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 18

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 18

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TOWNS AND VILLAGES-SCHOOLS-CHURCHES-BIOGRAPHICAL,

O the pleasant days of old, which so often people praise! True, they wanted all the luxuries that grace our modern days; Bare floors were strewed with rushes, the walls let in the cold; O how they must have shivered in those pleasant days of old. - Brown.

HITE COUNTY is located in the northeast part of Central Arkansas, and is bounded north by Cle- burne, Independence and Jackson Counties, east by Woodruff, south by Prai- rie and Lonoke, and west by Faulkner.

Its boundary lines are as follows: Be- ginning in Range 3 west, at the point where White River crosses the line di- viding Townships 9 and 10 north; thence west on the township line to the line di- viding Ranges 5 and 6 west; thence north on the range line to the line dividing Townships 10 and 11 north; thence west on the township line to the line dividing Ranges 7 and 8 west; thence south on the range line to Little Red River; thence up said river, in a west- erly direction, following its meanders, to the mid- dle of Range 8 west; thence south on section lines to the line dividing Townships 8 and 9 north; thence west on the township line to the line dividing 8

Ranges 10 and 11 west; thence south on the range line to Cypress Creek in Township 5 north; thence down Cypress Creek following its meanders to the line dividing Ranges 5 and 6 west; thence north on the range line to the line dividing Townships 5 and 6 north; thence east on the township line to White River; thence up White River following its meanders to the last crossing of the line dividing Townships 7 and 8 north; thence west on the township line to the southwest corner of Section 35, Township 8 north, Range 4 west; thence north on section lines until White River is again inter- sected; thence up the river following its meanders to the place of beginning; containing an area of 1,015 square miles, or 650,000 acres. Of this about 12,000 acres belong to the United States, 27,000 to the State, 81,000 to the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Company, and the balance to individuals. Only about 10 per cent of the land is improved. Prices range from $5 to $25 per acre for improved, and from $1 to $10 for unimproved property,

The face of the county is somewhat rolling,

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

with three-fifths hilly and two-fifths level. The course of the streams show that the general trend is toward the southeast; White River, forming the eastern boundary line, is navigable for large ves- sels to points above. All the other streams of the county empty into this river. Little Red River en- ters from the northwest, and flows in an easterly and southeasterly direction through these limits and empties into White River near the line divid- ing Townships 6 and 7 north. It so divides the county as to leave about one-third of its area to the northeast and two-thirds to the southwest. Glaize Creek makes its appearance from the north, in Range 5 west, and flows thence in a direction east of south, emptying into White River a short dis- tance above the mouth of Red River. Bayou Des Arc rises in the county's western part and, flowing southeasterly, finds an outlet in Cypress Creek at the southern boundary near the line between Ranges 6 and 7 west. Cypress Creek, which forms most of the southern boundary, runs in a general eastern direction and empties into White River at a point southeast of the county. These, the principal streams in this territory, together with their several tributaries, supply the entire drainage of the immediate region. Little Red River is navigable at all seasons of the year as far as West Point, and in high water it has been ascended to a point opposite Searcy. The United States has recently completed a dredge and two other boats at Judsonia, making necessary prep- arations to dredge and enlarge the river that it may be navigable at all seasons up to Judsonia.

There are numerous springs throughout the county, from which flows the purest of water. The most noted possessing mineral properties are the White Sulphur, Chalybeate and Alum Springs, at Searcy; the Armstrong Spring, nine miles west, and Griffin's Spring, four miles south. Well water of the best quality can be obtained at nearly all points at a moderate depth. The supply of water for family use is had from wells, springs and cisterns. Of timber, many varieties are common here, such as white, black, red, post, Spanish and overcup oak, black walnut, hickory, ash, cedar, pine, pecan, cypress and sweet and black gum.

Valuable white oak grows abundantly in nearly all parts of the county.

The most conspicuous geological feature of the county is the escarpment of sandstone along the bluffs of Little Red River, known as the "Bee Rock." The sandstone forming the cliffs in the foreground of this landscape is part of the con- glomerate and millstone grit formation that inter- venes between the overlying coal measures proper, and the underlying subcarboniferous limestone. The pebbly sandstones and millstone grit, which occur along the escarpments of Little Red River, attaining a thickness of from 150 to 200 feet, im- part wild and romantic scenery for many miles along the banks of the stream. The dip of these sandstones at the old Patterson Mill is one and one- half to two degrees to the south, or a little west of south. In digging wells in the vicinity of Searcy, a blackish gray, indurated, argillo-siliceous shale is encountered, containing small scales of dissemi- nated mica. This material is brittle and crumbles, by exposure, to a clay. Similar shales are struck, usually ten feet below the surface, under the red land situated west of Searcy. The first ten feet passed through, generally consists of soil, subsoil and gravel overlaying the shales. The red soil of these level farming lands is quite productive, yield- ing good crops of cotton, corn, wheat and the finest oats in ordinary seasons: 800 to 1,500 pounds of cotton in the seed to the acre, 20 to 25 bushels of wheat, and 40 to 60 bushels of oats, when there are seasonable rains. * This description of land covers a large proportion of the area of the county. The bottom lands along the streams are largely alluvial and exceedingly productive. The soil of that por- tion not previously mentioned, is composed of veg- etable mold, sand and clay, and with proper cul- tivation all the lands of the county, excepting some thin soil on the ridges, yield abundantly.

There are some mineral deposits, such as iron, manganese, lead and coal here, but they have not yet been developed in paying quantities. It is thought, however, that a few of these ores may be found to exist to that extent which will warrant their mining.

* Quotations from State Geological Report.

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WHITE COUNTY.

Among the resources of the county, lumbering constitutes a considerable industry, there being many saw and shingle mills throughout its terri- tory. Manufacturing has also been commenced; there is a wagon factory at Searcy, and a fruit-can- ning factory, and a factory for the manufacture of fruit boxes and crates at Judsonia.

Agriculture is here, as elsewhere, the leading occupation, but both horticulture and the raising of live stock are beginning to receive attention. The agricultural products are cotton, corn, wheat, oats, rye, peas, grass, potatoes, turnips, sorghum, etc. "Cotton is King," and is raised largely to the exclusion of other crops. Farming might, perhaps, be carried on more scientifically, as the lands have been cropped from year to year, some of them for half a century, without a proper rota- tion, with but very little fertilizing matter being returned to the soil. Clover and the tame grasses succeed well, and are most profitable for refertiliz- ing the lands.

In 1880 there were 2, 319 farms in White County, 83,679 acres of improved lands, and the value of all farm products for the year 1879 amounted to $925,392. The cereal and vegetable productions were as follows: Indian corn, 444,893 bushels; oats, 95,359 bushels; rye, 399 bushels; wheat, 17, - 220 bushels; hay, 295 tons; cotton, 11,821 bales; Irish potatoes, 14,876 bushels; sweet potatoes, 23,098, bushels; tobacco, 28,184 pounds. These actual statistics taken from the reports of the United States census show conclusively what the soil is best adapted for.

In the cultivation of sweet potatoes and tobac- co the county then ranked as third in the State, in Irish potatoes fifth, and in cotton fourteenth. The number of head of live stock, as given by the same census report, was: Horses 3,048; mules and asses 1,860; neat cattle 15,944; sheep 5,388; hogs 29,936. The abstract for taxable property for 1888 shows the following: Horses 4,157; mules and asses 2,052; neat cattle 19,839; sheep 3,678; hogs 23,330. Of the first four grades of animals there was a large increase from 1880 to 1888, a probable decrease being noticed in the other two. Perhaps the decrease in sheep is real, while that

in hogs is only apparent, for the reason that the abstract of taxable property shows the number on hand when the property was assessed and does not include those slaughtered and sold during the year, as is the case with the census report.

Live stock is receiving considerable attention of late, and the county is well adapted to its growth. Improved breeds are being introduced to a great extent. Horses, mules, cattle and hogs succeed best, and sheep do tolerably well. The stock business is steadily increasing and will be one of the most profitable industries of this local- ity in the near future.

The county's horticultural resources (especial- ly the raising of small fruits) are being devel- oped to a considerable extent along the line of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Rail- way. Peaches, plums, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are already quite extensively raised and shipped from Bradford, Russell, Jud- sonia and Beebe. These fruits are all grown to perfection; apples and pears, however, do not suc- ceed as well. Grapes are also grown and used to some extent in the manufacture of domestic wine. The increasing demand for fruits will make this variety a leading industry here.

It is very evident that owing to natural re- sources, mildness of climate, the trifling cost of fuel, and the small amount of feed and care re- quired to winter live stock, a farmer can live much cheaper and with greater pecuniary profit here- abouts, than in the cold settlements of the north and northwest. The industrious poor man desir- ing to emigrate to a new country, where may be had a home of his own, will do well to investigate the many advantages offered by this and contigu- ous portions of Arkansas, before venturing with his all into cold and forbidding regions of less fa- vored localities. Let a farmer practice the same economy and industry here that usually prevail in Indiana, Illinois and other Northern States and he will find it comparatively easy to gain a compe- tency within a few years.

In 1880, the real estate of White County was assessed for taxation at $1,850,394 and the per- sonal property at $744,821, making a total of

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$2,595,215, on which the total amount of taxes charged for all purposes was $32,633. In taxable wealth it then ranked as fourth in the State. In 1888, the real-estate assessment was $2, 440, 883, and personal property $1,252,715, aggregating $3,693,598. The total amount of taxes charged thereon for all purposes was $56,407.88. These figures bear evidence that from 1880 to 1888 the taxable wealth of the county increased a little over 42 per cent-a most encouraging showing.

The St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Rail- road enters White County about five miles west of its northeast corner, and runs thence through the limits in a southwesterly direction, its length here being about thirty-nine miles. It was completed in 1872. Soon after the Searcy & West Point Railroad was constructed, running from West Point to Searcy, and crossing the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & South- ern at Kensett. The cars on this road are drawn between Searcy and Kensett by an engine, and be- tween Kensett and West Point by horses. Its length is ten and a half miles. The Memphis branch of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & South- ern Railroad connects Memphis with the main line at Bald Knob in the county's northeast part, its length being about ten miles, thus making the combined length of railroads within the county sixty-one miles or more. These roads, together with White River as a navigable outlet, afford ex- cellent transportation facilities.

The population of White County, according to the United States census reports, has been as fol- lows at the various decades mentioned: 1840, 920; 1850, 2,619; 1860, 8,316; 1870, 10,347; 1880, 17,794. Immigration to the county since 1880 has been so large that at the present its population must considerably exceed 20,000. The colored population was, in 1860, 1,435; in 1870, 1,200; in 1880, 2,032, at about which figure it still re- mains.

The Royal Colony, consisting of several fam- ilies from Tennessee, was founded by James Walker and Martin Jones at the head of Bull Creek, in the northwest part of what is now White County. Lower down on Bull Creek were the settlements of Fielding and Frederick Price. Lewis Vongrolman

founded a German settlement on Big Creek and Little Red River with John Magness, Philip Hil- ger, James King, the Wishes, Yinglings and others. Philip Hilger established and kept the "Hilger's Ferry " across Little Red River, on the old mili- tary road leading from Cape Girardeau to Little Rock. Farther north, near the Independence County line, was the Pate Settlement, founded by Lovic Pate. Alfred Arnold, John Akin and John Wright founded the settlement on Little Red River below where West Point is situated. Near the present town of Judsonia was a settlement founded by William Cook and Henry R. Vanmeter. Reuben Stephens settled in the Pate Settlement on the creek that now bears his name. Samuel Guthrie and John Dunaway also settled in that neighborhood.

The list just given includes the names of some of the most prominent pioneer settlers, all of whom according to the best information now obtainable, located in their respective places during the decade of the 20's. Others soon followed, and by the date of the organization of the county, 1836, all parts of the territory composing it were more or less sparsely settled. By reference to the popula- tion previously stated it will be seen that the set- tlement, until since the close of the Civil War, con- tinued slow and gradual. Since 1880 there has been a large influx from the northern and eastern States. Most of the early settlers came from Ten- nessee and other southern States. The early coun- ty officers and all mentioned elsewhere in connec- tion with the organization of the county were, of course, pioneer settlers. The names of those like- wise prominent in county affairs will be found in subsequent pages of this volume.

White County was organized in accordance with the provisions of an act of the legislature of Arkansas Territory, approved October 23, 1835. The first sessions of court were held at the house of David Crise, on the place now known as the McCreary farm, three and a half miles east of Searcy. The organization of the county was com- pleted early in 1836.

The place where the courts were first held, and the site of Searcy became competing points for

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the location of the permanent seat of justice. The commissioners who located the seat of justice were John Arnold, Jesse Terry, Byram Stacy, Da- vid Crise and Reuben Stephens. A majority of them were in favor of locating it at Searcy, where it has ever since remained. Soon after the site was selected, a log-cabin court house was erected at a point about 100 yards southwest of the pres- ent court house, and the first term of the circuit court was held therein in November, 1838. The next court house was a two-story frame, erected on the site of the present one. A short time be- fore the Civil War this was moved away prepara- tory to erecting a new one. It now stands two blocks south of the public square and is known as the Chambliss House. The war coming on, the proceedings for the erection of the new court house were stopped, and until the present one was erected, the courts were held in the Masonic Hall at the southeast corner of the public square. In 1868 the county court appropriated $25,000 for the erection of a new court house, and for that amount the contract was let to Wyatt Sanford of Searcy, who erected the present court house in 1869-70. It is a large and substantial two-story building, the first story containing cross halls, a large fire-proof vault and county offices, being constructed of stone, and the second, containing the court room, of brick. Above the center of the building is a handsome tower containing a "town clock."

The first county jail was made of hewed logs, ten inches square, and was two stories high. The first story or "dungeon " was entered by means of a trap door from above. It stood on the same lot on which the present jail stands. The second jail, built on the same lot, was a one-story brick building containing four iron cells and cost $1,800. Becoming unsafe it was removed. The present jail and jailer's residence, standing about 100 yards northwest of the court house, was erected in 1882-83 by James E. Winsett at a cost of about $3,800. It is a two-story brick building containing three iron cells, a dungeon, and jail- er's residence. The county owns a "poor farm" on which the paupers are supported. It consists

of 120 acres, with ample buildings, and is located one and a half miles east of Searcy.

The following official directory contains names of the county's public servants with date of term of service annexed from date of organization to the present:

Judges: Samuel Guthrie, 1836-42; William Cook, 1842-44; Samuel Guthrie, 1844-46; M. Sanders, 1846-50; P. H. McDaniel, 1850-52; J. F. Batts, 1852-54; John Hutches, 1854-56; L. S. Poe, 1856-58; William Hicks, 1858-60; R. M. Exum, 1860-61; John Hutches, 1861-62; M. Sanders, 1862-64; John Hutches, 1864-66; M. Sanders, 1866-72; A. M. Foster, 1874-78; L. M. Jones, 1878-82; F. P. Laws, 1882-84; R. H. Goad, 1884-88; N. H. West, present incumbent, elected in 1888.

Clerks: P. W. Roberts, 1836-38; J. W. Bond, 1838-44; E. Guthrie, 1844-46; J. W. Bond, 1846-48; Samuel Morgan, 1848-52; R. S. Bell, 1852-56; Dandridge McRae, 1856-62; J. W. Bradley, 1862-68; J. A. Cole, 1868-72; A. P. Sanders, 1872-80; J. J. Bell, 1880-84; L. C. Canfield, 1884-88; C. S. George, present incum- bent, elected in 1888. From 1872 to 1874, Allen Mitchel was circuit clerk, and from 1880 to 1882, T. C. Jones was county clerk, and from 1882 to 1884, J. R. Jobe was county clerk, and from 1884 to 1886, R. H. Mccullough was circuit clerk. J. J. Bell is the present circuit clerk.

Sheriffs: P. Crease, 1836-38; William Cook, 1838-40; Milton Sanders, 1840-44; T. J. Lind- sey, 1844-46; J. G. Robbins, 1846-50; J. M. Bowden, 1850-52; J. G. Robbins, 1852-54; R. M. Exum, 1854-60; J. W. Bradley, 1860-62; B. B. Bradley, 1862-64; W. C. Petty, 1864-66; J. G. Robbins, 1866-67; W. C. Petty, 1867-72; N. B. Petty, 1872-78; B. C. Black, 1878-84; J. H. Ford, 1884-88; R. W. Carnes, present incum- bent, elected in 1888.

Treasurers: Michael Owens, 1836-38; John Arnold, 1838-42; James Bird, 1842-44; T. R. Vanmeter, 1844-46; J. Belew, 1846-48; J. M. Johnson, 1848-50; E. Neaville, 1850-52; W. T. Gilliam, 1852-54; W. B. Isbell, 1854-56; John Critz, 1856-60; S. B. Barnett, 1860-68; R. J.

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Rogers, 1868-72; W. A. B. Jones, 1872-74; M. B. Pearson, 1874-80; D. L. Fulbright, 1880-84; J. M. Smith, 1884-88; J. G. Walker, present in- cumbent, elected in 1888.

Coroners: M. H. Blue, 1836-40; Hiram O'Neale, 1840-42; Samuel Beeler, 1842-44; D. Dobbins, 1844-46; E. K. Milligan, 1850-52; G. W. Davis, 1852-56; Alex Cullum, 1856-58; T. T. Britt, 1858-60; W. G. Sanders, 1860-72; T. L. Miller, 1872-74; Z. T. Haley, 1874-82; J. P. Baldock, 1882-84; J. H. Claiborne, 1884-86; J. M. Carter, 1886-88; Frank Blevins, present in- cumbent, elected in 1888.

Surveyors: S. Arnold, 1836-52; I. M. Moore, 1852-54; Thomas Moss, 1854-56; W. B. Holland, 1856-60; Thomas Moss, 1860-64; W. B. Holland, 1864-66; Thomas Moss, 1866-68; J. O. Hurt, 1868-72; Pres. Steele, 1872-74; J. P. Steele, 1874-76; Thomas Moss, 1876-80; B. S. Wise, present incumbent, elected in 1880, and served continuously since. .

Assessors :* T. W. Leggett, 1868-70; I. S. Chrisman, 1870-72; J. H. Black, 1872-74; D. L. Fulbright, 1874-76; B. B. Bradley, 1876-84; J. J. Deener, 1884-88; G. W. Dobbins, present in- cumbent, elected in 1888.

Delegates in Constitutional Conventions: 1836, W. Cummins, A. Fowler and J. McLean, for Pu- laski, White and Saline Counties; 1861, held March 4 to 21, and May 6 to June 3, J. N. Cy- pert; 1864, held January 4 to 23, not represented; 1868, J. N. Cypert and Thomas Owen; 1874, J. N. Cypert and J. W. House.

The first State senator for White County was R. C. Byrd, and the first representative in the house was Martin Jones.

The number of votes cast at the late elections for several candidates, as stated below, will show the political aspect of the county. At the Sep- tember election 1888, for Governor, James P. Eagle, Democrat, 1,608; C. N. Norwood, combined opposition, 1,949. November election in 1888, for president, Cleveland, Democrat, 1,948; Harrison, Republican, 550; Streeter, Union Labor, 249; Fiske, Prohibition, 45.

The various courts held in the county are coun- ty, probate, circuit and chancery. The regular sessions of these bodies are held as follows: Coun- ty court, commencing on the first Monday of Jan- uary, April, July and October; probate, on the second Monday of the same months; circuit, on the third Monday of January and July; chancery, on the second Monday of June and December. The chancery court was made a separate court by an act of the General Assembly approved March 15, 1887, and was attached to the First chancery dis- trict, composed of Lonoke, Pulaski, Faulkner and White Counties. Prior to that time the circuit court had jurisdiction of all chancery business.

The legal bar (local) of White County is com- posed of the following-named attorneys: W. R. Coody, J. N. Cypert, D. McRae, B. Isbell, John B. Holland, S. Brundidge, Jr., J. F. Rives, Sr., J. F. Rives, Jr., E. Cypert, John M. Battle, John T. Hicks, J. D. DeBois, C. D. James and J. E. Russ.

Upon the approach of the Civil War a strong Union sentiment prevailed in White County, and when the Hon. J. N. Cypert was elected repre- sentative in the State convention held in March, 1861, he was instructed to, and did, vote against the secession of the State from the Federal Union. Afterward, when the "dogs of war" were let loose, and President Lincoln called upon the State for its quota of the first 75,000 troops for the Union army, the sentiment materially changed, and the people concluded to cast their lot in gen- eral with the Southern project of establishing a separate Confederacy. To this end companies of soldiers began to be organized, and in 1861, five companies first commanded, respectively, by Capts. F. M. Chrisman, John C. McCauley, Henry Blake- more, J. N. Cypert and J. A. Pemberton, and in 1862 three companies first commanded, respective- ly, by James McCauley, B. C. Black and Boothe Jones, were enlisted and organized within the county for the Confederate army. All were in- fantry companies except that of Capt. Chrisman, which was cavalry. Capt. James McCauley's company was mounted infantry. Some individuals joined commands outside of the county. No troops

* This office was not established until 1868.

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were organized within this territory for the Federal army, but a very few persons who refused to yield their Union sentiments left the county and enlisted as their principles dictated.

In 1862, when a division of the Federal army was moving from Batesville to Helena, an escort of its forage train, numbering about 500 men, was suddenly attacked at Whitney's Lane, five miles east of Searcy, by about 150 Confederates under Capt. Johnson. The latter made a bold and sud- den attack and then retired, losing only about five men, while the Federals lost from fifty to 100. This was the only fight worthy of mention within the county. The county was overrun by scouting and foraging parties of both armies, and much provision was thus taken from the citizens. Three or four men were killed in the county during the war by scouts.

White County contains within its territory a number of towns of prominent local importance, besides those whose size has given them substan- tial reputation in the outside world. Of these Beebe is a flourishing place situated on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, about sixteen miles southwest of Searcy. It began to build in the spring of 1872 (upon the comple- tion of the railroad), but did not improve much until 1880, when it had reached a population of 428, and since then it has more than doubled in population. It has ten general, four grocery, three drug, two hardware, one furniture, two mil- linery and one notion store; also the White Coun- ty Bank, two hotels, several boarding houses, two meat markets, two blacksmith and wagon shops, one saw and grist mill combined, two cotton-gins, two livery stables, railroad depot, postoffice, one photograph gallery, a fruit evaporator, five church edifices for the white and two for the colored peo- ple, a public school-house, five physicians, a den- tist, two weekly newspapers, etc., etc. The Beebe Argus, published by W. B. Barnum, is an eight- column folio, Democratic .in politics, and has for its motto: "A school-house on every hilltop and not a saloon in the valley." The Arkansas Hub is a seven-column folio, published by Sam J. Crab- tree, and is independent in politics. Both of these

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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