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 124

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 124

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Jesse P. Clopton, planter, Marvell, Ark. The principal part of his life Mr. Clopton has followed, with substantial success, the occupation to which he was reared and in which he is now engaged, farm- ing. He is one of the largest land owners in Phillips County, is also one of its recognized lead- ing agriculturists and merchants, and as a man, no less than a citizen, is highly esteemed. His birth occurred near the old Jackson Hermitage, Davidson County, Tenn., March 4, 1839, and is the son of John Haggatt and Matilda C. (Drake) Clop- ton, both natives of Tennessee. The parents were married in their native State but immigrated to North Mississippi in 1844 and there the father died July 26, 1855. The mother was a descendant of Sir Francis Drake, and died in this county June ·6, 1865. Their marriage resulted in the birth of ten children: Haggatt (born February 6, 1831), John A. (deceased, born January 23, 1833), Brit- tain D. (deceased, born March 9, 1835), Charles C. (deceased, born March 28, 1837), Jesse P., James M. (born March 16, 1841), Jack M. (born October 8, 1843), Matilda L. (deceased, born November 29, 1845), William C. (born March 16, 1848) and Fan-

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nie (deceased, born January 29, 1851). Jesse P. was but twelve years of age when he moved with his parents from Mississippi to this county and here he finished his growth. He received such educational advantages as were attainable in the common schools, but afterward completed his schooling by attending Lebanon College, Tenn. After this he began the study of medicine, but the war broke out and he enlisted in the Confederate service in 1861, under Gen. Cleburne's demand, Fifteenth Arkansas Regiment. He served until he was disabled, was then discharged and was out of service for four months. He then again joined the army, was soon after captured and almost directly exchanged, being on parole for about two months. He was at the battle of Helena and was the first man shot at while performing the duties of adjutant- general. At the close of the war he returned home and engaged in tilling the soil. He was married January 7, 1864, to Miss Virginia C. Swan, a native of Phillips County, Ark. (born February 5, 1846, and the daughter of Major John C. Swan, who was born in Frankfort, Ky., on April 1, 1800. Major Swan came to this county in 1836, located eighteen miles west of Helena on what is known as the military road, and here he was extensively en- gaged in cultivating the soil, owning at one time over 1,000 acres in this county and as much in the State of Mississippi. He helped survey the mili- tary road at an early day and was one of the promi- nent and useful citizens. He was married in Hel- ena, Ark., to Miss Permelia B. Raleigh, a native of Virginia (born November 7, 1817), and the daughter of Charles V. Raleigh. Mr. Raleigh was a native of North Carolina, and the capital of that State was named in his honor. He was a descendant of Sir Walter Raleigh. Maj. Swan died in this county December 25, 1849, and his wife died September 9, 1867. They were the parents of three daughters and one son: John R. (was a captain in the Confederate army and died at his home, a number of years after the war). Mary J. (deceased), Fannie A. (deceased) and Virginia C. (who is the youngest child). To Mr. and Mrs. Clopton were born five children, two now living: Jesse P. (deceased), Virginia (deceased), John H.

(deceased), Agnes C. and Eugenia (both at home). Mr. Clopton is the owner of 1, 776 acres of land, 1,100 acres under cultivation, and raises annually from 250 to 400 bales of cotton. In March, 1872, he opened a store of general merchandise in Mar- vell and carries a stock of goods valued at $5,000. He buys and ships cotton and is the leading busi- ness man of Marvell. In politics, he is Democratic, casting his first presidential vote for H. Seymour, and he held the office of circuit clerk for two years. He is a member of the K. of H. and the K. & L. of H. He and his family are members of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Clopton has a large cotton-gin and saw-mill on his plantation.

Roland J. Cook, planter, Barton, Ark. Phillips County is acknowledged by all to be one of the best agricultural portions of the State, and as such its citizens are men of advanced ideas and consid- erable prominence. A worthy man of this class is found in the person of Roland J. Cook. He was originally from Yalobusha County, Miss., where his birth occurred October 27, 1839, and is the son of James and Frances (Brooks) Cook, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. The father was born in 1810 and the mother in 1814. They were married in Mississippi, moved from there to Phillips County, Ark., in 1856, and located on the farm where Roland J. now resides. The principal part of this land was then covered with wood, but it was cleared by Mr. Cook and his son. James Cook was a carpenter by trade, and built the house in which our subject is now living. After coming to Arkansas he turned his attention exclusively to farming, and this continued up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1873. The mother died in 1866. The father was a Whig in politics, sympathized with the South, but never approved of secession. There were born to their marriage eight children, six now living, Roland J. being the eldest. The latter spent his school days in Mississippi and Arkansas, and in June, 1861, enlisted in the Second Arkansas (Confederate) Infantry, serving in the same until after the battle of Chickamauga, when he was severely wounded by a gunshot in the right hand and the left breast. He was orderly sergeant, and was in

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many prominent engagements: Shiloh, Murfrees- boro and Perryville, Ky. After being wounded he was taken prisoner, but only retained for a short time. Returning home after the war, he turned his attention to farming, following the same for one year in Mississippi, and subsequently resumed agricultural pursuits on the old home- stead, where he now lives. He is the owner of 300 acres of good land, and has 150 acres under cultivation. In 1866 he married Miss Lucy Win- bourn, daughter of Rev. A. K. Winbourn, of De Soto County, Miss. The result of this union has been five children. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Cook is steward in the same. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the K. of H., and in politics is a Democrat, but is conservative in his views.

H. P. Coolidge (deceased) was born in the State of Maine, February 7, 1812, and while still in his early youth was taken by his parents to the Buck- eye State, settling near Cincinnati, where he was left an orphan at an early age. When about sev- enteen years of age he went to Louisiana and dur- ing a residence of several years in New Orleans was a boss mechanic, being considered the com- plete master of his trade. While in that city he was married to Elizabeth J. Legier, a French lady, and in 1842 came with her and his infant son, C. R. Coolidge, to Helena, Ark., making the trip on a flat-boat, intending to journey on to New Orleans for permanent residence there. The sheriff of the county determined to make him pay annual license for selling his goods, but he thought it a wanton injustice, and, although intending to remain at Helena for one month, he paid his license and de- termined to settle here. He rented a store build- ing, put in a stock of goods and soon built up a very extensive trade, so large in fact that he de- termined to stay here, although his original inten- tion had been to go back to New Orleans. Helena continued to be his home until his death, which occurred April 23, 1872, his wife dying November 17, 1880. Of nine children born to them, two only lived to be grown. A daughter, who married Dr. F. N. Barke, now a resident of Helena, died January,

1887, leaving an infant daughter, Mary E. Burke, who lives mainly with her uncle, C. R. Coolidge, in Helena. Only one, C. R. Coolidge, is now living. Mr. Coolidge became known all over this section of the country, not only in his business capacity, but in local political matters as well, and for some time served as county and probate judge, although he was no office seeker. He was a man who attended strictly to his own affairs and for his many sterling business and social qualities was beloved by all who knew him. At one time he was offered 400 acres of land, which is now in the heart of Memphis, Tenn., for a small sum of money, and if he had closed the bargain he would have been worth mill- ions of dollars. He was very liberal with his wealth and always gave liberally to the poor and distressed, also to schools and churches, and all worthy public enterprises. He was very progressive in his ideas and always endeavored to keep out of the beaten path, and was ever ready to adopt new ideas. He was a stanch Union man during the war and ex- pressed his thoughts and opinions freely and without fear. He was a prominent Mason and Odd Fellow and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Such a man, liberal and progressive in his views, enterprising, industrious and public-spirited, is a blessing to any community and deserves the highest praise which can be given him. His son, Charles R., has erected a monument to his memory which was made in Italy at a cost of $6,000. It is twenty-nine feet six inches in height and is sur- mounted by a life-size statue of Mr. Coolidge, which is very finely executed. Charles R. Coolidge was born in New Orleans in November, 1836, and came to Helena with his parents. He was brought up in the mercantile business, which he has always followed. He has been very successful in all his business undertakings and has one of the hand- somest residences in the city of Helena. Like his father he is enterprising and public-spirited and is one of the foremost citizens of Phillips County. He was married in 1866 to Miss Elizabeth T. Ellis, a native of Middle Tennessee, by whom he has ten children, nine living: Henry, Charles R., Jr., Wil- lie, Eva, Lizzie, Andrew, Ellis, Walter and Mary. Eva, his second child, is deceased, and a younger

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daughter was named for her. Mr. Coolidge was an Odd Fellow for many years and served some time in the late war and was at one time taken prisoner.

D. H. Crebs. The Planters' Compress & Stor- age Company of Helena, Ark., is one of the largest establishments of the kind in Southern Arkansas, and the amount of ground used by them for the successful conduct of their establishment comprises four and three-quarters acres, it being purchased by our subject in August, 1886. He immediately erected one of the finest cotton-gins in the South, and in 1887 built a compress, which was the first erected in Helena, and the first year pressed 18, 000 bales of cotton. This is a large brick structure, and was owned and operated individually by Mr. Crebs until the spring of 1889, when a stock company was organized, and took the name of the Planters' Compress Company, in which Mr. Crebs has a controlling interest, and is president of the company ; J. H. Lawrens is secretary, and L. Lucy, treasurer. The cotton-gin has a capacity of twenty- five to thirty bales of cotton per day. Mr. Crebs was born in Winchester, Frederick County, Va., October 30, 1836, and is a son of Henry Crebs, who was also a Virginian, and a soldier in the War of 1812, he being then only about seventeen years of age. His father was a Revolutionary soldier, and was of Scotch birth, an early settler of Virginia. Henry was a farmer by occupation, and eventually died in the town in which he was born and reared. Of his six children, four are now living. His son, D. H., was eleven years old when his father died, then began learning the machinist's trade, and in 1862 he enlisted in Company A, Second Virginia Regiment, and was wounded at Seven Pines by a gunshot, which necessitated his remaining in a hos- pital for some time. He was in Mat. Marra's com- mand, but afterward joined Col. Tanner's battalion and was in all the general engagements in which his regiment participated. After the war he was left, like all soldiers, destitute, but he worked at what he could find to do, and in 1867 came to Helena and began doing business for a Mr. Bar- barbroux, of Louisville. At the end of two years the company dissolved, and Mr. Crebs then began an in-

dependent career, and is still dealing in machinery. He built the first oil mills in Helena, also the first opera house, but the latter burned down in 1885. Mr. Crebs has been one of the live business men of the place, and his interest and support in all public affairs, his honesty and industry, as well as his progressive views on all matters of import- ance, have won him the respect of all who know him. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank and the Peoples' Bank, and by his shrewd- ness and tact is one of the wealthy men of the county. He has one of the handsomest residences in the city, it being situated on a natural building site, in full view of the Mississippi River, as well as the city and surrounding country. In 1876 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Carruth, and in 1880 took for his second wife, Miss Jennie Cook, by whom he has two children: Maggie and Harry.

Job Dean, farmer and saloon man, Trenton, Ark. Mr. Dean owes his nativity to Shelby County, Tenn., where his birth occurred in 1847, and is the first and only child born to the union of Henry and Fannie (Abington) Dean, natives, respectively, of South Carolina and North Carolina. The elder Dean was a farmer and speculator in real estate. He moved to Tennessee when a young man, and was there married in 1845 to Miss Abington. He owned a great deal of land in this county at the time of his death, which occurred in 1860. The mother died in 1850, and two years later the father married Miss Laura Hudson, of Madison County, Tenn., who bore him four children, only three of whom lived to be grown: Richard (deceased, died at the age of twenty-four years of consumption), Mary H. (deceased, wife of Tobe Hamner. She was the mother of one child, Albert, who resides in Tennessee with his father, who is a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church), Emma (wife of T. J. Leak, of Collierville, Tenn., and the mother of four children, Dean, Tigue, Emma G. and Fletcher). Our subject was educated in the com- mon schools of his native county, and spent two years at Black Hawk, Carroll County, Miss., where he finished his education. At the age of twenty years he left school, and when twenty-nine years of age was married to Miss Maggie Davis, of Mar-

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shall County, Miss., who bore him five children, only two now living: Henry and Mamie. After marriage Mr. Dean commenced farming in Shelby County and there remained until 1874, when he moved to Marshall County, Miss., where he was engaged in tilling the soil for two years. In 1876 he came to Phillips County, Ark., cultivated the soil, but was not very successful for the first few years. In 1880 he opened the saloon business at Trenton and still runs this in connection with a family grocery. He now owns 160 acres of land with forty acres cleared, which he rents for $200 per year. Mr. Dean is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Lebanon Lodge No. 97, K. of H., and is Vice-Dictator of that organization. Politically he is a Democrat. He favors improvements for the benefit of his county and all laudable designs for the interest of the people.

Amos W. Dougherty, the fifth son in a family of fourteen children born to Isaac and Rachel (Slimp) Dougherty, made his appearance upon the stage of life in Lauderdale County, Ala., on No- vember, 1, 1830. At the age of five he removed with his parents to Mississippi, where he was reared, educated, and learned the carpenter's trade under an older brother. In about 1860 he came to Ark- ansas and located in this county, and was en- gaged at his trade until 1887. In 1851 he was married to Miss Lucy B. Wilkes, a native of Ala- bama, who died in 1865, leaving five children; one of these, Indiana V., is the wife of W. J. Day, of this county. Mr. Dougherty was married the sec- ond time, in 1866, to Miss Caroline N. Dean, of this State, she surviving until in November, 1872. His third wife, Nancy J. Slayton, to whom he was married in February, 1874, came originally from Georgia, and died in July, 1876. Mr. Dougherty was married to his last wife, Mrs. Virginia D. An- drews, in November, 1877. In 1847 he enlisted in the Mexican War and served about six months, taking part in a number of skirmishes. In 1861 his patriotism still asserted itself, and he enlisted in the Confederate army, in the Seventh Arkansas Infantry, serving until his capture in April, 1865, when he was taken to Memphis and kept until the following June. He owns a small farm of forty-

nine acres, and also owns a steam cotton-gin, meet- ing with good success in his efforts. Mr. Dough- erty is a member of the Masonic order and of the K. of H. In politics is a Democrat, and a highly respected citizen.

Isaac Ehrman, wholesale and retail liquor dealer, Helena, Ark. The trade carried on in staple arti- cles of consumption always constitutes a most im- portant factor in the commercial resources of a city or town, and it is therefore not surprising if it finds its natural recognition in Helena. Promi- nent among those engaged in it is the firm of Ehr- man Brothers, who have followed this business a number of years. Isaac Ehrman is a native of Rhine, Bavaria, born on November 4, 1836, and is a son of M. and Sophia (Rubel) Ehrman, who were natives of Germany. The father came to America in 1878, and is now a resident of Mem- phis, Tenn., and is in the eighty-second year of his age. To his marriage were born eight chil- dren, six now living, and all in America: Isaac, Emelia (wife of Jacob Wertheimer, of Pine Bluff), Hannah (wife of J. Nathan, who is a member of the firm of Nathan & Oppenheimer, of Mem- phis), Mrs. Wertheimer (of Birmingham, Ala.), Mrs. Alice Wolf (of Columbus, Miss. ) and Emanuel. Isaac Ehrman was reared and educated in Ger- many, where he remained until 1853, and when fifteen years of age, took passage at Havre, and landed at New Orleans after an ocean voyage of sixty days. He went to Fayette, Miss., and kept books for his uncle until 1860, when he returned to Europe. In 1861 he returned to Mississippi, but went from there to Memphis, Tenn., where he was engaged in the dry-goods business until 1873; was also part of the time interested in the liquor business, and at the above-mentioned date he came to Helena. He was married in 1863 to Miss Cecil Wertheimer, who bore him four children: Fannie, Ophelia, Eddie and Blanche. Mr. Ehrman is a member of the Masonic fraternity, K. of H., K. of P., Royal Arcanum, etc. He was alderman for four years, and was a stockholder in the People's Saving Bank. He is also a stockholder in the Opera House and Fair Association, and is a promi- nent man of Helena.

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L. A. Fitzpatrick, of the firm of Jacks, Fitz- patrick & Co., wholesale druggists at Helena, was born in Chickasaw County, Miss., in November, 1848, and is the son of B. F. and E. J. (Moore) Fitzpatrick, natives of Georgia and Alabama, re- spectively. The parents moved to Mississippi at quite an early date, but from there went to Mobile, Ala., where they are now living, the father being a cotton factor. L. A. Fitzpatrick's time in youth was divided between assisting on the farm and in attending the common schools. In 1864 he en- listed in the Confederate army, and served one year. In 1868 he came to Helena, Ark., and be- gan clerking in a drug store, but in 1872 he pur- chased an interest in the business of Jacks & Moore. In 1879 the firm title was changed to Jacks & Co., and in 1884 the present company was formed. They carry a stock of goods valued at $25,000, and do an annual business of $200,000. They are the largest dealers in drugs in Helena, and are enjoying a liberal patronage, being careful and reliable men. Mr. Fitzpatrick was married in 1872 to Miss Alzena F. Jacks, a daughter of Dr. T. M. Jacks, and to this union were born seven children living: Katie, Lotta M., Ben. F., L. A., Jr., Hopkins R., Curtis H. and Ione. Mr. Fitz- patrick is a member of the I. O. O. F., and Knights of Pythias, American Legion of Honor, Royal Ar- canum and Ladies and Knights of Honor. He held the office of city treasurer for several years, and was also alderman for some time. He is a large stockholder in the Jacks Real Estate Com- pany, the Arkansas Building Association and the Electric Light Company.

Robert FitzHugh. In reviewing the contents of this volume, no adequate idea of the agricultural affairs of Phillips County or of its substantial citi- zens, could be formed which failed to make men- tion of Mr. FitzHugh and the excellent estate which he owns. His residence tract contains 1,570 acres, and is admirably adapted to raising all kinds of grain indigenous to this climate, and be- sides this he owns 700 acres in another tract, and in all has 600 acres under cultivation. Everything about his property pronounces him to be an agri- culturist of enterprise and progress, and such he

is acknowledged by all to be. He was born in Livingston County, N. Y., December 18, 1826, and this alone speaks volumes for him as a pro- gressive and enterprising citizen. He is a son of Richard P. and Mary A. FitzHugh, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of York State. Robert, our subject, first moved from his native State to Ohio in 1863, thence to Michigan in 1866, and still later settled in Phillips County, Ark. In 1865 he married Miss Sarah T. Hubbard, a daugh- ter of Dr. Hubbard, of Phillips County, and six children are the result of their union: Mary A., Richard H., Annie S., Flora B., Mabel and Foster C. Mrs. FitzHugh is a member of the Episcopal Church, and her husband is a Democrat in his po- litical views. His father removed to York State when seventeen years of age and followed farming there, until his death in 1863, at the age of sixty- three years. His wife died in 1882, also in New York, having reached the age of sixty-seven years. Of seven children born to them, three are now liv- ing

N. J. Fritzon, mayor of Helena and dealer in queensware, has a life record of more than usual interest and seems by nature to be a man fitted to rule. He was born across the ocean, his birth occurring in Sweden near the Baltic Sea, in Oc- tober, 1838. At an early day he displayed the energy and enterprise which has since character- ized his career, and his youth was spent in learn- ing the shoemaker's trade and in studying music, in which he became very proficient, being able to play almost any instrument which was put into his hands. Life in his native land was not suited to one of his energetic and enterprising disposition, and he accordingly determined to cross the ocean and see what life in a new land had in store for him, and in 1857 first set foot on American soil at Boston, the voyage from Gothenberg to this point occupying a period of five weeks. He immediately went to Moline, Ill., thence to Rock Island, work- ing at his trade, and the year 1859 found him in St. Louis, from which point he went to New Or- leans a short time after. This city continued to be his home until the bombardment of Fort Sum- ter, when he returned to St. Louis, thence back to

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Rock Island, Ill., where he enlisted in Company A, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, and was made chief mu- sician and bugler of his regiment. In 1862 he was mustered out of service, by order of the war department, and was then musician for eight months on Gen. Steele's staff. In February, 1863, he came to Helena and engaged in the groc- ery business and this was his exclusive means of a livelihood for twenty-one years, but was a very lu- crative one. His stock of queensware is very large and of an exceptionally fine quality, and as he is an honest and upright man of business, his sales are large. He has been connected with the fire de- partment of the city since the war and for several vears has been its chief. In 1888 he was elected mayor of Helena and his record as an official, as well as a business man, will bear the investigation of one and all, for not a shadow can be advanced derogatory to his reputation. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and for a number of years he has been a member of the town council and the board of health. He was married in 1867 to Miss Mary B. Nixon, by whom he has five children: Sidney H., John E., Mary B., Nelson J. and Eudora C.

Bogan N. Gist is the son of Thomas Gist, and was born in South Carolina in 1852. Thomas Gist, also a native of South Carolina, dates his ex- istence from 1816, immigrating to what is now Lee County, S. C., in 1857, where he died in 1887. He was married in South Carolina to Miss Mary Bogan, who passed away in 1865, having borne eight children, two sons and two daughters now living. Bogan N., the eldest in order of birth, received an excellent education in the schools of his native State, afterward completing his stud- ies at a prominent military school in Kentucky. He resided with his parents until reaching his majority, and on May 3, 1878, was married to Miss Mary Blanche Heineman, born in Mississippi, and a daughter of Charles and Mildreth Heineman. Mrs. Heineman is now living in Phillips County, Ark., and her husband died in Murfreesboro, Ala. Mr. Gist and wife are the parents of one child, Bogan N., Jr. They have resided on their present place since 1872, on which Mr. Gist erected a handsome and commodious home at a cost of

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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