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 116

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 116

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James R. Mallory, merchant, De Vall's Bluff, Ark. Among the many industries largely devel- oped in De Vall's Bluff within the past years, that of merchandising has taken a prominent position, as may be seen by the establishment and growth of the various houses engaged in this line of enter- prise. One of the best-known and most liberally patronized establishments in the city of De Vall's Bluff is that conducted by Mr. Mallory. This

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gentleman was born in Granville County, N. C., on May 25, 1834, and is the son of John Mallory, a native of North Carolina, and Mollie (Coleman) Mallory, whom he had met in Tennessee. The fruits of this union were eight children, five daugh- ters and three sons: William, Sallie, Eliza, Mary, Lucy, Caroline, James R. and John. Mr. Mallory was a local minister and was instrumental in or- ganizing several churches in North Carolina. He died in 1861, and his wife several years previous. He was very much interested in educational as well as church matters, and contributed liberally to all laudable enterprises. James R. Mallory was edu- cated in Oxford, N. C., and was there married to Miss Lucy Horner, in November, 1866. This union resulted in the birth of two children: Sarah and John T., both of whom reside at home. Mr. Mal- lory immigrated from North Carolina to Arkansas in November, 1868, located at De Vall's Bluff, and there he has since resided, engaged in mercantile pursuits with a stock valued at $10,000. He has held the position of coroner for four years and was also postmaster for nineteen months. He is a member of the K. of H., and has held the office of Reporter of that lodge. He is also a member of what is called Iron Hall, located at De Vall's Bluff, and is a Freemason, but has not affiliated with any lodge in this State. He enlisted in the Confeder- ate army, under Gen. Lee, in 1861, and his first hard battle was at Richmond, Va. He was com- missary of the Fifth North Carolina Regiment during service, and was discharged at Appomattox Court House, Va., in 1865. He then returned to his home and embarked in mercantile pursuits, which he has since continued.

Dr. Stephen R. Mason, county treasurer, De Vall's Bluff, Ark. There are few men of the present day, whom the world acknowledges as suc- cessful, more worthy of honorable mention, or whose life history affords a better example of what may be accomplished by a determined will and per- severance, than Dr. Mason. He was born in the town of Chichester, near Pittsfield, Merrimack County, N. H., in 1827, and was the fourth in a family of five children born to the union of Jolin and Abigail Amanda (Roby) Mason, natives, also,

of New Hampshire. The parents were married in that State and there the father was an operative in a cotton-factory until 1835, when he moved to the Far West and located in what is now Woodford County, Ill., near where Metamora is now located, and there bought land of the United States and improved a farm. In 1840 he moved to Bureau County, Ill., and there his death occurred in 1861. His excellent wife survived him until 1867. Dr. Stephen R. Mason remained on the home farm, where the town of Buda is now located, until six- teen years of age, and received his education in the academy at Princeton, Ill. After this he engaged in teaching school, and in the meantime read medi- cine with Dr. J. S. Whitmire, at Metamora, in 1847. He then alternately attended school and taught until the fall of 1849, when he entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, Ill., and gradu- ated therefrom in the class of 1851. He then began practicing in Bureau County, near Buda, and remained there until 1853, when he located at Sheffield, Ill. Dr. Mason was married in 1852 to Miss Mary A. Brainard, a native of La Fayette, Ohio, and the daughter of Deodatus E. and Sally J. (Fry) Brainard, natives of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Brainard emigrated to Ohio and settled in Medina County at an early date. From there they moved to Bureau County, Ill., in 1841, and here the father was occupied in cultivating the soil. Both parents are now living, and reside in Buda, Ill. To the Doctor and Mrs. Mason were born five children, four now living: Ella Jane (now Mrs. W. B. Allen, of Chicago, Ill.), Ida May (now Mrs. J. W. Waterman, of Creston, Iowa), Roby E. (was an engineer on the Little Rock & Memphis Rail- road a number of years, and recently on the Bates- ville & Brinkley Railroad, where he was killed by the engine being derailed, near Gray Station, on July 28, 1888; his widow now resides in Brinkley, Ark.), Wilbur J. (is married, resides at De Vall's Bluff, and is assistant postmaster at that place) and Harry W. (who is married and resides at Cot- ton Plant, Ark., being railroad agent and operator on the Batesville & Brinkley Railroad). The mother of these children died in March, 1889, and the remains of both mother and son were carried

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to Buda, Ill. After his marriage Dr. Mason re- sided in Sheffield until coming to De Vall's Bluff, in 1873, since which time he has practiced his pro- fession. He was first appointed postmaster at De vall's Bluff in 1881 (February 4), and served in that capacity until the spring of 1886. He was re- appointed in August, 1889. He was elected county treasurer of Prairie County in 1886, was re- elected in 1888, and is the present incumbent. He has been magistrate a number of times, and has held various town and school offices; he is also a member of the American Institute of Homeopathy, joining the same in 1867, and a member of the Southern Homoeopathic Association. He is a mem- ber of Ames Lodge No. 142, A. F. & A. M., at Sheffield, Ill., was made a Mason in 1852 or 1853, and has also been a member of the I. O. O. F. He was a charter member of De Vall's Bluff Lodge No. 2172, Knights of Honor. In 1882 he joined the Iron Hall Association, and has drawn one final benefit of $1,000, and considers it a good thing. The Doctor is independent in his religious views, and is willing others should enjoy the same privi- lege.

W. E. Maxwell, merchant and manufacturer, De Vall's Bluff, Ark. This gentleman is one of the prominent business men of De Vall's Bluff, Ark., and his reputation in that capacity is well and favorably known throughout the county. He was originally from Kentucky, where his birth oc- curred in 1852, and is the eldest of a family of six children born to the union of J. H. and Mary M. (Cole) Maxwell, the father a native of Kentucky, and the mother of Pennsylvania. J. H. Maxwell was born in Caldwell County in 1822, and was a merchant and planter. He was married in 1849 or 1850 to Miss Cole, who was a descendant of the family of that name in Pennsylvania. Mr. Maxwell died in 1884 at De Vall's Bluff, Ark. W. E. Max- well began business for himself by manufacturing handles at Lansing, Mich., in 1875, remaining there until 1883, when he came to De Vall's Bluff, and there, in partnership with Mr. Wells, engaged in the mill business under the firm title of Wells, Maxwell & Co. This firm is engaged in sawing all kinds of lumber, and ships a great deal of oak

to foreign parts. He is also engaged in merchan- dising under the firm title of Maxwell & Co., and is one of the ablest business men to be found. He is the owner of considerable town property, and owns a 900-acre tract of land in the county. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Hamilton Lodge No. 110, De Vall's Bluff, and is a member of the Knights of Pythias, White River Lodge No. 41, of De Vall's Bluff.

S. A. Minton is a worthy agriculturist of Prairie County, Ark., and enjoys to an unlimited extent, the confidence and respect of all who know him. He has been a resident of the county since 1867, and at that date settled on forty acres of land in Center Township, and at the present time has 220 acres, 100 under cultivation. Born in the State of Alabama, in '1844, he is the third child born to J. M. and Nancy (Rainwater) Minton, both of whom were born in the "Palmetto State," the former's birth occurring in 1818, and the latter's in 1816. J. M. Minton settled in Alabama, where he followed farming and tanning, and his marriage occurred about 1836. After residing in Alabama until 1860, he came to Arkansas and settled at Austin, where he worked at the tanner's trade for about ten years, then moving to Center Township, Prairie County, where he spent his declining years, his death occurring in 1884. Politically he was a Democrat and his wife was a member of the Prim- itive Baptist Church. They became the parents of the following children: Emily E. (who is the wife of R. N. Sparks and resides in Centre Township), S. B. (who lives in Hazen Township is married and has eight children), S. A. (our subject), Martha G. (wife of R. N. Sparks, Sr.), Adaline (who died young), Matilda S. (died in 1868 in her nineteenth year), John P. (who also died in childhood), and M. M. T. (an infant, deceased). The mother of these children died in the year 1882. The pater- nal grandparents, Sylvanus and Jennie Minton, be- came the parents of twenty-three or twenty-four children. S. A. Minton spent his youth in Ala- bama and came with his father to Arkansas in 1860. The following year he enlisted in Company B, Fourth Arkansas Regiment of Infantry, and the battles in which he participated were: Rich-

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mond, Murfreesboro, Atlanta, Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga and Franklin. Upon returning to Arkansas he was married in December, 1866, to Miss Nancy A. Douglas, a daughter of Logan and Patience Douglas, and the year following moved to Prairie County, and as shown above, has become a well-to-do farmer. The children born to his union are: George J. (who died in 1887), Joseph M. (who also died in 1887), Emma C. (who is the wife of R. N. Sparks, Jr.), William F., Thomas W., Burrell S. and Ada B. Mr. Minton is a mem- ber of the Primitive Baptist Church and is an en- terprising and progressive citizen.

Hon. William L. Moore, retired physician and surgeon, Hickory Plains, Ark. A plain untar- nished statement of the facts embraced in the life of William L. Moore, 'a man well known to the people of Prairie County, Ark., is all that we profess to be able to give in this history of the county; and yet, upon examination of those facts, there will be found the career of one whose entire course through the world has been marked with singular honesty and fidelity of purpose, as well as sincere and efficient service to those whom he has been called upon to represent in different capaci- ties. He was born in Wilson County, Tenn., near Lebanon, on August 29, 1814, and is the son of Robert and Ann L. (Duty) Moore, natives of Vir- ginia and North Carolina, respectively. The par- ents were married in North Carolina, near the line, and the father cultivated the soil in Virginia until 1806, when he moved to Wilson County, Tenn. He was in the Creek War, was made major, and fell while leading his men at the battle of Tallade- ga. The mother reared the family, and in 1819, was married the second time, to James L. McDon- ald. She then moved to Cotton Grove, Tenn., thence to Bolivar to educate her children, and there died in 1827. Dr. William L. Moore was reared in Tennessee, and at the age of fourteen years, en- tered a store to learn something of merchandising, spending the time alternately in the store earning funds and in attending school until twenty-one years of age. He received a fair education in the common and higher English branches, also studied Latin, and subsequently began the study of medi-

cine under Dr. John McCall, at Rome, Smith County, which he continued a short time. He then began studying under Dr. Alexander Goode, of Fayette County, a very prominent physician, and took his first course of lectures in 1833, 1834 and 1835. He then practiced with his preceptor for twelve months, and his home being in the corner of Fayette County, he practiced in that, and Marshall, DeSoto and Shelby Counties for twelve years, meet- ing with excellent success. In February, 1853, he moved to Arkansas, locating in Hickory Plains, Prairie County, where he has remained ever since. While living in Fayette County, Tenn., he was married on December 9, 1846, to Miss Mary C. Abington, a native of the Blue Grass State, and the daughter of William Abington. Five living children are the results of this union: Edwin, Dora (wife of Dr. Lindsay), Emma (wife of J. N. Brians), Ripley A. (an attorney at Des Arc) and Samuel A. They lost two daughters, one an infant, and the other nine years of age, and a son who died at the age of three years. After locating in Prairie County, Dr. Moore carried on farming in connec- tion with his practice, and for ten years lived in Hickory Plains to educate his children. In 1856 he was elected to represent Prairie County in the legislature and served one term. During the late war, he was in the Confederate service about six months, and was first lieutenant of Totten Guards, Twenty-fifth Arkansas Battalion of Infantry, and was in the battle of Farmington. In reorganizing the Dr. was discharged and returned home. He has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity for over forty years, and all matters of benefit receive his sanction and support.

Edwin Moore, stock raiser, farmer and ginner, Hickory Plains, Ark. Mr. Moore owes his nativity to Fayette County, Tenn., where his birth oc- curred on May 9, 1848, and is the son of Hon. W. L. Moore, whose sketch immediately precedes this. He came with his father to Arkansas in 1853, and grew to manhood in Prairie County, where he received a fair education and this he has improved materially by self-culture. He remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age, and on March 8, 1870, was united in marriage in Prairie

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County, Ark., to Miss Mattie Brians, daughter of W. J. and E. J. Brians and sister to J. W. Brians, sheriff of Prairie County, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Moore was born in North Carolina, but was reared and partly educat- ed in Prairie County. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Moore had nothing of this world's goods on which to commence, but they went to work with a determination to succeed, and although they had considerable to contend with they were not dis- couraged. They first located on a farm which they began clearing of the timber that covered it, and this they have since added to until they now own about 1,000 acres of good land with some 500 acres under cultivation. They have a good frame residence, a good gin boiler and engine and first-class outbuildings, etc. They also have a good orchard and vineyard. Mr. Moore was elected magistrate, holding the position for eight consecutive years, and was also made a member of the school board. He takes a great interest in politics and served as a delegate to the State Dem- ocratic Convention. To Mr. and Mrs. Moore were born seven children: Charles A., William E., Rob- ert A., Emma A., James L., Henry I. and Gordon E. and the two eldest children with their parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Moore has also reared his wife's youngest brother and her mother has made her home with him since the death of Mr. Brians. Mr. Moore is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Dr. W. P. Owens, physician and surgeon, De- Vall's Bluff, Ark. This prominent and successful practitioner owes his nativity to De Soto County, Miss., where his birth occurred August 10, 1855, and he located in Prairie County, in March, 1884, where he has since practiced his profession. He was the fourth of nine children born to the union of Joshua D. and Fannie (La Favre) Owens, na- tives of Alabama. The parents were married in their native State, and there the father carried on agricultural pursuits until 1835, when he moved to Mississippi, and settled in De Soto County, where they are now living. Dr. W. P. Owens was reared to farm labor, and remained under the parental roof until seventeen years of age. He

received his literary education at Lexington, Ky., and at the State University of Mississippi, at Ox- ford, where, after reaching the junior year, he commenced reading medicine, and then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Balti- more, Md., in September, 1878, graduating with the class of 1880. He then returned to De Soto County, commenced the practice of medicine, which he continued until 1884, and, as above stated, he then came to De Vall's Bluff, Ark., where he has since built up a good practice. He was married near Baltimore, Md., in 1879, to Miss Florence Dawson, a native of Maryland, and the daughter of Edward Thomas and Susan (Smith) Dawson, natives also of Maryland. Mr. Dawson was a merchant, and followed this pursuit the principal part of his life. His death occurred in 1878. His wife had died many years previous. To Dr. and Mrs. Owens were born four children, one living, Edward. The Doctor is not very active in politics, but votes with the Democratic party. Socially he is a member of the K. of P. Mrs. Owens is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

Dr. A. C. Parrish, physician and surgeon, Haz- en, Ark. Dr. Parrish has all the attributes essen- tial to a successful practitioner, is the possessor of much personal popularity and is highly esteemed by all who know him. He was born in Dixon County, Tenn., in 1836, was reared to the arduous duties of the farm and received his education in the schools of his native county. He commenced reading medicine in 1849, and after continuing this for a few years he begam practicing in 1852. Since then he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession, a period of thirty-seven years, and has met with fair success. He was mar- ried in Hickman County, Tenn., in 1848, to Miss Jane Wilson, a native of Tennessee, and to them were born eight children, three now living: Albert (married and residing in Texas), Rebecca (now Mrs. Pollard of Tennessee) and Nellie A. (now Mrs. Turner of White County, Ark.). The mother of these children died on June 3, 1862. In 1864 Dr. Parrish married Mrs. Elizabeth (Spencer) James, widow of L. James, and her death occurred

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in October, 1885. Three children were the result of this union: Melvin, Nola and Sudie. He mar- ried the third time in 1888 Mrs. Alice (Gwyn) HalliBurton, widow of H. HalliBurton. The Doc- tor came to Arkansas in 1870 and engaged in tilling the soil in connection with his practice. He has opened up several farms, built three cotton- gins and now owns a good farm of thirty acres, besides giving his children land. He votes with the Democratic party but is not active in poli- tics. Socially he is a member of the K. of P., Hazen Lodge No. 3134, and he and lady are mem- bers of the Missionary Baptist Church.

L. M. Peak has passed the uneventful life of the farmer, and has continued to " pursue the even tenor of his way" until he is now ranked among the prosperous agriculturists of this region. He is a Kentuckian by birth, born in Scott County in 1851, and is the third child born to Dudley and Ann (Martin) Peak, the former a Kentuckian also, born in 1820. His brothers and sisters are as fol- lows: James (deceased), John J., Leland, Madison (who died young), Dudley, Laurinda (Mrs. W. Cragg, now deceased), Pilena (Mrs. S. Cragg) and Eveline (wife of Sandy Faulkner, the supposed "Arkansaw Traveler"). Dudley Peaks pent his youth in his native State, and in 1841 was married, his wife being a daughter of William H. and Susan (Hayle) Martin, all Kentuckians. Mrs. Peak's brothers and sisters are as follows: Jane, Solon, Louis, Nettie and James. Mr. Peak and his wife were members of the Baptist Church, and became well-to-do farmers. They reared five children: Susan M. (Mrs. J. Long, the mother of four chil- dren), Emma (Mrs. J. Morris, now deceased), L. M., George and Solon, all of whom are married and live in Scott County, Ky., except L. M. Peak. The father was a public-spirited citizen, a Demo- crat in politics, and passed from this life in 1883, his wife dying in 1859. L. M. Peak resided in Kentucky until thirty-four years of age, and was married, in 1875, to Sallie K. Sconce, a daughter of James F. and Lou A. (Morris) Sconce, but in 1873 had begun farming for himself, and moved to Missouri. That State continued to be his home until 1885, when he came to Arkansas, and a year

later settled in Prairie County. Here he purchased land to the amount of 350 acres, and now has it all under fence, and a considerable portion of it in a good farming condition. He is a Democrat, and while a resident of Scott County, Ky., served in the capacity of constable two years. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, and are highly esteemed and valued citizens of the county.

J. M. Perry is a farmer and stock shipper of Hazen, Ark. This leading farmer of Prairie Coun- ty, Ark., was born in Camden County, N. C., on August 31, 1846, and is the son of S. B. Perry, who was also born in North Carolina, in the year 1812. The father was educated in his native State, and was there married to Miss Nancy J. Rieves, also a native of North Carolina. To this union have been born thirteen children, seven of whom are still living, three in Arkansas, and four in North Carolina, viz .: John W., William J., Samuel, James M., Joseph E., Ann J. and Sarah H. The father, a successful agriculturist, is still living, and resides in Chatham County, N. C. He assisted materially in building up the country in the early settlement of North Carolina, and is one of the prominent citizens. His father was one of the very first settlers of that State. Mr. and Mrs. Perry are members of the Methodist Church. J. M. Perry was educated in North Carolina, and in 1863 he enlisted in the Confederate army, un- der Gen. Holmes, in Company A, Sixty-ninth Regiment, and his first battle was at Plymouth. He received his discharge in 1865, and returned home, where he was engaged in tilling the soil the first year. On August 10, 1865, he was united in marriage, to Miss Temperance E. Lindly, a native of North Carolina, and the daughter of Owen and Temperance Lindly. Two children have been the fruits of this union: Quincy (deceased) and Wal- ter O. (who resides at home with his parents). Mr. Perry is a farmer by occupation, and owns about 160 acres of good land, with sixty acres under cultiva- tion. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Blue Lodge, and has held the office of Junior Warden. He is a member of the Wheel, and held the office of president of the same for one year. He is a self-made man, and one who has the en-

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ergy and perseverance to succeed in whatever he undertakes. When he first came to Arkansas, he was the owner of a horse and $40 in money. Now he has an excellent farm, well stocked, and is one of the substantial farmers of the county. He and Mrs. Perry are members of the Methodist Church.

J. E. Perry. There are few farms of the size, if any, in this portion of Arkansas that presents a better picture of advanced agriculture than the one referred to in the present sketch. It contains 320 acres, with 150 under cultivation, and as far as natural advantages, and the manner in which it is improved is concerned, it is probably without a superior hereabouts. The owner of this farm, Mr. Perry, was born in North Carolina in 1849, and was the eighth of a large family of children born to D. B. and Nancy J. (Rieves) Perry, and was a grandson of William and Anna Perry, the latter couple being the parents of twelve children and natives of Virginia. D. B. Perry was born in North Carolina in 1812, and from his earliest youth has been familiar with farm life. and has made that calling quite a success. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and are still residing in North Carolina, and he is a Democrat in his political views, and is an enterprising and public spirited man. He and Miss Rieves were married about 1832, his wife being a daughter of Reuben and Hannah Rieves, natives of North Carolina, and by her he became the father of twelve children: John, William J., Mary M. (the wife of a Mr. Campbell, is deceased), Henry H., Abner B., Samuel, James M., J. E., Isaac (deceased), Aaron D., Anna J. (Mrs. Perry) and Sarah H. (Mrs. Headen). J. E. Perry as- sisted in tilling the old farm in North Carolina, and during odd moments attended the common schools, acquiring thereby a fair education. In 1872 he determined to come west to court dame fortune, and settled in Prairie County, Ark., where he purchased 160 acres of land, but this land he has since increased to its above-mentioned propor- tions. He was married in 1876 to Miss Sallie McNeill, a daughter of Philip and Sallie (Tabb) McNeill, born in North Carolina and Tennessee, who died in 1876 and 1868, respectively. Mr.

and Mrs. Perry have a family of four children: Bessie, Henry A., Fitz Hughi and Clio C., and are expecting soon to give up farming and move to town, in order to give their children the advant- ages of the town schools. Mr. Perry is a Mason, E. H. English Lodge No. 237, at Walter Chapel, and belongs also to the K. of H. No. 168840 of Carlisle. He and wife have for some time been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The latter was born in 1860, in the house in which she now lives.

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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