Biographical and historical memoirs of eastern Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties named herein, and numerous biographical sketches of the prominent citizens of such counties., Part 101

Author: Goodspeed Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; St. Louis [etc.] : The Goodspeed Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 836

USA > Arkansas > Biographical and historical memoirs of eastern Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties named herein, and numerous biographical sketches of the prominent citizens of such counties. > Part 101

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).

G. F. Smith has been a resident of Arkansas since 1860, when he located in what was then a part of St. Francis County, but which now forms a portion of Lee County, and was one of the first men to advocate this county's formation. Born in Rutherford County, Tenn., on December 15, 1819, he was a son of William and Rebecca (Webb) Smith, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. William Smith moved to Tennessee when a young man, where he worked at his trade, as a gunsınith, and also engaged in farming. He was a soldier in the War of 1813, and was present at the battle of New Orleans. To himself and wife

ten children were born, five sons and five daugh- ters, two of whom only are living: G. F. and Jas- per N. (a farmer of Hardeman County, Tenn.). G. F. Smith commenced farming for himself at the age of nineteen, and four years later removed to Hardeman County, where he was engaged in the same occupation until his removal to Arkansas. He first purchased 1,000 acres of land for $4,800; now he owns 3,600 acres in the western part of Lee County, and has some 700 acres under culti- vation, which he devotes principally to cotton and corn. He also owns a steam grist-mill, saw-mill and cotton-gin, with a capacity of eight bales per day, which were erected at a cost of $3,000. Mr. Smith was married in Tennessee, in 1838, to Miss Elizabeth Bell, a daughter of Samuel Bell, of that county; she died in about 1840, leaving two chil- dren, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Smith was married on January 17, 1843, to Miss A. J. Smith, also of Tennessee origin, who passed away in 1878, having been the mother of one son; the latter died in 1853. His third and present wife, Miss V. M. Granger, was a daughter of A. H. and Mary Granger, and a native of Phillips County, Ark. They are the parents of four children: George F., Melvine, Philip J. and Stephen C. They are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Smith belongs to the Masonic order.

John H. Spivey first saw the light of day in Alabama, and after spending nine or ten years of his life in that State, he moved to Tennessee, re- maining there about four years; the balance of his boyhood days were passed in Mississippi. He was reared on his father's farm, but received a good education in the common schools of the commu- nity in which he lived, and when grown served an apprenticeship as a mechanic, but has followed farming nearly all of his life. He was born on April 8, 1821, to the union of Temple and Charity (Hicks) Spivey. The former's birth occurred in Moore County, N. C., on September 22, 1794. He emigrated to Alabama in 1818 and was married in June, 1820, remaining in that State some ten years, when he went to Hardeman County, Tenn. Four years later he removed to the Chickasaw Na- tion in Mississippi, which was then occupied by

622

HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

the Indians, and now forms a part of Tippah County. In 1849 he went with his wife to Texas, in which State they spent the balance of their lives. Mr. Spivey was a millwright and farmer by occu- pation, and at the time of his death, in 1877, was possessed of considerable property. Mrs. Spivey was born on October 17, 1802, in North Carolina, and died in 1873. They were members of the Baptist Church, and had a family of sixteen chil- dren, nine sons and seven daughters, eight of whom are still living. John H., the principal of this sketch, removed to Monroe (now Lee) County, Ark., in November, 1863, and was engaged in farming until 1872, when he entered the ranks of the merchants of this county, though he still car- ries on farming. In 1862 he enlisted in the Con- federate army as a member of Blythe's battalion, and participated in a number of battles and skir- mishes, being wounded at the battle of Beaver Dam Bayou, by a shot through the right arm. This disabled him so that he was disqualified from active duty. He was at that time a lieutenant of his com- pany, Mr. Spivey was married in November, 1845, in Hardeman County, Tenn., to Miss Martha A. Howard, of Madison County, Ala., and daughter of George and Penelope (Moore) Howard, of North Carolina nativity. She was born on November 17, 1824, and is the mother of nine children, six sons and three daughters, five of whom survive: Mary E. (wife of John Ward, of Lee County), William A. (also a farmer of Lee County), Andrew T. (a farmer of Lincoln County, Tenn.), Luada (now Mrs. Bickeroff) and Thaddeus F. (also of this county .. Mr. Spivey is a stanch Democrat, and was elected justice of the peace in 1874, which position he held six years; he has also been a no- tary public for eight years. He was appointed postmaster of Moro in 1882, and discharged the duties of that position until November of the past year. He is an unaffiliated member of the Ma- sonic order, in which he has taken the Royal Arch degree, and is a member of the County Grange; he also belongs to the Missionary Baptist Church, as does his wife.

Jacob A. Sullivan's boyhood was spent on his father's farm in Tennessee, and the war breaking

out during his school days his education was inter- rupted, and he was obliged to work at farm labor, when he should have been receiving instructions in the common English branches. He began farming at the age of twenty-two, and has fol- lowed that occupation all his life. Born in Tipton County, Tenn., in 1847, Mr. Sullivan moved to Lee County in 1876, where he engaged in farming, in 1881 opening up a store. He carries a stock of general merchandise invoicing about $5,000, and enjoys a good trade. He was married in 1869 to Miss Mary F. Wooten, daughter of Cannon S. and Helen Wooten. They are the parents of nine children, six still living: James R., Isaac R., Charles C., Jacob S., Hugh, Mary A. and Fred. Isaac Sullivan, the father of the principal of this sketch, was born in Sumner County, Tenn., in 1814, and yet survives. His twin brother, Jacob Sullivan, so closely resembles him that it is nearly impossible to distinguish them. They are both farmers by occupation. They have an older brother, Nathan, who was a prominent Methodist minister. Jacob A. Sullivan owns a farm of 160 acres of land, with 100 acres under cultivation.

Andrew J. Thompson. Foremost among the leading farmers of Lee County, and well known throughout Phillips and Lee Counties, is Andrew J. Thompson, who has been a resident in this State since 1840, and a citizen of Lee County since 1881. Born in Garrard County, Ky., on December 12, 1828, he is a son of Davis and Gabraella (Dunn) Thompson, natives of West Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. Davis Thompson moved to the Blue Grass State with his parents when a child, and re- mained there until 1836, when he came to Arkan- sas, having been appointed land agent by Presi- dent Jackson, for the State of Arkansas. Locating at Helena he moved his family four years later, and held the position referred to until elected to the State legislature in 1840. He was also one of the commissioners appointed to re-establish the line between Arkansas and Missouri. In 1846 he enlisted for the Mexican War, starting out as a private, but was soon promoted to the command of his company, and was commissary of his regiment. After the close of the war he was elected sheriff of

623

LEE COUNTY.

Phillips County, in which capacity he served four years. Mr. Thompson then retired from active life, and died in 1859. He was a son of Arthur Thompson, of Scotch and Irish descent, who died in Kentucky about 1820. Mrs. Thompson was a daughter of Benjamin Dunn, and was born in Baltimore, Md. Her father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Of their large family of chil- dren four are still living: Josephine (now Mrs. Hargravis, a resident of Helena), Helen (wife of Judge Hanks, of Helena), one daughter (now Mrs. C. L. Moore, also of that city) and Andrew J. (the subject of this sketch and the eldest of those liv- ing). The latter was reared and educated in Hel- ena, remaining there until the war. After Gen. Curtis had taken Helena, Mr. Thompson passed the Federal lines and joined the Confederate army, enlisting in Dobbins' regiment, in which he was afterward promoted to second lieutenant. In De- cember of that year (1862) he was captured by a party of the Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry and taken to Helena and then to Memphis, Tenn., where, through the influence of Senator Sebastin, he was given his freedom for a time, but was soon sent North and confined at Camp Chase, in Ohio, and then to Fort Delaware, and was held a prisoner until exchanged at Johnson's Island in December, 1864. After the war, returning to Helena, he was engaged in farming for twelve years, later ran a steam ferry, and for two years was occupied in operating a large steam cotton-gin at Helena. In 1881 he came to this county and purchased a farm on which he still lives, and has now 1,000 acres of land, with nearly 700 acres under cultivation, all made since the war by hard work and good busi- ness management. He at one time also owned a half interest in the Helena Oil Mills. Mr. Thomp- son was married in July, 1865, to Miss Eliza Jones, a native of Limestone County, Ala., and who died in 1868, leaving one son, Arthur Thompson, now book-keeper and general superintendent in D. H. Crebe's oil mills at Helena. His second wife, to whom he was inarried in 1870, was formerly Miss Sallie E. Crenshaw, also of Limestone County, Ala., and who died in 1886, leaving one daughter, Jessie F., at home. Mr. Thompson is a Democrat,

and a leader in the political movements of his township.

John J. Thompson was born in Bedford County, Tenn., January 25, 1823, and is the son of Samuel C. and Rebecca (Doty) Thompson. Samuel Thomp- son, a native of Virginia, was born in 1801, and married in Tennessee, about the year 1820, Miss Doty, who was born in Tennessee in 1803. They were the parents of ten children, of whom those living are: John J., Rebecca A. and Mary E .; those deceased are: William, Isaac D., Enoch G., Lucy, Henry, Nancy D. and Thomas. Mr. Thomp- son died in Hardeman County, Tenn., in 1862, and his wife in 1875. John J. received but limited advantages for schooling, the educational facilities at the period of his boyhood being far from satis- factory. At the age of twenty-one he began life on his own responsibility, selecting farming as his occupation, which, together with the mechanic's trade, has principally occupied him. Coming to Arkansas in 1861, he settled in Phillips County, near where he now resides in Lee County. He owns eighty acres of land with fifty in cultivation, the principal products being corn and cotton; he is also engaged to some extent in the raising of cattle and hogs. Mr. Thompson was married in Harde- man County, Tenn., on March 24, 1846, to Miss Mary R. Clift, a native of that State and county, and a daughter of Barney B. and Helsie Clift. Mrs. Thompson died in Lee County, October 23, 1886, having borne seven children: John H. (Bap- tist minister of Springfield, Mo.), William T. (a farmer of Lee County, Ark.) and Franklin P., Martha E., James R., Charles R. and one infant dead. Mr. Thompson served as justice of the peace for one year, and has been a member of the school board for two years. In secret organiza- tions he is connected with the Agricultural Wheel.

Joseph S. Thompson came originally from Hardeman County, Tenn., being a son of Thomas Thompson, a native of Orange County, N. C., who died in 1830. The latter was a soldier in the War of 1812, and took part in some of the most important engagements of the war, including the battle of New Orleans. He was a farmer and blacksmith by occupation. Joseph S., the princi-

624

HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

pal of this sketch, was reared in his native county until after grown to manhood. He did not have the advantages for obtaining an education which his children now enjoy, as Hardeman County was at that time but thinly settled, and there was no school-house or church in his neighborhood. He began farming for himself at the age of twenty- one, and in 1858 came to Arkansas and purchased a farm near Marianna, not moving his family here until the following year. He was first married, in 1840, to Miss Nancy Allen, of North Carolina, who died in 1861, leaving three children, Ellen (the wife of John Lovejoy, a farmer of Lee Coun- ty) being the only survivor; Thomas was killed by an accidental fall from a tree, and Sarah (now deceased) was the wife of Leander Johnson. Mr. Thompson was afterward married in Woodruff County, about 1863, to Mrs. Mary McLean (nee Crawford), widow of William J. McLean, and a daughter of William Crawford. She died in 1874, having borne two children: Minnie (wife of Ed- ward Gillen Waters, a farmer of this county) and William J. His third and present wife, Mrs. Susan Green, a native of Mississippi, was the daughter of William and Betsey (Coley) Dough- erty. They are the parents of one son, Joseph Ritter. Mr. Thompson now owns a farm of 160 acres, with 100 acres under cultivation. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, in which they take an active part.

Phillip H. Underwood has been a resident of Lee County since four years of age. He commenced farming for himself at the death of his father, on the old homestead, which occupation he has followed since that time. He was married, in 1873, to Miss Sallie Bennett, a daughter of Thomas B. and Betty (McCloudon) Bennett, natives of North Carolina and Georgia, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Under- wood are the parents of six children: Phillip O., Delia, Ola, Robert, Jettie and Honor. Mr. Un- derwood was born in Maury County, Tenn., in 1848, being a son of Edward and Mary Under- wood, originally from North Carolina and Tennes- see, respectively. The father of our subject was born in 1809, and was one of a family of six chil- dren; he died at the age of fifty-nine, having been

a successful farmer in Tennessee, to which State he removed when a young man. There he made his home until 1852, when he came to Arkansas, and located in this county, dying here in 1868. Mr. Underwood owns a farm of 167 acres, of which he has forty-five acres under cultivation. His principal crop is cotton, but he is also engaged in stock raising on a small scale. He is a Democrat in politics, and is a prominent man of Lee County. His wife is of the Primitive Baptist faith.

Dr. William Bennett Waldrip is a native of Mississippi, his birth occurring in De Soto County (near Belmont), March 9, 1846. His father, S. G. Waldrip, of North Carolina, was born in 1818, and at an early age was apprenticed to a brick-mason, in which trade he became very proficient, in con- nection with farming, the latter being his principal occupation through life. He was married to Miss Martha J. Smart, of Mississippi, and by her became the father of five children. four now living: James M. (a resident farmer and brick-layer of Tate Coun- ty, Miss.), William B. (our subject), Henry L. (of Tate County, Miss.), Elizabeth J. (widow of Ned Casey, now Mrs. John Gray, residing in Wheetley), Mary F. (Mrs. Henderson Freeman, died in 1885). Mr. Waldrip removed to Arkansas in 1874 and settled in St. Francis County, where he passed away in 1885. He was a member of the Masonic order, and in political views was a Whig until the death of that party, after which he became a Democrat. In his religious belief he was a Baptist, being a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. Mrs. Waldrip died in Wheetley, Ark., in 1883, having passed her sixty-seventh birthday. Will- iam B. Waldrip was reared in Mississippi, where he obtained a liberal common school education, and in 1869 began the study of his chosen profession, that of medicine-first, under the able instruction of Dr. J. M. Richro, and afterward attending the Medical Institute at Cincinnati, where he was graduated with high honors in the class of 1870. He first began to alleviate the sufferings of human- ity in Marshall County, Miss., but one year later moved to Arkansas, locating in Monroe (now Lee) County in the town of Wheetley. Here he rapidly gained the confidence and respect of his fellow

€

LEE COUNTY.

625

citizens, both as an efficient physician and friend. Some years later he moved to his present location, which is situated six miles southeast of Wheetley, and though here but a few years many improve- ments that owe their existence to his presence show him to be a man of enterprise and progress. In connection with his practice he is engaged in farming and stock raising, in which he has been unusually successful. He owns 1,600 acres of valuable land with 240 under cultivation, and the general appearance of his farm and its appoint- ments is of thrift and prosperity. The Doctor was married in Monroe County, August 31, 1871, to Ada, daughter of Peter W. and Martha W. (Bladen) Hollaran, of Alabama. Mrs. Waldrip died in 1882, having become the mother of four children, one now living, Frederick E. Dr. Waldrip was again married on September 20, 1888, to Miss Katie Henley, of Illinois, and the daughter of Elijah and Emma (Crutchfield) Henley (residents of Marianna). Dr. Waldrip is a Master Mason and in politics a Democrat. He is liberal and charit- able, contributing to all worthy enterprises, as far as his limited time and means will permit.

Enoch W. Wall is a native of Alabama, and a son of Enoch G. and Elizabeth J. (Chapman) Wall, originally from Georgia and Alabama, re- spectively. They were married in the latter State in 1853, and in 1865 removed to Arkansas, settling in Phillips County, where his wife died the follow- ing year, leaving three children, two still living: Enoch W. (the principal of this sketch) and Will- iam A. (a prominent farmer of this county). Mr. Wall was married a second time, by this union there being six children, three of whom survive: Judge J., Ada G. and Eula G. Mr. Wall was a decided Democrat, a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which he took an active part, and also belonged to the Masonic order. He was a farmer by occupation, and was comfortably well off at the time of his death, which occurred in 1880, at the age of forty-seven years. Enoch W. Wall was born in Russell County, Ala., May 29, 1854, and was reared from the age of twelve, in Phillips County, Ark. He began life for himself at the age of twenty two years as a farmer in Lee

County, which was a part of Phillips County, where he now owns a fine farm of 340 acres, with over half under cultivation, lying in the heart of the "Arkansas Cotton Belt;" this yields him a large income from year to year. In 1880 and 1881 he was engaged in the mercantile business at Oak Forest, in connection with farming, but preferring agricultural life to that of a merchant, he sold out his store in 1881, and has since that time devoted himself exclusively to tilling the soil, in which, al- though having his share of losses and disappoint- ments, he has been very successful. His pleasant home in this rich country is a full reward for the labor and care spent in its acquirement. Mr. Wall was married December 19, 1877, to Miss Lizzie D. Coleman, a native of the same State as himself, and a daughter of David and Viola F. Coleman, also of Alabama. They are the parents of three children: Enoch D., Orby G. and Laura V. Mr. Wall is a leading Democrat of the county, and holds the office of justice of the peace of his town- ship, having served in this capacity for a number of years. His official duties he discharges with satisfaction to the citizens and with credit to him- self. He is also president of the school board, and here also has won the respect and regard of his fellow men.

William A. Wall is a son of Enoch G. Wall, one of the pioneers of Lee County, who is now departed from this world, and who will be long remembered by the older citizens of the commu- nity. Enoch G. Wall was born in Georgia in 1833, and was married at the age of twenty to Miss Elizabeth J. Chapman, a native of Alabama, to which State he had removed a few years previous. There he made his home until 1865, when he re- moved to Arkansas, and settled in Phillips County, where his wife died the next year. She was the mother of three children, two of whom still live: Enoch W. (a well-known farmer of this county, whose biography precedes this) and William A. By a subsequent marriage six children were born, and three of these are living: Judge J., Ada G. and Eula G. Mr. Wall was actively interested in the political affairs of this county, being an out- spoken Democrat. He was a member of the Cum-

626

HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

berland Presbyterian Church, and a Master Mason; was well-known throughout the community, and was highly respected, and owned a good farm, which was well improved. He was in comfortable circumstances at the time of his death, in 1880. The subject of this article was born in Barbour County, Ala., on April 9, 1856, but has been a resident of this State since nine years of age, de- voting himself to the occupation of farming since old enough to handle a plow. He commenced farming for himself at the age of twenty-one, and has been very successful, now owning 200 acres of land, with half of it under cultivation, and which is well improved and stocked, and devoted princi- pally to the raising of cotton. Mr. Wall was mar- ried on November 26, 1882, to Miss Mary Etta Mathews, of St. Francis County, and a daughter of George J. and Lydia (May) Mathews, who now reside in Lee County. Mrs. Wall was born on July 4, 1863. They have had a family of three children, two of whom are still living: Fannie P. and Lydia J. The second child, Green, died in 1886. Mr. Wall is a leading Democrat in Texas Township, and is recognized throughout this part of the county as a hard-working, industrious man.

William A. Walton. William H. Walton, a native of North Carolina, was born in 1808. He was married in 1836 to Mary A. Wynn, also of North Carolina origin, and by her became the father of nine children: William A. (the subject of this sketch), Susan H. (widow of John H. Moore, residing in Oak Forest, Lee County), Lucy M. (wife of J. Carr), T. (a farmer and residing in Texas), John R., Annie (deceased wife of R. R. Badders), Nancy Z. (Mrs. John B. Grove, de- ceased), Nicholas J. and Catherine. Mr. Walton died in Lee County, Ark., in 1876, his wife passing away in Phillips County in 1863. William A. Walton was reared in North Carolina until reaching the age of fifteen, at which time he came with his parents to Arkansas. He received as good an edu- cation as could be obtained in the common schools and academies about his home, and when twenty- six years old he began life on his own responsibil- ity, choosing farming as his occupation. He now owns one of the best and most picturesque farms

in the western part of Lee County, consisting of 200 acres of land, with 115 under cultivation and well adapted to the growing of corn and cotton, which are the principal crops. He raises grasses and clover to some extent, and is quite extensively engaged in the development of stock. He has a steam gin and grist-mill valued at $1,500, and the general impression formed of the many improve- ments about the farm is that thrift and industry are characteristics predominating with the owner. He enlisted in May, 1861, in Company F, Capt. D. C. Govan's Second Arkansas Infantry Volunteer Cavalry, participating in the battles of Mumfords- ville, Shiloh, Perryville, Stone River and Murfrees- boro. He received a wound from a minie ball at the battle of Shiloh, and was also wounded at Murfreesboro by grape-shot, this entering his shoulder, which disabled him permanently. He was captured while in the hospital at Murfreesboro and taken to Louisville and then to Camp Butler, afterward being exchanged at City Point, Miss., where he remained until the close of the war. After the close of hostilities Mr. Walton resumed his agricultural pursuits, and a fair degree of suc- cess has attended his efforts, and prosperity now rules supreme. He was married in Phillips County, November 2, 1868, to Miss Nancy C. Boykin, a na- tive of North Carolina, born February 12, 1852, and a daughter of Edwin and Jane Boykin. Nine children have blessed their union: Florence B., Charles, Mary E., John R., Edwin, and Frank D., Kismick, Carl and Paul, dead. Mr. Walton is a member of the Methodist Church, and served as justice of the peace of Texas Township for two years. He has also been a member of the school district, and is a man that takes great interest in all enterprises to which he lends his able sup- port and influence.

John C. Ward, merchant and farmer, Haynes, Ark. This prominent business man and success- ful agriculturist is a native of Lee County, Ark., his birth occurring on October 2, 1866, and is the first child born to the union of Lafayette and Fan- nie (Adams) Ward, the father a native of Kentucky and the mother of Georgia. Lafayette Ward is one of the oldest physicians of this county now

LEE COUNTY.

627

living, coming here in 1857 and settling in Phillips County (now Lee County) where his practice ex- tended over a vast territory. He accumulated quite a nice fortune, and this he is at present enjoying. He was a soldier in the Mexican War and was also in the late war, being army surgeon of his regiment for a year or so. He entered service in the Mex- ican War at the age of fifteen years, was under Gen. Taylor in the First Kentucky Infantry and served during the entire time. He has been twice married; first, in 1851 to Miss Roxana Robards, of Louisville, Ky., and by her became the father of three children, all deceased. The wife died in 1862 or 1863, and in 1864 Dr. Ward married Miss Adams, who bore him three children, all deceased except John C. Ward. The mother was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and died in 1872. Dr. Ward is a member of the Catholic Church and of Irish parentage. John C. Ward was educated in the free schools of Lee County, and at the age of thirteen years entered the Catho- lic School on Washington Street, where he remained for one term. He then entered Miss Hattie Eunice's select school on Poplar Street, remained there but one term and then, in 1882, he attended school at Newton for some time. After this he entered the Lexington Commercial School, graduating from the same in 1886, and then returned home, where he began working for R. O. Gill. He continued with him for one year and in 1888 bought an interest in the business, and in 1889 succeeded him. Mr. Ward has been unusually successful in all his en- terprises and does an annual business of $25,000. He and his father own about 4,500 acres of land with 550 acres under cultivation, on which are pro- duced about 350 bales of cotton yearly. J. C. Ward selected for his companion in life Miss Ida Neolies, of Collierville, Tenn., and was united in marriage to her on November 4, 1889. Mr. Ward is a member of the Catholic Church, is a member of the K. of H., and is one of the leading young business men of Haynes. He contributes liberally to all worthy enterprises and is one of the promis- ing young men of the county.

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.

Author: Goodspeed Publishing Company Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; St. Louis [etc.] : The Goodspeed Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 836

Author: Goodspeed Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; St. Louis [etc.] : The Goodspeed Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 836