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 19

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 19

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papers are ably edited and are well sustained, proving important factors in the influence of the community. Beebe is the center of one of the best fruit growing regions on the line of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway, and ships a vast amount of fruit, especially small fruits, berries, tomatoes and the like, to the city markets. It is incorporated and has a full line of corporate offi- cers. It also has lodges of the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities. It is thirty three miles from Little Rock."

Bradford is a shipping station on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, near the northern boundary of the county. It contains four general, one drug and one millinery store, one grist and one saw mill, a public school-house, two blacksmith shops, two physicians and a lodge each of Masons, Knights of Honor and Triple Alliance. The school-house is used for religious meetings. The population is about 100.

Bald Knob is situated in the northeastern part of White County, on the St. Louis, Iron Mount- ain & Southern Railroad at the junction of the Memphis branch. It contains three general, one hardware and grocery, one grocery, one drug and grocery and a millinery store, a grist-mill and a saw-mill, school-house, etc., etc.

Garner and Higginson are shipping stations on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, the former about ten miles south of Searcy, and the latter five miles southeast.

Judsonia, formerly Prospect Bluff, is located on the west side of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, and on the north bank of Little Red River. It is a comparatively old town. About the year 1870 a colony from the East set- tled there, and secured the change of the name of the town from Prospect Bluff to that of Judsonia. The place now contains four general, one dry goods, three grocery, one hardware, one hardware and furniture, one harness, one millinery and two drug stores; also a music store, meat market, two blacksmith shops, a wagon shop, a fruit and vege- table canning factory, fruit-box factory, two saw- mills, a grist-mill and cotton-gin, a grist-mill and wool-carding mill, a tanyard, two hotels, a restau-

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rant, a bakery, two livery stables, two church edi- fices for the white and two for the colored people; also a public school-house for the white and an- other for the colored people, three physicians, a lodge each of several secret and benevolent socie- ties, a newspaper, the Judsonia Weekly Advance, etc., etc. The Advance is a six-column folio pub- lished by Berton W. Briggs, and has for its motto, " Overcome prejudice. Let free thought and free speech be encouraged." The Judsonia Univer. sity is also located at this place. [See Schools. ]

The White County Agricultural and Industrial Fair Association was organized at Judsonia in 1883, and grounds fitted up where exhibitions are held in the fall of the year.

The first fair was held in October, 1883. That of the past fall was a successful one. The present officers are Capt. D. L. McLeod, president; James L. Moore, vice-president; Charles D. James, sec- retary, and J. S. Kelley, treasurer. Messrs. D. L. McLeod, J. D. DeBois, J. S. Eastland, S. N. Ladd, Willis Meadows, James L. Moore, E. C. Kinney and J. S. Kelley are directors. 1

Judsonia's location in the midst of a wonderful fruit-growing community gives it prominent inter- course with the outside world. In 1889 immense shipments of fruit were made from this point, and in 1888 some 96,000 packages found their way to different sections. This will be the head of navi- gation on Little Red River when the Government shall have finished its work of improvement, for which appropriation was made.

Judsonia, like Beebe, is located in the center of a great fruit-growing region, is surrounded with many small fruit farms, and ships immense quan- tities of fruits, berries, tomatoes, etc., to the city markets. The town is incorporated and has a mayor and other corporate officers. It had a popu- lation of 267 in 1880, and now boasts of about 600, besides a dense population on the small fruit farms adjoining and surrounding it.

Kensett is situated on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, at the crossing of the Searcy & West Point Railroad, four and a half miles east of Searcy. It contains the railroad depot, a general store, postoffice, hotel, a grocery,

blacksmith shop, a church edifice and a few dwell- ing houses.

Russell is a station on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, between Bradford and Bald Knob. It contains two general stores, a drug and a millinery store, a saw-mill, grist-mill, cotton-gin, railroad depot, postoffice, etc.

There are some other small villages in the county containing a postoffice, general store, etc.

Searcy, the county seat, is situated in the geo- graphical center of the county, at the western ter- minus of the Searcy & West Point Railroad. Its origin has been given in connection with the organ- ization of the county. It was established in 1836, and a Mr. Howerton opened the first hotel in a double log-house south of what is now Spring Park. Moses Blew opened the first store, and was soon joined in the mercantile business by John W. Bond. At the beginning of the Civil War the place contained about six business places facing the public square. Its business was almost wholly destroyed during the war period, but revived soon thereafter. It now contains thirteen general, four grocery, three drug, two hardware, one furniture, one undertaking, one harness and saddle, two mil- linery stores, two meat markets, two restaurants, a bakery, two hotels and several boarding-houses, two grist and planing mills and cotton-gins com- bined, a wagon factory, two livery stables, six church edifices-three for the white and three for the colored people-a lodge each of Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights and Ladies of Honor, a Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Woman's Aid and Woman's Missionary Society, seven phy- sicians, a dentist, three tailors, jewelers, etc. In addition to the interests mentioned, there are the Searcy Male and Female College, the Galloway Female College and three public schools-two for white and one for the colored people. One of the public school-houses, used by the former, was built for a male and the other for a female acad- emy. Two weekly newspapers are also published here, the Arkansas Beacon and the White County Wheel. The former is a five-column quarto, pub- lished by Holland & Jobe. It is now in its elev- enth volume, and is Democratic in politics. The

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latter is also a five-column quarto, published by R. A. Dowdy. It is in its second volume, and is pub- lished in the interest of the labor movement. These journals faithfully represent the interests of this section.

Spring Park, at Searcy, inclosing several acres, is located near the center of the city. It contains three never-failing mineral springs-White Sul- phur, Chalybeate and Alum. The former of these have the most health-giving qualities, aiding di- gestion and curing constipation. This park con- tains bath-houses, is shaded by natural forest trees and is a very pleasant retreat for all persons. The town of Searcy is laid out "square with the world," its streets running east and west and north and south. It is beautifully located and is substantially built up, both in its churches, col- leges, residences and business houses-the latter being mostly of brick. The healthfulness of loca- tion of the place is all that could be desired. The city is an educational center, and, especially a sum- mer health resort, as many health and pleasure- seekers spend their summer months here. Its population is estimated at from 1,500 to 2,000. The residences are generally owned by the occu- pants, and there are very few renters, probably less than in any town of its size in the State. The town is incorporated and has a full complement of corporate officers.

West Point is situated on an eminence on the south side of Little Red River, at the eastern ter- minus of the Searcy & West Point Railroad. It was laid out in 1850 by J. M. West, hence its name, West Point, it being the point to which the river was navigable at all seasons of the year. At the beginning of the Civil War it had attained a population of 350 and did an immense amount of business, being the distributing point for a large scope of country to the westward. During the war period it lost nearly all its business, but after- ward revived and flourished until the Iron Mount- ain Railroad was completed through the county. Then it again lost its prosperity, and in 1880 its population had run down to 123. Its population is now about 150. It contains three general stores, a drug store, a grist-mill and cotton-gin, a black-

smith and wood shop, a church edifice, a public school-house and the railroad depot. It is supplied with a daily mail.

The advancement made in the cause of educa- tion in White County, under the free school sys- tem, is best shown by the following statistics as given in the report of the State superintendent of public instruction for the year ending June 30, 1888:

Scholastic population: White, males 3,384, fe- males 3,173, total 6,557; colored, males 410, fe- males 404, total 814. Number of pupils taught in the public schools: White, males 2,159, females 1,971, total 4,150; colored, males 295, females 283, total 578. Number of school districts, 101; districts reporting enrollment, 76; number of dis- tricts voting tax, 44. Number of teachers em- ployed: Males 86, females 41, total 127. Average monthly salaries paid teachers: First grade, males $50, females $40; second grade, males $45, fe- males $35; third grade, males $30, females $27.50. Amount expended for the support of the public schools: For teachers' salaries, $20,500.79; for building and repairing, $3,275; for treasurers' commissions, $565.60; total $24,341.39.

Assuming these statistics to be correct, only 63 per cent of the white and 71 per cent of the colored scholastic population were taught in the public schools. It must be noticed, however, that out of the 101 school districts, twenty-five failed to report the enrollment in the schools, which if as- certained and added to those that made reports, would largely increase the per cent of scholastic population attending. The fact that the school law does not compel full statistical reports to be made, is a strong argument in favor of its revision. Education for the masses is growing in popularity.

On July 23, 1888, a normal institute was opened at Searcy by Prof. T. S. Cox, conductor. This institute was in all respects a grand success. Its beginning noted the presence of thirty-four teachers, though seventy-one were in attendance at the close. A strong effort had been put forth by the county examiner, Mr. B. P. Baker, to secure a large attendance, and his energies in the work was the cause of bringing out nearly all the pro-

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gressive teachers of the county, and many others friendly to education. Great interest was mani- fested, and much good work accomplished.

The Searcy Male and Female College is a char- tered institution for the higher education of young men and women. The building is located within a campus of five acres, on a beautiful site in Searcy, convenient to the public square, and yet suffi- ciently removed to avoid the noise and bustle of business. It was organized in 1883, by Prof. W. H. Tharp (who conceived the idea of starting a reputable educational institution), and it at once become recognized as a school of a high order. Gen. D. McRae is president and Col. V. H. Hen- derson is secretary and treasurer of the board of trustees, and W. H. Tharp is president of the faculty. The members of the faculty are selected from colleges and universities of national reputa- tion and most of them have supplemented their college or university course by thorough normal training, and hence in their teaching are prepared to use the most approved methods. Following the Preparatory Department is the Collegiate Depart- ment, divided into these Schools: Ancient Lan- guages, Modern Languages, History, Natural Sci- ences, Mathematics, Philosophy and Belles-Lettres, Engineering, Elocution, Biblical History, Piano- forte, Vocal Culture, Harmony, Theory and Art.

A Normal Class is also taught, and the college cadets are organized into a company under the immediate supervision of the instructor in military tactics, Lieut. Albert J. Dabney (U. S. Naval Acad- emy) commanding company.

The buildings consist of college hall, presi- dent's office and mathematics, a two-story board- ing hall, music and art department, primary de- partment, president's residence and cooking de- partment, all separate, the dining-hall being un- der college hall. The history of the founding of this institution is most interesting. Prof. Tharp was aided in his work of starting the school by Prof. Conger of Ouachita College, Arkadelphia, the latter serving eighteen months as one of the principals. Subsequently Prof. Tharp was left in entire charge. Upon starting thirty-seven pupils were enrolled. A noticeable growth attended the

worthy efforts of the founder and last year 204 pupils were in attendance. The capacity of the college has been doubled and still more room is needed. Its graduates have included persons of ability and influence, who have attained to promi- nence in their varied walks. The collegiate course is being strengthened and improved yearly, and every effort is being made to make this the leading educational institution of the State.

Galloway Female College was organized in the spring of 1888, under supervision of the several Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in the State of Arkansas. The citizens of Searcy secured its location by subscribing $25,000 toward its erection. The college building stands between a half and three-fourths of a mile south- east of the court house, on an eminence in a beau- tiful native forest, consisting of eighteen acres. It was erected in 1888-89, and consists of the main building and an east, west and north wing, with the kitchen department on the east side of the north wing, and its entire length from east to west is about 200 feet. Above the southern or front entrance is a tower eighty feet high. The building, the walls of which are constructed of brick on a rock foundation, has four stories above the basement, and contains a chapel 48x60 feet in size and twenty feet in height, five recitation rooms, a dining-room forty-eight feet square and twelve feet high, two double parlors, four recep- tion halls, sixty-four bed-rooms, three bath-rooms, eleven halls and a kitchen with four rooms, store- room and pantry. In the basement is the furnace room with two engines. The building in general is' heated with steam, the rooms are all supplied with fire-places, and it is lighted with gas. The corner, or memorial stone, sets in the south wall, east of the main entrance, and has on its face the following inscription:

Galloway Female College. C. B. Galloway, Bishop.

Building Committee. P. A. Robertson, G. B. Greer, B. P. Baker, A. W. Yarnell,

J. E. Skillern.

Elliott & Elliott, A. B. Melton, Architect.

Builders,

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Near the building is a superior bored well, ninety-three feet deep, with sixty feet of water in it. The grounds cost $2,000, and the building about $32,000. The building is well supplied with piazzas, and is exceedingly well ventilated. R. W. Erwin is president of the college. The first ses- sion opened in September, 1889. Too much can not be said in favor of the location of this college, on account of the healthfulness of Searcy, the mo- rality of its people, and many other advantages.

Judsonia University is a Baptist school located at Judsonia. It was founded by the colony that came from the East and located about the year 1870. The school-house is a large frame struct- ure. The faculty is composed of five teachers. It is a good school and has the advantages of being in a quiet, moral town, removed from the vices and temptations of large cities.

The several religious denominations of White County are the Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal, South, Baptist, Presbyterian, Cumber- land Presbyterian and Christian.

Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, there are the following: Searcy Station, Rev. J. M. Talkington, pastor, with a membership of 210; Searcy Circuit, consisting of six appointments, Rev. E. M. Baker, pastor, membership 386; El Paso Circuit, consisting of four appointments, Rev. H. F. Harvey, pastor, membership about 250; Lebanon Circuit, consisting of seven appoint- ments, Rev. W. A. Pendergrass, pastor, member- ship 356; Bradford Circuit, consisting of seven appointments, Rev. C. H. Cary, pastor, member- ship 164; Beebe and West Point, C. H. Gregory, pastor, membership 225; Red River Circuit, only three appointments in this county, Rev. James A. Brown, pastor, membership about 150; and Ken- tucky Valley Circuit, with six appointments, Rev. M. B. Corrigan, pastor, membership 359; thus making an aggregate of 2,100 members. The Sunday-schools of this denomination have also a large membership. These organizations all belong to Searcy District of the White River Conference, of which Rev. George M. Hill is the presiding elder.

Of the Methodist Episcopal Church there is

Beebe Station, Rev. R. R. Fletcher, pastor, mem- bership 44; Judsonia Station, Rev. George H. Feese, pastor, membership 118; and Bald Knob Circuit, consisting of four appointments in White County and one in Jackson, Rev. F. M. Hughes, pastor. These comprise all the organizations of this denomination within White County, and all belong to the Little Rock District of the Arkansas Conference.

The Baptist Church organizations, pastors and memberships within the county, are as follows: Beebe, Isom P. Langley, 134; Bethlehem, W. H. Hodges, 27; Cane Creek, W. J. Kirkland, 20; Centre Hill, J. D. Doyle, 141; Elon, same pastor, 55; El Paso, same pastor, 206; Garner, L. F. Taylor, 12; Hepsibah, W. H. Hodges, 32; Hig- ginson, R. J. Coleman, 13; Judsonia, B. F. Bar- tles, 116; Kensett, J. M. Davis, 38; Kentucky Valley, J. A. Chamblee, 39; Liberty, J. M. Davis, 112; Plateau, John Stephens, 26; Rose Bud, M. T. Webb, 78; Searcy, 137; Shiloh, W. J. Kirk- land, 76; South Antioch, J. A. Chamblee, 57; Wake Forest, W. J. Kirkland, 13; West Point, J. M. Davis, 54. All of these belong to the Caroline Baptist Association, from the last published pro- ceedings of which the above information has mostly been taken. Since then some changes may have been made in pastors, and the memberships may have increased. The aggregate membership as above given is 1,386.

There are two Presbyterian Church organiza- tions within the county, one at Searcy, Rev. Rich- ard B. Willis, pastor, with a membership of 53, and one near Centre Hill, Rev. W. S. Willbanks, pastor, and a membership of 14.

Below is the list of Cumberland Presbyterian Church organizations in White County, together with names of pastors and membership of each annexed: Beebe, Finis Wylie, 60; Stony Point, J. A. Pemberton, 40; Antioch, same pastor, 86; Pleasant Grove, same pastor, 40; Gum Spring, Finis Wylie, 60; New Hope, J. C. Forbus, 40; Good Springs, Rev. Barlow, 60; aggregating a closely estimated membership of 386.

Of the Christian Church there are Beebe, Clear Water, Garner and Bald Knob. The first has a

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membership of 70, and the others have a fair membership. Elder J. B. Marshall is pastor of the Beebe organization, and Elder Brown of Clear Water and Garner.

There are also a number of church organiza- tions among the colored people, at Searcy, Beebe, Judsonia and other places. Sunday-schools are taught with much success in connection with most of the churches, and all in all much is accom- plished in the cause of Christianity.

Saloons for the selling of intoxicating drinks are not allowed in the county.

The people are generally moral and law-abid- ing, and cheerfully extend the hand of welcome to all honest and industrious newcomers.

H. K. Adams, merchant at El Paso, Ark., and one of the leading citizens of that city, was born in Rockingham County, N. C., January 29, 1846, be- ing the son of Samuel and Francis (Reid) Adams. Samuel Adams was a farmer by occupation, and a native of Virginia, but most of his life was passed in North Carolina. He was married in that State (where he had a fine farm), and died there in 1870, at the age of sixty-three years. He was magis- trate for a number of years, and an energetic, en- terprising citizen, and in whatever place he resided that locality might well consider itself the better for his citizenship. His wife died in 1854. She was a sister of Ex-Gov. Reid, of North Carolina, and her mother was a lady of national fame, who had near relatives on the supreme bench of Florida. H. K. Adams is the fifth in a family of eight children, five of whom are now living: Fan- ny B. (wife of J. W. Thompson, teacher in the Edinburgh High School, in Cleburne County, Ark.), Henrietta (wife of W. P. Watson, a farmer of Monroe County, Ark.), Reuben (a teacher in Prattsville) and Frank R. (a printer, married, and residing in Texas. ) Those deceased are: Samuel F. (who lost his life at the hands of raiders, in 1865), David R. (died in college at Madison, N. C., aged eighteen) and Annie E. (who died in infancy.) H. K. Adams was reared on a farm, re- ceiving a good common-school education at the

district schools, and at the age of twenty-one launched his bark and began life for himself. He had nothing with which to cope with the world but a stout heart and his wit, and though it was rather discouraging, he never lost heart, and as a natural result was successful. He began first as a clerk in a country store at Boyd's Mill, N. C. A year later he enlisted in Company E, Forty-fifth North Carolina Regiment, and served until the surrender, in May, 1865, participating in the battle of the Wilderness and numerous other skirmishes, but through his entire career was never wounded. At the battle of Spottsylvania he was taken pris- oner and held at Point Lookout and Elmira, in all about six months. He was again captured on the retreat from Petersburg, a few days before the sur. render of Gen. Lee, and carried to Point Lookout, and remained in prison six weeks after the close of the war. After this Mr. Adams returned to his native State and engaged in farming until 1869, then coming to Arkansas (St. Francis County) where he resided two years. His next move was to El Paso, and after tilling the soil some two years he was engaged as clerk for W. H. Grisard, a prosperous merchant, for several years. For two years he was with C. P. Warren, and at the end of that time (1884) formed a partnership with J. T. Phelps and J. C. Harkrider, under the firm name of Adams, Phelps & Co. A short time later Mr. Phelps sold his interest to the other gentleman, the firm name becoming Adams & Harkrider. Mr. Adams eventually purchased the entire stock, and after a time formed a partnership with B. A. Neal, whose interest he bought, and then Mr. J. T. Booth purchased an interest, and since that time the firm has been known as Adams & Booth. They are doing a splendid business, and carry a well. assorted stock of general merchandise. Being wide-awake merchants and eminently responsible they command the respect of the entire community. Mr. Adams was united in marriage June 7, 1874, to Miss Florence Harkrider, a native of Alabama and a daughter of W. H. Harkrider, a farmer and mechanic of White County. Their union has been blessed with ten children, six of them now living: Martha F. (born in April, 1875), William S. (born

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in July, 1876, died in August, 1883), Hugh K., Jr. (born in March, 1878, and died in September, 1879), David C. (born in November, 1879), Dean (born in May, 1881, died in August, 1883), Eva E. (born in November, 1882), Horace E. (born in July, 1884), Sarah Florence (born in November, 1885, died in July, 1886), Myrtle I. (born in January, 1887), and Grace (born in February, 1889). Mr. Adams is giving his children all the advantages of good schools, and is determined that they shall have every opportunity for an education, regard- less of expense. Himself and wife are members of the El Paso Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Adams is at present a member of the school board and a notary public. He has served his town- ship as bailiff for a number of years. In addition to his mercantile business he owns a small farm, which is carefully cultivated and yields excellent crops. In his political views he is a Democrat, but not an enthusiast.

James H. Adkins, a man of good repute and thoroughly respected in his community, is a Ten- nesseean by birth and is the son of Elcaney N. and Elizabeth (Hughes) Adkins. The mother of the subject of this sketch was a daughter of Harden and Sarah Hughes, of Tennessee. Mr. Adkins followed farming in Tennessee, and in 1845 im- migrated to White County, Ark., and died shortly after his removal to this county, leaving three chil- dren: James H., William and Visey. James H. was born in 1844, and enlisted in the cavalry serv- ice when eighteen years old, in the Confederate army, and saw some hard fighting from the time of his enlistment, in 1864, until peace was declared. After the war he returned to this county and bought eighty acres of land and commenced to farm for himself. He now owns 140 acres, with over one half of it in a good state of cultivation, and he vouches that his farm will produce almost everything. Mr. Adkins was married, in 1866, to Frances E. Woodle, a daughter of Turner and Catharine (Matthews) Woodle. Mrs. Adkins died September 3, 1867, leaving one daughter, Scepro- ney B. Mr. Adkins took unto himself a second wife (their marriage being solemnized in 1876), Mary F. Cullum, a daughter of Matthew and Mar-

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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