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 23

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 23
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 23
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 23
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 23
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 23
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 23
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 23
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 23
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 23


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128


The Methodist Episcopal Churches (colored) are of the Northern branch, and separated from the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Those in Jefferson County belong to Little Rock Confer ence, which was organized in 1879, and only in- eludes about a half dozen appointments in the county, of which Pine Bluff is the largest, with a membership of less than 200, and a brick church valued at $4,000.


The Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America is a recent separation of the colored mem- bers of the Southern branch of the Methodist Church from that body. Comparatively little has been done so far.


The Young Men's Christian Association of Pine Bluff was organized in 1889, and now have a fine hall in course of erection, which will be equal to any in the State, and is the gift of Mr. Joseph Merrill.


Other religious and moral movements have been much the same here as elsewhere.


The first officers of this county serving from 1830 to 1832 were W. P. Hackett, judge; J. T. Pullen, clerk; Creed Taylor, sheriff; Peter Ger- man, coroner; and N. Holland, surveyor. The following include all county officers from date of organization, with terms of service:


Judges: W. P. Hackett, 1830-32; Samuel C. Roane, 1832-33; Creed Taylor, 1833-35; H. Brad- ford, 1835-36; Creed Taylor, 1836-38; W. H.


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JEFFERSON COUNTY.


Lindsay, 1838-40; William Phillips, 1840-46; J. W. Bocage, 1846-48; James Scull, 1848-52; M. C. Hudson, 1852-54; N. D. English, 1854-56; A. J. Stephens, 1856-58; Z. Wells, 1858-60; I. Hol- comb, 1860-62; Z. Wells, 1862-64; L. S. Reed. 1864-66; D. W. Carroll. 1866-68; D. Cunning- ham, 1868-72, with J. M. C. Barton, judge of crim- inal court; C. H. Rice, 1874-76; Frank Silverman, 1876-78; W. D. Johnson, 1878-84; G. W. Prig- more, 1884-86; J. W. Owens, 1886 to present.


Clerks: J. T. Pullen. 1830-38; E. H. Roane, 1838-42; R. W. Walker, 1842-44; T. S. James, 1844-50; D. B. Mclaughlin, 1850-58; John De- Baun, 1858-64; D. C. White, 1864-66; W. P. Stephens, 1866-68; D. C. White, 1868-72; R. H. Stanford, 1872-74; R. A. Dawson, 1874-76; Paul Jacko, 1876-78; A. Niven, 1878-84: N. T. Roberts, 1884 to present. The circuit clerks have been: G. W. Prigmore, 1868-80; A. S. Moon, 1880-82, and F. Havis, 1882 to the present.


Sheriffs: Creed Taylor, 1830-32; William Kin- kead, 1832-35; S. Dardenne. 1835-40; J. J. Ham- mett, 1840-52; P. F. Morton, 1852-56; J. G. White. 1856-58; M. E. Hudson, 1858-60; A. F. Kendall, 1860-64; C. M. Bagg, 1864-68; J. F. Vaughan, 1868-76; J. M. Clayton, 1876-86; G. W. Prigmore, 1886-SS; Frank Silverman, 1888, present incumbent.


Treasurers-Samuel Taylor, 1836-48; William Wright, 1848-58; B. F. Ingram, 1858-62; P. G. Henry, 1862-64; J. H. Hawley, 1864-66; B. F. Hancock, 1866-68; H. H. Kenyon, 1868-76; A. S. Moon, 1876-78; H. A. McCoy, 1878-82; O. P. Snyder, 1882-November 29, 1882; J. B. Truelock, November 29, 1882, to December 23, 1882; R. G. Austin, 1882-84; J. C. Battles, 1884-86; T. M. Phillips, 1886-88; C. H. Triplett, 1SS8 to the present time.


Coroners: Peter German, 1830-32;


1832-33; Thomas O'Neal, 1833-36; J. H. Cald- well, 1836-38; Thomas O'Neal, 1838-40; J. Lin- berner, 1840-42; J. Brump, 1842- 44; M. C. Wood- worth, 1844-46; Martin Snyder, 1846-48; G. H. Walker, 1848-50; A. C. Randolph, 1850-54; T. C. Johnson, 1854-56; A. C. Randolph, 1856-58; Wiley Clayton, 1858-66; J. M. Mitchell, 1866-68;


E. E. Forbish, 1868-72; Ed. Price, 1872-76; J. T. Murray, 1876-78; L. Shields, 1878-82; L. B. Boston, 1882-86; M. C. Boyd, 1886-88; L. B. Boston, 1888 to present.


Surveyors: N. Holland. 1830-33; H. Edding- ton, 1833-36; Thomas O'Neal, 1836-38; J. B. Outlaw, 1838-42; R. E. C. Daugherty, 1842-46; J. Brump, 1846-50; T. J. Ingraham, 1850-52; P. Simpson, 1852-58; J. Brump, 1858-62; John J. Martin, 1862-64; H. Seckendoff, 1864-66; John J. Martin, 1866 to present.


Assessors: A. E. Beardsley, 1868-72; F. Havis. 1872-74; John Ellis, 1874-76; R. Motley, 1876-78; D. F. Ragan, 1878-80; T. M. Phillips, 1880-82; M. Curry, 1882-84; T. B. Blackwell, 1884-86; B. E. Benton, 1886-88; T. B. Blackwell, 1888 to present.


Councilmen and Senators: W. P. Hackett in 1831; J. H. Caldwell in 1833; not known in 1835; S. C. Roane in 1838 (Senate); J. Smith in second session of same year, and also in 1840; J. Yell in 1842-43, and 1844-45; R. C. Byrd in 1846, and in 1848-49; N. B. Burrow in 1851 and 1853; A. H. Ferguson in 1855 and 1857; Thomas Fletcher in 1859, the special sessions of 1860-61, and in 1862 when he was president and acting Governor; I. C. Mills in 1864-65; Thomas Fletcher in 1864 in the Confederate legislature at Washington, Ark., of which he was also president; W. M. Galloway in 1867: S. W. Mallory and O. P. Snyder in 1868-69, and in 1871; J. M. Clayton and R. A. Dawson in 1873 and in the Gov. Baxter ses- sion of 1874; George Haycock in 1874-75, and in 1877; H. King White in 1879; N. T. White in 1881 and 1883; J. M. Hudson in 1855 and 1887; J. W. Crawford in 1889.


Representatives: N. Holland in 1831; I. Bogy in 1833; not known in 1835; W. Phillips in 1838; not known in 1838; M. W. Dorris in 1840; John S. Roane in 1842-43; M. W. Dorris in 1844-45; Jordan N. Embree in 1846; Ambrose Hudgens in 1848-49; T. S. James in 1851: A. D. Horsley in 1853; George C. Tuley in 1855; Thomas F. James in 1857; Jordan N. Embree in 1859; F. F. Yell and James A. Hudson in the sessions of 1860-61; W. Williams and N. B. English in 1862; H. B.


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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.


Allis (speaker) and D. C. Hardeman in 1864 and 1865; W. Williams and W. H. Connelly in the Con- federate legislature: Reed Fletcher and Witt Will- iamson, Jr., in 1857; P. Mosely, H. St. John, J. M. Gray, J. J. Williams, G. W. Davis, and Will- iam T. Morrow. for Jefferson. and Bradley, in 1869; William Young, G. W. Prigmore, J. M. Clayton, R. S. Parker, E. G. Hale and Carl Pope, for Jeffer- son, Bradley and Grant, in 1871; A. E. Beardsley, A. J. Wheat, W. Murphy, Ferd Havis, V. M. Gehee and J. M. Merrett, for Jefferson and three other counties, in 1873; B. McGuire, C. C. John- son, W. W. Hughey, and A. J. Wheat, for Jeffer- son and three other counties, in 1874; L. B. Boston, L. J. Maxwell and Ned Hill in 1874-75; C. H. Rice, Anderson Ebberson and William Murphy in 1877: J. A. Hudson, R. A. Dawson and W. C. Payne in 1879: Carl Polk, W. C. Payne and A. Ebberson in 1881; B. Waterhouse, W. H. Young and R. Sherrill in 1883; W. B. Jacko, Ed. Glover and S. H. Scott in 1885; Ed. Jefferson, H. B. Burton and W. B. Jacko in 1887; S. S. Wool- fork, Ed. Jefferson, S. W. Dawson in 1889.


Constitutional Delegates: Samuel C. Roane in 1836; J. Yell and W. P. Grace in 1861; H. B. Allis, Peter Finnerty and Thomas W. Clegg, Jr., in 1864; S. W. Mallory, O. P. Snyder, James M. Gray and William Murphy in 1868; and J. A. Williams, W. Murphy and Cyrus Berry in 1874.


Robert R. Adams has been intimately and prom- inently identified with the interests of Jeffer- son County for a period of time sufficiently long to have acquired extensive acquaintance. He is a native of Twiggs County, Ga., being a son of Donald Adams, who was born in South Carolina, November 23, 1801, but who removed to Georgia in 1824, where he married Miss Elizabeth Ellis. The latter first saw the light of day in Georgia in 1807, and there Robert was born February 26, 1842. Mrs. Adams died in her native State in 1883, her husband having preceded her about three years. In this family were nine children. four of whom are now living. Young Robert received his education in private schools, and on


the breaking out of the war entered the army in 1861. under .Col. Anderson, in Company K, Eleventh Georgia Regiment. He participated in the battles of Second Manassas, Thoroughfare Gap, Richmond, Yorktown, and several others, being finally honorably discharged, and he has now in his possession his discharge and furlougli papers and numerous others, mementoes of an experience severe but honorable. In 1875 he came to Little Rock, where he became engaged as a planter. His possessions have increased most perceptibly, until, besides owning valuable prop- erty in Hutchinson, Kas., he has about 700 acres in Jefferson County, Ark., in cotton and corn. He is a Mason in good standing, and also belongs to the American Legion of Honor and Royal Arcanum. He is a Democrat, and a man of great public enterprise, keeping thoroughly apace with the progress of the day. Since 1879 he has kept a diary of passing events, in which he takes great pride. October 8, 1863, Mr. Adams married Miss Rebecca Perry, of Haynesville, Houston County, Ga. They have two children, Virginia E. (born October 1, 1864) and Mattie Joe (born April 5, 1866).


Rev. I. O. Adams, rector of the Episcopal Church at Pine Bluff, and a man whose character and influence are above criticism, is a native of Alabama, having been born in Mobile in 1852. James I. Adams, his father, was of Richmond, Va., nativity, and a merchant in Mobile, who died at the age of thirty-five in 1855. The latter's wife was Henrietta C. Bickley, of Mobile, Ala .. daughter of Dr. Walter O. Bickley, a man of some prominence in that State. Samuel J. Adams, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, of Eng- land. married a daughter of Judge Innes, of Frankfort, Ky .. whose family were widely known and influential in Scotland; they were early settlers in this country, and served in the Revolutionary War. James I. Adams was the youngest of a family of seven children, and was reared in Vir- ginia till the age of seventeen, when he went to Alabama. His son, I. O., grew to manhood in that State. and there attended school. He took a literary course at the University of the South, in


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JEFFERSON COUNTY.


Sewanee. Tenn .. graduating in 1873. after which . Altheimer Bros., which is now the oldest firm un- he studied theology, and in 1875 wa's ordained, in 1878 taking priest orders. In 1883 he came to Arkansas, and for three years was rector of St. John's Church at Camden. He then came to Pine Bluff, and has since been in charge at Trinity Church. He has been called upon to act in vari- ous official capacities, having served as a delegate to the general convention six years, trustee of the University of the South six years, and president of the standing committee of the diocese of Arkansas six years, which office he still holds. The first four years of his ministry were passed in Texas, at Matagorda, where May 5, 1878, he was married to Miss Annie Barbonr, who was born in 1857, and the daughter of William D. and Mary E. (Williams) Barbour. Mr. Barbour served in the Mexican War, edited a paper in Kentucky for several years. and finally moved to Texas, where he lived till his death, having held the offices of assessor and col- lector. He was a lawyer by profession. Mrs. Adams' mother died when she was born. To our subject and wife have been born Harry Thornton, May Brunson, Ethel Barbour, James Innes (de- ceased), and Mary Evelyn (deceased). Mrs. Adams is an active worker in the church, and a substan- tial and worthy aid to her husband in his efforts. Mr. Adams is a member of the A. F. & A. M., having taken all the degrees; is a Royal Arch Mason, a Knight Templar, and High Priest and Prophet of the Mystic Shrine, a member of the I. O. O. F., and secretary of the Royal Arcanum. belonging also to the Legion of Honor and the Knights of Honor. He is well known, and with his family enjoys universal respect and esteem.


Altheimer Bros. are members of one of the old- est and most influential business houses in Pine Bluff. The firm is composed of Joseph, born in 1842, and Louis, born in 1847, at Eberstadt, near Darmstadt, South Germany, who were the sons of Benjamin and Mina Altheimer, natives of the same country. Louis left home in his boyhood and came to America, settling in the far West, and Joseph followed three years later. In 1868 they both left the western country, and settled in Pine Bluff, where they founded the mercantile house of


der the name in the city. Pine Bluff, as well as the whole of Jefferson County. at that time was known only to the outside world as the backwoods. but the brothers being far-sighted men, and having the fullest confidence in its future prosperity, in- vested every dollar in real estate and plantation lands. They opened up the land out of the forests, ent immense ditches to drain the water off, and converted many swamps into productive and bloom- ing farms, contributing alike to their own wealth and to the value of the surrounding country. They are also the founders of the young and growing town of Altheimer, which the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad named in their honor. This town is situated eleven miles northeast of Pine Bluff. located in the heart of the most fertile land in Arkansas. and whenever the country tributary to Altheimer becomes more open and settled, its future is assured, as it is on the main line of the Cotton Belt, and is also the terminal point of the Little Rock & Eastern Railroad. The build- ing of this branch road is due to the efforts of Messrs. Altheimer Bros., who not only called it into life, but contributed very liberally to its con- struction. They erected a depot and donated all necessary grounds for side tracks, and also re- served ten miles of right of way free of charge to the company. The first house in Altheimer was built in the fall of 1885. Some years after be- coming established in Pine Bluff, Joseph Altheimer returned to Germany on a visit, and while there was married to Miss Matilda Josaphat, by whom he has had two children, Benjamin J. (born in 1877), and a daughter named Hennie (born in 1880). Louis also went to Germany, and while in Frank- fort-on-the Main was married to Miss Inlia Süss- holz, to which union were born Ulysses (in 1869), Maurice (in 1872), Fennie (in 1874), Blanche (in 1876), Beno (in 1878), Isaac (in 1880) and Hor- tense in 1883. Both of the brothers are among the leading men in commercial circles, and held in high esteem by the entire community. Mr. Louis Altheimer was nominated by the Republican party in 1886 as treasurer of the State, but was defeated by his Democrat opponent, Mr. William Woodruff.


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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.


W. D. Anthony, merchant at Humphrey, Ark., has been long and favorably identified with the social and business life of Jefferson County, and


is one of its most enterprising citizens. Aside from his mercantile pursuits, at which he has been very successful, he is the owner of about 1,000 acres of land, with twenty aeres under cultiva. tion. He was born in St. Charles County, Mo., on January 6, 1835, and is the son of P. L Anthony, whose birth occurred in Richmond, Va., in 1810. His father was educated in his native State, and in 1832 moved to Missouri, where he met and married Miss Olive Boone the same year. She was a Kentuckian by birth, and her marriage resulted in the birth of three children, two sons and one daughter, W. D. Anthony being the only one now living. The father followed farming, and in connection kept hotel, running the Anthony Hotel (from whom it took its name) at Little Rock for some years. He died at Lonoke, Ark., in 1879. W. D. Anthony was educated near Browns- ville, Tenn., and was there wedded to Miss Eliza- beth Crist, a native of North Carolina, and the daughter of Rudolph and Miranda Crist. To Mr. and Mrs. Anthony were born three children, one son and two daughters, all living; two residing in this county and one in North Carolina. The mother of these children died March 15, 1874, and Mr. Anthony took for his second wife Miss Bettie Montgomery, whom he wedded on May 28, 1885. Her death occurred on March 8, 1888, and Mr. Anthony then married Mrs. Maggie Graham. June 20, 1888. She was the daughter of David and Mary Wood. Mr. Anthony keeps a good stock of general merchandise and has a thriv- ing trade. He is the postmaster at Humphrey, having filled that position for about five years, and also held the position of county surveyor for about two years of .Lonoke County, Ark., where he formerly lived. In 1861 he enlisted under Gen. Ben Mccullough, and his first hard fight was at Wilson's Creek. He was wounded in the right breast and was discharged at Jackson- port, Ark., in 1865. After returning home he worked on a railroad for some time, as bridge car- penter. Mrs. Anthony is a Methodist.


D. Aschaffenburg, city clerk and justice of the peace, Pine Bluff, Ark. This prominent and much respected citizen was born in Albersweiler, Rhine Bavaria, Germany, on September 27, 1831, and is one of twelve children. nine now living, born to the union of Henry and Nanett (Meyer) Aschaffenburg, natives of Germany. The father was a Jewish minister and followed his professional duties until his death in 1870. The mother died in her native country nine years later. Of their nine children now living, three sons and one daughter are in America, and two sons and three daughters are in Germany. D. Aschaffenburg at- tained his growth and received his education in the land of his nativity, and when nineteen years of age left that country and sailed for America, taking passage at the city of Havre. He landed in New Orleans, remained there for a short time, and in 1852 went to Jackson, Miss., where he was engaged in teaching music, but soon after was made deputy clerk of the United States circuit court. In October, 1854, he came to Pine Bluff, Ark., remaining there until 1855, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and there kept books for a wholesale liquor house until 1860. He again re- turned to Arkansas and stopped at Napoleon until April, 1862, after which he came to Pine Bluff with the post quartermaster and remained there as chief clerk for the quartermaster's department until after the close of the war. For a time after the cessation of hostilities he was occupied in mer- chandising, and this continued until November, 1869, when he was appointed justice of the peace of Jefferson County, having since held the office with a short intermission. In 1871 he was elected city clerk, the duties of which position he has con- tinued to discharge. He is also United States commissioner for the district of Arkansas, and is one of the representative men of the county. Mr. Aschaffenburg was married in 1857 to Miss Han- nab Sommers, by whom he has six children: Fannie (wife of Emil Meyer), Lena (wife of Phil Simmons), Theresa, Rosa, Victor and Harry. Mr. Aschaffenburg is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, Independent Order of B'nai Brith, and the Improved Order of Free Sous of Israel.


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JEFFERSON COUNTY.


M. A. Austin, attorney at law, and an influen- tial and esteemed resident of Pine Bluff, is a native of Monroe, N. C., and was born Angust 12, 1856. He was the son of R. G. R. and Nannie (Crowell) Austin, both natives of North Carolina, who in 1867 emigrated to Drew County, Ark., where they located and remained until 1873, then moving to Pine Bluff. The father is still a resi- dent of that place. He has been a farmer most of his life, and has been treasurer of Jefferson Conn- ty one term. M. A. Austin was reared in Arkan- sas, part of his time being spent on the farm and also in the city. He entered St. John's College at Little Rock, and in 1874, when the Brooks-Bax- ter war broke out he left, and entered Emery and Henry College, at Emery, Va., where he grad- uated in 1877. He then came home and began the study of law, under Carlton and MeCain, and was admitted to the bar in 1879. Entering at once upon a successful practice, he has since lo- cated in Pine Bluff, becoming well and favorably known as a member of the bar only less than as a citizen. Mr. Austin's first partner was A. W. Boyd. Two years later this relation was dissolved, when Mr. Austin entered into partnership with W. E. Hemingway. They afterwards took in John M. Clayton, who was recently assassinated, and Mr. Hemingway being elected to the bench, Judge Williams entered as a partner, which firm now continues under the name of Williams & Austin. Mr. Austin was city attorney for two terms. He is also attorney for the Merchants and Planters Bank; the Missouri Pacific Railroad; Pine Bluff, Swan Lake & Monroe Railroad; and Pine Bluff Build- ing Loan Association. He has had several oppor- tunities to hold office, but never desired to identify himself politically with public position. In 1882 he was married to Miss Mattie Keeler, at Oswego, Kas., by whom he has had two children, one now living, named Bettie. Mrs. Austin is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.


Joseph H. Baldwin is one of the most prom- inent figures in social and business circles in Jef- ferson County. He was born in what was then Cass County, Ga., on May 25, 1842, and is a son of Joseph M. and Harriet E. (Edmondson)


Baldwin, of Virginia and Georgia, respectively. The father moved from his native State to Georgia when a young man, and was there married, and resided for a number of years near Greensboro. He afterward moved to what is now Bartow Coun- ty, in the same State, and from there to Cher- okee County, Ala., some years later, where he died in 1853. The mother is yet living in Floyd Coun- ty, Ga., with several of her eliildren, at the age of sixty five years. Both parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and in politics the father was a Democrat. He served through the Florida War against the Seminole In- dians, and during the Mexican War he volunteered and went as far as New Orleans for the purpose of fighting, but the war was over, and he was never mustered out. He was a general mechanic and a genius at wood carving, being able to take an or- dinary piece of wood and turn out anything from a chicken coop to a steamboat, in proportion to the size of the wood. He built several fine vessels during his life, and amassed a considerable for- tune, but unluckily he ventured into steamboating himself, and his wealth was swept away entirely. He was also interested in farming to some extent. His parents were English people, who settled in Virginia at an early period. Seven children were born to their marriage, of whom five are now liv- ing: James M. (a well-known farmer in Cherokee County, Ala. ). Elizabeth (widow of William Miller, residing in Floyd County, Ga.), Julia Ann (wife of Martin Ingram, of the same county), Mary C., and Rebecca (wife of Elijah Morris, of Floyd County, Ga.), and Joseph H. The latter was reared and educated in Cherokee County, Ala., and left his home in September, 1861, to join the Confederate army. He enlisted in Company I, of the Ninteenth Alabama Infantry, and served until May 16, 1864, when he was captured and taken prisoner at Resaca, Ga. On April 14 of the same year, he was released after a ernel confine- ment, in which he was almost starved, and was forced to enter the Union ranks. Later on, his company was sent out West, where they were en- gaged in fighting the Indians until November, 1866, when he was mustered out at Fort Leaven-


152


HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.


worth, Kas. While in the Confederate army, he took part in a number of battles, the most import- ant being at Shiloh, Missionary Ridge, Resaca and Murfreesboro, being severely wounded at the latter place by a gun shot in the right hip. Mr. Baldwin served with distinction, both in the Con- federate and Union armies, and has the honor of knowing that though he was pressed into the Union service afterward, he never fought against his for- mer comrades, his duties being performed on the Western plains. During his term of imprisonment, he was held at Alton, Ill., and also at Camp Douglas, in Chicago. III. After the war was over he returned to Alabama, and remained in that State until the fall of 1868, when he came to Ar- kansas and settled in Jefferson County, which he has made his home ever since. In 1867 he was married to Miss Mary M. King, of Cherokee Coun- ty, Ala., who was born in 1849, and died on De- cember 16, 1874. Three children were born to this union, of whom two are still living: Charles W. (a farmer in Grant County, Ark.), and James W. (who resides at home). The one deceased is Cornelia H., who died in third year. On June 17, 1875, he was married to Miss Nancy A. Rick- etts, a daughter of Stephen Ricketts, of Marshall County, Ala., where she was born in 1847. This wife died in Jefferson County, Ark., in 1SS3, hav- ing given birth to five children, of whom two are yet living: Joseph B. and Enoch M., both resid- ing at home. Those deceased are Henry, Jacob and Lewis. March 6, 1884, he was married to Mrs. Anna Russell, a daughter of Reuben Short, his third wife having been born in Mississippi in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the for- mer is a trustee of Bethlehem church. He has been a Mason for a number of years, and is one of the most prominent politicians in that section, giv- ing his support to the Democratic party.


John M. Barrett, one of the most prominent merchants in Jefferson County, located at Sher- rill Station, was born on the farm where he is at present residing on the 12th of June, 1855, and is a son of William C. and Ara Saphronia (Harris) Barrett, natives of Mississippi and Arkansas, re-




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