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 96
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 96
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 96
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 96
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 96
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 96
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 96
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 96
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 96
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smith shop and tenement houses, and in general its equal as a plantation would be a difficult matter to find in Lonoke County. Mr. Dortch also owns an excellent piece of land in Pulaski and Lonoke Counties, consisting of 1,000 acres, 400 acres of which are under the plow. He and wife are con- sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the former is a liberal contributor to all enterprises for the advancement of the county. Genial and agreeable in demeanor, he is very pop- nlar with all. but his ambition and love are cen- tered in his wife and children, of whom he may well be proud, for they constitute the pleasing and hospitable family which any might desire to have.
A. L. Driskill has manifested that thorough- ness and acquaintance with agricultural affairs which have given him a prominent place among the farmers of Lonoke County. He first saw the light of day in Campbell County, Va., in the month of February, 1818. His father, Adam Driskill, was also a native of Virginia, reaching the years of maturity and entering the state of matrimony among the historic scenes of the "Mother of Presi- dents." Miss Sarah Bailey became Mrs. Adam Driskill, bearing a family of twelve children, A. L. being the only one surviving. The father was a farmer and the mother was a member of the Bap- tist Church. Daniel Driskill, the grandfather, was born near Dublin, Ireland. The subject of this sketch, A. L. Driskill, received his education in Virginia. November 8, 1843, he was married to Miss Nancy Walker, and to this union have been born a family of seven children: Mary E., Rich- ard M., James A., Martha A., William D., Lucy B. and John W. Mr. Driskill is a most successful farmer, owning a splendid farm of 120 acres, with fifty acres under cultivation. He has held mem bership in the Blue Lodge of the Masonic order, and together with his wife was a member of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Driskill died January 12, 1889, leaving many friends to mourn her loss. Mr. Driskill is a highly esteemed citizen, painstaking and enterprising in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the State or county.
Robert Spain Duke, a leading farmer of Prairie Township, was the fourth in a family of nine chil-
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dren born to Robert G. and Erexena (Morrison) Dnke, his birth occurring in North Carolina, April 30, 1833. Robert G. Duke was born in North Carolina, July 5, 1795, and was a son of Robert Duke, a soldier in the Revolutionary War, of Irish descent, who settled and married in Anson County, N. C., and died there in about the one hundreth year of his age. Robert G. Duke moved from North Carolina to Tennessee in 1845, where he lived until his death, which occurred May 3, 1879. His wife was born in North Carolina January 3. 1801, and died in 1856. Robert S. was reared to manhood in Tennessee, where he received a limited education, there being married January 22, 1857, to Rebecca I. Mason, who died in 1865. He was married the second time on November 29, 1866, to Mrs. Susan C. Robinson (nee Allison), a widow. By his first marriage he had three children: Rob- ert W., Mary E. (now the wife of G. C. Thompson) and Cora A. (wife of William F. McShan.) By his second marriage there are two children: Ossee A. (born March 6, 1868) and Anna B. (who was born July 6, 1871). Mr. Duke enlisted in Novem- ber, 1861, in the Confederate army, serving with distinction in the great struggle. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Helena, Ark., and removed to the Overton hospital, at Memphis, July 4, 1863, where he was confined until April, 1864, then being transferred to Alton, Ill. Here he was held until September, 1864, and later re- moved to Camp Douglas, Ill., where he was ex- changed and sent to New Orleans. Following this he returned home and again came upon his farm in this county, to which he had moved in 1858. He owns a good landed estate of 700 acres, with about 150 acres under cultivation. Mr. Duke is a mem- ber of the County Wheel. He has been a Demo. crat all his life until 1888, when he voted the Union Labor ticket. Mr. and Mrs. Duke are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
William H. Eagle. A large proportion of the people of Central Arkansas are either natives of Tennessee or descendants of those who, attracted by the great resources of this State, left their Eastern homes, surrounded by all the comforts of advanced civilization, and coming westward settled
in what was then an unbroken wilderness. Among the early settlers of Arkansas were James and Charity (Swaim) Eagle, the parents of the subject of this sketch. They were natives of North Caro- lina, but had moved to Tennessee with their parents in 1829. Here among the dangers and privations of that time they spent their childhood, here, too. at a later date being married. In 1839 they came westward, and after a long and tedious journey overland through an unbroken and trackless ter- ritory finally located in Lonoke County, Ark., which at that time had not attained to Statehood. Thus they were pioneers in two States. Mr. Eagle began business here on the very limited cash capital of $7, but subsequently became one of the leading citizens, and his death, which occurred in 1863, was mourned by the entire community. The Eagle family are of German and Scotch descent, and both the paternal and maternal grandfathers of William H. served as soldiers in the War of the Revolution; indeed they have been represented in every war in which the United States has been engaged. The sterling integrity and sturdy pur- pose of character for which the family have been noted, have never suffered distortion in their trans- mission from generation to generation, the prom- inent traits of illustrious ancestors remaining un- changed in recent descendants. They, as a family, are among the most prominent citizens in Central Arkansas. The maternal grandmother had thir- teen children, and the paternal grandmother bore twelve children. In a family of ten, William H. is the oldest child in order of birth. He remained with his father until grown to manhood, and re- ceived such advantages for an education as were obtainable in that unsettled period. He began as a farmer on a small scale, but by close application to business has reached a position as one of the wealthiest men of the county. having cleared and improved over 2,000 acres in Lonoke County alone. At the close of the war his taxes were but $3, and now he pays $1,000, and besides personal prop- erty, he owns 11,000 acres of land in this county, ample evidence of his great prosperity. Mr. Eagle embarked in merchandising in Lonoke in 1871, and has since continued the business. On Feb.
37
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ruary 18, 1857, he was married to Miss Malin- da Robinson, a native of Mississippi, who came with her parents from Tennessee about 1848. Her death occurred in 1882, she leaving a family of nine children to mourn her loss. Mr. Eagle was married to his present wife in 1884, and to them have been born a family of two children. Mrs. Eagle's maiden name was Miss Ada Monroe, a native of Lonoke County, Ark. The family wor- ship at the Baptist Church, of which Mr. Eagle is one of the originators. He is a member of Lonoke Lodge No. 51, A. F. & A. M., and is in every sense of the word a popular and much respected man.
Philip F. Eagle. Among the other early pio- neers of Lonoke County, were David and Elizabeth (Long) Eagle, who came from Tennessee in 1850, locating in what is now Lonoke County. Here they began to hew from the surrounding wilder- ness a home for themselves and their family. Among the children who accompanied them from their eastern home, was Philip F., who was born in Maury County, Tenn., April 25, 1825. At the | of cultivation. His farm and buildings are in good time of their settlement here, the present fertile condition, all going to show that industry and thrift prevail. In political views Mr. Eagle is a Democrat. and productive country was an unbroken wilder- ness, and in this barren locality, surrounded by all the dangers and privations of a pioneer life, these industrious and ambitious people toiled on until death ceased their labors. Their names have gone down to posterity as brave men and women, to whose unselfish and untiring energy is due many of the advantages which the present generation enjoy. Philip F. Eagle has been a resident of Lonoke County since 1850, and by his industry and economy has won for himself a handsome fort- une. He owns 700 acres of land in this county. and is accounted a man of worth and influence, being esteemed by the entire community.
Joseph L. Eagle, one of the old settlers of this county, came originally from Tennessee, his birth occurring in Maury County, April 5, 1829. David and Elizabeth (Long) Eagle, his parents, were natives of North Carolina and Georgia, respective- ly, but settled in Tennessee at an early day. being married in Manry County about 1823. In 1850 they came to Arkansas, locating in Lonoke (then Prairie) County, where they were among the pio-
neers. This continued to be their home until death called them away. Seven children were given them, five sons and two daughters. Joseph L., the third in order of birth, spent his youth at his fath- er's home, and received a fair education, but when the war broke out, the quiet monotony of farm life had no charms for him, as compared with the fas- cinating though eminent perils of war. He enlist - ed, in 1860, in Company C, Second Regiment Ar- kansas Mounted Riflemen, and took an active part in numerous battles, at one time receiving a wound in the shoulder. He served until the close of the war, and then returned to his home in Lonoke County. In 1860 his marriage with Miss Sarah A. Callaham was consummated. She was a native of Rankin County, Miss., and when young moved to Morehouse Parish, La., coming to Arkansas in 1859. Six daughters have been born of this union, five of them now living. Mr. Eagle and family worship at the Baptist Church. He has a fine farm of 700 acres, 100 being in an excellent state
Maj. Henry L. Elcan, a native of Alabama, was born on October 24. 1834, being a son of Spencer W. and Martha Peyton Tabb (Bolling) Elcan. The former died when Henry was an infant, and his mother moved to Memphis, Tenn., when he was four years old, where she was married to R. W. Clements, a native of Scotland, who came to the United States when a boy. Mr. Clements died in 1873, and Mrs. Clements departed this life in Memphis. in 1878, of yellow fever. Both were members of the Methodist Church. Martha Boll- ing, the mother of Maj. H. L. Elcan, is a descend- ant of Robert Bolling, of "Bolling Hall," York- shire, England. He arrived in Virginia October 2, 1660. and married Jane, daughter of Thomas Rolfe, and granddaughter of Pocahontas, and lived at " Kippax," Prince George County. This fam- ily married and intermarried with the Peytons, Tabbs, Skipwiths, Kennons, Lees, Randolphs, Nelsons, Blands, Beverlys and Mumfords, all of whom are of royal English descent. Henry L.
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had four sisters: Mrs. Gen. M. J. Wright (of Mem- phis), Mrs. Judge George West (of Little Rock). Mrs. Bettie Gibbs (of New Orleans) and Junius, all of whom are deceased. During the war Mr. Elcan enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty- fourth Tennessee Infantry, in Company A, and was made brigadier-quartermaster in Wright's brigade. He served in the battles of Belmont, Chickamauga, and a number of others, and at the surrender at Grenada, Miss. After the war he re- turned to Memphis, and engaged in farming until 1885, then moving to Arkansas and locating at Brownsville, where he has a good farm well under cultivation. Maj. Elcan was married in 1865, to Mary Kennon, who was born in Kentucky, in 1844. They are the parents of six children: Spencer, Mande (who is teaching school at Little Rock), Henry, Junius, Marcus and Kennon (deceased). Mrs. Elcan is a member of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Elcan is a strong Democrat, and a leading farmer of his township. Mrs. Mary K. Elcan, wife of Maj. Henry Elcan, is the daughter of Dr. Richard Kennon. United States hospital surgeon. Both of Mrs. Elcan's maternal ancestors signed the Declaration of Independence-Thomas Nelson and William Kennon. They fought with Wash- ington, and were members of the First Congress. then called the Virginia Assembly. Mrs. Elcan's mother is Rosalie Nelson, daughter of Dr. Hugh Nelson, who served as hospital surgeon through the War of 1812.
Henry Ellingsworth was born in Richland County, Ill., in 1838, and was a son of Thomas and Eunis (Loomis) Ellingsworth, natives of Del- aware and New York, respectively. The former moved to Indiana at an early date, and in 1837 went from that State to Illinois, where he engaged in farming until his death, in 1SS5. The mother of Henry is still living, and is in her eighty-fourth year. When residents of Illinois, they were com- pelled to go thirty miles to a postoffice. They were the parents of eleven children, three of whom are living: Henry, and Manly and Sophia (twins). Henry Ellingsworth commenced farming for him- self, at the age of twenty-two. but continued for only a few months, when his patriotism led him, in
1862, to enlist in the Ninety-eighth Illinois Mount- ed Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. He participated in a number of import- ant battles, being under Gen. Rosecrans, in the battle of Chickamauga, and under Gen. Sherman in the Atlanta campaign. in the engagements of which he took part until after the fall of Atlanta. His regiment was then dismounted and sent to Louisville, Ky., where it was remounted and sent out with Gen. Wilson, on his raid through Missis- sippi, Alabama and Georgia. Mr. Ellingsworth was wounded in the right arm by a gunshot. at Selma, Ala., and was left there in a rebel hospital, from April 2, 1865, to May 18. He was then re- turned home on a furlough, receiving a discharge at Nashville, Tenn., with his regiment, about July 1, 1865. Arriving home on the 6th of that month, lie remained upon the farm until May, 1877, when he removed to Arkansas, and settled in Grand Prairie. Three years later he came to his pres- ent farm. Mr. Ellingsworth's wife was formerly Mary A. Millington, a native of England, who came to this country with her parents when a child, and settled in Richland County, Ill., where the mother still lives, her father being dead. Mr. and Mrs. Ellingsworth have had three children, two of whom are still living: Josie and Cora, Laura being deceased. Cora is married, and is the wife of D. B. Perkins. In 1881 Mr. Ellings- worth purchased a saw mill, and has since been engaged in that business in connection with farm- ing. He is a stanch Republican, and is very temperate in his habits, using neither tea. coffee, tobacco, nor intoxicating liquor of any kind. He has seen the complete development of Lonoke County, and has always taken a great interest in enterprises for the improvement of the community, of a religious, educational and material nature.
Charles W. England. Prominent among those citizens of Lonoke who have actively interested themselves in its advancement, and who, with un- tiring energy, have assiduously labored for that end, is the gentleman whose name heads this brief sketch. A native of this county and a member of one of the most prominent families of the com- munity, he has come to be well and favorably
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
known, and by an honorable, upright career in life has gained for himself a reputation which is cer- tainly of substantial worth. In 1820 John Eng- land emigrated to America and settled at Charles- ton, where he resided until his death, in 1842. He was one of the most learned as well as liberal expounders of the canons of the Romanish faith, and became the first bishop of the diocese of Geor- gia and the Carolinas. W. H. England, the father of Charles W., settled at Brownsville, then the county seat of Prairie County, Ark., emigrat- ing from his home in Georgia. A man of more than ordinary attainments, he became at once one of the leading citizens, and was elected first coun- ty treasurer and circuit clerk, which position he was occupying at the time of his death, in 1861. Charles W. England was born at Brownsville, Ark., February 28, 1858, and received such edu- cational advantages as the primitive days afforded. When fourteen years of age he began the battle of life for himself, and though consciou's of pos- sessing but the rudiments of an education, with untiring zest he applied himself to his task, deter- mined to succeed. Commencing as a common laborer, he saved from his scanty earnings enough to acquire opportunities for learning that could be had in the district schools, afterward supple- menting this course with an attendance at the University of Virginia. He had also spent some time at Emery and Henry College. In 1877 he entered upon the study of law under the efficient instruction of Judge Henry C. Caldwell, at Little Rock, and was admitted to the bar in May of 1882, before the supreme court of the State. He at once began the practice of his profession at Little Rock, becoming a member of the law firm of England & Gibbon, and it was not long before his ability and learned knowledge of the law were recognized. In 1883 Mr. England formed a part- nership with his brother, the firm being then in- corporated as John C. & C. W. England. In the year 1887 he became associated with John C. England & Co., abstractors and dealers in real estate, at Lonoke, the interests of which firm are widespread. Mr. England has taken an active part in the progress and upbuilding of this place,
and the city owes much to him for its rapid growth and prosperity, and the prominence to which it has attained. He is secretary of the school board, and one of the organizers and presi- dents of the Bank of Lonoke, also a member of and attorney for the Lonoke Building & Loan As- sociation. In societies he is identified with the K. of P. In December, 1882, Mr. England was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Philbrick, a native of Tennessee, who came with her parents to Arkansas. She is a cultured and refined lady, mak- ing hosts of friends in the various circles which she enters. Mr. England's home is an ideal one, such cordiality and hospitality always prevailing as gives assurance of welcome. Here, surrounded by de- served comfort, he lives in the enjoyment of uni- versal esteem.
Albert G. England, of the firm of A. G. Eng- land & Co., dealers in general merchandise, etc., is the son of William H. and Lavinia England, and was born in Lonoke County, Ark., in 1853. [For biography of parents, see sketch of John C. England, elsewhere in this volume. ] At the age of fourteen years, Albert G. began life for himself, entering upon a mercantile career as salesman in Devall's Bluff, Ark., but three years later he re- turned to Lonoke, and in November, of 1875, be- came established in mercantile business at Lonoke, which he is still conducting with manifest success. In 1884 the firm of A. G. England & Co. entered their elegant brick block, the finest in this place, erected at a cost of $12,000. Mr. England is president of the Lonoke Building & Loan Asso- ciation of Lonoke, and a stockholder in the Bank of Lonoke and the Lonoke Hotel. In 1874 his marriage with Miss Lucy H. Goodrum, was com- summated. Mrs. England is a native of Arkan- sas, and a descendant of one of the early pioneers of this region. To them has been born a family of five children, one son and four daughters. The family worship at the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. England is steward, also being su- perintendent of the Sunday-school. He favors the Democratic party with his vote, and is a Knight of Pythias, Knight of Honor, and belongs to the Knights Templar, Little Rock Lodge.
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Dr. John P. Fletcher. It is no disparagement to others to say that Dr. Fletcher is one of the county's most prominent physicians and surgeons. A native of Rutherford County, Tenn., he was born in December, 1827, being the son of John D. and Catherine H. (Featherstone) Fletcher. John D. Fletcher came originally from Georgia, and when a lad of seven years accompanied his parents to Ten- nessee, of which locality they were among the ear- liest settlers. The Fletcher family are of English extraction, and the first member in this country set- tled in Virginia, at an early day. The father of the subject of this sketch was a man of more than ordinary brilliancy and scholarly attainments, and devoted his attention to the practice of law. In 1837. during the Seminole War, he was captain of a company of volunteers from Rutherford County, Tenn., and after the close of that struggle, the people elected him representative of their county. Later he was made senator from Lincoln and Franklin Counties, and died in 1850 while a mem- ber of that body. His widow now lives with her son, John P., and is in her eighty-third year. John P. received all the advantages for an educa- tion that were to be had in his young days, and in 1844 accepted the position of assistant teacher in Lowndes County, Ala. His boyhood's ambition was to be a physician, and having determined to make that study his life's profession, in 1848 he began reading medicine, and pursued his studies at the University of Louisiana, in which he has twice matriculated. He graduated in 1873 from the Charity Hospital Medical College of New Orleans, and it was there that he received, during his hos- pital practice, the knowledge of the science of surgery and medicine, which has made his career so peculiarly successful. After having practiced his profession in Mississippi for some time, he moved with his family to Arkansas, locating in Lonoke (then Pulaski) County, and afterward settled in Butler Township, Lonoke County, where he re- sided until 1889, then coming to the village of Lonoke. In June, 1845, Dr. Fletcher was mar- ried to Miss Mary A. Cooper, a native of South Carolina, who died in 1873 leaving ten children, seven sons and three daughters. His second mar-
riage occurred in 1874 to Miss Martha J. Gamble. She survived until 1876. The Doctor chose for his third wife, Miss Permelia E. Gamble. Of the six children resulting from this union. four sons and two daughters are living: John D. (a well-known Baptist minister in the county), Will- iam P. (a resident of Lonoke, who has served as sheriff of the county eight years, also representing it, and is the present State senator in the State legislature from Lonoke and Prairie Counties), Thomas M. (dentist, at Lonoke, a graduate of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery), Burl A. (a physician and druggist at Augusta, Ark., and a graduate of Bellevue Medical College of New York), Mary Catherine (wife of A. F. Huntsman, ex-postmaster of Lonoke, and a son of Adam Huntsman, the successful opponent of Davy Crock- ett, of Tennessee) and Susan J. (wife of E. S. Lee, of Lincoln County.) In politics the Doctor is a Democrat. He is an enterprising and ambi- tions citizen. and is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity. He is also president of the Lonoke County Board of Medical Examiners, and with his family worships at the Baptist Church.
Hon. William P. Fletcher is too well known by the people of this section to need a formal intro- duction, and it is only proper to assume that this volume would be incomplete without a short sketch of his life. Born in Mississippi, Yazoo County, in 1848, he is the son of Dr. John P. and Mary A. (Cooper) Fletcher, reference to whom is made else- where in these pages. William P. remained at home until his twentieth year, enjoying those advantages for an education that the primitive schools of the period offered. In 1868 he came to Arkansas in company with his brother, and located near Lonoke, in what was then Prairie County, where he engaged as a farm laborer. In the fall of 1868 he settled at Lonoke, there being tendered the position to teach the first school in the place, which offer he accepted. He then engaged as a clerk in a mercantile establishment, and in 1872 became a member of the firm of Fletcher & Son, where he carried on the drug business for the fol- lowing five years. In September, 1878, he was elected sheriff of Lonoke County, and served in
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that capacity until August, 1886, when he resigned to enter upon the duties of State senator, to which he had been elected from the Twelfth district of Arkansas, composed of the counties of Lonoke and Prairie. This position Mr. Fletcher held with decided credit to himself and honor to his constit- uents for a term of four years. In 1881 he became one of the firm of John C. England & Co. The year 1872 witnessed his marriage to Miss Ella A. Beard, a native of Moscow, Tenn., who came to Arkansas with her parents. Seven children have been born of this union, of whom two sons and one daughter are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher belong to the Baptist Church, in which the former is deacon. He is an influential mem- ber of the school board, a member and Past Master of Lonoke lodge, A. F. & A. M., First Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias, and charter member of the Knights of Honor, having been instrumental in establishing the lodge here.
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