Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.], Part 105

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago. (1886-1891. Goodspeed publishing Company)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, St. Louis [etc.] The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 826

USA > Arkansas > Faulkner County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 105
USA > Arkansas > Garland County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 105
USA > Arkansas > Grant County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 105
USA > Arkansas > Hot Spring County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 105
USA > Arkansas > Jefferson County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 105
USA > Arkansas > Lonoke County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 105
USA > Arkansas > Perry County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 105
USA > Arkansas > Pulaski County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 105
USA > Arkansas > Saline County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 105

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).

Pierce H. Whitfield is the only survivor of the family of John and Sally (Snellen) Whitfield, whose names are well remembered throughout this county. John Whitfield was born in Tennessee, about 1813. Upon leaving that State he removed to Alabama, and in 1873, to Lonoke County, Ark., where he died in 1881. His wife was born in Vir- ginia, in 1812, and died in 1889. Pierce H. Whit- field first saw the light of day in Jackson County, Ala., February 24, 1857. He was reared and edu- cated in that State until seventeen years of age, when his parents moved to this county, and here his after life was spent. He was married, in 1879, to Miss Unity Pierce Beard, who was born in Ala- bama, about 1859, being a daughter of William Beard; he came to this county about 1870, and died in 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Whitfield are the parents of six children, two of whom only are liv- ing: William C. and Clara May. He has a fine farm of 260 acres, 170 acres cleared, with the balance in good timber, where he has lived for a number of years. He is a prominent Democrat of his county, and a popular and worthy citizen, en- joying large acquaintance.

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PERRY COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXII.

PERRY COUNTY-RESOURCES-STOCK INTERESTS-COUNTY OFFICERS, WITH TERM OF SERVICE-POLITICS AND POPULATION-LOCATION, BOUNDARY, GEOLOGY, ETC .- PHYSICAL FORMATION-STREAMS- NATURAL PRODUCTS-THE ERA OF SETTLEMENT-COUNTY ORGANIZATION-DIVISION- TOWNSHIPS-TAXATION-STOCK-THE WAR-PUBLIC SCHOOLS-CHURCH OR- GANIZATIONS-COURTS AND PRACTITIONERS-OFFICIAL DELIBER- ATIONS-THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES-PERSONAL MEMORANDA.

I love everything that's old-old friends, Old times, old manners, old books, old wine .- Goldsmith.

MONG the resources of Perry County it is proper to mention its valuable timber, which speculators have not been slow to ob- serve and appreciate, as several companies own large tracts of land covered with magnificent forests. The Little Rock Land & Lumber Company own perhaps the greatest amount. It is unfortunate for the county that so much of its valuable timber belongs to non-residents; however the getting out of this timber, when transportation is opened up for its removal, will bring some revenue to the people of the locality. Live stock of all kinds do well in the summer grazing on the wild grasses that abound, and during the fall and winter switch cane and pea vines not only sustain life but keep them in good condition. This however is not the ultimatum of stock farm- ing, as the animals can be much better sustained and made much more valuable on tame grasses, which can be abundantly raised, and on grain par-

tially in the winter season. It is but a short dis- tance to drive stock to market on good transporta- tion lines. Hogs frequently fatten sufficiently for market on the acorns and other nuts which the forests provide in great profusion.

Besides the staple crops of corn, cotton and oats, field peas, potatoes, both sweet and Irish, all kinds of garden vegetables and melons grow re- markably well, the watermelons being as fine as the eye ever saw, or man ever feasted upon. There are no railroads in the county, but the Little Rock & Fort Smith skirts along on the northern side just across the Arkansas River. A line for a branch of the Missouri Pacific has been surveyed across the western end of the county, and a line for the pro- posed Little Rock & Choctaw Railroad has been surveyed through the entire length of the county from east to west along the Fourche la Fave Valley. The Fourche la Fave River is navigable for small boats as far up as Perryville, and in high water up to Aplin. Messrs. Rankin and Bland have recently launched a new stern-wheel steamer at Perryville, to ply up and down the Fourche and Arkansas Rivers. On the Arkansas, in Huston Township, is Brown's Landing, where most all goods are landed,

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

and from where much cotton and other produce is shipped. Little Rock is the market for nearly all the produce raised in the county.

Following is a list of the names of the several county officers, with date of terms of service an- nexed, from the organization of the county to September, 1889:

Judges county court: William Houston, 1840- 42; I. W. Flannikin, 1842-44; N. King, 1844-46; I. W. Flannikin, 1846-48; I. Russell. 1848-50; Henry Brown, 1850-52; John Vann, 1852-56: T. E. Holmes, 1856-58; J. O. Higgins, 1858-62; A. McAlpin. 1862-64; James Grace, 1864, until his death, and Aaron Price from that time and from 1866 to 1868; R. S. Robertson, 1868-72; * * * H. Fowler, 1874-76; N. F. Beverly, 1876-78; L. M. Harris, 1878-82; George M. Johnson, 1882-84; L. M. Harris, 1884-86; H. G. Wood, 1886-88; R. J. White, present incumbent, elected in 1888.

Clerks: I. Russell, 1840-46; J. W. Rison, 1846- 58; W. H. Blackwell, 1858-62; T. E. Holmes, 1862-64; J. L. Matthews, 1864-66; W. H. Black- well, 1866-68; G. W. Manes, 1868-72; G. B. Maddock, 1872-74; J. A. McBath, 1874-76; A. L. McGahey, 1876-82; J. A. McBath, present incum- bent, first elected in 1882, and regularly since.

Sheriffs: Robert McCall, 1840-42; J. Great- house, 1842-44; William Holford, 1844-46; M. Wise, 1846-48; William Wilson, 1848-50; Will- iam Smith, 1850-52; T. A. Reeder, 1852-54; A. J. Jenkins, 1854-60; T. C. Pankey, 1860-62; J. W. Hardin, 1862-64; J. E. Smith, 1864-66; M. G. Smyers, 1866-68; E. W. Baker, 1868-72; W. P. Hambright, 1872-73; J. May, 1873-74; A. Wade, 1874-76; M. G. Smyers, 1876-78; J. A. Isom, 1878-80; L. J. Vann, 1880-82; W. H. Rankin, 1882-84: J. E. Oliver, present incumbent, first elected in 1884, and successively since.

Treasurers: J. L. Houston, 1840-42; William Wilson, 1842-44; * * * Thomas Pinson, 1846-48; W. R. Holford, 1848-50 : I. Russell, 1850-52; William Smith, 1852-54; D. H. Fro- bangh, 1854-56; W. H. Blackwell, 1856-58; J. P. Willis, 1858-60; H. Fowler, 1860-62; W. H. Bur- row, 1862-64; J. Denisley, 1864-66; John Wells, 1866-68; J. W. Harper, 1868-72; J. S. Jones,

1872-74; W. N. McGee, 1874-75; J. S. Jones, 1875-76; William Bland, 1876-78; John Bland, 1878-82; W. G. Rankin, 1882-84; William Hol- comb, 1884-86; Jerry Ragdill, 1886-88; G. W. Ivey, present incumbent, elected in 1888.

Coroners: N. King, 1840-42; Robert Brown, 1842-44; William Grisham, 1846-48; * * E. McL. Murry, 1848-50; Robert Brown, 1850 -- 52; David Vann, 1852-54; James Lee, 1854-56; J. Miller, 1856-58; Robert Rankin, 1858-60; D. Shears, 1860-62; John Wells, 1862-64; * A. Wells, 1866-68; J. R. Green, 1868-72; Will- iam Edwards, 1872-74; William Bell, 1874-82; W. T. Baskins, 1882-84; J. A. Ellis, 1884-86; F. Van Buren, 1886-88; W. G. Handright, pres- ent incumbent, elected in 1888.

Surveyors: T. McBeth, 1840-42; * L. G. Houston, 1844-46; *

* R. McBeth, 1850-52; J. T. Cox, 1852-54 ; A. J. Lucas, 1854-56; G. Davie, 1856-58; M. H. Mann, 1858-64; W. H. Ivey, 1864-68; William Creasey, 1868-72; J. C. Fitch, 1872-74; W. D. H. Creasey, 1874-84; John Christ, 1884-86; W. D. H. Creasey, present incumbent, elected in 1886, and again in 1888.

Assessors: J. B. Davis, 1868-72; W. T. Gadd, 1872-74; T. J. Holmes, 1874-80; M. Brazil, 1880-82; J. B. Lawson, 1882-84; J. S. Massey, 1884-88; B. D. Taylor, present incumbent, elected in 1888.

Delegates to constitutional conventions: March and May, 1861, L. D. Hill; January, 1864, none; Jannary and February, 1868, J. C. Priddy; July to October, 1874, W. H. Blackwell.

Representatives in State legislature: Fourth legislature, 1842-43, Thomas S. Haynes and George W. Lemoyne; William Russell, 1844-45: N. King, 1846; William Russell, 1849-50; Edward Simpson, 1850-51; -- Atchison, 1852-53; Levin D. Hill, 1854-60; F. R. Janes, 1860-62; William Wilson, 1862-64; George A. Cunningham, 1864- 65; J. W. Stont, 1866-67; J. G. Gibbon for Twenty-first district, Dallas, Saline, and Perry, and G. H. Kyle, 1868-69; W. R. Harley and J. H. Scales, 1871; J. W. Gossett and W. R. Harley, 1873; M. M. Duffie and G. W. Gossett,

PERRY COUNTY.

661

1874; M. G. Smyers, 1875; Jesse H. Jones, 1877; G. Thomas Holmes, 1879; James A. Brazil, 1881; J. F. Sellers, 1883-85; J. J. Cook, 1887.

William Wilson represented Perry County in the Confederate legislature held at Washington, in Hempstead County, from September 22 to October 2, 1864.

For representation in the State senate, the county has been connected at various times with other counties.

The political aspect of Perry County may be seen by a glance at the figures below, showing the number of votes cast for each of the candidates named: At the September election, 1888, for Gov- ernor, James P. Eagle, Democrat, 496; C. M. Norwood, combined opposition, 427. At the No- vember election, 1888, for President, Cleveland, Democrat, 384; Harrison, Republican, 180; Street- er, Union Labor, 116. The figures show the Dem- ocratic party to be in the ascendancy.

The population of Perry County in 1860 was 2,162 white, and 303 colored; total, 2, 465; in 1870 it was 3,395 white, and 290 colored; total, 3,6S5; in 1880 it was 3,072 white, and 800 colored; total, 3,872.

Perry County, Ark., is situated in the central part of the State, and has for its boundary Conway on the north, Faulkner on the east, with the Ar- kansas River between them; Pulaski, Saline and Garland Counties on the south, and Yell on the west. Its greatest length, east and west, on a straight line is thirty-six miles, but from the ex- treme eastern boundary to the extreme western is forty-two miles. Its greatest width at any one place is eighteen miles, but from the extreme northern boundary to the extreme southern is twenty-four miles. The surface is generally broken. In the northern part of the county are the Petit Jean Mountains trending east and west through the entire length of the county, which lie between the Arkansas and Fourche la Fave Rivers. The highest peak is McGee Mountain, just north of Perryville. From near its summit flows a spring of water having a slight taste of sulphur.

With a general direction from west to east, running the entire length of the county, is the

Fourche la Fave River, the broad valley of which with its alluvial soil is second to none in the State for productiveness. Skirting along the southern border of the valley rise the Maumelle Mountains, extending almost the entire length of the county. They gradually slope away to the streams on the other side, so that the relief map of Perry County would present a picture of a valley on the northern side along the Arkansas River, then a range of mountains rising abruptly to descend on the op- posite side, almost the same way; then nearly directly east and west through the heart of the county, a river with its broad valley; south of this the mountains rising again, and the valleys of the smaller streams on the south. The whole surface, except where man has planted his home, is a never- ending panorama of forests, the timber of Arkansas being famous for its wonderful adaptability for lumber. Perry County is no exception to the rule. Here the cypress, the elm, sycamore, the two varieties of gum, walnut, hickory, white oak, black oak, burr oak and post oak, cottonwood, cherry and pine, persimmon, pawpaw and pecan grow.

Wild fruits in their season also abound, the strawberry, blackberry and huckleberry, the wild plum of different varieties, wild grapes, a summer sort, about the size of the Delaware, and equally as fine flavored, a smaller grape that ripens after the frost, then a grape called Muscadine, about as large as the Concord, usually growing singly, but sometimes in clusters, with a thick skin, and excel- lent for sauce when cooked.

Formerly wild bear, deer and turkey, were very plentiful, and even now there is sufficient game to insure the sportsman ample reward for a few days spent in the mountains. Bear are very scarce, yet one was killed a few weeks since in the southwest part of the county. Raccoon and pos- sums are very common now. The wild turkey and quail furnish ample sport on the wing, while squirrels and rabbits are also plentiful. In the fall and spring wild geese and ducks are abundant. Deer hunts are not uncommon, and the hunter seldom returns empty handed. The timber wolf is not unfrequently a visitor to the sheep pens.

The soil is rich alluvial in the valleys and a

662

HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

sandy loam, very productive, on the uplands. Cer- tainly Perry County is the home of corn and cot- ton, as here on the bottom lands corn yields from sixty to eighty bushels per acre and cotton from one to one and a half bales. Oats bring from forty to sixty bushels and millet and Hungarian from one to two tons of hay per acre. Clover is grown some but not extensively. Rye and wheat also grow well. On the uplands, which are unsur- passed by any in the State, corn and oats yield from thirty to fifty bushels, and cotton on an aver- age of about three-fourths of a bale per acre. Mil- let and other kinds of grasses do remarkably well. The county is well watered, the river Fourche la Fave traversing its length from east to west and emptying into the Arkansas some two or three miles above the southern boundary line. On the north side, for about twelve miles from the east- ern line, the Arkansas River makes the dividing line between this and Conway County, thence the river flows south to the southern boundary. The Ar- kansas River bottom is excelled by no land in the United States, and the finely improved farms attest the productiveness of the soil. In the northern part of the county tributaries of this river afford plenty of water, and the valleys on either side invite the farmer to live therein. Of these streams Rose, Big and Rocky Cypress Creeks are the most im- portant. In the south part of the county Brushy Fork, South Fork and Cedar Creek, tributaries of the Fourche la Fave and the Maumelle Rivers, water that section. Here, too, the homes of the sturdy sons of toil are located, and plenty rewards their labor. Many good springs abound in the hilly and mountainous portions of the county, the waters of which are used for domestic purposes when conveniently obtainable. Well water, how- ever, is mostly used by the families, and it is found throughout the county at a depth averaging from twenty to thirty feet.

In- elevation the surface of the county is divided into three classes of land, the river bottom, all classed as lowlands, the creek valleys and the elevated undulating plains. Underlying a great part of the surface is a formation of slate, and in the mountains sandstone frequently crops out in

ledges and surface boulders. Traces of gold and some of the other metals have been discovered, but have never been mined to any extent, nor is it known that they exist in paying quantities. Sev- eral years ago quite an excitement was raised over the alleged discovery of gold in the mountains, and nearly every farmer owned a gold mine, figura- tively speaking. Two drifts of coal have been dis- covered and worked, one in the northern part of the county, which furnished coal for the black- smiths at Perryville and adjacent country. Lately a coal mine was discovered near Aplin, the extent of which is at present unknown. Wood for fuel is so plentiful, and there being no railroads in the county to furnish transportation, it is not likely that coal will yet be mined therein for many years.

The facts regarding the early settlement of the county are very limited, but there are several men yet living who have a clear remembrance of the first settlers, and to them, especially George W. Rankin, W. H. Blackwell and W. G. Rankin, is acknowledgment dne for information respecting the settlers. Here, as everywhere else in a new country, the pioneers built their hrouses along the streams. The ring of the woodsman's ax is first heard re- sounding in the valleys and echoing back from the hills. Aaron Price came to this county in 1808, with some stockmen, and they settled on Fourche la Fave River, some eight or nine miles down from the present site of Perryville. Robert B. Black- well, father of W. H. Blackwell, passed through in 1818. At that time this was a part of Hemp- stead County, which was organized that year. About 1830 a man named Massengill located about three miles south of the site of Perryville. The McCabes came about the same time, and lived in the same neighborhood. Jodiah Rankin came in 1832, and built his house on the Fourche, about eight miles below Perryville. The Lackeys, Will- iamses and Smiths about the same time or a little later settled on the Fourche, some twelve or four- teen miles above Perryville.

On the banks of the Arkansas two brothers named Taylor, Eli and Elias Evans, and David Vann settled about 1830. John L. Huston, a man named Hines, Cribbens and Greathouse were among

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PERRY COUNTY.

the early settlers, and lived near the forks of the Fourche. On the north side of this river lived Price, the widow Hancock and Dave Bland. The first-named lived on what is now known as the Risen place, and near the forks of the Fourche, in 1839 or 1840, lived G. Klingelhoeffer. The first saw-mill was built by some men named Madden, and was located near the forks of Fourche River. Soon thereafter the same parties built another one on Cypress Creek. Both of these were water mills. John L. Huston ran the first ferry across the Fourche, opposite Perryville, in 1847. The early settlers were wont to speak of the flood of 1833 in the Fourche, with bated breath, as the river at that time was level from bluff to bluff.

Little Rock and Lewisburg (now Morrillton) and Brown's Landing were the trading posts. Lewisburg at that time had an unsavory reputa- tion. Most of the goods were brought up the River Fourche la Fave on pirogues, then keelboats followed. Frederick Buckingham was among the first to make the trip that way. W. C. Blackwell, in partnership with John W. Risen, was the first to own and run the keelboats. The earliest steam- boat to run up the Fourche was named "Inspec- tor," a very appropriate name for the vessel first inspecting the condition of the river for navigation. The capacity of this boat was about twenty-five bales of cotton, and a few barrels of whisky that were not disfigured by revenue stamps. The first grocery was owned by Joseph Leache and Fred- erick Buckingham on the south side of the river, opposite the present town of Perryville. A short time after that Buckingham moved to the north side of the river and ran things on his own "hook," that is "hooking" money for whisky, as grocery in those days was synonomous with "groggery." New settlers began to flock in, and the first rude log cabins commenced to give way for the more quently called into use to supply the family larder; life disappeared; the forests gave way to the fields of corn and cotton; the curling smoke from the stick chimneys announced that a new order of things had come to pass; that the onward march

of progress was warring on nature, and from this arose the kingdom of Perry, until now with a population of 5,500 sonls, resources but in the in- fancy of their development, and many others, as yet untouched, it claims the recognition it merits.

Subsequent to the formation of Missouri Terri- tory, in 1812, and prior to 1818, the territory now composing Perry County belonged to Arkansas County, and upon the organization of Hempstead, in 1818, it became a part thereof, and in 1825, when Conway County was organized by an act of the legislature of Arkansas Territory, it was in- cluded therein. Perry County was formed in pur- suance to an act of the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, approved December 18, 1840, and Perryville was made its county seat,

In consequence of the burning of the court house, with all the records, in 1850, during the Lively and MeCool vendetta, it is impossible now to give full details pertaining to the organization of the county or the erection of the first public buildings. In 1860 material was procured and on the ground for the erection of another court house, but the Civil War coming on it was left to rot and waste. In 1871 another court house was built, and it was burned down in May. 1874. ' Subse- quently another was built, which shared the fate of its predecessors, being burned down, together with the records, in December, 1880. The pres- ent court house, a neat brick building, which now ornaments the public square. was erected in 1888 at a cost of $4,000, much of which was con- tributed by individuals.

Perry County is divided into fifteen municipal townships: Aplin, Casa, Fourche la Fave, Hus- ton, Howell, McCool, Maumelle, New Tennessee, Omega, Perry, Petit Jean, Rankin, Rose Creek, Tyler and Union.

ornamental frame houses; the rifle was less fre- square miles or 352, 000 acres. The real estate and the population increased and customs of frontier | 90,899 acres of United States land, 5,232 acres

Perry County embraces an area of about 550 personal property is assessed very low. There are of State land and 4,680 acres of school land, mak- ing a total of 100,811 acres exempt from taxation, which leaves 251,189 acres of land assessed at $686,122. Of this the Little Rock & Fort Smith

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

Railroad Company owns 61,855 acres, valued at $123,690. The real estate of Perryville, the county seat and the only incorporated town in the connty, is valued at $18,950. The maximum limit of assessment is 50 cents on the $100 of the asses- sed value of property.

The live stock of the county, as listed for taxa- tion for the year 1889, is as follows: 1,025 horses, valued at $44,371; 611 mules, valned at $40,743; 7,428 cattle, valued at $53, 723; 933 sheep, valued at $1,241; 8, 262 hogs, valued at $10, 867; total value of live stock, $150,945; value of all other personal property, $95,958; total value. of personal prop- erty, $246,903; total value of real property, $686, - 122; grand total of taxable property, $933,025.

The amount of county taxes collected and dis- bursed in Perry County for the year 1888 was $5,563.43. This was for county purposes only, and does not include State and school taxes. The indebtedness of the county is $12,000.

At the beginning of the late Civil War the people of Perry County, with few exceptions, sym- pathized with the "Southern Cause," and a large percentage of the male population joined the Con- federate army. No regular engagement between the contending forces took place within the county, but it was overrun to some extent by scouting par- ties, guerrillas and marauders, and a considerable amount of property was destroyed or carried away and a few individuals were killed. The war having long been over, the people of the county are now anxious to forget its horrors and many hardships. Not relishing a detailed history of the war period, the people cheerfully relieve those who would write of the fratricidal strife from its compilation.

In Perry County, as in all other counties of the State, there were no facilities for the education of the masses until the present free school system was inaugurated since the Civil War. A few sub- scriptions schools had been taught here and there, and some of the wealthy citizens had sent their children abroad to be educated. The following statistics from the report of the State superinten- dent of public instruction for the year ending June 30, 1888, will tend to show in part how the public schools of the county are prospering:

Scholastic population: White-males, 849; fe- males, 764; total, 1,643; colored-males, 144; fe- males, 169; total, 313. Pupils taught in the schools; White-males, 608; females, 474; total, 1,082; colored-males, 84; females, 103; total, 187. Number of school districts, 34; number re- porting, 30; number of teachers employed, males, 33; females, 3; total, 36; average monthly wages paid to teachers, first grade, males, $47.50; second grade, males, $37.50; third grade, males, $35; females, $30, no females having been employed in the first and second grades. Amount expended for teachers salaries, $4,573. 13; for building and re- pairing, $785. 17; total amount expended, $5,358.80. Valne of school houses, $2,424.

According to the foregoing figures, 65 per cent and a fraction over of the white, and 59 per cent and a fraction over of the colored scholastic popu- lation attended the public schools. This might be a better showing and if it argues anything at all, it is this-that the public schools are not as well patronized as they should be. There are no schools in the county except the free schools, hence, a larger per cent of the children of school age ought to attend the public schools.

The history of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in Perry County, has been kindly furnished by Rev. A. H. Williams, pastor of Perryville Cir- cuit, and is as follows: The church at Perryville was organized about the year 1845, with but a few constituent members, and it now numbers 100. By whom it was organized is not known, but Revs. Andrew Hunter, R. M. Hunter and Winfield were presiding elders in the 40's and 50's, and C. M. Slover was one of the early pastors. B. D. Davis and A. D. Jenkins were pastors along in the 60's. The following ministers have served at different times: W. W. Anderson, W. H. W. Burns, H. L. Jemason, E. L. Massey and T. B. Hickman. The present house of worship, valued at $1, 000, was built in 1883-84, and was dedicated in 1887 by Rev. J. P. Calloway. The members actively engaged in the building of this house were, Rev. E. L. Massey, Pastor T. A. Yancy, Col. J. F. Sellers, V. H. Rook, R. E. Rison, Rev. L. M. Harris and W. H. Rankin, the last named not being a member, but

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.], Part 105

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago. (1886-1891. Goodspeed publishing Company) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago, St. Louis [etc.] The Goodspeed publishing co. Number of Pages: 826

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago. (1886-1891. Goodspeed publishing Company)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, St. Louis [etc.] The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 826