKENCE COUNTY. 
 
 78ft 
 
 place selected by himself for the i-epose of his 
 ashes. In politics he was a Democrat, and a mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. 
 Nancy (Childers) Stuart became his wife. H(>r 
 parents were also among the earliest settlors of 
 Arkansas, and had nine children besides herself, 
 four of whom are living: Elizabeth (wife of Will 
 iam Shelton), living in Southern Texas; Amanda 
 (wife of Rev. B. A. Morris, a minister of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church), residing three miles west 
 of Walnut Ridge; Joseph B. , in Walnut Ridge, 
 and L. D. , residing near Portia. The mother died 
 about the year 1854, and is buried near what is 
 now " Ponder' s Chapel," three miles west of Wal- 
 nut Ridge. Elizabeth, the wife of William Shel- 
 ton, a resident of Southern Texas, is the youngest 
 of the four children living. Joseph B. Finley was 
 born in this county December 13, 184S. He has 
 received but very little schooling, and has been 
 farming all of his life, excepting at odd times when 
 he clerked during the dull agricultural season. 
 On January 12, 1871, he was unit<'d in marriage 
 to Miss Emma Montgomery, of Tennessee, and 
 this couple have been the parents of five children, 
 of whom three are living: Ida, George and Orto. 
 The wife and daughter are members of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, South. In spite of the 
 disadvantages he labored under, Joseph B. is now 
 the owner of a farm four miles from Walnut Ridge. 
 He is a stanch Democrat in politics, forty years 
 of age, and hopes to live to see another Democratic 
 president in power. 
 
 Dr. S. L. Fisher was born ill Lawrence County, 
 Middle Tenn., IFay ;5(), bS;'>G, and is the son of 
 Fredrick Fisher, a native of North Carolina, whose 
 wife was Elizabeth ^[(tWhirter before her marriage. 
 She was a native of South Carolina. They were 
 among the first settlers of MidtUe Tennessee, and 
 the father was in the mercantile ))usiness for a 
 number of years in that State, on Duck River. 
 The establishment is still conducted under the 
 name of the Fisher stand. After raising their 
 family, Mr. and Mrs. Fisher moved to Hardeman 
 County, West Tenn., where the mother died at the 
 age of about fifty years; after this the family came 
 to Arkansas. There were seven children in the 
 
 family— John P., William G , H. P., C. J., A. M., 
 M. E., and S. L. John P. died in Randolph 
 County. Ark., AV. G. died at Metropolis City, 111.; 
 A. M. died in Kentucky; C. J. died at La Crosse, 
 Izard County, Ark., and H. P. died at Smithville, 
 Lawrence County, Ark. ; all between the ages of 
 fifty and sixty, exce|)t A. M., at the age of sixtet-n. 
 Only two are living, S. L. and Mary E., widow of 
 (Jreen Ruliy. After coming to Arkansas. S. 1;. 
 commenced the study of medicine under tlie guiil 
 ance of his brother, John P., and entered upon the 
 practice of his profession in lSr)7, l)eing located 
 the first two years in the wild mountains of Izard 
 County, Ark., where panthers, hears, au<l other 
 wild animals were numerous. Later, he mov(>d to 
 liandol|)li County and )iracticed his j)rofession un 
 til tlie war commenced, when he enlisted in Jmn', 
 1801, and served in Col. Lowe's regiment, Prici-'s 
 brigade, as assistant surgeon. He was wonmled 
 twice during the war, the last time being iicl<lliil 
 with a bom)> shell at Kansas City, on Price's raid. 
 This ended his services in the war, and he returned 
 home, and after recovering, came to Smithville, 
 Lawrence County, where he resumed his practice, 
 March, 1885. Here lie has since remained. He 
 was married .Noveml)er 15, 1S80, to Miss Mary 
 Ann McKnight, whowasl)orn in Lawrence County. 
 Ark., in 1840, and died August '_'(), 1.S72. They 
 Were blessed with three children, all living; the 
 eldest, Martha L. , is the wife of J. N. Barnett • 
 (and they have two chihlren); and ('harlie F. and 
 Gertrude are now grown. After the death of his 
 first wife. Dr. Fisher lived single three years and 
 three months, and was married to Miss Mary E. 
 Barnett, October 10. 1875. They have two chil 
 dren — Ada L. , twelve years old, and Myrtle .\., 
 two years old. The Doctor has Ix'en a member of 
 I the Masonic fraternity thirty-three years, having 
 gone as high as the Royal Arch degree. Both 
 wives were members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, and devoted Christians. 
 
 Jesse P. (Tibl)ens, farmer and stock raiser, of 
 Spring River Township, was born in Rowan Conn 
 ty, N. C, January 1 1, I.S31. He is a son of J.Jm 
 and Pat.sy (Winder.s) (til)bens, of the same .State, 
 wlio moved to the State of Tennessee, altont the 
 
 r to 
 
Ai 
 
 790 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 year 1836, and settled in Shelby County, on a 
 farm where they resided until 1846, and then 
 changed their home for one in Lawrence County, 
 Ark. Jesse P. Gibbens remained with his father, 
 until he reached his majority, in this county, which 
 was also about the time of the elder Gibbens' death, 
 and then went back to Tennessee. After an ab- 
 sence of three years he returned, and was married 
 in Lawrence County, in 1861, to Miss Mary J. 
 Hamrich, of Tennessee, a daughter of John Ham- 
 rich. Mr (Jibbens had cleared up and im- 
 proved his farm before his marriage, and he now 
 owns 140 acres of valuable land, with over 100 
 acres ready for cultivation, besides having a small 
 but select orchard and a comfortable house. In 
 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate army, and 
 joined Col. Baber'a regiment, serving until the 
 linal surrender. He took part in a number of 
 sharp skirmishes at close quarters, and was always 
 to the front in battle. He was paroled at Jack- 
 sonport. June 5, 1865, and retui-ned home to his 
 farm work and a more peaceful life. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Gibbens have one daughter, the wife of F. Lee, a 
 resident of Lawrence County. They are lovers 
 of children, and have reared eight orphans to ma- 
 turity, and started them in life with the exception 
 of one. Both Mr. Gibbens and his wife are mem- 
 bers of the Missionary Baptist Church, and the 
 former a member of Rock Cave Lodge No. 347, A. 
 F. & A. M. They are well known for their benev- 
 olence and generosity, and are highly esteemed by 
 their neighbors. 
 
 Hon. John K. Gibson, attorney, and real estate 
 dealer, Powhatan. This man. whose name is 
 synonymous of success in his profession, was born 
 in Richmond County, N. C, August 15, 1845. 
 His parents were John K. and Elizabeth (Wat- 
 son) Gibson, natives of the same State. Early 
 in life Mr. Gibson began to show traces of what 
 his future course would be through the world, and 
 the occupation he would follow. He obtained a 
 knowledge of men and things beyond his years, 
 and even when a boy at school, often surprised his 
 elders at the correctness of his ideas regarding 
 different events and his knowledge of human nature. 
 This talent he has fostered up to the present time. 
 
 and it has stood him well in many a hard- fought 
 battle before the bar. Mr. GiVison attained his 
 maturity in North Carolina, and attended the com- 
 mon schools of his county. Subsequently, he went 
 to the higher schools and academies of North and 
 South Carolina, and for a period of three years 
 later taught school himself. In 1867 he became a 
 freshman in the University of North Carolina, at 
 Chapel Hill, and in the fall of 1868 commenced 
 reading law at that place under a well-known and 
 prominent juri.st of that State. He was admitted 
 to the bar in 1869, and shortly afterward departed 
 for Arkansas, where he first located at Jaeksonport, 
 unknown and unheralded. On the 15th of Decem- 
 ber, 1869, he left Jaeksonport, and came to Pow- 
 hatan, where he soon won the confidence of his 
 fellow citizens, and built up a fair practice. He has 
 brought several cases to a successful issue in the 
 Superior Court, and always given his jier.sonal at 
 tention to his clients' grievances, not trusting them 
 in the hands of subordinates. In connection with 
 his law practice he is engaged in the real estate 
 business, and has been highly successful in the 
 latter, owning about 4,000 acres of land, besides 
 holding the agency for an immense amount. Mr. 
 Gibson has been elected to several local positions, 
 and for a number of years was county superin- 
 tendent of schools. He also held the office of 
 county examiner for several years, and it is not 
 only said, but is an established fact, that he has 
 done more toward advancing the public school in- 
 terests, and aiding the caiise of education, than any 
 other man in the county. In 1876 he was a can- 
 didate for and elected representative of his county, 
 and served with distinction for two years. In 1873 
 Mr. Gibson was married to Miss Fannie Peebles, 
 and after a short period of happy wedded life his 
 wife died. He was again married in 1881, his 
 second wife being Miss Lizzie M. Moore, a relative 
 of J. M. Moore, the prominent Little Rock jittor- 
 ney. This union has given them three bright chil- 
 dren: George M., Maggie M. and John K. Gibson, 
 Jr. , besides an infant, which the parents had the 
 misfortune to lose. Mr. Gibson and his wife are 
 members of the Old School Presbyterian Church, 
 in which the former is a deacon. In summing up 
 
 >? (3 
 
Mr. Gibson's career, it would not ho inappropriate 
 to touch upon the causes of his success in life. As 
 shown in this sketch, he began life with compara- 
 tively nothing, but has, by untiring energy and 
 the strict application of business principles, coupled 
 with the brilliancy of his mind, won for himself 
 the eminent success he has achieved. 
 
 John S. Gibson, attorney at law, one of the 
 brightest of the legal talent in Lawrence County, 
 was born in Fayetteville, N. C, October 12, 1857. 
 He is a son of Green S. and Sarah (Evans) Gibson. 
 Mr. Gibson received a common school education in 
 his youth, and was a close student of every sub- 
 ject that came under his notice. He studied law 
 with Chief Justice Pearson, of Richmond Hill, and 
 was granted a license by the Supreme Court of 
 North Carolina in 1879. He came to Arkansas 
 immediately following, and was granted a license 
 in that State in March, 1879, locating at Walnut 
 Kidge. He has had very fair success as a lawyer, 
 and can proudly point to the fact that he has won 
 every suit lirought to the court by him. "When 
 Mrs. Mary A. Boas came to Hoxio, he took charge 
 of her business as manager, and March 9, 18S7, 
 he was united in marriage to Miss Annie Boas. 
 He is a Democrat in politics, and was a delegate 
 to the State convention that nominated Gov. 
 Hughes. He resided in Colorado for eighteen 
 months, and in the fall of 1888 delivered several 
 speeches in behalf of the Democratic party in that 
 State. Mr. Gil)son was the lirst man to predict 
 the election of Wade Hampton, if nominated, for 
 governor of South Carolina. Mrs. Mary A. Boas 
 at one time owned the land on which Hoxio now 
 stands. The Iron Mountain Railroad was already 
 here at that time, and she gave twenty acres to the 
 company on which to build their side-tracks, de- 
 pots, etc. The road runs about as near through 
 the center of her 400- acre farm as it is possible to 
 locate without measurement. Mrs. Boas has since 
 then laid out the town site, and is selling the lots. 
 This lady is a native of Alabama, whoso parents 
 were Henry and Sarah M. Stephens, the former 
 from Georgia, and the latter a South Carolinian. 
 She was reared in the city of New Orleans, and 
 was there united to Henry Boas, December 27, 
 
 1804, a gentleman who Inid lieen engaged in rail- 
 roading almost all of his lifo until he came to 
 Moark, Ark., and oi>ened up the railroad eating 
 house at that place. Two years later he cauje to 
 Walnut Ridge, and established a very fine eating- 
 house, which was burned down in ^lay, 1877, In 
 the interval between the lOth of .May (date of tire) 
 and September t>, he had ))uilt ami moved into the 
 present eating-house, which ho conducted for three 
 years and a half, and then retireil from active lifo 
 for about four years. September 20, 1883, he 
 came to Hoxio, and erected the present hotel, whicii 
 ho operated until March, 1887. At this period 
 the health of their youngest child, Harry, began to 
 fail, and Mrs. Boas and her family made a visit to 
 Colorado, where they remained eighteen months. 
 Her oldest son, William Edgar, graduated from 
 the Brothers' College, St. Louis, Mo., but died 
 xVngust 21, 1885, and she lost her husband in 
 Panama, in September, 1886, where he had con 
 tracted malarial fever. Those of her children wlio 
 are now living are: Anna E., wife of John .S. Gib- 
 son, and Harry. There are two churches and a 
 public school building in course of construction at 
 Hoxio, the site of those improvements having Ijeen 
 donated by Mrs. Boas, and the newly projected 
 Walnut Ridge & Hoxio Street Railway Company 
 is through her farm, as also the right of way for 
 the Pocahontas & Hoxie Railroad. Mrs. Boas is 
 widely known for her liberality and kindliness, atid 
 is hold ill high regard by all acquaintancos. 
 
 George W. Goodwin is the oldest of four chil- 
 dren, and has resided in Lawrence County since 
 his twelfth year. He is a native of Alabama and 
 was born in 1839. His parents left Alabama in 
 1849 and came to Arkansas, where they settled in 
 Independence County and cultivated the land for 
 two years. In the fall of 1851 they removed to 
 Lawrence County, and settled in the neighliorliood 
 of whore Mr. Goodwin is now living. Here the 
 father purchased nn unimproved farm and com- 
 menced to model it into better shajie, when death 
 interrupted his labors in 1852, while yet in the 
 meridian of life. The mother is still living at the 
 age of seventy years and has never ceased to mourn 
 the loss of her husband. Eight children were 
 
 r 
 
born to them, of whom four are deceased, and the 
 four remaiuing are George W. , Mark, Peter. Emily, 
 wife of D. A. Price. Those deceased are: Francis, 
 Samuel, Pleasaut, Mary E. Mr. Goodwin re- 
 mained at liome until the year 186'i, and in March 
 of that year entered the army under Capt. Sloan, 
 of the Twenty-tifth Arkansas. He fought in all 
 the battles in which the company participated 
 when able to do duty, and was commended by his 
 superiors for the bravery he displayed on several 
 occasions. He was taken prisoner at Baldwin, 
 Miss., in 1862, but was only held a short time 
 and then released. He surrendered at Greens- 
 boro, N. C, in April, 1805, and when paroled, re- 
 turned home and resumed his work on the farm. 
 In 1870 he was married to Miss Leah Williams, of 
 Arkansas, who was l)orn and reared in this county, 
 and who died March 1, 1878, at the age of thirty- 
 two years and eleven months. Their union was 
 blessed with four children, one of them now de- 
 ceased. Their names are James, Charles J.. Absa- 
 lom (deceased), and John L. Mr. Goodwin again 
 contracted a marriage with Miss Martha B. Daw- 
 son, born in Independence County, and a daugh- 
 ter of 1. F. Dawson, one of the representative 
 farmers of this county. Three children were born 
 to Mr. Goodwin and his second wife, namely: 
 George F. , Osa May and Lena. Mr. Goodwin is 
 a member and the clerk of the Missionary Baptist 
 Church, and has taken an active pai't in school 
 work, having held several offices on the school 
 board. He has taken one degree in Masonry, and 
 is a leading spirit in the community, being held in 
 high esteem by his fellow-townsmen and neighbors. 
 He has upward of ninety acres of land under 
 cultivation. 
 
 Mark Goodwin, a well-known farmer of Law- 
 rence Countv, was born in Jefferson County, Ala., 
 in 1843, and came to Arkansas with his parents, 
 Wyche and Maria (Sharp) Goodwin, when very 
 youn". Mr. Goodwin has resided in Arkansas 
 ever since, and on reaching his twenty second year 
 he married and settled on the farui where he is at 
 present living. He is a practical farmer, and 
 thoroughly versed in the details of cotton ginning, 
 which l)usiness h(* operates in conjunction with his 
 
 brother, George Goodwin. They purchased a gin 
 in 1887, and in the following year ginned KiO Ijales 
 of cotton, with marked success. Mr. Goodwin at 
 one time devoted his attention to cabinet-making, 
 but finding that his farm would claim all of his 
 energies, he turned in that direction and has since 
 followed the occupation of farmer. His first mar- 
 riage was with Miss Frances Koney, of Arkansas, 
 who died, leaving two children — Samuel and 
 Laura, the latter now dead. His second wife was 
 Mi.ss Sarah SafFell, also a native of Arkansas, who 
 shortly followed in the footsteps of his first wife, 
 leaving one child, an infant, that did not survive 
 her long. Mr. Goodwin was married in 18(57 or 
 1868 to bis present wife. Miss Margaret Williams, 
 a daughter of Samuel Williams, a farmer and ex- 
 tensive stock dealer, of Lawrence County. The 
 fruits of this union were eight children, six girls 
 and two boys, whose names are: Ida, Joseph, 
 Milton, Ella, Lena, Addie, Mandie, Nora all of 
 them living. Mr. Goodwin is a member of A. F. 
 & A. M. Lodge No. 458, and also of the Mission- 
 ary Baptist Church. He has creditably filled sev- 
 eral offices on the school l)oard and local positions, 
 and is a man of great popularity in his vicinity. 
 
 (ieorge Graff & Sons, wagon manufactur- 
 ers, blacksmiths and repairers. Walnut Ridge. 
 George Graff, who established the l)usiness in 
 1877, was born at Frankfort on-the-Main, Ger- 
 many, October 18, 1825. He learned the wagon 
 trade in his native country and came to America 
 in 1854. locating at St. Louis, where he established 
 himself in business at the corner of Clayton and 
 Manchester roads, remaining there twenty-si.\ 
 j'ears. Having been compelled to pa}' a big secur- 
 ity debt, and being a heavy sufferer from fire, he 
 was induced to settle in Arkansas, in the year 
 1877, when he bought 200 acres of land at Lind- 
 say, five miles south of ^\'alnut Ridge. Shortly 
 aftm'ward he came to the latter place and opene<l 
 u]) his present business, while fortune seemed to 
 smile on him once more. In 1879 he had seven 
 men in his employ, and manufactured all kinds of 
 wagons, and in I8S() lie Ijrought his oldest son, 
 Benjamin F. , into partnership, changing the tirm 
 name to George Graff' & Son, which continued un- 
 
 ":?i; 
 
LA^\ HENCE COT'NTY. 
 
 7»3 
 
 der this hp;ul until the time of his death, January 
 7, 1888, when the other son, Fritz F. , became a 
 partner. The father, George Graff, was a mem- 
 ber of the Roman Catholic Church, and was buried 
 in the Catholic cemetery at Little Rock, the ser- 
 vices being conducted by Rev. Father Fitzgerald. 
 His two sons have since carried on the Imsiness of 
 wagon manufacturing, and have added an under- 
 taking establishment to it. The father was mar- 
 ried to Miss Anna Mary Graeber, also a native of 
 Germany, ten children having been born to them. 
 Six of them are still living, four boys and two 
 girls: Josie M. , wife of John .J. Pace, of Las 
 Vegas, N. M. ; Fritz F., Jacob T., of Las Vegas; 
 Benjamin F., Julius and Mary. The mother is 
 now deceased. Benjamin F. Graff was married 
 August 5, 188-4, to Miss Ida F. Israel, of Walnut 
 Ridge, and the couple have had two children: 
 Ruby Archias and Bennie. Fritz F. was married 
 October 19, 1884, to Miss Susie Kirsch, at Raven- 
 den Springs, Ark. They have twin girls: Josie 
 Ruby and Jessie Lee. 
 
 William C. Harris, of Hazel Grove, comes orig- 
 inally from North Carolina. His parents ar(> both 
 North Carolinians, but were married in South Car- 
 olina, from which place they moved, in 1835, and 
 settled in Walker County, Ga. His father, William 
 6. Harris, was a tanner by trade, and had followed 
 it for a number of years, but later in life embarked 
 in agricultural pursuits. He was one of the num- 
 ber who assisted in transferring the Cherokee Na- 
 tion into the Indian Territory. After locating in 
 Georgia he turned his attention to farming, and 
 also devoted part of his time to a lanyard, until the 
 Union WHS divided, when he moved to Catoosa 
 Connty, wliere he died in 1X54, a member of the 
 .Methodist E])iseoiial (Uuircli. His wife moved to 
 Missouri, after his death, and settled in Maries 
 ('ounty, where she lived until the time of h<'r de- 
 cease, in 180'.^. Twelve children were born to them, 
 seven living to maturity, and two dying since then. 
 The names of those living are Mary Ann, Sarah 
 N., Martha, Cicero F. and William C. Those 
 dead who lived to maturity were James F. and 
 Fletcher; the others died in infancy. William C. 
 was the third child and the eldest son. His young 
 
 50 
 
 er days were passed ujwn a farm in Georgia, and 
 at the age of twenty-ono years ho commenced life 
 for himself. His first venture was on a farm in 
 Georgia, and, in 1857, he came to Arkansas, and 
 settled in Jefferson County, where ho dealt in 
 stocks. In the year 18()() he moved to his present 
 home, where he has lived ever since, except in thi- 
 interval when he enlisted in Dobbins' regiment, 
 during the war. He was pre.sent at the surrender, 
 on June"), 1805, at Jacksonport, Ark. On his re 
 turn home ho resumed his work on the farm, and 
 was shortly afterward married to Miss Mary Sini 
 ord, of Walker County, Ga , a daughti-r of .lames 
 Sinierd, an old resident of Georgia. Mrs. Harris 
 came to Arkansas with her parents, in 18r>7, an«l 
 settled in this county, wiiere the father died in 
 1801, at the age of tiftytwo, and thr> mother in 
 1874, aged sixty two. Botli of them were mem- 
 bers of the Missionary Baptist Church. Two chil- 
 dren were born to them: Joseph G. , who died in 
 1859, and Mary, now the wife of Mr. Willianj C. 
 Harris. Mr. Harris and his wife liave three chil- 
 dren living: Martha E. , the wife of William Allen; 
 Thomas M., and Amanda G., the wife of Bishop 
 Morris, justice of the peace of this township. 
 When Mr. Harris first settled in this jjlaco there 
 were only five acres of land cleared; but he now 
 lias upwards of 1(10 acres under cultivation, most 
 of it being done by his own labor. 
 
 Thomas C Hennessee is a son of G. C. and 
 Sallio (Smith) Hennessee, of Warren County. Teun., 
 who emigrated to Wright County, Mo., in 1842, 
 where Thomas was born March 20, 1844. In 
 ISOM the family moved to Arkansas and located in 
 Lawrence County, where the father died in ISSO. 
 He served in the Confederate army through the 
 war, and was one of the raitlers luider Price during 
 that general's daring exploits. The family con- 
 sisted of four sons and three daughters, who grew 
 to mature years, of whom two brothers and three 
 sisters are yet living. Thomas ('. Hennessee re- 
 mained with his father on the farm until the latter 
 joined the Confederate array, in IStU. In 1802 ho 
 enlisted in the Second Missouri Battalion of Cav 
 airy, and served in that company until the clo.se of 
 the war. He was paroled and discharged at 
 
d 
 
 s w_ 
 
 794 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Shrevepoit, La., on May 10, 1865, and returned 
 to his home in Lawrence County. During his 
 career in the army Mr. Henne.ssee has, no doubt, 
 seen about as much lighting, and also done fully as 
 much as any soldier at that jjeriod. He took part 
 in the tights at Poison Springs, Marks' Mill, Jen- 
 kins' Ferry, and a great many skirmishes and tights 
 of lesser note, but equally as hot as their prede- 
 cessors. When he tirst joined the army, the bat- 
 talion of which he was a member was composed of 
 476 men, and out of that number only seventy-four 
 lived through the hon'ors of war to be paroled at 
 its close. Mr. Hennessee received a gun- shot 
 wound in one of his limbs, which disabled him for 
 a time; and, on another occasion, was wounded by 
 one of the guards, after being taken a prisoner, 
 while walking over a log to cross a creek. Ou De- 
 cember 21, 1865, he was married to Miss Levira 
 Bagley, of Arkansas, and then settled to a farm 
 life with his bride. He came on his present place 
 in December, 1870, and has cleared up about 160 
 acres, and built a fair house, out- buildings and all 
 necessary adjuncts, besides a small orchard of well- 
 selected fruits. He also owns another farm of 187 
 acres, with about sixty acres cleared up and a com- 
 fortable house -built upon it, owning altogether 
 some 400 acres of rich Ijottom land, situated abou* 
 five miles northwest of Walnut Ridge. Mr. Hen- 
 nessee was elected justice of Cache Township in 
 1874, and held the oifice continuously for twelve 
 years. He is a Democrat in politics, and a strong 
 adherent to the principles and doctrines of his 
 party. Both he and his wife are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Hen- 
 nessee is also a member of the Knights and Ladies 
 of Honor. They have had five children born to 
 them, all living. Their names are Martha, wife 
 of J. S. Childers; Laura, wife of W. G. Duty; 
 Joseph G. , John H. and Sallie Anna. Mr. Hen- 
 nessee .started in life, after the war, without a dol- 
 lar, and has accumulated his fine property by in- 
 dustry, economy and good management, and is 
 now one of Lawrence County's solid men and en- 
 terprising citizens. 
 
 Samuel Henry, farmer and stock raiser, is a son 
 of Reuben and Elizalieth (Yates) Henry, of Polk 
 
 County, Tenn. , where Samuel was born on the 10th 
 of August, 1837. His father bore arms for this 
 country in the War of 1812, and also fought under 
 Gen. Jackson, at the battles of New Orleans and 
 Horseshoe Bend. After the death of the elder 
 Henry, which occurred while in his prime, the 
 government granted a land warrant to the family, 
 in recognition of his services. Samuel remained 
 with his mother until he grew to manhood, and 
 then commenced farming for himself. When war 
 was announced between the North and South, he 
 enlisted in the Confederate army, and became a 
 member of the Ninth Tennessee Cavalry, first as a 
 private, but later on i^romoted to the rank of 
 orderly sergeant. He was present at the battle of 
 Shiloh for three days, and at the tirst siege and 
 bombardment of Vicksburg for thirty days; then 
 at the battle of Baton Rouge, La., and at Corinth, 
 Miss. , where he was captured and taken prisoner. 
 Ten days after his capture he was paroled, and in 
 nine months' time fi'om that date re-joined his regi- 
 ment in time to take part in the battle at Jackson, 
 Tenn. His last fight of importance was at the 
 battle of Chickamanga, but he afterward fought in 
 a great many skirmishes and smaller battles. In 
 the fall of 1864 he was taken prisoner at Charles- 
 ton, Tenn., and held at Paducah, Ky. , until the 
 close of the war, when he was paroled at Union 
 City, Tenn. , in June, 1865. x He then returned to 
 his home in that State, and farmed for several 
 years, and in the fall of 1872 moved to ISIissoim, 
 where he remained for two years. Ho again 
 changed his habitation in 1874, coming to Lawrence 
 County, Ark., and settling on a farm. In 1882 he 
 moved to Texas, and was gone one year, when he re- 
 turned to Lawrence County, and bought a small 
 tract of land, iipon which he commenced farming. 
 Shortly afterward he went to Randolph Coirnty, 
 Ark. , bought land, and later on retui'ned to Law- 
 rence County, and settled upon his present place of 
 residence, where he has almost 200 acres of land, 
 and about fifty acres cleared and under cultivation, 
 all of it being on bottom land, and composed of 
 very rich soil. In politics Mr. Henry is a Demo- 
 crat, and, before he went to Texas, had been elected 
 justice of the peace and served one term. In the 
 
 _ 
 
fall of 1888 he was again elected justice of the 
 peace, and is still holding that office. He was mar- 
 ried on July 22, 1860, in Bradley County, Tenn., 
 to Miss Adalino Clark, a daughter of Ht^nry Clark, 
 of Georgia, and has three children: Miranda, 
 Elizabeth and Margaret, all single. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Henry have lost a son, Reuben Napoleon, who died 
 in July, 1884, at the age of seventeen. Mrs. 
 Henry is a member of the Methodist E])iscopal 
 Church, and is well-known for hi'rcliarital)le nature 
 and interest in church work. 
 
 J. F. Hildebrandt, farmer, has been a resident 
 of Campbell Township for thirty-one years, and 
 was boru in Dallas County, Mo., in 1857. His 
 parents were Thomas and Mary (Potter) Hilde- 
 brandt, who died while he was very young. They 
 moved to Arkansas in the year 1858, and settled 
 in Randolj)h County, where the father followed his 
 occupation of farming Tintil 1861, when he enlisted 
 in the Federal army, and was taken sick and died. 
 The mother survived him eight years, leaving 
 three boys at hm' death, of whom only one is liv 
 ing at present, J. F. Hildebrandt. Mr. Hilde- 
 brandt was reared on a farm, and after his mother's 
 death went to live with his uncle, M'illiam I'otter, 
 until the time of his decease, when he transferred 
 his home to that of Uncle Claiborne Piiuiell, an 
 old settler of Lawrence County. December 5, 
 1876, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Hennes- 
 see, a daughter of Gideon Hennessee, one of the 
 old residents of Campbell Township, who presented 
 his daughter with forty acres of land, as a mar- 
 riage gift, and upon which Mr. Hildebrandt and 
 his wife are at present living. He is an energetic 
 and successful young farmer, and will soon add to 
 his prosperity, from present indications. They are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, and Mr. Hildebrandt is also connected with 
 the Knights and Ladies of Honor, at Walnut 
 Ridge. They have had live children, two of them 
 deceased. Those living are Nancy Artabell, Mary 
 Vlvira and William Thomas. 
 
 P. B. Hill, a well-known farmer of Campbell 
 Township, was born in Iredell County, N. C, 
 July 8, 1852. His father, who was Robert H. 
 Hill, was a native of North Carolina, of Scotch and 
 
 Irish ancestry, who married Miss Sarah Adeline 
 Hall. The father of Mr. Hill died in North Caro- 
 lina, and the mother in Fayette County, Tenn. 
 P. B. Hill received a liberal education at home, 
 his parents taking pains to provide him with every 
 facility for learning, and was subsequently at Mm' 
 University of Mississippi, where he completed thi- 
 junior and sophomore courses. He then studied 
 law at SomervilJe, Tenn., with H. C. Moorman, 
 and attended a course of law lectures at the Van- 
 derbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. He was a<l 
 mitted to the bar in Tennessee, and later on in the 
 State of Arkansas. He came to the latter State in 
 1886, and settled in Lawrence County, and has 
 been a resident of Campbell Township for about 
 three years. He was marrieil in June, 1886, to 
 Miss Victoria Lester, a daughter of P. K. Lester, 
 and has one child, Annie P. Hill. 
 
 Dr. A. B. Hogard, a prominent citizen and a 
 farmer and stock raiser of Marion township, was 
 born in Louisa County, Va., on the 27th of August, 
 1827. He is a son of Austin and Sarah (H.'imil- 
 ton) Hogard, of that State, the father being of 
 Scotch descent, and the mother a daughter of 
 Capt. Hamilton, of Virginia. The elder Hogard 
 was a physician and also a preacher, and was noted 
 for his great oratorical powers and strong delivery 
 at that period. He moved to Missouri in 183:1 
 and settled in Perry County, where he practiced 
 medicine, and was also occupied in farming and 
 milling. His death occurred in 1.S62. During his 
 life he fought in the War of 1N12, and took part 
 in the battle at Norfolk, Va. Dr. A. B. Hogard 
 remained with his father in Perry County. Mo. . 
 until he grew to manhood, and received a good 
 common school education. He also attended the 
 Washington Seminary at Cape Girardeau, and 
 afterwards studied medicine with Dr. Glenn, of 
 Perry County, a widely known pliysician of that 
 period. In 1858-5'J he took his lirst course at tlie 
 St. Louis Medical College, and afterwards took a 
 graduating course at the Kentucky School of Med- 
 icine at Louisville, in 1860-61, graduating in the 
 spring of 1861. He then returned to Perry County, 
 and |)racticed until 1864. when he eidisted in the 
 Federal army, and served until the end of the war. 
 
- > A J' 
 
 796 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 He first entered as a lieutenant, but was afterwards 
 transferred to the regiment hospital of which he 
 had full charge, and was promoted to surgeon- 
 general. The Doctor then located at Pinckney- 
 ville. 111., in 1860-67, and was appointed pension 
 examiner by Gen. Grant. He held the office for two 
 years, and then resigned, but continued his prac- 
 tice at that place up to the year 1875. In 1878 he 
 moved to Arkansas, and located at the place upon 
 which he now resides, and practiced for a number 
 of years. He finally gave up his profession, and 
 bought a section of land, with some slight improve- 
 ments on it and commenced farming, and he now 
 owns about 450 acres of land, with about 240 acres 
 cleared. The Doctor also built a cotton-gin in 
 1883, which was at first worked by horse-power, 
 but is now run by steam, and gins a large portion 
 of the cotton in that vicinity. In 1850 he was 
 married to Miss Ellen Burgee, in Perry County, 
 a daughter of Judge Burgee, of that place, but lost 
 his wife in 1S06. He has one daughter by this 
 wife, and two sons and one daughter by his second 
 wife, who was Mrs. Mary Steel, a widow lady of 
 Illinois. Their names are Martha, wife of John 
 Mosley; John, Ellen, wife of H. R. Childers, and 
 Thomas. The Doctor and his wife are members of 
 the Baptist Church, and he himself is a Master 
 Mason. In the fall of 1884 he was elected justice 
 of Marion Township, and at the expiration of his 
 term was re-elected in 1888, and is at present fill- 
 ing that office with dignity and wisdom. 
 
 John Holmes (deceased), one of the former citi- 
 zens of Walnut Ridge, was born in Coshocton, 
 Ohio, April 18, 1858. His 2)arents were A. Jack- 
 sou and Mary (McDanifl) Holmes, of the same 
 State, who died when their son was very young. 
 Mr. Holmes was reared on a farm in Coshocton, 
 Ohio, by his uncle, Felix Butler, and on reaching his 
 twentieth year, he left him and settled at a point 
 near St. Mary's, Kas., where he learned the car 
 penter's trade. He followed this for two years, 
 and then worked on a farm for one year. In the 
 spring of 1884 he came to Walnut Ridge, and 
 worked at his trade until his death occurred, in 
 1888, aged thirty years. Mr. Holmes was not a 
 member of any society. He was a Republican in 
 
 politics, and served one term as marshal of Wal- 
 nut Ridge, gaining the reputation of being an effi- 
 cient officer. He was married January 1, 1881, 
 to Miss Maggie Van Syckle of New Jersey, whose 
 parents, A. Jackson and Catherine (Hibler) Van 
 Syckle, were natives of the same State. Four chil- 
 dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, three of 
 them living: Ada, Bertha and Otto. Mrs. Holmes 
 was appointed postmistress of Walnut Ridge, on 
 May 16, 1889, succeeding Capt. James C. Can- 
 non, on June 9, 1889, and fulfills the duties of 
 her office to the satisfaction of Lawrence County's 
 citizens. 
 
 Henry T. Holt, one of Lawrence County's lead- 
 ing farmers, and a blacksmith whose repiitation 
 extends to all parts of that county, was born in 
 1844, in the State of Arkansas. His parents were 
 Heni-y and Patsy (Logan) Holt, of Kentucky, who 
 came to this State and settled near the Missouri 
 line, in 1830. The following year they moved to 
 Carroll County, Ark., where the father is still liv- 
 ing, in his seventieth year. Mr. Holt's parents 
 had eight children, and seven of them are yet liv- 
 ing, Henry T. being the fourth child born. He 
 was reared in Carroll County, and lived thereuntil 
 better opportunities seemed to present themselves 
 in Lawrence County, to which locality he moved. 
 In 1863 he enlisted in the Confederate army, and 
 was one of Gen. Price's raiders through Missouri. 
 He was also a member of the Sixth Cavalry, and 
 while with that company was engaged in several 
 sharp skirmishes. Before raiding through Mis- 
 souri he took part in an engagement in this county, 
 and played an active part. His surrender was 
 made at Buffalo, in Newton County, in 1865. He 
 returned home in 1866, and came to this county, 
 where he located on Coopers Creek. He lived 
 there five years, and then purchased his present 
 home, near Smithville, and has been there ever 
 since. He was married to Mrs. C. Campbell, nee 
 Sloan, of Tennessee, and the coujile are happy in 
 the possession of three bright children: Lura, 
 Amelia, and Clo. Thomas. Mr. Holt learned the 
 trade of blacksmith from his father, when a boy, 
 and has followed it up to within the last few 
 years. He is the largest stock dealer in Smith- 
 
villi" Township, and also has 100 acres of land 
 under cultivation, besides some good farms. In 
 politics, he is a Democrat, and one of Lavprence 
 County's leading citizens. 
 
 Dr. "William H. James, of the firm of James & 
 Wayland, merchants and lumber dealers, was born 
 in Gibson County, Tenn., in 1844. He is the son 
 of John W. James, of Virginia, who y/na born in 
 181U, and came to the State of Tennessee in his 
 young days, where he was graduated from the 
 Nashville Medical College, being in his after career 
 a successful physician. He was also a minister of 
 the Baptist Church, of which denomination he died 
 a member in 1863. The mother, Lucinda D. (Mc- 
 Whirter) James, was born January 4, 1817, in the 
 State of North Carolina, and died in 1860. They 
 were the parents of five children, three of whom 
 lived to maturity, but only one. Dr. William H. 
 James, is living at present. Dr. James came to Ar- 
 kansas with his parents in 185S, where he remained 
 until the war commenced. He enlisted in the Con- 
 federate army in 1861, and served until the close 
 of hostilities, when he surrendered at Jackson, 
 Miss. He was severely wounded at the battle of 
 Bentonville, N. C, while making a charge upon 
 the enemy, aud slightly wounded at Murfreesboro, 
 Tenn. AVhen the war was over he returned home, 
 and was engaged to oversee a plantation near Mem- 
 phis, and afterward accepted a position in a mill 
 near that place. He commenced the practice of 
 medicine under Dr. Boardman, of the Missouri 
 Medical College, St. Louis, and entered that col- 
 lege in IBBC). He returned to Arkansas, and com- 
 menced practicing at Smithville, and from then" 
 came to Powhatan in 186U. He now resides on 
 Flat Creek, between Smithville and Powhatan, and 
 enjoys a large practice. The Doctor was first mar 
 ried, in 1869, to Miss Temperance A. Wesson, of 
 Virginia, who died August 1, 1884, leaving five 
 children to survive her— Ada L., Ella L. , Ida L., 
 Ora L. , and Ula L. , of whom the first letter in 
 each name makes the five vowels. His second wife 
 was Miss Virginia Brady, of this county, who is 
 still living, and by whom he has had three chil- 
 dren —Willie V. (a girl), Yancey V. (a boy), and 
 Edward, all of them living. The Doctor and his 
 
 wife are memliers of the Missionary Baptist Church, 
 and the Doctor himself of the A. F. & A. M,, in 
 which he is a Chapter member. He entered into 
 mercantile life in 18711, and one year later formed 
 a partnership with F. M. Waylaad, now the man- 
 ager of the firm. Dr. James is one of the most 
 successful men in Lawrence County. He owns a 
 large farm, well under cnltivution, besides several 
 large tracts of timber land, and is engaged in saw- 
 milling lo some extent. He is very popular, both 
 on account of his business and personal qualifica- 
 tions, and is a man of fine physique. • 
 
 \\'iley C. Jones is a native of Alabama, and 
 was born in Jackson County, in 1824. His parents 
 both came originally from Georgia, and settled in 
 Alabama, where they were married, and in 1829 
 or 1830 moved to the State of Tennessee. In 1834 
 they settled in Illinois, locating in the southern 
 portion of that State, and remaining six years, and 
 in 1840, the prospects of a brighter future present- 
 ing itself in the State of Arkansas, they turned 
 their attention in that direction and settled on Big 
 Creek, now situated in Sharp County. Farming 
 and milling were their occupations until 1856, when 
 the father died at the age of fifty-two years, after 
 a busy and useful life. Four children were born 
 to the parents, Mr. Jones being the second child. 
 He grew to manhood in this county, and com 
 menced in business for himself in Sharp County, 
 in 1S47, and afterward in Lawrence County. He 
 followed the business of his father until the first 
 iilarm of war penetrated into his home, and. leaving 
 the old mill and its boyhood memories behind, 
 rushed to the front like a gallant soldier to fight 
 for his country. He was enrolled in Coleman's 
 regiment, and after two months' hot work, was 
 captured in Sharp County, and conveyed to St. 
 Louis, Mo., where he was forced to lay si.v weeks in 
 captivity. From St. Louis he was taken to Alton, 
 where he was held a jmsoner for three months, 
 and thence to Memphis, Tenn., from which place 
 he daringly made his escape by swimming the 
 river, with the bullets of his cnptoi-s singing about 
 his ears. He returned to his regiment, then at 
 Pocahontas, Randolph County, and obtained his 
 release. He remained at home for a short time, 
 
798 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 bnt inactivity was the bane of his existence, and, 
 in the fall of 1802, he joined Capt. Dye's regi- 
 ment, which had been re-organized, and was then 
 called Newton's regiment. One year later he was 
 sent home on a recruiting expedition, and suc- 
 ceeded in organizing what was known as Baber's 
 regiment, in honor of Col. Baber, and remained 
 with them until the surrender at Jacksonjwrt, 
 June 22, 1865. At the close of the war he re- 
 turned home and resumed his business of farming 
 and milling, and has devoted a portion of his time 
 to cotton-ginning. He has various interests in 
 Lawrence County, and is one of the influential 
 men of his section. He was married, in 1848, to 
 Miss Rebecca Lingo, one of the former belles of 
 Arkansas, and their marriage has been blessed 
 with two children, who brightened their home un- 
 til death claimed them. After the death of his 
 first wife Mr. Jones met Miss Sarah Endsley, an 
 attractive lady of Tennessee, and after a brief 
 struggle love was once more the victor over grief, 
 and they were united in 1853. They have had 
 seven children, of whom four are deceased. Mr. 
 Jones was fated to lose his second wife, and re- 
 mained a widower until January 11, 1884, when he 
 succumbed to the charms of Miss Sarah Snider, his 
 present wife. He is a member of A. F. & A. M. , 
 and was appointed postmaster at Canton in this 
 county before the war, and has also held several 
 local ofSces. 
 
 William Jones, justice of the peace, and a well- 
 known farmer and merchant, was born in William- 
 son County, 111., November 29, 1849. He is a son 
 of L. A. Jones, of Indiana, who moved to Illinois 
 in 1841, and was married in that State to Miss 
 Ridley J. Moore, of Tennessee. After their mar- 
 riage the couple made W'illiamson County, 111., 
 their home, where the elder Jones still resides at 
 a very advanced age. His mother, Mrs. Ridley 
 J. Junes died in March, 1862. W'illiam Jones re- 
 mained with his parents until his sixteenth year, 
 and with a strong reliance on his own abilities he 
 commenced in life for himself. He came to the 
 State of Arkansas in 1807, and located at Clover 
 Bend, in Lawrence County, where he farmed for a 
 number of years, and then moved to his present 
 
 residence. When he first purchased the land it 
 was all new and unimproved, but since then he has 
 cleared about fifty acres, biiilt some very fair 
 houses upon it, and cultivated a small but well-se- 
 lected orchard. He also built a store in 1888, and 
 put in a good stock of general merchandise, and l)y 
 his upright and honest methods of doing business 
 has established a tine trade. He was married in 
 the spring of 1868 to Miss Mary Stephens, of 
 Tennessee, and has three children living by this 
 marriage, Nettie Jane, Charley A. and Arthur W. 
 Allie D. and Willie A. died in early childhood. 
 Mr. Jones was elected justice of the peace in the 
 fall of 1884, and is now serving his third term. 
 He is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, and 
 one of the most substantial citizens of Lawrence 
 County. 
 
 Hon. Joseph B. Judkins, a name well known 
 and respected throughout Lawrence County, was 
 born in what is now De Kalb County, on March 1, 
 1837. He is a son of Hon. William H. and Sarah 
 (Roberts) Judkins, natives of Virginia, where the 
 elder Judkins was a farmer of considerable magni- 
 tude. The father first moved to North Carolina, 
 and from there to the State of Tennessee, and 
 about the year 1850 he settled in Lawrence 
 County, Ark., where his son, Joseph B., now re- 
 sides. He was elected to the State senate of Ar- 
 kansas, and was a member of that body at the 
 time of his death, in 1854, and previous to that 
 event had held the office of justice of the jieace for 
 twelve years. Joseph B. Judkins came to Ar- 
 kansas with his father when fourteen years of age, 
 and remained with him up to the time of his death. 
 He then lived with his mother until he had attained 
 his manhood, and bought the land upon which he 
 now resides. When he first came n|)on it the land 
 was entirely new, and he immediately sot to work 
 clearing and building upon it, so that now he has 
 some 150 acres cleared and under cultivation, own- 
 ing altogether about 520 acres. Mr. Judkins also 
 owns two fine orchards of apples and peaches, upon 
 which he has spent a large amount of time and care 
 to tiring to a state of perfection, and thus far his 
 labor has been rewarded. In 1862 he enlisted in 
 the Confederate service, becoming a memlier of 
 
 ^' 
 
LAAVEENCE COUNTY. 
 
 I'M 
 
 the Twenty fifth Arkansas Infantry, and gave val- 
 uahle and efficient aid to the canse until the close 
 of the war. He was at the battles of llichmoiid, 
 Ky. , Stone River and Ghickainauga, and was also 
 present at the siege and surrender of Atlanta. Al- 
 together he was engaged in ahout twenty five hat- 
 ties, besides several minor skirmishes. On his first 
 entrance into the army he held the rank of orderly 
 sergeant, but by his bravery ho soon won the raidcs 
 of lieutenant and captain, respectively. He com- 
 manded the regiment as senior captain in thirteen 
 (Migagoments, and was twice wounded, each time 
 while gallantly leading his men before a suijerior 
 force. After the war was over, and his surrender 
 at Jacksonport, he returned to his home and farm, 
 and on July 8, 1856, was married to Miss Susan 
 A. Phillips, a daughter of Alfred and Ann Phillips; 
 she had captured the gallant soldier's heart, and 
 found for him a haven of peace after his stormy 
 career through the war. Seven children were born 
 to this happy union: Alfred L., William H., 
 Josie \\'. (wife of George A. Dungan), all of them 
 married, and Charles F., Augustus H. G., Horace 
 H. and David W., single. Mr. Judkins is an Odd 
 Fellow, and in politics is a .strong believer of 
 Democratic principles, supporting his party on 
 every occasion where his valuable aid was needed. 
 He was elected sheriff of his county in 186'J, and 
 on the expiration of his term was re-elected 
 and served four consecutive years. Two years 
 succeeding he was elected and served as assessor, 
 and then represented his county in the legislature. 
 In 1870 he was elected to the State senate, and 
 after serving in that body four years, was re-elected 
 as a member of the Arkansas legislature, and for 
 ten years comprised one of that body. He retired 
 from political life in 1880, but still takes an active 
 part in the aflfairs of his county. His record in 
 the political field is one of lirilliancy and honor, 
 and few men have ever served the interests of their 
 l)arty to a bettter advantage than did Mi-. Judkins. 
 John W. Kelley is the son of Marvel and Sally 
 Kelley, of Georgia, in which State he was born in 
 the year of 1830. He is the youngest of eight 
 children, and lost his father when only two years 
 old. His mother was afterward married to Ed. 
 
 Kitchens, and removed to Arkansas in 1857, local 
 ing in Newton County. They remained there 
 several years and then settled in Te.xas, where 
 they liv(Hl until the time of their decease. 5Ir. 
 Kelley reached his mauhood in the State of Ala 
 bama, having gone there when quite young. At 
 twenty tliree years of ago he went to Dent County, 
 Mo., and finding the locality satisfactory, remained 
 there until 1854, when he returned to Alabama, 
 and lived there three years. He then moved back 
 to Dent County, Mo. , and in 1863, when the first 
 alarm of war was sounded, he joined Col. Mitchell's 
 regiment in the Confederate army, and served un- 
 til the fall of 1804. They were disbanded when 
 near the Indian Nation on account of the ravages 
 of small pox in that territory. He fell a victim to 
 this dread disease, and remained in Ozark County, 
 Ark., until his recovery. In the spring of 1805, 
 he came to Lawrence County, Ark., and settled at 
 a point near Powhatan, where he remained six 
 years. From thi>re he moved to his present home 
 and commenced farming and improving the land. 
 Mr. Kelley was first married to a young lady of 
 Alabama, Miss Nancy Lawson, who died in 1800. 
 By this marriage he had seven children (four of 
 them dying since): Rebecca J., the wife of Thomas 
 Hederick; Marvel Jackson, and JlaryAnn, the wife 
 of James C. Smith — living; and those who have 
 died are: Sarah, who was the wife of William 
 McLaughlin, leaving three children, and Nancy, 
 William and Cassandra, the latter dying in child- 
 hood from the small-pox. Mr. Kelley was married 
 the second time to Mrs. Mary Woodson, nee Law- 
 son, a sister of his first wife. They had one child 
 by this union, Andrew, who died August 22, 1887. 
 This lady died in 1882, and Mr. Kelley' s third 
 wife was Mrs. Cynthia Cravens, nee Johnson. He 
 has had one child by this wife. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Kelley are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South. They have throe children by her 
 first husband, whose names are Maggie Cravens, 
 Thomas G. and Martha E. Their father died in 
 March, 1882. Mr. Kelley' s son. Marvel Jack.son, 
 is married and teaching school near the home of 
 his father. 
 
 Jarrett W. Kendall, a widely-known farmer of 
 
800 
 
 HISTORY OF AKKANSAS. 
 
 Strawberry Township, was Ijorii in Henry County, 
 Tenu., in 1834. He is a son of Jophtha A. and 
 Elizabeth J. (Harvey) Kendall, of Tennessee, 
 whose parents settled in Tennessee in the year 
 1800. Mr. Kendall's grandfather fought in the 
 War of 1812, and was also a soldier in the old Rev- 
 ohitionar}' War. He lived to a very advanced age, 
 as did also his wife, Rachel, who was one hundred 
 and twelve years old at the time of her death. 
 They were the parents of a very large family, the 
 father of J. W. Kendall being their youngest child, 
 who was l)()rn in Tennessee, in 1806, where he 
 grew to maturity and married. His wife, the 
 mother of J. \V. Kendall, was born in Tennessee, 
 in the year 1812, and both parents were of English 
 descent. They remained in Tennessee until the 
 death of the father, in 1838, when the mother came 
 west and located in Independence County, Ark., 
 where they lived until 18(55, when they removed 
 to a point in Jackson County, near Jacksonport. 
 In 1861) they came to this county, where Mr. J. W. 
 Kendall has since lived. He enlisted in Capt. 
 Gibb's company. First Arkansas Regiment, and 
 served four years. During that time he fought at 
 Wilson's Creek, andElkhorn, Mo., also at the bat- 
 tle of Corinth, Miss. He took part in several small 
 engagements, but the next battles of note in which 
 he was present were at Murfreesboro (Tenn. ) and 
 Chickamauga (Ga. ), and was with Sherman on his 
 famous march to the sea. Some of his hottest 
 fighting was at Franklin, Tenn. , and at Nashville, 
 where he was disabled by a ball through the left 
 hip, and was also shot through the bowels and kid- 
 neys. He was taken to the hospital at Franklin, 
 where he was captured, and taken to Nashville. 
 He was held in the hospital for tliirty days, and 
 taken to Columbus, Ohio, where he was kept a 
 prisoner until his exchange, just before the war 
 was ended. He then went to Rook Hill, N. C. , 
 where he was taken care of by a citizen of the 
 town until the surrender, when he returned home 
 and resumed his farm work. Mr. Kendall must 
 certainly have received as many wounds as any 
 survivor of the war. For two years afterward he 
 could pick small pieces of bone out of his body, 
 especially in his ])ack, where he was struck by a 
 
 bursting shell at Murfreesboro; and at Dock Hill. 
 Mo., his legs were riddled with small shot. His 
 war record is an honorable one, and the country 
 he served certainly had no braver man. One of 
 the saddest episodes of his career was during the 
 battle at Franklin, Tenn. He saw his brother 
 John shot down l)efore his eyes, but was unable to 
 reach him unlil the smoke and thunder of that 
 terrible slaughter had cleared away, and left the 
 battlefield to the dead. He returned at the earli- 
 est opportunity, and found him lying among the 
 slain, and, far away from home and kindred, he 
 buried him in a secluded spot near where he fell, 
 with the vast tield of battle as a monument to bis 
 bravery. At the close of the war Mr. Kendall 
 was left without a cent in the world, Ijut by exert- 
 ing himself he i-eceived 130 from the A. F. & A. 
 M. , with which to make a new start in life. He 
 now owns 4-16 acres of land, and has l^O under 
 cultivation, with a substantial building ujion it. 
 He was first married, in 1866, to Miss Mary G. 
 Box, of Tennessee, who died in 1880, leaving two 
 children: Felix Susan and George A., the latter 
 dying in December, 1888. His second wife was 
 Miss Harriet I. Reed, of Arkansas, who has borne 
 him two children; John W. and William S. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Kendall are members of the Missionary 
 Baptist Church; the former also of the A. F. & A. 
 M. , in which he is Past Master. He takes an active 
 interest in politics, and is a Democrat, having held 
 the office of justice of the peace. 
 
 Daniel Ketuer, farmer and stock-raiser, is a son 
 of David Ketner, of North Carolina, whose father 
 was one of the soldiers of the Revolution. David 
 Ketner married Miss Mary Izehom, their son, Dan- 
 iel, being born November 25, 1825. The latter 
 remained with his father until he reached the age 
 of twenty-four years, and in the .spring of 1849 
 moved west, and settled in the State of Illinois. 
 He labored on a farm in Union County for eight- 
 een months, and then, thinking the prospects 
 brighter for him in Tennessee, he moved to that 
 State, where he was shortly afterward married to 
 Miss Catherine Bour, of North Carolina. After 
 his marriage, he settled on a farm in Weakley 
 County, Tenn. , where he remained three years. 
 
LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 .S(l| 
 
 
 and id tlie expiiiitioii of tluit time, moved to Union 
 County, 111., residing there until the fall of 1858. 
 He then came to Arkansas and l)ou<^lit eighty acres 
 of now laud, which he cleared and put under cul- 
 tivation, and, meeting with success in his new 
 home, he l)onght more land on different occasions, 
 until, at the present time, he owns considerable. 
 His home place consists of 100 acres, with about 
 eighty acres cleared and a comfortable house upon 
 it; an adjoining farm of eighty acres, with fifty- 
 live acres cleared ; one of 160 acres, with about thir 
 ty five acres cleared, and another of s(^venty-three 
 acres, with thirty-five acres ready for cultivation. 
 Mr. Ketner can feel proud of his possessions, as 
 he has made it all liy his own exertions and good 
 management since, the war. He is one of Law- 
 rence County's representative farmers, and a man 
 much thought of and respected in his community, 
 lu 1863 he enlisted in the Confederate army, and 
 served until the final surrender, when he was pa- 
 roled at Shreveport, La., in June, 1865. His 
 record through the war is one of the best, and he 
 was always in the thick of battle at Pilot Knob. 
 Pine Bluff, Little llock. Independence and Price's 
 raids through Missouri. Mr. Ketner returned to 
 his home after the war had ended, and was there 
 married to his present wife, a widow lady, of 
 Tennessee, formerly Mrs. Mary Lawson. He is 
 the father of seven children by his first marriage: 
 George H., J. Daniel, Mahala, wife of Clay Hol- 
 den; Jesse A., Jane, wife of George Caspar; Mar- 
 garet, wife of James Nunley; Amanda, wife of 
 Elihu Davis; and there is also one child by the last 
 marriage, Nettie, a miss of five years. Mr. Ket- 
 ner is a membov of the Old School Presbyterian 
 Church, and also of the Agricultural Wheel, while 
 Mrs. Ketner attends the Baptist Church. 
 / Henry L. Lady, farmer and stock raiser, is a 
 son of Henry and Irene (Fried) Lady, of Tennes- 
 see and Germany, respectively. After their mar 
 riage the parents moved to Lyon County, Ky., 
 where their son, Henry L., was born, Doceml)er 
 26, 1S48. The elder Lady has resided in that 
 county over since, with his wife, both having 
 reached an advanced age, and is one of the most 
 prominent men in that section. He held the office 
 
 of ct)r()uer for sixteen consecutive years, and at Uie 
 present time he is still a vigorous, active old gen 
 tleman. Henry L. Lady remained with his jiar 
 ents until he had reached his twenty fourlli year, 
 having, in the nu^antime, all the advantages of a 
 good common school education, and also attending 
 the Eddyville Academy. He left his native place 
 ill 1871, and (rame to Arkansas, where he remained 
 the first year with an uncle, and then located on 
 the place upon which he now resides. On March 
 2',), 1S76, he was married in Lawrence County to 
 Miss Alice A. Cunningham, of South Carolina, and 
 .settled on a farm with his bride, who died on No- 
 vember 28, LST'.t. He was married a second time, 
 his nest wife being Miss Emeline Kenion, of Law- 
 rence County, who owned the place upon which 
 Mr. Lady resided on his arrival witli the first wife. 
 j They have 100 acres of fine land under cultivation, 
 and since his arrival, Mr. Lady has greatly im- 
 ))roved and l)uilt up the place. He also has 200 
 acres of other land under cultivation and six tene- 
 ment houses, besides his own residence. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Laily hav(> no children of their own, but havi- 
 adopted two orphans, one of them thirteen years 
 of age and th(i other three years, and are giving 
 them a comfortable home and idl the advantages 
 that can be had. They are generous, kind-hearted 
 people, and much respectcnl by their neighbors. 
 Mr. Lady is a member of the Knights of Honor, 
 and also an active man in all enterprises working 
 for the welfare of his community. 
 
 Isaac Loss, of Walnut Ridge, farmer and real 
 e.state dealer, was born in Germany in the year 
 1840. He was thoroughly instructed in mercan- 
 tile branches in early life, and when in his .seven- 
 teenth year, he left his native country for America, 
 where he entered into partnership with Marcus 
 Berger (now of Jonesboro), at Greenville, III. In 
 1875 he came to Walnut Ridge with Mr. Berger. 
 and established a general store under the firm 
 name of Berger & Less, at a time when that town 
 had a population of about 200. They continued 
 under that name until ISSO, when the stock and 
 trade were purchased by Mr. Less, who remained 
 in the business for eight years, when fire burninl 
 him out; fortunately, however. It wie- c.iv.Ti'd l>y a 
 
 T 
 
802 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 fair amount of insurance. He owns between 9,000 
 and 10,000 acres of land, and is quite an exton.'iive 
 dealer in that commoditj', and out of this amount 
 has about 1,200 acres under cultivation. Mr. 
 Less was married, in lS8t*, to Miss Augusta Isaacs, 
 of St. Louis, Mo., and four children have been 
 born to them. For natural ability, fair dealing in 
 all commercial transactions and activity in business 
 life, Mr. Less takes rank with the foremost. He 
 is one of the largest landholders in the eastern part 
 of the county, and has acquired it all by his own 
 labor. The names of his children are Mary, Alex- 
 ander, Morris and Jacob. 
 
 Philip K. Lester (deceased) was a resident of 
 Greene and Lawrence Counties for a period of 
 fifty years or more. He was a native of Middle 
 Tennessee, born in the year 1819. His parents 
 were John and Nancy (King) Lester, the former a 
 Virginian and a farmer by occupation, who came 
 to the State of Arkansas in 1831 or thereabouts. 
 The elder Lester was one of a party who camped 
 on Manmelle Prairie, Mo., the night of a great 
 celestial phenomenon, when multitudes of stars 
 were seen to fall from the heavens; a sight so grand 
 and inspiring that he had occasion to remember it 
 for a lifetime. He settled on Crowley's Ridge 
 (now the site of Lorano, in Greene County), where 
 P. K. Lester was reared. When the latter reached 
 his eighteenth year he attended school, and em- 
 ployed the greater part of his nights in studying. 
 He was an apt pujiil and a diligent student, and 
 mastered his task with such success that eventually 
 he taught school himself. While still a young 
 man, he went into the real estate business and fol- 
 lowed that until the war broke out. He enlisted, 
 but served only six weeks, and in the winter of 1861 , 
 he came to Lawrence County, where he resided 
 until his death occurred. He bought and sold 
 stock quite extensively after the war was over, and 
 was very successful in business, owning at the time 
 of his death about 7,000 acres of land. He was a 
 hearty, active man, but was stricken down with 
 pneumonia and died January 28, 1877, at the age 
 of iifty-eight years. His grave is on the old home- 
 stead farm, where it was his desire to be buried. 
 He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 
 Church, and also of the Powhatan Lodge of Masons. 
 In 1 855 he was married to Miss Mary Ann Rogers, 
 of Shelby County, Tenn. , whose parents were 
 ISlagilbra and Nancy (Staton) Rogers, of Nortli 
 Carolina, who had, besides this daughter, six other 
 children, three of them still living: JohnM. , Nancy 
 v., the wife of P. B. Hill, and Robert L., of Little 
 Rock, Ark. Mrs. Lester resides with one of her 
 daughters, and is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. 
 
 Col. John A. Lindsay, farmer and stock raiser 
 is a native of Kentucky, and was born in what is 
 now Carroll County, on the 7th of July, IS'JO. 
 His parents were Gen. Jesse Lindsay and Priscilla 
 (Ficklin) Lindsay, of Kentucky, who lived in tliat 
 State, and were married there in its earlier days. 
 They settled in Carroll County as soon as the In- 
 dians were moved from that section, and com- 
 menced farming and stock raising. The elder 
 Lindsay served through the War of 1812, and was 
 afterward militia general for a large district in 
 Kentucky. He also filled the office of sheriff of 
 both (xallatin and Carroll Counties, and at one 
 time was elected magistrate; and by virtue of be- 
 ing the oldest magistrate in the county, held the 
 first term as sheriff, in accordance with the laws 
 of the State. Gen. Lindsay, in his day, was one 
 of the best- known men in that locality, and as an 
 official was fearless in the discharge of his duty. 
 As sheriff, he was held in the highest respect by 
 the entire district he covered, and his name was a 
 check of the strongest kind on the law breakers of 
 that community; as a magistrate, his fame was 
 widesj)rpad. He died March 6, 1875, greatly 
 mourned by all who knew him. Col. John A. 
 Lindsay remained in Carroll County until he had 
 attained his eighteenth year, and then moved to 
 the State of Arkansas, in 1838, locating in Law- 
 rence County. As Washington was called the 
 father of his country, so might Col. Lindsay be 
 called the father of Powhatan, as he laid out that 
 town, and established the ferry across Black River. 
 Upon his arrival in Lawrence County he cleared 
 the land, and commenced farming where Powhatan 
 now stands, and at one time owned some 10,000 
 acres of land in this county. He now possesses 
 
■" — "t^ 
 
 LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 80:! 
 
 n 
 
 alH)iit. 2,000 acres, aud six valuable farms, and is 
 (Mie of the wealthy men of Ashland Township. In 
 18()1 the Colonel received the cajitain's commission 
 of an independent company, who were armed, 
 nionnted and equipped at their own expense, and 
 re(|U('sted to report to the nearest command for 
 home protection on special duty. This company 
 afterward entered the Confederate army, and per- 
 formed good service for the Southern cause, their 
 captain being promoted to colonel. In 1864 he 
 joined Gen. Price, but more in the capacity of 
 guide than for actual battle, as he was thoroughly 
 acquainted with the country in which they were 
 traveling. The war was an occasion of heavy 
 losses to Mr. Lindsay, on account of his having 
 credited an immense amount of goods previous to 
 its advent, and then not being able to collect. He 
 was married at Powhatan, in 1840, to Miss Martha 
 A. Ficklin, of Missouri, a daiighter of Asa P. 
 Ficklin, who died in 1878, after a faithful and 
 happy married life of almost forty years. One 
 son was born to them, who lived until his thirty- 
 seventh year, and died in 1879, Asa T. Lindsay. 
 The Colonel is a member of the Masonic order, 
 being a Royal Arch Mason and Knight Tem^jlar, 
 belonging to Powhatan Lodge No. 72, besides being 
 a member of Hugh DePayne Comraandery, at Little 
 Kock. 
 
 James M. McCall, farmer and stpck raiser, and 
 a popular resident of Duty Township, was born in 
 Weakley County, Tenn., March, 29, 1889. He is 
 a son of Robert J. and Eliza McCall, who were 
 the i)arents of five children, four boys and one girl. 
 One of the brothers was killed in the last war, and 
 another met his death in a runaway team, while 
 the remaining three are still living: James M., 
 John M., and Elizabeth, wife of F. Gillespie. The 
 family moved to the State of Arkansas in 1850, and 
 settled at a point in Lawrence County, near Wal- 
 nut Ridge. They remained here one year, and 
 then located on a farm near Portia, where the 
 father died, in 18')1 or 1802, and the mother sev- 
 eral years later. The elder McCall, up to the time 
 of his death, had been a veteran of the Mexican 
 War. and had done good service for his country 
 during the campaign in Mexico. He was married 
 
 a second time, and James M. is the ol.lcst .'.(.n liv- 
 ing by that marriage. James M. McCall came to 
 Arkansas with his parents when in his twelfth 
 year, and remained with thcun until ho came of 
 age. He enlisted in the Confederate army at the 
 commencement of the war, and was a member of 
 Col. Baber's regiment, in which ho was one of its 
 most gallant fighters in the numerous battles par- 
 ticii)ated in by that regiment. On December 25, 
 1863, he was captured in Ripley County, Mo., atid 
 taken a prisoner to Rock Island, 111., where he was 
 held until the close of the war. After being liber- 
 ated he returned to his home, and resumed his work 
 upon the farm, this having been his occupation 
 ever since, and he now owns one tract of 120 acres, 
 some three miles from Portia, of which twenty- 
 five acres are cleared and under cultivation. He 
 has a good frame residence and stables on his 
 home place, and also an orchard, from which he 
 expects good results.' Mi-. JlcCall was married in 
 Lawrence County, March 14, 1861, to Miss Mar 
 tha C. Jeffrey, a native of this county, and a daugh- 
 ter of Jesse Jeffrey. Five children were horn to 
 this union, who are still living: James E. , F. O. 
 McCall, wife of John Freer; Martha Selnia, wife 
 of D. Finly; Robert J. and Laura Jessie, and two 
 who died in childhood. Mr. and Mr.s. McCall are 
 both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, and Mr. McCall is one of Lawrence Coun- 
 ty's brightest men. He is active in promoting the 
 interests of the county, and is held in high esteem. 
 John R. McCarrell, an extensive stock rai.ser 
 and farmer of Black River Township, was l)orn in 
 Lawrence County, Ark., December 24, 1S34. His 
 father, James McCarrell, was a native Kentuckian. 
 who came to Arkansas with his parents when eight 
 years of age, being among the lirst settlers of 
 Lawrence County. They settled at a point near 
 Smithville, in the year 180S, where James McCar- 
 rell grew up and lived the greater portion of his 
 life. His occupation was farming, and at one 
 time ho owned two of the finest farms in that sec- 
 tion of Arkansas. He also served a.s county treas- 
 urer of Lawrence County, for a number of years, 
 tilling the oflice with honor and credit. His death 
 occurred iu 1872, after a long and n-'fn) i-Mr....!- 
 
S()4 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 John R. McCarrell remained with his father until 
 December 22, 1852, whcni he was married to Miss 
 Elizabeth Davis, of Tennessee. This wife died 
 January 24, 1884, after a faithful and happy mar- 
 ried life of over thirty -three 3'ears. They were the 
 parents of sixteen children, ten of them yet living. 
 After his marriage Mr. McCarrell commenced farm- 
 ing near Smithville, and in 1876 he moved to the 
 present place, which he has greatlj' improved since 
 his arrival, having about 1 50 acres under cultiva- 
 tion, on the Flat Greek Bottoms. In the fall of 
 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate Army, and 
 served until the close of the war, performing in 
 that time many a deed of valor. He was present 
 at the battle of Pilot Knob and several others, and 
 a great part of the time was on detached duty. He 
 surrendered at Jacksonport, Ark., June o, 1865, 
 and shortly afterward returned home to attend to 
 the cultivation of his farms. On March 10, 1886, 
 he was married to Mrs. Emma Rutledge, a widow, 
 of Lawrence County, who formerly resided in Ten- 
 nessee. They have two children by this marriage: 
 James P. and Sarah E.,the latter the wife of Frank 
 Hastin; and those by Mr. McCarrell' s first wife 
 are John H. , Susan (wife of Robert Eddy), George 
 W., William T., Martha (wife of Mr. Harroll), 
 Fannie (wife of W. Taylor) and Cora Belle. 
 
 Rol)ort McKamoy is a son of Robert and Jemima 
 (Parks) McKamey, of Tennessee, where young 
 Robert was born, on the 29th of November, 1845. 
 The elder McKamey held several local offices, and 
 was quite a prominent man in Tennessee, and was 
 also one of the survivors of the Mexican War. He 
 moved with his family to Arkansas in the fall of 
 185S, and purchased a farm in Lawrence County, 
 where he resided until his death, on the 12th of 
 October, 1870, six days after the demise of his 
 wife. Robert McKamey, Jr. , came to Arkansas 
 when in his thirteenth year, and remained with his 
 parents until the last year of the war, when he 
 entered the Federal army, and was attached to the 
 Sixth Missouri Volunteer Cavalry. He enlisted 
 fir-st as a ])rivate, but was made sergeant, in which 
 capacity he remained until the war had ended. 
 After he was given his discharge, in September, 
 1865, he returned to his home, and on the 6th of 
 
 •January, 1867, was married, in Randolph County, 
 to Miss Barbara Wells. He remained in that county 
 four years, farming upon a piece of land he had 
 purchased, and then sold out and bought the place 
 upon which he now resides. At the time of its 
 purchase, there were about 100 acres cleared, and 
 the buildings on it were unfinished, but since then 
 he has cleared some seventy -five additional acres, 
 fenced it in, and greatly improved the place. He 
 owns altogether about 500 acres of land, situated 
 two miles from Imboden, and one third rich bot 
 torn and second bottom land. This is one of the 
 best farms and most desirable pieces of [U'operty in 
 Lawrence County, and Mr. McKamej' has shown 
 thrift and energy in securing it, from the fact that 
 he started on comparatively nothing after the war. 
 He also has a tine orchard of seven acres, consist- 
 ingof different varieties of fruit. Mr. McKamey's 
 first wife died in Lawrence County, leaving two 
 children to her husband's care. His present wife 
 was Miss Susan Ann Bragg, of Independence 
 County, liy whom he has had seven children. Their 
 names are James L., John, Leona, Robert, Naida, 
 Abbie and Anna, the last two being twins; and 
 those by his first wife are Margaretta, wife of Will- 
 iam York, and Emily, who died in her seventeenth 
 year. Mr. McKamey has also lost three children, 
 who died in childhood. Mrs. McKamey is a mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Ei)iscoiial Church, and Mr. 
 McKamey an Ancient Odd Fellow. He is a Repul) 
 lican in politics, and upholds the principles of his 
 party. His wealth, while not of mammoth pro- 
 portions, has grown to ample size, and he is one of 
 the most substantial men of his county. 
 
 Simon McLeod was born in Harnett County, 
 N. C, March 3, 1843, and is the son of Murdoch 
 and Barbara (Matthews) McLeod, who came to 
 Arkansas in 1858, settling on a farm in Law- 
 rence County. His grandparents, on his father's 
 side, emigrated from Scotland to this country 
 during the latter half of the eighteenth century. 
 On his mother's side, he, is a descendant from a 
 local family of merchants and farmers. The elder 
 McLeod died in 1862, and his wife followed, De- 
 cember 20, 1888. Eleven children were born to 
 them, and the family came to Arkansas unbroken, 
 
(deceased) 
 Mississippi Cdunty.Arkanbas. 
 
LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 Mir) 
 
 but death has cropped them out one by one until 
 but live remain. Their names are James, John 
 A., Simon, "William and Hector all farmers and 
 mechanics. Simon McLeod, the seventh child, 
 came west vyith his parents, with whom he remained 
 until 1861, then leaving a comfortabh* home to 
 fight for a cause he thought was right. He en- 
 listed in the First Arkansas Battalion, and served 
 to good advantage for the princ^iples which he had 
 undertaken lo defend. He was present at the bat- 
 tle of Corinth, and at the siege of Port Hudson 
 was among the most valiant in action. He did the 
 duty of a ])rivat(' soldier until the end of the war, 
 and surrendered at Shreveport, La., in ISC),"). He 
 then returned to his home, and was married, in 
 1867, to Miss Sally C Judkins, a Tennessee lady. 
 In 1868 he and his companion moved on to tiie 
 farm where they still live, with a happy and pros- 
 perous family. Mrs. McLeod is the descendant of 
 a wealthy and influential Virginia family. She 
 also is of Scotch descent. She is the daughter of 
 William H. and Sarah D. (Roberts) Judkins. Mr. 
 Judkins was elected to the State Senate of Arkan- 
 sas, in 18r)4, and died at Little Rock, Ark., in 
 December of the same year. Mi's. McLeod is a 
 sister of Hon. Joseph B. Judkins, who was presi- 
 dent of the Twenty- fourth Arkansas senate. Mr. 
 McLeod and wife have been blessed with nine 
 chililren. all living with the exception of two. 
 Their names are: Walter E. , Maggie D., Lettie 
 M., Bes.sie C, Joseph H., Luther H., Eva A., 
 (and one not named, deceased), and Laurence S. 
 Mr. McLeod and his wife and his three oldest 
 children are members of the Misssionary Baptist 
 Church, and are peo|)le that command the respect 
 of tlie entire community. He is a Democrat, and 
 takes a deep interest in politics, though he has 
 never aspired to any public position, prefeiTing 
 rather the pleasures of rural life. 
 
 John D. McMillen, a widely -known farmer and 
 stock raiser of Duty Township, was born in Tip- 
 pah County, Miss., October 21, 1850. He is a 
 sou of \V. W. McMillen, a native of Alabama, who 
 moved to Tennessee when a boy of seven years, and 
 was reared in that State. \V. W. McMillen was 
 married in Mississippi, to Miss Mary A. (iuniiell, i>f 
 
 Jefferson County, Ala. (who moved to Mississippi 
 when thirteen years old), and after his marriage 
 settled on a farm in Tippah County, where Jolin 
 D. was born. He moved to Arkansas County, Ark. , 
 in 1855, and, after residing there for nine years, 
 came to Tjawrence (county, where lie remained nn 
 til his death, in 187'J. He fought for eight montbs 
 in th<> lat<> war, and bore a splendid record for his 
 bravery. John D. IMcMiiien came to llie State of 
 Arkansas witli his parents when thirteen years of 
 age, and remained with tiieni until his maturity. 
 He was married, on Deceml)er 2'2, 1878, to Miss 
 Laura K. Mitchell, who was Ijorn and reared at 
 Clover Bend, Lawrence County, and brought liis 
 l)ride to the present residence. Tlie land was l)nt 
 slightly improved wlien he came upon it, but 
 about forty-three acres are now cleared and under 
 cultivation, and. ])erhaps. forty acres more, wliicb 
 are still unimproved, i)ut valuable ]an<l. He lias 
 a comfortable house, barns and all conveniences 
 upon his ])lace, and a good orchard, two acres in 
 extent, of peacb, a])ple, apricot, plum and pear 
 trees. Mr. McJIillen is a member of the Mis- 
 sionary Baptist Church, taking an activt^ inter 
 est in all its affairs. He and his wife are well 
 known for their generosity and sympathy toward 
 all ent(^rprises for the advancement of educational 
 and kindred interests. They are among the most 
 popular residents of Lawrence County, and people 
 who are held in the highest esteem. 
 
 Hon. Robert P. Mack, one of the leading at 
 torneys of Powhatan, is a native of Tennessee, and 
 was born at Waynesboro. August '11. 18 IS. His 
 father is Judge L. L. Mack, whose history appears 
 in another portion of this I>ook. Mr. Mack cnme 
 to Arkansas with liis parents in lsr>I{, when lie was 
 a lad of live years, where they located at Marion. 
 Crittenden County. They afterward moved to Bol 
 ivar, and then to Gainesville. Greene t'ounty. 
 where he grew to manhood. He receive<l a very 
 fair education at the common and high schools, 
 besides applying himself studiously to all subjects 
 which he thought would be of advantage to him in 
 after life, and for one year was a-ssistant teacher 
 at one of the schools. In I86H he comineiicetl the 
 study of law, uiiiler the guidance of his father. 
 
806 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Judge L. L. Mack, and, in 1868, was admitted to 
 the bar, before he had reached his twenty-first 
 year. He was licensed to practice by Jiidge Wil- 
 liam Story, and shortly afterward moved to Pow- 
 hatan to enter into his profession. In 1869 he 
 was associated with his father, under the firm name 
 of Judge L. L. Mack & Son, and his natural tal- 
 ent, combined with the experience of his father, 
 made it one of the mo.st successful firms in that 
 section. His present location is the one selected 
 by him in 1870, which he has kept continuously 
 since that time. In 1873 the elder Mack with- 
 drew from the firm, and, up to the spring of 1887, 
 Mr. R. P. Mack had been associated with various 
 practitioners, when the present firm was organ- 
 ized. He was married, August 29, 1878, to Miss 
 Mollie E. Lyons, of East Tennessee, a very attract- 
 ive lady, and by this happy union with the lady 
 of his choice, was born three children : Anna M. , 
 Vera C. and Lucy. Mrs. Mack is a member of 
 the Old School Presbyterian Church, and a lady 
 whose kindly influence and gentle disposition are 
 made manifest at home and in society. 
 
 John H. Martin, merchant and postmaster of 
 Powhatan, is a native of Eldorado County, Cal., 
 born June 17, 1854. He is a son of Josiah Mar- 
 tin, one of the veterans of the gold excitement 
 during the early days of California. The elder 
 Martin was born and reared in the State of Mis- 
 souri, and left his home for California two years 
 after the great gold fever of 1849 had spread its con- 
 tagion all over the civilized globe. While there he 
 met and married Miss Mary Mincer, of Pennsyl- 
 vania, and after sixteen years of mining returned 
 with his wife to the State of Missouri. The fol 
 lowing year after his arrival he moved to Arkansas 
 and located at Powhatan, where he is now in 
 partnership with his son in the general merchan- 
 dise business. John H. Martin resided in Cali- 
 fornia until he reached his fourteenth year, when 
 he returned to Missouri with his father. He re- 
 ceived a good education, both in California and 
 Missouri, and after completing his studies, in 1868, 
 he moved to Arkansas and settled in Lawrence 
 County. From 1870 to 1875 he was occupying a 
 clerkship in one of the principal drug houses in 
 
 Lawrence County, and afterward engaged in the 
 same ))nsiness himself. In September, 1880, he 
 opened up a general stock of merchandise in [)art- 
 nership with his father, under the firm name of 
 Martin & Son, but still continued in the drug 
 business on his own account. The firm of ^lartin 
 & Son do a business of about §;^0,()(KI auiuially, 
 and enjoy an enviable reputation for fair dealing 
 and honest goods. Mr. Martin was appointed 
 assi.stant postmaster several years ago, and on the 
 
 I retirement of his superior, in 1875, was given the 
 office, and has been postmaster ever since. In 
 December, 1878, he was married to Miss Lula 
 McLeod, of Georgia, but in June, 1880, he was 
 deprived of the companionship of his wife by 
 death. Charles H., ten years old, is the only child. 
 
 j James A. Martin, of the firm of J. A. Martin & 
 Bros., manufacturers, comes from a faiuih' of Mis 
 souri pioneers. He was born in Pike County, Mo. , 
 December 3, 1854, and is a son of F. G. Martin, 
 of Lincoln County, Mo. The family is one of the 
 oldest in Eastern Missouri, their ancestors settling 
 in that State in its earliest days. The elder Mar- 
 tin was married in Pike County, Mo., to Miss Susan 
 E. Doyle, a native of that place, and after his mar- 
 riage resided there for a number of years. In 
 1867 he came to the State of Arkansas and located 
 at Powhatan, where he carried on the manufacture 
 of wagons up to the year 1 880, when he returned 
 to Missouri, and in the spring of 1889 moved to 
 Texas, where he at present resides. James A. 
 Martin came to Arkansas with his parents when 
 fourteen years of age. In his youth he was given 
 a good school and commercial education, and in 
 order to be more thoroughly acquainted with Ins 
 father's business, he spent some time in black- 
 
 ■ smithing and wagon-making. His knowledge of the 
 business, being gained from practical experience, 
 enabled him to build up a large and protitalile 
 trade. The firm manufacture spring wagons, bug 
 gies, etc., and turn out about 60,000 spokes 
 monthly, besides felloes, plow beams and im- 
 plements of a like nature. Their trade is one of 
 the most extensive in Northeast Arkansas in their 
 line, and their goods have obtained a well-merited 
 renown. March 12, 1877, Mr. Martin was mamed 
 
LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 WI7 
 
 to Miss Ida Fortenberry, of Mississippi, a daughter 
 of Absalom Foitciiberry, of that State, and this 
 happiest of unions has boeu blessed with three 
 ehiklreu: Guy K., Carrie and Nina. Mr. Rogers 
 and his wife are members of the Methodist Epis- 
 co])al Chureh, South, and th(> former is a Mason. 
 He is a very popuhir man. l)otli in business and 
 society, and is also one of the most progressive 
 men of his county. 
 
 Samuel A. Massey was born in Knox County, 
 Teun., in 183S. He is the son of Jacob L. and 
 Ann J. (Gray) Massey, the first named being a na 
 tivo of Tennessee, and the mother coming fi-om 
 Ireland to America with her parents in 1820, and 
 settling in Knoxvillo, Tenn. His parents were 
 married in Tennessee, in the year 1837, and moved 
 to Arkansas in 1850, where they s(>ttled on Straw 
 berry Kiver, and commenced farming until the 
 death of his father, in 1883. His mother died in 
 1878. Nine children were born to the parents, 
 and two of them have been called away by death. 
 Of the seven yet living, Mr. Massey is the oldest, 
 and came to Arkansas when in his thirteenth year. 
 He passed the younger portion of his days on the 
 farm, and, on attaining his majority, commenced 
 his race with the world with such a degree of suc- 
 cess that to-day he is worthy of emulation by the 
 young men of his county. He has 140 acres of 
 land under cultivation, besides other lands in vari- 
 ous sections, amounting to some 240 acres in all, 
 which is the result of his own labor. In 1861, 
 when he found that his country needed his services, 
 ho eidisted in the army, becoming a member of 
 Company B, Twenty -first Arkansas, and held the 
 rank of second lieutenant. He was captured liy 
 the enemy in 1-8(34, in this countv, and taken 
 prisoner to Johnson's Island, Ohio, where he was 
 kept until January, 180,"). When no longer a 
 prisoner of war he returned to his command and 
 did good service, returning to his home shortly be- 
 fore the surrender, and has continued farming ever 
 since. He was married in 1858 to Miss Elvira 
 Milligan, a young lady born and reared in Arkan 
 sas, and a daughter of John ]\Iilligan, one of the 
 pioneers of that State. AJFrs. Massey died Septem- 
 ber 1, 1866, leaving four children as the result of 
 
 their happy married life. Their names are Edia 
 J., Samuel J., Jacob L., and Elvira E. Mr. Mas- 
 sey lives with his son Jacol) on the home place, 
 and though ofltimes beset by the snares of his wid- 
 ower's state, has always remained true to the 
 memory of his beloved wife. He is a memiier of 
 the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, to which his 
 wife also belonged, and is also a member of Lodge 
 No. 144, A. F. &A. M., of Reed's Creek, Sharp 
 County. 
 
 Benjamin F. Matthews, a popular citizen of 
 Powhatan, is a native of Georgia, and was born 
 in Madison County, August 12. 1823. His parents 
 were the Hon. Allen and Margaret (Elton) Mat- 
 thews, who were manied and resided for awhile 
 in Jackson County, Ga., and then moved to Madi 
 son County. After a short residence in the latter 
 locality they moved back to Jackson County, where 
 the elder Mr. Matthews practic<>d law during the 
 greater ])ortion of his life, and attained an emi- 
 nent place in his profession. He represented the 
 county several terms in the legislature, and died in 
 Gainesville, Ga., in 1843, after a successful ca- 
 reer. His son, B. F. Matthews, grew to manhood 
 in the State of Georgia, and during the earlier 
 portion of his life had but a limited amount of 
 education. This, though an ob.stacle in his path, 
 was easily overcome by his perseverance and 
 natural ability. He first came to Arkansas in 
 1854, and located at Powhatan, which place has 
 been his residence ever since. In 187(5 he com- 
 menced his commercial career, and up to the year 
 1886 was actively engaged in mercantile life, con 
 trolling a business of from ?30,(I00 to $40,000 a 
 year. In 1863 he was elected sheritT of Lawrence 
 County, and served until 1867, and for four years 
 acted as collector and as.sessor. Previous to that, 
 in 1860. he was deputized census enumerator, and 
 took the census of Lawrence and Sharp Counties. 
 On October 24, 1844, he was married to Miss 
 Catherine ilcElroy of Cherokee County, Ga., and 
 this union has given them nine children, of whom 
 only three are living at the present time: William, 
 Catherine, wife of Clay Thorn, and Ella. Those 
 deceased are Josephine. Bettie. Phineas, Alice, 
 Thomas and Henry. Mr. .\[attbews lost bis 
 
 r 
 
first wife October 80, 1871, and after her death 
 was determined to spend the remainder of his days 
 single, but after meeting Miss Mary C. Clisby, of 
 Massachusetts, he succumbed to that lady's charms, 
 and was again married. They are both members 
 of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Matthews 
 has been a Mason for forty years. 
 
 Willis B. Matthews, of the firm of Weir & Mat- 
 thews, is another representative of that class of 
 men, who, by their energy and pluck, have won 
 the esteem of their fellow-citizens. He was born 
 in Lawrence County, Ark., on the 1st day of No- 
 vember, 1857, and is a son of William J. Mat- 
 thews, a native of Tennessee, whose father, John 
 L. Matthews, was one of the pioneers of Arkansas. 
 His father, W. J. Matthews, married Miss Eliza 
 J . McGhehey, of Lawrence County, a daughter of 
 George McGhehey, one of the early settlers of this 
 State, and his interest in the State of Arkan.sas is, 
 thus doubly strengthened by the fact of both par- 
 ents being born on the same soil. His father 
 turned his attention to faiTaing until 1885, and 
 then moved to Black Rock, to engage in mercan- 
 tile pursuits. Mr. Matthews remained with him 
 until he attained his majority, educating himself 
 in the meantime, and then taught school for a 
 period of twelve months. He gave up this occu- 
 pation to accept a position at Powhatan, where he 
 became thoroughly versed in mercantile afPairs, and 
 received excellent business training. He then re- 
 turned to farming again, and continued in that 
 business until October, 1888, when he re-entered 
 into mercantile life at Black Rock. He established 
 himself in the grocery and dinig business at that 
 point, and,- in 1885, his father was brought into 
 partnership, and remained with him until the time 
 of his death, in 1887. In the spring of 1889, the 
 present firm of Weir & Matthews was established. 
 They carry a large stock of general merchandise, 
 dry goods, groceries, clothing, drugs, hardware, 
 etc., and by their fair dealing and integrity, have 
 earned a reputation second to none in the county. 
 Mr. Matthews has served on the town board, and 
 is a Master Mason. He is treasurer of Black Rock 
 Lodge. 
 
 James Cabell Minor, physician and surgeon, 
 
 Walnut Ridge, Ark. In a comprehensive work of 
 this kind, dealing with industrial pursuits, sciences, 
 arts and professions, it is only fair and right that 
 that profession — the medical profession — on which 
 in some period or other of our lives, we are all 
 more or less dependent, should be noticed. It is 
 the prerogative of the physician to relieve or alle- 
 viate the ailments to which suffering humanity is 
 j)rone; and as such he deserves the most grateful 
 consideration of all. A prominent physician and 
 surgeon, who by his own ability has attained dis- 
 tinction in his profession, is Dr. Minor. He was 
 born in Albemarle Coimty, Va. , on the l()th of 
 October, 1858, and is the son of Dr. Charles 
 Minor, and nephew of Prof. John B. Minor, pres- 
 ent professor of Common and Statute Law in the 
 University of Virginia, and the author of ' ' Minor' s 
 InstitTites." Dr. Charles Minor was a physician, 
 and in the early part of his life practiced his pro- 
 fession, but in later life was principal of a high 
 school at Brook Hill, six miles north of the Univer- 
 sity of Virginia. He died in 1861, at the age of 
 fifty-eight years. He married Miss Lucy Walker 
 Minor, a native of Virginia, who died in that State, • 
 at Bellevue, in 1881, at the age of fifty-two years. 
 They were the parents of a large family of chil- 
 dren, thirteen in all, eight now living, two in this 
 state — Lancelot, attorney at law, Newport, Ark., 
 and James Cabell. One brother, Charles (now 
 deceased), was an attorney at law at Jacksonport, 
 and at one time represented Jackson County in the 
 State legislature. James Cabell Minor was reared 
 in Virginia, and first took an academic course, 
 but subsequently entered as a student the Univer- 
 sity of Virginia, from which institution he gradu 
 ated in the class of 1882, in the study of medicine. 
 Going to Louisville, Ky., he there took a clinical 
 course at the Hospital College of Medicine. He 
 then came to Newport, Ark., in 18S3, ])racticed 
 there three years, and, in 1886, located at Walnut 
 Ridge, where he has since resided. His marriage 
 to Miss Emma Smith occurred on the 6th of Feb- 
 ruary, 1885, at Newport, Ark. She was born at 
 Brownsville, Teun., and by her marriage became 
 the mother of one child — Lancelot Minor, Jr. Dr. 
 Minor and wife are members of the Episcopal 
 
LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 800 
 
 Gliurch, parish of Newport. He is a Democrat in 
 politics, and has for the past six years been local 
 surgeon for the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company. 
 William Park Mitchell, farmer and stock raiser, 
 is a sou of William and Sallie (Ross) Mitchell, 
 of North Carolina, in which State William Park 
 Mitchell was born on December '25, 1830. The 
 family resided in North Carolina until 1847, when 
 they moved to Benton County, Teun., and settled 
 on a farm. Here they resided, a hajipy family, 
 until the father's death, in 1872, and then the 
 mother following him in 1875. William P. re- 
 mained with his father until his majority, and 
 then entered into the grocery busines at Dresden, 
 where he remained for fourteen months. He next 
 commenced farming in Tennessee, uj:) to th(> year 
 1870, and, thinking that Arkansas offered a better 
 field for that business, he moved to the latter State, 
 and settled in Lawrence County. On his arrival 
 he bought 120 acres of timbered land and an ad- 
 ditional 150 acres, with slight improvements upon 
 it. He at once began to improve and cultivate 
 his farms, and at the present time has about eighty 
 acres under cultivation, with two fair residences 
 and two tenant houses, besides a substantial donblo 
 log house, in which he resides. He also owns a 
 tine bearing orchard of peaches and apples. Mr. 
 Mitchell was married in Benton County, Tonn., 
 on July 27, 1862, to Miss Sarah F. Summers, a 
 native of that State, and a daughter of Zachariah 
 Summers, of Virginia. This union has given them 
 six children, all of whom are living and in the best 
 of hejilth. Their names are Willis L., Zula, wife 
 of H. D. Lawson; Emma, wife of Elijah Roberts; 
 Anna and Maggie, both young ladies, and Katie. 
 They have also lost three children : George, who 
 died in his sixth year; Laura, (lying at three years 
 of age, and John, who died in his second year. 
 Mr. Mitchell is a Democrat in politics, and is 
 always loyal in his support of the principles and 
 men of that party. He was appointed deputy 
 sheriff and served in that capacity for a number of 
 years, and is held in the higiuvst esteem by the 
 entire community. He has a splendid farm, a com- 
 fortat)le home, and is considerinl to be one of the 
 most successful farmers in Lawrence County, all 
 
 of which he has accumulated by his own good 
 judgment and industry. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell 
 are both members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and Mr. Mitchell also of the Agricultural 
 Wheel, being president of the local \Vli(>el. 
 
 J. E. Moore is a firm believer in the soil upon 
 which he was born, having remained in this county 
 since his birth. His occupation is that of farming, 
 but he is also an exponent of the advantages of a 
 good education, and finds time for instilling knowl 
 edge in the minds of Lawrence County's future 
 men and women. He is the son of William Moore, 
 one of Arkansas' pioneers, who is now residing 
 near Powhatan, and his mother was Miss Martha 
 A. Judkins. of Tennessee, who met. and was 
 united to her husbaii<l, in Arkansas. Ton children 
 were born to them, five boys and five girls, and 
 three have since (Ywd. Tho.se living are Henry A. , 
 Joseph E., Nathaniel A., Robert C, Margan^t I., 
 Leonard H. and Laiua C. Lizzie, Susan A. ami 
 Clara S. are deceased. Mr. Moore ri'ceived the 
 first rudiments of his edncation iu the common 
 schools of this county, and studied the higher 
 branches at Irwin's Institute. After being thor 
 oughly eijuipped for the duties of a school teacher, 
 he went to Big Lick, in 1882, and opened u|) his 
 first school. He has since then followed that pro 
 fession, with stea<lily increasing success, holding 
 two terms each ycvir. He was married, in 1887, 
 to Miss Josephine Childress, a daughter of ('ol. R. 
 A. Childress, one of the old settlers of Independ- 
 ence County, and a hearty old gentleman, in his 
 seventy eighth year. Mr. Moore is a ineml)(>r of 
 th(^ Ba[)tist Church, and his wife of the Pn-sby 
 terian. He is an active politician. 
 
 John H. Morgan is a (Jeorgian, and was l)orii in 
 Walker C!ounty, that State (now Catoosa ("ounty), 
 in the year 1838. He is a prosperous farmer of 
 Morgan Township, and is a son of Henry Morgan, 
 of Georgia, who was killed in a distressing man 
 ner, in 18(54, by being thrown from an unruly mule. 
 The elder Morgan came to Missouri with his 
 family, in the year 1850, and .settled at a point 
 in Wayne County, about ten miles from flreenville. 
 the county seat, where he farmed and cultivated 
 the land, until the time of his death. His wife, 
 
 ^r 
 
■^J 
 
 810 
 
 HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Polly (Blackwell) Morgan, of Georgia, died in 
 about 1877. John H. Morgan is the fourth of 
 ten children, and was in his sixteenth year when 
 his parents came to Missouri. He attained his 
 manhood in Wayne County, and in 1858 returned 
 to Georgia, where he established himself in the 
 grocery business. In 1862 he answered the call 
 for men, and enlisted in Company A, of a Tennes- 
 see regiment, and fought under Captain White, 
 iintil the close of the war. He afterwards went 
 back to Missouri, and wa.s there married to Miss 
 Surilda Smith, of Wayne County, but a native of 
 Hamilton County, Tenn. The couple have eight 
 children living: Henry H. D., Joseph L., George 
 W., Savanah J., William Jackson, Tennie C, 
 Martha S., Laura Alice. They have lost three 
 children, namely: John Morgan, born September 
 28, 1869. died September 7, 1886; General Robert 
 Lee, born November 28, 1885, died March 15, 
 1889; and an infant daughter, who died, when 
 eight days old, March 4, 1872. Mr. Morgan and 
 his family came to Arkansas in 1869, and settled 
 in Independence County, at a place some ten 
 miles south of his present residence, where they 
 lived until the year 1881, when he moved to where 
 he now is. He and his wife are members of the 
 Free Will Baptist Church, and are earnest workers 
 in the religious field. 
 
 Capt. J. M. Phelps, senior member of the firm 
 of Phelps Bros. , general merchandise, was born in 
 McNairy County, Tenn., July 17, 1841. His father 
 came lo Arkansas when twelve years of age, and 
 located at a point near Dardanelle, in Yell County. 
 Four years later he went to Northwest Missouri, 
 where he remained a year, and then came back to 
 Randolph and Greene Counties. Ho entered into 
 mercantile life at Gainesville; thence to Southern 
 Missouri, and from there to Lawrence County, 
 Ark., in the latter part of 1860. His son, Capt. 
 James M. , received only a common school educa- 
 tion in Tennessee and Arkansas, but his natiu-al 
 aptitude made up for any loss in that direction. 
 When war was announced he was a resident of this 
 county, and first joined the Seventh Arkansas In- 
 fantry, Company F, in April, 1861, Joseph Mar- 
 tin, captain. He was discharged in February, 1862, 
 
 and returned home, where he remained until Hind- 
 man's call for volunteers, and, in April, 1862, he 
 was captured, after having raised a cavalry com- 
 pany in response. That entire summer was spent 
 by him in prison at St. Louis, Chicago and John- 
 son's Island. In 1862 he was exchanged, and 
 joined Tim Reeves' company of Missoiu'i cavalry, 
 and served with them until the spring of 1864, 
 when he raised a cavalry company, which he com- 
 manded until he surrendered, June 6, 1865, Com- 
 pany F, Fourteenth Missouri Cavalry. At the 
 close of the war he returned to Lawrence County, 
 which has been his home ever since, and embarked 
 in farming and merchandising. Later on he spent 
 three or four years traveling through Texas and 
 Mexico, and in the spring of 1876 came to Walnut 
 Ridge and established the business of Z. Phelps & 
 Sons (J. M. & A. C. ). The firm continued under that 
 head until the year 1880, when it was merged into Z. 
 Phelps & Son (J. M.). The present firm of Phelps 
 Bros., was started up in 1884, with J. M., A. C. 
 and Z. C. Phelps as partners. They do a heavy 
 business in general supplies, their transactions in 
 1888 amounting to $125,000, and are one of the 
 largest firms in their line in the county. J. M. , 
 the eldest, has practically retired from active busi- 
 ness. Capt. Phelps owns probably 1,500 acres 
 of land, divided into several tine farms, and, in 
 conjunction with his father and brother, has a 
 gi'eat amount of other lands in Lawrence and ad 
 joining counties. He is a member of the Knights 
 of Honor, and the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Com- 
 mandory of the Masonic order, lielonging to Hugh 
 DoPayne Commandery at Little Rock; is a mem 
 ber also of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South. This year (1889) he was a delegate to the 
 district conference at Corning. He is a Democrat 
 in politics, and was mayor of Walnut Ridge for 
 several years. In 1864 (February ISth) he was 
 married to Miss Victoria Kinian, of La\vi'ence 
 County, Ark., whose father, Hensen Kinian, was 
 a pioneer settler of Lawrence County. They have 
 had one child, Virgil D., a little boy, who died in 
 November, 1876, aged about nine years; and, hav- 
 ing no other ehildi'en of their own, the Captain 
 and his wife are rearing a neiee, Jessie Vinson. 
 
 -^; 
 
»t^ 
 
 LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 811 
 
 Abram C. Pliolps, of tho firm of Phelps Bros., 
 Walnut Ridge, general merchandise and supply 
 house, was born inMcNairy County, Tonn. , January 
 4, 1848. A\hen six years of age he came to North- 
 eastern Arkansas, and has been reared principally in 
 Lawrence County. He received a somewhat limited 
 education in his youth — a disadvantage which the 
 majority of our substantial men at the present day 
 seem to overcome — and worked on his farm until 
 the year 1S()8. On March 7 of that year he was 
 married to Miss Sarah Fallin, who breathed her 
 last ten months afterward. Mr. Phelps, shortly 
 after the death of his wife, traveled with his 
 brother, J. M., through Texas, Mexico and the 
 greater part of the western country. When his 
 trip had been finished he returned to Lawrence 
 County, and in February, 1874, was united in wed- 
 lock to Miss Mattie Ammons. During that period 
 he went into business with his father, establi.shing 
 the firm known as Z. & A. C. Phelps, which he con- 
 ducted for two years. The firm was then changed 
 to Z. Phelps & Sons, and has since continued un- 
 der that name. In 1884 he sold out his interest 
 in the business, and went to Fort Smith, where he 
 started a grocery, but one year later he returned 
 to Walnut Ridge, and entered actively into mer- 
 cantile life at that jioint again, and now has ex- 
 clusive control of the firm's business. Besides his 
 interests in the firm, he owns 660 acres of land, 
 500 acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. 
 Phelps is a member of the Knights of Honor, and 
 151ne Lodge, Chapter and Council of Masonic fi'a- 
 ternity, and also of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 at Walnut Ridge, of which his wife is a regular 
 attendant. They have three children: Flora, Wal- 
 ter and Claude. 
 
 Zaccheus C. Phelps, a partner in the house of 
 Phelps Bros., well-known merchants of Walnut 
 Ridge, was Ijorn in Greene County, Ark., Novem- 
 ber 21, 1858. His early life was spent on a farm, 
 and, at the age of seventeen years, he entered the 
 employ of his father and brother, where he re- 
 iiiainod three years, obtaining a thorough knowl 
 edge of mercantile affairs. Later on he formed a 
 partnership with N. M. McCarroll. under the firm 
 name of McCarroll <& Phelps, which was continued 
 
 for two years, when he bought out his pailiiers in 
 terest, and combined it with A. C. Phelps & liros. 
 Mr. Phelps owns 240 acres of good land, and has 
 i;iO acres of it under cultivation. He is a Royal 
 Arch Mason, also a member of the Council, and of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife was 
 Miss Mattie Brinkerhoff, of Warreiisbnrg, Mo., 
 whom he married on September 15, ISSU, and one 
 child has been born to them, Otis B. Mrs. Phelps' 
 father is a minister of the Baptist denomination. 
 
 Claiborne Sullivan Pinnell, familiarly known 
 as Uncle " Claib" Pinnell, has been a resident of 
 Northeast Arkansas for about fifty-one years, or 
 over half a century. He was born in what was 
 then called the " New Purchase " of Kentucky, 
 October 27, 1817. His father was Peter Pinnell. 
 who removed to Franklin County, Mo., when the 
 son was an infant, and afterward settled in Greene 
 County, Ark., at Crowley's Ridge, where he re- 
 mained until his death, in 1842, or therealrouts. 
 His wife was Miss Annie Sullivan, of Kentucky, 
 whose parents, Claiborne Sullivan and wife, nee 
 Harvey, were South Carolinians. This couple were 
 the parents of nine children, C. S. Pinnell being 
 the only one living, so far as known, although his 
 oldest brother, Louis, was living in the Choctaw 
 Nation, I. T. , two or three years ago, at the a"e 
 of eighty -two years. The mother died in Law- 
 rence Coimty, on the Cache River, after the close 
 of the war. Claiborne S. Pinnell was reared on a 
 farm, and as his father always lived in a very new 
 country, where schools were not to bo found for 
 love nor money, and teachers were few and far 
 between, his education, as a consequence, was very 
 limited. When nine years of age he met with a 
 painful accid(>nt, which has rendered him a cripph- 
 all his life; a colt ran away with him one day, 
 and, stepping into a hole, threw him off, breaking 
 his, right arm and shoulder, which has |)revenled 
 him from doing any hard labor ever since. Not- 
 withstanding this fact, he has been an active man 
 all his life: following the plow, farming and rais- 
 ing stock. He came to Lawrence County alx>ut 
 thirty years ago, and bought 160 acres on Village 
 Creek, one and one-half miles north of Walnut 
 Ridge, and has made this his home ever sinci". be 
 
812 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 HidpH owninf» another farm in this county, tho two 
 ag{^i'og!itinf5 '-'10 iicn'H. Ho has hnnte<l " bar" all 
 over the State, and about twelve or fourteen years 
 iifijo lie killed the hirj^est ]>anther that had ever 
 been H(H'n in that iiei^'hliorhood, measuring eleven 
 feet from l)oth tips. Mr. Pinnell has made a 
 lengthy trip to Oregon, and another to Texas, but 
 looks upon Lawrence (Jounty as the dearest spot 
 on (mrth. He was married to Miss Minerva G. 
 Rhea, a sister of M. 15. Rhea, and has luul nine 
 childi'ou. Four of them grew to maturity, but all are 
 now deceased, including tho mother. His second 
 wife was Mrs. Amanda K (drayles) Moore, and has 
 had no children by this lady, although his wife 
 has a daughter by her former husband. Mr. Pin- 
 nell is a nieml)er of th(< Ravenden Springs Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, as are his wife and step-daugh- 
 ter, Mettie Isabello. Grandfather Claiborne Sulli- 
 van married liis scwond wife in liis ninety eighth 
 year, living two or three years afterward, showing 
 the remarkable vitality existing in the family. He 
 was a noted Haptist preacher in his time. Mr. 
 Pinnell was an ardent huntor in his younger days, 
 and has made considerable rnoney in killing wild 
 game and selling the liidos and furs. He tanned 
 the hide of the " [jainter " ho killed some years ago, 
 and made a pair of shoes out of it, which were 
 (juite a curiosity, on ac(^)nnt of the associations 
 connected with them. 
 
 Col. W. M. Ponder, farmer and piopiietor of 
 sawmill, was born in Hickman County, Tenn., 
 O(!tobor 12. 1S2;5. His father was Amos Ponder, 
 of Georgia, one of the early settlers of Tennessee, 
 moving to that State in the year 1800, and snl)se- 
 cpiently to Southeast Missouri, where ho died, in 
 1808, in his seventy fourth year. Col. Ponder' s 
 mother was Miss Nancy Dudley, of Tennessee, in 
 which State she mot and was married to his father. 
 They were tho parents of nine children, four of 
 whom are still living. Mrs. Ponder died in tho 
 year 187i), aged about seventy two years. The 
 Colonel was reared on a farm in Tennessee, and 
 received a somewhat limited eilucation in his boy- 
 hood days, on account of tho scarcity of schools in 
 that section of the State. He applied himself to 
 farm woik until he reached his twenty-fourth year, 
 
 when his father then moved to Missouri. Here he 
 commencetl farming and merchandising, and also 
 dealing in produce and stock, shipping the latter 
 to the N(nv Orleans marltet in flatl)oats. He con 
 tinned in this ))usiness some four or five years, 
 and was then elected clerk of the circuit, county 
 an<l probate courts, of Rijiley County, Mo., which 
 offi(^e he tilled creditably for six years. He was 
 formerly assessor for one or two terms in that 
 county. After his term was tlnished in the court, 
 ho began farming and milling on quite an extensive 
 scale, and was rapidly approaching the highest 
 pinnacle of success in his business, when the dread- 
 ful news of war came to his ears. Ho loft his in- 
 terests and enlisted in the Ninth Regiment, Mis- 
 souri State (iuards, under Col. Lowe, of Gen. JefF 
 Thompson's brigade. His first battle was at 
 Fredericktown, Mo., where he lost several relatives 
 and fri(>nds in the tight. Subsecpuintly ho entered 
 tho Confi^dorate army, where his bravery and 
 knowledge of tho tactics of war pushed him rap- 
 idly to tho front, being promoted from sergeant 
 through the different grades to colonel. He hold 
 that rank and commanded the Seventh Missouri 
 Infantry in the (!oiif(Hlorate army and served until 
 the surrender at Shrevoport, La., about tho 25th 
 of June, 1865. After peace had been declared 
 he came to Arkansas and bought 200 acres of 
 land, a couple of miles from tho present town of 
 Walnut Kidgo. Hi^ then went to work with a 
 vim an<l energy that wore tridy heroi(% consid- 
 ering tho fact that he was bare-footed at tho time, 
 and did not even have so much as a bed or a chair 
 for his habitation. Two yctars later his perse 
 veranco began to tell, and success was slowly but 
 surely coming over the horizon of his adversity. 
 He commenced merchandising and farming, an<l 
 in connection with these operated saw-mills and a 
 cotton-gin, and in 1878 he came to AValnut Ridge, 
 and bought some of the land on whi(^h the present 
 town site is situated. Ho also laid off the town of 
 Doni])han, Mo., and was the first man to build a 
 cabin, and sold the lirst yard of calico in that place. 
 He remained in Walnut Ridge for ten years, and 
 also laid olT the town site of that i)lace on his 
 arrival in 1S78. Ho built the lirst residence in 
 
« i^ 
 
 'H^ 
 
 LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 .Si:i 
 
 Walnut Kicli'n, and was inHtriimmitul iu Hiicuiiuf 
 the location for the Eastern district court- house, 
 anil also lari^cly assisted in the (M'wition of the 
 Prc^shytcrian and Methodist Episcopal Churches. 
 He is a member of the Masonic order and is a 
 Kojal Arch IMason, and also tlie ruliii<^ older of 
 th(^ Pn^sliyterian Church. The Colonel was first 
 married, in 1846, to Miss Mary Kittrell, of South- 
 east Missouri, and has had two children, one sur- 
 viving;, Nancy S., widow of Thomas Miuton, of 
 Walnut llidge. Mrs. Ponder died in April, 1850, 
 and h<> afteiward married, in A[)ril, IS")?, Miss 
 Susan Hudspeth, of Mis.souri. Two children were 
 born to them, both of them dyinj; since. His 
 wife died in .lanuary. ISfi'i, and he was again mar- 
 ried, this time to Miss Mary Montgomery, of Vir 
 ginia. Six children were the result of this mar- 
 riage, of whom five are living: Andrew, Harry 
 Lee, George W., Edgar F. and Susan. Col. 
 Ponder increased his farm of 200 acres to 2,600, 
 and is also president of the Walnut Uidge & Hoxie 
 Street Car Company. He is one of the bust known 
 and most highly respected citizens of Lawrence 
 County; is a Democrat in politics, and in 1882-83 
 represented his county in the State legislature, and 
 was county judge in 1878-74. 
 
 Wilson Price, postmaster and a well known 
 farmer and stock raiser of Taylor, was born in 
 Union County, N. C, July 27, 1836. His parents 
 are Valentine and Caroline (Hargett) Price, of the 
 same State, who, a few years after their marriage, 
 first moved to Smith County, Tean., where they 
 remained for throe years, and in the fall of 1841) 
 settled in Lawrence County, Ark., at a point near 
 Smith ville, where they resided until the father's 
 death, in 18<')1. Wilson Pric(( was reared and 
 has lived in this county since his thirteenth year. 
 He remained with his parents until lie attained his 
 maturity, and then commenced in life for himself. 
 He was married in his twenty-second year, and 
 located on a farm near Smitliville, where he culti- 
 vated the soil until ho came to his present resi- 
 dence, in 1876. Mr. Price has always been a man 
 of industrious and progressive hal)its, and it did 
 not take him long to obtain a fair competence. He 
 bought laud and added to his possessious when- 
 
 ever he saw a good chance t^) invest, ami now 
 owns over 1,000 acres of the l)e.st laiul in Arkan- 
 sas, with some 300 acres of it cleaicl. The entire 
 amount is comprised in four tracts, and is all sit 
 uated in Lawrence County. Mr. Price was mar- 
 ried in this county on January 7, 1858, to Miss 
 Susan Ann Davis, a daughter of Ross Davis, of 
 Tennessee, but on Octolter 11, I87i), this lady 
 died, leaving eight children to survive her: Sarah 
 Ann, wif»» of John Bilberry; Nile A., (Jeorgi- L., 
 David P., B'illmore, Charles D., Philip V., and Lutz, 
 a young lady. Nile A. and George L. are both 
 married. Mr. Price has also lost five children, who 
 died in early childhood. His second wife was a 
 widow lady, Mrs. Mary Steadman, whom ho mar- 
 ried in 1881, this lady dying in 188"), and leaving 
 one daughter, Hattie U. He married his ]jresent 
 wife, who was formerly Miss Nancy llidor, of In 
 dependence County, on July 3, 1887. Both Mr. 
 and Mrs. Price are members of the Baptist Church, 
 in which the former is a deacon, and they are 
 deeply interested in all matters concerning its wel- 
 fare. In 1885 ho established a general merchan- 
 dise store, and by his methods of doing business, 
 soon built up a good patronage. A postoflice was 
 opened \ip in his place of business in Ai>ril, 1886, 
 and he was appointed postmaster, having Ijud 
 charge of the office since then. 
 
 Greene E. llaney, a prosperous and well known 
 farmc^r of Smith ville. Ark., was born in Lawrence 
 County, near that town, September 20, 1850. He 
 is a son of Morgan Uaney, also a native of ArkansaH, 
 born March 18, 1818, and died in 1877. Samuel 
 Raney, the gi-andfather of Greene E. , was a Vir 
 ginian by birth, who married and settled in Mis 
 souri, where he reared part of his family. His son, 
 Morgan llaney, was the youngest of eight chil 
 dren, and was born in Arkansas, iu which State he 
 lived all his life, never having evinced any desire to 
 go out of it. Morgan Raney was one of the most in 
 dustrious and able men of his day, and at the time 
 of his death owned about l.NSO acres of line land, 
 with a good portion of it under cidtivatioii. At 
 the time of his decease lie j>resented each of his 
 children with $2.(inn cash, and a tine farm, since 
 which time the land has doubled in vnbi.' He was 
 
su 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 married to Miss Nancy Taylor, of Lawrence Coun- 
 ty, Ark. , who was born in 1S27, and died in the 
 year 1867. meetin<f her death through a very pain- 
 ful accident while coming from church. They 
 ■were the parents of seven children, all of them 
 now dead, with the exception of Leah, wife of G. 
 W. Brady, postmaster of Smithville, and Greene 
 E. Raney. His second marriage was with Miss 
 Elvira Janes, by whom he had two children, Loey 
 G. and an infant, both deceased. Greene E. Ra- 
 ney was reared in this (Lawrence) County, and, 
 like his father, prefers to remain on the soil of Ar- 
 kansas all his life. He began farming for himself 
 after his father's death, and the same energy that 
 characterized the latter was part of his own spirit, 
 as he has demonstrated by his present prosperity. 
 His brother, John W., enlisted in the army, and 
 was killed during the war, while he remained at 
 home to assist his father, who needed his help. 
 After the death of the elder Raney, he took charge 
 of the entire estate, and has brought it up to its 
 present proportions. He was married October 22, 
 1873, to Miss Sarah Jackson, of Sharp County, 
 Ark. , a daughter of Marcus Jackson, of Tennessee. 
 Six children were born to them by this union: 
 Lotta, Ernest and Joseph M. , all of whom are liv 
 ing, and three others who died very young. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Raney are members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Raney is a Dem- 
 ocrat in politics. He is a prominent man in all 
 enterprises for the advancement and improvement 
 of his county, and is one of the most liberal, open- 
 hearted men in that section. 
 
 Moses Boiling Rhea is one of the oldest set- 
 tlers of Lawrence County, and has been here over 
 fifty- four years. There is only one citizen in the 
 above county, C. S. Pinnell, who has been in this 
 section longer than Mr. Rhea. He was born in 
 Warren County, Tenn. , June 6, 1822, and is the 
 son of Obadiah Rhea, of East Tennessee, who set- 
 tled in Arkansas about the year 1835, and located 
 within fifteen miles of the present town of Walnut 
 Ridge, where he lived until his death, in 1855. 
 The wife of Obadiah Rhea was Miss Elizabeth Lit- 
 tlepage, of Tennessee. They were the parents of 
 ten children, six of whom are still living. Their 
 
 names are: Moses B. , Thomas, a farmer of Greene 
 County; Elizabeth, widow of James G. Ruther- 
 ford, residing near the old homestead ; Nancy, wife 
 of James Edward, of Greensl)oro, Ark. ; Mary, the 
 wife of C. C. Grayson, of Greene County; Emily, 
 the wife of Allan Pierce, a resident of Cache Town- 
 ship. This is indeed a remarkable showing for 
 one family. Six of the ten children are living, the 
 oldest being sixty-eight years old and the youngest 
 fifty four years. They have outlived every family 
 who settled in Lawrence County, at about the same 
 time, and have more living members as a proof of 
 their longevity than any other of the early settlers. 
 The mother of these children died at the age of 
 seventy-two years, in 1871 or 1872. Moses B. was 
 thirteen years of age when he fir.'^t came to Law- 
 rence County, but resided in Greene County, until 
 his twenty-third year, before he settled on his pres- 
 ent farm, seven miles east of Walnut Ridge. He 
 has been a farmer all his life, and a very success- 
 ful one, owning some 1,200 acres of land, of which 
 550 acres are under cultivation, and besides his 
 lands, he owns considerable stock. His children 
 have cause to remember him with gratitude, as he 
 has presented each of them with a good farm. He 
 first started in life for himself when twenty two 
 years of age, with nothing but a mare and colt. The 
 meagerness of bis worldly possessions, however, 
 did not disturb him in the least, and it was not 
 long before his industry secured for him almost all 
 of the freighting between Cape Girardeau. Mem- 
 phis, Powhatan, Jacksonport, Forest City and 
 other points, and no doubt he has hauled more 
 freight than any other man in Lawrence County. 
 He fought under Price during the war, and was in 
 that general's raids through Missouri and Kansas. 
 Hard work never affects him ajiparently, and he 
 keeps it up steadily on the farm. His principles 
 were toward the Union at first, but lie afterward 
 changed to be a strong Southern man. In his 
 early days he was a Whig, and mingled in politics 
 considerably, but under no circumstances would he 
 ever accejit an office, although often urged to do 
 so. He was married February 8, 1844, to Miss 
 Sarah C. Lamb, of Alabama, whose parents, Will- 
 iam and Mary (See) Lamb, were among the ear- 
 
 ^^ 
 
LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 sir> 
 
 licr s(!t,tlfis of this coimty. She died in 1807, uiul 
 Mr. llhea was again married in 1808 to Clementine 
 S(H'<^o. This wife died in ISOO, and in 1870 he 
 was married to Miss Mary Slavin, whose death oc- 
 curred in 1S71. His fourth wife was Miss Sarah 
 Daily, who died in 1870, and his present wife is 
 Miss Uuth Kiuyon, who has lived in this county 
 about thirty-eight years. Mr. Rhea is the father 
 of sixteen children, only five of whom are living: 
 Murcinda, wife of William Hennessee; John A., of 
 Walnut Ridge; Flavins, married; Laura Daily, 
 who lives near the homestead; James and A\"illiaiii, 
 who live at home. 
 
 John A. Rhea, proprietor of Walnut Ridge liv- 
 (<ry staliles, was born in Grreene County, Ark., 
 Sei)tember 30, 1854, and came to Lawrence County, 
 when twelve years of age. He received but a lim- 
 ited anioiint of schooling in his yonng days, and 
 was reared on his father's farm. On July 3, 1870, 
 he was married to Miss Lizzie Cooper, a daughter 
 of Thomas and Ibbie (Willis) Cooper, early settlers 
 of this county. After his marriage he commenced 
 farming for himself, but shortly afterward gave up 
 that occupation, and came to Lawrence County in 
 the year 1877, where he opened a hotel. Five 
 years later he went into the business of buying 
 and selling horses, and then started a livery, which 
 he has fostered into a complete success. It is the 
 only livery stable in the Eastern district of Law- 
 rence County, and commands rjuite a large trade. 
 He also buys and sells horses, and is the owner of 
 a farm of 148 acres, of which 133 acres are under 
 cultivation. The 'bus line running between Wal- 
 nut Ridge and Hoxie is controlled by him, and he 
 has the mail contract between those points. In 
 politics Mr. Rhea is a Democrat, and was the first 
 town marshal of Walnut Ridge. He has two 
 cliiklren, Harry and Annie L. 
 
 Dr. J. V. Richardson, whose nam<' is well 
 known throughout Northeast Arkansas, was born 
 in Spencer County, Ind., on the 8th of April, 
 183S. His ])arents were J. V. and Elizabeth (Ev- 
 erton) Richardson, of Kentucky and Indiana, 
 respectively, who moved to Arkansas in 1844, and 
 settled in Sharp CJounty, where they lived until the 
 year 1801. They tiien removed to Texas, but 
 
 came back to Arkansas in bSfiO, and located in Ful 
 ton County, where the older Richardson still resides 
 at the age of eighty-six years, his wife dying al)out 
 the year 1870. Dr. Richardson came to this State 
 with his father when a boy of eight years, and re- 
 mained with him until he had reached liis matur 
 ity. Hi! then commenced the study of medicine in 
 Jackson and Lawrence Counties, under the guid- 
 ance of the then celebrated Dr. Hatfield, iind in 
 1800 first began practicing in Jackson County. 
 In 1802 he enlisted in the Confederate army as n 
 private, l)ut was shortly afterward promoted, and 
 sent out on detached duty. He visited his home 
 again in 1803, and in the spring of the following 
 year rejoined his company, and served until his 
 surrender at Jacksonport, in June, 180"). The 
 Doctor fought in the battles at Little Rock, Inde- 
 pendence (Mo.), Kansas City, Big Blue, Boons- 
 boro (Ark.), and in Price's raids through Missouri. 
 After the war was over he returned to Jackson 
 County, and resumed his practice and farming 
 until 1873, when he moved to Lawrence County, 
 and located in the neighborhood of where he now 
 resides. He continued in his profession up to 
 1879, when he built a store-room, and in 1880 be- 
 gan dealing in general merchandise. He has been 
 very active in commercial life and farming since 
 then, giving up his jn-actice entirely, and has now 
 built up a successful business, and is one of the 
 leading merchants of that section. The Doctor 
 was first married Juno 11, 180."), in Jackson Coun- 
 ty, to Miss Sarah A. Johnson, who died June 4, 
 1870. There were two children by this marriage: 
 William D., who died in liis twelfth year, and >[a- 
 hala E., wife of William Beavers, of this county. 
 He married his present wife in Jackson County, in 
 1875. The lady's name was formerly Miss Eliza- 
 beth Brackenridge, a daughter of James Bracken - 
 ridge, one of the pioneers of Jackson County. 
 There are four children by this marriage: Ada, 
 Gilbert, Aggie and May. Dr. Richard.son is n 
 meml)er of Thornburg Lodge No. 371, A. F. & A. 
 M. , and is Master of his lodge. Ho is also a Royal 
 Arch Ma.sou, and a member of Walnut Ridge Chap 
 ter, and has represented his lodge in the Grand 
 Lodc^e on several occasions. He has served as Wor- 
 
-^ 
 
 816 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 sbipful Master for six or seven years, and has a 
 lodge-room over bis store-room. 
 
 Hamilton W. Richey is a sou of John Richey, 
 of Virginia, vpho moved to Indiana in his younger 
 days, and married Miss Polly Woods, of that 
 State, locating in Gibson County, where Ham- 
 ilton vyas bom December 29, 1829. John Richey 
 followed his occupation of farming in Indiana un- 
 til the year 1844, when he removed to Arkansas, 
 and settled in Lawrence County. He resided in 
 that place, and reared his family, until the time of 
 bis death, in the fall of 1861, when he passed 
 away, regretted l)y all who knew him. Up to the 
 time of his decease Mr. Richey had been a sur- 
 vivor of the War of 1812, and was at Mobile, 
 Ala., when the battle of New Orleans was fought. 
 He was also a captain of militia during his resi- 
 dence in Indiana. Hamilton W. Richey came to 
 Arkansas when in his fourteenth year, and is the 
 oldest of three surviving sons, out of a family of 
 eight who grew to maturity and had families of 
 their own. He remained with his father until his 
 twenty third year, and was then united in marriage 
 to Mrs. Sarah Ann Richey, December 12, 1852, 
 the lady being a widow, and a native of Lawrence 
 County. After their marriage they settled on a 
 small farm in Flat Creek, and, in the spring of 
 1867, moved to their present home. Mr. Richev 
 commenced clearing his land at once, and at the 
 present time has almost 225 acres under cultiva- 
 tion. He owns altogether about 700 acres of land, 
 on different tracts, a portion of it l>eing cleared, 
 and owes his present prosperity to liis own enter- 
 prise, having but very little property when he first 
 started in life. Mr. Richey is one of the substan- 
 tial and progressive men to whom Lawrence 
 County can point with pride, and by his industry 
 and economy has placed himself upon a basis 
 where others must look at him with admiration. 
 In March, 1862, he enlisted in the Confederate 
 army, becoming a member of the First Arkansas 
 Battalion, and served until taken prisoner, at Port 
 Hudson, July 8, 1863. The command was again 
 reorganized the following fall, and then Mr. 
 Richey held the rank of first lieutenant, and con- 
 tinued in that capacity until his surrender, at Jack- 
 
 sonport, Ark., where he was paroled in June, 1865. 
 He had two children by his first wife, both of them 
 deceased, and fcis wife also dying in 1857. He 
 contracted a second marriage, his wife being Miss 
 Mary Way land, of Arkansas, who died in 1876, 
 leaving six children: David H. , John H. and Jo- 
 seph W. , while three others lived to maturity, and 
 two married before their deaths occuircd. Their 
 names are Hamilton W., Sarah Ann M. and 
 Amanda J. Mr. Richey was again married, his 
 third wife being Miss Mattie E. Walker, of Gib- 
 son County, Tenn. , and has had two children by 
 this marriage, Nora May and Mattie Aoma. He 
 was elected justice of the peace of his township, 
 and, at the expiration of his first term, was re- 
 elected to a second term. Mr. Richey and his wife 
 are both members of the Christian Church, and he 
 is also a member of the Agricultural Wheel. 
 
 James P. Rogers, a well-known farmer of 
 Cache Township, was born in Middle Tennessee, 
 March 10, 1847. He is the son of John B. Rog- 
 ers, a native of North Carolina, who settled in 
 Tennessee about the year 1846, and from there 
 came to Arkansas and located on Black River, 
 eight miles or more east of Pocahontas, where he 
 resided until his death, two years later. His wife 
 was Miss Ann S. Collier, of North Carolina, a 
 daughter of Henry Collier, wlio settled in Arkan- 
 sas about the year 1850 and located on Black 
 River, in Randolph County, in which place he pur- 
 chased half a section of land. He was one of the 
 first settlers in that region and lived there until 
 his death, in 1855, or thereabouts. Mrs. Rogers 
 is still living and resides in Red River County, 
 Tex., at the age of seventy years. She is the 
 mother of twelve children, seven of them living, 
 whose names are: James P. Rogers, Martha L., 
 widow of William Sutton, a resident of Red River 
 County, Tex.; John C. and Henry C. twins, the 
 former a resident of Fort Worth, Tex., and the 
 latter near Arkadelphia, Ark.; Mary E., the wife 
 of John W. Scoggin, of Red River County, Tex. ; 
 Senora, wife of Samuel Daniels, and Robert Lee, 
 also of Red River County, Tex. James P. Rogers 
 spent the earlier part of his life on a farm in Ten- 
 nessee, and in his twenty-second year went to 
 
 "TP 
 
Sherman, Tex., where he worked as a carpenter. 
 He then traveled through the Indian Territory for 
 a short time, after which he nndertook the busi- 
 ness of freighting between Paul's Valley and Fort 
 Sill. His next trip was back to Texas, along the 
 Red River, and after finding a suitable location he 
 commenced farming. He continued at various oc- 
 cupations until the year 1871, when he came to 
 Randolpli County, Ark., and l)ought 120 acres of 
 land, and on Decemlier 'I'S, 1872, was married to 
 Miss Ellen E. Brooks, a daughter of Albert W. W. 
 Brooks, who has the reputation of l)eing the 
 wealthiest man in Randolph County, Ark. Mr. 
 and Mrs Rogers then came to Cache Township, in 
 Lawrence County, and settled on a farm of 240 
 acres, of which 115 acres are in a good state? of 
 cultivation. He owns 440 acres more in two tracts 
 of land in Randolph County. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers 
 are the parents of seven children, five of them 
 living, whose names are recorded as follows: John 
 A., William H. , Julia A., Magnolia, Mary Susan. 
 He is a member of the Knights and Ladies of 
 Honor, and a man held in high esteem. 
 
 Charles C. Rogers, attorney and county ex- 
 aminer, was born in Madison County, Tenn., April 
 1, 1852. He is a son of Hon. D. S. and Nancy G. 
 (Taylor) Rogers, of North Carolina and Virginia, 
 respectively. After his marriage, the elder Rog 
 era resided in Tennessee for a number of years, 
 where he farmed to a consideralile ext(>nt, and for 
 twenty five years was chairman of the county court 
 of Madison County. In his sixty- fifth year Mr. 
 Rogers was admitted to the bar, but as he had al- 
 ways declined to practice, his membership was con- 
 ferred more as an honor. Previous to the war he 
 had l)een elected a member of tin? legislature, and 
 for almost twenty-five years, continuously, he held 
 the office of justice of the peace. His death oc- 
 curred in the spring of 188B, leaving behind him a 
 name respected and honorinl wherever mentioned. 
 Charles C. Rogers grew to manhood on the farm 
 in Tennessee. His facilities for attending school 
 in his youth were very meager, but, knowing the 
 advantages of a good education in order to make a 
 success in life, hi- applied himself studiously to his 
 books at every opportunity, and now not only is 
 
 ho posted in the common and higher EDglish 
 branches, Imt is also well versed in Greek and 
 Latin. After niastcriug liis studies, Mr. Rogers 
 taught .school himself in Teiuiessee for five terms, 
 and for one term iti Arkansas. In 1875 he com- 
 menced the study of law at the ('uiiil)cr]atid fjaw 
 School, Lebanon, Tenu., and completed his full 
 course. He then located at Jackson, Tenn., and 
 in 1881 was offered th(> editorial chair of u news- 
 paper in that city, which he occupic'd for eight 
 months, his work during that time attracting wide- 
 spr(>ad att(!ntion. In 1882 he moved to I'nwliatan, 
 where he has resided ever since, and commenced 
 the practice of law. He has been successful from 
 the very Ix'ginuing, and now ranks as one of the 
 best lawyers in Northeast Arkansas. Mr. Rogers 
 was married to Mrs. Ella Croom, a charming 
 widow, of Tennessee, who had been the companion 
 of his youth. Mrs. Rogers has one daughter by 
 her former marriage, and her union with Mr. 
 Rogers has given them a son Willie P. Rogers. 
 They are l)oth members of the Methodist P^pisco 
 pal Church, South, of which Mr. Rogers is stewar<l, 
 and the latter also holds the office of county ex- 
 aminer, to which lie was appointed in 1888. 
 
 Dr. D. B. Rudy, physician and surg(K)n, is a 
 man of whom it can l)e truly said that lie has 
 reached the top round in his profession. He was 
 born in Henderson County, Ky., December 24, 
 1851, and is a son of William R. and Jane P. 
 (Smith) Rudy, both of the same county and State, 
 the father being an extensive stock raiser and 
 farmer. The Doctor grew to manhood in Hender- 
 son County, and in his youth received the liest ed- 
 ucation to be had. He attended the high schools 
 and also the Cairo Academy, of Cairo, that county, 
 and in 1871 cimmenci-d tlie study of mi-dicine 
 under Dr. Samuel Furman, of Cairo, a noted 
 physician of that perioil. He obtained his lirst 
 course of medical lectures at the I'niversity of 
 Louisville, and graduated in 1875. His lirst lo- 
 cation was in McLean Cnnnty, Ky. . where he 
 practiced until the fall of 1871), and then move«l 
 to Sharp County, Ark. In 1878 he left Sharp 
 County and retiuned to the University to jiursue 
 his studies still further, and graduated on March 
 

 1, 1879. He thou came to Lawrence Couuty, Ark., 
 in May, 1879, and commenced practicing, and is 
 now looked upon as one of the leaders in the med- 
 ical profession. The Doctor was married at Smith - 
 ville. Ark. , to Miss Belle Henderson in 1880, who 
 died seven years later, leaving three children. His 
 second marriage was to MissParalee Fortenberry, 
 of Lawrence County, in 1888, and the result of 
 this happ_v union has been one child. The names 
 of those children by his first wife are Maud, Anna 
 Belle and William B. , and the child of his last i 
 wife is James Frederick. The Doctor has built 
 up a splendid practice, and owns considerable prop- 
 erty in Lawrence County. He is a very popular 
 man, owing it to both his skill as a physician and 
 his personal magnetism. He also devotes a por- 
 tion of his attention to stock raising and farming, 
 and has been very successftil in both, and is also a 
 member of the Lawrence County Medical Society. 
 Silas RufFner, of Walnut Ridge, is one of the 
 oldest citizens of Lawrence County. He was born 
 in New Madrid County, Mo., in 1836, and is the 
 same age as that of his adopted State — Arkansas. 
 His father was Elias Ruffner, of what is now 
 Kanawha County, W. Va., who was a farmer by 
 occupation. The elder Ruffner moved from Vir- 
 ginia to Indiana, and afterward to Illinois, Wiscon- 
 sin, Arkansas and Texas. He came to Arkansas in 
 1814, and located at Crowley's Ridge, in Poinsett 
 County, and in 1857 removed to Texas, where he 
 contracted pneumonia, and died the same year, 
 aged sixty years. He was married to Miss Nancy 
 Phillips, of Virginia, and had live children, four 
 of them living in Lawrence County and one in 
 Prairie County. The mother is still living in the 
 former county, at the age of seventy -eight years, 
 and has full possession of all her faculties. Silas 
 RufFner was reared as a farmer, and had been in 
 that business until within the past three years. 
 He has had but a limited education, but is a man 
 of strong will and a determination that overcomes 
 all obstacles. Ho has resided the greater portion 
 of his life in Lawrence County, having come here 
 in the year 1850, and can recount a score of rem- 
 iniscences of the early days of this State. He first 
 lived in Poinsett and Jackson Counties, and re- 
 
 members when Jacksonport, in the latter county, 
 was merely a canebrake. He can also remember 
 when the Jacksonport and Pocahontas country road 
 was opened, which covered a distance of sixty-two 
 miles, and had but one house upon it, which was 
 called the "Stranger's Homo," as that was the 
 only place of accomodation on the entire road. In 
 1886 Mr. Ruffner established himself in the mer- 
 chandising Viusiness at Walnut Ridge, and has had 
 very fair success. He is a member of Walnut 
 Ridge Lodge No. 19731, Knights of Honor, and 
 also a member of the town council. In 1802 he en- 
 listed in Capt. Henry's company, and served three 
 and one-half years through the war. He was dis- 
 charged June 5, 1805, and held the rank of second 
 lieutenant at the time of his release. He has been 
 married four times, two of his wives having been 
 sisters, and all four of them cousins. He has had 
 eleven children altogether, and seven of them are 
 still living: Savannah (the wife of John E. John- 
 son, of Walnut Ridge), Joseph and Nancy Owen 
 (who reside in this county), Williger (the wife of 
 Edgar O'Neal, of the "Stranger's Home"), Julia 
 (the wife of Davis Ruffner, of this county), Henry, 
 George and John. He has married for the fifth 
 time, his present wife having been Rachel Up- 
 church. Mr. Ruffner is in splendid health, and 
 has never taken a cupful of medicine in the whole 
 course of his existence, nor touched a drink of 
 whisky. In politics, he is a Democrat. 
 
 T. A. J. Runyan, M. D., one of Lawrence 
 County's popular citizens, and a physician of 
 excellent reputation, was born in Vermillion 
 County, Ind. , in the year 1829. He is a son of 
 William and Melinda (Murey) Runyan, of Tennes- 
 see and Kentucky, respectively, who were married 
 in Tennessee, and moved to the State of Illinois, 
 shortly after. Dr. Runyan received his education 
 from the district schools in his earlier days, and 
 later on at the Academy of Georgetown, Tenn. 
 He commenced the study of medicine in 1855, 
 under the guidance of Dr. John L. Yarnell, a 
 celebrated physician in those day, and is now one 
 of the leading men in his profession. He also 
 practiced five years under the care of an elder 
 brother, Dr.M. D. L. Runyan. While at Nashville 
 
LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 SI '.I 
 
 taking a course of lectnros, the Doctor had tho 
 misfortune to lose oue of bis eyes by erysipelas, 
 which caused bim to give up his studies for a time. 
 This, however, did not deter hitn from mastering 
 tho intricacies of his chosen profession, and in 
 ISIU he resumed the study of medicine. He came 
 to Arkansas in 181)3, and located in what is now 
 Sharp County, and commenced building up his 
 practice within four miles of whore he now resides. 
 He is the oldest physician residing in this part of 
 the county, and, besides bis profession, is the owner 
 of a large and very productive farm. He has 
 upward of 200 acres under cultivation, besides 
 other lands in various sections, all of which he has 
 accumulated by bis own industry. The Doctor was 
 practically penniless at the close of the war, and 
 his present prosperity is a good evidence of bis 
 indomitable pluck and energy. He was married 
 to Miss Mary A. Campbell, of Tennessee, and 
 eight children have been given them to brighten 
 the home, four of whom have died. The names 
 of those living are: Ester Jane, wife of Henry 
 Doyle; Martha M. , wife of James M. Turner; 
 William, and Josephine, wife of J. W. McLaugh- 
 lin. The dead are: Marcus, an infant not named, 
 Eliza Ann and Melinda. The Doctor is a member 
 of Lodge No. 126 of the A. F. & A. M. 
 
 John J. Sharp, one of the principal farmers 
 and stock raisers in La-wrence County, was born 
 in this county, on the 0th of Juno, 1846. He is 
 a son of John Sharp, who was born in the same 
 county and State, in 1818, and a grandson of Sol 
 omon Sharp, one of the first settlers to till the soil 
 of Arkansas. His grandfather began farming and 
 stock raising on his arrival in this section, and that 
 particular business has been followed by father and 
 son for three generations. Their first location was 
 on the place now owned by Capt. Stewart, near 
 Powhatan. John Sharp was a soldier in the Mex- 
 ican War, and was the second child of a family of 
 nine. His intrepidity led him to the front ranks 
 of battle, where he sickened and died, without the 
 privilege of bidding his family good bye. He mar- 
 ried Miss Luriza Turman, a Kentucky lady, in 
 1S16. who died in 188S. There were three chil- 
 dren born to them: ^Mrs. Jane Smith, Mrs. ^Mary 
 
 Williams, a widow lady, and John J. Sharp, (jf 
 whom we write. Mr. Sharp remained in this 
 county until August, 1862, when he enlisted in tiie 
 Confederate army, and was one of tho raiders 
 through Missouri, under Gen. Price. He returned 
 home the same year, and iu 1865 went to Jackson 
 port, where he was paroled. When twenty yours 
 of age he went on his uncle's farm, at Black Rock, 
 and remained two years. After leaving him ho 
 moved to his present place of rosidoiice, which he 
 bought from his uncle in 1870. It is one of the 
 oldest places of K(>ttlement in tho county, and has 
 100 acres of land under cultivation. Mr. Sharp 
 was married, September 20, 1868, to Miss Lucinda 
 C. McGhehey, a daughter of Judge McGhehoy, 
 who has filled that ol!i(!e for fourteen years. They 
 have five children: William Henry, Alice, Albert 
 Redmond, Ernest ^\'. and Lacie B. , and are mem- 
 bers of the Christian Chiu-ch. Mr. Sharp has 
 been a member of the school board for n nural)er 
 of years, and has always used his influence to the 
 fullest extent, in the cause of education. He is a 
 firm believer in the maxim that " knowledge is 
 power," and is always one of the first to advance 
 a cause for the enlightenment and instruction of 
 childhood. He is the owner of a large sorghum - 
 mill and a splendid farm. His mill has a capacity 
 of forty five gallons per day. 
 
 T. J. Sharum, general merchant of Walnut 
 llidge, was born in Daviess County, Lid., February 
 4, 1840. His father, H. Y. Sharum, is a native of 
 Kentucky, and an early settler of Daviess County, 
 lud. , where he still resides on a farm, at tho ago of 
 eighty years. The elder Sharum was married to 
 Miss Rosa Ann Cisell, of Kentucky, and eight 
 children were the result of this union. One of the 
 sons, James A., was a member of Company I, 
 Twenty-fourth Infantry, Indiana Volunteers, and 
 was killed in the battle of Shiloh. Two of the .sons 
 reside in Arkansas — T. J. Sharum and J. C. Shnr 
 um. the latter a resident of Portia. Mr. T. J. 
 Sharum was reared on a farm in Indiana, and re- 
 ceived a fair education in his youth. He learne<l 
 tho carpenter's trade early in life, and worked at 
 it in the town of Manitowoc, Wis., until tho fall 
 of 1S60. In 18<)1 (Julv 3) he enlisted in Omi- 
 

 820 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 pany I, Twenty-foiirtb Infantry, Indiana Volun- 
 teers, which was organized at Camp Knox, and iu 
 the latter part of that summer went to MissoiU'i, 
 under Gen. Fremont. He took part iu the }>attle 
 of Sliiloh, where he was wounded in the left- 
 shoulder l>y a rifle ball. He was granted a fur- 
 lough of several months after this occurrence, and 
 later on rejoined his regiment at Helena, Ark., 
 and with the exception of skirmishing, was not 
 engaged in actual battle until the siege of Vicks- 
 burg. On June 2;3, he was taken prisoner, and 
 finally landed in the famous Libby Prison. Later 
 on he was exchanged, and rejoined his regiment 
 at New Iberia, La. At Clinton, La. , he did some 
 skirmish duty, and iu the year of 1864, he was 
 mustered out at Baton Rouge. Mr. Sharum's next 
 occupation was that of traveling salesman for a 
 jewelry house, and then a stock trader. He jour- 
 neyed through the Choctaw Nation and the State 
 of Arkansas for two years, trading in stock and 
 hides. He then established himself in business in 
 Indiana for seven years, and afterward was a 
 wholesale mannfacturer of boots and shoes in St. 
 Louis. Mo., for eight years, in connection with a 
 brother. In November, 1888, ho came to Walnut 
 Ridge, his present home, and purchased the busi 
 ness of J. M. Phelps & Sons. His undertakings 
 have all been successful, and he is now the owner of 
 some 8,000 acres of land, besides thatjsart of Wal- 
 nut Ridge where the court-house and Methodist 
 Episcopal Church stand. He is commander of 
 Lawrence Post No. 72, G. A. R., and is a member 
 of the I. O. O. F., Good Templars and Knights 
 and Ladies of Honor. He was married April 24, 
 1806, to Miss Lydia A. Loutz, of Indiana, and has 
 bad three children, one of them dying since (Ed- 
 ward). The two still living are Monte and Myrtle. 
 Arthur W. Shirey, a prominent merchant of 
 Ashland Township, comes from an old South Car- 
 olinian family, but is of German descent. He was 
 born in Lexington County, S. C, on the 13th of 
 May, 1835, and is a son of Enoch and Martha 
 (Sandford) Shirey, who, a few years after their 
 marriage, moved to the State of Georgia, and from 
 there to Alabama, where they settled on a farm, 
 and proceeded to make their future home. The 
 
 father died September 6, 1866, while visiting his 
 son, A. W. Shirey, in Texas, giving the family a 
 blow from which they did not recover for some 
 years. A. M'. Shirey remained with his father un- 
 til he had attained his manhood, and then moved to 
 Texas, where he located in Smith County, and af 
 terward in Angelina County. In 1862 he enlisted 
 in the Thirteenth Texas Cavalry, as a private, but 
 his valiant services for the cause of the Confeder- 
 acy soon won for him the rank of orderly sergeant, 
 in which capacity he remained until the company 
 disbanded at Hempstead, Texas. He fought at 
 the battles of Mansfield (La.), Pleasant Hill (La.), 
 and -Jenkins' Ferry (Ark.), besides a great number 
 of others e<jua]ly as noted. After the war he re- 
 turned to his Texas home, where he was occupied 
 in farming for one year, and in 1867 moved to 
 Arkansas, and located at Jonesboro. In the latter 
 place he was engaged in business for eighteen 
 months, and in th(? fall of 1868 scuttled on Black 
 River, iu Lawrence County, where he transacted 
 business for a jieriod of four and one half years. 
 His next venture was at Minturn, but he sold out 
 his interest at that place, and began farming near 
 by. This he continued four years, then returning 
 to Minturn, and forming a partnership, under the 
 name of Shirey & Henry, for the sale of general 
 merchandise. After a period of one year and a 
 half Mr. Henry withdrew from the business, which 
 Mr. Shirey continued on his own account, and he 
 now does a business of about $30,000 annually, 
 besides handling cotton to a considerable extent. 
 He carries a large and fine stock of dry goods, 
 groceries, queensware and general supplies, and 
 has built up a prosperous trade. He is deemed to 
 be one of the shrewdest business men in that sec- 
 tion, and no man in business in Lawrence County 
 has a better reputation for fair dealing and honest 
 goods. Mr. Shirey first commenced on almost 
 nothing, but, by his own good management and 
 legitimate methods of doing business, has accumu- 
 lated a comfortable fortune. He owns some 4,000 
 acres of land in this county, on ten ditferent tracts, 
 of which 1,300 acres are cleared and under culti- 
 vation. Once before he had been on the road to 
 prosperity, but lost all he possessed while coming 
 
k. 
 
 LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 821 
 
 from Jonesboro to Lawrence County, on the Black 
 River, in 1868. The boat upon which all of his 
 savings and goods had been freighted sunk at 
 Bird's Point, and he was again forcod to start in 
 life without a dollar. His wonderful energy and 
 tact have once more placed him upon a solid Viasis, 
 and now, besides his 4,000 acres of latul and large 
 business, he owns considerable other personal 
 property, and is considered to bo one of the bul- 
 warks of commercial life in Lawrenc(( County. 
 Mr. Shirey has been a Spiritualist in religious faith 
 for the past fifteen years, and for some three years 
 he has been a magnetic healer. He delights in 
 treating patients after medicine has failed to cure, 
 and many have been restored to health and strength 
 through his aid. People who are poor and des- 
 titute receive the benefits of his healing powers 
 gratis. 
 
 Capt. William C. Sloan, of Smithville, Ark., 
 was born in Lawrence County, August 14, 1888. 
 His father was Fergus Sloan, of Lincoln County, 
 N. C, who was born in December, 1787, and died 
 in November, 1849. The elder Sloan remained in 
 North Carolina until he reached his twenty-fifth 
 year, and then moved to Missouri, and settled, in 
 Washington County, near Caledonia. He resided 
 th(>re until his marriage to Miss Rosanna Ruggles, 
 of Otsego, N. C, who was born in 1797, and came 
 to Missouri in 1818. They moved to Arkansas in 
 1S'20, and located in the Spring River district, 
 where they opened up a largo farm (for that time) of 
 150 acres. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sloan were mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the 
 elder Sloan's house in (larly days was often a 
 meeting place for the missionaries of that time. 
 He dieil, while on a visit to his former home in 
 Missouri, on November 18, 184Vt, anil ins wife, the 
 mother of Capt. Sloan, died on the old homo- 
 stead, August 10, 18f)0. Nine children were born 
 to the parents, all of them living to bo marrie<l. 
 William C. Sloan was the seventh child, and the 
 youngest of four boys, and besides himself, has 
 three sisters still living. He grew to maturity in 
 this county, and on arriving at the age of twenty- 
 one yi'ars, conimenciMl doing business for himself. 
 During the war, he was captain of Company A, 
 
 Twenty-fifth Arkansas, and was mustered in willi 
 his company, March 1, 1802, serving about six 
 nKJiiths in that commauil. He next joined Col. 
 Baber's cavalry regiment, the Forty -fifth Ar 
 kansas, and was a meml)er of the raiding i^xjicdi 
 tion, under General Price, through Missouri. 
 After the war was over, he returned home and 
 entered actively into mercantile life, and has re- 
 sided in Smithville ever since. H(Msalsoa i)artner 
 in the firm of Sloan & Co., at ImlKxleu, Ark., and 
 besides, deals in stock very extensively. Capt. 
 Sloan is a Democrat in [tolitics, and represented 
 his county in the rebel legislatur(» of 18(5(5 67, 
 when they first convened after the war, and was 
 known throughout the county, as a fair-minded 
 and conscientious man in the discharge of his 
 duties. He was first married to Mrs. Susan Sloan, 
 the widow of his l)rotlier, who was born in Law 
 rence County, in 1881, and died in October, I.Sf)."). 
 This union gave them two children, William V. , 
 and Leona, wife of L. T. Andrews. His second 
 wife was Miss Elizabeth J. Cravi'us, whom he mar- 
 ried in 1871, a native of the same county, luit ed- 
 ucated at Shelbyville, Ky., and by whom he had 
 three children: Homer ¥., Eula L. , and Fannie, 
 all of them living. The mother died September 
 '29, 1887. Capt. Sloan is a member of Lodge No. 
 29, A. F. & A. ]\[., of Smithville, and is widely 
 known for his generosity and good fellowshi]>. 
 
 Clay Sloan, circuit court clerk, Powhatan, was 
 born in Lawrence County, Ark., August 20, I Sill. 
 He comes of a family who have made Arkansas 
 their home for a great many years, his father, James 
 F. Sloan, having been reared in the same county 
 and State, as also his mother, Margaret J. (Uauey ) 
 Sloan. The older Sloan was, for the greater |«>r 
 tion of his life, a prominent merchant of I'owha 
 tan, and was one of the most progi'essivo men in 
 commercial circles in that city up to the time of 
 his death, in 1878. His wife still survives him, 
 and is now married to M. D. Baber, an attorney 
 of Powhatan. Mr. Clay Sloan attained his ma 
 turity in Lawrence County, and in his youth re 
 ceived a thorough education at Arkansas College, 
 Batesville, Ark. He ci>mi>lete<l his fidl course at 
 college in 1881, and was tiien engaged in teaching 
 
Jl: 
 
 822 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 at Powhatan until the year 1886. His abilities 
 having been tested and recognized by this time, 
 he was elected to the position which he now occu 
 pies, and in 1888 was re-elected to the same office. 
 Ml". Sloan also filled the office of county examiner 
 fi-om 1884 to 1886. a position in which his actions 
 were reflected with credit. He is a Democrat in 
 polities and is strong in his support of the princi- 
 ples of that party. In the month of October, 1888, 
 Mr. Sloan was captivated by and married to Miss 
 Katie Matthews, a daughter of B. F. Matthews, 
 and they are as happy as two people can be who 
 have made a wise selection in the lottery of life. 
 They are both members of the Old School Presby- 
 terian Church, and are held in high esteem by 
 their neighbors. 
 
 Thompson F. Smith, justice of the peace, was 
 born in Washington County, Mo., on the 7th of 
 February, 1828. He is the son of William C. and 
 Jemima (Warner) Smith. His father moved from 
 his native place, Fayette County, Ky., in his nine- 
 teenth year, and settled in A\'ashington County, 
 Mo. , where he met and married his wife. They 
 remained in this State tintil the year of 1841, when 
 they were induced to remove farther west, and 
 located in Arkansas, near Smithville. In 1846 a 
 permanent home was established at what is now 
 Black Rock, but what was then almost a barren 
 prairie. Mr. William C. Smith was first jus- 
 tice of the peace in that county, and was after- 
 ward elected to the county judgeship, in 1854, by 
 the Democratic party. He was a soldier in the 
 War of 1812, and was a member of Johnson's 
 regiment. His contributions toward the church 
 were liberal, ho besides being a strong advocate in 
 the erection and maintenance of schools. Mr. 
 Smith's mother died July 31, 1886, in the New 
 Hope Baptist Church, one of the oldest churches 
 in the county, of which she had been a member 
 for thirty-nine years. To them were born fifteen 
 children, of whom five are still living. Mr. Smith 
 is their fifth child, and moved with his parents to 
 Arkansas when in his fourteenth year. He attained 
 his majority on the place where he now resides, 
 and, after reaching that age, his first steps were 
 toward improving the farm, and it is now his great 
 
 satisfaction in being able to say that, since coming 
 to this point, he has lived to see trees grow from 
 mere shrubs to be over two and one-half feet in 
 diameter. He has under cultivation about 100 
 acres of land, and is the owner of some 200, wilh 
 orchards and buiklings upon them. His new fruit 
 evaporator is the only one in the county, and since 
 he has been in possession of it, has evaporated 
 over 3,000 pounds of fruit. Mr. Smith was mar 
 ried on the 1st of January, 18()3, to Miss Letitia 
 Moore, of this coiinty, a daughter of Jackson Moore, 
 one of the earliest settlers. They have had five 
 children, four of whom are still living: James H. , 
 Charles B., Julia A. and William H. Mr. Smith 
 is a member of the A. F. & A. M. , of Kock Cave, 
 this county. He has served as justice of the peace 
 for seventeen years, and is the present justice of 
 the peace and notary public. He fought in the 
 late war, and held the rank of lieutenant in the 
 Thirteenth Arkansas, Company D. He had com- 
 mand of Company D in the battle of Shiloh, and 
 his lips give many a thrilling recital of narrow 
 escapes during that period. Mr. Smith is an en- 
 ergetic citizen, a popular official, and a ])rominent 
 figui'e in his county. 
 
 David C. Smith was born in Lawrence Coun- 
 ty, Ark., February 10, 1837, and is the son of 
 David Smith, of Vermont, who settled in Kentucky 
 in his earlier days, where he met and was married 
 to Miss Mariah Hornby, a native of that State. In 
 the year 1830 Mr. David Smith and his family 
 left their Kentucky home and found a suitable lo- 
 cation in Lawrence County, Ark. This section of 
 country was sparsely settled at that time, and Mr. 
 Smith had all the difficulties to contend with that 
 befell the pioneers of that State. However, he 
 cleared up a portion of the timber and commenced 
 farming, which occupation he followed until the 
 time of his death, which occurred on the 1 2th of 
 March, 1881. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith were 
 members of the Methodist Episcoisal Church. 
 Seven children were born to them, of whom four 
 are still living, David C. being the youngest. The 
 advantages of education were very limited in those 
 days in Mr. Smith's section, owing to the newness 
 of the country, and he found, quite early in life, 
 
 ~7\~<i 
 
:±=4>t^ 
 
 the necessity of schooling himself. At tho awe of 
 twenty two ho located on the home jilacc, where 
 he remained nntil he was able to purchase a home 
 of his own, and, owing to his natural ability and 
 pluck, was not long in attaining his object. He 
 served three years in the C(jnfederate army, being 
 a memljer of Col. Shaver's regiment, and was 
 present at the surrender at Jacksonport, Jackson 
 County, Ark. At the close of the war he returned 
 home and engaged in farm work, and some years 
 later was elected justice of the peace of Black 
 River Township, tilling the duties of that office 
 for two terms. He was then elected to the office 
 of county judge in the fall of 188f). serving two 
 years. Mr. Smith has also been a member of the 
 board of equalization for four years, and has filled 
 several minor offices. He was first married in 
 1859 to Miss Mary A. Bottoms, a lady of Tennes- 
 see, who died on the I'Jth of Marcli, 1888. He 
 had seven children b}' this wife, five of them de- 
 ceased: David W., Elias H., Mary E., Clay C. 
 and Emmett E. Those living are James C. and 
 John R. Mr. Smith was married a second time 
 to Mrs. Vj. a. Pyland, a native of Tennessee, and 
 this lady had three children: Mary F., Georgia A. 
 and Modena W. They are meml)ers of the Bap- 
 tist Church. Mr. Smith is an active worker in 
 school and church affairs. He is a stanch Demo- 
 crat, and was a Whig b(>for<< the reconstruction. 
 J. C. Starr, M.D., was born in ("annon County, 
 Tenn., on the 2d day of August, 1843. He is a 
 son of John and Celinda (Shumate) Starr. The 
 family settled in Missouri, in IS50, and located in 
 Wright County, where Mr. Starr, the elder, en- 
 gaged in farming and stock raising. The Doctor 
 remained with his- father until he reached maturity, 
 when he began the study of medicine with Dr. J. 
 F. Brooton, one of the leading physicians of 
 Wright County, in 1808. He finally moved to 
 Lawrence County, Mo., and enrolled as physician 
 and surgeon in the clerk's offic(> in Mount Vemon, 
 Mo., in July, 1874, where he remained until mov- 
 ing to Arkansas, when ho settled in Lawrence 
 County in 1875. His first place of residence was at 
 Smithville, but in 1887 he selected Black Rock as 
 a more desirable location, and has continued there 
 
 ever since. He has a large jjractice, and is a man 
 of high .standing in that community, which position 
 has been won by his sterling qualities and skill in 
 his profession, and ho is in every way worthy (jf 
 the success attending him. The Doctor mot and 
 won Miss E. J. Smith, a yoimg lady of Arkansas, 
 in 1882. Five children have been born to tlieui- 
 Clara, Tolivar, Webby, Ophelia and Mary. The 
 family are members of the Missionary Baptist 
 Church, and the Doctor himself is a member and 
 Junior Warden of Black Rock Lodge of ilasons. 
 
 Andrew J. Stewart, a well-known and exten- 
 sive stock raiser and farmer, was born January 1 5, 
 1S4S, in Phelps County, Mo. His father, James 
 Stewart, was married in Missouri to Miss Melinda 
 Lane, of Iowa, who, after their marriage, first 
 settled in Dent County, Mo., and subsequently in 
 Phelps County, where Andrew J. was born. An- 
 drew remained with the family until his sixteenth 
 year, and then came to Arkansas, and settled in 
 Lawrence County, where he has resided since. 
 He was married on September 24, 1872, to Miss 
 Sarah Thomason, of North Carolina, a lady who 
 has proven herself a devoted wife and mother. 
 After his marriage Mr. Stewart bought 12t) acres 
 of land, partly cleared, and since then has added 
 to it considerably, now owning some b'lO acres in 
 three tracts, with perhaps 200 acres cleared. He 
 has a good box Innise on one place and a log house 
 on each of the others, besides a good many im 
 provements having been done upon all of his land. 
 Mr. St(>wart's position in life is a gooil exami)le 
 of what thrift, good management and common 
 sense will do toward building up a man's fortune. 
 He first started in life with comparatively nothing. 
 l)nt l)y the aid of these qualities has accumulated 
 an independent competence, and is now considered 
 as one of the most substantial men of his county. 
 He has a family of four children: Filli'nore L., 
 James T., Jessie and Charles H. ; and has lost one 
 child. Mrs. Stewart is a member of the Old 
 School Presbyterian Church, and takes an active 
 interest in all matters pertaining to it. 
 
 Joseph Taylor was born in LawTence C uunty. 
 Ark.. January 'IH, 182:^, his parents being Will- 
 iam and Mary (Fortenberry) Taylor, whoso ro- 
 
 — ► 
 
824 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 spective places of birth were Tennessee and Vir- 
 ginia. The father was born in East Tennessee, on 
 Clinch River, near Kingston. The grandfather 
 died at an early age, leaving a widow and two 
 children — "William and Nancy. His wife married 
 a short time after the death of her husband, and 
 William was compelled to leave home on account 
 of the ill treatment of his stepfather. At this 
 time, being abont seventeen years of age and 
 weighing only 104 pounds, he started for the 
 West. He crossed the Mississippi River not far be- 
 low the mouth of the Ohio, and located in Capo 
 Girardeau County, near the southern line, on a 
 small stream called White Water. He was wholly 
 illiterate, being unable to read, save a little, while 
 to write his own name was an impossibility. He 
 remained in this coiintry until about the age of 
 twenty -two, and having grown to be a reasonable 
 sized man, he married. He was in this country in 
 time of the earth's shaking and during the War of 
 1812. During this time his wife presented him 
 two sons — Milledge and John — and about the year 
 1816 or 1817 he removed with his wife and family 
 to Arkansas, and located in the woods, on the bank 
 of Strawberry River, a very poor man. He suc- 
 ceeded in procuring lands, on which he erected a 
 building and cleared a farm, and, following the 
 occupation of farming and stock-raising through 
 life, he became a well-to-do man. After he settled 
 here his wife bore four other sons — James, Wesley, 
 Joseph, and one that died soon after its birth. 
 The mother died at the same time, leaving Joseph 
 a little over two years of age. The father remained 
 a widower about two years, and married a lady 
 named Lear Williams. This wife became the 
 mother of four children, Nancy, William, Eliga and 
 Elie. The father died at about the age of fifty- livo 
 or fifty six, leaving eight sons and one daughter, 
 all of whom became grown, married and had fami- 
 lies, save one son, William, who died single at the 
 age of twenty two. Joseph was about seventeen 
 years old when his father died. He remained with 
 his step-mother one year, and then lived with his 
 brother until twenty years of age. On November 
 7, 1843, he married Mary J. Hinderson. They 
 lived together about three years, and she died. 
 
 During this union they had a son born unto them, 
 named William Alexander (after his grandfather). 
 This son (without consent of his father), at the age 
 of sixteen, joined the Southern army in the fall of 
 1861, and was killed at Atlanta, Ga. After the 
 death of his wife, Mr. Taylor remained a widower 
 about three years, leading a very reckless life, but, 
 under the influence of his brothers, he was per- 
 suaded to marrj' a second wife, Martha A. Findley, 
 November 7, 1850. This lady was a member of 
 the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and a de- 
 voted Christian. Through the influence of his 
 wife, Mr. Taylor made a profession of religion in 
 September, 1853. The next morning he joined 
 the church to which his wife l)elonged. Shortly 
 after he was elected and ordained to the office of 
 ruling elder of the Strawberry congregation, which 
 office he has held to the present time. Mr. Tay- 
 lor lived with his second wife about fourteen years, 
 and she died, after having given birth to five chil- 
 dren — John W., Margret A., Sarah W., Melissa 
 A., Matilda E. Mr. Taylor again married, a third 
 time, the lady being a sister of his second wife, 
 and the widow of J. M. Barnett. They had three 
 sons, all of whom are living: Joseph G., Benjamin 
 D. and George W. He lived with this wife about 
 eighteen years, when she died, on the 31.st of De- 
 cember, 1883. In 1887 he was married to the 
 widow McHenry, who had one little daughter — 
 Allis McHenry, who is now living with them. Mi'. 
 Taylor's present wife's maiden name was Crits. 
 Her native State is Virginia. Mr. Taylor is the 
 only one of this branch of the family now living. 
 He is in his sixty-sixth year, and lives at the Jack- 
 sonport Crossing, on Strawberry, a place within 
 two miles of where he was born. 
 
 Thomas J. Thorn, farmer and stock raiser, was 
 born in Bedford County, Tenn., December 25, 
 1837. His father, W. Thorn, was a native of 
 North Carolina, who moved to the State of Ten- 
 nessee, and was there married to Miss Penelope 
 Crumple, of that State. After his marriage the 
 elder Thom settled on a farm in Bedford County, 
 where he resided until his death, in 1856. His 
 wife still survives him, and is a resident of Law 
 renee County. He served through the Seminole 
 
 ^ 
 
LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 825 
 
 War in Florida, and had n(W(*r fully recovered from 
 the exposure and hardships broucrht on while en- 
 deavorinf( to subdue this savage tribe. Thomas 
 J. Thorn remained with his father until he had 
 reached his maturity, and then started out to tind 
 his own fortune. In 1859 he settled in Oregon 
 County, Mo. , and one year later moved to Law- 
 rence County, Ark. In ISOl he enlisted in the 
 Confederate army, and after six months' active 
 service was badly wounded and discharged. He 
 received his wound in the thigh, from a rifle ball, 
 while engaged in a battle at Springfield, Mo., in 
 180L and at that time was a member of Col. 
 McBryant's division. Finding it impossible to 
 light any longer, he returned to Lawrence County, 
 and, as time passed, and he was able to resume 
 his farm work, he did so, and has been at that oc- 
 cupation ever since, with the exception of a short 
 period, in which he did carpenter work. He sold 
 out his farm and moved to Florida, in 1880, spend- 
 ing twelve months in that State, and, at the end 
 of that time, returned to Lawrence County and 
 bought the place upon which he now resides. He 
 owns forty acres of fine land, and has about twenty- 
 five acres under cultivation, with a comfortable 
 house, Ijarns and all necessary adjuncts. Mr. 
 Thorn was first married, in Teimessee, to Miss 
 Mary Bennett, who died in Arkansas. Two chil- 
 dren are yet living by this wife and two deceased. 
 His second marriage was in Randolph County, to 
 Miss Rebecca Holt, who left five children at her 
 death. He was married a third time to Mrs. Sarah 
 Hatfield, a widow of Lawrence County, who is 
 still living. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thorn are mem- 
 l)ers of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which 
 the former is a deacon, and are people who are 
 held in the highest respect in their community. 
 
 George Thornlnirg, born in Havana, Mason 
 County, 111., January 25, 1847, moved to Smith- 
 ville. Ark., in December, 1855. His educational 
 facilitie.s were meager, but used industriously, such 
 as they were. He assisted J. N. Hillhouso for 
 two sessions, and taught one session at New Hope. 
 Ho l)egan the study of law in 1807, with Col. 
 Bal)er, and then in the law department of the 
 Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tenn., in 1808. 
 
 52 
 
 He was licensed to practice by Judge (afterward 
 Governor) Baxter, and had charge of the circuit 
 clerk's office fi-om 1808 to 1870, during which time 
 the county seat was moved to Clover Ben.l, and 
 from there to Powhatan. He entered into mer- 
 cantile business at Smith ville, from 1870 to 1873, 
 and in June, 1873, moved to Powhatan, where he 
 began the i)ractice of law in co-partnershij) with 
 Col. Baber. This firm did a large and successful 
 business until June, 1880, when Col. TLornburg 
 withdrew to take charge of a newspaper at Walnut 
 Kidge. He moved to Walnut Ridge, in July, 1 880, 
 and began the publication of the Tele])liono. The 
 change from law to newspaper was not made from 
 any pecuniary interest: but for the reason that 
 journalism was more congenial to his taste. He 
 was elected to the legislature as a Democrat, in 
 1870, but, after serving a month, his seat was con- 
 tested, and the house l)eing largely Repul)lican, 
 and j)olitics being very bitter, he was ousted to 
 give place to William B. Janes, who received less 
 than one- fourth as many votes. He was reelected 
 to the legislature in 1872, and stood with the im- 
 mortal minority in the house in 1873. In 1876 he 
 was nominated liy his county for the senate, but 
 declined on account of business engagements. In 
 1880 he was forced by the demands of his party 
 and friends to submit to an election to the legisla 
 ture again, and was elected speaker for the bouse 
 during the session of 1881. It is said of him, as 
 it can be said of no other speaker of the Arkansas 
 legislature, that none of his decisions were ever ap- 
 pealed. In 1884 he was again elected to the legis- 
 lature, and was made chairman of the judiciary 
 committee. In 1886 he was nominated by the 
 State Wheel convention for secretary of State, 
 but declined the nomination, because, as a Demo- 
 crat, he could not accept any nomination that 
 would antagonize the Democratic party. Since 
 1884 he has .sought no political oflice, devoting his 
 attention to his paper. He was appointed a col- 
 onel in the Arkansas militia, l)y Gov. Baxter, and 
 again appointed by Gov. Garland. Col. Thorn - 
 burg was made a Mason, in Smithvilli' Lodge No. 
 20, in ISON. He served as Secretary of his lo<lge 
 and Worshipful Master. He was made a Royal 
 
 
826 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Arch Mason, in 1870, in Pythagoras Chapter No. 
 34, held at Powhatan. This Chapter is now 
 defunct. He was made a Sir Kni<^ht Mason in 
 Hugh De Payne Commandery, at Little Rock, in 
 1871. He has been a delegate to every Grand Lodge 
 and Grand Chapter from 1871 to the present time. 
 He was Secretary of the Masonic Convention of 
 1873, which made the present constitution of 
 the Grand Lodge. Elected Grand Orator of the 
 Grand Lodge in 1874, in 1875 he made and de- 
 fended the famous minority report, which cut the 
 Grand Lodge loose from supporting St. John's 
 College. He was elected Grand Master of the 
 Grand Lodge in 1878, and re-elected to the same 
 position in 1879. In 1880 he was elected Deputy 
 Grand Commander of Knights Templar, and 
 elected Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter, 
 and in 1883 was elected Illustrious Grand Master 
 of the Grand Council. He has delivered over 
 twenty public addresses on Masonry, and is a per- 
 manent member of the committee on law of the 
 Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter. He is now the 
 special representative of the Grand Lodge of Geor- 
 gia, the Grand Chapter of Illinois, and the Grand 
 Orient of Spain. In July, 1886, he founded the 
 Masonic Trowel, a paper devoted exclusively to 
 Masonry. It has a large circulation throughout 
 the State, and grows in favor with the craft. It 
 has been adopted by the Grand Lodge as its 
 official organ. Mr. Thornburg is a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and has been 
 steward continuously since 1876, also Sunday- 
 school superintendent for sixteen years. He ia the 
 only layman in the Southern Methodist Church 
 who is secretary of an annual conference, and he 
 has the honor of being the author of the system 
 of reports now used throughout the church. Prior 
 to 1886 the church had no uniform plan or system 
 of reporting. Mr. Thornburg arranged a system 
 for the conference, of which he was secretary. 
 This form was so complete and systematic that 
 Bishop McTyeire urged its adi)[)tiou hy the general 
 conference, and it is now the only form allowed to 
 be used in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 Mr. Thornburg is a strong temperance advocate, a 
 supporter of the free school system and a conserva- 
 
 tive but straight Democrat. In the newspaper 
 fraternity he stands high, having been selected as 
 orator the year before last, and vice-president last 
 year. He has, perhaps, delivered more addresses 
 on Masonic, Sunday-school and miscellaneous 
 occasions than any man in North Arkansas. In 
 September, 1868, Col. Thornburg was married to 
 Miss M. C. Self, a daughter of J. M. Self, a 
 physician and Methodist local preacher. He has 
 a pleasant home, is surrounded b}' an interesting 
 family, and enjoys a quiet life with his wife, chil- 
 dren and flowers. 
 
 Judge William A. Townsend, one of Arkansas' 
 most respected citizens, is a native of Alabama, 
 where he was born in Franklin County in the year 
 1853. He is a son of John \V. and Mary L. 
 (Weatherford) Townsend, the former of Illinois 
 and the latter from Alabama. The elder Town- 
 send was reared and received his education in Ala- 
 bama, where he also practiced medicine, and was, 
 in his day, a prominent physician of that State. 
 About the year 1855 he moved to Arkansas, and 
 settled near Smithville, where he began the prac- 
 tice of law. He lost his wife a year later, and re- 
 turned to Alabama, where he remained until 1863. 
 He again came back to Arkansas, and located in 
 Lawrence County, where he resided and was or- 
 dained a minister of the Baptist Church in 1870, 
 serving until his death, in January, 1878. Judge 
 W. A. Townsend is the second child in the family. 
 He came to Arkansas when very young, and was 
 reared in Lawrence County, where he was edu- 
 cated. He was taught principally at the home 
 schools, and was an apt and attentive scholar, 
 though the higher branches of education were out 
 of his reach, on account of the poor facilities ofPered 
 at the time. He afterward taught school himself 
 for three years, but in 1878, bought out an estab- 
 lished business in Smithville, and has been actively 
 engaged in mercantile affairs since then. He car- 
 ries one of the largest and most complete stocks of 
 merchandise in Lawrence County, and has built 
 up a reputation for fair dealing and honest goods 
 second to none in the State. This fact has brought 
 him a trade of 115,000 a year, which is still 
 growing. In 1876 Mr. Townsend was elected 
 
LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 ST, 
 
 assessor, and served one term, .and in 1878 he was 
 elected sheriff and collector, and served one term. 
 In 1884 he was elected county judge, and in 1888 
 was again chosen to fill that office. He also had 
 charge of the postoffice at Smithville in 1878-79. 
 Judge Towusend was married in Independence 
 County October 31, 1880, to Miss Belle Toler, a 
 daughter of J. B. Toler, and this marriage has 
 given them three children: Neva, Roy and Mary, 
 whose l)right faces and childish voices are a great 
 source of happiness to the parents. Judge Town- 
 send belongs to the Masonic order, and is a Master 
 Mason. He is held in high regard by the entire 
 community, and is a man of irreproachable honor. 
 While performing his judicial functions, he gained 
 a reputation for the fairness of his decisions, and the 
 justness with which he wielded the law irrespective 
 of ]>arty, creed or color. 
 
 Francis M. Wayland, of the lirm of James & 
 Wayland. dealers in general merchandise, is 
 another name that will be rememlicred for years to 
 come as belonging to a pul)lic-si)irited and progres 
 sive man of this community. He was born in 
 Lawrence County October 7. 1840, and is a son of 
 Rev. Jonathan Wayland, of Vii-ginia. a noted 
 ])reacher of that period, who came to Arkansas in 
 1815, and settled in what is now Lawrence County, 
 with his father. Nevil Wayland. (irandfather 
 Wayland died soon after his arrival in Arkansas, 
 and Jonathan was thrown on his own r<>sources: 
 lint though the prospects ahead of him at the 
 time were very dark, he was never daunted in the 
 least, and through thf troul)les and |)rivations of 
 his early life he grew to manhood with the |)roud 
 consciousness of having overcome all obstacles that 
 had been thrown in his path. He was married in 
 Lawrence County, to Miss Amy A. Kdily. of Indi 
 ana. whose parents wore among the pioneers of 
 Arkansas, and locat(>d with his wife on a farm near 
 Powhatan, where lie resided until his death. He 
 was a noted minister of the Methodi.st Episcopal 
 Church, South, in tiiat section, and his sermons 
 were often the occasion for drawing hundreds of 
 people from the surrounding country. His loving 
 and faithful wife died about the year 1870. some 
 fifteen years before his own death, leaving besides 
 
 her husband, two .sons and a daughter to mourn 
 her. The elde.st of these children was Francis 
 M. Wayland, who remained with his father until 
 he reached his majority. He received agooil edu- 
 cation at the common schoolfl of Lawrence County, 
 supplemented by a course of study at the Academy 
 High School, of Iron County, Mo. When througli 
 with his schooling he commenced teaching in Law- 
 rence County, and <'oiitinued at it until induced by 
 the offer of a lucrative position at Powhatan, to go 
 to that city. In 1879 he entered into mercantile 
 life on his own res|)onsil)ility, and his eiiter[)riHi-, 
 honesty in all transactions and untiring energy have 
 I built uj) for him a large and well-established bnsi- 
 j ness. This firm carry one of the largest and best 
 selected .stocks of general merchandise in Lawrence 
 County, besides dealing in lumber, and operat- 
 ing a cypress shingle-mill, having a capacity of 
 80,000 per day. They do a iiusiness of .^()(),()(10 
 annually, with the different branches combined, 
 and are well and favorably known throughout the 
 entire county. In the month of October, ISfJN, 
 Mr. Wayland was united in marriage to Miss 
 Sarah K. IMatthews, of Georgia, and this happy 
 union has given th(>m three children: Charles M., 
 j assisting in his father's business, Katie and Nettie. 
 They are members of thi' Methodist Episcnpal 
 Church, South, and Mr. Wayland is supt^rintend- 
 I ent of the Sabbath-school, a position he has held 
 for the past five years. He is also a Royal Arch 
 Ma.son, and is Warden of his lodge. Mr. Way 
 land is one of those men who can look back from 
 his assured and substantial position in the world 
 to that time when, as a young man struggling 
 through life with nothing but a stout heart and an 
 honest character to .sustain him. he fought his way 
 U[)ward, like the hero of Longfidlow's E.xcelsior, 
 never stopping until he had reached the summit of 
 his ambition. His career has been one that can be 
 pointed out as an example for the younger genera- 
 tion to follow, in order to be placed upon ns solid 
 a foundation, antl it is of such men the luition 
 shoiUd i)e conji>oseil, in order to draw the admira- 
 tion of the worlil upon us. 
 I John P. Wel)b was born and raised on a farm 
 J in Coffee County, Tenn. His parents. John B. 
 
>^ 
 
 828 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 and Mary (Pearson) Webb, were natives of the 
 same State, who moved to Arkansas in the fall of 
 1858, and settled at a point seven miles west of 
 Powhatan, where they continued to reside until 
 the death of Mr. Webb's father in 1865, two years 
 before the mother. Mr. Webb is the seventh of 
 ten children, all of whom lived until their matur- 
 ity, when four have since died. He remained on 
 the farm with his parents until the disruption of 
 the North and South, and gave up the plow and 
 rake for the more deadly implements of war. In 
 1862 he enlisted with Newton's regiment of cav- 
 alry, and thereafter fought on several battlefields 
 before the surrender. He took ])art in the battles 
 of Helena and Alexandria on the Red River, and 
 also at Little Rock, and was one of the followers 
 of Gen. Price on his raids through Missouri. Af- 
 ter the war had ended, he once more sought the 
 peace of his home, and remained with his mother 
 on the farm until his marriage, in the fall of 1866. 
 He then located near the home place, where he 
 resided until 1882, when he removed to Black 
 River Bottom, near their present home. Here he 
 put his energies into saw-milling for three years, 
 and after that venture engaged in cotton -ginning. 
 He moved to his present home in 1887, and com- 
 menced farming, and has also established a thriv- 
 ing business in general merchandise. Mr. Webb 
 was married to Miss Asenath Denton, of Tennes- 
 see, who died in 1871 after a happy wedded life, 
 leaving seven children to mourn a mother's loss. 
 Since then three of them have died. He was 
 married a second time to Miss Rebecca Johnson, 
 a young lady also from the State of Tennessee, who 
 is now the mother of three children. The names 
 of those by his first wife are William F. , Charles 
 (deceased), Wiley J., John It., Chesley N., Mary 
 (deceased) and Harvey (deceased). The children 
 by his second marriage are Henry P., Matilda 
 and Elisabeth. Mr. Webb and his wife are mem- 
 bers of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which 
 Mr. Webb is a deacon. He has also been a mem- 
 ber of Dry Creek Lodge No. 453, A. F. & A. M., 
 for the past sixteen years, but was a member of 
 Rock Cave Lodge No. 347, this county, when Dry 
 Creek Lodge was organized in 1886. Mr. Webb 
 
 is a generous, public -spirited citizen, and one of 
 the foremost to assist in pushing his county to the 
 front. He takes an interest in all public and 
 private enterprises, and is one of this section's 
 most valued citizens. 
 
 John H. S. Weir, a well-known resident of 
 Dent Township, was born in North Carolina in 
 1842. The parents of Mr. Weir moved west, and 
 settled in Arkansas in 1845, locating at Old Jack- 
 son, December 24. From there they moved to a 
 point in Black River Township, where they have 
 resided since 1846. James A. Weir, the father, 
 has been one of the foremost citizens of this 
 county, and a leading spirit in its affairs. He is 
 one of the best-posted men in Northeastern Arkan- 
 sas, and now, after a liusy and useful life, is living 
 quietly with his children. The mother died. May 
 23, 1885, a firm believer in the Seceder Church. 
 Out of eight children six are living. The first four 
 born were twins. Mr. Weir came to Arkansas 
 with his parents when three years old. and has 
 always remained in that State, excepting the time 
 he spent in the late war. In 1862 he enlisted in 
 Wells company, and soon afterward was dis- 
 charged. He re-enlisted in R. C. Newton's Cavalry 
 Regiment, of Little Rock, Ark., and served until 
 1865, when he was paroled in Drew County. He 
 took part in the battles at Mark's Mill and Poison 
 Springs, in this State, but was principally sent out 
 on skirmish duty. After the war he returned home, 
 and worked on the farm until 1867, when he ac- 
 cepted a position with William Jones, of Pow- 
 hatan, who owned a general merchandise store, 
 which was then sold to the firm of Stuart, Cravens 
 & Balfor. On leaving the above business Mr. 
 Weir entered school, where he studied diligently 
 for ten months. At the end of his student days 
 he met and married Miss Thirsey J. Moore, a 
 daughter of Robert W. Moore, of Tennessee, who 
 came to Arkansas in 1832, with his mother and 
 stepfather. Mr. Moore was a representative citi- 
 zen of this county in his day, and one of its most 
 popular men. He died at the age of sixty-six 
 years. When Mr. Weir first purchased his pres- 
 ent place it was heavily covered with timber, but 
 since that time he has put upwards of seventy-five 
 

 s-mm 
 
 J.H.M^.Gauqck. 
 
 (qe ceased) 
 
 Mississippi County, Arkansas , 
 
LA.\VEENCE COUNTY. 
 
 829 
 
 acres under cultivation, all of which has been done 
 by the labor of his own liaadH. His mother-in- 
 law is still living, and is a member of tli(> Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church, South, which she has at- 
 tended ever since her girlhood. She was boru 
 near Huntsville, Ala., in the year 1819, and her 
 first marriage was with Hezekiah Darter, of Vir- 
 ginia, by whom she had one child, Charlotte. Mr. 
 Weir and his wife have had seven children, two of 
 them deceased. Their names are: Margaret E. 
 (wife of Henry H. Rainwater), Eobert S., Mary L., 
 Burett S., Moses N. , Clay C. and Laura B. They 
 are both members of the Methodist Epi.scopal 
 Church, South, and are zealous workers. Mr. 
 Weir has been one of the school directors for a 
 number of years, and is an active leader in public 
 and private enterprises. 
 
 George F.Weir, of Imboden, Lawrence County, 
 was born in this county, in 1846. He is the son of 
 James A. and Elisabeth (Sloan) Weir, who were 
 among the earlier settlers of this State, locating here 
 in the year 1845. Mr. Weir was born and reared 
 on a farm, and remained at home until his twenty- 
 fifth year, when he enlisted in the Confederate 
 army in 1863, under Capt. Butler, and served 
 until peace was established. He was one of 
 the foremost in the raids through Missouri, under 
 Gen. Price, and was engaged in some of the 
 hottest work of that time. After the war was 
 over he retiu-ned to his hom(>, and has since fol- 
 lowed the occupation of a farmer. He was mar- 
 ried, in 1871, to Miss Martha J. Smith, but lost 
 his wife in December, 1S84; she had been a mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for 
 fifteen years. Six children were born to them — 
 all of them living: Margaret R., James F., Wil- 
 liam H., George R., Julia E. and Lenora L. Mr. 
 Weir's second marriage was with Mrs. Charlotte 
 Nation. They have one child, a step-daughter 
 of Mr. Weir's, Ella V. Nation, and Mrs. \\eir 
 has one daughter married, Mi-s. John StaiT, resid- 
 ing in Dent Township. Mrs. Weir is a member 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. 
 Weir is a Democrat. He has upwards of 100 acres 
 of land under cultivation, and can be counted as 
 one of the successful men of this county. 
 
 Burett S. A\eir, postmaster, of the firm of Weir 
 «& Matthews, is a native of Aikansas, and was born 
 in Lawrence County, on the 'ilst day of December, 
 1856. He is the son of James A. and Sarah E. 
 (Sloan) Weir, both of North Carolina, who moved 
 west and settled in Arkansas in 1845, locating at 
 Old Jackson, in what is now known as Randolph 
 County. From there he moved seven miles south, 
 now in Lawrence County, where Mr. Weir estab- 
 lished a home for his family, and lived until the 
 death of his wife, in 1885. Mr. Weir, the elder, 
 served with distinction through th(> late war, hold- 
 ing the rank of lirst lieutenant, and took an active 
 part in that portion of oui' country's history. 
 After remaining with his father until he reached 
 the age of twenty-eight years, Mr. Weir started 
 upon a career of his own. He received the greater 
 part of his education from the public schools, and 
 is a self-made man in the true sense of that phrase, 
 being a strong representative of what pluck and 
 perseverance will do. On the 7th of June, 1883, 
 he was united in marriage to Miss Eudora Perry, 
 daughter Of William and Elisabeth Perry, and re- 
 moved to Black Rock, where he occupied a position 
 cif trust in a general store. In 1885 he entered 
 into the grocery business on his own account, and 
 continued in that business luitil 1880, when the 
 present firm of Weir & Matthews was organizeil. 
 Mr. Weir has held several local positions, and was 
 appointed postmaster of Black Rock on the 14th 
 of December, 1888, but has had charge of all busi- 
 ness connected with the postoflSce since it was es I 
 tablished in 1884. He is a member of the Knights 
 of Honor and holds the uGice of Past Dictator. 
 I Dr. John R. Wells, a successful and well 
 ■ known physician and surgeon of Powhatan, comes 
 from a family of Arkansas pioneers. He was 
 born in Lawrence County, Ark., Se|>tember 5, 
 1838, and is a son of G. W. Wells, of the same 
 State, whose father was one of its earliest settlors, 
 coming here in the year 1807, and locating at what 
 is now known as Ravendeii JuiictiuM, in fwiwrence 
 County. G. W. Wells grew to mauliood, and was 
 married, in what is now Lawrence Comity, his wife 
 being Miss Nettie Stubblefield. of Cape fiiranleau 
 j County, Mo., whose father C. S. Stubbleliehl, was 
 
'-^ 
 
 830 
 
 HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 also one of the pioneers of this State, and repre- 
 sented Lawrence County at an early day. After 
 his marriage Mr. Wells settled on a farm across 
 the river, in this county, where he resided until 
 his death, in 1840. Ho was a farmer and stock 
 dealer, and shipped his stock to the Southern 
 markets. His wife died in 1887, at the age of 
 seventy-tive years, after rearing her family with 
 all the care of a gentle Christian mother. Dr. 
 Wells grew to maturity on the farm at home, and 
 received a good common school education. He 
 subsequently attended college for two years, at 
 Springfield, Tenn., and in 1857 began the study 
 of medicine at Jacksonport, Ark., under the care 
 of Drs. Kirkwood and Matlock, both noted physi- 
 cians of that period. He took his first course of 
 lectures at the Memphis Medical College, in 
 1858-59, and the following year completed his 
 course at the University of Louisiana, one of the 
 most celebrated schools of medicine in the South. 
 He graduated from the latter place, in the spring 
 of 18fi0, and came to Powhatan, where he com- 
 menced to practice his profession. Dr. Wells has 
 kept unceasingly at his practice, from the time of 
 obtaining his diploma, to the present day, except- 
 ing the period when he enlisted in the Confederate 
 army during the war. He entered as a private, in 
 the First Arkansas Regiment of Riflemen, but was 
 soon after detailed as steward on the medical staff. 
 In 1862 a new company was organized, of which 
 he was made captain and assistant surgeon, and in 
 that capacity served in Col. Baber's regiment until 
 the close of the war. When the war was over, he 
 returned home and resumed his practice, and has 
 succeeded in building up a reputation in that sec- 
 tion that is second to none. The Doctor was mar- 
 ried, November 24, 1804, to Miss Nettie Stuart, 
 of this county, a daughter of C. F. Stuart, and 
 now has a family of five children: Laura G. .W., 
 John L., Ada, and Frank Stuart, besides three 
 children, who died in infancy. Dr. Wells and his 
 wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, and the Doctor is a member of the 
 Masonic order, being a Master Mason. 
 
 Frederick W. Westphal, the leading butcher 
 of Walnut Ridge, was born in Pomvaigne, Ger- 
 
 ! many, November 7. 1844. He learned the tan 
 ner's trade in his native country, and in 186'J 
 
 '. came to Baltimore, Md. Mr. Westphal was de- 
 sirous of seeing something of the country of his 
 adoption, and shortly after his arrival at Balti- 
 more, he went to Illinois, and thence to La Porte, 
 Ind. , where he settled down for awhile, and worked 
 on a farm. He then came to Chicago and wcwkcd 
 at his trade, and afterward moved to Effingham, 
 111., where he remained three months. His next 
 visit was made to St. Louis, in the spring of 1878, 
 and from there he came to the then small village of 
 Walnut Ridge. In the second year of his arrival, 
 he bought 160 acres of land, and has since that 
 time homesteaded 160 more. He has also pur- 
 
 i chased enough additional land to make in the ag- 
 gregate 420 acres. His homestead is three miles 
 due west of Walnut Ridge, and has on it a fine 
 fruit orchard, and at least 125 acres under cultiva- 
 tion. In the fall of 1887 he started in the meat 
 business, and has succeeded in building up a good 
 trade. He is a member of the Knights and Ladies 
 of Honor, and Odd Fellows, and also of the Pro- 
 testant German Church. Mr. Westphal has al- 
 ways remained a bachelor, as the lady has not yet 
 appeared to captui-e his heart. His mother re- 
 sided with him until her death, January 5, 1887. 
 He is a much respected citizen. 
 
 Samuel Williams was born in Lawrence County, 
 in 1845, and was reared in the same county. He 
 
 ! is the son of James and Sally (Rose) Williams, 
 also natives of this State. Mr. Williams lost his 
 mother when still very young, and his father died 
 in the year 1888, leaving two children to survive 
 them: Samuel Williams, and his sister Leah, the 
 wife of George W. Goodwin, but now deceased. 
 The father married again after the death of his 
 first wife, his second bride being a sister to the 
 first. This union gave them five children — three 
 of them now dead, and those living are Margaret 
 and Nancy, who are both married. Mr. Williams 
 reached his maturity in this county, and, in fact, 
 has resided here ever since. He is a man of lib- 
 eral ideas, and has traveled extensively through 
 the South, but, in the face of all his wanderings, 
 still believes there is no place like home. He was 
 
LAWRENCE COUNTY. 
 
 831 
 
 a gallant soldier during the war, and did some 
 excellent work in Coleman's regiment, which, as 
 the advance guard, always brought on the engage- 
 ment. He escaped without injury, the closest call 
 he ever had being at Kansas City, where his horse 
 was shot from under him. He surrendered at 
 Jacksonport, June, 1865, and then returned home, 
 where he commenced farming and trading in stock. 
 In 1872 he was married to Miss Sally Brandon, of 
 Tennessee, who came to Arkansas, a girl of eight 
 years, with her parents. Mr. Williams and his 
 wife have had eight children, three of them now 
 dead. Those living are: Eebecca, Ashley, Clay, 
 Roxien, William. The children who have died are 
 Addie, George, and James Lacy. He and his wife 
 are members of the Baptist Church, and are strong 
 adherents to its teachings. Mr. Williams has eighty 
 acres of fine land under cultivation which is the 
 work of his own hands, besides 180 acres of tim- 
 bered land, in all 260 acres. He is a Democrat. 
 John E. Willmuth, elder of the Baptist Church 
 at Hazel Grove, was born in Graves County, Ky. , 
 in the year 1840. He is the son of Edmund and 
 Mary (Edwards) Willmuth, of Tennessee, who lived 
 in that State until their marriage, and fi-om there 
 moved to Kentucky. Edmund Willmuth gave the 
 greater portion of his attention to farming, but was 
 also a carpenter by trade, and sometimes worked 
 at shoomaking. He died when his son, John E. 
 Willmuth, was a child, and his wife survived him 
 but a few years after, consequently, young John 
 knew but little of parental authority. This couple 
 had ten children born to them, nine of them living 
 until they had reached maturity, and four yet re- 
 maining. John E. continued on the homestead 
 tmtil his tw(>nty third year, and then married and 
 located on a farm of his own. Since then he has al- 
 ways lived within a radius of three miles from his 
 present home. In 1861 he enlisted in the Con- 
 federate army, becoming a member of Harrington's 
 company, in McCarver's regiment, and served two 
 months. His wife was Miss Lncinda Campbell, of 
 Tennessee, a daughter of Alex. Campbell, a native 
 of that State, and their marriage has been blessed 
 with seven children, namely: William R., Sidney 
 G., George W., Lawrence F., John W., Henry C. 
 
 and Mary E. All of them are single, and reside 
 with their parents, making one of the happiest 
 homes in Arkansas. Elder Willmuth and his wife 
 are members of the Baptist Church, and are among 
 the most faithful workers in the fold. He has a 
 splendid farm, and is the owner of a cotton-gin, 
 built in 18S7, that ginned some 20S( bales of cotton 
 the following year. He is a man of sound common 
 
 , sense, whose word is always considered as good as 
 his bond, and possesses the qualities that go to 
 make up a valued and influential citizen. 
 
 William J. Wilson, one of the leading mer- 
 chants of Eavenden, was born in California, in 
 1858. He is a sou of Capt. Isaac D. Wilson, whose 
 birthplace was in Tennessee, but was reared in 
 Arkansas, having come to this State and settled in 
 White County, among the first arrivals. I. D. 
 
 ' Wilson grew to manhood in White County, and 
 was married in Lawrence County to Miss Martha 
 F. Estes. After their marriage they made a trip 
 to California and remained several years, return- 
 ing about the year 1855, and locating in Washing- 
 ton County. Capt. Wilson held a commission in 
 the Confederate army, and died in that service 
 about 18()3, while gallantly defending his cause. 
 William J. Wilson was reared in Lawrence and 
 Sharp Counties, and cultivated the soil until the 
 year 18S2, when he entered into commercial life at 
 Williford. He remained here two years and then 
 moved to Ravenden, where he formed a piu'tner 
 ship with Mr. Ball, with whom he continued in 
 business for the same length of time. He after 
 ward went to Texas and purchased some land, and 
 on his return was inactive until 1887, when he 
 once more entered into business. He carries a 
 large stock of gcMieral merchandise, and has estab- 
 lished a line trade, enjoying an enviable reptita 
 tion for fair dealing and honest goods. He also 
 handles cotton to n consideralile extent, and is in 
 terested with Mr. Ball in the erection of a cotton 
 gin. Mr. Wilson was married, in 1S73, to Miss 
 Mary Osborn. and tln»y are now the parents of six 
 children: Isaac M., Martha A., Minnie, Alvin. 
 Thomas and ToUie. Both parents are members of 
 the Christian Church, an.l Mr. Wilson is a member 
 
 , of the Masonic order, and is secretary of his l.Hlge. 
 
 r 
 
832 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Illfiifi 
 
 -4-+-5- 
 
 Jackson County— Act of Creation— Seat of Justice Located— County Structures— Official Cata- 
 logue—Votes AND Voters— The War of 1861-65— The Administration of Justice— Church 
 Denominations Represented- School Matters Outlined — Names of the 
 Early Settlers— The County Located— Topography— Streams- 
 Timber— Soil— Resources— Property Valuation— Rail- 
 roads— Population— Towns AND Villages- 
 Personal Memoirs. 
 
 The "good old times " — all limes, when old. are good- 
 Are gone; tlie present might be, if they would; 
 Great things have been, and are, and greater still 
 Want little of mere mortals but their will. — Byron. 
 
 hs:i*s 
 
 ACKSON COUNTY was organ- 
 ized in accordance with an act of 
 the legishititre of the Territory 
 of Arkansas, approved Novem- 
 l)er 5, 1.S29. * As then consti- 
 '■<: tilted it embraced nearly all of 
 what is now Woodruff County. 
 The latter was cut off in 1S62. By 
 the act creating Woodruff, and 
 other acts, the county has been re- 
 duced to its present limits, as 
 given in subsequent pages of its 
 history. 
 
 In 1832 the site for the per- 
 manent seat of justice for the 
 county was chosen at a place 
 called Litchfield, which was on the Jacksonport 
 and Augusta road, at the crossing of Village Creek, 
 a point some two or three miles southeast of the 
 present town of Newport. Here the county seat 
 remained until 183U, when it was removed to 
 Elizabeth, a point on the northeast side of White 
 *Named in honor of General Jackson. 
 
 River, about midway between the present sites of 
 Jacksonport and Newport; there it continued until 
 1S52, when it was removed to Augusta, which is 
 now the county seat of Woodruff County. The 
 next year, 1853, it was changed to Jacksonport, 
 and there has since remained. It is predicted 
 that its next and final removal will be to Newport, 
 the largest town in the county, and the one having 
 the greatest transportation facilities. 
 
 A small frame court-house was erected at 
 Elizabeth, but no county building was constructed 
 at either of the other places where the seat of jus- 
 tice was fixed until after it was removed to its pres- 
 ent location, and not there until early in the 70' s, 
 when the present, court hou8e_ was erected. This 
 house was built by Col. J. A. Sehnable, the orig- 
 inal contract being for .140,000. It is claimed, 
 however, that it cost twice that amount by the time 
 final payment was made. It is a very substantial 
 two story brick structure, large and commodious, 
 with halls and ofiices on the first fioor. and court- 
 room above. A serviceable fire-proof vault, cost- 
 ing, together with its burglar proof safe and other 
 
JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 HHH 
 
 i'uniiture, iibout$2,S0(), hasrefiniitly bocii attached. 
 Near the court-house stands a small, frame jailer's 
 residence and a safe and com]>lote stone jail with 
 iron cells. 
 
 The county poor farm, consisting of forty 
 acres, on which the jiaupers are supported, lies 
 live miles north of Jacksonport. 
 
 The following is a list of the names of officers 
 of Jackson County, with the dates of their terms of 
 service annexed, from its organization to the pre- 
 sent time: 
 
 Judges: Hiram Glass, l(S3()-32; E. Bartley, 
 18<J2 33; J. llobinson, 1833-35; D. C. Waters, 
 1835-36; John Rodby, 1836-38; D. C. Waters, 
 1838-40; O. M. Stephenson, 1842-44; John 
 Robinson, 1844-50; J. H. T. Webb, 1850-52; A. 
 J. Langford, 1852-54; J. C. Johnson, 1854-56; 
 H. D. Casey, 1856-58; J. C. Kirkpatrick, 1858 
 62; A. J. Langford, 1862-68; T. J. Randolph, 
 1868-72; J. W. Stayton. 1874-78; J. W. Phillips, 
 1878-84; W. H. Jago, 1884-86; M. M. Stuckey, 
 present incumbent, tirst elected in 1S8(). 
 
 Clerks: J. C. Saylors, 1830-33; A. M. Car- 
 penter, 1833-35; P. O. Flynn, 1835-36; J. C. 
 Saylors, 1836-40; W. J. Haggard, 1840-42; 
 Garlen Silvey, 1842-44; W. J. Haggard, 1844-46; 
 A. Crow, 1846-48; A. H. Logan, 1848-52; W. R. 
 Jones, 1852-54; D. C. Perry, 1854-5(); C. W. 
 Board, 1856-58; R. R. Kellogg, 1858-68; Will- 
 iam Akers, 1868-71; M. McCannany, 1871-74; F. 
 R. Hargrave, 1874-76; H. C. Lowe, 1876-78; R. 
 W. Bandy, 1878-84; J. J. Walker, present incum- 
 bent, first elected in 1884. 
 
 Sheriffs: Isaac Gray, 1830 35; James Roijiu- 
 son, 1835-38; Isaac Gray, 1838-42; J. Robinson, 
 1842-44; J. H. T. Webb, 1844-46; J. J. Waddle, 
 1840-50; G. Silvey, 1850-54; R. Hudson, 1854- 
 56; A. H. Logan, 1856^62; J. R. Jelks, 1862-64; 
 L. R. Clay, 1864-66; J. R. Loftin, 186(; 68; R. 
 Kinmau, 18<)8-72; H. N. Faulkinbnry, 1872-74; 
 J. R. Loftin, 1874-82; T. S. Stephens, present 
 incumbent, tirst elected in 1882, and served con- 
 tinuously since. 
 
 Treasurers: G. W. Cromwell, 1836-40; B. 
 Bailey, 1840-42; J. Webb, 1842-44; J. C. Pngh, 
 1844-46; J. R. Frost, 1846-50; John Cowdry, 
 
 1850-52; L. R. Clay, 1852 54; A. H. Logan. 
 1854-56; W. F. Mason, 1856 60; P. S. Wisdom, 
 1S60-64; W. F. Young. 1864-68; A. J. Green- 
 haw, 1868-72; G. Brandenburg, 1872 74; W. S. 
 Shuford, 1874-78: W. H. Heard. 1878 80; W. S. 
 Shuford, present incumbent, elected in 1880, re- 
 elected and served continuously since. 
 
 Coroners: M. Copolaud, 1830-32; Hiram 
 Glass, 1832-35; J. Matthews, 1835-36; Samuel 
 Matthews, 1836-38: Sam Allen, 1838 40: R. 
 Montgomery, 1840-42; J. Williams, 1842 44; A. 
 Crow, 1844-46; James Patten, 1846 48; I. Hamil 
 ton, 1848-50: L. R. Clay, 1850-52; J. G. New 
 bold, 1852-54; Charles McKinney, 1854-58; C. H. 
 Jackson, 1858-60; J. L. Quiun, 1860 62: W. J. 
 Sweat, 1862-64; A. J. (ireenbaw, 1864 66; W. 
 H. Watkins, 1866-68; J. J. Green, 1868-72; 
 George Gordon, 1872-74; R. O. Duffer, 1874-80; 
 W. D. Shackelford, 1880-82; R. O. Duffer, 1882- 
 84; R. W. Wallace, 1884-86; F. Harrison, 1886 
 88; Thomas Nance, present iucumi>eut, elected in 
 1888. 
 
 Surveyors: ■bilni ivubinson, 1832-35; Hall 
 Roddy, 1835-38; William Scruggs, 1840-42; J. 
 Gibson, 1842-44; H. H. Pongur, 1844 46; William 
 Hughes, 1846-48; Jesse Oats, 1848-50: John 
 Towey, 1850-52; B. Ford. 1852-54: .). Mullin-. 
 1854-56; J. C. Mullin.s, 1856-58: J. M. Miillms. 
 1858-60; John Glass, 1860-62; J. K. Siddell. 
 1862-64; Ignatius S])rigg, 1864 6S; B. F. Chand- 
 ler, 1868-72; C. E. Brizzell, 1872 74; M. Hawk. 
 1874-76; W. P. McDonald, 187fi 78; F. Simmons. 
 1878 88; T. W. Jamison, present incumbent, 
 elected in 188S. 
 
 Assessors: ^\ illiam Brian. 1N6S 71; W. .1. 
 Scott, 1871-72; F. W.Lynn, 1872 74; J. G. 
 Bandy, 1874 76; G. C. Buford, 1876-80; J. R. 
 West, 1880-81: J. S. Jones, 1884-88; F. R. 
 Dowell, present incumbent, electeil in 1888. 
 
 Representatives in con.stitntional conventions; 
 John Robinson, 1836; J. H. Patterson, 1861; 
 John Box, 1S61: W. H. Pickett.* 1868; Franklin 
 Doswell, 1874. 
 
 R. Tidwell was the first representative of tiie 
 county in the council, and Morgan Magness and 
 
 * Never preseat. 
 
 V 
 
834 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 C. S. Manley the first rejiresciitativeH in tlio lioiise 
 of tho Torritorial legislature. This was in 1S81. 
 
 The votes cast in .Jackson County for the can- 
 didates for governoi' and for president at the late 
 elections will show its political aspect. They were 
 as follows: At the September election, 1888, for 
 governor, James P. Eagle (Dem.), 1,808; C. M. 
 Norwood (Com. 0pp.), 1,200; at the November 
 election, 1888, for president, Cleveland (Dem.), 
 1,555; Harrison (Rep.), 842; Streeter (U. L.), 82; 
 Fisk (Pro.), 5. 
 
 At the approach of the Civil War of 1861-65, 
 the people of Jackson County were found to be 
 almost unanimously in favor of secession and the 
 proposed Southern Confederac}'. The delegate 
 elected to represent the county in the State conven- 
 tion, held at Little Rock in March, 18()1, was in- 
 structed to vote for secession of the State from the 
 Federal Union. Eleven companies of infantry and 
 cavalry and McCown's battery, about 1,200 men 
 in all, were organized within the county for the 
 Southern army. 
 
 The companies were originally commanded, re- 
 spectively, by Capts. A. C. Pickett, Harvey Wilson, 
 O. Percell, Orm, J. H. Hunter, M. M. Bate- 
 man, Robert Anthony, A. C. Hooker, J. H. Patter- 
 son and others. No Federal troops were raised 
 hero, and no fights worthy of mention took place 
 within the county's boundaries. It was held alter- 
 nately and over-run by the'contending armies, and 
 much property was destroyed. A few little skir- 
 mishes took place between scouting parties, and a 
 few individuals were killed. The citizens suffered 
 considerably for the want of provisions, and shared 
 alike with those of adjoining counties, the hard- 
 ships of ' ' cruel war. ' ' Numerous Union soldiers 
 have settled here since the war, the effects of which 
 struggle are rajiidly passing away. 
 
 The first terms of the courts held in the 
 county were early in 1830, at the house of Thomas 
 Wideman, at the place now called Irwin, a flag 
 station on the Batesville & Brinkley Railroad, five 
 miles south of Newport. At this point the organ- 
 ization of the county was completed, and the 
 courts continued to be held there until the seat of 
 justice was established at Litchfield, in 1832. 
 
 Hiram Glass was the first county court judge, and 
 J. C. Saylors the first clerk of the courts. Judge 
 Thomas P. Eskridge convened the first term of the 
 circuit court on Monday, May 3, 1830, and finding 
 no business he immediately "adjourned to court 
 in course. ' ' The next term began on the first 
 Monday of November following, when the first 
 grand jury was empaneled. This jury, after a 
 short deliberation, reported ' ' no business found. " ' 
 and were then discharged. No such report has 
 ever l)een made since. At the third term of this 
 court the grand jury found three indictments — the 
 first against a man for bigamy, the second against 
 a man and woman for adultery, and the third 
 against a man for vagrancy. In the first case the 
 defendant was "too much married," in the second 
 the df^fendauts were "not enough married," and 
 the third proves that there were "tramps" (va- 
 grants) then as well as now. Judge Eskridge con- 
 tinued on the bench until 1835, when he was suc- 
 ceeded by Judge Archibald Yell, who in 1837 was 
 succeeded by Judge Lewis B. TuUy. 
 
 The county court of Jackson County convenes 
 on the first Mondays, and the probate court on the 
 second Mondays of January, April, July and Oc 
 tober, and the circuit court on the fourth Mondays 
 of April and October of each year. 
 
 The legal bar of the county consists of the 
 following named attorneys : William R. Jones, 
 Franklin Doswell, Joseph M. Bell, J. W. Stayton, 
 Joseph W. Phillips, L. Minor, A\'. A. Monroe, 
 Isaac T. Davis, M. M. Stuckey, O. W. Scarborough, 
 J. M. Stayton, Gustave Jones, C. F. Greenlee and 
 F. M. Lamberton. 
 
 The county's criminal record is comparatively 
 small. One white man and two negroes have been 
 legally executed since the close of the Civil War 
 for the crime of murder, and two colored men have 
 been taken from the jail and hanged by a lawless 
 mob. During the war period a niimber of murders 
 were committed by roving bauds of soldiers and 
 others, who took advantage of the circumstances of 
 the times. 
 
 The leading religious denominations within 
 Jackson County are the Methodist Episcopal, 
 South, Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Chris- 
 
 *n^ 
 
JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 88,- 
 
 tiau. The Methodists have three stations — New- 
 port, A. M. Branson, pastor, witli a membership 
 of 11 T); Jackson port, W. K. llntledge, pastor, mem 
 berslii[> alxint ninety, and Auvergue, W. R. Foster, 
 pastor, with a membership of sixty-three ; also 
 Titckerman circuit, E. M. Davis, pastor, and 
 Weldon circuit, R. M. Manloy, pastor. The 
 former of these circuits embraces two or more 
 appointments with an agijreijjate membership of 
 sixty three; and the latter, three or more appoint- 
 ments, with an aggregate membership of 112. 
 Seven Sunday schools are reported with these 
 churcli organizations.* 
 
 Of the Baptist Church organizations there are 
 Pleasant Valley at Aiivergne, Elder J. I. Martin, 
 pastor, with a membership of seventy-four; Oak 
 Grove, Elder John Ball, pastor, membership nine- 
 teen; Hickory Grove and Litchfield. Elder F. M. 
 Brannon, pastor, membershij), respectively, eighty- 
 two and eighteen, and Pleasant Hill, the latter 
 having only a small meml)ership. All of these 
 belong to the AVhite River Valley Baptist Associa- 
 tion. 
 
 There is only one Presbyterian Church organi 
 zation in the county, the one located at Newiwrt. 
 It was organized January 29, 1S82, by Rev. Dr. 
 Long of Batesville. The pre.sent pastor is Rev. 
 Richard B. ^\ illis, of Searcy, and the membership 
 is nineteen. 
 
 Of the Christian Church, there are within the 
 county the following named organizations: Shiloh, 
 Surrounding Hill, Grand Liike, oneatMcCullough's 
 School house on Departee Creek, Rol)inson'sChapel, 
 Hopewell, one in Richwood Township, one eight 
 miles southeast of Newport, one three miles east of 
 Tuckerman, and Swifton; the whole having an 
 aggregate membership of al)out 5(10. Elder Ritch 
 erson preaches at Shiloh, Surrounding Hill and 
 Robinson's Chapel; Elder S. Bowman at Hopewell; 
 Elders Townsend and Mills at and near Swifton, 
 and Elder J. G. Connor at a point three miles east 
 of Tuckerman. 
 
 In addition to the foregoing there is one Epis 
 copal Church in the county, located at Newport, 
 Rev. Coursan, of Little Rock, officiates as rector. 
 
 *Stati8tic8 mostly from last Uonfereiice minutes. 
 
 The educational facilities of .lackson ('(juntv 
 are best shown by the following statistiiis, taken 
 from the rejiort of the State superintendent of 
 public instruction, for the year ending June :i(). 
 LSSS: Scholastic population — white, males l,74(i, 
 females l,5fl5, total 3,:U1; colored, males Tyfil, 
 females o4S, total 1,115. Number of pupils 
 taught in the public schools — white, males 1,122, 
 females 1)28, total 2,050; colored, males 407, fe- 
 males 3S2, total 789. Numi)er of school districts 
 31; number reporting enrollment 24; number vot 
 ing local tax 20; number of teachers erajiloyed, 
 71; average monthly salary of teachers— first 
 grade, males, 150; females, $45; second grade, 
 males, .'542.50, females $37.50; third grade— males, 
 $35, females $30. Amount expended for the sup- 
 port of the free schools — teacher's salaries, $18,- 
 015.47; treasurer's commissions, $405.35, total 
 $18,480.82. These statistics, if fidl and correct, 
 would show that only a little over sixty-one per cent 
 of the white, and a little over seventy per cent of the 
 colored scholastic population, were taught in the 
 public schools; this, however, is not correct forth(> 
 reason that the number of pupils att(>nding schocil 
 in seven of (lie thirty-one districts were not re- 
 ported at all. The State school system is very 
 defective. A school law should compel fidl and 
 complete statistical reports showing all of its opera- 
 tions, proving itself adequate to meet the demands 
 of the cause of education. The wages paid teachers 
 is sullicient to secure good talent, and the amount 
 of money expended for the public schools, if prop- 
 erly a|)plied under a more efficient school system, 
 would bring about ijetter results. Jackson County, 
 however, makes a far more favorable showing in 
 respect to her schools than many other counties 
 within the State. 
 
 Auvergne Academy is a private enterprise, ami 
 was established in 1S85 at the |)rogressive town 
 of Auvergne. by the re(piest of the leading citizens 
 of that place and vicinity. The Academy building, 
 which is a large two story frame, was en«ct<»d in 
 1885, by D. W. Bristol, of Beebe, under the man 
 agement of Dr. G. D. Clements and R. M. Laird. 
 The property was purchased June 22, 1888, by D. 
 L. Paisley aTid \. L. Blake, now the jirincipals 
 
 4 
 
Air 
 
 836 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 of the faculty of the Academy. The town of 
 Auvergne is high and rolling, free from mud and 
 malaria, and the school is strictly moral, but not 
 sectarian. It is open to lioth sexes. More ex- 
 tended mention of this institution is made in sub- 
 sequent pages. 
 
 The settlement of the territory now composing 
 Jackson County began some time prior to 1830, 
 the date of its organization, but by whom or just 
 when the first settlement was made can not be 
 definitely stated. The following named persons 
 who composed the first grand jury of the county 
 were, as a matter of course, prominent pioneers 
 here: Nicholas Copeland, Dudley Glass, Jesse 
 Gray, Jacob Haggerton, Michael Haggerton, Silas 
 T. Glass, Samuel Stokes, Joseph Haggerton, 
 Elijah Bartley, Holloway Stokes, John Teagne, 
 John Flannery, Jacob Flannery, William Melton, 
 John James, Martin Copeland, Martin Bridgeman 
 and Redding Stokes. Some of tlie.se, perhaps, 
 lived in that part of the county since cut off in the 
 formation of Woodruff County. John Wideman, 
 at whose house the first courts were held, the Cope- 
 lands and Newton Arnold, were the first settlers in 
 the neighborhood of what is now Irwin Station, 
 on the Batesville & Brinkley Railroad. George 
 Hatch and a Mr. Daugherty were the first to 
 locate at Newport. 
 
 Alexander, George, William, Samuel and John 
 Robinson, five brothers, and their cousin James 
 Robinson, all from Tennessee, togethei' with George 
 Crummel and several others, with their families, 
 located in 1831 in the neighborhood of Litchfield. 
 The Grays and Stokes were the first settlers in the 
 southern pait of the county, a Frenchman, Shave- 
 naugh by name, Dunbar and the Hollenheads, 
 were amotjg the first in the northern part, and 
 Thomas T. Tunstall and Samuel Reid were early 
 residents at Jacksonport. About the year 1833 or 
 1834, the Robinsons l)oiight a steam-boat, the 
 "Mount Pleasant,"' with which they carried on a 
 trade for several years following, between their 
 landing at Newport and New Orleans. [For the 
 names of other pioneer settlers see the early 
 county officers and biographical sketches.] 
 
 The county lies in Northeast Arkansas, and 
 
 is bounded on the north by Lawrence, east by 
 Craighead, Poinsett and Cross, south by Woodruff 
 and AVhite, and west by White and Independence 
 Counties. It has an area of ()50 square miles, of 
 which only about one fifth is improved. There are 
 some government lands in the county subject to 
 homestead entry, and some State lands subject to 
 donation, and about 30,000 acres belonging to the 
 St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway 
 Company; the remainder is owned by individuals. 
 
 The boundary lines of the county are as fol- 
 lows: Beginning on the fifth principal meridian, 
 where it is intersected by the township line divid- 
 ing Townships 14 and 15 north; thence south on 
 the meridian line to the point where it is inter- 
 sected by the township line dividing Townshi|)s 
 8 and U north; thence west on the township line 
 to the range line between Ranges 2 and 3 west; 
 thence north on the range line to the township 
 line dividing Townships U and 10 north; thence 
 west on the township line to the range line between 
 Ranges 5 and 6 west; thence north on the range 
 line to the township line dividing Townships 10 
 and 1 1 north ; thence east on the township line to 
 the range line between Ranges 3 and 4 west; thence 
 north on the range line to White River; thence 
 down White River, following its meanders, to the 
 mouth of Black River: thence up Black River, 
 following its meanders, to the point where it first 
 crosses (in its downward course) the township line 
 dividing Townships 14 and 15 north; thence east 
 on the township line to the place of beginning. 
 
 Jackson County is situated in the valleys of 
 White, Black and Cache Rivers. White River, 
 after forming a short portion of the boundary, 
 enters from the west at the town of Jacksonport, 
 and flows thence in a general southeasterly direc 
 tiou to Newport, and thence a little west of south 
 until it crosses the southern boundary, in the middle 
 of Range 4 west. It is a most magnificent river, 
 and is navigable throughout the year to points far 
 north. Black River, as has been noted, forms 
 about one-half of the western boundary of the 
 county, and empties into White River just above 
 the town of Jacksonport. It also is a beautiful 
 stream, very deep, and is navigable during all the 
 
JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 ss-; 
 
 year for a considerable distance. Cache River 
 makes its appearance near the center of the 
 eastern boundary, and tlows thence west of south, 
 passing out at a point aljout eight miles west of 
 the southeast corner. Village Creek enters the 
 county at a point about two and a half miles west 
 of its northeast corner, and flows in a southerly 
 and southwesterly direction, and empties into 
 White River about four miles south of Newport. 
 Departee Creek, from the north, runs in a south- 
 erly direction across the eastern part of Township 
 10 north. Range 4 west, and empties into White 
 River below. These, the principal streams of the 
 county, and their tributaries, furnisli its entire 
 drainage. Cache River, and some of the smaller 
 streams are extremely slow and sluggish. In that 
 region lying east of Black and White Rivers there 
 are several small lakes or bayous. Some good 
 springs are found here, though they are not so 
 numerous as in a more hilly country. Cisterns 
 and wells are in general use, and the supjjly of 
 good water for all purposes is abundant. 
 
 That part of the county lying west of Departee 
 Creek, emliracing about one and a half ('ongres- 
 sional townships, is hilly, while the balance is com- 
 paratively low and level; the farming lands l>or- 
 dering on White River being elevated some six 
 to eight feet above the Cache tlats. The best 
 farming lands embrace that portion of country 
 lying between Village Creek and ^\'hit(< River, 
 occupying a low ridge rising several ff't't aljove the 
 adjacent flats, and elevated about tea feet above 
 high water of White River, and that portion of 
 the Oil Tiough Bottom extending into the County 
 of Independence. This latter tract is situated in 
 the bend of White River, south of Jacksonport and 
 west of Ni^wport. The low ridge dividing the 
 waters of Villag(j Creek and White River has a 
 siliceous soil and sul)soil of seven feet, under which 
 is a stratum of tough yellow clay, eighteen feet in 
 thickness. These are underlaid by a light colored 
 sand, the thickness of which has not lieen ascer- 
 tained; this sand forms the sub-stratum, alTording 
 unfailing supplies of excellent pure water, and is 
 reached In' sinking wells from lifteen to thirty feet. 
 The soil of the " lirst bottoms," or the lowe.st 
 
 valley lands, is composed of alluvial deposits and 
 vegetable mould, and that of the higher lands in 
 made up of sjuid, clay and vegetalile mould, anil 
 all, (excepting some portions of the hilly and ridg<( 
 lands, are exceedingly rich and fertile. The low 
 lands along the streams and bayous support a 
 growth of large timber, gam, cypress, ash, pin oak. 
 hackberry, sycamore, cottonwood, elm, etc.. wlii!.- 
 the higher lands al)ound in l)lack. wiiitf and |)i>st 
 oak, l)lack walnut and some hickory. Tiie growth 
 on the liilly lands consists of aev(>ral varieties of 
 oak and some hickory, while the summits are cov- 
 ered principally with l)lackjack oak. There is yet 
 an unlimited supply of good timber. No mineral 
 is claimed to exist here. Aside from the malaria 
 cau.sed by stagnant surface water in the extensivi' 
 forests, the county is comparatively healthy. Tiic 
 malaria disappears in proportion as the country is 
 cleared of its forests and the lands are drained. 
 
 At present the lumber industry is a leading 
 source of income to individuals, and as the supply 
 of timber seems almost inexhaustibli- it will .so con 
 tinuo for many years. One stave factory, thirteen 
 sawmills and a planing-mill are in operation. Th<f 
 lnml)er is extensively shi|)ped to the manufacturing 
 cities of this country and also of Europe. Cotton, 
 corn, oats, wheat, millet and potatoes ar«< the prin- 
 cij)al products of the soil, and with proper culti- 
 vation the lands will produce per acre from 800 
 to 1,500 pimnds of seed cotton, thirty to sixty 
 bushels of corn or oats, and fifteen to twenty-five 
 bushels of wheat. Clover and tlic seed gra.sses 
 succeed well, but they are not as yet I'xtensively 
 cultivated. All varieties of fruit c(>mmon to this 
 latitude can also be raised in great excellence and 
 abundance, but horticulture has not received much 
 attention. In ISSO tiiere were 1.282 farms within 
 the county and 48,4ii7 acres of im|)roved lands, 
 from which the yield of products for the previous 
 year were as folKnvs: Cotton, 18,SS)r> bales; Inilian 
 corn, 384,898 bushels; oats, (i.MlHt; wheat. 7,415; 
 hay. inO tons; Irish jiotatoes, 4.*140 l>nshels: sweet 
 pt)tatoes, 7.2:l'.t liushels; tobacco, 4.7!lO pounds. 
 The United States census of 1W)0 will nndoubtedly 
 show the ])roducts of the present yt>ar (ISSit) to b.- 
 more than double these amounts. 
 
838 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 The climate being so mild and the water 
 supply so abundant, this locality is well adapted 
 to the raising of live stock, but little winter feed- 
 ing being necessary. According to the census re- 
 ferred to there were within the county 2. 192 horses, 
 1,118 mules and asses, 11,246 neat cattle, 1,343 
 sheep and 18,006 hogs. The assessment rolls of 
 1888 show that the county then had 3,036 hor.ses, 
 1,506 mules and asses, 15,171 neat cattle, 1,202 
 sheep and 13,429 hogs — a noticeable increase from 
 1880 to 1888 in horses, mules and asses and cattle, 
 a small decrease in the numl)er of sheep, and a 
 large apparent but not real decrease in the number 
 of hogs. A liberal income can be derived by de- 
 veloping the horticultural advantages hereabouts. 
 
 In 1880 the real estate of Jackson Ooirnty was 
 assessed for taxation at $1,029,404 and the per- 
 sonal property reaching $366,091, making a total 
 of !{! 1,935, 495, and the aggregate amount of taxes 
 charged thereon was 127,389. In 1888 the real 
 estate assessment was $2,146,781 and personal 
 property, 1753,179, making a total of $2,899,960, 
 upon which the aggregate amount of taxes charged 
 was $49,320.55. These figures indicate that since 
 the year 1880 the taxable wealth of the county 
 has more than doubled in value. This increase is 
 due mainly to the building of the railroads and 
 the consequent rapid development of resources in 
 the community, the railroad property itself adding 
 to the assessment the sum of $615,856. 
 
 The main line of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain 
 & Southern Railway enters the county about three 
 miles west of its northeast corner and runs thence 
 in a southwesterly direction by way of Newport and 
 other points — its length within the county being 
 thirty- six miles. The Batesville branch of this 
 railroad departs from the main line at Diaz, two 
 miles north of Newport, its length within this 
 territory lieing live miles. The Batesville & Brink- 
 ley Railroad enters eleven miles west of the south- 
 east corner and runs mostly in a northern direction 
 to Newport, thence northwesterly to its present 
 terminus at Jacksonj)ort, a distance of twenty-two 
 miles. The total number of miles of main line of 
 railroads within the county is sixty- three. 
 
 The aggregate population of Jackson County 
 
 since its organization, as shown by various United 
 States census reports, has been as follows: 1830, 
 333; 1840, 1,540; 1850, 3,086; 1860, 10,403; 
 1870,7,268; 1880,10,877. During the first de- 
 cade the population nearly trebled, during the 
 second it doubled, and during the third, it more 
 than trebled. Then, in 1862, nearly half of the 
 territory was set off in the formation of Woodrufif 
 County, which accounts for the reduction of popu- 
 lation from 1860 to 1870. On account of the rapid 
 immigration since 1880 the population at this writ- 
 ing undoul)tedly equals 15,000 or more. The 
 colored population of the county in 1870 was 
 1,612, and in 1880, 2,763. It is now estimated 
 at 3,000. 
 
 Auvergne, on the Batesville & Brinkley Rail- 
 road, fourteen miles southeast of Jacksonport, con- 
 tains a postoffice, two general stores, a drug store, 
 grist-mill and cotton-gin. a blacksmith and wood 
 shop, puldic school-house, railroad depot, and 
 some other establishments. The population is es- 
 timated at 200, and it does a large amount of trade. 
 It is also the site of Auvergne Academy. 
 
 Campbell is a station on the St. Louis, Iron 
 Mountain & Southern Railway, five miles north- 
 east of Newport. 
 
 Denmark, in Barren Township, in the e.xtreme 
 sovithwestern part of the county, has two grist 
 mills, a general store, blacksmith shop, post office, 
 etc. 
 
 Grand Glaize, also on the Iron Mountain Rail- 
 way, fifteen miles southwest of Jacksonport, com- 
 prises a saw mill, postoffice, railroad depot, and a 
 general store. 
 
 Irwin, a station on the Batesville & Brinkley 
 Railroad, live miles southeast of Newjiort, has a 
 small collection of houses. 
 
 Jacksonport, on the north bank of White River 
 just below the mouth of Jack's or Jacque's Creek, 
 the present county seat, was established about the 
 year 1839, l)y Thomas T. Tunstall, who in com- 
 pany with Samuel Reid, opened the first store in 
 the place. It contains the county buildings, three 
 general stores, a drug store, a family grocery, a 
 steam, saw and grist-mill, three church edifices — 
 one for the white peo])le and two for the colored; 
 
JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 \M 
 
 two public school houses, a livery stable, a cabinet- 
 maker and undertaker' s shop, two restaurants, and 
 a number of mechanics' shops. The population is 
 estimated at 500, and is about equally divided be 
 tween the whites and blacks. Before the day of 
 railroads — or before they were constructed through 
 this part of the country — Jacksonport did a flour- 
 ishing business, but the building up of Newport at 
 the crossing of two railroad lines, has interfered 
 somewhat with its business. This is a desirable 
 and excellent site for a town. 
 
 Newport, the largest town in .lackson County, 
 is situated on White lliver. at the junction of the 
 St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern and the 
 Batesville & Brinkley Railroads, eighty three miles 
 northeast of Little Rock, and three and a half 
 miles southeast of Jacksonport. It has within it 
 two banks, eight general stores, ten family grocery 
 stores, five drug stores, two hardware stores, an 
 undertaking store, a harness store, a merchant 
 tailor store, two millinery and dressmaking estab- 
 lishments, a music store, two jewelry stores, two 
 book and stationery stores, a photograph gallery, 
 a livery stable, five restaurants, four hotels, two 
 bakeries, marble works, three saw-mills, with 
 lumber yards attached, three planing-mills, a car- 
 riage factory, an extensivt! stave factory, foundry 
 and machine shops, a complete system of water 
 works, a capacious ice factory, a largo cotton com- 
 press, commodious railroad depots and ware- 
 houses, an important cotton seed warehouse (form- 
 erly the oil mills,) opera house, three church 
 edifices, pnljlic school houses, a telephone system 
 forming communication between various points, 
 a ferry across White River, many mechanics' shops, 
 a full supply of doctors, lawyers, notaries public, 
 iusnnince agents, etc. Two weekly news]>apers, 
 both Democratic in politics, are also here; the 
 Jackson County Herald, successor to the Jackson- 
 port Herald, which was estal)lished at Jacksoni>ort 
 in 1858, is a seven-column folio, published every 
 Saturday by T. T. Ward, editor and proprietor. 
 The Newport Weekly News is an eight column 
 folio, published every Friday by J. J. Flahiff, edi- 
 tor and proprietor. It was established in 187:^. 
 and was the first paper published in Newport. 
 
 Both of these journals al)ly advocate the interests 
 of the community. In addition to the foregoing, 
 Newport contains many other industries worthy 
 of mention. The town was estal)lisiied and named 
 soon after the settlement began, but remained 
 only a small village until 187'J, wheti the St. 
 Louis, Iron Mountain it Sontiiern Railway was 
 completed. Its growth then coniineijced and il 
 has been almost entirely built sinci' that date. 
 It has lodges of several secret and l)enevolent 
 societies, is incorporated and has its complement 
 of cor])orate officers. It is a flourishing town, 
 very advantageously located for manufacturing 
 purposes, having two good railroads and u river 
 navigable for large vessels. The lumber and 
 timber traflic on the river has readied extensive 
 proportions. The population of tiie |)lace is esti 
 mated at 2,500. 
 
 Olyphant is a station on the St. Louis, L-on 
 Mountain & Southern Railway, eight miles south 
 west of Newport. It has a railroad depot, jji^^t 
 office, two general stores and a saw mill and cot 
 ton gin. 
 
 Swifton, also on the Iron Mountain Railway, 
 twenty miles northeast of Jacksoni)ort. contains a 
 po.stoffice, a steam grist-mill and cotton gin, two 
 general stores, one dry goods and grocery store, 
 two groceries, two hotels, a school-house, mechan 
 ics' shops, etc., and a population of -about 150. 
 
 Tuckerman, on the Iron Moinitain Railway. 
 ninety-one miles northeast of Little Rock anil 
 eight miles north of Newport, is comprised of a 
 post-office, three general stores, two groceri<>s, two 
 drug stores, two blacksmith and wood shops, one 
 hotel, two boarding-houses, a school-house, a 
 church, two saw-mills and cotton-gins coniliined, 
 and has a population of 150. 
 
 Tupelo is a station on the Batesville »t Brink- 
 ley Railroad, twenty two miles south of Jackson 
 port. 
 
 Wehlon. on the Batesville \- Hrinkley Kail 
 road, eighteen miles south of Jacksonport, con 
 tains two general stores, two groceries, one hotel, 
 postoffice, etc. 
 
 Ceuterville (postoffice Keiiyon) lies in the 
 northern part of Bird Township, foiirt«en uiiloH 
 
840 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 north of Newport, and contains one general store, 
 two groceries, two cotton-gins, a blacksmith shop 
 and school-house. There are a few other post ham- 
 lets in the county, having a store, postoffiee, etc. 
 
 R. W. Anderson, one of the pioneer merchants, 
 and a highly esteemed resident of Jaeksonport, 
 was born September 12, 1846, in the State of Ohio. 
 His parents, John and Jane (Kerr) Anderson were 
 both natives of Dublin, Ireland, who emigrated to 
 America about the year 1880, and located in Penn- 
 sylvania, from which State they moved to Ohio, 
 and from there to Iowa, about the year 1850. In 
 September, 1859, they came to .Jaeksonport, Ark., 
 where the father died on February 28, 1888, the 
 mother preceding him in 1887. They were the 
 parents of nine children, of whom only one svir- 
 vives — Roliert W. The father was a Pre.sbyterian 
 minister, and had been ordained in Ireland. He 
 preached the gospel up to within a few years of his 
 demise, and was one of the most intellectual and 
 scholarly men that ever spoke from a pulpit at that 
 period. He afterward left the Presbyterian and 
 joined the Methodist faith, and was also engaged 
 for some years in mercantile life at Jaeksonport. 
 His son, Robert W., was born in Ohio, but princi- 
 pally raised and received his education in Iowa. 
 He was still quite young, however, when his par- 
 ents moved to Jaeksonport, and lie there received 
 the higher branches of education from his father. 
 The commercial instinct was early in life developed 
 in Robert, and he was brought up behind the 
 counter from a boy. The training he received in 
 his young days was well calculated to tit him for a 
 mercantile life, and his after career reflected the 
 highest credit on himself and his father, who had 
 instructed him. He has one of the largest and 
 best stocked stores in the city, and owns about 480 
 acres of land, most of which is under cultivation, 
 and is adapted to almost any growth, the soil being 
 a rich, sandy loam. Mr. Anderson has been twice 
 married, his first wife l)eiug Miss Mary A. Jones, 
 by whom he had four children, three of them yet 
 living — John, Fannie, and Lizzie. The first wife 
 died, and Mr. Anderson married a second time. 
 
 being united to the next wife in 1884, who was 
 Miss Ella Nixon, of Indiana. This union gave 
 them four children (of whom three are living): 
 Robert W. (deceased), Robert W., Pearl and Allie. 
 Mr. Anderson is a Royal Arch Mason, and a mem- 
 ber of the Knights of Honor. He was one of the 
 first men to start in business at Jaeksonport, and 
 his fortitude and pluck in struggling through the 
 adversities of a young business venture and coming 
 out victorious have won for him the admiration and 
 respect of his fellow -merchants and citizens. 
 
 Samiiel Anthony, farmer and stock raiser, is a 
 native of Missouri, but came to Arkansas in 186(t. 
 He remained but three or four months, when he 
 returned to Missouri, and after a short time again 
 returned to Arkansas, Jackson County, in 1861, 
 where he remained until the following autumn, 
 and then enlisted in the Fourteenth Regiment of 
 Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry, serving as a scout for 
 about two years. In 1863 he organized a com- 
 pany of scouts, reported to Gen. Sterling Price, 
 then stationed at Little Rock, Ark. , and served to 
 the end of the war as captain of that company. 
 In 1866 he purchased 240 acres of land, partially 
 improved, adding by subsequent purchases, until 
 he now owns 720 acres, on which he raises all 
 kinds of produce known to American agriculture. 
 September 12, 1872, he married Miss Mary A.Par- 
 mer, a native of Tennessee. They have had eight 
 children, four of whom are still living: Emma 
 (burn in October, 1874), Ethel (born February 6, 
 1883), Katie (born May 25, 1885) and Edgar (born 
 August 15, 1887). Mr. Anthony is a member of 
 Buck Skull Lodge No. 101, A. F. & A. M. Our 
 subject's father was a native of Virginia, as was 
 also his grandfather; he married Miss Unica Shep 
 herd, a native of Missouri. Mr. Anthony's mater- 
 nal grandparents traveled on foot from Georgia to 
 Missouri, locating in the southeastern part, near 
 Cape Girardeau. 
 
 Adam Bach, an enterprising merchant, and the 
 postmaster at Jaeksonport, was born in Hessen, 
 Germany, on the 1st of March, 1863, and is a son 
 of Conrad Bach, a native of the same place, who 
 was a shoemaker by trade, which occupation he 
 followed in Germany, previous to coming to Amer- 
 
 5) \ 
 
ica. The father had two children by his first wife: 
 Adam and Lizzie; the latter was married to G. A. 
 Lockard. Ho was married a second time and had 
 four children by the next wife: Margaretta, Morie, 
 Conrad and Peter. Adam, the eldest son, was 
 reared in Germany and completed his studies at 
 Gross-Rohrheim College, from which he gradu- 
 ated in 1878. He shortly afterward sailed for 
 America, taking passage at Bremen, and landed at 
 Baltimore, going from there to Tell City, Ind. , 
 where he attended school for eight months in order 
 to learn the English language. In the spring of 
 1879 he came to Jacksonport, and was there em- 
 ployed by his uncle Peter, with whom ho remained 
 until the year 1882, when he embarked in business 
 for himself.^ Since then he has been successful, 
 and become very prosperous, making an enterpris- 
 ing merchant and a valuable citizen to his adopted 
 country. He was appointed postmaster in 1884, 
 and his intelligence and many fine qualities would 
 fit him for almost any other position or business in 
 which he might enter. He is also a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity. Peter Bach is a well-known 
 and retired merchant of Jacksonport, who was 
 born in Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, on November 
 4, 1835. He is a son of Peter and Margaretta 
 (Crow) Bach, both natives of the same province, 
 the father dying when his son was but two years 
 of age. The mother, however, is .still living at the 
 ago of eighty-one years, and came to America in 
 1882. There were throe children born to the par- 
 ents: John S. , Peter and Conrad. Peter was 
 reared and educated in the homo college, and 
 learned the barber's trade in his native place, an 
 occupation he followed for four years. In 1853 
 ho sailed for America, taking jjassage in France, 
 and landing in New York City after a twenty- 
 sovou days' voyage on the ocean. From New York 
 ho wont to Cincinnati, whore he was employed at 
 his trade for some time, and then found employ- 
 ment on the Empire No. 3, a steamboat plying up 
 and down th(> Mississippi. He remained on this 
 vessel about six months, and then came to Jackson- 
 port, where ho has resided ever since. On May 5, 
 18r)l. he enlisted in Company G, of the Fir.st 
 Arkansas Regiment, and served until a short time 
 
 before the surrender. He took part, in all the Ijat- 
 tles of his regiment, and was severely wonii.led at 
 Atlanta. Ga., from which place he was taken to 
 the Macon Hospital, and hovered between life and 
 death for three months. He was furlougliod in 
 1804, and went to Alabama, and in bSG") rcturnod 
 home to Jacksonport. Mr. Bach is now practically 
 retired from business. He is (juite pros[)oroii«. 
 owning about 2,0r»() acres of valual)lo land and a 
 tine residence at Jacksonport), besides interests in 
 various industries. He was married, in 1805. to 
 Miss Jennie Hndson, who has boon a devoted wife 
 and helpmate to him. Mr. Bach is a Royal Arch 
 Mason, Knight Templar, Kniglit of Pythias, and a 
 member of the American Legion of Honor. 
 
 G. W. Bandy, farmer and stock raiser. Tuck- 
 erman. Ark. It is a fact unnecessary of denial 
 that a person is better fitted to follow the occu|>a- 
 tion with which he became familiar in early life, 
 than to engage in an undertaking learned in later 
 years. This truth is Iiorno out by the career of 
 Mr. Bandy, who from a boy has known all the 
 minute details of agricultural life. To this ac 
 (juired knowledge may be added a natural faculty 
 for that calling, for his father, Richard Bandy. 
 was also a farmer. The latter was a native Vir- 
 ginian, but emigrated to Tennessee when a l)oy, 
 grew to manhood on the farm in that State, and 
 there married Miss Keziah Pearce, by whom he 
 had four children, only one, G. W. Bandy, now 
 living. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, 
 under Gen. Jackson, and afterward received land 
 warrants, which he sold. His second marriage was 
 to Miss Lucy Rushing, a native of Tennessee, antl 
 they had four children, only one living, Amanda, 
 now Mrs. John M. Glass, who resides in Glass 
 Township, Jackson County, Ark. Mr. Bandy 
 moved to Bird Township, Jackson County, Ark., 
 in 1853, where he purchased eighty acres of land, 
 with ten acres cleared. He died in 1854. His 
 wife died in September. 1887, at the age of eighty- 
 three years. G. W. Bandy was born in Sumner 
 County, Tenn., in 1827, and as before stat<>d, was 
 reared to the duties ou the farm. He received a 
 fair education in the schools of his native comity; 
 and in Bedford County, Tenn., in 184(5, Miss Dm 
 
842 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 cilia Salina Mitchell Perry, a native of Bedford 
 County, became his wife. Her parents, Wiley and 
 Letitia (Gentry) Perry, were natives, respectively, 
 of North Carolina and Tennessee. Mr. Perry was 
 a farmer and tanner, and made Bedford County his 
 home until his death, in 1868. His wife had died 
 previously, in 1867. Grandfather Allen Perry 
 was in the Revolutionary War, and Grandmother 
 Perry went to New Orleans to enter the fort for 
 protection. G. W. Bandy after marriage settled 
 in his native State, followed farming until 1850, 
 when he came to Arkansas, landing at Jackson- 
 port on the 25th of December, 1850. One year 
 later he went to Izard County, purchased a claim, 
 but the same year sold this and moved to Jackson 
 County, Ark., where he purchased an eighty-acre 
 tract with twenty acres in tillable shape. To the 
 original tract he had added from time to time un- 
 til he owned 280 acres with 100 acres cleared. 
 Later he sold this and invested in 320 acres, unim- 
 proved, set out an orchard, erected a cabin and 
 otherwise improved his farm. He now owns 840 
 acres, with 450 under cultivation, and has a great 
 many tenants. He raises principally on his farm 
 cotton and corn, and has 200 acres in cotton yearly. 
 He is also engaged in raising stock, and on his ex- 
 tensive meadows may been seen many fine horses 
 and mules. He is a Democrat in politics, and 
 is active in school matters, and represented the 
 school interests of Bird Township as trustee. He 
 has two school-houses on his land, donated for 
 buildings, one for white and one for colored chil- 
 dren. Socially, Mr. Bandy is a member of the 
 Masonic order; was made a Mason in 1848, at 
 Marsh Hill Lodge No. 144, Rutherford County, 
 Tenn. He is now a member of Lunenberg Lodge 
 No. 190, A. F. &A. M. , at Lunenberg, Izard Coun- 
 ty, Ark. Mr. Bandy was charter member of Kirk- 
 patrick Lodge No. 102. In 1865 he moved to 
 Lunenberg, Izard County, Ark. , for the purpose of 
 educating his children, live in nnmber, as five were 
 deceased. Those living are named Richard W., 
 now married and resides at Tuckerman; William 
 A. , married and resides in Comanche County, Tex. ; 
 George O. , married and resides in Bird Township; 
 Jane, now Mrs. Conditt, resides in Bird Township, 
 
 and Lucilla, at home. Mr. Bandy has been active 
 in his support of worthy enterprises and contributes 
 liberally to all. He is practically a self-made man, 
 having made all by his own industry. 
 
 A. P. Bateman, merchant, Elmo, Ark. Nowhere 
 in this section of the county is to be found a more 
 wide-awake, thorough-going business man than 
 the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. 
 Born to the union of Simeon D. and Mary (Con- 
 naly) Bateman, on the farm where he now lives, in 
 Jackson County, August 6, 1859, A. P. Bate- 
 man has ever since been a resident of this county. 
 His father, Dr. Simeon D. Bateman, was born in 
 Tennessee in 1829, and emigrated with his father to 
 Independence County, Ark., in about 1832. They 
 located seven miles west of Sulphur Rock, and 
 here Simeon D. was reared and educated. At the 
 age of fifteen years he began the study of medi- 
 cine and graduated at New Orleans Medical Col- 
 lege some time later. He first began practicing 
 in Independence County, and afterwards moved to 
 Jacksonport, where he administered to the phys- 
 ical wants of his fellow-men for thirty years. By 
 his marriage to Miss Mary Connaly, a native of Ar- 
 kansas, he became the father of eight children — 
 six now living: Charles T. , Alice J., widow; 
 Albert P., Nora C. (deceased). Savannah, David 
 L., Mary and Susan. The grandfather of these 
 children, Bonniah Bateman, died near Sulphur 
 Rock, Ark. He was an old Mexican soldier, and 
 was a military man most of his life. He was also 
 a member of the legislature for several years, and 
 the governor gave him the prize for the nicest suit 
 of jean clothes to be found in the senate. He was 
 a very matter-of-fact, stern man. A. P. Bateman 
 attained his growth and received his education in 
 Jackson County, and, being brought up on the 
 farm, naturally his inclinations turned that way, 
 after he had reached years of discretion. In 1884 
 he also engaged in merchandising and this busi- 
 ness he still carries on. He is successful and is a 
 substantial business man. Charles T. was also 
 reared to farm labor, and received the principal 
 part of his education in the common schools. 
 For several years he was engaged in teaching 
 school, but the balance of his time was occupied 
 
 ^^ 
 
.^ 
 
 JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 843 
 
 on the farm. He was married, in 1877, to Miss 
 Panthia Long, who died in 1882, and the re.sult of 
 this union is two living children: Hattio and Mil- 
 lie. Mr. Bateman was married the second time, in 
 1884, to Miss Annie J. McGoffin, by whom he has 
 three children: Annie, Emma and Fannie. Mr. 
 Bateman is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
 
 William H. Beede, farmer and stock raiser of 
 Cow Lake Township, residing five miles southeast 
 of Lay ton, was born in Orange Couiity, N. Y., in 
 1837, being the son of Addison C. Beede, of Ver- 
 mont, and Elizabeth (Weygant) Beede, of New York 
 nativity. William H. received his education partly 
 in the public schools of his native county, and 
 finished his education at Newburgh. At the age 
 of seventeen, he was apprenticed to the carriage 
 workers' trade, to Mr. Theodore Weygant, High- 
 land Mills, Orange County, N. Y. At the break- 
 ing out of the late war, he was working at his 
 trade in Germantown, Tenn. ; he enlisted in the 
 Thirteenth Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, Confed- 
 erate States Army, participating in the battles of 
 Belmont and Shiloh, and after one year was 
 discharged on account of physical disability. Re- 
 turning to Tennessee, he worked at his trade, till 
 he came to Arkansas, in 1867; that year he bought 
 280 acres of land in Woodruff County, about ten 
 acres being cultivated; he at once commenced 
 improving and clearing the land, building stables 
 and cribs, besides a log house. He remained there 
 one year, when he came to Jackson County, pur- 
 chased 100 acres of land, only eight being under 
 cultivation. Since that time he has cleared and 
 improved the land, and erected a good fi'ame 
 house, and other buildings. He now owns 550 
 acres of hind, 140 of which are under cultivation, 
 having deeded KiO acres to his eldest son, after 
 his marriage. August 20, 1867, Mr. Beede mar- 
 ried Miss M. J. Nance; they have had nine chil- 
 dren: Julane N., born July 11, 1868; Jasper 
 Newton, born September 3, 1869; William W., 
 born September, 1870; Macy, born February 28, 
 1874; Joseph A., born May 0, 1875; Francis W., 
 born March 2, 1877; Fletcher H., bom September 
 19, 1880; Eugene A., born November 4, 1882, and 
 Amelia Viola, born September IS, 1883. Mi\ 
 
 Beede is a great friend to education, and whs the 
 first school director in Cow Lake Township, and 
 for four years the only one, and since 1874 had 
 been superintendent of schools for the State. There 
 are now four hee schools in Cow Lake TownHhiji. 
 
 C. Biggers, planter and stock raiser of Bird 
 Town.ship, was born in Randolph County, Ark., in 
 1845, the fifth in a family of seven. His jiareuts 
 were natives of Tennessee, and came to Randolph 
 County in an early day, the father dying when our 
 subject was young, the mother still surviving, in 
 Baxter County, Ark. The subject of this sketch 
 was raised on the farm, receiving a very limited 
 education, and in 1804, at Pocahontas, enlisted in 
 McCray's brigade, Crammond's regiment, for one 
 year. At the battle of Pilot Knob he received a 
 gun-shot wound, which prevented further service, 
 and he returned to Jackson County, Ark., where, 
 the same year, he married Elizabeth (Ridley) Con- 
 ditt, widow of John A. Conditt. He then rented 
 land, commenced farming, and in 1877 bought 
 eighty acres of timber-land, which he has improved 
 and added to, until he now owns 1 60 acres. 1 1 M) 
 under cultivation, averaging about fifty acres a 
 year in cotton, which is the principal product. He 
 also raises some stock. They have a family of six 
 children: Sarah A. (now Mrs. Tinsley, of Bird 
 Township), Samuel E., James Henry, Thomas 
 Calvin, Richard Franklin and William Richard. 
 Mr. Biggers is a Democrat, and has been a mem- 
 ber of the school board, taking an active interest 
 in school work. He has seen a vast change in 
 Jackson County, and has done his share toward 
 opening it up and developing it. Mr. Biggers has 
 made what he has by his own individual efforts, 
 and takes an interest in everything for the welfare 
 of the county. 
 
 Oliver Blackburn, general farmer and .stock 
 raiser, was born in the town of Cash. Jaekson 
 County, in 1847, sou of William and Mary (John- 
 son) Blackburn, the father a native of North Car- 
 olina, who married in Alabama. The subject of 
 this sketch married Miss Wilkiu.son, a uativo of 
 Jackson County, Ark., and they have had three 
 childi'en: Lydia, born in \X~\. married .\. W. 
 Pariah in 1887; Harriet Emma, born in ISTI. at 
 
A 
 
 844 
 
 HISTORY OP ARKANSAS. 
 
 liome, and Lyda, born in February, 1882. Mrs. 
 Blackburn's father died in 1859, and -wasbm-iedin 
 the family cemetery, on Sections 17 and 18. Mr. 
 Blackburn, like all native-born Americans, is an 
 ardent lover of his native State, and has witnessed 
 great changes, having been an active participant 
 in the development of the country. As early as 
 Mr. Blackburn can remember, the market for the 
 farm produce vpas Elizabeth, and game being 
 plenty, many pelts and skins of animals adorned 
 the fences and barn, which found a market at Jack- 
 soiiport. Our subject now gives his attention to 
 raising cotton and mules. While he has not had 
 the best educational advantages, he has always 
 been a friend to education and progress. 
 
 J. C. Bleakley is a planter and stock raiser of 
 Auvergne. His parents were William C. and 
 Catherine Bleakley, of North Carolina. Mr. 
 Bleakley came to the southern part of Arkansas 
 before the war, where he married, after which he 
 came to Jackson County and bought what is now 
 the Pickett farm. Later he moved to Hempstead 
 County, where he raised his family, and where our 
 subject was born, October 20, 1854. The family 
 consisted of nine children, four of whom lived to 
 be grown — William, died at the age of twenty- 
 one; J. C, Mary, wife of Charles Harris, now the 
 wife of George Johnson, farmer of Oil Trough Bot- 
 tom; and Robert, a farmer. The father, a conserv- 
 ative man politically, died in 1865, and the mother 
 in 1874. They were both members of Missionary 
 Baptist Church. J. C. .spent his boyhood days on 
 his mother's farm, and at the age of eleven years 
 began its management. He was his mother's main 
 stay, and assisted his brothers and sisters in get- 
 ting an education, sending bis sister one term to 
 the high school at La Crosse. In 1868 he sold his 
 property in Hempstead County, came to Jackson 
 County, and bought forty acres of land, which he 
 began clearing and improving, and on which he 
 has since resided. In 1877 he bought 120 acres 
 adjoining, and now has 115 acres under cultivation, 
 south of Auvergne, raising corn and cotton. In 
 November, 1876, he married Miss AbertineClanton, 
 daughter of Javison and Dulciana (Morris) Clan- 
 ton, of South Carolina and Georgia, respectively, 
 
 who came to Union Township, Jackson County, in 
 1871. Her father died in 1882, but the mother, 
 still surviving, resides in Union Township. She has 
 three brothers — William, John and Thomas, farm- 
 ers in Faulkner County, and a sister, Georgia, 
 wife of John E. Manger, farmer, of Faulkner 
 County. Mr. Bleakley' s family consists of five 
 children living — Oscar, Lulu, Lina, Crawford, 
 Claude and Georgia; Clyde died in childhood. In 
 addition to this family, they are raising and giving 
 a home to Idle, Willie and Eva Nelson, children 
 of a widow, one of his tenants, whose dying wish 
 was that they should raise her children. Mr. 
 Bleakley has a pleasant and comfortable home, 
 and has seen a great many improvements in this 
 community. He and his wife are members of Sand 
 Hill Baptist Church. He is a Democrat, but con- 
 servative. He is a most enterprising farmer, rais- 
 ing horses, cattle and hogs. He is always active in 
 the interest of all public enterprises for the welfare 
 of the county. 
 
 John Boen is the only child of Thomas and 
 Sallie (Leonard) Boen, both natives of Tennessee, 
 and of Scotch and English descent, respectively. 
 Thomas Boen came to Arkansas from Tennessee in 
 the fall of 1845, and located on Sections 14 and 
 15, in the township now known as Cache, purchas- 
 ing from the United States Government 320 acres 
 of heavily-timbered land, upon which he built a 
 log cabin, and as he chopped down the trees made 
 rails to fence the land. At the time of his death, 
 which occurred in 1857 or 1858, he had seventy 
 acres cleared and under cultivation, and his farm 
 well stocked with cattle and hogs, wolves prevent- 
 ing the raising of sheep. His first wife dying 
 when John was biit an infant, Thomas Boen, in 
 1847, married Mrs. Nancy (Kirldand) Mackey, by 
 whom he had two children: James Wesley, now 
 married, and residing on our subject's farm, and 
 Andrew J. , who died in 1877, at the age of twenty- 
 seven years. John Boen was married, in 1S59, to 
 Miss Catherine Mathering, a native of Tennessee, 
 and to them have been born two children, viz. : 
 Henry J., born November 12, 1861, is a farmer, 
 and resides near his father; be married Miss Callie 
 Ragsdale, of Arkansas, May 2, 1886, and they 
 
 :7i'. 
 
Lave oue cbikl, Lena, about two years old. Jubu 
 R. Boen was bora February 4, 1865, and was mar- 
 ried, September 1, 1887, to Cyatliia Luiiley, who 
 has borne two children, one, Laura Belle, dyin" at 
 the age of two months; the other, Thomas JefPer- 
 son, is one month old. He is also a farmer, and 
 owns a farm in Breckiuiidge Township. Mr. John 
 Boen came into possession of forty acres of land 
 throni,'h his wife; he now owns in all 3'20 acres of 
 laud, about 125 acres of which are under cultiva- 
 tion; corn and cotton are his principal crops, and 
 his farm is well stocked with horses, cattle and 
 hogs of good grade. Mr. Boen is interested in all 
 matters tending toward the advancement of relig- 
 ious and educational interests, and is in every re- 
 spect an enterprising farmer of Jackson County. 
 Mrs. Boen is a member of the Christian Church. 
 
 Henry Bordwell, one of the leading citizens of 
 Jacksonport, was born in Ontario County, N. Y. 
 His parents were John and Abigail (Travis) Bord- 
 well, the former a native of Massachusetts, who 
 emigrated to New York at an early age, and 
 located at Chautauqua Lake, where he resided 
 until his death. After the demise of the father his 
 family moved to Ontario County. They were the 
 parents of three children, of whom Henry is the 
 only one living. Henry was reared and received 
 his schooling in Ontario County, N. Y. In 1858 
 he moved to ■ Arkansas, and located in Jackson 
 County, where he has since resided. When the 
 Civil war commenced he enlisted in Company B, 
 Eighth Arkansas Regiment, and during the battle 
 of Shiloh was severely wounded in the ankle by a 
 rifle ball. To add to his misfortune, he was cap- 
 tured and taken prisoner to Louisville, and from 
 there to Camp Chase, where be was closely con- 
 fined for about four months. He was then taken 
 to Vicksburg, where he was exchanged and re- 
 turned home. Mr. Bordwell has been actively en- 
 gaged in business up to within a few years, and 
 during that time has acquired a comfortable fortune 
 upon which he is entitled to retire. He owns con- 
 siderable town property in Jacksonport, and, al- 
 though not in active commercial life, he is wide- 
 awake to the interests and development of his 
 county, and is always ready to give his valual)K> 
 
 assistance for that cause. He is an old resident of 
 Jackson County, and has watched its growth from 
 infancy up to the present, and can recount many 
 interesting incidents of the various changes that 
 have taken place during his stay. 
 
 Dr. li. L. Boyce, physician and surgeon, 
 Tuckerman, Ark. Dr. Boyce is recognized 
 throughout the county as a friend of and laborer 
 in the cause and advancement of the medical fra- 
 ternity. He is a native of Ralls County, Mo., 
 born in 1832, and is the fourth in a family of six 
 children, born to Richard and Elizalietb (Foreman) 
 Boyce, natives of the Blue Gra-ss State. Dr. 
 Boyce was reared to farm labor, and in 1849, when 
 but seventeen years of age, he was seized with the 
 gold fever and started with an oxteam to cross the 
 plains to California. He was three months in 
 making the perilous trip, and after reaching that 
 State was engaged in mining until 185'J, when ho 
 returned to Ralls County, Mo., quite well satisfied 
 with the result of his visit to the Golden State, 
 after which ho engaged in cultivating the soil, and 
 in 1854 entered the State University at Columbia, 
 Mo. , taking a literary course. H(^ subsetjuently 
 entered the St. Louis Medical University, graduat- 
 ing from that institution in the spring of 18(50. 
 He first began practicing medicine in Macon 
 County, Mo., in 1857, where he remained until 
 1859, entering the St. Louis Medical University, 
 graduating _at the dates stated above. Then 
 moving to Bird Township, Jackson County, Ark., 
 he purchased a farm near Elgin, and began a 
 systematic course of fertilizing and cultivating tlio 
 soil. At the breaking out of the late contlict, he 
 enlisted, in 1801, in Lawrence County, and was 
 regimental surgeon in Col. Adams' regiment. Col. 
 Shaver's brigade, and under Gon. Hindnian, but 
 part of the time served as brigade surgeon. He 
 remained in service until 1803, when he returned 
 to Jackson County, and resumed the practice of 
 medicine, which he has followed ever since. He 
 has been actively engaged in faruiiug and having 
 it carried on, and is now the owner of 320 acres of 
 good land, with 160 acres in tillable condition. 
 He has contrilmted more than any other man to 
 the introduction of fine st(«'k in his neiglilMirhoml. 
 
 t 
 
846 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 He brought the first Durham and Berkshire stock 
 into that part of the county. The Doctor is quite 
 active in politics, and votes with and is a supporter 
 of the Democratic party. Socially, he is a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity. In his religious con- 
 viction he adheres to the Presbyterian Church, and 
 is a liberal contributor to the same. He is deej)ly 
 interested in educational matters, and is at present 
 a member of the school board. His parents emi- 
 grated to Missouri at an early period, settling in 
 what is Ralls County, where the father tilled the 
 soil for many years. He was quite an active man, 
 politically, was county judge of Ralls County, 
 quite a number of years, and was a good and use- 
 ful citizen. He served in the War of 1812 from 
 Kentucky, under Old Hickory. He died in 1869, 
 and his wife, previously, in 1867. Their family 
 consisted of the following children: James, the 
 eldest, first settled on a farm in Missouri, later 
 moved to Texas, locating near Bastrop, where he 
 tilled the soil until his death, in 1859; Aaron, mar- 
 ried, settled also in Texas, before it was part of 
 the United States, having many fights with the 
 Indians and narrow escapes, and there his death 
 occurred in 1850; Nicholas, was also a pioneer of 
 Texas, and died in 1858. A. W. Boyce, brother 
 of the Doctor, came to Jackson County, with his 
 family in 1884, and settled on a farm where the 
 subject of this sketch resides, and there died in 
 1886, leaving a widow and two bright and promis- 
 ing children, son and daughter — the son holding 
 a responsible position among the county officials— 
 E. L. and Lucia. R. L. Boyce, the subject of 
 this sketch had four sisters, all of whom married 
 men of some distinction, and all have joined the 
 silent throng, that are passing on before. 
 
 Thomas Britt, planter and stock raiser, son of 
 Alexander and Nancy (Prauat) Britt, natives of 
 North Carolina, came with his parents from Mis- 
 sissippi, in 1848, and located on Section 23. He 
 was born April 10, 1842, in Mississippi, and re- 
 ceived his education in the private schools of that 
 time. In 1863 he entered the Confederate serv- 
 ice in Col. Gaw's Regiment Arkansas Volunteer 
 Infantry, was captured in the hospital at Little 
 Rock, in September, 1863, and sent to Camp Mor- 
 
 ton, Indianapolis, Ind. , where he remained till 
 the close of the war, arriving home May 13, 1865. 
 His father was wounded in battle, from the effects 
 of which he died; the mother died in 1805. Com- 
 ing into possession of all his father's property by 
 will, Thomas took possession of the homestead, and 
 at once commenced cultivating the land, which was 
 in bad condition, but little of the farm having been 
 cultivated during the war, and only fifty of the 
 300 acres being cleared. August 11, 1868, Mr. 
 Britt maiTied Miss Anna Combs, a native of Ala- 
 bama, and whose parents came to Arkansas in 
 1852; their children were Julia M., (born July 6, 
 1870), Iduma (born March 7, 1873, deceased), Ida 
 (born October 2, 1875), Alice (born July 29, 1880), 
 Luvena (born May 7, 1878, deceased), Jacob L. 
 (born March 4, 1883) and John F. (born August 
 29, 1885). In 1872 Mr. Britt erected the com- 
 fortable house in which he now lives. He has 
 upon his place a steam cotton-gin, also grist-mill 
 and barns. Being an early settler, he remem- 
 bers well when the only grist-mills were turned by 
 hand, when the meat was obtained fi'om the forests, 
 and when wolves and bears rendered it almost im- 
 possible to raise sheep and hogs. He is a member 
 of the Missionary Baptist Church, and his wife of 
 the Methodist. He is a Democrat, and has been 
 justice of the peace, and although not an educated 
 man himself, his children have received the advan- 
 tages of the best schools in the neighborhood. 
 
 Emma (Anthony) Buford, of Union Township, 
 Jackson Countj% resides three miles south of New- 
 port, upon the farm which her husband owned and 
 improved, and upon which he died. May 28, 1889. 
 Mrs. Buford is a native of Madison County, Mo., 
 of which State her parents wore also natives. Sep- 
 tember 4, 1873, she married William Buford. and 
 the same year they located on the farm in Jackson 
 County, Ark. , which has ever since been her home. 
 They had four children, viz. : May Buford, born 
 July 21, 1874; Maud Buford, born September 29, 
 1877; Bertha Buford, born July 26, 1882, and 
 Homer, born February 5, 1886. The maternal 
 grandfather of Mrs. Buford was of German de- 
 scent, and Mr. Buford' s maternal grandfather, 
 George Nifong, lived to be eighty-eight years of 
 
 ^l 
 
JACKSON COTJNTY. 
 
 sr 
 
 ug(% r«taiuiug to the last full possession of all his 
 faculties. Mr. Buford projected many plans for 
 the improvement of hin farm, which his sudden 
 death prevented him from carrying out, but Mrs. 
 Bnford has taken up the management of the farm, 
 and is completing her husband's plans. The place 
 now contains 4'20 acres. Mr. Buford was an en- 
 terprising farmer, a kind neighbor and affectionate 
 husband, and in his death the county was deprivonl 
 of a most exemplary man. The following pream- 
 ble and resolution was adopted by the White River 
 Stock Breeders' Association, at a meeting in June, 
 ISSU, and appeared in the columns of the Newport 
 News, issued June 7, 1889: "William Buford 
 died at his home, May 28, 1889, and it becomes 
 our duty to give formal expression to the sorrow of 
 our association at the loss of so valuable a mem- 
 ber. The mere mention of his name is sufficient 
 to recall to the minds of surviving members more 
 vividly than any words the uprightness and recti- 
 tude of his conduct, which earned for him the high 
 standing he enjoyed as a citizen, and as a valued 
 member and acquisition to the White River Stock 
 Breeders' Association. Plain, sincere and honest 
 was William Buford, and as treasurer of the asso- 
 ciation, to which position he was elected one year 
 ago, he was prompt and fully alive to its interests. 
 Dead — and where now are those e.aruest, loving eyes. 
 
 Which kindled in so many eyes the light? 
 Have they departed from our earthly skies 
 
 And left no ray to illuminate the night? 
 Shall man thus die and waste away 
 
 And no fond hope be left? 
 Is there no sweet, confiding ray for bosoms all bereft? 
 
 Yes, yes, an earnest trust. 
 
 Resolved, That a page of our records be suita- 
 bly inscribed and set apart, sacred to his memory, 
 and that a copy of this memorial be furnished his 
 family, with our deepest, warmest and most loving 
 sympathy." The resolution was unanimously 
 adopted by a standing vote. 
 
 Thomas J. Burton, postmaster at Layton, was 
 born in Mississippi, March 15, 1847. His parents 
 were Thomas F. and Nancy (Burton) Burton, who 
 came to Arkansas in 1869. The father was born 
 in Halifax, Va., in 1808, and the mother in Rock- 
 ingham County, N. C, in 1808. In their family 
 
 there were seven children: William F., Jolin A., 
 Sarah Jane (wife of S. J. Moore), Mary S. (wife 
 of D. A. Kiml)rongh), Henry J. and Thomas J. 
 The father died in 1878, the mother in 1879. The 
 subject of our sketch received his education in 
 Kemper Comity, Miss., and made his first purchase 
 of land in 18(59, on Sections 2f5 and 27, in Caclie 
 Township. There were 220 acres in the tract, thir- 
 ty-five of which were under cultivation, and fenced 
 with rails. Thomas cleared twenty acres more, 
 and erected a good double-box house, hauling lum- 
 ber from Augusta, Woodruff County, a distance 
 of twenty miles, and paying §20 per thousand. 
 At various times Mr. Burton has cleared fifty acres 
 of land. At the age of sixteen, Thomas J. enlist- 
 ed in the Confederate service, served two years, 
 participating in all the battles from Resaca to At- 
 lanta, leaving Hood's army at Dalton, on his re- 
 turn to Tennessee, after the campaign at Atlanta. 
 He was in Gen. J. E. Johnston's army at the time 
 of the surrender, at Gainsborough, in April. 
 1865, and still has in his po-ssession the parole re- 
 ceived at that time. In 1878, in partnership with 
 Mr. D. A. Kimbrough, he opened a stock of general 
 merchandise at Layton (now Bower's Ridge), and 
 continued till 1882, when he sold out to his part- 
 ner. In 1885. after farming three years, he again 
 engaged in business with Mr. Hite, but in Jan- 
 uary, 1889, Ml-. Kimbrough bought Mr. Kite's 
 interest. In connection with this he carries on 
 his farming enterprises. Mr. Burton's first wife 
 was Miss Narcie Otey, of Arkansas; they had one 
 child, Augustus, born June 22, 1873. Obtaining 
 a divorce, in 1874, they separated, and December 
 2, 1879, Mr. Burton married Miss Ada Murphy. 
 They have had four children: T. Ewing, decea.sed; 
 Beenie, born June 21, 1883; Willie May. Iwru 
 January 5, 1885; David Henry, born April 2, 
 1888. Mr. Burton is now the owner of eighty 
 acres of land. His wife is a member of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church. He has 8erve<l three 
 terms as justice of the peace in Jackson County, 
 Ark. . or for six years. 
 
 George D. Camp, farmer and fruit raiser, of 
 Jackson County, was born in IMttaylvania County. 
 Va., September 30. 1S30. being a son of William 
 
 ■»P> 
 
^t 
 
 848 
 
 HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 H. Camp (German descent), of Virginia, and Cath- 
 erine (Whitehead) Camp (French descent), also of 
 Virginia. May 7, 1852, he married Miss Maria 
 Ferguson, of McCraekon County, Ky., whose par- 
 ents came from Khode Island. By this union 
 they had two children: Luther R., now of Perry 
 County, Ark., and Catherine F. (married Will- 
 iam F. Hammond, and died in 1881). Mrs. Camp 
 died June 15, 1806, and he again married Mrs. 
 Martha (Nance) Robertson, who had two chil- 
 dren : William Jesse Robertson and Martha A. By 
 his second wife Mr. Camp has eight children: 
 George Washington, born September 28, 1861; 
 Nancy J. Camp, born May 10, 1863; Sarah E., 
 born May 29, 1865; Doctor Dick Camp, born April 
 10, 1867; Daniel L., born March 23, 1869; John 
 H., born December 24, 1870; Laura Jane, born 
 January, 1873; Mary A., born December 24, 1875; 
 and Martha H., born February 8, 1880. Mrs. 
 Camp died October 6, 1886, and Mr. Camp mar- 
 ried Mrs. Missouri Crabtree, who had one child, 
 Eva Blair, by her drst husband, who lives with her 
 stepfather. Mr. Camp learned the carpenter's 
 trade, tiuished it in 1853, and engaged in the busi- 
 ness for three and a half years, when he com- 
 menced farming. After coming to Arkansas he 
 leased a farm belonging to the estate of John Jones, 
 at the expiration of which lease he moved upon the 
 present farm, which has since been his home. He 
 bought the land of the State of Arkansas at sev- 
 enty-five cents per acre, and with will and deter- 
 mination commenced clearing and improving it. 
 Mr. Camp now has fifty- live acres of land under 
 cultivation, seven acres being in orchard, contain- 
 ing apple, peach, pear and fig trees, he having the 
 largest and finest variety of fruit in Arkansas, in 
 which he takes a just pride. Mr. and Mrs. Camji 
 are both members of the Christian Church, and 
 Mr. Camp has always been a friend to religious, 
 educational and social advancement, and by strict 
 and honest dealing, has earned the reputation of 
 an honest man. What higher tribute can be paid 
 his name ? He well deserves a place in the pres- 
 ent volume. 
 
 Jarrett Record Carter, a planter and stock raiser 
 of Jaekson County, was a son of Kinchen and 
 
 Cazar (Johnson) Carter. The father came to Ar- 
 kansas in 1849, bringing seven children with 
 him, five remaining in Tennessee. He died in 
 1851, leaving his widow and children almost desti- 
 tute. The wife died in 1868. The subject of our 
 sketch, born January 26, 1840, educated himself, 
 and, although having little learning, is shrewd, in- 
 telligent and liberal in business affairs, and in all 
 things for the advancement of his State. Li 1863 
 he purchased a tract of twenty-three acres of land, 
 on which was a small hut, where he lived ten or 
 twelve years, renting land and farming, and accum- 
 ulating means, until at the present time he owns 
 253 acres, about 100 under cultivation. He has 
 good dwellings and barns on the place, and such 
 improvements as ai-e necessary, together with a 
 small orchard. In 1863 Mr. Carter married Mi-s. 
 Melissa (Benson) Jones. His second wife was 
 Mary Jane Sutherland. Of the family there are 
 these living children: Bettie, born March 12, 1873; 
 Sarah, born October 2, 1874; Jarrett R., Jr., born 
 January 17, 1877; Mabel, born September 5, 1883; 
 and Rosenell, born October 17, 1885. Mr. Carter 
 has taken the degree of Fellow Craft, A. F. & A. 
 IVI. , and intends to advance at the first opportunity, 
 sickness having prevented. He is a member of the 
 Christian Church, and a friend to religrious and 
 educational advancement. 
 
 Col. J. W. Clark, a prominent planter and 
 stock raiser of Glass Township, Jackson County, 
 was born in Madison County, Ala., in 1833. His 
 parents were Thomas and Esther (Moore) Clark, 
 natives, respectively, of South Carolina and Ala- 
 bama, who had seven children, of whom J. W . 
 was the third. Thomas Clark, who was also a 
 farmer, removed to Madison County, Ala., in an 
 early day, where he operated a large plantation 
 and spent the remainder of his life, his death oc- 
 curring in 1849; his widow survived until 1855. 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject, who was 
 also named Thomas Clark, was a soldier of the 
 Revolution, and died in Alabama, at the advanced 
 age of one hundred and twelve years. His wife 
 lived to be one hundred and eight years old. Col. 
 J. W. Clark was reared and educated in his native 
 county. He learned the blacksmith's trade, and 
 
his first experience at farming for himself was in 
 his native State. In 1857 he went to Gibson 
 County, Tenn., where he was employed as an over- 
 seer until November, 1860, when lie removed to 
 Jackson County, Ark., locating near the present 
 site of Swifton, on what is now known as the Har- 
 ris place, where he remained one year. In 1801 
 he enlistinl in Company B, Thirty -first Arkansas 
 Mounted Riflemen, spending the early part of that 
 winter in Central Arkansas, recruiting soldiers; 
 the following March he went to Memphis. He was 
 made major of the First Regiment, promoted to 
 lieutenant colonel, and subsequently became colo- 
 nel of the Thirty-second Arkansas Infantry. He 
 took part in the battles of Richmond, Murfrees- 
 boro, Perryville, Mansfield, Dickens' Ferry, Pilot 
 Knob; was with Gen. Price on his raid through 
 Missouri; thence south in Arkansas, to Fayette- 
 ville; thence to Jacksouport, whore, June 5, 1805, 
 he surrendered the Forty-fifth Arkansas Infantry. 
 At the close of the war Col. Clark returned to Jack- 
 son County. December 25, 1864, he was married 
 in Calhoun County, to Mary S. A. Moore, daugh- 
 ter of Leroy and Mary (Culp) Moore, of Alabama, 
 who removed to Calhoun County at an early day. 
 The father died some years ago, but the mother 
 now resides in Jackson County. Mrs. Clark died 
 in 1879, and January 1, 1882, Mr. Clark married 
 the wi<low of Dr. A. J. Jones, whose maiden name 
 was Lavina Elizabeth Heard, a daughter of Bailey 
 and Margaret (Milner) Heard, natives of Ken- 
 tucky and Virginia, respectively. Mr. Heard still 
 resides on the homestead in White County, upon 
 which he settled in 1851, owning considerable 
 land in that county. His wife died in 1874. After 
 his marriage. Col. Chirk l)ought a timber tract of 
 200 acres, upon which ho erected a house and 
 cleared and improvt^d some of the land. He now 
 owns 1 20 acres, of which about ninety acres are 
 imder cultivation. He devotes considerable atten- 
 tion to stock raising, especially cattle. Ho also 
 raises cotton largely. He is an active Democrat, 
 has been magistrate and notary public, and brought 
 before the county court the petition to form Glass 
 Township, which he named. Ho is also a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic fraternity, and he and wife 
 
 are members of the Methodist Kiiiscopal (Church, 
 South. 
 
 Uriah Cole, farmer and stock raiser, and the 
 oldest living settler in Bird Townsliip, was born in 
 Middle Tennessee, Humphreys County, in 18^5, 
 and was the fifth in a family of ton born to James 
 and Martha (York) Cole, natives of North Caroliiui 
 and Tennessee, respectively. The father, when a 
 boy, emigrated to Tennessee, thence to Kentucky, 
 when it had very few settlers, living si.\ty miles 
 from a mill, and then back to Tennessee, and, in 
 1847, to Jackson County, Ark., locating in what is 
 now Bird Township, on the place where our sub 
 ject now resides, and having to cut a road from 
 Jacksonport to their claim, where plenty of game 
 abounded. The father died in 1855, at the age of 
 eighty-four years, his excellent wife following in 
 1804. The subject of this sketch was reared to 
 frimtier farm life, receiving his education ni the 
 district schools of Tennessee and the subscription 
 schools of Arkansas. He and his brother, Jack- 
 son, ri>main(>d at home, clearing the farm, and in 
 1849 Uriali married Martha Wann, a nativi> of Al- 
 abama, and setthnl on the farm on which he now 
 resides, which contains 240 acres, 190 under culti- 
 vation, thirty-five of which are yearly planted to 
 cotton. Mr. Cole also raises considerable stock. 
 In 1801 he enlisted in Capt. Bateman's company, 
 Dobbins' regiment of cavalry, and parti(-ipated in 
 the battles of Helena, Little Rock, Marks' Mills, 
 Jenkins' Ferry. At the close of the war, in 18fJ5, 
 be was paroled at Jacksonport, when he returned 
 to the farm. Though a Democrat, Jlr. Cole is not 
 an office-seeker, and not very active in politics. 
 Mrs. Cole died in 1879, leaving six chihlren: 
 William Jason, married, residing in Bird Town- 
 ship; Amanda, now Mrs. Gibson, of Bird Town- 
 ship; Mary Elizabeth, now Mrs. Grooms, of Binl 
 Township; Uriah A., single; Henry, single; and 
 Harriet, now Mrs. Brightwell— the last two being 
 twins. In 1882 Mr. Cole married Martha Deaton, 
 a native of Alabama. Mr. Cole has seen the full 
 growth of Jackson County — has cami)ed out and 
 kilh'd bears where the town of Tuckermun is now 
 situated. During the war Mr. Cole lost every 
 thing, and what he now ha-* lia-* bi-oti iniid.' vjn,-.. 
 
■^ 
 
 850 
 
 HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 that time by economy and industry, and by taking 
 an interest in everything for the good of the 
 county. 
 
 William Wesley Collier, a merchant of Tupelo, 
 Jackson County, is a native of Limestone County, 
 Ala. , and is a son of Mark M. and Elizabeth (Har- 
 ris) Collier, born, respectively, in North and South 
 Carolina, and of English and Scotch descent. The 
 father died in 1840, and the mother in 1864. 
 William AVosley was born April 12, 1826, and ob- 
 tained his education iu the private schools of his 
 county, and the H. H. Brown school, which at that 
 time had a wide reputation, being conducted by a 
 Methodist preacher, who was employed by the com- 
 munity. At the age of twenty years Mr. Collier 
 was employed by Dewooddy, Turentine & Hig- 
 gins, at Athens, Ala. ; at the expiration of one 
 year he went to Aberdeen, Miss. , where he served 
 three years at the carpenters' trade, with J. W. 
 Ellis. February 3, 1849, he emigrated to Califor- 
 nia, with the Mississippi Rangers, a joint stock 
 conipany, which dissolved after three months. 
 Our subject arrived at Los Angeles, July 6, 1849, 
 where until January, 1850, he engaged in the car- 
 penter and joiners' trade. He then went to San 
 Francisco, worked for weeks as journeyman, and 
 then in partnership with K. T. Woody, engaged 
 in mining; three months later Mr. Woody died, 
 and Mr. Collier bought a stock of general mer- 
 chandise, which he established at Agufrior Gold 
 Mines, Mariposa County, Cal. He also built a hotel 
 at the latter place, which he sold in 1851, carrying 
 on his mercantile business there three years; he 
 then took into partnership George Turner, of New 
 York, and William T. Osburn, of Georgia. Early 
 in 1853, Mr. Collier went to Stockton to buy goods 
 and supplies for the store, remaining until fall, 
 when he was notified by his partners to return and 
 close out business, as they were not making any- 
 thing; returning, he found that they had lost money 
 gambling, and squandered the entire resources of 
 the firm. After closing out the business, he went 
 to San Francisco, in October, 1853, where he pur- 
 chased a ticket for his home in Alabama, arriving 
 there the following December. In 1854 he lo- 
 cated on his mother's farm near Athens, where he 
 
 lived the following three years. In January, 1856, 
 he married Martha Walls, also a nativt» of Ala- 
 bama. Of the eleven children born to them, six 
 are now living, viz. : Albert, a farmer by occupa- 
 tion, now residing in Breckinridge Township; he 
 married Laura Stanley; William T., married a 
 Miss Higgs of Mississippi, and has two children; 
 he is also a farmer of Breckinridge Township; J. 
 M. , who is engaged in business with his father, and 
 farming; John M. is living with his father; Cath- 
 arine, of Arkansas nativity, married Mr. W. C. 
 Patrick, a native of Mississippi, and has one child; 
 and Allen C, who is now a student at Searcy Col- 
 lege, Ala. The children have all been liberally 
 educated in the English branches. At the time of 
 his marriage, Mr. Collier owned about 370 acres 
 of land, some 100 acres of which were under culti- 
 vation. He is a Democrat in politics, as are also 
 his sons and son-in-law. 
 
 Lee H. Conditt, planter and stock raiser, of Bird 
 Township, was born in Ohio County, Ky. , in 1848, 
 the fifth in a family of six, liorn to Jeduthan Lind- 
 ley and Mary (Duke) Conditt, of Tennessee and 
 Kentucky, respectively. The father was a cabinet 
 workman and wagon-maker, and came to Jackson 
 County in 1855, in Jefferson Township, then in 
 1856 came to Bird Township, where he bought a 
 partly improved farm of 275 acres. He was very 
 active in religious and educational interests, being 
 the principal man in organizing the school district. 
 His death occurred in 1863; he was a Methodist. 
 His widow survived until 1878. There are living 
 of the family William Henry (of Baxter County), 
 Lorenzo M., and Lee, the subject of this sketch, 
 who was educated in the district schools of Bird 
 Township, Jackson County. He aided in clearing 
 the home farm, and at the age of twenty commenced 
 farming for himself. After his marriage, in 1883, 
 he settled where he now resides, owning a good 
 farm of 275 acres, with ninety acres under cultiva- 
 tion, having cleared forty acres himself; he also 
 owns the original homestead. He raises corn, and 
 on an average thirty-five acres of cotton a }'ear, 
 and good average cattle; he has now a high grade 
 stallion, Morgan and Bashaw, a well-known trotter 
 and good roadster, six years of age, said to be the 
 
« k_ 
 
 >^ 
 
 JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 851 
 
 best in the county. Our subject's wife was Jose- 
 phine A. Snider, daughter of Ur. Jacob and Mary 
 (Davis) Snider, of Tennessee, who came to Dunk- 
 lin County, Mo., where they now reside; they have 
 two chikb-en: Annie Beatrice and Phamous Arlee. 
 Mr. Conditt takes a great interest in school matters, 
 being secretary of the school board for District 10, 
 which includes also the Tuckerman District, three 
 white schools and one colored. He is now serving 
 his second term. He is a Democrat, and liberal in 
 all [)ublic matters. 
 
 William H. Craige, dealer in groceries, drugs, 
 and plantation supplies, also postmaster, Kenyon, 
 Ark. Among the important industrial enterprises 
 which contribute to the commercial .standing of the 
 thriving town of Kenyon is the establishment of 
 Mr. Craige, who is acknowledged to be one of the 
 prominent business men of the jilace. He was 
 born at Chapel Hill, N. C, on the 30th of Novem- 
 ber, 1840, and his father. Rev. John M. Craige, was 
 a Methodist minister, and a member of the East 
 North Carolina Conference. The elder Craige' s 
 health failing during his ministerial duties, he was 
 ol)lig(^d to abandon this calling, and betake himself 
 to agricultural pursuits, which he continued until 
 his death, in 1864. His excellent wife, formerly 
 Miss Elizabeth Barbee, a native of North Carolina, 
 survived him until 1869. Both were of Scotch- 
 Irish descent.- They became the parents of three 
 children: James, married, and resides at Chapel 
 Hill, N. C, on the old homestead. He enlisted in 
 the Twenty- eighth North Carolina Infantry, in 
 1861, and served during the war. Wesley enlisted 
 in the Eleventh North Carolina Infantry in 1S62, 
 and remained in service until the time of his death, 
 but contracted sickness at Petersburg, Va., went 
 home and died there in 1864: and William H. 
 The latter at the age of fourteen was put under 
 the tutelage of F. M. Hubbard, D. D., of the Tni- 
 versity of North Carolina, and there remained for 
 two years, receiving the preparatory course. Then, 
 at the age of sixteen, he entered the University of 
 North Carolina, and remained in college until 
 1859, when ho was obliged to leave on account of 
 ill health. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate 
 nnv\' at Charleston, S. C, but was transferred to 
 
 heavy artillery at Wiiuiington, N. C. .w,. ,, i... 
 remained until February, 1864. He was then put 
 in charge of engineering corps, and remnineil in 
 that capacity until the close of the war. After 
 this he settled at Chapel Hill, N. C, where he fol 
 lowed agricultural ])ursuits for one year and then, 
 at the solicitation of Gov. Swain, entered college, 
 finishing his course and graduating with the class 
 of 1868. After this he followed teaching for some 
 time, and then came to Lawrence County, Ark., 
 where he still continued that avocation at Pow- 
 hatan for two years. In 1878 his alma mater con- 
 ferred on him the degree of A. M. Since that time 
 he has been engaged in merchandising and farm- 
 ing. Ho moved to Kenyon. Jack.sou County, in 
 the spring of 1872, embarking in mercantile pur- 
 suits, but has also been engaged in farming since 
 1879. He owns a good farm of 1,000 acres, with 
 500 acres under cultivation, has nearly HOO acres 
 in cotton and 200 acres in corn. He raises consid- 
 erable cattle, and has one of the best stock farms 
 in the countj'. He has not been very active in pol- 
 itics, but votes with the Democratic party. He 
 has held the office of postmaster since 1879. and in 
 all his relations with the public, as well as in all 
 other respects, he is strictly honorable and upright. 
 He was married in Jackson County, in August, 
 1871, to Miss Lavinia Holford. a native of Tennes- 
 see, and the daughter of William and Martha A. 
 Holford, natives of Tennessee. Her |>arentscau)i' 
 to Jackson County in 1859, settling on a farm, and 
 there both passed their last days. Their family 
 consisted of the following children: Mrs. C. W. 
 Winfree, Mrs. B. F. Manning and Rev. B. F. Hoi 
 ford, a Baptist minister, residing in Lawrence 
 County, Ark., and Mrs. Lavinia (Holford) Craige. 
 To the union of Mr. and .Mrs. Craige wore born 
 these children: Hubbard, Augustus G. and Bar 
 bee. Mr. Craige is a member of the Episcopal, 
 and Mrs. Craige of the Baptist Church. 
 
 C. G. Crow, farmer and proprietor of gristmill 
 and cotton-gin at McCreary Station, Bird Town- 
 sliip, was l)oru in Jackson County, in 1S44, the 
 second in a family of three children of Atrides and 
 ^lary (Waters) Crow, the father of Kentucky, the 
 mother of Cape Girardeau County, Mo. The 
 
« »-_ 
 
 852 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 father was marrioJ in Missouri, and in 1840 came 
 to Craighead County. He was practicing physi 
 cian and surgeon, and in 1842 came to Jackson - 
 port, Jackson County; after residing in various 
 places, he returned to Jackson County, where he 
 was county clerk; his death occurred in 1857. His 
 wife died in 1851. The subject of this sketch was 
 educated at the seminary in Hartford, Ky. In 1861, 
 in Scott County, Mo., he enlisted for six months' 
 State service, and on the expiration of this time, 
 he reenlistod in Capt. William Cotter's company, 
 Gen. Forrest's brigade, Neeley's regiment, and 
 was mustered into service in Tennessee. He was 
 in the battles of Fort Pillow, Harrisburg, Parker's 
 Cross Roads, and the Oklahoma raid. He was 
 paroled in Mississippi, in 1865, and returned to 
 Jackson County, and in 1807 married Mary V. 
 Parrott, a native of Tennessee, daughter of William 
 H. and Martha (Darden) Parrott, of North Caro- 
 lina and Tennessee nativity, who came to Jackson 
 County in 18(51. Her father died in 1879, and her 
 mother some years before. After his man'iage our 
 subject settled where he now resides, buying a tim- 
 ber tract of forty acres, which he cleared and added 
 to, until he now owns 600 acres, nearly 300 under 
 cultivation, the products being cotton and corn; 
 he also raises some stock. Mr. Crow is a Demo- 
 crat, active in politics, and has always taken an 
 active interest in the schools, being now a mem- 
 ber of the school board. He is a member of Jack- 
 sonport Lodge No. 191, A. F. & A. M., and of 
 Jacksonport Chapter No. 40. Mr. Crow always 
 takes an active interest in everything for the good 
 of the county, and has seen great changes in the 
 course of its development. His family consists of 
 four children now living: Ada, Maoima, Charles 
 and Daisy Cleveland. William Atrides died in 
 1868, at the age of two years; Maud Ida, in 1874, 
 at the age of four years. 
 
 Roliert L. Davis, farmer and stock raiser, was 
 born in Alabama, September 25, 1832, son of Will- 
 iam and Ann (McDonald) Davis, natives of Ala- 
 bama. Samuel Davis, grandfather of our subject, 
 a native of East Tennessee, came to Alabama 
 between 1815 and 1825, and was the iirst settler 
 at Huntsville. He located a claim, built a log 
 
 house and returned to Tennessee for his family. 
 In his absence his claim was jumped by David 
 Hunt, after whom the city of Huntsville was 
 named. Mr. Davis made no effort to substantiate 
 his claim to the land, but located another, which 
 he improved, and on which he resided till his 
 death, at the age of ninety-six years. William 
 Davis died at the age of seventy-three years, and 
 his wife at the age of forty. Robert L. was the 
 fifth of a family of eight: Elizabeth, Samuel, 
 Steele, Jane, James, Anson and William. The 
 subject of our sketch lived at home with his parents 
 till he married Miss Eliza Henderson, May 16, 1857. 
 In 1860 he came to Arkansas, locating a farm on 
 Bower's Ridge, which he sold in 1863, when he 
 liought 152 acres of wild land in Section 18, 
 Breckinridge Township, which he commenced at 
 once to clear and improve, and now has about 100 
 acres of that tract under cultivation, and which has 
 since been his home. Mrs. Davis died May 21, 
 1885. They had three children : Walter S., born 
 March 16, 1858; James H., born April 1, 1868, a 
 telegraph operator in the employ of the St. Louis 
 & Iron Mountain Railroad Company, and Georgie 
 Laird, born January 28, 1872. Mr. Davis' chil- 
 dren have been well educated at the j)rivate schools 
 of the county, and also at some of the prominent 
 colleges of the State and of Tennessee, Mr. Davis 
 being a friend to education, and taking active in- 
 terest in all matters of importance to the county 
 and State. At this time he has 432 acres of land, 
 230 under cultivation. 
 
 R. M. Davis, mayor, Newport, Ark. Mr. 
 Davis has been a resident of Jackson County, Ark. , 
 for many years, and has been closely and usefully 
 identified with its history throughout all that pe- 
 riod of time. He was born in Madison County, 
 Ala., near Huntsville, March 27, 1841, and is a 
 son of Matthew and Sarah (Walls) Davis, the 
 former a native of the Old Dominion, born near 
 Lynchburg, and the mother a native of Alabama. 
 They were married in Madison County, of the last 
 named State, and emigrated to Marshall County, 
 Miss., in about 1844. They remained there until 
 1856, and then moved to Arkansas, settling in Jack 
 son County, where the father died in 1866. The 
 
 
Maj .D. L. Ferguson . 
 Mississippi County,Arkansab 
 
JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 853 
 
 mot,}i(^r had previously died in Missisisippi. Their 
 family consisted of nine children, only four living: 
 IMrs. E. V. McDonald, Mrs. M. S. Ballard, Mrs. 
 Anthony McDonald, and Richard M. , who is the 
 youngest of the family living. He was only thir- 
 teen years of age when he came to Arkansas, and 
 finished his growth on a farm in this State. At 
 the breaking out of the war, he was but eighteen 
 years of age, and in 1861 ho enlisted in Company 
 A, Ninth Mississippi Regiment, at Pensacola, Fla. 
 He was one of the first three men to leave the State 
 of Arkansas, before the ordinance of secession was 
 l)assed. He was at the battles of Shiloh, Prairie 
 Grove, Helena, and in Gen. Price's raid through 
 Missouri. He was wounded at the battle of Hel- 
 ena, by a gun-shot through the left leg. He served 
 over four years in the Confederate army, and sur- 
 rendered at Jacksonport, Ark. Afterward he en- 
 gaged in the livery business at the last named 
 plape, and continued at this for about three years, 
 when he embarked in the mercantile business, 
 which he carried on for some time. He then be- 
 gan farming, but later went back to merchandising, 
 which he continued until 1882, when he moved to 
 Newport. He was here employed as clerk by E. 
 L. AVatson & Son, with whom he remained until 
 February, 1888, and then took charge of the stock 
 of goods now owned by P. V. Davis & Co. The 
 firm carries a good line of groceries, etc., and are 
 doing a good business. Mr. Davis was married, in 
 1863, to Miss Pauline Hudson, a native of South 
 Carolina, who bore four children now living: Rush 
 H. , Daisy D. , Mary E. and Fannie J. Mr. Davis 
 is a member of the Masonic fraternitj'. In April. 
 1880, he was elected mayor of Newport, and is fill- 
 ing that position to the entire satisfaction of all. 
 He has also served as alderman. 
 
 C. F. Dean, a prominent planter, of Jackson 
 County, whoso name is almost too well-known to 
 need any comment, was born in Meigs County, 
 Tenn., in 1853. His parents were Patrick and : 
 Caroline (Stames) Dean, the former a native of 
 Ireland and the latter from North Carolina. The I 
 father emigrated to America upon reaching his ma- 
 turity, and settled in Tennessee, where he was 
 afterward married. He was a very intellectual | 
 
 ( 
 
 man, and a school teacher by profession. He died 
 in the State of Tennessee, while the mother snr 
 vived him a number of years, and j)assed away in 
 Jackson County, Ark., l.-aving three children yet 
 living: Cornelius F., Margaret and Jamos J. Cor 
 nelius was reared in Tennessee, where he remaineil 
 until 1808, and then moved to Jackson County, 
 Ark. For the first few years after his arrival he 
 farmed on rented land, but his energy and slirewd 
 ness in business transuclions have enaliled him to 
 accumulate about 347 acres of valuabl.. land, with 
 some 200 acres well nnder cultivation, almost all 
 of which he has improved himself. His farm is 
 situated on the west side of White River, ojiposite 
 the city of Jacksonport. and the soil is some of tin' 
 best in that section, being adapted to almost any 
 kind of vegetal>le or grain, as well as a fine graz 
 ing country. In 1875 Mr. Dean was married to 
 Miss Lizzie Delaney, by whom he has had two 
 children: Stella and Archie. He is a member of 
 the Legion of Honor, and one of the most success 
 ful men in Jackson County. 
 
 Maj. William Deen. One of the men who has 
 contributed much to the development of Jackson 
 County is Maj. Deen, a ])romiuent planter and 
 stock raiser of the county. He was born in Ansou 
 County, N. C, on February 18, 1825, and was the 
 fourth in a family of eight children born to Red 
 dick and Martha (Morre) Deen. both natives of the 
 same State. The father was also a planter in An- 
 son County, and duiiug the earlier hi.story of that 
 county was a prominent figure in politics. The 
 Major was reared on a fai-m, and educated in the 
 district schools of his birthplace. In 1843 he was 
 married to Miss Rebecca Price, from tiie same 
 State, who subsequently died after a hajipy married 
 life, leaving him one child, John, who is now a 
 prominent i>hysician and surgeon in Texas. In 
 1855 Maj. Deen was again married, in Anson 
 County, his second wife being Mi.ss Ann Lilly, and 
 two years later he moved with ills bride In KempiT 
 County, Miss., where he bought a plantation, and 
 became a leading citizen of that county, Ix-ing al 
 one time commissioned on the relief committee to 
 look after the destitute of tliat section. In IStll) 
 he moved to Woodruff County, Ark., and two years 
 
k_ 
 
 854 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 afterward bought a timber tract of 320 acres, which 
 was slightly improved. He has continued to im- 
 jnove the land and add to it on different occa- 
 sions, until now he owns about 1,080 acres, and 
 has some 400 acres under cultivation. His princi- 
 pal crops are corn and cotton, and he also raises 
 some stock. Maj. Deen is not a very active poli- 
 tician, but he takes a deep interest in all matters 
 that augur for the welfare of his county, and is 
 very liberal in his aid toward all enterprises, which, 
 in his judgment, will make it one of the foremost 
 in the State. The Major and his wife, who both 
 attend the Missionary Baptist Church, have had 
 eight children born to their union: Marcus L. (re- 
 siding in Texas), William T., Laura (now Mrs. 
 McCauley), Fannie (also married), Benjamin and 
 Simeon, all residing in the same townshij) with 
 their father except Marcus. Maj. Deen has been 
 a valuable citizen to the community, and one whose 
 efforts in building up his county have been well 
 appreciated. 
 
 F. R. Dowell, assessor of Jackson County, 
 farmer, miller and ginner, was born in Jackson 
 County, May 10, 1851. His father, Henry J. 
 Dowell, was born in Virginia, in 1814, moved to 
 Kentucky, and in 1838 married Miss A. M. Boyce, 
 who was born in Kentucky, in 1819. In 1849 
 they came to Jackson County, Bird Township, 
 bought a farm of 100 acres, and improved and 
 added to this iintil, at the time of his death, in 
 1881, it consisted of 2,200 acres, 500 under culti- 
 vation. Mr. Dowell was a strong Democrat, and 
 served his township ten years as magistrate, and 
 declined several other offices. The mother was a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our 
 subject was the fourth of a family of six: Belle, 
 J. H., Jimius, D. C. and Mary S. J. H. served 
 diu-ing the war in the Confederate army. Henry 
 J. was a man of great energy, and was of much 
 service to the early settlers in locating land, being 
 thoroughly acquainted with the country. His wife 
 still lives on the old homestead, at the age of sev- 
 enty. The subject of our sketch was raised on the 
 farm, received his education in the common schools 
 of Jackson County, and also spent two years at the 
 academy in Philadelphia, Izard County, Ark. He 
 
 left school at the age of twenty-two, and for ten 
 years engaged in mercantile business at Tucker- 
 man with his brother D. C. , the firm being F. R. 
 & D. C. Dowell. In the spring of 1882 he with- 
 drew from the firm, and, having been appointed 
 administrator of his father's estate, he took charge 
 of that and engaged in farming and stock d(>aling. 
 In 1883 he built a large saw-mill and cotton-gin. 
 later adding the grist-mill. He also owns 160 
 acres of land, 100 of which are cultivated, and also 
 has an interest in his father's estate. Mr. Dowell, 
 in November, 1878, married Miss L. B. Billings- 
 lea, daughter of J. C. and Mary E. (Woolley) Bil- 
 lingslea, natives of Alabama, who came to Arkan- 
 sas about 1807 and settled in Woodruff County, 
 Mr. Billingslea .being a prominent farmer and phy- 
 sician of that county, and dying in 1809. Our 
 subject's wife was born May 19, 1858. They have 
 had three childi-en : Harry E. (born in 1880), Mary 
 A. (born August 20, 188(3; died March 7, 1888), 
 and Henry J. (born September 2, 1888; died Feb- 
 ruary 7, 1889). They are members of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church. Mr. Dowell is an active 
 member of the Democratic party, having served on 
 both township and county committees. In Sep- 
 tember, 1888, he was elected assessor of Jackson 
 County, which office he still holds. He has also 
 held the office of school director, and is active in 
 the cause of education, and in support of all pub- 
 lic enterprises. He is now making preparations 
 for entering the business of raising blooded stock. 
 D. C. Dowell, general merchant at Tucker- 
 man, was born in Jackson Coiuity, in 1853, being 
 a son of H. J. and A. M. (Boyce) Dowell, natives 
 of Kentucky. The father, a farmer, emigrated 
 to Jackson County, in 1849, settling in Bird Town- 
 ship, near Black River, and opened up consider 
 able land in the county; his death occurred in 
 1881, his excellent wife still surviving. In their 
 family were J. H. (now deceased,) Jimmie and 
 Belle (who died young), F. R. (assessor of Bird 
 Township) and M. L. (at home). The subject of our 
 sketch was raised on the farm, educated in the dis- 
 trict schools, and also at Izard County College. He 
 aided at home in clearing the farm, and there en- 
 gaged in mercantile business, and in 1 874, at Tuck- 
 
 -^ V 
 
erman, in partnership with his brother, F. li. 
 Dowell, erected the first store in the place, carry- 
 ing a full line of notions, dry goods, groceries and 
 drugs; this partnership continued till 1885, when 
 our subject bought his brother's interest, they 
 having been burned out in 1888, and in 188!) a 
 good frame building was erected. October H\ 
 1879, Mr. Dowell married Ida Thoroughman, a na- 
 tive of Missouri, daughter of Thomas and Emily 
 Thoroughman, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, 
 respectively, the father then being an attorney in 
 St. Louis, Mo., where they now reside. Five 
 children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dowell: 
 Gracie, Lou (died in 1885, aged four years), Fos- 
 ter, D. C, Jr., and Taylor. IVIi-. Dowell daring 
 his lifefime in Jackson County has seen a vast 
 change; he is one of the prominent citizens, and 
 takes an active interest in furthering all projects 
 for the good of the county. 
 
 G. "\V. Dudley, a highly-esteemed farmer and 
 stock raiser of Jackson County, was born in Bod- 
 ford County, Tenn. , in 1840. He was the third in 
 a family of seven children born to Christopher S. 
 and Louisa P. (Bandy) Dudley, of Tennessee, in 
 which State the father was county surveyor of 
 Bedford County for twenty-five years, and also en- 
 gaged in farming quite extensively. The elder 
 Dudley was a noted Democratic jwlitician during 
 his life, and one of the best orators of his party in 
 that section. During his lator days he t)ccupied 
 himself with his farm entirely until his death, in 
 1878, his excellent wife only surviving him one 
 day. The seven children born to the parents are 
 all living: Richard Hou.ston resides in Nashville, 
 Tenn., and is engaged in the wholesale hardware 
 business; Marion resides in Glass Township; G. 
 W. also lives in Glass Township; Harriet M., 
 now Mrs. Lucker, of Franklin Comity, Tenn. ; 
 Fannie, now Mrs. Jarrett, residing in Tennessee; 
 Guilford, residing in Nashville, Tenn., and in the 
 hardware business; Robert M., residing at Na.sh- 
 ville, and also in the hardware business. G. W . 
 Dudley was reared to a farm life and attended the 
 district schools of Bedford County, Tenn. In 
 ISOl he enlisted in Company D, Senator Bates' 
 regiment, and was mustered into service at Lynch- 
 
 burg, Va. He was engagctl in ibi- liombarcliiient 
 of Aqua Creek, on May 28, 1801; at .Mana.s.sas, 
 on July 22, and was a member of Claiborne's 
 brigade at Shiloh. Ho also took part in the l)attle 
 at Richmond, Ky. (when captain and colonel were 
 Iwtli killed), at Perryville, Murfroesboro and 
 Chickamauga. and was severely wounded at Iwtli 
 Perryville and Chickamauga. He was also at the 
 battles of Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Calhoun, 
 Konesaw Mountain, Marietta and Decatur. At 
 the last place he was again severely wounded, and 
 fell on the s])ot where Gen. McPherson was killed. 
 He lay on the battlefield for some time, unable to 
 move, but was finally discovered and taken to the 
 hospital at Macon, Ga. After his recovery he 
 again returned to the front and went with Hood to 
 Middle Tennessee. At Franklin he heard Gen. 
 Claiborne give his last command to his brigadii-r 
 generals: 
 
 Gentlemen, I have called you lopetlier to say lo you 
 tliat Gen. Hooil comninnds that Franklin must lie taken. 
 He says that line of works (scanninf; tlie breastwork-)) 
 must be taken. He says: " I want you. General, and your 
 staff otflcers to lead your brigades, and impress it on llic 
 colonels and captains to lead their commands. I. myself, 
 will lead the division, and the Hrsl man who lircs a gun or 
 dodges to the rear we will eut his head off and put it on a 
 pole, and carry it through the streets of Nashville with 
 ' cowardice' branded upon it." 
 
 He then waved them off, the battle commenced; 
 and Gen. Claiborne was killed while storming the 
 breastworks, as were also Gens. Sniitli and Gran 
 berry, while many of the officers were mortally 
 wounded. After this event Mr. Dudley joined 
 Gen. Forrest at A\'est Point, Miss., and was witii 
 him at Selma, Ala., during the closing scenes. He 
 surrendered at Gainesville, Ala., and returne<l to 
 Tennessee, where he remained for a year, and (hen 
 moved to Jackson County, Ark., where he com 
 menced farming. In 18fW he was married, in this 
 county, to ^liss Mollie Raynor, of Tenne.>«.see. 
 whose death occun'ed the same year, and, in 1875, 
 he was maiTiod to Miss Caroline Laster, of Mis 
 sissippi. In 1878 he made his lirst purchase of 
 laud and bought 170 acres on a timber tract, which 
 he immediately set to work improving, and now 
 has forty acres under cultivation. Mr. Dudley 
 
 ^ '^ 
 
856 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 has always been an active politician, and a valuable 
 man to the Democratic party. He is very much 
 interested in educational mutters, and has served on 
 the school board for some years. In secret socie- 
 ties he belongs to Thornbiirg Lodge No. 39, A. F. 
 & A. M. , and has been Worshipful Master, and is 
 a member of Jackson Chapter No. 40, at Jackson- 
 port. Four children were born to Mr. Dudley and 
 his wife: George William, Robert Guilford, Rich- 
 ard Houston and Mary Louisa. Mr. Dudley has 
 witnessed a great many changes in the county 
 during his loDfr residence here, and has noted the 
 adversity and prosperity of Jackson County, as it 
 fell and rose fi-om year to year, until now it can take 
 rank with the foremost through the efPorts of citi- 
 zens like himself. 
 
 Christopher Marion Dudley, farmer and stock 
 raiser, now residing on Section 18, Township 14, 
 was born in Bedford County Tenn., near Shelby- 
 ville, a son of Christopher S. and Louisa Peirce 
 (Bandy) Dudley, both natives of Tennessee. There 
 were ten children in this family, Christopher M. 
 and William being the only ones living in Arkan- 
 sas. The former was raised on a farm in his na- 
 tive State, where he attended the public schools, 
 and also spent several terms at the Academy at 
 Salem, coming to Arkansas November 7. 1860. 
 His first purchase was of wild land, which he sold, 
 and in 1868 or 1869 bought the farm on which 
 he now resides, clearing and improving the same 
 himself, and at the present time has upon his 
 farm good house and stables, besides cotton-gin 
 and grist-mill. Mr. Dudley is the owner of 746 
 acres, about 800 acres being cultivated. January 
 13, 1867, Mr. Dudley married Miss Letitia Bandy, 
 of Arkansas. They had three sons and one 
 daughter, George C, Richard Huston, Guilford 
 and Louisa S. , all of whom have had good school 
 advantages; and Richard, a graduate of University 
 of Tennessee, in the wholesale hardware house of 
 Dudley Bros. & Lipscomb, at Nashville, Tenn. 
 The other children at home, attending school. 
 Mrs. Dudley died, and in 1880 he married Mrs. 
 Sarah P. Maxy {nee Winfred) ; they have one daugh- 
 ter, Susan Maud. Mr. Dudley is a charter mem- 
 ber of the Strangers' Home Lodge No. 391, Thorn- 
 
 burg, Lawrence County, Ark. He is progressive, 
 and ready and willing to take an active part in all 
 enterprises which, in his judgment, are for the 
 best interests of the county and State. ^ 
 
 Dr. M. M. Erwin, physician, surgeon and 
 planter, is a native of East Tennessee, having lieen 
 born in Knox County, June 8, 1849. His parents 
 were Wade H. and Melinda (Kincade) Erwin, of 
 Tennessee, where their parents came from Virginia 
 about 1812.- The grandfathers on both sides, of 
 English and Irish descent, were soldiers in the Rev- 
 olutionary War and the War of 1S12. Mr. Er 
 win's father was a planter and mechanic, who, in 
 1852, came with his family to Independence, then 
 to Lawrence County, and settled a large farm 
 near Smithville, where he lived till his death, in 
 1882, his wife having died about three years pre- 
 vious. He served four years in the late war; was 
 twice discharged and returned, and closed his 
 military career after Price' s raid through Missouri. 
 Five of his sons were in the Confederate service, 
 all of whom survived without a wound. Our sub- 
 ject's parents were consistent members of the Bap 
 tist Church, and his father an honored member of 
 the Masonic fraternity, a strong temperance man, 
 an active Democrat in politics, and served as jus- 
 tice of the peace several terms. The subject of 
 this sketch, a highly-esteemed citizen of Auvergne, 
 came to this State thirty-seven years ago. He was 
 reared to farm life, spending his school days in the 
 common schools of Arkansas. In 1868 he began 
 the study of medicine, under Dr. Bevens, of Bates- 
 ville, Ark. ; was with him several years, when lie 
 began the practice of his profession in Lawrence, 
 Craighead, Independence, Cross, and Jackson 
 Counties. In 1873 he married Miss Kitty A. 
 Wright, daughter of George W. and Liddia (Old- 
 ham) Wright, natives of Kentucky. Living in 
 Lawrence County four years, he moved to Bower" s 
 Ridge, where he engaged in farming and stock 
 raising, in connection with his practice, remaining 
 ten 3'ear8. In November, 18S6, ho removed to 
 Auvergne, purchased farm and town property, and 
 in March, 1886, associated with Dr. G. D. Clem- 
 ents in practice, and also in the conduct of the 
 drug business, in which connection he still con- 
 
 ♦^; 
 
a 
 
 JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 857 
 
 tiiiues. Dr. Erwin is the ninth of a family of 
 eleven children, and himself has a family of five liv- 
 ing; Willie Lee, Claude Mayo, Ira H., Dovie and 
 Josie R. ; those who died were Alabama, Geortre 
 A. and May. He is a member of Newport Lodge 
 No. 71, I. O. O. F., is a Democrat in politics, but 
 conservative, and himself and wife are members of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. He also takes 
 an active part in supijort of schools, churches and 
 public enterprises, and is thoroughly familiar with 
 the development of the country since his residence 
 here. He was one of the most liberal supporters 
 of the Auvergne Academy, and one of the board to 
 guarantee a support of that school until it should 
 be made permanent. Dr. Erwin has a farm of 
 620 acres, 285 acres of which are cultivated. He 
 was one of the tirst to prove that swamp lands 
 could be successfully drained, and that small fruits 
 could be successfully grown. One of his farms, 
 the Wideman farm, was the first land cleared in 
 the village, and it was done by the Indians. 
 
 John T. Flynn, superintendent of the Bates- 
 ville & Brinkley Railroad, was born in Charleston, 
 S. C on January 10, 1840, and is a son of John 
 T. and Louisa (Abram) Flynn. of New York and 
 South Carolina, respectively. The father went to 
 South Carolina, and was married in that State, 
 afterward entering into business, which he carried 
 on until after the war, when he returned to New 
 York, where he died in 1881, the mother dying in 
 South Carolina. They were the parents of live 
 children, of whom three are yet living, John T. 
 being the oldest. Young Flynn was l)orn and 
 reared in Charleston, and received his education 
 in the public schools of that city. He commenced 
 railroading at seventeen years of age, entering 
 into the employ of what is now the Louisville & 
 Nashville system, where he remained twenty years, 
 first commencing as clerk in the freight dejiart- 
 ment. and working himself up to be a division 
 superintendent of that road. After leaving the 
 employ of the Louisville & Nashville road, he 
 went to Texas, and was made superintendent of 
 the East Line & Red River Railroad for several 
 years. He was then transferred to the Memphis 
 & Little Rock Railroad, as agent for ««<<i. v. ,uk 
 
 and in JS.S7 Ijccame suiieriulendent of the Hates- 
 ville & Brinkley Railroad, which position he still 
 occupies. Mr. Flynn has followed railroading 
 almost all his life. He is one of the best informed 
 men in railroad matters now in the State of Arkan- 
 sas, and has a thorough knowledge of the workings 
 of every department (Hi his line. He is a genial, 
 pleasant man, of good address, and very |)opnlar 
 in that section, where he has a large circle of 
 friends. In 1869 ho was married to ]\Iiss Eliza- 
 beth Rasser, of South Carolina, and together they 
 make their home at Newport, the headquarters of 
 the road. 
 
 Charles Monroe Ford, planter and stock raiser, 
 of Richwood Township, is a son of William and 
 Nancy (Bunch) Ford, natives of North Carolina, 
 and was born May 4, 1846. His parents came to 
 Jackson County, Ark., in 1854, and in 1855 en- 
 tered a (juarter section in Section 11, Richwood 
 Township, but sold this and went to Illinois in 
 1864. The subject of our sketch was one of a 
 family of ten childi-en, and received his education 
 in the schools of the county. He married Miss 
 Margaret X. Paid.', who had four children: Rob- 
 ert Newton (born December 14, 1873), Martha A. 
 (bom November 25, 1875), Nancy E. (born March 
 15, 1877), William Amos (born December 16, 
 1878). His first wife died in 1879, and he mar- 
 ried Miss Eliza Jane Brown, of Tennessee. They 
 have four children: Charles L. (born A]>ril 6, 1882), 
 Laura Jane (born September 10, 1885j, James 
 Arthur (born August 4, 1887) and Rufus L. (Iwrn 
 April 3, 1889). In 1868 or 1S(S9 Mr. Ford pur- 
 chased eighty acres of partly improved land on 
 Section 11, and lived there until 1880, when he 
 bought the farm on which he now lives. He now 
 has 160 acres of tine corn and cotton laud, about 
 sixty-five acres uniinijroved, which is well stocked 
 with good breeds of cattle and hogs. Mr. Ford 
 is a member of Newport Lodge No. 397, A. F. & 
 A. M., has been school director and justice of the 
 peace, and is now postmaster at Ford jiostolVice. 
 He takes quite an active part in polities, and id-n 
 in educational and religions udvnucement. 
 
 Rev. W. R. Foster, a member of the \\ lute 
 River .\iiiinal eonfereiKH' of the Methodist F.pisco 
 
4^ 
 
 858 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 pal Church, South, aud pastor of the church at 
 Auvergne Station, is a native of Madison County, 
 Tenn., born September 16, 1828. His parents 
 were Elijah B. and Ann (Smith) Foster, natives of 
 South Carolina and Virginia, respectively; the 
 father a farmer, and an energetic and prosperous 
 man, emigrated to Tennessee v^^hen a young man, 
 and there married. He was magistrate of his 
 county for several years, and died January 20, 
 1845, his wife surviving him nine years, and de- 
 parting this life in March, 1854. They were mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 Our siibject is the eldest of six children: W. R. , 
 Sarah E., Harriet A., Fannie T., Julia P. and 
 James L. Foster. W. R. was raised and received 
 his education in Lauderdale County, Tenn. In 
 1851 he professed religion and joined the above 
 named church. In December of the same year he 
 came to Mississippi County, Ark., with his mother, 
 where be was engaged in the wood business on the 
 Mississippi River for two years, after which he 
 moved, with his mother to Phillips County, Ark., 
 where she departed this life in the faith of the 
 Gospel. He engaged in farming for two years, 
 and was licensed to preach on the 24th of August, 
 1855, by the Walnut Bend Quarterly conference, 
 Helena district, Stephen S. Carlisle, presiding 
 elder. In September, 1856, he was admitted, on 
 trial, in the Arkansas Annual conference, as a 
 traveling preacher, and was appointed to Salem 
 Mission, where he had good success for a young 
 preacher, aljout 144 persons being converted to the 
 Christian religion, and some 200 added to the 
 Church of God. At the close of that year (1857) 
 he was appointed to the Lawrenceville circuit, 
 where he met with some success, about sixty being 
 brought into the church. In the fall of 1858 he 
 was appointed to the Smithville circuit, where he 
 had a good revival of religion, over 100 souls be- 
 ing converted. In the fall of 1859 he was ap- 
 pointed to Greensboro Mission, which he served 
 two years with good success. Jonesboro was then 
 a young town, and one of his appointments. In 
 this town he preached the tirst sermon heard there, 
 in a livery stable, and organized the church in that 
 (now) city. In the fall of 1861 he was appointed 
 
 to the Walnut Bend circuit, where he was licensed 
 to preach. The war was on, and but little was 
 done in the work of the ministry. In the fall of 
 1862 he was appointed to Batesville Station aud 
 circuit, where he had a good revival of religion, all 
 over his work. While on this work ho was cap- 
 tured by the Federal soldiers, and was held in 
 l^rison one month. While in prison the annual 
 conference was held, and he was appointed to the 
 Strawberry circuit. In the fall of 1864 he w/is 
 appointed to the Smithville circuit, and for three 
 years he served this work with happy results. 
 In the fall of 1867 he was appointed jjresiding 
 elder on the Yellville district, laboring with good 
 results for three years. In 1870 he was transferred 
 by Bishop Keener to the White River conference, 
 and was appointed to Searcy Station, at which 
 place he met with some success. In the fall of 
 1871 he was appointed to the Osceola circuit, 
 where he served two years as pastor. In 1873 he 
 was appointed presiding elder on the Mississippi 
 district, which work he served four years with 
 acceptability. In 1877 he was appointed to the 
 Helena district, where he served two years. In 
 1879 he was appointed again to the Mississippi 
 district, where he served the church four years 
 longer. In the fall of 1883 he asked Bisho]) 
 Granberry to relieve him from district work and 
 give him a circixit. The request was granted, and 
 he was appointed to Jonesboro circuit. The fall of 
 1884 he was appointed to Greensboro circuit, the 
 fall of 1885 to Pleasant Hill (now Larado circuit), 
 and in 1886 to Harrisburg circuit, and on this 
 work he labored two years, with great success. 
 In the fall of 1888 he was appointed to Auvergne 
 Station. Rev. W. R. Foster was ordained deacon 
 by Bishop Early in September, 1858. On account 
 of the war the Bishop could not meet the annual 
 conference, and he was not ordained elder until 
 September, 1866, by Bishop G. F. Pierce. He 
 was married, to Miss Mildred E. Barker, on the 
 11th of December, 1857, she being a native of Rob- 
 ertson County, Tenn. To them have been born six 
 children: John C, Matilda A., William R. (died 
 in early childhood), Dixie L. (a young lady of 
 twenty-four years), Ida B. (seventeen years), and 
 

 Minnie P. (eigbt years). Mr. Foster is a member 
 of Jonesboro Masonic lodge; also Jonesboro Royal 
 Arch Chapter, and of R. & S. M., Harrisburg 
 Council. He was made a Mason in RitcLman 
 lodge, in Cotton Plant, St. Francis County, Ark., 
 in 1858. He is now closing up his thirty-third 
 year's work in the ministry, all in the State of Ar- 
 kansas. He never has been a supernumerary, nor 
 a superannuated preacher, and he loves the itiner- 
 ant ministry today as he loves his own life. Many 
 have told him they would be stars in his crown 
 when they get home to Heaven. 
 
 Josejih P. Foushee, farmer and stock raiser of 
 Union Township, Jackson County, is a son of Lloyd 
 and Mary (Lambert) Foushee, natives of North Car- 
 olina, the father being of French descent. Our sub- 
 ject's paternal grandfather, Elijah Foushee, a na- 
 tive of Paris, France, came to America in 1774, and 
 participated in our Revolutionary War, supposedly 
 under the immediate command of Gen. Washington. 
 Daniel Foushee, brother of Lloyd, and Joab and 
 Eli Lambert, uncles of our subject, participated 
 in the War of 1812. George Washington Foushee 
 and Elijah Foushee were in the War of 1861, Eli- 
 jah being present at the surrender of Gen. R. E. 
 Lee, at Appomattox, in 1805. Joseph P. Foushee 
 was a member of the North Carolina militia, with 
 the rank of captain, at the breaking out of the 
 Civil War, which position ho tilled for three years, 
 in Company B, Sixth Regiment, North Carolina 
 Infantry. Home Guards. William F. Foushee, 
 being colonel of militia, retained that position in 
 the Home Guards for about three years. Elijah 
 Foushee. the grandfather, married ]\Iiss Anna 
 Stewart, in Chatham County, N. C. They had a 
 family of ten children. Joseph F. married Miss 
 Fanni(> Sanders, of Irish descent, a native of North 
 Carolina, and they have had six children: James 
 (born December 8, 1848), William A. (born in 
 1852), Mary (married Thomas J. Sconyers, of Ala- 
 bama), Fannie E. (married William Harwell), 
 Eliza P. (married John Baker, of Tennessee), and 
 George V. (at home). Mr. Foushee has had some 
 education, and has given all his children good 
 schooling, providing for them liberally as they have 
 grown up, married, and left home, but still has 
 
 plenty, owning 040 acres of good average cotton 
 land. As an instance of Mr. Foushee' a kindheart- 
 edness, may be mentioned the fact that he is now 
 raising and providing for two orphan children, and 
 a place in this volume may well bo accorded such 
 an individual. Mr. Foushee is a member of the 
 American Legion of Honor, of the Royal Arcaniim. 
 and of the Missionary Baptist Church, his wife an.! 
 the members of his family also belonging to the 
 latter. 
 
 N. M. Gardner was bom in Henderson County, 
 West Tenn., July 7, 1830, the son of Joseph and 
 Elizabeth (McLernan) Gardner, natives of North 
 Carolina, who at an early day, in 182 1, moved to 
 Henderson County, Tenn., and engaged in farm- 
 ing. Mr. Gardner, though an uneducated man, 
 by hard work accumulated quite a property, own- 
 ing 3,000 acres at the time of his death, which 
 occurred in Tennessee, at the age of seventy years, 
 his excellent wife dying some years later. Grand- 
 father Joseph Gardner served in the Revolution- 
 ary war. Our subject, the sixth in a family of 
 ten, was raised on the farm, and aided in clearing 
 up the land; he was educated in the subscription 
 schools of Tenno.?see. In 1859 he came to Jackson 
 County, settling in Bird Township, where he bought 
 400 acres of land, sixty-five acres being cleared; 
 after clearing sixty acres more, he sold the land, 
 and in 180'.) engaged in the mercantile lousiness, in 
 which he is now engaged, as the proprietor of a 
 general store, carrying a full line of groceries, dry 
 goods, and shelf hardware; this was the (irst store 
 opened in the place. Mr. Gardner also has a farm 
 of 475 acres, 251) being under cultivation, on 
 which are raised principally cotton, corn and oat.s. 
 and some stock. June 23, 1857. our subject mar- 
 ried Lavinia R. Hardgrave. of Madison Connty, 
 Tenn.. daughter of F. R. and Melvina (Woodfolk) 
 Hardgrave, of Tennessee. Her father came to 
 Jackson County, in 1800, his death occurring at 
 Kenyou, in 1878, his wife dying in Tennessee. 
 They have two children: Emerson D., attending 
 Batesville College, and Mattio Lou, attending the 
 public school at Batesville, where th(> family 
 reside during the school year. Mr. Gardner also 
 owning property in that place. Mr. (lardner is a 
 
 T' 
 
\ 
 
 ^k 
 
 860 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Democrat, having been brought out by the party 
 as representative, and made a strong run. He is 
 a member of Tuckerman Lodge No. 192, and 
 was made a Mason in Tennessee. He is practi- 
 cally a self-made man, having made what he has 
 by his own efforts, and has always been actively 
 interested in eveiything, for the good of the county, 
 aiding liberally in all pixblic enterprises. 
 
 Eugene Bailey Gillim, farmer and stock raiser, 
 residing in the village of Swifton, Jackson County, 
 is a native of Daviess County, Ky., having been 
 born October 3, 1849. His parents were Hamilton 
 B. and Middle Gillim. Our subject was raised on 
 a farm in Kentucky, and received his education in 
 that State at Pleasant Valley High School. He 
 made his home in Independence, and taught several 
 terms in Independence County during the summer 
 months, working on a farm during the remainder 
 of the year. In 1874 he came to Jackson County, 
 rented a farm near Tupelo, where he put in crops 
 in 1874 and 1875. Mr. Gillim came to Swifton in 
 1878, and engaged in mercantile business with Mr. 
 A. D. Bailey, bought Mr. Bailey's interest in 1879, 
 and finally sold ont to H. P. Mortensen. He pros- 
 pected for a location, and finally invested in lots 
 at Morrillton, remained there about nine months, 
 when he sold his property at a nice profit, and in 
 1880 returned to Jackson County and bought 480 
 acres of land, abont twenty acres improved, where 
 he moved his family, and now has 125 acres under 
 cultivation. In 1888 he erected the comfortable 
 house in Swifton in which he resides, working on it 
 at odd times when not engaged in farm work. His 
 first wife was Miss Clara B. Caviness, of Jackson 
 County, a native of Tennessee, by whom he had two 
 children, one. Gorilla, born August 26, 1875, now 
 living. Mrs. Gillim died February 11, 1878, and 
 in 1879 he married Miss Willie E. Moon; they 
 have four children: Otis Eugene, born June 10, 
 1880; Julia, born January 21, 1883; John M., 
 born May 19, 1886, and Robert L., born March 
 10, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Gillim are members of 
 the Christian Church at Swifton. Mr. Gillim is 
 a member of Thornburg Lodge No. 371, Stranger's 
 Home, Lawrence County, Ark. , and is a supporter 
 of all worthy movements. 
 
 J. M. Glass, Sr. , planter and stock raiser, 
 Swifton, Ark. Mr. Glass, who is also numbered 
 among the first-class farmers and stock raisers of 
 the county, came originally from Fayette County, 
 111. , where he was born in 1829. He was one of 
 the first settlers of this township, after whom it 
 was named, and the only original settler living in 
 the same. He was the fifth of six children born to 
 Elisha W. and Eleanor (Taylor) Glass, natives of 
 the Old Dominion, but both of whom were reared 
 in Illinois near Golconda, Gallatin County. Elisha 
 Glass came with his father, Dudley Glass, to Illi- 
 nois in 1802, but went to Tennessee in 1820, and 
 settled in Weakley County, of that State. He 
 was there married, and there remained, engaged in 
 farming, until in September, 1829, when he bought 
 land and settled in Fayette County, 111. He im- 
 proved several farms, but in 1845 moved to Miller 
 County, Mo., settling in Rich wood Township, 
 where his death occurred in 1851. His wife after- 
 ward moved to Hill County, Texas, and died in 
 April, 1884. The paternal grandfather of the sub- 
 ject of this sketch moved to Fayette County, 111. , 
 at an early day, where he died, in 1843, at the age 
 of sixty-six years. He was a soldier in the Semi- 
 nole War. J. M. Glass, Jr., was taught the 
 duties of farm life during boyhood, and received a 
 fair education in the district schools of Illinois. 
 He went with his parents to Miller County, Mo. , 
 was engaged in clearing and developing the farm, 
 and in 1850 made his way to Jackson County, 
 Ark., and settled in Bird Township. During the 
 fall of 1851-52 he taught school on Black River, 
 and boarded with Henry Miller. In the last named 
 year he entered eighty acres of land near Inde- 
 pendence County, but later sold that, then invested 
 in more land in 1854, again sold out, and from 
 1854 to 1857 was engaged in the real estate bus- 
 iness. In 1856 he purchased 167 acres of land, 
 and commenced improving the same, erecting a 
 cabin and planting a good orchard. From time to 
 time he added to this farm, until he now owns 467 
 acres with 150 acres under cultivation. At the 
 beginning of the war he was the owner of 800 
 acres but afterward sold some of this. He was 
 elected county surveyor in 1860, serving until 
 
 'C ( 
 
'->£ 
 
 JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 801 
 
 1802, and iu July of that year enlisted in Com- 
 pany A, in Capt. Henry's company, and was 
 mustered into service at Clover Bend, Lawrence 
 County, Ark. He participated in the battle of 
 Prairie Grove, and was in many skirmishes while 
 on detached duty. In the fall of 18(53 he was 
 sent home on recruiting service by orders of Gen. 
 Smith, and organized a company of which he was 
 elected first lieutenant, serving thus until Novem- 
 ber, ISG-t, when he was made adjutant, serving in 
 that capacity until the close of the war. He was 
 in Thomas H. McCray's brig.ide, was with Gen. 
 Price on his raid through Missouri and Arkansas, 
 and was in active service until the close of the war. 
 He surrendered the company at Jacksonport, June 
 5, 1865, after which he returned to the duties on 
 the farm. He was married, in Jackson County, on 
 the 7th of November, 1857, to Miss Amanda K. 
 Bandy, a native of Bedford County, Tenn. , and 
 nine children were born to them, four now living, 
 viz. : Fannie, born October 18, 1858, and is now 
 Mrs. A. Catlett, Prairie Grove, Ark. ; John M. , 
 born February 10, 1863, and is at home; Lucy E. , 
 born December 25, 1800, and Carrie A., born in 
 Jiily, 1873: E. W. died in 1880, at the age of 
 twenty years; two died in infancy: Samuel died in 
 1875, at the age of five years, and George died in 
 188-1, at the age of four years. After his mar- 
 riage Mr. Glass located on his present fine farm, 
 and there he has since remained. He is quite act- 
 ive in politics, and votes with the Democratic 
 party. He discharged such duties as were incum- 
 bent upon the ofiice of justice of the peace in 
 1858 and 1860, and has always taken an eixrnest 
 part in all educational affairs, having served on 
 the school board for about twelve years. He re- 
 sided for a short time in Izard County, for the 
 purpose of educating his children, and in this he 
 has been successful. 
 
 George W. Goddard is the popular proprietor 
 of the Planters' Hotel, at Newport, Ark., and is a 
 native of Wayne County, N. Y., born on the 2d of 
 December, 1840. He is one of six living members 
 of a family of eight children born to Edwin P. and 
 Maria (Fillmore) Goddard. and is their third child 
 in order of birth. He was reared and educated in 
 
 York State, and like the majority of natives of the 
 " Empire State" he is intelligent and enterpris- 
 ing. After making his home with his parents 
 until he attained his majority, he went to Leaven- 
 worth, Kan., where he was employed in the (quar- 
 termaster's and sutler's department for several 
 years during the war, and he was thereafterward 
 employed on the construction of the Kansas Pa- 
 cific Railroad for some time. His next enterprise 
 was to engage in the hotel business, at Salina, 
 Kan. , but this enterprise he gave up, after a short 
 time, to go to Old Mexico, where he spent a year 
 or two in investigating a mining interest. Subse- 
 quently he opened and developed the Bellville 
 Zinc Mines, in Jasper County, Mo., putting up 
 the improved reduction works, and these mines he 
 operated, with good results, for several years. His 
 nest business enterprise was to engage as a clerk 
 in a hotel at Joplin, Mo., and from this point he 
 returned to Old Mexico. After a time he settled 
 in Little Rock, Ark. , where he became manager of 
 the Doming House, continuing in this capacity for 
 about three years. The following year he ran a 
 hotel at Hot Springs, Ark., and in the month of 
 October, 1887, he came to Newport, and took con- 
 trol of the Planter's Hotel, which is a strictly first- 
 class house. His establishment contains forty 
 rooms, and the meals he serves are always of the 
 best quality, and are palatable and well cooked. 
 Mr. Goddard is connected with the mining in- 
 terests of Marion County, and his mine gives 
 promise of becoming one of the finest in the United 
 States. Socially, Mr. Goddard is a momlier of the 
 K. of P. He was married, in 1888, to Mrs. P. V. 
 Sparks, the former proprietress of the Windsor 
 Hotel. Edwin P. Goddard and wife were born in 
 the State of New York, and in 1850 they emigrat 
 ed to Knox County, 111., and until 1800 were resi- 
 dents of Abingdon. In the latter year they re 
 moved to Leavenworth, Kan., where the father 
 died in 1867, still survived by his widow, who re 
 sides in that city. 
 
 Andrew J. Greenhaw (deceased), a native of 
 Alabama, was born November 20, 1813. His 
 fatlier, (Jabriel Greenhaw. who was l)orn August 0, 
 1783. fiiiiif li> this country from tiie easterr\ sliores 
 
862 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 of Scotland, and, after living in Alabama, removed 
 to Mississippi, v^here be died. Andrew J. located 
 in Jackson County, Ark., about 1840, where, for 
 several years, he rented land and carried on farm- 
 ing. In 1850 he settled on the farm upon which 
 his widow now resides, in Village Township, which, 
 at the time of his purchase, was entirely unim- 
 proved, and covered with forest trees. He hung 
 up a log-chain to mark the place for his cabin, 
 which he afterward erected in the most crude way. 
 He then went to work to clear and cultivate his 
 land, which required years of labor and economy, 
 but his toil was rewarded, for at the time of his 
 death he owned in all 640 acres of land, of which 
 200 acres were under cultivation. He devoted his 
 time and attention entirely to farming and stock 
 raising, and became a prominent man of Jackson 
 County. During the war he was a member of the 
 Home Guards, but saw no active service. After 
 the war he was elected county treasiu'er, and also 
 served as coroner. Mr. Greenhaw was married 
 March 5, 1844. to Lucinda Pistole, daughter of 
 David Pistole, a native of Virginia, who emigrated 
 to Middle Tennessee, and thence to New Madrid 
 County, Mo., where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Green- 
 haw were the parents of nine children, five of whom 
 are living, viz. : James A. , born in December, 
 1847 (married September 27, 1866, to Mattie E. 
 George); Mary, born July 1, 1851 (now the wife 
 of Robert A. Spinks) ; Susan, born October 6, 1852 
 (wife of Rev. E. A. Garrison, of Trinidad, Col.); 
 Isaac N. , born May 27, 1854, and John, born Janu- 
 ary 15, 1860. Those deceased were Lucy A., born 
 December 18, 1844, died in February, 1846; Will- 
 iam D., born March 20, 1846, died June 9, 1859; 
 Anthony, born April 25, 1849, died November 24, 
 1877, and Nicholas, born August 31, 1855, died at 
 Center Point, Tex., May 16, 1884. The father 
 died February 22, 1872, and his widow is still liv- 
 ing on the homestead. The Greenhaw family now 
 have in their possession 800 acres of land, of which 
 400 acres are under cultivation. The land is all in 
 one tract, and the different members of the family 
 all have their homes upon it. The principal prod- 
 ucts are corn and cotton, and some attention is 
 paid to stock raising. They are enterprising and 
 
 successful farmers, and an honor to the parent, who 
 was one of Jackson County's jiioneers. 
 
 Benjamin F. Grimes, farmer and stock raiser, 
 now residing on Section 6, and owning land on 
 Sections 5, 6, 8 and 17, is a son of Lewis and 
 Ruthy B. (Embry) Grimes, natives of Kentucky. 
 Lewis was a son of James and Sallie Bryan (Boone) 
 Grimes, natives of Virginia, Sallie Grimes being: a 
 sister of Daniel Boone, the Kentucky pioneer. The 
 subject of our sketch was born in Fayette County, 
 Ky. , March 24, 1836, receiving his education 
 partly in the private schools of his native State; 
 he also attended the State Normal School, of Col- 
 umbia, S. C. , and finished his education at Bethany 
 College, Virginia, in 1854, when he returned home, 
 where he engaged in farming and stock raising, 
 finding a market for his horses and mules in South 
 Carolina. In 1860 he purchased 122 acres of land 
 in Bourbon and Nicholas Counties. June 5, 1861, 
 he enlisted in Company I, Forty-eighth Regiment 
 Volunteer Infantry, Confederate States Army, 
 serving fourteen months as a private, when he re- 
 ceived a commission from the secretary of war of the 
 Confederate States of America, to raise a regiment, 
 which was mustered into service in November, 
 1862, and was ordered to McMinnville, Tenn., un- 
 der Gen. John H. Morgan, and finally entered the 
 secret service. In the winter of 1863 Col. Grimes 
 was captured, taken to Lexington, Ky. , and thrown 
 into what was known as Gen. John H. Morgan's 
 nigger prison; he was kept there ten days, when 
 he was transferred to Kemper Barracks, Cincinnati, 
 where he was kept in solitary confinement four 
 months and twenty-three days, during which time 
 he was court-martialed and sentenced to death on 
 Johnson's Island, in Lake Erie, but six hours be- 
 fore the time for the execution he made his escape 
 by bribing the guards with money given him by a 
 lady friend, and by sliding down a lightning-rod, 
 hand over hand, thirty feet. He took the train for 
 St. Louis, but, fearing danger, stopped off at Law- 
 rence Station, 111. During his long service. Col. 
 Grimes participated in the battles of Piketon, 
 Chancellorsville, South Mountain, Antietam, seven 
 days' fight before Richmond, Si^ottsylvania, Hart- 
 ersville, Perryville, and many skirmishes, toonum- 
 
 r 
 
 'i'h 
 
erous to mention. April 4, 1882, Col. Grimes 
 married Mrs. Hebe (Grayson) Butler, daiifrJiter of 
 Col. William P. B. Grayson, of Kentucky, who 
 was a sou of Robert Harri.son Grayson. Col. 
 Grimes is a member of the Christian Church, his 
 wife being a member of the Episcopal, having been 
 confirmed with her father, at his death-bed, in 
 1873, by Bishop Cummings. 
 
 John Q. Guynn, who resides near Newport, in 
 Jacksou County, came to Arkansas from Christian 
 County, Ky. , in 1861. He is a son of Eandolph 
 and Elizabeth (Collins) Guynn, the latter of whom 
 died in Jacksonport, Ark., February 27, 1887, and 
 is buried in the cemetery near Jacksonport. John 
 Q. Guynn was born June 0, 1832, and lived in 
 Kentucky until he emigrated to Arkansas, in 1861, 
 as before stated. He received his edncation in the 
 Counties of Trigg and Christian, of his native State. 
 January 13, 1857, he married Miss Catherine 
 Stenibaugh, a native of Trigg County, Ky. To 
 them were born two children: John M. (born 
 March 8, 1858, in Trigg County, Ky. ) and Will- 
 iam A. (born March 6, 1868.) John M. Guynn 
 was married December 15, 1882, to Miss Miimie 
 Pistole, of Jacksonport, Jackson County; he is 
 now employed in the freight depot of the St. Louis 
 & Iron Mountain Railroad. Mr. Guynn first en- 
 gaged in farming, on rented land, and has ever since 
 devoted his attention to the pursuit of agriculture, 
 with the exception of two years, during which he 
 served in the Confederate army. His first pur- 
 chase of land was in 1862, and consisted of 160 
 acres in Cache Township, Jackson County, which 
 was cultivated land. In 1872 he sold out and 
 bought 300 acres in Sections 24 and 25, Jefferson 
 Township, upon which were some small improve- 
 ments. He now has about 160 acres under culti- 
 vation, has erected four good tenant houses and 
 two dwellings, one of the dwelling-houses being 
 built for his son John M., and the other by him- 
 self. Mr. Guynn is now renting his farm, which 
 is situated midway between Jacksonport and New- 
 port. Ho at present leases a farm about one mile 
 east of Newport, where he has lived a year and a 
 half. After the death of his first wife our subject 
 married Mrs. Eliza (Holdby) Pistole, March 11, 
 
 1878. They are members of the Shiloh congrega- 
 tion of the Christian Church, at Deaz. Mr. (iuyiiu 
 is also a member of Jacksonport Lodge No. IWI, 
 A. F. & A. M., and also belongs to Jacksonport 
 Chapter No. 40, K. A. M. 
 
 Howell Jesse Hale, a farmer and stock raiser, 
 residing on Section 34, in Grublis Township, Jack- 
 son County, came to Arkansas when about four 
 years of age with his parents. John and Jane 
 (Tatum) Hale, both natives of Georgia. John Halo 
 located in IndeiJendence County about 1853, and of 
 the four children born to himself and wife Imt two 
 are now living, our subject and a sister, who mar- 
 ried Mr. T. M. Owens, and now lives in Indian 
 Territory, near Oklahoma. Mr. H. J. Hale was 
 born January 30, 1854. He married Miss Nancy 
 C. Sullens, a native of Arkansas, who was lx>rn 
 and luarried on the place now owned by Mr. Hale. 
 She died in 1880, the mother of two children, one 
 of whom, Julia A., died in 1876; the other. James, 
 was born in 1877. In 1885 Mr. Hale married Miss 
 Nora Kobin.son, of Jackson County. To the latter 
 union have been born two children, of whom Al- 
 berta died in 1887, and Clara, born June 4, 1888, 
 still survives. After the death of his first wife 
 Mr. Hale came into possession of her old home- 
 stead, which she inherited from her father, con- 
 taining 355 acres, to which Mr. Hale has adiled 
 460 acres. He now has 260 acres under cultivation 
 and has erected upon the place seven tenant houses, 
 as well as good barns, a cotton-gin, and saw and 
 corn-mill. In clearing his land Mr. Hale uses 
 such of the timber as will make a good quality of 
 lumber for l)uilding purposes, for which he fincN a 
 ready market in the neighborhood and adjoining 
 townshi]>s. He is a meml)er of Newport Lixlge 
 A. F. & A. M., and also belongs to that Christian 
 Church known as Robinson's Chapel. 
 
 Isaac W. Hankins, by occupation a fanner and 
 stock raiser, was born in (ieorgia. ami when but 
 three years of age came to Arkansas with his par- 
 ents. Elijah and Celia (Brock) Hankins, both na- 
 tives of Georgia. The [larents located in Craig 
 head County, Ark., in 1856. removing to Jackson 
 County, in 1864. where they rented the McElrath 
 farm in Grubbs Township, upon which they liveil 
 
864 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 two or three years, and afterward moved to a place 
 in Village Township, known as the Quails farm, 
 where both died, the mother surviving her husband 
 only three years . To this worthy couple were born 
 nine children, whose names in the order of their 
 birth are as follows: J. W. , born in 1853; Winnie, 
 R., born in 1858; Mintia D., born in 1879; Melia, 
 born in 1881; Noria F., born in 1886, and Strator 
 W. , born in 1889. Isaac W. Hankins, the only 
 son, received the most of his education in the 
 common schools of Village Township. Mr. Han- 
 kins married Miss Winnie K. Freeman, a native of 
 Johnson County, Ark., and took his bride to a 
 home he had prepared on a small farm on Section 
 28, Grubbs Township, Jackson County, where they 
 commenced life, living there about five years. 
 Three of their children were born on this place. 
 In 1882 Mr. Hankins rented the farm upon which 
 he now lives, on Section 29, which he purchased 
 in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Hankins have had six chil- 
 dren, of whom but four are living, two having died 
 in infancy. Those living are Mintia D.. Melia A., 
 Nora and Strator. The parents are both members 
 of the Christian Church, worshiping with the 
 congregation at Robinson's Chapel. Mr. Hankins 
 is also a member of the Wheel, an organization for 
 the promotion of the interests of the farmers. 
 
 J. A. Harlan. One of the best examples of 
 enterprise to be seen in Jacksonport is the busi- 
 ness of Mr. Harlan. This gentleman was born in 
 Hardeman County, Tenn. , on January 1, 1851, and 
 is a son of David and Sarah (McMuUeu) Harlan, 
 of North Carolina, who emigrated to Tennessee 
 shortly after their marriage, where they remained 
 several years, and from there to Mississippi, where 
 the father died in 1855. After his death the 
 mother returned to Tennessee, where she is still 
 residing. They were the paients of five children, 
 of whom four are yet living: Cullen M. , Idotha 
 (wife of Guy Smith), Bettie (wife of Dr. J. 
 M. Higlin) and John A. The mother of the.se 
 children was three times married, and by her j 
 second husband had one daughter, Jennie Black. 
 John A. was reared principally in Tennessee, and 
 received his education in that State. In 1869 
 he came to Jacksonport, and was engaged in | 
 
 farming for five years. He afterward embarked 
 in commercial life, and became one of the lead- 
 ing business men of that city, as well as one of the 
 most popular men, socially. He carries a fine stock 
 of general merchandise, and has earned a rep- 
 utation for square dealing, the best goods and 
 lowest prices, that has enabled him to build up a 
 large patronage in Jackson County. In 1880 Mr. 
 Harlan was married to Miss Lulu Simpson, by 
 whom he has had three children : Cullen D. , Elden 
 B. and Ethel A. He is a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity and Legion of Honor, as well as the 
 Knights of Honor. Besides his mercantile inter- 
 ests, he owns several hundred acres of valuable 
 land, and altogether enjoys a liberal prosperity. 
 
 B. F. Harris was the third in the family of five 
 children born to John and Jane (Goodi-ich) Harris, 
 and his birth occurred in Madison County, Tenn. , 
 in 1856. The parents were natives of Tennessee. 
 John Harris was a planter by occupation, and set 
 tied in Glass Township, Jackson County, Ark., in 
 1860, purchasing 400 acres of land, which he partly 
 improved, and which was his home until his death, 
 in December, 1872; his wife died in 1870. Of the 
 children, two are living beside our subject: J. G., 
 who resides iu Jackson County, and Elizabeth E., 
 now Mrs. Hill, living at Swifton. B. F. Harris was 
 reared to the pursuit of farming, receiving his ed- 
 ucation in the district schools of Jackson County. 
 He aided his father in clearing and improving tlie 
 home farm, and commenced farming for himself 
 on the same tract. Mr. Harris was married in 
 Jackson Coimty, in 1880, to Emma J. Moon, a 
 native of Calhoun County, Ark., and their three 
 children are John Leroy, Thomas Edwin, and 
 Tennessee. After his marriage, our subject set- 
 tled where he now resides, near the village of 
 Swifton, where he owns 160 acres of good farm 
 land, of which 100 acres are under cultivation. 
 He pays considerable attention to stock raising, 
 owning some valuable stock. Mr. and Mrs. Har- 
 [ ris are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, and well known in the township, where 
 they are highly esteemed. Politically, Mr. Harris 
 is a Democrat in his political preferences, though 
 he takes no active interest in politics. 
 
 e; - 
 
JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 m;:, 
 
 Albert Walter Harris, farmer and stock raiser, 
 of Breckinridge Towaship, was born March 25, 
 1859, in Alabama. His parents were Fletcher Har- 
 ris (born in Alabama, in 183:^, died in 1877) and 
 Sallie A. (Walls) Harris, of Alabama (born in 1836, 
 and died January 29, 1889). Our subject was ed- 
 ucated in the public schools of Jackson County, 
 Ark. Upon the death of his father, he came into 
 possession of some sixty acres of the old homestead, 
 twenty-five acres of which were cultivated. He 
 now owns 220 acres of land, forty acres cultivated. 
 At one time, in company with his brother, James, 
 he engaged in the mercantile business, erecting a 
 building on the homestead, where they continued 
 six years, moving to Tupelo in 1885, and selling out 
 in 1888. In 1883 Mr. Harris married Miss Martha 
 Ellen Rotenburg, of Alabama; they have three 
 children: Laura Jane (born in November, 1883), 
 Maud Ethel (born February 11, 1885) and Lena 
 (born May 14, 1887.) Mr. Hairis is a Democrat, 
 public-spirited and progressive, taking an active 
 interest in things educational, social and religious. 
 George C. Harrison, planter and miller, is a 
 native of Mississippi, and was born March 23, 
 1834. His parents were natives of Tennessee, and, 
 both dying before our subject was one year old, he 
 was raised by an uncle — G. C. Harrison. He 
 lived on a farm, never attending school, and the 
 considerable knowledge he has was gathered since 
 his majority. At the age of nineteen he began life 
 for himself, engaging in farming as an overseer, in 
 Prairie County, Ark., where he remained till 1857. 
 He has been three times married — in 1853 to Miss 
 Mary Henderson, of St. Francis County, Ark. They 
 had one child, Arthur, the wife dying in 1857. 
 In 1863 he married Miss Sarah Bray, of St. Fran- 
 cis County, daughter of Henry and Fanny Bray, 
 the father a farmer and Baptist minister. By this 
 union there were four children: Delia (died at fif- 
 teen), Henry, \\'illiam, and George (married and 
 living in Jackson). Mi-s. Harrison died in 1882, 
 and in 1884 Mr. Harrison married Mrs. Sumette 
 Mallory, widow of James Mallory, who had two 
 children, Anna and Hannah O., aged fifteen and 
 twelve years. In 1872 Mr. Harrison came to , 
 Centerville, Jackson County, Ark., whore he lived 
 
 live years, and in 1877 bought ninety-one acreH of 
 new land, which he cleared, later adding forty 
 acres to it, and has 100 acres of cleared land. He 
 has since added forty acres to that, making 171 
 acres in that farm in Union Township. In 1885 
 he gave his wife a farm of eighty-five acres, sev- 
 enty-five of which are cleared, lying half a mile 
 northwest of Auvergne. Together, they now own 
 570 acres, 350 of which are now under cultiva- 
 tion. In 1882 he began ginning cotton with his 
 own machinery, on his farm, in Union Townshij), 
 insured his customers against loss l)y fire, and in 
 October, 1885, the gin, together with eighteen bales 
 of his customers' cotton and three bales of his own, 
 were totally destroyed by fire, being a totjil loss. 
 In 1886 he built his present gin and the grist mill 
 at Auvergne. This gin is the best in Jackson 
 County, having a capacity of fifteen bales. He 
 does a general ginning business, and buys his ten- 
 ants' crops. In 1861 our subject enlisted in the 
 Thirteenth Arkansas Regiment, was made lieuten- 
 ant of Company B, serving one year, when he was 
 discharged. He re-enlisted in Capt. Anderson's 
 company, Col. Dobbins' regiment, where he served 
 until the surrender, in 1865. He was never 
 wounded, but in the battle of Belmont, in which he 
 was engaged, seven bullets were sent through his 
 clothing. He was with Gen. Price on his raid 
 through Missouri, and was at the battle of Lexing 
 ton. He was also at the battle of Pilot Knob, and 
 the last skirmish was at Fayetteville, Ark., in the 
 winter of 1864. Mr. Harrison votes the Democratic 
 ticket, and is conservative; is a member of the Ma- 
 sonic order, of the Knights of Honor and the A. 
 L. of H. He and his wife are members of the 
 Baptist and Presbyterian Churches, respectively. 
 He also contributes to the support of the cliurches, 
 schools, and all other enterprises for the good of 
 the county. 
 
 J. Y. Harrison, a prosperous and enterprising 
 farmer of Jefferson Township, was born in Chris 
 tian County, Ky., near Hoi>kiusville, on tbe 22d of 
 April, 1847. His parents were Robert nn<l Isabella 
 (Means) Harrison, the father a native of Tennessee 
 and the mother from Kentucky. The elder Hnr 
 rison moved to Kentuckv in his voiith, and was 
 
^_^ 
 
 866 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 afterward married in that State, taking his bride 
 to Arkansas in 1850, and locating in Jackson 
 ■ County, near Jacksonport. He entered a tract of 
 land in Bird Township, where he commenced cul- 
 tivating the soil, and remained until his death in 
 1874. The mother yet survives him as well as 
 five children: Margaret, wife of A. D. Anderson; 
 James, Robert, Frank and Mary, the latter mar- 
 ried to C. B. Coe. J. Y. Harrison, one of the 
 sons, came to Arkansas when only three years of 
 age, and grew to manhood in this State, receiving 
 in the meantime the best education afforded by 
 the schools of that period. He left his parents 
 when eighteen years old, in 1867, with 85 cents 
 in money. He has always made farming his voca- 
 tion, and after his marriage located on a tract of 
 land in Bird Township, where he resided and cul- 
 tivated the soil until 1863, when he removed to 
 his present residence and rented land up to 1881, 
 and then biiying 160 acres. He now owns 740 
 acres of some of the most valuable land in that 
 section, and has 320 acres under cultivation, 180 
 acres of which were cleared and improved by him- 
 self alone. The principal crop is corn and cotton, 
 and of the former this year he has had 300 acres, 
 and 200 acres of the latter. Besides his farm Mr. 
 Harrison deals extensively in stock, having 
 splendid facilities for that business, and raises 
 some of the finest horses, cattle and mules in that 
 section. He also owns a cotton-gin, grist and 
 saw-mill, and raises some grass for the market. In 
 1869 he was married to Miss Mary Hunter, by 
 whom he has had eight children: Emma, Ida, 
 Minnie. Norah and Pinkey (both deceased). Ber- 
 tha, Spriggs and Cleveland. In politics Mr. Har- 
 rison is a Democrat, and a valuable man to his 
 party, as well as a popiilar citizen of his county. 
 
 Robert H. Harvey, planter and stock raiser, was 
 born in North Carolina, in 1830, the third in a 
 family of nine children of William and Josephine 
 (Harrington) Harvey, of North Carolina. Will- 
 iam came to Jackson County, in 1850, settling in 
 Bird Township, where he juade his permanent 
 home, dying in 1885 at the age of eighty-two. His 
 wife died some years ago. Of the family there 
 are living Emma (now Mrs. Poe), Robert, Simeon 
 
 (of Oregon), Benjamin (of Oregon), and W. R. , 
 who has a large farm in the upper part of Jack- 
 son County. Our subject was raised on the farm, 
 received his education in the subscription schools 
 of Tennessee, and came to Jackson Count}* at 
 the age of twenty and engaged in overseering on 
 plantations for nine years. In 1859 he married 
 Mary B. Palmer, daughter of Samuel and Louisa 
 (Means) Palmer, of Kentucky (both deceased), 
 who came to Jackson County in 1850. After his 
 marriage he entered forty acres of land where he 
 now resides, on which he planted an orchard, and 
 otherwise improved and added to it, until now 
 he has 400 acres, with about 200 under cultiva- 
 tion, raising cotton and corn, and grade stock. 
 Mr. Harvey is a Democrat, has been road overseer, 
 and always takes an active interest in school work, 
 and aids liberally in public enterprises. In 1869 
 Mrs. Harvey died, leaving three children: Herbert 
 (killed at Tuckerman, in 1879), Samuel and Mag- 
 gie B. (now Mrs. Shoat, residing in Texas). In 
 February, 1878, Mr. Harvey married Josephine 
 Thomas, of Tennessee, daughter of Columbus and 
 Elizabeth (Long) Thomas, of South Carolina, 
 early settlers of Tennessee. Mrs. Harvey has had 
 two children, both deceased. On his farm Mr. 
 Harvey has a cotton-gin and grist-mill, and does 
 
 I a general business for people in the vicinity. 
 
 William R. Harvey, a planter and stock raiser, 
 of Glass Township, Jackson County, is one of the 
 pioneer settlers of that county. He was born in 
 Hardeman County, Tenn., in 1843, and was the 
 tenth in a family of thirteen children born to Will- 
 iam M. and Josephine (Blunt) Harvey, natives of 
 North Carolina. AA'illiam M. Harvey settled in 
 
 I Hardeman County, Tenn., in an early day; he 
 owned and operated there a large plantation until 
 1849, when he emigrated to Jackson County, Ark., 
 entering land in Bird Township. He cut a road to 
 his claim, upon which he erected a small log cabin 
 and commenced clearing and injproving his land; 
 this was his home until 1872, in which year he 
 went to Oregon, remaining in that State until 
 1876, when he returned to Jackson County, where 
 
 I he spent the remainder of his life, his death oc- 
 curring in August, 1886. The mother of our sub- 
 
^Izz^ 
 
 JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 8(57 
 
 ject died iu 1860. William R. was reared on the 
 farm, and receivod the limited advantages of the 
 subscription schools, assisting his father in the 
 meantime in clearing the farm. In 1862 he en- 
 listed in the Confederate army, Capt. Hooker's com- 
 pany, for two years, and was assigned to Gen. Van- 
 Dorn's bodyguard, being afterward transferred to 
 John McRay' s brigade, Col. Young's regiment; he 
 was in the battles of Prairie Grove, Eockfence, Pilot 
 Knob, Jefferson City, and was with Gen. Price on 
 his raid through Missouri and Arkansas, to Fay- 
 etteville. At the close of the war Mr. Harvey re- 
 turned to Jackson County and engaged in farm- 
 ing, purchasing a tract of 280 acres in Bird Town- 
 ship, which was partly improved; in 1880 he -sold 
 out and removed to Glass Township, where he 
 first bought 440 acres, upon which was considera- 
 ble improvement, and to which he has since added 
 until he now owns iu all 700 acres, with over 220 
 acres under cultivation, one of the finest stock 
 farms in the township, as it is well watered. Mr. 
 Harvey devotes a good deal of attention to stock 
 raising, owning about sixty head of cattle, forty 
 horses, and a large drove of hogs. He annually 
 raises about 100 acres of cotton. Mr. Harvey was 
 married, in Bird Town.ship, in 1865, to Miss Eliza 
 Bettisworth, who was bom iu Tennessee, and 
 is a daughter of George and Sarah (Anderson) 
 Bettisworth, natives of Kentucky, who removed to 
 Independence County, Ark. , in 1850. Mr. Bettis- 
 worth, who was a saddler by trade, died in 1855; 
 his widov,', who removed to Pocahontas, Randolph 
 County, in ISGLdied in 1880. Five children have 
 been born to Mr. and ^Irs. Harvey, viz: Joseph, 
 AVilliam, Sydney, Arthur, and Ross (who died in 
 1877, at the age of four years). Mr. Harvey is an 
 active jwliticiau, working and voting with the Demo- 
 cratic party. He is an enterprising farmer, and fully 
 alive and interested in the advancement and de- 
 velopment of the county. 
 
 Dr. W. H. Heard. One of the earliest physi- 
 cians to settle in Jackson County was Dr. Heard, 
 who was born in Chicot County, on June 13, 1840. 
 He is a son of John and Harriet N. (Hardy) Heard, 
 of Georgia and Kentucky, respectively. The ma- 
 ternal grandfather was a colonel in the Warof 1812, 
 
 who was one of the earliest settlers, and died in 
 Jackson County. Dr. Heard's father, John Heard, 
 was an extensive planter in Drew County, where 
 he died during the war, the mother dying some 
 time previous. They were the parents of six chil- 
 dren, two of whom are .still living: Dr. William 
 H. and Emma (wife of Samuel Holloway). The 
 Doctor was reared on the plantation in Arkansas, 
 and was comiiaratively young when his parents 
 died. He was attending school at the Georgetown 
 College, in Kentucky, when the War of the Rebel 
 lion began, but when the news came info the 
 school-room his youthful ardor was fired with the 
 ambition to become a soldier, and he exchanged 
 the books and orders of his spectacled profes.sor to 
 shoulder the musket and listen to the drumbeat 
 and cannon. He enlisted in Company D, of the 
 First Arkansas regiment, and .served through the 
 entire war, taking part in the battles of Farming 
 ton, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Perryville, cam- 
 paigning through Georgia and iu the retreat at 
 Franklin, where he was captured and taken pris- 
 oner to Camp Douglas. He was here confined for 
 six months, and then taken to the city of New Or- 
 leans and exchanged, and at Natchez received his 
 parole. During his many battles he received a 
 number of wounds, but hap])ily recovered from all 
 of them, and lives to day to recount to his children 
 the scenes of his struggle for the lost cause. After 
 the war was over he returned to Jackson County, 
 and began the .study of mi'dieine, and in lS<>i) 
 graduated from the University of Louisville, an<l 
 immediately commenced practicing. After an ar 
 duous practice of seven years he went to New 
 York City in the fall of 1870, attended lectures 
 at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, and received 
 an ad eiiitdem diploma from that institution in the 
 spring of 1877. Up to the present time no man 
 in the jirofession has exceeded his reputation lis a 
 skillful physician and surgiou, and, as a conse- 
 quence, his practice is one of the largest in Jack- 
 •son County. Dr. Heard was chosen a.s acting as- 
 sistant surgeon of the United States Marine Hospi 
 tal, and has held that position since 1S82. He i.s 
 a member of the State Meilical So<uety, and has 
 served on the board of examiners for some time. 
 
 
 
868 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 and iu 1878 he was elected county treasurer, and 
 served one term. In 1879 the Doctor was married 
 to Miss Mattie Foushee, by whom he has had two 
 children: Kate P. and Walter L. He is a Royal 
 Arch Mason, and a member of the Knights of 
 Pythias, also the Royal Arcanum and Knights of 
 Honor. Politically, the Doctor is a Democi'at, and 
 one of the strongest supporters of that party. He 
 attends the Methodist Church, and is also one of 
 the directors of the Newport Bank. 
 
 Capt. James T. Henderson, a prominent and 
 influential man of Jackson County, and the father 
 of Auvergne, the town where he resides, is a na- 
 tive of Giles County, Tenn., and was born Sep- 
 tember 14, 1835. His parents were Benjamin 
 Franklin and Nancy C. (Blackwood) Henderson, 
 natives of North Carolina, and of Irish and En- 
 glish ancestry. The parents were married in North- 
 ern Alabama, and in 1834 moved to Giles County, 
 T^enn., locating upon a large plantation, where 
 they reared their family of four children. B. 
 Franklin Henderson was an active and influential 
 Democrat, and the family were members of the 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church. James T. was 
 the eldest of the children; the others are Eliza J., 
 who became the wife of Robert L. Davis, in April, 
 1857; Emma, wife of R. M. Laird, a merchant 
 and farmer of Auvergne; and John C, a farmer 
 and stock raiser, also of Auvergne. Benjamin 
 Franklin Henderson died in the early part of 1849, 
 which sad event made it necessary for James T., 
 who was then attending college in Tennessee, to 
 return home and assist his mother in the manage- 
 ment of his father's estate; the mother died in 
 1856, leaving him sole manager at the <ige of 
 twenty-one. He was made joint administrator, 
 and Henry Henderson, a colored slave, was ap- 
 pointed foreman under our subject' s direction. In 
 1857 Mr. Henderson was em])loyed l)y John T. 
 Shapard, of Elkton, as a cotton buyer, in which ho 
 was successful, and was subsequently engaged in 
 the store of John T. Shapard under permanent 
 contract at $100 per month; at the end of six 
 months he bought a one-half interest in the busi- 
 ness, and the lirm became Shapard & Henderson, 
 of Elkton, Tenn., carrying on an extensive busi- 
 
 ness until 1860; in the latter year our subject sold 
 out and removed to Jackson County, Ark., first 
 locating on Bowen's Ridge, where he lived two 
 years. At the outbreak of the war he raised Com- 
 pany H, Thirty-second Arkansas Regiment, of 
 which he was elected captain, and after serving in 
 that capacity a short time, he was selected to till 
 a position in the secret service under Gens. Hind- 
 man, Shelby and Price, and Kirby Smith. He 
 was quite successful in the work of securing sup- 
 plies for the army, and escaped capture, receiving 
 honorable discharge at the close of the war. He 
 then returned to Arkansas, and bought a large 
 farm near Newport, but was employed as mercan- 
 tile salesman in the store of J. W. Stayton & Co., 
 of Jacksonport, for three years, afterward, for 
 about the same length of time, in the same capac- 
 ity with A. Hirsch & Son. In 1873 he bought 
 755 acres of land, on which he settled, and the 
 first year cleared 400 acres; of this tract he has 
 sold a considerable portion, now owning 480 acres, 
 of which 410 acres are under cultivation. He has 
 erected good houses, barns, etc. , and made other 
 improvements. When Mr. Henderson first located 
 his present home, there was no open laud be- 
 tween his place and Newport, but his enterprise 
 and perseverance have opened a large area; he has 
 a beautiful home among the trees, one-half mile 
 west of Auvergne, and upon his place is growing 
 a young peach orchard of 1,000 trees, of more than 
 a dozen varieties; he also has other orchards con- 
 taining nearly all kinds of pears, apples, plums 
 and cherries. All of the twenty-five slaves whom 
 Mr. Henderson owned and brought with him to 
 Arkansas before the war are still living, and have 
 farms of their own, loading independent lives. 
 Capt. Henderson owns ten places, comprising in all 
 1,220 acres, besides four residences in Newport, 
 and the towns of Tuckerman and Swifton. He 
 located the town of Auvergne, and built the first 
 house there in 1886; he also built and furnished 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, which he 
 presented to the town. With six others besides 
 Capt. Henderson a board of directors was formed, 
 who built and established Auvergne Academy, and 
 in many other ways has our subject taken a lead- 
 
JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 vCi'.l 
 
 ing part ia tho upbuilding of his town. In 1888 he 
 was appointed by the State Immigratiou Society 
 to organize a Jackson County society, to which he 
 was successful, holding the position of vice-presi- 
 dent of his township and director of the county 
 board. Capt. Henderson has devoted considerable 
 attention to the breeding of thoroughbred cattle, 
 and has some of the finest stock in the State. In 
 1858 the Captain married Miss Amanda M. Laird, 
 daughter of Martin and Margaret (Malone) Laird, 
 natives of Virginia. Capt. Henderson is a mem- 
 ber of Newport Lodge No. 191, A. F. & A. M. ; 
 he is an Odd Fellow, a member of the K. of H. , 
 and A. L. of H. , and of the Wheel. He takes an 
 active part in the politics of his county and State 
 as a Democrat, having been elected in 1874 to rep- 
 resent the Twenty-ninth District in the senate, 
 where he served until 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Hen- 
 derson are consistent members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South. 
 
 Henry Henderson is a prominent colored resi- 
 dent of Northeast Arkansas, and one whose name 
 is rightly entitled to appear on the pages of Ar- 
 kansas history. He was born in Madison County, 
 Ala., in 1821, and is a son of Joseph and Amy 
 Walker, who were the property of Samuel Walker, 
 a noted Alabama legislator and slave owner. 
 When Henry was at the age of nineteen years, 
 Samuel Walker died, and he became the property 
 of his heir, Milton Walker, with whom he re- 
 mained until his twenty-eighth year, when he was 
 then traded to a man named Franklin Henderson, 
 in exchange for a man of the same weight, the 
 trade being made in order to allow the family to 
 remain together. In 1844 he was united in mar- 
 riage to Malindia Halloway, a comely young slave, 
 who was the property of Louis Halloway, and to 
 this couple were born the following children : Mary, 
 Chatman, Matildia, Ann, Ellon, Sam, Bryson, and 
 a child who died in infancy. Mary is now the 
 mother of a family, and resides in Tennessee, as 
 does also Ann, who has a family of her own. 
 Chatman is the father of a family, and owns a 
 farm adjoining his father, as does also Sam, who 
 owns his own land. Matildia is married, and has 
 a large family, and lives in Washington County, 
 
 Miss. Ellen has a family also, and lives near Lor 
 father, while Bryson, who is a well educated and 
 very intellectual man, teaches school at Weldon. 
 In tho year ISfiO Mr. Henderson came to Bowen's 
 Eidge, Ark., with his owners, the Henderson fam- 
 ily, and assisted in farming and improving the 
 land. During tho war he was taken to the army 
 as cook, and at the close of that period he was 
 paroled at a point near St. Louis. After an ab- 
 sence of four years he returned to his family, and 
 later on moved to the vicinity of Auvergne, Ark., 
 where he conducted the farm work of his old mas 
 ters, the Hendersons. He remained with them two 
 years, and then took a lease on forty acres of land, 
 where Auvergne now stands. At the end of five 
 years he purchased forty acres, and shortly after- 
 ward added fifteen more, and then fifty-five acres 
 still later. Since then he has become more pros- 
 perous from year to year, and has donated consid- 
 erable land to his childi-en. He is one of the 
 leading men of the colored r.ace in that section, 
 and the oldest of the Hendersons' former slaves. 
 
 L. Hirsch, real estate dealer and insurance 
 agent, at Newport, Ark. The principal necessity 
 to the success of the real estate business, the safest 
 and surest form of investment, is to have reliable 
 agents, who are thoroughly posted on their city 
 and locality, and the town of Newport has found 
 such a man in the person of Mr. Hirsch, who is 
 one of the largest land-holders in the county, being 
 the owner of about 2,000 acres of real estate, and 
 fifteen valuable lots in the town of Newport. In 
 connection with this work he is engaged in the 
 insurance business, and represents the following 
 companies: The Hartf(jrd, Phtenix, Orient, -Etna, 
 of Hartford, Conn. ; the Springfield, of Spring- 
 field, Mass. ; the Phoenix, of Brooklyn, N. Y. ; the 
 Anglo-Nevada, Union, Commercial and California, 
 of the State of California; the Lancashire and North 
 British and Mercantile, of England; the New Or- 
 leans Insurance Association, Crescent, Southern, 
 Hibernia, Sun Mutual, and Mechanics and Trad- 
 ers, of New Orleans, La. ; the Fire As.sociatioii, of 
 Philadelphia; the Arkansas Fire, of Little Hock, 
 Ark. ; the East Texas, of Tyler, Tex. ; the Mutual 
 Fire Insurance Com[mny. of New York, and the 
 
-^ — A,^ 
 
 870 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Fidelity and Casualtj- Compan_y (Accident), also of 
 that city. Mr. Hirsch was born in Batesville, 
 Ark., on the 9th of August, 1855, and is a son of 
 Aaron and Amelia (Blochman) Hirsch, the former 
 a native of France, and the latter of Heidelburg, 
 Germany. While Aaron Hirsch was still a single 
 man, he took passage on board a vessel bound for 
 the United States, and, after reaching this country, 
 gradually drifted to the State of Tennessee, where 
 he was afterward married. In 1853 he removed 
 to Arkansas, locating near Batesville, where be 
 opened a mercantile establishment, and conducted 
 business here and in Jaeksonport for many years. 
 L. Hirsch, the subject of this memoir, made his 
 home in Batesville until 1862, then removed with 
 his parents to New Orleans, making that city his 
 home until 1870. Four years later he returned to 
 New]3ort and established a mercantile store, under 
 the tirm name of A. Hirsch & Son, but in 1878 
 this partnership was dissolved, and the firm name 
 became L. Hirsch & Co., and remained such iintil 
 1880. At this date Mr. Hirsch sold out to Wolf 
 & Goldman, and embarked in his present business, 
 and up to 1885 was associated with H. L. Remmel, 
 but in that year he purchased Mr. Remmel' s inter- 
 est, and continued alone until January, 1889, 
 when he gave an interest to his younger brotlier, 
 Ralph, and the firm is now Hirsch & Bro. He is 
 also treasurer of the Newport Water & Irrigating 
 Company, and has full control of the plumbing 
 department. He is secretary of the White River 
 Telephone Company; is secretary and manager of 
 the White River Ice Manufacturing Company, and 
 is a director of the New^^ort Compress & Storage 
 Company, now being organized. He is a member 
 in good standing of the Masonic fraternity, be- 
 longs to the K. of P. , and is treasurer of the lat- 
 ter organization. He has also held the offices of 
 city treasurer and recorder, and has been deputy 
 sheriff and deputy clerk. He is one of the ablest 
 youug business men in Jackson County, and in all 
 enterprises of a worthy character he has been the 
 first to identify himself, and take an interest in 
 their successful establishment. Miss Nettie Staf- 
 ford, a native of Virginia, became his wife in 
 September, 1884, and their union was blessed 
 
 in the birth of two children; Irving S. and 
 Eugene A. 
 
 J. B. Hirsch is a dealer in hardware, groceries 
 and. plantation supplies, at Newport, Ark., and is 
 conducting a successful business. He was born in 
 Batesville, Ark., November 25, 1861, but received 
 his education in the cities of New Orleans and St. 
 Louis, and from his earliest youth he has been 
 familiar with the details of mercantile life. At 
 the age of sixteen years he came with his father, 
 A. Hirsch, to Newport, and began clerking in the 
 latter' s mercantile establishment, continuing thus 
 employed until 1881 , when they formed a business 
 partnership and continued under the firm name of 
 A. Hirsch & Son, until January, 1889. At this 
 date J. B. Hirsch purchased his father' s interest 
 in the business, and began life on his own responsi- 
 bility, and by honesty and fair dealing is doing an 
 exceptionally prosperous business. His stock of 
 goods is well selected, and in point of size is of 
 fair proportions. For two years he was associated 
 with Wolf, Goldman & Co. , but thinking he could 
 do better alone, this partnership was discontinued, 
 and the result has proved that his judgment was 
 sound. He is an intelligent and enterprising 
 young man of business, and his future prospects 
 are bright. He is a Mason and a meml)er of the 
 K. of P. His marriage with Miss Dora Pollock, 
 of Little Rock, Ark., was consummated in Sep- 
 tember, 18S8. 
 
 Stephen G. T. Hite resides on Section 23, 
 Cache Township, Jackson County, Ark., and is a 
 farmer and stock raiser by occupation. He is a 
 son of S2:)encer and Martha J. (Wilkins) Hite, na- 
 tives of Virginia, where they were married and 
 reared a family of twelve children; one child died 
 in infancy, and another at the age of six years, 
 making in all fourteen. The parents still live on the 
 place upon which thej' settled immediately after 
 their marriage, Mrs. Hite receiving the land by 
 deed from her father December 25, 1869. Stephen 
 G. T. Hite married Miss Sarah White, a native of 
 Virginia, and a schoolmate. To them have been 
 born the following children: David Russell, born 
 October 13, 1870; Albertana, born September 5, 
 1872; Ella James, born November 6, 187-t; Eunice, 
 
 ^wv 
 

 JAC^KSON COUNTY. 
 
 87) 
 
 born ; Amos Andrew, born in July, 
 
 1881; Charles, born January 20, 1884, and 
 Stephen, born July 17, 1887; two died in infancy. 
 The two elder chikli-en were born in Virginia, and 
 the rest in Arkansas. When Mr. Hite first went 
 to Arkansas he located in the neighborhood in 
 which he now lives, purchasing in December, 
 1875, his present farm, of which about forty acres 
 were under cultivation, and upon which the only 
 buildings were two small log cabins. He now has 
 lifty-two acres under cultivation, and has erected 
 a good two-story frame dwelling. He has also 
 built a cotton-gin, saw and grist-mill, good l)arn8, 
 and has a well- improved place, contemplating 
 still greater improvements, which will beautify his 
 home, as he believes the more attractive the home 
 the better will be the morals of his children. He 
 aims to give his children six months schooling 
 each year, as he thinks a good education is better 
 than a legacy. Mr. Hite served nearly three years 
 in the Fifty-ninth Virginia Volunteer Infantry, 
 Confederate States Ai-my, and in May, 1864, was 
 wounded by a musket ball carrying away the 
 fourth toe of his left foot. He participated in the 
 siege of Richmond, belonging to the command of 
 Gen. Lee at the time of his surrender to Gen. 
 Grant. Mr. and Mrs. Hite are members of the 
 Missionary Baptist Church, and are highly re- 
 spected by all who know them. 
 
 W. G. Hogan, planter, of Bird Townshi[i, is a 
 son of Granville and Mary Jane (Taylor) Hogan, of 
 Tennessee. The father, a farmer, went to Texas in 
 ISoS, where our subject was born March 8, of 
 the same year. Soon after arriving the father 
 died; the mother remained some eight years, and 
 finally settled in Bird Township, this county, 
 where she still resides, with her son, W. G. Mr. 
 Hogan was raised on the farm, receiving his edu- 
 cation in the schools of Cross County, this State. 
 In 1877 he came to Jackson County, settling in 
 Bird Township, and engaged in farming. He is a 
 Democrat; is active in politics, and has held the 
 offices of justice of the peace and constable, and is 
 a member of the school board, Tuckerman District. 
 He is a member of Kirkpatrick Lodge No. 192, at 
 Tuckerman, holding the office of steward; he is 
 
 also a member of the Triple Allianci-. In IHll 
 our subject married Maggie Smith, a native of 
 Tenne.ssee, whose parents, Ross and Martha 
 (Woodard) Smith, came to Jackson County in 1874. 
 The mother is still living. They have bad four 
 children, three of whom are living: Lafay Ella, 
 Charles Henry and Daniel Green. Mrs. Hogan 
 is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 and has a brother, M. M. Smith, who is presiding 
 elder of White River conference, located at Joncs- 
 boro. Mr. Hogan is actively interested in the 
 schools, and in all enterjirises for the advancement 
 of the county. 
 
 James W. Howard, farmer and stock raiser, of 
 Jackson County, lives six and a half miles east of 
 Newport, on the Memphis road. His parents were 
 Philip and Hester D. (Bidwell) Howard, of Ohio and 
 Tennessee, respectively. The father lived and 
 married in Arkansas, but returned to Ohio, where 
 James W. was boyn, the eldest of six children, two 
 now living: Sarah Jane and James W. At the 
 age of nine years the subject of this sketch came 
 to Arkansas with his parents; he had then received 
 the greater part of his education, but attended 
 common school only eleven days in Arkansas. At 
 the outbreak of the War of the Rebellion he was 
 living in Village Townshij), Jackson County, but 
 enlisted in the Southern army in Company A, 
 Eighth Regiment of Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, 
 served about three and a half years, and at the 
 close of the war returned home, since which time 
 he has given his attention to farming and stock 
 raising, purchasing, in 1873, 120 acres of land, to 
 which he has added l)y purchase eighty acres, and 
 upon which he has since made his homo. At that 
 time, realizing the necessity of an education, he 
 applied him.solf diligently to study, acquiring suffi- 
 cient knowledge to carry on his business. Mr. 
 Howard married Miss Margaret Lamkins, a native 
 of Ai'kansas, who lived ten years, and in 1877 he 
 married Miss Margaret Ballew, of Arkansas, daugh- 
 ter of Robert J. and Mary (Pucket) Ballow, natives 
 of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Howard are mem- 
 bers of the Christian Church, and ho has always 
 been a friend to progress educational, religiotis 
 and social, liberally supporting the church. 
 

 Capt. George \V. Hurley (retired), Newport, 
 Ark. The career of the above mentioaed gentle- 
 man affords a striking example of encouragement 
 for the youth of the present day who have not very 
 favorable circumstances surrounding them, and yet 
 who are desirous of attaining to positions of trust 
 and esteem in the communities where they may 
 hereafter reside. Left an orphan at an early day, 
 Mr. Hurley attained his growth without the influ- 
 ence and tender care of parents, and for this rea- 
 son, if for no other, he deserves great credit for 
 his success in life, not only in material affairs, but 
 as a man. His birth occurred in Frederick Coun- 
 ty, Md., on the 1st of May, 1829, and he is the 
 son of Morris and Catherine Hurley, both natives 
 of County Clare, Ireland. The parents were mar- 
 ried in their native country, and in about 1829 
 emigrated to America, where the father, who was 
 a civil engineer and contractor, worked on the 
 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. He was a large con- 
 tractor on the canal, and had his headquarters at 
 the Point of Rocks. They were the parents of 
 these children: John, Catherine, Charles and 
 George W., the first three of whom died in the 
 year 1833, as did also the parents, leaving George 
 ^\'. Hurley, only four years of age, alone and 
 among comparative strangers. He was taken by a 
 family who thought considerable of him, received 
 as good an education as they could afford, and, 
 when nine years of age, was apprenticed to learn 
 the tailor's trade. When about thirteen years of 
 age he ran away fi-om his master, went to Balti- 
 more, and shipped as a cabin-boy on board the 
 brig Edith. He made a trip around Cape Horn, 
 visited Santiago, and numerous other places on 
 the Pacific slope, and remained on the ship for 
 about two years, being quite a favorite of the Cap- 
 tain and his wife. Mr. Hurley relates an incident 
 which took place while on the vessel, and gives it 
 as a reason for leaving the sea. It was his duty 
 to wait upon the table, and one day, after dinner, 
 he put some nuts, raisins, etc., in the pockets of 
 his little sailor's suit. The Captain, who fre- 
 quently indulged too freely at the noon meal, met 
 George on deck, and asked what was in his pockets. 
 The boy replied, "Nothing,'" which so incensed 
 
 the Captain that the latter gave him a severe whip- 
 ping. George was ever after afraid of the com- 
 mander, and at the first opportunity left the vessel 
 and returned to Baltimore. There he finished his 
 trade as a tailor, and soon after went to Washing- 
 ton, thence to Richmond, Ya., where he was taken 
 sick and came very near dying. He became penni- 
 less, hut, through the charity of friends, obtained 
 enough money to return to Baltimore, where he 
 obtained emjjloyment, and there remained until 
 the breaking out of the Mexican W'ar. He then 
 enlisted in the Second Baltimore Battalion, under 
 Col. Hughes, and served one year, receiving a sabre 
 and lance wound at the battle of Monterey, for 
 which he now receives a pension. After recovering 
 he was placed in the quartermaster's department, 
 and was on the Southern route. Upon his second 
 return to his home he had some means saved, and 
 located at New Richmond, Ohio, where he started 
 up a modest tailoring establishment, but only re- 
 mained there a short time. He then sold out and 
 moved to Indianapolis, Ind. , where he secured a 
 position as emitter in a large establishment; but, at 
 the end of one 3'ear, he became restless, and en- 
 listed in the Cuban Lopez expedition. He, with 
 about 200 old Mexican soldiers, went to Cuba; 
 eighty-six were captured, fifty -two were taken to 
 Havana and shot, and thirty-four carried on the 
 steamer "Pizarau,'' a large Spanish man-of-war — 
 and was taken to Spain, with aljout thirty-four 
 other comrades. They were kept prisoners some 
 six weeks, and during that time, which seemed, no 
 doubt, like so many years, experienced some of 
 the most heartrending scenes imaginable, being 
 taken out every day and counted, with the expec- 
 tation of being shot. They were finally released 
 by President Fillmore, who sent a United States 
 cutter for them. They were treated like kings 
 on the vessel, being given money, clothes, etc. 
 He came to Kentucky, being again entirely broken 
 up, and invented a patent for garment cutting, 
 with which he traveled over several different States, 
 and made considerable money on the same. He 
 subsequently went to Keokuk, Iowa, where he 
 started another tailoring establishment, and carried 
 it on until 1857. From there he went to Jackson, 
 
 "'« spV 
 
JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 87:5 
 
 r 
 
 Tonu. , where be was married, and removed with 
 his family to White County, Ark., being there en- 
 gaged in agvieultwral pursuits. In 18(51 he was 
 appointed by Gov, Rector, of Arkansas, as quarter- 
 master of the State troops, and in the organization 
 of a regiment at Mound City, was appointed by 
 Colonel-elect (afterward General) Cleburne, quar- 
 termaster of the tirst State troops. The regiment 
 moved to Pocahontas, where State troops were 
 abandoned and regiments for the Confederacy 
 formed. Being, as a consequence retired, he re- 
 turned home and organized a company, of which 
 he was made first lieutenant, and afterward, for 
 meritorious conduct, was promoted to a captaincv. 
 He participated in all the general engagements on 
 this side of the Mississippi River, receiving one 
 slight wound from a shell. In 1S64 he asked for 
 retired papers, and then took the superinteudencj' 
 of cutting and fitting clothes for the soldiers at 
 Shreveport, La. His family still living in White 
 County when he came home, he moved with them 
 to Augusta, Woodi'uif County, Ark., where he re- 
 mained for nine years, being engaged for two 
 years in the livery business, and after this took the 
 traveling agency for a cotton commission house at 
 New Orleans. Having speculated too heavily in 
 cotton, he became involved, and then entered the 
 hotel and confectionery business, which he carried 
 on until 1873, when he came to Newport, then a 
 town of about thirty-one inhabitants. He em- 
 barked in the wholesale and retail liquor and to- 
 bacco business, afterward turning his business into 
 a grocery and general planters' sujsplies, and buy- 
 ing cotton, in which he was very extensively en- 
 gaged until about 1880. Since that time lie has 
 been engaged in the real estate business, and in 
 building up Newport, owning five large brick bus- 
 iness buildings and several residences. He also 
 owns a good farm, and is one of the leading citi- 
 zens of Jackson County. He has taken great in- 
 terest in secret orders, is a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity, advancing as far as a Knight Templar. 
 He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., is Past 
 Grand Master, and has been a meml)or of the order 
 since 1847; was initiated in Mechanic's Lodge No. 
 15, at Baltimore, Md., being subsequently con- 
 
 nected with the order in the States of Ohio, Indi- 
 ana and Kentucky. He is the founder and orig- 
 inator of Newport Lodge No. 71, Newport, Ark., 
 which was organized May 17, 1875. He has Ix-en 
 lionorod with nearly every oflicial position within 
 the gift of the order; has served as Grand Master, 
 was Grand Representative to the Sovereign Grand 
 Lodge for six years, and Grand Patriarch in the En- 
 campment branch for two years. In 1876 he repre- 
 sented the State of Arkansas in the Sovereign Grand 
 Lodge, at Philadelphia, and in 1882 at Toronto. 
 He is an indefatigable worker in the interests of 
 Odd Fellowship, and is one of the most highly 
 honored members of that fraternity. He is also a 
 member of the Knights of Pythias, and a member 
 of the Royal Arcanum, of which he is past officer. 
 His marriage to ilrs. Mary L. Boyd occurred in 
 1858, and one child, now deceased, was the result 
 of this union. Mrs. Hurley is a member of the 
 Episcopal Churclj. Both Mr. Hurley and Mrs. 
 Hurley are hale and hearty in their old age. 
 
 Samuel C. Ireland, now residing in Auvergne. 
 was born in North (!arolina, February 26, 1841t, 
 son of John and Elizabeth (Isley) Ireland, natives 
 of North Carolina. Mr. Ireland came to Arkan- 
 sas in 1872, without a dollar, and located in Cow 
 Lake Township, on property which belonged to 
 his father, there then being but twenty-two fam- 
 ilies in the township. On this place was a doulile 
 log house, and twelve acres had been cleared and 
 planted the year previous. In 1878 he had thirty- 
 two acres planted to corn: eight acres he cleared 
 with the assistance of one man, and twelve acres 
 he cleared after night, without assistance. Mr, 
 Ireland continued to clear the land, and the next 
 year planted sixty acres. In 1875 he bought 
 eighty acres of W, L. Johnson, planted seventy 
 acres, which he worked himself, and rented twenty 
 more, making ninety acres under cultivation on his 
 place. At that time, by various purchases, he wa.s 
 the owner of 400 acres of land, 320 of which he 
 bought of his father; he is now the owner of 1.834 
 acres, 380 of which are under cultivation, the 
 various tracts being in Cow Lake and Richwood 
 Townships. On the places are good dwelling 
 houses and barns, and on that in Cow Lake Town- 
 
^ f. 
 
 874 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ship are a cotton-gin and a grist-mill. Mr. Ireland 
 gives a great deal of attention to mule and cattle 
 raising, finding a home market for them. Novem- 
 ber 20, 1873, Mr. Ireland married Mrs. Mar- 
 garet Ireland, widow of his brother, W. W. Ire- 
 land. They have no children, but are raising four 
 orphan boys, Henry Lee and Willie Benelield, 
 born in 1871 and 1873, resi^ectively, and Willie 
 and Connie Barnes, nephews of Mrs. Ireland, born 
 in 1880 and 1S83, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Ireland are members of the Christian Church. 
 
 Thomas William Jamison, county surveyor of 
 Jackson County, Ark., and farmer of Bird Town- 
 ship, was born in Buckingham, Canada East, the 
 youngest of six children born to Thomas and 
 Clara (Hall) Jamison, natives of Scotland and Ire- 
 land, respectively, who came with their parents to 
 Canada, and there married. The father was a 
 farmer, and, in 1859, when our subject was about 
 seven years old, removed to Woodford County, 111., 
 and settled near Minonk, returning to Canada in 
 1876, where he died in 1884. His wife died in 
 Canada in 1852. The subject of our sketch was 
 raised on a farm near Minonk, receiving his edu- 
 cation in the district schools of that county, and in 
 Minonk. After leaving school he learned tele- 
 graphy at La Salle, 111., and engaged in that busi- 
 ness at Colona, 111. , Columbus Junction and West 
 Liberty, Iowa, on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pa- 
 cific Railway. On May 11, 1882, he married Clara 
 LafPerty, a native of Mercer County, 111., and 
 daughter of William Lafferty, of Ohio, an early 
 settler of Mercer County. In September, 1879, 
 he came to Jackson County, as agent and operator 
 at Tuckerman, where he remained till last year, 
 when he was elected county surveyor. He is not 
 very active in politics, but votes with the Demo- 
 cratic party. He is a member of Trinity Lodge 
 No. 561, A. F. & A. M., Monmoiith, 111. He has 
 bought a tract of timber land, containing 120 
 acres, improved, and now has seventy-three acres 
 under cultivation. He has been engaged in stock 
 raising. He has imported a thoroughbred stallion, 
 also a heavy-draft Clydesdale, which carried off 
 the first prize at this and adjoining county fairs. 
 He is public-spirited and liberal. 
 
 Anderson Johnston, planter and stock raiser, is 
 a native of Arkansas. His father, Andrew John- 
 ston, was born in Maury Countj', Tenn. , in 1829: 
 came to Arkansas in 1841, and, at the age of eight- 
 een, married Miss Sebelle Durham, a native of Mis- 
 sissippi, and about that time settled a farm in 
 Jackson County, where he raised his family, and 
 where our subject was born, August 12, 1849. 
 Andrew is a Democrat, and has been magistrate of 
 his township. His wife is a member of the Chris- 
 tian Church. Anderson was raised on the farm, 
 and spent his school days in Jackson County, and 
 in September, 1871, married Miss Julia A. Brown- 
 ing, daughter of Nimrod and Emeline (Vandiver) 
 Browning, natives of Tennessee, who was born in 
 1847. They have the following family: Auzell 
 Bibb, fifteen years old; Lewin A., thirteen; Min- 
 nie B. , ten; James H. , eight; Silvey, six; Ada and 
 Etta (twins), three, and a babe one month old. 
 After his marriage Mr. Johnston opened up a farm 
 of 160 acres, thirty acres of which he cleared and 
 cultivated. He sold the farm, and in 1887 lived 
 in Boone County, Ark., and in 1888 came to Jack- 
 son County and bought a farm of 160 acres, eighty- 
 five under cultivation, on which he now lives. He 
 rents his land for corn and cotton, and makes a 
 specialty himself of raising sweet potatoes, raising, 
 also, his own stock, hogs and cattle. He and his 
 wife made themselves an excellent home, and a 
 competency. They are members of the Christian 
 Church. He is a Democrat, and a member of 
 Fortitude Lodge No. 397, A. F. & A. M., and 
 takes an active interest in all public enterprises. 
 
 Retherford Lewis Jones, a prominent planter 
 and stock raiser of Breckinridge Township, was 
 born in Carroll County, Tenn., in 1825, and was 
 the fourth in a family of eight children born to 
 Richard and Polly (Martin) Jones, of Tennessee, 
 where the father was an extensive planter in Wil- 
 son County. The elder Jones moved from Wilson 
 County to Carroll County, and a few years later 
 went to Wayne Count}', Mo., where he became en- 
 gaged in farming until his death, in 1844. While 
 in Carroll County ho took an active part in politics, 
 and was one of the prominent figures in the his- 
 tory of that county, and was also a member of the 
 
 -^; 
 
Masonic fraternity for a number of years, and 
 deputy sheriff. He had one brother, who fought 
 in the Creek and Seminole Wars, and his father 
 was an old Revolutionary soldier, who was born in 
 North Carolina, and in 1839 died in Davidson 
 County, Tenn., at the age of eighty-four years. R. 
 L. Jones was reared in Carroll County, Tonn., and 
 instructed in the duties of farm life. In 1843 he 
 moved with his parents to Wayne County, Mo., 
 and continued farming in that State until 1847, 
 when he ^ent to Jackson County, Ark., settling 
 in Breckinridge Township, where he took up a 
 pre-emption claim, and later entered the same. 
 The land consisted of sixty acres of virgin soil, and 
 he at once commenced improving it and erected a 
 log cabin. In 1850 he was married to Miss Ema- 
 line Brazeale, a daughter of Archibald and Dorcas 
 Brazeale, of Tennessee, and resided with his bride 
 on the first farm until 1859, when he sold it and 
 bought a claim of 160 acres, of which twenty-five 
 were under fence. He has added to this and im- 
 proved the land since he first occupied it, until 
 now he owns a fine farm of 520 acres, and has 225 
 under cultivation. He raises principally corn and 
 cotton, and other portions of the land make excel- 
 lent grazing for cattle, in which he also deals quite 
 largely. In 1871 Mr. Jones lost his wife after a 
 happy married. life of twenty-one years. Eight 
 children were born to this marriage, of whom four 
 are yet living: Mary Dorcas, now Mrs. Martin; 
 Sarah, now Mrs. Jagers, who resides on her father's 
 farm; Edgar, and Nancy Alice, now Mrs. Harris. Mr. 
 Jones was again man'ied, in 1872, his second wife 
 being Miss Barbara C. Outlaw, of Tennessee, who 
 died leaving two children, Joseph E. and Jeanette, 
 both of whom reside at home. In 1880 Mr. Jones 
 married his third wife, who was Miss Fanny B. 
 Hall, of Alabama, by whom he has one child, Nora. 
 He does not take an active part in politics, but his 
 sympathies ever since the war have been with the 
 Democratic party. In educational matters he is 
 greatly interested, and his efforts toward promot- 
 ing the schools in Jackson County have been 
 praiseworthy. He is a member of Augusta Lodge 
 of the A. F. & A. M., while in the religious faith 
 he attends the Missionary Baptist Church, of whicli 
 
 r 
 
 his wife is also a member, and Mr. Jones has held 
 a membership in that church for forty-three years. 
 During the war he accompanied Gen. Price on hi^ 
 raid through Mi.ssouri, and also took part in the 
 battles of Pilot Knob, Jefferson City, Blue Gap, 
 Kansas City, Newtonia and Fayetteville, Ark., 
 from which place he returned home after an hon- 
 orable service. Mr. Jones is a very attentive man 
 to the welfare of his children, and is providing 
 them with the best education to be obtained. He 
 is a very close observer, and, from an educational 
 and religious standpoint, notes that there is a de- 
 cided change for the better constantly going on. 
 
 R. E. Jones, a planter and stock raiser of Glass 
 Township, Jackson County, was born in Gibson 
 County, Tenu., in 1842, the second in a family of 
 nine children born to Gabriel and Elizabeth (Webb) 
 Jones, natives of Virginia, where they were mar- 
 ried. In 1838 Gabriel Jones emigrated to Gibson 
 County, Tenn., where he lived many years, and 
 followed his trade of carriage-builder. He re- 
 moved to Jackson County, Ark., in 1800, and his 
 death occurred in the latter county in 1883. He 
 took an active part in politics in Tennessee, sym- 
 pathizing with the Democratic party. The mother 
 of our subject died in 1884. R. E. Jones was 
 reared to the pursuit of farming, receiving the ad- 
 vantage of a common school education in his native 
 county. He removed to Jackson County, Ark., 
 with his parents, in 1860, and subsequently be- 
 came located on the farm where he now i-esides, 
 which contains about 200 acres, and belongs to the 
 heirs of Dr. Beard. In 1801 Mr. Jones enlisted 
 in the Confederate army, in Capt. Hunter's com- 
 pany, under command of Col. Hart. He served 
 three years, and participated in the battles of 
 Helena, Pea Ridge and several others. At the clo.se 
 of the war he returned to Jackson County, Ark. . 
 and again devoted his attention to farming. In 
 1805 he married Martha Taylor, a native of Louis- 
 iana. They are the parents of three children, viz. ; 
 John W. (who is married and lives at home I. 
 Laura and Eddie. After marriage Mr. Jones set- 
 tled in Glass Township, where he now lives, which 
 place he has greatly improved. At the time of bis 
 settlement the nearest market was Jacksonport, but 
 
 f 
 
.u 
 
 876 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 the country has since undergone a great change, 
 having been extensively cleared and improved, and 
 now he finds a market at Swiftou, only three miles 
 distant. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the 
 Christian Church. Mr. Jones is a Democrat, 
 though he takes no active interest in politics. 
 
 Di'. J. M. Jones. Among the people of Jack- 
 son and suri'ounding counties the name that heads 
 this sketch is a very familiar one, for, in his pro- 
 fessional capacity he has become intimately ac- 
 quainted with the majority of their inhabitants. 
 He was born in Weakley County. Tenn. , July 3, 
 1846, and is a son of Darling and Margaret E. 
 (Miller) Jones, the father a native of North Car- 
 olina, and the mother of Tennessee. They were 
 married in the latter State, and are still hale and 
 hearty old people, residing on the homestead, in 
 Weakley County. The following are the living 
 members of their family of six children: Marion 
 D., Dr. John M., William H. (a resident of Para- 
 gould), Dr. A. M. , and Sarah J. (wife of Asbury 
 Kensey); James is deceased. Up to the age of 
 seventeen years. Dr. J. M. Jones resided on the 
 home farm and learned all the details of farm 
 labor, but when the war broke out he left the plow 
 to enlist in the army, and became a member of 
 Company I, Twelfth Tennessee Regiment. He 
 continued to remain in service until the final sur- 
 render, participating in a number of battles, then 
 returned to his home with the consciousness of 
 having faithfully performed every duty imposed 
 upon him. Not deeming the education he had ac- 
 quired prior to the war sufficient to enable him to 
 successfully cope with the world, he entered a 
 Normal School, which he attended until 1868, and 
 during this time he formed the resolution of mak- 
 ing the practice of medicine his calling through 
 life. In order to fit himself for this work he en- 
 tered the Medical University, of Nashville, Tenn., 
 from which he was graduated as an M. D. in Feb- 
 ruary, 1872. He had come to Jackson County, 
 Ark., the jjrevious year, where he has since made 
 his home, and, during his residence of eighteen 
 years in this county, he has become well and favor- 
 ably known to the majority of her citizens as an 
 able and successful medical practitioner. To his 
 
 marriage with Miss Callie Patterson, which oc- 
 curred in 1872, he has become the father of four 
 children: Nora, Jamos, Minnie and Oscar. Mrs. 
 Jones was born in the State of Tennessee, and she 
 is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 The Doctor is a Mason, a member of the I. O. O. / 
 F., the K. of H., and the Royal Arcanum. 
 
 Gustave Jones is a member of the law firm of 
 Jones & Jones, of Newport, Ark., and, in connec- 
 tion with his law practice, he is also engaged in 
 the loan and insiu-ance business, and in these dif- 
 ferent occupations he is meeting with flattering 
 success. He is a native-born resident of the county, 
 his birth occurring on the 25th of August, 1861, 
 and as such is looked upon with considerable pride 
 by the people of the locality, for he is a live, ener- 
 getic business man. To live an entire life in one 
 community and still retain the reputation Mr. 
 Jones enjoys, is by no means as easy as it is for a 
 stranger to come into a place where he is entirely 
 unknown and build up a reputation. The ac- 
 quaintances of Mr. Jones, therefore, know who 
 and what he is. He is having a fair practice in 
 his profession, and in the management of his cases 
 displays considerable ability and sagacity for one ■ 
 of his years. After attending the common schools 
 of Jackson County in his youth, he entered the 
 Arkansas Industrial University at Fayetteville, and 
 was graduated in the class of 1882. Previous to 
 graduating, however, he had taught school to ob 
 tain means with which to defray his expenses in 
 college, and after leaving school he began his legal 
 studies, and after a searching examination, he was 
 admitted to the Jackson County bar in November, 
 1886. He has since been associated with his father 
 in his practice, and represents the Phcenix Fire In- 
 surance Company, and is secretary of the Emigra- 
 tion Society, and is county school examiner. So- 
 cially, he is a member of the K. of P. , the Royal 
 Arcanum, and the Masonic fraternities, and in his 
 religious views he is a member of the Episcopal 
 Church. His parents, William R. and Kate (Hud- 
 son) Jones, were born in Breckinridge County, 
 Ky. , and Charleston, S. C, respectively, and were 
 married in Jacksonport, Ark., in 1857, whither the 
 father had come in 1851. At an early age he be 
 
 ■^1 
 
^a^t:^ 
 
 Independence County, Arkansas. 
 
4^ 
 
 JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 HTi 
 
 I 
 
 gan the study of law, and after being admitted to 
 the Vjar in Kentucky, and practicing there for some 
 time, he came to Arkansas and pursued his calling 
 in Jacksonport for several years, being in partner- 
 ship with F. Doswell. In 1854 he was elected to 
 the oflSce of county clerk, but after serving one 
 term gave his entire attention to his practice, and 
 by long years of hard and unremitting toil he has 
 become quite wealthy. He spends his summers at 
 Maryville, Mo., where he has a pleasant summer 
 residence. Of sis children born to himself and 
 wife five survive: Hattie, wife of Judge J. B. 
 Newman; Ida, wife of J. R. Cox; Gustave, Mol- 
 lie and Ellen. The paternal grandfather, William 
 B. Jones, was born in Campbell County, Va. , and 
 was a soldier in the Mexican War. He died in 
 Missouri, in 1879, when over eighty years of age. 
 He was a farmer by occupation, but his latter days 
 were spent in retirement and ease. The maternal 
 grandfather was Hush Hudson, a South Carolinian, 
 who once served as sheriff of Jackson County. 
 
 Capt. W. A. Joyce, the well-known Newport 
 druggist, was born in Memphis, Tenn., on the 
 20th of February, 1847, and is a son of William 
 and Alcena (Austin) Joyce, the former a native of 
 Kentucky, and the latter of Nashville, Tenn. The 
 parents were married in the latter State, and made 
 their residence in Memphis at an early day, where 
 the father was a prominent physician, being a 
 graduate of the Botanical College of that city. 
 Previous to practicing medicine, he was a steam- 
 boatman, and at that period owned one of the 
 largest standard steamers that plied on the river, 
 besides having an interest in several other large 
 boats. About 1850 he moved to Augusta, Ark., 
 and from there to Jacksonport, where he was 
 among the earlier settlers of that city, and one of 
 its first physicians, residing there until his death, 
 in 1855. The mother is still living, and makes 
 her home in the State of Indiana. She was twice 
 married, bearing two children by her first mar- 
 riage, only one of whom survives, Sarah Dollis. 
 Her second union resulted in two children, of 
 whom W. A. is the only survivor. He was but 
 three years old on his arrival in Arkansas, and was 
 principally reared in Jacksonport, but received his 
 
 education at Cincinnati, Ohio, whore ho was at the 
 outbreak of the war. In 18fi4, although still quite 
 young, he enlisted in Capt. Bateman's company, 
 and served until the fall of Little Rock, taking 
 part in the battle of Helena, Little Rock and. sev- 
 eral skirmishes. After the war was over, he re- 
 sumed steamboating (which he had commenced in 
 1863) fi'om St. Louis to New Orleans, and also on 
 the White River, occu))ying the positions of pilot, 
 master and clerk, and continuing until 1882. In 
 1874 he engaged in the drug business at Jackson- 
 port, where he remained until August, 1882, when 
 he removed to Newport, and since has successhilly 
 carried on the business, his store being one of the 
 best in this locality. Capt. Joyce was a member 
 of the council at Jacksonport, and also tilled the 
 office of mayor of that city for a length of time. 
 December 15, 1800, he was married, in St. Louis, 
 to Miss Miriam M. Major, of Pittsburgh. Penn., 
 by whom he has had four children: Mary A. . Katt- 
 S., William A., Jr., and Emma C. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Joyce are both members of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, while Mr. Joyce is a member of the 
 American Legion of Honor, Knights of Honor and 
 Royal Arcanum, as well as belonging to the Ma- 
 sonic fraternity. 
 
 D. A. Kimbrough, railroad agent and merchant, 
 at Weldon, Ark. , was born in North Carolina, June 
 14, 1842, in Caswell County. His parents were 
 Miles and Dicia (Burton) Kimbrough, natives 
 of North Carolina. His father was a son of 
 William Kimbrough, one of the earliest settlers , 
 of that section of North Carolina; was an active 
 Democrat and planter, and is still living at the 
 age of eighty-eight. Miles Kimlirough's wife was 
 a daughter of Capt. Thomas Burton, of North 
 Carolina, captain of Light Horse Muster Company 
 in an early day. He was a farmer and teamster 
 and moved to Alabama about 1850, where he died 
 in 1858. ^Iis. Kimbrough died in North Caro- 
 lina in 1873. She was a member of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church. D. A. was raised on a 
 farm, received his schooling in North Carolina, and, 
 at the age of seventeen, l)egan life for himself, 
 working as a farm hand two years, and then went 
 to Mississippi, where he remained till May, 1801. 
 
when he married Miss M. S. Burton, of Mississippi. 
 They have the following family: J. T. (a young 
 man of twenty-seven, unmarried, living at home), 
 Sarah A. (young lady of twenty-three), Nancy S. 
 (wife of J. M. Burford, died in 1888), W. S., D. 
 A., George W., Miles (who died at the age of 
 three years) and Dinah M. (a little girl of twelve 
 years). After marriage our subject continued farm- 
 ing till March, 1862, when he enlisted in Com- 
 pany A, Thirty-lifth Mississippi, Col. Barrey's 
 regiment, under Capt. Watson. He was in the 
 battles of Corinth, luka, Second Corinth, Holly 
 Springs, the siege of Vicksburg, when he was 
 paroled and returned home, afterward returning to 
 the Parole Camps, at Columbus. Miss. , from which 
 place they were called to join Johnson, at Resaca; 
 they went to Meridian, Miss. , thence to Mobile, 
 through Florida, then to Selma, Ala. , then through 
 the campaign of Johnson to Atlanta; then, under 
 Hood, assisted in the destruction of the railroad 
 fi-om Atlanta to Dalton; then to Franklin, Tenn., 
 Spring Hill, Nashville to luka, Miss., thence to , 
 Mobile and Blakeley, being captured and consigned 
 to Ship Island, where he remained till the close of 
 the war. He was paroled at Vicksbm-g, June 1 , 
 1865. On his return he engaged in farming till 
 1870, when he sold out and moved to Bowen's 
 Ridge, in Jackson County, where he bought ninety- 
 three acres of land, and engaged in farming, and 
 buying and clearing land, till he had 370 acres, 
 150 under cultivation. In 1878 he engaged in 
 mercantile business in Bowen's Ridge, till 1885, 
 when, seeing there was an opening for a town at 
 the present site of Weldou, he built a house there 
 and moved to that place, and trading half of his ' 
 goods to W. H. Wise for half of eighty acres of 
 land, they began business, with success, and dur- 
 ing that year the Batesville & Brinkley Railroad 
 reached that point, and the town was laid off, and 
 in the fall of 1885, the depot was erected. Through 
 his influence the town grew rapidly, and in the 
 spring of 1886, Mr. Kinibrough was made agent 
 of the railroad company, which position he still 
 holds. He now owns 280 acres of land, and one- 
 half of the town property at Weldon. He has over I 
 100 acres in cultivation. He is a Democrat, and 
 
 he and his family are members of the Methodist 
 Church. He is also prominent in all enterprises 
 for the good of the country. 
 
 T. D. Kinman, a popular resident, and cashier 
 of the Newport Safe Deposit Bank, of Newport, 
 was born in Batesville, October 5, IHi-i, and is a 
 son of Riley and Jane (Bates) Kinman, of Lexing- 
 ton, Ky. , and Batesville, Ark. , respectively. The 
 Bates family were among the first settlers of Bates- 
 ville, and are of Irish descent, the maternal grand- 
 father, Robert Bates, coming from Ireland, and 
 first settling at Philadelphia. He was a tailor by 
 trade and followed his occupation in that city for 
 some time. Later on he became a well-known ho- 
 tel keeper, until retired by old age. Riley Kin- 
 man immigrated to Batesville in 1842, and was 
 there married and resided for a number of years. 
 He was a steamboat captain during the earlier 
 years of his life in Arkansas, and his latter days 
 were spent on a farm in Jackson County. His 
 death occiured on the 17tli of September, 1883, 
 leaving a large circle of friends to mourn him. 
 Two children were born to Mr. Riley Kinman and 
 his first wife, the latter dying in 1846, aod he has 
 had one daughter by the second marriage, Mattie E. , 
 wife of Judge J. H. Wynn, of Greenville, Miss. 
 His son, T. D. Kinman, was reared in Batesville, 
 and educated at that place. In July, 1861, he en- 
 listed in Capt. John Dye's company of the Seventh 
 Arkansas Regiment, and served all through the 
 war until the surrender. He was assigned to the 
 paymaster's and supply departments, and was one 
 of the adjutant-general's staff officers, taking part 
 in the battles of Stone River, Shiloh, Chickamauga 
 and several others. After the surrender he re- 
 returned to Jacksonport, and engaged in the steam- 
 boat agency and commission business, in which he 
 continued for four or five years, when he embarked 
 in the steamboat business, running to Memphis 
 and New Orleans. In 1876 he was associated with 
 Capt. Albert B. Smith in steamboating on the 
 White River to the mountains, and remained with 
 him until 1880, when he returned to Newport, and 
 entered into the firm of Wishon Bros., as book- 
 keeper, continuing with them until 1883, when the 
 business was discontinued. He then went with E. 
 
 ^-. 
 
 f 
 
L. Watson & Son, with whom bo remained until 
 April, 1889, and then accepted a position with \A'. 
 L. McDonald as book-keeper until September, re- 
 signing to go in the bank. Mr. Kinnian was treas- 
 urer of Newport for some length of time. He 
 owns about 2.000 acres of land, with about 700 
 acres iinder cultivation, and has one of the finest 
 farms in Jackson County. The land is adapted to 
 almost any kind of grain and vegetables, and he 
 also deals quite largely in stock. He was njarried, 
 in 1867, to Miss Mary E. Dillard, of Missouri, by 
 whom he has had one son, Thaddons D., Jr. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Kinman are members of the Episcopal 
 Church, and Mr. Kinman belongs to the Royal 
 Arcanum, of which he is treasurer. He has an 
 elegant residence and one of the most pleasant 
 homes in Newport, and is very pojuilar in his 
 community. 
 
 Francis M. Lamberton is a leading and influ- 
 ential attorney at the bar of Newport, and lends 
 eminent strength to the fraternity, his name shin- 
 ing as a star of the first magnitude in the firma- 
 ment of Arkansas law. His birth occurred in 
 Cedar County, Mo., on the ()th of April, 1850, 
 and he is a son of Christopher I. and Miranda 
 (Edsell) Lamberton, the father a native of the 
 " Keystone State "' and the mother a native of the 
 " Backeye State." They were married in Mans- 
 field. Ohio, but about the year 1840 removed to 
 th(> State of Missouri, and took up their location in 
 Cedar County, where the father followed mer- 
 chandising and dealt in live stock. In this county 
 l)oth parents died, having reared a family of seven 
 children, of whom our subject is the youngest. 
 His boyhood days were spent in his native State, 
 and being a youth of a rather thoughtful disposi- 
 tion, he applied himself closely to his l)ooks dur- 
 ing his school days, and in later years while a stu- 
 dent in the University of Nebraska he was diligent 
 and })ainstakiiig. From this instutitiou he was 
 graduated in 1877, and the following year (1878) 
 he located in the State of Arkansas, and in 1883 
 took up his abode in Newport being admitted to 
 the bar the same year. He has since successfully 
 followed the practice of law, and is now filling the 
 office of justice of the peace, to which position he 
 
 was elected in 1884. To his marriage to Miss 
 Annie Wearham, which occurred in December, 
 1883, have been born a family of three children: 
 Horace C. and Annie L. (twins), born in 1887, and 
 Frank. Mrs. Lamberton is a member of the 
 Methodist Episco[)al Church. The paternal grand- 
 father, Christopher Lamberton, was a native of 
 Ireland, and was a graduate of Dublin University. 
 By profession he was a lawyer, and was one of the 
 early settlers of Ohio, dying there at the ago 
 of ninety-four years. The maternal grandfather 
 was a colonel in the War of 1812, and died of 
 cholera in Cairo, III. 
 
 T. D. Lawrence, general merchant, Tuckerman, 
 Ark. Mr. Lawrance's career in life, as far as its 
 connection with industrial afFairs is coucerued. 
 might be divided into two periods, that during 
 which he was occupied in agricultural pursuits, and 
 his more recent experience in the capacity of a 
 merchant. He owes his nativity to the Blue Grass 
 State, where his l)irth occurre>d, in 183f), and is 
 second in a family of five children born to William 
 and B. Gatsy (Pace) Lawrence, natives of Alabama. 
 They settled in Kentucky at an early day, Ijut 
 later moved iroxn there to Tennessee. Mr. Law- 
 rence was a very active man in the early history of 
 the State, and was a successful tiller of the soil. 
 His death occurred in West Tennessee, in 1844, 
 and he was a member of the Hard Shell Baptist 
 Church. The mother died in 1886, at the ago of 
 seventy -two years. T. D. Lawrence secured a fair 
 education in the schools of Gibson County, and 
 was early instructed in the mysteries of farm life. 
 He was the second of the following children ; ^lary 
 (now Mrs. Shelton, resides in Weakley County, 
 Tonn.), T. D. , Susan (now Mrs. demons, resides 
 in Howell County, Mo.), Elizabeth (now Mrs. 
 Parker, resides in Weakley Connty, Tonn. ), and 
 John William, whose death occurred in Weakley 
 County. Tenn., in 1858, at the age of nineteen 
 years. T. D. Lawrence came to Jackson County, 
 Ark., in November, IStiil, locating in Bird Town- 
 ship, entered land and bought KU) acres, which he 
 proceeded to cultivate. He was married in Jack 
 son County, in 1861. to Miss Sarah V. Palmer, a 
 native of Memphis, Tonn., and daughter of Samuel 
 
J'- 
 
 IhL 
 
 880 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 and Louisa (Means) Palmer. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer 
 were natives of Kentucky, and were among the 
 pioneers of Jackson County, Ark. Mr. Palmer was 
 a farmer and an honorable, uprij^ht citizen. After 
 his marriage, T. D. Lawrence settled in Bird 
 Township, where he opened up some land, and 
 where he now has 800 acres under cultivation. 
 He is the owner of 1,700 acres in Jackson Countj% 
 and 330 acres in two farms in Lawrence County, 
 neai' Alicia. He is a successful stock raiser, and 
 on his extensive farm may be found many fine cat- 
 tle and hogs. He has about seventeen tenants on 
 his farms. He also runs two cotton-gins and a 
 blacksmith shop, besides owning considerable prop- 
 erty in town. He owns 160 acres adjoining Tuck- 
 erman, or rather owns East Tuckerman, and lots 
 have been laid off. He has resided in town since 
 1 885, and has followed tlie general mercantile busi- 
 ness since, although in 1881 he engaged in this 
 business on his farm. He lost his wife in 1879. 
 By that union he became the father of five chil- 
 dren: William Shelby (married, and resides on the 
 home farm), Lula Lee (now Mrs. Spriggs, resides 
 in this count}'), Felix, Albert and Lucien. 'Mr. 
 Lawrence was married again in Jackson County, 
 in 1881, to Miss Elizabeth Perrox, a native of 
 Craighead County, Ark. He has taken quite an 
 active part in politics, and votes with the Republi- 
 can party. He was in the service a short time 
 during the war, then exchanged and remained in 
 the North until the close of hostilities. He has 
 served in different official capacities, viz. : deputy 
 sheriff, magistrate, and has been a member of the 
 school board. He is deeply interested in educa- 
 tional matters. Mrs. Lawrence is a member of the 
 Missionary Baptist Church. 
 
 Andrew Lawson, farmer and fruit raiser, is a 
 native of Denmark, and by occupation a carpen- 
 ter. He left his native land on an expedition to 
 Greenland, remaining six months, when he came 
 to Philadelphia, Penn. , in 1869; from there he 
 journeyed to Buffalo, and thence to Chicago, where 
 he made an engagement to go to Mississippi, to 
 clear land, at $20 per month, working at this in 
 the winter and at his trade in Memphis, during 
 the summer. In 1873 he was united in marriage 
 
 to Miss Delia Nelson, a native of Denmark, after 
 which they traveled and prospected in Texas, re- 
 turned to Mississippi, and in the early part of 
 1874, came to Arkansas, and engaged with Dr. 
 Peters, to take charge of the stock, orchards, etc. , 
 on the plantations. There he remained two years, 
 and then started for Little Rock, engaging with 
 the Baring Cross Bridge Company; he worked on 
 the bridge across the river at Baring Cross, and on 
 its completion secured the position of watchman, 
 where he remained for three years, when he locat- 
 ed at Grande Glaise, in charge of the water 
 station. In 1883 he bought eighty acres of partly 
 improved land adjoining that upon which stood 
 the water station, which he improved, and there is 
 now upon the place a fine young orchard and vine- 
 yard. Mr. Lawson was instrumental in securing 
 the postoffice at Grande Glaise, and has been the 
 only postmaster in charge. Mr. and Mrs. Lawson 
 are both members of the Danish Lutheran Church. 
 He is a member of Newport Lodge, I. O. O. F., 
 in which he takes an active interest: he is also a 
 member of the Knights of Honor, Lodge No. 
 1159, Little Rock, Ark., and takes a very active 
 interest in temperance matters, and all religious, 
 educational and social enterprises. 
 
 Thomas James Laytou, of Cache Township, 
 Jackson County, is a native of Fountain County, 
 Ind. , and was born September 28, 1830. He is a 
 son of Samuel and Ella (Ogle) Layton, natives of 
 Ohio, where they were married. The father died 
 in Indiana, about the year 1859, and the mother 
 in Illinois, in 1877. Thomas J. was reared to 
 farming, receiving the advantages of the common 
 schools of his native State. At the age of four- 
 teen he learned the cooper's trade, which ho fol- 
 lowed in connection with farming until he was 
 twenty years of age. In October, 1854, he mar- 
 ried Miss Anna Bradshaw, who was born in Indi- 
 ana, and to their union were born four children, 
 viz. : Samuel James Layton, born in 1855, a 
 merchant of Weldon, Ark., who married Miss 
 Georgia Symmonds, of Stafford County, Kas. , in 
 August, 1879; John McElroy Layton, a farmer by 
 occupation, who married, in 1883, Miss Emma 
 Bowen, of Indiana; David L. Laytou, married 
 
Miss Neila Burton, in February, 1884, and is in 
 partnership with his brother, Samuel, at Weldon; 
 Jesse B. married Miss Lydia Burton, and is a 
 farmer, also operating a cotton-gin. Th(! mother 
 of this family died in September, 1864, in Cham- 
 paign County, lU. , and her remains were taken to 
 Indiana for interment. In October, 1865, Mr. 
 Layton, married Mrs. M. J. McCorkhill, nee Ful- 
 ler, widow of W. J. R. McCorkhill, of Indiana. 
 She had one child by her former marriage, Mahala 
 Josephine, born in Vermilion County, 111. , who, in 
 1864, married William C. Glover, of Virginia, a 
 farmer and carpenter by trade; he was the princi- 
 pal contractor in rebuilding Newport, Ark., after 
 its loss by lire. Mr. and Mrs. Layton have seven 
 children, viz.: Anna C. , born in Missouri, in 1866, 
 married, in December, 1885, Howard Fletcher; 
 William Thomas, born March 28, 1869; Fairel- 
 lener, born May 9, 1870, married, December 9, 
 1888, Lee Stanley, of Cross County, Ark. ; Mar- 
 garet, born April 11, 1872: Katie, born December 
 3, 1873, and Jacob H., born January 13, 1876, 
 died February 15, 1889. Mr. Layton removed 
 with his family to Arkansas, in 1867, locating in 
 the neighborhood in which he now lives, where he 
 rented land for three years. In 1871 he bought 
 eighty acres of his present farm, which was en- 
 tirely unimproved, and which he began at once to 
 clear and improve. He has been successful, and 
 has added to his farm from time to time, until now 
 it contains 346 acres, seventy-eight acres of which 
 are under cultivation. He has one of the finest 
 farms in the county, as a result of enterprise and 
 jjerseveranee. Though not an active politician, 
 Mr. Layton votes with the Union Labor party. 
 
 Dr. W. H. Lenox, physician and surgeon, 
 Denmark, Ark. This prominent and successful 
 practitioner was born in Kolla, Phelps County, 
 Mo., in 1837, and located in Denmark, Jackson 
 County, Ark., in 1878. His parents, Hamilton 
 and Permelia (Harrison) Lenox, were natives, re- 
 spectively, of Kentucky and South Carolina, and 
 both immigrated to Missouri in ISl 1. They settled 
 in what is now Callaway County, were reared in 
 that county. l)ut were married in Pulaski County, 
 in 1834, after which Hamilton Lenox followed till- 
 
 ing the soil in Craighead County for some time. 
 From there he moved to Phelps County, but in 
 1861 left the State of Missouri, and took up his 
 residence in Jackson County, Ark., where he made 
 his home until 1863. He then went to Van Burea 
 County, where he [)nrchasod and improved a farm, 
 and there resided until his death, which occurred 
 in November, 18()5. He took a deep interest in 
 the early settlement of the county, and was promi- 
 nently fdentified with its affairs. In politics he 
 was first a Whig, but later became a Democrat. 
 His faithful and much beloved companion followed 
 him to the grave in 1874. Grandfather Williani 
 Lenox was one of the early pioneers of Callaway 
 County, Mo., was a soldier in the War of 1812, 
 and also saw duty in the Seminole War. Great- 
 grandfather Lenox was also a soldier in the War of 
 1812. Grandfather Harrison was an early settler 
 of Pulaski County. Mo., and made that his home 
 during life. He lived to an advanced age. Dr. 
 W. H. Lenox attained his growth in Phelps 
 County, Mo., and received his rudimentary educa- 
 tion in the subscription schools of the same. He 
 first began reading medicine under the tutelage of 
 J. P. Harrison, of Phel|)s County, then under N. A. 
 Davis, of Greene County, and finally under John 
 Hyer, of Dent County. In 1855 he entered 
 McDowell College, now called Missouri Jledieal 
 College, at St. Louis, but later, on account of 
 bronchial troubles, went to Lake Providence, La.. 
 to recuperate. After remaining in that State for 
 three winters, he returned to Phelps County, Mo., 
 and was there occupied in farming and trading in 
 horses and mules. He selected for his companion 
 in life Miss Ellen E. Stiegleman, a native of Cum- 
 berland Valley. Penu., and was married to her in 
 Laclede County, Mo., in 1861. Her father, Dr. 
 Stiegleman, was an eminent physician of Penn- 
 sylvania, and received his final summons in Mis- 
 souri. Her mother now resides in Dent Coimty, 
 Mo. In 186 1 , or the same year of his marriage. Dr. 
 Lenox moved to Jackson County. Ark., settled in 
 Union Township, and the same year enlisted in 
 Company A, Col. Freeman's regiment, but did 
 not serve with the regiment, as he received per 
 mission to remove to .Vrkansas. He then went to 
 
882 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Jackson County, to Corinth, and enlisted in Com- 
 pany K, Fourth Missouri Infantry, Col. McFar- 
 land's regiment, after which he participated in 
 the engagements around Corinth, Jackson, Ray- 
 mond and Big Bhick Bridge. Prior to the engage- 
 ment at Vicksburg, he went to Little Rock, thence 
 to Van Buren County, Ark., and there, in 1864, 
 raised Company C (cavalry), and was made captain 
 of the same under Col. Coleman. He joined Gen. 
 Price's raid through Missouri, and was in the bat- 
 tle of Pilot Knob. He was captured near Jefferson 
 City, and confined a prisoner at Johnston Island 
 until the close of the war. After his release he 
 returned to Van Buren County, Ark., engaged in 
 farming, and there remained until coming to Jack- 
 son County in 1878, as above stated. He com- 
 menced the practice of medicine in Van Buren 
 County in 1S73, and has thus continued ever since, 
 having built up a paying and profitable practice. In 
 connection with this Dr. Lenox is also engaged in 
 cultivating the soil, having purchased 210 acres, to 
 which he has since added eighty acres, and now 
 has forty acres in tillable condition. One hun- 
 dred and thirty acres of the Doctor's laud are in 
 White County, and he is also engaged in raising 
 stock. He is not active in politics, and does not 
 vote; in school matters he takes a decided inter- 
 est, and is connected with an incorporated school 
 at Pleasant Plains, being trustee of the same. Dr. 
 and Mrs. Lenox are members of the organization 
 collectively known as Ecclesia of the Deity, com- 
 posed individually of Christ Adelphians, which 
 means Church of God, composed of Christ's 
 Brethren. To their marriage were born the follow- 
 ing children: Shelby L., Laura E., Florence O., 
 Edna G. and Pearley E. 
 
 George W. Littleton, a farmer and stock raiser, 
 of Village Township, is a son of William and 
 Martha (Brown) Littleton, the former a native of 
 North Carolina, and the latter born in Tennessee, 
 in which latter State this worthy couple were mar- 
 I'ied. William Littleton emigrated to Tennessee 
 with his father in 1801 ; he was the father of ten 
 children, of whom four sons and four daughters 
 are still living. In the order of their birth George 
 W. was the fourth. In 1886 he married Miss 
 
 Telitha Jane Hall, a native of Virginia, and to 
 them have been born seven children, viz: Martin, 
 born in 1858; Eliza, who married Mr. Henry Sul 
 livau in 1873, and died in 1875; Samuel P., who 
 was born in 1865; Martha Lena, married John 
 Darden, February 23, 1887; William, born in 
 1870; Amanda, born in 1872; and Henry, born in 
 1875. Mr. Littleton and family removed from 
 Tennessee to Arkansas in 1872; he rented land 
 which he farmed for several years, when he pur- 
 chased eighty acres, only six acres of which were 
 under cultivation; he and his sons cleared forty- 
 nine acres of this place, and he is now negotiating 
 the purchase of 220 acres in Bird Township, Jack- 
 son County, 125 acres of which are cleared ami 
 broken, to which place he expects to move. He 
 has some very fine stock on his place, among which 
 are thirteen blooded horses, good grades of cattle, 
 and about eighty hogs of the best breeds. In poli- 
 tics Mr. Littleton is inclined to be liberal. In 
 1862 he enlisted in Company I, First Regiment 
 Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, was immediately 
 promoted to the sergeantcy, and subsequently be- 
 came first lieutenant, thus serving luitil the close 
 of the war, in all three years and four months. 
 
 George A. Lockard, deputy county clerk at 
 Jacksonport, Jackson County, Ark. This promi- 
 nent citizen of the county owes his nativity to 
 Breckinridge County, Ky., where his birth oc- 
 curred on the 5th day of June, 1846. His parents, 
 Phillip A. and Armilda (Dowell) Lockard, are na" 
 tives, respectively, of Westmoreland County. Va., 
 and Breckinridge County, Ky. They were mar- 
 ried in the latter State whither the father had 
 come when a boy, and there remained until 1849, 
 when he and family moved to Jackson County, 
 Ark. They located at Jacksonport, and there the 
 father engaged in the livery business until 
 about the year 1852, at which time he moved to 
 the country near Jacksonport, and followed the 
 occupation of overseer of slaves, in said county, 
 until the year 1856. Moving to the State of 
 Louisiana he continued as overseer of slaves on a 
 plantation, near Donaldsonville, until his death, 
 which occurred in March, 1859. Then in the fall 
 following the mother and family returned to Jack- 
 
JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 ^s:', 
 
 son Conuty, Ark., aud there roniained until her 
 death, which occurred in November of 1859. The 
 family consisted of five children, of whom our 
 subject is the only survivor, he being only three 
 years old when his father first moved to Arkansas. 
 At bis mother's death he returned to the land of 
 his nativity, and remained there during the war. 
 and in 1866 returned to Jackson County, Ark., 
 where he grew to manhood, receiving such educa- 
 tion as the schools of that day afforded, and, at an 
 early age, he began the occupation of clerk in the 
 mercantile business, at Jacksonport, where he has 
 since resided. Since the year 1S7S he has been 
 acting as deputy clerk of Jackson County, and 
 at present is still acting in that capacity. He is a 
 pioneer of Jackson County, and during bis residence 
 here has witnessed many changes in the way of 
 improvements, etc. He was married, in May, 1885, 
 to Miss Lizzie Bach, a native of Germany, and the 
 fruits of his union are two sons: George A. and 
 Franklin A. Mr. Lockard is a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, and American Legion of Honor. 
 Mrs. Lockard is a member of the Lutheran Church. 
 Samuel W. Loftin, a general farmer and stock 
 raiser, residing on Section 15, township of Grubbs, 
 Jackson County, was born in liutherford County, 
 Tenn. , August 31, 1834. His parents were Eldredge 
 and Elizabeth (Moore) Loftin, natives, respectively, 
 of North Carolina and Tennessee. The father died 
 two years after his location in Jackson County, 
 Ai'k., which was in 1849; the mother died in Ten- 
 nessee in 1840. Samuel W. received a limited 
 common school education in the private schools of 
 Tennessee, and in 1857 commenced business for 
 himself. He married Miss Elizabeth Denton, 
 whose birth occurred August 12, 1843, and of 
 their eight children, four died in infancy; those 
 living are Sallie, born January 19, 1867 (who tin- 
 i.shed her education at Jacksonport, and is now the 
 wife of Eli Evans, a native of Tennessee, and has 
 three children, of whom two are living: Bertha, 
 born in 18S6, and Elizabeth, I)orn in 1888), Rob- 
 ert M.. born December 15, 1873; Rachel E., born 
 September 12, 1875, and Cora, the latter born July 
 25, 1882. In 1859 Mr. Loftin bought eighty acres 
 of wild land, upon which he erected a log cabin. 
 
 and industriously set to work to clear and improve. 
 He afterward bought 200 acres more, and liuilt a 
 comfortable farm house, in which the family now 
 live. Mr. Loftin takes an active interest in educa- 
 tional matters, and proposes to give his children 
 the advantages of a good education, as, having been 
 deprived of the same himself, he realizes its im- 
 portance, and does not wish them to grow up in 
 ignorance, and the humiliating consciousness that 
 they are inferior to others in that direction. Mrs. 
 Loftin is a member of the Missionary Baptist 
 Church, and the family is highly respected by all. 
 B. R. McDearmon, one of the prominent citi- 
 zens and manufacturers of Weldon, Ark. , is a native 
 of Tennessee, having been born in Wilson County, 
 September 19, 1858. His parents were William 
 W. and Martha (Wright) McDearmon, of Tennes 
 see. His father came to Batesville, Ark., and en- 
 gaged in business of contractor and builder, till 
 his death in 1879 or 1880. The mother died A]>ril 
 19, 1887. They were members of the Missionary 
 Baptist Church, and the father was a Democrat, 
 and served four years in the Southern army, being 
 once captured, but never wounded. The subject 
 of this sketch spent his school days in Batesville, 
 and attended the State University at Fayetteville 
 one year, receiving a good English and scientific 
 education. At the age of eighteen he went to 
 Tennessee for his health, and spent two years as 
 apprentice with S. L. Garrett, a noted architect of 
 Louisburg, Tenn. In 1879 he returned to Arkan- 
 I sas, and, on account of his father's ill health, ran 
 1 his saw-mill on what is now the Pickett farm, at the 
 I same time carrying on the same business ten miles 
 south of Newport. In 1880 he sold his father's 
 mill (after his death), and in 1888 his own. in the 
 meantime having built the grist-mill and machine 
 shops at Weldon. He also in 1.S88 built the larg 
 est cotton-gin and press in the county. November 
 15, 1881, he married Miss Susan L. ShoiTner, 
 daughter of A. E. and JIartba (Patterson) Shoffiier. 
 Mr. Shoffner being a prominent fanner of Jackson 
 County. They have two daughters: Pearl, three 
 years old. and Node, eight months, respwtively. 
 Mr. McDearmon, who has been active in the de 
 velopment of Weldon, now owns several town lots. 
 
 I' 
 
j!dl 
 
 884 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 and two blocks in the town. In connection with 
 the milling and ginning business, he does general 
 repairing and manufacturing, and takes no part in i 
 
 politics. 
 
 Roberts Manly, farmer and stock raiser of 
 Union Township, Jackson County, Ark., was born 
 January 16, 1830, in Henderson County, Tenn. , 
 a son of Elkarp and Catherine (Roberts) Manly, 
 who are of English and Irish descent, natives of 
 North Carolina, and who both died in Tennessee. 
 In 1855 Mr. Manly went to Missouri, locating in 
 Dunklin County, where he engaged in farming for 
 ten years, and in 1806 located on his present farm 
 in Arkansas, which consists of eighty acres of fine 
 land, sixty of which are in a high state of cultivation, 
 cotton being the principal crop; on this farm he has 
 planted a veiy tine and large apple orchard, con- 
 taining the very best varieties, his object being to 
 raise fruit which will keep the year round. Mr. 
 Manly, by his thrift and perseverance, has made 
 all the tine improvements to be seen upon his farm. 
 While he had not the advantages of an education, 
 he is greatly interested in the schools, and believes 
 the interests of the country could be best subserved 
 by liberally educating the children. Mr. Manly 
 married Miss Mary Armstrong, of North Carolina. 
 By this union there were seven children, one, W. S. 
 Manly, growing to manhood, and now residing in 
 Marion County, Ark. Mrs. Elizabeth Manly died 
 in 1863, and Mr. Manly was again married, to Mrs. 
 Rhoda (Bates) Berry, a widow, and a native of 
 Georgia. They had one child, Rufus H. Manly, 
 born in 1866. The other children were William, 
 Sutton, Elizabeth, Harriet and Tennessee Caroline; 
 two daughters and one son are now living. Mr. 
 Manly, his wife and children, are members of the 
 Missionary Baptist Church; Mr, Manly being a 
 Democrat, and a member of Jackson Lodge No. 
 91, A. F. & A. M. He was formerly a Whig. 
 
 Fred J. Mason, farmer, Jacksonport, Ark. Of 
 the many residents of foreign birth in Jackson 
 County, none are more honest, industrious or more 
 deserving of success than the German element of 
 which Mr. Mason is a representative. He was born 
 in Saxony, December 16, 1840, and his parents, 
 Carl and Christina (Gehering) Mason, were natives 
 
 of the same province. The father followed agri- 
 cultural pursuits in the old country. In 1852 he 
 sailed to America, taking passage at Bremen on a 
 sailing vessel, and landed at New York City after 
 a forty-two days' ocean voyage. He came as far as 
 Buffalo by railroad, then took a boat on Lake 
 Erie, went from there to Sandusky, Ohio, thence 
 to Cincinnati, and fi'om there down the Ohio River, 
 stopping in Southern Indiana. They located in Per- 
 ry County, and there both parents died. They had 
 three childi'en : Fred J., Augusta and Christopher. 
 The eldest child, Fred J., was only eleven years 
 old when he came to America, and he remained in 
 Indiana with his parents until of age. During 
 the stirring period of the war he came to Little 
 Rock, Ark., and was there employed as butcher 
 for the government, remaining in that capacity un- 
 til cessation of hostilities. He subsequently moved 
 to Batesville, where he followed the butcher" s trade 
 for one year, and in the fall of 1869 he came to 
 Jacksonport, Ark. , where he followed his trade for 
 fourteen years. For the past few years he has 
 been engaged in farming, and has one of the finest 
 tracts of land along the river, 700 acres in all, with 
 200 acres imder cultivation. Mr. Mason makes 
 his residence in Jacksonport, and is a progressive 
 and enterprising citizen. He was married, in 1868, 
 to Mrs. Mary Sharj), nee Young, by whom he has 
 five children: Frank, Carrie, Ruth, Fred and Fan- 
 nie. His wife Mary died January 15, 1883, and 
 Mr. Mason married his present wife, Ella Cameron, 
 September 12, 1886. 
 
 Dr. David May, practicing physician and farm- 
 er, is a large planter, of Breckinridge Township. 
 He was born in Missouri, November 15, 1826. 
 His parents were John and Guyan (Morgan) May, 
 natives of Pennsj'lvania and Virginia, who moved 
 to what is now Bollinger County, Mo., about 1820. 
 David's father was born in 1759, in Pennsylvania, 
 and at the age of seventeen ran away from home, 
 and joined the American army, serving four years 
 in the field, and the last three years of that strug- 
 gle as a hospital nurse. On coming to Missouri he 
 bought 160 acres of land, on whicli he lived, and 
 died in 1841. He was a Democrat, and both him- 
 self and wife were members of the Baptist Church. 
 
 •^ Q 
 
9 k^ 
 
 .^M 
 
 JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 8S5 
 
 Our subject is the youngest of a family of eight 
 children: William (deceased), Hamilton (deceased), 
 Andrew (deceased); Alpha, wife of James Boker, 
 farmer, of Missouri; Eliza, of South Missouri; 
 Mary, wife of Anderson Virgin, farmer, of Missouri, 
 and John (deceased). Dr. May was raised on a 
 farm, and received his education in the common 
 schools, and in the academic school near Bloom- 
 field, Mo. When a young man he secured med- 
 ical works, which he studied for the purpose of at- 
 tending his own family, but, the demand being 
 great, in 1875, he went to Nashville and attended 
 a course of medical lectures, and has since had a 
 successful general practice, until the present, when 
 he is about retiring. At the age of eighteen years 
 he began his career as a farmer, and in 1850 married 
 Miss Rina W. Naremore. They had one child, 
 George W. , born April 5, 1851, who now lives in 
 Jackson County. Mrs. May died in 187G, and in 
 1877 he married Evaline T. Gwynn, a native of 
 Tennessee, who had one child, but both mother and 
 child died in 1878, and the same year our sub- 
 ject married Sarah E. McMinn, relict of Jos- 
 eph W. McMinn. They have one child, Will- 
 iam Lee, ten years old. In 1848 Dr. May came 
 to Jackson County and settled on what is now 
 the Pickett farm. He bought and entered 160 
 acres of land, cleared fifty or sixty acres of the 
 same, and in 1858 sold it and entered 160 acres of 
 the farm he now works, which was then in the 
 woods. He now owns 600 acres of land, having 
 200 acres under cultivation, all of which he cleared. 
 During his residence here of forty-one years, Dr. 
 May has seen a great many changes, and has done 
 his share in the development of the country. He 
 served as magistrate sixteen years, during which 
 time but one appeal was taken from his decision, 
 and that appeal was not sustainc^d. He and his 
 wife are members of the Baptist Church, and for 
 the last twenty years he has filled the position of 
 local minister of that church. He is a member of 
 the Royal Arcanum, is a Wheeler, and votes the 
 Democratic ticket. In addition to his farming and 
 l>ractico, Dr. May is taking some interest in horse 
 and mule breeding, and has as good a stock farm 
 as there is in the county. 
 
 William Miller, planter and stock raiser, was 
 born in Humphreys County, Tenn., in 1839, the 
 oldest of two boys born to Henry and Louisa (Cole) 
 Miller, natives of Tennessee. The parents dying 
 when the boys were quite young, they were left to 
 depend upon themselves. Our subject was reared 
 to farm life, and also learned wood-work, and re 
 ceived his education in the subscription schools of 
 Tennessee. He was married in Humphreys County. 
 Tenn., in 1857, to Martha Jane Plummer, of Ten- 
 nessee, daughter of John and Parthena (Mat 
 this) Plummer, natives of Virginia, who emigi-ated 
 to Tennessee in an early day, where they died. 
 After his marriage William settled on a farm, and 
 in 1861 enlisted in Capt. MoAdoo's company for 
 three years; he was in the battles of Bell Buckle, 
 Tallahassee, where he was taken sick, and sent to 
 Atlanta, where ho remained two months, when he 
 returned to Tallahassee. He was in the campaigns 
 in North Alabama, East and Middle Tennessee and 
 North Mississippi, and in 1865 surrendered under 
 Col. Hurd. In 1872 Mr. Miller came to Jackson 
 County, Ark., settling in Bird Township, where, 
 in 1880, he bought 120 acres of improved land; 
 he has continued to improve it. and has now nine- 
 ty acres under cultivation, having planted a good 
 orchard, and has all varieties of fruit. He raises 
 hogs, horses and cattle. In 1870 his wife died 
 leaving foiu' children: Henry (married), James 
 William (married), Charles Lafayette, and Louisa 
 (now Mrs. R. Donahoe), all residing in Bird Town- 
 ship. In Jackson County, in 1881, Mr. Miller 
 married Belle Corson, a native of North Alabama, 
 daughter of Charley and Julia (Anderson) Corson, 
 who were early settlers of Alabama. They have 
 had foui- children: Jesse, Dawson, Julia Pinckuey 
 and Rosa Lee. Our subject is not active in poli- 
 tics, and votes independently. He has been road 
 overseer, and is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church; he is practically a self-made man. 
 and interested in the welfare of his coinity. 
 
 Lancelot Minor is a leading member of the 
 
 ! bar of Jackson County, and owes his nativity to 
 
 Albemarle County, Va., his liirth occurring in 
 
 Charlottesville, June Ki, 1S47. He inherits Scotch 
 
 and Irish blood from his ancestors, and is a son 
 
J^ 
 
 HISTORY OP ARKANSAS. 
 
 of Dr. Charles and Lucy W. (Minor) Minor, both 
 of whom were born in Louisa County, Va., the 
 father's birth occurring at what was known as 
 Minor's Folly, the old homestead. He was reared 
 on this farm, and upon reaching a proper age be 
 gan the study of medicine, and became a graduate 
 of a medical university of his native State, and of 
 one in Philadelphia, Penn., both noted colleges. 
 He first entered upon his practice in Albemarle 
 County, Va., continuing there iintil 1S54, then 
 gave up his profession and established the Brook- 
 hill College, or preparatory school, which he suc- 
 cessfully conducted until the breaking out of the 
 late Civil War. He then raised a company and 
 sent it into service, but was unable to go himself, 
 and died in 1862 at the age of sixty years. His 
 widow survived him until 1879, when she, too, 
 followed him to the grave. Seven of the family 
 of thirteen children born to them are now living: 
 Mrs. William R. Abbott, whose husband is prin- 
 cipal of the Bellevue Institute of Bedford County, 
 Va. ; Mrs. Loed, a widow residing in Wilmington, 
 N. C. ; Lancelot, Kate, residing in Virginia; John 
 B., Jr., also in Virginia: Annie and Dr. J. C, of 
 Walnut Ridge, Ark. Both the paternal and ma- 
 ternal grandfathers were soldiers in the Revolu- 
 tionary War. and were well educated men, having 
 prepared themselves for a professional life, but 
 were practically good farmers. Lancelot Minor re- 
 sided on his father's farm until Civil War times, 
 then left the Brookhill school, of which his father 
 was manager, to take up arms for the Confederate 
 cause. He enlisted in Rock Bridge Artillery, and 
 served the cause he espoused, faithfully and well, 
 until April 8, 1865, when he was wounded at 
 Cumberland Church, Virginia, by a gun shot pass- 
 ing through his right lung. He was left at a 
 farm house, being thought dead, but at the 
 end of about five days he began to recover, and 
 in the care of the kind people with whom 
 he was left he remained until he was thor- 
 oughly convalescent, but, from the effects of his 
 wound, he had become paralyzed. He remained 
 in this condition until 1867, when he recovered 
 the use of his limbs, and soon after resumed farm- 
 ing, continuing until 1868, when he was taken 
 
 with the pioneer fever, and determined to push 
 westward. He did so, and settled at Miami 
 County, Kas. , where he farmed until 1 870, then 
 came overland to Jacksonport, Ark. , and was en- 
 gaged in farming and dairying at this point up to 
 1875. In the meantime he had been reading law, 
 and in the above mentioned year he was admitted 
 to the bar, and formed a partnership with his 
 brother, Charles, which continued up to the lat- 
 ter' s death, in 1879. After being in practice 
 alone for four years, he entered into partnership 
 with Franklin Doswell, one of the oldest attorneys 
 in Jackson County, and their connection has since 
 continued, the firm being known as Minor & Dos- 
 well. They make a strong legal firm, and, by their 
 superior abilities, command a large patronage in 
 this and surroiuiding counties. Mr. Minor owns 
 a great deal of real estajte in Jackson County, and 
 is the originator of the White River Stock Breed- 
 er's Association, of which he is the president. 
 They have forty acres with a mile track for train- 
 ing, which is now under the management of Prof. 
 Menkie. Mr. Minor is deeply interested in this 
 enterprise, and, so far, it has proved a decided 
 success. He has attained the hig-hest dearree in the 
 Masonic fraternity, and is also a member of the 
 K. of P. and the Royal Arcanum. He has been 
 a member of the city council, and is at present 
 chief of the fire department. He was married, 
 in 1868, to Miss Emma W. Minor, by whom he 
 became the father of two children, Charles and 
 Louisa, but in 1884 was called upon to mourn her 
 death. In July, 1887, he espoused his second 
 wife. Miss Theo Ferguson, of Augusta, Ark. They 
 are members of the Episcopal Church. 
 
 Nathaniel D. Moon, farmer and stock raiser, 
 was born July 19, 1844, and in 1858 came to Ar- 
 kansas with his parents, Leroy and Mary A. (Gulp) 
 Moon, who were natives of Alabama. Nathaniel 
 was raised on the farm, receiving his education in 
 the private schools of Alabama, and the public 
 schools of Arkansas, and in 1868 came with his 
 parents to Jackson County, and in 1869 bought a 
 farm of 120 acres in Section 1, erected a double 
 log-house, and at once commenced clearing and 
 improving the land, and in 1870 put four acres 
 
 •? a 
 
 :x. 
 
<i fc_ 
 
 1^ 
 
 JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 887 
 
 into corn; each year be weat through the same 
 routine, and in 1875 had thirty-eight acres under 
 cultivation. At various times he bought adjoining 
 land, until the homestead now contains 280 acres, 
 Mr. Moon at the present time owning 874 acres, 
 200 of which are under cultivation. In 1883 
 be entered the mercantile business with A. J. 
 Mills, opening up a stock of family groceries and 
 drugs. In 1885 J. H. Myers was admitted to 
 partnership, the business being conducted under 
 the firm name of Mills. Moon & Co., for one year, 
 when Mr. Myers withdrew, Messrs. Mills & Moon 
 continuing the same until 1SS8, when Mr. Moon 
 retired to private life. November 25, 1806, Mr. 
 Moon married Miss Frances M. Dickenson, of 
 Tennessee. They had nine children, fom* of whom 
 are living: Mollie W. (born October 16, 1867), 
 Leroy \\. (born March 16, 1871), Ozella K. (t)om 
 December 27, 1873) and James N. (born February 
 19. 1879). June 15, 1884, Mr. Moon married 
 Miss Myra E. Lawler, of Arkansas. One child 
 was born to them, which died. Mr. Moon is a 
 member in good standing of Thornlnirg Lodge No. 
 371, A. F. & A. M., and is a member of the Chris- 
 tian Church. He always takes an interest in enter- 
 prises for the advancement and progress of the 
 county and State. 
 
 John T. Moon, an enterprising farmer and stock 
 raiser of Glass Township, Jackson County, was 
 born in Washington County, Ark., in 1850, being 
 the fourth in a family of eight children born to Le- 
 roy and Majy (Culp) Moon, natives of Alabama. 
 In early life Leroy Moon was a school-teacher. 
 He was married in Alabama, and, in 1848, located 
 in Washington County, Ark. , where he purchased 
 a large farm, which he disposed of, and removed 
 to Calhoun County, thence to Glass Township, 
 Jackson County, in 1868, settling near where our 
 subject now resides, where he died in November, 
 1880. He was Democratic in principle, and took 
 an active part in politics in Washington and Cal- 
 houn Counties. The mother of our subject is still 
 living, and resides near S wifton. John T. Moon re- 
 mained at home until his father's death, and com- 
 meiiced farming for himself on the old homestead. 
 In 1880 he purchased 160 acres in Glass Township, 
 
 which he partly cleared, adding 240 acres, so that 
 his farm now contains 400 acres, of which seventy 
 five are under cultivation. He has made many im- 
 provements, having erected a good frame house 
 and sfarted a good orchard. He devotes considera- 
 ble attention to stock raising, keeping good grades. 
 In 1875 Mr. Moon married Julia Dozier, who was 
 born in Greene County, Ark., and is a daughter of 
 William Herndon and Mary Elizabeth (James) Do- 
 zier, natives of Kentucky. She is of French de- 
 scent on fhe paternal side, and her grandfather. 
 Zachariah Dozier, was an early settler of Louis- 
 ville, which was his permanent home. The father 
 of Mrs. Moon was a carpenter by trade, and re- 
 moved from (Jreene County to Pocahontas, Ran- 
 dolph County, where he lived several years. He 
 died in 1859, and his widow survived until Augast. 
 1887. Of the two children born to Mr. and Mrs. 
 Moon only one is living, Joseph Leroy. Mr. Moon 
 is a Democrat politically, and takes an active in- 
 terest in matters pertaining to the welfare of his 
 county, lending hearty and liberal support to all 
 worthy public enterprises. 
 
 Stephen J. Moore, a farmer and stock raiser of 
 Cache Township, Jackson County, is a native of 
 Person County, N. C. , and was l)orn March 28, 
 1829. His parents were Alfred L. and Sarah 
 (Cates) Moore, both born in North Carolina. Philip 
 Moore, grandfather of Stephen J., was a native 
 of New York, and his parents were natives of 
 England. Phillip Moore was a prominent church 
 worker of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, 
 and held many important ofKces in his county: his 
 father, Stephen Moore, was a veteran of the Rev- 
 olution, and was second in command of the force 
 that was captured through Arnold's treason. Philip 
 was a planter and machinist, and, when a young 
 man, went to North Carolina, where he married 
 and reared his family: he built the first horse- 
 power threshing machine ever used in that part of 
 North Carolina, and served a long time as surveyor, 
 at which latter work he contracted pleurisy, which 
 terminated his life in December, 1840. Alfred L. 
 Moore was an enterprising and successful planter, 
 of North Carolina, and he ami family were mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church; the fath- 
 
"A 
 
 « w. 
 
 -^ 2> 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 er's death occurred in August, 1883, and that of 
 his wife in April, 1884. each living to be about 
 eighty-three years of age. Stephen J. is the third 
 child of a family of seven, viz.: William L. (a 
 farmer, teacher, and mechanic, enlisted in the 
 Confederate army in Texas, and met his death at 
 Richmond, Va. , in 1864), Caroline (became the wife 
 of A. H. Bumpass, a farmer of North Carolina, 
 and died April 17, 1889, leaving a family of nine 
 children), Rufus R. (was a farmer, who married and 
 had two sons; he served in the Confederate army 
 and was killed in the second battle of the Wilder- 
 ness, in 1865; his two sons are DeWitt and Rufus, 
 the former now living on the original Moore home- 
 stead, and the latter a merchant at Birmingham, 
 N. C), Susan (is the wife of Henry Foust, a farmer 
 and mechanic, living in Chicot County, N. C), 
 Sarah E. (married William Moore, a teacher and 
 farmer, of Washington, Hempstead County, Ark. ; 
 they have six daughters and one son), and Alfred 
 Dudley (a farmer, of Person County, N. C, hav 
 ing a family of live children). Stephen J. Moore 
 was reared to the pursuit of farming, in Person 
 County, N. C. , and at the age of twenty-one en- 
 gaged in farming for one year in his native State, 
 after which he went to Sumter County, Ala. , 
 where he remained three years, going thence to 
 Greenfield, Dade County, Mo., where he turned 
 his attention to the mercantile business for four 
 years. In 1859 he sold out and returned to North 
 Carolina. August 16, 1859, he married Sarah 
 Jane Burton, daughter of Thomas F. and Nancy 
 Burton, natives, respectively, of Virginia and 
 North Carolina. Mr. Burton was a prominent 
 farmer of Alabama and Mississippi. Prior to the 
 birth of Mrs. (Burton) Moore, her parents lived in 
 the Cherokee Territory, afterward moving to Ala- 
 bama, where she was born March 2, 1835. To our 
 subject and wife have been born seven children, 
 two of whom died in infancy; those living are: 
 Nancy E. (wife of George T. Damerson, a native 
 of Randolph County, Mo.), Fanny (wife of W. H. 
 Wise, a merchant, of Weldon, Ark.), Alfred T. 
 (born March 15, 1868, a graduate of Jones Com- 
 mercial College, of St. Louis), Margaret J. (born I 
 November 28, 1870, attending the school for the 
 
 blind, at Little Rock, Ark. ), Georgia (bom Janu- 
 ary 21, 1873, also attending the blind school at 
 Little Rock). Immediately after his marriage Mr. 
 Moore retu^rned to Dade County, Mo., and the 
 same year went to Texas, where he engaged in 
 merchandising three months, then sold out and 
 went to Kemper County, Miss. ; he farmed one 
 year, railroaded one year, and, in April, 1862, en- 
 listed in the Thirty-fifth Mississippi Regiment; he 
 participated in the battles of Corinth, luka, Chick- 
 asaw Bayou, and all the summer campaign in 
 Georgia; August 26, 1864, he was captured in 
 front of Atlanta, and remained a prisoner of war 
 at Nashville, Tenn. , Louisville and Camp Douglas, 
 until June, 1865, when the close of the war set 
 him free. He then returned to his farm, which he 
 worked until November, 1809, when he emigrated 
 to Jackson County, Ark. , and bought and settled 
 upon the farm upon which he now resides. He 
 first bought 105 acres of land, very little of which 
 was cleared; he cleared, improved and built, add- 
 ing to his acres from time to time, until he now 
 owns 235 acres, 120 acres of which are under a high 
 state of cultivation. He votes the Democratic ticket 
 and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Moore and family are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, except Alfred, who 
 is a Baptist. The family is highly esteemed by all 
 who know them, and Mr. Moore has done his share 
 toward the support of worthy, public enterprises. 
 William H. Morris, a farmer, residing at New- 
 port, and one of the pioneers of Jackson County, 
 was born in Pennsylvania on the 6th of January, 
 1834. He is a son of William H. and Eliza (Proc- 
 tor) Morris, of New York City and Boston, Mass. , 
 respectively. The Morris family are of French 
 descent. William H. Morris, Sr. , was married in 
 New York State, and a few years after removed 
 with his bride to Dayton, Ohio, which was almost 
 nothing but a wilderness at that period, and owned 
 a portion of the land upon which the city now 
 stands. In 1838 he moved to little Rock, Ark., 
 where he entered into commercial life and carried 
 on a successful business until 1840, when he 
 moved to Austin, in Prairie County. Mr. Morris 
 remained in that county for one year, and then 
 
 ^1^ - 
 
 -n sIV 
 
JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 fSSU 
 
 removed to what is now Jackson County, bringing 
 with him his stock of merchandise and locating at 
 Elizabeth, then the county seat of tliis county. 
 He continued in business at that point until 1S54, 
 when he changed his business to Jacksonport, 
 where he remained until his death, in 1855, the 
 mother dying at Little Uock, while residing in 
 that city. They were the parents of six children, 
 of whom two still live, and after the moth<>r's 
 death, the father married a second time, this union 
 giving him three children: Robert, John and Anna. 
 During the early days of his settlement he was 
 postmaster at Elizabeth. At that time coon skins 
 and beeswax were legal tenders for postage. 
 William H. Morris was quite young on his arrival 
 in Jackson County, and was given the l>est educa- 
 tion to be had at that time. He was early in life 
 instructed in commercial affairs, and was taught to 
 look upon it as being marked out for his after 
 career. He remained with his father until almost 
 of age, and was then associated with several prom- 
 inent iirms in Jacksonport and Newport. In 180!) 
 he purchased his present farm and commenced 
 cultivating the land, and now has 175 acres, out of 
 500, under a good state of cultivation. In 1857 
 he was married to Miss Amelia C. Hamilton, of 
 Alabama, by whom he has had five children, three 
 of them now living: Marguerite E., wife of 
 Stephen Brundidge, Jr., of White County, Ark.: 
 Savannah H. and Charles M. Mr. Morris is a 
 member of the Masonic fraternity, and one of the 
 first settlers of Jackson County, having witnessed 
 a great many changes from the time of his an'ival 
 to the present day. 
 
 B. C. Morrison is a member of the firm of 
 Morrison. Decker & Co., manufacturers of tight 
 barrel staves and hardwood lumber, at Newport. 
 Mr. MoiTison was born in Denmark, on the 11th of 
 March, 1843. and until his twentieth year resided 
 in his native land, and learned farming and tavern 
 keeping of his father, who followed both occupa- 
 tions. Becoming imbued with the idea that better 
 opportunities were offered to young men of push and 
 energy in the New W^orld, he determined to seek 
 his fortune in tlie " land of the free," and accord- 
 ingly, in April, 1863, hetook jiassage at Hambursr. 
 
 and landed at Quebec in May. He iinniediai<'i_\ 
 wended his way to Racine, Wis., where he hired 
 out to a farmer, remaining with him four months, 
 then entered a cooper shop to learn the trade, and 
 this occupation received his attention until the fall 
 of 1801, when he enlisted in the First Wisconsin 
 Heavy Artillery, United States Army, and was a 
 faithful servant of his adopted country until July, 
 1805, when he was mustered out of service. He 
 returned to his former home at Racine, where he 
 worked as a jonrneyman for some time. In 1868 
 he is found at work in a cooper shop in Keokuk, 
 Iowa, but, in 1873, he determined to embark in 
 business for himself, and from that time until 1881 
 he successfully conducted a cooper shop of his own. 
 In the latter year he removed to Newport, Ark., and 
 began building his present mill, under the name 
 of B. C. Morrison & Co., and on the 10th day of 
 January, 1882, ho raised steam in his engine, and 
 began running his establishment, which is the 
 largest concern of the kind in Northeast Arkansas. 
 They handle a great deal of lumber, piling and 
 staves, and give employment the year round to at 
 least 300 men. With this mill they are clearing a 
 farm of 1,700 acres, and in a few years they ex 
 pect to have every acre of it under cultivation. 
 The pi'esent partnership was formed in 1884, and. 
 in connection with their stave and lumber factory, 
 they own a large saw mill at Pond Switch, which 
 furnishes employment to about fifty men. They 
 also own two steaml)oats: the '"G. W. Decker." 
 which is a passenger boat, and the ' ' Bright Star, 
 a freight boat, both of which iim regularly up as 
 far as Cherokee Bay. These gentlemen may be 
 termed benefactors of the community in whicli 
 they reside, for they have done much to open up 
 Jackson Count}', and have added materially to its 
 commercial standing. They are building good 
 houses, and have a railroad of their own, which is 
 three miles in length. Mr. Morrison was united 
 in marriage to Miss Hannah Prater, a native of 
 Illinois, in 1868. 
 
 Jasper Nance. One of the best known men in 
 mercantile circles in Jackson County is Mr. Nance, 
 who keeps a general store in Cow Lake Township. 
 He was l)oru in what is now Woodntfr Countv. 
 
890 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Ark. , in the year 1 846, and was the fourth in a 
 family of seven children, born to Joshua and Hetty 
 (Forehand) Nance, of North Carolina and Georgia, 
 respectively, the parents being married in the lat- 
 ter State. After their union they moved to Wood- 
 ruff County, and entered land in Barnes Township, 
 which the father at once commeuced to cultivate 
 and make a permanent home, and at the time of 
 his death he had cleared up about 500 acres. He 
 died several years before the Civil War, and his ex- 
 cellent wife soon after moved back to her native 
 State, where she survived him but a few years. 
 Jasper was reared by his maternal grandfather, 
 and received his education in the schools of Baker 
 County, Ga. In 1858 his grandfather moved to 
 Woodruff County, Ark. , where he bought a line 
 farm, upon which he resided until his death, and, 
 during the litigation over the estate, young Nance 
 commenced farming for himself. In 1865 he in- 
 herited his share of the land, and has added to it 
 on different occasions until now he owns 100 acres, 
 all of which are under cultivation, besides owning 
 several other farms in different portions of the 
 State. In 1884 he first started in business and 
 opened np a general store, laying in a stock of 
 everything to be found in a store of that kind, and 
 has established a fine trade. He was married in 
 Jackson County, July 20, 1866, to Mrs. Permelia 
 M. Duty, who was a daughter of David Johnson, 
 of Jackson County, and this iinion has given them 
 eight children: Margai-el J., now Mrs. A. Sprague; 
 William M. , Laura A. , Lewin A. , Alonzo, Martha, 
 David J. and Elza Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Nance 
 are both members of the Christian Church, in 
 which the former is an elder, the daughter Mar- 
 garet also being a member. Mr. Nance is not an 
 active politician, but his interest in the affairs of 
 his county are unbounded. He is a keen observer, 
 and his remarks upon the various changes that have 
 taken and will take place in his county are well 
 worthy of attention. 
 
 Thomas Nance, farmer, of Bird Township, was 
 born in Cape Girardeau County, Mo. , in 1849, the 
 youngest of fifteen children born to Thomas Nance 
 and his wife. Thomas was a farmer of North 
 Carolina, and in 1846 came to Missouri, bought 
 
 land and improved it; he also bought land in But 
 ler County, Mo., and in !March, 1861, came to Jack- 
 son County, Ark. , moving to Cache Township in 
 1866, and then to Independence County, where 
 he bought land near Fairview, which he made his 
 home till his death, in August, 1874. His wife 
 died when our subject was an infant. Grandfather 
 Nance died, at the age of one hundred and fifteen, 
 in North Carolina; the grandmother died in the 
 same State, at the age of one hundred and four 
 teen. The subject of this sketch was raised on the 
 farm, receiving his education in the subscription 
 schools of Missouri. In 1861 he came to Jackson 
 County, and aided in clearing and improving the 
 home farm. In September, 1864, in Jackson 
 County, he enlisted in C'apt. Steen's company, 
 and was with Gen. Price on his raid through Mis- 
 souri. He was in the battles of Pilot Knob and 
 Kansas City, returning home in 1865, and engaged 
 in farming. In August, 1866, he married Sarah 
 Cheshire, of Jackson County, daughter of Jonathan 
 and Nancy (Seiner) Cheshire, natives of North Car- 
 olina, and early settlers of Jackson County. Both 
 died some years ago. After his marriage Mr. 
 Nance settled on Black River, this township, and 
 later moved to Tuckerman, and engaged in farm- 
 ing. His excellent wife died in October, 1877, 
 leaving three children: George W. (married and 
 residing in Lawrence County), Mollie (now Mrs. 
 Parrott, of this county) and Savannah (at home). 
 In 1881 Mr. Nance married Rebecca Goodman, of 
 Tennessee, whose father was one of the early 
 settlers of this county. Both her parents are 
 dead. Mr. Nance has resided on his present place 
 since 1880. He owns a good farm of eighty acres, 
 forty acres of which are under cultivation. He is 
 a Democrat, active in politics, being now county 
 coroner; was bailiff of Bird Township two years, 
 also deputy sheriff for two years, and has always 
 taken an interest in school matters, and all enter- 
 prises for the good of his county, aiding liberally 
 in such matters. He is a member of the Masonic 
 order, belonging to Kirkpatrick Lodge No. 192, at 
 Tuckerman, and was Senior Deacon in 1888. He 
 is also a member of Jacksonport Chapter, and a 
 member of the Eastern Star order, as is his wife. 
 
 ^* 
 
±z=£k 
 
 JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 891 
 
 They are both members of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church. 
 
 C. C. Nicholson is a native planter and stock 
 raiser of Jackson County, and was born in 18G3. 
 He is the youngest of the five children born to Major 
 and Nancy (Tippett) Nicholson, both natives of 
 Tennessee. The parents were early settlers of 
 Jackson County, Ark., where the father opened a 
 farm, and devoted his entire attention to clearing 
 and improving it. He died in 1863, the mother 
 surviving until 1872. C. C. Nicholson was brought 
 up on the farm, which occupation he has always 
 followed. He obtained his education in the dis- 
 trict schools of his native county, and worked on 
 the home farm vintil sixteen years of age, when he 
 commenced farming for himself on sixty acres, 
 which he cleared. He now owns 220 acres, eighty 
 acres of which he has under cultivation, as a result 
 of his own labor. In March, 1884, Mr. Nicholson 
 married Elizabeth Dudley, also a native of Arkan- 
 sas. They have two children: Willie and Nancy. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson are members of the Chris- 
 tian Church, and are highly esteemed by all who 
 know them. Mr. Nicholson is one of the most 
 enterprising young farmers of Glass Township, in 
 the welfare and development of which he takes an 
 active interest, aiding libei'ally enterprises for its 
 advancement, educationally and religiously. 
 
 Paisley & Blake, well known residents of the 
 community, are closely identified with the affairs 
 of Auvergne Academy, a graded school for both 
 sexes, which is located on a beautiful eminence in 
 the southern part of the village, facing the east. 
 June 20, 1888, this property was bought by Prof. 
 D. L. Paisley and A. L. Blake, of Mrs. G. W. 
 Bristol. They have conducted it during the term 
 of 1888-89, with signal success. The faculty are D. 
 L. Paisley, A. L. Blake and Mrs. A. L. Blake (in- 
 structor in instrumental music). The building is 
 a large two-story frame edifice, with boarding de- 
 partment below, and school rooms above, with a 
 seating capacity of sixty. Prof. Paisley is a native 
 of North Carolina, born in Guilford County April 
 10, 1860. His parents, James and Minerva ( Whor- 
 ton) Paisley, were also natives of North Carolina, 
 of Scotch descent. His father was a farmer and 
 
 magistrate. He enlisted in the army of Northern 
 Virginia, under Gen. Loe, in the Guilford Grays, 
 was dismissed on account of ill health, and died 
 in 1866, his wife surviving until 1888. Tbey were 
 members of the Presbyterian Church, and the 
 father was an oldline Whig, and afterward a Dem- 
 ocrat. Prof. Paisley was reared on a farm; his 
 schooling was obtained first in the public schools 
 of his county, then in Lych's select school, at High 
 Point, N. C. ; in Horner's school, Oxford, N. C, 
 and in 1880 entered the State University, in 
 1881-82 taking an eclectic course. After complet- 
 ing this term, he taught in Maysvillo, S. C, three 
 years. After his marriage, in 1885, he taught at 
 Bennettsville, S. C, one year, when became to 
 Gurdon, Ark. . and aftersvard to Auvei-gne Academy. 
 His wife was Miss Loula Rankin, daughter of 
 Thomas and Nancy Rankin, of Guilford County, 
 N. C. They have one child. Lacy, a bright babe 
 of eleven months. Our subject is the sixth child 
 of a family of seven, and has one brother and one 
 sister living. He is a Democrat, and conservative, 
 and himself and wife are members of the Method- 
 ist Episcopal Church at Auvergne. Prof. Andrew 
 L. Blake is a native of Abbeville County, S. C, 
 son of William K. and Hattie (Law) Blake, also 
 natives of South Carolina, and of Irish and Scotch 
 descent, respectively. His father, a lawyer and 
 member of the Masonic order, served one term as 
 the Democratic representative of his county in the 
 State legislature, and has, for years, held the office 
 of magistrate. The parents were members of the 
 Presbyterian Church, the mother dying February 
 2, 1887. Our subject, the third of a family of six 
 children, was reared on the farm, spent his school 
 days at Greenwood, and from 1880 to 1884 was in 
 Davidson College, Mecklenburg County, N. C. He 
 began teaching at White Hall, S. C. , where he 
 remained one yiear. He taught one jear near 
 Greenwood, S. C. ; taught at McLeansville, N. C. , 
 eighteen months, and in July, 1887, came to Clark 
 Coimty, Ark., and engaged as bookkeej)er for 
 William Paisley, of Gurdon. He remained in this 
 position till February, 1888, when he taught an 
 unexpired term at Gurdon. Closing this school 
 April 20, he came to Auvergne, and taught the 
 
 I 
 
@ Sfc_ 
 
 892 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 last nine weeks of the term at Auvergne Academy, 
 and in June, with Prof. Paisley, bought that in- 
 stitution. Prof. Blake is a member of the Pres- 
 byterian Church, a Democrat, and takes an active 
 interest in all public enterprises for the general 
 welfare of the country. He was married to Miss 
 Josie B. Lindsay, of Athens, Ala., Jiily 16, 1889. 
 George H. Palmer, planter and stock raiser, of 
 Bird Township, was born in Memphis, Tenn. , in 
 1848, son of Samuel and Louisa (Means) Palmer, 
 of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. The father 
 was a pioneer of Kentucky, married there, and in 
 1849 came to Jackson County, Ark., in Jefferson, 
 and the winter of the same year came to Bird 
 Township, locating on the farm where our subject 
 now resides, taking a claim of 520 acres of timber 
 land, which he cleared and improved, erecting a 
 house and planting an orchard. He died in Jack- 
 son County, in 1866, his wife surviving till 1884. 
 George H. was the fifth of the family, the others 
 being Margaret (wife of Joel Bandy), George H. , 
 Fannie (wife of William Haynes), and Joseph H., 
 all residing in Bird Township. George H. was 
 reared to farm life, educated in the subscription 
 schools of Bird Township, and aided at home in 
 clearing and developing the homestead. He com- 
 menced farming for himself at the age of twenty- 
 two, and in 1870 was married in Jackson County, 
 to Laura Steen, a native of Jackson County, daugh- 
 ter of John and Nancy (Stancell) Steen, who were 
 among the early settlers of Jackson County. The 
 father died about 1858; the mother is still living. 
 Mr. Palmer owns a good farm of 120 acres, with 
 about sixty-five acres under cultivation, having 
 cleared the most of it himself. He raises princi- 
 pally cotton and corn, and considerable stock. He 
 is a Democrat, though not active in politics, and 
 served as magistrate for two years. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic fraternity, Kirkpatrick Lodge 
 No. 192. Mrs. Palmer is a member of the Meth- 
 cJist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Palmer re- 
 members this country as a dense timber tract, and 
 has always been interested in everything for the 
 good of the county. There are three children in 
 his family. Oda L., Samuel Tilden and Maggie 
 Cordelia. 
 
 Hon. John W. Parish, an enterprising farmer 
 of Union Township, Jackson County, resides two 
 miles east of Newport. He is a native of Tennes- 
 see, and is a son of William B. and Elizabeth 
 (Cheatham) Parish, both of whom were born in 
 North Carolina. The parents were married in Ten- 
 nessee, and to them were born seven children, all 
 of whom are dead except two: Sarah N. (who 
 married Richard Cole, and died, leaving three 
 children, named William, Anna and Jennie), and 
 our subject. John W'. Parish married Miss Sarah 
 E. Lacy, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of 
 Hiigh R. and Eliza (Smith) Laeey. Their union 
 has been blessed with sis children, viz. : Lydia, 
 born December 19, 1873; Frederick, born October 
 24, 1876; Cora, born June 4, 1884; Hugh, bom 
 January 6, 1886. Mr. Parish removed to Union 
 Township, Jackson County, Ark., in 1873, locat- 
 ing on land which is now a part of his farm, and 
 which he rented for about six years, subsequently 
 buying the same. He purchased 326 acres, of 
 which 150 acres were under cultivation. He now 
 has 225 acres well improved, and has built four 
 tenant houses, renting his houses and lands to re- 
 sponsible parties. He has at present about 160 
 acres of cotton, and the balance in corn and clover. 
 At the outbreak of the war Mr. Parish was attend- 
 ing college at Jackson, Tenn., now known as the 
 West Tennessee College, where he was a student 
 two years. He entered the Confederate army. 
 Company I, Fifty-first Tennessee, in which he 
 served six months, and the company then being 
 consolidated with other Tennessee regiments, 
 served until the close of the war. his regiment con- 
 stituting a part of the reserve of Gen. A. S. John- 
 ston at the battle of Shiloh. Mr. Parish takes 
 an active interest in enterprises tending toward 
 the advancement of all social as well as religious 
 and educational interests of his community, and is 
 highly esteemed by the people of the county, 
 which is evidenced by the fact that in 1881 he was 
 elected to represent the county in the XXIIId 
 session of the General Assembly of the State, where 
 his honest endeavors to promote the best interests 
 of his constituents earned for him their hearty 
 approval. He was elected on the Democratic 
 
 ' «^® r- 
 
9 »^ 
 
 JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 898 
 
 T 
 
 ticket. Mr. Parish is a member of Newport Lodge, 
 A. F. & A. M., and is a prominent and honored 
 man of Jackson County. 
 
 Alexander S. Parish, M. D., of Jackson County, 
 student of the Allopathic School of Medicine, was 
 born in Tennessee. He is a brother of the Hon. 
 J. W. Parish. In 1871 became to Arkansas, and 
 began the study of medicine with Dr. P. S. Wood- 
 ward, and in 1879 took his first course of lectures 
 at Vandorbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. He 
 continued in Dr. Woodward's office until the fall 
 of 1880, when he returned to the University, grad- 
 uating in 1881, after which he returned to Jackson 
 County, and actively engaged in the practice of 
 his profession. March 26, 1884, our subject mar- 
 ried Miss Annie Phillips, of Arkansas, daughter 
 of Col. T. H. and Amanda (Robinson) Phillips, 
 the father a native of Georgia, and the mother of 
 Arkansas. They have one cliild, William Theo- 
 dore, born March 31, 1885. Dr. Parish is one of 
 the deservedly successful physicians of this portion 
 of the community. Earnest, careful and search- 
 ing in the investigation of the science to which he 
 has given his best attention, he has become well- 
 informed, keeping thoroughly apace with the ad- 
 vancement made in this profession. His practice 
 is a happy illustration of his worth. 
 
 Lewis W. Penix resides on Section 13, Union 
 Township, Jackson County. He is a son of Henry 
 H. and Caroline (Roberts) Penix, both natives of 
 Tennessee, who died in Jackson County, Ark. 
 They were the parents of ten children, one of 
 whom died in infancy : Minerva, died at the age 
 of eighteen; Mary A., married R. V. Hunter, a 
 farmer of Jefferson Township, and has four chil- 
 dren; Susan F. (married R. T. Armstrong, de- 
 ceased, and has six children); Lewis W., Eliza- 
 beth (had two children by her first husband, Mr. 
 R. P. Jackson, and afterward married Mr. T. D. 
 Lawrence, a farmer and merchant of Tuckerman), 
 Martha J. (single), Columbus C. (married Dora 
 Jowers, and resides in Jefferson Township engaged 
 in farming), they have three children: Lydia \V. 
 (died at the age of eighteen), and James Henry 
 (married Miss Jennie Anderson, by whom he has 
 one child, is also a farmer of Jefferson Town- 
 
 ship). Lewis W. Penix was born May 1, 1850, 
 and received his education in the public schools of 
 Jackson County, where he has lived all his life, 
 commencing business for himself at the age of 
 twenty one years. In 1880, in partnership with 
 R. V. Hunter, he purchased 240 acres of land iu 
 Jefferson Township, which they still own, and Mr. 
 Penix afterward purchased forty acres in Union 
 Township. Since 1882 he has lived on the home- 
 stead of his wife's parents, in Union Township. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Penix were married December 27, 
 
 1877. Her maiden name was Miss Willie J. Car- 
 ville, she was born in Memphis, Tenn., Deceml)er 
 27, 1857, and is a daughter of W. K. and Mary 
 A. (Estes) Carville. Of their four children, but 
 two are living, viz. : Nora E. , born December 1 , 
 
 1878, and Clarence E., born August 28, 1882. 
 The parents are members of the Missionary Baptist 
 Church of Jefferson Township, while Mr. Penix 
 also belongs to Jacksonport Lodge No. 191, A. F. 
 & A. M. , Jacksonport Chapter No. 40, R. A. M. , 
 and American Legion of Honor. 
 
 Dr. W. H. Pickett, retired physician, Weldou. 
 Ark. Originally from Limestone, Ala.. Dr. Pick 
 ett's birth occurred on the 22d of Decemlier, 1826. 
 and his early life was passed in attending the 
 common schools and in assisting on the farm. 
 Later he supplemented his primary education by 
 attending Exeter College, in Exeter, N. H., and 
 in 1846 and 1847 he attended the Medical College 
 of the University of New York. From there he 
 went to New Orleans and attended the University 
 of Louisiana, where he graduated in medicine and 
 surgery in the class of 1848. He began the prac- 
 tice of his profession the same year at Whitesburg, 
 Ala., and, after remaining there two years, came to 
 Jackson County, where ho settled upon his present 
 property. He entered and bought about 2,300 
 acres of land, 1,200 under cultivation and 1,100 
 acres of which he has cleared himself. Dr. Pick- 
 ett was married, in 1850, to Miss A. R. Collier, a 
 native of AlaViama, and two children were the 
 result of this union: Ida G. , wife of John \V. 
 Ferrill, a farmer residing at Batesvilie; and Eliza- 
 beth B. , wife of William H. Hardy, also residing 
 at Batesvilie. Mrs. Pickett died Julv 1. ISH."), in 
 
9 w 
 
 894 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 full communion with the Episcopal Chui'ch. Dr. 
 Pickett was exempt from any army service by 
 Gen. Kirby Smith, in 1803, and practiced his pro- 
 fession at home. In the year 1868 he moved 
 to Batesville, and since that time he has remained 
 a resident of that city, and is enj^aged in agricult- 
 ural pursuits in Jackson County. He gave up 
 his practice in 1868, and, in addition to ^neral 
 farming, he lias also a large cotton-gin, grist and 
 saw-mill, with which he does all his own work and 
 general settlement business. He has on his farm 
 about forty tenant families, aggregating 200 peo- 
 ple, all in fair circumstances and furnished with 
 good houses. The Doctor has seen many impor- 
 tant changes during his residence of thirty-eight 
 years in this county. When he first came here 
 Elizabeth was the county seat, but was afterward 
 changed to Augusta, and subsequently to Jackson - 
 port. Wild game was plentiful and easily ob- 
 tained. His parents, Steptoe and Sarah O. (Chil- 
 ton) Pickett, were natives of the Old Dominion, 
 the father born in Fauquier and the mother in 
 Westmoreland County. The parents settled in 
 Alabama, in 1820, and were among the earliest 
 pioneers of Northern Alabama. They both bought 
 and entered land (1,000 acres in all), and Steptoe 
 Pickett was an extensive slave-holder. He was a 
 schoolmate of James Buchanan, and was a coiisin 
 to both Chief Justice John Marshall and "Light 
 Horse ' ' Harry Lee. He was also a cousin of 
 Gen. Pickett. He was a graduate of William and 
 Mary College, and was an old-line Whig in his 
 political views. His death occurred in 1848, at 
 the age of fifty- four years. He was a member of 
 the Episcopal Church, and the mother a member 
 of the Christian Church. The latter died in 1864, 
 at the age of seventy-four years. They were the 
 parents of nine children : Martin, married, and a 
 commission merchant at Mobile, Ala. ; Richard is 
 an attorney and judge at Florence, Ala. ; Steptoe, 
 Jr., was a farmer and died in 1884, at Madison, 
 Ala., leaving a wife and two children; A. C. is a 
 lawyer at Augusta, Ark. ; John S. was a physician, 
 at Danville, Ala., and died in 1887, leaving a wife 
 and two children, who reside in Des Arc, Ark; 
 Felicia, the wife of Gov. Reuben Chapmore, of 
 
 Huntsville, Ala. (she died in 1874, leaving four 
 children); Virginia, wife of Samuel Blackwell, a 
 farmer of Alabama; Anna S. Edwards, wife of a 
 farmer, and resides in King William County, Va. 
 
 I. D. Price is the efficient postmaster of New- 
 port, Ark., and also deals in books and stationery. 
 He is a native of the county, born December 10, 
 1856, and is a son of Dr. John F. and Kate (Brown) 
 Price, the former from South Carolina, and the 
 latter a native of the State of Arkansas. Dr. John 
 F. Price has become well known as a physician 
 wherever he has resided, and is now living at Fort 
 Worth, Tex. I. D. Price resided in Jefferson 
 County until seven years of age, and was princi- 
 pally educated in the schools of Cross County. In 
 the spring of 1880 he came to Newport, Ark., and 
 for four years followed the occupation of clerking, 
 then opened a book and stationery establishment 
 in the building he now occupies, and his stock is 
 extensive and well selected. In February, 1888, 
 he was appointed to the position of postmaster, 
 and is now discharging his duties in a manner ac- 
 ceptable to all. He was married, in 1884, to Miss 
 Mamie Wallace, and by her he has had two chil- 
 dren: Katie and Rina. His wife is a member of 
 the Presbyterian Church, and he belongs to the 
 American Legion of Honor. 
 
 Lewis E. Purssell, a prominent merchant of 
 Auvergne, Jackson County, is a native of Arkansas, 
 born in Woodruff County, February 20, 1861. His 
 parents were William O. and Lucy (Coyle) Purs- 
 sell, natives, respectively, of South Carolina and 
 Alabama, the former of whom came to Arkansas 
 with his father, J. H. Purssell, who was one of the 
 earliest settlers of Woodruff County, where he 
 opened several large farms. William O. Purssell 
 married Miss Lucy Coyle, in Prairie County, Ark., 
 in 1854; they afterward moved to Woodruff County, 
 where they lived imtil 1868, when they moved to 
 Izard County, where Mr. Purssell died in 1872. 
 He was a Master Mason and an Odd Fellow, and 
 in the early part of the war enlisted, and served 
 until its close as brevet-captain; at the time of his 
 death he owned 900 acres of land in Woodruff and 
 Izard Counties, about 160 acres being under culti- 
 vation; he had been very successful as a farmer and 
 
stock raiser. His -widow remained on the farm in 
 Izard County until December, 1875, when she re- 
 turned to the old homestead in Prairie County, 
 which was her home with our subject until 1871}. 
 She died December 19, 1882, a member of the 
 Methodist Ejjiscopal Church. The maternal grand- 
 parents of Lewis E. came to Arkansas from Mis- 
 sissippi in 1858, living one year in Woodruff 
 County, and then locating in Prairie County, where 
 they entered land and built a home. Mr. Coyle 
 was a natural and successful farmer, and during 
 his life cleared about 500 acres of land, l)eing able 
 to do a good day's work at the age of seventy 
 years. His death occurred in December, 1885, and 
 his excellent wife, who survives him, still lives on 
 the old home.stead; she is a member of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, to which her husband also 
 belonged. Lewis E. Purssell was reared to the 
 pursuit of farming, receiving a good education at 
 the common schools of Woodruff and Jackson 
 Counties, the Philadelphia Academy iu Izard 
 County, and the Male College at Searcy, "White 
 County. At the age of eighteen he left home, and 
 was engaged as clerk for Gates Bros. & Co., at 
 Des Arc, Prairie County, where he remained six 
 months, when he entered the employment of Plun- 
 kett & Erwin of the same place, in which capacity 
 he worked two years; in 1882 he opened a drug 
 and grocery store at Hickory Plain, Prairie County, 
 which he conducted until January, ISSH, when, on 
 account of his maternal grandfather's death, he 
 sold out and assumed the management of his grand- 
 mother's farm. In the latter part of the same 
 year he moved to Auvergne, Jackson County, pur- 
 chased a stock of groceries of M. J. Malone, to 
 which he added a sreneral stock of drv-goods, cloth- 
 ing. etc., and now has one of the best general 
 stores in the country. Mr. Purssell also owns a farm 
 of IfiO acres in Prairie County, sixty acres of which 
 are under cultivation. Our subject was the fourth 
 in a family of nine, and is one of the two surviving, 
 the others dying in infancy, except Ada, who mar- 
 ried J. W. Williamson, a farmer and stock trader 
 of Izard County; she died in 1884, leaving one 
 child. Ethel, aged five years. Alice Corrinne Purs- 
 sell is the wife of James B. Gardner, a practicing 
 
 physician and farmer near Hickory Plain, Prairie 
 County; they have four children: Elmer, Earl, 
 Oscar and Bessie. Mr. Purssell is iinniarrieil; lie 
 is one of the leading men of the town of Auvergne, 
 and is actively interested in its welfare, lending 
 his hearty and liberal aid to the support of schools, 
 churches and all worthy public enterprises. He 
 takes no active part in politics, but his sympathies 
 are with the Democratic party. 
 
 B. F. Hay, planter and stock raiser of Bird 
 Township, was born in Lauderdale County, Ala., 
 in 1888, being the ninth of twelve children born to 
 Benjamin and Nancy (Dixon) Ray, the fath<«r of 
 East Tennessee and the mother of South Carolina. 
 Benjamin Bay served in the War of 1812. He 
 settled in Alal)ama, on a plantation, where he 
 died in February, 1864, his wife having died in 
 1861. He engaged in farming until his death. 
 Our subject was reared on the plantation, receiv- 
 ing his education in the subscription and district 
 schools of the State of Alabama. In 1862 he en- 
 listed in Company C, of the Sixteenth Alabama In- 
 fantry, and was in the battles of Murfreesboro, 
 Liberty Ga]>. Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, 
 and a number of skirmishes, also in Ringgold. In 
 January, 1864, he left the service and returned to 
 Alabama, where he engaged in farming, coming to 
 Jackson (bounty, Ark., in 1868, and settling in the 
 vicinity of Newport. In ISfi'.t he married Josephine 
 Slayden, of Jackson County, daughter of Coleman 
 Slayden. a native of Middle Tennessee, and an early 
 settler of Jackson County. Her father died in 
 1859, and her mother in 1864. In 1878 Mr. Ray 
 settled on his present farm, which consi.»ts of 280 
 acres, 130 under cultivation; he raises considerable 
 stock, and a mixed cro]> of cotton, corn and hay. 
 Mrs. Ray died in 18S3, leaving two children: 
 Prince Ella and William Thomas. In 1884 Mr. 
 Ray married Elizal)eth Carter, of Alabama, dangh 
 ter of James and Lucinda (Rankins) Akens. who 
 came to Jackson County in 1S69; the father died 
 in 1877, the mother is still living. Mr. Ray is not 
 very active in politics, but votes with the Demo- 
 cratic party; he has been a member of the school 
 V)oard, and has always taken an active interest in 
 school matters: he is a member of Kirkpafrirk 
 
 3?^ 
 
896 
 
 HISTOEY OF AKKANSAS. 
 
 Lodge No. 192, and has been Senior Warden. He 
 lias seen great changes in the county, and the edu- 
 cational system is improving rapidly. The chil- 
 dren by the second wife are Isaac and Franklin. 
 
 WOson LaFayette Robinson is a son of Mathew 
 B. and Sarah (Lindsay) Robinson, and is a farmer 
 and stock raiser of Grubbs Township, Jackson 
 County. The father was a native of Virginia, and 
 the mother was born in Tennessee. In the fall of 
 1860, W. L. came to Arkansas with his parents, 
 the mother dying in 1862, and the father surviv- 
 ing until 1872. Mr. Robinson attended school in 
 Alabama until his twentieth year, receiving in- 
 struction in the common branches. In 1862 he 
 enlisted in Col. Mattock's regiment of Arkansas 
 Volunteers, Confederate States Army, serving iive 
 or six months, when poor health rendered him un- 
 fit for service. In 1864 Mr. Robinson married 
 Mrs. Frances (Blair) Coffin, who died in 1874; they 
 had one child, which died in 1868. July 22, 1874, 
 Mr. Robinson again married, and to the latter 
 union seven children were born, only two of whom 
 are now living, viz. : Grover Cleveland, born Oc- 
 tober 11, 1884. and Robert LaFayette, born May 
 7, 1888. In 1863 our subject purchased quit claim 
 deed to land in Grubbs Township, which was 
 partly improved, and to which he subsequently 
 added forty acres, upon which he erected a house, 
 in which he lived eighteen years. He now owns 
 720 acres of land, of which about 325 acres are 
 under cultivation, the remainder being woodland. 
 He has one of the best improved farms in the coun- 
 ty, as a result of industry and enterprise, as well 
 as good management and perseverance. 
 
 W. A. Roy, farmer and stock raiser, Layton, 
 Ark. Mr. Roy is a typical Arkansas citizen, sub- 
 stantial, enterprising and progressive, and such a 
 man as wields no small influence in the commu- 
 nity where he makes his home. He was born in 
 Shelby County, Term., in 1886, and was the second 
 in a family of ten children, born to the union of 
 Merida and Susan (Gentry) Roy, the father a na- 
 tive of South Carolina, and the mother of Tennes- 
 see. Merida Roy came with his parents to Ten- 
 nessee in 1807, settling in the middle part of the 
 State, and after growing to manhood was united 
 
 in marriage to Miss Gentry, a representative of one 
 of the old and much honored families of Tennes- 
 see. He tilled the soil in that State, and was a 
 prosperous and industrious farmer. He was a 
 Democrat in politics, and a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity for many years. His death took place 
 in Shelby County, Tenn. , in May, 1885, and his 
 wife still survives him. She resides on the home 
 farm in Shelby County. Their family was named 
 as follows: John Thomas, presiding judge of Poin- 
 sett County; W. A., Eliza, now Mrs. Crain, resides 
 in Tennessee; Frances, now Mrs. Clarridge, re- 
 sides in Tennessee; Merida, married, and resides 
 in Tennessee; Alfred, married, and a resident of 
 Poinsett County; Daniel, resides in Poinsett Coun- 
 ty, and the remainder died when young. Tilling 
 the soil was the pursuit ^V. A. Roy followed in 
 youth, and his time was divided between this occu- 
 pation and in attending the district school, where 
 he received a good practical education. He was 
 married, in Shelby County, Tenn., in 1857, to 
 Miss Frances Jane Mustin, a native of Alabama, 
 and the daughter of Henry and Hannah (Clark) 
 Mustin, of Alabama nativity. Mr. and Mrs. Mus- 
 tin first immigrated to Tennessee, thence to Jack- 
 son County, Ark., in the fall of 1860, and settled 
 in Cow Lake Township. Here both parents 
 passed their last days. After his marriage Mr. 
 Roy located on a farm in Tennessee, and there re- 
 sided until 1861, when he came to Jackson County, 
 Ark. , and entered 160 acres of land, which he im- 
 mediately began to improve, erecting a house, set- 
 ting out orchards, etc. He continued to add to the 
 original tract from time to time, until he is now the 
 owner of 520 acres, with ninety acres under culti- 
 vation. He raises corn entirely, but his renters 
 raise considerable cotton. Mr. Roy lost his wife 
 in 1879. By that union he became the father of 
 two living children: William Newton and Melinda 
 Alice. His second marriage was consummated in 
 Jackson County, in 1879, to Miss Martha Taylor, 
 a native of Jackson County, Ark. , and the daughter 
 of Richard and Melinda (Bigham) Taylor, natives 
 of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor came to Jack- 
 son County, in 1859, and there both closed their 
 eyes to the scenes of this world. Mr. Roy lost his 
 
*M 
 
 k. 
 
 JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 SOT 
 
 wife in 18S7, and was left with four interesting 
 children: Richard Charley, Louvenia J., Susan 
 and Alafa. In 1888 Mrs. Susan (McFadden) 
 Turner became the third wife of Mr. Roy. She 
 was a native of South Carolina, the widow of 
 Stephen Turner, and the daughter of Twitty 
 McFadden, a native of South C'arolina. Her 
 father came to Jackson County, Ark. , many years 
 ago, and there died in 1808. Mr. Roy has been 
 justice of the peace for some time, has been a mem- 
 ber of the school board, and takes much interest 
 in educational matters. He is a Democrat in poli- 
 tics. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C, Col. Mat- 
 lock's regiment, and was with Gen. Price on his 
 raid through Missouri. He was in the battle of 
 Prairie Grove and numerous skirmishes. He and 
 Mrs. Roy are members of the Christian Church, 
 and he is an elder in the same. 
 
 Dr. J. H. Rutland, of Swifton, Jackson County, 
 was born in Georgia, in 1853. He was the second 
 child in a family of eight, born to J. H. and Orphy 
 (Jordan) Rutland, natives of Sumter County, Ga. 
 The father owned and operated a large plantation 
 in his native State, 1,800 acres in one tract and 
 1 , 300 in another. He is now president of the 
 South Georgia Vocal and Instrumental Conserva- 
 tory, and he and wife still live in Georgia. Dr. J. 
 H. was reared on his father's plantation, receiving 
 his early education in the public schools. He then 
 entered the ^S'estmoreland Medical College, at At- 
 lanta, Ga. , from which institution he graduated in 
 1886. He first located in Texas Township, Craig- 
 head County, Ark., where he built up a large and 
 lucrative practice, removing to his present home in 
 Swifton in 1889, where he is a prominent physician 
 and surgeon, and enjoys extensive patronage. Dr. 
 Rutland was married in Craighead County, in No- 
 vember, 1888, to Florence Bell, a native of Ten- 
 nessee, whose parents now live in Craighead Coun- 
 ty, Ark. Dr. Rutland is quite an active member 
 of the Democratic party, politically, and, religious- 
 ly, is a member of the Christian Church. He is a 
 liberal supporter of public interests, and is one of 
 the rising yoimg men of Jackson County, where he 
 is highly esteemed by all who know him. 
 
 Otis W. Scarborough is one of the leading at- 
 
 torneys of Jackson Coimty, and has been estab- 
 lished in business in Newport since 1884. He was 
 born in Ko.scinsko, Attala County, Miss., on the 
 24th (lay of December, 1849, and is a son of Isaac 
 and Lucy G. (Harrison) Scarborough, being the 
 eldest of their five living children: Otis W., Othello 
 C, a physician; Isaac W., also a physician; Fen- 
 ton G., wife of Wade F. Fletcher, and Lucy L. : 
 seven children are deceased. The grandfather, 
 John Scarl)orough, was born in North Carolina, 
 but was of Welsh extraction, his father having 
 been born in Wales, but removed to the New World, 
 owing to some difficulty he had with the Crown. 
 He settled in North Carolina, where he died, after 
 having taken an active part in the Revolutionary 
 War, his son John being also a participant in that 
 war. They were both planters by occupation. 
 Isaac Scarborough was born in Edgecombe County, 
 N. C, and his wife in Madison County, Ya He 
 was a lawyer by profession, and after his removal 
 to Mississippi about the year 1828. was admitted 
 to the bar at Kosciusko, and there he has since 
 made his home, being a prominent member of the 
 legal fraternity in Attala County. He served as 
 judge of the county and circuit courts for about ten 
 years, and now, although in his seventy- fourth 
 year, he shows few indications of decay, either 
 mentally or jjhysically. Otis W. Scarborough ac 
 quired an excellent education in the high school 
 at Kosciusko, but. not being satisfied with the 
 learning there ae<[uired, he entered Davidson Col- 
 lege, Mecklenburg County, N. C. . in 1868, becom- 
 ing a member of the sophomore class, and from 
 this institution he was graduated as an A. B. . in 
 June, 1871. Having determined to follow the pro- 
 fession to which his father was devoting his time, 
 he entered the law department of the University of 
 St. Louis, in the month of October, 1883, and 
 graduated in May, 1885, being admitted to the bar 
 in Kosciusko, in August, of the same year. He 
 practiced his profession in his native town until 
 December. 18S4, when he came to Newport, and 
 the following year began the practice of law. He 
 is an able practitioner, and his iiifiuenee is felt 
 when he takes the stand, for he is a fluent and elo- 
 quent speaker, and is always the thorough master 
 
 • i 
 
898 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 of the subject which he handles. He was married 
 on the 24th of December, 1878, to Miss Cynthia 
 E. Rimmer, by whom he has one child, James I. 
 He and wife are members of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, and he is a member of the I. O. O. 
 F. , belonging to the Encampment. 
 
 Thomas J. Sconyers, an enterprising farmer of 
 Village Township, Jackson County, came to Arkan- 
 sas in January, 1870, with his parents. Darling 
 and Samantha (Snyder) Sconyers, natives, respect- 
 ively, of South Carolina and Alabama. Upon his 
 arrival in Arkansas the father leased the Davis 
 farm, upon which he died in August, 1870. He 
 was the parent of ten children, viz. : Catherine, 
 who died with diphtheria about 18fi3; Elizabeth, 
 who first married Green Jacks, and after his death 
 married Julius Wright; George married a Miss 
 Phillips; Mary married a Mr. Rhodes; Policy Ann, 
 wife of B. Eason; Ellen became the wife of Mr. 
 Myrick, and both are now deceased; Victoria mar- 
 ried Thomas Hutson; Nisie died, the wife of Rollie 
 Phillips, and John first married a Miss Strauther, 
 after whose death he married Miss Arnett. Thomas 
 J., who was born Februaiy 20, 1846, received his 
 education in the common schools of his native 
 State, Alabama. March 16, 1873, he married 
 Miss Mary Foushee, whose birth occuired March 
 20, 1856, and their six children are "William C, 
 born January 26, 1875; Joseph Edward, born Jan- 
 uary 20, 1878; George F., born March 4, 1881; 
 Frances S. , born September 19, 1884; Monte L., 
 born August 31, 1886, and John T., born Septem- 
 ber 17, 1888. For about one year Mr. Sconyers 
 worked for Mr. G. B. Branderburge, of Union 
 Township, and the following six years rented land, 
 which he farmed, and subsequently purchased. 
 His first purchase consisted of 320 acres in Village 
 Township, and afterward in partnership with Mr. 
 J. T. Foushee, bought 240 acres in the same town- 
 ship. He now has about 150 acres improved, and 
 raises corn and cotton, at which he has been suc- 
 cessful. Mr. Sconyers was a member of the Thir- 
 teenth Alabama Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, Con- 
 federate States Army, enlisting in 1 863. He partici- 
 pated in the battles of the Wilderness and Peters- 
 burg (Va. ), not taking off his cartridge-box for 
 
 forty days and nights. Though a Confederate 
 soldier, and, while in arms, fighting to conquer, 
 Mr. Seon3'ers wishes it to go on record that he will 
 hail with joy the day when sectarian animosities 
 are forgotten, believing that there should be "no 
 North, no South.'" He is an enterprising farmer, 
 and is highly esteemed by all who know him. 
 
 A. E. Shoffner, one. of the leading planters of 
 Jackson County, was born in North Carolina, on 
 April 18, 1831, and is a son of Frederick and Susan 
 (Danison) Shoffner, both natives of Germany, who 
 emigrated to this country with their parents, and 
 settled in North Carolina, the grandfather becom- 
 ing a prominent planter in Orange County. The 
 father was married in the same county, and died 
 in that place in 1845, near Hillsboro, the mother 
 dying several years later. They were the parents 
 of two sons, Aenes E. and T. M. The former son 
 was born and reared in Orange County, N. C, and 
 received his education in that place. In the fall 
 of 1858, he emigrated to Arkansas, and located at 
 Batesville, where he remained until 1860, when he 
 removed to Jackson County and settled in Rich- 
 mond Township. He bought some land and com- 
 menced farming in that locality, but a few years 
 afterward he moved to Breckinridge Township, 
 and settled on a farm in that place. On his ar- 
 rival in Arkansas he possessed very little, but be- 
 ing a man of industrious habits and economy he 
 became very successful and accumulated considera- 
 ble property. He now owns about 960 acres of 
 valuable land in Jackson County, with about 300 
 acres under cultivation, and a great many improve- 
 ments on his other land. Mr. Shoffner has passed 
 through many hardships in his life, and encount- 
 ered obstacles in his path on almost every occasion 
 when seeking to make his fortune, but his strong 
 will, determination and upright character, have 
 placed him in an independent position, and he is 
 now a respected and highly-esteemed citizen of 
 his county. In the spring of 1862 he enlisted in 
 Company I, of Gauze's regiment, and served until 
 the surrender. He was principally assigned to the 
 quartermaster's department during that time, but 
 also took part in several battles. Mr. Shoffner 
 was married in 1854, to Miss Martha N. Patterson, 
 
l)y whom be bad eight children: Emily I., Queeny i 
 A., Susan L., William H., Charles C, Edwin P., V 
 Daniel L. and Nannie B. Mr. Shoffner has served 
 as justice of the peace and constable of his town- 
 ship, and has also been one of the school directors. 
 He is a member of the Knights of Honor and lioyal 
 Arcanum, and also of the Masonic fraternity. 
 
 W. S. Shuford, treasurer of Jackson County, 
 born in North Carolina, November 29, 1821, in 
 Lincoln County, was a great-grandson of Jacob 
 Shuford, one of the earliest settlers of that section; 
 at his death, in 1844, there were present seventy- 
 five grandchildren, twenty-foiu* greatgrandchil- 
 dren and several great-great-grandchildren. Jacob 
 was born about 1764, in Lincoln County, was a 
 farmer, and conducted a large plantation, owning 
 several. He was several times elected sheriff. 
 Our subject's parents were Abel H. and Adeline 
 (Perkins) Shuford, natives of North Carolina, their 
 parents, who were of Dutch and English descent, 
 coming from Pennsylvania and Virginia, respect- 
 ively; Abel H. was the fourth of eleven children: 
 Betsey (Smyer), Eva (Ramsaeur), Fanny (Cansler), 
 Susan (Reinhardt), John J. (merchant and farmer), 
 Martin (member of the legislature), Abel Eli 
 (farmer), Elkanah (farmer), Jacob (farmer), and 
 Andrew (farmer, representative and Baptist minis- 
 ter); they all lived and died in Lincoln County. 
 Adeline (Perkins) Shuford was a daughter of 
 Ephraim and Elisabeth (Abernathy) Perkins, na- 
 tives of Lincoln County, and she was the eldest of 
 a family of ten children: Adeline (died at the age 
 of forty-two in North Carolina), Elisha, Caroline, 
 Catherine, Elizabeth J., John (deceased), David, 
 Patsey, Daniel, Robert J. M. Abel H. Shuford 
 was born October 11, 1796, and died January 4, 
 1858; October 4, 1820, he married; both himself 
 and wife were members of the German Reformed 
 Church. He was a Whig, but took no active part 
 in ])olitic3. The subject of this sketch was reared 
 to farm life, and spent his school days in the old 
 schools of that date. He worked with his father 
 till 1840, when he went to Northern Mississippi, 
 where he resided seven years, and in February, 
 1851, he married Miss Ellen Grider. daugliter of 
 Jesse and Polly Grider, natives of Kentucky. Af- 
 
 ter marriage he remained in Mississippi two years, 
 when he came to Jackson County. Ark., and en- 
 gaged in farming and clerking in Jacksonport till 
 after the war, he being exempt from military serv- 
 ice on account of age, and of being a cripple. 
 Like a great many others, he lost all his property 
 during the war, and when {)eaco was declared 
 found himself in possession of a dog, which had 
 followed him to Texas and liack, and two old mules. 
 From 1805 to 1870 ho clerked, and then bought 
 160 acres of land, on which he now resides, having 
 cleared about ninety acres of the same. In 1874 
 he was elected county treasurer, which office he 
 has held continuously since, with the exception of 
 the years 1880 and 1882, and is the present in- 
 cumbent. He is a Democrat, though conservjitive, 
 is a member of Poole Lodge No. 40, Chapter and 
 Council, of the A. F. & A. M., at Jatfksonport, and 
 he and his family are members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, he being trustee and steward. 
 The family consists of Fanny (wife of Frank How- 
 ell), Mattie (wife of Rev. David Hare, deceased). 
 Jesse (married and living at home), Mary T. (died 
 at the age of eighteen months). Mrs. Hare and her 
 four children live at home. Mr. Shuford had one of 
 the first cotton-gins in this country, a horse- power 
 (in 1871), and in 187<) erected a steam gin, and has 
 been engaged in ginning and milling, during the 
 season for such work, ever since. He was one of 
 the first settlers of the county, and gives his sup 
 port, as far as able, to schools, churches and all 
 other public enterprises. 
 
 Joseph E. Slaydeu (deceased) was a native of 
 Jackson County, and was a son of Coleman and 
 Elizabeth (Briggs) Slaydeii, the father a native of 
 Virginia, and the mother of North Carolina. Tlie 
 parents were married in Hickman County, Tenu., 
 March 27, 1884. Two children were born to them 
 in Tennessee, both of whom died. Six children 
 were born in Arkansas, viz. : Atlantic, lx>rn April 
 13, 1839; Artamesa, born November 11, 1841. 
 man'ied Levi Eader, Deceml)er 27, 1858. and 
 died December 18, 1870; Joseph E., born June 
 22, 1S44, married Miss Cordelia Graham, a n.-itive 
 of Jackson County, Ark. ; Cordelia, born December 
 30, 1840, married Job Greenhnw. a farmer of Bird 
 
'-^ 
 
 900 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Towniship, Jackson County: Ariminty, born March 
 13, 1848, became the wife of James P. Gurgo, a 
 native of Tennessee, and died June 2, 1871; Jo- 
 sephine, born January 21, 1852, married Frank 
 B. Ray, and is now deceased. At the time of his 
 marriage Joseph E. Slayden owned a farm in Union 
 Township, which was under cultivation, and upon 
 which he lived fifteen years; he owned in all 300 
 acres, of which 200 were well improved. He after- 
 ward purchased 100 acres which were mostly under 
 cultivation, and still later bought 240 acres more, 
 upon which he erected a good dwelling and barns. 
 The latter place was his home until his death, and 
 then became the property of his wife and sister, 
 Atlantic. To Mr. and Mrs. Slayden were born in 
 all seven children, viz. : Levi Tillman, born Janu- 
 ary 12, 1874; William H, born January 23, 1878; 
 Thomas Jeffei'son, born August 23, 1870; Joseph 
 E., born February 9, 1880; Julius B., born March 
 20, 1884; James Morgan, born February 19, 
 1886, and Augustus, born August 15, 1887. Mr. 
 Slayden was a public-spirited man, of liberal views, 
 and always took an active part in every enterprise 
 for the advancement of his county or State. At 
 the time of his death he was a member in good 
 standing of Jacksonport Lodge No. 191, A. F. & 
 A. M., and was a sincere friend of educational and 
 religious interests. 
 
 L. D. Smith, postmaster at Tuckerman, was 
 born in Gibson County, West Tenn., in 1855, the 
 fourth of nine children born to A. B. and M. J. 
 (Woodard) Smith, natives of Middle Tennessee. The 
 father was a farmer and came to Bird Township, 
 Jackson County, in 1873, where he died in 1876, 
 his wife surviving. Of this family there were Mon- 
 roe M., LeroyD. , James R. (deceased), George L., 
 Ashley, Maggie (Mrs. Hogan), Mollie (Mrs. Mc- 
 Farland), Lena (Mrs. Layton), Decatur (deceased), 
 Maud (deceased). The subject of this sketch, be- 
 ing raised on a farm, received his education in the 
 district schools of Gibson County. Coming to 
 Jackson County in 1873, he engaged in farming 
 until he entered the grocery and drug business, in 
 1883, erecting a frame building that year, having 
 lived in Tuckerman since 1882. In 1879, in El- 
 gin, this county, he married Nora Coe, daughter 
 
 of Thomas and Sarah (Coleman) Coe, early settlers 
 of Independence County, where the father was en- 
 gaged in mercantile business till his death, in 1864. 
 His wife died in 1885. They have a family of four 
 children: Gussie M., Gertie, Ralph and Kate. 
 Mr. Smith is active in politics, voting the Demo- 
 cratic ticket, and received his commission as jsost- 
 master from Cleveland. He has served as magis- 
 trate six years, has been delegate to county con- 
 ventions at different times, and was a delegate to 
 Little Rock, in 1888, to a convention of the various 
 Democratic clubs. He always takes an active in- 
 terest in all worthy enterprises for the advance- 
 ment of the county. 
 
 Hon. John W. Stayton is a prominent attorney 
 of Newport, Ark., and is a native-born resident of 
 Helena, Ark., his birth occurring on the 6th of 
 November, 1835. He is a son of Thomas N. and 
 Esther (Harns) Stayton, who were born in Dela- 
 ware and Virginia, respectively, but their mar- 
 riage occurred in the State of Arkansas, whither 
 the father had moved with his father. Hill D. 
 Stayton, in 1820. They located in what is now 
 Helena, Phillips County. Hill D. was a civil en- 
 gineer, and came here with a contract for sur- 
 veying land for the Government, and this occu- 
 pation he followed until his death. The ma- 
 ternal grandparents were Virginians, who, at an 
 early day, settled in the State of Kentucky, and 
 later in Louisana, coming from there to Arkansas 
 about the year 1832, also taking up their abode in 
 Helena. Mr. Harns was a planter, and died in 
 Helena. Thomas N. Stayton was a small boy 
 when he was brought to Arkansas, and his earlj' 
 youth was spent in farm labor. Like the majority 
 of boys, the occupation which received his atten 
 tion in his youth became his calling in after life, 
 and his enterprises in the interests of agriculture 
 have been attended with good results. Although 
 he has now almost attained his four- score years, 
 he is still quite active, the "ravages of time" 
 having had but little effect upon him. Of six 
 children born to himself and wife, but three are 
 living: John W., Dr. D. A., and R. F., wife of 
 Dr. C. C. Herring. John W. Stayton remained 
 on the home farm until he had attained his 
 

 Mississippi County, Arkansas. 
 
I 
 
A 
 
 ^ - 1> 
 
 JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 '.Id I 
 
 eighteenth year, when he entered the high school 
 of Helena, and while there formed the resolution 
 to make the profession of law his occupation 
 through life, and upon leaving school he entered 
 upon his legal studies with a determination to sue- i 
 ceed, and after a most thorough preparation he 
 was admitted to the bar in 1857, at Helena. From 
 tliat time until the opening of the Civil War he 1 
 was actively engaged in practicing in that town, 
 then took charge of the county clerk's office, and 
 served faithfully and well until the night of the 
 9th of July, 1862, when Helena was captured by 
 the Federal troops, and ovc^rybodj' was put under 
 arrest, Mr. Stayton being among the number. I 
 Upon his release he went to St. Louis, and being 
 urged by some of his friends to accept a position 
 there, did so, and remained about one year, i 
 From that time until 1866 he resided in Helena, 
 and at the latter date came to Jacksonport, and 
 embarked on the sea of merchandise, and success- [ 
 fully conducted this business until 1874, when he 
 again engaged in the practice of his profession. 
 The first office which he held was that of city re- 
 corder of his native town, and in 1808 he was 
 chosen mayor of Jacksonport, and in 1874 was 
 appointed by the governor as justice of the peace. ; 
 Upon the re-organization of the State government, 
 under the constitution of 1S74, he was elected on 
 the Democratic ticket, and in 1884 was chosen to 
 the position of State senator from the Twenty- 
 ninth District, and served a term of four years. 
 In 1885 he was elected president pro tern, of the 
 senate, and was acting governor in the absence of 
 Gov. Hughes. From 1874 to 1878 he was county 
 and probate judge, and the efficient manner in 
 which he discharged the duties incumbent upon 
 the different and responsible positions he has held 
 is too well known to need any additional words of 
 compliment; suffice it to say that he always labored 
 on the side of right and justice, and that his career 
 was above reproach. Since 1885 he has been a resi- 
 dent of Newport, and as a member of the legal 
 fraternity he has few superiors, and is a fluent and 
 elegant pleader. He has always been victorious 
 whenever his name has been announced before the 
 public as a candidate for any office, and, although he 
 
 has never been an office seeker, he has been i. >.,- 
 nized as a leader by his numerous friends and 
 acquaintances, and, as a natural result, honors have 
 been bestowed upon him. He is a member in good 
 standing of the Masonic fraternity. On the Slst 
 of June, 1861, he was united in marriage to Miss 
 Sarah J. Wickersham, a native of St. Louis, by 
 whom he has had four children, three now living: 
 JoHej>h M. . partner with John W. in l)usine.ss; 
 Mattie B. and John W., Jr. 
 
 George K. Stephens, a well-known liveryman 
 and farmer of Jackson County, was born in Madi- 
 son County, Tenn., in 1840, and is a son of Isaac 
 and Mary J. (York) Stephens, of North Carolina 
 and Tennessee, respectively, the father dying in 
 the latter State in 185'.l. After his death the family 
 moved to Jackson County, Ark., and located in 
 Bird Township, where they resided until the 
 mother's death, in 1882. George was reared prin- 
 cipally in Tennessee, and came to Jackson County, 
 Ark., when nineteen years of age. In 1861, when 
 the Civil War called so many thousands of young 
 men from home and family to face the fate that 
 awaited tliem from cold steel or leaden bullet, he 
 never hesitated a moment, but gallantly went forth 
 to bear arms and battle for the Confederacy. He 
 became a member of the First Arkansas Regiment, 
 and the first that left the State, and was mustered 
 in at Lynchburg, Va. His first battle was at Ma 
 nassas, and, after that engagement was over, he 
 was discharged, and returnetl to his home. 
 He soon enlisted again, however, and joined Hook-» 
 er's cavalry company, but was afterward dis- 
 mounted and put into the Thirty second Arkansas 
 regiment, in which body he served until the close 
 of the war. Mr. Stephens took part in a number 
 of battles, and, at the evacuation of Little Kock, 
 was captured and confined for two months in tliat 
 city. He was then taken to Pleasant Hill, and ex- 
 changed, and, in a l)attle some time afterward, re 
 ceived a wound in his left hand from a rifie ball. 
 After the war he returned home and resumed his 
 farm work, now owning between 8,000 and 4,(M10 
 acres of valuable laud, with about 5)00 acres under 
 cultivation. In 186V» he embarked in the livery bnsi 
 ness at Jacksonport. ami continued there until 
 
 3<: 
 
^' 
 
 902 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 1880, when he removed to Newport, where he has 
 been ever since, and has established a lucrative 
 trade. He was married, in 1866, to Miss Mary 
 Stewart, by whom be has had five children: Isaac 
 W. (who has charge of the livery business), Mary 
 A. (wife of Judge M. M. Stuekey), Florence M., 
 Fannie G. and Sarah. Mr. Stephens lost his first 
 wife, and, in 1878, was married to Miss Alice York, 
 by whom ie has had three children: Stella, Guy 
 and Lydia. He is a Mason, and a very popular 
 man in both business and social circles. 
 
 T. S. Stephens, the popular and efiicient sheriff 
 and collector of Jackson County, was born in 
 Madison County, Tenn., on the 30th of April, 
 1849, and is a son of Isaac and Mary J. (York) 
 Stephens, of North Carolina and Tennessee, re- 
 spectively. The parents were married in Jackson, 
 Tenn.. and resided in that city until the father's 
 death occiirred, in 1851. The mother was again 
 man-ied. her second husband being Alexander 
 Claridge, and shortly afterward moved to Jackson 
 County, Ark. Four children were born by her 
 first mairiage, three of them yet living: George 
 K., Fannie, widow of Elsie Brown, and Theophi- 
 lus S. , and by her second husband one child was 
 born, John H. The elder Stephens was a shoe- 
 maker by trade, and followed that vocation all his 
 life, while the husband of his widow, Mr. Claridge, 
 was a school-teacher, who taught for some time at 
 the West Union College, near Cuba. The latter 
 gentleman died at Sulphur Rock, Independence 
 County, about the year 1869, and his wife survived 
 him until 1882, dying in the town of Newport. T. 
 S. Stephens was only eight years old- when he 
 moved to Arkansas with his mother, and received 
 the greater portion of his education in Independ- 
 ence County. He remained on the farm and cul- 
 tivated the soil, an occupation he seemed to take 
 delight in, until his twentieth year, when he made 
 a visit to Jacksonport. While at that place he met 
 and was introduced to several business men, and 
 the idea of a commercial life then seemed to enter 
 his mind. The consequence was that he remained 
 at Jacksonport and went into one of the grocery 
 firms, where he clerked for several years. In 
 political life he was always very active, and after a 
 
 few years' residence in that city he was elected con- 
 stable, and filled the office for two terms, in the 
 meanwhile terminating his engagement with the 
 grocery firm, and carrying on a livery business of 
 his own. His integrity and the manner in which 
 he conducted himself while in office won the sup- 
 port of almost every citizen, and in 1882 he was 
 elected sheriff and collector, the office he fills at 
 present, and to which he has been re-elected four 
 terms Mr. Stephens owns about 1,200 acres of 
 good land, and has some 500 acres under cultiva- 
 tion, the soil being adapted to almost any kind of 
 growth, and also good for grazing purposes. On 
 March 4, 1884, he met and won Miss Belle Taylor 
 for his bride, who died in November of the same 
 year. His second wife was Miss Emma Kellogg, 
 whom he married on July 15, 1885. This union 
 gave them four childi-en, of whom three are yet 
 living: George K., Ralph C. and Mary J. Both 
 Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are members of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, while Mr. Stephens be- 
 longs to the Masonic fraternity, I. O. O. F. Lodge 
 and Encampment, Knights of Pythias, Knights of 
 Honor and Legion of Honor. He is prominent in 
 political affairs, and a popular man among all 
 classes of society, his position being such that he 
 is brought in contact with many different phases 
 of life while in the discharge of his duties. 
 
 A. Steveley, the proprietor of the Newport Lum- 
 ber Company, was born in Essex County, N. J., 
 May 1, 1824, and is a son of Andrew and Jean- 
 nette (Hay) Steveley, who were of Scotch descent. 
 The genealogy of the family can be traced back 300 
 years. Both the paternal and maternal grand- 
 parents died in New Jersey, in which State Andrew 
 Steveley also died, his death Ijeing caused from 
 cholera, in 1848. He was a copper refiner by oc- 
 cupation, and made this his calling through life. 
 A. Steveley, the subject of this sketch, is the only 
 one of the two childi-en, born to himself apd wife, 
 now living, and after his death his widow married 
 again, becoming the worthy companion of John 
 Frame, who was a participant in the War of 1812. 
 She also died in New Jersey. A. Steveley was 
 reared and educated in his native State, and in his 
 youth learned the cabinet-maker's trade. At the 
 
JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 903 
 
 [ 
 
 agt> of twenty-one years he left his home and 
 pareuts to take up his abode in New York City, 
 and after working at his trade in that city for about 
 five years he removed to the "Nutmeg State." 
 In 1857 we find him- in Wisconsin, which State 
 continued to be his home until 1873, in which year 
 he removed to the city of Chicago, where he acted 
 as foreman for different establishments until 1884. 
 At that time he removed to Newport, Ark., and be- 
 came manager for the Newport Lumber Company, 
 continuing as such until February, 1889, when he 
 bought oat the entire establishment, and has since 
 managed affairs alone. He manufactures lumber 
 of a fine grade, and ships to many different points, 
 but principally to Chicago, and his establishment 
 gives emploj'ment to about forty men the year 
 round. Mr. Steveley is a member in good standing 
 of the Masonic fraternity, is a public-spirited citi- 
 zen, and in the interest of all good works has been 
 an active participant. In 1846 he was married to 
 Maria Adair, a native of Pennsjdvania, and by her 
 he has five children: Eliza. Benjamin, Walter, 
 John and William. 
 
 Dr. J. H. Strider, though still a young man, 
 has established an enviable reputation in Jackson 
 County, and is one of its leading physicians. He 
 was born in Tallahatchee County, Miss., on the 
 ]'2th of July, 1857, and is a son of Henry A. and 
 Abigail (McMullen) Strider, the former a native of 
 Virginia, who moved to Mississippi in his boyhood, 
 locating in Tallahatchee County, where he was af- 
 terward married, residing there until his death, 
 in 1874, the wife, who was a native of Tennessee, 
 dying a number of years previous. They were the 
 parents of four children, of whom the Doctor is 
 the only survivor, and when the latter was only two 
 years old, he was taken charge of by an uncle, who 
 died in 1865, and later by his aunt, with whom he 
 still makes his home on a farm in Jackson County. 
 At the age of nineteen years he began the study of 
 medicine, and attended lectures at the University 
 of Nashville, from which institute he graduated in 
 1879. He immediately returned to Jackson Coun- 
 ty, and commenced practicing, which he continued 
 up to 1883, when he abandoned his profession, 
 much to the regret of a large number of friends. 
 
 and turned his attention entirely to farming. He 
 owns 480 acres of land, and has 200 acres under 
 cultivation, the largest portion of the farm having 
 been iniproved since his residence upon it. He 
 raises corn and cotton principally, but the soil is 
 valuable, and well adapted to almost any growth, 
 and he has l)een as successful in this venture as he 
 was in hia profession. In 1S79 the Doctor was 
 married to Miss Ada Frost, of Nashville, Tenn., 
 by whom he has had throe children: Maud, Mary 
 and Caroline, and he is a kind husband and in 
 dulgent father, as well as a valuable citizen to the 
 community. Dr. Strider is a member of the Bap- 
 tist Church, Masonic fiatemity, and the Agricult- 
 ural Wheel. 
 
 M. M. Stuckey, the county and probate judge of 
 Jackson County, and one of its leading men, was 
 born at Alton, 111., on the 16th of December, 1853, 
 and is a son of Michael ]M. and Amelia (Bush- 
 weiler) Stuckey, the father a native of Kentucky, 
 and the mother from Worms, Germany, in the 
 province of Hesse-Darmstadt, Mrs. Stuckey coming 
 from her native country with a cousin, Louis May, 
 who is now a prominent New York banker. The 
 father met and was married to her in Illinois, 
 where they resided for a number of years, and then 
 moved to Wichita, Kas. , their present residence. 
 The father is a well known and popular minister of 
 the Methodist faith. Nine children were born to 
 the parents, of whom eight are yet living: Mar- 
 garet, Lucy, M. M. , Milton, Frederick and Minnie. 
 The elder Stuckey was twice married previous to 
 meeting Miss Bushweiler, both of his former wives 
 being sisters by the name of McCauley. M. M. 
 Stuckey was reared and received a common school 
 education in Butler, 111., completing his studies at 
 the Depann University of Greencastle, lud. , which 
 he left at the end of the sophomore term. After 
 bis college days were over he traveled for thehonse 
 of R. L. Billingsley & Co., St. Louis, for a few 
 years, and then severed his connection with the 
 firm, coming immediately to Jackson County, Ark. 
 He there taught school for a short time, and com- 
 menced reading law under Jmlge Phillips. In 
 September, 1883, ho was admitted to the bur, and 
 in 1884 he commenced to practice, meeting with 
 
 i,pr 
 
remarkable success since that time. In 1886 he 
 was elected to his present office, and re-elected in 
 1888. Judge Stuckey is a self made man, and 
 one who has worked himself up in the world by his 
 own intellect and industry. He has made a repu 
 tatiou in his profession that is seldom equaled, 
 and it is said that he is better posted in the fine 
 points of law than any other lawyer in that sec- 
 tion. He was married, in July, 1888, to Miss Alice 
 Stephens, who has been a devoted wife, and is a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while 
 the Judge belongs to the I. O. O. F. He takes a 
 great interest in all affairs of his county, which he 
 understands will be of benefit to its citizens, and 
 he is one of the most popular men in that commu- 
 nity. The Judge has completed a set of abstract 
 books of Jackson County, which are a boon to its 
 citizens, as any title may be found within a few 
 minutes, and they are at his office for inspection 
 any day. 
 
 Solomon D. SuUins, a farmer and stock raiser, 
 residing on Section 29, Grubbs Township, Jackson 
 County, came to Arkansas with liis parents in the 
 year 1849. He is a son of Jesse and Catherine 
 (Eaves) Sullins, both natives of North Carolina, to 
 whom were born ten children, all of whom grew to 
 maturity, married, and have homes of their own. 
 One of the sons married in North Carolina, where he 
 still lives. The other members of the family who 
 are still living reside in Arkansas, all farmers and 
 farmers' wives. Solomon D. married Miss Sarah 
 A. Han kins, July 11, 1869. She is a native of 
 Georgia, from which State her jjarents moved to 
 Craighead County, Ark., and thence to Jackson 
 County. To Mr. and Mrs. Sullins have been born 
 eleven children, viz. : Celia C. , born in November, 
 1870, now the wife of Nathan Holbrook, of Bates- 
 ville, Independence County, Ark.; Georgia A., 
 born in September, 1872; Cornecei A., born in 
 January, 1874; William L., born March 30, 1875; 
 Isaac J., born in 187C; Sarah J., born in 1878; 
 Lydie O. , born in 1879; Mary Frances, born in 
 1881; James A., born in 1884; Solomon Wright, 
 born in 1886; and Jesse T., born in 1889. Mr. 
 Sullins commenced business for himself in Decem- 
 ber, 1866, working for three years with an older 
 
 brother, James Sullins, at the expiration of which 
 time he rented land that he cultivated one year. 
 He then bought a tract of land which was partly 
 improved, and had a very good log house which 
 had been erected by the former owner. He made 
 many substantial improvements on this place, 
 planting a good orchard of peaches and apples. 
 In 1882 Mr. Sullins rented and moved to the farm 
 upon which he now resides, which place he pur- 
 chased in 1884. He now owns in all 600 acres of 
 good land in Jackson County, which is well adapted 
 to all the varieties of products of the temperate 
 zone. Mr. and Mrs. Snllins and the four older 
 children are members of the Christian Church, 
 worshiping in Robinson's Chapel. 
 
 . J. A. Sursa was born in Madison County, 111. , 
 in 1840. He was the eldest in the family of seven 
 children born to William and Elizabeth (Steward) 
 Sursa, natives of Tennessee. William Sursa, who 
 was a farmer and millwright, moved from Tennes- 
 see to Madison County, 111., in 1832, locating on a 
 farm, upon which he remained until 1847; he then 
 moved to Jefferson County, purchasing a farm near 
 Mount Vernon, where he spent the remainder of 
 his life, his death occurring in 1865. Mrs. Eliz- 
 abeth Sursa still resides in Mount Vernon, 111. Of 
 their children besides our subject, George is mar- 
 ried, and is a farmer in Missouri, and Sarah, now 
 Mrs. Staley, lives near Mount Vernon, 111. J. A. 
 Sursa was brought up on a farm, receiving his 
 education in his native county. In 1876 he re- 
 moved to Jackson County, Ark. , first locating near 
 Elgin, where he worked as a farm laborer. He 
 then engaged in farming for himself, in Lawrence 
 County, Ark., purchasing in 1880 a tract of timber 
 of 120 acres, which he commenced clearing and 
 improving; he erected a good log house, and now 
 has all except forty acres fenced, with sixty acres 
 under cultivation. Mr. Sursa was married, in 
 Greene County in 1881, to Elizabeth Can, who was 
 born in Tennessee and reared in Kentucky, a 
 daughter of John and Margaret Can, the former of 
 whom died in Kentucky ; the mother removed to 
 Greene County in 1880, and later to Jackson County, 
 where she died in 1882. Mr. Sursa has a good 
 home in Glass Township, and devotes his entire 
 
atteution to farming and stock raising; he is inter- 
 ested in every enterprise for the advancement of 
 the county, and is a public spirited man. 
 
 John Sweat, residing between Weldon and Tu- 
 ytelo, on Section 9, was born in Georgia in May 
 1848, being a son of Noah and Betsy J. (Hargett) 
 Sweat, natives of South Carolina. John has been 
 a farmer all his life, having been reared on his 
 father's farm, and on coming to Arkansas rented 
 of L. B. McDonald, of Newport, Ark., where he 
 has lived for years. In 1888 he purchased 160 
 acres of land, about sixty being improved, and 
 since that time has cleared some twenty acres, 
 about ten being under cultivation. Mr. Sweat has 
 345 acres under cultivation on the McDonald farm. 
 His father served three years in the Confederate 
 army, participating in the battles of Shiloh and 
 New Hope. December 26, 1883, Mr. Sweat mar- 
 ried Miss Jennie Cooper; they have had a family 
 of four children: Columbus, Maud, Lena and 
 John. Mr. and Mrs Sweat are memliers of the 
 Sand Hill Missionary Baptist Church. 
 
 E. J. Taylor, a prominent and enterprising 
 citizen of Bird Township, Jackson County, was 
 born in North Carolina in 1814, the fifth child of 
 Charles and Mary (Turner) Taylor, of North Car- 
 olina, the father an extensive planter of North 
 Carolina, who died in Mississippi in 1855, his ex- 
 cellent wife dying in 1836. The subject of this 
 sketch was reared on the farm, and educated in 
 the subscription schools of Alabama, and at the 
 age of twenty two enlisted for three months' serv- 
 ice under Gen. Scott, against the Creek and Sem- 
 inole Indians, after which time he clerked in 
 Huntsville, Ala., for nine years, and in 1845 went 
 to Memphis, and conducted a general store. After 
 his man-iage, in 1850, he engaged in farming, in 
 Do Soto County, Miss. , till after the close of the 
 war. He improved a large plantation, and in 1866 
 moved to Memphis, and opened a grocery and 
 commission business, which he conducted until 
 1873, when he sold the business, and came to Bird 
 Township, locating at Elgin. He engaged in farm- 
 ing, and now owns a good farm of '2,000 acres, 
 in Jackson and Independence Counties, with 600 
 under cultivation, raising principally cotton. In 
 
 57 
 
 connection witli his sun, James ().. lie has a cot- 
 ton-gin and grist mill, and also a Ininbermill, for 
 their own use. They also have a supply store. 
 His son is jiostmaster at Elgin. Our subject is a 
 Democrat, and a member of Memphis Lodge, A. 
 F. & A. M., and he and his wife are members of 
 the Methodist Episcoi)al Church, South. In 1850 
 he married Mary J. Oliver, a native of Georgia, 
 and daughter of James and Lucy (Clark) Oliver, of 
 Virginia and Georgia; the father died in 1848, 
 and the mother in 1850. They have two children: 
 James O. married Julia Ethel Doswell, and Lucy 
 Ann. Mr. Taylor is actively interested in every 
 thing pertaining to the good of the county. 
 
 Thomas Toler is a native of Johnson County. 
 N. C, and was born in November. 1844. He is a 
 son of Thomas and Mary (Holder) Toler, who were 
 the parents of eleven children, of whom our sub- 
 ject was next to the youngest. Both the paternal 
 and maternal ancestors were of Irish descent, and 
 were pioneers of North Carolina. The father of 
 our subject, who was a native of \\'ayne County, 
 N. C, owned and operated a very large plantation 
 in Johnson County, where he was a well-known and 
 influential man. He was a soldier in the War of 
 1812, and for many years served as magistrate, 
 taking an active part in politics and sympathizing 
 with the Whig party. He died in Johnson CJounty 
 in 1849, his widow surviving until 1865. Thomas 
 Toler, the subject of this sketch, was reared to the 
 pursuit of farming, receiving his education in the 
 district and subscription schools of Johnson County. 
 In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-fourth 
 North Carolina Infantry, and was mustered into 
 service at Weldon, N. C. , June 24. He took part 
 in the Seven Days' Battle around Richmond, the 
 battle of Antietam, Winchester, and at the siege of 
 Petersburg, doing service with the corps of sharp- 
 shooters; he received a wound in the left leg and 
 was first confined in the hospital at Richmond. 
 He was then sent home on wounded furlough, 
 where he was captured liy Sherman, taken before 
 Blair, and was impri.soned at Hart's Island. N. Y., 
 until the close of the war. Returning to Johnson 
 County, N. C. , he engaged in fanning until 1S67. 
 when he went to Obion Countv. Ti'im unil fniin.M] 
 
<s s.^ 
 
 LLt 
 
 906 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 two years. In 1869 he removed to Jackson Coun- 
 ty, Ark., and two years later bought a tract of 160 
 acres, in Glass Township, six acres of which were 
 cleared. He planted an orchard and made some 
 improvements, after which he sold out and rented 
 land. In 1877 he purchased 240 acres, which were 
 partly improved, and which he still owns, having 
 now under cultivation seventy -five acres, upon 
 which he raises some timothy and clover, but more 
 cotton. Mr. Toler read law at one time and now 
 does some successiul practicing in the justice's 
 court, having served as justice of the peace since 
 1883. Mr. Toler was first married, in Sampson 
 County, N. C. , in 1864, to Virginia J. Walton, of 
 Raleigh, N. C, who died in 1879. Of the children 
 born to this union four are living, viz. : Thomas W. , 
 a phj'sician and surgeon, of Swifton; Charles A., a 
 traveling salesman; Anna V. and tdward C. In 
 1880 Mr. Toler married Martha Lollar, of Law- 
 rence County, Ark. , whose parents, David and Sarah 
 (Michael) Lollar, were natives of North Carolina, 
 and settled in Lawrence County, Ai-k. , before the 
 war, where the mother still lives, the father being 
 deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Toler have three chil- 
 dren: William A., Mary Carolina and Mattie. 
 Mr. Toler is an active politician, voting with the 
 Democrats. He is also a member and elder in the 
 Christian Church, and one of the most prominent 
 and influential farmers of Glass Township. 
 
 Rush L. Tucker, farmer and stock raiser, of 
 Grande Glaise Township, was born in Arkansas, 
 October 22, 1843, the son of Stitch and Minerva 
 (Steel) Tucker. Our subject's grandfather came 
 to Arkansas in 1812, when Stitch was one year old. 
 He had three children by his first wife, the father 
 of Rush L. being the third, who died at the age 
 of thirty-eight, his wife dying in 1873. In Stitch 
 Tucker's family there were three children: Sarah 
 E. , Chester A. and Rush L. The latter received 
 his education iu the private schools of his county. 
 In 1862 he enlisted in the Thirty-fourth Regiment 
 Arkansas Volunteers, and served until October, 
 1864. Mr. Tucker is the owner of 150 acres of 
 land, which he gained by inheritance, 100 acres from 
 his mother' s estate, the remainder from his father's. 
 He has been a large land owner, but has sold it, till 
 
 he now owns but 160 acres, twenty- five of which are 
 under cultivation. He was married, January 31, 
 1864, to Miss Mary L. Hall, a native of Tennessee. 
 They had three children, two now living: Stephen 
 H. and Chester A. September 12, 1875, he mar- 
 ried Miss Celia Foster, a native of Arkansas. 
 Their three children are Lucy, Robert Lee and 
 Jesse Gray. October 12, 1886, Mr. Tucker mar- 
 ried Miss Mary Snider, of Mississippi, who has 
 borne one child, Nellie Ann. Mr. Tucker is a mem- 
 ber of Byers Lodge No. 81, A. F. & A. M., of 
 Bradford, White County, Ark. He takes no act- 
 ive part in politics, but is a Democrat, and is a 
 friend to all religious, social and educational ad- 
 vancement. 
 
 Joseph J. Walker, circuit clerk and ex-officio 
 county clerk and recorder, of Jackson County, was 
 born in Christian County, Ky. , on November 12, 
 1843. His parents were Joseph and Delila A. 
 (CofPman) Walker, of Logan County, Ky. , and of 
 Scotch and Dutch descent. The Walker family 
 were among the early settlers of Kentucky, and 
 the grandfather, in his younger days, was an asso- 
 ciate of Daniel Boone. The father was left an 
 orphan when quite small, and was reared on a farm, 
 but ujJon reaching maturity, he branched out for 
 himself and entered into commercial life, at Chilli- 
 cothe. Mo., where he remained several years. He 
 next resided in Greene County, 111., where he died 
 in 1871, the mother also dying in that county, in 
 1886. They were the parents of eight children, of 
 whom six are yet living: William E., of Boone 
 County, Ark. ; George H. , of Quincy, III. ; Mary, 
 widow of John Fitzsimmons, of Carrollton, III. ; 
 Joseph J., Phillip, deceased; John R., James V., 
 and Emma, deceased. Joseph was reared in Ken- 
 tucky until his fifteenth year, when he moved to 
 Missouri with his parents, in which State he re 
 mained until the Civil A\'ar commenced. After 
 that he went to Quincy, 111., and from there to 
 Atchison, Kas. , then to Nebraska City and finally 
 back to Quincy, 111., where he resided until 1866, 
 when he came to Jackson County, Ark., and located 
 at Elgin. He here found employment as book- 
 keeper with a business house in that town and 
 remained with the firm three years. He next 
 
d^ 
 
 commenced farming and continued at that until 
 the fall of 1875, when he removed to Jackson- 
 port, and again entered into mercantile life, con- 
 tinuing in that branch until 1883. He then en- 
 tered the sheriff's office as deputy, and continued 
 in that capacity until the fall of 1884, when he was 
 elected to his present office, and twice re-elected. 
 Mr. Walker is one of the pioneers of this section, 
 and a prominent and influential man in the com- 
 munity. He is a member of the Masonic Order and 
 Knights of Honor, as well as the American Legion 
 of Honor. He was married August 3, 1869, to 
 Miss Deborah B. Foushee, by whom he has had 
 live children: Joseph, Owen, Emma, Mattie and 
 Bessie, and with his wife he attends the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. 
 
 James Edward Wallace, a planter and stock 
 raiser of Union Township, Jackson County, was 
 born in Rutherford County, N. C. , Sept(*mber 7, 
 185'2, and is a son of Wesley W. and Isabella 
 (Rutherford) Wallace, natives, respectively, of Edin- 
 burg, Scotland, and Rutherford County, N. C. 
 Wesley W. Wallace emigrated to Mount Pleas- 
 ant, Miss., about 1852, where he lived until 1862, 
 when he removed to Arkansas, locating on Village 
 Creek, Section 10, Jackson County, on the farm 
 now owned by J. W. Parish: upon this farm Mr. 
 Wallace lived until his death, in 1865, and was 
 l)uried in the family cemetery, which was on the 
 farm. He was the father of twelve children, eight 
 of whom grew to maturity, viz. : Sarah (who died 
 at the age of twenty years), William (who served 
 in the Confederate Army, Seventh Arkansas Reg- 
 iment, under command of Col. Cleburne, and at 
 the battle of Franklin, Tenn., lost his right arm, 
 died in 1871, and was buried in the family ceme- 
 tery), Carrie (who married Dr. Chuun, and now re- 
 sides at Searcy, White County, Ark.), James E. , 
 Amelia (wife of N. B. Wishon, of Newport, Ark.), 
 Mary (who married I. D. Price, postmaster of 
 Newport), llina (wife of W. C. Wishon, agent for 
 the Adams Express Company at Newport), Katie 
 (wife of a i)hysician at St. Louis, Mo.), John W., 
 and Dr. R. W. (who married a Miss Brooks, of 
 Florida, and now resides in Texas engaged in 
 farming and stock raising). James E. Wallace 
 
 was but thirteen years of age at the time of his 
 father's death, and being one of the elder boys a 
 great deal of responsibility fell upon him. He 
 assumed the management of the farm and took 
 upon himself the rearing and educating of the 
 younger children, all of which he performed with 
 credit. Mr. Wallace now owns three farms, con- 
 taining in all about 540 acres, of which 212 acres 
 are well improved and under cultivation, growing 
 principally cotton and corn, with some oats, millet, 
 clover, etc. October 11, 1877, he married Mary 
 E. Hart, who is a native of Tennessee. Of their 
 four children three died in infancy; the survivor, 
 William Wallace, was born March 11, 1884. Mr. 
 Wallace is a member of Newport Lodge, I.O.O.F., 
 which he joined in his twenty-first year. 
 
 John A\ . Wallace, a prosperous and enterpris- 
 ing merchant, of Newport, Ark. , was born in Mar- 
 shall County, Miss., in the town of Holly Springs, 
 on the 2l)th of January, 1854, l)oing a son of Wes- 
 ley W. and Isabella M. (Rutherford) Wallace, the 
 former a native of South Carolina, and the latter 
 of North Carolina. They were married in North 
 Carolina, and at an early day removed to the State 
 of Mississippi, where they purchased a farm and a 
 number of slaves, and conducted their plantation 
 with success for a number of years. About 1802 
 they removed to the State of Arkansas, and located 
 in Jackson County, and from that time until the 
 father's death, in 1865, he was engaged in farming 
 a large plantation near Newport. His widow sur- 
 vived him until 1877, when she, too, passed to her 
 long home. Eight of a family of eleven children 
 survive them: Carrie V. (wife of Dr. T. D. Chunn), 
 James E., Amelia (wife of N. B. Wishon). John 
 W., Mamie (wife of I. D. Price), Rina E. (wife of 
 \V. C. Wishon). Kate (wife of Dr. G. Hurt), and 
 Robert W. John W. Wallace, the subject of this 
 biography, was only eight years of age at the time 
 of his parents' location in this county, and here he 
 was reared and educated, and after securing a good 
 common school education he completed his scho- 
 lastic training in the Xorth Arkansas College. Upon 
 leaving his school days liehind him he started out 
 in life for himself as a clerk for Wishon Bros., of 
 Jacksonport, and after remaining with them in this 
 
908 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 capacity for seven years he was taken into the busi- 
 ness as a partner. They only remained thus con- 
 nected one year, when Mr. Wallace sold to them 
 his interest and embarked in the same enterprise 
 on his own responsibility, establishing himself in 
 Newport, the firm name being John W. Wallace & 
 Co. At the end of one year he purchased his part- 
 ner's interest and has since been alone. He was 
 so unfortunate as to lose his property in the fire of 
 1883, but he removed to Rogers, Ark. , and opened 
 a store; not liking the location, however, he sold 
 his goods and returned to Newport. His stock of 
 goods is well selected and extensive, and Mr. Wal- 
 lace fully deserves the success which is attending 
 his labors, for he conducts his affairs on strictly 
 honest principles, and is enterprising and industri- 
 ous. He belongs to the Royal Arcanum, and he 
 and wife, whose maiden name was Vannie Lynn, 
 and whom he married in 1884, are members of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. She was born 
 iu the State of Indiana, and by Mr. Wallace is the 
 mother of one child — Ruth. 
 
 T. T. Ward. One of the best known members 
 of the Arkansas press, is Mr. Ward, who edits the 
 Jackson County Herald. He was born in Bertie 
 County, N. C, on February 8, 1843, and is a .son 
 of T. W. and Frances E. (Bentley) Ward, of the 
 same State. The father died while on the way 
 with his family to the State of Tennessee, and is 
 buried at Glade Spring, Va. The other members 
 of the family came on to Tennessee and located at 
 Brownsville, where they remained until 1852, 
 when they moved to Batesville, Ark. Young 
 Ward was reared and educated in Batesville, and 
 at the age of thirteen years was apprenticed to the 
 printer's trade, which he had thoroughly learned 
 at the end of his term. At the outbreak of the 
 Civil War he enlisted in Company E, Seventh Ar- 
 kansas regiment, and served until the surrender, 
 taking part in the battles of Shiloh, Mufreesboro, 
 Chickamauga, Franklin, and in fact all the greater 
 engagements. His war record is one that will 
 never be tarnished by time nor die out of the rec- 
 ollection of his old comrades, and no man ever 
 fought more gallantly for the caiise he undertook 
 than did Private Ward. On December 16, 1864, 
 
 he was severely wounded by a rifle ball in the 
 right wrist, but after his recovery continued to 
 serve until the surrender. After the war was over 
 he returned to his trade, and in 1879 purchased 
 the Herald, which,vinder his management, advanced 
 to a larger circulation than it had ever attained 
 before. In 1882 he moved the paper to Newport, 
 and has since then issued it from that city. Mr. 
 Ward was married in 1871 to Miss Belle Harbison, 
 by whom he has had two children: Allie and May, 
 and has one of the brightest homes in Northeast Ar- 
 kansas. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
 W. J. Watkins. A name that is familiar to 
 many households in Northeast Arkansas, and one 
 of the leading physicians in that section, is Dr. 
 Watkins. He was born in Rush County, Ind. , 
 on October 14, 1849, and is a son of Joseph and 
 Sarah A. (Miller) Watkins, of North Carolina and 
 Virginia, respectively. The families are of Welsh 
 and German descent, and the grandparents on 
 both sides were born in Virginia. The paternal 
 grandfather emigrated to North Carolina, and re- 
 sided in that State several years, when he removed 
 to Rush County, Ind. , where he died, as did also 
 the maternal grandfather. The father of Dr. 
 Watkins was a farmer, and was married in Indiana. 
 In his latter days he carried on a successful bro- 
 kerage business, and at the time of his death was 
 one of the best known brokers in Brown County. 
 His body was removed to Rush County and buried, 
 as was also that of the mother. They were the 
 parents of eight children, of whom seven are still 
 living: Berry H. , Martha, Perry, William J., 
 Louisiana, Hester A. and Felicia. The Doctor 
 was reared in Rush County, and moved to Brown 
 County when in his fourteenth year. He received 
 a very liberal education in his youth, and, at the 
 age of seventeen years, began to stvidy medicine. 
 In 1867 he commenced to attend the medical lec- 
 tures at the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, 
 and, in 1872, he graduated from the Cincinnati 
 College of Medicine and Surgery. After being thor- 
 oughly versed in his profession he went to New- 
 burg, Ind., and commenced practicing. He re- 
 mained there a short time, and then moved to Ar- 
 kansas, locating at Clover Bend, but, three years 
 
 ^i 
 
— * \>?^ 
 
 JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 flOO 
 
 after, he again ehanged, and settled at Walnut 
 Ridge, in the same county, whore he remained un- 
 til the spring of 1889, when he left, to the regret 
 of many friends, and moved to Newport. Ho is 
 building up a fine practice, and is regarded as one 
 of the most competent physicians in that section, 
 besides being a very popular man socially. He is 
 a member of the Lawrence County Medical Asso- 
 ciation, and was its president for a number of 
 years, as well as being a member of the State Medi- 
 cal Society. The Doctor also belongs to the 
 Knights of Honor, and was the State medical ex- 
 aminer of that organization for three and one-half 
 years, also belonging to the Masonic fraternity. 
 He was married in 1872 to Miss Elizabeth T. Jen- 
 kins, daughter of Dr. J. H. and Sarah C. {nee 
 Wayland) Jenkins, both natives of Kentucky, by 
 whom he has had one child, G. Masey, the lady 
 being a sincere and conscientious Christian, and a 
 member of the Presbyterian Church. Dr. M'at- 
 kins has become one of the most enterprising and 
 valuable citizens of whom Lawrence County can 
 boast. He is always a leading spirit in anything 
 advancing and improving the community. 
 
 E. L. Watson. In any worthy history of Jack- 
 son County, Ark. , the name that heads this sketch 
 will always be given an enviable place among the 
 leading citizens of the county, and its self-made 
 wealthy l>usines8 men. His experience in life has 
 been quite a varied one, but at the same time re- 
 flects only credit upon him as a man. He was 
 born in Pulaski County, Ga., November 25, 1819, 
 and is a son of Grin and Lydia (Smith) Watson, 
 who were of English descent, early settlers of 
 Georgia, and removed to Tennessee, locating in 
 Henry County, in 1822, where his motlier died, in 
 1828, and his father died on his second trip from 
 his home in Georgia, in camp on Chattanooga 
 Mountains, Tennessee, in 1822. The father was 
 a farmer by occupatii^n, and he and wife became 
 the parents of thirteen childi'en, three of whom 
 are living: LeRoy, Martha A. and Elbert L. 
 The most important years of the latter's life were 
 spent in Tennessee, after he had reached his fif- 
 teenth year, and although he was reared in town, 
 most of the education he received was obtained 
 
 through self application. In 1836 ho left home 
 and kindred to tight his own way in the world, and 
 soon found himself in Hickman County, Ky., where 
 he remained until 18,")!, being engaged in the oc- 
 cupation of merchandising and farming. He also 
 served for quite a number of years as sheriff of 
 that county. On the 2yth of December, 1853, he 
 arrived in Jackson County, Ark., and immediately 
 located in Jacksonjiort, where he opened a mer 
 cantile establishment, conducting the same with 
 the best of success for a great many years, but 
 in ISfil gave up this work to enlist in Patterson's 
 Eighth Arkansas Regiment, serving until the month 
 of June, 1862, when, on account of rheumatism, he 
 was compelled to resign, and returned to his home 
 and fireside. In 1883 he removed to Newport, 
 where he carried on merchandising until February, 
 1886, when he sold out and engaged in the broker's 
 business, which he is still successfully conducting. 
 He has now in process of erection, a substantial 
 bank, iind is putting in a tine iron and steel cased 
 burglar and fireproof vault, at a great expense, and 
 the bank, when finished, will be known as the 
 Newport Safe Deposit Bank. Mr. Watson owns 
 about 20,000 acres of land in Jackson and adjoin- 
 ing counties, a part of which is occupied by ten- 
 ants, and several of his farms are very finely im- 
 proved and are very valuable. To his second 
 marriage, with Miss Lizzie J. Caldwell, in 1858, a 
 family of five children have been born: Oren D. , 
 Mattie, Ellen, Birdie and Bessie. Mrs. Watson 
 is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, • 
 and he is a Mason, and is one of the leading and 
 prominent men of Jackson County, having been a 
 resident of this county for thirty-six years. 
 
 T. J. Watson, a retired and highly respected 
 merchant of Jackson County, was born in Hick- 
 man County, Ky., on the 8th of December, 1845, 
 and is a son of E. L. and Mary (James) Watson. 
 Mr. Watson was liut nine years old when he came 
 to Jackson County, Ark. , with his parents and re- 
 ceived the greater portion of his education at the 
 Forest Homo Academy. Like many of the young 
 men at that period, his Southern blood was aroused 
 at the first intimation of war. and he joined the 
 Confederate army in the early days of the rebellion, 
 
910 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 becoming a member of the Tenth Tennessee Cav- 
 alry, Company E. He took part in the fight at 
 Parker's Cross Roads, Thompson's Station and a 
 number of other engagements and skirmishes, and 
 in February, 1864, he was captured at Fort Donel- 
 son and confined for about three months. At the 
 end of that time he was paroled and returned 
 home, where he embarked in business at Jackson- 
 port, until February, 1883, when he moved to New 
 port and carried on his business quite extensively, 
 but in 1889 he sold out and has been practically 
 retired ever since. In 1874 he was elected by the 
 county court to collect the revenue of Jackson 
 County, but owing to some fault of the bond, 
 which was $200,000. he was never qualified. Mr. 
 Watson was married in 1869 to Miss Elizaleth 
 Boyd, of Jackson County, by whom he has had 
 five children: Kate M., Lucy, Elbert L., Bessie 
 and Fannie. He is a member of the Masonic fra- 
 ternity and Hugh DePayne Commandery at Little 
 Rock, as also the Hiram Council No. 18 and 
 Blue Lodge, at Newport, holding the offices of 
 Past Master of the Blue Lodge, and Past High 
 Priest of Jackson Chapter, as well as positions in 
 the Council; he is also an ex-member of the Knights 
 of Pythias and Ancient Order of Odd Fellows. He 
 is also Senior Warden of the lodge at Newport, and 
 has been representative of the Masonic fraternity 
 at the Grand Lodge. Mr. Watson is a full fledged 
 Mason, and takes a deep interest in all matters 
 pertaining to the fraternity. 
 
 Dr. R. P. Watson, of Newport, Jackson Coun- 
 ty, was born in Hempstead County, Ark. ; in 1848, 
 and is the only child of William and Nellie (Cald- 
 well) Watson, natives, respectively, of Virginia 
 and Arkansas. William Watson emigrated from 
 Virginia to Middle Tennessee at an early day, and 
 in 1837 located in Hempstead County, Ark. ; he 
 was a physician and surgeon, and became the 
 owner of a large plantation in Hempstead County. 
 In 1858 he moved to Jackson County, and the fol- 
 lowing year went to Craighead County, where he 
 engaged in farming and tlie practice of his profes- 
 sion until his death, which occurred in 1864; he 
 served in the Mexican War, and took quite an act- 
 ive part in politics as a JefFersonian Democrat. The 
 
 mother of our subject died in 1855. Dr. R. P. 
 Watson was reared to the pursuit of farming; he 
 attended the common schools of his native county, 
 and after his father's death educated himself, at- 
 tending the seminary at Jonesboro until 1870, 
 when he entered the old University Medical Col- 
 lege at Louisville, graduating from the latter insti- 
 ' tution in 1872. The same year he commenced the 
 practice of medicine at Jonesboro, remaining, how- 
 ever, but a short time. He also acted as medical 
 examiner for a New York life insurance company. 
 November 7, 1872, Dr. Watson married Martha 
 Florence Dodd, of Jackson County, a daughter of 
 Atlas and Margery (Stegall) Dodd, the former a 
 native of Mississippi, and the latter of Memphis, 
 Tenn. Mr. and Mrs. Dodd came to Jackson 
 County, at an early day, and settled in Village 
 Township, where Dr. Watson now resides; they 
 j now live in Izard County, Ark. After his mar- 
 riage. Dr. Watson removed to Jackson County, 
 j and engaged in farming in connection with his 
 practice. In 1881 he removed to La Crosse, Izard 
 County, where he devoted the greater part of his 
 attention to his profession; in 1884 the cyclone 
 destroyed his residence, and the following year he 
 moved to his present residence. Dr. Watson owns 
 2, 354 acres of land in one tract, of which 350 acres 
 are under cultivation, and near by has another 
 farm of 1000 acres, with 350 acres more improved. 
 I He has erected a good cotton-gin and grist and 
 j saw-mill, and has been one of the leading stock- 
 I men of the county. He is a member of the White 
 River Stock Breeders' Association, and owns a great 
 many fine full-blooded horses and cattle and hogs, 
 in which he takes a great deal of pride. Politi- 
 cally he is in sympathy with the Democratic party, 
 and has twice been a delegate to the State Conven- 
 tion. He is a member of Philadelphia Lodge No. 
 127, A. F. & A. M., of Izard County, and also 
 belongs to the I. O. O. F. at Newport. Six chil- 
 dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Watson, viz.: 
 Margery Ella, Belle, Willie Dodd, who died in 
 1881, aged eighteen months; Gracie, Baxter B. 
 and Robert S. Mrs. Watson is a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and also of the East- 
 ern Star Chapter, of Newberg. The Doctor is one 
 
 ^ 
 
 f 
 
JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 'J 11 
 
 of the live and enterprising men of Jackson Coun- 
 ty, where he is well known for his public spirit 
 and active interest in every public enterprise. 
 
 Robert West, farmer and stock raiser, is a na- 
 tive of Tennessee, the son of Robert C. and Sarah 
 (Willard) West, of North Carolina and South Car- 
 olina, respectively. They had a family of eleven 
 children, of whom only two, the subject of our 
 sketch and Dr. Crawford West, of Tuckerman, 
 born May 18, 1855, are now living.. Robert West 
 came from South Carolina with his parents, to 
 Arkansas, in the year 1S(J6, locating in Jackson 
 County upon a farm rented of W. R. Jones; they 
 lived there one year, then rented a farm of a non- 
 resident, where they lived one year; they again 
 rented of Mr. W. R. Jones, and the following 
 year bought a farm in Union Township, where the 
 father died at the age of lifty-two. In 1875 he 
 bought land in Union Township, Section 30, and 
 after remaining there one year, bought the farm 
 upon which he now lives. This farm was partly 
 improved. At the present time Mr. West owns 
 450 acres of cotton and corn land, 205 acres of 
 which are cultivated; in addition to this, he is cul- 
 tivating 800 acres of rented land. Mr. West is a 
 man of unusual energy and determination, such a 
 one as is needed to build up a country like 
 this. In 1874, October 24th, Robert married Miss 
 Josephine E. Miller; they have had a family of 
 live children, three of whom are now living: Sarah 
 Emma (born November 11, 1878), Cromwell H. 
 (born February 18, 1886), and Thurman (born 
 December 13, 1888). Mrs. West's parents were 
 George W\ and Emma (H.) Miller, who were among 
 the early settlers of Arkansas. 
 
 Wiley J. Westmoreland, farmer and stock 
 raiser, is a son of William and Annie (Bridges) 
 Westmoreland, natis'es of Georgia, M'illiam's father 
 being a native of Westmoreland County, Va. 
 Wiley J. was born March 16, 1833, in Georgia, 
 being the eldest of a family of twelve, four of 
 whom are still living in Arkansas. Our subject 
 was raised on a farm, and never engaged in any 
 other business than farming. He came to Arkansas 
 with his parents in 1857, and made his Jir.st pur- 
 chase of land, a forty-acre tract, in 1859, in White 
 
 j County. About twenty acres were cultivated; be 
 put in one crop, and in the fall of that year sold 
 it, after which he rented land, which ho worked 
 till 18(52, when he enlisted in the Thirty-fourth 
 Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment, participat- 
 ing in the Prairie Grove battle in 1802, the battle 
 of Helena in 1803, and also the battles of Pleas- 
 
 j ant Hill and Jenkins' Ferry, and served faithfully 
 till May 5, 1805, when he returned home, having 
 been under Gen. Kirby's command, Pierce's divi- 
 
 I sion. On bis return, he rented a farm in Barren 
 
 i Township, where he lived till 1808, when he 
 bought the farm upon which he now lives. At 
 the present time, he has forty acres under cultiva- 
 tion, and raises good grades of horses, cattle and 
 hogs. In 1885 Mr. We-stmoreland married Mrs. 
 Sarah (Gray) Swick, who has one child, Susan 
 Naomi Swick. They have had no children. Mr. 
 Westmoreland has served his township as school 
 director for five years, and in May last was elected 
 for a term of three years. In politics, he is a 
 Democrat, and with his wife, belongs to the Mis- 
 sionary Baptist Church of Denmark, a small vil- 
 lage of Barren Township. 
 
 J. M. M'estmoreland, farmer and stock raiser, 
 Bradford, Ark. Originally from Coweta County, 
 Ga., Mr. Westmoreland's birth occurred in 1853, 
 and he is the youngest in a family of eleven chil- 
 dren born to the union of Dr. William and Anna 
 (Bridges) Westmoreland, both natives of the same 
 State as their son. Dr. William Westmoreland 
 attained his growth, and was married in his native^ 
 
 , State, removing from there to Arkansas in 18511. 
 
 I He settled in White County, Liberty Township, 
 and there ret\ted land, but at the same time fol- 
 lowed his profession, becoming prominentl}- known 
 
 1 all over the county in the latter capacity. He then 
 moved to Jackson County, Barren Township, where 
 
 ! he purchased an unimproved farm, and l)pcame 
 well known all over the county, not only as a sue 
 cessful and eminent physician, but as a social, 
 pleasant gentleman. He was a Democrat in poli- 
 
 I tics, and socially a Ma.son. His death occurred on 
 the 2d of June. 1S77, and his wife j)revious to 
 this, on the 21st of February, 1S74. J. M. West- 
 moreland, like the average country boy. a.ssisted on 
 
912 
 
 HISTORY OF AEKANSAS. 
 
 the farm and received his education in the district 
 schools of Barren Township. He was married in 
 that township, in 1883, to Miss Nettie Lovell, a 
 native of Missouri, and afterward settled on his 
 present property, where he has 125 acres of land, 
 with thirty-five acres under cultivation. He has 
 erected good houses and out -buildings. He is at 
 present quite deeply interested in the raising of 
 stock. He votes with the Democratic party, but is 
 not active in politics. Mr. and Mrs. Westmore- 
 land are members of the Baptist Church. Their 
 marriage was blessed by the birth of two children: 
 Willie and Alta. Mr. Westmoreland has always 
 taken an active interest in all matters relating to 
 the community's welfare, and is a tirst-class citizen. 
 John N. Williamson, of Arkansas, planter and 
 stock raiser, was born in Marshall County, Tenn. , 
 in 1822. His father was John Williamson, of 
 Virginia, who married Mary Hunter, of South 
 Carolina, and was a farmer and one of the early 
 settlers of Tennessee, where he died, in Marshall 
 County, in 1832, his widow surviving till 1852. 
 John N., the sixth in a family of eight children, was 
 raised on the farm and received his education in 
 the subscription schools of Tennessee. He followed 
 the life of a farmer, and in 1850 moved to Greene 
 County, Mo., where he remained for five years, 
 then going to Cedar County, of the same State, 
 and in the fall of 1860 removed to Sharp County, 
 Ark., engaging in farming jsart of the time during 
 the war, in Missouri. In 1866 he came to Jackson 
 County, Ark. , located at Elgin, renting land, and in 
 1870 bought a timber tract of 160 acres, on which 
 there were no improvements, and no settlement be- 
 tween there and Elgin. For 120 acres of this 
 land he paid $16 an acre, and for forty acres, $10. 
 He at once cleared off a place for a cabin, and 
 commenced clearing and improving the land, until 
 now he has eighty acres under cultivation, on' which 
 is a good orchard. He raises a good grade of 
 stock. In 1847 Mr. Williamson married Willmarth 
 Roberts, a native of Marshall County, Tenn., born 
 in 1829, the daughter of Jeremiah and Rebecca 
 (Jones) Roberts, of Virginia and North Carolina, 
 who were among the early settlers of Tennessee. 
 They have been dead some years. To Mr. and 
 
 Mrs. Williamson have been born twelve children, 
 eight of whom are living: Narcissa (died at the 
 age of nine), James M. (died at the age of twenty), 
 Thomas N. (of JefPerson Township), Mary E. (died 
 at the age of sixteen), Christopher C. (of Bird 
 Township), John F. (of Western Arkansas), An- 
 drew Jackson (died at the age of twenty), William 
 S. , Sarah Frances (resides in the West), Virginius 
 F., Josephine J. (at home), and Monroe Pinckne\' 
 (at home). Mrs. Williamson is a Baptist in belief. 
 Mr. Williamson is a Democrat, but not an ofiSce 
 seeker, and always takes an active interest in public 
 enterprises for the advancement of the county. 
 Our subject is practically a self-made man, and one 
 of the leading citizens of the county. 
 
 P. L. Williamson, farmer, of Bird Township, 
 was born in Limestone County, Ala, in 1828, the 
 only child of F. L. and Sarah (Lookenbill) Wil 
 liamsou, the father a native of England, who came 
 to this country at an early day, married in Virginia, 
 and finally settled in Tennessee, where he died in 
 1828. Our subject's mother went to Alabama be- 
 fore the country was sectionized, settling in what 
 is now Limestone County, Ala., and later moved 
 to Tennessee, where her death occurred. Her 
 father was among the first pioneers of Pennsylva- 
 nia, and served through the Revolutionary War. 
 He had two sons in the War of 1812. The sub- 
 ject of this sketch was reared to frontier life, and 
 went four miles on foot to the subscription schools 
 for what education he received. He aided in clear- 
 ing and developing the home farm, and commenced 
 farming for himself in Wayne Coimty, Tenn. In 
 January, 1862, he enlisted for twelve months in 
 Capt. Powers' company, under Col. Crewes, went 
 to Nashville, thence to Alabama, and was assigned 
 to the Fifth Kentucky Infantry, under Col. Hunt, 
 Gen. Breckinridge's brigade. He was in the bat- 
 tle of Shiloh, then on the skirmish line to Corinth ; 
 from there to Tupelo, Miss., then to Abbeville, 
 Miss. He was in the company that reorganized, 
 and was in service till the close of the war; he was 
 in the battle at Jackson; thirty-two days at Vicks- 
 burg; then went to Baton Rouge, returning to 
 Jackson, Miss. . where he was on garrison duty : 
 from there to Grand Junction, then to Jackson. 
 
 n* 
 
JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 Vtl3 
 
 Merita, Ala. , Mobile and thence to Florida, from 
 there to Montgomery; to Atlanta and to Chattanoo- 
 ga; to Knoxville, to Virginia, and l)ack to Knox- 
 ville; to Chattanooga and Murfroesboro; engaged at 
 Nashville, then on skirmish line to Murfreesboro; he 
 was then transferred to Newman's command, Ten- 
 nessee Regiment, and finally returned to Tennessee 
 in 1864, and engaged in farming. In 1867 he came 
 to Arkansas, settling in Independence County, 
 and in 1869 came to Jackson County, in Village 
 Township, and in 1872 to Bird Township, renting 
 land, and in 1886, bought 160 acres in that town- 
 ship. Mr. Williamson has taken quite an active 
 part in politics, voting with the Democratic party. 
 He has seen a vast change in this county, and has 
 always taken an active interest in all worthy pub- 
 lic enterprises. Mr. Williamson was first married 
 in AVayne County, Tenn., in April, 1848, to Vianer 
 Tally, daughter of Page and Nancy Tally, natives 
 of South Carolina and Alabama, respectively, 
 who came to Tennessee in an early day. Her 
 father died in 1864, his wife later. By that mar- 
 riage there were seven children: Levi, Mar}' Ann 
 (now Mrs. Blake), Calvin, Elizabeth (now Mrs. 
 Beech), William Marion, Caledonia (now Mrs. 
 Stephens) and John, our subject. Mrs. William- 
 sou died in 1886, and in 1887 Mr. Williamson 
 married Josey Andrews, widow, daughter of John 
 Petty, an early pioneer of Tennessee. 
 
 C. W. Winfi-ee, farmer and merchant, Centre- 
 ville, Ark. This gentleman, who was originally 
 from West Tennessee, where his birth occurred in 
 1850, is the second in a family of si.'c children born 
 to Charles W. and Susan H. (Terry) Winfree. both 
 natives of the Old Dominion. Charles W. Winfree 
 emigrated to Tennessee at an early day, and was a 
 mechanic (carriage workman) by trade. He moved 
 to Jackson County, Ark., in 1870, settling in Bird 
 Township, and there followed tilling the soil until 
 his death, which occurred in 1873. His cheerful 
 companion also closed her eyes to the scenes of this 
 world in 1883. C. W. Winfree was early initiated ! 
 into the duties of farm life and quite naturally, as 
 might be supposed, has since principally followed 
 that pursuit. He received his education in the 
 schools of Tennessee, and came with his parents I 
 
 to Jackson County, Ark., in 1S70, when- he re 
 sumed the duties on the farm. This occupntion he 
 has since continued, and has opened up considera- 
 ble land, being now the owner of 1,700 acres in 
 Bird Township, with 600 acres under cultivation. 
 He has about 450 acres in cotton, and this is his 
 principal pursuit. He also raises considerable 
 stock, principally horses and mules, and in fact is 
 one of the wideawake, thorough going farmers of 
 the county. He is active in politics, and votes 
 with the Democratic party. He has filled the offices 
 of judge, clerk and supervisor, several times, and 
 to the satisfaction of all, and ho also takes au active 
 interest in school matters. Mr. Winfree was mar- 
 ried, in Independence County, Ark., in 1887, to 
 Mrs. Fannie E. (Holdford) Gray, widow of Dr. 
 Gray, and afterward settled in Centreville, where 
 he has been engaged in merchandising since 1884, 
 but akso carries on his farming interest. Socially, 
 he is a member of Tuckerman Lodge No. 15)2, 
 Masonic fraternity, and has been secretary' of the 
 same. To his marriage was born one child. 
 
 W. H. Wise is a farmer and merchant, being a 
 partner in the firm of Kimbrough & Wise, of Wel- 
 don, Ark. His parents were William H. and 
 !Mary E. (Brown) Wise, natives of Maryland and 
 Alabama, respectively, who moved to Mississiiipi 
 at an early day, where the subject of this sketch 
 was born, in De Soto County, April 1, 1849. His 
 father, a farmer and mechanic, was a relative of 
 Gov. Wise, of Virginia. He settled a large farm 
 in Mississippi, also the town of Hernando, and l)e- 
 came a large land owner. He was a Democrat, and 
 held the office of magistrate a great many years. 
 M'. H. Wise was'raised on a farm, where his op- 
 portunities for education were limited, having at- 
 tended only the common schools of Mississippi. 
 At the age of twenty, in 1870. he came to Arkan- 
 sas, engaged in farming, and in 1873 bought eighty 
 acres of land in the woods, ou the present site of 
 Weldon. He cleared fifty acres of this land and 
 continued farming till 1885, when the Batesville 
 & Brinkley Railroad reached Tupelo. At that time 
 he sold forty acres of his land to D. \. Kiuibrongh 
 for a half interest in the latter's store, and the 
 same year the firm of Kimbrough & Wise began 
 
 
Aj ffl 
 
 9U 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 business in Weldoa, where they have since contin- 
 ued. They carry a general stock of goods and do 
 a large business. Mr. Wise and his partner own a 
 large part of Weldon property, twenty-two lots and 
 two blocks having been sold. In 1873 he married 
 Miss Maggie Godby, of Mississippi. They had 
 five children: Ida, Willie, Estelina, Maggie Jef- 
 ferson, Edward Hubbard, aged fifteen, thirteen, 
 eleven, nine and six years, respectively. His wife 
 died December 27, 1883, and in October, 1885, he 
 married Miss Fannie Moore, daughter of S. J. and 
 Sarah Moore, of North Carolina and Alabama, who 
 came to Arkansas in 1870, where he has since en- 
 gaged in farming. They live at Bowen's Ridge. 
 Mr. Wise is a Democrat, though not an active poli- 
 tician. He and his wife are members of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, South, of which he is stew- 
 ard and trustee. He is active in the interest of 
 schools and churches in his community, and has 
 done his share in the development of the country. 
 Robert A. Wise is a brother of W. H. Wise, 
 and both are residents of Weldon, Ark. Robert 
 A. Wise was born in Hernando, De Soto County, 
 Miss., May 24, 1844. He is now postmaster at 
 Weldon and engaged in the drug and grocery bus- 
 iness. He was the second child of W. H. and 
 Maiy E. (Brown) Wise, the former having been 
 born and reared near Baltimore, Md., and the 
 latter at Florence, Ala. W. H. Wise, a mechanic 
 by occupation, came to Memphis, Tenn. , in 1838, 
 and went to work at his trade, but his health be- 
 coming bad he moved to Hernando, Miss., in 1839, 
 and met Miss Brown, whom be married in 1840. 
 He was elected magistrate and sheriff of De Soto 
 County for a number of years, abd he invested his 
 income in real estate in the town of Hernando. 
 Finally his health became so bad that he gave up 
 his oifice and sold his property in town, and in- 
 vested in a large tract of land four and one-half 
 miles east of Hernando, turning his attention to 
 farming and stock raising, and at his death, which 
 occurred in 1850, his estate, consisting of land, 
 stock and negroes, was valued at $100,000. He 
 and his wife were strict members of the Methodist 
 Ei)iscopal (jhureh. South. Robert A. was raised 
 on the farm, receiving his education in the common 
 
 schools of North Mississippi, and at the age of 
 seventeen he left school and enlisted as a volunteer 
 in Company K, Ninth Mississippi Regiment, Monroe, 
 Capt. Thomas White, Chalmer's brigade, in the 
 Army of Tennessee. He was at the battle of Shi 
 loh and was sent home on furlough sick from Cor- 
 inth. Returning to the army at Tupelo he was 
 taken down with typhoid fever, which settled in 
 his right leg, disabling him from duty. He re- 
 ceived an imlimited furlough to go home, and re- 
 mained until further orders. Some ninety days 
 later he recovered, and was ordered to join the 
 army at Knoxville, Tenn., as it came out of Ken- 
 tucky on its way to Mui'freesboro. He was in that 
 battle and all the skirmishes and fights engaged in 
 by his command through Tennessee, taking part in 
 the battle of Chickamauga, and receiving a wound 
 in the breast on the second day of the fight. This, 
 however, did not disable him from duty, and sulj- 
 sequently he was in the engagements at Mission- 
 ary Ridge, Tunnel Hill, at Dalton, Ga. , and at 
 Resaca; he was wounded in the thigh at Altoona 
 Mountain. Following this he was occupied with 
 his command in fights around Atlanta and at Jones- 
 boro, but becoming ill again he was sent home, 
 where he remained until the close of the war. 
 Afterward he engaged in farming on a small scale. 
 His father's and mother's estate was all destroyed 
 during the war and taken away except the land. 
 Robert A. received his portion of the land, which 
 he sold and went to Louisiana to raise cotton on a 
 large scale on Red River. He invested every dol- 
 lar he had in a cotton crop, but the fir.st year the 
 worms destroyed half of it and the next year the 
 overflow destroyed all. He then came to Jackson 
 County, Ark., and engaged in farming, starting on 
 boirowed capital, and by hard labor and economy 
 he managed to pay for a farm near Newport, 
 which he sold in 18S7, and came to Weldon, em- 
 barking in his present business. He is a bachelor 
 and a member of the Methodist Church, South, 
 and was an active member in the district school 
 board in which he lived before coming to Weldon. 
 He was also a member of the Farmer's Alliance or 
 Wheelers. He has always been liberal, and has 
 done his share toward building; churches, schools 
 
Bdlden LAKE,Miaar8aiPPi Co.Arhahms. 
 
1 
 
 4 
 
JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 and all public enterprises. He is now a cripple, 
 being paralyzed in the right hip and leg, but is 
 making a good support by his own exertion. Him- 
 self and his brother are the only surviving members 
 of a family of nine children. 
 
 N. B. Wishon is a prosperous real estate 
 dealer and collecting agent at Newport, Ark., and 
 was born in Phelps County, Mo., on the 12th of 
 September, 1848, and is a son of Benjamin and 
 Elizabeth (Singleton) Wishon, the former a native 
 of North Carolina, and the latter of Kentucky. 
 Their marriage took place in the latter State, and 
 they afterward moved to St. Louis, Mo. , when the city 
 contained less than 10,000 inhabitants (in 1829). 
 Here Mr. Wishon remained for about ten years, 
 being an employi^ of the A\'iggins Ferry Company, 
 and acted in the capacity of engineer. In 1839 
 he located near Eolla, Mo., and opened a very tine 
 farm of about 1,500 acres, and here he and his 
 wife resided until their deaths. N. B. Wishon 
 remained on this farm until nineteen years of age, 
 and in 1867 came to Arkansas and began clerking 
 in a store in Jacksonport, continuing an employe 
 of Holloway & Co. ,at a very low salary, until 1871. 
 He then formed a partnership with his brothers, 
 Frank and W. C. , and the firm became known as 
 Wishon Bros.; they conducting a general merchan- 
 dising establishment in Jacksonport. In 1873 
 they opened up a branch store at Newport, 
 which was the first business house in the place, 
 and was a frame structure, and this together with 
 two cheap box houses were located in the woods. 
 They continued at this point until 1883, then sell- 
 ing out to E. L. Watson & Son. Mr. Wishon then 
 set to work to build up the town and put up a sub- 
 stantial brick block and several residence buildings, 
 but for the past few years he has given his atten- 
 tion almost entirely to the real estate and collec- 
 tion business. The brothers at one time owned a 
 tifth interest in the original town site. They own 
 eight brick business houses, and considerable im- 
 jiroved residence property, and unimproved town 
 lots and several line farms in a high state of culti- 
 vation, together with several hundred acres of fine 
 timbered and wild lands in the county. He has 
 held several local offices, and he and wife, whom 
 
 he married in 1871, atid whose maiden name was 
 Amelia Wallace, are members of the Methodist 
 
 I Episcopal Church, South, and an- the jiarents of 
 two children; Lena and Karl H. 
 
 \\'. C. Wishon, agent of the Batesville & Brink 
 ley Railroad, and a popular resident of Newport, 
 was born in Phelps County, Mo., in February, ]H'>\. 
 and is a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Singleton) 
 AVishon. He was reared and remained in Phelps 
 County until attaining his twenty-second year, and 
 up to nineteen years of age lived on the home 
 farm, and attended the schools of his native place. 
 At nineteen years of age he was oflFered and acce|>tcd 
 a position in one of the business houses at Rolla, 
 Mo., where he remained for two years, winning the 
 confidence and esteem of his emi)loyers by per- 
 
 i forming his duties in a satisfactory manner. In 
 1871 he moved to Jaek.sonport, Ark., and entered 
 into commercial life with his brother, N. B.A\'ishon, 
 continuing at that city until 1873, when they both 
 removed to Newport, where they were among the 
 first and most onterjirising business men of that 
 town, and helped to build considerable of the 
 property. In 1880 W. C. was engaged bj' the 
 Southern Express Company as express agent, and 
 the business of the brothers was sold in February. 
 1882. He remained with that company until 1880, 
 when the Batesville &. Brinkley Railroad opened up 
 its line, and he was engaged as their agent at New- 
 port, where he has Vieen ever since, building up a 
 reputation for being one of the best agents on the 
 line. In 1877 he was mamed to Miss Rina Wal-^ 
 lace, a pleasant and attractive lady, who has made 
 his home one of the brightest in Newport. Mr. 
 Wishon is a member of the Masonic fraternity and 
 the Royal Arcanum. He is a prominent man in 
 social and business circles at Jaek.sonport as well 
 as Newport, of which latter city he is the pioneer. 
 A. Wiysel, lumber manufacturer. Mr. Wiysel 
 was born and reared among the industries of a 
 great manufacturing place, his birth occurring in 
 Cambria County, Penn., on the 24th of August, 
 1824. He is a son of Joseph and Susanna (Weis- 
 inger) Wiysel, of the same county and State, but 
 the great grandfather was a native of Germany, 
 who emigrated to this country at an early jHTiod 
 
u>£: 
 
 916 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 and settled in Pennsylvania, afterward fighting 
 in the War of the Revolution. The parents of A. 
 Wiysel emigrated to Wabash (Jounty, Ind. , some 
 years after their marriagi% whore the father died 
 during the Civil War, while the mother still sur- 
 vives him and is living in Indiana. They were 
 the parents of six children, of whom four are yet 
 living, A. Wiysel being the oldest. He was reared 
 and spent his younger days in Pennsylvania, where 
 he also received the greater part of his education, 
 and afterwards moved to Wabash County, Ind. 
 From there he went to Adair County, Mo. , and 
 remained until 1859, when he came to Jackson- 
 port and was employed in teaming. Diuing the 
 war he was detailed as engineer of a large flouring 
 mill on the White River, and after that event he 
 embarked in saw-milling and lumber manufactur- 
 ing, a business that he has fostered and built up 
 to be one of the most successful in that section. 
 He has various markets for his products, employs 
 a large number of men, and turns out some of the 
 best material to be found anywhere, and has the 
 honor of being one of the pioneer mill men of 
 Jackson County. Mr. Wiysel was married in 
 1848 to Miss Susanna Stemman, by whom he has 
 had five children, two of them yet living: Samuel 
 and Charles. He is a member of the Lutheran 
 Church, and one of the representative citizens of 
 his county, taking an active interest in its promo- 
 tion and welfare. 
 
 William D. Yarbrough a merchant, of New- 
 port, Ark., was born November 28, 1856, in 
 Nebo, Hopkins County, Ky. His parents were 
 Lewis and Lucy (Davis) Yarbrough, both natives 
 of Kentucky. William D. received a fair educa- 
 tion in the English Ijranches, in the public schools 
 of his native State, and commenced business for 
 himself in 1881, securing a position in the com- 
 mercial house of Mr. H. V. Ames, of Newport, 
 Ark., who carried a general line of merchandise, 
 where he remained until 1885, when he paid a 
 visit to his home in Kentucky, and while there, on 
 the 10th of February, 1886, married Miss Katie 
 Trigg, of Hopkins County. On the 25th of Feb- 
 ruary they returned to Arkansas and he entered 
 the employ of Mr. Johnson, of the firm of 
 Ames & Johnson, his former employers. He re- 
 mained with them until the latter part of the year, 
 when he purchased a full line of groceries, and on 
 January 1, 1887, opened an establishment for him- 
 self, carrying a well selected line of staple and 
 fancy groceries, and the prediction is, that Mr. 
 Yarbrough will be one of the leading business men 
 of the community. Mr. Yarbrough is a member in 
 good standing, of the Newpoii Lodge. His wife 
 died September 25, 1887, and was buried in Rose 
 Creek Cemetery, in her native county. On August 
 25, 1889, Mr. Yarbrough married Miss Saidie 
 Roberon, a native of Ohio, an estimable young 
 lady, and a general favorite. 
 
 ft X> 
 
IZARD COTJNTY. 
 
 '.tr 
 
 
 Izard County— Thk Akiiival of the Settleus— Cikcuit am> Pkohate Courts— Mii.itakv Mioioiit- 
 The County Formed— The County Seat Located— Public Buildings Prected— Election 
 Returns— Church Organizations— Towns and Vii-LAtiKs- Educational Devel- 
 opment— The County Bounded— .Statistics Showing its Desirabil- 
 ity as a Place ok Residence— Population— Biography. 
 
 There is a spot of earth supremely blest. 
 A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest, 
 Where man, creation's tyrant, casts n.si(Ie 
 His sword and sceptre, pageantry and pride. 
 That spot's tliy liome. — Montgomery. 
 
 *HE exitct timo and place of 
 the making of the tirst set- 
 tlement of the territory now 
 composing Izard County is 
 uncertain. It is evident, 
 however, that immigration 
 must have commenced very 
 soon after the beginning of the 
 present century, points of location 
 being, in general, along White and 
 Strawborry llivers. Among the 
 early settlers in the vicinity of the 
 former stream were Daniel Hively, 
 Elbert and Henry Benbrook. the 
 family of the father of William 
 and Hill Dillard, the JeflFerys, 
 Moses Bishop, the Harrises and 
 George and James Partee. Daniel Jeffery settled 
 below Mount Olive, Jehoida, his brother, a mile 
 above, and James, another lirother, at or near the 
 mouth of Piney Creek. Of the Harrises there 
 were four brothers: Augustus. Henry, James and 
 Richard. Augustus located on the east side of the 
 river, in (the present) Izard County, the others on 
 the opposite side, now Stone County. Daniel 
 
 Hively settled at the mouth of Piney Creek, anil 
 there built a water-power grist-mill very early. 
 Among the first to locate on Strawberry River wore 
 the Simpsons, Billiugsleys and Finleys, John 
 Gray taking up his residence on Rocky Bayou, 
 and James Wren at Lunenburg. Other very early 
 comers to the county were Ambrose, Harvey, Will 
 iam and James Creswell. 
 
 Later came the Lancasters, the Walkers, the 
 AVatkiuses, Richard, Robert and William Powell. 
 Thomas Richard.son. Samuel Bingham, William 
 and James Woods, Col. Thomas Black, the Ar 
 nolds, Jesse Hinkle, the Robinsons and many 
 others. Both the early and subsequent settlers of 
 the county principally came from Tennessee. .\ 
 few were from Georgia, and some other Soutlieni 
 States, but few, if any, from Northern .Stales. 
 The early settlers here suffered in common with all 
 who moved so far back from the Mississippi the 
 many privations of frontier life. It was not long, 
 however, until boats came up White River and fur- 
 nished such provisions as could not be produced at 
 home. The people of Izard ('ounty are iiitidli 
 gent, kind and ho8])itablo. Society now is all that 
 could be desired, and churches aro miraorous in all 
 
 r 
 
918 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 settled portions. Subsequent pages contain more 
 detailed mention of the county's pioneers and 
 prominent citizens. 
 
 Court affairs, of course, early occupied atten- 
 tion. The county court was established in 1829, 
 when Arkansas was a territory. Prior to that date 
 the county business had all been transacted in the 
 circuit court. This court meets on the first Mon- 
 days of January, April, July and October, in each 
 year. The probate court meets on the third Mon- 
 days of March, June, September and December. 
 
 The Izard circuit court convenes on the second 
 Monday in April and October, in each year. It 
 belongs to the Fourteenth judicial circuit, composed 
 of the counties of Izard, Boone, Baxter, Marion, 
 Fulton, Searcy and Newton, of which R. H. 
 Powell, of Melbourne, is the judge. 
 
 The legal bar of Izard County is composed of 
 the following named attorneys: Ransom Gulley, 
 John H. Woods, J. B. Baker, F. M. Hanley, 
 Moreau Ashley, S. W. Woods, and E. B. Brad- 
 shaw. Judge Powell, when not on the bench, is 
 also a member of the bar. 
 
 Aside from the war period, there has never been 
 but one or two murders committed within the 
 county, as it is now composed, and not a legal exe- 
 cution of a criminal has occurred here. Other 
 crimes have been committed frequently. 
 
 At the approach of the Civil War, when the 
 question of secession was first discussed, a majority 
 of the people of Izard County seemed opposed to 
 it, but when actual hostilities commenced, all but 
 a few were naturally in full sympathy with the 
 Southern cause, and soon thereafter favored the 
 secession of the State. Of the several companies 
 of soldiery raised within the county for the Con- 
 federate army, one, gathered by Capt. Deason, 
 served in the Seventh Arkansas Regiment; four, 
 commanded, respectively, by Capts. C. C. Elkins, 
 T. N. Smith, Hugh A. Barnett and T. J. Mason, 
 became a part of the Ninth Arkansas Regiment; 
 two, commanded, respectively, by Capts. C. Cook 
 and Richard Powell, served in Col. Freeman's 
 regiment of cavalry; three, commanded, respect- 
 ively, by Capts. T. M. Gibson, R. C. Matthews and 
 Samuel Taylor, formed a part of Col. Shaler's 
 
 regiment. A portion of a company was raised by 
 Capt. John H. Dye, the other part being raised in 
 Independence County, and a part of another was 
 raised by Capt. James Huddleston, the other being 
 recruited in what is now Sharp County. Some in- 
 dividuals went out and joined companies raised in 
 adjoining counties. Thus ten companies, besides 
 the fractions of other companies, were furnished 
 by the county for the Confederate army. 
 
 Early in the war period, most of the Union 
 men here removed to Rolla, Mo. , and were there 
 organized into a company by Capt. L. D. Toney, 
 and served in the Federal army. All the able 
 bodied men of the county, and many boys in their 
 "teens," joined the armies. Only the old and 
 feeble were left with the women and children. 
 There was no fighting or bushwhacking among the 
 citizens. The county, however, was over-run by 
 scouting parties from the contending armies, and 
 while but little burning was done, all stock and 
 provisions that could be found were seized and car- 
 ried away, thus leaving the citizens in great want 
 for food. Parties of women, each accompanied by 
 an old man, frequentlj^ hauled cotton inside of the 
 Federal lines and exchanged it for salt and other 
 necessities. Salt was also obtained by extracting it 
 from the earth under old smoke houses. Meat was 
 concealed from the scouting parties by hiding it in 
 straw beds, in the rocks and under brush heaps. 
 Grain was also hid in peculiar places. J. B. 
 Hunt, the postmaster at Melbourne, states that he 
 saved his corn by shelling it and hiding it in the 
 hollow walls of his house, between the weather- 
 boarding and the inside-boarding, and had a hole 
 at the bottom through which he drew it out on 
 going to the mill. Others, no doubt, saved their 
 grain in a similar way. 
 
 The county of Izard was organized in accord- 
 ance with an act of the legislature of the Territory 
 of Arkansas, approved October 17, 1825. It was 
 named in honor of George Izard, who was the gov- 
 ernor of the Territory, and contained territory 
 since cut off in the formation of Fulton, Baxter and 
 Stone Counties. Various acts have been passed 
 since its formation, by which it has been created as 
 at present. 
 
 
IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 SHU 
 
 The original county seat was located on White 
 River, at the mouth of Big North Fork, now in 
 Baxter County. Soon after it was moved to 
 Athens, on White River, at the mouth of Piney 
 Creek, and from there, about the year 1844, to 
 Mount Olive, in Section 31, Township 16 north, 
 Range 10 west, another point on White River. 
 Here it remained until May 15, 1875, when it was 
 taken to its present site at Melbourne. The first 
 court house erected at the original site of the county 
 seat was a hewed log cabin. The second was a 
 small frame structure, built at Athens, and the 
 third was also a frame erected at Mount Olive. 
 The court-house at Melbourne was built in 1878, 
 but on the 11th of April, 18S'J, it was consumed 
 by fire, with all the public records aiul papers, sup- 
 posed to have been of incendiary origin, as the fire 
 occurred in the morning before daylight. The 
 question of removing the county seat to some other 
 point is now being agitated, but the probability is 
 that it will remain at its present location. 
 
 The only public building the county possesses 
 is the jail and jailer's residence combined, at Mel- 
 bourne. This is a wooden building, the jail proper 
 being fi-ame on the outside, with a wall of squared 
 timljers on the inside. The county owns a poor 
 farm, but it has never been improved or made 
 available for the support of the paupers. The lat- 
 ter are let out on contract for their su{)port, to the 
 lowest responsible bidder. 
 
 The following is a list of the names of the 
 county officers of Izard County, and the dates of 
 their terms of service fi'om the organization of the 
 county to the present time, as compiled from the 
 report of the secretary of State: 
 
 Judges: Matthew Adams, 1829-38; J. Jeffery, 
 1833-38: B. Hawkins, 1840-42; J. A. Harris, 
 1842-44; James Wren, 1844-46; J. A. Harris, 1846- 
 48; G. H. Morton, 1848-50; Henry Cole, 1850-52; 
 J. J. Sams, 1852-54; B. C. Hollowell, 1854 50; 
 T. Black, 1858-60; H. H. Harris, 1860-62; Thomas 
 Black, 1862.64; A. C. Jeffery, 1864-68; William 
 Byler, 1868-72; commissioners, 1872-74; G. W. 
 Shaw, 1874-80; J. A. Byler, 1880-82; W. Grim- 
 mett, 1882-86; H. H. Harris, present incumbent, 
 first elected in 1886. 
 
 Clerks: J. P. Houston, 1825 30; Jesse Adams, 
 1830-32; J. P. Houston, 1832-38; B. H. Johnson! 
 1838-44; C. P. Lancaster, 1844-46; A. C. JefTery, 
 1846-48; R. M. Haggard, 1848-52; William Wood, 
 1852-54; H. H. Harris, 1854-58; W. C. Dixon, 
 1858-60; H. H. HaiTis, 180068; I. H. Talley, 
 1868 72; F. W. Pen-in, 187274; D. W. Billings- 
 ley, 1874-70; J. N. Craig, 1870-78; H. H. Harris, 
 1878-84; W. K. Estes, present incumbent, elected 
 in 1884, re- elected and served continuously since. 
 Sheriffs: John Adams, 1825-30; John Har 
 grove, 1830-35; Daniel Jeffery, 1835-30; J. A. 
 Harris, 1836-38; D. K. Lloyd, 1838-44; Miles Jef- 
 fery, 1844-40; S. E. Rossen, 1846-50; S. J. Mason. 
 1850-56; John Woods, 1850-58; A. Adams, 1858 
 60; W. J. Cagle, 1800-08; R. L. Landers, 1868- 
 72; J. M. Hinkle, 1872-78; R. L. Landers, 1878- 
 82; J. S. Roberts, 1882-86; R. L. Landers, pres- 
 ent incumbent, first elected in 1886. 
 j Treasurers: W. B. Carr, 1836-38; A. Cres- 
 I well, 1838-40; S. H. Creswell, 1840-42; Jacob 
 ; Wolf, 1842-44; A. McFelich. 1844-40: H. J. 
 Wren, 1840-48; H. Dillard, 1848-50; William 
 Gray, 1850-58; J. W. Cypert, 1858-64; H. H. 
 Harris, 1864-60: E. D. Hayes, 1800-08; B. F. 
 Brantley, 1808-72; J. B. Hunt, 1872-74; L. C. 
 Holmes, 1874-76; A. J. Hutson, 1876-SO; John 
 McElmurry. 1880-82; H. H. Hinckle, 1882-84; 
 John McElmurry, 1884-80; J. B. Hunt, present 
 incumbent, first elected in 1886. 
 
 Coroners: H. C. Roberts. 1829 3U; J. Blyeth, 
 1830-35; Jesse Adams, 1835-36; H. W. Bandy, 
 1840-42; R. C. Moore, 1842-48; G. W. Neal, 
 1848-50; J. D. Churchill, 1850-52; D. Jeffery. 
 1852-54; R. Harris, 1854-50; S. T. Martili, 
 1856-58; R. Landers. 1858-02; Jesse Hincklo, 
 1802-04; J. A. Byler. 1804-66; R. Landers, 
 1866-68; J. G. Richardson, 1808-72; J. H. Uoten, 
 1872-74; J. F. Cornelius, 1874-76; F. M. Hall. 
 1870-78; Squire Wood, 1878-80; J. R. Beaver. 
 1880-80; John Schell. 188ii-.SS: S. F. Heaves, 
 present incumbent, elected in 1888. 
 
 Surveyors: William Clement, 1830-32; A. 
 Adams, 1S35-30; Jesse .\dams. 1830-38; James 
 Davis, 1838-40; William Seymour. 1840-42; J. 
 M. Pugh, 1842-44; F. M. Copeland. 1844-46; R. 
 
 r 
 
920 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Decker, 1846-4S: Cyius Crosby, 1848-52; J. 
 Byler, 1852-56; J. W. Rector, 1856-58; A. C. 
 Hardin. 1858-62; J. W. Rector, 1862-64; J. C. 
 Claiborne, 1866-08; R. Sanders, 1868-72; J. A. 
 Claiborne, 1872-76; Joseph Hixon, 1876-80; 
 Jacob Franks, 1880-82; J. A. Claiborne, 1882-88; 
 E. L. Billingsley, present incumbent, elected in 
 1S88. 
 
 Assessors: P. F. Heasler, 1868-72; W. O. Dil- 
 lard, 1872-74; James Green, 1874-80: W. C. 
 Hammond, 1880-84; Robert Gray, 1884-86; James 
 Gray, 1886-88; P. J. Puckett, present incumbent, 
 elected in 1888. 
 
 Representatives in constitutional conventions: 
 1836, Charles R. Sanders; 1861, A. Adams; 1868, 
 W. W. Adams; 1874, Ransom Gulley. 
 
 The tirst representative of the county in the 
 Territorial legislature was Jacob AVolf, and the 
 first one in the State legislature was Thomas Culp. 
 The first State senator from the county was C. R. 
 Sanders. 
 
 The following will show the political aspect of 
 Izard County. At the September election, 1888, 
 James P. Eagle (Dem. ) received 1,328 votes for 
 the oifice of governor, and C. M. Norwood, his op- 
 ponent, 779 votes. At the presidential election, 
 1888, the several candidates received votes as fol- 
 lows: Cleveland (Dem.), 1,187; Harrison (Rep.), 
 378; Streeter (U. L.), 68; Fisk (Pro.), 7. 
 
 Religious affairs, here as elsewhere, date from 
 the first settlement of the community. As usual, 
 the Methodists and Baptists were the pioneer Chris- 
 tian workers of the Territory, followed by the Cum- 
 berland Presbyterians and Christians. The organ- 
 izations of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
 located within the county, are embraced in three 
 circuits. The Melbourne circuit. Rev. W. L. King, 
 pastor, has eight appointments; the Newburg cir- 
 cuits. Rev. William A. Peck, pastor, has five ap- 
 pointments, and the La Crosse and Evening Shade 
 circuit. Rev. J. S. Brooke, pastor, has also five 
 appointments, the latter being in Sharp County. 
 The aggregate memViership of each, as shown by 
 the last conference minutes, is as follows: Mel- 
 bourne, 399; Newburg, 684; La Crosse and Even- 
 ing Shade, 301; making 1,384 in all. Of the 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, there is but one or- 
 ganization in the county. 
 
 Of the Missionary Baptist Church nineteen or- 
 ganizations are known, sixteen of which belong to 
 the Rocky Bayou Association, two to the Big Creek 
 Association, and one to Independence Association. 
 Those belonging to the first named are Melbourne, 
 Lunenburg and Franklin, of which Elder J. L. 
 Brown is pastor; Saints' Rest, Bellview, Mount 
 Nebo, No. 2, and Piney Bayou, of which Elder J. 
 J. Vest is pastor; Mount Pleasant and Bethel, of 
 which Elder J. D. J. Faulkner is pastor; Zion 
 Hill, Concord, Fairviow and Philadelphia, of which 
 Elder William Dureu is pastor; Pleasant Valley, 
 with Elder S. A. Merchant as pastor; Mount Nebo 
 No. 1, with Elder J. H. Soden as pastor, and Hid- 
 den Creek, which has no pastor at present. Those 
 belonging to Big Creek Association are Cross Roads 
 and New Prospect, while the one belonging to 
 Independence Association is called Wilson Creek. 
 The aggregate membership of these organizations 
 within the county is between 700 and 80(\ 
 
 The ten organizations of the Christian Church 
 here consist of Mill Creek, at Melbourne; Walnut 
 Grove, Oxford, Franklin and luka. with Elder H. 
 T. King as pastor; Kent Mill, Liberty, Pleasant 
 Spring and Newburg, with Elder W. G. Cypert as 
 pastor, and Twin Creek, with Elder G. H. Metheny 
 as pastor. The aggregate membership is 503. 
 
 The organizations of the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church are Mill Creek, at Melbourne, and 
 Mount Olive, with Rev. P. M. Jeflfery as pastor; 
 Nnl)bin Ridge, Rev. R. H. Evans, pastor; Olive 
 Branch, Rev. J. S. Bone, pastor; La Crosse. Rev. 
 W. B. Baird, pastor; Barren Fork, Rev. A. C. 
 Evans, pastor; Dry Town, Rev. J. S. Bone, pas- 
 tor; Palestine, Rev. Clark, pastor: Rocky Glade 
 and one or two other organizations. Many of the 
 church organizations have Sunday-schools connect- 
 ed with them, and nearly all have regular preach- 
 ing, and are doing good work in the cause of Chris- • 
 tianity. There is an organization of the Adventists 
 at La Crosse. 
 
 The towns and villages of the county are small 
 and scattered, and no one has gained much as- 
 cendency over the others. Barren Fork, in the 
 
IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 !)•_>! 
 
 southeast part of the county, contains two general 
 stores, one drug store, one grocery, two church 
 houses, a school house, cotton-gin, and some shops, 
 dwelling houses, etc. 
 
 Franklin, in the opposite northeast jwrtion, has 
 two general stores, a grist-mill, still-house, school- 
 house, Masonic hall and lodge, and an Odd Fel- 
 lows' hall and lodge. 
 
 luka is a very small post village on the line 
 between Izard and Baxter Counties. 
 
 La Crosse, four miles northeast of Melbourne, 
 contains two general stores, a drug store, a church 
 edifice, two blacksmith shops, a Masonic hall and 
 lodge, and the La Crosse Collegiate Institute. In 
 the fall of 1883 a cyclone passcnl over this place 
 and almost entirely demolished the buildings, be- 
 sides killing a number of individuals. 
 
 Melbourne, the county seat, located near the 
 center of the county, includes within its limits 
 four general stores, three groceries, a drug store, 
 two hotels, four church buildings, a Masonic and 
 Odd Fellows' hall and school- house combined, a 
 lodge each of Masons and Odd Fellows, two feed 
 stables, one newspaper (The Izard County Reg- 
 ister, Democratic in politics, now in its eighth 
 volume, and ably edited by its proprietor, Mr. 
 Dave Craig), a steam grist-mill, mechanics" shops, 
 etc., etc., but no court-house at present. Of the 
 societies there is also an Encampment of Odd 
 Fellows. The churches are Baptist, Methodist, 
 Cumberland Presbyterian and Christian. 
 
 Newburg, a few miles northwest of Melbourne, 
 has three general stores, a steam saw-mill, school- 
 house, blacksmith shop, a Masonic and Odd Fol- 
 lows' hall and a lodge of each of these societies. 
 
 Oxford is in the north central part of the coun- 
 ty. Three general stores, a steam grist-mill, three 
 churches, a school-house and an Odd Fellow's 
 hall comprise its industries. 
 
 Pineville, in the northwest part of the county, 
 contains a general store, a blacksmith shop, and a 
 Masonic hall, church and school -house combined. 
 
 Violet Hill is eight miles northeast of Mel- 
 bourne. It has a store, steam grist-mill, black- 
 smith shop and a church. 
 
 At each of these points is a postoflice, and 
 ss >^ 
 
 dwelling liouses corresponding in number to the size 
 of the place. The other p<jstotlic(«s in the county 
 are Wideman, Sage, Gid, Alder, Rockford, Engle 
 and Byler. 
 
 Prior to the inauguration of the present free 
 school system there were no schools within Izard 
 County, except a few sustained here and there by 
 private individual enterprise. Education in those 
 days for the masses was not advocated or encour- 
 aged, and truth compels the assertion that, even at 
 this date, the facilities for popular education are 
 not as well sustained as they ought to be. How- 
 ever, prejudice against free schools is wearing 
 away, and the interest in their favor is slowly but 
 gradually increasing. The following statistics 
 compiled from the report of the State superin- 
 tendent, for the year ending June 30, 1888, will 
 show the progress of schools within the county: 
 Scholastic population, white, 4,702, colored, 116, 
 total, 4,818; number taught in the public schools, 
 white, 2,572, colored, 19, total, 2,608; number of 
 teachers employed, males, 47, females, 8, total, 
 55; average monthly salaries paid teachers, first 
 grade, males, .$40.25, females, $40; second grade, 
 males, $37.50, females, §28.30; amount of revenue 
 expended to sustain the public .schools, $9,433.45. 
 According to these figures, only a little over one- 
 half of the white .scholastic population and about 
 one-sixth of the colored scholastic population were 
 taught in the public .schools. It is l)elieved, 
 though, that the statistics do not give the whole 
 facts, as the number taught in some schools was 
 not reported. The wages paid should secure teach- 
 ers of fair talent. The free school system is yet 
 young, and will improve with age and experience. 
 
 The La Crosse Collegiate Institute, which bus 
 been sustained for many years at the town of Lu- 
 Crosse, has gained considerable reputation as an 
 institution of learning. It is now taught in con- 
 nection with the public school of that j)lace. There 
 are eighty-four school districts within the county, 
 and for the school year mentioned, thirty-four 
 voted a local tax for school purjwses. 
 
 Izard County is in Northeast Arkansas. It is 
 bounded north by Fulton County, east by .Sharp, 
 south by Independence ami Stum", and west liy 
 
922 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Stone and Baxter. It has an area of 600 square 
 miles, with only about one-eighth of it improvisd. 
 Being an interior county it has as yet no railroad 
 facilities, its nearest railroad station being at Cush- 
 man, in the adjoining county of Independence. 
 The boundary lines are as follows: Beginning at 
 the northwest corner of Section 1, in Township 
 18 north. Range 7 west, of the fifth principal 
 meridian; thence south three miles; thence east 
 one mile to the range line, between Ranges 6 and 
 7 west; thence south on the range line to the 
 southeast corner of Section 25, Township 16 north, 
 Range 7 west; thence west one and a half miles; 
 thence south to the quarter-post between Sections 
 14 and 23 in Township 15 north, Range 7 west; 
 thence west to the southwest corner of Section 
 16, same township and range; thence south 45° 
 west, seven and a half miles to White River; 
 thence up the middle of that river to the range line 
 between Ranges 11 and 12, in Township 17 north; 
 thence north on the range line to the township 
 line between Townships 17 and 18 north; thence 
 east to the middle of Range 11 west; thence north 
 on section lines to the township line between 
 Townships 18 and 19 north; thence east on the 
 township line to the place of beginning. 
 
 The principal streams are White and Straw- 
 berry Rivers, both of which flow in a general south- 
 easterly direction, the former on the southwestern 
 boundary of the county, and the latter across the 
 northeastern portion. Between these rivers there 
 is a dividing ridge or water-shed in the same direc- 
 tion. The principal tributaries of White River 
 within the county are Piney, Mill, Knob, Hurri- 
 cane, Rocky Bayou and LafEerty Creeks. The 
 principal tributary of Strawberry River is Caney 
 Fork. There are some smaller tributaries of these 
 streams, and altogether they form a complete sys- 
 tem of drainage for the territory. Numerous ex- 
 cellent springs abound, and in most places good 
 well water can be obtained at a depth of fifty feet. 
 Cisterns are in general use. From the streams, 
 springs, cisterns and wells, an abundant supply of 
 excellent water for all purposes is obtained. 
 
 The surface of the county is generally broken 
 and hilly, though there are some tracts of beauti- 
 
 ful and gently undulating table lands. The highest 
 points above sea level are said to be about 1,000 
 feet. A large percentage of the lands belong to 
 the Government, and are subject to homestead 
 entry. Of the entire area, a very small proportion 
 is valley, or bottom lands. The soil of the latter 
 is alluvial and exceedingly productive, while that 
 of the uplands is light and sandy, and not so pro- 
 ductive. Contrary to the general rule elsewhere, 
 the most productive uplands in this county are the 
 pine timbered lands. Altogether it is adapted to 
 the cultivation of cotton, several kinds of grain, 
 clover, and the tame grasses. It is probably best 
 suited to the growing of corn. Clover and the 
 tame grasses have scarcely been introdiiced, but, 
 where tried, excellent results have followed. ' ' Cot- 
 ton is king," and some lands are being exhausted 
 by its constant cropping. All the uplands are capa- 
 ble of the growing of all manner of fi'uits, com- 
 mon to this latitude, but thus far the cultivation of 
 fi'uit has received but little attention. 
 
 In the southeast part of the county, over an 
 area of twenty -five square miles are rich deposits 
 of black oxide of manganese. This ore is used 
 extensively in the manufacture of Bessemer steel 
 rails. In Section 20, Township 17 north, Range 
 9 west, there is a lead of antimony, and at differ- 
 ent points elsewhere, notably in Townships 16 and 
 17 north. Range 7 west, are strong indications of 
 zinc. There is a good quality of sandstone, 
 building stone, and a great deal of limestone within 
 the county. In Sections 34 and 35, Townshijj 15 
 north, Range 8 west, is a good deposit of litho- 
 graphic stone, which is being worked by a New 
 York company. 
 
 The bottom lands and adjacent bluffs are cov- 
 ered with white and black oak, red cedar, and 
 black and sweet gum, allot good quality, the white 
 oak being of very superior quality. In the north- 
 west part of the county is a belt of good short- 
 leaved yellow pine, the stumpage of which is care- 
 fully estimated at 500,000,000 feet. Much of this 
 timber averages from two to three feet in diameter, 
 and many trees will cut four saw logs each. The 
 rest of the timber is mostly black, post, and white 
 oak. In the northeast portion the growth is mostly 
 
 Of 
 
 :|V 
 
►L> 
 
 IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 '.)'23 
 
 post oak and black jack. Ash, cherry, walnut, 
 and other varieties of timber abound in limited 
 quantities. 
 
 The county's resources, so fur as developed, are 
 principally agricultural, the horticultural and min- 
 eral wealth not having been unfolded. The supply 
 of timber is extensive, as but little, aside fi'om the 
 small quantity used at home, has ever been cut. 
 This will be an important resource whenever ship- 
 ping facilities are provided. The agricultural 
 products for 1879, as given by the census of 1880, 
 were as follows: Indian corn, 451,904 Vnishels; 
 oats, 40,593 bushels; wheat, 25,902 bushels; hay, 
 214 tons; cotton, 4,800 bales; Irish potatoes, 4,500 
 bushels; sweet potatoes, 11,349 bushels; tobacco, 
 13,212 pounds. These figures show that the lands 
 of the county are best adapted to the raising of 
 corn, cotton, sweet potatoes and tobacco. • The 
 number of head of live-stock, as shown by the same 
 report, were as follows: Horses, 2,109; mules and 
 asses, 1,258; cattle, 9,492; sheep, 8,492; hogs, 
 18,966. The number listed for taxation, as shown 
 by the abstract of taxable property for 1888, are as 
 follows: Horses, 2,436; mules and asses, 1,655; 
 cattle, 14,857; sheep, 7,035; hogs, 1,619. This 
 indicates by comparison a large increase of the 
 three former and an apparent decrease of the two 
 latter. But reflecting that the number of animals 
 given by the census report include the number of 
 sold and slaughtered during the previous year, 
 while the tax lists include only those on hand when 
 assessed, it is evident that in all, excepting proba- 
 bly sheep, there was a large increase. 
 
 In 1880 the county's real estate was assessed 
 for taxation at 1584,303, the personal property at 
 $411,715, making a total of $996,018. In 1888 
 the real estate was assessed at $743,994, and the 
 personal property at $759,607, making a total of 
 $1,503,601. This shows that the taxable property 
 of the county, since 1880, has increased in value 
 over 61 per cent. The total amount of taxes 
 charged in 1888, for all purposes, was $20,608. 
 
 The population of Izard County at the end of 
 each census decade, since its organization, has 
 been as follows: 1830, 1,266; 1840, 2,240; 1850, 
 3,212; 1860, 7,215; 1870, 6,806; 1880, 10,857. 
 
 The colored population in 1870 was 182, and in 
 1880, 222. 
 
 Charles R. Aikin, a retired merchant of Calico 
 Rock, Ark., was born in Colorado, in 1854, and is 
 a son of William M. and Catherine W. (Rudolpli) 
 Aikin, who were born in South Carolina and Mary- 
 land, respectively. William Aikin removed to 
 Arkansas in 1843 or 1844, and located in what was 
 then Izard County (now Stone County), and these 
 counties have since been his home, with the excep- 
 tion of from 1852 to 1855, when he was a resident 
 of Colorado. From 1861 to 1872 he resided in 
 Batesville, Init upon the death of his wife, in the 
 latter year, he removed from Batesville, and has 
 made his home in Izard and Stone Counties since. 
 He was a farmer during his early life, but after- 
 ward gave his attention to merchandising, and was 
 associated with Cox & Byers, at Sylamoro. He 
 was married in 1850 or 1851, and he and wife be- 
 came the parents of four children, Charles R., th(> 
 subject of this memoir, being the only one living; 
 Maggie L. (deceased) was the wife of Joseph Case, 
 of Batesville, and died in 1881, leaving two chil 
 dren, Maggie being the only one now living; the 
 two other children died in infancy. Mr. Aikin has 
 filled the ofSce of notary public, and w.is postmas- 
 ter of Calico Rock for a number of years. He re 
 sides in Sylamore, is sixty -six years of age, and is 
 in the enjoyment of excellent health. Charles R. 
 Aikin attended school in Batesville until he at- 
 tained his sixteenth year, and then engaged in 
 farmingfor himself on his father's farm, continuing 
 thus occupied for three years; then entered college 
 at Batesville, which institution he attended one 
 year. He then entered the dry goods store of W. 
 E. Maxwell, at Sylamore, but at the end of one 
 year accepted a position in a store at Batesville, 
 and after remaining in the employ of H. C. Smith 
 for some time he returned to Sylamore and entered 
 the employ of McMurtry & Whitfield. His next 
 enterprise was to engage in merchandising in part- 
 nership with W. E. Maxfield, but in 1879 he came 
 to Calico Rock, and began working for that gen- 
 tleman for a portion of the profits, and since li)iS8 
 
924 
 
 HISTOKY OF AEKANSAS. 
 
 has been out settling up the outstauding accounts 
 of the business. He was married on the 22d of 
 January, 1888, to Miss Mary B. Grimmett. He 
 has been postmaster of this place for four or five 
 years, is a Democrat politically, and belongs to the 
 I. O. O. F. and the A. F. & A. M. He owns a 
 good farm of eighty acres close to the town, well 
 improved, besides other valuable property. 
 
 A. G. Albright is one of the substantial resi- 
 dents of Izard County, Ark., but his birth occurred 
 in the "Old North State" October 9, 1838, his 
 parents, Alvis and Mary A. (Stockard) Albright, 
 being also born there, in 1808 and 1815, respective- 
 ly. They were reared, educated and married in 
 their native State, but about the year 1853 they 
 moved to Arkansas, where they reared their family. 
 Five sons and live daughters were born tc> them, 
 and seven of their children are living at the pres- 
 ent time. The father was an energetic tiller of 
 the soil, in which occupation he acquired a hand- 
 some competency, and at the time of his death, 
 March 31, 1881, he was the owner of some 500 
 acres of land. He was also a minister of the 
 gospel, being an expounder of the Methodist doc- 
 trine, but, after his arrival in Arkansas, he and his 
 wife attached themselves to the Cumberland Pres- 
 byterian Church, Mr. Albright being identified 
 with this church at the time of his death. His 
 widow is still living, and resides with a daughter 
 at Barren Fork. A. G. Albright, their son, was 
 educated near Pittsboro, N. C, and after com- 
 ing to Arkansas with his parents he united his 
 destiny with that of Miss Sarah T. Screws, who 
 was born in this State, being a daughter of George 
 W. Screws. Of the family of eleven children born 
 to them eight are living: George A., James G. , 
 Sarah C, Harriet E., Nancy N. , Julia Esther, 
 William F. and Lula J. Mr. Albright owns an 
 excellent farm comprising 352 acres, of which there 
 are about 160 acres under cultivation, and it is well 
 stocked with all the necessary animals for success- 
 fully conducting the place. In connection with 
 this work he is engaged in general merchandising 
 at Barren Fork, his stock at the present time in- 
 voicing at about $8,000. He is a member of three 
 secret organizations, the Masons, the Knights and 
 
 Ladies of Honor, and the I. O. O. F. , and in the 
 former order belongs to the Commandery. When 
 the war, which had for some time been threaten- 
 ing, at last became an assured fact, Mr. Albright 
 joined Kelley's Ninth Battalion, and went to Ken- 
 tucky, but was discharged on account of disability. 
 The same year he joined Capt. Woods' company, 
 Shaler's regiment, and served to the close of the 
 war in the quartermaster's department, as regimen- 
 tal carpenter. In the latter part of 18fi6 he re- 
 turned home and engaged in the milling business 
 with his father, and still later embarked in the 
 occupations mentioned above. He and wife are 
 members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
 and are active and liberal supporters of churches 
 and schools, as well as all other worthy enterprises. 
 J. H. Ayler, farmer, Melliourne, Ark. Among 
 the younger members of the agricultural com- 
 munity of Izard County there are none more de- 
 serving of mention than Mr. Ayler, and on this 
 account, no less than that he has resided in this 
 county since about three years of age, he is ac- 
 corded a worthy place in this volume. His birth 
 occurred in Tennessee in 1848, and he came with 
 his parents, Charles and Minerva E. (Robison) 
 Ayler, to Arkansas, in 1851, and settled in Izard 
 County. He assisted on his father's farm until 
 twenty-one years of age, when he started out to 
 fight life's battles for himself, and rented land for 
 about sis years. He then purchased a farm of 
 eighty-six acres, which he afterward increased to 
 286 acres, with sixty-five acres under cultivation, 
 and has plenty of good stock to run his farm. In 
 1870 he was married to Miss Icj^ D. H. Cornelius, 
 and they became the parents of these children: 
 John P., born October 13, 1871, at home; Ada M., 
 born February 21, 1873, at home; Lou N., born 
 July 21, 1875; Nancy E., born November 23, 1877; 
 Willie Maud, born February 1, 1880 (deceased); 
 Nettie E., born February 19, 1883, and Grover H., 
 born June 7, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Ayler are mem- 
 bers of the Christian Church, and in politics he is 
 a Democrat. His parents were both natives of 
 Tennessee. The father, Charles Ayler, was reared 
 on a farm and educated in the common schools of 
 Tennessee. He came to Arkansas in 1851, as 
 
 s^ i 
 
 -f 
 
'4^ 
 
 IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 5»2r. 
 
 above stated, and bought an unimproved farm in 
 Izard County. After remaining on this farm for 
 about fifteen years he sold out and bought an im- 
 proved farm, close to where he first resided, and 
 continued there about ten years. He then sold out, 
 and bought another farm of 175 acres, where he 
 remained until his death, which occurred in 1882, 
 at the age of sixty-four years. He was twice mar- 
 ried, the first time to Miss Minerva E. Robison, 
 and by her became the father of seven children, 
 five now living: J. H., William, Mrs. Nancy Evans, 
 Mrs. Sarah E. Sterling and Mrs. Harriet J. Will- 
 iams. The mother of these childi-on is a member 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Ayler's 
 second marriage was to Miss Amanda Taylor, in 
 1871, and they had a family of three children: 
 Tennessee, Annie and John. Mr. Ayler was a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
 Mrs. Ayler still survives him. Mrs. Minerva Ayler 
 was married the second time to Henry Williams, 
 and they reside in this county. 
 
 John N. Bates, farmer, Franklin, Ark. Not 
 withstanding the rapid growth of the agricultural 
 affairs of the county in the last few years, and the 
 progressive ideas advanced, Mr. Bates lias kept 
 thoroughly apace with the times, and is considered 
 one of the leading farmers of the county. His 
 birth occurred in Bedford County, Tenn. , in 1829, 
 and he is the son of J. A. and Elizabeth (Davis) 
 Bates, the former a native of the Old Dominion, 
 and the latter of South Carolina. J. A. Bates 
 came to Tennessee about 1820, but previous to that 
 had been a resident of Georgia and Alabama. He 
 was principally reared in Georgia, and served in 
 the War of 1812 up to 1815. He was also with 
 Gen. Noonan's command, was in the Florida 
 swamps in 1830, and was present when the chief, 
 Osceola, was captured. During the War of 1812 
 he was a lieutenant, and served in that capacity 
 until 1814 when, for his bravery and daring, he 
 was promoted to the rank of captain, having piloted 
 a boat-load of ammunition and provisions from 
 Black Creek Station to Fort Scott. Fla. This 
 boat-load of supplies had been ordered to Black 
 Creek Station while Gen. Jackson was there, I)ut 
 the commander at Fort Scott was hard-pressed. 
 
 and had requested Gen. Jackson to come to his 
 assistance. Lieut. Bates was off after deserters at 
 this time, but when he returned to Black Creek 
 Station he found Gen. Jackson gone, and the boat 
 load of ammunition and provisions had arrived 
 from the head of supjilies. There were not enough 
 troops loft to guard the boat, so Lieut. Bates 
 built breastworks on the boat and pushed off, 
 reaching Gen. Jackson in safety. For this daring 
 and almost impossible feat he was promoted to the 
 rank of captain. He died in Coffee County, Tenn. 
 in September, 1868, at the age of seventy-four 
 years. Ho had l)0(>n twice married, first to Eliza 
 beth Aulford, by whom he had three children, all 
 daughters, Martha, Mary and Elizabeth, wife of a 
 Mr. Carroll. Mrs. Bates died about 1819. and 
 Mr. Bates was the second time married, to Miss 
 Elizabeth Davis, in 1824. To this union were 
 born seven children, six of whom lived to be grown. 
 The yoimgest one died when quite small; Jasper 
 M. resides in this county; Alethia (deceased), was 
 the wife of J. S. Jones; John N., the subjiH^t of 
 this sketch; Frances A., widow of J. Hickerson. 
 now resides in Tennessee; Rebecca A. (deceased), 
 wife of L. W. Angel 1, of Tennessee, and Louisa 
 J. (deceased), was the wife of Alex. Oldfield. Mrs. 
 Bates died in July, 1869. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
 Bates were members of the Baptist Church, and 
 he was a member of the Masonic fraternity. In 
 politics he was a Whig. At the age of twenty-one 
 years J. N. Bates started out for himself, after 
 receiving a fair education in the common schools. 
 He was a schoolmate of Judge Powell, of this 
 county, in Bedford County, Tenn. He first began 
 as a hired hand to learn the tanning business. 
 boarded with his father, and worked for $5 per 
 month for one year. In 1854 he commenced tan 
 ning on his own account, and ran a yard for himself 
 until 1864, when he lost all of his property. He then 
 engaged in farming, and has foilowod this pursuit 
 up to the pros(>nt. In March, 18(19, he came to this 
 county, and settled on Strawljerry, where ho re- 
 mained until 1876, when he sold out and Iwught 
 his present property, consisting of 220 acres, 1(X) 
 under cultivation, all the result of hard labor since 
 the war. He was married, on the 4th of December, 
 
926 
 
 HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 1849, to Miss Harriet L. Oldfield, a native of Ten- 
 nessee, born on the 11th of November, 1827, and 
 they are the parents of ten children, eight now liv- 
 ing: Nancy E., widow of Dr. J. M. Beaver, and af- 
 terward married to John C. Billingsley; Rhoda J., 
 wife of James Billingsley; Eliza F., wife of F. M. 
 Wolf; Charles L. lives in Texas; John L. resides 
 in Lee County, Ark.; Mary F. (deceased); Laura 
 A., wife of J. T. Robertson; Susan L., wife of 
 Walter Hardaway; Lillie M., wife of James M. 
 Godwin, and Carrie L. (deceased). Mr. Bates 
 was not in the army, but was detailed to make 
 shoes for the soldiers, and to continue the tanning 
 business. Previous to the war he was a Whig, 
 but since then he has voted with the Democratic 
 party until 1880, when he supported the Green- 
 back and Wheeler ticket. He and wife are mem- 
 bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Chiuch. 
 The paternal grandfather of John N. Bates, Samuel 
 Bates, was a soldier in the War for Independence, 
 and served first, until the battle of Lexington, 
 when he was captured by the English, and kept 
 prisoner for three months. He then made his 
 escape. He was a silversmith by trade, and the 
 English kept him at work at his trade while a pris- 
 oner. He then joined the army again, was at 
 Yorktown, and was present at the surrender of 
 Lord Cornwallis. After the war he located in Vir- 
 ginia, where he reared his family. He worked at 
 his trade and became wealthy, owning many ne- 
 groes. In 1807 he moved to North Carolina. 
 
 Dr. E. A. Baxter, Melbomne, Ark. It is the 
 prerogative of the physician to relieve or alleviate 
 the ailments to which suffering humanity is prone, 
 and as such he deserves the most grateful consid- 
 eration of all. A prominent physician, who by 
 his own ability has attained distinction in his pro- 
 fession, is Dr. E. A. Baxter. This gentleman 
 was born in Batesville, Ark. , in 1853, and is the 
 son of Elisha D. and Harriet N. (Patton) Baxter 
 [see sketch of ex-Gov. Elisha Baxter]. Dr. Baxter 
 was educated at Batesville, Ark. , received a good 
 English education at that place, and in 1877 en- 
 tered the University of Louisville, from which he 
 graduated in March, 1879. He then returned 
 home, remained a short time, and then came to 
 
 Melbourne, where he located in the last named 
 year. He immediately began practicing his pro- 
 fession. Realizing that it was not good for man 
 to be alone, he was married on the 23d of Decem- 
 ber, 1882, to Miss Maggie Powell, daughter of 
 William and Millie Powell, and niece of Judge 
 Powell, of Melbourne. They are the parents of 
 two children, only one living. Hattie M. The one 
 deceased was named Alfred A. Dr. and Mrs. 
 Baxter are both members of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, and the Doctor is a member of the 
 I. O. O. F., and also belongs to the Encamp- 
 ment of that order. He makes no specialty in his 
 line of practice, but has gained the confidence of 
 all as a clever and scientific practitioner. He has 
 been successful financially, accumulating property 
 as rapidly' as could be expected in a healthy county 
 like Izard. Coming as he does from one of the 
 leading families of the State, and being well con- 
 nected by marriage, the Doctor would be a very 
 pojjular man even if it were not for his pleasant, 
 social disposition, which has called around him 
 many friends. Kind and obliging, open-hearted 
 and free-handed, he is ever found at the bedside 
 of the sick and helpless. He takes no active part 
 in politics, and votes always for the good of his 
 friends. He is a Republican, though he has voted 
 with the Democratic party in this State. 
 
 Elbert Benbrook is one of the most successful 
 farmers and stockmen of Izard County, and de- 
 serves much credit for the success which has at- 
 tended his efforts, for when he began life for him- 
 self he only owned one horse and rented land, 
 whereas he is now the owner of 500 acres of as 
 good land as there is in the county, and is one of 
 the most successful stockmen of this region. He 
 was born in Izard County, in 1838, and is a son of 
 Henry and Catherine (Langston) Benbrook, who 
 came from the State of Illinois in 1832, and settled 
 on the farm on which our subject is now residing. 
 The father was a miller as well as a farmer, and in 
 1848 erected one of the first mills in the county, 
 and was also the proprietor of one of the first 
 cotton-gins. Upon settling in this region their 
 neighbors, with the exception of the families who 
 came with them, were twenty miles distant, and 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ^rr 
 
-^ — Aj- 
 
 IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 927 
 
 Indians and wild game of all kinds were very 
 abundant. Flonring-mills were very few and far 
 between in tlie region at that time, and their com i 
 and wheat were ground t)y machinery of their own 
 manufacture and wore of a very crude description. 
 The first mill built in the county was said to have 
 been erected by Laugsten Close, near Melbourne, 
 in 1811), its capacity being one bucket of meal per 
 day, but this was sufficient to keep all the families 
 in meal within a radins of fifty miles. Wild honey 
 was very al)undant, and as a means of carrying it 
 in considerable quantities they would sew up a 
 deer skin in the form of a sack, put the honey in 
 at the neck, throw the same across their horse as a 
 sack, and thus convey it home. A few elk were 
 found in the region by the earliest settlers, but 
 there was no bufPalo, although the country showed 
 evidence of their having been here, as the woods 
 were entirely free from underbrush, the canelirake 
 being only along the streams. At the age of twenty- • 
 three years Elbert Benbrook began managing a ] 
 steam saw-mill, the first one of the kind in the 
 county, it being erected by A. H. Matthews and 
 Ben BufFord in 1858, but owing to the breaking 
 out of the war he was compelled to give up the 
 work. In 1802 he enlisted in the' Confederate 
 sei-vice, but at the end of six weeks he was dis- 
 charged on account of disability and returned home, 
 where he engaged in teaching school for a short 
 time. He then operated his father's carding ma- 
 chine until after the close of the war, when he 
 again embarked in saw-milling, and also managed 
 the carding machine and followed farming up to 
 1S7:5. From 1878 to 1881 he ojierated a grist- 
 mill, but since that time he has given his attention 
 to farming and carpentering. He is a Democrat 
 l)olitically. and has held the office of justice of the 
 |)eace and deputy sheriff, and is the present in- 
 cumbent of the latter office, to which he was ap- 
 pointed in 1888, and had previously filled it from 
 1N74 to 1878. Margaret M. Berry became his 
 wife in 1861, but her death occurred seven years 
 later, she having borne a family of three children: 
 Susan A. (wife of W. J. Hudson), Robert H., and 
 JIartha 0. (wife of W. C. Rodman). Mr. Ben- 
 brook wedded his second wife. Miss Sarah A. 
 
 Mathes, in 18R8, biit after bearing three children, 
 Margie A. , Dora and Allan H. , her death occurred 
 in 1878, she having been a member of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, South. In the latter part 
 of 1878 Mr. Benbrook wedded his present wife, 
 Mrs. Elizabeth (Slyre) Rodman, and both are 
 worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and he is a Royal Arch Mason. He is 
 one of the men who has helped to build up the 
 county and has always been noted for his Chris- 
 tianity, benevolence, and high sense of honor. 
 
 Uen Benbrook, farmer, Pinesville, Ark. Lo- 
 cated in the midst of one of the finest agricultural 
 centers of Izard County, the farm which Mr. Ben- 
 brook occupies is conceded to be among the best 
 in this vicinity, and this is saying not a littl<>. for 
 on every hand may be seen superior places, whose 
 ownership indicate thrift and prosperity. He is a 
 native of this county, his birth occurring in 1849, 
 and he is the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Tray- 
 lor) Benbrook, natives of Illinois and Indiana, re- 
 spectively. Henry Benbrook came to Izard Coun- 
 ty, at a very early day, settled on a farm and tilled 
 the soil, but in connection also carried on the mill- 
 ing Inisiness. He and wife reared a family of ten 
 children, eight now living: Maria J. (wife of David 
 Smith), Uen, Armedia A. (wife of Green P. Staggs), 
 Washington. Serenia V. (wife of A. J. Frank.s), 
 Perry, Charlotte T. (wife of L. L. Bailey). Henry 
 and Nancy (deceased). Mr. Benbrook died in 
 1872, at the age of sixty years, and Mrs. Ben- 
 brook died in 1808, at the age of forty years. 
 They were members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and he was a uiemlier of the A. F. & A. 
 M. He had accumulated considerable pn)perty at 
 the time of his death, and owned about 1, 8(H) acres 
 of land, besides a gri.st-mill, two saw-mills and a 
 water-gin and carding machine. He was one of the 
 leading men of his day, and contributetl liberally 
 to all worthy enterprises. Fen Benbrook remaineil 
 on his father's farm until twenty-four years of age. 
 and acquired a taste for agricultural pursuits 
 which has adhered to him ever since. He receive<l 
 a good practical education in the subscription 
 schools, and when twenty five years of age selected 
 a wife in the person of Mrs. Acenith (Long) 
 
928 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Beabrook, a native of Izard County, Ark. This 
 union was blessed by the birth of six children: 
 Elizabeth, Angelene A., Albert, Robert, Acie and 
 Elbert. Mr. Benbrook first commenced farming 
 on rented land, but two years later purchased 200 
 acres of land, selling part of this in 1881, and 
 purchasing 1 15 acres unimproved. He then traded 
 that for his present property, which consists of 205 
 acres, with about 125 improved. He also owns 
 one-half interest in a cotton-gin. He has excellent 
 buildings and plenty of stock to run his farm. He is 
 a liberal donator to all public affairs, and is active 
 in educational matters. He and Mrs. Benbrook 
 are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, and he is a member of the A. F. & A. M. 
 Mrs. Benbrook had been man-ied previous to her 
 marriage to Mr. Benbrook, and to the brother of 
 the subject of this sketch. He died in 1870. Her 
 parents, George and Elizabeth (Langston) Long, 
 were both natives of Arkansas, and her father was 
 one of the earliest settlers on Strawberry Creek. 
 He and wife were the parents of three children, two 
 now living: Acey M. and Acenith. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Long both died in 1834. 
 
 Rev. J. N. A. Billingsley, Rockford, Ark. Like 
 many others of the representative men of Izard 
 County, Ark. , Mr. Billingsley is a native Tennes- 
 sean, born in the year 1834. His parents, A. C. 
 and Rebecca (Billingsley) Billingsley, were also 
 natives of the eastern part of that State. A. C. 
 Billingsley received a common school education in 
 his native State, and moved to Arkansas in 1844. 
 He purchased land in Izard County, and followed 
 farming in the spring and summer, and the rest 
 of the time was engaged as a house carpenter, and 
 was interested in the ginning business. He was 
 married in 1833 to Miss Rebecca Billing.sley, and 
 the fruits of this union were ten children, nine of 
 whom lived to be grown and four are now living: 
 J. N. A., Harriet E., wife of W. Lee; Thomas C, 
 resides in Yell County, Ark., and Eutonia E., wife 
 of W. Ragan. When Mr. Billingsley first came to 
 Arkansas the country was very thinly settled, and 
 their clothes were principally made from deer skins, 
 and their shoes were also made of the skins of ani- 
 mals. The settlers depended principally on hunt- 
 
 ing for their meat. Mr. Billingsley was a Whig in 
 politics, and was justice of the peace in his county 
 for a number of years. His father, Samuel Bil- 
 lingsley, came to this county in 1840. He tilled 
 many offices of trust in Fulton County, and was 
 ex-county judge and representative of that county 
 from about 1852 to 1853. Politically, he was a 
 Democrat. He was a member of the A. F. & A. 
 M. , and was a member of the Advent Church. 
 The maternal grandfather of the subject of this 
 sketch was Thomas Billingsley, brother to the pa- 
 ternal grandfather. He moved to Sevier County, 
 Ark., about 1840 and there followed agricultural 
 pursuits. He was a Democrat in his political views. 
 Upon reaching manhood. Rev. J. N. A. Billings- 
 ley commenced life for himself and worked for 
 some time as a hired hand. After this he clerked 
 in a dry goods store for about fifteen months, and 
 then went to tilling the soil on rented land. One 
 year later he entered 320 acres in Van Bureu 
 County, Ark., but sold out in 1868 and came to 
 Izard County. He rented land for four years and 
 then entered his present property of 160 acres. 
 He now has seventy acres under cultivation. 
 During the late conflict, or in 1862, he joined the 
 Confederate army, and served until the 5th of June, 
 1865, when he surrendered at Jacksonport, Ark. 
 He participated in the following battles: Prairie 
 Grove, Helena (July 4, 1863), Little Rock, and was 
 in most of the battles during Gen. Price's raid 
 through Missouri, in 1864. After cessation of hos- 
 tilities he returned home and resumed his farming 
 industry. His marriage was consummated, in 1 858, 
 to Miss Catherine Orr, of Fulton County, Ark., 
 and nine children were the result of this union, 
 eight now living: David C, resides in this coun- 
 ty; Mary E. , at home; Sarah F. . wife of Charles 
 B. Thomas, resides in this county; J. N. A., Jr., 
 (deceased); Samuel A., at home; R. Catherine, 
 wife of L. J. Jackson; Eutonia E., at home; Edwin 
 H., at home, and Martha E. , also at home. Mr. 
 Billingsley was ordained a minister of the Advent 
 Church in 1873, and was a pioneer minister of his 
 faith in this section. He has had between thirty - 
 five and forty conversions in the church, and has 
 performed about a dozen marriage services. He is 
 
 ^, 
 
IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 »2y 
 
 in favor of all public enterprises, is active in school 
 matters, and is a Prohibitionist and Union Labor 
 man. He is also a member of the Masonic frater- 
 nity. The father of Mrs. Billingsley, David Orr, 
 was born in 1799, came to Cape Girardeau Coun- 
 ty, Mo., in 1823, remained there for five years, 
 and in 1827 came to this State and settled in Law 
 rence County, where he remained until 1845. He 
 then moved to Fulton County, and died there in 
 1 849. He was a missionary in the Bapti.st Church, 
 and his circuit extended from Jefferson City, Mo., 
 to Little Rock, Ark. The State was still a terri- 
 tory when he settled here, and the nearest neigh- 
 bor was twenty-five miles distant. Often he would 
 travel all day and not see a house. Sometimes he 
 would get bothered and fail to reach a house by 
 night time, and in that case he would be obliged to 
 camp out, frequently in the dense canebrakes. 
 Bear, panthers and other wild animals would come 
 prowling around, and he would have to stay up to 
 watch his horse. He followed his ministerial du- 
 ties from 1827 to 1845, and was also a school 
 teacher. He married Miss Eliza T. Caldwell, of 
 Kentucky, on the 13th of September, 1821, and 
 became the father of eleven children : -Tames (de- 
 ceased), E. W. (died in 1863, and his family re- 
 sides in Fulton County),' David (died in 1827), 
 David (died in 1856), John H. (lives in Idaho Ter- 
 ritory). Eliza A. (wife of A. S. Godwin), Cath- 
 erine (wife of Rev. Billingsley), Martha J. (died in 
 1847), W. H. H. (died and left a family in Texas). 
 Joseph M. (lives in Fulton County) and Robert G. 
 Mr. On- died in 1849 and his wife in 1874. Mrs. 
 Orr was married the second time, in 1852, to 
 Thomas R. Hill, a member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church ; she belonged to the Baptist Church. 
 Dr. J. K. P. Black, Melbourne, Ark. One of 
 the leading and most successful physicians of Izard 
 County is Dr. Black, who has acquired a flatter- 
 ing reputation, and does credit to the profession. 
 He was l)oru in Bedford County, Tenn. , in 1S40, 
 and divided his time in youth between assisting on 
 the farm and in attending the common schools. In 
 1S61 he threw aside the implements of peace to take 
 up the weapons of warfare, and enlisted in Com- 
 pany K, Boon's First Battalion of Cavalry, and 
 
 served until lS(»o, when he was paroled at Shrevi- 
 port. La. He was engaged in the battles of Elk- 
 horn, luka, Corinth, and was sick during the siege 
 of Vicksburg. He came west after the surrender 
 of that place and joined Capt. McCabel's cavalry, 
 and was captured on Saline River, Ark., taken t(j 
 Rock Island, 111., where he was kept over a year 
 before being exchanged. He returned home after 
 the surrender and engaged in agricultural pursuits, 
 but also attended school. In 1870 he commenced 
 to read medicine, and two years later attended 
 lectures at the University of NashviUe, from which 
 he graduated in 1876. He then commenced prac- 
 ticing at Melbourne, and here he has remained 
 ever since. He was married, in 1882, to Miss Su 
 san Morton, of this State, and six children are the 
 result of this union, all living: Edgar and Edna 
 (twins), Thomas K., Ernest, Rufus and Mary. At 
 the commencement of his life as a public man. the 
 Doctor was not possessed of a great amount of 
 property. I nit he is now the owner of a large farm 
 of 310 acres, with about 100 acres under cultiva 
 tion. He is at present erecting a very tine resi- 
 dence, which, when completed, will be equal to 
 any in the county. He is a stanch Democrat, but 
 takes no particular interest in politics. He is a 
 member of the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Black is the 
 daughter of David and Nellie (Garmon) Morton, 
 both natives of North Carolina. The father was 
 born about 1807 or 1808, and came to the State of 
 Arkansas in 1850. The mother was born alwut 
 1810, and died in 1881. Dr. Black is the son of* 
 Col. Thomas and Mary F. (Byler) Black, the for 
 mer born on the 4th of October, 1807. In 1813 
 Col. Black removed with his father from William- 
 son to Bedford County, Tenn. , and when in his nine- 
 teenth year he was elected lieutenant of the militia. 
 When twenty-one years of age he was promoted 
 to the rank of captain, and subsequently in his 
 twenty sixth and twenty ninth years he was made 
 adjutant-major and then colonel of his regiment. 
 When twenty-three years of ago he was elected to 
 the Tormesseo legislature, where he remained for 
 four successive terms, representing Marshall and 
 Bedford Counties. Within this time occurred the 
 trouble of 1841 and 1S42, relating to aQineffoctunl 
 
930 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 effort to remove Foster and White from the United 
 States senate; Col. Black being a Democrat, dyed 
 in the wool, voted accordingly. In 1 849 he moved 
 to Izard Connty, Ark., from which he was sent to 
 represent the county in 1852. In 1856 he was 
 elected county and probate judge, which office he 
 filled successfully for four years, when he was ap- 
 pointed by the governor for two years more. In 
 1880 he again represented Izard Countj' in the 
 State legislature, and with the expiration of his 
 term of otfice came the end of his public life. His 
 last years were spent in the retirement of the home 
 circle, but he was at all times keenly alive to pass- 
 ing events. His death occurred at his residence 
 near Melbourne, on the 23d of June, 1889, when 
 in his eighty second year, and after a long and 
 useful life. When in his thirty-third year he be- 
 came a member of the Cumberland Presb3'terian 
 Church, and was at once made ruling elder, a re- 
 lation to the church which he retained until his 
 death. He was also a member of the I. O. O. F. 
 Lee A. Bland, farmer, Melbourne, Izard County, 
 Ark. Personal popularity, it cannot be denied, re- 
 sults largely from industry, perseverance and close 
 attention to bu.siness, which a person displays in 
 the management of any particular branch of trade; 
 and in the case of Mr. Bland this is certainly true, 
 for he has adhered so closely to farming, and helped 
 in so many ways to advance all worthy enterprises 
 in this community, that he is considered one of the 
 representative men of the county. His birth oc- 
 curred at Augusta, in Woodruff County, Ark., and 
 he is the son of James T. and Mary C. (Snow) 
 Bland, the father a native of Tennessee, and the 
 mother of Arkansas. James Bland came to Arkan- 
 sas, at an early day, settling at Augusta, Woodruff 
 County, and was married January 5, 1854. He 
 followed farming, biit also engaged in merchan- 
 dising previous to the war, and was broken up 
 (luring that eventful period. He did not enlist, 
 but was one of the few men who assisted the wives 
 of the soldiers. He had three biothers killed while 
 serving in the Confederate army. After the war 
 he farmed extensively until his death, which oc- 
 curred January 5, 1809, when he was killed by 
 the State militia, serving under Powell Clayton's 
 
 orders. He was at one time quite wealthy, and 
 was the owner of some slaves. He and his tirst 
 wife were the parents of two children, Lee A. 
 being the only one living. Mrs. Bland died in 
 1858, and Mr. Bland took for his second wife, in 
 1858, Miss Lucy Perry, who bore him two children, 
 only one living, Oliver P. , who is a telegraph oper- 
 ator, and resides at El Paso, Texas. Mr. Bland 
 was only about thirty-nine years of age at the time 
 of his death, and his second wife followed him to 
 the grave in 1869. In politics he was a stanch 
 Democrat. At the age of sixteen years Lee A. 
 Bland (the subject of this sketch) commenced life 
 for himself, first as a dry goods clerk, and was 
 then employed for eighteen months by Campbell 
 Bros. , at Augusta. He then farmed for about two 
 years, after which he again returned to mercantile 
 pursuits, but not liking this he again returned to 
 farming and has continued thus occupied ever 
 since. He tirst rented land, but in 1887 he bought 
 his present property, consisting of 397 acres, with 
 sixty under cultivation, and has resided here since. 
 In 1876 he abandoned his single state and was 
 united in marriage at La Crosse, Izard County, to 
 Miss Cornelia F. Helm, who bore him five chil- 
 dren, three now living: Ada M. , born July 29, 
 1877; Mary J., born October 5, 1879; Effie L. 
 (deceased), born November 1, 1883; Nora S. (de- 
 ceased), born February 17, 1886, and Willie L. , 
 born November 22, 1887. Mr. Bland has been 
 constable of La Crosse Township for two years, 
 and, like his father, is a Democrat in his political 
 principles. Mrs. Bland is a member of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church. She is a daughter of 
 George T. and Sally C. Helm, and was born in 
 Izard County, Ark., September 16, 1859. 
 
 Dedrick Blevins is one of the practical and 
 representative agriculturists of this region, and 
 from early boyhood has been familiar with the oc 
 cupation of farming, having learned the details of 
 the work from his father, who was a worthy tiller 
 of the soil. He is the owner of a good farm of 140 
 acres, of which about sixty-five are under cultiva- 
 tion, and his jsroperty is well improved with good 
 buildings, fences, etc., and is also well stocked 
 with the necessary animals for successfully con- 
 
Mississippi County , Ahkrnsas 
 
 fT^/- 
 
« k. 
 
 -i 9 
 
 IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 il8l 
 
 ducting the same. Ho was bom in Sullivan County, 
 Teun., March 20, 1847, and is a son of W. K. and 
 Rachel (Morgan) Blevins, who were also Tennes- 
 seeans, the former's birth occurring in Sullivan 
 County, June 26, 1818, and the latter' s on the 
 28th of April, 1822. In connection with his farm 
 work the father was engaged in blacksmithing, 
 which occupation he followed on his farm of I'iO 
 acres. He died on the 3d of October, 1865, hav- 
 ing been an earnest member of the Christian 
 Church for many years, but his wife, who is a 
 member of the Baptist Church, still lives and re- 
 sides with her son, John W., on the old homestead. 
 Her family consisted of nine children, whose names 
 are as follows: Mary, Eliza, Nathaniel, Hiley A., 
 Thomas \i., Lydia, Henry B. , John W. and Dod- 
 rick. Seven of these children reside in the State 
 of Arkansas, the last named child having been 
 reared and educated in Izard County, acquiring a 
 fair education in the common schools. After at- 
 taining manhood he was married to Miss Lucy 
 Davidson, their marriage being consummated on 
 the 10th of September, 1868, and to them have 
 been born nine children, five sons and four daugh- 
 ters, six of the family being still alive and residing 
 with their parents: David G., Emily C. , Lydia 
 F., Bartholomew, Owen A., and an infant. Mr. 
 Blevins joined the Confederate army June 8, 1864, 
 and, after serving under Oen. Price, was discharged 
 in 1865. He has held the office of school director 
 and constable, and he and wife are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Charles Henry Boatman was born in the State 
 of Tennessee, in 1844, and is a son of John and 
 Rel)occa (Shore) Boatman, who were born in 
 (lioigia and Tennessee, respectively, the former's 
 birth occurring in 1786, and their marriage in Ten- 
 ue.ssee in 1838. Four sons and three daughters 
 were born to them: William E., Richard, Wiley, 
 Lucinda, Elizabeth J. , Eliza F. and Charles Henry. 
 Mr. Boatman was a farmer, and died in 1861, fol- 
 lowed by his wife, whose death occurred in Izard 
 County in 1886. They removed to this State in 
 1850, and entered 160 acres in Izard County, on 
 which they erected a little log cabin, which con- 
 tinued to be their home for a number of years. 
 
 Charles H. Boatman came with his parents to this 
 county and State, but received a somewhat limited 
 education in the schools of Izard County. He was 
 married here, in 1860, to Mi.ss Sarah, a daughter 
 of Henry Hose, and of nine children born to them 
 seven are living: Rebecca J., Lucinda E., Ira E., 
 Jose])h B., Franklin A., Jasper O. , Lewis H., and 
 William W., and Andrew C. , deceased. Mr. Boat- 
 man owns eighty acres of good land, with thirty 
 under cultivation, and on his farm he erected a 
 substantial frame residence, in 1885, and an add! 
 tion to the same in 1888. His principal crops are 
 corn, cotton and small grain. His wife, who was 
 born in the State of Tennessee, in 1843, is a mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John 
 Boatman enlisted in the Confederate infantry, 
 under Capt. Thomas Smith, in 1861, and, at the 
 battle of Shiloh, he was woimded in the head. He 
 was also at Franklin, Nashville and Chickamauga. 
 Tenn. , besides l)eiug a particij>aat in many other 
 hard fought battles, and served until the war closed. 
 James H. Bone is a native of Izard County, 
 born on the 18th of June. 1857, and is one of five 
 living members of a family of ten children born to 
 the marriage of A. W. Bone and Sarah L. McKee, 
 both Tennesseeans, the former's birth occurring on 
 the 8th of October, 1826. He gave his attention 
 to farming throughout life, and is now residing on 
 his farm of 200 acres in Izard County, Ark., there 
 being about seventy-five acres of his land undei- 
 cultivation. He and wife arc church membei-s, ho 
 being a member of the Olil School Presbyterian 
 Church and she of the Cumberland Presliyterian, 
 and they are 8ul)stantiHl residents of the county. 
 James H. Bone received a good practical education 
 in his youth, and learned the rudiments of farm 
 life from his father, who was a practical agricull 
 urist, and by attending strictly to hisfiiosi-n calling 
 he has done much to advance the reputation the 
 county enjoys as a prosi)erous farming community. 
 He is careful ami painstaking in the cultivation of 
 his land, and very thorough in everything con- 
 nected with its management, and of the 180 acres 
 which he possesses he has about sixty acres under 
 cultivation. He was married, in his native county, 
 on the 7th of Fel)ruary, 1S7S, to Miss Amanda M. 
 
 
932 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Taylor, a daughter of Stephen and Arena Taylor. 
 Stephen Taylor was born in North Carolina, but 
 moved to Tennessee at an early daj' and married 
 there. He then came to Arkansas, after which his 
 wife died, and later he married Miss Arena Hinkle 
 who still survives, a resident of Izard County. 
 She was born in the State of Tennessee. To the 
 union of Mr. and Mrs. Bone five children have 
 been born: Fannie E. , AVilliam H., Sarah A., 
 Stephen W. and Samuel J. Mr. Bone has held a 
 number of local offices in his township, and he has 
 always been ready and willing to support enter- 
 prises of a worthy character. He and wife are 
 members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. 
 Bone's paternal grandfather came from Tennessee 
 to Arkansas in 1840, and his great-grandfather, 
 McKee, was born in Ireland. He went from there 
 to Virginia. Grandfather McKee was born in Vir- 
 ginia, in 1801 or 1802, and moved from there to 
 Tennessee, and in 1851 he came to Arkansas. 
 
 W. L. Bramblette is a farmer of Izard County, 
 and although his land only amounts to eighty acres 
 yet his farm is so well tilled that it yields a larger 
 income than many larger farms. He was born in 
 Murray County, Ga. , July 8, 1851, he being one 
 of five sons and three daughters born to the mar- 
 riage of Wiley Bramblette and Mary A. Howard, 
 whose birthplace was in the ' ' Palmetto State, ' ' 
 where they were reared and married. At the time 
 of the father's death, which occurred in August, 
 1861, he owned about 200 acres of laud in Izard 
 County, Ark., whither he had moved in the year 
 1856. His wife survives him and lives with her 
 son, W. L. Bramblette, our subject. He was a 
 Mason in good standing at the time of his death. 
 W. L. Bramblette received the advantages of the 
 common schools of Izard County in bis youth, and 
 after attaining manhood was married in this county 
 to Miss Sarah Mosier, whose native State was Ar- 
 kansas, their nviptials Ijeing celebrated on the 27th 
 of May, 1877, and to them were born five children, 
 whose names are as follows: Owen M. , Minnie A., 
 Arab B. , Buggie and Delia C. , all residing at home. 
 Mr. Bramblette is a member of the Agricultural 
 Wheel, and was president of this organization for 
 one year. The family are attendants at the Baptist 
 
 Church, to which our subject and his wife belong, 
 and they are liberal contributors to enterprises 
 tending to benefit the community in which they 
 reside. 
 
 G. W. Bray is one of the rising young farmers 
 of this region, and since starting out in life for 
 himself he has applied himself steadfastly to agri- 
 cultural jjursuits, and with what success may be 
 inferred when we mention the fact that since 1881 
 he has owned a good farm of 193 acres. He was 
 born in Mississippi in 1851, and is a son of Will- 
 iam and Permelia (Aikin) Bray, who were natives 
 of Tennessee, but moved to Mississippi at an early 
 day, where they engaged in farming, and reared 
 their family of ten children, only two of whom 
 are now living. Mr. Bray died in 1843, and in 
 1868 Mrs. Bray and her son, G. W. , came to Ar- 
 kansas (whither her daughter Permelia, wife of 
 W. F. Raider had previously come), their journey 
 being made in an ox-cart, which they had bor- 
 rowed. Mr. Bray now says at that time he had only 
 $2 in cash, and that the oxen were borrowed from 
 W. Garner, and the cart from Sandford Hames. 
 The first two years after coming here he raised 
 crops on shares, and then entered land, purchasing, 
 in 1870, his first horse, for which he paid the sum 
 of $80, 130 of which he earned by picking cotton on 
 the bottom lands, and the balance he paid the follow- 
 ing year. In 1871 he married Miss Alice Nail, 
 who bore him five children: JohnH. , born in 1872; 
 Martha B., born in 1873; William A., born in 
 1877; George W., born in 1879, and Newton E., 
 born in 1882. This wife died in 1883. In 1881 he 
 purchased his present property, and has thirty 
 acres under cultivation and seventy-five acres im- 
 proved with good fences, buildings, orchards, etc. , 
 his building especially being in excellent condition. 
 This property has all been acquired through unre- 
 mitting toil and judicious management, and he 
 may with tnith be called one of the self-made men 
 of the county. He always favors public improve- 
 ment, and although he never went to school a day 
 in his life he is making every effort to give his 
 children, Permelia R. , Isaac R., Mary B. and 
 Ellen E. , the advantages of which he was deprived. 
 Before coming to Arkansas, and for two years 
 
 ^ e 
 
IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 ysa i 
 
 after, he supported his mother out of his \va<,'es 
 earned by daily labor, and for this filial care if for 
 nothing else ho deserves the respect of his fellow- 
 men ; and when it is taken into consideration that 
 he has manfully fought his way up to his ])resent 
 position, and that he has been honest and upright 
 in all his dealings, words are but meager things 
 with which to express the admiration his conduct 
 commands. In his political views he is a Demo- 
 crat, and socially he is a member of the I. O. O. 
 F. His wife, whom he married in 1883, was for- 
 merlj' a Miss Docia Hames. 
 
 E. A. Brown, one of the worthy residents of 
 Izard County, Ark. , was born in Hall County, Ga. , 
 on the 16th of August, 1824, and is a son of Will- 
 iam and Nancy (Grimes) Brown, whose native 
 State was South Carolina, the former's birth occur- 
 ring in 1797. They were reared and married in 
 their native State, and their union resulted in 
 the births of four sons and five daughters, E. A. 
 Brown being the only one of the family now living. 
 The father was a carpenter by occupation, and 
 died on the 26th of December, 1880, his death be- 
 ing followed by his wife's on the 9th of January 
 following. They were worshipers in, and consist- 
 ent members of, the Presbyterian Church, and were 
 worthy and honored residents of the community in 
 which they resided. E. A. Brown was educated in 
 the State of Georgia, near Lawrenceville, and after 
 reaching manhood, was married there on the 14th 
 of August, 1845, to Miss Susan Long, she being a 
 native of the "Palmetto State," and a daughter 
 of James and Margaret Long. At the time of his 
 marriage Mr. Brown only owned a horse worth 
 about $40, but, with the push and energy for which 
 he has always been remarkable, he set bravely to 
 work, and with the aid of his intelligent and estima- 
 ble wife he has become the owner of 1,400 acres of 
 land in Izard County and 9li0 acres in Sharp Coun- 
 ty, about 875 acres of which are under cultivation. 
 He is a member of the Masonic lodge,i8 a Democrat, 
 in his political views, and on the breaking out of 
 the late war he enlisted in the First Georgia Cav- 
 alry, under Col. Morrison, and his first hard fight 
 was near Knoxville, Tenn. He was discharged at 
 Jacksonport in 1865. He and wife are members of 
 
 the Baptist Church, and are tiie parents of the fol- 
 lowing children: Henry, Wiley, Jane and Mollie. 
 W. A. Bruuiitt, farmer, Franklin, Ark. This 
 successful farmer was born in Fulton County, 
 Ark., in 1859, and when only eleven years of age 
 started out to fight life's Ijattle for himself. He 
 first commenced as a hired hand, and for his serv- 
 ices was boarded and clothed the first year, but the 
 second year the same man paid him $12 a month 
 for his labor. He confinuod working by the 
 month on a farm until seventeen years of age, when 
 he began traveling, and thus enjoyed himself for 
 about twelve months, visiting as far north as Illi- 
 nois and Kentucky, and as far south as Texas and 
 the Indian Nation. When eighteen years of age 
 he rented land and farmed in Sharp County, and 
 when nineteen years of age he farmed and ran a cot- 
 ton-gin. After this he rented the Wolf mill and con- 
 ducted that for two years, after which he embarked 
 in the distillery business for twelve months. lu 18S4 
 he bought his present property, consisting of 220 
 acres, with eighty under cultivation, and had this 
 farm cultivated until 1889, when he took charge 
 of the place himself. He was married in Decem- 
 ber, 1878, to Miss Rebecca Jack.son, a native of 
 this county, and born on the farm where they now 
 reside. They are the parents of four childri'ii; 
 Lucy A., W. P., Clara and James H. Mr. Bru- 
 mitt has discharged the duties of justice of the 
 peace in his township, and is now director of the 
 public schools. He is a self-made man in everj- 
 sense of the word and deserves the esteem of all 
 for his enterprise and perseverance. His educa- 
 tional advantages, as might be supposed, were 
 rather limited, but by reading and observation he 
 has become a well-informed man. He is a Repub- 
 lican and is alive to the j)olitical issues of the day. 
 His parents were R. H. and Elizabeth A. (Morris) 
 Brumitt, natives of Tennessee and Kentucky, re 
 spectively. R. H. Brumitt moved to Arkansas in 
 1857, entering land on Strawberry River, Fulton 
 County, but only resided there three years, when 
 he moved to Independence County, settling in the 
 northeast part of the same. In 1862 he moved 
 to Illinois, settling in Johnson County, and there 
 I remained for four years. In 1867 hi' caim' b.'ick 
 
A 
 
 S k^ 
 
 934 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 to his farm in Independence County, remained 
 there until 1869, when he moved to Sharp County 
 and there bought a farm of 360 acres. In 1883 
 he Bold this farm and moved to Izard County, 
 locating near the center of the county ' on a farm 
 of 340 acres. He has been married three times; 
 lirst, to the mother of the subject of this sketch, 
 and they became the parents of two childi-en: Na- 
 thaniel (deceased) and W. A. Mrs. Brumitt was 
 a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
 died in 1867, at the age of fifty-two years. Mr. 
 Brumitt' s second marriage was to Mrs. P. M. 
 Hotchkiss, nee Shanks, and they had six children, 
 live now living: Martha, wife of William Fry; 
 James F., resides in this county; Susan J., at 
 home; Lucy F., Daniel H. and Mary A. (deceased). 
 Mrs. Brumitt was a worthy member of the Baptist 
 Church, and died in 1881. By his third marriage, 
 to Mrs. Mahala Thompson, nee Richardson, he 
 became the father of one child, Naomi A. Mr. 
 Brumitt is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, 
 and is still quite an active man. He is a Repub- 
 lican, but does not take a very active part in poli- 
 tics. Mrs. Brumitt is a member of the Primitive 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 Joseph L. Byler was born in Middle Tennes- 
 see, in 1834, his father, John Byler, being also 
 born in that State in 1797. The latter was a sol- 
 dier in the War of 1812, and was the captain of a 
 company, afterward being promoted to major, 
 and this latter position he held until the close of 
 the war. In the year 1820 he united in the bonds 
 of matrimony to Miss Middia Adkinson, a daugh- 
 ter of John Adkinson, and to their union seven 
 children have been bom, two of whom are now 
 living: Mary and Joseph L. He removed from 
 Tennessee to Izard County, Ark., in the year 1847, 
 and obtained a land warrant from the government 
 for 160 acres of land, which he farmed with suc- 
 cess up to the time of his death, in 1873. His wife 
 died in Bedford County, Tenn. , in 1844. At the 
 age of eighteen years Joseph L. Byler engaged in 
 farming and stock raising, and in these two enter- 
 prises, which have been his chief calling through 
 life, he has met with marked success. He owns 
 250 acres of land on Rocky Bayou, and has about 
 
 ninety acres under cultivation, which he devotes 
 principally to the raising of cotton, corn and small 
 grain. In addition to this, he owns a large cot- 
 ton-gin and gi'ist-mill, which he has operated for 
 the past twelve years, last year putting up 166 
 bales of cotton, and since 1887 he has been en- 
 gaged in merchandising, and has a fair patronage. 
 Since Cleveland's administration he has held the 
 office of postmaster of Alder, and socially is a 
 member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow's fraterni- 
 ties. He is a thorough, enterprising business man, 
 has a host of friends, and is recognized by all as a 
 good citizen. In 1854 he was married to Rachel, 
 the daughter of John and Elizabeth Gray, of Izard 
 County, but she died in 1868, leaving him with a 
 family of five children to care for: Augusta C, 
 Mary E., Mentian, Sarah J. and Rachel R. In 
 1871 he was married to his second wife, whose 
 maiden name was Lettie W. Woody, she being a 
 daughter of Joseph and Sarah Woody, of Izard 
 County. They have a family of three children: 
 Dixie E., Joseph G. and Edna. Mr. Byler served 
 in the Confederate army under Capt. Gibson and 
 Col. Shaler from 1861 to 1865, being in the in- 
 fantry, and was a participant in a number of bat- 
 tles. He is now a stanch Democrat in his polit- 
 ical views, and for a number of years has been a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 William W. Campbell. The farm which Mr. 
 Campbell now owns and conducts in such an enter- 
 prising and industrious manner embraces 340 
 acres of land, of which 125 are under cultivation, 
 forming one of the neat, comfortable homesteads 
 of this township. The improvements upon it are 
 convenient and complete, and, no doubt, one 
 reason of his success in this calling is the fact that 
 from his earliest youth he has been familiar with 
 the duties of farm labor. He was born in the 
 "Old North State" in 1838, his father, William 
 R. Campbell, also being born there, the latter's 
 birth occurring in 1813. The latter received a 
 somewhat limited education in his youth, but in his 
 business enterprises was quite successful, and be- 
 came the owner of 550 acres of land. He was 
 married to Miss Mary Howard, a daughter of John 
 Howard, of Iredell County, and to their union a 
 
^1 
 
 IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 family of eleven children were born, seven sons 
 and four daughters: James A., William W., Sarah 
 A., Faunie, Martin H. , Augustus W., Henry F., 
 Samuel P., Mary, Preston B. and Alice. The 
 family emigrated from North Carolina to 
 Izard County, Ark., in 1856, and here Ijocame 
 prominent citizens. The father purchased 200 
 acres of land, which he devoted principally to 
 raising corn and small grain, and during his life- 
 time he was quite active in politics, and held the 
 office of magistrate for some years. He volun- 
 teered to serve in the Mexican War, but before he 
 entered service peace was declared. He, as well 
 as his wife, were active members of the Mission- 
 ary Baptist Church, and his death occurred in 
 Izard County, Ark., in 1883. William W. Camp- 
 bell received a common school education in North 
 Carolina, and, in 1859, began life for himself in 
 Izard County, with the results above stated. Upon 
 the breaking out of the Civil W'av he (>nlisted 
 in the infantry, bxit later joined the cavahy, being 
 under Gens. McCarver and Hardy, but was dis- 
 charged while serving under the latter, at Poca- 
 hontas. He next enlisted under Gen. Shaler, and 
 was taken prisoner at Cape Girardeau, Mo., and 
 was taken to St. Louis, where he was confined for 
 six months. He served in all four years. He is a 
 Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F., and is a man 
 who enjoys an extensive acquaintance, and is 
 highly respected. He has been married three 
 times; fir.st, in 1860, to Miss Hiley J. Walker, a 
 daughter of John Walker, of Izard County, but 
 she died in 1863, leaving one child, Pierce W. 
 She was a member of the Baptist Church, and was 
 an estimable woman in every respect. In 1864 Mr. 
 Campbell took for his second wife Miss Hiley J. 
 High tower, Nathan High tower's daughter, but her 
 death occurred in 1876, she having borne him two 
 children, Sarah A. and Martha J. She was also 
 a consistent member of the Baptist Church. Mrs. 
 Caroline Smith became his third wife in 1883, her 
 father's name being Andrew James. This mar- 
 riage resulted in the birth of the following family: 
 Patrick O. , Edward B. , Augustus A. and Maggie O. 
 Henry F. Campbell is a native of North Caro- 
 lina, born in 18-i8, and like the majority of the 
 
 ^^^=4^ 
 
 native born residents of that State, he i.-< .■ii.>rg(tic 
 and enterprising. A short history of his father, 
 William R. Campbell, appears in the sketch of 
 Milliam W. Campbell. Henry F. Campbell re- 
 ceived the education and rearing which is usually 
 given the farmer's boy, and after reaching man- 
 hood was married in Izard County, Ark., to Miss 
 Mary E. Helen, a daughter of George C. Helen, 
 of this county. To them have been born the fol- 
 lowing interesting family of children: James T., 
 William C, Mary E., and Cornelia F. Like so 
 many of the substantial citizens of this country at 
 the present time, Mr. Campbell was initiated into 
 the mysteries of farm life from the very fii-st, and 
 this has since continued to be the calling to which 
 his attention has been directed. He now owns and 
 operates 240 acres of land in Izard County, and 
 has sixty-five acres under cultivation, which he de- 
 votes to the raising of cotton, corn and oats. In 
 1880 he erected a cotton-gin on his farm, which 
 has been in operation each succeeding year, and in 
 1888 he ginned 140 bales of cotton. He built 
 a substantial residence in 1881; and is one of the 
 largest and most successful fruit growers in this 
 section of the country. His marriage occurred in 
 1874, and his wife lived until the 7th of March, 
 1889, when she was called to her long home. She 
 was a consistent member of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, South, and Mr. Campbell belongs to 
 the Baptist Church. His mother was born in 
 North Carolina in 1816, her parents being also 
 natives of that State, and they were the parents of * 
 the following family of children; Martin, James. 
 Polly, Sarah, Lemira iind Millie. 
 
 John W. Cone, farmer, Newburg, Ark. Mr. 
 Cone is one of the rejiresentative young farmers of 
 Newburg Townshi[). and is closely a.ssociated with 
 the agricultural affairs of the county. His birth 
 occurred on the 5th of July, 1850, in Tenue.ssee, 
 and his youth was passed in attending the common 
 schools and in assisting his father on the farm in 
 Tennessee. He came with his father to Arkansas, 
 in 1870, and settled on the farm where he now re- 
 sides. Four years later ho wedded Miss Mollie A. 
 Freeman, a native of Tennessee, but who vnxa 
 reared in Arkansas, this county. Four children 
 
 — V 
 
k 
 
 936 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 are the result of this union: George T., Cora E., 
 Bosa H. and John B. Mr. Coue commenced farm- 
 ing for himself at the age of twenty- one years on 
 his father's land, and at the end of two years 
 bought his present property, which then consisted 
 of 140 acres, but he has added to this until he now 
 has 260 acres with 160 under cultivation. Soon 
 after arriving at his majority he commenced travel- 
 ing, and journeyed over Tennessee, Kentucky and 
 Illinois, and did not commence saving anything for 
 a rainy day until twenty -five years of age. He is a 
 member of the A. F. & A. M. , is a Democrat in his 
 political views, and he and wife are members of 
 the Christian Church. His parents, Bev. G. W. 
 and Margaret (Howland) Cone, were natives of 
 North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. G. 
 W. Cone was a minister in the Christian Church, 
 and followed this calling for forty years, although 
 in connection he also carried on farming. He was 
 married in Tennessee, in 1847, and lived there 
 until 1870, when he moved to Izard County, Ark., 
 and settled on the farm adjoining his son's (John 
 W. Cone) tine tract of land. There he now resides 
 and is in his seventy-third year, but is still active 
 and in the enjoyment of comparatively good health. 
 He was quite well off previous to the war, but lost 
 the principal part of his property during that ex- 
 citing period. He and wife reared a family of 
 eight children, all living: Tennessee, wife of B. 
 F. Smith, of this county; John W., J. B., resides 
 in this county; Mary J., wife of W. C. Bounds, 
 and lives in Texas County, Mo. ; I. N., wife of W. 
 C. Aylor; Cassie M., wife of C. E. Jett; Maggie 
 W. , wife of H. Lacy, and Thomas F., who lives in 
 this county. The mother of these children is in 
 her fifty- eighth year. The paternal grandfather 
 was of Irish descent as was also the grandmother, 
 whose maiden name was Norwood. The maternal 
 grandparents of John W. Cone were John F. and 
 Ellen (Miller) Howland, and the grandfather was 
 a soldier in the Mexican War. 
 
 J. M. J. Conyers deserves honorable mention 
 as one of the successful agriculturists of Izard 
 County, and, owing to his own enterprise and 
 push, he has become the owner of 307 acres of 
 land, with about 110 acres under cultivation, all 
 
 of which is located in Dry Town Township. He 
 was born in Hart County, Ky. , March 6, 1836, 
 and is one of three sons born to P. C. and Eliza 
 (Ralston) Conyers, both of whom were born on 
 Blue Grass soil, and were there reared, educated 
 and married. After the death of his wife, in 1838, 
 he espoused Miss Tabitha Gouch, she also being a 
 Kentuckian; their union was consummated in 
 March, 1842. This marriage resulted in the birth 
 of thirteen children, of which family three were 
 boys and the rest girls. Seven of these children 
 are now living. At the time of Mr. Conyers death, 
 March 4, 1865, he was the owner of 240 acres of 
 land. His widow -survives him, and resides with 
 a son in Izard County, Ark. The father was a 
 Mason, and a member of the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church. J. M. J. Conyers received an ex- 
 cellent education in Henry County, Tenn., but in 
 the year 1867, he removed to Arkansas, and was 
 afterward married to Miss Nannie Billington, a 
 daughter of William and Pemelia Billington, of 
 Tennessee. To their marriage, which occurred on 
 the 6th of February, 1867, have been born a fami- 
 ly of eleven children (eight of whom are living): 
 William P., Thomas A., Franklin M. , James A., 
 Newton A., Nathaniel E. , Dora A., Nancy A., 
 Mary E. , Jeptha A. and Sarah J. Mr. Conyers 
 has held the office of Junior Deacon in the Masonic 
 order, and in public life has been deputy sheriff 
 of the county, and has also held the position of 
 constable of his township. He and wife worship 
 in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which 
 he has been a worthy member since 1853. 
 
 David Craige, proprietor of the Izard County 
 Register, Melbourne, Ark. The name of Craige 
 is honorably connected with the prosperity and 
 happiness of Melbourne and the county of Izard, 
 for his paper enters the homes of many, and with 
 its progressive ideas and newsy articles, receives 
 a ready welcome. This paper is the only one in 
 the county. David Craige is a native of Rowan 
 County, N. C, born in the year 1836, and is the 
 son of John and Jane (Thomason) Craige, both 
 natives of North Carolina, The father was a de- 
 scendant of a Scotch family, and owned a number 
 of slaves. He was a Democrat, but not active in 
 
 -5.pr 
 
IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 St:{7 
 
 polities. He ilied aliunt 1847, at the ajije of forty- 
 five years, ami bis wife died about 1840, at the age 
 of thirty five years. The paternal grandfather 
 served as a colonel dining the entiri> War for In- 
 dependence. David Craige divided his time in 
 early youth in assisting on the farm and in at- 
 tending the common schools of his county. At the 
 age of fifteen years he commenced serving an ap- 
 prenticeship at the printer's trade in Lincolnton, 
 N. C. , and after following this for some time, he 
 came to Batesville. Ark., in lSr)2, and went to work 
 on the Commercial Standard, run by John C. 
 Claiborne. Mr. Claiborne only ran the paper a 
 year, when he sold to Urban E. Fort, and the 
 name and political status were changed from a 
 Democratic to a Whig. It then became known as 
 the Independent Balance, and was run under that 
 name until the commencement of the war. About 
 1855 Prof. M. Shelbj' Kennard assumed control of 
 the paper, and through all the political changes 
 Mr. Craige worked at this paper until the breaking 
 out of the war. On account of poor health he was 
 exempt from service, and during the war, and for 
 a few years afterward, he was engaged in agricnl- 
 tural pursuits on North Fork and Piney Bayou. 
 In 1871 he returned to the printing business and 
 worked on the North Arkansas Times, published 
 by Charles Maxwell and Dr. ]M. McClure of Bates- 
 ville, Ark., and Democratic in its principles. He 
 continued with this paper until 1873, when he 
 went to Jacksonport, and was engaged as journey- 
 man on the Statesman, a Republican journal, 
 edited by John Fagan. From 1873 to 1883 Mr. 
 Craige merely rusticated, for his health was quite 
 poor at that time. In 1883 or 1884 he took charge 
 of the Sharp County Record for J. W. Buckley, 
 and managed that for three years. In January, 
 1887, he first leased the Register, but in No- 
 vember, 1888, purchased the same, and runs the 
 paper in the interests of the Democratic party. 
 Ho was married March 20, 1887, to Jliss Elizabeth 
 Campbell, daughter of Archibald Campbell, of this 
 county, who was originally from Iredell County, 
 N. C. , and is one of the old settlers of Izard 
 County. Mr. Craige is now permanently located, 
 having married in his fifty- first year, and with the 
 
 59 
 
 extensive circulation his paper has already ob 
 tained, commands the respect and confidence of 
 many of the reading pulilic. Politically he is. of 
 course, a Democrat. 
 
 Dr. John M. Creswell is a native of Izard 
 County, and was born on the 20th of May. 1 857. 
 being one of nine living members of a family of 
 eleven children born to James C. and Martha 
 (Mann) Creswell, the former a native of Arkansas, 
 born in 1826, and the latter of Tennessee. James 
 received a very limited education in his youth, and 
 afterward followed the occupation of farming: and 
 although he was badly crippled financially during 
 the war, by diligent subsequent labors he was the 
 owner of a good farm of 1(50 acres at the time of 
 his death, on the 2l8t of March, 1881. In 18*58 
 he moved to Bell County, Tex., but not liking the 
 country he returned to Arkansas at the end of six 
 months, and settled at Sylamore (now in Stone 
 County), but two years later ciime to Izard County. 
 He served in the Confederate army from 18(53 to 
 1865, and was captain of his company, being under 
 Gen. Price, and was with him on his raid through 
 Missouri, participating in the battle of Pilot Knob. 
 He surrendered at Jacksonport. Ark., June 5. 186r(, 
 and then returned home. He was married in 1854. 
 the following being his children, who are now 
 living: John M.. Solon M.. Cyrus J.. James L. . 
 Rufus C. Martha D. (wife of J. D. Denton), Will- 
 iam D., HaiTiet E. and Homer Z. Mr. Creswell 
 was a member in good standing of the A. F. & 
 A. M. at the time of his death, and was a man who 
 took great interest in all worthy public movements 
 and gave his children good educational advantages. 
 His widow survives him. Dr. John M. Creswell 
 was reared on a farm but spent the most of his 
 time in school, being an attendant of the La Crosse 
 Academy from 1871 to 1878, the institution at this 
 time being under Profs. H. C. Tipton and ^I. 
 Shelby Kennard. In 1880 he entered the St. Louis 
 Homtepathic College and gi-adnated from this in- 
 stitution two years later, delivering the valedictory 
 address at the commt>ncemi>nt exercises, and was 
 honorably mentioned in Materia Medica and Surg 
 ei"y. He has been engaged in practicing at his 
 present location ever since, and lias won an envi- 
 
•*j N- 
 
 938 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 able reputation among the medical fraternity of 
 the county, and is acknowledged by all to be a 
 successful physician. On the 7th of May, 1885, 
 he was united in marriage to Miss Martha C. Peel, 
 of Izard County, and by her became the father of 
 one child, who is deceased. They are members of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a Royal 
 Arch Mason, and a member of the I. 0. O. F. The 
 paternal grandparents, James L. and Margaret 
 (Laferty) Creswell, were very early settlers of 
 Izard County, and here the grandfather died at 
 the age of fifty-five years; four of his sisters also 
 died when fifty five years of age. The maternal 
 grandfather. Rev. John H. Mann, was a minister 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and 
 came to Izard County from the State of Tennessee 
 in 1830. His death occurred in 1872, aged sixty. 
 Wiley Croom is a Tennesseean, bom in 1840, 
 and a son of Denajah and Mary (Daniel) Croom, 
 who were born, reared and married in North Caro- 
 lina, the latter event taking place in 1825. The 
 father was born in 1805, and about 1828 or 1830 
 removed to the State of Tennessee, and was there 
 engaged in farming up to 1849, when he came to 
 Arkansas, and after renting land one year he re- 
 turned to Tennessee. He continued to make his 
 home in this State until 1854, and from that time 
 until 1856 he was a resident of Lawrence County; 
 then resided one year in Greene County, Mo., 
 after which he again returned to Lawrence County. 
 He here purchased 160 acres of land, which he 
 was engaged in farming until 1863, at which date 
 he removed to Illinois and farmed on rented land 
 until 1866. From that time until his death, in 
 1871, be was a resident of Lawrence County, Ark. 
 He was a member of the Baptist Church, as was 
 his wife, whose death occurred in 1870, she being 
 a daughter of Owen Daniel, of North Carolina. 
 Of sixteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Croom, 
 the following are now living: Nancy, wife of Eph- 
 raim Sharp, of Lawrence County, Ark. ; Elizabeth, 
 Mariah, wife of Whit B. Smith; Jesse, Wiley, 
 Hiram, and Drucilla, the wife of John M. Smith. 
 Wiley Croom, our immediate subject, began life 
 for himself in 1865. farming on rented land for 
 two years, and then purchased a farm of I'iO acres 
 
 in Izard County, the tilling of which has since re- 
 ceived his attention, but his acreage is now 185, 
 and he has sixty -five under the plow. Since 1878 
 he has been engaged in grist-milling in Oxford, at 
 which time he erected a substantial mill, and in 
 these two enterprises the results have been highly 
 satisfactory. His union to Miss Sarah J. Pearson 
 occurred in 1866, she being a daughter of Thomas 
 Pearson, of Lawrence County, Ark. , and to them 
 have been born five sons and three daughters : Mary 
 M., wife of J. L. Smith, of Oxford; David F.. 
 Hiram F., Ida J., wife of A. H. Caldwell, of Ox- 
 ford; Denajah, Anna B., Thomas W. and Grover 
 C. Mr. Croom is a Democrat. In 1861 he en- 
 listed in the Confederate army, under Col. McCar- 
 ver, find was in many important battles during his 
 service. He was captured at Big Black, Miss., 
 and taken to Fort Delaware, on the Delaware River, 
 and was kept there until September, then being 
 taken to Point Lookout, on the Chesapeake Bay. 
 He was kept in captivity from May 17, 1863, till 
 January, 1864, when he was released and returned 
 to Arkansas. Here he again entered the service, 
 this time enlisting under Capt. Wiley Jones, and 
 served until the surrender at Jacksonport, in 1865. 
 Marion D. Crutchfield was born in Orange 
 County, N. C. , in 1846, and is a son of James W. 
 Crutchfield, who was born in North Carolina, July 
 6,1811. The latter first married Levina, the daugh- 
 ter of Alex. Lashley, their union taking place on 
 the 13th of March, 1836, but her death occurred 
 the following year, she having borne one child, 
 Salina. For his second wife he took, in 1841, a 
 daughter of Acquilla Jones, her name being Sallie 
 P., and three sons and three daughters have been 
 born to them. Mr. Crutchfield emigrated from 
 North Carolina to White County, Ark., in 1849. 
 and here he took up government land to the 
 amount of 160 acres, near Searcy, but the follow- 
 ing year he moved to Newton County, and bought 
 eighty acres and entered eighty acres more, and 
 here made his home until his death in 1860, his 
 wife, who was a member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, having died here a j'ear earlier. 
 Marion D. Crutchfield, having learned farming and 
 blacksmithing of his father, began doing for him- 
 
IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 MQ 
 
 self in 1861, and when the war broke out be joined 
 tlie infantry, but afterward joined the cavalry un- 
 der Capt. Harvey Lane. In 1868 he was captured 
 in Newton County, Ark. , and at the end of about 
 three weeks, after being kept at Springfield, was 
 released, and joined the Federal army. After his 
 return home he resumed farming and blacksmith- 
 ing, and by his own good management has a fine 
 farm of 580 acres, with 250 acres under cultiva- 
 tion, his principal products being corn, cotton, 
 millet and the small grains. He has a fine fruit 
 orchard of about 500 bearing trees, and, take it all- 
 in-all, he has one of the finest and best improved 
 farms in the county. In connection with his farm 
 work, he has also been engaged in blacksmithing. 
 He is a Democrat, a member of the I. O. O. F., and 
 he and wife, whom he married on the 7th of Jan- 
 uary, 1869, and whose maiden name was Martha 
 M. Cargill, are members of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Chiu'ch, South, and are the parents of the 
 following children: Lueian E., Ida A., Elmer 
 W. and Henry G. Those deceased are James P, , 
 Florence I. and Marion F. His wife was born in 
 Kentucky in 1846, and is a daughter of Mr. and 
 Mrs. John P. Cargill, the former a native of North 
 Carolina, born in 1812, and the latter of Kentucky, 
 born in 1819. This couple became the parents of 
 the following family: William, James, Mary E., 
 Sarah M. and Susan S. ; and those deceased are 
 Thomas C. , Jonathan and Louiza. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Cargill are residing in Izard County, and the 
 former is a member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 Thomas P. Cypert was born in Wayne County, 
 Tenn. , in 1820, his parents, Jesse and Jemima 
 (Worthen) Cypert, being Virginians by liiiih. To 
 them were born seven sons and four daughters: 
 Nancy, Elizabeth, John, Zacharias, William, James 
 W., Thomas P., Robert J., Jesse Newton, Sarah 
 W. and Felicia Ann. At an early day the parents 
 moved to Wayne County, Tenn., where thoy en- J 
 tered land, and followed the occupation of farm- I 
 ing for many years. The father served in the | 
 War of 1812. and died in Tennessee in 1856, and 
 liis wife in 1858. Thomas P. Cypert embarked in j 
 life for himself in 18-12, following the occupation I 
 of farming, and by energy and good management 
 
 has become the owner of 160 acres of land, fifty 
 of which are under cultivation and are devoted to the 
 cultivation of corn, cotton and small grain. He 
 also raises considerable stock. In 1861 he en- 
 listed in the infantry under Capt. Deason, and was 
 with the troops stationed at Bowling (ireen, Kv.. 
 during that year, but after participating in the 
 battle of Shiloh, the following year he was dis 
 charged, and upon returning resumed farming, 
 which occupation has since received his attention. 
 He has been a resident of Izard County. Ark., 
 since 1852, and is considered by all one of its in 
 dustrious and enterprising citizens. The year 
 1846 witnessed his marriage to Miss Temperance 
 Brown, a daughter of Levi Brown, by whom he 
 became the father of eleven children: John T. , 
 Sarah A., Delphina. Mary. Levi J., Jesse N., 
 Jemima C, Mack, Lydia. George W., Emma F.. 
 Levi and Jesse (twins). 
 
 William Davis is one of the old and highly 
 honored residents of Izard County, and durinir the 
 many years devoted to agricultural pursuits in this 
 region he has become well and favorably known. 
 His farm comprises 252 acres, of which eighty acres 
 are under cultivation, and it is well improved with 
 good buildings and orchards. Some portions of 
 his land are underlaid with minerals and are con- 
 sidered very valuable. He was born in Campbell 
 County, Tenn., in 1815, and is a son of James 
 Davis, who was born in Kentuck.y. The latter re- 
 ceived a liberal education in his youth, and gave « 
 his attention to the occupation of farming. He 
 served in the ^\'ar of 1812, was a member of the 
 Primitive Baptist Church, and after his marriage 
 to Miss Sallie Cushenbury, of Tenue8.see, he re- 
 moved to Kentucky (in 1829), where he purcha.sed 
 land and reared his family of six sons and six 
 daughters: Patsey, Nancy, Baxter, (teorge, Anna, 
 James, Ursula, William, Ferroliy. Joseph, John 
 and Emaiuiel. William Davis, the immediate sub 
 ject of this sketch, was married to Miss Bethenia 
 Dobbs, of Kentucky, in 1.835. but her death oc- 1 
 curred in 1858, she having borne a family of 
 eleven children, eight of whom survive: Mary A.. 
 James, Emanuel, Ferrol>y, Simon, Mark, Ollie and 
 Nancy. In the latter part of 1858 Mr. Davis took 
 
 
^ 
 
 940 
 
 HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 for his second wife Harriet A., the daughter of 
 Isaac Bettis, of Izard County, Ark. This union 
 resulted in the birth of twelve children, seven now 
 living: William A. Baxter, Rufus M., Martha E., 
 Anthony W. , Tennessee and Minnie L. Their son, 
 Rufus M., was married in 1888 to Miss Julia 
 Cunningham, of Izard County, and they reside 
 on the homestead with Mr. Davis. They have one 
 child, Willie. The family attend the Missionary 
 Baptist Church, of which Mr. and Mrs. Davis 
 have long been members. 
 
 W. O. Dillard. The family of which the sub- 
 ject of this sketch is a representative, is one well 
 known to the people of Izard County, for one or 
 more of its members have been identified with its 
 agricultural interests since 1849, when Alex. Dil- 
 lard and his family located here. The latter was 
 married to Delilah Legau, both being natives of 
 Tennessee, and, throughout his entire life, he was 
 engaged in farming and merchandising, following 
 the latter occupations at Spring Creek and Flat 
 Woods after coming to Arkansas. He served as 
 justice of the peace and deputy sheriff of his coun- 
 ty, and, during the time he served in the latter 
 capacity, he transacted the greater portion of the 
 business which should have been attended to by 
 the sheriff. He was quite a wealthj' man prior to 
 the war, and owned several negroes, but his losses 
 during the rebellion were very heavy, and these 
 he never fully regained. He died in 1867, at the 
 age of fifty-nine years. To his marriage, which 
 occurred in 1825, were born a family of seven chil- 
 dren, three of whom lived to be grown, and two 
 now living: J. A., a resident of this county, and 
 W. O. John C. died while serving in the Mexican 
 War, being sergeant of his company. Both par- 
 ents were meaibers of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, and the mother's death occurred 
 in 1837 or 1838. Mr. Dillard's second wife was 
 Mary Wood, of Tennessee, and she is now the wife 
 of John Anderson. W. O. Dillard remained with 
 his father until twenty-seven years of age, then 
 commenced for himself, farming on his own land, 
 which was situated on White River, in Izard Coun- 
 ty. This property he sold in 1806, and bought 
 202 acres on another portion of White River, about 
 
 eighty acres of which are under cultivation, and 
 in addition to this owns 1,000 acres, the entire 
 amount of his land under cultivation amounting to 
 250 acres. In 1862 he joined the Confederate 
 army as a private, but was afterward promoted to 
 the rank of second lieutenant, and served three 
 years under Col. Freeman, and was with Price 
 on his raid through Missouri. He suiTendered at 
 Jacksonport, Ark. , on the 5th of June, 1865, and 
 returned home and resumed farming. From 1869 
 to 1875 he was successfully engaged in merchandis- 
 ing, and since that time he has been occupied with 
 farming. He was married, in 1857, to Miss Aver- 
 illa Jeffrey, but she died in 1868, after having 
 borne four children, three now living: James L. , 
 Nancy J. , wife of Neely Talley, and Alex. Mary 
 
 E. is deceased. In 1869 Mr. Dillard wedded his 
 second wife, she being a Mrs. Sarah Slavens, and 
 to them three childi'en have been born: J. J., 
 John C. and W. O. Mr. Dillard was called upon 
 to mourn the death of this wife in 1879, and in 
 1881, his third wife, who was a Miss Sallie Harris, 
 also died, their marriage having been consummated 
 in 1880. His marriage to his present wife, who 
 was a Miss Adelaide Cantrell, took place in 1883. 
 They have two children: George C. and Charley 
 R. Mr. Dillard's first two wives were members of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, his third wife 
 was a Cumberland Presbyterian, and he and his 
 present wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. He is a Democrat, a member of the A. 
 
 F. & A. M. , and is a man who favors and sup- 
 ports all laudable enterprises, especially those con- 
 nected with churches and schools. 
 
 George J. Dillard is a native-born resident of 
 Izard County, Ark. , and was born in the year 
 1850. He is a son of Hill and Eliza (Creswell) 
 Dillard, the former's birth having occurred in the 
 "Old Dominion," in 1814. The fatherwasone of 
 the leading farmers of the section in which he resid- 
 ed, and during slavery times, owned a great many 
 negroes. Although he received a limited early 
 education, he possessed sound judgment and a keen 
 and active intellect, and was a man who stood well 
 in the estimation of all who knew him. The fol- 
 lowing family wereborn to himself and wife: Eliza- 
 
 ■^s- 
 
■S k^ 
 
 IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 941 
 
 betb, the wife of B. T. Roose; Martha, also married, 
 Sarah, now Mrs. Billingsley, all of whom reside iu 
 this county. Mr. Dillard removed to this county 
 and State in 1836, coming overland, and entered a 
 large tract of land, and, at the time of his death, 
 owned about 1,000 acres. He built him a cedar- 
 log hilt in the woods and in this primitive struct- 
 ure, his son, George J. Dillard, was born. After 
 making this county his home until 1863 he moved 
 to the State of Texas, where he died two years 
 later. George J. Dillard, like his father, has fol- 
 lowed the occupation of farming all his life, and 
 like him, has been successful. His farm, which 
 comprises 264 acres, of which 130 acres are under 
 cultivation, he devotes chiefly to raising cotton, 
 corn and small grains, and throughout the county 
 he is well and favorably known. Although he at- 
 tended the La Crosse school for some time, which 
 was under the management of Prof. Kennard, his 
 early education was somewhat limited, but by read- 
 ing and contact with the world, he is considered 
 one of the well posted men of the county. In 1872 
 be was married to Miss Rebecca Shell, a daughter 
 of AVilliam and Catherine Shell, of Izard County, 
 and l)y her has a family of seven children: Edward, 
 William D. , Ollie, Elizabeth, James, Hul)l)ard and 
 Catherine. 
 
 William K. Estes, county and circuit clerk, 
 Melliourne, Ark. In his present position as clerk 
 of the county and circuit court of this county, Mr. 
 Estes is proving himself to be efficient and popu- 
 lar, and the manner in which he has acquitted 
 himself has justly won him the name of being 
 possessed of more than ordinary business aliility. 
 He is a native-born citizen of this county, his birth 
 occurring on the 5th of September, 1853, and he 
 is the son of Thomas N. and Lucy R. (Johnson) 
 Estes, and the grandson of Burris and Martha 
 (Morris) Estes, natives of North Carolina. The 
 grandfather came to Tennessee at an early day, 
 and was there married about 1825. He was a 
 leading agriculturist, and died near the close of 
 the late war, leaving consideralile property in land 
 and slaves. He was a member of the Baptist 
 Church, as was also his wife, who died shortly 
 after his death. The paternal gieat-grandfather 
 
 of William K. Estes was an officer in the war for 
 independence, and had in the same army with him- 
 self eleven cousins of the same name and sons 
 of one father. He drew from the government 
 600 acres of land, and located his claim in 
 Henry County, Tenn., where he passed his last 
 days. Thomas N. Estes was born in Tennessee, 
 but moved to this State in 1852, and was married 
 that year to Miss Lucy R. Johnson, who bore hiui 
 three children: W. K., John J. (who is a book- 
 keeper at Evening Shade, Sharp Coimtj'), and Sam 
 uel C. (who is clerking in a dry goods store, at Ash 
 Flat, Ark.) The mother of these children died in 
 1858. She was a member of the Baptist Church. 
 Mr. Estes was married the second time, in 1869, to 
 Mrs. Minerva R. Wilson, tiee Kimmins; both are 
 members of the Baptist Church. The same year 
 they moved to Izard County, where Mr. Estes has 
 a fine farm of 200 acres, with thirty or forty under 
 cultivation, and on which are good buildings, etc. 
 In 1849 he crossed the plains to California, and 
 after suffering untold hardships and after being 
 on the road over six months, reached that State. 
 He then followed mining until 1852, met with rea- 
 sonable success and returned to Arkansas in the 
 above mentioned year. He was countj' clerk of 
 Fulton County from 1862 to 1864, and also served 
 in the Confederate army. William K. Estes' early 
 life was divided between assisting on the farm and 
 in attending the common schools of bis county. At 
 the age of twenty years he started out for himself 
 by continuing the pursuit to which he had been 
 reared, and followed this occupation uninterrupt 
 edly for a long time. In 1879 be moved to the 
 city, and served as deputy clerk from that timeun 
 til 1884, when be was elected county clerk, though 
 he had first been deputy clerk in November, 187<'). 
 He tilled this ofiice in such a capable and efbcieiit 
 manner, and so popular did be become, that be was 
 complimented by being re-elected in 1886, serving 
 until 1888. He has been twice married: first, in 
 1873, to Mi.S8 Lurana E. Wilson, l)y whom he bad 
 five children: Lucy E., Walter H., Jasper M., 
 Allie M. and Ford W. Mrs. Estes was born on 
 the 3d of March. 1855, and died on the 13tb of 
 August, 18S6. She was a member uf the Baptist 
 
<S w_ 
 
 942 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Church. Mr. Estes' second marriage was to Miss 
 Nancy C. Kitchens, on the 30th of January, 1887. 
 They have one child, Earl T. Mr. and Mrs. Estes 
 are both church members, she of the Christian de- 
 nomination and he of the Baptist. He is a member 
 of the A. F. & A. M. and R. A. M. , and also a mem- 
 ber of the Subordinate Lodge and the Encampment 
 of Odd Fellows. In politics he is Democratic. 
 
 James H. Garner was born in Tennessee, in 
 1834, and is a son of John Garner, who.se native 
 State was North Carolina, where he was born on 
 the 1st of August, 1808. In his youth he re- 
 moved to Tennessee with his parents, and in this 
 State he received the advantages of the common 
 schools, and as far back as he could remember he 
 had been familiar with farm work. In 1831 his 
 marriage with Miss Sarah B. Greer was celebrated, 
 she being a daughter of Joshua and Polly Greer. 
 Five sons and three daughters were born to John 
 Garner and wife: William T. , Washington L., Ed- 
 ward P. , John D. , Mary E. , Francis and Lucy C. 
 Mr. Garner removed from Tennessee to Izard 
 County, Ark., in 1858, and purchased a farm of 
 eighty acres, which he successfully conducted un- 
 til his death on the 21st of August, 1872. His 
 wife, who was born in Tennessee, February 19, 
 1816, still lives on the old homestead, and both were 
 members of the Christian Church. James H. Gar- 
 ner's youth was spent in his native State, and in 
 1859 he followed his father to Izard County, Ark., 
 and purchased a woodland farm of 120 acres near 
 him. On this he built a house and established his 
 family, and in time became able to purchase 280 
 acres more, of which he has 150 acres under the 
 plow. On this he raises corn and cotton, and as a 
 large portion of his farm is underlaid with mineral 
 ore it is very valuable. He has now in jirocess of 
 erection a commodious frame residence on his Piuey 
 Creek farm, and in looking over Mr. Garner's 
 domains it can easily be seen that he thoroughly un- 
 derstands his business and is thrifty and energetic. 
 He was married to Miss Mary E. Murphy, a 
 daughter of Gilston Murphy, of Illinois, and by 
 her has a family of seven children: John It., Na- 
 than F., William L., Jessie B. , James E., Henry 
 B. , Thomas F. and Edwin L. When the war broke 
 
 out he joined Company E, and was two years in 
 the infantry under Capt. Gibson, and from that 
 time until the close of the war he was in the cav- 
 alry under Capt. Powell. He was at Little Rock, 
 Independence and Kansas City, and surrendered 
 at Jacksonport in 1865. He is a Democrat in his 
 political views, and from 1872 to 1876 served as 
 justice of the peace; in 1887 he was appointed 
 deputy sheriff under R. L. Sanders, of Izard Coun- 
 ty. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
 having been Master of his lodge two years. 
 
 B. F. Garner was born in the State of Tennes- 
 see, in 1836, his parents, William P. and Harriet 
 (Greer) Garner, being also natives of that State, 
 the former's birth occurring in 1813. They were 
 married in their native State in 1835, she being a 
 daughter of Joshua Greer, and in 1859 they re- 
 moved to Izard County, Ark., and purchased a 
 farm of 240 acres, and here he was engaged in 
 farming and i:)reaching (he being a minister of the 
 Christian Church) up to the time of his death, in 
 1870. His wife died in 1860, and three or four 
 years later he wedded Miss Martha Murphy, who 
 died the same year as himself. His first union re- 
 sulted in the birth of twelve children, six being 
 now alive: B. F., John L., Nancy E., wife of M. 
 D. S. Laird, of Boone County, Ark. ; Eliza J. , wife 
 of William A. Robins, of Izard County; Thomas 
 H. , and Harriet L. , wife of J. J. Seers, of Fulton 
 County, Ark. B. F. Garner removed to this coun- 
 ty in 1869, having begun life for himself in his 
 native State at the age of twenty-one years, his 
 first business venture being to engage in saw-mill- 
 ing. This enterprise he continued to follow until 
 1864, when he turned his attention to farming. 
 He was married there, in 1858, to Miss Elizabeth 
 J. Wade, and by her has four children: William 
 L., A. B., J. T. and U. S. The two eldest sons 
 are engaged in saw-milling, on a large scale, in 
 what is known as "Dry Hollow," Izard County, 
 and are enterprising young business men. Upon 
 coming to the State of Arkansas Mr. Garner entered 
 and purchased land to the amount of 410 acres, 
 and, with the exception of 100 acres, has divided 
 his land among his sons. He has forty acres of 
 his land under cultivation, and since 1879 has been 
 
 
 -^ py 
 
IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 «48 
 
 engaged in the mercantile business, at Oxford, and 
 does a business of about $4,000 per annum. He 
 is also interested iu the mercantile business with 
 his son, J. X., at Widoman. He supports the prin- 
 ciples of the Republican party, and he and wife 
 are members of the Christian Church, as are three 
 of his sons: A. B. , J. T. and U. S. 
 
 John D. Garner has spent his entire life in the 
 occupation of farming, and the manner in which 
 he has acquired his present possessions denotes 
 him to be a man of energy, push and enterprise. 
 He was born in Tennessee, in 1852, and since 1858 
 has been a resident of Izard County, Ark., and 
 here received a somewhat meager education in the 
 common schools in his youth. In 1871 he mar- 
 ried Miss Ellen Langston, a daughter of John 
 Langston, of Izard County, and to them have been 
 born two children: Lafayette and James E. Mrs. 
 Garner died in 1876, and he afterward married 
 Miss Sarah Niblett, a daughter of Samuel Nib- 
 lett, their imion taking place in Fulton County, 
 Ark., in 1878. Six children have been born to 
 them: Lucy C, Silas M., Joseph, Coral. Harvey 
 and Richard. After Mr. Garner's marriage to his 
 present wife he resided for some time in Fulton 
 County, but .is now located permanently in Izard 
 County, and is negotiating for the farm he is now 
 working. He raised a good crop this year, and is 
 a thrifty and industrious farmer. He is a Demo- 
 crat politically, and he and wife are members of 
 the Christian Church. He is a son of John Garner, 
 whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. 
 
 Dr. Thomas K. Goodman, of the mercantile 
 firm of Goodman & Schenck, of Calico Rock, was 
 born in Polk County, Mo., in 1849, and is one of nine 
 surviving members of a family of twelve children, 
 eleven of whom lived to be grown, born to the 
 marriage of Sampson Goodman and Sarah Lyngai', 
 of English and French descent, respectively, and 
 natives of Tennessee. The father removed to 
 Polk County, Mo. , when the country was almost a 
 wilderness, and resided in this county until hi.s 
 death, which occurred in 1888, at the age of eighty- 
 two years. His wife died in 1869. He was a 
 farmer and stock raiser of moderate means, and, 
 although a man of not much education, he pos- 
 
 sessed sound judgment, and was an individual of 
 more than ordinary intelligence. He and his wife 
 were married in 1827, and were members of the 
 Baptist Church for a number of years. Their 
 children were as follows: F. M. , who died in 
 Missouri, in 1888, leaving a family; Elizabeth, 
 wife of George Slatten; John F., James, who went 
 to California in 1852, and has not been heard from 
 since; Isaac J., Newton J., Mary E. , wife of S. ('. 
 Chumbley; Harvey C, Thomas K., Edward M. 
 Dr. Thomas K. Goodmaa received his early educa- 
 tion in the common schools of his native county, 
 and afterward comi)leted his education in the 
 academy at Greenfield, Mo., wbicli institution he 
 entered in 1800. He began studying medicine at 
 Springfield in the following year under Dr. \V. A. 
 Hyde, and in the spring of 1879 graduated from 
 the Homccopathic Medical College of Missouri, at 
 St. Louis, but previous to graduating had prac- 
 ticed in Newton and Izard Counties, Ark., having 
 located in the latter county in 1872. He continued 
 his practice here until 1885, when he embarked in 
 the mercantile business with Dr. Schenck [see 
 sketch |. Upon coming to this c(junty the Doctor 
 was rather poor financially, but he now owns 248 
 acres of improved land, and his interest in his 
 mercantile establishment. He is a Republican in 
 his political views, is a member of the A. F. & A. 
 M. , and he and his wife, whose maiden name was 
 Elizabeth Greenhaw. and whom he married in 
 1871, are the parents of three children: Oliver S.. 
 Homer H H. and Albert A. T. 
 
 Robert Gray was born in Wilkes County. N. 
 C, July 11, 1S38, and is one of twelve chil- 
 dren, six living, born to Constant and Jane (Sale) 
 Gray, who were also North Carulinians. and were 
 there reared, educated and married. Mr. (iray 
 was a successful farmer, and at his death, in 1862, 
 owned 1,800 acres of good land. His wife died in 
 1873, in the full faith of the Baptist Church. 
 Robert Gray was educated in Uilkesboro, N. 
 C, and in 1859 removed to .Vrkiinsas, settling 
 in Izard County, he at that time owning but one 
 horse and about $75 in money. He was mar- 
 ried here on the 15th of June, IStJl, to Miss 
 Rachel E. Gray, who was Iwrn in the " Old North 
 
944 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 State," but ker death occarred in January, 1864, 
 leaving one son, William R. , who died on the 8th 
 of February, 1875. June 14, 1868, Mr. Gray 
 wedded his second wife, Martha Hinkle by name, 
 she having been born in Tennessee; and of their 
 family of twelve children, eleven are still living, 
 and ten reside at home: Thomas J., Arena J., 
 John, Mary E., Ida K. , Bertha L., James F. , 
 Walter N. . Robert E., Amanda E. , Annie M. and 
 Jesse A. Mr. Gray, like his father, has always 
 been engaged in farming, and owns about 700 
 acres of good land, of which 250 acres are under 
 cultivation. He has been a member of the I. O. 
 O. F. for the past nine years, and has held a num- 
 ber of offices in the county, such as assessor, and 
 while residing in Sharp County held the office of 
 county treasurer for two years. In 1862 he en- 
 listed in the Confederate army under McBride, 
 and was severely wounded at the tight at Mans- 
 field, losing his left leg and one linger on his left 
 hand. He also received a shot in the left side, 
 and received his discharge in 1865. He followed 
 the occupation of school teaching for some time 
 after returning home, but, as stated above,' has 
 given the most of his attention to farming, at 
 which he has been remarkably successful. He and 
 wife worship in the Baptist Church. 
 
 W. Grimmett, ex-county judge and farmer, 
 Newburg, Ark. A plain untarnished statement of 
 the facts embraced in the life of W. Grimmett, a 
 man well known to the people of Izard County, is 
 all that we profess to be able to give in this his- 
 tory of the county; and yet, upon examination 
 of those facts, there will be found the career of 
 one whose entire course through the world has 
 been marked with great honesty and fidelity of 
 purpose, as well as sincere and effective service to 
 those whom he has been called upon to represent 
 in different capacities. Mr. Grimmett was born in 
 the Blue Grass State in 1840, and his parents, 
 Andrew and Mary (Wilson) Grimmett, were na- 
 tives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. 
 Andi'ew Grimmett came to Kentucky at an early 
 day, worked as a farm hand, and was here married 
 to Miss Wilson. He moved to Arkansas in 1855, 
 settled first in Fulton County, and one year later 
 
 moved to this county, where he remained for five 
 years. He subsequently located in Van Buren 
 County, resided there four years, and then re- 
 turned to this county, where his death occurred 
 in 1878, at about the age of sixty-six years. Mrs. 
 Grimmett died in 1887, at the age of seventy-two 
 years. They were the parents of these children: 
 Harvey Watson (the subject of this sketch), Sam- 
 uel (deceased), Wilson (deceased), Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Reynolds, W. T., Mrs. Minerva Billingsley. Mrs. 
 Grimmett was a member of the Baptist Church. 
 At the age of eighteen years W. Grimmett com- 
 menced life for himself by farming, and in 1858 
 was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Ham- 
 mond. He has followed agricultural pursuits ever 
 since, with the exception of three years, when he 
 was engaged in merchandising at Newburg (1876- 
 78), but he soon closed out his business and re- 
 turned to the farm. He has held the office of 
 justice of the peace for two terms, four years in all, 
 two terms county and probate judge, and has since 
 resided on and attended to his fai'm. In 1862 he 
 joined the Confederate army, Company C, Shaler's 
 regiment, under Capt. Gibson, and served until 
 the close of hostilities, when he surrendered at 
 Jacksonport on the 5th of June, 1805. He was 
 engaged in some severe skirmishes, notably Au- 
 gusta and at Village Creek. After the war he 
 came home, and went immediately to farming. 
 Although starting with limited means the Judge 
 has been quite successful, and is now the owner 
 of 190 acres of land, with 100 acres under cultiva- 
 tion. To his marriage were born the following 
 children: Amanda M. , wife of J. O. Hammond; 
 Caldona, wife of R. F. Lacy; Charles M. , Averilla, 
 C. E., at home; George A., Amos J. and Joseph 
 Roscoe. Judge Grimmett is a man who favors 
 all public improvements, and is a great friend 
 to education. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
 lodge, and in politics casts his vote with the Dem- 
 ocrat party. Mrs. Grimmett is a member of the 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 Sandford Hames, of the saw- milling firm of 
 Hames & Kanky, was born in Georgia, in 1832, 
 and is a son of Thomas H. and Annice (Robinson) 
 Hames, who were born in South Carolina. Thomas 
 
 
 spy 
 
^^.^^ 
 
 (□CCEASEO) 
 
 Mississippi Coumtv Ark ansas. 
 

Haines removed to Georgia at an early day, and 
 there reared a family of ten children, three of 
 whom are now living: John, Jasper and Sandford. 
 The father was a soldier in the Mexican War, and 
 was a miner by occupation, working in 'the gold 
 mines of Georgia, acquiring considerable wealth in 
 this enterprise. He passed from life in 1802, and 
 his wife died in 1884. Sandford Hames was reared 
 in a mining camp, and worked in the mines for 
 some time before coming to Arkansas, in ISfil. 
 He purchased the place where he is now living, 
 which had then fifteen or sixteen acres under cul- 
 tivation, but he now has seventy-five acres under 
 the plow, and in excellent farming condition. 
 Besides this he owns a one-half interest in a saw- 
 mill worth at least $2,000, and also has a farm of 
 216 acres in Fulton County, with fifty or sixty 
 acres under cultivation and well stocked. He is a 
 man who will assist in the advancement of any 
 community in which he may reside, and gives lib- 
 erally of his means in support of worthy enterprises. 
 He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. , and in his 
 political views is a Democrat. In 1855 he was 
 united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Montgomerj', 
 and by her is the father of seven children: Martha, 
 wife of John Hagar; Mahala, wife of James Mar- 
 tin; Thomas H. , William, Docia, wife of George 
 Gray, and John. One child is deceased. J. M. 
 Kanky, like his partner, is also a farmer, and since 
 the age of sixteen years he has been fighting the 
 battle of life for himself. He was first engaged in 
 tilling his own land in Kentucky, but afterward 
 sold out, and rented land for one or two years. In 
 1873 he came with his father to Arkansas, and 
 after renting land for one year he purchased a 
 tract of land comprising' 1 30 acres, of which there 
 were about twenty-five or thirty acres in a tillable 
 condition. He now has sixty-five acres of land 
 cleared, and also owns a one-half interest in the 
 above mentioned mill. He was born in the State 
 of Indiana, in 1852, and in 1882 was united in 
 marriage to Miss Mekay Hames, who died in 18S8, 
 leaving one child, Annie. Mr. Kauky is a Demo- 
 crat, and is a son of J. M. and Annie H. (Davis) 
 Kanky, whose native place was in the '•Olil 
 Dominion." The father removed to Indiana in 
 
 1845, and after removing to Kentucky was raarriiMJ 
 in that State, in 1848. Of four children l)orn to 
 them two are now living: J. M. and Thomas. Mr. 
 Kanky removed to Arkansas in 1873, and in this 
 State has since made his home. He is the post- 
 master at Wideman, Ark., is a member of the A. 
 F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F., and has now at- 
 tained the advanced age of seventy -five years, and 
 although quite feeble in body his mind is still clear 
 and active. His wife died in 1875. 
 
 Andrew J. Hamilton has been a resident of 
 Izard County, Ark., since the year 1871, and has 
 become well known to the people of this section as 
 a substantial, enterprising and industrious tiller of 
 the soil. Of his farm, which comprises 300 acres 
 of fine land, he has 125 imder cultivation, and this 
 he devotes to the raising of corn and small grain. 
 He was born in the "Palmetto State" in 182(». 
 and was there reared and received his scholastic 
 training in the common schools. He first em- 
 barked in the battle of life for himself at the age 
 of twenty-four years, and at that time emigrated 
 to the State of Georgia, where he purchased a 
 farm embracing 250 acres of land. On this he re- 
 sided for about twenty-seven years, then, as stated 
 above, coming to Izard County, Ark. In addition 
 to the admirable way in which he conducts his 
 large farm he is also one of the largest fruit grow- 
 ers of Northeast Arkansas. While residing in 
 Georgia he was married to Miss Mary M. Stand- 
 ridge, in 1849, she being a daughter of Samuel 
 Standridge, of that State, and their family include 
 the following children: Lottitia, Andrew B. , He 
 becca, Mary J., William H., Celia A. and Laura. 
 The mother of these children is still living, she, 
 like her husband, being a member of the Metho<list 
 Episcoi^al Church. Mr. Hamilton has always 
 honored the Democratic party by his vote, ever 
 being interested in political affairs. He is a 
 son of James C. and Nellie ((lilstrap) Hamilton, 
 the former's birth occurring in 1876. and he is a 
 grand.son of Hardy Gilstrap. To James C. Ham 
 ilton and his wife were born these children: Edle_\ . 
 Andrew J. , Lettie, Mary A. , David, Thomas and 
 Nancy. Mr. Hamilton died in Georgia, in 1S73. 
 and his wife in lS51t. in the same State. 
 
 ^^ ^ 
 
 ^ — ^.Iv 
 
946 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Newton L. Hamm. The estate which Mr. 
 Hainm is now engaged in cultivating embraces 266 
 acres of land, which are well adapted to the pur- 
 poses of general farming, and in his operations he 
 displays those sterling principles which are char- 
 acteristic of those of Tennessee birth, industry, and 
 wise and judicious management being chief among 
 the number. He has 150 acres of his land under 
 cultivation, it being well improved with good build- 
 ings, fences, etc., and stocked with all the neces- 
 sary farm animals for successfully conducting the 
 same. He was born in McNairy County, June 24, 
 1840, and is one of five surviving members of- a 
 family of ten sons and seven daughters, born to 
 William and Rachel (Hnggins) Hamm, both of 
 whom were born on Blue Grass soil, the former's 
 birth occurring on the 20th of October, 1799, and 
 the latter' s September 13, 1798. They were til- 
 lers of the soil, and at the time of the father's 
 death, December 10, 1872, he was the owner of 
 120 acres of land. He had attained a high rank 
 in the Masonic lodge, having been a member of 
 that organization from the time he was twenty- 
 one years of age, and also belonged to the Hard 
 Shell Baptist Church. He was followed to his 
 long home by his wife on the 10th of January, 
 1874. Newton L. Hamm's youth was spent in at- 
 tending the common schools of Tennessee, and in 
 assisting his father on the home farm. In 1855 he 
 moved to Arkansas, and was married here on the 
 Ist of November, 1863, to Miss Nettie Frizzell, she 
 having been born in Henry County, Tenn. , and a 
 daughter of Jason and Mahala Frizzell, and ten 
 children have blessed their union, nine of whom, 
 still living, reside at home with their parents: 
 Carrol, William, Asa, Emmer, Joseph, Jason, 
 Philip, Newton, Leroy and Adah E. In 1862 he 
 enlisted in the Confederate army under Gen. Hind- 
 man, and was at the battle of Prairie Grove. He 
 was discharged at the surrender of Jacksonport. 
 Like his father he is a Mason, and he is a member 
 of the Baptist Church, his wife being a member of 
 the Methodist Church. 
 
 F. M. Hanley, attorney, Melbourne, Ark. 
 Prominent among the comparatively young men of 
 Izard County, Ark. , whose career thus far has 
 
 been both honorable and successful, is the subject 
 of this present sketch. He was born in Graves 
 County, Ky., in 1845, and his parents, F. M. and 
 Elizabeth (Mobley) Hanley, were also natives of 
 the Blue Grass State. The parents were married 
 about 1828, and the father was a successful agri- 
 culturist in his native State. He died in 1845, and 
 the mother died in 1854. Both were members of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was Demo- 
 cratic in his views. Their family consisted of five 
 children, three now living: James E. (resides in 
 Kentucky, and follows farming), Mary E. (wife of 
 Joseph G. Henry, and resides in Kentucky), and 
 F. M. The paternal grandfather was born in Tip- 
 perary, Ireland, and came to America when quite 
 a young man. The paternal grandmother was also 
 a native of the Emerald Isle. The maternal 
 grandparents were natives of Ireland, and were 
 married there before coming to America. F. M. 
 Hanley was left an orphan when quite young, and, 
 at the age of nine years, he was taken to Todd 
 County, Ky. , and bound out to Johnston Carr. 
 He was reared on a farm, attending the subscrip- 
 tion schools of his county until his fifteenth year, 
 after which he entered the St. Joseph College, at 
 Bardstown, and there remained two years. When 
 seventeen years of age he enlisted in the Confeder- 
 ate army. Company D, Second Kentucky Infantry 
 Regiment, and served until the 7th of May, 1865, 
 participating in the following battles: Fort Don- 
 elson, Hartsville, Murfreesboro, Jackson, Chicka- 
 mauga ami Missionary Ridge, and was in all the 
 battles from Resaca to Jonesboro, where he was 
 captured, on the 1st of September, 1864, but was 
 retained only a short time. Previous to this he was 
 captured at Fort Donelson, and was retained by 
 the United States forces from February to Septem- 
 ber, 1862. After being exchanged the last time 
 his command was mounted. Upon coming home 
 he attended school at Spring Grove Academy, 
 Todd County, Ky. , and subsequently spent three 
 years "teaching the young idea" and in studying 
 law, under Williams, Turner & Williams. He was 
 admitted to the bar, at May field, Ky. , in 1869, and 
 engaged in the practice of his profession at that 
 place. In 1873 he came to Phillips County, Ark., 
 
IZAllD COUNTY. 
 
 SM7 
 
 but, on account of poor health, only lomiiincd a 
 short time there, and came to Izard County in 
 
 1874. He located in La Crosse, and there remained 
 until the county seat was located at Melbourne, in 
 
 1875, when he moved here. He has since prac- 
 ticed his profession at this place, and has met 
 with flattering success. Ho was married, in Ken- 
 tucky, in 1866, to Mrs. Willie Dallam, nee Overley, 
 and they are the parents of three children: Lena 
 (wife of T. P. Powett, of Melbourne), Moss (wife 
 of E. C. Parsons), and Gussie (at home). In his 
 political views Mr. Hanley affiliates with the Demo- 
 cratic party, and he is a member of the I. O. O. 
 F. lodge. Mrs. Hanley is a member of the Cum- 
 berland Presbj'terian Church. 
 
 Judge Henry H. Harris, Melbourne, Ark. There 
 is one man within the limits of this county whose 
 name, it might be said, is a household word with the 
 people in the vicinity, for his long residence hero and 
 his intimate association with its various material 
 and official affairs, have gained for him an exten- 
 sive acquaintance. Such a man is Henry H. Har- 
 ris, judge of the county court of Izard County. He 
 owes his nativity to Independence County, Ark., 
 where his birth occurred on the 18th of January, 
 1 8'26, and is the son of James A. Harris, a native of 
 Georgia, who moved to Arkansas in 1820, and was 
 there married, in 1822, to Miss Elizabeth Finley, 
 also a native of Georgia. They first moved to 
 Lawrence County, but a short time afterward went 
 to Independence County and located east of Bates- 
 ville, where they were the neighbors of John Miller, 
 Sr. To their union were born two children, the 
 Judge being the only one living. Mrs. Harris died 
 in 1827, and Mr. Harris took for his second wife 
 Miss Ester Ruddle, of Arkansas, in 1828. One child 
 (deceased) was the result of this union. ,Mrs. 
 Harris died in 1830, and Mr. Harris was again 
 united in marriage to Miss Ann Carter, of Virginia, 
 by whom he had four children, all deceased after 
 arriving at maturity. The third Mrs. Harris died 
 in 1846, and Mr. Harris' fourth marriage was to 
 Miss Ellen Holoman, who bore him one child (de- 
 ceased). After living in Independence County and 
 tilling the soil until 1834, Mr. Harris moved to 
 Izard County, and settled on White River, in 
 
 Kickapoo iiuUoiu, wliicli is known as Harris Hut 
 tom, and now in Stone County. He here purchased 
 160 acres of land and improved a farm of about 
 100 acres in the Bottom. In 1840 he was elected 
 sheriff, serving in that capacity for two years, and 
 at a time when it required some little courage to 
 successfully fill that position, as Col. Lewis had 
 recently left with his Cherokee Indians, and every- 
 thing was wild and unsettled. Later he was 
 elected county and |)robate judge, which position 
 he tilled in a creditabh' maimer for two years. He 
 was very successful as a farmer, and popular as an 
 officer. He had acquired considerable property, 
 and owned at the time of his death, which occ\irred 
 in 1848, several negroes, besides a good improved 
 farm. Of all the children born to James A. Har- 
 ris, Judge Harris is the only one now living. During 
 his boyhood days he assisted on the farm and re 
 ceived his education in the subscrijition schools of 
 the county, but later supplemented this by a course 
 at Mount View, where he paid 7)0 cents a week for 
 board. Though not a graduate of any school, the 
 Judge is quite a scholar, and is held in the high- 
 est respect by all for his sterling integrity, sober, 
 sound judgment, broad intelligence and liberal 
 progressive ideas. His decisions are not made 
 without care and painstaking, and all feel that he 
 can be relied upon. At the age of eighteen he 
 ventured out in life for himself and first engaged 
 in the calling to which he had been reared, but in 
 connection was also a horse drover and trader. He 
 was married on the 22d of November, 1849, tS 
 Miss Lucy A. Dillard, a native of the Old Domin- 
 ion, but reared in the State of .\rkansas. To 
 them were born nine children, seven now living: 
 Virginia E. (wife of Dr. D. T. Powell, of Thayer. 
 Mo.), James A., Arkansas (widow of A. J. Kainey, 
 of Powhatan), George D., Henry H. Jr.. Ruth L. 
 (wife of S. R. Hinkle, of Melbourne), and H. D. 
 In 1852 he was elected county and circuit clerk of 
 Izard County, served for two years, and, in 1850, 
 was elected the second time to the same position, 
 holding that office imtil 1M60. He was then 
 elected county and pro\)ute judge, ser^etl alwnt a 
 year, and then sent in his resignation from Bowling 
 Green, Ky., wIhti' he had joined the Confi'diTate 
 
iiL 
 
 948 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 army, Company G, Eighth Arkansas Infantry. 
 He served east of the Mississippi River and was 
 VFOunded in the battle of Shiloh, after which he 
 came home to remain there three or four months. 
 After this he went east and served until the close 
 of the war. He was a daring and fearless soldier 
 and participated in some of the closest engage- 
 ments. He was at Shiloh, Perryville, Murfrees- 
 boro, Chickamauga, also Franklin, where he was 
 wounded the second time, and was from Dalton, 
 Ga. , to Jonesboro, of the same State. Aside from 
 these he was in many minor engagements. He 
 surrendered at Meridian, Miss., in ]865, and re- 
 turned to his home, where he continued farming 
 for some time. He was then employed to carry the 
 mail and followed this for seven years, after which 
 he embarked in mercantile pursuits, and was thus 
 occupied from 1871 to 1872, when he moved to La 
 CroBse, and there continued the same business for 
 two years. In March, 1877, he was again elected 
 clerk of this county and served for seven years. 
 From 1884 to 1886 he was deputy clerk, and in 
 the last named year he was elected county and pro- 
 bate judge, being re-elected in 1888. The Judge 
 and wife have reared a family of which they may 
 wellbe proud, for they are all honorable men and 
 women. Politically, the Judge is a very decided 
 Democrat, and was one among the prominent men 
 of his county that the reconstruction act did not 
 leave out in the cold. He was then, as he is now, 
 among the most prominent men, and is desirous 
 of the welfare of his county. He is a member of 
 the Masonic fraternity, also the I. O. O. F. , and 
 he and wife are members of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, South. 
 
 W. E. Hill is a successful merchant and farmer 
 of Franklin, Ark., and is one of the oldest native 
 residents of the county, having been born here in 
 1841. His parents, Thomas R. and Rachel (Bur- 
 lisson) Hill, were born in Kentucky and Indiana, 
 respectively, and the former came to the State of 
 Arkansas in 1836, settling in Izard County. Here 
 he entered and purchased about '2,000 acres of 
 land, which he owned and operated until his death. 
 This country at Urst was very thinly pojsulated, 
 and Mr. Hill was compelled to go from ten to 
 
 twenty miles to mill. He was married twice, and 
 of his first family only four children are living: 
 Mary A., widow of Lewis Williams; J. B., of Ful- 
 ton County, La. ; Elizabeth F. , wife of Samuel 
 Vannatta, and W. E. Two children died in in- 
 fancy and three after reaching mature years: 
 James W., Thomas J., Erasmus, Benjamin and 
 Eliza. Mrs. Hill, who was a devout member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, died in 1849, 
 and in 1851 Mr. Hill married Mrs. Eliza (Colwell) 
 Orr, widow of Dr. Orr. This wife was a Baptist, 
 but he, like his first wife, was a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Hill died in 
 1876, at the age of sixty-eight years, his wife's 
 death occurring in 1874, at the age of sixty-four 
 years. W. E. Hill has been familiar with farm- 
 ing fi-ora his earliest youth and secured a good 
 education in the common schools of his native 
 county. At the age of twenty one years he began 
 farming for himself, but continued to make his 
 home with his father until twenty six. When the 
 Civil War began he espoused the Confederate 
 cause and joined C. A. Shaler's battalion, but only 
 served a short time when he was discharged on 
 account of sickness. After remaining at home 
 one year he again joined the army and served un- 
 der Capt. Wolf until the close of the war, being a 
 participant in all the fights with Gen. Price in 
 Missouri. He surrendered at Jacksonport, Ark. , 
 June 5, 1865, and returned home and began farm- 
 ing on his father's land. In connection with him 
 he built a mill, which he operated six years, and 
 diiring this time his father gave him his present 
 home farm, which consists of 274 acres. There 
 were ten acres cleared, but it was in a worse condi- 
 tion than if it had not been touched. He now has 
 175 acres improved, and on it is erected one of the 
 finest farm houses in Northern Arkansas. His 
 barns are also very commodious and will accom- 
 modate forty or fifty head of horses. He has forty 
 acres of improved land in Jefferson Township, be- 
 sides his home place and 155 acres of unimproved 
 land. His wife owns fifty-five acres of her father's 
 old homestead, a portion of which is improved. 
 In 1867 Mr. Hill married Miss Margaret J. Bill 
 ingsley, a daughter of Samuel Billingsley, one of 
 
 ft ' v» 
 
IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 y4ii 
 
 the old settlors of Izard County, and the lollow 
 ing are their famil}-; Elizabeth A., W. E., Jr., 
 Thomas R. , Samuel B., James M., John W. 
 Joseph E. and Stella W. Mr. Hill and his wife 
 belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
 and he belongs to the A. ' F. & A. M. , and is a 
 Democrat politically. He is associated with Mr. 
 Billingsley in the mercantile business at Franklin, 
 and they do an annual business of about $18,000. 
 Robert H. Holland has been familiar with the 
 intricacies of farm work from his youth up, but 
 since the year 1871 has been engaged in business 
 for himself, and by unremitting toil and judicious 
 management he has become the owner of 820 acres 
 of land situated on Rocky Bayou, about fifty acres 
 being under cultivation. He is one of the wide- 
 awake agriculturists of the county, and he and his 
 worthy wife, whom he married in 1883, and whose 
 maiden name was Mary J. Kerwin, are noted for 
 their hospitality and liberality. His native birth- 
 place was Independence County, Ark., where he 
 first saw the light of day, in 1850. He is a patron 
 of all enterprises of a worthy character, and has 
 shown his approval of secret organizations by be- 
 coming a member of the I. O. O. F. He married, 
 in 1885, Miss Mary Jane Taylor. He is a son of 
 William Holland, who was born in the State of 
 Tennessee, in 1819, and was reared to a farm life, 
 removing with his mother to Illinois, during the 
 early settlement of that State, and coming with her 
 to Arkansas, in 1829. her death occurring in In- 
 dependence County, Ark., when she was about 
 ninety years of age. His father was a soldier in 
 the War of 1812. William Holland received a 
 limited education in his youth, and when about 
 twenty-one years of age began the battle of life for 
 himself. He was married, in Independence Coun- 
 ty, to a Miss Henderson, who bore him two chil- 
 dren, James W. and Reuben L., and after her 
 death he was united in marriage to Martha J. 
 Dickson, of the same county. Six children are the 
 result of this union: Benjamin F., Robert H. (our 
 subject), Mary J., William M., John and Sarah 
 E. The mother of these children died in Inde- 
 pendence County, in 1866, she having been an act- 
 ive member of the Missionary Baptist Church for 
 
 many years. Catherine Fiilks l)ccaiiH' liis wife in 
 18*')7, and by him the mother of these children: 
 Charles C, Martha J., Nancy A., Joseph S. and 
 Margaret. This wife's demise occurred in 1882, 
 and he is now living with his fourth wife, who was 
 formerly Mrs. Jane Fullbright, of Izard County. 
 He served in the Mexican War, and he and wife 
 are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. 
 
 Prof. I. K. Hoojjer. The education of the youth 
 of our country being a matter of great importance, 
 it is just and proper to make honorable mention of 
 Prof. Hooper, for he is one of the able educators of 
 ' the county. He was born in Hall County. Ga. . on 
 the 31st of December, 1854, and is one of seven 
 surviving members of a family of nine children 
 born to Edward and Eveline Hooper, the former's 
 birth occurring in South Carolina, in 1799. The 
 father was married three times; first, to Anna 
 Bowen, who died after having borne three sons 
 and four daughters; next, to Mary Steppe, a native 
 of Georgia, who bore him two sons and three 
 daughters; and then to Eveline Owen, who was 
 also a native of Georgia. This last union resulted 
 in the birth of nine children, six sons and three 
 daughters, seven of the children being still alive. 
 Tin? father was a farmer by occupation, and owned 
 500 acres of land at the time of his death, in De- 
 cember, 1880. He and wife were in communion 
 with the Baptist Church, she being now a resident 
 of Georgia, making her home with her daughter. 
 Prof. I. K. Hooper received his education at La 
 Crosse Collegiate Institute, of Izard County, and 
 at Fayetteville, Ark., in the Industrial University, 
 and while at school was a bright and industrious 
 student. On the 25th of October, 1882, after his 
 return home from the University, he was married 
 to Miss Mary T. Bishop, a native of ^\jkansas, ami 
 a daughter of William and India Bishop, who were 
 Tennesseeans. Prof. Hooper and wife have an in 
 teresting little family of three children: Edward 
 C, Lillian G. and Cyril L. Prof. Hooper has al 
 ways been a patron of education, and has been 
 successfully engaged in teaching .<chool for some 
 time, and his labors in this direction have won 
 golden opinions for himself. He has been a mem 
 ber of the T O () F fur nbout three months, and 
 
950 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 in his religious views is a member of the Methodist 
 Church. His wife is connected with the Cumber- 
 land Presbyterian Church. 
 
 P. M. Jeffery was born in Izard County, Ark., 
 June 14, 1887, and is a son of Daniel JefFery, who 
 was born, reared and educated in the State of Ten- 
 nessee, moving to Arkansas in the year 1816, and 
 took up his abode in Izard County, where he was 
 married to Miss Mary Bowcock, a native Virgin- 
 ian, their union taking place in 1824. The result 
 of their marriage was the birth of eleven children, 
 seven sons and four daughters, only one of whom 
 is now living, P. M. Jeffery, our subject. The 
 father was an active politician, and besides hold- 
 ing the offices of sheriff and county judge, one 
 term each, he was elected to represent this county 
 in the State legislature in 1846, and discharged 
 the duties of this position with honor to himself 
 and to the satisfaction of bis constituents. He 
 was also justice of the peace of his township one 
 term. He and wife were active workers in the 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church at the time of 
 their resj)ective deaths in September, 1862, and 
 February 22, 1863, and left a fine property to be 
 divided among their children, consi.sting of 320 
 acres of fertile land. P. M. Jeffery, the immedi- 
 ate subject of this sketch, has spent his life in his 
 native county, and received his education in the 
 schools near Melbourne. From earliest youth he 
 has been familiar with farm work, and of his 200 
 acres of land, tifty are under cultivation. In con- 
 nection with this he is engaged in preaching the 
 gospel, being a minister of the Cumberland Pres- 
 byterian Church, his wife and all his children 
 being also members of that church. In Septem- 
 ber, 1861, he enlisted under W. J. Hardy, for a 
 war experience, his first hard light being at Shiloh, 
 he being wounded in the head in this engagement 
 by a fragment of shell. He received his discharge 
 at Jacksonport. On the 30th of April, 1865, he 
 wedded Miss Dorinda Arnold, a daughter of James 
 and Annie Arnold, and to them have been born 
 seven children, six sons and one daughter: James 
 E., Albert S., Willie M., Philip A., Daniel P., 
 Henry K. and Annie M. 
 
 P. H. Jeffery, farmer, Mount Olive, Ark. Mr. 
 
 Jeffery is a representative of one of the oldest and 
 most respected families of Arkansas, and was born 
 in Izard County in 1851. His parents, Miles and 
 Sarah (Williams) Jeffery, were natives of Missouri 
 and Arkansas, respectively, the former having 
 been born in Mis.souri, while on the way to Arkan- 
 sas, in 1818. His father, Jeohiada Jeffery, came 
 to Arkansas in 1818, settling on White River, near 
 Mount Olive, and was one of the very first settlers 
 of the county. He purchased a little claim, im- 
 proved it, and accumulated considerable property 
 previous to his death, which occurred sometime 
 in the 50' s. His wife was originally Miss Polly 
 Wair, and they reared a large family of honorable 
 men and women, who are scattered throughout 
 Izard County. Jeohiada Jeffery was one of the 
 first justices of the peace of his county after the 
 State was admitted. He was in the War of 1812, 
 and was in the battle of New Orleans, under Gen. 
 Jackson. Miles Jeffery was reared to farm labor, 
 and was not an educated man, although he had 
 better advantages than most boys at that day. He 
 was married, about 1836, to Miss Williams, and to 
 them were l)orn fifteen children, ten of whom lived 
 to be grown, and eight are now living: Ambrose, 
 Asa, Robert E., Attie, Mary, P. H., Finis E. and 
 R. J., all of whom live in this. Independence and 
 Stone Counties. Miles Jeft'erj' represented Izard 
 County in the legislature two terms before the war, 
 in 1856 and 1858, and also filled the position of 
 sheriff in 1844. He was a strong Democrat, and 
 took an active part in politics. He was a member 
 of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and was 
 an honest, upright citizen, having a host of friends. 
 He died in 1868. The mother died in 1876, at 
 about the age of fifty-five years. She was an ex- 
 cellent woman, firm and decided in her views. 
 P. H. Jeffery, like his father, was reared and edu- 
 cated in this coimty, although his education was 
 rather neglected, on account of the breaking out of 
 the late war. When eighteen years of age, he 
 started out on his own responsibility, rented land, 
 and tilled the soil for three years. He then pur- 
 chased a farm of 345 acres, with twenty-five under 
 cultivation, and still owns this tract of land. He 
 now has about fifty acres cultivated, and is deeply 
 
IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 951 
 
 interested in stock raising. His land is on White 
 River, and is excellent for stock raising. By Lis 
 marriage, wbich was consummated in 1876, to 
 Miss Carrie E. Perrin, be became the fat.b(>rof five 
 cbildren: Henry E., Frank P., Charles E., Rich- 
 ard R. and Sallie. Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery are both 
 members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
 and he is Democratic in his political views. 
 
 John W. Jones, M. D., is one of the oldest 
 aiid best known physicians in Izard County, Ark., 
 and was born in Giles County, Tenn., on the 1st 
 of March, 1832. He inherits Welsh blood from 
 his paternal ancestors, his grandfather, Wiley, and 
 his great grandfather, John Jones, having been 
 born in that countrj-. They came to America a 
 short time prior to the Revolutionary War, and 
 John took an active part in that struggle, taking 
 sides with the colonists in their struggle for liberty, 
 serving throughout the entire war as a private. 
 He afterward settled in Virginia, near the North 
 Carolina line, but after these two States were 
 divided his home was found to be on the North 
 Carolina side, and in this State he died near Char- 
 lotte in 1807. Wiley Jones and his wife, who was 
 also born in Wales, removed to the State of Ten- 
 nessee at a very early day, and there he reared his 
 family and engaged in farming, being the owner 
 of a large amount of property, both personal and 
 real. He died in 1827. His son Ceberu was born 
 in North Carolina, and in his youth learned the 
 boot and shoe maker's trade, which business he 
 conducted in Nashville from 1803 to 1871, his 
 death occurring in the latter year. He was mar- 
 ried, in 1827, to Miss Selina W. Mealor, and their 
 marriage was blessed in the birth of four children, 
 John W. and William being the only ones now 
 living, the latter a farmer of Greene County, Mo. 
 The mother's death occurred in 1837, and Mr. 
 Jones took for his second wife Miss Sarab Stephens, 
 their union resulting in the birth of four sons and 
 three daughters: ^larj' A., the widow of James 
 Cash; Sarah A., Christina, George W., Thomas 
 N., Newton J. and Louis E. Mr. Jones and this 
 wife were divorced, and he espoused his third wife 
 in Nash^dlle, Tenn. He was a member of the Old 
 School Presbyterian Church, and in his political 
 
 views was a W hig. Hi.s son. Dr. John W. Jones, 
 was reared to farm life, but lived in the villages of 
 Louisburg and Connersville; receiving his early 
 .scholastic advantages in the schools of those 
 places and Jackson College, at Columbia, Tenn., 
 which institution ho entered when seventeen years 
 of age, remaining one term. Upon leaving school 
 he learned the harness maker's and saddler's 
 trade, but after following this occupation two years 
 he came to Arkansas in 1855, and settled in Inde- 
 pendence County, whore he was engaged in teach- 
 ing school, following this occupation in Polk Bayou, 
 and afterward in Searcy County. During his days 
 of podagoguing his leisure moments were devoted 
 to the study of medicine with the view to making 
 it his calling through life, and in ISfiO he entered 
 upon his practice continuing until the opening of 
 the rebellion, when he joined the Confederate 
 forces as a private, and after serving one month 
 was promoted to the position of assistant surgeon 
 and filled the position three years. He took part 
 in a number of battles. Pea Ridge, luka and Cor- 
 inth being among the number. He was taken pris- 
 oner at Port Hudson, but after being kept in cap- 
 tivity for sis days he was ]>arolod and returned to 
 Searcy County, Ark., where he again resumed the 
 practice of his profession. In 1865 he located at 
 Evening Shade, and after teaching school for 
 twenty months he again entered upon the practice 
 of medicine, being in partnership with Dr. Hill. 
 but this connection only continued a short time.. 
 He moved to near La Crosse in IStJS, but in 1N73 
 he came to Izard County and settled on the old 
 Langston place, where he remained seven years. 
 He purchased his present property at the end of 
 that time, and l)y adding forty acres now has a 
 farm comprising 100 acres, with about twenty acres 
 under cultivation. Prior to the war, in 1S(51, he 
 attended the Medical College, of St. Louis, Mo., 
 but owing to some disagreement between Prof. 
 McDowell and some of his German and Irish 
 students the institution was closed. Dr. Jones 
 is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F., 
 and in his political views is a Demo<Tut. He was 
 married in October. 1866, to Miss Martha H. Tay- 
 lor, of Izard County, and by her is the father of 
 
952 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ten children: Mary F., wife of Robert Guest; 
 John W., Cebern S., James T., Margaret J., Sam- 
 uel T., Wiley N., Martha C, Nancy A. and 
 George R. Mrs. Jones is a member of the Cum- 
 berland Presbyterian Church. Dr. Jones is a 
 physician of acknowledged merit, and an excellent 
 proof of his ability is shown in the extended terri- 
 tory over which he goes to alleviate the sufferings 
 of the sick. 
 
 Prof. Michael Shelby Kennard is principal of 
 the Collegiate Institute at La Crosse, Ark., an in- 
 stitution established by him in 1868, which has be- 
 come noted as an excellent business training school, 
 and is largely patronized by the best youth of which 
 the State of Arkansas can boast. Prof. Kennard 
 was born in Sumter County, Ala. , in 1833, and 
 is the son of George W. Kennard, who was born 
 in Williamson County, Tenn., in 1801, which 
 State he made his home until 1821, at which time 
 he emigrated to Alabama. Up to this date, owing 
 to his services being required on his father's farm, 
 he had received a limited education, but in 1848 he 
 began studying for the Baptist ministry in his adopt- 
 ed State, was ordained in 1847, and in 1852 emi- 
 grated to Arkansas, and located in Batesville, where 
 he continued to reside until his death, which oc- 
 curred in May, 1864. He was an earnest and 
 faithful minister of the Gospel, and his influence 
 in the Baptist denomination was widely felt. He 
 was a member of the Masonic order for some thirty- 
 five years. He was married in Perry County, Ala. , 
 in 1828, to Eliza Hopson, a daughter of Bluford 
 and Nancy Hopson, whose death occurred in Bates- 
 ville, Ark., in 1860. They had two children: 
 Octavia C. and Michael S. The latter, the subject 
 of this sketch, had the best advantages in obtaining 
 an education that his native State afforded. He 
 graduated with honor at the University of Alabama, 
 in 1852, at the age of nineteen, and some years 
 after received from that institution the degree of 
 A. M. In September, 1852, he was married, in 
 Sumner County, Tenn., to Mary E. Saunders, 
 daughter of Joseph P. and Ellen D. Saunders, of 
 that county. In 1852-53 he was engaged in teach- 
 ing in Louisiana and Mississippi, part of the time 
 as private tutor in the family of Gen. Minor, of 
 
 Natchez, Miss. In 1854 he removed fi-om Missis- 
 sippi to Arkansas and settled at Batesville, where 
 he spent two years in teaching, in the meantime 
 pursuing the study of law. He was admitted to 
 the bar in 1856, but soon abandoned the law to 
 engage in the newspaper business. From 1857 to 
 1861 he was the editor and proprietor of the Inde 
 pendent Balance, a newspaper published at Bates- 
 ville. When the war broke out he joined Sweet's 
 Cavalry regiment, and served as adjutant, with the 
 rank of major, and participated in many skirmishes, 
 until January, 1863, when he was severely wound- 
 ed in the head by a fragment of a shell, at the bat- 
 tle of Arkansas Post, and was made a prisoner of 
 war. At the close of the war he determined to de- 
 vote the remainder of his life to teaching, and en- 
 gaged in the work of that profession again, at 
 Batesville, but in 1868 he moved to La Crosse, 
 where, as stated above, he established the Colle- 
 giate Institute. He has been principal of the same 
 since that time, with the exception of five years, 
 spent in Bradley County, Ark. He is a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity, in which order he has 
 advanced to the Council, and has filled the offices 
 of Worshipful Master and High Priest of the Royal 
 Arch Chapter. In earlier days he was a follower 
 of the Whig party, but since the disruption of that 
 party has been a stanch Democrat. His children 
 are as follows: Mary E., wife of T. B. Childress, 
 of La Crosse, Ark. ; George S., who was first mar- 
 ried to Miss Maud Cunningham, a daughter of 
 Hon. J. F. Cunningham, but after her death, in 
 1884, he married Miss Annie Collins, of Van 
 Buren, Ark. ; he is a graduate of the Southern 
 Baptist Theological Seminary, at Louisville, Ky. , 
 and is now pastor of the Baptist Church at Ben- 
 tonville; John F., who married Miss Mary Wat- 
 kins, a daughter of Dr. O. T. Watkins, is engaged 
 in the mercantile business at Fort Smith, Ark. ; 
 Ralph E., who married Miss Henry Lee Powell, a 
 daughter of Judge R. H. Powell, of the Fourteenth 
 judicial district, is adruggi-st at La Crosse: Joseph 
 A. married Miss Carrie W. Hunt, a daughter of 
 Dr. O. T. Hunt, of La Crosse, and Edward L. , 
 Ruth and Robert S. are still unmarried. 
 
 Dr. J. A. Kerr, physician and surgeon. New- 
 
burg, Ark. Among tho younger ruemljors of Ibo 
 medical profession in Izard Couuty, Ark., is he 
 whose name heads this sketch, already well estab- 
 lished as a physician and siu'geon of merit and 
 true worth, and regarded with favor by those older 
 in years and experience. Ho is a native of this 
 State and county, and is one of nine children, 
 seven now living, born to John and Ann (Meiinox) 
 Kerr. The children are named as follows: G. W., 
 resides in Izard County; J. A., Mrs. Mary J. Hays, 
 of this couuty; Mrs. Indiana Evans, of this county; 
 John M. , of this county; T. J., resides in New- 
 l)urg; Mrs. Maggie Stroud, wife of D. J. Stroud, 
 of this county; Benjamin F., died in 1809 at the 
 age of eleven years, and one that died when quite 
 young. The parents were natives of Ireland, and 
 the father came to America about 1843. He landed 
 in New York, but immediately made his way to 
 Nashville, Tenn., where he remained for seventeen 
 years, and where he was engaged in tb(> carpenter's 
 trade exclusively. He was there married to Miss 
 Mennox, who came over from Ireland when he did, 
 and who settled in Nashville, Tenn. Both he and 
 wife were orphans, and came over from the old 
 country with an old man and his family. In 1860 
 they settled at Batesville, Independence County, 
 remained there for some time, the father engaging 
 in the carpenter business, and then moved to Izard 
 County, where he still continued his trade up to 
 1870, after which he embarked in the mercantile 
 business. In 1884 he retired to private life on his 
 farm, and there received his linal summons, in 
 1886, at the age of liftysix years. Mrs. Kerr still 
 survives and resides on the old homestead. Mr. 
 Kerr was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and 
 was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 of which his wife is still a member. Dr. J. A. 
 Kerr received his education in the j)ublic schools 
 of his county until 1880, when he entered the 
 Medical College at Louisville, and attended regu- 
 larly until 188"J, when he graduated. He then 
 returned immediatel)' to Izard County and entered 
 ui)on the practice of his profession at this place, 
 and his reputation as a physician and surgeon, as 
 well as in private life, is an enviable one. The 
 Doctor is vet a voung man. as his birth occurred 
 
 in hS-JT, and he was married in 1882 to Miss Emma 
 ^\■ood, of this county. The fruits of this union 
 have been four children, three now liviug: Clarence 
 E. (deceased), Neely T. , Oscar and Roscoe (twins). 
 Mrs. Kerr was bom in 1863, and is the daughter 
 of William and Sarah (Benbrock) Wood, natives 
 of Tennessee, who came to Izard County at an 
 early day. When Dr. Korr tirst commenced the 
 practice of medicine his financial resources were 
 rather limited, a horse, saddle and bridle, and a 
 pair of pill bags, filled, completed his outfit. He 
 is now the owner of some 500 acres of land, with 
 iibout 135 acres und(>r cultivation, and is also the 
 owner of property in Newburg, consisting of house, 
 store-house, office, vacant lots, and, besides, plenty 
 of personal property. He is Iniilding on his farm 
 a fine residence, and already has a good barn 
 and out- buildings. The Doctor has made all this 
 within the last ten years, and by energy and per-^e 
 verance. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. , and 
 politically he is Democratic. Mrs. Kerr is a mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 . Rev. H. T. King, minister, Melbourne. Ark. 
 This much revered and esteemed gentleman is only 
 one of the many citizens of Izard County, who owe 
 their nativity to Tennessee, where his birth oc- 
 curred in 1853. He is the sou of John A. King, 
 a native of Virginia, who. when a young man. was 
 united in marriage to Miss Dedama Sutton, also a 
 native of the Old Dominion. The parents moved 
 to Tennessee at an early day, and here the father 
 purchased land, which he tilled until 1850. after 
 which he moved to Crittenden County, Ky. He 
 remained in that State for four years, and then 
 settled in Randolph County. Ark., but, not being 
 particularly satisfied, he moved from there to Clay 
 County, 111. , thence to Jefferson County, where his 
 death occurred in 1873, at the age of sixty-.seven 
 years. He was a member of the Christian Church. 
 Mrs. King still survives and resides in Baxter 
 County, this State. She is a member of the 
 Christian Church, and a pleasant, agreeable wo 
 man. They were the parents of eleven children, 
 four now living: Nancy J., widow of John Welch, 
 is now liviug in Fulton County, Ark.; Sarah A., 
 wife of (i. W'. Sel]>h. resides in Baxter County; 
 
 r 
 
MJ- 
 
 Rebecca M. , wife of G. W. Lundy, resides in Bax- 
 ter County, and Rev. H. T. The father of these 
 children waa fairly educated, and during his life- 
 time had accumulated considerable property, the 
 principal part of which was lost during the late 
 unpleasantness between the North and South. 
 Rev. H. T. King acquired but a limited educa- 
 tion, as during his boyhood days he only attended 
 one month at school, and this was all the education 
 he received until after his marriage, when he at- 
 tended school two terms. He is quite studious, 
 and applies himself to his books at home, and is 
 now probably better informed than many who have 
 had every advantage. He expects to attend school 
 during the fall and winter of this year (1889), and 
 is now studying law with a view to making it his 
 profession. At the age of twenty -one years Mr. 
 King commenced life for himself, and at that age 
 was united in marriage to Miss E. E. Taylor, by 
 whom he had six children, five now living: W. C, 
 K. J., Auscar and Oscar (twins), and Mary L. 
 Mrs. King died in 1884, a devout member of the 
 Christian Church. Mr. King took for his second 
 wife Mrs. Mary A. Harlin (Conklin), a widow. 
 She was a member of the Christian Church, 
 and died in 1880, at the age of thirty-seven years. 
 By her first marriage she became the mother of 
 nine children, eight sons now living: James P., 
 W. T., J. H., Joe E., L. D., C. C, J. C. and Frank 
 H. Mr. King moved to Arkansas in 1876, settling 
 in Baxter County, and there remained until 1887, 
 when he moved to this place. He had very little 
 means when first coming to this county, but he is 
 now the owner of a tine residence with some three 
 or four acres of land worth about $1,000 or 11,200. 
 He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, R. A. 
 M. , and is also a member of the I. O. O. F. In 
 politics he is a Republican. He is a minister in 
 the Christian Church, and was ordained in 1881. 
 
 K. J. Lacy, blacksmith and farmer, Newburg, 
 Ark., came originally from Tennessee, his birth 
 occurring in 1830. Mr. Lacy has won an enviable 
 reputation as a farmer, and none the less is his 
 reputation established as a first-class blacksmith. 
 His father, Robert Lacy, was a native of North 
 Carolina, born in 1793, and came to Tennessee 
 
 about 1813 or 1814, where he was united in mar- 
 riage to Miss Annie Miller, in about 1816. He 
 was a farmer by pursuit, and was also a minister 
 in the Methodist Church. After remaining in Ten- 
 nessee until 1861, he settled on White River, in 
 this county, but after a residence there of only 
 one year, moved to Knob Creek, where he pur 
 chased a farm. There he closed his eyes to the 
 scenes of the world in 1870. He still continued to 
 preach after coming to this State, and was asso- 
 ciated with the American Tract Society for a num- 
 ber of years previous to his death. He was a 
 Democrat in polities. His wife was a native of 
 Georgia, and died in 1870 at the age of seventy- 
 three years. She was also a member of the Meth - 
 odist Episcopal Church. In their family were 
 the following children: AV. Mc. , Mrs. Mary A., 
 wife of George Bussey; Mrs. L. J., widow of 
 John Bussey; Kibble J. (the subject of this sketch), 
 and James W. The paternal grandparents were 
 fi-om Ireland and England, respectively. The 
 maternal grandfather was a German by birth, and 
 came to this country when a boy. He served 
 during the greater portion of the War for Inde- 
 pendence. At the age of twenty years K. J. 
 Lacy began learning the blacksmith trade, and at 
 that age he commenced life for himself, doing 
 joui'ney man's work in Tennessee for fifteen years. 
 In 18G0 he came to Arkansas, and took charge of 
 Col. Black's farm on White River, where he was 
 overseer of the negroes for one year. He then 
 went to Lunenburg, opened a shop, and con- 
 tinued there until 1870. He joined the army in 
 1862, but was discharged on account of disability. 
 He was conscripted two or three times afterward, 
 but succeeded in being released, and was taken 
 prisoner one time by the United States soldiers, 
 but was soon released by the Confederates. In 
 1870 he rented a farm from Dr. Watson on ^^'hite 
 River, and remained there for ten years, when he 
 bought a farm on Knob Creek. At the end of four 
 years he sold out, purchased another farm, im- 
 proved the same, and built good houses, barns, etc. 
 He made two tratles afterward, one for the farm 
 on which Judge Grimmett now lives, and the other 
 for his present property. This farm consists of 100 
 
 «<^ 6" 
 
 -^j>v 
 
IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 sinr 
 
 acres with thirty-five under cultivation, with fair 
 houses, etc. Mr. Lacy has been twice married; 
 lir.st, on the 15th of November, 1858, to Miss Mary 
 E. Hairendon, and four children were the result, 
 three now living: William H. , lives in this county; 
 Robert ¥., James M. , and Sarah J., wife of Ole 
 Brown, and lives in this county. Mrs. Lacy died 
 in 1870, and was a consistent member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Lacy's 
 second marriage was to Mrs. Martha A. Womack 
 (Wolds), and two children have been born to them: 
 Laura B. and George T. Mr. and Mrs. Lacy are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South. Socially he is a member of the A. F. & 
 A. M., and the I. O. O. F., and Encampment of 
 that order. He has filled the oflBce of Worshipful 
 ]Master in the Masonic fraternity, and nearly all 
 others of this order, and has held the office of N. 
 G. in the I. O. O. F. He is a Democrat. 
 
 R. L. Landers, sheriff, Melbourne, Ark. R. 
 L. Landers, was born in Bedford County, Tenn., 
 in 1845, and is the son of George T. and Jane 
 (Browning) Landers, natives, respectively, of North 
 and South Carolina. The parents came to Ar- 
 kansas in 1851, and settled in Izard County, 
 where they reared a family of five children, four 
 now living: Robert L. , Nanny J., wife of Guston 
 Rose; Mary T.. wife of J. F. Driskill; and G. 
 R. , a farmer of this county. The father, George 
 T. Landers, only lived three years after com- 
 ing to Arkansas. He was Democratic in his po- 
 litical principles. When he came to this State, 
 he brought with him fourteen negroes and consid- 
 erable money, and was quite successful, financially, 
 after coming here. The mother died in 1885. R. 
 L. Landers was early taught the principles of farm 
 life, and a limited education was ol)tained in the 
 subscription schools of Tennessee, and Izard 
 Connty, Ark. When seventeen years of age he 
 superintended his father's plantation, and at the 
 age of twenty-one. he commenced life for himself. 
 In 18(52 he enlisted as a private in Company E, 
 Forty-seventh Arkansas Infantry, under Capt. 
 Gibson, and served west of the Mississippi River, 
 until 1804. He was sergeant of his regiment at 
 the time he was discharged. After the war he 
 
 commenced tilling the soil, which occupation he 
 followed until 18(i'.), when ho was elected sheriff, 
 and held the office until 1875. He then returned 
 to the farm and cultivated the soil until 1881, 
 when he was again elected sheriff, and held this 
 position for one term. In 1886 he was again chosen 
 to discharge the duties of this office, and is the 
 present incural)ent. Mr. Landers seems to have a 
 peculiar fitness for this position, and his long ser 
 vice in this capacity has proven that he is surely 
 the right man in the right place. During 1884 
 and 1885, he served as justice of the peace. By his 
 marriage, which occurred in 1804, to Miss Sarah 
 E. Shannon, were i)oru the following living chil- 
 dren: Mary E.. wife of A. E. Feltz: W. T., G. R., 
 Frances T. and Rosa L. Mr. Landers is the 
 owner of about 500 acres of land, with 140 acres 
 under cultivation, and also has considerable town 
 property. He is Democratic in his political views, 
 is a Royal Arch Mason, and is also a member of 
 the Odd Fellow order. He and wife are members 
 of the Missionary Baptist Church. 
 
 E. G. Landers, mi'rehant, ^Melbourne, Ark. In 
 publishing an account of the industries and mer- 
 cantile resources of the town of Melljourne, the 
 house of Mr. Landers' must not be forgotten, as 
 it constitutes a most important factor in the com 
 mercial fabric of the town. Mr. Landers was born 
 in Bedford County, Tenn., on the 7th of May. 
 1840, and came with his parents to Arkansas in 
 1854. He attended the subscription schools, buir 
 only received a limited education, and at the at'e 
 of twenty-two started out in life for himself, first 
 as a laborer in a gin. He then followed the car- 
 penter's trade for some time, and in 1804 joined 
 the Confederate army, remaining in service until 
 June, 1805, when he surrendered at Jacksonport, 
 Ark. He was witii Gen. Price on his raid through 
 Missouri, in 1804 and 1805, and particii)ated iti 
 nearly all the battles fought on the raid. In 1877 
 he engaged in merchandising at Lunenburg, under 
 the firm title of Landers & Bros., and continued 
 thus until 1880, when his brother sold out and a 
 new partner, S. R. Hinkle, took his place. The 
 firm is now Landers & Co., and do the largest busi 
 ness in the place. They carry a stock of goods 
 
« w. 
 
 956 
 
 HISTORY OF AEKANSAS. 
 
 that invoices at about $10,000 at the least, enjoying 
 an annual trade of about $40,000. When first 
 starting out in this business the firm had a capital 
 of $1,5(0, Mr. Landers putting in $750. Aside 
 from his flourishing mercantile business, he owns 
 about 400 acres of land and considerable town 
 property. His marriage was consummated in No- 
 vember, 1867, to Miss Martha A. Hinkle, and by 
 her he became the father of six' children, five now 
 living: Leanora (wife of William Blair), Robert 
 O. (deceased), Maggie, EfiSe G. , J. H. and Maudie. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Landers, with the two eldest chil- 
 dren, are members of the Missionary Baptist 
 Church, and he is a Democrat in politics. Mrs. 
 Landers is a member of the lady's department of 
 the Masonic fraternity, and also of the Odd Fel- 
 low's order. Mr. Landers started with very little 
 means, but he is now one of the most successful 
 men of the county. He is the son of Roland and 
 Martha G. (Landers) Landers, natives of North 
 Carolina. The father was born in 1810, and died 
 in 1878, and the mother's birth occurred in 1813, 
 and she died in February, 1884. Roland Landers 
 was coroner of Izard County for several years, 
 and was a cabinet maker Ijy trade, although in his 
 latter years he was engaged in tilling the soil. He 
 accumulated considerable property previous to the 
 war, but was not a slave holder. By his marriage, 
 which occurred in Tennessee, he became the father 
 of these children: Rebecca J. (wife of W. Joe 
 Arnold, of Melbourne), Sarah A. (wife of G. W. 
 Gray), Mary Frances (wife of G. W. Owens), H. 
 B. (farmer), Charlotte T. (wife of T. H. Adams), 
 E. G., Genora D. (wife of W. Z. Craig), George 
 W. (of Batesville), John F. (farmer), and Joe L. 
 (farmer). 
 
 Nathan J. Langston is one of the oldest native 
 residents of Izard County, and when his parents, 
 Nathan and Patty (Weir) Langston, made their 
 first settlement in this region, Arkansas was a ter- 
 ritory. They came here from their native State of 
 North Carolina in 1814, and Mr. Langston and Col. 
 Stewart erected the first mill in the county, he and 
 four brothers being the ones to build it. They 
 caiTied the logs on their shoulders, and had the 
 mill completed in six days, and although it was a 
 
 very rude construction, and only ground about a 
 bushel of corn a day, yet it was sufiicient to supply 
 the demand, as the settlers at that day were very 
 few. Nathan Langston, Sr. , was only connected 
 with this mill for about six months, when he turned 
 his attention to farming, at which he was fairly 
 successful, and in early days he also carried the 
 mail for twelve years from Mount Olive, in Izard 
 County, to Thomasville, Mo., a distance of IfiO 
 miles, there being only foiu' oflices on the entire 
 route. According to Mr. Langston the first post- 
 office in this county was at North Fork, which was 
 also the first county seat. In 1838 it was moved 
 to Calico Rock, afterward to Athens, at the month 
 of Piney Bayou, nest to Mount Olive, and thence 
 to Melbourne, where it now is. When Mr. Lang 
 ston first came to Arkansas Batesville consisted of 
 two pole cabins, and from Batesville to the mouth 
 of the Big North Fork there were only five families 
 living on the east side of the river. The west side 
 was inhabited by the Indians, who were very nu- 
 merous at that time. The first year of his location 
 Mr. Langston had to goto Helena, Ark., for flour, 
 and to Little Rock, Ark., to attend circuit court. 
 He died in 1870, at the age of seventy-nine years. 
 He was married twice, and by his first wife became 
 the father of sixteen children, and by his last, 
 three. Those living are Absalom, Thomas B. 
 and Nathan J., whose name heads this sketch. 
 The latter was born in the year 1830, was reared 
 to a farm life, and at the early age of nineteen 
 j years was married to Miss Rachel Adams, who died 
 1 in 1856, leaving four children, three of whom are 
 ! living: Alex., Mary, wife of Johnson Holfora, and 
 I Matthew R. Mr. Langston married his second wife 
 in 1859, she being a Miss Lucy A. Churchill, and 
 five of their eleven children yet survive: Luvinia 
 J., wife of James Brothers; Dempsia M. , Rebecca 
 A., Acenith B. and Albert W. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Langston are members of the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church, and in his political views he is a 
 Democrat. He owns a good farm comprising 120 
 acres, and has twenty-five acres under cultivation. 
 Among his numerous acquaintances and friends the 
 respect shown him by them is in full keeping with 
 his well-established reputation for honesty of pur- 
 
 ■^1 ^^ 
 
pose and hospitality. Mr. Langston remembers 
 many interesting facts connected with the early 
 history of this county, which the limited nature of 
 this volume will not admit of insertion. 
 
 William Lawrence, farmer, Melbourne, Ark. 
 In the early settlement of Izard County, Ark., Mr. 
 Lawrence bore a prominent jiart in developing and 
 opening the way for civilization and is one of the 
 representative men of the county. He was born 
 in Alabama, in 1823, and is the son of James and 
 Cynthia (Franks) Lawrence, natives of Tennessee. 
 James Lawrence moved to Alabama, in 1822, set- 
 tling in Marion County, and after remaining there 
 a short time removed to Fayette County, where he 
 remained until 1839. From there he journeyed to 
 Louisiana, entered land and followed farming for 
 about two years, when ho moved to Izard County, 
 Ark., and settled in Sylamore, now in Stone Coun- 
 ty. After a residence there of two years, he moved 
 to the western part of the county, where he im- 
 proved some government land. Two years later he 
 moved to the eastern part of the county and re- 
 mained there until a short time previous to his 
 death, when he went to live with his son, William 
 Lawrence, and died there in 1859, at the age of 
 sixty-live or. seventy years. He had held the office 
 of justice of the peace in the county for four years, 
 and was an excellent citizen. He was twice mar- 
 ried, his first wife being a Miss Tucker, who bore 
 him five children, two sons and three daughters, all 
 living at last accounts. They are named as fol- 
 lows: Martin, Edward, Sai'ah, Catherine and Mary. 
 His second marriage was to Miss Cynthia Franks, 
 and to them were born nine children, two now liv- 
 ing, William and James, who reside in this county. 
 Mrs. Lawrence died in 1865. Both were members 
 of the Baptist Church, and in politics he was a 
 Democrat. William Lawrence was married in his 
 twenty third year, and commenced work for him- 
 self by farming on his own land, which ho had pur- 
 chased in the central portion of the county. He 
 sold this farm in 1850 and entered his present 
 property, which he has improved and which con- 
 sists of 200 acres. He now has about seventy or 
 seventj'-five acres of cleared land, all the result of 
 his own efforts, unassisted by any of his family. 
 
 In 1802 he joined tlie Coufedenitc army and served 
 under Gen. Thompson and Capt. C. C. Cook until 
 the close of hostilities, when ho returned to his 
 farm. He has lieeii three times married, his first 
 wife being Elizabeth King, whom he led to the 
 altar in 184t), and the fruits of this union were six 
 children, all living: James, G. W., John, Isaac, 
 Thomas and Edward. Mrs. Lawrence died in 
 1859, a worthy member of the Baptist Church. His 
 second marriage took place in 1801, to Miss Eliza 
 both Clark, who liore him five children, all living: 
 Henry, Cynthia A., wife of J. VV. Freeman; Mary 
 F., at home; Rebecca J., at home, and Walter, also 
 at home. The mother of these children was a 
 member of the Baptist Church, and died in 1879. 
 Mr. Lawrence's third marrijigo was to Mrs. A. N. 
 Ivins (Bryant), a member of the Christian Church. 
 He is a member of the Baptist Church, belongs to 
 the Masonic fraternity, and in his political vifws is 
 a stanch Democrat. 
 
 Dr. Samuel M. Lewis, farmer and physician 
 of Izard County., Ark., was born in Bledsoe 
 County, Tenn., December 14, 1832, his parents. 
 Reason and Patience (Peters) Lewis, being also 
 natives of that State, the former's liirth occurring 
 in Bedford County, in 1809. Their union took 
 place in Bledsoe County, and to them were born 
 four sons and five daughters, seven of their fam- 
 ily being now alive, and all residents of the State 
 of Tennessee except our subject. The father 
 yet lives in Tennessee, and owns COO acres of as 
 good land as there is in the State. He is a meirf 
 ber of the Baptist Church, as was his wife, who 
 died in 1875. Dr. Samuel M. Lewis, after acquir 
 ing a good common school education, entered the 
 Hamilton College with the intention of studying 
 medicine, having chosen that profession as his 
 calling through life. After his marriage, which 
 was celebrated on the 19th of Septeml>or, 1858, to 
 Miss Margaret Turk, he remained in his native 
 State until 1807, at which time he settled in Max- 
 field, Sharp County, .\rk.. but for a long time has 
 been a resident of Izard County. He has been 
 very successful in his practice, and has always 
 commanded a large anil paying patronage, and 
 occupies an iMivinbli' place among the medical 
 
 '*Pr 
 
9 k^ 
 
 958 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 brotherhood of Izard County. In addition to this 
 work he has been engaged in farming, and is now 
 the owner of about 640 acres of land, with about 
 330 acres under cultivation, of which 150 are in 
 Sharp County. He has shown his approval of 
 secret organizations by becoming a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, and in this order has held the 
 highest office. He and wife are classed among 
 the worthy citizens of the county, and are consist 
 ent members of the Methodist Church. Their 
 children are as follows: Charles W. , Henry R., 
 James J., George T., Joseph R., William D., 
 John R. , Aque M. and Lora A. Mrs. Lewis is a 
 daughter of George and Malinda Turk, both na- 
 tives of Tennessee. 
 
 Capt. Ransom "\V. Luther was born in the 
 •'Keystone State" in 1837, and is a son of Enoch 
 Luther, whose birth occurred in Sugar Creek, 
 Penn., in 1787. The latter received a limited ed- 
 ucation, and when quite a youth, learned the car- 
 penter's trade, which occupation he followed for a 
 number of years, then learning the wheelwright's 
 trade. He was married in his native State, in 
 1807, to Miss Polly Bennett, her father being 
 Elisha Bennett, and to them a large family of 
 seventeen children were born, ten of whom are 
 living at the present time : Rosweir, David, Enoch, 
 Elliot, Ransom, Burton, Laura, Mary, Angeline 
 and Adaline. Mr. Luther served in the War of 
 1812, and after hostilities had ceased, he returned 
 home, and entered a tract of land embracing 160 
 acres, which lie farmed for several years; then 
 erected two large saw-mills and a grist-mill, which 
 have been rebuilt, and are in good condition at 
 the present time. For services rendered in the 
 War of 1812, he received a grant to 160 acres of 
 land in Knox County, 111., from the government, 
 and at the time of his death, on the old " Luther's 
 Mill Farm," in Pennsylvania, in 1859, he was the 
 owner of 300 acres of laud. Capt. Ransom Luther 
 received a good business education in the ' ' Luther's 
 Mill Farm" school, and he has since put the 
 education he acquired in this institution to the best 
 use. He learned the millwright's trade under his 
 father, afterward worked at the carpenter's trade, 
 and in time became a very tine architect, although 
 
 in more recent years he has given his attention 
 principally to milling as his chief calling. He is 
 an experienced carpenter and builder, and many 
 evidences of his ability and skill in this direction 
 are to be seen in his native State, Illinois, Iowa 
 and Ai'kansas. He has always been of an enter- 
 prising disposition, and in 1856 started out in life 
 for himself, and moved to the State of Hlinois, but 
 two years later went back to his old home, and 
 was married there, in 1859, to Miss Sarah Knapj), 
 a daughter of Charles Knapp, by whom he had 
 one child, Alice. He wedded his second wife. 
 Miss Edna C. Scott, of Cherokee, Iowa, in 1871, 
 and two interesting children, Eugene W. and 
 Maud S. , have blessed their union. Capt. Luther 
 removed from the State of Iowa to Benton County, 
 Ark., in 1878, and purchased eighty acres of land 
 near Maysville, which he used as a small cattle 
 ranch. From this place he went to Eureka Springs, 
 in 1880, and erected a neat little cottage on Spring 
 Street, near the Crescent Spring, his place being 
 generally known as ' ' Eagle Cottage, ' " and it is 
 of his own architecture. Here he resided until 
 
 i 1 883, when he sold out to Dr. Swartly, of Chicago, 
 for $2,350. After this the Captain and his family 
 traveled for some months, and visited various 
 places of interest in Missouri, Illinois, Dakota and 
 Arkansas, and in 1884 returned to this State, and 
 
 I located on Lafferty's Creek, six miles west of 
 Barren Fork, where, with his brother in-law, Mr. 
 Scott, he erected a large saw-mill, which has been 
 of great benefit to the surrounding country. In 
 1889 he sold his interest to Mr. Scott, and erected 
 a grist-mill and cotton-gin just south of his former 
 place of business, and at the present writing he is 
 preparing to erect a commodious residence, and 
 build a large dam to afford water power for his 
 mill. In 1888 he ginned 150 bales of cotton, and 
 in his new mill he expects to bale at least 300. 
 Capt. Luther is a jovial and hospitable gentleman, 
 a thoroughly capable business man, and is ever 
 ready to assist any good cause, either practically 
 or financially. He approves of secret organiza- 
 tions, and is an active member of the I. O. O. F. 
 His wife and daughter, Alice, are consistent mem 
 bers of the Baptist Church. In 1861, upon the 
 
 r 
 
bursting of the war cloud, which had threatened 
 the country for some time, he enlisted in the in- 
 fantry, under Col. Dodge, of Pennsylvania, and 
 was in the battles of Williamsburg, Four Oaks, 
 Richmond and Melbourne, and was also in the 
 seven days' retreat at Harrison's Landing. He 
 entered as a private, but for gallant services ren- 
 dered, he was promoted to the rank of captain. 
 He was honorably discharged, in ISfio. 
 
 James McCuistion is one of the men of this 
 section who has won life's battles, and by enerey 
 and pluck, which are so necessary to success in any 
 pursuit, he has become one of the leading agri- 
 culturists of Izard County. He was bom in Jef- 
 ferson County, East Tenn. , in 1815, and is a son 
 of Joseph and Rachel (McGuire) McCuistion, the 
 former's birth occurring in North Carolina, in 
 1775. In 1789 he removed to Tennessee, with his 
 parents, and in this State received a fair educa- 
 tion in the common schools. In 1809 he entered 
 160 acres of laud, and lived on it until 1S;]8, when 
 he sold out and moved to Bays Mountain, where 
 he died, in 1862, being followed to his long home 
 by his wife in 1868, both having boon niembers of 
 the Old Presbyterian Church. The children born 
 to them were Catherine, James and Elizabeth. 
 James' youth was spent in attending the schools of 
 Tennessee, and in 1842 he was married, in Jeffer- 
 son County, of that State, to Miss Mary Ann, a 
 daughter of John Kimbrough: and Lafayette, Eve- 
 line, Rachel A. (who died August 7, 1889), Vir- 
 ginia, Francis (who has been dead some twenty 
 years), Mary E. and Josephine are their children. 
 Mr. McCuistion emigrated from Tennessee to Izard 
 County, Ark., in 1850, and took np 299 acres of 
 land, of which be has now about fifty-five acres 
 under the plow. His first house was a log cabin, 
 wliich he has since converted into a comfortable 
 frame residence. His land is devoted to raising 
 eottou, corn and the small grains, and he has plenty 
 of good fruit. He and his wife and children are 
 all members of the Missionary Baptist Church, 
 and he has given freely to public institutions for 
 the good of his fellow-men. He has twenty four 
 grandchildren, ten boys and fourteen girls, and 
 two great-grandchildren, both boys. 
 
 Alfred N. McNairn was born in Georgia, in 
 1842, and is one of seven sons and four daughters 
 born to Alfred T. and Prudence (Horton) Mc- 
 Nairn, and is a grandson of Edwin Horton. Al- 
 fred T. McNairn was born in North Carolina, De- 
 cember 15, 1813, and was reared on a farm, but in 
 1826 moved to Georgia, where he followed the oe 
 cnpation of farming; he was also engaged in preach- 
 ing the Gospel, being a minister of the Missionary 
 Baptist Cluirch, and there reared his children, 
 whose names are as follows: Larkin H. , Spencer 
 B., Edwin B., Joseph U., William L., Alfred N.. 
 Alvin C, Martha J., A. L., Eliza M. and Rosa 
 A. Both parents died in the State of Georgia, 
 his death occurring in 1870, and hers in 1868, at 
 the age of fifty-eight years. Alfred N. McNairn 
 emigrated from Georgia to Izard Coimty, Ark., in 
 1869, and was here married, in 1872. to Miss Nancy 
 E. Dureu, a daughter of James E. Duren. Of the 
 eight children born to them the following are living: 
 Thomas E., Mary L.. Francis P. E.. Dolores A., 
 Zef R. and Newton A. In 1873 Mr. McNairn 
 purchased eighty acres of woodland, but he now 
 owns 100 acres of good land, with forty-eight acres 
 under cultivation, it being well improved and fur- 
 nished with one of the finest fruit orchards in this 
 section of the country. He and wife are memlters 
 of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he belongs 
 to the I. O. O. F.. and in his political views is a 
 Democrat, and always supports the men and mea 
 sures of that party. He espoused the cause of the 
 Confederacy during the rebellion, and in 18ft2 
 enlisted in the Fifty-second Georgia Infantry, and 
 served until the close of the war, when he surren 
 dered at Kingston. Ga. He was a member of 
 Company I, under Capt. Russell, and was in a 
 number of hard fought battles. ^ 
 
 A. A. Marchant, farmer, Melbourne, Ark 
 Among the leading men'of Mill Cn-ek Townshij) 
 none arc more prominently identified with the 
 farming and stock raising interests of the same 
 than Jlr. Marchiint. who by his industrj-, perse- 
 vereuce and integrity, is considered one of its 
 tirst-clasB farmers. He was born in Bedford 
 County, Tenn., in 1S41, and when iiinet<>en years 
 of age started out in life for liiniself, his first ven 
 
l^, 
 
 'J60 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 ture l)eing to hire out to one man as a farm hand 
 for two years. When twenty-one j-ears of age he 
 donned his suit of blue, and enlisted in the First 
 Arkansas Infantry, United States Army, Company 
 C, and served for six months, when he was dis- 
 charged at St. Louis, Mo., in December, 1863. 
 After this he drove a team for the government, 
 and acted as guide until 1864, when he enlisted in 
 the Forty- eighth Missouri, Company E, for twelve 
 months, and served only nine months, when he 
 was discharged again at St. Louis, on the 1st of 
 July, 1865. At the close of the war he was at 
 Chicago, 111. , guarding the prisoners. After ces- 
 sation of hostilities he came home and engaged in 
 farming, which he followed on rented land until 
 1871, when he bought land in Baxter County. 
 He only remained on this land one year, but con- 
 tinued in the county until 1874, when he moved to 
 Izard County, and, in 1879, bought his present 
 jiroperty consisting of 163 acres, with about 100 
 acres under cultivation. At the close of the war 
 he had only about $50 or $60 in money, and not a 
 horse, hog or cow. On the 16th of July, 1865, 
 he wedded Miss Amanda F. Dixon, a native of 
 Izard Count)-, although they were' married in Mil- 
 ler County, Mo. They became the parents of 
 these children: W. B., lives in the Choctaw Na- 
 tion; T. J. (deceased); J. W., at home; Rufus, at 
 home, and Minnie M. Mr. Marchant is a member 
 of the I. O. O. F. , is a member of the Christian 
 Church, and is a Republican in his political views. 
 Mrs. Marchant belongs to the Baptist Church. 
 The parents of Mr. Marchant, W. B. and Nancy 
 (Byler) Marchant, were natives of Alabama and 
 Tennessee, respectively. After reaching manhood 
 W. B. Marchant went to Tennessee, but left that 
 State in 1850, and came on a flat-boat to Napoleon, 
 thence by steamer to Little Rock, and from there 
 with teams over- land to Izard County. He settled 
 on Hidden Creek, bought an improved piece of 
 land and there resided for six years. He then sold 
 out and bought a farm close to where Melbourne 
 now is, remaining there only two years, when he 
 traded his farm for one close to Calico Rock, in 
 Izard County. In 1862 he joined the* United 
 States Army, and was sent to St. Louis, where he 
 
 died in the hospital. He was married three times; 
 first, to Susan Cox, who bore him four children, 
 three living: W. B. , Minerva and T. J. After 
 her death, Mr. Marchant married Miss Nancy 
 Byler, mother of the subject of this sketch. Three 
 children were born to this marriage, only one, A. 
 A., now living. Mrs. Marchant died in 1844, at 
 the age of twenty-eight years. She was a mem- 
 ber of the Missionary Baptist Church. In 1845 
 Mr. Marchant married Miss Ena Taylor, of Ten- 
 nessee, and by her became the father of nine 
 children, eight now living: W. S., Richard E., 
 Mary T., Silas A., Joseph E., Martin B., Susan 
 A. and A. M. The oldest child, Martha, was 
 killed on the road from Little Rock to Melbourne, 
 having accidentally fallen out of the wagon, by 
 which she was ran over. This was in 1850, and 
 she was buried in White County. Mr. Marchant 
 was an old line Whig, but was not active in poli- 
 tics. He was once a member of the Know- 
 Nothing party, was a member of the Baptist 
 Church, and at one time was constable of Rocky 
 Bayou. His last wife still resides near Calico 
 Rock, and is a member of the Baptist Church. 
 The maternal grandfather of A. A. Marchant, 
 John Byler, was a private in the War of 1812, 
 and was in the battle of New Orleans. He died 
 about 1871, at the age of eighty-live years. 
 
 T. J. Mathews is a merchant and farmer, re- 
 siding at Calico Rock, and was born in Benton 
 County, Tenn., being a son of Capt. R. C. and 
 Nancy (Migell) Mathews, who were also Tennes- 
 seeans, and came to the State of Arkansas in ] 860, 
 settling in Izard County. Capt. Mathews em- 
 barked in merchandising in the house in which his 
 son T. J. is now doing business, and he was also 
 engaged iu farming. In the spring of 1861 he 
 moved to Pineville, where he conducted a general 
 store for about one year, then joined the Confed- 
 erate army, and was elected captain of his com- 
 pany. After serving for one year, he was taken 
 sick and returned home, and here continued during 
 the remainder of the war. After the cessation of 
 hostilities, he again embarked in merchandising, 
 and continued this occupation with success for 
 twelve or thirteen years, when he sold out to his 
 
 V 
 
*, 
 
 (deceased) 
 Mississippi CouHit,ARHAH5AB . 
 
^ 
 
 IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 '.If, I 
 
 son, S. E. Mathew.s, iuul turned his attention to 
 farming and stock raising, on the property where 
 he now lives. His business ventures have been at- 
 tended with good results, and the property he now 
 owns has all been acqiiired since the war, as his 
 losses during that time were very heavy. He was 
 married about 1835, and his children's names are 
 as follows: Margaret E., wife of W. McNeil; S. 
 E., a merchant of Pineville; Clarissa E., wife of 
 Dr. J. A. Schanks; Mary A., wife of Rufus P. 
 Jones; and T. J., the subject of this memoir. 
 Mrs. Mathews died in March, 1879, having been a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
 for many years, her death occurring on her birth- 
 day, at the age of sixty years. Mr. Mathews is a 
 Democrat, and belongs to the F. & A. M. T. J. 
 Mathew's birth occurred on the 6th of September, 
 1855, and his early education was received in the 
 schools ot La Crosse, Prof. M. Shelby Kennard 
 being his instructor, and at the age of twenty-five 
 years he began life for himself as a merchant, this 
 being the occupation to which he was reared. He 
 has continued to follow this business up to the 
 present time, and has been remarkably successful, 
 for, on starting for himself in 1880, his stock of 
 goods amounted to $160, and his annual sales now 
 aggregate between » 12, 000 and !?1 0,000, and he has 
 an excellent tract of land, amounting to i)'SH acres, 
 with nearly 164 acres under cultivation, all of 
 which he has earned by good business management 
 and industry, since the above-given date, and with 
 the aid and assistance of his worthy wife. Her 
 maiden name was Mollie Wood, their union taking 
 place on the 30th of October, 1879, and they have 
 an interesting little family of four children: Henry 
 H., born October 4, 1880; Shelby S., born Decem- 
 ber 15, 188'2; Troy G., born February 3, 1885; 
 and Winford F., bom May 23, 1887. Mrs Math- 
 ews was born in Izard County, on the 28th of 
 November, 1863, and she and Mr. Mathews are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, and he belongs to the F. & A. M. . and is 
 a Democrat politically. 
 
 Dr. R. H. Morton, Franklin. Ark. Dr. 
 Morton is one of the oldest j)ractitioners of Frank- 
 lin Township, and one of the oldest in the county. 
 
 He owes his nativity to Bedford County, Tenu.. 
 and is the son of Jacob and Annie (Fisher l 
 Morton, natives of North Carolina. Jacob Mr)rton 
 received an average education in his native State. 
 and came to Tennessee at an early date. He pur- 
 chased a farm in Bedford County, and was one of 
 the tirst settlers of Shelbyville. In connection 
 with farming he also carried on the blacksmith 
 trade, liut bis principal occupation was tilling the 
 soil, which he gave his attention until his death in 
 1857. He was married in Tennessee, and he and 
 wife commenced housekeeping on Duck River, 
 where they reared a large family of children, eight 
 now living: Minerva, wife of B. F. Whitworth: 
 Sophronia (deceased) was the wife of Micliael Shof 
 ner; G. W. C. (deceased), whose family resides in 
 Bedford County, Tenn. ; Daniel C. resides in Cof- 
 fee County, Tenn. ; Nancy, wife of Edward Whit 
 worth; Christina, wife of W. Tune; Emily, wife 
 of Newton Neal; Ann, wife of B. F. Smawling. 
 D. E. resides in Bedford County, Tenn. ; Dr. R. 
 H., Jessie E.. wife of T. N. Smith: Elijah A. re- 
 sides in Bedford County, Tenn., and Martha (de- 
 ceased), wife of T. N. Smith. The father of these 
 children served in the War of IS 12. as a private, 
 and participated in the battle of New Orleans. 
 Mrs. Morton died about 1869. Both were members 
 of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. 
 Morton took an active interest in politics, and was 
 a very strong supporter of Old Hickory. Dr. R. 
 H. Morton divided his time in early youth between 
 assisting on the farm and in attending the free and 
 subscription schools of Tennessee, where he re- 
 ceived a good English education. He atten<l<>(l 
 medical lectures at Nashville, Tenn., in 1856 and 
 1857, and opened his first office at Poplin's Cross 
 Roads, where he practiced for two years previous 
 to graduating. He was then located in Missouri, 
 from 1858 to 1861 (Texas County). In the spring 
 of the last mentioned year he served in the Con 
 federate service as surgeon, and thus continued 
 until 1863, when he resigned and located in Izanl 
 County, where he has since resided. He gradti 
 ated at the American Medical College, at St. Louis, 
 in 1878, and is the oldest practicing physician in 
 the county. He has almost al)aiuloned the prac 
 
® W- 
 
 >^, 
 
 962 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 tice of his profession in late years, and is now in- 
 terested in agricultural pursuits. The Doctor was 
 married in Septembor, 1857, to Miss Emma A. 
 Nichols, of Tenn., but they have never had any 
 children. He is quite well fixed financially, and 
 enjoys life to the fullest extent. He is a member 
 of the A. F. & A. M. , is also a member of the I. 
 O. O. F. , and has been Treasurer of the former 
 lodge, holding the position of Vice Grand. Com- 
 mander, and others in the latter lodge. He is a 
 Democrat in politics, but has never been an office 
 seeker. He is a member of the Christian Church. 
 The Doctor owns considerable land, and has on his 
 home place about seventy-five acres under cultiva- 
 tion. He has good barns, outbuildings, etc. His 
 residence is one of the finest in the county, and 
 there he entertains his friends in the social pleas- 
 ant manner peculiar to him, and the stranger also 
 meets with a ready welcome from the Doctor and 
 his agreeable wife. Although children were denied 
 their union, the Doctor and wife have reared sev- 
 eral who were left orphans. 
 
 Jacob Mosier, Sr., was born on the Potomac 
 River, in Lincoln County, N. C, in 1821. His 
 father, Barnett M. Mosier, was also a native of 
 that State, his birth occurring in 1799, and was 
 married there to Margaret, a daughter of Corb. 
 Gobble, their union taking place when he was 
 eighteen years of age. In 1832 he removed with 
 his family to Independence County, Ark., and 
 purchased and entered land there to the amount of 
 320 acres, which land he was engaged in farming 
 lip to the time of his death, in 1864. His children 
 are: Mary J., Allen B., George W., Henry A., Ja- 
 cob and Jack. Jacob Mosier removed to Arkansas 
 with his parents, and on his father's farm, in In- 
 dependence County, he learned the details of farm 
 work, which occupation has received his attention 
 up to the present time. He is one of the leadinc 
 husbandmen of this vicinity, and has 250 acres of 
 well improved and well cultivated land. He was 
 one of tlu^ pioneers of the State, and during its 
 early history he carried the surveyor's chain 
 through this section, this being some fifty years 
 ago. He is one of the hard working men of Izard 
 County, and owing to his many worthy characteris- 
 
 tics, chief among which may be mentioned his gen- 
 erosity and honesty, he is respected and esteemed 
 by all. In 1854 he took a trip to California. He 
 was married, in 1846, to Miss Melissa A. Romenor, 
 by whom he has a family of seven children: Mary 
 J., William H., Jacob, Charles M., Cordelia. Sarah 
 A. and Martha. Mr. Mosier and his wife are 
 members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
 and he belongs to the I. O. O. F. 
 
 James H. MuUins was born in the "Old Do- 
 minion." on the 18th of March, 1839, and is a son 
 of Hiram R. Mullins, who was born in North Car- 
 olina, in 1794. and was educated in that State. 
 He moved to Tennessee in 1815, and was there 
 married to Nancy Singleton, a native of Virginia, 
 and to their union eleven children were born, six 
 of whom are living, three being residents of Ar- 
 kansas and three of Kentucky. The father was 
 one of the honest sons of the soil, and uj)on his 
 death, in 1850, was the owner of 220 acres of pro- 
 ductive and valuable laud. His wife died in 
 Arkansas, August 13. 1886, both having been 
 members of the Methodist Church, and be a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic lodge. James H. Mullins was 
 educated in Tennessee, near Tazewell, but being of 
 an energetic and enterprising disposition he deter- 
 mined to seek his fortune in what he considered a 
 more favorable locality, and accordingly, in ] 8(53, 
 moved to the State of Arkansas and engaged in 
 business for himself, his capital consisting of a 
 span of horses and the energy and pluck which 
 nature had bestowed upon him. He immediately 
 engaged in farming, and that he has been success- 
 ful is shown when the fact is mentioned that he 
 owns 250 acres of land, with about 125 acres under 
 cultivation. Notwithstanding that he was severely 
 wounded in the left wrist, in the year 1862, at the 
 battle of Oak Hill, being left a cripple for life, he 
 has succeeded far beyond his expectations, and can 
 look back over a useful and well spent life. He 
 and wife, whose maiden name was Minerva King, 
 and whom he married on the 23d uf June, 1863, 
 are worthj' and consistent members of the Baptist 
 Church, and both areliberal contributors to all char 
 itable and other worthy enterprises. He is a Mason, 
 has been postmaster of Evening Shade for three 
 
- > n >*- 
 
 IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 years, constable two years, and deputy sheriff six 
 months. His children are: Eliza A. (Mrs. T. D. 
 Starkey), Albert F., Hiram R., Josephine, Robert 
 C, Nancy M., Sarah R. and William C. In the 
 late war Mr. Mullins served from 1862 till No- 
 vember, 1864, under Col. Greene. 
 
 William S. Nail was born in Lawrence County, 
 Tenn. , in 1820, and his father, Archie, was a na- 
 tive of Alabama, but was married in Tennessee to 
 Miss Morrow, by whom he reared a family of four 
 children: William, Franklin, Thomas and Mary 
 A. Archie Nail was a soldier in the War of 1812, 
 and died in the State of Tennessee, in 1830, he 
 having followed the occupation of farming and 
 blacksmithing all his life. William S. Nail 
 learned these occupations of his father, and in ad- 
 dition to farm work, which has always received 
 his attention, he has been faithful to the hammer 
 and anvil also. In 1845 he removed from Ten- 
 nessee to Mississippi, and was there engaged in 
 blacksmithing until 1856, when he came to Inde- 
 ])endence County (now Izard County), Ark., and 
 purchased land to the amount of 120 acres, and in 
 1867 built a cotton-gin on this farm which has 
 been in operation ever since. His land now com- 
 prises 280 acres, seventy- tive being in a tillable 
 condition, and a portion of his mountainous land 
 is underlaid with valuable minerals. He raises 
 cotton, corn, and small grains on his cultivated 
 lands, and is acknowledged l)y all to be one of the 
 most reliable and enterprising citizens of Lafferty 
 Township. In 1840 he was married to Miss Me- 
 linda, the daughter of Thomas Williamson, of Mis- 
 sissippi, aud of eight children born to them, the 
 following are living: Thomas, INIary E., Catherine 
 F. and Charley L. Mr. Nail belongs to the I. O. 
 O. F. , aud he aud wife are members of the Pres- 
 byterian Church. 
 
 Thomas A. Nail is one of the industrious farm- 
 ers aud law abiding citizens of Izard County, Ark., 
 and has a good farm of 100 acres, which he has 
 acquired by his own energy and good management 
 since the close of the Civil War. His property is 
 located on Lafferty' s Creek, and is considered very 
 valuable, as it is underlaid with mineral ore in 
 paying quantities. Twenty-five acres are under 
 
 the plow, and are in an exceedingly fertile con- 
 dition. Mr. Nail was l)orn in the State of Missis- 
 .sippi, in 1842, aud at the early ag(^ of eighteen years 
 ho was united in the Ijonds of matriuKjny to Miss 
 Sallic Brown, a daughter of Levi Brown, of Izard 
 County. T(j them were born u family of three 
 children: William A., Mary F. and Charles F. 
 When the Civil War broke out he, in 1862, joined 
 the cavalry under Capt. George W. Rutherford, 
 now of Independence County, Ark., and was in 
 many important engagements during his service. 
 ! He surrendered at Jacksonport and returned home, 
 and has since given his attention to farming with 
 the above mentioned results. He is a son of Will- 
 iam S. Nail, whose sketch precedes this. 
 
 Joel D. Patterson has been familiar with farm 
 work from his earliest youth, aud is now ranked 
 among the prosjjerous farmers of Izard County. 
 He was born in North Carolina in 1826, and is a 
 son of David and Mecca ( Holder ) Patterson, who 
 were also born in the "Old North State.'" In 
 1846 David Patterson removed to Kentucky, 
 where he engaged in farming, having previously 
 worked at house carpentering and cabinet making 
 in his native State. He was also married there in 
 1825, and to him and wife were born eight children, 
 five of whom are living: J. D., Caroline, wife of 
 La Fayette Wright, of Kentucky ; Susan, wife of 
 M. V. Belma, of Kentucky; Francis M.. a black 
 smith, also residing iu Kentucky, and Mary, wife 
 of C. C. Ashworth. of Tennessee. Mr. Patterson 
 voUmteered, but did not serve in the War of IS12. 
 He died on the 16th of May, 1855, at the age of 
 sixty six years, followed to his long home by bis 
 wife in 1883, her death occurring at the age of 
 seventy-eight years. They were meml)ers of the 
 Baptist Church, and were worthy and honored 
 citizens. Joel D. Patterson attended the common 
 schools of North Carolina, and, after his removal 
 to Kentucky with his parents, he gave his atten 
 tion to agricultural jmrsuits. with the exception 
 of two years, when he worked in a wagon shoji. 
 In 185i) he moved to Izard County, Ark., aud en 
 tered ll'id acres of land near the town of Philadel 
 phia. where he resided two years, then, upon \\w 
 opening of the Civil War, he returned to K<'n 
 
J^! 
 
 ^^ 
 
 964 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 tucky, where his attention was given to farming 
 for four years. He then came back to his farm in 
 Izard County, but about two years later traded it 
 for another place, but also disposed of this at the 
 end of two years. He then pui'chased and has since J 
 resided on his present farm (which amounts to i 
 277 acres, with eighty acres improved, with good 
 buildings and under cultivation), with the excep- | 
 tion of about twenty months, when he resided in 
 Fulton County. He was married, in ]8r)8, to Miss 
 Miranda Egbert, of Kentucky, and five of their 
 eight children are now living: James R. , who is 
 now residing in Smith ville, Ark. , but expects soon 
 to go to Texas; Joel B. , residing in Indian Terri- 
 tory; Francis L. , Marcus L. and Hiram E. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Patterson are members of the Baptist 
 Church, and he is a Democrat politically, and is 
 decidedly in favor of all movements which prom- 
 ise to benefit the community in which he resides. 
 E. S. Pearson is a member of the mercantile 
 firm of Sanders & Pearson, of Oxford, Ark., and 
 also of F. AV. Pearson & Co., of Thayer, Mo., 
 both of whom carry a varied assortment of goods, 
 which can not fail to satisfy every want of their 
 patrons. He was born in McMinn County, Tenn., 
 in 1829, and is a son of Edmond and Cynthia E. 
 (Hardwick), natives of South Carolina and Alabama, 
 respectively. The father removed to Tennessee in 
 1824, where he farmed, in connection with preach- 
 ing the Gospel, and for ten years he was an elder 
 in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In 
 1832 he settled in Jackson Covinty, Ala., but he 
 afterward moved to Talladega County, where he 
 died in the fall of 1847, at the age of fifty-two 
 years, having been a minister of the Gospel for 
 twenty-eight years. He and wife became the par- 
 ents of the following children: Charles D. (who 
 died, leaving a family in Texas), F. A. (deceased, 
 left a family in Mississippi), B. T., F. C. (a min- 
 ister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
 residing in Texas), F. C. (also a minister of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church in Texas, besides 
 engaged in farming), Martha C. (wife of Marion 
 Simmons, of this county), Cynthia E. (the de- 
 ceased wife of Carroll White, her family residing 
 in Mississippi), Mary C. (wife of D. B. White, of 
 
 Texas), Watson H. (a Methodist minister, residing 
 in Izard County), and W. W. (deceased, was also 
 a minister of the Methodist Church, and died in 
 Mississippi, in 1871). E. S. Pearson was reared 
 on a farm, and educated in the schools of Alabama. 
 Upon reaching the age of twenty-one years he be- 
 gan farming on land which he owned, but this 
 work he gave up, on the breaking out of the war, 
 to enlist in the Confederate service. He joined 
 Company F, under Gen. Forrest, and served as his 
 commissary for three years, and, in 1865, surren 
 dered at Corinth, Miss. He then returned to 
 Mississippi, where he had located in 1850, and be- 
 gan farming and merchandising at Houston, but, 
 four years later, he moved to Lee County, and en- 
 gaged in farming. He took up his abode in the 
 State of Arkansas, in 1889, and, after residing for 
 some time on a farm of 400 acres, he sold out and 
 went to Newburg, where he was engaged in the 
 mercantile business for three years. From that 
 time iintil 1880 he again farmed, and then followed 
 merchandising once more. He sold this establish- 
 ment to Garner & Richardson, and up to March, 
 1889, his attention was given to agriculture alone. 
 He has since followed merchandising, and has also 
 managed his farm of sixty- five acres. His home 
 place is also under cultivation, and in the two enter- 
 prises to which he has given the most of his at- 
 tention he has met with flattering success, and, 
 besides the income which he derives from his farm, 
 the sales in his mercantile establishment will 
 amount to about $12,000. He was married, in 
 1850, to Miss Ellen Morris, of Pontotoc County, 
 Miss. , and by her he became the father of eleven 
 children, seven of whom are living: C. Elizabeth 
 (wife of John M. Smith, of Polk County, Mo.), 
 F. W. (a merchant at Thayer, Mo.), Alice M. 
 (wife of Joseph Harklerood, a farmer of Fulton 
 County, Ark.), Mary E. (wife of Jasper Rader, of 
 Fulton County), Emma (wife of W. Martin, a 
 farmer of Izard County), Thomas W. and Josie 
 L. (the latter two at home with their father). 
 Adolphus L., the eldest child, died in 1SS8 (he 
 wedded the daughter of Judge Hunter, of Fulton 
 County); W. W. died in his twenty-third year, in 
 1876, and two died in infancy. Mr. Pearson was 
 
 
IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 iKjr 
 
 called upon to mourn tho death of his wife ia 
 1879, she having been an earnest member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and, in 1880, 
 he wedded Mrs. Sarah J. (Hancock) McCollough, 
 a daughter of Joel and Sarah (Hall) Hancock, na- 
 tives, respectively, of Kentucky and South Caro- 
 lina. Mrs. Pearson was reared in Ohio, to which 
 State her father was taken when he was a small 
 boy, and from this State her father enlisted in the 
 War of 1812. He was a fanner, and he and wife 
 were the parents of the children whose names are 
 here given; Robert T. (of Oliio), L. B., J. K., 
 J. H., J. B., J. R., Harriet (wife of Ezra Clark, 
 of Indiana), and Sarah J. (Mrs. Pearson). Mr. 
 Hancock died in 1803, and his wife in 1875, both 
 being earnest members of the United Presbyterian 
 Church at the time of their deaths. Mrs. Pearson 
 was first married, in 1848, to Aaron Michael, in 
 Ohio, soon afterward emigrating to Arkansas, and 
 settling in Jackson County, where Mr. Michael 
 died, in 1857. In 1874 Mrs. Michael was united 
 in marriage with William McCollough, who died in 
 1878. He was a Confederate soldier, and was with 
 Price on his last raid through Missouri. He was 
 a member of the Baptist Church, and belonged to 
 the A. F. & A. M. Since 1884 Mr. Pearson has 
 been a licensed minister of the Cumberland Pres- 
 byterian Church, with which church he united in 
 1880. While residing in Mississippi, in 1868, he 
 became a licensed minister of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. Politically, he is a Democrat. 
 Mrs. Pearson has in her possession a bed-spread, 
 with a double-woven top, in blue and white, and 
 on the under side is the year (1837) in which it 
 was woven, and also the name of the weaver, she 
 having herself spun the thread, of which the bed- 
 spread was made, when a girl. 
 
 James Perrin is one of the wealthy agricult- 
 urists of this region, and at the present time is the 
 owner of a fine tract of land consisting of 900 
 acres, of which there are about 100 acres under 
 cultivation, all being the result of his energy, de- 
 termination and attention to details. He was born 
 in Lexington, Ky., December 1, 1844. but was ed- 
 ucated in Independence County, Ark., to which 
 place his parents moved at an early date. He was 
 
 there also married, his wilV' licmg .i .Mis> Eil.-u 
 Street, and a daughter of \\illiam and Anna Street, 
 their nuptials being celebrated on the "Jd of March, 
 1869, at Batesville. To them were born four sons 
 and three daughters, the following of whom are 
 living: Jessamine, Claud B., Horace, and William 
 F., all residing at home. During the rebellion 
 Mr. Perrin served in the Third Arkansas Cavalry 
 from 1862 to 1865, the first hard Imttle in which 
 he participated being at Helena. After his return 
 home he engaged in grist- milling, and now in ad- 
 dition to his farm work he is furnishing railroad 
 timber supplies, such as telegraph poles and ties. 
 He and wife belong to the Presbyterian Church 
 and are worthy and honored citizens of the county. 
 He is one of three surviving members of a family cf 
 two sons and three daughters born to the man-iagi' 
 of David Perrin and Nancy M. Baldwin, the 
 former a native of Michigan, born in 1786. He 
 was also educated in that State, but moved to Ohio, 
 and was there married, his wife being a sister of 
 Rev. S. D. Baldwin, who was the author of the 
 "Baldwin's Prophecy," and was pastor of the Me 
 Kendry Church at Nashville. Tenn. Mr. Perrin 
 was a millwright by trade, and was a member of 
 the Masonic lodge, and at the time of his death, 
 on the 2d of April, IS69, he was buried with Ma- 
 sonic honors in the cemetery at Batesville. He re 
 moved from the State of Indiana, where he had 
 resided for some time, to Arkansas, in 1850. settling 
 near Batesville, where he erected the first bridge 
 ever built over Polk Bayou. His wife died May 
 28, 1877, both being members of the Old School 
 Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Judge R. H. Powell, Melbourne, Ark., is one 
 of whom it can be said: 
 
 " With an equal scale 
 He weiijhs the affairs betwi.xt man and man ' 
 
 He is a prominent man of Northern Arkansas, 
 
 and judge of the district in which he resides. His 
 
 ' birth occurred in Sussex County, Va. , on the Sth 
 
 of April, 1827, and he is the s<m of Thomas P. and 
 
 Jaue P. (Roland) Powell, both native.s of the OKI 
 
 Dominion, the former born in 1808 and the latter 
 
 in 1806. The father was of Welsh descent, and 
 
 was reared and married in his native State. Hi- 
 
oon 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 moved tn Tennessee in 1832, settling in Bedford 
 County, and was a very successful tiller of the 
 soil, being the owner of ahowt thirty negroes, and 
 some fifteen or twenty field hands. He was a 
 Whig, and a very decided partisan, although he 
 never held office. He split off from the Demo- 
 cratic party in 1834 and joined with the Clay fac- 
 tion. His first Whig vote was cast for Hugh L. 
 White and Baily Peyton. He bade a final adieu 
 to this world in 1853, and died as he had lived, an 
 honored, upright citizen, one universally respected. 
 He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, South, of which his wife was also a mem- 
 ber. She died in 1840 or 1841. To their mar- 
 riage, which occurred in 1824, were born nine 
 children, all of whom lived to maturity, and eight 
 still survive: Dr. R. J. (resides in Izard County), 
 R. H. (subject), Mary A. (wife of Dan Morten, and 
 makes her home in Tennessee), Martha H. (wife of 
 J. W. Nailer, resides in Tennessee). Margaret V. 
 (wife of S. H. Winston, resides in Stone County, 
 Ark. ), Miranda (wife of James McCuistion, resides 
 in Izard County), W. S. (deceased), Sarah J. 
 (widow of Dr. David Deason, resides in Tennessee), 
 and Harriet T. (wife of Town Scruggs, resides at 
 Bell Buckle, Tenn. ). The paternal grandfather of 
 these children, Robert Powell, was a native of 
 Virginia, and was a boy at the surrender of Lord 
 Cornwallis, but was present on that auspicious oc- 
 casion. The youth of Judge R. H. Powell was 
 passed in laboring on his father's farm and in at- 
 tending the common sub.scription schools. When 
 twenty- one years of age he entered the Salem 
 Academy, remained there but three or four months 
 and then engaged in teaching school, which pro- 
 fession he followed until about twenty-eight years 
 of age. He then attended law school at Lebanon, 
 Tenn., under Judge Abram Caruthers and Judge 
 Greene, and after passing a very rigid examina- 
 tion received his license. He subsequently com- 
 menced practicing at Louisburg, Marshall County, 
 Tenn. (1855), and there remained until 1860, 
 being first a partner of Gideon B. Black, of Ten- 
 nessee, and later a partner of James H. Thomas, 
 of Columbia. In 1860 he came to Batesville, Ark., 
 remained there but a short time, and then moved 
 
 to Izard Countj', in 1861. He was first married to 
 Miss Jane Temple, in June, 1849, and the fruits 
 of this union were six children, who lived to be 
 grown: Dr. Dempsey T. (resides at Thayer, Mo., 
 and is an assistant surgeon of the Kansas & Mis- 
 souri Railroad), Robert T. (attorney at Greenwood, 
 Ark.), Nancy J., Mary W. (wife of John W. Woods, 
 who is an attorney in Melbourne), Henry Lee (wife 
 of Ewing Kennard, who is a druggist at La Crosse), 
 and William W. (an attorney). In 1862 Judge 
 Powell joined Company B, Freeman's battalion, 
 Shaler's company, and, although entering the 
 ranks as a private, he was afterward elected by 
 his company to the position of first lieutenant, in 
 which capacity he served until December, 1868. 
 He was taken prisoner near Batesville, and was 
 sent to Little Rock, Ark. At the time he was taken 
 prisoner he had been assigned to duty as commis- 
 sary and quartermaster, by Gen. Price, and had 
 in his possession some valuable papers and about 
 $1,500. The United States forces secured the 
 papers but failed to get the money. Mrs. 
 Montgomery (sister of Capt. James Ruther- 
 ford, of Batesville) managed to slijs the money 
 from the outside pocket of his overshirt, and 
 sent it to Col. Freeman. After being sent to 
 Little Rock, he was shortly afterward removed to 
 St. Louis and quartered in the McDowell Col- 
 lege, in February, 1864. The following April he 
 was removed to Johnson's Island, and was there 
 retained until the Oth of January, 1865. On the 
 29th of the following month he was exchanged and 
 then came home on a sixty days' leave of absence, 
 and had started back to rejoin his command, when 
 he heard of Gen. Lee's surrender. He surrendered 
 at Jacksonport on the 5th of June, 1865, and after 
 returning home engaged in agricultural pursuits, 
 which he continued until 1866. He then began 
 practicing his profession in this and surrounding 
 counties. In 1862 Judge Powell was elected to 
 represent his county in the legislature, and this 
 was the first legislature that met after the seces- 
 sion of the State. In 1866 he was elected judge of 
 this, then the Seventh circuit, and served until 
 after the reconstruction of 1868, when he was dis- 
 fi-anchised. From 1868 to 1874 he was interested 
 
 ><^(5 r- 
 
 V 
 
' J£ 
 
 IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 007 
 
 ia mercantile pursuits, and followed this business 
 in La Crosse, Lunenburg and Newburg, Izard 
 County, and at Paraquet Bluff, Independence 
 County. He lost his wife in 1870. She was a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 In 1873 the Judge wedded Mrs. Harriet Herbert 
 {nee Harris), and two children were the result of 
 this union, both of whom died while small. Mrs. 
 Powell died in 1870. She was also a member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Judge 
 Powell was again married in 1878 to Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Davidson, widow of Dr. Davidson. Her maiden 
 name was Gardner, and she was a native of Ten- 
 nessee. Two children were born to the last union: 
 Guy and Ruth H. In 1874 Judge Powell attend- 
 ed strictl}' to the practice of his profession, and 
 for four years remained thus engaged. In 1878 
 he was elected judge of the Third circuit, and tilled 
 that position until 1887, when there was a division 
 iu the circuit, and he was placed in charge of the 
 Fourteenth judicial circuit. He has been judge 
 ever since 1878 (now twelve years) without any in- 
 termission, and his term expires in 1890. He is a 
 member of the Masonic fraternity. Blue Lodge, 
 R. A. C. , and Council, and is also a Knight Templar. 
 He is a straight Democrat in his political views, and 
 he and wife are members of the Methodist Episco- 
 pjil Church, South. 
 
 William M. Ray removed from his native State 
 of Tennessee (he being a native of Bedford County, 
 born in 1828), to Independence County, Ark., in 
 1858, and purchased and entered the land on which 
 he is now residing, which comprises 300 acres, 100 
 acres being under cultivation. The tillable por- 
 tion of his land he devotes principally to cotton, corn 
 and small ffrain, and the manner in which he con- 
 ducts his farm shows him to be well posted on all 
 matters pertaining to the work. He was reared, 
 educated and married in his native State, the latter 
 event taking place in 1850, and jjeing to Miss 
 Nancy J. Holland, a daughter of William Holland. 
 Seven of their nine children survive: Alexander, 
 Joseph R. , George F. , Sarah J. , James, William 
 M. and Dorinda. Mr. and Mrs. Ray are members 
 of the Christian Church, and he is an active mem- 
 ber of the I. O. O. F. During the Civil War he 
 
 espoused the cause of 1\h< Confederacy, and served 
 in the infantry and cavalry for about six months 
 during 1802. His parents, Alexander and Isabella 
 (Scott) Ray, wore born in North Carolina and Ten- 
 uessee, respectively, and were married in the lat- 
 ter State, in 1810, to which State ho came with his 
 parents, when near twenty-six years of age. Ho 
 was badly crippled when al>out twenty years of 
 age by white swelling, but notwithstanding this 
 drawback he became quite well-to do, and was the 
 owner of 240 acres of land in Tennessee. Of the 
 seven children born to himself and wife, only one 
 is now living, William M., our subject. He died 
 in Tennessee, July 30, 1850, his wife, who was a 
 daughter of John Scott, of Tennessee, dying at the 
 age of thirty-five years. 
 
 T. H. Ray is a Tennesseean, born in Wayne 
 County on the 10th of March, 1845), his father, E. 
 W. Ray, being born in Warren County of that 
 State, in 1812. He was reared, educated and 
 married there, the latter event being to Miss Eliz 
 abeth Ford of the same State. Of four sous Ijorn 
 to them, two are still living, and both reside in the 
 State of Arkansas. E. W. Ray was a fairly suc- 
 cessful agriculturist, and died in the "Lone Star 
 State" in 1881, his wife having died in Tennessee 
 in 1855. Mr. Ray moved from Tennessee to Ar- 
 kansas in 1860, and at the time of his death and 
 that of his wife they were members of the Presby- 
 terian and Methodist Churches, respectively. T. 
 H. Ray was educated in Flat Woods, Tenu., but 
 after reaching manhood was married in the Staly 
 of Arkansas to Miss Sarah A. Moser, she being a 
 native of the State, and their union was consum- 
 mated on April 11, 1809. Of a family of seven 
 sons and three daughters born to them, there are 
 but six children living, all of whom reside at home: 
 Mary F. , Ida T. , Heury J. , Oscar H. , Lemon B. 
 and Delbert A. Mr. Ray has Ijeen engaged in the 
 occupation of farming from earliest boyhood, 
 learning the details of the work from his father, 
 who was an enterprising agriculturist. He owns 
 an excellent farm i n Dry Town Township, compris 
 ing 124acres,of which about ninety areunderculti 
 vation. He has always been fou ml ready and will- 
 ing to support iMiti-rprises of a worthy character, 
 
and as a citizen and neighbor, is highly esteemed 
 and respected. His wife is a communicant in the 
 Presbyterian Church. 
 
 K. W. Kector, farmer, Arkansas. No worthy 
 reference to agricultural affairs oi this county 
 would be complete witliout mention of Mr. Rector, 
 among others engaged in tilling the soil, for, al- 
 though young in years, he has already attained an 
 enviable position in the ranks of the farmers. He 
 owes his nativity to Izard County, his birth occur- 
 ring on the farm where he now resides, in 1858, 
 and he is the son of J. W. and Ann E. (Cooper) 
 Rector, natives of Kentucky. J. W. Rector came 
 to Arkansas in 1852, settled in Izard County, on 
 the place where his son, K. W., now resides, and 
 tilled the soil for many years. He was at one 
 time surveyor of the county. During the late war 
 he was a lieutenant in Capt. Cook's company, and 
 served four years, participating in a number of 
 battles on the east side of the Mississippi River, 
 where he was on duty a part of the time. He sur- 
 rendered at Jacksonport, Ark. , on the 5th of June, 
 1865, after which he immediately came home, and 
 engaged in farming to replenish his fortune, near- 
 ly all of which had been lost during the war. He 
 owned, at the breaking out of strife, quite a num- 
 ber of negroes, and a large number of stock of all 
 kinds, which he lost. He was also the owner of 
 about 800 acres of land. This was a very thinly 
 settled country when he first located here, and he 
 suffered many inconveniences, his nearest neighbor 
 being about live or six miles distant, and the near- 
 est mill ten miles away. After the war he tilled 
 the office of supervisor, or county judge, which 
 position he occupied only one term. He was mar- 
 ried in 1850, and to him and wife were born nine 
 children, eight now living: J. M. (resides in this 
 county), Mrs. Mary Richardson, G. S. (resides 
 in this county). Miss Ellen J. (resides in Van 
 Buren County), K. W., Mrs. Sarah E. Sheid (re- 
 sides in Texasj, J. L. (resides in this county), 
 Nancy E. (makes her home with her father, in 
 Texas) and Joseph I. (with his father). J. W. 
 Rector moved to Texas in January, 1885, and 
 bought land in Palo Pinto County. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic fraternity, and he and wife are 
 
 members of the Baptist Church. He was born on 
 the 3d of December, 18'2(), and Mrs. Rector was 
 l)orn on the 30th of August. 1830. Both are en- 
 joying good health, and bid fair to live many 
 years. At the age of twenty- one years K. W. 
 Rector l)egan life for himself by farming, and this 
 occupation he has since followed. He was mar- 
 ried, on the 25th of September, 1879, to Miss 
 Martha C. Bigham, of this county, and they are 
 the parents of tive children: Margaret E., born 
 September 12, 1880; Samuel B., born September 
 15, 1882; Effie J., born March 8, 1884; Joseph 
 L., born March 3, 1886, and Rufus S. , born Sep- 
 tember 5, 1888. Mr. Rector started life with little 
 capital, but with the assistance of his life companion 
 is now the owner of about 400 acres of land in one 
 tract, and with fifty or sixty in another, consider- 
 able stock, and is one of the leading farmers of 
 the county. He has about 145 acres under culti- 
 
 I vation, with good buildings, outhouses, etc. Mrs. 
 Rector in the daughter of Samuel and Susanah 
 (Woods) Bigham, natives of Tennessee, who came 
 to this county at an early day, and here reared a 
 family of four children, three now living: James 
 W., Mary B., Mrs. Martha Rector (wife of the 
 subject of this sketch), Ursulla C. (wife of Rufus 
 Landers). Mr. Bigham was killed during Gen. 
 Price's raid through Missouri, in 1864. He was 
 a member of the Christian Church. Mrs. Bigham 
 was married the second time, in 1867, to Joseph 
 H. Russell [see sketch]. Mr. and Mrs. Rector 
 are both church members, he a member of the 
 Baptist Church, and she of the Christian. In 
 politics, he is Democratic. Mr. Rector is a man 
 who is in favor of all public improvements, and is 
 deeply interested in educational matters. 
 
 William S. Richardson ia one of the oldest 
 pioneers of' Izard County, and was born in Craw- 
 ford County, Mo., in 1828, being a son of Joshua 
 
 ' and Mary (Stafl'ord) Richardson, who were fi'om the 
 State of Maine. The father removed to Missouri 
 about 1816, and entered land in Crawford County, 
 the country at that time being in a very wild and 
 unsettled condition and thinly inhabited. Here he 
 was married in 1827, and made his home until 
 1844, when he moved to the farm in New Hope 
 
Township, Izard County. Ark., on which his >(.i,. 
 William S., is now residing, and here he passed 
 away in 1S73, at the age of seventy-three years, his 
 wife having died iu Missouri in 1830. Of six chil- 
 dren born to this union only William S. is now liv- 
 ing, and after the motlier's death Mr. Richardson 
 married a second time, his wife being a Mrs. Sarah 
 Romine {nee Barley), who bore him eleven chil- 
 dren, the following of whom are living: Alex., 
 James C, Francis R., Martha (wife of James Stub 
 bletield), Nancy (wife of James Smith), Sarah (wife 
 of Richard White), and Wilmoth (wife of John 
 Smith). The mother of these children died in 
 1872, and both she and the first Mrs. Richardson 
 were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 although Mr. Richardson was a minister of the 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church. William S. 
 Richardson was reared on a farm and educated in 
 the common schools of Izard County, and after at- 
 taining his majority he began farming for himself 
 on his own land in Izard County. When the war 
 Iwoke out he dropped his farming implements to 
 engage in the struggle between the North and 
 South, and joined the Union forces at Rolla. Mo. , 
 enlisting in Company G, Phelps' regiment of Mis- 
 souri Volunteers, and at the end of six months en- 
 tered the Missouri State service for six months. In 
 1805 he returned to the State of Arkansas, and 
 after serving for some time as first lieutenant of 
 his company, he was promoted to the rank of cap- 
 tain, and held this office until his company was 
 disbanded. He was at the battle of Pea Ridge, 
 and at this engagement had a brother killed. 
 After the war he served as courier for the Freed- 
 men's Bureau, in Izard County, for some time. 
 After his return home he found nothing left to 
 show for his earl}' toil, except his land, all his per- 
 sonal property having been destroyed, but he im- 
 mediately resumed his farming operations, and has 
 since increased his acreage from 1(50 to 270, a large 
 portion of which he has under cultivation. He is a 
 Republican in his political views, and is a liberal 
 contributor to all charitable enterprises, educa- 
 tional and otherwise, and he belongs to the A. F. 
 & A. M. He and wife, whom he married in 1851, 
 and whose maiden name was Elizabeth U ells, are 
 
 incmluMs of the Ciinilierlaiid l'resl)ytenan Church, 
 and of a family of twelve children born to them 
 they have reared five: Alex. S., Fannie J. (wife of 
 John Largeant), Ellen. Emma, Net(ie V., Catlierine 
 (the deceased wife of James B. Byr.l), and Martha 
 (the deceased wife of John Fuller). 
 
 Joab M. Rodgers, a prosjierous farmer of this 
 region, was born in Georgia, in |.sr)4, and is a son 
 of Avery Rodgers who was a Tennesseean, and a 
 farmer by occupation. The latter was luanied to 
 Miss Polly A. McCuUum, a daughter of Joab Mc 
 Cnllum, their union taking place about 1840, and 
 to their mamage the following children have been 
 born: William, John B.. Mary A.. Sallie E. and 
 Joab M. Averj' Rodgers enlisted in the Confed- 
 erate army in 18(51, serving in the infantry, and 
 was killed in 18(58. In 1807 his wife married 
 William Anderson, of Georgia, by whom she be 
 came the mother of three children: Hardy L., 
 Doney and Clinton, and in 1K70 they moved to 
 Izard County, Ark., and are here now living, both 
 being consistent members of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, South. Joab Rodgers, the subject 
 of this sketch, was married to Miss Sarah M. 
 Wethers, of Dade County, Ga., in 1873, she be 
 ing a daughter of Johnsey Wethers, and four 
 daughters and three sons have been the result of 
 their union: Effie. Leter P., Veronia, Hattie B., 
 Ward J., Garland and Benjamin. Mr. Rodgers 
 removed with his mother and ste]) father to Arkan 
 sas, in 1870, but since his marriage has been doing 
 for himself, and by industry, economy and good 
 management, he has become the owner of 11? 
 acres of land, forty -six of which are under culti 
 vation and well improved. He built a commodi 
 ous and substantial residence in ISSS. has a fine 
 fruit orchard, and in connection with his farming 
 he is engaged in stock raising to some extent. He 
 and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. 
 
 Reuben Rogers was liorn in the State of Ten- 
 nessee, in 1820, his parents, William and Klizal)eth 
 (Hicks) Rogers, being natives of Alabama and 
 Tennessee, respectively, the former's birth occur 
 ring in 1795. He was familiar with the duties of 
 farm life from earliest boyhood, and in |S81 was 
 
 "Th 
 
970 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 married to Miss Hicks, by whom he became the 
 father of six children: Reuben, John, Peter, Allie, 
 Sarah and Ada. From Tennessee Mr. Rogers re- 
 moved to Independence County, Ark., in 1843, 
 where his death occurred the following year, he 
 being a member of the Baptist Church at that 
 time. His widow married Henry Newman, of In- 
 dependence County, in 1845, and to them three 
 children were born: Henry N. , Matilda and Annie 
 E., all of whom reside in Izard County. They 
 own eighty acres of land, and both are members 
 of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Reuben 
 Rogers was married to Miss Nancy Newman in 
 1869, a daughter of Henry Newman by his former 
 wife, and their union resulted in the birth of two 
 children: William R. and Reuben F. In 1854, 
 becoming possessed with the ' ' gold fever, ' ' Mr. 
 Rogers took the overland route to California, to 
 seek his fortune, and like a great many others in 
 those days, failed to find it and returned to 
 Arkansas in 1868. After living on eighty acres 
 of land in Independence County, until 1876, he 
 moved to Izard County, and purchased the place 
 where he is now living, consisting of 160 acres, a 
 portion of which is mountainous, and is finely 
 adapted to grazing. The rest is in the valley and 
 about fifty acres are under cultivation, well watered 
 and improved with good buildings, orchards, etc. 
 He and wife have been members of the Cumber- 
 land Presbyterian Church for a number of years, 
 and he is one of the men who has assisted largely 
 in making Izard County the fine agricultural re- 
 gion which it now is. Mr. Rogers is a severe suf- 
 ferer from cancer of the stomach. 
 
 Joseph Ruminer was born on Blue Grass soil, 
 in Hickman County, June 22, 1835, his father, 
 John Ruminer, having been born in Bedford Coun- 
 ty, Tenn. , in 1809. The latter was educated in 
 his native State and county, and was married there 
 to Miss Elizabeth Harris, who was a Kentuckian, 
 their union resulting in the birth of six sons and 
 five daughters, only one, Joseph, being now alive. 
 Mr. Ruminer was a farmer by occupation, and at 
 the time of his death, in 1862, was the owner of 
 seventy seven acres of land. He held the office of 
 justice of the peace for two terms, and was a man 
 
 whom all respected and esteemed. His wife, who 
 was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 died the same year as himself, but a few months 
 afterward. Joseph Ruminer received a very lim- 
 ited education in his youth, but this defect he has 
 remedied in a great measure by reading and con- 
 ducting the business affairs of life. After reach- 
 ing manhood, he was married on the 24th of Feb- 
 ruary, 1859, to Miss Sarah Coalson, whose birth 
 occurred in the State of Mississippi. Although 
 the family born to them consisted of ten children, 
 only five are now living: Mary E., Samuel R.. 
 Sheffield, Robert and Harris H. Mr. Ruminer is 
 a successful agriculturist, and his farm consisting 
 of 368 acres is one of the best in the coiinty, with 
 about seventy-five acres under the plow and twenty 
 acres cleared of wood and brush, with which it 
 abounded. His first purchase of land was some 
 forty acres, but as can be seen he has been remark- 
 ably successful, and now ranks among the first 
 farmers of the county. He enlisted in the army in 
 1863, and his first hard fight was at Helena. He 
 was a member of Dobbins' regiment, but when the 
 rest went to Jacksonport to surrender he returned 
 home. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and he 
 and wife worship in the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Church. 
 
 J. H. Russell, farmer, Melbourne, Ark. Mr. 
 Russell is one more of the many residents of Izard 
 County, Ark., who were originally from Bedford 
 County, Tenn., and who, since their residence in 
 this State, have become leading men in whatever 
 calling in life their tendencies have led them. Mr. 
 Russell was born in 1821 and is the son of Joseph 
 D. and Mary (Hightowor) Russell, natives, respect - 
 ively, of North Carolina and Tennessee. The 
 father was born in 1777 and the mother in 1800. 
 They were married in Hickman County, Tenn., 
 about 1820, and afterward removed to Bedford 
 Coimty, of the same State, where they remained 
 until 1829. They then located in Scott County, 
 Mo. , and after stopping there for several years 
 went to Webster County, of the same State, and 
 here the father passed his last days, his death 
 occurring in 1847. He was twice married, first to 
 a lady whose name is not remembered, and by her 
 
IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 5)71 
 
 became the father of two children: William B. 
 and Daniel D. By his second marriage, to Miss 
 Mary Hightower, he became the father of five 
 children, four of whom lived to be grown: J. H. , 
 subject of sketch; Louis, was killed during the 
 war with Mexico and after being discharged, it is 
 supposed by Indians; Louisa (deceased), was the 
 wife of John Cox, the family living in Missouri; 
 John W. (deceased), whose family reside in Fulton 
 County, and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Rus- 
 sell died in Kentucky, in 1827, while Mr. Russell 
 was on his way to Missouri. She was a member of 
 the Baptist Church, of which Mr. Russell was also 
 a member until about six or eight years before his 
 death, when he joined the Christian Church and 
 died a member of the same. He was a school 
 teacher, farmer, and also a carpenter, but followed 
 the teacher's profession principally after reaching 
 mature years. He was an old line Whig, but not 
 active in politics. He was well-to-do while living 
 in Tennessee, but lost nearly all he had by going 
 security for his fi-iends. J. H. Russell had very 
 poor chances for an early education, but this he 
 made up to a great extent by observation and read- 
 ing. In 1862 he moved to Arkansas, settled in 
 Izard County, and still continued to till the soil, 
 the occupation he had followed while living in 
 Missouri. While residing in Howell County, of that 
 State, he was appointed one of the three to organ- 
 ize the county, and served as county judge, being 
 elected to that position afterward (or one of the 
 associate justices), and was once elected justice of 
 the peace of his township. He was first married to 
 Miss Elizabeth Sweet, of North Carolina. His 
 second marriage was in 1807, to Mrs. Susanah (Big- 
 ham) Woods, a native of Tennessee, who bore him 
 one child, Margaret L., who died in infancy. 
 Mrs. Russell was the mother of four children by 
 her tirst marriage (three now living): James (de- 
 ceased), Mary E. (at home), Martha C. (wife of K. 
 W. Rector), and Ursula C. (wife of G. R. Lan- 
 ders). Mr. Russell has one son; his name is 
 Robert F. He is now in his twenty-third year. 
 At the time of the Mexican War Mr. Russell joined 
 the army at Spriugtiekl, Mo., but the company was 
 not received, although he was very anxious to go, 
 
 and had hired a man to run his farm. He was 
 suffering with poor health during the late war. 
 He bought 400 acres of land in Izard County, in 
 1868, and resides on that farm at present. There 
 were about forty acres improved at that time, and 
 he now has 135 acre? und'M" a fine state of cultiva- 
 tion, with good buildings, barns, etc. He and wife 
 are both members of the Christian Church, and he 
 is a memlier of the Masonic fraternity. In his po- 
 litical views he atKJiates with the Democratic party, 
 and was originally a Whig. 
 
 W. E. Sanders, M. D., of Oxford, Ark., was 
 born in the " Palmetto State" in 1846. and is one 
 of six living members of a family of seven children 
 born to the maiTiage of Dr. W. R. and F. H. 
 (Simons) Sanders, the former of whom removed to 
 Georgia in 1851. He wiis a graduate of the 
 Charleston (S. C.) Medical College in 1838, and 
 was an extensive and successful physician. He 
 was married in 1839, and died in 1853. being a 
 member of the Old School Presbyterian Church, 
 and a member of the A. F. & A. M. In his po- 
 litical views he was a Democrat. His wife died in 
 1809, at the age of fifty-two years. Dr. \V. E. 
 Sanders attended the graded school of Newman. 
 Ga. , up to the breaking out of the late war. and at 
 the early age of fourteen years and eleven months, 
 he joined Company E. Twentieth .Vlabama Infan 
 try, and was an active participant in forty-six hotly 
 contested engagements, among which were Baker's 
 Creek, Chickamauga. Lookout Mountain. Mission- 
 ary Ridge, Raymond, Dalton. Vicksburg. and ^s 
 in all the battles from Dalton to Atlanta, Ga. At 
 the battle of Franklin lie was wounded l)y a bay- 
 onet, while he and his comrades were trying to take 
 possession of the Federals' ditch. Thirty days 
 afterward he took part in the l)attle of Nashville, 
 although he had not fully recovered from his 
 wound. He surrendered at Greenstoro, N. C. 
 He served as a private, and on five different occa- 
 sions, when the color be:irer was shot. Dr. Sanders 
 carried the colors of his regiment out of the en- 
 fafements, and was offered the position of color 
 bearer bv his colonel, but declineil, saying he would 
 rather carry a gun. .\fter his return home he 
 becan the study of medicine, and for some time 
 
 w 
 ^ 
 
972 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 before entering college he was engaged in practic- 
 ing, and was well fitted to perform the duties of a 
 physician from the fact that his father and all his 
 brothers were practicing physicians. At the age 
 of twenty years he entered the Medical University 
 at New Orleans, but at the end of one term en- 
 tered the Medical College of Philadelphia, gradu- 
 ating therefrom in 1868, and immediately began 
 practicing in Clinton, Ala. At the end of five 
 years he moved to Fayette County, Texas, and 
 three years later settled in Independence County, 
 Ark. In 1878 became to his present location, and 
 the same year opened a mercantile establishment 
 in Union, Fulton County, Ark., but removed bis 
 goods to this county in 1884, and formed a part- 
 nership with J. E. Ford. This partnership was 
 dissolved in 1888, and the Doctor has since been 
 connected with E. S. Pearson, the style of the 
 firm being Sanders & Pearson. They ai-e doing a 
 prosperous business, and fully deserve the patron- 
 age which they are receiving, for they are honest 
 and upright in all their dealings, and are accom- 
 modating and agreeable gentlemen. The Doctor 
 was married, in 1876, to Mrs. Addie Hodges, of 
 Independence County, but a native of Tennessee, 
 and to them have been born four children : Mary 
 A., William C, Edward C. and Kittie. Dr. and 
 Mrs. Sanders are members of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, South, and he is a member of the 
 I. O. O. F., and is a Democrat politically. He 
 is now examining physician for the Pension Bureau, 
 and a thoroughly reliable, successful physician. 
 
 Dr. Joseph A. Schenck is a leading physician 
 of Calico Rock, and in connection with tiis prac- 
 tice is also engaged in merchandising. He was 
 born in Owen County, Ky. , in 1847, and is a son 
 of Julius P. and America (Applegate) Schenck, 
 natives of Kentucky. The father was a captain 
 on a steamboat plying between Cincinnati and New 
 Orleans, and he was also engaged in farming and 
 merchandising, following the latter occupation in 
 Vevay, Ind., while at work on the river. He 
 owned a one-half interest in the "Switzerland," 
 which was the name of his boat, the other half 
 being owned by Jesse Teets, and they were also 
 the proprietors of several other boats which plied 
 
 on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, in the interests 
 of the Government during the war. He died in 
 1862, leaving his family well provided for, but 
 during the war much of their property was lost. 
 He was married about 1842, and he and wife be- 
 came the parents of eight childron, four of whom 
 are living: J. P., who is a merchant of Worthville, 
 Ky. ; Delia, the wife of Dr. J. F. Costillo, resides 
 in Kansas; Amy is the wife of James Grubbs, a 
 telegraph operator, and J. A., the subject of this 
 sketch. Mrs. Schenck died in 1887, having 
 been a worthy member of the Christian Church 
 for many years, her husband being a member of 
 the Baptist Church. He was a Democrat politi- 
 cally, and belonged to the I. O. O. F. Dr. Joseph 
 A. Schenck received his early schooling in Vevay, 
 Ind., and in 1873 he took his first medical lectures 
 in the University of Louisville, Ky. , and gradu- 
 ated from this institution in 1880. He had, how- 
 ever, begun practicing in Jackson County, Ark., 
 in 1874, but at the end of one year removed to 
 Izard County, Ark., and has been a successful 
 practitioner at Pineville ever since. Since 1885 
 he has been engaged in merchandising, in part- 
 nership with Dr. T. K. Goodman, their paid 
 up capital upon starting in business, amounting 
 to about $300, but on the 6th of October, 1886, 
 they were burned out with, a loss of about $1,600, 
 their insurance reaching the sum of 11,000. They 
 opened their store on the 12th of the same month, 
 with a stock of goods worth $200, and have since 
 been very successful, and are now doing an 
 annual business of $18,000. In addition to this 
 property Dr. Schenck owns 288 acres of valuable 
 land, with 150 acres under cultivation, and all 
 this property he has earned since coming to the 
 State of Arkansas, as he then (in 1874) only 
 owned a horse and saddle and about $150 worth 
 of drugs. The Doctor still continues to practice 
 his profession, but not so extensively as formerly. 
 He was married in 1876 to Miss Ellen Matthews, 
 a daughter of Capt. R. C. Matthews. She was 
 born in Tennessee in 1849, and by Dr. Schenck is 
 the mother of the following family: Amy D., Reua 
 Z., Joseph E. and America E. (twins), Lunford 
 P. Y., Carrie M., Julius P., John M. and Robert 
 
IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 «73 
 
 C. Mrs. Schenck is a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South, and the Doctor belongs 
 to the A. F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F., having ad- 
 vanced to the Encampment in the latter order. 
 
 John Sharp, farmer and stock raiser, Evening 
 Shade, Ark. Originally from Independence Coun- 
 ty, Ai'k., Mr. Sharp's birth occurred on the 15th 
 of September, 1843, and he is the son of Hon. i 
 William and Catherine (Barnes) Sharp, the former 
 born in Indiana, and the latter in Ohio. William 
 Sharp came to Independence County, Ark. (near 
 Sulphur Rock), in 1838, and engaged first in farm- 
 ing, which occupation he continued for two or 
 three years. He then embarked in the tannery 
 business, and established the second yard in the 
 county. It is now known as the Gelpin (anyard. 
 Mr. Sharp was a practical tanner, and followed 
 this pursuit until 1852, when he moved to what is 
 now Sharp County, and settled close to Evening 
 Shade. He purchased a mill, rebuilt it, and it is 
 now known as Sharp's mill. This business he fol- 
 lowed until his death, which occurred in 1804. 
 In 1860-61 he represented Lawrence County in the 
 legislature, was a member when the State seceded, 
 but was opposed to secession. During 1863 and 
 1864 he was at home attending to his mill, and 
 was also engaged in tilling the soil. He was one 
 of the old land-marks in the early settlement of 
 Northeast Ai'kansas, and was one of the prominent 
 men of his section of the county. He was a man 
 well read, and although he had never attended 
 school but about three months, he was a much bet- 
 ter informed man than many who had every advan- 
 tage for schooling. He died in his fiftieth year. 
 He was a Democrat in politics. He was married 
 in Ohio, about 1835, to Miss Catherine Barnes, 
 and eight children were the fruit of this union, 
 five of whom lived to be grown: Isaac E. died in 
 1875, and was quite a prominent man in Northeast 
 Arkansas after the war; Zaccheus (deceased), Mary 
 (deceased), John, Rachel, wife of E. Berry, resides 
 in Dent County, Mo. ; Margaret, wife of William 
 Martin, resides in Independence County; Elijah 
 resides in Dent County, -Ai-k.. and Ephraim (de 
 ceased). Mrs. Sharp died in 1855, in full commun- 
 ion with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 
 
 1857 or 1858 Mr. Sharp married Mrs. Louisa 
 Simpson, nee Douglas, and they became the par- 
 ents of four children, one now living, Samuel, 
 residing in Wasliingtoii Teiritory. The second 
 Mrs. Sharp died in 1864. John Sharp, the sub- 
 ject of this sketch, joined the Confederate army in 
 1861, under Capt. Nunn, and served cast of the 
 Mississippi River until after the fall of Vicksburg. 
 He was engaged in two prominent battles, Cham 
 pion's Hill and Black Rivi-r Bridge. He was taken 
 prisoner at the last named place the day before the ' 
 siege of Vicksburg, and was sent to Fort Delaware, [ 
 thence to Point Lookout, Md. , and was retained 
 from the 17th of October to the 24th of December, 
 when he was paroled. He then returned home, 
 remained there until 1864, when he enlisted the 
 second time as a private under Capt. Huddleston, 
 and served the remainder of the war, surrendering 
 at Jacksonport on the 5tb of June. 1865. He wa.'^ 
 with Gen. Price on his raid through Missouri in 
 
 1864, and after the surrender he returned home, 
 where he worked in the mill until 1867. He then 
 engaged in tilling the soil on his present farm, 
 which now consists of 800 acres, with 300 under 
 cultivation. Part of this is in Sharp County, but 
 all joins except one tract of 253 acres, which is, 
 however, within one-fourth of a mile from the 
 home place, with eighty-five acres under cultiva- 
 tion. Mr. Sharp was married the first time in 
 
 1865, to Miss Catherine Summers, and they be 
 came the parents of these children: William, mar 
 ried and resides on the farm; Anna, wife of I^au. 
 T. Taylor, resides on the home place; Mary E., 
 wife of Jeff. Davis, resides in this county; Emma 
 died at the age of nine years; Robert I., at home, 
 and one unnamed. Mrs. Sharp died on the 13th 
 of December, 1876. She was a member of the 
 Baptist Church. Mr. Sharp's second marriage 
 was to Miss Susan J. Yeager. in 1878. and they 
 have a family of five children (two l)eing de 
 ceased): Katie, Prussia, John C. Frank and one 
 unnamed. Mr. Sharp is a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity and the Knights of Honor. He and wife 
 are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 He is a Democrat politically, but though well 
 posted, does not take nn active interest in politics. 
 
974 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 J. M. Shaver ranks among the successful 
 farmers of Guthrie Township, Izard County, Ark., 
 and is now residing on the farm on which he was 
 born in 1853, his parents being John S. and Mary 
 (Cox) Shaver, Tennesseans by birth. John Shaver 
 came to the State of Ai-kansas in 1851, and pur- 
 chased the farm in Guthrie Township, in connection 
 with which work he was engaged in merchandising. 
 Here he made his home until 1862, when he was 
 killed by Federal soldiers, he having previously 
 served in the Home Guard Confederate service. 
 He was also a soldier in the Mexican War, holding 
 the rank of captain, and when returning home 
 came via New Oi'leans. He was married in 1848, 
 and he and wife became the parents of seven chil- 
 dren: D. C, Marietta (wife of J. R. Metcalf), J. 
 M., Mattie (wife of E. A. Taylor), Addie (widow 
 of T. H. Montgomery), Hattie (wife of Will Col- 
 lins), and Belle (wife of C. E. Taylor). Mrs. 
 Shaver still survives her husband, and makes her 
 home with her children. She is a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Capt. Shaver 
 was a member of the A. F. & A. M., and in 1858 
 was elected to represent Fulton County in the 
 State legislature. J. M. Shaver, the immediate 
 subject of this memoir, received his early school- 
 ing in Izard County, and made his home with his 
 mother and sisters until 1884, when he was mar- 
 ried to Miss Georgia Smith, and made a home for 
 himself. He has now seventy-five acres of his 
 land cleared, and besides making a good living, is 
 slowly but surely laying by capital for a rainy day. 
 He was at one time engaged in merchandising in 
 Oxford, but has given his attention to farming only 
 for some time. He is a Democrat politically, and 
 on that ticket was elected to the office of deputy 
 sheriff of the county for four years. He is also a 
 member of the A. F. & A. M. His wife belongs 
 to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and 
 they are the parents of two children: John S. and 
 Mamie L. Mrs. Shaver is a daughter of S. J. 
 and Levica (Chastine) Smith, natives of Georgia. 
 John J. Shultz was born in the State of Illi- 
 nois on the 16th of August, 1851, and like the 
 majority of German-Americans is one of the sub- 
 stantial residents of the county, and is industrious ] 
 
 and frugal. By energy and close attention to the 
 details of farm work he has become the owner of 
 160 acres of good land, and of this there are about 
 fifty acres under cultivation, well improved and 
 well stocked. He is now tilling the office of justice 
 of the peace, which position he has occupied for 
 the past fourteen years, and he and wife, whose 
 maiden name was Mary E. Bean, and whom he 
 married on the 11th of October, 1865, are mem- 
 bers of the Christian Church. Of six sons and 
 five daughters born to them nine are still living, 
 and all reside at home: William A., Walter E. , 
 John M., Caswell B., Mordecai M., Mary E., 
 Amanda V. , Albert F. and Maggie E. Mr. Shultz 
 is a son of John Shultz, a native German, born in 
 1784, he being educated in his native land. He 
 was also married there to Holy Homsan, by whom 
 he becanie the father of seven children, sis sons 
 and one daughter. Six of this family are still 
 living, three being residents of the State of Kan- 
 sas, two of Illinois and one of Arkansas. The 
 father was a farmer, and at his death, in 1838, he 
 owned a good and fertile farm of 160 acres in 
 Illinois, he having moved from Germany to the 
 United States in 1832. His wife died in 1871, 
 both belonging to the German Lutheran Church. 
 
 William C. Sims is worth)- of being classed 
 among the many prosperous farmers of Izard 
 County, for by his own exertions he has become 
 the owner of about 420 acres of fertile land, of 
 which 300 are in Izard County and the rest in 
 Sharp County. One hundred and seventy acres of 
 this farm are under cultivation, and in addition to 
 his farm work he gives much of his attention to 
 raising a good grade of stock. He was born in 
 Itawamba County, Miss., on the 7th of Septem- 
 ber, 1844, and is a son of Gray and Marinda 
 (Mann) Sims, who were from the State of Ala- 
 bama. Of two sons and four daughters born to 
 them, the two sons only are living. The father, 
 at the time of his death, was the owner of 160 
 acres of good land. He and wife were members 
 of the Baptist Church, and after his demise, in 
 1846, his widow became the worthy companion of 
 John Pressley, to whom she bore a family of four 
 sons and three daughters. The mother's death oc- 
 
 Tl 
 
 >y 
 
 % 
 
iL. 
 
 IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 fl75 
 
 curred on the 22d of June, ]8fi3. William C. 
 Sims was educated in Mississippi, and at the age 
 of fourteen years moved to Van Buren County, I 
 Ark., remaining there until 1861. Thonhevolun- i 
 teered in the Confederate army, and was mustered 
 into service on the 14th day of July, 1861. After 
 the war he located in Sharp County, and was mar- 
 ried to Mrs. Sarah C. Waiiiwright, who was a Ten- 
 nesseean, their marriage being consummated Sep- 
 tember 4, 1867. This union resulted in the l^irth 
 of eleven children, three sons and eight daughters, 
 but only two of the family are now living. After 
 the death of Mrs. Sims, on the 18th of March, 
 1881, Mr. Sims was married, August 10, of that 
 year, to Miss Sallie P. Haile, a Mississippian. He 
 has attained a high rank in the I. O. O. F., and he 
 and wife are members of the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church. 
 
 Ephraim Sipe has been a resident of his pres- 
 ent well cultivated and fertile farm of 240 acres in 
 Izard County, Ark., since 1857, and has about 100 
 acres in an excellent state of cultivation. Like the 
 majority of German-Americans he is thrifty, indus- 
 trious and enterprising, and his property has been 
 acquired through his own good management and 
 business ability. After remaining single until 
 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Betsey 
 Deal, their union taking place in Independence 
 County, Ark. Fom- children are the result of their 
 union: Martha M., Malinda E., Ephraim and Rob- 
 ert R. He and wife belong to the Missionary Bap- 
 tist Church, and he is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
 He is a son of Jacob Sipes, who was also born in 
 Lincoln County, N. C. , his wife, Mary Delp, being 
 also born there. John, Jacob, Joseph, Abraham, 
 Ephraim, Peter, Franklin, Noah and Susan are 
 their children. The father died in 1846. Our 
 subject's wife was a daughter of Robert Deal and 
 wife, the latter of whom was born in North Caro- 
 lina in 1806, and is still living, and makes her 
 home with her daughter, Mrs. Sipe. Although 
 she has passed her allotted three-score years and 
 ten, she is still active, and bids fair to reach one 
 hundred years. 
 
 E. F. Smith, farmer and miller, Melbourne, 
 Ark. All his life Mr. Smith has followed, with 
 
 substantial success, the occupation to which he 
 was reared and in which he is now engaged — farm- 
 ing — but in connection has also been largely inter- 
 ested in the milling business. He was born in 
 Massachusetts, in 1S88, and is the son of Roswell 
 and Jane E. Smith, who were also natives of Mas- 
 sachusetts. Roswell Smith was a farmer by occu- 
 pation, and was a man of only limited education. 
 He was drafted in the AVar of 1812, but was not 
 in any engagements. He was married about 1807 
 and became the father of fourteen children, twelve 
 of whom lived to be grown, E. F. Smith being the 
 only one residing in the South. At the age of 
 seventeen the latter came to this part of the United 
 States, located first in Tennessee, and later, or in 
 1859, in Arkansas. He was employed on the 
 Memphis & Little Rock Railroad, and after that 
 was finished he settled in Jacksonport, where he 
 followed the carpenter's trade. In 1S61 he joined 
 the Confederate army under Gen. Hindman, and 
 served on the west side of the Mississippi River, 
 participating in the following battles: Pea Ridge 
 and Pleasant Hill, and was in the (juartermaster's 
 department. He surrendered at Marshall, Tex., in 
 1865, returned home and located at Evening 
 Shade, where he engaged in merchandising, and 
 which he continued for two years. He then re- 
 sumed the carpenter's trade, which he followed un- 
 til 1880, when he commenced farming. He bought 
 his present property, consisting of a merchant 
 mill and cotton-gin combined, with a nice resi 
 dence. He owns, besides this property, two farms 
 in the county, with about eighty acres under cul 
 tivation, all the result of his own labor since the 
 war, for at the close of that eventful period he 
 had but $2. He was married on the 18th <>f 
 October, 1866, to Miss Melissa J. Wasson, and 
 they are the parents of two children: Ella G., at 
 home, and Leander G.. also at home. Mrs. Smith 
 is the daughter of Lee and Jane (Matliews) Was 
 son, natives of Tennessee. Mr. Smith votes the 
 Democratic ticket, is a member of the A. F. & A. 
 M., and he and wife are members of the Mi>thod 
 ist Episcopal Church, South. 
 
 Dr. James L. Smith lias acipiired an envialile 
 reputation in Izard County, Ark., as an nbli' j)hy 
 
^1 
 
 976 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 sician and surgeon, and the extensive territory 
 over which he travels to alleviate the suffering of j 
 the afflicted is a sufficient proof of his popularity, i 
 He was born near Melbourne, and is a son of S. 
 R. and Jane (Walker) Smith, the former a native j 
 of Tennessee, and the latter of Arkansas. In I 
 1849 S. R. Smith came to Arkansas, and settled 
 on the farm with his mother, near where he is 
 now residing, live miles southwest of Melbourne. 
 He served in the Confederate army during the re- 
 bellion, and was with Price on his raid through | 
 Missouri, but in 1864 he was severely wounded by 
 a gun-shot, which resulted in the loss of his left 
 leg. He was captured and taken to Alton, 111. , 
 thence to St. Louis, and received his parole from 
 this city in 1865. He returned to his farm in 
 Izard County, only to find it destitute of buildings, 
 fences and stock, but he set manfully to work, and 
 by good management he is now in comfortable 
 circumstances. He and Miss Walker were mar- i 
 ried in 1855, and moved to the farm where he is 
 now living, and eight of the nine children born to 
 them still survive: James L. , Joseph M. , Mary 
 E. P., wife of J. P. Gray; W. T. (deceased), W. 
 A., Jeff. D., John H. , Solomon and Robert L. 
 Mr. Smith has been constable of Lunenburg 
 Township for several years, and is a member of ■ 
 the I. O. O. F. His wife belongs to the Chris- 
 tian Church. The paternal grandfather was a sol- 
 dier in the Mexican War, and bore the name of 
 James. His wife was a Miss Orphia Byler. The 
 maternal grandparents were Joseph and Sarah 
 (McCubbin) Walker. Dr. James L. Smith re 
 mained with his father on the home farm and at- 
 tended the common schools until 1S7(), when he 
 engaged in farming on his own responsibility, con- 
 tinuing two years, and in. the meantime he was en- 
 gaged in the study of medicine under Dr. J. K. P. ' 
 Black. In 1880 and 1881 he attended his lirst 
 course of lectures in the Hospital Medical College 
 of Memphis, Tenn., and in 1881 entered upon his 
 practice, continuing until 1887, when he again re- 
 turned to Memphis and graduated from the same 
 institution in 1888. He has been very successful, j 
 and is held in high esteem by the medical brother- | 
 hood of Izard County. The Doctor is a Democrat, j 
 
 a member of the I. O. O. F. , and he and wife, 
 whom he married in 1883, and whose maiden name 
 was Mary Croom, are members of the Christian 
 Church. Dr. and Mrs. Smith have three interest- 
 ing little children: Robert O. , Bertha J. and 
 Erskin. Mrs. Smith was born in Izard County, 
 January 28, 1865, and is a daughter of Wiley and 
 Sarah J. (Pearson) Croom, both Tennesseeans, 
 and the parents of nine children : Mary, D. F. , H. 
 F., Ida J., wife of A. H. Colwell; Benage, Susan 
 E., Annabel, Thomas W. and Grover. 
 
 William A. Spence is one of the enterprising 
 agriculturists of La Crosse Township, and since 
 1868 has been the owner of an excellent farm of 
 187^ acres in Izard County. He was born in 
 Davidson County, N. C, in 1837, but in his youth, 
 which was spent in that State, he received a limited 
 education. Upon emigrating to Arkansas, in 1862, 
 he settled in Independence County, but since 1868 
 he has been a resident of the farm on which 
 he is now residing. In 1857 he was married to 
 Miss Emily C. Grills, a daughter of William D. 
 Grills, and by her he is the father of six children: 
 Mary, Harriet G.. Martha T. L., Ive T., James 
 D. and William E. Mr. Spence is one of the live 
 farmers of his community, and the success which 
 has attended his efforts is fully deserved, for 
 throughout life he has been industrious and frugal. 
 He and his wife are members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. He began doing for himself 
 in 1857, in Wright County, Mo., where he home- 
 steaded eighty acres of land, but in 1862 moved to 
 Independence County, Ark. , as above stated. He 
 is a son of Joseph Spence, who was born in North 
 Carolina, and the latter was married in his native 
 State to Miss Rachel, a daughter of James Hurley, 
 and by her became the father of three children. 
 Their union took place in 1834. In 1855 Mr. 
 Spence moved to Wright County, Mo., and was 
 engaged in farming there until 1863, at w'hich 
 time he moved to Independence County, Ark. , and 
 bought 160 acres, which he farmed successfully 
 for several years. He died here in April, 1878, 
 at about the age of seventy-three years. 
 
 O. P. Stroud is a prominent farmer and stock 
 man of Izard County, Ark., and is one of the old 
 
^. 
 
 <S*<^y-«<^ 0<_-<, 
 
 LAWRENce County, Arkansas 
 
 W 
 
IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 977 
 
 settlers of Guthrie Township, having come here in ' 
 1851, and has been residing in the house in which 
 he now lives since 1857. He was born in Tennes- 
 see, August 10, 1820, and was reared on his 
 father's farm, receiving a common school education, 
 and at the time of his location in this State the 
 country was almost a wilderness, and wild game 
 was quite abundant. Mr. Stroud was fond of 
 hunting, and on one of his hunts killed six deer in 
 one day, this being in 185(), when the snow was 
 very deep. At one time he took fifty-three deer 
 hams to Mount Olive, to market, receiving for them 
 $53. The woods abounded with wild turkeys, and 
 Mr. Stroud says they were easier killed than the 
 common domestic fowl of to-day. Although he 
 did not take an active part in the Civil War he 
 served in the commissary department for two 
 years. He lost heavily during the war, principally 
 in personal property, however, but owned 800 
 acres of good land. He now has 400 acres, with 
 about 140 acres under cultivation, furnished with 
 good buildings and otherwise well improved. He 
 was married in 1844 to Miss Martha Jourdan, of 
 Mississippi, and to them have been born a family 
 of fourteen children, eleven of whom are living: 
 John A., William L. , George II., Martha E. (wife 
 of W. Pierson), James M., Lawson R., O. H., 
 Mary F. , Richard A. , Robert H. and Taylor M. 
 Mrs. Stroud is a daughter of John and Edith 
 (Alexander) Jourdan, who were born in the State 
 of North Carolina, and became the parents of 
 nine children. Both parents died in Texas in 
 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Stroud are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he is a 
 Democrat in his political views. His parents, 
 Thomas and Lucy (Jarvis) Stroud, were of Ger- 
 man descent, and were born in the "Old North 
 State. " At an early day Thomas removed with 
 his father to Tennessee, and was there reared to 
 manhood on a farm. He served in the War of 
 1812, under Jackson, and was in the battle of 
 New Orleans, his father also being in service in 
 that war. Gen. Jackson was an intimate friend 
 of the Strouds, and made thoir house his home 
 a great portion of the time, and lived with them 
 during the period he was making the race for the 
 
 presidency. Thomas Stroud became a wealthy 
 man, and to his marriage, which occurred in 181!i, 
 a family of fourteen children were born, ten of 
 whom are now alive: Sarah, wife of William Mc 
 Spade; A. L., O. P., ElizHl>eth, widow nf John 
 McAfee, Thomas J., Resi, Marcus L., Fannie, 
 widow of William Sapp; Hettie and Minerva, wif»< 
 of Robert Henderson. In 1872 Thomju* Stroud 
 died on the same place he settled wlien he first 
 came to Tennessee. His father's death occurred 
 in 1840, at the age of seventy-four years. The 
 maternal grandfather was in the Revolutionary 
 War, being severely wounded in one of the battleti. 
 He settled in Tennessee, also, and there died. 
 
 J. A. Stroud is one of the rising and energetic 
 young agriculturists of Izard County, and was born 
 in Mississippi in 1840, being a son of O. P. Stroud, 
 whose sketch precedes this one. In 1851 be re- 
 moved to Arkansas with his father, and remained 
 with him, assisting on the farm until he was twen- 
 ty-one years of age. Besides working at farm labor 
 his youth was spent in attending school, and he 
 acquired a fair practical education in the subscrip- 
 tion schools of Izard County. Upon attaining his 
 majority he began fanning on rented land, contin- 
 uing for two or three years, then purchased his 
 present property, which consists of 230 acres. 
 There were only aliout ten acres of this improved, 
 and on the land were no buildings, Vjut by industry 
 he hjis put sixty-five acres in good farming condi- 
 tion, and has erected a good frame residence and 
 barns. His property is also further improved by a 
 small orchard, which will in time bear an afcuii 
 dance of fruit. Mr. Stroud is a Democrat, a mem 
 ber of the A. F. & A. M., and donates freely to 
 churches and educational institutions. Like his 
 ancestors, he is quite fond of hunting and fishing, 
 and, as good spwrt can still be had in the vicinity 
 of his home, he freijuently indulges in thesp amuse- 
 ments. Miss Euphemia Guest became his wif»« in 
 1874, and by her he has an interesting family of 
 five children: Jeffie A.. Lillie B. , Doroth«'8 N.. 
 Perry L. and Fannie C. Mrs. Stroud was born in 
 Tennessee, and is a daughter of Morgan and Eliza 
 (Dennison) Guest, who wern alsoTenni'sseoans. In 
 1859 they came to Arkansas, and from this State 
 
978 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 Mr. Guest enlisted in the Confederate army, and 
 died during the war. Of the four children boi"n to 
 them Mrs. Stroud and Robert M. Giiest are living. 
 Mr.s. Guest still survives, and makes her homo with 
 Mr. Stroud. 
 
 John K. Suttle is a well known merchant of 
 Izard County, Ai'k. , and was born in Henry Coun- 
 ty, Tenn., September 24, 1850. His father, Ed- 
 ward J. Suttle, was born in Pennsylvania County, 
 Va. . and he was reared and educated in that State, 
 being also married there to Mintie Marrow, a na- 
 tive of the Stat(>. The ten children born to them 
 (five sons and five daughters) are all living, and four 
 reside in the State of Arkansas. Mr. Suttle removed 
 from Vii;ginia to Tennessee, and from that State 
 to Arkansas, in the fall of 1854, locating in Big 
 Spring Township, Izard County, where he entered 
 a large tract of land, consisting of 460 acres, on 
 which he made his home until he was called from 
 earth October 20, 1862. He was followed to his 
 long home by his wife October 23, 1873, they hav- 
 ing been earnest members of the Hard Shell Bap- 
 tist Church for many years. The father served 
 for a short time in the Confederate army during the 
 rebellion, and after his death his property was 
 divided among his children. John K. Suttle was 
 educated in the Mountain school house, in Izard 
 Coimty, his early days being employed in assist- 
 ing in tilling the home farm. In March, 1873, 
 he was married to Miss Sarah Edwards, a daughter 
 Wiley and Martha Edwards, and a native of Ten- 
 nessee. Of four daughter and three sons born to 
 them, only three children are now living: Ora A., 
 Dee E. and Archie. Mr. Suttle has been engaged 
 in merchandising at Barren Fork, for some time, 
 and his stock of goods will invoice at about $1,500, 
 his annual sales netting him a fair income. His 
 wife is a member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 James J. Vest was born in Alabama, in 1821, 
 and is a son of James and Sallie (Harvey) Ve.st, 
 the former a native of Georgia, born in 1791, and 
 to their union, which occurred 1809, a family of 
 eight children were born: Albert, James, John, 
 George, William, Lucy, Martha and Nancy. The 
 mother of these children died in Alabama, in 1827, 
 she having been a worthy member of the Method- 
 
 ist Episcopal Church for many years. Mr. Vest 
 wedded his second wife, Margaret Canady, in 
 1828, she being a daughter of Felix Canady, and 
 the following childi-en were bom to their union: 
 Henry, Martin, Jonathan and Sarah. Mr. Vest 
 from earliest boyhood was reared to a farm life, 
 and received his early education in the common 
 schools of Georgia. He served as a captain in the 
 Alabama State Guards, State Militia, and in 1833 
 was elected to the office of constable of Morgan 
 County, Ala. , and after remaining in office for sev- 
 eral years he was (in 1838) elected sheriff of the 
 same county, holding the position until 1840. Two 
 years later, he was elected to represent Winston 
 County, Ala., in the State legislature, and died 
 in this county in 1868, followed by his wife two 
 years later, and they lie side by side in the Old 
 Mount Nebo Cemetery, Ala. James J. Vest re- 
 ceived his early instructions in farming from his 
 father, and in 1857 removed to Izard County, 
 Ark., fi-om which State he enlisted in the Confed- 
 erate army in 1862, under Gen. Price, and after 
 serving for a short time in the infantry, he joined 
 the cavalry, and was a participant in all the prin- 
 cipal battles which occurred west of the Missis- 
 sippi River. He surrendered at Jacksonport on the 
 25th day of June, 1865. When a young man in 
 his native State, he studied for the ministry, and 
 in 1838 was licensed to preach in the Methodist 
 Church, and was a minister of that denomination 
 for several years. In 1865 he was ordained to 
 preach in the Baptist Church, and although he 
 was the owner of a tract of land, he has divided it 
 among his children, and devotes his time to the 
 cause of Christianity. He is a stanch Democrat, 
 a Royal Arch Mason, and also belongs to the I. 
 O. O. F. His wife, who was formerly a Miss De- 
 laney Kent, and whom he married in 1840, was 
 born in the State of Alabama, and she and Mr. 
 Vest are the parents of the following family: Al- 
 bert, James, William, Martha and Mary living, 
 and John, Malviney and Sallie deceased. 
 
 James A. Walker is a native of Izard County, 
 Ark. , born in 1849. His father, who was born in 
 the State of Kentucky in 1807. was reared to a 
 farm life, and after he attained his majority, he 
 
^, 
 
 IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 979 
 
 learued the blacksmith's trade. As earlj' as 1820 
 he removed to the State of Arkansas with his 
 parents, the country then being a territory, and 
 from that time up to the day of his death was 
 engaged in farming, becoming one of the leading 
 agriculturists of this region. He owned an ex- 
 cellent farm of 200 acres, the principal part of 
 which he devoted to the raising of cotton, corn and 
 tobacco. He was married, in 1830, to Miss Sarah 
 McCubbins, whose people were residents of Marion 
 County, Ai'k., and to their union a family of ten 
 children were born, six sons and four daughters, 
 all of whom lived to maturity : Eobert T. AV. , Will- 
 iam M., John A. W., Greene, James A., Jane, 
 Phoebe, Elizabeth, Harriet C. and Mary L. In 
 1869 James A. Walker married a daughter of Jo- 
 seph and Sarah Woody, of Izard County, but Ten- 
 nesseeans by birth. Her name was Izora E. Woody, 
 and by Mr. Walker she became the mother of four 
 children: Lillie, Leroy, Oleen and Charley. Mr. 
 Walker has devoted his attention to farming from 
 his youth up, and by paying strict attention to 
 his work, and being ever ready to adopt new meth- 
 ods, he has met with good results, and now has a 
 fertile farm of 127 acres on Rocky Bayou, the fifty 
 acres which are under the plow being devoted to 
 the raising of cotton, corn and small grain. Mr. 
 Walker is a gentleman who possesses many worthy 
 qualities, and ho and wife make the best of neigh- 
 bors, and are very hospitable. They are members 
 in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and he belongs to the I. O. O. F. 
 
 T. J. Williamson is a man who seems to be es- 
 pecially iitted for the occupation of merchandising, 
 for he has met with more than the average degree 
 of success, and his earnest and sincere endeavor to 
 succeed in life is well worthy of imitation. He 
 was born in Independence County, Ark., Decem- 
 ber 22, 1852, and is a son of R. P. and Catherine 
 (Bowman) Williamson, who were born in Franklin 
 County, Tenn., and North Carolina, respectively, 
 the former's birth occurring November 15, 1819. 
 He was educated in Hardeman County, Tenn., near 
 Bolivar, and after his removal to Arkansas, in 1849, 
 he settled in Independence County, and was there 
 married. He and wife became the parents of 
 
 two sons and two daughters, and being people of 
 wealth and position, they have given their children 
 good educational advantages. They own aboat 
 1,500 acres of land, and have some 750 under cul 
 tivation. The mother is a member of the Cumber 
 land Presbyterian Church. T. J. Williamson, 
 their son, was educated in Bellefonte, Boone 
 County, Ark., and ho was married there to Miss 
 Sarah Murray on the 20th of December, 1877, 
 she being a native of that State, and a daughter of 
 Alfred Murray, who was a Tennesseean. To Mr. 
 and Mrs. Williamson were born seven children, 
 of whom four are still living: Clarence R., Kittie 
 N., Pauline and Alexander; those deceased are: 
 Oscar W., who died June 14, 1889; Viola, who 
 died October 5, 1888; and Elloena, whose death 
 occurred on the 14th of September, 1888. Mr. 
 Williamson has been engaged in merchandising 
 since he was twenty-one years of age. He holds 
 the highest office in the I. O. O. F., and has been 
 a delegate to the Grand Lodge. He and wife are 
 members of the Methodist Church, and are well 
 known and highly esteemed citizens. 
 
 W. H. Winkle was born in Iredell County. N. 
 C, July 8, 1838, and is one of five surviving mem 
 bers of a family of ten children born to Harvey and 
 Sarah Winkle, who were born in Tennessee and 
 North Carolina, the former's birth occurring in 
 1806. Harvey Winkle was educated in his native 
 State, and his occupation through life was that of 
 a farmer and mechanic. His death occurred 
 March 24, 1866, and his wife's in April, 1850, she 
 l>ein<' a member of the Lutheran Cljurch atethe 
 time of her death. After receiving the advantages 
 of the common schools and attaining manhood on 
 his father's farm. W. H. Winkle wiis marrie«l on 
 the 14th of February, lfS61, to Elizal)eth Ful- 
 bright, who was bom in the State of Arkansas, 
 but her death occurred on the 2Sth of September. 
 1868, she leaving him with an infant daughter, 
 Mary Jane, to care for. His second wife, Sarah 
 Jackson, was also born in the State of Arkansas, 
 and their marriage was consummated on tlie 24th 
 of January, 1866, his wife l)oing a daughter of 
 John and Mary Johnstin. The second union also re- 
 sulted in the birth of one daughter, who ilied on 
 
 ►^ 
 
'-^ 
 
 980 
 
 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 
 
 the 19th of November, 1872. Mr. Winkle pos- 
 sesses an exceedingly fertile farm of 160 acres, of 
 which eighty acres are under cultivation, and 
 much of his attention is given to raising a good 
 grade of mules and other stock. He has attained 
 a high rank in the I. O. O. F., and in every en- 
 terprise in which he engages he is progressive and 
 energetic, and consequently is successful as a rule. 
 He and wife belong to the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church. 
 
 James B. Woods, farmer, Melbourne, Ark. 
 Among the prominent young farmers of Izard 
 County appears the name of James B. Woods, 
 who, like many others of the representative 
 men of the county, is h native of Bedford Coun- 
 ty, Tenn. His parents, John and Luciuda (Rich- 
 ardson) Woods, are natives of the same State. 
 John Woods came to Arkansas in 1854, settling 
 in Izard County, and bought a farm near Mel- 
 bourne, or rather near the present site of Mel- 
 bourne, where he resided until his death in 1860. 
 He was in his twenty -ninth year at that time, and 
 was a member of the Christian Church. He had 
 always taken an active interest in politics. In 
 1858 he had been elected sheriff of the county, 
 and had just retired from office at the time of his 
 death. The mother died in 1879, at the age of 
 forty-eight years. To their union were born six 
 children, four now living: Margaret, wife of Alex. 
 L. Sublett; James B., Mary, wife of W. L. Stroud; 
 Sarah J. (deceased), wife of Joseph E. Freeman; 
 Thomas R. (deceased), and Martha C. , wife of 
 Daniel S. Freeman. James B. Woods was born in 
 February, 1852, and was reared to agricultural 
 pursuits in this county. He received a good, prac- 
 tical education in the subscription and free schools 
 of Arkansas, and when twenty-one years of age 
 started out to fight life's battles for himself. He 
 first tilled the soil on his mother's farm, but two 
 years later bought a house in Melbourne, moved 
 there, but rented land and still cultivated the soil. 
 In connection with this he also teamed and fol- 
 lowed the carpenter's trade for two years, after 
 which he sold out and bought his present property. 
 This (consists of 151 acres, with about forty or 
 fifty acres cleared, and with good buildings, etc. 
 
 He was married, in 1874, to Miss Fannie Dixon, 
 daughter of \V. C. and Eliza (Clarada) Dixon, na- 
 tives of Tennessee. To this marriage have been 
 born five children: Ora A., Lillian A., Owen D., 
 Robert L. and Margaret. James B. Woods is 
 among the prosperous young farmers of the county 
 and deserves especial credit for the start he has 
 made in life. He is public-spirited and takes an 
 active interest in educational matters as well as all 
 other public enterprises. He and wife are both 
 members of the Christian Church. In politics he 
 casts his vote with the Democratic party. Socially 
 he is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
 
 S. H. Wren is the oldest living pioneer of Izard 
 County, and was born in Warren County, Ky. , 
 (near Bowling Green) in 1824, and at the age of 
 six years was brought by his parents, James and 
 Elizabeth (Hightower) Wren, to Izard County. 
 I James Wren was born in North Carolina, and in 
 1 1819 moved to Kentucky, and settled in Warren 
 County, where he engaged in farming, and lived 
 until the above mentioned date, at which date he 
 located in Arkansas, near Lunenburg, and gave 
 his attention to farming. He served as justice of 
 the peace of the county several terms, and held the 
 office of county judge from 1842 to 1847, having 
 no opponents during this time. He was also 
 elected to the office of county trustee, to distribute 
 the international and school fund for the purpose 
 of improving the public roads, there being three 
 candidates, and Mr. Wren received every vote 
 polled in the county with the exception of one — 
 the only case of the kind on the county records. 
 He was popular with all, and justly so, for he 
 ' was ever very public-spirited, and his efforts in 
 aiding in the improvement of the county will al- 
 ways be highly appreciated. His death, which 
 occurred on the 28th of April, 1888, at the age of 
 ninety seven years and twenty-eight days, was 
 much regretted by all who knew him. He had 
 ! been a member of the Missionary Baptist Church 
 h'om the time he was thirty two years of age until 
 his death, and in his political views was a Jeffer- 
 sonian Democi'at, and during the war a loading 
 I Secessionist. His wife, who was born in the "Pal- 
 ! metto State," died on the 6th of June, 1883, at 
 
 71® 
 
 ^v- 
 
IZARD COUNTY. 
 
 '.IS I 
 
 tlie agi> of t'ighty-piglit years. Tlieir son, S. H. 
 Wreu, bogaji life for liimsolf at tbo age of twonty 
 years, first as a farmer, and October 6, 1845, ho 
 moved to the Platte Purchase, in Missouri, remain- 
 ing there about one year. Upon his return to 
 Izard County, Ark., ho was engaged in rafting 
 lumber for two years. In 1861 he was living in 
 Fulton County, Ark. , and was a candidate on the 
 Union ticket for a seat in the convention opposed 
 to secession, and was victorious over his opponent, 
 biit the county clerk gave the certificate of election 
 to the defeated candidate. The race was made 
 three times, and each time Mr. Wren secured the 
 greatest number of votes, but before the case was 
 finally settled the State seceded. Owing to the 
 views held Vjy Mr. Wren in regard to secession, he 
 was arrested and tried for treason to tlie Confed- 
 erate government, the trial being held at Little 
 Rock, before Judge Ringo, but he was ac(juitted 
 after they had examined two prosecuting witnesses. 
 He then returned home, in February, 1862, and 
 remained here until the arrival of Gen. Curtis, 
 when he went to Rolla, Mo., and remained con- 
 nected with the Union army for two years, selling 
 goods at Batesville. After his return home, at 
 the close. of the war, he found all his buildings 
 and fences destroyed, but he set to work to again 
 
 improve his property, and now lias hin fnrin, which 
 consists of 120 acres, well impn.ved with gotjd 
 buildings, and has eighty one acres under the 
 plow. He has owned 1,2(1(1 acres, but has lost 
 the most of it in going security for his friends. 
 His wife owns 146 acres, with 1(10 acres under 
 cultivation. He was elected to the oftice of justice 
 of the peace two terms, making six years in all, 
 and during that time did not have a decision re 
 versed or a change of venue taken, and not a cent 
 was charged up to the State of Arkansas. He is a 
 Republican in his political views, but usually votes 
 for whom ho consid(>rs the best man, regardless of 
 party. He has been twice married, the first time 
 to Miss Nancy J. Hayley, in 1854, and of six chil- 
 dren born to them, three are deceased: .Tanies M. . 
 William C, and Martha .J. (Mrs. .James Cole) living 
 in Franklin County, Ark. Mrs. Wren was a mem ■ 
 ber of the Missionary Baptist Church.'Tjnd died in 
 1865. Mr. Wren's second union took place on the 
 24th of November, 1867. his wife being a Miss 
 Margaret Evans, and of nine children liorn to 
 them, four are living: W. G., S. R.. Thomas H. 
 and Mai-}' C. Mrs. Wren is a member of the 
 Christian Church, and he is a member of the I. O. 
 O. F., and the Agricultural Wheel, taking a warm 
 interest in commendable enterprises. 
 
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