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 119

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 119
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 119
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 119
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 119
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 119
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 119
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 119
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 119
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 119

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).

elected chancery clerk, and later was appointed a State officer. In 1877 Col. Witt removed to Con- way, where he embarked in the drug business, and now owns the finest establishment in that city. He was appointed postmaster on May 18, 1884, and beld the office until July 8, 1889, giving the public a postal service that was satisfactory in every way.

He is a Democrat in politics, a stanch supporter of that party, and a man of considerable influence in the surrounding country. In secret societies he is a member of Green Grove Lodge No. 107, and also belongs to Center Link Lodge No. 75, I. O. O. F., and Faulkner Lodge No. 1,624, K. of H. The Colonel married, in Van Buren County, 1865, Miss H. C. Miller, of South Carolina, by whom he had six children: Annie (now Mrs. Forns, of Little Rock), Sarah. Earle, Vernon and Coy, and one dead. Col. Witt's efficiency was promptly recognized by Gov. Hughes when a vacancy occurred in the county judgeship, and he was appointed to the office. His military record was also well remem- bered, and the rank of brigadier-general of militia was conferred on him. The Colonel has been deeply interested in the development of Faulkner County since his residence here, and has perhaps watched its progress more closely thian any other citizen in that community. He is a liberal con- tributor to all worthy enterprises, and is always one of the foremost in aiding educational and re- ligious matters. He and wife are both members of the Baptist Church.

747

GRANT COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXIV.

GRANT COUNTY-ITS ERECTION-NAME-TOWNSHIP FORMATION-EARLY COURTS AND BUILDINGS-RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVANTS-SOCIETIES-TAXABLE WEALTH-HIGHWAYS-RECOLLECTIONS OF LONG- AGO-TIME OF SETTLEMENT-FIRST THINGS-THE PEOPLE IN WAR-BENCH AND BAR -SCHOOL HISTORY-CHURCHES-TOWNS, VILLAGES AND POSTOFFICES -TOPOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, ETC .- TERRITORIAL AREA AND POPULATION-SURFACE PRESENTATION-PHY-

SICAL FEATURES-PRODUCTS-

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Ye pioneers, it is to you The debt of gratitude is due; Ye builded wiser than ye knew The broad foundation On which our superstructure stands. - Prarre.

RGANIZATION in any community is of prime importance, and the erection of Grant County was of sufficient moment to occupy thoughtful minds in an early day. There were 3,943 people in those parts of Jef ferson, Saline and Hot Spring Coun- ties in the region of Hurricane Creek when the Seventeenth legislature concluded to form a new county and give it the name of the great general, then president, U. S. Grant, and whose seat of justice was to bear his colleague's famous name- Lieut. - Gen. P. H. Sheridan. The bill was approved Janu- ary 4, 1869, under Republican administration, and included the present boundaries of the county. The commissioners chosen to locate the county seat

were Messrs. T. A. Morris, John W. Harrison and W. M. Allison. They met soon after, but, as all records previous to 1877 are destroyed, events previous to that date can be located with little exactness. The old storehouse of E. H. Vance, Sr., about one mile east of the site of Sheridan on the Pine Bluff road, was used for this meeting as well as for court. L. M. Veazey, who had entered land on Section 3, Township 5, Range 13, gave forty acres, and on Section 10, of the same township, A. N. Harris, of Illinois, gave eighty acres of his land, as a plat for a new county seat. This was accepted, and blocks 300 feet square were laid out into twelve lots each. Block 28 was to contain the public buildings. Judge T. A. Morris, with Clerk E. H. Vance, Jr., Sheriff T. W. Quinn, Treasurer Thomas Page, Coroner J. Holiman, Surveyor L. G. Williams and Assessor J. H. Burk held forth at the temporary county seat at Mr. Vance's for about a year. Then they occupied the present old storehouse on the northwest corner of Main

748

HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

and Center Streets, near the Sheridan Hotel, while a court house was in course of erection, and in 1871 the new house was finished, and Sheridan be- came the permanent county seat.

The municipal townships were organized the same as at present. Simpson was named from a creek; Washington; Darysaw, was named from the old Pine Bluff hunter, John Derrisseanx, who dates his arrival to 1825, and whose name is spelled to suit the average American; Madison, Franklin; Merry Green, from an old postoffice; Calvert, from an early and well known family of that region; De Kalb; Davis; Fenter, from a family name: and Tennessee, whose inhabitants were chiefly from the State bearing that name.

The proceedings of the court have been unevent- ful. In 1877 care was taken to refund the scrip after the burning of the court house. and about 1873 an election was held to vote for aiding the Little Rock & Alexandria Railway, the result of which was to refuse aid by a large majority.

The first court house built in 187I was on the site of the present one and was a frame two-story structure, 50x40 feet, and cost about $3, 500.

About 1874 a wooden jail was built at a total cost of $1,295. The court house was used as a postoffice also, and on the night of March 13, 1877, it was totally destroyed by fire. Many cir- cumstances of a very questionable nature connected a popular suspicion with the deputy clerk, who soon after left the country. A temporary court house was made of a building on the northeast cor- ner of Center and Oak Streets, until the present one was completed in 1880 by Contractor T. L. Cole, under the direction of Commissioners L. H. Kemp, J. W. A. Hood and Nathan Hall, at a cost of $1,680. It is forty feet square and a two-story frame. A neat brick jail replaced the old one in 1885, and cost $3,400.

The first officers of the county were those of 1869: T. A. Morris, judge; E. H. Vance, Jr., clerk; T. W. Quinn, sheriff: Thomas Page, treas- urer; J. Holiman, coroner; L. G. Williams, sur- veyor, and J. H. Bnrk. assessor.

Judges: T. A. Morris, 1869-72; -- , 1872-74; W. A. Smith, 1874 to death, followed by C. W.

Fry; J. H. Crutchfield, 1876-78; T. A. Morris, 1878-80; W. T. Poe, 1880-82; J. W. Lybrand, 1882-86; S. R. Cobb, 1886-90.

The clerks served as follows: E. H. Vance, Jr., 1869-72; T. B. Rhodes, 1872-78; W. N. Cleve- land, 1878-80; T. B. Morton, 1880-86; W. J. Wallace, 1886-88; J. J. Beavers, 1888-90.

The sheriff's office has had as incumbents: T. W. Quinn, 1869-74; S. D Reese, 1874-78; W. C. C. Dorough, 1878-80; S. D. Reese, 1880-84; W. C. C. Dorough, 1884-90.

Treasurers: Thomas Page, 1869-72; J. W. Lybrand, 1872-74; D. Johnson, 1874-84; R. M. Rodgers, 1884-90. Mr. Johnson's was the long- est service of any county officer.

Coroners have changed every term: J. Holi- man, 1869-72; D. Chapman, 1872-74; C. M. Gentry, 1874-76; H. Hamilton, 1876-78; B. P. Morton, 1878-80; B. C. Snee.le, 1880-82; D. S. Harrison, 1882-84; J. L. Clegg, 1884-86; -- , 1886-90.

Surveyors: L. G. Williams, 1869-72; J. L. Clegg, 1872-74; F. H. Smith, 1874-76; D. C. Lee served from March, 1876; J. L. Clegg, 1876- 78; D. C. Lee, 1878-80; A. G. Smith, 1880-82; J. L. Clegg, 1882-86; S. Lee Shell, 1886-1888; W. D. McDonald, 1888-90.

The assessor's list is as follows: J. H. Burk, 1869-72; E. H. Vance, Sr., 1872-74; R. H. Ray, 1874-76; W. C. C. Dorongh, from March, 1876; W. C. C. Dorough, 1876-78; W. R. L. Bird, 1878-80; W. R. L Bird, 1880-82; W. H. Gober, 1882-88; J. A. Waddell, 1888-90.

Representatives began in 1871: J. F. Lane, J. J. Sumpter and James M. Bethel, in place of C. K. Kymes, P. B Allen and N. Ellington, for Thir- teenth district (Hot Spring. Montgomery, Polk, Scott and Grant); L. D. Gilbreath, J. J. Sumpter and George G. Latta, in 1873, for Thirteenth dis- trict; B. McGuire, C. C. Johnson, W. W. Hughey and A. J. Wheat, in Gov. Baxter's extraordinary session, in 1874, and for the Twentieth district (Jefferson, Bradley, Grant and Lincoln); W. N. Cleveland, for the county, in 1874-75; T. B. Mor- ton, in 1877; L. H. Kemp, in 1879; W. N. Cleve- land, in 1881; James H. Crutchfield, in 1883; J.

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GRANT COUNTY.

H. H. Smith, in 1885; J. W. Lybrand, in 1887; L. H. Kemp, in 1889.

The senators' list begins in 1873: B. B. Beav- ers, in Twenty-first district, before districts were changed to cover the county; the same in Gov. Baxter's session of 1874; Hugh McCallum, in 1874-75, for the Ninth district (Saline, Garland. Hot Spring and Grant); A. A. Pennington, in same district, for 1877; the same, for the same, in 1879; J. S. Williams, elected in 1880, for four years, for Ninth district; Jabez M. Smith, for same, in 1885; same in 1887; T. B. Morton, for same, in 1889.

Constitutional delegates: Davidson O. D. Cun- ningham in 1874.

Grant County is a part of the Seventh judicial and the Second congressional districts.

Circuit judges covering the county were: John Whytock, July 23, 1868, in Seventh circuit; George A. Kingston and R. T. Fuller, from April 26, 1873, in the Fourteenth; Jabez M. Smith, Oc- tober 31, 1874, and J. B. Wood, October 31, 1872, since in the Seventh circuit.

The county has no agricultural or medical so- cieties, although an effort was recently made among a few physicians for the latter. The Far mer's Alliance here had members, and the County Agricultural Wheel was formed in 1885, with J. W. Lybrand as president, and now has about twenty local "wheels." There are four secret societies, all Masonic-Sheridan, Moonyville, Tay- lor and Bethlehem.

No bonds have ever been issued by the county. In 1878 the receipts were $4,926.66, to an expend- iture of $4,467.62, while for 1889 they were $8,677.99 to $6,401.20, with a balance on hand of $4,511.84 above all debt. In 1878, when there were 997 polls, the tax books show the following figures: Horses, 1,313, valued at $44,617; mules, 485, at $24,385; cattle, 7,719, at $4,543; sheep, 3,380, at $4,144; hogs, 9,636, at $12,886, and others to a total of $197,633. The taxable real estate of 1880, two years later, was $316,833. In 1888, ten years later, when there were 1,356 polls, these figures appear: Horses, 1,486, at $66,103; cattle, 10,059, at $61,284; mules, 833, at $53, 458;

sheep, 3,208, at $3,367; hogs. 12,208, at $14,021, and other personal property to a total of $352,864; while there were 357,565.02 acres of taxable land valued at $433,680. The past year has shown con- siderable increase generally, especially in land taken up, and increase in colored polls. The col- ored influx from the Carolinas makes these people about one-ninth of the population. Two whole school districts are controlled by them. The coun- ty poor are put out to the care of the lowest bidder.

The highways of the county are in fair condi- tion, and all but six roads radiate from Sheridan; the most important are: To Pine Bluff, that prin- cipally used as freight road, about twenty-five miles; to Benton and Malvern, respectively, twenty-eight and twenty-five miles, making alter- native routes, affording daily mails; to Little Rock; to Rison, and to Redfield, the nearest rail- way point. There are about twelve bridges in the county. all of wood. No railway exists here, al- though the Little Rock & Alexandria Company, and the Muskegon Lumber Company have made efforts to secure aid to pass through; there is not strong enough desire for it on the part of the mass of the population, although the leaders in the county recognize a railway outlet as the greatest need and most profitable acquisition that the coun- ty can realize.

This region was a part of the old Quapaw hunt- ing grounds in the early part of this century, but of the mounds which are found here (indicating a race previous to them) they knew nothing, except- ing to say "they were always there." Among those mounds which have been opened, and which are invariably near some permanent spring or spring-fed pond, are two on the old John Ratliffe farm, twelve miles west of Sheridan. At an early day Mr. Francis Posey and others opened three mounds, and found parts of a decayed skeleton of a large size. The lower jaw was well preserved, and the teeth remarkably sound. Charcoal and ashes, together with shells and a piece of a big pipe, were also among the contents. In other mounds pottery and arrows have been found. and the earth even at that time, early in the 40's, had been so long unmoved that large "board trees "

750

HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

were growing on the mound. The ancient race of Mound Builders, so extensive and civilized, seem to have left no traditions of themselves to the In- dians of the region.

The Quapaws and others who had removed and only occasionally passed through by the latter part of the 30's, used the old trails or traces. The chief of these were Pine Bluff to Camden and Hot Springs, the former known as the . Mitchell-Bonne trace," the largest and most frequented. Noth- ing earlier than 1840 can be learned of the terri- tory embraced in Grant County, as Mr. Francis Posey came in 1841, and is the only one of the settlers then of age now living. The Indians that passed through on their way to Pine Bluff trading post were friendly, and were usually laden with deerskins, jugs filled with bear's oil, or with deer hams, saddles, or pelts.

In 1841 there had already arrived a number of white settlers into the comparatively young coun- ties of Jefferson, Hot Spring and the still younger county of Saline, which covered the region consid- ered in this chapter. A few of the large townships of those days bore the names of some of these families. In Calvert Township were Edward Cal- vert and family, and others with families: Seth Atchley, Squire Henry Carr, John B. Hester, James Hester, Merrill Alley, Hugh Berry, Milton Kazee, James Rogers, Benjamin Hubbard (also a justice), Jonas Black, and probably a few others. Francis Posey was an unmarried man at that time. In Merry Green Township was the Porter family, among whom was Turner Porter, now an aged man. The old Merry Green postoffice seems to have furnished this old " Merrie England " name. In Tennessee Township were the Blands, Guests and others, whose old home in the long State east of here was still dear to them. The Tulls, both Arch and Abe, and their families, were in De Kalb Township, and an old German family by the name of Fenter, with the Brashiers, Pages, and possibly a few others, were scattered over what is now Fenter Township. Mr. Page was a trapper and hunter of some note. The Ratliffes, the Will- iams, the Logans, the Ledbetters, the Jenkins and a few others squatted in Davis Township, the Led-

betters being among the earliest. The territory covered by Davis and Calvert Townships was the most thickly and rapidly settled. Thomas Jen- kins' name has become immortal by its connection with the ferry where a Civil War battle was fought. Lost Creek received its name from the incident of Mrs. John Ratliffe, some white and a few young slave children, becoming lost while hunting whor- tleberries. The chief settlement was between the Hurricane Creek and Saline River, and each man had to ent his own road so as to reach the old mili- tary road. The Calverts, Ratliffes, Hesters and Carrs, and possibly a few others, had slaves.

Hunting and trapping was almost the exclusive occupation of the settlers before 1840. They then began to raise a little cotton and corn during the next few years, after more settlers began to come in. It was, however, about 1842 before any cotton was shipped to Pine Bluff. A little wheat was afterward raised, but it seemed better to raise cot- ton and buy the wheat from the North, that is, those who could afford the luxury. Hunting and trapping has continued with some as a favorite occupation even down to 1889, as deer, turkey, ducks, opossum, coon, etc., are yet common. The wilds for a long time yielded a subsistence so easily that there was little need of effort.

Among the first justices were Henry Carr and Benjamin Hubbard, but they had little to do except to perform a marriage ceremony or adjust a case of petty debt, as from that time to this the county has been known for its honesty and love of peace, where locks and bolts were almost unknown. It is curious to notice that even to this day there are many opposed to railways because it would in- troduce an element which would change these free and open-hearted customs.

The first store was opened in 1844 by a French- man from Pine Bluff, named Nicholai. This was in Calvert Township near Morring's Ferry. In the years since they have become rather numerous, although none of them have called up a settlement around it large enough to be called a town, until Sheridan was founded in 1869.

Probably the first postoffice was one called Lost Creek, and among its first postmasters was Joab

751

GRANT COUNTY.

Pratt, a preacher. Merry Green, Cherry Grove, Camp Creek, Hungary, Prattsville and Belfast were also among the early offices that the courier from Benton visited, for Benton itself was the nearest postoffice for many years.

The earliest voting within the present limits of the county was in Calvert Township, probably at Squire Ben Hubbard's.

Those are looked back upon as happy careless days, when people were so few that they valued each other more and would not be outdone in hos- pitality. The barbecue, which the whole county attended merely to see one another and have a good time, has largely passed away. The marksman, and every man was a marksman then, had their shooting matches where the steadiest nerves and clearest eye won a beef, or some money. Almost every family had its whisky or peach brandy to refresh the guest who visited them, although many of the same persons lived to see public feeling place liquor amongst the forbidden things. It may be that it was because it served to furnish the barbecues with an occasional fight, or the high- ways with drunken yells. The same people now forbid its sale by law.

The citizens of this locality, while known as quiet and peace loving, were vigorous when called to war. There was little excitement about the Mexican War, but a few volunteers enlisted at Benton under Capt. W. K. English, with Lieuts. Reader and Calvert. Among these were the Lindseys, Thomas Smart, and Anderson Stinson.

The Civil War had in this locality a political heritage largely democratic, with a considerable mixture of the Whig element. Most of the people. too, owned slaves; probably over sixty families within what is now Grant County had them, one of the largest owners being Nathan Pumphrey. who worked from fifteen to twenty hands. The movement that disrupted the Methodist Church, left all in this region in the Southern branch. Whenever there were political meetings the inhab- itants of Jefferson, Saline and Hot Spring Counties each went to their respective capitals. Pine Bluff and Benton were the points most attended, and probably the first meeting held within the present

limits of this county was held at Belfast postoffice.

In the campaign of 1860 the people went largely for Breckenridge; Bell came in next, in favor with the old Whigs, and Douglas received a few, but it is not known that Lincoln received any at all. Of course the people voted for the dele- gates of their respective counties early in 1861, as can be seen by referring to the sketches of those counties elsewhere in this volume. By the time President Lincoln called for troops there was scarcely a Union man in the limits of what is now Grant County.

Companies at once began to form after the May session of the convention. The first was the en- listment of a few in Capt. James F. Fagan's com- pany at Benton, which afterward entered the First Arkansas. Very soon Capt. Threatgill formed a company in Calvert Township, and entered the Second Arkansas Regiment. Capt. Reuben Har- vey followed with men from Darysaw, Washington and Merry Green Townships, chiefly; these also entered the Second Arkansas. Merry Green fur- nished the bulk of another company about the same time, under Capt. M. D. Vance; this became Company A, of the Eleventh Arkansas. Capt. L. F. Mooney formed a company chiefly from Calvert and Merry Green Townships, which became Com- pany F, of the Eleventh Arkansas. Later on Simpson and Washington Townships made up a company for the Eighteenth Arkansas, under Capt. W. N. Parish. During 1862 Capt. Walt. Wad- kins' company, in Hawthorne's Sixth Arkansas, was partly made up here; also one under Capt. H. H. Beavers for Bronaugh's battalion. Early in 1863 Capt. Jonas Webb formed an independent company. These were all either in the State or Confederate armies or in sympathy with them. The Second Regiment was chiefly with Hood's army; the First in Virginia and Tennessee; the Sixth with Hindman's army, chiefly; while the Eleventh and Eighteenth Regiments were both east and west of the Mississippi River. Probably over seven-eighths of the able-bodied men were in the service for the South, and none at first known to be for the Federal army.

The year 1861 was mostly taken up in active

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

recruiting, as also was a part of 1862. The latter part of 1862 found the region almost depopulated of all except old men, boys, women and slaves; 1863 was comparatively quiet, and 1864 opened up with more or less scouting and the organization of independent squads of Union sympathizers, many of whom had given up the State or Confederate service. They were nick-named "gray-backs." Capt. Patterson Dodd's company were largely from Merry Green, Simpson and Washington Townships; Capt. John Heflin formed one from Fenter and Tennessee men chiefly; and Capt. Aaron Hedden's men came from Madison Township.

The chase that Gen. Steele made after Gen. Price, toward Camden, was frustrated in April of that year, by Price receiving reinforcements from Gen. Kirby Smith at Camden, and Gen. Steele's retreat was hasty toward the North, on a line through what is now Grant County. Price was close upon him when he reached Jenkins' Ferry, in Section 8, Township 6, Range 15, on the Saline River. The river was high, the bottoms deep with mud. and before a ponton bridge could be made, early on the morning of April 30, Steele's forces were attacked where they were camped, on Sections 24 and 13. There was severe fighting and skir- mishing for about four hours and a half, and Steele's forces, after quietly withdrawing across their pontons, finally had to burn their bridges, supplies and wagons before they escaped. The casualities were very great, and even to this day multitudes of trees bear the scars of shot, while lead is ploughed up in no small quantities. This was the only real action in the county, and scout- ing and bushwhacking continued rife long after. The minie balls and remnants of wagon supplies left on the field or on the retreat served some of the people of the region for years after. Many of the Confederate dead were left on the field, while the Federal remains were afterward removed to Little Rock. The description of the battle is a matter of national history.

Many returned in 1865 and many more in 1866, tired of war and eager for peaceful occupation. The work of reconstruction resulted in consider- able disfranchisement and much opposition by the

people, but there were no serious outbreaks. Num- bers were Republican but many were still voting the Democratic ticket. It was frequently the case, however, that Democrats would vote for the most unobjectionable Republican, because they had no fear of his being disqualified. Taxes were op pressive. A feeling grew up in 1868 for a more convenient means of doing county business. E. H. Vance, Sr., Francis Posey, Judge J. H. Crutch. field, Dr. J. W. Harrison and others began an agitation for a new county. Although the county would be Democratic they could temporarily accept Republican officials and county names to secure other advantages, and soon be Democratic, as they have been ever since.

Of the circuit courts of the county but little can be said. The records previous to 1877 are all burned, and the list of judges who have presided over the circuit embracing this county has been given among other officers of the county. The court in its places of meeting have followed the county court, and its proceedings, even to this day, have been uneventful, a fact which has given the county a happy reputation among her neigh- bors, who regard Grant County people as especially characterized by honesty and peace. There lias never been an execution in the county, and but few commitments to the penitentiary. Court is even now in session but a few days, and little but the slightest misdemeanors appear on the docket.

The resident lawyers have been few. Hon. T. B. Morton and Willoughby Williams, Jr., were the first, but Mr. Williams soon left. For about four years during the 70's S. W. Merritt practiced a little. E. H. Vance, both senior and junior, held licenses, but practiced little. J. D. Murphree spent a few years early in the 80's in some prac- tice. The main law business of the county has been done by Hon. J. S. Williams, editor of The Headlight, who located in Sheridan early in the present decade. No circuit judges have resided in the county.

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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 119

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