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 129

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 129

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E. A. Porter, agent for the Pacific Express Company, at Helena, Ark., is a native of Helena, Ark., his birth occurring here June 5, 1865, he being a son of William and Ann A. (Hanks) Por- ter, the latter being a sister of Judge James M. Hanks, ex-Congressman. William Porter was born March 9, 1818, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and in his youth, or youthful days, came to Arkansas and lo- cated in Helena, owning and operating a tannery, saw and grist-mill at the mouth of the St. Francis River. He conducted this business on a very ex- tensive scale until the opening of the war, during which time he lost nearly all his accumulations of years. After the war he set to work to retrieve his fortunes, and for some time operated a saw-mill and cotton-gin, but later on made farming his chief avocation, possessing a good farm about four miles south of Helena. He is still living (retired from the active duties of life) in Helena, and pos- sesses the full consciousness of having fought the battle of life successfully, and can now rest from the labor and heat of the day. He has never as- pired to political positions, and although his views are in accord with the Democratic party, he has never been a partisan. His son, E. A. Porter, was reared and educated in Helena, and at an early age became a messenger boy in the express service, re- ceiving various promotions until he attained his present position of agent for the Pacific Express Company. He is a young man of push, energy and enterprise, and owing to his many other ad- mirable business qualifications, his future success is assured. He has shown his approval of secret organizations by becoming a member of the K. of

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P., being a charter member of this organization at Wynne, and he also belongs to the A. O. U. W. March 19, 1888, he espoused Miss Ida B. Dickson.

James C. Rembert is the efficient county clerk of Phillips County, Ark., and is a man whom the citizens delight to honor, for he is careful, prudent, and undeniably honest, and in every walk in life has shown himself to be eminently worthy the re- spect which is accorded him by all. He is a native of Shelby County, Tenn., born January 17, 1849, and is a son of Llewellyn C. and Mary (Jackson) Rembert, who were also Tennesseeans, in which State the mother died, the father's death occurr- ing in Prairie County, Ark., he having been a worthy and fairly successful planter throughout life. James C. Rembert attended school in the State of Tennessee, until fifteen years of age, his time being also spent in assisting his father on the farm, and in 1866 he came to Helena, Ark., and was salesman in a dry goods house until 1870, when he was made chief deputy in the sheriff's office, and ably discharged the duties of that posi- tion until 1874. He then alternately acted as deputy sheriff and salesman of dry goods until 1882, when he became deputy county clerk, re- ceiving the appointment from Gov. Hughes to fill a vacancy in April, and his labors were so satis- factory that, September 2, 1888, he was elected to the office which he still continues to hold. Every worthy enterprise of a public nature finds in him a warm advocate, and as he is a man of intelligence and thinks for himself, his views are always sound. He has been fairly prosperous in a worldly point of view, and is the owner of some excellent real estate in Helena. Socially he belongs to the A. O. U. W., the K. of P., and the Royal Arcanum. He was married, in 1871, to Miss Cortney C. Cage, and by her has three children: J. C., Jr., Bettie C. and Cortney T.

William H. Renfro (deceased) was one of the thirteen children born to the union of Talton and Elizabeth (Harrison) Renfro, his birth occurring in Maury County, Tenn., March 8, 1833. Of that large family of children only three are now living: John H. (residing in Sacramento, Cal.), D. B. (a resident of Holly Grove, Ark.) and Matilda (the

widow of William Baulch). When William H. Renfro was nineteen years of age, he came to Phil- lips County, having accepted a position to super- intend a large plantation, owned by a Mr. A. W. Smizer, which he continued to do until the break- ing out of the war. He then enlisted in the Con- federate army, serving two years. During the war he purchased the farm where Mrs. Renfro now re- sides, the place then consisting of 480 acres, with only fifty improved. Mrs. Renfro owns 200 acres of improved land, with only forty unimproved, on which are good buildings and many modern evi- dences of progression and prosperity. That Mr. Ren- fro was a popular and influential man is demonstra- ted beyond a doubt by the manner in which he is mentioned, and the reverence in which his memory is held. He was a quiet, law-abiding citizen, keep- ing pace with the world, in the even tenor of his way, and many improvements of his county stand as monuments of his liberality and support. No one ever realized, not even his own family, how largely Mr. Renfro gave in charities. On this point he was secretive, nothing abashing him more in his own eyes than when a deed of mercy was traced to its source by some grateful recipient of his generosity. He was married December 8, 1856, in this county, to Miss Amanda E. Graves, who was born in Shelby County, Tenn., December 26, 1836, and a daughter of Alexander and Annie (Graves) Graves. Mr. and Mrs. Renfro reared a family of three children: Ella R. (wife of B. Y. Turner) and Lizzie (Mrs. W. C. Brooks). One daughter is deceased. Mr. Graves (father of Mrs. Renfro), was born in Greenville, N. C., in 1800, and was married in Giles County, Tenn., having moved to that county when twenty-one years old. To his marriage eight children were born, three now living: N. L., Maggie (wife of her cousin, Joseph Graves, of this county) and Amanda (Mrs. Renfro). Mr. Graves died in Phillips County, Ark., in 1863. His wife, who was born in Louisa County, Va., in 1804, died in 1864. Mrs. Renfro manages her farm in a good business-like way. She is a supporter of all charitable movements, an earnest worker in and a highly-respected member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

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PHILLIPS COUNTY.

S. M. Reynolds, one of the prominent farmers and stock growers of Marion Township, is the sixth of a family of eight children born to the union of Thomas and Elizabeth (Winters) Reynolds, natives of Tennessee. Thomas Reynolds was a farmer by occupation and continued this pursuit in his native State until about 1848, when he moved to Frank- lin County, Ark. He purchased land near Ozark, Ark., continued his former pursuit, and was among the first to settle in that county. He died in 1854 and the mother the year previous. Of their eight children, four are now living: Christopher Colum- bus (resides in Kansas), S.M., Zach (resides in Mis- souri), and Robert C. (who resides at Plano, Tex. ). W. D. (deceased) was in the war with Mexico, and was in the battles of Buena Vista, Marengo and at the City of Mexico at the surrender. S. M. Reynolds was born in Greene County, Tenn., in 1846, and was reared by his brother W. D., and received his education in the common schools of Phillips and Lee Counties, Ark., as his brother moved to this State in 1859. The latter entered land and S. M. worked on the same until twenty- two years of age. In 1868 he married Miss Mary J. McGrew, of Phillips County, and the daughter of William and Sallie (Clabough) McGrew, natives of Tennessee and North Carolina, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds are the parents of eight children: W. T., Henry L., James P., Marion F., Mary E. (deceased), Carrie A., Minnie G. and Oc- tavus (deceased). After his marriage S. M. Rey- nolds moved to Sharp County, Ark., where he fol- lowed the trade of blacksmithing for about one year and then returned to Phillips County. He settled on his present property, which was owned by his wife and which consisted of 120 acres with fifty acres under cultivation. In 1862 Mr. Rey- nolds joined the boys in gray, Anderson's com- pany, commanded by Dobbins, and was in the bat- tle of Helena, July 4, 1863. He was at the sur- render of Little Rock, and was also in a number of skirmishes, etc. He was captured in Phillips County, was sent to Helena and there remained for two weeks when he was paroled. This was the latter part of 1864. Mr. Reynolds is a member of the County Wheel and Farmers' Alliance, and is

Vice-President of the Subordinate Wheel. He is a member of the K. of H., Spring Creek Lodge No. 2643, and is also Vice-President of this. He and Mrs. Reynolds and three of the children are mem- bers of the Christian Church. William Reynolds, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was in the War of 1812, and the maternal grandfather, Chris- topher Winters, was a German, from Pennsylvania, and last resided at Charleston, Tenn.

William Rose, an old resident and substantial farmer of Searcy Township, was born in Jackson County, Ohio, on January 7, 1817, being one of eleven children born to William and Mary (Atkins) Rose. William Rose, Sr., was a native of Mont- gomery County, Va., and moved with his parents to Ohio when a small boy. He was reared, mar- ried and died there in 1879. He was of English- Irish descent, and his wife a direct descendant of the Germans, and died when William, Jr., was a boy. Our subject received his education in the schools of Ohio, and, when twenty-one years old, immigrated to St. Francis County, Ark., where he rented land until 1847, at that time purchasing 160 acres, on which he lived until 1870, when he came to Phillips County, settling on his present farm. This place consists of 440 acres, with 200 acres under a fine state of cultivation, and the im- provements, which are numerous, show him to be of an industrious and enterprising spirit. In 1889 Mr. Williams erected a steam cotton-gin, at a cost of $1,500. His farm, situated eighteen miles southwest of Helena, is well adapted to the grow- ing of grain, hay and cotton. He is also engaged in stock-raising, a profitable source of income. Mr. Rose was first married in St. Francis County, in 1843, to Miss Marian Castile, a native of that county, who died in 1847, having borne two chil- dren, now deceased. Mr. Rose was again married in 1850 to Miss Augustine Forbes (a cousin of the former wife). She died in 1864, and of five chil- dren born to their union only one is now living: Margaret F. (the wife of F. M. Cox, residing in Lee County). In 1865 Mr. Rose married Mrs. Emily Brown (nee Brown). His fourth wife was Martha Brown, a native of Mississippi, and who has two children by her former marriage: John L. and

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

Carrie. Mr. Rose is a Democrat politically, hav- ing cast his first vote for President James K. Polk. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and a quiet, law-abiding citizen.

Judge M. T. Sanders, Helena, Ark. Matthew T. Sanders was born in Abbeville District, S. C., but during his childhood his parents moved to Alaba- ma and settled in Greene County. His father, Dr. Charles P. Sanders, was a native of Charleston, and was married to Elizabeth Ann Thomson, of Anderson District, S. C. After their removal to Alabama, his father became a prominent physician and practiced his profession with great success until his death. His mother is living. The sub- ject of this sketch was educated in part at Erskine College, S. C., but completed the collegiate course at the University of Alabama, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1859. The same year he located in Helena, Ark., where he began the prac- tice of his profession. He entered the military serv- ice of the Confederate States in 1861, was afterward appointed first lieutenant of artillery, and assigned to ordnance and staff duty. At the close of the war he was a member of McNair's staff, Churchill's di- vision, received his parole at Shreveport, La., re- turned to Helena in 1866, and resumed the profession of law. He soon became a successful and prominent lawyer, and enjoyed an extensive practice until he was elected to the bench. Judge Sanders has al- ways been an active Democrat. For two years after the close of the war he was editor of the Helena Clarion, a leading Democratic journal. For several years he was chairman of the Democratic Execu- tive Committee of his county, and in the local political revolution in Phillips County, by which the Democrats, after an exciting campaign, de- feated the Republicans in 1878, he was chosen for county judge. In this administration of county affairs he relieved the tax-payers of oppressive burdens, reduced current expenses of the county 50 per centum below what they were previous to his election, and earned the lasting gratitude of the people by many wise reforms in matters affect- ing the welfare of the county. In 1882 Judge Sanders was a Democratic candidate for Congress in the First Congressional district, but after a par-

tial canvass of the district withdrew from the race. In July of the same year he was nominated for circuit judge by the Democracy of the first judicial circuit, and elected the following September by a majority of more than 5,000 votes over his Repub- lican opponent, Col. W. H. Hawes. This honor was unsought, and for that reason affords the best evidence of the confidence of the people in his ability, integrity and purity of character. He was re-elected in 1886. Judge Sanders has served nearly eight years on the bench, and by his fine legal attainments and superior administrative ca pacity he has proven a valuable acquisition to the judiciary of the State. He is both a Mason and an Odd Fellow, and a member of the Episcopal Church. In 1868 he was married to Miss Sallie Alexander, of Helena, Ark., and by this union has five children.

Arthur M. Scott, a well-known merchant and farmer of Spring Creek Township, came originally from Alabama, and is a son of Adam C. and Cath- arine (Shackelford) Scott, natives of Kentucky and Virginia, respectively. Mr. Scott was a relative of the noted Winfield Scott. He was a mechanic by trade, and died during the Mexican War, while in service. His wife is now living in Yell County, Ark., at the age of seventy-two years. They were the parents of four children, of whom our subject is the only one living. Arthur M. Scott was born in Southern Alabama, on August 12, 1837. He was reared in his native State until eleven years of age, when he came to Arkansas with his grand- father, John L. Shackelford, and has resided in this county since that time. His mother removed to this State three years later. Arthur received his education at Batesville, where he was attend- ing school at the breaking out of the war, and then enlisted in the Confederate army, in Company C of the Fifteenth Arkansas Infantry, in which he served until the close of hostilities. He participa- ted in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Perryville (where he was shot through the right hip and disabled for eleven months), Jonesboro, and a number of others, and was captured at Franklin, Tenn., and taken to Camp Douglas, at Chicago, where he was held until June 16, 1865. Return-

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PHILLIPS COUNTY.

ing to Arkansas he engaged in farming for a year, then going to Helena, where he remained until 1869. After being engaged in clerking until 1871 he started in business for himself, opening a store of general merchandise, that he still owns, and which has proven very successful. He also leases 200 acres of land near North Creek, and on this raises annually about fifty bales of cotton, and a large amount of hay. Mr. Scott is a leading Democrat, and has served in a public capacity for a number of years. He has filled the position of justice of the peace for some four years, has been a notary public since 1879, and has held the office of postmaster of North Creek since 1872, being the present incumbent.

Jesse C. Shell, a prominent planter and an old resident of Phillips County, is a native of Louisi- ana, and a son of Jesse J. Shell, who was born in Orange District, S. C., May 4, 1802. His father, Jacob Shell, first saw the light of day in South Carolina in 1771, dying in Louisiana in 1833. He was under Gen. Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. His wife, Sarah Rutlidge, a descendant of Gov. Rutlidge, died in 1832. Jesse Shell, Sr., moved to this county from Louisiana, in 1833, to escape the cholera, and settling ten miles from Helena, was one of the early settlers and promi- nent men of the locality. He represented his county in the first legislature of the State, in 1836, and was re-elected in 1838, and again in 1840. To himself and wife were born nine children, two of whom are living: Margaret A. (the wife of Maj. Palmer, of Monroe County) and Jesse C. The latter was born in Lake Providence in 1829, but grew up in this county from his fourth year, being reared by a Mr. Mooney after his father's death, which occurred in 1841, a result of a kick from a horse. He was employed, at the age of eighteen, as a manager, and had charge of a plantation. In 1849 he went to California, was engaged in min- ing for two years, and then, returning, he located in this county, and was appointed deputy sheriff the same year. The following year Mr. Shell was again employed as a manager, in which occupation he was employed until the war, when he enlisted in the First Arkansas Mounted Riflemen, and

served until the close of the war, being in Price's raid through Missouri. After peace was declared he commenced farming, and has since followed that calling. He was married, in 1878, to Miss Mary Ward, who was born in Preston, England, on Sep- tember 8, 1852, being a daughter of Henry and Alice Ward, who lived and died in England. She came to this country with an aunt, and was reared in the city of Cincinnati and New Orleans. They were the parents of four children: Jesse R., Wal- ter P., James H. and Margaret C. (who is deceased). Mr. Shell owns a farm of 160 acres, which is most- ly under cultivation. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Knights of Honor, holding the office of Protector in his lodge, and also belongs to the Knights and Ladies of Honor. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and his wife of the Catholic Church.

Frank B. Sliger, president of the First National Bank of Helena, Ark., is one of the foremost busi- ness men of Phillips County, although he is young in years. His birth occurred in New Orleans, La., July 16, 1854, and he is a son of Samuel and Mary (Klock) Sliger, the former a native of Frankfort, Germany, and the latter of Strasburg. They were married in their native country, and in 1846 em- barked on board a vessel bound for the United States, landing at New Orleans, where Mr. Sliger engaged in the produce business. He enlisted in the Mexican War, and is supposed to have been as- sassinated at the City of Mexico. Besides his wife, who afterward died in Covington, Ky., he left a family of six children, of whom Frank was fourth. His opportunities for acquiring a good education being excellent, he secured a fair general knowl- edge in the public schools of New Orleans. It was not long until he had to rely entirely upon his own resources for support, and although his education was very good he was young in years and unac- quainted with the ways of the world, and therefore found it somewhat difficult to obtain a living for a number of years. In the spring of 1868, when only fourteen years of age, he came to Helena and imme- diately entered the employ of Straub & Lohmann, merchants, and is still associated with the senior partner, having been connected with him a period

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

of twenty-two years. By economy, industry and a judicious use of his money saved, wealth soon began to come in, and he engaged in the brokerage and real-estate business, his wealth materially increas- ing while thus occupied. In 1884, in connection with L. Lucy, he started a private bank, but their business increased to such an extent that they were compelled to reorganize with more capital, and the National Bank was established, he beoming its president. He also deals in real estate, and owns a vast amount of land in different localities. He is public-spirited, progressive, and possesses keen perception and sound judgment, and is acknowl- edged by all to be one of the leading business spirits of Helena. He is a stockholder in the Planters' Compress Company, the Electric Light and Power Company, and so secure is he in the estimation of the people that he could command almost any position in their power to give, did he so wish it. He has been city treasurer for several years, was treasurer of Cotton Belt District No. 1, and as he has always been deeply interested in educational matters, he has been president of the school board for a number of years, but is now re- signed. He is Grand Treasurer of the Knights of Honor of the State, is Grand Commander of the American Legion of Honor of the State, is a mem- ber of the Grand Lodge of the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and also belongs to the Royal Arcanum and I. O. O. F., being Noble Grand in the latter organization. He was married in March, 1886, to Miss Maggie Carpenter, by whom he has one child, Eugenia, born in March, 1887.

Edward Sonfield, merchant, Poplar Grove, Ark. Mr. Sonfield owes his nativity to Cincinnati, Ohio, where his birth occurred on May 30, 1854, and is the eldest of eleven children, the result of the union of Henry and Rosa (Kornik) Sonfield, natives of Germany. The father came to this country and settled in Cincinnati in 1850 or 1851, and was en- gaged in the jewelry business, following the same for ten or eleven years. He then moved to Nash- ville, Tenn., in 1861, embarked in the dry-goods business, which he followed until 1865, when he moved to Memphis, here continuing the same occu-

pation. He died in that city on July 27, 1873, a much-respected and honored citizen. Mrs. Son- field still resides in Memphis, where she was mar- ried in 1879 or 1880 to S. Eichwald. To Mr. and Mrs. Sonfield were born eleven children, eight now living: Edward, Annie (wife of D. Zellner, of Memphis), Sarah (wife of M. Hirshberg, of Bos- ton), William (salesman at Memphis), Sallie and Jennie (at home), Eugene and Leon. Those de- ceased were Henrietta (died when small), Julia (was accidentally burned to death at Cincinnati in 1874) and Morris (died at Memphis, in 1881, in his twenty-third year). Edward Sonfield was edu- cated at Cincinnati and Memphis, and at the age of thirteen years was employed as cash boy for Menken Bros., of Memphis. He was then em- ployed as salesman for several years, and from 1873 to 1876 was traveling salesman for Otto Schwill & Co. In 1870 Mr. Sonfield moved to Trenton, Phillips County, Ark., and was salesman here for several years, traveling a portion of the time. In March, 1885, he commenced merchan- dising for himself at Poplar Grove with a small capital, and has since done a good business, his annual sales being about $6,000. He owns a fine store-house and dwelling. He chose for his com- panion in life Miss Alice Myers, of Helena, Ark., the daughter of Alex. and Mary (Poe) Myers, and was united in marriage to her on March 3, 1881. Her parents were natives of Germany and Missis- sippi, respectively. The father came to America when a young man, settled in Holly Springs, Miss., was married there and became the father of a fam- ily of children, seven now living: Blakly (residing in Memphis), Minnie (wife of Ben. Wiley, of Hel- ena), Alice, Samuel, Lucy, Susie and Alex (the four last at home). To Mr. and Mrs. Sonfield were born four children: The eldest, an infant, died December 21, 1881; Henrietta (died October 6, 1883), Henry (born October 29, 1884) and Julia (born December 14, 1886). Mr. and Mrs. Sonfield are both of the Jewish faith. Mr. Sonfield is a member and Re- porter of the K. of H., Poplar Grove Lodge No. 2442; also Secretary of the American Legion of Honor, Hendrix Council 737, and is notary public of this county. Politically he is a Democrat.

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PHILLIPS COUNTY.

Christopher Columbus Spain is a son of Mabry and Delilah Spain, natives of South Carolina. The former died in 1855, somewhere out West, the par- ticulars of which were never known. C. C. Spain made his appearance in this world in Union Coun- ty, S. C., on October 4, 1838. His mother dying when he was only seven weeks old, he was reared by an uncle, and in 1860 immigrated from South Carolina to Trenton, Ark., locating where he now lives in 1870. This place consists of 175 acres, with over 100 acres under cultivation. In 1875 he opened a store and engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, to which he has since given his attention. He was the prime mover in getting the postoffice of Coffee Creek established in 1878, and has been postmaster ever since. Mr. Spain has been mar- ried three times; first in 1867, to Miss Mellissa Browning, who was born in this county, on August 11, 1845, and who died on August 15, 1878, leav- ing four children, two still living: Ida M. and Mary E. Arthur and Christopher C. are deceased. He married his second wife, Dorathy E. Phillips, in January, 1879, who died in March, 1880. His third and present wife was formerly Sarah A. Hig- ginbotham, to whom he was married in November, 1882, and who was born in this county on March 12, 1861. They are the parents of two children: Mellissa C. and Dortha E. Mr. Spain served as a gallant soldier in the Confederate service twelve months during the war. He is a strong Demo- crat, and a member of the K. of H., and he and his wife belong to the Baptist Church. He held the office of justice of the peace for over five years. In addition to his farm work Mr. Spain owns and operates a steam cotton-gin, which he erected at a cost of $1,200, and which is largely patronized.

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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