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 36

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 36

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went in debt for forty acres of land, and their first year's crop paid for the property. At the end of one year our subject sold out to his broth- er and began teaching a subscription school, which was a great success. He next engaged in clerk- ing in a store in Jonesboro, but came to El Paso after a few months, and spent eight months in school at that place. After cutting cord wood for about three months, he hired to M. L. Booth as a farm hand, at $20 a month, working one year. December 21, 1876, he was married to Miss Mar- tha Booth, a daughter of his former employer, and her birth occurred in Haywood County, Tenn. This union has been blessed with six children, four of whom are living: Roberta H. (born Au- gust 2, 1878 and died August 2, 1888), Reuben C. (born February 8, 1880), Philip L. (born June 19, 1883, and died December 20, 1884), Joseph H. (born October 15, 1884), Oklahoma (born Feb- ruary 6, 1887) and an infant (born March 29, 1889). After his marriage, Mr. Phelps made one crop on his father-in-law's farm, but in the fall of 1878 he began the mercantile business with a Mr. A. P. Poole, under the firm name of Poole & Phelps. This partnership lasted two years, then Mr. Phelps sold out and engaged in business with M. L. Booth, the firm name being Booth, Phelps & Co., for one year. During his business connec- tion with Mr. Poole, he was appointed postmaster at El Paso, and served in this capacity for six years. He is now engaged in merchandising un- der the name of M. L. Phelps & Co. His life has been an eventful one, and notwithstanding the many difficulties which have strewn his pathway, he has been successful and is of material benefit to any. community in which he resides. He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he is a member of El Paso Lodge No. 65 of the A. F. & A. M., in which organiza- tion he has held all the offices with the exception of Worshipful Master.

Wiley D. Plant. Hilary Plant was born in South Carolina, July 7, 1812, and, when quite young, moved to Alabama, where he met and mar- ried Mercy Tatum, a native of Alabama. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Plant immigrated to Ken-

tucky, thence to Arkansas, where the remainder of his quiet, uneventful life was passed. Mr. Plant was a stanch Democrat, and a consistent member of the Methodist Church, South, for many years. He was a quiet, law-abiding citizen, charitable, in- dustrious and frugal, and at the date of his death, in 1880, had amassed quite a fortune. Mrs. Plant is now a resident in White County, Ark., aged eighty-five years. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Plant ten children were born, five sons and five daughters, four of them now living: Nance B. (widow of George Hamby, of Jackson County), Charles F. (a farmer of White County), Wiley D. (the subject of this sketch), Green L. (a planter of White County), Andrew W. (died in Woodruff County), Robert L. (died in Conway County), Mary A. (widow of George M. Smith, deceased in White County), Susan M. (died in Jackson County) and Sarah F. (wife of N. E. Kidd, died in Woodruff County). Wiley D. Plant was reared in White County, and received excellent advantages for an education, which he was not slow to improve, and is a well-informed man. He is a typical Arkansan, and a native of that State, his birth occurring - in Conway (now Faulkner) County, January 19, 1847. He began for himself at the age of twenty- one years, first as a farmer, which was his occupa- tion for a few years, but realizing that his vocation lay in another direction he turned his attention to the mercantile business, in which he has been suc- cessful. He located at Bradford, White County, where he is now one of the prominent men of the community. His stock consists of general mer- chandise, valued at $8,000, and by his courteous manner and straightforward dealing he has estab- lished a permanent and lucrative business. Mr. Plant is well worthy the liberal patronage bestowed on him, for he endeavors in every possible way to please his customers, considering their interests his, and the petty, disagreeable traits of so many merchants are entirely foreign to his characteristics and nature. In May of 1885 Mr. Plant led to the hymeneal altar Mrs. Sarah E. Moore, daughter of William and Prudence McKnight. To their union two bright children have been born, Bessie and William D., who, with their childish prattle, make

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the house bright and joyous, and gladden the hearts of their devoted parents. He is a Democrat in politics, takes an active part in the elections, and is a strong partisan. He is a believer in the Methodist faith, though not a member of any de- nomination. He is a leading citizen, contributes liberally to all public movements; is a prominent personage in his town and community, active and progressive.

Henry W. Pope is a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Cane Township, a native of Georgia, and a son of Micajah and Hattie (Bruce) Pope. Micajah Pope was born in Virginia, November 21, 1808, and was a son of John and Mary (Mor- ris) Pope of Virginia origin, and was married in 1827. John Pope moved to Georgia in 1818, and settled on land where Atlanta now stands. Mrs. Pope, the mother of Henry W., was a daughter of Daniel and Sallie (Prenct) Bruce, who were the parents of eleven children. Our subject was born December 28, 1835, and was married December 27, 1855, to Mollie E. Rea, a daughter of Rev. W. T. Rea and Rhoda (Brown) Rea. Mrs. Rea was a daughter of William and Nancy Pruet. After his marriage Mr. Pope found employment in teach- ing, following this for several years. All of his brothers were in the Confederate army, and Henry W. was mustered in, but was unable to stand mus- ter, and was discharged. In 1867 he removed to Jefferson County and taught school, and two years later came to White County. In March, 1878, he came to Cane Township, and commenced farming on a quarter-section of unimproved land, and, by his energy, has 100 acres of it under cultivation. To this union have been given twelve children: Sarah F. (now Mrs. Earnest, and the mother of six children), Mollie H. (now Mrs. Langforo, and the mother of two children), William H. (married, and has one child), Mamie (now Mrs. Cagle), John D. (a professor of penmanship), Horace E. (de- ceased), Ella (deceased), Katie B., Daniel W., Samuel T. (deceased), Albert J. and James E. Mr. Pope is a strong Democrat, and takes an active part in politics, and is now holding the office of justice of the peace of his township. Himself and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal

Church, South. He always takes an active inter- est in the temperance movement.

Frederick R. Price, one of Gen. Price's sol- diers in his raid through Missouri, Kansas and Mississippi, is the fifth son of a family of twelve children, born to Russell and Mary (Turner) Price. Russell Price was the son of Joseph Price, who died in South Carolina in 1833. Russell Price was born in 1790, and was married about 1810, and was the father of the following ten children, and two whose names are not given: Delia, Thomas, Jane, Fielding, Frederick R., Minerva, Mahaley, Joseph, Mary Ann and Nancy. He followed farm- ing in South Carolina, and moved to White County, in 1836, taking up eighty acres of land, and where he died two years later, his wife surviving him until 1844. Frederick R. first saw the light of this world in South Carolina, March 2, 1821, and was married at the age of twenty to Lucinda Jones, a daughter of B. Jones, of Cane Township. After his marriage he commenced farming for himself. By this marriage they had eleven children: John T., Russell, Levi (deceased), Polly (deceased), William (deceased), Sarah J. (deceased), Louisa, Fielding, Lucy C. (deceased), Elizabeth and George W. (deceased). Mr. Price's first wife died in June, 1872. He was married the second time, in 1873, to Ruth J. Taylor (nee Chrisman), widow of W. H. Taylor. She was born in 1831, and was the daughter of Isaac S. and Lucinda (Allen) Chrisman, natives of Lee County, W. Va., who came to White County in 1856, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Price are the par- ents of one child, Allie O., who was born May 29, 1874. Mr. F. R. Price moved to White County, in 1836, where he has ever since lived. Himself and family belong to the Methodist Church, of which denomination his wife has been a member since eight years of age. He is also a member of the County Wheel, and has been honored with the office of president. In his younger days he was engaged principally in hunting. He is a highly respected citizen, and always has the good of his community at heart.

Amaziah M. Price is what might be called a life resident of White County, having been born

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on the farm which he now calls home, and where he has always lived. It is a fine tract of 240 acres, 100 of which are under cultivation. Joseph R. Price, the father of A. M. Price, was a native of South Carolina, and was a son of Russell and Sa- rah (Turner) Price, both of South Carolina origin. Mr. Price was married in March, 1846, in White County, to Martha Guthery, a daughter of Joseph and Susie (Wood) Guthery, also natives of South Carolina. To their union were born seven chil- dren: Mary A. (deceased), A. M. (our subject), Arva J. (now Mrs. Chumbley), Carrel A., Rhodie J. (married James Hodges, of this county), Mon- roe and Susan (who married William Chumley). Mr. Price died in 1860, and his wife some ten years later. A. M. Price was born on November 13, 1849, received a common-school education, and was married in 1882 to Miss Susan M. Taylor, a daughter of James M. and Maggie J. (Barker) Taylor. Mr. Taylor is originally from Tennessee, 'and a son of Alexander and Margaret (Davis) Tay- lor. Mrs. Taylor was a daughter of Alexander and Margaret (Dodson) Barker. Mr. and Mrs. Price are the parents of two daughters: Lenna (born September 14, 1883) and Bertha (born November 21, 1885). He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife of the Baptist Church. Mr. Price is a strong Democrat, politically, and takes an active interest in all work for the good of the community.

Carroll A. Price. A glance at the notes from which this sketch has been prepared indicates at once that the mercantile career of Mr. Price has been one of ceaseless activity, and that he has been successful is well known. His parents, Jo- seph and Mary (Guthrie) Price, were of French and Scotch descent, and were born in North and South Carolina, respectively. After their marriage they came to Arkansas, and became farmers of White County. The father died in 1859 and the mother in 1866, their union having been blessed in the birth of seven children, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood: Mary Ann (was born in 1846, was married to M. J. H. Jenkins, but was left a widow with six children in 1887), A. M. (was born in 1848, married Miss Susan Taylor,

a native of Tennessee, and has two children), Zennance (was born in 1850, and was married to J. M. Couch, by whom she has two children), Car- roll A. (our subject, was the fourth child), Rhoda J. (was born in 1852, became the wife of J. S. Hodges, of Mississippi, and is the mother of seven children), Monroe (was born in 1856, mar- ried Nancy Gibson, a native of North Carolina, and by her has four children), Susan (born in 1858, married to W. T. Chumley, of Illinois, and has two children). The paternal great-grand- father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Carroll A. Price was born November 13, 1852, and was educated in the private schools of White County, and attended a male academy for two terms, paying his way through this institution with money earned by industry, perseverance and economy. In 1874 he became a salesman for his uncle, Nelson Guthrie, in Pope County, but at the end of one year returned to White County, and engaged in farming and stock dealing, which calling he continued to pursue until 1878, then came to Beebe and engaged as a clerk with D. C. Harris, with whom he remained until 1880. The following year he formed a partnership with J. M. Liles in general merchandising in the town of Beebe, and successfully conducted business at that place until 1887, when they dissolved partnership, Mr. Liles buying Mr. Price's interest. The latter invested his money in real estate, but in the spring of 1887 went east and purchased an excellent line of general merchandise, his stock being now valued at $10,000, and he controls a large share of the patronage of town and county. On Sep- tember 17, 1883, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary G. Gibbs, of Arkansas, their marriage taking place in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in Beebe, Rev. R. T. Wylie officiating. They have two children: Cecil (born July 30, 1884) and Cuthbert A. (born December 7, 1887). In his political views Mr. Price is a liberal Demo- crat, and he and wife are earnest members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of Beebe. He is progressive in his views, and contributes liber- ally to all religious, social, educational and polit- ical interests.

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L. M. Pyles, a prominent fruit and vegetable- grower of Judsonia, was born in Maryland, near Washington, D. C., in 1849, and was the eldest son in a family of thirteen children given to Will- iam V. and Margaret A. (Ryan) Pyles, also owning Maryland as their native State. Mr. William V. Pyles was a son of William and Massie (Allen) Pyles, who was born in 1825 and was married in 1847 to Margaret A. Ryan, daughter of William and Sarah (Kingsburry) Ryan, of Maryland. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pyles were born the following children: L. M. (our subject), Anna S. (deceased), Laura V. (now Mrs. Allen), Emma J. (married Bud Ball), Maggie (now Mrs. Stewart), Fannie (married Robert Padgett), Amanda (Mrs. Middleton), Lucy (now Mrs. Langley), Jennie, William H. and Thornton. Mr. L. M. Pyles was married in 1877 to Laverna Clark, daughter of Al- fred and Mary Clark, who were of Ohio origin. After his marriage Mr. Pyles moved to Cincinnati, and thence to Warren County, Ohio, where he started in business as a butcher, which he followed for seven years. His wife died in 1881, in Warren County, leaving two children: Mary M. and Will- iam L. After the death of his wife Mr. Pyles re- turned to Maryland, remaining in that State but a short time, and then came back to Ohio and located in Darke County, where he was married the second time, in Greenville, in 1884, to Almeda Good, daughter of Samuel and Margaret Good, of Ohio. The year following he removed to White County, Ark., and located in Judsonia, where he made the raising of fruit and vegetables a business for two years, and then opened a meat market, in which business he continued for a limited time, and again took up the employment of growing fruit and veg- etables, giving his principal attention to the rais- ing of fine strawberries, which he ships to north- ern markets. Mr. and Mrs. Pyles are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is also connected with the I. O. O. F., holding the office of Noble Grand. Mr. Pyles is a strong Republican and a member of the town council. He owns some property in Judsonia, and is widely known and highly respected as a citizen. His father was one of the three men who were allowed to cross

the Potomac on the night of President Lincoln's assassination.

Thomas Jefferson Quick. Since commencing life for himself Mr. Quick has given his attention to two callings, that of farming and stock raising, and in these enterprises has met with well merited success, for he is not only progressive in his views, but is intelligent and thoroughly posted in. all public affairs. He was born February 11, 1842, and is a son of Nathan and Pency Emeline (Hub- bard) Quick, the father, being in all probability, of Spanish descent, his birth occurring in the "Pal- metto State."- The mother was a Georgian, and her union with Mr. Quick resulted in the birth of nine children, eight attaining manhood and woman- hood: Nancy Melissa (was born in 1838, and was married to W. R. T. Singleton, of Mississippi), William (was born in 1840, and died in 1852), Thomas Jefferson (the subject of this memoir), Martha Adeline (born in 1844, was married to J. M. Butler, of Mississippi, in 1865), Eliza Perme- lia (born in 1846, wedded to L. R. Butler, of Mis- sissippi, in 1865), James Robert (born in 1848, espoused Miss Mary Allen, of Mississippi, and died in Arkansas, in 1882), Mercy F. (born in 1850, married James E. Timms, of Mississippi), Sarah Ellen (born in 1852, wedded Thomas Hill, also of Mississippi), Amanda R. (born in 1854, became the wife of J. H. Roberts, a Mississippian), Mat- thew Isom's birth occurred in 1856, and he took for his wife Miss Evaline Summons. Mr. Quick, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, re- ceived his education in the subscription schools of his native county (La Fayette County, Miss.), and has been familiar with farm work from his earliest boyhood. This work continued to receive his at- tention until he had attained his seventeenth year, when, with the enthusiasm of youth, he enlisted as a private in Company F, Nineteenth Regiment Mississippi Volunteer Infantry, the first battle in which he participated being Williamsburg. On March 3, 1865, he was captured at Petersburg, Va., and taken to Hart's Island, N. Y., where he was kept in confinement for two months and a half. On being paroled he went to New York City, em- barking there on a steamer for New Orleans, going

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from there up the Mississippi River to Memphis, from there by rail to La Fayette Station, thence on foot to Oxford, Miss., a distance of seventy miles, to his father's plantation, two miles east of that place, arriving at home May 6, 1865. He as- sisted his father on the farm for two years, and on January 16, 1867, wedded Miss Mary A. Callaway, of Georgia, and started out in life for himself. November 18, 1869, he came to Arkansas, and settled in White County, residing for one year on a farm he had purchased, then sold out and re- moved to Van Buren County, and after purchasing a saw mill near Quitman, operated it for one year. Being dissatisfied with this location, he resolved to return to White County, and here purchased a farm, comprising 320 acres, all wild land. He resided on this until 1884, then sold it, having in the meantime made many valuable improvements, among which was the clearing and putting under cultivation of 120 acres of land. In 1884 he took up his abode in El Paso, but in 1885 purchased his present farm, consisting of 106 acres, on which was an incompleted house and fair stables. He has since completed the house, and has erected a cotton-gin, which has a capacity of six bales per day. On May 4, 1880, his wife died, and Sep- tember 7, 1881, he married Sallie E. Crosby, of the State of Arkansas, and to them were born two children: Lawrence Bernard (born June 28, 1882, and died October 31, 1882), Clarence Leonard (born June 28, 1882, and died August 12, 1889). The mother of these children died October 17, 1884, and June 21, of the following year, Mr. Quick took for his third wife Mrs. Elizabeth (Arnold) Griffin, a daughter of John and Cynthia (Smith) Arnold, the father about one-fourth Cher- okee Indian, and the mother of Irish descent. The following children have been born to Mr. Quick's last marriage: Thomas Fletcher (born July 16, 1886) and Quro (born October 26, 1888). At the present writing Mr. Quick owns 200 acres of land, with eighty acres under cultivation. His land has on it a fine peach and plum orchard, and a vine- yard of about 100 vines. Mr. Quick is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and also of El Paso Lodge No. 65, A. F. & A. M.

William C. Rainey is an extensive planter and cotton-ginner of Union Township, and was born in Madison County, Tenn., in 1829, being a son of Isaac and Parthena (Rainey) Rainey, who were also people of Middle Tennessee. The father was a farmer by occupation, and a son of Zebulon Rainey, a soldier in the War of 1812. Both par- ents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in Middle Tennessee, after rear- ing a family of six children: William C., Theoph- ilus (who died in youth), Addison Levi (a farmer of West Tennessee), Samuel (a farmer of West Tennessee), James W. (of Lauderdale County, Tenn.), Henderson A. (of Haywood County, Tenn.), Delicia F. (widow of Joseph L. Hendron, of Tenn.), Amanda (wife of W. Coffman, a merchant of Wood- ville, Tenn.), Elizabeth (who died at the age of four years), and Martha (who died in 1856, aged eight- een years). William C. Rainey began life for himself when twenty-two years of age, and after working one year as a farm hand and from that time up to 1858 was an overseer. In the fall of 1856 he was married to Elizabeth Coffey, a daugh- ter of Rev. D. P. Coffey of Tennessee, and by her has had a family of eleven children, eight of whom are living: James D. (who was born November 25, 1857), Mary F. (wife of Jeff Walker, was born May 14,'1860), Leonidas E. (was born January 12, 1866), William J. (born February 29, 1868), Thomas (born October 7, 1870), Samuel (born No- vember 30, 1872), Jesse C. (born March 4, 1874), Joseph L. (born December 27, 1879), and Eddie (born February 27, 1877). On December 20, 1854, Mr. Rainey first set foot in White County, Ark., and for two years he acted as overseer for one of the well-to-do planters of this region. After his marriage he moved to Hickory Plains, and in 1857 came to this portion of the county and settled on the land where Beebe now stands. After a one year's residence at this place he sold out and set- tled in the vicinity of Stony Point, and here has since made his home. His first purchase of land was 160 acres, and in 1856 he erected the first gin put up in the south part of White County, which he is still operating. Prior to 1883 the machin- ery was run by horse-power but since that time

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he has used steam. Mr. Rainey is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, and he and wife are mem- bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, as are the most of their children, Mr. Rainey and his eldest son being ruling elders in that church. Dur- ing the war he served in Company D, Tenth Ar- kansas Regiment, but after May 28, 1862, became a member of Forrest's cavalry and served under him until the close of the war, when his company was disbanded on January 9. He was at Shiloh, Corinth, the gunboat fight on the Big Sandy in Tennessee, Murfreesboro, Guntown, Franklin, and was in the various engagements in which Forrest's cavalry participated.

John F. Randall, a worthy and conscientious representative of White County, was born in Cape Girardeau County, Mo., near the city of Cape Girardeau, March 31, 1832. His father, Willam C. Randall, was born in Lexington, Ky., Decem- ber 15, 1805, and died in Arkansas, February 4, 1863, aged fifty-eight years. He was a regular ap- prentice to the boot and shoemaker's trade, and an expert in that profession. He was an old line Whig, and manifested great interest in all party campaigns. In 1831 Mr. Randall was united in marriage with Sarah A., daughter of Anthony and . Mary Randol, and a native of Missouri. She re- ceived her education in her native State, where the greater part of her life was passed, and at the date of her death, in 1854, she was residing in Stoddard County, Mo. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Randall twelve children were born, all of whom grew to maturity .. Those living are: John F., Sarah E. (wife of James Samuels, of Missouri), Orlando L. (of Hood County, Tex.), Martha J. (widow of Joseph M. Lean). Those deceased are: William O., Carrol V., Mary Z., Eliza A., Char- lotte V., Rebecca L., Edward L. and Harvy C. John F. received but limited advantages for educa- tion, as the schools of his boyhood days were very few, but he received a practical knowledge of farming, which occupation he has always followed in connection with stock raising, He owns 320 acres of excellent land, highly cultivated, and everything on his farm indicates thrift and pros- perity. He was first married in Calhoun County,

Ill., in 1859, to Martha J. Scott of that State, and the result of this marriage was two children, who died in infancy. His second marriage oc- curred in 1862 to Edna P., daughter of Andrew and Nancy Woodley, of Pike County, Ga., and by her he became the father of three children: William O. and a daughter (dead), and Edward L., now living. He also reared W. R. Randall, a nephew, born June 7, 1860, and Mattie Lee Woodley, a niece, born March 25, 1877. Mr. Ran- dall enlisted in the Union army, July 27, 1862, in Company A, First Arkansas Mounted Rangers. This regiment was reorganized in 1863, at Benton Barracks, Mo., with John E. Phelps as colonel; the regiment afterward being known as the Second Arkansas Cavalry. He acted most of the time as recruiting officer, and in the capacity of scout and

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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