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 37

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 37

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escort duty. He participated in the battles of In- dependence, Jefferson City, Kansas City, Big Blue and many others of minor importance. He re- ceived his discharge as first sergeant from said regiment, Company A. For twenty years Mr. Randall has acted as justice of the peace in White County, where he has lived since 1860, and is now filling said office and discharging its manifold du- ties in a creditable and exemplary manner. He is a Prohibitionist in politics, though not in any way a partisan. He is one of the most prominent members of the Methodist Church, South, and takes an active interest in all the affairs and work of the church, also contributing to all charitable enterprises. He is a member in high standing in the Masonic order.

James F. Ray, M. D., is a substantial and well- known practitioner of Arkansas, his first field for the practice of medicine being in Centre Hill in 1883. His early days were spent in Jackson County, where he was born in 1854, and in White County, and when nineteen years of age he com- menced the study of medicine. Dr. Ray was the son of Samuel and Jane (Sorrell) Ray. Samuel Ray was born in Alabama in 1824, and was a son of Samuel M. Ray, a native of North Carolina. He moved to Arkansas in 1854, settling in Jackson County, and in 1860 came to White County, where he followed farming. He enlisted in 1862 and

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served in the Confederate service. Mrs. Ray was born in Alabama, in 1828, and was a daughter of James F. and Flora Sorrell, and died in White County in 1869. They were the parents of three children: James F., John and William. Dr. Ray was married in 1877 to Susan E. Barnett, a daughter of Z. H. and Emiline (Stewart) Barnett, natives of Tennessee. To these parents were given seven children, four of whom are still living: Floyd S., Mary E. (deceased), Arthur Curtis (de- ceased), Mamie A., Samuel H. (deceased), Ethel I. and Blanch W. In 1885 Dr. Ray moved to Mount Pisgah, where he still lives and practices, and is the owner of a forty-acre tract of fine tim- ber land. Himself and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. When the Doctor first came to this county, bear, dear and wild tur- key were abundant. Politically he is a strong Democrat, and although not taking an active part in politics, has held the office of bailiff of the town- ship; he is a highly respected citizen, and enjoys a large practice extending throughout the adjoin- ing townships.

William P. Reaves, a miller and ginner, of Ca- dron Township, was born in Alabama, in 1850, and was the second son in a family of eleven children of Emery G. and Elizabeth A. (Davis) Reaves, also of Alabama. Their family consisted of the follow- ing children: Emily, William P., Amandy, John T., Narsiscey, Nancy A., Sarah E., George W., Sarah J., Thomas and David. Mrs. Reaves died in 1879, and Mr. Reaves was again married, in 1881, to Susan Foster, and they are residing in Alabama, and have a family of small children. William P. Reaves, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, was married at the age of sev- enteen, to Majourie O. Monk, a daughter of Silas and Nancy (Youngblood) Monk. Her father was a Primitive Baptist minister. Mrs. Reaves died in 1885, having been the mother of nine children: Tresser T. (deceased), Tulula, Mary M., William Lee, Ransom L., Caroline (deceased), Georgia (de- ceased), James (deceased) and Effie (deceased). Mr. Reaves came to Arkansas in 1877, and settled in this township, and in 1882 started a saw-mill and is now sawing and converting the pines of

Arkansas into lumber. He was married the second time in 1887 to Anna Drain, the daughter of the Rev. William W. Drain. To this union have been born two children: Isaac E. and Jessie J. Mr. Reaves owns 160 acres of fine timber land, and has twenty acres cleared and under cultivation. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Rock Springs Lodge No. 422, and also a mem- ber of the County Wheel. He is a prominent worker in all matters relative to educational and school work, and is one of the esteemed directors of School District No. 28.

J. F. Redus came with his parents to White County, in 1851, they settling in Marion Town- ship. He was born in Alabama, in 1844, and was the second son in a family of nine children born to Joel S. and Susan J. (Gill) Redus, also of Alabama nativity. The senior Redus had a land warrant for service in the Mexican War, and on which he settled and broke land for a farm, where he lived until he died in 1858, his wife surviv- ing him ten years. The family consisted of the following nine children: W. G. (who resides in this county, and who enlisted in Company B of Thirty-sixth Arkansas Infantry), J. F. (our sub- ject), L. S. (who also served in the Confederate army), L. E. (now Mrs. Simmons, of Cleburne . County), John C. (deceased), D. J., Joel S. (de- ceased), M. G. and T. J. J. F. Redus assisted his father in opening up the farm, and in 1861 en- listed in the Confederate service for twelve months, in Company K, of the Seventh Arkansas Infantry. After the reorganization of the company, he re- enlisted for three years, or during the war. He par- ticipated in the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Perrysville (Ky.), Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, and in the ninety-days' fight before Dalton, also at Lookout Mountain, Atlanta and a number of others. He marched barefooted from Franklin, Tenn., to Pulaski, Tenn. Immediately after the cessation of hostilities, he returned home and again took up farming. He now owns a farm of 160 acres, with eighty-five acres under cultivation. He takes an active part in politics, and is a strong Democrat, and was candidate for county treasurer in 1889, but was defeated by combined efforts.

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He and entire family are members of the Baptist Church.

Jackson V. Reynolds, a prominent farmer and fruit grower of White County, was born in Ten- nessee in 1844, and is a son of Samuel and Mar- garet (Maderis) Reynolds, natives of Alabama. Mr. Samuel Reynolds was born in 1808, and was married in 1831, after which he moved to Tennes- see, and in 1851 came to Arkansas, settling in White County, where he bought a farm of 160 acres, on which he lived until his death, which oc- curred in 1861. His wife survived him twenty years, and was the mother of nine children, three of whom are living: Jackson V. (our subject), Samuel T. and Marquis L. Jackson V. Reynolds was reared on a farm, educated in this county, and was married, in 1866, to Margaret Thompson, a daughter of James and Martha Thompson of Tennessee origin, and who came to Arkansas at an early day. Mrs. Reynolds died in 1880, leaving five children, four of whom are still living: Ed- ward, Minnie, Mary and Florence. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Reynolds married Mrs. Mitchell (nee McMurtry), a widow, and by this marriage became the mother of three children: Willie, Effie and Van. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate army, serving in Capt. Hick's regi- ment, but was wounded at the battle of Helena, and received his discharge. Mr. Reynolds has a farm of 237 acres, with 140 acres under cultivation, and devotes the most of his attention to fruit growing.

James P. Rheu, planter, Stevens Creek, Ark. White County, is acknowledged by all to be one of the best agricultural portions of the State, and as such its citizens are men of advanced ideas and considerable prominence. A worthy representative of this class is found in the person of Mr. James P. Rheu. He was originally from Dickson County, Tenn., where his birth occurred on November 23, 1824, and is the son of John and Margaret (Dun- negan) Rheu, natives, respectively, of North Caro- lina and Kentucky, and both of Scotch-Irish de- scent. The maternal grandparents probably came to Alabama before the Revolutionary War. John Rheu and family moved to Kentucky in about 1830, lo-

cated in McCracken County, where they remained until about 1840, and then moved to Graves County. There he improved a farm, and made his home until death, which occurred in 1855. The mother died about 1827. James P. Rheu was early initi- ated into the duties of farm life, and received a liberal education for those days. In 1857 he came to Arkansas, located at Denmark, Jackson County, and engaged in merchandising, which he continued successfully for many years. On May 15, 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha V. Edens, a native of Fayette County and the daugh- ter of H. and Ann (Price) Edens, natives of Lin- coln County, Tenn., and probably of Irish descent. The maternal great-grandfather of Mrs. Rheu was connected with the commissary department of the Colonial army, and her grandfather Price, was a soldier under Gen. Jackson, in the War of 1812, participating in the battle of New Orleans, also in the subsequent Indian Wars. To Mr. and Mrs. Rheu were born four children: Ider E. (born June 11, 1860), Lelia C. (born October 8, 1865), William F. (born February 8, 1875), and Maggie A. (born February 22, 1876). Ider E. married J. C. Meadows on November 30, 1879, and is the mother of four children: Claude L., Ollie V., Lillian M. and Homer C. Mr. Meadows is a farmer by occu- pation. Mr. Rheu's other children are at home. In the fall of 1862, Mr. Rheu had become nicely fixed in business, had erected a fine dwelling- house, also a store, and excellent outbuildings upon his place; was also speculating in cotton, and had about ten bales on hand, when his buildings were set on fire, and his store, his entire stock of goods and his cotton were destroyed. After this severe loss he rented land, followed farming near Den- mark, and there remained until 1866, when he bought a farm in Jackson County. This tract con- tained eighty acres of improved land, and there he resided until 1871, when he moved to his present property, arriving there on December 20 of that year. He purchased one hundred acres, with about fifteen under cultivation, and erected their present house the same year. At present he has about thirty acres under cultivation. He is a member of Anchor Lodge No. 49, A. F. and A. M., and has

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served the lodge in the capacity of Senior Warden and Junior Warden, and has also been secretary for seven years of Fredonia Lodge No. 229. He holds a demit from Tillman Chapter No. 19, R. A. M., Searcy, Ark. In his political views he affiliates with the Democratic party. Mrs. Rheu, and her daughter Lelia, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mrs. Ider E. Meadows is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

Mrs. Mary M. Rhoden is the daughter of Jacob Free Coffman (deceased), who, from an early period in the country's history, gave to Independence County (to which he came in 1851, locating on the White River) the best energies of his life as one of the most worthy and respected citizens, and to the community and all among whom he lived, the example of a life well and usefully spent, and the influence of a character without stain. In this county he bought a farm of 400 acres, on which he lived till his death in 1858. His birth occurred February 10, 1805, and he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Young on March 17, 1826, in Lauderdale County, Tenn. . He was the son of Lovell and Sallie (Greene) Coff- man, the former a native of Virginia, of German descent, and whose ancestors came to America previous to the Colonial War. Sallie (Greene) Coffman was a relative of Gen. Greene of Revolu- tionary fame. Mrs. Catherine (Young) Coffman was the daughter of Samuel and Keziah (Hogue) Young. Samuel Young was a native of South Carolina, was of English descent, and his grand- father came to America about 1740 and located in South Carolina where Samuel was born. Keziah (Hogue) Young was a native of South Carolina, her parents being of English descent. The mater- nal grandfather (Doolittle) was killed by Tories in South Carolina during the Revolutionary War. Jacob Free and Catherine (Young) Coffman were the parents of these children: Sarah Ann K., Samuel Lovell, Mary Margaret, John Tillmore, Daniel A., Martha Jane, Elizabeth C., Amy Eva- line, Susan Rebecca and Laura Malinda. Mary M. Coffman was the third daughter of the above- mentioned family, her birth occurring on January

25, 1832, in Franklin County, Ala., and she re- ceived a good English education in the subscrip- tion schools of her native county. There she grew to womanhood and was united in marriage to John Harrison Rhoden, a native of Alabama, on Novem- ber 11, 1847, in Lawrence County. To this union were born eight children: Archie C. (born August 2, 1848), Frances Catherine (born November 3, 1849), Martha Jane (born September 6, 1851. and died in December of the same year), Rebecca Walker (born November 2, 1854, and died on Sep- tember 5, 1858), Sarah E. (born January 25, 1856), Laura Sophronia (born September 6, 1858), John Breckenridge (born October 15, 1860) and Lucy Coleman (born December 20, 1862). All the chil- dren were born in Arkansas, with the exception of Archie, whose birth occurred in Alabama. Archie C. married Miss Matilda J. Means, a native of Virginia, and Frances C. married J. W. Moseley, a native of Kentucky, who is now residing in White County; Sarah E. married Lawrence West- moreland, a native of Georgia, who is now de- ceased, Sophronia married William Woodall, a native of Arkansas, John B. resides in Texas, Lucy C. married Dr. Joseph H. Fillinger, a na- tive of Virginia, and now residing in White County. The settlement of the Rhoden family in Arkansas was made in 1849 when the country was an un- broken wilderness. Mrs. Rhoden is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, having united with that denomination in 1849. The family purchased 160 acres when they first settled in this State, and Mrs. Rhoden now owns 120 acres of that farm.

Dr. Willshire Riley is engaged in the drug busi- ness at Judsonia, Ark., and has been established there since 1880. He was born in Auglaize County. Ohio, in 1828, and in 1866 settled in White County, and after residing in Searcy one year, he moved to Red River Township, and for some years was engaged in shipping corn at Ri- ley's Landing. He was educated in the schools of Ohio, and in 1849 was married in Mercer County, of that State, to Miss Ruth Lindsey, re- moving in 1854 to Toledo, where he acted as dep- uty collector of customs. He also published the Toledo Daily, but in 1856 went to Perry County,

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Ill., and began practicing medicine, having previ- ously taken a course in the Cincinnati Medical. College, graduating in the class of 1856. He re- mained in Perry County until 1866, then came to Searcy, and has been in business here since that time. He took an active part in politics during reconstruction days, and in 1870 and 1871 was senator, representing White and Pulaski Counties. He has been interested in the cause of education, and has aided all enterprises which were for the good of the community. He is a Douglas Demo- crat, and he and wife are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. Of five children born to them, three are living: Horatio (who is married, and resides in Pine Bluff), Kate (Mrs. Hines, re- sides in Van Buren County) and Willshire (a druggist of Pine Bluff). Dr. Riley is a member of Lodge No. 384 of the A. F. & A. M., and be- longs to Tillman Chapter No. 19, and Searcy Council. He is one of the family of six born to James W. and Susan (Ellis) Riley, the former a native of Connecticut, and the latter of New York, and their union took place in Ohio. Mr. Riley was a Government surveyor, and did the most of the surveying of Northwest Ohio and Indiana, but was also a lawyer by profession. He died in Jan- uary, 1876, and is still survived by his wife, who is a resident of Denver, Colo. The paternal grand- father, Capt. James Riley, was born in Middle- town, Conn., and was the author of Riley's Narra- tive. Being appointed by President Jackson to survey the Northwestern Territory, he came to Ohio in 1819, and laid out the town of Willshire. Be- ing a sea captain he returned to his calling, and died on the ocean while on one of his voyages in 1840.

Elbert A. Robbins, the eldest son of D. and Olivia (Shinpouch) Robbins, natives of Alabama and Mississippi, respectively, dates his existence from December 23, 1857. His father became a resident of Arkansas in 1856, settling in White County, on a farm of 160 acres of land, ten miles south of Rose Bud, where he died in 1865, shortly after returning from the war. His wife survived him nine years, leaving a family of five children: Elbert A. (the subject of this sketch), J. W. [refer-

ence to whom follows], C. D., Molly and Samuel. E. A. Robbins started out in the world for himself at the age of fifteen without means or influence. He worked on a farm for three years, with but little success, after which his time was spent in a saw-mill until in April, 1881, when he bought a saw-mill, selling it, however, in October of the same year. In 1882 he farmed, but commenced the mercantile business at Rose Bud, in January, 1883, in partner- ship with his brother, J. W. Robbins. This he has followed ever since, with encouraging results. Besides his only brother he has one sister, Mollie Holmes, still living. Mr. Robbins professed re- ligion, and joined the Baptist Church in 1887. He was married, in 1878, to Miss Ida Crooms, and to them have been born six children, three of whom are living: Emma, Walter and Maudie; those deceased are Mollie, Elmer and an infant. Mrs. Robbins is also a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. He takes an active part in the Sunday-schools, and exerts his whole influence for the promotion of religious and educational institu- tions.

J. W. Robbins, a brother of E. A. Robbins, commenced in life on his own account at the age of fourteen, in 1883 entering into the mercantile business in White County. He was born in this county in 1860, his parents being D, and Olivia (Shinpouch) Robbins [reference to whom appears in the sketch which precedes this]. J. W. Robbins was married, in 1886, to Susan I. Thomas, a daugh- ter of W. A. and Jane (Post) Thomas. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins are the parents of two children: Oscar (living) and Laura A. (deceased). Mr. Robbins is a strong Democrat, and takes an active interest in all work for the interest of schools or general public good.

John A. Roberson. Among the farmers and stockmen of White County, Ark., none are more prominent than our subject, who, though he is a native of Rutherford County, Tenn., born Novem- ber 19, 1835, has been a resident of White County since 1870. He was reared to a farm life and his knowledge of the "Three R's" was acquired in the common schools. He was thrown on the world to fight his own way through life at the early age

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of sixteen years on account of the death of his father, and until his marriage on November 17, 1854, he worked as a farm hand. His wife, Angeline Redmon, was a native of Haywood County and bore Mr. Roberson eight children as follows: George (who died in infancy), a child who died unnamed, William (who is a farmer of White County), James (also a farmer), Anna (wife of Elijah Cupp, died leaving one child), Lela (is the wife of William P. Brickell, a farmer of Phillips County, Ark.), Thomas (farms in Texas) and Ed- gar (who was born on June 20, 1873). Mr. Rob- erson departed this life on July 27, 1888, an earn- est member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Mary (Coleman) Murphy, a native of Ala- bama and a resident of Arkansas for about nine- teen years, became his wife February 24, 1889. After his first marriage Mr. Roberson farmed and acted as overseer until 1864 when he went into the army and served until the cessation of hostilities. He then became manager of a large farm owned by a wealthy planter of Haywood County, but since 1870 has resided in White County, he being now the owner of 320 acres of land. At the time of his purchase there were sixty-five acres under cultiva- tion, but he now has 110 acres under the plow and has added 130 acres to his original purchase. His land is well adapted to raising all necessary farm products, and for several years past he has devoted much of his time to stock raising. He has been an active worker for the cause of Christianity for many years and socially is a member of Beebe Lodge No. 145 of the A. F. & A. M. His parents, Jesse and Mary A. (Vaughn) Roberson, were born in Virginia and South Carolina in 1815 and 1810, respectively, and were married about 1834. They died in Tennessee, the former in Haywood County in 1851, and the latter in Davidson County, in 1848. Three of their eight children died in in- fancy: William (lived to be grown and lost his life in the battle in June, 1863, and was buried in a soldier's cemetery), Mary (is the wife of James Tatum, of Bell Station, Tenn.), Fidelia (is the wife of James Collins, an Englishman, residing in Tennessee), Eliza (is the wife of Robert Pitner, a farmer of Tennessee), and John A. (our subject).

A. T. Rodmon has ably served his county as commissioner four years, as school director six years, and also as president of the board of regis- tration. His parents, James and Jennie (Kell) Rodmon, were natives of South Carolina, his pa- ternal and maternal grandfathers being of Irish origin, who came to this country at the same time and settled in South Carolina. Grandfather Rod- mon had a family of four children: John, Thomas, Sarah and James. James Rodmon was married in 1828 or 1829, and had a family of five children: A. T. (our subject), Mary A. (who married a man by the name of Blunt), Susan (Ballard), John C. and James C. Mr. Rodmon died on July 13, 1849, in South Carolina, to which State his family moved from South Carolina that year. A. T. Rod- mon was married, after attaining manhood, in 1856 in Mississippi, to Miss Mary Williams, a daughter of P. W. and Nancy (McDowell) Will- iams, and of North Carolina birth. After this event Mr. Rodmon settled on a farm and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits for four years, then moving to White County, Ark., in 1859, and locating on a farm twelve miles south of Searcy. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate army and served on detached duty during the war. In 1873 he removed to Kane Township, where he now resides, enjoying at this time a wide and honored acquaintance. Mr. and Mrs. Rodmon have had twelve children, four of whom only are living: Alice M., Nora E., Frank and Clinton J. These are at home and attending school. In 1868 Mr. Rodmon was appointed justice of the peace, and the same year elected county commissioner, which position he held four years. In 1872 he was elected president of the board of registration, and is now school director, having discharged the offi- cial duties connected therewith for six years. He is a member of the Masonic order, and has been connected with the I. O. O. F. Himself and wife have been members of the Baptist Church for the past thirty-two years, Mr. Rodmon having held the position of church clerk for seventeen years. He has also acted as president of the County Wheel for six years, besides holding the office of district deputy for two years. Mr. Rodmon is a strong

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Republican and has taken an active interest in the politics of his county. A highly respected citizen, he worthily deserves the universal esteem bestowed upon himself and family.

Benjamin Rogers, in his active career through life, has amassed considerable wealth, and is now owner of a fine farm, comprising 400 acres, 120 of which he has put under cultivation, clearing ninety acres himself. He has around him every conven- ience, and his buildings, fences and orchards have been placed on his property by his own hands. From his earliest remembrance he has been familiar with farm life, but his youthful advantages for acquir- ing an education were very limited. He came with his father to Arkansas, and made his home with him until twenty-six years old, having married, at the age of twenty-four, Miss Anna E. Bailey, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of J. J. Bailey, a pioneer settler of White County. Mrs. Rogers died in September, 1862, and on January 15, 1865, he married Miss Hannah J. Jackson, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of H. Jackson, a black- smith by trade. Eleven children have been born to them, of whom ten are living: Marion F. (born February 24, 1866, and lives on his father's farm), J. M. (who was born October 13, 1868), William H. (born August 27, 1869), Robert E. (born June 23, 1871), Mary E. (born August 6, 1873, and died September 2, 1887), Minnie B. (born January 30, 1875), Bettie H. (born November 13, 1878), Benja- min D. (born February 9, 1880), Calvin J. (born January 27, 1883), Ava L. (born January 27, 1885), and Arthur L. (born April 25, 1887). Mrs. Rogers, the mother of this large family, departed this life February 7, 1889, having been a life-long member of the Missionary Baptist Church, a faithful wife and mother, and her death is not only mourned by her immediate family, but by all with whom she came in contact. In 1861 Mr. Rogers bought 160 acres of the farm where he now lives, going in debt for the same, and notwithstanding the fact that the war came up and scattered his property, he has succeeded admirably. In June, 1862, he joined Company A, Thirty-sixth Arkansas Regi- ment, and was in the battles of Prairie Grove, Helena, Little Rock, besides numerous skirmishes.

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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