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 110

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 110

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

able in abundant supply, Prairie County is especial- ly well adapted to the raising of live stock, and re- cently a few individuals have begun the business and have large herds of cattle grazing on the prairies. This is becoming a leading industry. Hogs fatten on the mast and live through the year without being fed, but they are not extensively raised. Fruits grow almost to perfection, especially peaches, plums, pears, quinces, grapes and berries of every variety. Apples also do well, but not so well as in higher altitudes. Wild fruits, such as grapes, plums, mulberries, blackberries, etc., grow abundantly in the timbered portions of the county.

The Little Rock & Memphis Railroad crosses Prairie County from east to west, and divides it into nearly two equal parts. Its length within the county is about twenty-three miles. The Cotton Belt Railroad crosses the southeast part of the county, running in a southwesterly direction. The railroads constitute a considerable portion of the taxable wealth of the county, and give excellent shipping facilities.

On February 15, 1882, seven farmers, named, respectively, W. W. Tedford, W. T. McBee, W .. A. Suit, John and George McBee, Bluford Loakey, and L. F. Thasher, all of Prairie County, met at the McBee school house, near Wattensas Creek and at a point eleven miles north of Hazen, and there organized the "Wattensas Farmers' Club," with W. W. Tedford, president, and W. T. McBee, secretary. At the third meeting of this club its name was changed to " Wheel," hence the origin and name of that extensive organization. Soon thereafter other wheels were organized, up to the number of seven in all, four in Prairie and three in Cleburne County. Then on August 22, the same year, articles of incorporation were filed in the cir- cuit court clerk's office in Prairie County. After- ward, April 9, 1883, delegates from the wheels then existing met at the same school house where the original club was formed, and organized the State Wheel, with E. R. McPherson, president, and J. T. Kirk, secretary. Articles of association were filed in the office of the Secretary of State, September 28, 1885. The officers of the State Wheel, at this writing are, John P. H. Russ, of

White County, president, and R. H. Morehead, of Hazen, Prairie County, secretary. The latter is serving his fifth term. There are 2,109 subordi- nate wheels in Arkansas, and besides State and subordinate Wheels exist in Mississippi, Tennes- see, Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin and Missouri.

Upon the approach of the Civil War, in 1861, the people of Prairie County were generally in sympathy with the Southern cause, in consequence of which a public meeting was held at Brownsville, the then county seat, on April 22, 1861, and reso- lutions passed favoring an appropriation by the county for putting it "upon a war footing." Sub- sequently, in the same month, the county appro- priated $10,000 to arm and equip its volunteer soldiers. Then and thereafter companies were organized for the State and Confederate service. The first company in what is now Prairie County was organized at Des Arc, in the spring of 1861, and commanded by Capt. George W. Glenn. Other companies were organized in the territory of Prairie County, as now formed, and commanded respectively by Capts. John S. Pearson, John H. Bulls, Michael Peal, Gus. Reinhardt, John Kirk and Pat. H. Wheat. Gen. Steele, of the United States army, took possession of the county about Septem- ber 1, 1863, and from that time until the close of the war it was in possession of Federal troops. No battle was fought in the county, but a few slight skirmishes took place between scouting par- ties of the contending armies. The county was completely overrun and laid waste. M. M. Erwin, of Des Arc, says that when he returned from the war in June, 1865, there were not, as he believes, fifteen horses left in the county. The people de- serve great praise for their recovery from such devastation.

In 1880 the real estate of Prairie County was assessed for taxation at $865,881, and the personal property at $461,100, making a total of $1,226,- 981, and the taxes charged thereon, for all pur- poses, were $23,803. In 1888 the real property of the county was assessed at $1,147,073, and the personal at $874,137, making a total of $2,021,210, and the total taxes charged thereon were $28, - 677.28. By comparison, it will be seen that from

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1880 to 1888, the taxable wealth of the county nearly doubled, while the taxes increased only about 20 per cent.

Prairie County has no bonded indebtedness, but owes a trifling amount on outstanding war- rants. In 1886 the county was robbed of from $10,000 to $12,000. On this occasion the treas- urer was found tied on the street, and alleged that he had been knocked down and tied by robbers, who took from him the keys to the safe containing the money. Upon suspicion he was indicted and tried for the crime, but was found "not guilty." No other arrests or prosecutions were made.

Des Arc-the county seat-is situated on the west bank of White River, in the northern part of the county, and contains about 800 inhabitants. The streets are wide, and run east and west and north and south, and the site is as level and beau- tiful as could possibly be found for a town. Judge Watkins, of Little Rock, bought a portion of the land on which the town is located, and James Er- win entered the other portion. In 1846 or 1847 Watkins surveyed and platted his portion into town lots and streets, and two years later Erwin laid his portion out into town lots. The latter opened the first store and erected the first cotton- gin and grist-mill (combined) in the place, and also the first saw-mill. The gins and mills were all run by horse power, and M. M. Erwin (son of James Erwin), now living at Des Arc, ginned the first bale of cotton. Mr. Erwin brought the machinery for his saw-mill, and a man to put it into operation, from Pittsburg, Penn. These improvements were made about the year 1847. The second store in the town was opened by Stephen Red, and the next by Frith & Jackson. In 1850 the town had a population of about 100, and during the 50's it grew so rapidly that by 1860 its population was over 2,000. M. M. Erwin opened and kept the first hotel or "inn" in the place. A daily stage line-the Butterfield-met the boats here on White River. This line extended by way of Little Rock, Fort Smith, etc., to San Francisco, Cal., and the price charged passengers from Des Arc to San Francisco was $200 in gold. Only fifty pounds of baggage was allowed each passenger.

During the Civil War Des Arc was partially de- stroyed. Some of the buildings were burned, and others taken down and moved by the Federal army to De Vall's Bluff. The place was then almost depopulated. The town is improving now in the way of removal of the wooden business buildings and erecting brick blocks on their sites. It is an important cotton market, and from 5,000 to 6,000 bales are annually shipped therefrom on White River. It contains eight general stores, four gro- ceries, three drug stores, one hardware and grocery store, one undertaking store, a livery stable, two meat markets, two hotels and a boarding house; four churches for the white people, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Cumberland Presbyte- rian; two churches for the colored people, Method- ist and Baptist; two school-houses, one for the whites and one for the blacks; a postoffice, saw- mill, cotton-gin and grist-mill, a ferry across the river, a town hall, five warehouses for storage of cotton, a lodge each of Masons and Knights of Honor, five physicians, and a weekly newspaper, the Des Arc Citizen, which was established in Sep- tember, 1854, by J. C. Morrel, and is now pub- lished by J. J. Baugh. It is an eight-column folio, neatly printed and ably edited. The town also contains several mechanics' shops, and other enterprises not here named. Its name, Des Arc (the arc), is from the French Bayou Des Arc, a sluggish stream that empties into the White River about two miles above the town, which had pre- viously been named thus by the French settlers. The town is incorporated, and has a full set of cor- porate officers.

De Vall's Bluff, situated on the west side of White River and also on the Little Rock & Mem- phis Railroad, was named after C. S. DeVall, who entered the land upon which it is located. At the beginning of the Civil War, in 1861, it contained a store and dwelling house and a "boat landing." In the fall of 1863 it was taken possession of by a portion of the United States army, and from thence forward to the close of the war, and for some time thereafter it was held by Federal troops. Soon after the Federals took possession they made it their base of supplies for Little Rock and other

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points west. The White River being navigable at all seasons of the year, the supplies were shipped thereon to De Vall's Bluff and transported thence by rail to Little Rock; however when the Arkan- sas River was high enough supplies were shipped directly to that city on that stream. As soon as the Union army took possession of De Vall's Bluff and made it a permanent base of supplies, hun- dreds of refugees flocked in and claimed pro- tection. Houses were erected for them to occupy, and by the close of the war the place contained many buildings and had a large population, mostly of refugees, who then returned to their former homes. It now contains a postoffice, two general, two drug, three grocery and one millinery store, a livery stable, two hotels, a boat oar factory, a large saw-mill, a Methodist Church, white, and a Bap- tist Church, colored, a school-house each for the whites and blacks, two title abstract offices, a lodge each of Masons, Knights of Pythias, Knights of Honor, Good Templars and Iron Hall.

The boat-oar factory is said to be the only one of the kind west of the Mississippi. It is con- trolled and managed by F. P. Wells, formerly of Michigan, and turns out about 3,000 feet, lineal measure, of finished oars per day. These are shipped to Liverpool, England, San Francisco and other distant cities. A large number of men are employed at this establishment. The saw-mill, which has capacity for cutting 20,000 feet of lum- ber per day, is managed by Wells & Maxwell.

De Vall's Bluff represents a wonderful amount of life insurance for so small a place. The Knights of Honor, fifty members, carry $2,000 each, aggre- gating $100,000; the Iron Hall, twenty-five mem- bers, carry $1,000 each, aggregating $25,000; the Knights of Pythias carry in the aggregate $35,000, and it is estimated that at least $50,000 is carried in the " old line companies," making a grand total of $210,000. In addition to the societies named the town has a branch of the Southern Building and Loan Association, of Knoxville, Tenn., the members of which carry 175 shares of $100 each. De Vall's Bluff is incorporated, and has a popula- tion of about 500. Its principal exports are cotton, boat oars and lumber.

Hazen, situated on the Little Rock & Memphis Railroad, forty-three miles east from Little Rock and seven miles west from DeVall's Bluff, has a population of about 650, and is the leading com- mercial point in the county. It was surveyed and laid out in 1873, and named in honor of William C. Hazen, its original proprietor. It is well laid out, with wide streets running east and west and north and south, and has around it a colony of thrifty and prosperous farmers from the North. It contains six general, two drug and two grocery stores, an undertaker's shop, two livery stables, two blacksmith shops, two real estate offices, post- office, one meat market, two lumber yards, two hotels, a steam cotton-gin, saw and grist-mill, two school-houses (one for each race), two churches for the white people and two for the colored people. In and around the town are six hay presses and nine hay barns. The principal shipments are hay, cotton and fruit. More hay, fruit, produce and game are annually shipped from Hazen than from any other town in the county.

The Hazen Free Press, a five-column quarto weekly newspaper, is published by J. H. Taylor. It was established in May, 1889.

Hickory Plains is a village of about 100 inhab- itants in the northwest part of the county, and contains a postoffice, general store, drug store, two steam cotton-gins and grist-mills, a blacksmith shop, three churches and a large public school building.

Barrettsville, located between Hickory Plains and Hazen, contains a postoffice, general store, drug store, and a steam cotton-gin, grist and saw- mill.

Surrounded Hill, or Fredonia, is on the Little Rock & Memphis Railroad, four miles east of De- Vall's Bluff, and contains two general and two grocery stores, two saloons, postoffice, two colored churches, a hotel, blacksmith shop and a steam cotton-gin and grist-mill. It is situated in one of the best cotton growing districts in the State, and ships a large amount of that commodity. It has a population of about 200, largely colored.

Fairmount is a small post village on the prairie in the southern part of the county.

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Ulm, a new village, is growing up in the south- eastern part of the county.

There are, besides the above, some other post hamlets in the county.

The workings of the free school system in Prai- rie County may be learned by reference to the fol- fowing statistics taken from the last published report of the State superintendent of public instruc- tion, it being for the year ending June 30, 1888:

Scholastic population: White, males, 1,247, fe- males, 1,165, total, 2,412; colored, males, 771, fe- males, 773, total, 1,544. Number of pupils taught in the public schools: White, males, 871, females, 784, total, 1,655; colored, males, 413, females, 460, total, 873. Number of school districts, 49. Teach- ers employed: Males, 42, females, 22; total, 64. Average monthly salaries paid teachers: First grade, males, $50.00, females, $37.50; second grade, males, $35.00, females, $25.00; third grade, males, $30.00, females, $25.00. Amount expended for the support of the schools: Teachers' salaries, $11,316.00; for houses and sites, $1,150.43; treas- urer's commissions, $259.12; total, $12,725.55. The reader can compare the number of children enumerated with the number enrolled in the schools, make other comparisons and draw his own conclusions. The statistics show much room for improvement. The school terms in each district averaged four months for the year. After the pub- lic money is exhausted the teachers of the town schools usually teach a subscription school for sev- eral months longer.

The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, has the following organizations in Prairie County: Des Arc and Hickory Plains Circuit, with a church at each of these places, and three preaching points in the country, Rev. D. T. Holmes, pastor, and a membership of 283; Hazen Circuit, embracing Ha- zen, De Vall's Bluff, and one or two appointments in the country, with a membership in all of over 100, Rev. J. W. F. Scott, pastor; Wattensas Cir- cuit, embracing seven organizations, with a com- bined membership of about 311, Rev. James Hud- dleston, pastor; the White River Circuit has ap- pointments in both Prairie and Arkansas Counties, and a membership of 425, Rev. J. W. Berry being

pastor. A portion of the Carlisle Circuit lies in the western part of Prairie County, and a portion of the Brinkley Circuit in its eastern part.

There is a Baptist Church, with about forty- five members, at Des Arc, but at this writing they are not supplied with a pastor. Other Baptist Churches in the county, pastors and memberships, as shown by the session minutes of 1888, of the Grand Prairie Baptist Association, are as follows: Center Point, Elder B. F. House, 70; Hazen, Elder P. A. Haman, 52; Pleasant Ridge, Elder R. G. Thomas, 23; Liberty, ... . about 15. Since these minutes were published the memberships have in- creased, and changes in pastors may have been made.

There are three organizations of the Presby- terians within the county: One at Des Arc, one at Hickory Plains, and the other at Hazen. Rev. S. I. Reid, of Lonoke, preaches at Des Arc and Hazen. The membership is small.

Of the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination there is only one organization in the county, and that is at Des Arc, where they have a very small membership, a neat little church edifice, but no pastor at this time.

A Christian Church was organized at Hazen about the year 1881. They have no edifice, but contemplate building one within a year. Elder J. A. Carter, of Lauderdale County, Tenn., preaches for them in the school-house. The membership is now 120. A Christian Church, with a small mem- bership, was organized in August, 1889, at Bar- rettsville. Elder C. E. Gillespie, of Hazen, is pas- tor. Here, too, they worship in the school-house.

A. L. Aydelott, merchant, Surrounded Hill, Ark. The mercantile trade has long constituted one of the leading features in the commercial pur- suits of our country, and in this line we have in Surrounded Hill a thoroughly representative house, controlled by Mr. A. L. Aydelott, who is regarded as an upright and energetic man of business, and respected in commercial and social circles. He is the son of S. D. and Elizabeth (Herring) Aydelott, and his birth occurred in Shelby County, Tenn.,

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on the 16th of March, 1855. S. D. Aydelott owes his nativity to Hardeman County, Tenn., where his birth occurred November 18, 1819, and he moved with his parents to Kentucky when quite young. There he received his education, and after reaching his majority returned to his native State, and was united in marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth (Herring) Whitley. To this union were born three children: William L., Alfred L. and Johnny L. The father was a blacksmith by trade, also a mer- chant, and in connection carried on agricultural pursuits. He is the owner of about ninety-two acres of land near Arlington, Tenn. He and wife are now living in Shelby County, Tenn. They are mem- bers of the Old School Baptist Church, and have the esteem and respect of all who know them. Dur- ing the late war the father enlisted in the Confed- erate army, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regi- ment Tennessee Volunteers, and was in the battles of Corinth and Shiloh. At the end of fourteen months he was discharged on account of age, returned home, and began merchandising at Mem- phis. A. L. Aydelott received a good practical education in the schools of Memphis, Tenn., and there remained until December, 1877, when he immigrated to Ark., and located on his present fine property. Upon his first advent into Arkansas he was without means, and began business for himself by working as sub-manager on a plantation. By 1878 he had accumulated some money, and he then returned to Tennessee, where he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah D. Gillespie, daughter of Jefferson and Mary Gillespie, on the 13th of February of that year. To this marriage have been born six children: Kate E. (deceased), Josie L., Grace A. (deceased), Ellise and Clarence (twins), and an infant, Herbert. Mr. Aydelott began mer- chandising in October, 1884, on a capital of $1,000, which has since been increased to $55,000; is the owner of about 600 acres of good land, and has under cultivation about 140 acres. He runs a pub- lic gin that is situated in Surrounded Hill, and which has all the latest improvements, and he also owns an interest in a saloon. Mr. Aydelott is progressive in his ideas, and his farm, which is well stocked, shows care and attention. He was a

member of the K. of H., and was Dictator as long as he held membership; was also postmaster at Surrounded Hill for one term, and he is deeply interested in church and educational matters.

Philip B. Baugh, retired, was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., October 10, 1827, and is a son of James and Marina A. (Bruce) Baugh, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of North Caro- lina, she being a daughter of Arnold Bruce, a Frenchman. After their marriage the parents moved to Lincoln County, Tenn., and in 1837 to Mississippi, where the father's death occurred, his wife's death occurring in White County, Ark., in 1868. Philip B. Baugh resided with his father until the latter's death, and up to 1859 was en- gaged in following the plow in Mississippi. After moving to Arkansas he located in Des Arc and for two years, up to 1859, was engaged in the saw- mill business. In January, 1862, he moved to White County, Ark., and followed farming and lumber manufacturing, also dealing in dry goods and real estate for some six years, then sold out, and in 1887 returned to Des Arc, where he is now spending his declining years in retirement from the active duties of life. He was married in Mis- sissippi, on January 3, 1850, to Eleanor C. Law- son, a native of North Carolina, who was reared in Mississippi, a daughter of John Lawson, a native of Ireland. Mrs. Baugh died January 9, 1888, having borne and reared a family of ten children: John C. (a farmer of White County, Ark.), J. J. Baugh (whose sketch appears in this work), W. L. (a druggist of Des Arc), Alice (wife of B. S. Hor- ton, of Searcy), Olivia (wife of A. A. Gilliam, also of Searcy), Cora (wife of Rev. A. C. Graham, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church), Ola and Nettie (young ladies at home), Ida Bruce (another daughter, died in September, 1887, at the age of twenty-one years, being the affianced wife of Rev. C. B. Mosley, now a missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to Japan), and Katie Florence (who died at the age of eighteen years). Mr. and Mrs. Baugh belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Baugh is a Royal Arch Mason. He served as magistrate of White County for a number of years, also as

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notary public, and is holding the last-named posi- tion at the present time. During the Civil War he entered the Confederate army (in 1864), being a member of Col. Crabtree's regiment, and was with Price on his raid through Missouri, after which he was on detached service until the close of the war.

James J. Baugh, attorney and editor, Des Arc, Ark. The enviable position which the town of Des Arc occupies to-day as an industrial and mer- cantile center is due to the energy, enterprise and ability of the inhabitants and to the wise and ju- dicious government of the civic authorities. Promi- nent among those who have made an impress on the history of the town, in more respects than one, is Mr. James J. Baugh, who is editor and publisher of the Citizen, and an able attorney of the town. Mr. Baugh is a native of Palona, Miss., where his birth occurred December 7, 1857, and he is the son of Judge P. B. and Eleanor (Lawson) Baugh, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of North Carolina. The parents were married in the last-named State, and in 1859 moved to Arkansas, where the father first engaged in the saw-mill and lumber business at Des Arc. After residing at that place for a few years he moved to White County, but in September, 1887, returned to Des Arc, where he resides at the present time. He is sixty- two years of age, and is one of the prominent men of the county. He served as county judge of White County, and has held other positions of trust and responsibility. His wife died January 9, 1888. Their family consisted of seven daugh- ters and three sons, all of whom grew to mature years. James J. Baugh passed his boyhood days in White County, and remained with his father until about seventeen years of age. He then en-, tered a newspaper office at Searcy, learned the printer's trade, and then took up the study of law, being admitted at Searcy in 1880. He moved to Des Arc in 1880, bought out a newspaper business, and now owns the only paper published at Des Arc. He has been actively engaged in the news- paper business since that time, and his paper, with its crisp and trenchant editorials, commands an ever-widening area of circulation, while it carries

with it that weight and authority, which a clear, calm and intelligent judgment must always secure. Mr. Baugh was appointed postmaster at Des Arc in 1885, and was acting postmaster for four years. His marriage took place at Hickory Plains, June 15, 1882, to Miss E. M. Reinhardt, a native of Des Arc, and the daughter of Daniel F. Rein- hardt, who was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1874. To Mr. and Mrs. Baugh were born two children: Lerline and Minnie Kate. Mr. Baugh is a member of the Knights of Honor and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Christian Bechler is accounted a prosperous farmer, stockman and miller, of Belcher Town- ship, Prairie County, Ark., and like the majority of the natives of France, he is of an energetic. temperament and progressive in his views. He is a man whom nature seems to have especially de- signed to be a farmer, for he has met with more than the average degree of success in pursuing this calling, and is now the owner of 448 acres of land, all of which is under fence. He was born in 1827, and when only fourteen years of age, be- came weary of life in his native land, and began to turn his thoughts to the new world across the water, where adventurous spirits could find wider scope of opportunities, and more congenial sur- roundings. He first landed in New Orleans, and in 1840 went to Ohio, and in 1846 to Iowa, thence to California in 1849, like so many others in search of- gold. After working in the mining regions of that State, until 1852, he returned to Iowa, and the following year was married to Barbara Conrad, a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Klopfenstein) Conrad, who were natives of Switzerland, and came to America in 1820. Mrs. Bechler was born in Ohio, and after their marriage, she and Mr. Bechler set energetically to work to accumulate some means, and they still own the farm on which they first settled in Henry County, Iowa, which comprises 160 acres. In 1883 they came to Prai- rie County, Ark., and as above stated, own an ex- cellent farm. They expect to make this State their home, and are interested in everything per- taining to its welfare. He is a Republican, and

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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