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 123

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 123

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PHILLIPS COUNTY.

States. Mr. Clark was married in 1844 to Miss Elida Clawson, of Indiana, who was born in 1822, and is the daughter of William and Keziah (Ward) Clawson, of North Carolina. To this union was born one living child, Eliza C. (wife of Theo- dore F. Wright, banker and miller of Granville, Ohio, and a partner with our subject in a planta- tion in this county. The children deceased were named as follows: Myra (born in 1845, and died in 1864, when a young lady) and Annie (who died in Indiana when in her sixth year). The above mentioned school was first organized by a Mrs. Clark, and her husband co-operated with her. This has been their life's work, and they can justly be proud of the same. Their school was located at Helena for two years, and in 1867 they changed it to its present location, nine miles northwest of Helena. Mrs. Clark received her education in the best schools of Indiana (at that time) and is a re- corded minister in the Friends' Church. Mr. Clark is also a member of that church, being an elder in the same, and is a Republican in politics. Clark & Wright are the owners of about 1, 700 acres of land, with 1,000 acres cleared.

Hon. James P. Clarke is an able lawyer of Helena, Ark., and ever since starting in this pro- fession his career has been one of distinction and success. He is active, intelligent and energetic by nature, public-spirited, liberal-minded and gen- erous in disposition; it is not to be wondered at that his career has been successful and honorable. He was born in Yazoo County, Miss., August 18, 1854, and is a son of Walter and Ellen (White) Clarke, who were early residents of the State of Mississippi, and there the father's death occurred in 1861, his wife also passing away in that State. Mr. Clarke was a civil engineer and contractor, and he and his wife became the parents of three chil- dren, only two of whom are living, of whom Hon. James P. is one. He received the principal part of his education and rearing in Mississippi, but also attended school in Alabama and Virginia, thus becoming quite familiar with the "world of books." He graduated from the Law Department of the University of Virginia, and since coming to Helena in 1879 has given his profession his un-

divided attention, and owing to his sound views, his intelligence, and his ability as a lawyer, bus- iness has come to him unsolicited. The people of the county have not been slow to recognize his worth, and in 1886 he was elected to the State legislature, and to the State senate in 1888.

Gen. Patrick Ronayne Cleburne. The career of this gentleman and his ability as a commander, which is so noted in the annals of Confederate his- tory, has been justly admired by friend and foe, and although erroneous impressions regarding his early life have existed, the following sketch of his career is founded on fact. He was born in Ireland, ten miles west from the the city of Cork, on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1828, and was a son of a popular and successful physician, who made a good living by his profession, but who spent his money too freely for the acquisition of wealth, in his favorite pursuit of amateur farming. He was married to Mary Anne Ronayne, and the subject of this sketch was named after her father, Patrick Ronayne, Esq., of Cork. Dr. Cleburne was de- scended from an old Tipperary family of English and Quaker stock, which settled in Ireland during Cromwell's reign. He was finely educated and was a graduate of some of the best colleges of medi- cine and surgery. After the death of his wife, which occurred when Patrick was about a year old, he married a Miss Stuart, a daughter of a Scotch clergyman of that name, their union being a very happy one, and his children never lacked the kind ministrations and gentle love of a mother, Patrick being an especial favorite of hers, and she was al- ways remembered by him with veneration. The Doctor's first union resulted in the birth of three children, and the second in the birth of four. Of these, Joseph (the issue of the first marriage) died of yellow fever contracted on the west coast of Africa during a voyage, and Christopher (issue of the second marriage) was a gallant captain in the Second Kentucky Cavalry of Morgan's command, and fell at the battle of Cloyd's Farm, May 10, 1864, aged twenty-one years. The rest, with the exception of Patrick, still survive and live in this country. William, the oldest brother, is engineer of the Oregon Short Line at Omaha, Neb., and

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

Anne is now Mrs. Sherlock, formerly of Cincinnati, Ohio. Patrick Cleburne received his early in- structions from a private tutor, and at the age of twelve years was sent to a private school kept by a Rev. Mr. Spedden, but as he was a man of very harsh measures, Patrick's efforts at acquiring a classical education were a failure. At the age of sixteen, his father died, and he then determined to turn his attention to pharmacy and apprenticed himself to a Mr. Justin, of Mallow, but upon his failure to pass the examination at Apothecary's Hall, Trinity College, Dublin, after what he con- sidered a thorough preparation, he was so dis- heartened and mortified that he enlisted in the Forty-first Regiment of Infantry, then stationed at Dublin, hoping that it would soon be ordered to foreign service. His anticipations were not real- ized, however, and owing to the monotony and dull routine of barrack life, he turned his thoughts to America, where adventurous and ambitious spirits could find a wider scope for their talents, and al- though his withdrawal was decidedly opposed by Capt. (afterward Gen.) Pratt, who distinguished himself in India and the Crimea, he was immov- able and purchased his discharge through the in- tervention of his family. In company with his brothers William and Christopher, and his sister Anne, he embarked on the vessel Bridgetown, and on the following Christmas day entered the mouth of the Mississippi River. Leaving his friends in New Orleans, he went at once to Cincinnati and engaged in business on Broadway with a druggist named Salter, but soon after left this place and lo- cated in Helena, Ark., commencing his career here as a prescription clerk in the store of Grant & Nash, purchasing, two years afterward, Mr. Grant's interest. During this time he devoted himself to the study of his profession, and also general literature, and being particularly fond of oratory became a conspicuous member of literary and debating socie- ties. As orator of the day at a Masonic celebra- tion, he achieved considerable local distinction, and upon the advice of friends, and also being personally inclined, he abandoned his old business and turned his attention to the study of law in the office of Hon. T. B. Hanley, and was soon after admitted to

the bar, forming in 1856 a law partnership with Mark W. Alexander, the firm being known as Alex- ander & Cleburne. About this time, while the violent contest between the Democratic and Know-Noth- ing parties was in its full vigor, Mr. Cleburne accidentally witnessed a shooting affray between T. C. Hindman, a noted speaker and leader of the Democrats, and Dorsey Rice, a bitter partisan on the Know-Nothing side, and was shot by Jamison Rice, who supposed Mr. Cleburne was a participant in the struggle. The ball passed entirely through his body, but, although almost mortally wounded, he turned and seeing James Marriott standing with pistol in his hand and supposing him to be his as- sailant, he coolly raised his pistol and shot him dead. He then fell himself, and was carried by friends to his home, where he struggled between life and death for many days, but finally recovered. This affair was always a source of much regret and sorrow to Mr. Cleburne, but which he was power- less to avert. In 1859 he became associated in the practice of law with L. H. Mangum and - Scaife, the firm being Cleburne, Scaife & Mangum, they constituting one of the best and strongest legal firms of the State. Mr. Cleburne was a very suc- cessful lawyer, and very popular with the masses, this being the natural result of his own deep sympathy with humanity, making every sufferer his brother. In 1855, when Helena was visited by that terrible scourge, yellow fever, Mr. Cleburne was one of the few to remain to nurse the sick, bury the dead and help the poor, this being only one instance of his remarkable nerve and courage. He knew not what fear was. Incapable of bravado he was grand in the energy of his anger when aroused, quick as lightning in execution, and indifferent to all consequences. Personally he was the soul of honor, but was proud and sensitive in disposition, and although at heart the friend of all the world, he had few intimate friends; among these may be mentioned his brigadier-generals, Polk, Lowrey, Govan, Granberry, Hardee and Cheatham, also Gen. John C. Brown. When the Civil War became imminent Mr. Cleburne at once stepped to the front, and he was chosen captain of the Yell Rifles, and was afterward made colonel of the First Ark-

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PHILLIPS COUNTY.

ansas Regiment of State troops. A record of his triumphs up to the battle of Franklin is well known to every reader of current history, and will not be given here. Suffice it to say, he never suffered defeat, but achieved splendid success. In more battles than one his figure stands out prominently as the hero of the day, and his distinction was won by universal acclamation. Although he was rigid in the enforcement of discipline, the soldiers whom he commanded loved him to a man, and trusted him implicity, and were ready to follow where he led, with alacrity and confidence. The morning of November 29, 1864, saw the armies of the Tennes- see ready for battle. Schofield was at Columbia, and it was Hood's purpose to outflank and out- march him, so as to cut him off from Nashville and capture his army. With this object in view he crossed the Duck River three miles above Columbia and marched to Spring Hill, a small town on the Nashville pike midway between Col- umbia and Franklin. Cleburne's division was leading, with Bate immediately following him, and Brown in the rear, the first-named division being composed of four brigades. Late in the afternoon Cleburne reached the vicinity of Spring Hill, near which was a Federal fortification. A mile from this fortification ran McCuthen's Creek, and the road on which Cleburne was coming crossed this creek, and approached the turnpike at a right angle. Under the direction of Gen. Cheatham, the corps commander, and following the plan of Gen. Hood, Bate moved out to form on Cleburne's left, and Brown's brigade was moved to the right on the double quick, and made their formation. Gen. Hood then, in person, ordered Gen. Cleburne to form at the left of the road, in the cornfield at the foot of a hill, move forward and take the enemy's works, adding that Brown had formed on his right and Bate was advancing to form on his left. This order was executed rap- idly, and the enemy had only time to fire one vol- ley before Granberry and Govan were at their works, and in less than fifteen minutes, with a loss of four killed and forty-five wounded, the earth- works with some prisoners were taken. Cleburne's command was now in full view of Spring Hill, and

less than 300 yards from it. A Federal battery on the turnpike then commenced to shell the com- mand, which had become somewhat scattered in pursuing the enemy, and Gen. Cleburne dispatched L. H. Mangum, the original writer of this sketch, to Granberry on the left, with directions to form his brigade so as to be prepared to move on the pike. As he gave the order he said, "I will see Govan." At that moment a shell burst over his head and wounded his horse, causing the animal to rear furiously, and Mr. Mangum paused to make the inquiry, "Are you hurt, General ?" but the answer fired at him was, " No, go on, Mangum, and tell Granberry what I told you, and we will take the pike." Shortly after the brigades had formed and the battery had retreated. It was then discovered that Bate had not formed on the left, owing to the creek, through which Cleburne had waded, proving an obstruction, and as night was approaching, they were ordered to bivouac. During the night the Federal army passed along this very pike, within 200 yards of Cleburne's command, and escaped to Franklin. In the morn- ing Hood's army began pursuing the enemy, and in the afternoon reached Winston's Ridge, where they could get a good view of Schofield's fortifi- cations at Franklin, and their admirable nature caused Hood to look serious and consult with his officers what was best to be done. Some of his ablest generals opposed the attack, among whom was Gen. Cleburne, but, notwithstanding this, Hood ordered an immediate attack, and while on the eve of the onset, he addressed Cleburne thus: "General, I wish you to move on the enemy. Form your division on the right of the pike, with your left resting on the same. Gen. Brown will form on your left, with his right resting on the same. Give orders to your men not to fire a gun till you drive the Federal skirmishers from the first line of works in your front. Then press them and shoot them in the backs while running to the main line. Then charge the main works." To which Cleburne answered with a smile, "General, I will take the works or fall in the attempt." The first line of works was easily taken, and when his men made the final charge, Cleburne was at the front.

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

A message had been sent from him to L. H. Man- gum to join him at once, the latter having been sent to locate a battery, and upon his return the General said, "It is too late, go on with Gran- berry." He then turned his horse and galloped up to Govan's brigade, this being the last time Mr. Mangum ever saw the General alive. Shortly after Cleburne's horse was shot from under him, and while in the act of mounting another which had been offered him, this, too, was shot and in- stantly killed. Cleburne then rushed forward on foot, and when within less than a hundred yards from the works, he fell, pierced by a minie-ball, which passed through his body and probably caused instant death. Hidden by smoke and en- veloped by thunders, he sank on the couch of his glory, unattended and alone. As soon as his ab- sence became known, the deepest anxiety was shown, and it was at first reported that he was captured, but these hopes were dissipated by the finding of Cleburne's body by a correspondent of the press, and he was taken to the home of Mr. McGavock, near by, and shortly afterward to Col- umbia for interment, the funeral rites being per- formed by Rt .- Rev. Bishop Quintard. Later his body was removed to the family burying-ground of the Polk family, at Ashwood, six miles from Columbia. Here, shadowed by the solemn forest trees, and near the river, on whose placid bosom lie loved to row, he sleeps the sleep of a hero, and on the simple slab above his grave is the following inscription :

MAJ .- GEN. P. R. CLEBURNE,

Of the Confederate Army, born in County Cork, Ireland. Killed at the battle of Franklin, NOVEMBER 30, 1864.

William C. Cooke, who has been a resident of this county since 1873, removed here from Missis- sippi, settling in Cypress Township, where he pur- chased 160 acres of land. To this he has added other tracts, and now owns a farm of 220 acres, with 140 acres under cultivation. Mr. Cooke was a son of Thomas Cooke, who was born in March, 1800, and died in 1846, when our subject was a boy. He was married in Tennessee to Miss Alice

Cathey, whose birth occurred in Tennessee, in about 1800, he dying in May, 1874, and leaving eleven children, only two of whom are living: Eliza- beth O. (residing in Monroe County) and William C. (the principal of this sketch). The latter was born in Maury County, Tenn., March 17, 1830. He has been married five times; first, in 1852, to Miss Mary Graham, a native of North Carolina, who died in 1855, leaving one daughter, Alice (now Mrs. Jackson, a widow). His second mar- riage was in 1856 to Nancy Lock, of Mississippi; she departed this life in 1862, leaving three chil- dren, two of whom survive: Thomas and Samuel L. His third marriage, in 1865, was to the widow McCloud, who died in 1871, having borne three children, two living: Jenette and Virgil. In 1873 Cynthia Wright, of this county, became his wife, and at her deatlı, in 1876, she was the mother of two children: Margaret A. and Jennie. Mr. Cooke's present wife was formerly Mrs. Robinson, to whom he was married in 1881. They are the parents of three children, two girls and one son: Cecil, Roy and Lucy. During the war Mr. Cooke enlisted in the Confederate army, in the Mississippi Cav- alry, in 1862, in which he served until the close of hostilities. He is a stanch Democrat, and served one term as justice of the peace. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.

J. W. Clopton, wholesale grocer and cotton factor, Helena, Ark. This most enterprising and successful business man is the son of John H. and Matilda (Drake) Clopton, both of whom were born near Nashville, Tenn. They were married in that State, and in 1841 moved to Marshall County, Miss., where they resided until 1851, and then moved to Phillips County, Ark., where the father died in 1856. The mother died in 1865. Of the ten chil- dren born to their union, four are now living: Hog- gatt, Jesse P., James W. (in Phillips County) and William C. (in New York City). James W. Clop- ton, was born in Marshall County, Miss., on March 16, 1841, and was ten years of age when he came to this county with his parents. He was educated principally in Helena, was reared partly on the farm, and at an early age began clerking, which en- terprise he continued until the late Civil War. He

Doggatt Celokhon

PHILLIPS COUNTY , ARKANSAS.

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PHILLIPS COUNTY.

then enlisted in the Yell Rifles, of which the late Maj .- Gen. Cleburne was captain, and served until the close of the war. He received a gunshot in the right hand and left wrist at the battle of Shi- loh, came home on a furlough, and while here he was captured and taken to Alton, Ill. After being retained for about four months, he was exchanged, and fortunately fell in with the first lot of prisoners that got through. He joined his regiment at Mur- freesboro, and was second sergeant. He was in all the principal engagements, and served his cause faithfully and well. Returning home he farmed for two years, and then embarked in mercantile pursuits which he has since carried on. He has an extensive wholesale business, and is a successful business man. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Bettie Rainey, a native of Macon, Miss., by whom he has five children: Mary, Edna, Alice, James W. and Bess. Mr. Clopton is a member of the K. of P. and American Legion of Honor, is a stockholder in the People's Saving Bank and Helena Compress Company, also the Fair Association, and is presi- dent of the Chamber of Commerce.

Col. Hoggatt Clopton, Helena, Ark. A glance at the lives of many representative men, whose names appear in this volume, will reveal sketches of some honored, influential citizens, but none more worthy or deserving of mention than Col. Hoggatt Clopton. This gentleman resides three miles west of Helena, and is the owner of Clopton Hall plantations, among the largest in the county, consisting of 4,500 acres of land, with 1, 700 acres under cultivation. He is also a capitalist. Col. Clopton was born near Nashville, Tenn., February 6, 1831, and is the son of John Hoggatt and Ma- tilda C. (Drake) Clopton, the grandson of Anthony Clopton, and the great-grandson of Hugh Clopton, of Virginia. The latter, with two brothers, Will and Anthony, left England and came to America, locating in Virginia about 1700. Afterward Will returned to the land of his birth, and being the eld- est of the three brothers, fell heir to Clopton Hall Manor, at Stratford-on-Avon. Anthony Clopton, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a na- tive Virginian, and died in De Soto County, Miss., in 1848, when eighty-seven years of age. He

was a very successful farmer, and was among the first settlers of Davidson County, Tenn., locating at Nashville when that city was but a small trading point. He moved to Tipton County, Tenn., in 1836, and resided there until 1846, when he broke up housekeeping on account of the death of his wife, whose maiden name was Rhoda Hoggatt, and moved to Marshall County, Miss. Later he moved to De Soto County of the same State, where he passed the closing scenes of his life. He was a Whig, but took very little interest in politics. He was at one time a partner in a race course at Clo- ver Bottom, near Nashville, Tenn., with Gen. Andrew Jackson. John Hoggatt Clopton, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Davidson County, Tenn., on Aug. 31, 1805, and died on July 26, 1855, in Phillips County, Ark. He was married in March, 1830, to Miss Matilda C. Drake, a native of Wilson County, Tenn., born September 15, 1813, and died June 6, 1865. They lived near Nashville, Tenn., until 1839, when they moved near Holly Springs, Marshall County, Miss., where they resided until December, 1851. After this the family moved to Phillips County, Ark. While living at Nashville Mr. Clopton was engaged in raising fine stock, especially racing stock, but also raised blooded stock of all kinds. He was the owner of a great many slaves, but sold his property at Nashville, moved to Mississippi with his slaves, and from that time until his death was occupied as a cotton planter. He was unusually successful, and although starting life with rather limited means, by his superior business ability and great energy was the possessor of a great deal of property at his death. He and wife were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and on coming to Phillips County were instrumental in the building up of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Helena. He was a Whig in politics. Matilda C. (Drake) Clopton was the daughter of Brittain Drake, a native of North Carolina, whose ancestors were also English, and an old settler of Wilson County, Tenn. He was a farmer, and in his political views was a Whig. There were born to the union of John Hoggatt Clopton and wife, eight sons and two daughters, four of whom are now living: Col.

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

Hoggatt, Jesse P. (a prominent planter and mer- chant of Phillips County, Ark.), James W. (a suc- cessful merchant and planter of Phillips County, now residing in Helena), and William C. (an emi- nent attorney of New York City, a graduate of the University of Virginia, and also a graduate of the University of Berlin, Germany). The children deceased were named as follows: John Anthony (was born January 23, 1833, and died on July 19, 1854; he was a merchant at Helena, Ark.), Brit- tain D. Clopton (was born March 9, 1835, and died February 4, 1881, at Columbia, Tenn.), Charles C. (was born March 16, 1837, and died near Memphis, Tenn., December 24, 1854, while on a visit), Jack Hoggatt (was born in October, 1843, and died on May 28, 1855), Matilda L., Helena (died in April, 1858), and Fannie (who was the first of the children to die, her death occurring when but two years of age). Col. Hoggatt Clopton graduated at the Uni- versity of Mississippi, in 1851, and was elected speaker to represent the Hermean Society at com- mencement, in which he bore the highest honor as speaker, and soon after turned his attention to plant- ing and merchandising. He started the latter busi- ness in 1853, continued one year, and being the eld- est son it became his duty to assist his father and family in planting operations. His three brothers, Jesse P., James W. and William C. were in the Con- federate army, Jesse P. holding the rank of major, and James W. being in the commissary department on account of a wound received at the battle of Shiloh. William C. was but fourteen years of age when he enlisted. Col. Hoggatt Clopton entered the service in 1862, in Albert W. Johnson's regi- ment as lieutenant. After the war he again turned his attention to planting, and although he has experienced many heavy losses, he is now in a prosperous condition, and is one of the representa- tive and substantial citizens of the county. His marriage to Miss Ellen S. Booker took place Decem- ber 19, 1867. She was born in Columbia, Tenn., and was the daughter of James G. Booker, a Vir- ginian by descent. She was a member of the Episcopal Church, and died in full communion with the same on May 20, 1869. Mr. Clopton has remained single since. He is a member of the

Masonic fraternity, and in politics he affiliates with the Democratic party. He is of purely English origin, and may well be proud of his ancestors, as many of them have been distinguished men. One of them, Sir Hugh Clopton by name, was Lord Mayor of London in the reign of King Henry the Eighth, and lies entombed by the side of Shakespeare, in Stratford Church on Avon. And another ancestor, Capt. John Hoggatt, his great- grandfather, commanded a company in the War for Independence, and now lies buried near Nashville, Tenn., with a record of his career written on his monument. He was of English descent, and a native of Virginia, and was a farmer by occupation. Mr. Clopton took an extensive trip all over Eng- land, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, and Con- tinental Europe the past spring, summer and fall, and was at the tomb of Shakespeare and Sir Hugh Clopton. They were contemporaries, and are buried side by side in Stratford Church on (the river) Avon, in Warwick County, England, about 100 miles west of London.

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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