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 38

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 38

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He was not wounded nor taken prisoner during his term of service, and was a faithful soldier to the cause he espoused. Upon his return home he found himself robbed of all his property, except the land for which he was considerably in debt, but he began devoting his entire attention to his farm, and has succeeded in putting himself and family beyond the reach of want. He is a Democrat, a member of Beebe Lodge No. 145 of the A. F. & A. M., and for the past seventeen years has been one of the most faithful members of the latter organization. He is public-spirited, and keeps thoroughly apace with the times on all matters of public interest. He was born in Haywood County, Tenn., on August 1, 1836, and is a son of William and Sarah E. (Powers) Rogers, the former born in North Carolina in 1809, and the latter in 1811. They were married in Tennessee about 1830, and in 1854 came to White County, Ark., and settled on what is well known as the Williams' farm, near where Beebe now stands. Mr. Rogers bought 400 acres of woodland, and until he could build him a log-house his family lived in a tent. Like the majority of the pioneer settlers of early times

" He cut, he logged, he cleared his lot, And into many a dismal spot He let the light of day."

During his lifetime he cleared over 100 acres of land, and at the time of his death (in 1871) he was one of the wealthy men of the county. In politics he was an old line Whig. His wife died in 1838, and in 1842 he married again, having by this union five children, only two now living, Rufus H. and Robert E., both farmers. His first marriage also resulted in the birth of five children, Benjamin and Elizabeth (wife of Oliver Greene) being the only ones alive.

Thomas J. Rogers, another of the prominent pioneer settlers of White County, has been located here for a period of over forty years, and has not only become well known, but the respect and honor shown him is as wide as his acquaintance. He came to White County in 1848, settled with a brother, Robert J., within three miles of Searcy, which at that time contained two small supply stores, one made of log and the other of plank,

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and a blacksmith shop. Mr. Rogers was born in Chatham County, N. C., in 1826, was the sixth in a family of ten children (all dead but two), born to Absalom and Hannah (Johnson) Rogers, natives of North Carolina. The parents immigrated to Tennessee at an early day and there the father carried on agricultural pursuits. He was one of the jury that convicted J. A. Merrill. His death occurred in Tennessee, in 1840, and his wife died in North Carolina. Grandfather Rodgers is buried in North Carolina, of which State the family were pioneers. Brought up as an agriculturist it would have been quite natural had Thomas J. Rogers fol- lowed in the footsteps of his father, but his tend- encies inclined elsewhere, and after securing a fair education in the subscription schools of Tennessee and Arkansas, and farming one year, in 1849 he came to Searcy, where he clerked for Bond & Max- well, general merchants, He remained with this firm until 1851, and went into partnership in a separate house with the firm, taking the manage- ment. In 1852 Mr. Rogers purchased the full con- trol and continued in business until 1862, when he had everything taken from him, it all becoming common property. During the war he raised a company and followed guerrillas, but later he moved to Urbana, Ill., purchased property and re- mained until the close of the war. The people were anxious to know what he was going to do, so in 1865, he returned to Searcy, Ark., but before coming back liquidated his debts at 25 and 50 per cent with Philadelphia houses. He paid it and received their receipts in full, and later paid it in full with interest, in 1867. After this Mr. Rogers engaged in the real-estate business, in which he is now interested, and is the owner of 20,000 acres in. White and Cleburne Counties. He has twenty im - proved farms in these counties, is renting out land and owns a fine body of timber situated on White and Red Bayou, Des Arc. Politically, Mr. Rogers is the father of the Prohibition party in this county and bought the Lever by the thousands, distribut- ing them gratuitously through the country. He fought for the Local Option bill, was successful, and all rejoiced. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Searcy Lodge No. 49, and was charter

member of the same. He was married in White County, Ark., in 1859, to Miss Susie M. Lewis, a native of Mississippi, and to this union were born seven children, five now living: Thomas B., Hallie B., Angie (now Mrs. Jones, of Memphis, Tenn.), Susie M. and Naomi. The mother of these children closed her eyes to the scenes of this world in 1877. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which Mr. Rogers also belongs, having joined in 1840; he has been a scholar and teacher ever since. In 1852 Mr. Rogers joined the Sons of Temperance, but now considers that their work was largely in vain. In 1880 he was sent to Cleve- land, Ohio, to the Prohibition National Conven- tion, became a member of that party, and has been on the executive board ever since; was sent to the National Prohibition Convention, which met at In- dianapolis, Ind., in 1888, and assisted in forming the Prohibition platform, every plank of which ex-

actly suited him. The same year he was also del- egate to the Arkansas State Convention at Little Rock, which adopted the national party platform.

Hon. John P. H. Russ is a man who needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for he has been usefully and honorably identified with the interests of this county and with its advancement in every worthy particular for many years. His early paternal ancestors were of Scotch-Irish de- scent and were among the original settlers of Jamestown, Va., but the two immigrants, Vincent and John, spelled their name Rusk, although the old Scotch way of spelling the name was Russ, a fact which was discovered by Charles E. Russ, the father of our biographical subject, while reading Scotch history, during his attendance at Hillsboro (N. C.) College. He adopted the old way of spell- ing the name, and as such it has continued to the present time. Charles E. Russ and his brother, John P. H., afterward graduated from Raleigh College, Raleigh, N. C., and the latter subse- quently became a prominent politician, and was honored with the office of Secretary of his native State, a position he held several terms, serving in the interests of the Democratic party. Charles E. Russ was strongly opposed to secession, and stumped the "Old North State" and Georgia in

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opposition to that measure. His wife, Sarah A. Parker, was a daughter of Harrison and Sarah (Parrish) Parker, the former of Scotch-Irish de- scent and the latter of French. Hon. John P. H. Russ was born in Floyd County, Ga., April 27, 1852, and in 1859 he was taken by his parents to Charlotte, S. C. After a residence of a few months in Florida they settled in Marengo County, Ala., remaining there until 1866, when Denmark, Tenn., became their home. Their first settlement in Ar- kansas was in the year 1869, when they settled at El Paso, in White County, purchasing a farm of 160 acres, twenty acres of which was heavily cov- ered with timber. Here both father and mother died, in 1884, the former in January and the lat- ter in June. They were members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Russ was a Mason, his wife belonging to the Eastern Star Lodge. Their family consisted of four sons and two daughters, two of whom are living besides our subject: James E. (who was married to Miss Belle Andrews, a native of Kentucky, is an attorney at law of Beebe, Ark.) and Laura J. (the wife of Thomas Midyett, a resident of El Paso Township). This couple was married in Tennessee and came to Arkansas in 1870, and are here rearing their family of three sons: Henry, Charley and Bascom. Hon. John P. H. Russ first commenced attending school in Red Mountain, Ala., but was afterward a stu- dent in the common schools of Tennessee, and fin- ished his education in the Methodist graded school under the supervision of Prof. J. W. Thompson. June 23, 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss Narcie L. Booth, a daughter of M. L. and Eliza- beth (Bushel) Booth [a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work ], and their union resulted in the birth of the following family: Mary E. (born May 18, 1873, and died September 4, 1885), Samira M. (born March 14, 1875), Charles L. (born March 23, 1877), Lena Mora (born December 4, 1880, and died March 4, 1889), Walter M. (born February 9, 1882), Otey S. (born February 28, 1884), John T. (born April 2, 1886), and Laura B. (born January 21, 1888). Mr. Russ always voted with the Dem- ocrat party until 1883 and, as he says, did more for the party than his Satanic Majesty, the Devil,

ever did, but he left it in consequence of dissatis- faction with the corruption of both the Democrat and Republican parties and identified himself with the Labor movement; and at a meeting of the White County Wheel, May 7, 1884, he was elected a delegate to the State Wheel, which was held at Little Rock, on June 9, of the same year. At this meeting a full county ticket was organized and Mr. Russ, the delegate, was told to use his own judgment as to which to support- a Labor State or a Wheel ticket. The result was the nomination of the Labor State ticket, and Mr. Russ was chosen by the committee as chairman of the committee for drawing up a platform, and wrote the first four planks. He was afterward elected chairman of the State and Labor Central Committee, and when a meeting was called at Litchfield, Jackson County, on July 27, 1884, he again filled out the ticket, and Charles E. Cunning was the nominee for Gov- ernor and received 19,706 votes in twenty-three counties organized in the State, out of seventy-five. At this meeting the delegates met under the shade of a tree and nominated a ticket for Congress, their nominee, R. B. Carl Lee, receiving a small vote in the district. At a meeting of the State Wheel at Little Rock, in 1884, Mr. Russ was elected as a delegate to the Labor Convention at Cincinnati, Ohio, the meeting to be held February 2, 1885. At the meeting of the Union Labor party in White County he was chosen permanent chairman, and was a delegate to the State convention with in- structions to put in the field a full State ticket, using his judgment in favor of the best man. He did so, and a vigorous canvass was carried on, the result being the election of Hon. C. M. Norwood, an ex-Confederate, one-leg soldier, as Governor, by a majority of from 8,000 to 10,000 votes. In 1886, at a meeting of the State Wheel, he was elected a member of the executive committee of that body, and was re-elected for three consecutive terms. He was also a delegate to the National Agricultural Wheel, the meeting of all Labor or- ganizations, at Meridian, Miss., in December, 1888; was a member of the first National Cotton Com- mittee, also at that place, and the second one, held at Atlanta, Ga. In 1886 he represented the Ar-

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kansas State Wheel, at Raleigh, N. C., and was elected by that body to the Farmers' Union to be held at Shreveport, La., in 1887. At a meeting of the State Wheel held at Little Rock, the same year, he was chosen State Lecturer, and was re- elected in 1888. The following year, at a meeting of the State Wheel at Hot Springs, he was chosen president of the State Wheel of Arkansas, and was at the same time elected a delegate to the National Farmers' and Laborers' Union, which was held in St. Louis, in December, 1889. October 19, of the same year, as president of the above-named body he issued a proclamation dissolving the State Wheel, and adopting the Farmers' and Laborers' Union of America, as agreed at the meeting of all the Labor organizations in 1888. Mr. Russ was president of the first district Wheel ever organized in White County, and filled the same position for the Twenty- seventh, the first senatorial Wheel, comprising White and Faulkner Counties. He discharged the duties of this position also for the Second Congres- sional Wheel, to which office he was elected in 1884, and he has been re-elected each succeeding year. He has held the office of Lecturer in the subordinate office for five years, and in this capac- ity has lectured in a great many counties. He is a strict temperance man, and for many years has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and in support of the latter, as well as in the cause of education, he has been exceedingly liberal and free-hearted. He is now acting as deputy sheriff of White County, and although re- peatedly urged to run for representative of White County, he has declined, thinking he could do more good for his party off the ticket than on. In 1873 Mr. Russ purchased from the United States Government 160 acres of wild land, and by subse- quent purchases has increased his land to 660 acres, of which 122 are under cultivation. His first farm was heavy timber land, but after many years of arduous labor and with the assistance of his worthy wife, who has proved to him a true helpmate, he has become one of the wealthy agri- culturists of the county. In the comparatively short time which has elapsed since he commenced doing for himself, he has developed and improved

two fine farms, and has made all the property he now has by the sweat of his brow as, at the time of marriage, he only possessed $23, a horse and a gold watch. At the time of locating. he, his wife and father could carry their effects on their backs, and the furniture with which their house was provided was made of lumber from their own land. Many changes have occurred since this esteemed citizen first located here, and he has witnessed the growth, of what was once a vast wilderness, to one of the most prosperous and influential counties of the State. He and wife have hosts of warm friends, and as they look back over their past careers they can see little to regret, while the future in the life to come stands out brightly before them.

James E. Russ, an attorney at law and notary public, of Beebe, is recognized as a prominent member of the legal fraternity of White County. A native of North Carolina, he was born in Orange County, November 9, 1855, being the son of Charles E. and Sarah A. (Parker) Russ, also of North Carolina origin [a sketch of whose lives ap- pears on a previous page, as well as a history of this illustrious family]. Charles Russ was born in 1819 and his wife in 1826. They were of Scotch- Irish and English descent, and were married in their native State in 1843, moving in 1859 to Ala- bama, where Mr. Russ conducted an extensive plan- tation, and managed a large force of slaves until after the war (in which he held the rank of major for four years). He subsequently went to Tennes- see and after a residence there of four years, moved again, this time settling in El Paso, Ark., where he followed the occupation of farming until his death in 1885. He was a Universalist in his re- ligious belief, his wife, who only survived him a few months, being a devoted member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Russ was a member of high standing in the Masonic order, and Mrs. Russ of the Eastern Star. James E. was the fifth in a family of six children, as follows: Laura J. (wife of Thomas H. Midyett, a wealthy farmer of El Paso), J. P. H. Russ (farmer and president of the State Wheel of Arkansas), Charles W. (who died at the age of twenty-two, unmarried), Mary and Robert (who both died in their youth). James

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E. was reared to farm life, but his opportunities for obtaining an education were very limited, three months being the extent of his entire schooling. At an early age, however, he became a careful stu- dent and constant reader at home. When twenty- one he entered upon the reading of law, at the same time managing the farm and supporting his par- ents. This course he continued until 1883, when he was admitted to the bar at Little Rock, having passed a critical examination before Judges W. F. Hill, T. J. Oliphant and J. M. Rose, committee, with Judge F. T. Vaughn as presiding judge. After passing this examination Mr. Russ formed a partnership with Judge Oliphant, under the firm name of Oliphant & Russ, which relation ex- isted nearly two years. Compelled to withdraw at that time on account of ill health, he passed several months in traveling, later returning to Ar- kansas, and finally settled in Beebe, where he has since resided, gaining by his upright course and recognized ability, the confidence and esteem of all acquaintances. As a practictioner he has built up an enviable and lucrative clientage, having a gen- eral law business in all courts of the State. In January, 1887, he lost his residence and contents by fire, but by energy, economy and strict integ- rity, has recovered from that disaster almost en- tirely. In December, 1883, Mr. Russ was united in marriage with Miss Belle Andrews, an estimable lady, daughter of William Andrews, a lawyer of Paducah, Ky. To them have been given a family of two children: Paul Eaton (born in September, 1884) and Jane (born November 2, 1886). Mr. and Mrs. Russ are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and both are deservedly popular in society circles. The former votes the straight Democratic ticket, but has never been looked upon as an aspirant for political preferment. During the year 1888 he was a member of the real-estate firm of Merrill, Russ & Co.

Christopher N. Saunders, a farmer and stock- man of Dog Wood Township, White County, Ark., was born in Virginia in 1822, and is the second child born to Wren and Mary D. (Teatroff) Saun- ders, who were also Virginians, the father's birth occurring in 1822. His parents, Reuben and

Frances Saunders, were born in that State, and there reared their family, of which State their son Wren is still an inhabitant. He was married in 1840, his wife being a daughter of John Teatroff, and he and wife reared a family of eleven children : Columbia I., Christopher N., Jane (who was a Mrs. Hunt, and is now dead), Reuben, Daniel (who died young), Mary (also died in childhood), Ellen and Logan (both died in infancy), Millard P. (a resident of West Virginia), Artemas and Leanna D. (married). The mother of these chil- dren died in 1865, a consistent member of the Christian Church at the time of her death. Chris- topher N. Saunders spent his youth on a farm, and also received his early schooling in his native State. In 1862 he enlisted in Company F, Twen- ty-fifth Virginia Cavalry, and the first battle in which he participated was near Richmond. After the war he began farming for himself, and in 1871 was married to Malina Owen, a daughter of Will- iam and Keron Owen, natives of Virginia, both of whom are now dead. Mr. Saunders and his wife reared a family of six children: Wren, Minnie, Claudius, Keron, Clifford G. and Charles C. John W. died in childhood, and Mattie Lee died in October, 1889. In 1876 our subject removed with his family to White County, Ark., and in 1881 bought his present farm of 160 acres. He has forty acres under cultivation, and is doing well. He is a Democrat, and he and wife belong to the Christian Church.

Elihu Q. Seaton is the son of George W. Sea- ton, a native of Alabama, who was born near Huntsville, Madison County, N. Ala., on June 13, 1820, moving when quite young with his par- ents to Panola County, Miss., where he grew to manhood. In 1841 he was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Smart, also of Alabama origin, her birth occurring in Florence, Lauderdale County, April 9, 1820. When a young girl she accompa- nied her parents to Mississippi. George W. Seaton was by profession a farmer, but spent a greater part of his time in teaching school, being a man of su- perior education and refinement. He was an exem- plary member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and took an active part in all church and charita-

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ble enterprises, particularly so in his later years. In his political views he sided with the Democrats, and held many offices of trust, discharging his du- ties in a highly commendable manner, and winning great credit for himself and family. He was a Mason in high standing, and recognized as a prom- inent and influential citizen. Mrs. Seaton, though a professor of religious faith from a very early age, was not connected with any church. She and her husband were descendants of some of the oldest and best families of Northern Alabama. Remov- ing from Mississippi to Lonoke County, Ark., in 1878, they were residing there at the time of Mr. Seaton's death in September, 1880. Mrs. Seaton then went to Texas, but soon returned to her home in Lonoke County, where she now lives. To their union nine children were born, seven of whom sur- vive: William (a farmer of Panola, Miss.), George S. N. (a planter of Sevier County, Ark.), Sarah S. T. (the wife of J. M. Smith, of Faulkner County, Ark.), Elihu Q. (the subject of this sketch), Albert- ine, J. (now Mrs. J. D. McPherson, of Collins County, Tex.), Lucy A. (wife of Elias Harrell, of Prairie County, Ark.), Georgiana A. (Mrs. Frank White, a prosperous farmer of Lonoke County, Ark.), Frances H. (widow of William Mason; now the wife of Andrew Lowe), B. A. (the wife of L. J. Pardue, and died in Lonoke County in 1887). Elihu Q. Seaton's educational advantages in youth were limited to the inferior schools of the period, but by constant reading and close observation, he has obtained a good practical education. He be- gan for himself at the age of twenty years, first as a farmer, and then as a teacher in the public schools, where for eight years he instructed the young idea, and gained an enviable local reputa- tion as an instructor. For the last three years Mr. Seaton has been engaged in the mercantile business, and is now located at Russell, Ark. He carries a general stock valued at $2,000, and has been quite successful in this business, and in the accumulation of property. He was married Janu- ary 13, 1889, to Miss Frances A. Gamble, of White County, and a Kentuckian by birth. "To this mar- riage one child has been born, Benjamin A., on October 11, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Seaton are mem-

bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, to which they give their support. In all worthy en- terprises Mr. Seaton is a leader, not a follower, and has accomplished, by his progressive spirit, many things that might otherwise still be in an embryo state. He is a conservative Democrat, and a member in high standing of the Masonic order. In 1888 he received an appointment as notary pub- lic for a term of four years.

Andrew C. Shoffner, M. D., deserves honor- able mention as one of the successful practitioners of the healing art in White County, and since 1876 has been actively engaged in alleviating the suffer- ings of the sick and afflicted, his services being in demand among the best people of the county. He was born in Tennessee, in 1830, and is a son of Martin and Jane C. (Johnson) Shoffner, and grand- son of John and Christenia Shoffner. Martin Shoffner was born in North Carolina, in 1806, and inherited German blood from his parents. He was married in 1828, and the children born to his union are as follows: Andrew C., Mary A. (Mrs. John- son, living in Tennessee), Minerva A. (Mrs. Powell, now deceased), James H. (a resident of Mississippi), Elizabeth J. (Mrs. Howard, living in Mississippi), Susan A. (Mrs. Vick, also a resident of Missis- sippi), John F. (who was killed in the battle of Chickamauga), Josephine (Mrs. Curl, of Mississippi) and Francis M. (living in De Soto County, Miss.). Martin Shoffner followed the occupation of farm- ing all his life, and spent his declining years in Marshall County, Miss., his death occurring there in 1858, his wife's death having occurred in 1851, both being members of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church. Dr. Shoffner, our subject, spent his youth on a farm in Tennessee, and completed his education at a private school. In 1862 he enlisted in the army, but was shortly after dis- charged on account of ill health and returned home. He was married in 1851 to Miss Julia A. Vick, a daughter of Ransom and Elizabeth Vick, the former of Virginia, and the latter a Tennes- seean. Of a family of thirteen children born to the Doctor and his wife, only one is dead. Those living are: Robert L. (who married Sallie A. Walker, and resides in the county), Cordelia (Mrs.

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Smith, a resident of Marshall County, Miss.), Jennie (Mrs. Walker, is a resident of Dog Wood Township), Ella (Mrs. Davis, lives in Argenta, Ark.), James M. (lives at Searcy), Laura (Mrs. Beaver, is a resident of Arkansas), Augustus F., Lucy E., Henrietta, Idonia and Addie, all single. In 1866 Dr. Shoffner came to White County, Ark., settling in Searcy Valley, but since 1874 has been a resident of Dog Wood Township, where he has a farm of 100 acres, with fifty under cultivation. He devotes his time to the practice of his profes- sion, and leaves his sons to manage the farm. He is ever interested in all good works, and gives lib- erally of his means in the support of schools and churches. Politically he is a Republican, and so- cially, belongs to the Masonic fraternity.

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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