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 108
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 108
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 108
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 108
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 108
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 108
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 108
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 108
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 108
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J. S. Hambright, also numbered among the popular and enterprising farmers and stock raisers of Perry County, was born in South Carolina on May 25, 1845, and is a son of Abner and Sarah (Robinson) Hambright, the mother dying about the year 1848, and leaving three boys and two girls. The father married a second time, and this union added four more boys to the family. J. S. Hambright remained with his father until the year 1867, and received a good English education, at- tending both the subscription and public schools. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in Company F, of the Seventeenth South Carolina Infantry, and in the battle at Fort Steadman, before Peters- burg, Va., was severely wounded through the neck. He lay at the point of death in the hospital when the surrender was announced to him, and the agony of his wounds was increased by the news of his lost cause. From the hospital he was taken to Washington, and lay in the hospital at that place until June 14, 1865, and on the 21st of that month he reached home, where he remained until his marriage, in 1867, to Miss M. C. Hardin. He then opened up a farm of his own, where he resid- ed with his bride until the fall of 1871, when he moved to Perry County, Ark., and bought 317 acres of land. He now has about 100 acres under cultivation, and has built a comfortable home, barns and other necessaries, besides raising a fine orchard. Five children were born to Mr. Ham- bright and his wife: William B., Sarah E., Fatha E., Josie E. and Elisha C. Mr. Hambright has
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been a school director for a number of years, and takes great interest in all the affairs of his county. He is one of its most progressive men, and an or- nament to the community. He also has charge of the mail route from Dardanelle to Perryville, and owns the ferry-boat at Petit Jean, over which the mail is carried. Mr. Hambright is a Democrat in politics, and a strong supporter of that party. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church, and a devout Christian lady.
John S. Harris has attained to substantial suc- cess as a planter and stockman of Perry County. Born in Woodford County, Ky., on April 11, 1866, he is the son of John W. and Florida Ann (Neet) Harris. His education was obtained at the public schools of his native county, and principally in the town of Versailles. At the age of fourteen years he left school and went to work with his father upon the farm, and in 1881 removed with his parents to Perry County, Ark., where the elder Harris pur- chased 320 acres of wild land, and the following year homesteaded 160 acres more, upon which he cleared fifty acres, built houses, barns, and made a great many improvements. During the same year he erected a substantial dwelling on the first purchase, and by 1885 he had cleared off and put under cultivation thirty acres more. He became a well-known and popular citizen of Perry County, and on the occasion of his death, in September, 1886, left a large circle of friends and acquaint- ances, as well as a wife and six children to mourn him. His son, John S., commenced farming for · himself at the age of twenty years, on land rented from his father's estate, and in the first year put in a crop of forty five acres, consisting of cotton and corn, with the first named predominating. His crop has increased from year to year, and he now has sixty acres of cotton and twenty acres of corn under cultivation, the former averaging a bale to the acre, and corn going largely over. Mr. Harris is a steady-going, shrewd business man, and an experienced farmer, and his work thus far has given the older farmers of that section to under- stand that they must look well to their laurels, or else be surpassed by their energetic young neigh- bor. He became familiar with the breeding and
raising of stock on the home farm in Kentucky. and he is now thinking seriously of entering into that business, which, in his judgment, is much more profitable than his present occupation. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religious and social matters he takes an active part. Mr. Harris is still a young man, and his future is a bright one. His intention is to make Perry County his permanent home, and the citizens of that place can congratulate themselves upon having him in their midst.
David Herstein, by his own exertions, has come to be one of the most enterprising and wide-awake merchants of Perryville. He was born in Krakau, Austria, July 22, 1850, and received his education in the schools of his birthplace and Hungaria. He graduated in literature and theology, and at the time of departure from college had committed to memory thirty-two volumes of the Talmud. In 1870 he left his native land with the intention of emigrating to America, but stopped over in London and while there learned the trade of seal-skin cut- ting. He next went into partnership with a Mr. Gerschmer, under the firm name of Gerschmer & Herstein, and continued in business for eighteen months, in which time he accumulated $10,000, and then closed out his business. In August, 1873, he landed in New York, and immediately engaged in his business of seal-skin cutting, which proved to be a failure from a financial point, on account of the heavy competition that was being indulged in at that time in New York. In Janu- ary, 1875, he went to Boston, Mass., and was en- gaged by Bennett, Bush & Co., as foreman in their seal-skin department, at a salary of $150 per month. On the occasion of the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, in 1876, he was com- missioned by the firm to design a seal-skin sacque which would take the premium over all competi- tors. He did so, cutting out and making up a seal skin sacque trimmed with Russian sable, that was the cynosure of all eyes at the exposition, and which captured the prize. In the latter part of 1876 he came to Little Rock, Ark., and com- menced retailing dry-goods and notions over the State, making Little Rock his headquarters. He
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then moved to Perryville, in 1878, and established the firm of Herstein & Mondschein, dealers in dry- goods, clothing, boots and shoes, groceries and general supplies. The firm carry a select stock and have established a large trade by their square and honest methods of doing business. On July 27, 1879, he was nnited in marriage to Miss Lena Lasker, of Cincinnati, Ohio, by whom he has had five children: Benjamin (born July 26, 1880, be- ing the first Jewish child born in Perry County), Bessie (born August 27, 1882), Milton (born Jan- uary 6, 1884), Frankie Cleveland (born Feburary 26, 1886), Samuel (born June 10, 1889). Mr. Herstein was made a Master Mason in Perryville Lodge No. 238, A. F. & A. M., in 1885, and the following year was appointed Senior Warden. serv- ing one term. At the annual meeting in 1888 he was again elected Senior Warden, and served one term, then re-elected, and at present holds the office. He was one of the charter members of Lodge No. 3207, Knights of Honor, organized October 9, 1885, on which occasion he was elected treasurer until January of the following year, and then elected Dictator, in 1887 Past Dictator, and in 1888 Senior Past Dictator. He represented his lodge at Hot Springs, in 1SS8, when the Grand Lodge of the State convened at that point. Mr. Herstein is a progressive and liberal minded man, and one of the leading spirits in the affairs of his county. He is always ready to tender his assist- ance in any enterprise for the public welfare, and is held in high esteem by his fellow-citizens.
Dr. G. Thomas Holmes. There are those in every locality whose upright and consistent career in various affairs has gained for them universal respect and esteem. Such a one is Dr. Holmes, a native of North Carolina, who was born October 26, 1836. His parents were John and Phadra (Perry) Holmes, also of North Carolina, who in 1844 removed to Tennessee, and from there to Perry County, Ark., in 1856, where Mr. Holmes died in 1864. He was of English descent, his father having been born in England. His wife, who was of Scotch descent, departed this life in 1859. The subject of this sketch, the tenth in a family of eleven children, spent his youth and
early manhood in Tennessee, and there received a common-school education. His medical learning was obtained under the instruction of Dr. L. D. Hill, of Perry County, and since 1880 he has prac- ticed his profession with ability and success. Coming to Perry County, in 1856, he remained till the beginning of the war, when he entered the Confederate service in Company H, in the first regiment ever organized in Arkansas. He was first sergeant one year, and then ordnance ser- geant till the close of the war, taking part in the Oak Hill (Mo.) fight, Pea Ridge (Ark.), Chicka- mauga, with Johnston on his retreat to Atlanta, with Hood on his route to Nashville, in the fight at Franklin, Tenn., and also at Nashville, passing through hostilities without a wound. At the close of the war Dr. Holines went to Dardanelle, Ark., being engaged in the drug business till 1873, when he returned to Perry County, where he has since resided. In 1876 he was elected justice of the peace, filling that office two years, and in 1878 was elected as representative of Perry County for one term. In 1882 he was elected State senator, serv- ing four years. In 1881 he was appointed post- master at Nimrod, which position he still holds. He is a Democrat, having cast his first presiden- tial vote for Buchanan. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and his wife of the Presbyterian. The Doctor has 125 acres of land, about forty of it under cultivation. In De- cember, 1861, he married Miss Aurelia P. Craig, who was born in Mississippi, January 9, 1839. She died November 23, 1886. They had six chil- dren: Jesse L., Rufus D., Walton M., Thomas A. (deceased), Lorenzo J. and Nettie A. In every position to which Dr. Holmes has been called he has manifested an earnestness and faithfulness to the interests of those whom he served, which have redounded to his great credit. His public life has been untarnished, and he now richly merits the universal respect accorded him.
Richard M. Holmes. This enterprising farmer and blacksmith was born in Ste. Genevieve Coun- ty, Mo., May 30, 1843, being a son of William J. and Margaret (Madden) Holmes, both natives of that county. The former, of Scotch-Irish de-
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scent, first saw the light of day in 1818, and was one of the early settlers of Perry County, Ark., where he died in 1874. His wife, born about 1829, still lives with her son Richard. She is the mother of four children, all in Perry County, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest. He was reared in this county to a farm exper- ience, where he received his education in the sub- scription schools, and when the war broke out he enlisted in Company H. Tenth Arkansas Infantry, serving till the surrender, in 1865, He took an act- ive part in the battles of Shiloh and Port Hudson, and in many skirmishes. Returning home to his father's place in Perry County (the father having in the meantime resided in Texas), Mr. Holmes remained until February 13, 1873, when he mar- ried Miss Susan Burke, a native of Pontotoc Coun- ty, Miss., born in 1852. She became the mother of four children, two living, Mollie and Maggie, and died November 9, 1881. Mr. Holmes has 165 acres of excellent land, about fifty acres of which are under cultivation. Some fifty acres of this land is in Aplin, where he resides. He has been a member of the Masonic order since 1869, and is a member of Aplin Lodge No. 444. In politics he is a Democrat and for three years was deputy sheriff under Sheriff Oliver. He has been school director of Aplin for three years, and takes a great interest in the promotion of education and other worthy affairs. His mother is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Judge G. M. Johnson, whose prominent con- nection with the agricultural affairs of Perry County has been of material benefit, dates his residence in Arkansas from 1870. He was born in Spencer County, Ind., September 30, 1842, and is a son of Morris and Elizabeth (Martin) Johnson, the former a son of Solomon Johnson, who moved from Delaware to Kentucky, and from there to In- diana, in 1833, being among the first settlers of that State. Solomon Johnson was the father of four sons and one daughter. of whom Morris John- son was the oldest, and was born April 29, 1806, and died August 14, 1887, his wife preceding him in July, 1865. Morris Johnson and his wife were the parents of two children: Sarah A. (who was
born in June, 1844, and was married to George Youngblood, of Warrick County, Ind., and died in 1884, leaving two children). G. M. Johnson, the oldest child, spent his boyhood days princi- pally in Indiana, and attended the public schools of that State. He was but nineteen years of age at the outbreak of the war. but enlisted in the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, September 10, 1862, and served until September 7, 1865, being mus- tered out at Louisville, Ky. Judge Johnson was present at the siege of Knoxville and with Sherman on the Atlanta campaign, after which event he went to Louisville and was remounted, being sent on the Saltville raid in Virginia, under Gen. Stoneman, and took part in the fights at Marion (Va.), Wytheville and several others. They then returned and captured the city of Saltville, after which they marched to Mount Sterling, and from there to Lexington, Ky. After being mustered out the Judge returned home, where he remained until April, 1868, when he removed to Polk County, Mo. He resided in that county two years, and then came to Conway County, Ark., where he lived four or five months, and then to Pope County until 1877. In August of that year he moved to Perry County, where he has resided ever since. Judge Johnson was married in Indiana to Miss Mary Young in 1865, by whom he has had two children: William M. (born November 24, 1866, and died October 10, 1876) and Samuel E. (born March 1, 1868.) He lost his wife August 16, 1870, and on January 3, 1871, he was married to Miss Ruth Womack, by whom he has had seven children: Marion A. (born April 1, 1872), Horace C. (born July 27, 1873), Sarah A (born October 10. 1875, and died in.1884), Evalina (born March 1, 1878, and died October. 1880), Jim Morris (born December 26, 1879), Carrie (born August 22, IS83) and Viola (born December 2, 1885). The Judge leases a fine farm of 270 acres all of it under cul- tivation. He is a Republican in politics, and in 1882 was elected county judge for one term, and four years previous held the office of justice of the peace. He is also a member of the G. A. R.
Jesse S. Jones, well and popularly known as a farmer and stock raiser of Petit Jean Township,
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was born in Hardeman County, Tenn., on Decem- ber 21, 1836. His parents were William and Isa- bella (Cain) Jones, both natives of the same State, the former being a brother of the famous Col. Jones, who took part in the Mexican War. Ten children were born to this couple, of whom five are still living, four sons and one danghter: James T. (a highly respected farmer in Yell County), Winfield S. (also a farmer and residing in Perry County), Andy (residing in Yell County), Nancy (wife of Alex. Leach, who resides in Yell County) and James S. (the latter being the eldest.) Jesse re- mained with his father on the farm until almost sixteen years old, when he was engaged to carry filled this position for two years, and then had charge of the mail route between Little Rock and Fort Smith for one year, after which he was em- ployed by a man named J. B. Howell, with whom he remained for a year, and then went to Califor- nia. He worked in the mines of that State for two years, delving for the precious metal that had brought so many thousands to the coast, but like the majority he had to return with his hopes al- ! most shattered. On his return he went to his old employer, Mr. Howell, and remained with him until 1862, and in that year was married to Cath- erine Howell, by whom he has had thirteen chil- dren, of whom only five are living: Martha B. (wife of Fate McGee), Mary E. (wife of Wade Jones), Catherine L., James W., Florence O. In November, 1863, Mr. Jones enlisted in Company C, Third Arkansas Cavalry, and served until May, 1865, when he was mustered out, performing his duties in a soldierly manner during that time. In point of wealth, he owns 320 acres of land, on Rocky Cypress Creek, of which 110 acres are under cultivation, with a good dwelling, stables and a fine peach orchard. In politics Mr. Jones votes the Republican ticket, and in 1877 represented Perry County in the legislature. Previous to that he served two terms as county treasurer, and filled the office with the greatest credit to himself and party. He is also a member of the G. A. R., and one of the foremost men in Perry County. Perry County as a farmer, and postmaster of Esau Postoffice, is the son of Amos B. and Elizabeth (Helton) Lawson, natives of Georgia and Tennes- see, respectively. The father was born in 1790, and soon after his marriage moved to Tennessee, being one of the early settlers of that State, with Davy Crockett. About 1847 he went to Missis- sippi, where Jesse was born February 18, 1849. Returning to Tennessee in 1854, he came to Perry County, giving attention to stock dealing and trad- ing; he was a cooper by trade, and brought the first iron axle wagon into this county. He took part in the War of 1812, and his father was killed in the Revolutionary War. Jesse's mother was the mail between Little Rock and Danville. He | born abont 1808, and died in Perry County in 1873. She had three sons, but our subject, the eldest, is the only one living. He received his limited edu- cation in the subscription schools of this county, living with his mother till his marriage, in 1873, to Miss Agnes Klingelhoffer, a native of Perry Coun- ty, whose parents were born in Germany, but came here in 1833. Mr. Klingelhoffer was educated for a priest, but afterward denounced the faith. They have one child, Robert. Mr. Lawson has been postmaster at Esau since 1880, when the office was established through his efforts. He has run a ferry- boat across the Arkansas River since 1878, his farm and residence being located on the river bank. The last year of the war he was in the employ of the Government, running a fleet on the Arkansas River. Soon after hostilities closed, he was elect- ed constable of Perry County. but did not serve, and about 1868 was elected justice of the peace, also declining to fill this position. In 1882 he was elected county assessor, and served two years. He is a Democrat, and was a member of the Perry County Regulators soon after the war. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In 1869 Mr. Lawson purchased 120 acres of land, and at the present time has 1,050 acres, all but 150 acres of which is on the Arkansas River, and about 300 acres under cultivation. In 1885 he built a cotton gin, with all the late improve- ments, and gins more cotton than any other person in the county. He is one of the community's ex- Jesse B. Lawson, familiar to the residents of tensive and influential planters.
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J. A. McBath, the efficient circuit clerk and e.r officio county clerk, is a native of Perryville, Ark., and was born September 5, 1851. He is a son of Russell and Malinda (Taylor) McBath, the father a native of Tennessee, who was one of the pioneers of Perry County, and one of the first merchants in Perryville, where he also operated a grist and saw mill. The father was one of the first postmasters of that same city, and resided there until 1863, when he moved to Pulaski County. He was mar- ried, in 1847, to Miss Malinda Taylor, who was born in 1827, and this union gave them seven chil- dren, of whom four are still living: William, Lo- rena, Luzetta and J. A. The latter was educated in the public schools of Perryville, and attained a proficiency in his studies that indicated a bright prominence in after life. In February, 1873, he was married to Miss Ida W. Priddy, of Texas, by whom he had four children: Claude D. (born No- vember 7, 1874, died April, 1875), E. L. (born in 1876), W. R. (born in 1879) and J. H. (born in 1883.) Mrs. Ida McBath departed this life Feb- ruary 17, 1887. Mr. McBath is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has been Master of his lodge at Perryville. Between the years of 1876 and 1882 he was established in the drug business, and was also postmaster. Previous to that, in 1874, he was elected county clerk serving two years; prior to this he served on the board of registration. He then retired from active political life until 1882, when he was nrged by his many friends to stand as a candidate and did so, being again elected to the same office, which he has now held for five terms with the greatest credit. He is a Democrat in politics, having cast his first presi- dential vote for Horace Greeley. Mrs. McBath was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to which he also belongs, and he is well known as a liberal supporter of all worthy enter- prises.
Matthew Marion McCabe was born in Aplin Township, Perry County, Ark., August 8, 1835, and by reason of his long residence here, enjoys unbounded acquaintance. His father and mother, James and Minnie (Massingill) McCabe, came to this county with their parents, who were the very
first settlers of this county, when buffalo, bear and deer were plentiful. James, of Irish descent, was born in Illinois, and was a farmer by occupation, his wife being of Tennessee origin; she died about 1843, and the father in 1845. There were six children in the family, four now living: Matthew, Sarah A. (wife of Edward Wade), Elizabeth (wife of William Edwards) and John Jasper. Matthew received no education in youth, his parents having died when he was young. He was raised by an uncle till about twelve years old, when he went to work for himself as a farm hand at $4 a month. In October, 1863, he enlisted in Company C. Third Arkansas Cavalry, was engaged in skirmishing most of the time, and May 22, 1865, was dis- charged. He now has 120 acres of land, which is well watered, located on Cypress Creek; this is a good stock farm, and one of the best improved in the county. When he first bought it, there were ten acres cleared; there are now 120 acres under cultivation. Mr. McCabe is greatly interested in educating his children, and is always active in the advancement of the county and community. In 1856 he married Sarah I. Wade, of Perry County, who died in 1864, leaving three children: John William, Hampton and Sarah (wife of William P. Hubbard). In 1867 he married Mary G. Ham- bright, of South Carolina, who died abont 1880, leaving five children: Green C., Mary C. (wife of Sidney Robinson), Jimmie, Marion J. and Ma- rinda. In January, 1882, Martha Jane Scallions, of Tennessee, became his wife. They have four children: Benjamin, George W., Dimmie and Nancy Jane.
John L. McCauly. This citizen is too well known throughout this community, as a promi- nent planter and stockman, to be omitted from the present volume. Born in Hillsboro, Orange Coun- ty, N. C., February 8, 1846, he is a son of Will- iam and Cornelia (Watson) McCauly, both natives of North Carolina, the former being of Irish de- scent and mother of Scotch. The origin of the family on both sides antedates the Revolution- ary War, although it is not definitely known whether or not any of their forefathers took part in that event. John L. was the seventh child in
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a family of eight born to his parents, five of whom lived to maturity. Charles, one of the sons, was a soldier in the Civil War and was killed at the battle of Antietam while serving in Company G, of the Twenty-seventh North Carolina Volunteer Infantry, leaving a widow and three children who are all residing in Orange County, N C. John L. was reared in Hillsboro and attended the schools of Orange County. He remained at home until 1862, and in September of that year enlisted in Company D, Thirty-sixth North Carolina Artillery Volunteers, and took part in the battle of Malvern Hill. Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Petersburg. In 1864 he was sent to the State of Georgia to join Gen. Bragg's command and participated in the defense of Savannah, going from there to Fort Fisher, where he was severely wounded and taken prisoner to Elmira, N. Y., and detained at that place until March 2, 1865. He was then conveyed to Arkin's Landing, on the James River, and there paroled, after which he went to Richmond where he remained until April 2, and then to Appomat- tox Court House in time to see Gen. Lee's army surrender to Gen. Grant. At the conclusion of the war he started to return home on foot, which he succeeded in reaching after a long journey filled with hardships and perils. He was next engaged as fireman on the North Carolina Central Railroad, and followed that employment until February, 1868. March 15, he started out upon a tour of the country and traveled through some of the North- ern and Western States. In the Spring of 1869 he engaged passage on a steamer from St. Paul, Minn., to St. Louis, Mo., remaining in the latter city a few days and proceeding from there to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where he became engaged with a party of capitalists in carrying freight across the plains to Denver, Col., his trip to that city con- suming all the time between May and October of 1869. He spent the winter and the spring of the following year in Missouri upon his return and then came to Johnson County, Ark., where he was engaged at various occupations until the following October. He then moved to Perry County and commenced farming on land leased from Mr. P. O. Breeden, and has met with his best expectations
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