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 107

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 107

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Thomas H. Hutchinson, a druggist of De Witt, and also engaged in stock raising and farming, is a native of Canada. He started in the world for

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himself at the age of eighteen, having a few thousand dollars left to him by his grandfather, which he invested in vessel property on the lakes, and was engaged in the trading business for five years. Subsequently he lost all his money and property. After winding up his interests he had just money enough to take him to Arkansas, where he worked out by the day and month until 1873, then entering a homestead, keeping "bach " alone. In 1887 he married Miss Edith Fowler, of Ohio, daughter of F. F. and Mary E. Fowler, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. Mrs. Hutch- inson died in 1878, after which Mr. Hutchinson married Bessie A. Fowler, a sister of his first wife. They are the parents of two children: Mabel and Howard F. Mr. Hutchinson was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1843, and was a graduate of Jones' Commercial College, London, Ont. His parents were Alexander B. and Sarah Ann (Titus) Hutch- inson. Alexander Hutchinson was born in Canada West, in 1816, and Sarah A., his wife, in Nova Scotia, in 1824, the latter going to Canada with her parents at the age of eleven years. Alexander B. Hutchinson spent his life upon the farm he first settled, and died in 1886. They were members of the Baptist Church, and the parents of eleven children, four of whom are deceased. Thomas H. Hutchinson has two fine farms of 600 acres, stocked with over 300 head of cattle, besides horses' and mules; 250 acres are in cultivation. He is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. and Masonic fraternities, and resides upon his farm, four miles from the county seat of Arkansas County.

Edward Lambert Johnson, attorney at law of De Witt, is a native of Mississippi, and a son of Hon. Edward and Lucinda (Dickey) Johnson, whose birthplaces were in North Carolina. and Ala- bama, respectively. In 1861 they came to Arkan- sas, and located in Arkansas County, where Mr. Johnson died July 4, 1879, at the age of seventy. He was of Scotch parentage, his father having come from Scotland to this country, and settled in North Carolina. Mrs. Johnson was born in Hunts- ville, Ala., in 1815, and died in March, 1885. Her father, James Dickey, was of Irish descent, born in South Carolina; he died in Alabama. Mr.

and Mrs. Johnson were the parents of nine chil- dren, Edward L. being the fifth. Born in Choc- taw County, Miss., in 1849, in the latter part of 1864 he enlisted in the Eighth Mississippi Cavalry, and served six months. After the close of the war he returned to Arkansas, and at the age of nine- teen commenced publishing the Arkansas Elector, at De Witt, which he continued nearly two years. He then entered upon the study of law, in 1870 was admitted to the bar, and in 1877 was admitted to practice law in the supreme court. He was married in the Centennial year to Miss Kate Quer- termous, a daughter of John G. and Cynthia A. Quertermous, natives of Kentucky and Arkansas, respectively. Since that time Mr. Johnson has devoted his time to the practice of his profession, having become one of the leading lawyers of this part of the State.

John W. Lemon. Samuel Lemon, the grand- father of the principal of this sketch, was one of the early settlers of Arkansas County. His son, Alexander M., was born in this county in 1820, and lived here all of his life, engaged in farming. He served through the Civil War, in the Confed- erate service, and was in the infantry under Capt. Jones, from Arkansas County, though during the last two years of the struggle he belonged to an independent scouting company of cavalry, in which he remained until the cessation of hostilities. He returned to this county after the war, but died the following year. His wife was Miss Clayton, a daughter of John S. Clayton, a wheelwright and carpenter, who was drowned in the Mississippi some time before the war. Mrs. Lemon is still living, and is about seventy-one years of age, hav- ing reared a family of six children. John W. Lemon was born in Arkansas Township, in 1846, and received very little education in youth, not having an opportunity of attending school. He joined the Confederate service during the last year of the civil strife, and served in Gen. Price's raid. Being at home on a sixty-days' furlough, shortly before peace was declared, he was captured by the Federals, and held at St. Charles about one month, until the close of the war. In 1866 he married Mary J. Rounsavill, a daughter of William Rouns-

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avill. They are the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters. In 1875 he bought a farm in Bayou Meto Township, where he still owns a stock ranch, in 1886 removing to De Witt, for the purpose of giving his children better educational facilities. He started out a poor man, but now owns 700 acres of land in different farms, a good house, and ten acres in De Witt, and is an extensive stock raiser, buying and shipping from ten to twelve car-loads of cattle to market annually. He has seen the complete development of this county, having lived here for forty-three years, and has helped liberally in its development.

Maj. M. M. Massey, a native of Tennessee, is the son of Isaac H. and Elizabeth (Crockett) Mas- sey, who were born in South Carolina and Tennes- see, respectively. Isaac Massey moved to Tennes- see from South Carolina with his parents when a boy of six years, and afterward made that State his home, dying on the farm upon which his father located, in 1843, at the age of forty-three years. He was an active member of and an elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His wife was related to Davy Crockett. She was born in 1801 and died in the same year as her husband. Of their family of eight children our subject is the eldest and the only one now living. He was born in Humphreys County, Tenn., August 25, 1820, and was reared and married in that county. In March, 1843, Miss Elizabeth Murphrey of the same locality became his wife. After remaining in Ten- nessee until 1871 they moved to Arkansas. Mr. Massey joined the Confederate army in September, 1861, and was elected lieutenant of the light artil- lery starting out. He was wounded at Fort Don- elson, and was then assigned to fort duty and was made major of artillery, but was again in the field at the battle of Corinth, before having fully recov- ered from his wound, and afterward participated in a number of hard-fought battles. On his re- turn to Humphreys County, Tenn., he was elected sheriff, which office he held with distinction for a number of years. His wife died two years after coming to Arkansas County, leaving six children, three of whom survive. Maj. Massey was married to his present wife, Mrs. Susan Smith (nee Bell),

, also of Tennessee, in 1876. They have two chil- dren. The Major owns over 1,000 acres of land, partially under cultivation, and which he has well stocked. He is a member of the Masonic order, and of the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Massey is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Sonth.

George F. Mattmiller came originally from Ger- many to America with his parents in February, 1846, and located in Fayette County, Tenn., where he re- ceived a common-school education. In 1861 he en- listed in the Confederate army, Company A of the Thirteenth Tennessee Infantry; was taken prisoner in the first hard battle, at Belmont, Mo., and re- moved to Cairo, Ill., soon being exchanged, after which he rejoined his regiment and served until the close of the war. Going to Cape Girardeau County, Mo., he was first engaged in teaching school and next in working in a saw-mill, where he continued until 1870. He then sought a home in Arkansas, where he was married five years later to Miss Ophelia Stillwell, a native of this State, and a daughter of Asher and Josephine Stillwell. Mr. Mattmiller was born in Baden, Germany, on July 24, 1843, being a son of J. G. and Christina (Ham- merschmidt) Mattmiller. J. G. Mattmiller was born on August 28, 1814, and emigrated to this country in 1846, settling in Tennessee. After de- voting himself to farming there until 1870, he lo- cated a farm on the Arkansas River, near Arkansas Post, Ark., where he remained until his death, in December, 1883. His wife died in 1862, having been the mother of nine children, four of whom are living: George F., Christina (now Mrs. Rink- lin), Joseph and Henry C. On coming to Arkan- sas Mr. Mattmiller, the subject of this sketch, had only $6. He now owns about 700 acres of land, with 100 acres under cultivation, and has a good cotton gin, and is estimated to be worth about $6,000. He has no children of his own, but has adopted three orphan children. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

John R. Maxwell is a native of Arkansas Coun- ty, of which he has always been a resident, with the exception of eight years spent in the city of Cincinnati, from 1851 to 1858, where he was en- gaged in mechanical pursuits. In 1858 he re-

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turned home and the same year was appointed deputy sheriff, discharging the duties of that po- sition until the breaking out of the war. Enlist- ing in June, 1861, in the Arkansas State troops, he served four months and immediately enlisted in the Confederate army, where he continued until the close of the war, a part of the time being on detached duty. He was elected second lieutenant in 1862, and afterward elected to captain, and par- ticipated in the battles of Wilson's Creek, Shiloh, Prairie Grove, Jenkins' Ferry and several other hard-fought engagements and a number of skir- mishes. After the war Mr. Maxwell returned to this county and engaged in farming the first year, since which time he has been occupied in the mer- cantile business. He was born in Arkansas Post, on November 27, 1829, being the son of James and Elenor (Bringle) Maxwell, natives of North Carolina and Arkansas, respectively. Joseph Max- well, the grandfather of the principal of this sketch, lived in Indiana, and died at the battle of Tippe- canoe, in the War of 1812. He was the father of the following children: William, John, James, Nimrod, David, Mary (now Mrs. Berry), and Anna. All of the sons came to Arkansas at different periods, between 1818 and 1837. James and John were interested for a number of years in trading with the Indians along the Arkansas and White Rivers. James, the father of John R., located at Arkansas Post in 1824-25, at which time he was married, and subsequently worked at his trade of gun smithing. He was a well-educated man, and held several Government positions, being Govern- ment surveyor at the time of his death, in 1838. His wife died in 1880, at the age of seventy years. They were the parents of six children, two still living: John R. (our subject) and Cynthia Ann (widow of John G. Quertermous, of New Mexico). Joseph, one of the sons (now deceased), held the position of sheriff at the breaking out of the war, and was afterward elected county clerk, which office he filled at the time of his death, in 1872. Capt. Maxwell was married in 1869 to Miss Ann Querter- mous, a native of Kentucky. They are the parents of two daughters, Vallenia and Ella. Capt. Max- well is a strong Democrat and a leading merchant

of De Witt, and is recognized as one of the most influential men of this locality, being widely known and highly esteemed.

Walter F. Meacham is one of the progressive general merchants of Arkansas County, Ark., and by his superior management, good business ability and efficiency, has done not a little to advance the reputation the county enjoys as a commercial cen- ter. He was born in Anson County, N. C., Sep- tember 10, 1851, and is a descendant of Jeremiah Meacham, who was also a native of North Caro- lina, born in 1809. The latter was one of "the horny handed sons of toil," and was of Scotch- Irish extraction. Upon reaching manhood he was married to Miss Maness, of North Carolina, and by her became the father of ten children, six of whom are now living: Walter F., Case, William R., Mary E. (wife of K. M. Hasty, of North Car- olina), Elizabeth (wife of J. T. Redfern, of Thomas County, Ga.) and Jane (the wife of P. C. Davis, of Southwest Georgia). Jeremiah Meacham died in Anson County, Ga., in 1865, having been an earn- est and consistent member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, as was his wife, who died in 1854. Walter F. Meacham began his own career at the age of eighteen years, and was first engaged in farming in his native State, continuing there until 1870, when he immigrated to Georgia, Bartow County, and followed the same occupation for eight years. He then concluded to push on farther westward, and came to Arkansas, locating in Lee County, where he built a large store room and engaged in the mercantile business, and also man- aged a livery barn with success. He now carries a stock of goods valued at about $6,000, and as he controls a large trade, his annual sales amount to some $36,000. His brother, Jesse C., was his business partner for a number of years, and was married to Miss Georgia A. Simms, of Georgia, in 1873, becoming by her the father of five chil- dren, three now living: Jerry, Arthur and Lillie. Jesse C. Meacham died in 1886, and his wife in 1884, she being a member of the Baptist Church at the time of her death.

Judge James H. Merritt came to Arkansas in 1857 and entered a small tract of land in this coun-

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ty, but soon after moved to De Witt, when he was appointed deputy sheriff, also engaging in the mercantile business. In 1862 he was elected col- lector of revenue and census taker of Arkansas County. Having been thrown from a horse and injured, he was unable to join the Confederate troops during the war, which were organized in this county, but in 1864 he became a member of Hawthorne's regiment, and was engaged in the commissary department. In 1873 he resumed merchandising, devoting his whole attention to that occupation until the fall of 1880, when he was elected county judge, a position that he still occu- pies. He is yet occupied in the mercantile busi- ness and carries one of the largest stocks of goods in the place. James H. Merritt was born in South Carolina in 1831, being the son of Allen and Mary (Willson) Merritt, natives of that State, as were also their parents. They removed to Alabama in 1834 and located in Fayette County, where the father was engaged in farming, and in 1844 went to Mississippi. Judge Merritt was married in 1859, to Miss Charlotte H. Stephen, of Indiana birth, daughter of Henry K. Stephen. The latter, a native of Eastern Tennessee, came to this county when Mrs. Merritt was a girl, and held a number of county offices; he was sheriff a number of years, and died in this county in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Merritt have had eleven children, seven of whom are still living: William A., Sallie (now Mrs. Bar- nett), Joseph, Ella, Ange E., James H. and Mag- gie M. Mr. Merritt and wife belong to the Baptist Church, which they helped to organize, and are the only original members of that church now living. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the I. O. O. F., in which he takes an active part, and at the time of the organization of the County Grange was elected manager of their store. He is one of the most influential and popular men in De Witt.

John W. Miller is not unknown to the many residents of this locality. His father, John Miller, Sr., was born in Prussia in 1805, and there learned the carpenter's trade, coming to this country in 1830, and settling in Marshall County, Miss., where he was engaged in farming and in working at his trade. He was there married to Nancy

Neal, who was born in Mississippi in 1815. Re- moving to Arkansas in 1850 Mr. Miller located in this county, where he lived until his death, in 1888. His wife still survives and makes her home with her daughter Mrs. Elizabeth Deberry. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and liad a family of eight children, five of whom are living: Elizabeth (now Mrs. Deberry), Martha A. (now Mrs. Dillard), Francis Allen, George H. and John W. The latter, the next to the eldest child, was born in 1844. He commenced farming at the age of twenty-one, and is now the owner of half a section of land, 200 acres of which are under cultivation. He married Miss Mary Wallace, a native of New York State. They are the parents of the following children: Frances (wife of Will- iam Aldman), Jennie (now Mrs. Seamon), Alice (now Mrs. Allen), Josephine, Willie, Ellen, Sallie and Lucy. Mr. Miller is a Democrat in politics, and is one of the leading men of the township.

John S. Montgomery, by virtue of his long resi- dence in Arkansas County and his popular associa- tion with its affairs, deserves prominent mention in the present volume. Leroy Montgomery, his father, came to Arkansas in 1846, and settled in the wilds of Arkansas County at a time when there were but few settlers and when the woods echoed with the cries of bears, deer, wildcats, panthers, etc. He was a hard-working man, and cleared up a large farm. In 1853, in company with Col. Charles Belknap and Dr. J. A. Moorman, he was appointed a commissioner to locate and name the county seat of Arkansas County. After deciding on the present site of De Witt for the new seat of justice they decided to play "seven up" to see who should name it, and the lot falling to Mr. Montgomery, he called it De Witt, in honor of ex- Gov. DeWitt Clinton, of New York. Mr. Mont- gomery died in 1865 and his wife in 1873. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Marion, L. D., A. J., J. S., R. L., L. and M. R., only two of whom are now living, R. L. and J. S. Montgomery. J. S. Montgomery married a Miss Martha A. Pryor, daughter of Isaac and Martha A. Pryor. They are the parents of three children, one son and two daughters. Mr. Montgomery has

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spent all his life on the farm that he still occupies, a part of which is the old place cleared up by his father, consisting of 520 acres, 160 acres of which are under cultivation. He also owns a cotton-gin and corn-mill (run by horse-power up to 1883, but since that time by steam-power). He is a Demo- crat in politics, and cast his first presidential vote for Horace Greeley in 1872. His eldest brother, Marion, was in the Confederate army, and in the last battle in Virginia, said, "I am going to send some of the blue home." A few moments later he was killed. John S. Montgomery is now living in the house built by his father in 1847.

Samuel A. Morgan is a native of Mississippi and is a son of Charles H. and Elenor A. (Galaher) Morgan, also originally from that State. Mr. Morgan was a farmer of Mississippi, and in 1853 or 1854 removed to Arkansas, settling near St. Charles, where he died the following year. His wife died October 16, 1878, at the age of fifty. She was married after her first husband's death to the Hon. A. H. Almond, who died in 1868. He was county and probate judge of Arkansas County for a number of years under Democratic rule. There was one child by this union, which died at the age . of eight years. Her last husband was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to which she also belonged. Samuel A. is the eldest and the only one living of three sons. James W. Morgan, his brother, died at the age of twenty-five, just in the bloom of manhood. The other two, Samuel A. and J. W., were born in Marshall Coun- ty, Miss., in 1849 and 1852, respectively, but have lived in this county since four and five years of age. Samuel A. was married in 1870 to Miss A. E. Burnet, a daughter of Lemuel F. Burnet, one of the oldest settlers in this county. He was born in New Jersey in 1810, but was reared in Pennsyl- vania and Ohio. He was apprenticed to a gun- smith a few years before he became of age, and worked at the trade until twenty-one years old. In 1835 he came to Arkansas, remaining in Little Rock one year, thence going to Desha County, where he worked at his trade until he became blind and could not attend to his work. He married Jane E. Coose, a native of Tennessee and a daugh-

ter of John Coose. Mr. and Mrs. Burnet were the parents of fifteen children, five of whom are still living. Mr. Morgan bought his present place in 1878, and moved on it in 1881. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and are the parents of seven children, of whom four are living. He is a prominent Demo- crat and a highly respected citizen.

Richard H. Parker has been a resident of Ar- kansas since eighteen years of age, having settled in this county during the war, while home on a fur- lough. He is a son of Richard and Irena (Brown) Parker, natives of Georgia. They removed to Ala- bama when our subject was a small boy, and set- tled in Russell County, where they engaged in farming, remaining there until 1857, the time of starting for Arkansas. After coming overland, by wagon, a journey taking eight weeks, they lo- cated in Monroe County, on the west fork of Big Creek, where they entered land, and where the father lived until his death in 1863, his wife dying one year before. He was a soldier in the Indian Wars of 1835-36, and he and his wife were mem- bers of the Baptist Church. They had a family of nine children, six of whom are living. Richard H. Parker was born in Talbot County, Ga., in 1839. In 1860 he commenced farming for him- self, but the war breaking out he joined the Con- federate army in 1861, enlisting in a cavalry com- pany. Three months later they were dismounted and joined Col. Matlock's regiment, serving in Price's raid through Missouri. He was captured in August, 1864, while- home on a furlough, and sent to Memphis, Tenn., but having taken the oath of allegiance, was released and returned home. He was struck by a piece of shell at the battle of Helena, in the right leg, but was not seriously wounded. Returning to this county after his re- lease, he was without property, and had four brothers and sisters to care for, and what he now possesses has been made since the war. Mr. Parker married Miss Susan Gardner, a native of Mississippi, and daughter of George W. and Stacy (Bounds) Gardner, of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Parker are the parents of eight children, seven still living: Robert F., James R., Francis J., Cal-

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edolia, Theadecia E., Thadus A. and India. Mr. Parker settled on his present farm in 1868, and has it now in a good state of cultivation, and is . engaged principally in stock raising. He is a Democrat in politics and a member of the school board, in which he takes an active part. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Knights of Honor, and he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which they take a great interest.

M. F. Pike is prominently engaged in the mer- cantile business at Golden Hill, and has been post- master of that place for the past five years. Born in Alabama, he was a son of Capt. John and Eliza (East) Pike, natives respectively of North Carolina and Tennessee. They were married in Alabama and made that their home until 1849, then coming to Arkansas and locating a claim in the woods, five miles from Mount Adams, where they spent the rest of their lives. Mr. Pike died in 1868 at the age of sixty-three, and his wife ten years later, when sixty-six years old. He was a son of Gen. Pike, a soldier and general in the War of 1812, who, a na- tive of North Carolina, moved to Alabama when the father of our subject was a boy, and in 1855 removed to Arkansas and settled in this county, where he died in 1856. M. F. Pike was born in Madison County, Ala., in 1846, but was reared and educated in Arkansas County. He enlisted in April, 1861, in the Confederate service, and took part in a number of hard-fought battles; was cap- tured on February 14, 1864, and taken to New Orleans, and was held captive for nearly a year. He was then exchanged at the mouth of the Red River, and joined Gen. Fagan's escort, in which he served until a short time before the close of the war, when he received his discharge and returned home. Of five brothers and two cousins who left his fath- er's house and joined the Southern army, all re- turned home in safety. Mr. Pike was married on May 12, 1866, to Louisa S. Gravett, of Madison County, Ala. They are the parents of six children, one son and five daughters. Mr. Pike has a farm of 120 acres, with fifty acres under cultivation. He entered into the mercantile business in 1889 at Golden Hill, but also still continues farming. Mrs.

Pike has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a number of years.

Jesse P. Poynter, editor of the De Witt Gazette and county treasurer of Arkansas County, is a na- tive of Kentucky, in which State he was reared and educated until fourteen years of age. Then he went to Ohio, and in 1852 came with his father and family to Arkansas, locating in Monroe County, but remained only a short time. Going thence to Memphis, Tenn., he was employed on the Mem- phis Bulletin until 1858, after which he returned to Monroe County. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in the Twenty-fifth Arkansas Infantry, holding the position of first lieutenant, in which he served until 1864, when he was transferred to the Forty-seventh Arkansas Cavalry; he took part in Price's raid through Missouri, Kansas and the Indian Territory, and was appointed first lieuten- ant of Company K. After the war he engaged in farming, which occupation he followed until 1879, when he moved to De Witt, and was employed at his trade as printer. Mr. Poynter married Miss Amanda Coster, of Monroe County, and to them have been born three children: Walter, Ethel May and Cora. Mr. and Mrs. Poynter are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity and is a Royal Arch Mason. In 1886 he was elected county treasurer, and re-elected in 1888, and fills the office with en- tire satisfaction to the community, and with credit to himself. In 1883, in De Witt, he started a paper called the Sentry, which he published until 1884, when he started his present paper, the De- Witt Gazette, Democratic in politics, and the only paper published in this place. This ably advocates the interests of this section. Mr. Poynter was born in Kentucky, in 1835, the son of David E. and Judith B. (Moseley) Poynter, also natives of the Blue Grass State, where they lived until 1852, then coming to Monroe County, where they lived until their death. David E. Poynter was county surveyor of Monroe County for a number of years. His death occurred in 1859, at the age of fifty years, and his wife died in 1870, at the age of six- ty-nine. They belonged to the Methodist Episco- pal Church.

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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