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 92
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 92
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 92
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 92
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 92
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 92
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 92
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 92
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 92
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Lonoke County is one of the most highly fa- vored portions of the east central portion of the State. It is bounded north by White County, east by Prairie, south by Jefferson and west by Pulaski, its boundary lines being as follows: Beginning at
the northeast corner of Township 3 north, Range 7 west; thence south on the range line to the base line; thence east to Two Prairie Bayou; thence down this stream to the line dividing Townships 2 and 3 south; thence west on the township line to the southwest corner of Township 2 south, Range 9 west; thence north on the range line to the middle of Township 1 south; thence west five miles to the southwest corner of Section 17, Township 1 south, Range 10 west; thence north to the old bed of Arkansas River; thence up this old bed to the base line to the southwest corner of Section 33, Town- ship 1 north, Range 10 west; thence north on section line four miles; thence east on section line one mile; thence north on section lines to the line dividing Townships 4 and 5 north; thence west on township line to the middle of Range 10 west; thence north to Cypress Creek: thence down this stream to the line dividing Ranges 7 and 8 west; thence south on the range line to the line dividing Townships 3 and 4 north; thence east to the place of beginning.
The area of the county is about 775 square miles, or 496,000 acres, a large percentage of which belongs to the State, a small percentage each to the Little Rock & Memphis Railroad, and the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway, and the balance to individuals.
Cypress Creek, on the northern boundary of the county, flows in an easterly direction to its con- fluence with White River. Wattensaw rises in Township 3 north, Range 9 west, and flows thence eastwardly, and also empties into White River. Two Prairie Bayou rises in the northwestern part of the county, and flows in a southeasterly direc- tion to the base line, and across Townships 1 and 2 sonth, it forms the county's eastern boundary line. It runs between Grand Prairie and Prairie Longue, hence its name, " Two Prairie." Bayon Meto enters the county from the west near the line dividing Townships 2 and 3 north, and runs south- easterly, emptying into Two Prairie Bayou, some six miles south of the base line. Crooked Creek rises in the central portion of the county, cours- ing in the same general direction as the stream | just mentioned, and leaving the county at its
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southern boundary in Range 7 west. Baker's Bayou rises in the west central part and flows in a southerly direction through and from the same. Black Bayou rises in the western part of the coun- ty near the base line, and flows in a southerly course. These streams, with their numerous trib- utaries, furnish all the drainage of the county, and all except Cypress and Wattensaw empty into the Arkansas River. In the southern and south- western portions are a number of lakes and cypress swamps. In the northern part many never failing springs of cool and clear water abound. In Mag. ness Township, the extreme northwest part, there is a noted chalyheate spring known as Mountain Spring. It is situated on a spur of the Ozark Mountains, overlooking the country for miles around, and citizens from the malarial regions of the State annually encamp there during the hot season. In the middle and southern portions of the county the best of soft water obtains in dug and bored wells, at depths of from twenty-five to forty feet.
The general trend of the county, as shown by the water courses, is toward the east and southeast. Grand Prairie heads five miles north of Lonoke, and extends a little south of east to the eastern boundary, averaging from two to four miles in width. Prairie Longue heads four miles north- west of Lonoke, and extends in a southeasterly di- rection to near the eastern county boundary, aver- aging from two to four miles in width. Moss Prairie lies three miles west of the head of Prairie Longue, and covers about a section of land. As regards agriculture the county is naturally divided into three sections, the first of which embraces the northern part, lying at and including the foot hills or spurs of the Ozark Mountains. These spurs have beautiful valleys between them, well supplied with water, and both the hills and valleys are es- pecially adapted for fruit raising, an industry already nicely developed. particularly in small fruits. It is also fitted for general farming. The second or middle section of the county is a fine up- land timbered and prairie country, well watered, and rendered capable of raising all varieties of crops peculiar to this latitude. The third section
includes the southern portion of the county, the lands being lower and heavily timbered, though not subject to overflow (except to a very small ex- tent). This is the best cotton and corn producing section of this locality.
The soil in the northern division is varied from light to heavy, and unimproved lands can be had at from $3 to $10, and improved lands at from $6 to $20 per acre. The soil of the middle division is composed of sand, clay and humus, and the unim - proved lands there may be purchased for the same prices as in the first division, and the improved lands at from $8 to $25 per acre. The soil in the southern section is mostly alluvial and very produc- tive; unimproved lands bring from $2 to $25, and the improved lands from $15 to $50 per acre. Some of the cotton plantations are very valuable. The county is mostly a level country, the substratum of which is composed of the orange colored sand belonging to the quarternary period. The only rocks observed are in the northwestern part of the county.
The timber in the northern and middle portions is composed of white oak, post oak, water oak, red oak, blackjack, hickory, a few gum and pines, elm, dogwood, maple, ironwood, persimmons, mulberry and many others.
In the southern portion of the county are found white oak, burr oak, overcup oak, black oak, wil, low oak, rough and scaly hickory in great variety, white and yellow ash, prickly ash, pecan, walnut, cherry, sassafras, locust, redbud, linn, slippery and red elm, holly. bois d'Arc, chinquepin, tupelo gum, maple, ironwood, dogwood, cypress, white gum, sycamore, willow, box elder, birch, hackberry, huckleberry, cottonwood, haw, and the greatest abundance of as fine red gum (known in the North as satinwood, and used extensively in the manu- facture of furniture) as grows anywhere. Millions of feet of this timber have been destroyed annually in this county in clearing and opening up these fine lands for cotton cultivation, because its value has been only recently appreciated, and because it was too far from market. Great forests of this tim- ber, where the general average would be four feet in diameter and an average height of 100 feet-clear
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LONOKE COUNTY.
of branches from forty to sixty feet-yet remain. *
The first highway in this immediate territory was the one known as the "Military Road," lead- ing from Memphis to Little Rock, and crossing the county by way of Brownsville. This road was cut out and made by the Government prior to the Mex- The agricultural productions of the county for the year 1879, as shown by the census of 1880, were as follows: Indian corn, 249,764 bushels; oats, 49,674 bushels; wheat, 5,563 bushels; hay, 2.846 tons; cotton, 11,704 bales: Irish potatoes, 8,792 bushels; sweet potatoes, 16,638 bushels; to- bacco, 6, 197 pounds. The number of farms then were 1,900; the acres of improved lands, 65,549; ican War, and on that occasion the Tennessee troops passed over it on their way to Mexico. For many years it was the only public highway in the country through which it passed, and was of great use to the early settlers, who traversed it to the river crossings, where peltry and other commod- ities were exchanged for goods and provisions. But few public roads were in this section prior to , and the total value of farm products for 1879 was the Civil War, though, with its recent develop- ment, a sufficient number have been established and opened to meet the necessities of the people. On Grand Prairie, especially, and in some other localities, these roads have been placed on the section lines, thus making them run east and west, or north and south, and crossing each other at right angles. The highways of the county are gener- ally smooth and fair, and the streams are bridged where necessary.
The St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Rail- way runs in a southwesterly direction, across the northwest part of the county, a distance of thirteen miles, thus furnishing excellent shipping facilities for the residents of that community. The course of the Memphis & Little Rock Railroad is directly east and west through this section -its length within the county being twenty-one miles. It has stations at Lonoke and Carlisle. The Altheimer Branch Railroad, running from Altheimer on the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad to Little Rock, passes southwesterly for a distance of six- teen and two-fifth miles; thus making fifty and and two-fifth miles of railroad within Lonoke County.
To an individual seeking a new home in any locality, perhaps the first inquiry made is concern- ing the resources of the section where he would settle. In this respect Lonoke compares most favorably with its sister counties. Agriculture is the principal resource, and the one most developed,
*Extract from John C. England & Co.'s pamphlet.
but not properly diversified. "Cotton is King," and it would seem that the fertility of the lands is being injured by the constant cropping with this commodity. More clover and grass grown on the soil might prove to be an excellent improvement.
$806,779. The hay, as here reported, was almost entirely made of the wild prairie grasses, but a much greater supply could be obtained from tame grasses, if cultivated. From this report it appears that corn, oats and cotton were then as now the staple crops The average yield of products per acre depends very much upon the kind of farmer producing them-the industrious and scientific la- borer always acquiring double the amount of his less energetic neighbor.
The climate is mild, the water supply abundant, and the lands are so well adapted to growing many kinds of grasses that this should and probably will become a stock-producing county. The raising of live stock can be made a great source of revenue. In 1880 there were in the county, according to the census reports, 1,973 horses, 1,575 mules and asses, 16,881 head of cattle, 2,132 sheep and 21, - 131 hogs, and in 1888, as shown by the assessor's returns, 3,218 horses, 2,510 mules and asses, 17, - 132 cattle, 2,285 sheep and 15,727 hogs. By comparison it will be observed that during the lapse of the eight years, there was a large increase in the number of horses and mules, a slight in- crease in the number of cattle and sheep, and a large decrease in the number of hogs. At present there are extensive ranges for grazing, and as the winters are quite mild, cattle, if provided with shelter from the rains, will live and thrive through- out the year with but very little feeding. Hogs succeed well on the wild grass and mast.
Another resource of the county is its vast
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
amount of timber which is being sawed into lumber by several mills distributed throughout the county. Rough lumber is worth from $10 to $15 per thous- and; dressed, from $14 to $25; shingles from $1.50 to $3 per thousand. There are grist mills and cotton gins accessible to every neigborhood. Horticulture is also a considerable avenue of in- come, and this industry is being especially de- veloped in the northwest part of the county where the shipping facilities to the north and south are convenient over the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway. Extensive quantities of fruit are annually shipped from Austin, Cabot and Ward, the stations on this railroad. To the intelligent observer these favorable opportunities afforded by nature and appreciated and improved by man, mean a great deal. If progress and development have been retarded in the past, the blame can be easily placed. The future offers inducements never before equaled and earnest, active efforts are all that are necessary to make this portion of the State what it was intended to be-one of the most prominent of any country.
The one blot upon the county's history is the part it unwillingly bore in the Civil War, though it was not to a great extent. Prior to the holding of the State Convention, which convened in Little Rock on March 4, 1861, to discuss the ques- tion of seceding from, or of remaining in the Union, an election was held in Prairie County (to which the territory of Lonoke then nearly all be- longed) for the purpose of selecting a delegate to the convention. There were two candidates for the position: Col. B. C. Totton, who represented the Union sentiment, and Col. R. S. Gantt, the nominee of the secession element. The people were nearly equally divided. but Col. Totton was elected, and represented the county in the con- vention. It is known as a matter of history. that the convention did not take final action until at its adjourned session in June following, and by this time-the war being then in progress-the senti- ment of the people of Prairie County had so changed that they were almost. if not unanimously, in favor of secession. In the summer of 1861, Captains R. S. Gantt, J. M. King, W. J. Rogers
and William Goodrum each went out with a com- pany from the county and joined the State troops, and subsequently the Confederate army. Several companies, commanded respectively by Captains A. J., Gingles, Thomas Payne, Townsend, Rine- hart, Pearson, W. E. Paulston, P. H. Wheat, Farr, and perhaps others, were raised in Prairie County, all of which served in the Confederate army. When Gen. Steele's force advanced upon Little Rock, which place he occupied September 10, 1863, there was a small body of Confederate troops at Brownsville. These were there attacked by a portion of Steele's approaching army. The Confederate force checked the advance of the Union troops as best it could, and thus fought its way back to Little Rock, where it joined the main army, under Gen. Price, retiring with it. This constituted all the regular fighting which took place in the county during the war, but later on, scouting and foraging parties, and sometimes guer- rillas-unprincipled men of either side-wrought dismay and alarm by their misdemeanors and de. vastating acts of violence.
Commercial centers, of influence and thrift, thrive here as elsewhere. The following sketches include mention of all towns within the county :
The original town of Austin was established soon after the settlement of that vicinity at a point about a mile southeast of the present station now on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Rail- way. For many years it was a village of considera- ble trade and importance. When the railroad was completed, Austin Station was established, and the business of the old town began to move toward the new, until in time there was nothing left at the orig- inal site, but Austin College (a noted school, estab- lished years ago and still continuing its educational work), one store, a blacksmith shop and a few dwell- ings. Austin Station -- in Caroline Township-in cludes among its interests three general stores one drug store, one cotton gin, the railroad buildings, post-office, and a collection of residences. The "Austin Nursery," containing about 50 acres, is situated between Austin station and Cabot. George P. Murrell is the proprietor. This was established in 1872.
LONOKE COUNTY.
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In this connection mention should be made of The Triumph, a weekly newspaper established at Austin about the year 1879 by T. T. Pitts. This man started more newspapers in Arkansas than any other individual. He sold the paper to Sidney Wilbank, and Dr. Mitchell became its editor. It was suspended some years ago.
Brownsville, two and a half miles northeast of Lonoke, was established about the time of Prairie County's organization (1846), and was the county seat of that county until shortly after the close of the Civil War. when the records were removed to Devall's Bluff and subsequently to Des Arc. It was formerly an inland town of considerable import- ance, and a seat of justice, and flourished until the war period, when it shared the devastations of the times, not fully recovering thereafter. After losing the seat of justice, and when the town of Lonoke was established, Brownsville declined until nothing remains but the cemetery and two or three dwellings now used as farm houses. The site of the old town is at this time in farm lands.
Cabot, is a town on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway, in York Township. It was established upon the completion of the railroad and now contains six general stores, two drug stores, one livery stable, one cotton gin, one hotel, two blacksmith shops, railroad depot, a free graded school, three churches for the white people- Methodist, Baptist and Cumberland Presbyterian, two churches for colored people -- Methodist and Baptist, post-office, dwellings, and other buildings to correspond; also two physicians and a lawyer and notary public. This is the first station south- west from Austin.
1
Carlisle, situated nine miles east of Lonoke, on the Memphis & Little Rock Railroad, contains some 400 inhabitants. It was laid out by Samuel McCormack, the original proprietor, in 1872, then being all open prairie, without a single house. As soon as the plat was made, S. B. Curtis put up a building and opened a general store with a small capital. Next, J. H. Hanna started a small store. Curtis continued in business until 1879, but Hanna only to 1875. The third and fourth stores were opened respectively by J. E. Dedman and Clark & , income of his practice.
Co. From 1876 to 1878 the town took on a rapid growth, advancing ahead of the surrounding coun- try, though from that time until 1883 it stood still, awaiting the improvement of the country. Since the latter date it has had a regular and substantial growth, keeping pace with the development of the surrounding community, and now there is not a vacant house in the place. New buildings are in demand, and an era of prosperity has dawned promising much good. Carlisle has five general stores, one bakery and family grocery, one drug store, two meat markets, one millinery store, one boot and shoe shop, two livery stables, two blacksmith, wagon and carriage shops, one restau- rant and family grocery, a barber shop, one hotel, two boarding houses, a passenger depot, a freight depot, two churches -- Baptist and Metho- dist-for the whites, and two of the same de- nominations for the colored people; two school houses, one for white and one for colored children. The former, when completed, will cost about $5,000. It is an attractive two-story building. pre- senting an excellent appearance. Two teachers are employed in this and one in the colored schools. In addition to the industries mentioned a cotton gin, grist mill, feed grinding mill, two hay presses and a large hay shed, all belonging to the firm of Beach & Flint. are at Carlisle; also two large hay sheds belonging to other parties. While Carlisle is situated in a good cotton growing district, the making and baling of hay from the wild prairie grasses appears to be a leading industry. There are many hay presses and extensive hay barns in the surrounding country, and immense quantities of this product are shipped in bale from this place. Carlisle Lodge No. 3.131, Knights of Honor, and a post of the Grand Army of the Republic, are the only secret societies here. The town has been in- corporated for many years. A. Emonson is the present mayor, and C. C. Saunders, recorder. Preparations are being made to supply the place with water works, an improvement which will be greatly appreciated. Carlisle has five physicians, but in a locality so healthful it is hardly possible for one of this profession to subsist wholly from the
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
The town also contains two weekly newspapers, The New Departure, a seven-column folio, now in its tenth volume, published every Saturday, with J. A. Woollen as editor, and The Carlisle Enter- prise, a six-column folio, established in September, 1889, by the Carlisle Publishing Company, and issued also every Saturday. Both of these papers are Democratic in politics, and both are ably edited and neatly printed. They serve to advocate and promote the interest of those whom they represent, and wield an important influence in the affairs of the community.
England, on the Altheimer Branch Railroad, in the southwest part of the county, was laid out by John C. England, in January, 1889. It contains three general stores, one drug store, one livery stable, a blacksmith shop, a few dwelling houses and a population of less than 100. It also supports a weekly newspaper, The Arkansas Journal, estab- lished by Mr. Wright in the spring of 1889. It is a six-column folio, independent in politics, and carefully and worthily published.
Lonoke, the seat of justice of the county, and the largest town within its boundaries, is situated on the Memphis & Little Rock Railroad, twenty- three miles east of the latter city, and near the county's geographical center. The original site was surveyed and laid out in August, 1869; and comprised all of the east half of Section 19, Township 2 north, Range S west« That part lying south of the railroad is known as "Hick's & Reynold's Survey, " and that on the northern side, "Wright's Survey," so called after the original proprietors. The population of the town, accord- ing to the census of 1880, was 659. It is now variously estimated. 2,000 being the highest. W. K. Hocker & Co. opened the first store in the place about a year before the town was laid out, and the next year this firm was succeeded by S. P. Walters. The same year, 1869. T. C. Beard and. William Goodrum, under the firm name of Beard & Goodrum, opened a general store, and in 1870| J. C. Goodrum joined them, the firm becom- ing changed to Goodrum Bros. & Beard. About a year later Beard retired and the Goodrum broth- ers continued the business until 1880. In 1870
I. C. Hicks opened a general store. and carried on a good trade until his death, two or three years later. In 1872 T. C. Beard embarked in business, continuing some four years. Beginning with 1871 and lasting three or four years, there was a great depression in mercantile circles. The price of cotton, lands and all else which the common peo- ple had to sell, dropped to such a low figure that business for the time was paralyzed to a great extent. Following this, upon recovery from the financial panic, newcomers entered and established themselves in various business capacities, until the town began to grow more rapidly, and has had a steady, gradual and substantial development ever since. Best of all, its interests are permanent, and of such a nature as insures prosperity and advance- ment.
Lonoke now contains the county buildings (else- where described), a two-story frame, eight-room school building, in which is taught a graded school; also a school house for the colored people: three churches-Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian- for the whites, and two churches-Methodist and Baptist-for the colored people; telegraph and express offices, post-office, a real estate and abstract office, and the following mercantile houses, manu- factories, etc .: One bank, ten general stores, six grocery stores, three drug stores, one hardware store, a harness and saddle store, two meat markets, three livery stables, two hotels, two boarding houses, a furniture store, four blacksmith and wood shops, a passenger depot and a separate freight depot, three cotton gins with grist-mills attached, two of them also having saw mills at- tached, a boot and shoe shop, two millinery stores, a lumber yard, a weekly newspaper-the Lonoke Weekly Democrat-restaurants, feed stores, brick kilns, and other miscellaneous enterprises. The town also includes among its residents, six physi- cians, seven lawyers, numerous mechanics, a Blue Lodge and Chapter of Free Masons, and a lodge each of Knights of Pythias and Knights of Honor.
The Bank of Lonoke, recently incorporated, has a capital of $25,000; the following named are its officers: C. W. England, president; W. H. McCrary, vice-president; L. S. Joseph, cashier.
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LONOKE COUNTY.
This institution transacts a general banking busi- ness on the most favorable terms consistent with prudence and safety.
The Lonoke Weekly Democrat is now in its eighteenth volume, and is published by Hon. W. F. Hicks. It is an eight-column folio and has for its motto, " To tell the Truth, fear God, and make money." Mr. Hicks drew the act for the creation of Lonoke County, and has ever since been inti- mately connected with its history. The journal which he issues is conceded to be a leading paper of this portion of the State, his editorials and other articles lending tone and influence to the many homes into which it enters.
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