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 64
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T. S. Haynes
W. H. Robertson ... Geo. Fletcher.
D. Harrison
1838 to 1840
J. W. Comstock.
J. I. Simmons.
T. S. Haynes
D. D. Mason.
Jas. Darling.
S. D. Harrison
1840 to 1842
J. W. Comstock.
J. I. Simmons.
T. S. Haynes
B. H. Thompson.
W. H. Robertson ...
C. M. Robert
1842 to 1844
W. G. Gamble.
H. H. Higgins.
John Murray.
J. G. Musser
W. H. Robertson ...
D. Harrison
1846 to 1848
R. R. Gordon ..
E. Morrell ..
John Quindley
L. Stockston
Thos. Weston.
D. Harrison
1848 to 1850
H. H. Higgins.
E. Morrell.
John Quindley.
Peter Clingman ..
J. C. Webster.
D. Harrison
1850 to 1852
James Campbell.
E. Morrell.
John Quindley ..
H. C. Watson.
H. Gregory ..
D. Harrison
1852 to 1854
James Campbell
Joshua Moses.
W. G. Harrison ..
H. C. Watson
John Buwie
D. Harrison
1854 to 1856
Robert Stell.
Joshua Moses.
R. S. Cargill
H. C. Watson.
John Wells.
S. Rankin.
1856 to 1858
J. T. Hamilton
J. R. Bell
R. S. Cargill
H. C. Watson ..
John Wells
IS. Rankin
1×58 to 1860
J. M. Venable.
Joshua Moses.
R. S. Cargill
H. C. Watson ..
Wm. Hibbin ..
Wm. Dungan ..
1:60 to 1862
U. A. Nixon ..
Joshua Moses.
A. A. Livingston
J. W. Willbanks.
J. A. Westerfield ..
W. H. Dungan.
1862 to 1864
Joshua Moses.
A. A. Livingston
J. W. Willbanks
M. Porter ...
W. L. Harwood
1864 to 1866.
W. R. Hinkle
Joshua Moses.
R. T. Markham ..
J. W. Scroggins.
Uriah Dickens
A. B. Henry ..
1868 to 1872
A. B. Gaylor
W. R. Hinkle 3
N. W. Moore
Jesse Schumake .. J. Lyan.
A. B. Henry.
P. B. Norwood.
1872 to 1874
Wm. Kearney.
T. B. Stout
J. M. Scroggins ..
R. T. Harrison
W. C. Watkins
W. G. Gray.
1874 to 1876
H. A. Nations.
W. E. Dickinson
J. M. Scroggins.
John Houston.
J. Maratta.
J. R. K. Hobbs.
1876 to 1878
M. W. Steele
W. F. Conlee 4
D. B. Russell.
John Wells ...
C. E. Francis ....
J. G. Bennett.
G. W. Griffin.
1880 to 1882
M. W. Steele
Frank J. Willis ..
G. W. Griffin
John Wells ..
F. W. Morrow.
N. Dickson
A. B. Simmons.
1882 to 1884
John W. Todd ..
M. L. Ashbury ..
L. Sleeper ..
W. T. Gordon ...
J. N D. Hale ... ..
N. Dickson.
A. B. Simmons.
1884 to 1886
Wm. B ankenship ..
r ailed to qualify
R. H. Speer
Failed to qualify ... | Failed to qualify ... M. Brown
Wm. Taylor.
1886 to 1888
G. H. Taylor
C. E. Hawkins
J. H. Coblentz. --
Z. T. Kindred .
E. K. Turner
T. J. Holbrook -
H. L. Kennamere.
1888 to 1890
J. B. Hanna.
Jeff Wright ..
M. D. Shelby ...
...
R. N. Veil
Alvis Hugg .. ..
John Beck
J. H. Littlejohn.
.
L. C. Griffin
18.36 to 1838
W. T. Gamble
J. I. Simmons.
T. S. Haynes.
D. D. Mason.
H. H. Berry ..
W. H. Robertson ...
D. Harrison.
1844 to 1846
John Quindley ..
H. H. Higgins.
John Murray
1866 to 1868
W. J. Vance.
A. F. Woodward . .. Joshua Moses.
H. A. Nations ..
W. M. Clitton
J. M. Scroggins
Lafayette Moize .. ...
G. W. Howard
J. W. Harrison.
1878 to 1880
...
1-Vice Kinkead, resigned July, 1827. 3-D. H. Thomas, vice Kinkle, suspended on impeachment by State Senate. 4-Died, February, 1880, and F. J. Willis elected to fill vacancy.
00
1
CONWAY COUNTY.
Henry McFearson ..
920
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
Frederick Fletcher, a resident of the county of the years 1829 and 1830, established a toll bridge at Point Remove. In the latter year Thomas Mathers, Joseph Simmons and Kirkbride Potts were residents of Lewisburg.
The county is centrally located, about fifty miles northwest of the capital, its southern border lying along the Arkansas river. It has some mountainous regions, but possesses alluvial soils lying along the river and its tributaries, the Point Remove, Cypress, Cadron and Petit Jean creeks. There are indications of coal and iron in the county, but they are undeveloped.
At Morrillton and Springfield there are excellent high schools. At Marienthal, a Roman Catholic settlement in the county, a convent school is also maintained. There are a number of saw mills in operation in the county and one glass factory.
Fruits, grains and grasses are largely produced, special attention being given to the growth of grapes, which succeed well. The Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad runs through the southern portion of the county, and a steady emigration is coming into it, particularly along the line of the road.
Morrillton, the county seat, dates from 1875. When the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad was being built a depot was established at its site and was called Morrillton, after E. J. and George H. Morrill, who owned the land. It was just three miles from Lewisburg, and by reason of its railroad facilities grew rapidly. It has six churches, bank, opera house, three weekly newspapers, has telegraph, telephone and express offices, several hotels and a number of stores. Many of the buildings are of brick and are neat and tasty in appearance. It has in all respects the appearance of a thriv- ing, active place.
CRITTENDEN COUNTY.
Crittenden County, the twelfth county in number, to be formed, was created October 22d, 1825, and was named for Robert Crittenden. It was formed out of territory taken from Phillips county. An election was directed to be held at the houses of Samuel Deloach, John H. Fooy, Benjamin Barney, William Lamb and George C. Barfield, for Commissioners, to locate the county seat. Barfield, Arthur C. Welch and Isaac Burgett were chosen. They located it at a place called Greenock, where it remained until January 25, 1837, when it was established at Marion, where it now is.
The county is an extreme eastern county, and lies along the Mississippi river, immediately opposite the city of Memphis. The Mississippi river is its eastern boundary and skirts the whole of its eastern extent. It is penetrated by the Memphis & Little Rock Railroad, which has there its terminus at Hope- field. The Memphis & Kansas City Railroad terminates at the same point. The means of communication between these two railroads and the city of Memphis is at present by means of a ferry or transfer boat. In 1888 a Bill passed Congress whereby national aid was extended to the building of a bridge across the Mississippi at this point.
About the year 1832 two towns were laid out in Crittenden county, opposite Memphis, called Pedraza, after the then President of the Mexican Republic, and Popeville, after Gov- ernor John Pope, which immediately entered upon a sharp rivalry with each other, but neither of them have survived to come down to our day.
The surface of the county is level, there are no mountains. A large portion of the county is swampy and is often over- flowed by the Mississippi river, which, in freshets, gets to be
92I
922
THE FOLLOWING HAVE BEEN THE COUNTY OFFICERS.
DATE.
JUDGE.
CLERK.
SHERIFF.
TREASURER
CORONER.
SURVEYOR.
ASSESSOR.
1825 to 1827
J. Livingston
W. D. Ferguson.
W. Goshen
1827 to 1829
J. Livingston
W. D. Ferguson.
Wm. Cherry.
1829 to 1832
D. H. Harrig
J. Livingston ..
W. D. Ferguson.
O. Wallace
S. A. Cherry
1832 to 1833
Chas. Blackmore ..
S. R. Cherry ....
W. D. Ferguson.
John Tory.
F. B. Read
1833 to 1834
A. B. Hubbins ..
S. R. Cherry
W. D. Ferguson.
J. Withworth
F. B. Read
1834 to 1835
--
H O. Oders
J. H. Wathen
W. D. Ferguson .. J. S. Neely
G. McMullen
F. B. Read
1835 to 1836
Chas. Blackmore ..
J. H. Wathen
F. B. Read.
A. B. Hubbard, 1 ...... F. B. Read
J. B. Lewis, 2.
R. Wallace.
1836 to 1838
W. C. Trice ..
W. Armistead ..
C. Stubble ..
F. B. Read
T. McMullen ..
R. R. Williams
1840 to 1842
W. B. Hay.
S. T. Gilbert.
G. W. Underhill.
G. S. Fogleman ..
John Peak
R. R. Williams
1844 to 1846
John Thorn ..
J. J. Lyles ...
C. J. Bernard.
G. S. Fogleman ..
J. Markham ..
J. Earle ..
1846 to 1848
B. C. Crump
S. T. Gilbert.
B. C. Crump.
G. S. Fogleman.
Wm. Maggerson .. P. H. Berry
J. C. Duncan ..
1850 to 1852
W. P. Farnum
O. P. Lyles
B. C. Crump.
G. S. Fogleman ..
R. Hood.
W. Fullwood.
1854 to 1856
Wm. Rives ...
O. P. Lyles
B. C. Crump.
G. S. Fogleman .. J. A. Lyles
Wm. Fullwood
1856 to 1858
G. W. Duke.
O. P. Lyles
B. C. Crump.
G. S. Fogleman ..
J. W. Jones.
Wm. Fullwood
1858 to 1860
J. F. Barton.
J. F. Earle
J. G. Berry ....
G. S. Fogleman ..
P. Houston ...
W. Fullwood ...
1860 to 1862
J. F. Barton.
.J. F. Earle
J. S. Holloway.
G. S. Fogleman ..
M. L. Johnson ....
Q. M. Bellows ..
1862 to 1864
1864 to 1866
Asa Hodges ..
J. Swepston.
B. C. Crump.
R. C. Wallace.
M. L. Johnson
W. Fullwood
1866 to 1868
A. B. Gatlin.
J. F. Earle
J. T. Grooms
R. C. Wallace
Jeff Rives ...
E. T. Wimpey .. ...
B. C. Crump. A. J. Haynes, 7
1868 to 1872
T. L. Daugherty
J. Swepston.
W. D. Hardin ..
R. C. Wallace.
S.N. W. Whitting 6 L. B. Hardin
W. L. Copeland. Jubilee Adams.
1874 to 1876
R. B. Barton.
D. W. Lewis .
E. B. Lewis ..
B. Westmoreland.
John Terry ..
J. Brown ..
R. Henderson, 12 .. G. W .. Oglesby.
1878 to 1880
R B. Barton ..
T. W. Gibbs .. ..
W. F. Beattie ..
Samuel Floyd .. Samuel Floyd ..
J. Smith.
¡S. A. Martin.
J. Wofford.
1882 to 1884
J. H. Williams ..
A. H. Ferguson ..
J. Swepston, 14 ..
W. F. Werner ..
D. Sumrell, 15 ..
S. A. Martin.
H. Waterford.
1884 to 1886
Daniel W. Lewis
David Ferguson
W. F. Werner
A. H. Ferguson.
C. E. Rasberry ..
S. A. Martin.
R. Y. Logan.
1886 to 1888
D. W. Lewis.
David Ferguson
W. F. Werner
A. H. Ferguson.
Eli Jackson
Russ Davis
J. R. Rooks.
1888 to 1890.
S. A. Martin ..
Sam Keel
W. F. Werner.
A. H. Ferguson.
C. E. Rasberry .....
Ed. Cheatham
W. J. Harden.
1-James Martin, vice Hubbard, resigned. 2-J. Hicks, vice Lewis, deceased. 3-R. R. Williams, vice Wallace, refused to accept. 4-A. Mensinger, vice Collins, resigned February, 1839. 5-P. G. Pollock, vice Cherry, resigned. . 6-T. Price, elected January, 1871. 7-W. W. Swepston, from January, 1870. 8-W. H. Hardin, from January, 1873. 9-Resigned, and A. H. Ferguson in office from September, 1878. 10-Resigned, and Jesse Grider elected. 11-Failed to qualify, and A. J. Ward elected. 12-Removed and R. Davis elected October, 1877. 13-H. J. Ward elected May, 1881, vice Beattie killed, and J. T. Harton elected December, 1881, vice Ward, died. 14-Contested by J. T. Barton, Collector, January 2, 1883, vice John Swepston, failed to give bond. James T. Barton, Sheriff, May 9, 1884, vice John Swepston, deceased. 15-G. W. Scott, Coroner April 11, 1883, vice Dorsey Sumrell, refused to qualify.
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
R. R. Williams
1838 to 1840
T. M. Collins, 4 ....
W. P. Cherry, 5.
G. W. Underhill
G. S. Fogleman ..
T. M. Peak
J. Bayless ..
1842 to 1844
A. Mensinger.
S. T. Gilbert ..
JA. Jones ..
1848 to 1850
J. A. Alexander
O. P. Lyles
B. C. Crump.
G. S. Fogleman ..
1852 to 1854
W. P. Farnum
J. Swepston, 8
E. B. Lewis.
R. C. Wallace ..
B. Westmoreland .. R. Mosely.
1876 to 1878
R. B. Barton
J. Swepston, 9.
E. B. Lewis, 10
W. D. Hardin
S. R. Rushing, 11 .. Shipp Cobb.
A. Martin
L. P. Berry.
1880 to 1882
R. B. Barton
A. H. Ferguson.
W. F. Beattie, 13
1872 to 1874
J. Broadenax
Joshua Hicks.
G. W. Underhill.
H. Bacon ...
F. B. Read
ふふふふふふ
923
CRITTENDEN COUNTY.
forty miles wide at this point. . The soil is altogether alluvial, and such of it as is reduced to cultivation is extremely fertile and produces abundant crops of cotton and corn.
The town of Marion was founded January 25, 1837, by .Marion Tolbert, and was made the county seat of the county at that date. It lies on the west bank of Lake Grande, and contains at present a population of about 500 persons. It has five churches, two school-houses, three abstract offices, one hotel, three boarding houses, two livery stables and two gro- ceries. There are four doctors, three lawyers, five ministers and seven merchants in the town. The newspaper published there is called "The Headlight."
One of the prominent men of Crittenden county is Hon. Asa Hodges. He was born in Lawrence county, Alabama, January 23, 1823, son of Hon. William Hodges, who repre- sented his county in the General Assembly of the State in 1828 and 1829. He was early thrown on his own resources, but went to work and soon completed his education at La Grange College, then an institution of high standing under the patronage of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Tennessee and Alabama.
He studied law in the office of Hon. Leroy Pope Walker, of Florence, one of the most able and successful lawyers in North Alabama. Mr. Hodges was admitted to the bar in 1848, and shortly afterwards formed a partnership with Thomas M. Peters, Esq., now Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama. This partnership was continued down to the beginning of the late civil war, and was attended with a high degree of professional success.
Mr. Hodges was married April 17th, 1853, to Miss Caro- line Chick, of a highly cultivated, influential and wealthy family in South Carolina. Some time previous to the war he purchased and settled a large and valuable plantation in Crit- tenden county, Arkansas, which he still owns. After settling in Arkansas he was made Judge of Probate in the county of
924
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
Crittenden, an office which he filled with credit to himself and acceptability to his fellow-citizens, until he was transferred to a seat in the State Constitutional Convention, as a Delegate under the Reconstruction Acts of 1867. He was elected to the General Assembly in 1868, and in 1870 was elected to the State Senate for a term of four years ..
While holding the latter office Mr. Hodges was elected a Representative from Arkansas to the Forty-third Congress, as a Republican. At first an ardent Clay Whig, and always a thorough Union man, he more recently became an earnest and active Republican. He is a clear-headed financier, a good lawyer, and a successful planter. He was representa- tive of Crittenden county in the Legislature of 1885 to 1887, and again in that of 1889.
IZARD COUNTY.
Izard County, the thirteenth county created, was formed October 27, 1825, out of territory taken from Independence county, and was named after Governor George Izard. The seat of justice was directed to be at the house of Jacob Wolf, until a county seat should be definitely fixed upon. An election for Commissioners, for the purpose, was held, at which John Dearmon and James Jeffrey were chosen. They selected the town of Liberty. The county seat remained here until 1835 or 1836, when it was established at Mt. Olive. It re- mained here until 1846, when it was established at Mt. Vernon, where it remained until May 10, 1875, when it was moved to Melbourne, where it now is.
When created, the county was very sparsely settled. Emi- gration began gradually to come to it, and in 1830 fifty fami- lies settled in it. Its population that year was 1,266. After steamboating began on White river, as high as Batesville, which was in 1831, it continued to receive accession by immi- gration, and the number of inhabitants steadily increased. In
925
THE FOLLOWING HAVE BEEN COUNTY OFFICERS.
-
DATE.
JUDGE.
CLERK.
SHERIFF.
TREASURER.
CORONER.
SURVEYOR.
ASSESSOR.
1825 to 1827.
J. P. Houston
John Adams
1827 to 1829.
J. P. Houston
John Adams
H. C. Roberts.
1829 to 1830
Mathew Adams ..
J. P. Houston
John Adams
1830 to 1832.
Mathew Adams.
Jesse Adams
John Hargrove.
J. Blyeth
William Clement ...
1832 to 1833.
Mathew Adams.
J. P. Houston.
John Hargrove ..
J. Blyeth
1833 to 1835.
J Jeffery.
J. P. Houston
John Hargrove
J. Blyeth
1835 to 1836.
J. Jeffery.
J. P. Houston.
Daniel Jeffery
Jesse Adams
A. Adams
1836 to 1838.
J. Jeffery
J. P. Houston
J. A. Harris
W. B. Carr
Jesse Adams
1838 to 1840.
1840 to 1842
B. Hawkins ..
B. H. Johnson
D. K. Loyd ..
S. H. Creswell.
H. W. Bandy.
William Seymour.
1842 to 1844.
J. A. Harris.
[B. H. Johnson.
D. K. Loyd
Jacob Wolf.
R. C. Moore.
1844 to 1846
James Wren
C. P. Lancaster
Miles Jeffery.
A. McFeltch
R. C. Moore
T. M. Copeland.
1846 to 1848
J. A. Harris
A. C. Jeffery
S. E. Rossen
H. J. Wren
R. C. Moore
R. Decker
1848 to 1850.
G. H. Morton .. Henry Cole.
R. M. Haggard.
S. J. Mason
William Gray ..
J. D. Churchill
Cyrus Crosby ...
1852 to 1854
J. J. Sams.
William Wood.
S. J. Mason
William Gray ...
D. Jeffery ..
J. Byler.
1854 to 1856.
B. J. Hallowell.
H. H. Harris
S. J. Mason.
William Gray ..
R. Harris
J. Byler.
1856 to 1858.
H. H. Harris
John Woods.
William Gray ...
S. T. Martin.
1858 to 1860
T. Black
W. C. Dixon
A. Adams
J. W. Cypert
R. Landers
1860 to 1862.
H. H. Harris.
W. C. Dixon
W. J. Cagle
J. W. Cypert.
R. Landers
A. C. Hardin
1862 to 1864
Thomas Black
W. C. Dixon
T. J. Cagle
J. W. Cypert
Jesse Hinkle
J. W. Rector.
1864 to 1866.
A. C. Jeffery.
W. C. Dixon
W. J. Cagle
H. H. Harris
J. A. Byler.
1866 to 1868
jA. C. Jeffery
H. H. Harris
W. J. Cagle
E. D. Hayes
R. Landers ..
J. A. Claiborne
1868 to 1872.
William Byler.
I. H. Talley ..
R. L. Landers ..
J. B. Hunt.
J. H. Roten ...
J. A. Claiborne
W. O. Dillard.
1874 to 1876.
G. W. Shaw.
D. W. Billingsly.
J. M. Hinkle.
L. C. Holmes ..
J. F. Cornelius
J. A. Claiborne.
James Green
1876 to 1878
G. W. Shaw.
J. N. Craig
J. M. Hinkle.
A. J. Hutson
F. M. Hall
Joseph Hixon .. Joseph Hixon
James Green.
1880 to 1882.
J. A. Byler ..
H. H. Harris
R. L. Landers ..
John McElmurry ..
J. R Beaver.
Jacobs Franks.
W. H. Hammond ..
1882 to 1884.
W. Grimmett.
H. H. Harris
J. S. Roberts
H. H. Hinkle
J. R. Beaver.
J. A. Claiborne
W. H. Hammond.
1884 to 1886.
W. Grlimett.
W. K. Estes
John S. Roberts
John M Elmurry ...
Jesse R. Beaver.
J. A. Claiborne
Robert Gray
1886 to 1888.
.. H. H. Harris
W. K. Estes
R. L. Landers
J. B. Hunt
John Schell.
J. A. Claiborne
James Gray
1888 to 1890.
H. H. Harris
W. K. Estes
R. L. Landers ..
J. B. Hunt
S. F. Reaves.
E. L. Billingslea .... |P. J. Puckett ..
James Green.
1878 to 1880.
G. W. Shaw.
H. H. Harris
R. L. Landers
A. J. Hutson
Squire Wood
R. Sanders
P. F. Heasler
1872 to 1874.
F. W. Perrin.
J. M. Hinkle
H. Dillard
G. W. Neal.
Cyrus Crosby.
1850 to 1852.
B. H. Johnson.
D. K. Loyd ..
A. Creswell ..
James Davis
J. M. Pugh
R. M. Haggard.
S. E. Rossen
B. F. Brantley.
J. G. Richardson ..
J. W. Rector A. C. Hardin
IZARD COUNTY.
1-Record for this term of office incomplete.
926
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
1830 Liberty, the county seat, consisted of one store, a black- smith-shop and a tavern. Livingston and Wolf had a saw and grist mill in operation in this year, the only one in the county.
Izard county is situated in the northern part of the State, not far below the Missouri line. Its northern boundary is the county of Fulton, which extends north to the Missouri line. A portion of the county is mountainous, but along the river and tributary streams, has alluvial lands of great fertility. It is a well timbered county, with excellent growths of pine, oak and hickory. Cotton and corn are the principal products, but all kinds of farm and garden crops are capable of production and are likewise grown.
Melbourne, the county seat, dates its origin from the year 1875. In that year it was laid off as a town by James A. Claiborne, and the county seat was located there in the month of May. Its population is about 300. A newspaper is pub- lished there called "The Izard County Register." It contains three churches : a Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist church, all frame buildings. There are no brick buildings in the town at this date.
On the morning of Thursday, April 11th, 1889, the Court- house was destroyed by fire, and with it all the records and the public documents, from the formation of Izard county, were consumed.
Judge Richard H. Powell has been a resident of the county since 1861. He was born in Sussex county, Virginia, eighteen miles from Petersburg, April 18th, 1827, son of Captain Thomas Powell. His father moved to Bedford county, Tennessee. Here R. H. Powell grew up, working on a farm until twenty-one years of age, when he taught school and studied law. In 1855 he was a student of the Cumber- land Law School, and on graduating there was admitted to the Bar the same year. He settled at Lewisburg, Tennessee, and practiced there until 1860. In 1860 he moved to Batesville,
IZARD COUNTY. 927
and entered into a law partnership with Elisha Baxter. The next year, however, he moved to Izard county, and settled on a farm. In 1862 he was a Member of the Legislature, but afterwards entered the Confederate Army and served till the close of the war, being made a prisoner in 1863 in Freeman's Battalion. In 1866 he became Circuit Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, but was ousted in 1868. In 1878 he was elected Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit, which position he now holds. His duties require him to hold court forty- two weeks of every year. He has been married three times. In Bedford county, Tennessee, June 19th, 1849, he married Miss Jane Taylor Temple, who died in July, 1870. By this marriage there were nine chidren, of whom three died in infancy. , In Izard county, May 15th, 1873, he married Mrs. Harriet T. Herbert, who died in 1876. On the 16th of May, 1878, he married Mrs. Susannah E. Davidson, nee Gardner, daughter of Joseph Gardner, of North Carolina.
Michael Shelby Kennard was a resident of LaCrosse from 1868 to 1871, and again became such in 1876. He was born in Sumter county, Alabama, February 12th, 1833, son of George W., native of Tennessee, and Eliza Kennard, native of Georgia. He graduated at the University of Alabama in 1852, and bears the degree of master of arts of that Institu- tion. In the winter of 1852, he began teaching school in West Feliciana Parish ; taught in public and private schools in Natchez, Mississippi, one year, and in the meantime studied law. He came to Arkansas in July, 1854, settling at Bates- ville. He lived at Batesville till 1868, when he moved to LaCrosse, where he established a school. In 1871 he moved to Warren, Bradley county, and lived there until 1876, but at that date returned to LaCrosse to live. He was admitted to the Bar in Batesville in 1856, but having been induced to take editorial charge of The Independent Balance, a news- paper started by Judge Byers, at Batesville in 1857, he bought the paper in 1858, and devoted himself earnestly to
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928
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS
the work of building up a first-class newspaper, giving up law, to which he has not since given any attention. The Balance was continued until January, 1862, and was one of the most prominent papers in the State. In 1859 he was Mayor of Batesville. In 1860, with Captain Christopher Columbus Danley, editor of the Gazette, and James B. Keats, of Little Rock, he was a Delegate to the Baltimore Conven- tion, which nominated John Bell, and Edward Everett for President and Vice-President. He was a member of the State Convention of 1861. In the civil war he joined Sweet's Texas Regiment, in 1862, being made Adjutant of the regiment, he was captured with that regiment at Arkansas Post in January, 1863, and was held a prisoner for some months. Afterwards he served as Adjutant in McCoy's Brigade, raised in 1864. At the close of the war, having spent several years in teaching, he decided to devote the rest of his life to the work of that profession. Accordingly, since August, 1865, he has been constantly engaged in teaching, having spent in the school-room, since that time, an average of eleven months out of every twelve. While in Bradley county he was County Superintendent of Schools in 1874. In September, 1852, at Saundersville, near Gallatin, Tennes- see, he married Miss Mary A. G. Saunders. By this mar- riage there are eight children. In 1889 he moved to Smithville, Lawrence county, becoming the head of an educational institution there.
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LOVELEY COUNTY.
Loveley County, the fourteenth county created, was formed October 13th, 1827, out of portions of Crawford county and a portion of lands lying beyond the southwest corner of Mis- souri, not previously assigned to any county. It was named after Peter Loveley, who had acted as agent in treating with
929
LOVELEY COUNTY.
some Osage Indians who lived on the land, by which he induced them to move. Hence the acqusition was called "The Loveley Purchase." These lands were embraced in the Act of Congress of 1824, by which an addition was made to the western boundary of the Territory, but were lost in the Cherokee treaty of 1828, and the most of the county being cut off by this treaty, it was abolished altogether on the for- mation of Washington county, October 17th, 1828.
ST. FRANCIS COUNTY.
St. Francis County, the fifteenth county formed, was created out of Phillips county, October 13th, 1827, by an Act to divide the county of Phillips, and was named from the St. Francis river running through its territory. By a subse- quent Act of October 22d, 1827, the seat of justice was di- rected to be at the house of William Strong, and an elec- tion was ordered to be held at the houses of John Lynch, in Union township; William Strong, in Johnson township, and Daniel Mitchell, in Mitchell township, to elect three Com- missioners to locate the permanent county seat. Edward Oliver, Samuel Fillingim and John Carothers were chosen such Commissioners, and Charles Shaver and Archibald Mc- Daniel were added in October, 1828.
The Commissioners selected the town of Franklin as the county seat, and it was laid out as a town, and a public sale of lots was made by the Commissioners on the first Monday in May, 1829. Franklin remained the county seat for some time, when it was located at Madison. It remained here until at an election held June 30th, 1874, it was voted to re- move the county seat to Forrest city, where it has since re- mained.
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