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 25
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 25
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 25
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 25
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 25
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 25
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 25
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 25
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 25
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Mande, who died at the age of six years, and Wal- ter, aged eleven. Mrs. Browning is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Dr. Browning's father was Wiley J. Browning, of South Carolina, who married Sarah C. Selby, of the same State. He was a farmer by occupation and soon after his marriage moved to Mississippi, engaging in the same business in connection with stock raising. At the breaking out of the late war he was a mer- chant in Winston County, Miss., but entered the Confederate service as private, and also served as quartermaster. He was slightly wounded in the battle at Jackson, Miss., and died in 1877 at the age of fifty-six. He was a Mason and a member of the Presbyterian Church. Dr. Browning's in- fluence in this community is widely felt, and his progressive spirit and sincere interest in the wel- fare of his adopted home have had a telling effect. All worthy enterprises receive his hearty support.
Dr. Asa Brunson, formerly a practicing physi- cian of wide and honored acquaintance, and now one of the wealthy planters of this county, was born in Tennessee, near Clarksville, in 1822, being the son of Jesse A. Brunson, an extensive manufac- turer of pig metal. The latter's father was Dr. Asa Brunson, a surgeon in the Revolutionary War, who just before that event came to the United States. When Jesse A. was about twelve years of age, his father moved to Tennessee, locating near Clarksville, where he was engaged in planting and stock raising. He was a man of much property, of superior education, and decided intellect. Of his four sons, all but one were physicians. The father of the subject of this sketch married Louisa Shelby, of Tennessee, now deceased, who had nine children: Sarah, Asa, Elizabeth, Atherton, M. D. (deceased), Penelope, Clark S., M. D. (deceased), Dr. Jesse (deceased), Thomas E., M. D. (who was assassinated while quietly reading a paper, being shot through his window by an unknown person), and Dr. Randolph, of Pine Bluff. Young Asa Brunson attained his majority in Tennessee, sup. plementing his literary education with a course in medicine, and. in the spring of 1842, graduated from the medical department of the University of New York. The same year he located near his
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present residence, practicing till the time of the ' of the Episcopal Church. In her family were six late war. In 1854 or 1855 he engaged in cotton planting, in which business he has since continned most successfully. He at one time owned about sixty slaves, and during the war was allowed to remain on his plantation because of his principles. Dr. Brunson is a Democrat, and a man of good sound sense, a characteristic by no means common in this day. He is respected for his sterling integrity, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of hosts of friends. A large part of his land has been washed away by the river. In 1845 Dr. Brunson married Alcinda Simpson, of Virginia, who was born in 1824; she died in Pine Bluff in 1864, leaving one child, Mary, now the widow of Frank Tomlinson. His second wife was Mrs. Louisa A. Fowler, nee Murdough, of Mississippi. They have three sons, Asa, Percy and Edgar, the two eldest of whom are at school at Knoxville University.
Dr. Randolph Brunson, of Pine Bluff, whose career as a medical practitioner is favorably known, comes from a family of physicians and surgeons. His paternal grandfather was a surgeon in Edin- burgh College, Scotland, one of the leading schools of the world. He came to America when a young man, during the Revolutionary War, and served in the army as surgeon. He added to an extensive reputation already enjoyed by a large practice all through the South, and died in Ten- nessee, a wealthy planter and stock raiser. He had several sons, all medical students, one of whom, Jesse, was the father of the subject of this sketch. He (Jesse) attained his majority and was married in Tennessee, where Randolph was born, in Stewart County, in 1836. In December of the same year the father, an iron manufacturer by occupation, died, and his wife, formerly Louisa Shelby, took charge of the estate, which she man- aged for several years in a creditable manner and settled to the satisfaction of all. Large mining interests, as well a sliare of the estate of $200,000, were left by the father of Jesse. Mrs. Brunson was a lovely woman, well educated and possessed of unusually superior business abilities. She married the second time and lived to a good old age, dying in ISSO, having been a strict member
sons and three daughters, of whom one son and the daughters are living, all the sons being physi- cians of note, and having graduated from the lead- ing medical colleges of the United States. Ran- dolph, the subject of this sketch, received his diploma from the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, which he left in 1858, subsequently settling in Arkadelphia. In Angust of that year he came to Pine Bluff, where he has since resided, becoming the leading physician of the place, as well as one of the oldest settlers. During the late war he served as surgeon, going to Virginia in 1861, whence he was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department, taking a very active part till the strife was ended. Then he returned home and resumed his practice with the attention and energy which have redounded to a well deserved esteem and honored reputation. In 1860 he married Miss Fannie White, of Pine Bluff, daughter of one of the county early settlers, Drew White. Four children have been given them: Randolph, John W., May (Mrs. Turner), and Atherton, now at school in Virginia. Dr. Brunson has been a dele- gate to conventions of his State and of the United States, and he and his wife are both members of the Episcopal Church.
John W. Chamblee, who as a planter and dealer in general merchandise has attained to well de- served prominence, was born in Franklin County, N. C., but was reared in Wake County until the age of seventeen, when he went to Tennessee, there making his home with his uncles. He was the son of Rayford and Elizabeth (Wilder) Chamblee, who were natives of the Carolinas, and of Scotch-Irish descent, their ancestors having come to this coun- try long ago The father was a farmer by occupa- tion and was somewhat interested in politics; he was born in 1812. When John was an infant his mother died, leaving one other child, a daughter, Eliza, who married A. J. Underhill. The father then married Mrs. Ray, a widow, by whom he had four children: Eliza W., Bertie D., Augustus T. (who died in the war), and Cherry L. F. The subject of this sketch attended school in Tennessee in youth, subsequently engaging in
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farming for himself. In 1860 he came to Arkan- sas, but soon returned to Tennessee, and during the late war served two and a half years with the Confederacy. He was slightly wounded at Mark's Mill, in Arkansas, and also took part in the battle of Helena with Gen. Price, besides being through Missouri and Arkansas. When the strife ended he returned to Tennessee, and in 1866 again came to Arkansas, locating at Garretson's Landing, where for a few years he followed farming, and finally established himself as a general merchant at Green- back and at Swan Lake Landing. In 1883 he came to his present location, and here has a fine stock of goods, dealing in cotton, etc., in connec- tion with which he is a planter of experience and success. On September 6, 1876. Mr. Chamblee married Miss Laura C. Farley, of Fayette Coun- ty, Tenn., daughter of John A. Farley and wife. She was born November 21, 1853, and died Au- gust 24, 1886: she was a lovely woman and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Chamblee has been a merchant for fifteen years and is a stanch Democrat. In this connection it is eminently proper that an obituary notice pub- lished upon the death of Mrs. Chamblee by a local paper be inserted in this place, as indicat- ing to some extent the true worth of this woman and the happy relations she enjoyed as a wife. "Died-At her home, near Greenback, Ark., on Tuesday, August 24, Mrs. Laura C. Chamblee, wife of Mr. John W. Chamblee, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Farley, of Fayette County, Tenn. She was buried in Elmwood on the 26th. The relentless hand of death never tore from human hearts a more priceless treasure, or made a more terrible void in the vacant chair or in loving hearts. Young, brilliant, surpassingly beautiful, graceful as a fawn in every movement, yet all uu- conscious of her charms, she seemed to live only to make others happy, and benignity, love and holy joy beamed from every lineament of her fine coun- tenance. With a mind as bright and as pure as a diamond. gentle and sympathetic through all her nature, full of noble and generous impulses, ten- der and considerate in all her intercourse, she was the delight of every circle. and the idol of those
near and dear to her. A loving and dutiful daugh- ter, she was also a noble and devoted wife; and no husband ever prized more highly, or loved more truly, the wife of his bosom than her faithful spouse; and their lives flowed on like a blissful dream of eastern romance. But, alas! disease comes, and in a few short days the 'golden bowl is broken, the pitcher is broken at the fountain,' and he is left desolate! But God has taken her, for she was too much like the angels for the un- hallowed walks of earth. May God bless and com- fort him, and in the fullness of his own good time take him also where, in joy unspeakable, they may dwell together forever."
W. J. Childress, M. D., a prominent physician of Pine Bluff, was born in Franklin, Williamson County, Tenn., December 12, 1827, being the son of William G. and Mary (Bradley) Childress, both natives of Tennessee. The paternal grandfather, Stephen, was of North Carolina nativity, and early settled at Nashville, Tenn., where, as well as can be traced. he built the first house in that future city. He died in the western portion of the State. The father of Dr. Childress was a farmer by voca- tion, and lived most of his life in Williamson County, where he died in 1846. He was sheriff of that county for some time, and also represented his constituents in the legislature. He was also cashier of the Bank of Franklin. Mrs. Childress died in 1864, having reared eight children, five of whom are living: Thomas B. (a prominent lawyer of St. Louis), William J. (twin brother to Thomas, and the subject of this biography), Mrs. Sinclair (of Texas), Mrs. Kilpatrick, and Mrs. Cole (both of Memphis). Dr. Childress was brought up and received his education in Tennessee, commencing the study of medicine at an early age, and after a thorough preparation, in 1852, he was graduated from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadel- phia. He began practice in Nashville, Tenn., and in the fall of 1852, came to Jefferson County, Ark., locating at Richland, where he entered upon a professional career, and continued for many years. He then settled in Arkansas County, but in 1886 returned to Pine Bluff, where he is still occupied in the practice of his profession, being
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recognized as one of the most prominent physicians of Central Arkansas, and deservedly popular. In 1854 he married Ellen N. Woodson, who bore three children, two of whom are now living: Thomas B. and Amanda R. Mrs. Childress died in 1883. The Doctor is an influential Democrat, and a mem- ber of the Catholic Church.
John M. Clayton. who was prominent among the men of Jefferson County that have passed away, was born near Chester, Penn., on October 13, 1840, and was a son of John and Ann (Glover) Clayton. He was reared and remained on a farm until at- taining his maturity, obtaining in the meantime a good education at the common schools and acade- mies of his birthplace. When the Civil War com- menced, although yet in his youth, he gallantly enlisted, and served in the Army of the Potomac, participating in nearly all of the important en- gagements. Shortly after the war was over, he re- moved to Jefferson County, Ark., with his young wife, and located on the farm of his brother, Gen. Powell Clayton, who had preceded him here sev- eral years, and who took an active part in the Re- bellion. Gen. Clayton became one of the most prominent men of Arkansas, having been elected to the highest office in the State-Governor, and also United States Senator. John M. Clayton re- mained on the farm for several years, and was very successful as a planter. He held his first office in the township of Richland, being elected justice of the peace, and subsequently was elected to the State Senate, holding the speaker's chair for a short time pro tem. In 1876 he was elected sheriff of Jefferson County, and held that office for ten years, being re-elected at the expiration of each term. In the fall of ISSS he became a candidate for Con- gress, his opponent being Hon. Mr. Brecken- ridge. The contest was very close, with Mr. Breck- enridge receiving the certificate. It was, however, decided to contest the validity of the election, and while doing so, on January 19, 1889, Mr. Clayton was foully assassinated, being shot while sitting near a window. This cowardly deed aronsed the indignation of the press and people throughout the country, but up to the present writing his murder- ers have never been brought to justice. Mr. Clay-
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ton is buried at Pine Bluff. by the side of his de- voted wife, who died several years previous. Mr. Clayton was a law-abiding and upright citizen. He had a host of friends in Jefferson County, and especially in Pine Bluff, and his loss was deeply felt throughout the community. Politically, he was a Republican, and in secret societies a Mason, and also held the office of Deputy Grand Master of the Knights Templar at the time of his assassina- tion. He left six children to mourn him, the eldest being Miss Emma Clayton, the present postmistress at Pine Bluff, who received her ap- pointment in July, 1889.
W. J. Cole, an industrious, enterprising citi- zen of Jefferson County, owes his nativity to Wayne County, Tenn., where his birth occurred January 16, 1847. His father, George B. Cole, was also born in Wayne County, Tenn., in the year 1820. The latter was reared in his native State, and after growing up, married Miss Bettie A. Curtis, of Ten- nessee origin. Their union was blessed by the birth of eight children, five sons and three daughters, five of whom are still living, and four are residents of this State. One is located in Missouri. George B. Cole was a successful agriculturist, and owned about 220 acres of good land in Washington and Izard Counties. He served in the late war, and was at the battle of Vicksburg, receiving his dis- charge in the fall of 1863, after which he returned home and resumed his former occupation of tilling the soil. He subsequently went on a visit to Ten- nessee, where his father was living, and was killed while on his return in 1864. The mother died in 1885 in Jackson County, Ark. Both were mem- bers of the Methodist Church. W. J. Cole was educated at Fayetteville, Washington County, Ark., but from there went to Izard County, and removed from there to Jackson County in 1865. In 1870 he came to Jefferson County, where he married Miss Mary Jane King, a native of Ten- nessee, on February 4. 1874. and the fruits of this union are five children, two sons and three daughters-George W., Roxanna, James H., Mattie C. and Mary E. Four are now living, and all reside at home. Mr. Cole has two orphan boys living with him, and they are the sons of Joseph
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and Elizabeth King. He has been occupied all his life in tilling the soil, is the owner of about seventy acres of land, and has about sixty-five acres under cultivation. He is also engaged in running a grist mill and a cotton gin. He be- longs to the Masonic fraternity, and during the three years of his membership he has filled the office of tyler of the lodge. He is a member and has held the office of treasurer in the Agricultural Wheel for one term. He and wife belong to the Methodist Church, and both are active church workers. He has at this time sold out in Jefferson County, Ark., and has bought a 160-acre farm in Conway County, Ark .. paying $1,500 cash for same, and has other property to the amount of $2, 500. and is entirely clear of debt. His postoffice after January 1, 1890, will be Springfield, Conway Coun- ty, Ark.
Garrett Cooper, one of the oldest and most re- spected citizens of Jefferson County, was born in Craven County, N. C., on April 26, 1826, and is a son of Robert and Isabel (Prescott) Cooper. The parents moved from North Carolina to Tennessee in 1828, and settled in Tipton County, where Gar- rett was reared and educated. Both parents died at an advanced age. In his early youth, Garrett displayed a fondness for mechanical pursuits that predicted a brilliant future, and when only eighteen or nineteen years of age he received a contract to build several bridges in the State of Tennessee. From that time to the year 1860 he contracted throughout the State for building bridges, cotton gins and other structures, and his fame as such spread rapidly to the surrounding country. Prob- ably no other scientific mechanic in that part of the country enjoyed the reputation that young Cooper had made for himself. Science was a study to which he had applied himself all his life, it was natural to him, and in the construction of bridges, he had few superiors even among the older mechan- ics. In 1866 he embarked in mercantile life at what was known as Lower Seven Lake, and after- ward Cooper Landing, named in his honor when the postoffice was established at that point. He continued in business until very recently, and from 1866 began to cultivate cotton quite extensively.
He now owns 700 acres of very productive land, and at one time had control of Cooper's Island, having purchased it for $30,000, but a number of very disastrous floods destroyed it. On August 22, 1849, he was married to Miss Ann Kent, of Tipton County, Tenn., a daughter of George W. Kent, who was very prominent in that county. This lady was born May 20, 1833, and died April 13, 1872, and by her marriage with Mr. Cooper be- came the mother of twelve children. of whom four are yet living: Bob S., Frances V. (wife of a Mr. Neely, of Mississippi County, Ark.), Mary F. and Willie. In 1875 he was married to Miss Mary Kent, a sister of his first wife, this lady having been born in Virginia, on April 21, 1829, and died February 15, 1881. Mr. Cooper is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which he is trustee, and in politics he is a stanch Demo- crat. He is now sixty-three years of age, but to look at him, no one would think he was more than fifty. He uses no glasses, nor does he ever expect to, remarking that "I would trade my eyes for none." During the war he was neutral and con- sequently excused from service, but he traveled over the country a great deal, and was never mo- lested by either side. Mr. Cooper can be proud of oue fact, and that is that during his life he was never arrested for any cause whatsoever. He is a leader in public and private enterprises, and one of the foremost citizens in the county. His popu- larity is unbounded. and few men are held in higher esteem.
John D. Crockett, book-keeper and manager of Col. John M. Gracie's cotton plantation in Bogy Township, Jefferson County, was born in Arkansas County, near Crockett's Bluffs, on the White River, on August 1, 1858. and is a son of David and Nancy Crockett. The father was a very success- ful farmer during his life, but a considerable loser by the Civil War. At the time of his death, he had not succeeded in recovering much of his for- tune, and was in only comparatively easy circum- stances. He was prominent in Masonic circles and a noted Democratic politician, his favor being sought for by hundreds of men during his life- time. Two years of his life he gave to the South
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in serving through the war, and his deeds on the ty, Tenn., which was his home for four years, and field of battle were brave and many. He was a in 1876 located in St. Francis County, Ark. In 1877 he came to his present location, and entered upon a career as planter, also establishing himself as general merchant, in both of which he has met with deserved success. He is truly a self-made man, industrious and energetic, and now enjoys a business of $15,000 per year. He is also post. inaster at English, the office being located in his store. Mr. Crutchfield served three years in the Confederate army during the war, during which time he was taken prisoner at Decatur, Ala., being paroled after three months at Nashville. Upon the close of the war he returned home and at- tended school in Fayette County. Mr. Crutch- field's wife was formerly a Miss Dora Bagley, of Tennessee, who is still living. They have no chil- dren of their own, but are bringing up two nieces (children of Mrs. Crutchfield's sister), Neda and Maggie Greer, the mother having died when they were eight days, and fourteen months old, respect- ively. Their father is living, but is an invalid from paralysis. Mr. Crutchfield is a Democrat in his political preferences and a representative citi- zen of the community. son of William Crockett, whose father was the celebrated Davy Crockett, of historical fame. The mother of John D, was a member of the Presby- terian Church, and by her marriage became the mother of five children, of whom John is the only one now living. After his father's death, John D. went to reside with an unele, with whom he re- mained for two years, but at the end of that time he started out in the world for himself, and has acted as salesman in the towns of Swan Lake. Dar- danelle, Pendleton. Sarassa and his present loca- tion. He entered the employ of Col. John M. Gracie in 1882 as salesman and book-keeper, and so well has he repaid the confidence and trust reposed in him, that now he has charge not only of the Colonel's mercantile affairs, but also of his plantation, which consists of 2,400 acres under cultivation. He is an expert book-keeper, a shrewd business man and a competent manager. and bids fair to become one of the most prominent men in Central Arkansas in the near future. On February 27, 1883, he was married to Miss Mary D. Field, a danghter of Silas Field, of Little Rock, by whom he has had one child, James D. Mrs. Crockett is a member of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Crockett is one of the two Crocketts who went to the 103d anniversary of the birth of Davy Crockett. at Limestone, East Tenn., on Au- gust 17, 1889. The other Crockett was Robert H., a prominent attorney of Stuttgart. Ark .. and a grandson of Davy Crockett. The latter gentle- man was a colonel in the Confederate army during the Civil War, and won an illustrious name for courage and daring.
George E. Crutchfield, who as a planter and merchant at English postoffice, is well and favor- ably known, was born in North Carolina in 1846, being the son of James and Sarah (Moon) Crutch- field, of Orange County, N. C. They first came to Arkansas in 1852, but the following year moved to Tennessee, locating in Fayette County, where George was reared, growing to manhood on his father's farm. He remained at the latter place till 1871, subsequently going to Hardeman Coun-
Mrs. Mary E. Curlin, widow of James V. Cur- lin, who was an old resident of Arkansas, was born in Jackson County, Ala., October 6, 1845, and is a daughter of C. A. and Elizabeth (Shell) Chadick, of Tennessee and Alabama, respective- ly. Charles A. Chadick was a noted Methodist minister, and was born May 13, 1820. In 1841 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Shell, a dangh- ter of Adam Shell, of Alabama, and in 1845 re- moved with his wife to Arkansas. He was li- censed to preach in that State in 1848. and located in Jefferson County, where he labored in the re- ligious field until August 14, 1888. As a preacher of the gospel he was far above the average, being able to propound the Bible with a clearness and earnestness that would convince the most skepti- cal. The entire community in which he resided, as well as his congregation, loved and honored him as few men are regarded, and his loss was sincerely mourned by those who had heard his voice in life. Mr. Chadick was a Mason in good
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standing for a number of years, and in politics he was a stanch Democrat. During the war he entered the Confederate army, and served as lieu- tenant of artillery for three years, operating in Arkansas and Missouri, and taking part in almost every battle west of the Mississippi River. Pre- vious to serving in the artillery he was a member of Capt."McGee's company, and operated in Vir- ginia, but was discharged on account of disability. Two of his sous were also in the Confederate army. James C. was a member of Company C, Arkansas Infantry, and took part in many engagements east of the Mississippi, while William J. belonged to Company D of the Ninth Arkansas Infantry, and fought in the same territory. The latter was twice wounded and once taken prisoner, but escaped by making a bold break for liberty. The Chadick family are of Scotch-Irish descent, while the Shell family are German. Miss Mary E. Chadick was reared and educated in Jefferson County. In De- cember, 1869, she became the wife of James V. Curlin, who came to Arkansas with his parents and located first in Dallas County, and a few years later moved to Jefferson County. He was born on October 9, 1845, in the State of Tennessee, and was a son of Jesse J. Curlin, who died in Ran- dolph County on May 21. 1888. Mr. Curlin began life as a poor boy in 1867, and it was not until his marriage with Miss Chadick that the brightest part of his life was exhibited. By her sound ad- vice and help, added to his own good judgment and untiring industry, he became one of the most successful farmers in Central Arkansas. He was never interested in politics to any great extent, but an appeal from the distressed and needy was always sure to enlist his sympathies. He was a true friend to the church, always ready to help advance the cause of religion until his death, which oc- curred July 2, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Curlin were the parents of five sons and two daughters, of whom six are still living: Anna E. (deceased), Ben- jamin M. (born December 6, 1871), Charles J. (born September 6, 1873), James C. (born Decem- ber 4, 1875), Claude M. (born October 27, 1878). George W. (born October 16, 1880), Mary E. (born September 14, 1882). Mr. and Mrs. Curlin were
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