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 126

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 126

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Obadiah B. Hudson is the son of Henry Hud- son, who was born in Scotland about 1774, and after his marriage emigrated to the United States, locating in Kentucky, where he died in 1850. His second wife, Nancy Williams, was born in Tennes- see in 1796, and became the mother of fourteen children, of whom O. B. Hudson, the principal of this sketch, is the only survivor. Mr. Hudson was the father of four children by his first marriage. Obadiah B. was born in McCracken County, Ky., February 8, 1836, and remained in that State un- til thirteen years of age. He never attended school but one day in his life, and all of the education which he received was by studying at home and by practical experience with the world. At the age of thirteen he went to Louisiana and was employed on a boat on the Mississippi River for three years. In 1858, returning to Kentucky, he commenced farming in Ballard County, and in the fall of that year was married to Susan A. Williams, a native of that county, who was born in 1844. She was a daughter of James and Cinda R. Williams. They are the parents of eleven children, seven living: Rosella (wife of John T. Moore), Mittann (wife of William F. Carliss), Imogene, Joseph S., Fred G., William T. and Maggie B. Mr. Hudson remained in Kentucky only one year after his marriage,

when he removed to Arkansas and located in Phil- lips County, buying a house and lot at La Grange, and was employed as a brick mason for about twelve years. At the beginning of the war he en- listed in the Confederate army and served about three months, when he was taken sick and re- ceived his discharge. In 1867 he purchased a farm of 820 acres in Phillips County, at which time he was elected collector of the county, a position the duties of which he has ably discharged for twenty- two years. In 1872 he sold his farm and removed to Helena, where he resided until 1882, then buy- ing 160 acres of land, with 125 acres under culti- vation. He has had a number of narrow escapes while performing his duties as collector, having been shot at a number of times and hit six times, once in the face, causing the loss of the right eye, twice in the body and once in the right leg, just below the knee. He is a member of the Knights of Honor and of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to which his wife also belongs.

W. D. Hutchinson is a worthy successor of W. D. Hutchinson, who is remembered by the old pio- neers of Phillips County, as one of their respected number, now long since gone to his last resting place. Mr. Hutchinson was born in the State of Mississippi, in 1833, being a son of James A. and Catharine Hutchinson, also natives of that State. He came to Arkansas with his father in 1851, and set- tled in this county, where he was engaged in farm- ing until his death, with the exception of the years which he devoted to the cause of the Confederacy. Enlisting in 1862 in Capt. Anderson's company of Dobbin's regiment, he was taken sick shortly after the battle of Helena, on July 4, 1863, and being un- able to perform further active duty, received his dis- charge and returned home, and again engaged in farming, but died in 1867. Previous to his enlistment he was a captain of a company of militia. He was a member of the A. F. & A. M., and was in good circumstances at the time of his death, and left a farm of 320 acres to his wife and eight children, in a good state of cultivation. His wife, Mary E. (Hicks) Hutchinson, was a daughter of E. A. and Lucretia (Dickens) Hicks, originally from North Carolina. Mr. Hicks came to Phillips County in

777

PHILLIPS COUNTY.

1844, and at the time of his death was one of the largest, if not the most extensive, land owner in the county; he was also a prominent member of the I. O. O. F. Previous to his demise in 1850, he divided his property among his eight children, three of whom are still living: Mary E. (is the old- est), E. A. (of Barton, Arkansas) and Emma (wife of John Hicks, of Little Rock). Mrs. Hicks was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and died in 1859. Of the family of eight children of Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson, four only survive; the three daughters (residents of Mem- phis, Tenn.): Frances (wife of John King, is the mother of one daughter, Ada May), Mary (is the wife of James K. Wooten, and has three children: James W., Linceain and Mary C.), Emma B. (wife of Pat Rhodes) and Albert E. (a farmer of Phillips County, and who married a Mrs. Tullea (nee Meserole), and is the father of one son: Albert E. Hutchinson), Mrs. Hutchinson still resides on the old homestead, and is a highly respected lady, and a prominent member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, South, in which she takes an active part, giving her time, money and influence to all enterprises for the good of the community in which she lives.

Thomas M. Jacks, Jr., the efficient surveyor of Phillips County and one of its truly respected citi- zens, is a native of this county, being a son of Dr. Thomas M. and Freelove (French) Jacks. The former was born in Rutherford County, N. C., and received the rudiments of his literary education at the public schools of Huntsville, Ala., after which he attended medical college at Louisville, Ky., and Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, Penn. Dr. Jack's father, Rev. David Jacks, was also a na- tive of Rutherford County, N. C. He (Thomas M., Sr. ) came to Arkansas in 1849 and settled at Ster- ling, at the mouth of the St. Francis River, where he engaged in the practice of his profession, and also at Phillips' Bayou. Subsequently, or in 1852, he came to Helena and was associated with Dr. Silverberg in practice, and also in the drug busi- ness. In 1866 he entered into partnership with John P. Moore in the real estate and banking business and in carrying on a drug store. He was 48

a very influential man in the county, and repre- sented his district in Congress in 1863. He was in the sixty-third year of his age at the time of his death in 1883, and was the owner of immense landed estates situated in the counties of Phillips, Lee and Arkansas, and Coahoma County, Miss. The Doctor was married twice. By his first mar- riage, which occurred at Sterling, Ark., in 1846, he was the father of five children, two sons and three daughters, all of whom are living. Mrs. Jacks dying in 1869, Dr. Jacks was again married in 1872 to Miss Elizabeth Wills, of Helena, by whom he had one daughter and three sons, all living. Thomas M. Jacks, the fourth son of the first mar- riage, was born in 1855. He received a thorough education at Helena in Prof. Russell's school, then preparing himself at Phillips Academy, An- dover, Mass., to enter Yale College, which he did in 1875. From this institution he graduated as a civil engineer in 1878. Returning to his home at Helena, Mr. Jacks accepted a position as civil en- gineer for the Iron Mountain Railroad Company, from Helena to Forrest City, and continued with them from 1879 to 1881. In 1886 he was employed by the Mobile & Birmingham Railroad Company as resident engineer, and is now consulting engi- neer on the levee board at Helena, also being civil engineer of Helena. He was elected surveyor of Phillips County in 1886 and re-elected in 1888. December 23, 1884, Mr. Jacks was married to Miss Lulu B. Moore, a daughter of William and Lucy Moore, of La Grange, Ark. They are the parents of one child, Claudine, three years of age. Mr. Jacks is a member of the Baptist Church, and politically is a Democrat. At this time he is con- nected with the Jacks-Fitzpatrick Drug & Real Estate Company of Helena.

Thomas L. Jackson, M. D., is a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. He received the foundation of his education in the common schools of Virginia, his native State, and later in the Randolph Macon College of that State, from which he graduated in the fourth year of that institution, subsequently entering the Jeffer- son Medical College. This he attended one year, and was graduated in 1859. £ Dr. Jackson was

778

HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

born near Petersburg, Va., November 21, 1840, and is a son of Thomas and Mary H. (Morgan) Jackson, also originally of the Old Dominion. Thomas Jackson was born June 20, 1808, of Eng- lish ancestry, and is a descendant of one of three brothers who came to the American colonies from England and received large grants of land. He was a son of John E. and Jane (Bailey) Jackson, also natives of the same State as our subject. John E. Jackson served seven years in the Revolutionary War, for which services his wife drew a pension from the Government after his death. The mother of Thomas L. was born in 1807, and died in 1864, fourteen years before her husband's demise. They were the parents of five sons and two daughters. Four sons are now deceased (two having died in the Confederate army), and one of the daughters. He whose name heads this sketch commenced practice near his old home in 1860, and the fol- lowing spring enlisted in the Confederate army, in the First Virginia Cavalry, serving on the medical staff the greater part of the time, though he also participated in the battles of Manassas, the seven days' fight before Richmond, Fredericksburg,Spott- sylvania Court House, battle of the Wilderness, Gettysburg, and was present at Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House. After the war he re- turned home, and in 1874 moved to Mississippi, where he was married three years later to Miss Kate E. Pardee. She was born in the State of Michigan, March 17, 1859, and is a daughter of George and Elizabeth Pardee. Dr. and Mrs. Jackson have five children: Bessie, Lucy, Kate H., Thomas S. and William L. Dr. Jackson prac- ticed in Mississippi for fifteen years, until Febru- ary, 1889, when he removed to Marvell, Ark., where he has since been engaged in following his chosen profession, now enjoying a patronage which amounts to about $2, 500 per year. He was appointed chief health officer of Benton County, Miss., by the Governer, which position he held for six years. The Doctor is a member of the Knights of Honor, and his wife belongs to the Episcopal Church.

Dr. G. D. Jaquess, physician and druggist, Helena, Ark. This prominent business man was

born in Posey County, Ind., January 5, 1834, and is a son of Garrison and Mary (Smith) Jaquess, natives of Kentucky. The parents immi- grated to Indiana about 1811, located in Posey County, and there passed their last days. The father was a farmer by occupation, and was forty- eight years of age at the time of his death. Their family consisted of seven children, six sons and one daughter, four now living: James F., T. C., W. B. and Dr. G. D. The latter assisted the father on the farm until twenty years of age, attending school during the winter seasons, and at the age of eighteen years he began the study of medicine, graduating from the Transylvania University at Lexington, Ky., in 1848. He then began practic- ing at Petersburg, Ind., where he remained until the war broke out, when he was made surgeon of the Eightieth Indiana Volunteers, and served in that capacity until the cessation of hostilities. He was married in 1848 to Miss Aurelia Hammond, a native of Indiana, who bore her husband two living children: Mary J. (wife of L. J. Wilkes) and Aure- lia. Two sons were drowned in the Mississippi River. In 1866 Dr. Jaquess and family moved to Tunica County, Miss., where the Doctor was en- gaged in cotton growing for two years. Not being fitted for this he gave it up, and in 1869 came to Helena, where he was appointed postmaster by President Arthur, serving in that capacity for four years. Since that time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession, and has also carried on the drug business in connection. He is a mem- ber of the Royal Arcanum, Knights of Honor, and Knights and Ladies of Honor, and Golden Rule. He owns considerable real estate in both the coun- try and city, and is a successful business man. He has been mayor of the city three times, and is one of the prominent Republicans of Phillips County.

Col. Amos Green Jarman. Phillips County has long had the reputation of being one of the best farming counties in the State, and not only do the farmers here give much attention to this industry, but they are generally men of enterprise and in- formation, and take pride in the general upbuilding of the county. Prominent among those who have done their full share in advancing every interest of

779

PHILLIPS COUNTY.

this section is Mr. Jarman, who came here in 1859, his first purchase of land amounting to 320 acres. Since then he has added to this tract, and now owns 1,000 acres, of which 600 are under cultiva- tion. His homestead is beautifully located and finely improved, and as he started in life with but little means, he deserves much credit for the ad- mirable way in which he has surmounted the many difficulties which have strewn his pathway. He lost heavily during the war, but has since recovered his losses and added much more. He is a native of Alabama.

Joseph F. Jarrett, well known in this com- munity, was reared in Alabama until thirteen years of age, when his parents moved to this county. He was married in 1871 to Miss Mary L. Thomp- son, who was born in Tennessee in 1855, being a daughter of William Thompson, whose sketch ap- pears in this work. They are the parents of nine children, seven of whom are still living: Lulu (wife of S. V. Haggard), Albert, Joseph L., Ollie, Willie, Frank and Ora. Mr. Jarrett was born in Lawrence County, Ala., in June, 1847, the son of James F. Jarrett, whose birth occurred in Ala- bama in 1823. He came to this county in 1860, and died here in 1879. . He was a son of Freeman N. Jarrett, of Irish descent. The mother of our subject, Mary (McMillen) Jarrett, was born in Alabama in 1824 and still resides on the old home- stead in this county. She bore a family of eight children, four of whom survive: Joseph F., Sarah (wife of J. P. H. Graham), Virginia (wife of W. T. Cooke) and W. B. Mr. Jarrett has a fine farm of 200 acres of land, with seventy-five acres under cultivation. He is one of Cypress Township's best farmers; is a Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.

Nathan Johnson, whose interests in Phillips County are such as to give him wide acquaintance, is a native of Tennessee, and a son of Jesse C. and Elizabetlı (White) Johnson, also originally from that State. Jesse C. Johnson was born in 1800, of Irish and English descent, and is still living in Wilson County, Tenn. He was a son of Samuel Johnson, of Virginia nativity. The mother of our subject died when he was only three weeks old, and

his father married the second time, Miss Polly Pryer, who is still living, and who bore twelve children, eleven surviving. Nathan Johnson was born in Wilson County, on November 9, 1847, re- maining in his native State until 1875, when he removed to Arkansas, locating in Phillips County. Here he purchased a quarter section of wild land, all in the woods, and now has over half of it under cultivation. He was married in 1869 to Miss Martha Melissa Marshall, who was born in Lee County, Ga., in August, 1855, the daughter of T. J. and Mary E. (King) Marshall. They are the parents of eleven children, seven living: Mary E., Lilla P., Nora, Valley B., Jemimah, Leslie and Ollie. In addition to his farm, Mr. Johnson owns a saw-mill, grist-mill and cotton-gin all com- bined, which he erected about 1882, at a cost of over $4,000, and which is being liberally patron- ized. He also owns another farm of eighty acres, with about fourteen acres cleared, on which is sit- uated a good dwelling-house. He is a member of the Masonic order, the Knights of Honor, and of the Legion of Honor. A leading Democrat in the township, he is one of its influential men, and with his wife belongs to the Missionary Baptist Church, in which he takes an active part.

Joseph D. Kendall, of Kentucky nativity, was born March 28, 1825, being the son of Bailey and Martha G. (Dickerson) Kendall. His father, Bailey Kendall, was born in Kentucky April 11, 1795, and his wife, originally of the same State, was born in 1806 and died in 1878. Bailey Kendall emigrated to Arkansas in 1836 and died in 1868. He was a man of no little prominence, having served as rep- resentative of Arkansas and justice of the peace for many years. He was an influential citizen, his demise robbing the county of one of its best and most popular men. Joseph D. received a liberal education in the schools of Phillips County, and in 1861 was united in marriage with Miss C. A. Yelton, of Kentucky, daughter of Jesse and Lucy (Kendall) Yelton. Mrs. Kendall was born in 1835 and died in 1867, leaving four children, one now living: Jesse L. (born February 4, 1863, residing in Helena). Mr. Kendall was again married, in 1875, to Mrs. Virginia O'Neill. She was born in 1833, and by

780

HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

her marriage with Mr. Kendall has borne one child: Mary (born March 22, 1878). Her maiden name was Faidley. When Mr. Kendall's father came to Arkansas he purchased the farm where our subject lives at this time. It was entirely unimproved, but is now one of the best and most carefully cul- tivated plantations in the county. Mr. Kendall made many improvements, transferring the proper- ty in an excellent condition to his son at the time of his death. This farm consists of 300 acres, and is admirably adapted to the growing of all grains, fruits, cotton and vegetables. He has a fine steam cotton-gin which was erected soon after the war by Mr. O'Neill, being at that time one of the first in that section of the county. Mr. Kendall's farm or rather his residence is in the corporation limits of Trenton, so he virtually lives in the city and country at the same time. He is a member of the K. of H., Trenton Lodge, and a Democrat politically. He is giving his children excellent advantages for obtaining an education, and is a liberal contributor to all enterprises. A good citizen, he is respected by the entire community.

James C. Kersey, a prominent farmer of Big Creek Township, was born in Union County, S. C., October 17, 1858, but has been a resident of Phil- lips County, Ark., since twelve years of age, at- tending the common schools of this county in youth, and later entering the Arkansas Industrial University, at Fayetteville. In April, 1886, he was married to Mary E. Copeland, who was born in Texas, in May, 1860, a daughter of Elijah and Margaret (Hennison) Copeland, both natives of Alabama. They are the parents of one son, Will- iam R. Mr. Kersey owns a fine farm of 452 acres of land, of which about half is under cultivation. His principal crop is cotton, he raising some sixty- five bales annually. In 1889 he erected a steam cotton-gin, at a cost of $1,200, for his own use and that of his neighbors. He has always voted the Democratic ticket, and cast his first presidential ticket for W. S. Hancock. Mr. Kersey's father, William Kersey, was born in Upton County, Ga., about 1832, and died in Phillips County in 1882. He was reared in Georgia, and when a young man went to South Carolina, marrying there, in 1857,

Miss Sarah H. Turner. He was a son of Robert Kersey, a native of South Carolina. Sarah H. (Turner) Kersey was born in that State in 1848, and is a sister of Nathaniel B. Turner, whose biography appears in this work. She is the mother of ten children, these still living: Anna J. (the wife of Richard Davis), Monroe, Mary A. (the wife of Thomas Hennison), Carley (wife of Wiley Clat- worthy), Lee, James C. (the principal of this sketch), Ellen and Zeller (twins). In 1867 Mr. William Kersey moved to Arkansas, and purchased the farm on which the subject of this sketch now lives. He was a member of the Masonic order, and of the Baptist Church.

Hon. S. H. King, farmer and stock raiser, Poplar Grove, Ark. The King family is a very old and prominent one, and is of Scotch origin. The first to come to this country were Richard King and wife, who made their appearance here as early as 1700. They located in Philadelphia, then a small village, and here the wife died. In 1735 Samuel married Miss Margaret Barclay, of Dutch parentage, and from this honored couple the King family of the present day are descendants. He and wife were the parents of twelve children. He died in May, 1782, at the age of eighty-two years. His son, James King (the great-grand- father of our subject), was born in 1737, in New Jersey, whither his father had moved. He mar- ried Miss Sarah Hall, in 1765, in North Carolina, and they became the parents of nine children, Andrew King being their youngest son, and the grandfather of our subject. He died in 1852, at the age of seventy-four years. His son, Thomas S. N. King (the father of our subject), was born in North Carolina, in 1804, and was married in 1832, to Miss J. F. Smith, a native of Georgia, who bore him seven children, all of whom lived to be grown: Porter B. (deceased, family resides in Benton County, Ark.), Ella S. (widow of W. H. Trader, and now resides in Washington, D. C.), W. B. (resides in Madison Parish, La., engaged in farming), S. H., Elizabeth N. (deceased), Fan- nie S. (deceased) and Laura J. (deceased, wife of Henry W. Scull, of Pine Bluff, Ark.). Mrs. King died in 1886, at the age of seventy-two years,

781

PHILLIPS COUNTY.

after a long and eventful life. Thomas S. N. King had previously been married to Miss Mar- garet Battle, who only lived a short time afterward. He was a minister in the Baptist Church, and was also a successful agriculturist. He moved to Mississippi in 1833, and was among the very first settlers of that State. In 1846 he moved to Ark- ansas, 'settled at Helena, this county, and was engaged in tilling the soil. He was the third Baptist minister in the county, and assisted in establishing the first three churches of that denom- ination there, these being New Hope, Beach Grove and Helena, which is now called the First Baptist Church of Helena. Mr. King moved to the coun- try in 1849, and settled three miles south of Helena, where he engaged in farming, but still continued his ministerial duties. He was commissioner of schools in this county, and took a deep interest in educational matters. He died in 1869, at the age of sixty-four years. S. H. King first attended the subscription schools of Phillips County, and at the age of eighteen years entered the Union Univer- sity of Murfreesboro, Tenn., where he remained three years, or until his twenty first year. He then engaged as book-keeper for W. F. & J. T. Moore, of Helena, with whom he remained one year, and then, the war breaking out, he enlisted in the Confederate army, Gen. Cleburne's old com- pany (called the Yell Rifles) as a private, and was promoted to the rank of sergeant while with this company. At the end of one year he was appointed commissary, with the rank of major of Preston Smith's brigade of Tennessee troops, be- ing the first commissary that was appointed to that office with the rank of major. He had previously held the rank of captain while in the Tennessee army. Major King participated in many battles, prominent among them being Shiloh, Chicka- mauga, Richmond, Murfreesboro, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta, where he was wounded in both arms, and was slightly wounded in the lower part of the breast. After this he was in the battles of Frank- lin, Nashville, and was in the last battle fought by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. He surrendered April 27, 1865, at Greensboro, N. C. May 16, 1865, he married Miss Sue Scaife, and in the fall of

1865 he came back to Phillips County, where he tilled the soil on rented land in a small way. In 1872 he purchased 160 acres of land, which he im- proved, and traded for the place on which he is now residing, then consisting of 160 acres. This he has since improved and added to, until he now owns 312 acres, with 160 acres under cultivation, and on which is a good steam cotton-gin. He gins yearly an average of 400 bales, and produces on his farm thirty-five bales yearly, together with hay, corn, etc. He is also quite a stockman, raising cattle and horses principally. Mr. and Mrs. King became the parents of two children: Lannie (wife of J. E. Davidson, resides in Marion Township) and W. F. (who resides in Cypress Township, and is a teacher by profession). Mrs. King died in May, 1868, and in 1871 he chose for his second wife Miss Sallie Cook, daughter of James and Frances (Brooks) Cook. James Cook came to Phillips County in 1875. The paternal grand- mother of Mrs. King was a Bragg, an aunt of Gen. Bragg, while the maternal grandfather Brooks was one of the family of Brooks, of South Carolina, and came from England. The mother was a Paine, and a relative of Bishop Paine. James Cook and wife were the parents of eight children, six now living: Roland (on the old homestead, near Bar- ton), Sallie (wife of Mr. King), Susan E. (wife of E. A. Hicks, of Barton), Nannie, Jennie (wife of D. H. Crebs, of Helena) and Robert (of Poplar Grove). Mr. Cook died in 1872, and his wife in 1876. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. King were born five children: James P., W. C., Jennie, J. W. and A. F. In 1878 Mr. King was elected county treasurer, and served one term. In 1885 he was elected to the legislature from Phillips County, and served in that capacity in a highly creditable manner. He is a member of the K. of H., Marvell Lodge No. 1628, and he and Mrs. King are members of the Baptist Church. He is one of the most prominent citizens of the county, and has the confidence and respect of all.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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