USA > Arkansas > A pictorial history of Arkansas, from earliest times to the year 1890. A full and complete account, embracing the Indian tribes occupying the country; the early French and Spanish explorers and governors; the colonial period; the Louisiana purchase; the periods of the territory, the state, the civil war, and the subsequent period. Also, an extended history of each county in the order of formation, and of the principal cities and towns; together with biographical notices of distinguished and prominent citizens > Part 62
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
888
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
Association. They are interred in the Confederate cemetery, back of the city, where a plain tablet marks their resting place.
Hon. Greenfield Quarles became a resident of Phillips county in 1851. He was born in Christian county, Kentucky, April Ist, 1847, son of John N. and Penelope T. Quarles, who was Penelope T. Brunson. He came to Arkansas in December, 1851; graduated at the Virginia Military Insti- tute at Lexington, Virginia, July 4th, 1870. Was admitted to the Bar in 1871, and is now engaged in the practice of that profession. He was elected a member of the Lower House of the General Assembly of Arkansas in September, 1878 and in 1880; was elected Prosecuting Attorney for the First Judi- cial District in September, 1884, for two years. On Septem- ber 10th, 1872, at Helena, Arkansas, he was married to Ida C. Gist. By this marriage there is a daughter, Lucile Quarles. He joined the Confederate Army in 1864, and was attached to the staff of Brigadier-General William A. Quarles, of Walthall's Division of Stewart's Corps. He was wounded at the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, November 30, 1864 ; was captured and held a prisoner at Camp Doug- las, Illinois; was liberated at the mouth of Red river, in Mississippi, in May, 1865.
General Thomas C. Hindman was a resident of Helena from 1854 to 1868. He was one of the most noted and prominent men of his time in the State. His full name was Thomas Carmichael Hindman, being named for his father, who was a gallant officer in the Mexican War, of the grade of Colonel.
General Hindman was born on Turkey creek, Knox county, Tennessee, January 28th, 1828, son of Thomas C. and Sallie Hindman, who was Sallie Holt. When the Mexican War broke out he was at a classical college at Lawrenceburg, New Jersey. He immediately left school, and with his brother, Robert Hindman, made his way to Mexico, and enlisted in the army. Although only 17 years of age, he was made a
-
889
PHILLIPS COUNTY.
Lieutenant in the company commanded by Captain Am. Jack- son, in the Second Mississippi Regiment, commanded by Col- onel Charles Clark. This promotion was accorded to him for conspicuous gallantry on the battle field.
After the close of the Mexican War he returned to Ripley, Mississippi, where his parents then resided, and lived there until 1854-during this time he studied law and was admitted to practice. On the 4th of July, 1854, he moved from Ripley, Mississippi, and located at Helena, forming a law partnership with Major John C. Palmer. Engaging in the practice of law, he soon entered politics. He was a born leader of men, and was one of the foremost orators of his day. He was twice elected to Congress from the First District, being elected in 1858, he served from 1859to 1861. He was elected a second time in 1860, for a term of from 1861 to 1863, but resigned his seat, and returning home, entered at once the Confederate service. He was a Delegate from Arkansas to the Charleston Convention of 1860. In the great race for Governor, in that year, between Rector and Johnson, he was an earnest sup- porter of Rector, and by a canvass of extraordinary brilliancy and ability, made by him in Rector's behalf, did much to se- cure his election.
On the breaking out of the war, he aided in raising a regi- ment, the Second Arkansas Infantry, of which he was made Colonel. He was promoted first to Brigadier and afterwards to Major-General. He was assigned to the command of the Trans-Mississippi Department in the summer of 1862, and organized an army there, and commanded therein until 1863, when he was transferred east of the Mississippi, and served during the remainder of the war there, having an important command, and rendering able service in Johnston's campaign from Dalton to Atlanta, and afterwards under Hood. He served with the utmost gallantry and distinction at the battles of Shiloh and Chickamauga. In the former battle he was disabled, his horse being killed, falling upon him, fracturing
890
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
his thigh. At the close of the war he resumed the practice of law at Helena, and again became an active participant in the politics of the day, though not a candidate for office. He was foully murdered while sitting at his fireside, at his home in Helena, on the night of September 27th, 1868, particulars of which have been given.
In 1856, at Helena, General Hindman was married to Miss Mary Watkins Biscoe, daughter of Colonel Henry L. Biscoe, of Helena. By this marriage there are three children: two sons, Biscoe and Thomas C., and a daughter, Blanche Hindman.
Judge Peter Oscar Thweatt became a resident of Helena in 1866. He was born in Williamson county, Tennessee, October 10th, 1834, son of Harwood D. and Elizabeth E. Thweatt. He was educated in the "Old Field" schools of Tennessee and Mississippi, except two years at Harpeth Academy, at Franklin, Tennessee. Having received a clas- sical education, he taught school and read law. He came to Arkansas, February 14th, 1859, and settled at Clarendon, Monroe county, where he lived until 1866, when he moved to Helena. He was admitted to the Bar in March, 1860, and has been in active practice of the profession since the close of the war, and for more than 20 years in Helena. He was Judge of the County and Probate Court in Monroe county in 1862 and 1863; Deputy Secretary of State, 1864 and 1865 ; and Prosecuting Attorney for the First Circuit,
1866 to 1868. In the Civil War of 1861 he joined Churchill's Regiment at Fort Smith after it was organized, and served as a private until disabled at the Battle of Oak Hill, August 10th, 1861, receiving a severe compound frac- ture of the left leg, just above the ankle joint, from which he has never entirely recovered. On the 23d of February, 1873, at Helena, he married Miss Mary Hornor, daughter of Judge John S. Hornor. By this marriage there are three children, two daughters and a son.
891
PHILLIPS COUNTY.
Judge Marshall L. Stephenson became a citizen of Helena in 1871. He was born at Granville, Illinois, March 29th, 1838, son of R. H. and Elizabeth Stephenson. He was educated at Granville Academy, in Illinois ; commenced the study of law in the office of Messrs. Stuart, Edwards & Brown, at Springfield, Illinois. On the breaking out of the war he entered the Federal Army at Springfield, Illinois, as Captain of Company "L," of the Tenth Illinois Cavalry Vol- unteers ; was promoted to the rank of Major of that regiment November 25th, 1861, and served with the regiment, chiefly in Missouri, until 1863; took part in the battle of Prairie Grove. On the Ist of September, 1863, he was detached by General Schofield to recruit the Second Arkansas Infantry white troops, and raised and commanded that regiment from 1864 to the close of the war. On this regiment being organ- ized, it was assigned to the Third Brigade, Second Division, of the Seventh Army Corps, commanded by Major-General Fred. Steele. With this regiment he took part in the battle of Jenkins' Ferry, April 30th, 1864, where he was severely wounded. At the close of the war he settled in Fort Smith ; attended a law school at Cincinnati ; was admitted to the Bar in Arkansas, at Little Rock, in April, 1866. In 1867 he removed to Huntsville, Madison county ; in 1871 to Helena. He was elected Senator to represent the Third Senatorial District of Arkansas; was appointed Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, July 23d, 1868 ; served until his removal to Helena in 1871; was then appointed Judge of the First Judicial Circuit, and served until 1872, when he was elected Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, serving till 1874, resigning in May of that year, since which time he has been engaged in the practice at Helena. On the 27th of Novem- ber, 1872, at Battle Creek, Michigan, he was married to Miss Louise Magown, youngest daughter of the late Edward Magown, of Michigan.
!
CRAWFORD COUNTY.
Crawford County, formed October 18th, 1820, was the eighth county formed. It was taken from the limits of Pulaski county, and was named after Hon. William H. Crawford, Secretary of War in 1815, and of the Treasury in 1817. The seat of justice was directed by the Act to be at the town of Fort Smith. The county seat was located at William Whitson's, but this not proving satisfactory, it was located at Crawford Court-house, eighteen miles below Van Buren. In 1836, however, it was located at Van Buren, where it has since remained.
Crawford Court-house is now a small town, a few miles below Webb City in Franklin county. Richard C. S. Brown, a prominent lawyer, legislator and judge, was a resident of Crawford Court-house in 1830. He was a Member of the Leg- islature in 1830 and 1831, and was Judge of the Circuit Court of the Seventh Circuit, in 1840. Gilbert Marshall was Postmaster there in 1829, and James Wilson, Sheriff of the county, a resident. George C. Pickett was Postmaster there in 1827, and Gilbert Marshall was Postmaster at Short Moun- tain in 1827.
McLean's Bottom was a portion of the county noted for its fertility. Samuel M. Weaver, who was born in Kentucky, October 16th, 1803, moved to Arkansas in 1828, and settled at the place. In 1832 H. B. Rose moved from Louisiana, and settled there, and founded the town of Roseville, which was named after him. It is now in what is Logan county. In 1836 Mr. Weaver married M. E. Rose, a daughter of H. B. Rose, and moved to Little Rock in 1840.
892
893
THE FOLLOWING HAVE BEEN THE COUNTY OFFICERS.
DATE.
JUDGE.
CLERK.
SHERIFF.
TREASURER.
CORONER.
SURVEYOR.
ASSESSOR.
1821 to 1823
Henry Bradford
Jack Mills, 1
1823 to 1825
G. C. Pickett ..
Mark Beau
J. C. Sumner ..
1825 to 1827
G. C. Pickett
James Wilson.
J. C. Sumner
Alfred Oliver.
1830 to 1832.
Robert Sinclair ..
G. C. Pickett
James Wilson
Elihu Joy ..
Alfred Oliver.
1832 to 1833
Robert Sinclair.
G. C. Pickett.
J. E. Brown
D. A. Williams
John Harrell.
1833 to 1834
J. W. Bates
Alex McLean
J. E. Brown
D. A. Williams
John Harrell.
1834 to 1835
Alex McLean.
R. C. S. Brown
D. A. Williams
John Harrell ..
18335 to 1836.
J. W. Bates.
Alex MeLean
W. P. Moore
Isaac Shannon
John Harrell.
1836 to 1838
J. W. Bates
Alex McLean
Jesse Miller ..
Wni. Hull.
Thos. Hazen
John Harrell ..
1838 to 1840
J. W. Bates.
Alex McLean
J. M. Randolph
D. P. Collins.
D. L. Looney.
John Harrell.
1840 to 1842
R. S. Gibson.
Alex McLean
Eli Bell.
D. R. Looney.
Moses Kahoe.
John Harrell ..
1842 to 1844
Alex McLean
Eli Bell ..
W. Duval ..
T. A. Brooking ....
John Carnall
1844 to 1846
R. P. Pryor
Alex McLean.
Eli Bell ..
W. R. Heard ..
G. W. Hawkins.
John Carnall.
1846 to 1848
Alex McLean ..
John Carnall
A. J. Ward
H. W. Bell
D. Dickson ..
1848 to 1850
R. P. Pryor
Alex McLean.
John Carnall
A. J. Ward
T. J. Powers.
D. Dickson.
1850 to 1852
R. P. Pryor ..
Alex McLean
S. F. Cottrell.
A. J. Ward.
E. G. Cader
1852 to 1854
N. A. Pryor ..
Alex McLean.
S. F. Cottrell
A. J. Ward.
G. R. Bell.
D. Dickson.
1854 to 1856.
G. I. Clark, 4
Alex McLean.
S. F. Cottrell
A. J. Ward
G. R. Bell
R. C. Hattaway ..
1856 to 1858
J. W. Sangster, 5.
I. W. Talkington
J. M. Brown.
A. J. Ward
W. I. K. Meadows.
D. Dickson.
1858 to 1860
W. B. Robinson
I. W. Talkington
J. M. Brown.
A. J. Ward
J. Bently
D. Dickson.
1860 to 1862.
J. A. Wright
E. A. Scott.
S. F. Cottrell
Joel Dyer ..
H. Bushong.
1862 to 1864
R. C. Hattaway ..
E. A. Scott
Martin Thomas ..
Geo. Austin.
Wm Stovall.
R. Allen
D. Dickson. Hiram Brodie.
1866 to 1868
J. W. Sangster
E. A. Scott
E. G. Whitesides ..
A. J. Ward ..
Wm Stovall
R. Allen
Hiram Brodie.
1868 to 1872
Joseph Harrell ...
Geo. Divilbiss, 8.
W. S. Anderson ..
E. Coleman, 9
Calvin Phelps,
Geo. Kilgore, 10.
George Gross.
1874 to 1876
D. H. Creekmore ..
E. A. Scout
J. F. Winfrey
A. J. Ward
J. J. Hınson, Sr ....
D. Dickson
George Gross.
1876 to 1878
J. C. Chastain
E. A. Scott
J. F. Winfrey
A. J. Ward.
H. C. Hayman
D. Dickson
George Gros -.
1878 to 1880
Ben Decherd.
L. C. Southmayd.
W. L. Taylor
A. J. Ward
A. C. Turman ..
D. Dickson.
J. B. Vincent.
1880 to 1882
H. B. Hale ..
L. C. Southmayd.
J. S. H. Houck
A. J. Ward
S. Pernot.
D. Dickson
J. B. Vincent.
1882 to 1884
J. W. Matlock.
L. C. Southmayd.
W. L. Taylor
B. L. Orrick
W. W. Brodie.
D. Dickson.
J. Q. West.
1884 to 1886
W. T. Morgan.
J. Neal .. ..
Wm. L. Taylor
Ben. L. Orrick
H. B. Manes.
D. Dickson
J. Q. West.
1886 to 1888
H. B. Hale ..
Benj. Decherd.
Jas. D. Hawkins
W. T. England.
J. P. Mack
D. Dickson
R. B. Winfrey.
1888 to 1890
J. W. Littleton
Ben. Decherd.
Jas. D. Hawkins ......
W. T. England.
Jack Williamson ....
H. B. Hale
R. B. Winfrey.
..
Jas. Bushong, 6.
1864 to 1866
James Sangster ..
E. A. Scott
Wm. Sills, 7
Wm. L. Meadows.
M. W. Warden, 11.
1872 to 1874
J. A. Lockhart
J. P. Grady.
M. Kimes.
J. S. Rainwater ..
J. S. Chastain.
Geo. Austin ..
D. Dickson.
CRAWFORD COUNTY.
.
1-Died and succeeded by Mark Bean. 2-The officers seem to have held over, although the time of holding elections was changed. 4-Resigned August, 1855, and D. N. Collins in the office. 5-R. C. Hattaway from November, 1856. 6-Resigned. 7-James Allison and E. G. Whitesides held the office respectively from February, 1866. 8-J. A. Lockhart from August, 1870. 9-J. S. Shannon from 1869. 10-M. Kelleher from 1871. 11-T. G. Singleton from March, 1871.
894
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
Crawford is a northwestern county, lying north of, and on the Arkansas river, its western boundary line being the Cherokee Indian line. Its present area is about 600 square miles and its population about 18,000, of whom some 1, 200 are colored. The St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad runs through the county from north to south, and on the southern border runs the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad, now a part of the Arkansas Valley route. These two roads intersect each other at Van Buren. A large part of the county is mountainous, but a portion is alluvial soil, being rich bottom lands. The county produces fruits and grains in abundance with the usual products, cotton and corn. It is particularly fitted for the growth of grapes, which is conducted with success. The county contains mineral indications, but its resources in this respect are as yet undeveloped. There are eighty-six organ- ized school districts in the county, with 100 schools, in which school is kept from three to ten months in the year. There are numerous mineral springs of value in the county. Churches exist in all the prominent places and neighborhoods of all the different denominations.
The towns of the county are: Van Buren, the county seat, Alma, Cedarville ; while Mountainburg, Cove City, Uniontown, Frisco, Ready, Chester and Lancaster are smaller places. In March, 1831, a postoffice was established in Crawford county, at Phillips' landing, on the river, about five miles below Fort Smith, and called Van Buren. Thomas Phillips was appointed Postmaster. This was the commence- ment of what has now grown to be the town of Van Buren. In October, 1835, Mr. Phillips, as proprietor, had a public sale of lots in the town, and commencing with 1833, established a "patent Ferry" at the place. D. Mahan was an attorney there in 1832, and Randolph and Keithley were merchants there in 1833. An effort was made, in 1832, to start a town one mile .below, on the same side of the river, to be called Columbus, and Edward Cunningham opened a store there,
895
CRAWFORD COUNTY.
doing a commission and forwarding business. In 1835 also a further effort was made to revive the place under the name of Columbia, but without success.
Van Buren now has a population of about 3,000. It con- tains six churches : Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, Presby- terian, Christian and Catholic, two schools, and a commercial college ; an opera house, seating 600 ; two banks, the Crawford County Bank, and Citizens' Bank. It has grist, lumber and flouring mills, three weekly newspapers : the Argus, the Press and the Graphic; has telegraphic, telephone and express companies, and several hotels. The place is quite a railroad center. A fine bridge crosses the Arkansas river. There is a large and commodious court-house of brick, and the place con- tains a number of valuable public buildings for business uses, besides many handsome and tasty private residences, brick and frame.
Judge Jesse Turner, Judge of the Supreme Court in 1878, became early a resident of Van Buren. When he landed there, in 1831, there was nothing but one store and one grocery. He first took up his residence at Crawford Court- house, on the south side of the Arkansas river, eighteen miles southeast from Van Buren, but when the county seat of the county was moved to Van Buren, in 1836, he moved to that place, where he still resides. He was born in Orange county, North Carolina, October 3d, 1805. In 1838 he was a Member of the Legislature. In 1851 he was United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas. He was a Member of the Convention of 1861, was strongly apposed to secession, but at the second session of the Convention, seeing that the war had already begun, and that the State of Arkan- sas must either stand with and for the South, or stand against her, voted for it. In 1866 he was elected to the State Senate, and again in 1874. In 1878 he was appointed to the Supreme Bench by Governor Miller, to serve the unexpired term of Judge David Walker. He has been twice married, first in
896
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1842, to Miss Violet P. Drennen, daughter of David Drennen, and niece of John Drennen, one of the original proprietors of Van Buren. She died in 1843. In 1855, June 21st, he married, at Pittsburg, Miss Rebecca A. Allen, who was born at Warwickshire, England, daughter of Edward Allen, a contractor and builder of Pittsburg. By this marriage there is one son, Jesse Turner, Jr., a lawyer of Van Buren, in business with his father, as Turner & Turner, attorneys.
Judge Turner is like a long link uniting us to the historic past. In his early life he was the friend and associate of Crit- tenden, Ashley, Sevier, Cummins, Pike, Judge Benjamin Johnson, Andrew Scott, James Woodson Bates and other distinguished men of the earlier times of the State, and was a follower and great admirer of Henry Clay.
John Drennen, John Henry, George C. Pickett, J. S. Scott, David Thompson, John Gregg, David McClellan, John Shannon, John W. Duval and Andrew Morton were early settlers of the town.
William Walker was a prominent lawyer at VanBuren from 1842 to 1867, when he came to Little Rock and resided there for a few years, but moved from thence to Fort Smith, about 1870, where he still resides.
One of the earliest residents of Van Buren was Colonel John Drennen. He was born in the town of Elizabeth, Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania, February 12th, 1800, the son of Thomas and Isabella Drennen, who was Isabella Moore. When but a youth he moved to Missouri, and soon afterwards went to Nashville, Tennessee, where he entered into mercantile pursuits in conjunction with David Thompson, Esq. In 1830 he came to Arkansas, and settled at Columbus, one mile below the present site of VanBuren, where he continued to carry on merchandising. In 1836, with David Thompson, he pur- chased the site of the present town of VanBuren and laid it off into a town, and continued to reside there until the time of his
1
898
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
death, which occurred at Indianapolis, Indiana, September 27th, 1855. He was at the time on a journey to Jefferson county, Virginia, to join his family, who were passing the sum- mer there ; when on the route he was stricken with yellow fever,. and was unable to proceed further than Indianapolis, where he died. He was twice married. On the 26th of March, 1821, at Potosi, Missouri, he was married to Mrs. Emily Dederick Stuart. By this marriage he had three daughters, Caroline L., Marguerite H. and Johanna Drennen. Of these Caroline L., who is the widow of the late Charles G. Scott, is the only survivor. He was married the second time on the 28th of March, 1848, to Miss Kate Humphreys, of Jefferson county, Virginia. By this marriage he had three sons, Charles H., Harry C. and William M. Drennen. Of these Charles H. Drennen, a resident of VanBuren, is the only survivor.
One of the well known and much esteemed citizens of VanBuren was Charles G. Scott. He was born at George- town Cross Roads, now Galena, Kent county, Maryland, August 16th, 1819. He came to Arkansas in March, 1836, and located in Crawford county. He lived at VanBuren, engaged in merchandising from 1836 to March, 1863, when he moved to Little Rock, where he continued as a merchant, doing a large business. He lived at Little Rock until Janu- ary, 1878, when he returned to VanBuren, where he con- tinued to reside until his death, which occurred January 13th, 1882, at the age of sixty-four years. He was a man of pleas- ant address and noble characteristics, and was widely known for his generous hospitality. For many years he was Presi- dent of the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad. On the 14th of January, 1845, he was married, at VanBuren, to Miss Caro- line L. Drennen, daughter of John and Emily Drennen, who survives him. By this marriage there are four children now living, two daughters and two sons : Mrs. James Lawson, of Little Rock, Miss Fannie Scott, Phillip Drennen Scott, and James Stuart Scott, residing at VanBuren,
JK-
---
-----
...
---
1
1
1
----
ARLINGTON HOTEL.
0
N
t,
900
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
Dr. James A. Dibrell became a citizen of VanBuren in 1839, and has continued in the practice of his profession there to this date, a period of 49 years, with the exception of four years during the war in which he lived at Little Rock. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee, August 15th, 1817, and was educated at the University of Nashville, but graduated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1839, and at once began practicing medicine in VanBuren. He has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Ann Eliza Prior, daughter of Colonel Nicholas Prior, of Nashville. Of this marriage there were five children, two daughters and three sons. The daughters were Angela Medora, who be- came Mrs. Dr. E. R. Duval, of Fort Smith, and Ann Eliza, who became Mrs. George Sparks, of Fort Smith. Of the sons, the one now living is Dr. James A. Dibrell, a distin- guished physician of Little Rock. The first Mrs. Dibrell died at VanBuren, March 10th, 1854. In March, 1855, he married Miss Jane Emily Prior, a sister of the first wife. By
this marriage there were four children, two sons and two daughters. Of the sons by this marriage Dr. Edwin C. Dibrell is a physician of Little Rock, practicing with his brother, Dr. J. A. Dibrell.
Benton Jackson Brown became a resident of VanBuren in 1858. He was born in Dickson county, Tennessee, Febru- ary 19th, 1836, son and fourteenth child of John B. and Sarah Brown, who was Sarah Houston. His parents moved from Tennessee in the latter part of 1836, and settled in Johnson county. He lived here till 1858, when he moved to VanBuren, where he now resides, engaged in the practice of law, banking and planting. He worked on a farm and attended the "Old Field" schools until twenty years of age, then attended Cane Hill College, Arkansas, and taught school to pay expenses. He commenced the study of law in the office of General S. H. Hempstead, at Little Rock, in 1858, and completed his studies under Walker & Green at
901
CRAWFORD COUNTY.
Van Buren. He was admitted to the Bar in 1860, and has been engaged in the practice ever since at VanBuren. He did a heavy criminal practice until 1873, when he gave it up. His practice was one of the largest in the State. In politics he has always been a Democrat. He was Prosecuting Attor- ney in 1862, State Senator in 1872 and 1874, Circuit Judge in 1874, and Elector on the Tilden and Hendricks ticket of 1876. In 1861 he was appointed Quartermaster in the Con- federate Army, with the rank of Captain, and served as Depot Quartermaster during the entire war, principally at Dardanelle and Lewisville. In 1861 he served in Northwest Arkansas and Missouri. He is President of the Citizens' Bank of VanBuren, which was organized by him in 1876. This, with three plantations, occupies most of his time. In 1860, at VanBuren, Arkansas, he was married to Miss Martha C. Rothrock. By this marriage there are three children : two daughters, Mrs. T. C. Finney, residing at Birmingham, Alabama, and Miss Eula Kate; and a son, Harold Brown.
-0-
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY.
Independence County, the ninth county formed, was created October 23d, 1820, out of territory taken from Lawrence county. The seat of justice was directed to be at the house of Charles Kelley, on White river. Kelley was the first Sheriff. He settled in what afterwards became the county in 1810, and died in Batesville, June 3d, 1834. In 1821 Bates- ville became the county seat, and has since remained such.
The county is a northeast county on White river, and in the White River Valley. Its area is about 645 square miles. A considerable part of the county is hilly and mountainous, and in these minerals are exhibited. The general face of the county in the bottoms is level and the soil is very rich. The portion of the county known as the "Oil Trough Bottom" is
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.