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 131

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 131

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James R. Turner, livery merchant, Poplar Grove, Ark. . This stable, from the large business it does, not only exemplifies the importance of the town, but reflects credit on its management. Mr. Turner engaged in this business near where he is now located, at the age of twenty-one years, and in 1873 he moved to his present place of business, having built the first business house in the village, and started the first general store. He was also appointed postmaster in his twenty-first year, and served in that capacity for twenty years. At the time he was appointed postmaster he was elect- ed justice of the peace, which office he retained

for eight years. In January, 1868, he married Miss R. N. McCoy, a native of Phillips County, born on Christmas day, 1851, and the daughter of John and J. E. (Howard) McCoy, natives of Kentucky, who came to this State in 1840. Mr. McCoy was a short time in the Confederate army, and died in 1864. Mrs. McCoy afterward, in 1872, was united in marriage to M. A. Stripline, of this county. He died in 1877, and Mrs. McCoy now resides with her son-in-law, James R. Turner. To the latter's marriage were born seven children, four now living: Robert N., Daisy, Eva and Templin. Three died when small. Mr. Turner is a member of the Masonic fraternity, La Fayette Lodge No. 97, and he and wife are members of the K. & L. of H., Poplar Grove Lodge No. 518, he being Treasurer of the same. Mrs. Turner is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Turner is an earnest worker for emigration, and is a member of the county emigration body called the Phillips County Emigration Society. He was born in Phillips County, Ark., in 1848, and is the third of nine children born to the union of W. R. and Elizabeth F. (Ewett) Turner, and the only one now living. The father came to this county from Maryland in 1836, settled near Helena, which was then only a small trading point, and when Indians were numerous. He bought land and tilled the soil the principal part of his life, and at one time, previous to the war, was the owner of a number of negroes. He was one of the pio- neer settlers, and helped to open nearly every public road in the county. He served as justice of the peace previous to the late unpleasantness, and was for those days one of the best-educated men in the county. He was born in 1818 and died in 1877. He served for a short time in the Confed- erate service before the close of the war. He was twice married, first, in 1843, to the mother of the subject of this sketch, who died in 1862, and in 1863 to a sister of his first wife, Martha A. Ewett, who bore him three children, two of whom are now living: J. C. (in the store of James R. Turner) and Mrs. Emma F. Pearson (of Poplar Grove.) Mrs. Turner resides with her daughter, Mrs. Pear- son.

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Richard N. Venable, M. D., physician and sur- geon, Poplar Grove, Ark. Among the people of Phillips, as well as surrounding counties, the name that heads this sketch is by no means an unfamil- iar one, for, for many years he has been success- fully occupied in the prosecution of his chosen pro- fession. During this time his career as a practi- tioner and thorough student of medicine has won for him no less a reputation than has his personal characteristics as a citizen and neighbor. He was born in Virginia in 1828, and is the third of seven children, the result of the union of Henry and Margaret (Ried) Venable, natives of the Old Do- minion, also. Henry Venable was a merchant and - farmer of Virginia, and was postmaster of Prince Edward Court House (some member of this family has been postmaster at that place for over 100 years). He was a slave owner, having at one time fifty negroes, but devoted most of his time to mer- chandising. He died in 1856, in his fifty-eighth year, and Mrs. Venable died in 1870, at the age of seventy years. The maternal grandfather of the Doctor was sent by George III. to survey and sell a large tract of land, located close around Prince Edward Court House, Va. The maternal grand- father, Gilford Morton, was in the Revolution- ary War, and was wounded at Guilford Court House, N. C. Of the seven children born to the marriage of Henry Venable, only three are now living, Dr. Venable being the eldest one, Andrew and Margaret (now Mrs. Hanna, of Prince Edward County, Va.). Andrew resides in Charlotte County. Dr. Venable was reared in Prince Edward County, Va., received his education at home until twelve years of age, when he entered the Washington University, later the University of Virginia, and in 1851 he entered the Jefferson Medical School of Philadelphia, graduating from the same. He then began practicing at Lynchburg, Va .; from there went to Minnesota, thence to Mississippi, and in 1876 came to Phillips County, Ark, where he set- tled near Poplar Grove. He has been twice mar- ried; first to Miss Caroline I. Craft, of Holly Springs, Miss., who died in 1876, and in 1883 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Wallace, who had been a resident of Phillips County for thirty years.

Dr. Venable was in the Confederate service from 1862 to 1865, was surgeon of Baldwin's brigade and the Second Texas (Moore's) brigade. During the siege of Vicksburg he was transferred to another brigade, and remained with the same until the close of the war. He was engaged in numerous battles as field-surgeon, was taken prisoner at Vicksburg but was immediately paroled. He returned to Phillips County at the close of the war, and at once resumed his practice. Dr. Venable is a man who favors all public improvements for the benefit of his county, and favors all newcomers with a hearty welcome. He and Mrs. Venable are mem- bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, is a K. & L. of H., Myrtle Lodge No. 518. He is a promi- nent physician, and has a large practice.

B. B. Waddell, president and manager of the Citizens' Street Railway and superintendent of the Highland Improvement Company, was originally from Carroll County, Tenn., where his birth oc- curred on August 24, 1832, and is the son of Amos and Nancy (Pratt) Waddell, the father a native of Georgia and the mother of Virginia. The parents emigrated to Tennessee about 1820, were among the first settlers, and here the mother died. In 1849 the father moved to Southern Arkansas, lo- cating in Ashley County, where he remained for several years. He then returned to Tennessee, where he passed his last days. He was a captain in the War of 1812. Their family consisted of eleven children, four now living: Dr. A. P., Mrs. Smith (of Tennessee), B. B. and Lucinda (in Texas). B. B. Waddell attained his growth and received his education in Tennessee. In 1849 he came with his father to Arkansas, but only re- mained a few weeks when he returned to Memphis and entered the law office of Judge Henry G. Smith. In 1853 he was admitted to the bar and is the only one of the Memphis bar admitted at that time who is now living. He practiced law at that place until 1866, with the exception of the time during the war, after which he gave up his pro- fession and engaged in keeping hotel until 1873. In 1861 he entered the staff of Gen. Polk, was transferred to Gen. Beauregard's staff, and re-

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mained with the same until 1864, when his health failed and he returned to Memphis. While keep- ing hotel he was also engaged in laying the Nich- olson pavement, and made other city improvements. In 1873 he went to St. Louis, embarked in the real estate business and remained there until 1880. He then engaged as general superintendent for Thomas G. Allen & Co., of Memphis, large real estate dealers, owning fifty-two plantations, and he remained interested in this business until 1887, when he came to Helena, and with other parties purchased a large interest here, which he is now superintending. He procured the franchise and laid the street railway in 1888, and this is now in a prosperous condition. Since his residence here he has consolidated his interest and formed the Highland Improvement Company, and purchased the large hills around Helena. He is now engaged in leveling the hills and making beautiful building sites of the same. Mr. Waddell is a progressive citizen and has always rendered his services of in- fluence in Helena by many marked improvements. While living in Memphis he was principally engaged in the management of a large plantation in connec- tion with his law practice. He was married at Denmark, Tenn., in 1856, to Miss Fannie Tarber, by whom he has four children: Tarber, Lizzie, Paul and Anna. He is a member of the Episcopal Church.

Capt. D. R. Weedman, farmer, Poplar Grove, Ark. Mr. Weedman, one of the leading farmers of Marion Township, first saw the light in Breck- inridge County, Ky., in 1833, and is the third of ten children, the result of the union of Stephen and Mary A. (Gilbert) Weedman, natives of Ken- tucky and Virginia, and of German-English par- entage, respectively. The paternal grandfather came from Germany to America when a small boy. Stephen Weedman was a farmer and house carpen- ter by occupation, and followed this the latter part of his life. He was among the early settlers of Grayson County, Ky., and died in 1866, at the age of sixty years. Mrs. Weedman still lives in Meade County, Ky., is eighty-nine years of age, enjoys perfect health, and is a member of the Baptist Church, of which her husband was also a member.

Of the ten children born to their marriage only six are now living: Addison (resides in Kentucky), Amos (also resides in Kentucky), D. R., Morde- cai, Miram (both residing in Kentucky), Jacob (deceased), William (deceased), Francis (resides in Kentucky), Martha (deceased), and Mary (wife of George Brands). D. R. Weedman was early taught the duties of farm life, and received his ed- ucation in Breckinridge County, Ky. At the age of twenty-one years he commenced life for himself as a flat-boatman, and also learned the trade of ship carpenter. While engaged in the flat-boat business he carried on the building of flat-boats, following the same for ten years, or until thirty- one years of age. He then joined the Confederate army, Company F, First Kentucky Regiment, as a private, and was elected second lieutenant at the organization of the company. From that he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, and par- ticipated in the following battles: Stone River, Chickamauga, Dalton and all the cavalry fights in that section. From Dalton he went to Atlanta, Greensboro, N. C., and here his brigade was de- tailed as escort for Jefferson Davis and Gen. Breck- inridge, and remained with them until the surren- der on May 8th. This regiment was the last guard to Mr. Davis. Capt. Weedman has in his posses- sion one of the silver dollars paid him by the Con- federate States Government, just before his sur- render, and has inscribed on it the following: "Last payment, C. S. A., Washington, Ga., May 8, 1865," and on the other side is, "D. R. Weed- man, 1st Ky. Cav." At the termination of hostil- ities Capt. Weedman went to his home in Ken- tucky and remained in that State from June, 1865, to May, 1869, when he engaged at his trade, and also followed agricultural pursuits. He then came to Phillips County and worked at the carpenter's trade for four years. In 1874 he bought eighty acres of land, with sixty acres improved, but has since sold that, and is now the owner of 250 acres with 200 acres under improvement. The Captain was married in 1879 to Mrs. Martha A. Connelly, nee Thompson, of this county, and a native of this State, which union resulted in the birth of two children, only one, George, now living. Mr. Weed-

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man is a member of the K. of H., Poplar Grove Lodge No. 2442, and Mrs. Weedman is a member of the K. & L. of H., Myrtle Lodge No. 518, both lodges of Poplar Grove. Capt. Weedman, like the majority of his neighbors, favors all pub- lic improvements for the benefit of his county, and extends a hearty welcome to all emigrations of whites, no matter of what nationality.

L. J. Wilkes, grocer, Helena, Ark. There are several houses in this city that are thoroughly typical, not alone of the comprehensive growth and increasing importance of Helena as the supplying center of the growing West, but whose career is a source of public pride, delineating as they do the general business enterprise and commercial sagac- ity of some of our leading citizens. Such a con- cern is that conducted by Wilkes & Ford which was established under the firm title of Wilkes & Ford in 1884. They carry a full line of groceries, etc., and are doing a good business. Mr. Wilkes was born in Putnam County, Ga., on October 25, 1852, and is the son of Rev. T. U. Wilkes, a Bap- tist minister who came to Arkansas about 1861, and located at Trenton, where he passed the clos- ing scenes of his life. The mother died in Georgia. L. J. Wilkes was quite small when he came to Ark- ansas, and here he grew to manhood, receiving a limited schooling at Trenton, Ark. In 1871 he came to Helena and was employed as a clerk for several years. Being economical he saved money and in 1876 went into the business for himself, taking a partner. As above stated, he formed a partnership with Mr. Ford in 1884, and they are now doing a thriving business. Mr. Wilkes is a stockholder in the Home Mutual Building & Loan Association and is a wide-awake and thor- oughgoing business man. He was married in 1876 to Miss Mary Jaquess, daughter of Dr. G. D. Jaquess, of Indiana, and the result of this union has been three children: George R., Luther J. and Louisa. Mr. Wilkes is a member of the First Baptist Church, his wife a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, South.

Giles W. Wilkes, a well-known colored citizen of Big Creek Township, Phillips County, and ex- tensively engaged in planting, was born in North

Carolina about the year 1833. He was reared in Georgia and came to Phillips County, Ark., in 1861, ten years later purchasing the plantation on which he now resides. This consists of 580 acres, with 250 acres cultivated, and his spirit of pro- gression has made his farm one of the most care- fully cultivated in the community. He has many modern improvements, a good house, out-build- ings, and the general impression given to the ob- server is that thrift and prosperity abound. Mr. Wilkes was first married, in 1866, to Miss Salina Scaile, of South Carolina, who died in 1885, hav- ing borne one child. One year later Mr. Wilkes was married to Mrs. Mary Joyce, who has two children by her former marriage: Mary and Anna. By her union with Mr. Wilkes she is the mother of two children living: Luther and James. Mrs. Wilkes owns in her name 250 acres of land, mak- ing a total of 830 acres under the skillful and effi- cient management of Mr. Wilkes. Himself and former wife were members of the Colored Mission- ary Baptist Church. The present Mrs. Wilkes is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Wilkes is a Republican in his politi- cal views, having cast his first vote for U. S. Grant. He is an honest and industrious citizen, liberal in all his contributions to worthy enter- prises, and is quite wealthy.

S. A. Wooten, wholesale and retail grocer, Helena, Ark. The grocery trade is one of the most important departments of commerce all the world over, representing as it does the staple article of consumption. In Helena it is somewhat extensively carried on, the establishments being of a general representative character. Prominent among those engaged in this trade are Messrs. Wooten & Co., who are classed among the most successful business men of Helena. S. A. Wooten owes his nativity to Tipton County, Tenn., where his birth occurred in 1858, and he is the son of Arthur and Eliza Wooten, both of whom died when our subject was an infant. He was given a good com- mon-school education in Tennessee, and there re- mained until fourteen years of age, when he came to Helena, Ark. He was from early youth a boy of strong will power, and his greatest desire

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was to rise higher in position. He first sought em- ployment as a clerk in a store, followed this for a number of years, and gave the best of satisfaction to his employers. Being industrious and econom- ical he saved some money, and in 1882 embarked with his brother Charles in the mercantile busi- ness, but continued but a short time when each started out for himself. S. A. was in partnership with others for some time, and is now considered one of the leading grocers of Helena, doing an ex- tensive trade in both the wholesale and retail. He was married in 1882 to Miss Cora Eddins, a native of Tipton County, Tenn., and three children were born to this union: Katie, Floy and Shadie. Mr. Wooten is a member of the A. O. U. W. and the Golden Rule. He carries $2,000 insurance in the Travelers, $1,000 in the Manhattan and $2,000 in the New York Life Insurance Company.

George W. Yancey has been a resident of Phil- lips County since sixteen years of age. He owns a farm of 140 acres, with ninety acres under culti- vation, situated three and one-half miles southwest of Trenton, his principal crops being corn and hay, and he is also breeding horses, mules and cattle, which he finds to be one of the lucrative branches of agriculture. Mr. Yancey was born in Virginia, on July 4, 1855, and is a son of James E. and Mary E. (Waller) Yancey, also natives of that State. They removed to Kentucky in 1859, then to Illinois in 1867, and 1870 came to this county, engaging in farming. James E. Yancey was born in 1813, and was a son of Charles Yancey, a native of Vir-

ginia, and of English descent. He died in 1875, on the farm on which the principal of this sketch now resides. Mrs. Yancey is still living and re- sides with her son. She was the mother of nine children. George W. Yancey was married in 1876, to Miss Viola Crenshaw, who was born in this county in 1859. She is the mother of four children, two of whom are living: Winnie, William J. (de- ceased), Ann (deceased) and Berton C. Mr. Yan- cey is a member of the Knights of Honor, and is a Democrat in politics, having cast his first presi- dential vote for Tilden in 1876.

Simon Krow was born in Prussia in 1837, and emigrated to this country when seventeen years of age, locating in Cincinnati, where he was employed as book-keeper for several years. He then went to St. Louis and engaged in the mercantile business, going in 1860 to Memphis, Tenn., where he was engaged in the same branch of trade for five years. In 1865 he came to Arkansas and devoted his at- tention to buying cotton along the Arkansas River, trading in this manner from Fort Smith to the Mississippi. Four years later he came to Trenton andagain entered into the mercantile business, in which he is still occupied, carrying a stock of from $25,000 to $30,000. He has a large and in- creasing trade and well deserves his success. Mr. Krow is a member of the Masonic order, and also of the Knights of Honor. In addition to his mer - cantile interests he is interested in the real estate business and owns considerable property, and is one of Trenton's influential and prominent citizens.

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

CHAPTER XXV.

SPEECH OF HON. T. F. SORRELLS ON THE DEEP WATER QUESTION-A MATTER OF PRIME IMPORTANCE- EASTERN ARKANSAS INTERESTS-NECESSITY OF DEEP WATER-METHODS EMPLOYED, ETC, ETC.

HE following extract from the speech of Hon. Theo- doric F. Sorrells, delegate to the Denver Deep Water Convention, as delivered before the Arkansas legis- lature, is deemed of suffi- cient importance to occupy the best attention of the readers of the present volume:

Gentlemen of the General As- sembly : In obedience to the an- nouncement made to-day I appear before you to address you upon the great commercial question of the age, and one to be carried out by this generation, and I do thank you for the courtesies thus extended to me in tendering me this hall for the purposes of this occasion, that I might have an opportunity of giving you a short account of my stewardship as your representative to the Denver convention in August last, as well as my views touching the probable results of the meeting of said convention. I was appointed by Gov. Simon P. Hughes as a delegate to the Inter- State Deep Water Harbor Convention at Denver, Colo., which was held there August 28, 29, 30, and 31, 1888. * *

* This, to my mind, is the most important step that has been taken in forty years, and one in the right direction, and was held at a suitable time, when gentleman from every portion of the Trans-Mississippi States had

an opportunity to attend and participate in the deliberations of the said cenvention, who may have desired to take a part in its permanent organiza- tion. No country occupied by civilized man has been suffering more than the Trans-Mississippi States for the want of a deep water harbor on the northwest coast of the Gulf of Mexico, so as to make a convenient outlet for the Trans-Mississippi States to the sea.

The inhabitants of the Trans-Mississippi States must be aroused from their commercial inactivity and change their mode of operation, and prepare for a different and more convenient commercial existence; and with a view to that end the con- vention assembled with 750 delegates from all the Trans-Mississippi States. After four days and night's labor the convention adopted the following resolutions:

WHEREAS, it is the sense of the States of Texas. Colo- rado, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Arkansas, Cali- fornia and Nevada, and of the Territories of New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Dakota and Indian Territory, in convention assembled at Denver, Colo., under the call of his excellence, Alva Adams, governor of the State of Colorado, that the commercial, agricultural, mining, manufacturing and stock interests of all that part of the United States lying west of the Mississippi River, and the commercial and naval advantages of our country gener- ally, demand a permanent deep water port on the north- west coast of the Gulf of Mexico; therefore be it

Resolved, 1. That the senators and representatives in Congress, from the States hereinbefore referred to, and the delegates from the Territories herein set forth, be and they are hereby most earnestly requested to procure at once a permanent available appropriation of the amount

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necessary to secure a deep water port on the northwest eoast of the Gulf of Mexico, west of the 93}º west longi- tude, capable of admitting the largest vessels, and at which the best and most accessible harbor can be secured and maintained in the shortest possible time and the least cost.

2. That for the purpose of carrying into effect the foregoing resolutions, committees to consist of five from each State and three from each Territory representative in this convention, be appointed by their respective dele- gations; that it shall be the duties of said committees to see that the objeet of said resolutions be properly pre- sented and vigorously urged before Congress, and to that end and with the view of co-operation and concert of action the chairmen of the respective committees shall be and they are hereby constituted and created a central committee.

3. That the States and Territories and commercial bodies represented in this convention approve the idea of securing deep water on the gulf coast of Texas by private capital, and they do hereby respectfully request and re- spectfully urge their senators, representatives and dele- gates in Congress to lend their united support to such bills as may be introduced for snch purpose with proper safe- guards for the protection of the government, provided that the port or point suggested be one desirable for the location of a deep water harbor.

WHEREAS, the need of a deep water harbor on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico directly and vitally affects nearly one-fourth of the people of the United States, we deem the requests contained in the foregoing resolutions of such great and paramount importance as to justify their early reference to the official notice of the president of the United States, in order that he may be duly and fully informed, and be able, as contemplated in the Constitn- tion of the United States, to "give to Congress informa- tion of the State of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient;" therefore be it

Resolved, that a copy of the foregoing resolutions be transmitted to the president of the United States, and that he be requested to make in his next annual message to the Congress of the United States such recommenda- tions with reference to the location of a deep water har- bor on the northwest coast of the Gulf of Mexico as to him shall seem proper and expedient.

WHEREAS, it is of vital importance to all that vast re- gion of onr conntry between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean, including Minnesota, Oregon and Washington Territory on the north, and Arkansas, Texas and California on the south, that a harbor deep enough to float any vessel that sails the ocean, and ample enough to protect the fleet that will be required to handle the com- merce of this whole region of country, nearer to it than any other Atlantic seaport, be constructed on the north-

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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