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 91

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 91
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 91
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 91
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 91
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 91
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 91
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 91
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 91
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 91


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


Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield; Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke; How jocund did they drive their team afield! Hlow bow'd the woods beneath their sturdy stroke !- Gray.


NE of the most eminent of American statesmen is recorded as having said that no community can attain to permanent moral success without religious culture and development. As this is closely allied to educational pro- gress and growth, it is eminently proper that the ecclesiastical and scholastic facilities afforded in Lonoke County be given prominent mention in this sketch of its history, as indicating the real nature and trne worth of the community as a center of refinement and intellectual advancement and permanent growth.


In nearly all settlements west of the Missis- sippi the Methodist and Baptist denominations were the pioneer Christian workers, but in the district now embraced in Lonoke County they were accompanied by the Presbyterians. The earliest settlers of Old Austin and vicinity included a colony


of Baptists from the Carolinas, who organized a church there in a very early day, perhaps the first one in the county. Rev. John Carroll was one of the first Baptist ministers here. The population being small but few churches were organized prior to the Civil War; with the increase of population, how- ever, denominational organizations have increased until, according to the minutes of the Caroline Bap- tist Association, held at New Hope Church, in Oc- tober, 1888, this denomination had the following named churches, pastors and membership in Lonoke County: Austin, R. J. Coleman, 55; Baker's Bayou, R. L. Sawyer, 40; Bethel, B. F. House, 39; Cabot, R. J. Coleman, 40; Carlisle, P. A. Haman, 55; Greenwood, J. G. Doyle, 82; Gum- woods, J. D. Fletcher, 32; Lonoke, W. A. Forbes, 144; New Hope, O. U. Owens, 117; Pecan Grove, J. D. Fletcher, 113; Pleasant Hill, J. J. Sawyer, 105; Walnut Plains, O. U. Owens, 37; Watten- saw, J. J. Sawyer, 64. Other churches belonging to the association have since been organized, one at England and one at Richwoods, both by Elder O. U. Owens, and one near Cabot by Elder J. G. Melton. The Caroline Association recently closed


574


HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.


its session for 1889, at Judsonia, in White County. The increase in membership over the figures here given has been large during the last year.


Rev. John Harris was among the pioneer Meth- odist ministers in this locality, and organizations of this denomination were effected in the primitive settlements. Of this church Lonoke Station, Rev. C. D. McSwain, pastor, has about 200 members; Austin circuit, embracing some eight appointments, Rev. C. M. Keith, pastor, has, according to the last conference minutes, 773 members, three local preachers, and church property valued at $3,000; Carlisle circuit, embracing six appointments, Rev. J. M. D. Sturgis, pastor, has a membership of 209, and church property valued at $1,250; England circuit, with six appointments, Rev. K. W. Dod- son, pastor, has a membership of 233, and prop- erty valued at $1,500. These figures have been taken from the last conference minutes, and there- fore do not include the increase since made. Lo- noke Station has a new brick church edifice under process of construction, to be completed January 1, 1890, and to cost about $6,500. Their present church edifice is a frame building, with a Masonic hall above the audience room.


Among the pioneer Presbyterian ministers were Revs. James Wilson Moore and Aaron Williams. The former settled in what is now Caroline Town- ship, in 1840, and very soon after organized the church now known as Sylvania, a log church house being erected in 1843. In 1860 the present brick edifice was built at that place. It was used by Federal troops during the war; seats were destroyed and the building was otherwise injured. After the war closed the Government, through the efforts of Rev. Moore, replaced the seats. This church is now in a prosperous condition. Rev. Moore also taught school in his settlement, and as a result of his religious and educational efforts that community is now an especially pious and intelligent one. The Presbyterian Church at Brownsville was organ- ized in April, 1848, by Rev. Aaron Williams, another pioneer settler and Christian worker. In 1873 this organization moved to Lonoke, but a few members living north of Brownsville withdrew, and organized the Hester Church on the northern


1


edge of Grand Prairie. This latter church was dissolved in 1888, the members coming to and join- ing the original church at Lonoke. Rev. Samuel I. Reed is pastor of the church at Lonoke, and the membership is fifty-four. The present Presbyte- rian Church edifice (brick) at Lonoke was erected in 1879. There is another church organization of this denomination, known as Hickory Plains, located near the line between Lonoke and Prairie Counties.


A large organization of the Cumberland Pres- byterians is at Cabot, and there may be other religious societies within the county, but the fore- going gives ample evidence that the scriptural command to "preach the Gospel to every creat- ure" has not been disobeyed in this immediate locality, at least.


Sunday-schools are taught in all churches in the towns and villages, and in some of the coun- try churches. Several Methodist and Baptist organizations obtain among the colored people.


A better appreciation of the school system of Lonoke County may, perhaps, be derived from a glance at the statistics furnished, than in any other way. The following report is taken from the last published report of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, for the year ending June 30, 1888, and will serve to show the condition of the public schools at that time: Scholastic Popula- tion-white, males, 2,331, females, 1,745, total, 4,076; colored, males, 813, females, 827, total, 1,640; total white and colored, 5,716. Number of pupils taught in the public schools-white, males, 1,235, females, 1,057, total, 2,292; col- ored, males, 416, females, 411, total, 827; aggre- gate, 3,119. Number of school districts, 62; num ber reported, 46. Number of teachers employed- males, 49, females, 28, total, 77. Average monthly salaries paid teachers-first grade, males, $45, females, $40; second grade, males, $37.50, fe- males, $30; third grade, males, $33, females, $27.50. Amount of money expended for the schools during the year-for teacher's salaries, $16, 786. - 73; for building and repairing, $1,973.37; for treasurer's commissions, $419.15; for other pur- poses, $1,268.53; total, $20,447. 78.


1


1


575


LONOKE COUNTY.


According to these figures only 56 per cent of the white and 50 per cent of the colored scholastic population were taught in the public schools; but it must be observed that out of the sixty-two school districts, only forty-six reported, thus leaving six- teen unreported. The pupils attending in these unreported districts, if added, would of course increase the per cent of attendance. This failure to report will undoubtedly be remedied in the near future, as the desirability of accurate and uniform returns to the proper authority is being more fully | realized than in the past.


The public school in Lonoke is graded and has a high school department, from which the pupils graduate with an education sufficient for nearly all business avocations of life. A principal and six assistant teachers are employed. Carlisle has a graded free school with a principal and one assist- ant teacher. There are also other graded schools in the county. Austin College, an institution of merit and worth, is mentioned in other pages of this volume.


The organization of Lonoke County was in ac- cordance with an act of the General Assembly of the State, approved April 16, 1873, and by subse- quent acts its limits, as originally defined, have been extended to its present dimensions, as described elsewhere. The territory originally belonged to that vast extent of country known as Louisiana, then to the Territory of Missouri, and upon the organization of Arkansas County in 1813, it was included within that; when Pulaski was organized in 1818, it formed a part thereof, and later, at the organization of Prairie, in 1846, was nearly all em- braced in that county; subsequently about one- half was set back by an act of the legislature to Pu- laski County, so that when Lonoke was organized its territory was held nearly equally by the coun- ties of Prairie and Pulaski.


The creating act fixed the seat of justice of the county at the town of Lonoke, and appointed George M. Chapline, Thomas Doyle and William Goodwin commissioners, who, under the direction of the board of supervisors (County Court) should purchase lots in the town of Lonoke whereon to locate the seat of justice and erect the county


buildings. Accordingly at the first meeting of the board of supervisors, these commissioners reported and recommended "that the Hicks and Reynolds Block, known as the public square, be purchased for the location of such seat of justice." But the court rejected the report and opposed the purchase of this property. Subsequently, on October 12. 1873, William Goodrum and wife, for the con- sideration of $2,000, executed a deed to E. L. Beard, W. T. High and William M. Knight. the supervisors of Lonoke County, and to their succes- sors in office, for the use of the county, "the east half of lot ten in block four in Wright's survey of the town of Lonoke." On this lot stood a two- story frame building about 24x90 feet in size, the last court house belonging to Prairie County while Brownsville was its county seat, and which build- ing had, prior to the organization of Lonoke Coun- ty, been removed to and rebuilt at the town of Lonoke, where it thus became the first court house of the latter county. It was consumed by fire in 1881, but without loss to the public records, which were saved. The fire started, it is thought, from a candle left burning after the adjournment of a public meeting. From this time until the present court house was ready for occupancy, the county rented buildings for its various offices. *


The ground on which the court house now stands (block thirteen in the town of Lonoke), was donated to the county by C. T. Thompson and Walton Harris, for the consideration of its accept- ance and use as the seat of justice within ten years from the date of the deeds of conveyance, which were dated April 13. 1875. The block is 240 feet square: Mr. Thompson donated the south part, 200 feet in width from north to south, and Mr. Harris the strip 40 feet in width along the north side. The property was accepted by the court and the deeds were recorded, but it was not occu- pied, nor was any court house built thereon until by reason of the expiration of the ten years it had reverted to the donors. Upon assurance, how- ever, that a court house would immediately be


* Brownsville, the county seat of Prairie County prior to the organization of Lonoke County, was situated at a point two and one-half miles northeast of the present town of Lonoke.


576


HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.


constructed, the original donors reconveyed the property to the county by a deed dated July 14, 1885. Accordingly the present court house was erected that year by the contractors and builders, W. S. Sterrett & Co., at a cost when completed, of $15,000. It is a large and very substantial two- story brick building, with two halls, five office rooms, and a fire-proof vault on the first floor, and the court room and three smaller rooms on the second. It also has a tower for the reception of a town clock. This building was put up under the administration of Judge J. M. King, the building commissioners being W. F. Hicks, John C. Eng- land and Dan Daniel. The people may well con- gratulate themselves on having secured such an attractive and substantial court house for the least possible amount of money.


On February 8, 1875, Flavius Wight, as mayor of Lonoke and for the town, conveyed by deed to the county, for the consideration of $225, the south half of Lot 11 in Block 4 in Lonoke, according to the survey by Hicks and Reynolds. On this lot the first county jail, a log structure, was built by the contractor, A. Washmood, for the sum of $3, 750. The contract for its erection was let in the fall of 1874, and it was completed the following year. In April, 1876. there were two prisoners confined therein, Ed Blood, a negro charged with murder, and a man named Murphy. arrested for horse steal- ing. Blood was fastened with a chain to the floor. Some outside party assisted Murphy to burn a hole through the door large enough to enable them to make their escape. Blood was liberated from his chains by Murphy, after which both escaped, and, leaving the jail on fire, it burned down. Murphy, afterward, and just before being re-captured, com- mitted suicide. Blood was re-arrested. tried, and found guilty of killing a crazy negro, and sen- tenced to twenty-one years in the penitentiary.


On January 11, 1859, Mrs. L. M. James and her husband, W. F. James, for the consideration of $650 ($600 in cash and the old jail lot, valued at $50), executed a deed to the county for all of Block 20 in Wright's survey of the town of Lonoke; and at this writing J. B. Chapline and C. W. England, contractors, have about completed a jail and jail-


er's residence on that site. This is a two-story brick building, with the dwelling portion below and the jail above, the latter provided with steel cells. The contract was let for $11,000 in round numbers.


On January 30, 1889, James F. Clements and wife executed a deed conveying to Lonoke County, for the consideration of $1,000, the following described lands: The north half of the southeast quarter, and the northeast quarter of the south- west quarter, and the west half of the west half of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 24, in township two north, range nine west; containing 130 acres in all. This farm was purchased as a home for the poor that are dependent upon the county for support. It lies one mile west of Lonoke.


At the first session of the board of supervisors (convened May 13, 1873) the county was sub- divided into the following municipal townships: Butler, Caroline, Cypress, Gray, Eagle, Prairie, Totten, Lonoke, Richwoods, Pettus and Gum- woods. Changes have since been made, so that the name Cypress has been dropped, and other townships formed and named as follows: Magness, York, Goodrum, Pulaski, Carlisle, Hamilton, Will iams, Lafayette, Indian Bayou and Crooked Creek. Thus there are twenty municipal town- ships in the county at this writing.


The valuation and taxation of the county pre- sent a most creditable showing. In 1880, real estate was assessed for taxation at $995,732, and personal property at $422, 700, a total of $1,418, - 432; the total taxes charged thereon for that year being $27,415. In 1888, the real-estate assess- ment was estimated at $1,816, 465, and personal property (including the railroads) at $1,429,820, or a grand total of taxable property of $3,246.285; on this the total taxes charged amounted to $51,702.98. This shows that from 1880 to 1888 the real property of the county nearly doubled, and the personal more than trebled, the aggregate increasing from $1,418,432 to $3,246,285. Con- trary to the general rule, the railroads in this county have been included in the personal property in- stead of in the real estate, as is generally the custom elsewhere. The railroads were thus as-


577


LONOKE COUNTY.


sessed in 18SS: St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern, $238,010; Memphis & Little Rock, $163,488; the Altheimer branch, $83, 136; making an aggregate of $484,634. Lonoke County has no bonded indebtedness. A year ago it had no debt of any kind. but in consequence of the building of the jail it is not entirely free from ineumbrance. Such facts redound with great credit to any com- munity. and prove an important factor in demon- strating the desirability of this section as a place of residence.


The first settlements of the territory now em- braced in Lonoke County, were made in and around Moss Prairie, including the Eagle settle- ment near the prairie, and at and in the vicinity of Old Austin, both in the northwest portion. The pioneers of the former were Sampson Gray, from Williamson County, Tenn., in 1821; Francis Se- crist, from the same county and State, about 1826; James Dunnaway, from North Carolina, in 1830; S. C. Moss, from Nashville, Tenn., about 1834, and Andrew J. Legate, from Pulaski County, 1842. The latter still survives, and lives some six miles southeast of Lonoke. He has settled upon and cleared several farms since his first location, and even now, at his advanced age, is clearing another farm. [See biography]. Other pioneers of this settlement were: James Eagle, the father of Gov. James P. Eagle, who came from Tennessee in 1839; William Swain, Sen., and his sons, William, Jr., and Samuel, about the same time, or a little later, all from Tennessee: John Smart, Benjamin Isbell and P. N. Horton, from Alabama, and Thomas Furlow, from Tennessee.


Among the pioneers of the Austin settlement were: William Sanders. Sen., and William San- ders, Jr .; Hogan, a relative of the Sanders, and Drury Dobbins, all from South Carolina, and James Erwin, from North Carolina. The latter settled about 1835, and the others also in the 30's, The earliest settler on Grand Prairie was Robert Litton, and other early pioneers there were: Joseph Stillwell and John Percefull. The first-comers to Longue Prairie were: John Reynolds and his son Hamilton, Lot Johnson and Josephus Tucker. In 1830, John Harrod located on Cypress Creek, sev-


eral miles from any other settlement, and there began the business of raising hogs and allowing them to fatten on the mast of the forest. He eured great quantities of bacon, which he hauled to Little Rock, and sold at from 4 to 5 cents per pound. Jacob Bradshaw, Haney Hudgins, George Rose, and a Mr. Sumner were the pioneers in the vicinity of Clear Lake. Judge J. M. King came from Alabama. in 1850. and settled where Pleas- ant Hill church now stands, about ten miles north- west of Lonoke. The following were pioneers in and about Brownsville, the county seat of Prairie County (when nearly all of the territory of Lonoke formed a part of that county): E. M. Williams, first clerk, and Alfred Barksdale, the first sher- iff of Prairie County; Rev. Aaron Williams, for- merly of South Carolina, but latterly of Little Rock, Ark., the father of Judge Samuel W. Will- iams, now of that city; E. E. Dismukes, from Ten- nessee; Dr. John Wright, from South Carolina; Nathan Bird, from Georgia, and W. H. England; the latter came from Georgia in 1849. He was the father of John C. England, private secretary of Gov. Eagle, and his brothers, all of whom are well known to the people of Lonoke County. A later settlement was one known as the Walter's Settlement, called after a pioneer of that name. Of those who settled there during the 50's, there are now living: Lewis Hutson, James Caveness, Wylie Davis, Col. I. D. Bore and William Johnson.


As far back as 1820, a few buffalo and elk remained in this part of the country, and bears, wolves, panthers, wild cats, deer, the smaller animals, wild turkeys, wild geese, dueks, prairie chickens and other small fowls were numerous. The buffalo and elk have become extinct, the bears nearly so, while other animals and fowls remain in sufficient quantities in some localities to make it interesting, and sometimes profitable for hunters. The pioneers lived to a great extent upon wild game, which was so easily obtained that rifle shots from their cabin doors brought it down, within con- venient distance. A good story is told of a French- man named Ambo, and an Indian, two famous hunt- ers, who, upon one occasion, determined to hunt separately one day, agreeing that the one killing


6


578


HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.


the most game should have all secured by the other. The field of operation was in the vicinity of the place where the iron bridge now spans Bayou Meto. about twelve miles out from Little Rock, the ter- ritory being on both sides of the line between Pulaski and Lonoke Counties as now established. The Frenchman killed thirty-six deer and the Indian thirty-three. What a change has been brought about in a few years by advancing civili- zation. This hunt took place in the year 1829.


Uncle Andrew J. Legate relates an amusing incident in which he killed five bears one morning before breakfast. Being out of meat he remarked to his wife that he would step out and shoot a deer, that they might have some venison for their meal. But a short distance had been traversed when he espied an old bear seated upon her haunches with her back against a tree. Taking deliberate aim he shot and killed the animal, after which looking up he discovered in the branches of the tree four cubs, all of which he killed. Instead of venison, how- ever, bear meat served as an article of diet for many meals. On another occasion, when in the woods with his four dogs, a huge panther was seen resting on the limb of a tree. The first shot which he fired did not disturb it, but the second, though only injuring it slightly, caused it to jump to the ground, where the dogs instantly seized it, one of them on each side of the head, and one at each hind quarter. Notwithstanding these hindrances the beast was able to drag all along, and with open mouth made for Mr. Legate, who thrust his gun barrel down the animal's throat, and holding it with his left hand, with his right he took a knife from his pocket, opened it with his teeth. and then dispatched the ferocious beast. "Uncle Jack," as he is called, can relate many amusing inci- dents of pioneer life, in which he and his comrades were engaged. He is now the oldest surviving pioneer, having lived in Lonoke's present territory longer than any other person.


The following official list includes the names of all those who have occupied positions of re- sponsibility within the county since its organ- ization, with date of terms of service annexed:


Judges: Board of supervisors, 1873-74; E. L.


Beard, 1874-82; J. M. King, 1882-86; J. N. Smith, present incumbent, first elected in 1886.


Clerks: G. M. Chapline, 1873-74; William Goodrum, 1874-86; George W. Chapline, 1886-88; G. M. Chapline, the present incumbent, elected in 1888.


Sheriffs: J. M. McClintock, 1873-74; J. M. King, 1874-78; W. P. Fletcher, 1878-86; J. H. Hicks, present officer, first elected in 1886.


Treasurers: A. M. Russell, 1873-74; W. A. Verser, 1876-84; S. V. Austin, 1884-88; Henry Brown, present treasurer, elected in 1888.


Coroners: J. A. Woolen, 1873-74; H. C. Jackson, 1874-76; R. E. Boyd, 1876-78; S. B. Cannon, 1878-84; S. T. Norent, 1884-86; D. A. Newman, 1886-88; J. F. Bell, present incumbent, elected in 1888.


Surveyors: J. E. Baker, 1873, to November; W. J. High, from November, 1873, to 1874; J. A. Alexander, 1874-78; B. F. Stokes, present in- cumbent, continuously since 1878.


Assessors: D. J. Mytinger, 1873-74; L. A. McLendon, 1874-78; F. G. Swain, 1878-82; Q. T. Webster, 1882-84; F. G. Swain, 1884-86; W. H. Robinson, the present incumbent, first elected in 1886.


James P. Eagle (present Governor) represent- ed Lonoke County in the State Constitutional Con- vention in 1874.


State Senators: Twelfth District, Lonoke and Prairie Counties; W. F. Hicks, 1874-78; J. E. Gatewood, 1878-82; W. F. Hicks, 1882-86; W. P. Fletcher, 1886.


Representatives: W. L. Frazier and J. H. Bradford, 1874-76; J. P. Eagle and A. D. Law- horn, 1876-78; J. M. King and A. W. Bumpass, 1878-80; A. D. Turner and G. M. Chapline, 1880-82; O. N. Owens and W. M. Hereford, 1882-84; J. P. Eagle and A. D. Tanner, 1884-86; A. J. Patton and W. F. Hicks, 1886-88.


The population of Lonoke County is now prob- ably over 15,000. According to the United States census for 1880 it had 8,143 white, and 4,003 col- ored residents, or a total population of 12, 146. This shows that nearly one-third of the population at that time was negroes. Since then, by reason


579


LONOKE COUNTY.


of a considerable influx of white immigrants, the white numerical strength has increased rapidly. The blacks are more thickly settled in the southern portion of the county, where are located the largest cotton plantations, and some of them own and cul- tivate their own farms.


The political aspect of the county, as might be supposed, is largely Democratic. In local matters, however, party measures are made subservient to those movements tending to the best interests of the people.


At the September election in 1888, James P. Eagle, Democratic candidate for Governor, received here 1,768 votes, and C. M. Norwood, the com- bined opposition candidate, 1,473 votes. At the November election in the same year, the several candidates for President received votes as follows: Cleveland, Democrat, 1,469; Harrison, Repub- lican, 1,043; Streeter, Union Labor, 84; Fisk, Prohibition, 4.


When Lonoke County was created the county court, as intimated elsewhere, consisted of a board of supervisors, and remained thus composed until organized as it now exists under the provisions of the Constitution of 1874. This court convenes in regular session on the second Monday of January, April, July and October of each year, and the pro- bate court on the fourth Monday of the same months. The circuit court holds but two regular sessions in the year, convening on the first Monday of January and July. The Lonoke chancery court convenes on the third Monday of May and Novem- ber. The circuit court belongs to the Sixth judi- cial district, composed of the counties of Lonoke, Pulaski, Van Buren, Faulkner and Cleburne, with Judge J. W. Martin, of Little Rock, presiding, and R. J. Lea, of Little Rock, prosecuting attorney. The resident attorneys, constituting the legal bar of the county, are E. Hendricks, C. W. England, John L. Black, J. E. Gatewood, T. C. Trimble, W. F. Hicks, George Sibly and George T. Lea.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.