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 39

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 39

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Thomas Smith. Personal popularity results largely from the industry, perseverance and close attention to business which a person displays in the management of any particular branch of trade, and in the case of Mr. Smith this is most certainly true, for he has adhered closely to farming and the stock industry, and helped in so many ways to ad- vance all worthy interests in the community, that he has won the admiration and respect of all. His parents, Matthew and Mary (McCue) Smith were born in Killeshandra Village, Ireland, and to them were given three sons: Peter (born in 1821), Thomas (born in 1822), and James (born in 1824). The father died in 1824, and his widow resided in her native county until 1831, when she with her family moved to the city of Balbriggean, County Dublin, and there lived until her demise in 1840. Seven years later Thomas Smith and his brother James emigrated to America, the elder brother, Peter, having emigrated to this country in 1845. They landed at New York, May 27, 1847, and after a few days' stay in that city they joined their brother Peter in Delaware County, Penn., he hav- ing secured work with a farmer, S. T. Walker. They were also fortunate enough to find employ- ment, and from the time they reached Pennsylva- nia until three and one-half years later Thomas was engaged in farm labor. In 1850 he, with his brother James, removed to Arkansas and settled in Faulkner County (then Conway County), each be-

coming the owner of 160 acres of land, both of which are in the possession of our subject at the present time. In 1850 he was married in the Catholic Church of Old Chester, Penn., to Miss Mary Ann Collins, a native of County Donegal, Ireland, and after their removal to Arkansas they both set energetically to work to clear and improve their farm, which was a heavy timber tract inhab- ited by all kinds of wild game. Their capital con- sisted of a pair of willing hands and a determina- tion to succeed no matter what the obstacles might be, and to say that they had been successful would not do the subject justice. The year following their arrival in the State they built them a substantial log house, and the first letter they received after settling in their new home, was from a friend in Pennsylvania, Mr. Smith walking to the nearest postoffice, a distance of twenty miles to receive it. He has cleared 150 acres of his farm from timber, and now has some of the most fertile land of which the county can boast. Having experienced the many hardships and privations which beset a man in his journey through life, Mr. Smith never turns the more unfortunate from his door, but is always generous, charitable and hospitable. The follow- ing family was born to him and his first wife: James (born August 19, 1851), Mary Ann (born in 1853), Sarah (born in 1855), Susan (born in 1856), Thomas (born in 1857) and Edward (born in 1859), all of whom died in infancy, the mother also dying August 1, 1859. In 1861 Mr. Smith espoused his second wife, Miss Elizabeth Hogans, of Arkansas, but her death occurred in 1870, in giving birth to her son, Henry. The children of this union are: William (born January 20, 1862), Alice (born May 9, 1864), Thomas (born October 24, 1865), Hugh (born April 17, 1867), Edward (born April 27, 1867), Robert (born December 9, 1869) and Henry (born January 27, 1870). On January 18, 1871, Mr. Smith's union with his third wife took place, her name being Elizabeth Wilson. Mr. Smith and wife are members of the Catholic Church, and all their children have been baptized in that faith, but were never confirmed. Mr. Smith is a Democrat, and a member of the Agricultural Wheel No. 99. Joel W. Smith, a prominent farmer of White

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County, is a son of Alexander and Sarah (Follwell) Smith, natives of Virginia. Alexander Smith was married in 1816 or 1817, and had a family of five children: Catharine, William H., James M., Sarah A. and Joel W., our subject. Mrs. Smith died in 1828, in Alabama. Mr. Smith then married his second wife in 1830, her maiden name being Miss Margaret Ellis. They were the parents of nine children: Aaron G. (deceased), Keziah, Alyrah, Mary, George, Margery, Lottie, Victoria and Martha. Joel W. Smith was born in Limestone County, Ala., in 1826. He was reared on a farm, and received but little education, his father dying in 1852. Upon arriving at maturity he was mar- ried on November 25, 1845, to Elizabeth F. Lewis, also of Alabama nativity, and a child of William and Jane (Rogers) Lewis, being the second daugh- ter in a family of ten children. Her birth oc- curred May 8, 1820. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of six children: Henrietta (Redus), John A., Edward F., Margaret J. (Yearby) Sarah F. (Alford), and Harriet A. (Sowel). Mr. Smith came to Arkansas in 1858, and settled in White County, whence he enlisted in 1862 in Company B of the Arkansas Infantry, under Capt. Critz, Col. Schofer being in command of the regiment. He was taken sick and received his discharge and returned home, but re-enlisted in 1863, under Col. Geyn. He was in the battle of Helena, and was taken prisoner and carried to Little Rock, later to Walton, Ill., and afterward to Rock Island, Ill., being confined until the close of the war. Mr. Smith has a farm of 300 acres, with over 200 under cultivation. He is a member of Centre Hill Lodge No. 114, A. F. & A. M., and himself and wife be- long to the Baptist Church. Mr. Smith is a strong Democrat, and has been school director for the past six years, taking great interest in the work.

Frank W. Smith, Searcy, Ark. Another pio- neer settler of the county, and a much-respected citizen is the above-mentioned gentleman who came to White County, Ark., in 1853, from Missis- sippi. He was born in Fayette County, Miss., in 1833, and was the eighth in a family of nine chil- dren, the result of the union of John and Rebecca Smith, natives of Tennessee. The father was a

planter, and in connection carried on merchandis- ing at Oxford, Fayette County, Miss. In 1830 he moved to Benton County, Ark., remaining there a short time, and then returned to Mississippi in 1831, making that his home until his death which occurred at Oxford, Miss., in 1844. His widow survived him many years, came to White County in 1853, and there her death occurred in the fall of that year. Their family consisted of the follow- ing children: Harrison (married, and a farmer of De Soto County, Miss.), Benjamin (married, and resides in Gray Township), Margaret (wife of Will- iam Graves, of Howard County, Ark.), Catherine (died in White County, Ark., in 1889; she was the wife of John Boggs), Thomas (married and re- sides in Gray Township), William (died in White County in 1871), John (married and resides in Gray Township), Frank W. and Mary (wife of James Neavill; she died in 1858). The father of these children participated in the War of 1812. Frank W. Smith's youth in growing up was passed in attending to duties about the home place, and in the subscription schools of Mississippi. He commenced farming for himself in White County, Ark., at the age of twenty-one, and in 1855, in partnership with his brother, John, purchased 160 acres of land which he improved. Later the brothers separated, each doing for himself. F. W. Smith has erected all the buildings, and has added to his farm from time to time until he is now the owner of 400 acres, with 150 under cultivation, and 100 acres or more in pasture. He does mixed farming, raises corn and cotton and also consider- able horses and cattle, and is one of the wide- awake farmers of the county. He enlisted in the army at Searcy in 1862, and for twelve months was in Capt. Davis' company, Gen. McRae's regiment. He participated in several skirmishes and later went into the State troops, where he re- mained but a short time. At the close of the serv- ice he returned to the farm. He was married in White County in 1855 to Miss Mary L. Neavill, a native of Alabama, and the daughter of Elihu and Margaret (Jones) Neavill, natives of Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Neavill came to White County in 1844, settled in Gray Township, and he was one

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of the influential men of the county, being treas- urer of the same one term. His death occurred in 1852 and the mother's in 1888. After marriage Mr. Smith settled where he now resides, and there he has since remained. Although not very active in politics he votes with the Democratic party; is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, of which or- ganization he was steward, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. To this union two living children were born: Sarah and Kirby (of which Kirby is mar- ried and resides with his father). Mr. Smith came to this county when all was wild and unbroken, and when game was in abundance. Now fine farms cover the country, and everything is in a prosper- ous condition. He is practically a self-made man; having started with little he is now very comforta- bly fixed, and can pass the remainder of his life in ease.

William Smith. Faulkner County is rapidly coming into a position as one of the foremost stock counties in the State, and it is but uttering a plain fact to say that to a few men in this community is due the credit for advancing stock interests here and establishing a reputation in this department which is bound to stand for years. Mr. Smith has had not a little to do toward developing the stock mat- ters of this region and if for no other account he is accorded a worthy place in this volume. His parents, Ebenezer and Permelia (Murphy) Smith, were married in Tennessee, in 1823, but the former was born in the State of Mississippi. He was left fatherless when a small boy, his paternal parent dying in Georgia, after which his widowed mother moved with her family to Tennessee, where she died, having borne a family of five sons and two daughters. · Ebenezer Smith and his wife became the parents of eleven children, who grew to man- hood and womanhood, seven of whom were born in Mississippi and four in Tennessee. After the moth- er's death in 1855, Mr. Smith married again, his second wife being Miss Elizabeth Chambers of Mis- sissippi, their marriage being solemnized in 1856; six children were born to this union. William Smith, our subject, was reared to a farm life and received a limited education in the subscription

schools of Tishomingo County, Miss. He grew to manhood, and on April 26, 1856, was married there to Miss Melvina Dotson, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride's parents, William and Nancy (Bales) Dotson. Victoria A., their eldest child, was born March 26, 1859, and June 14, 1874, became the wife of D. A. Thornton, a farmer who resides in Faulkner County, by whom she has four children. Sidney, the youngest child, was born August 15, 1860, and died August 24, 1864. Sep- tember 15, 1886, witnessed the celebration of Mr. Smith's second marriage to Mrs. Mattie E. (Tucker) Beasley, daughter of LaFayette and Jane (Knight) Tucker, who were born in Mississippi, the father being of Irish origin. At the age of twenty-one years, Mr. Smith's father made him overseer of his plantation, and for his services gave him a one- fourth interest in the profits of the farm, and at the end of one year he had accumulated sufficient property to enable him to purchase eighty acres of land, all of which was heavily covered with timber. During the six following years, he cleared thirty acres of this tract, and erected thereon a dwelling- house, and the necessary outbuildings. Owing to the turbulent state of affairs during the war he, with his wife and children and a few articles of household furniture, removed by wagon to near Union City, Ky., making their home there for about ten months, and raising one crop. They next settled in Tennessee, near Island No. 10, and here Mr. Smith left his family and went to Paducah, Ky., where he enlisted in the First Kentucky Calvary, Confederate States Army, and served six months or until the close of the war. He then returned to his family and soon after purchased 100 acres of wild land in Gibson County, and this he re- sided on and continued to improve until 1870, since which time he has been a resident of the State of Arkansas. The farm upon which he is now re- siding consists of 243 acres, the original purchase consisting of 160 acres. Only a small portion of this land had been cleared, but at the present writ- ing seventy acres are in high state of cultivation, the soil being well adapted to the raising of cotton, corn, oats and all varieties of vegetables. Both Mr. Smith and his wife are professors of religion, the

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former a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and the latter of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Smith is a supporter and member of the Agri- cultural Wheel, belonging to El Paso Lodge No. 158, is a man of enterprise and progress, and be- ing hospitable and generous is a valuable addition to the county of his adoption.

Abner F. Smith received his education at the high schools of Powhattan County, Va., but left his implements of study and literary pursuits in May, 1861, to take up the instruments of war. Joining the Confederate army he entered the Pow- hattan Rifle Company and was in the battles of Prairie Grove, Cotton Plant, Helena, Little Rock, Jenkins' Ferry, and a number of skirmishes. After the war Mr. Smith went to Grand Glaize, Ark., and commenced farming, and in 1870 en- gaged in the grocery business in partnership with John Thurman. Two years later he started alone, but the credit business proved unprofitable to him and he embarked in the timber business, being engaged in getting out ties for the Iron Mountain Railroad. In 1886 he opened up a store in Bald Knob, and is now enjoying a large and lucrative patronage. Ab- ner T. Smith was born in Chesterfield County, Va., in 1843, being the son of William S. and Eliza- beth (Edwards) Smith. The former was a railroad contractor and also contractor for public works while in Virginia, but after his removal to Arkan- sas carried on merchandising at Grand Glaize. He was a Whig in politics, and belonged to the Masonic order at the time of his death, which occurred in 1864, when forty-eight years old. Mrs. Smith has long been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. She was born in 1815 and is still living in Bald Knob, Ark. In this family were six children, only two of whom are living: Abner F. (our subject) and Alonzo (who is in business with his brother). Mr. Smith was married Febru- ary 22, 1867, to Miss Fanny Heard, daughter of Baily E. Heard. She died in 1873, leaving three children, only one of whom is living: William B., a student at Searcy College, and who intends en- tering a law school after graduating at Searcy. June 24, 1874, Mr. Smith married Lucy C. Pat- rick, who died April 20, 1871, leaving one child:

Edward A. He was married to his present wife, Adeline Allen, March 4, 1876. Mrs. Smith is a daughter of Dr. John Allen, of White County, and is the mother of one daughter: Mamie. Mr. Smith is a strong Democrat and belongs to the Masonic order, also holding membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South: While in Jackson County he was appointed justice of the peace by Gov. Garland.

Dr. J. A. Snipes, Searcy, Ark. The career of Dr. Snipes as a physician and surgeon has long been well and favorably known to the many who have tested his healing ability, and his popularity as a druggist is firmly established. He owns a good two-story brick business building, 100x30 feet, car- ries a full line of drugs, paints, oils, etc., and does a thriving trade. He first engaged in the drug business in the early part of 1885, and since then he has been thus employed. He was born in Or- ange County, N. C., in 1825, was the third in a family of seven children born to E. P. and Nancy (Burnett) Snipes, natives of North Carolina, the father born in 1800 and the mother in 1801, and in Orange and Chatham Counties, respectively. The parents were married in Chatham County, N. C., in 1821, and the father followed agricultural pursuits there until 1845, when he moved to Mad- ison County, W. Tenn. After residing there until 1854 he moved to Haywood County, Tenn., pur- chased an improved farm, and still owns 560 acres in Jefferson County, with 350 acres under cultiva- tion. The father is still living, and makes his home with the Doctor. He has been a very in- dustrious, energetic man, was magistrate of several counties, and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for sixty years. The mother died in Madison County, Tenn., in 1857. The pater- nal grandparents, Thomas and Martha (Williams) Snipes, were natives of the Old Dominion, and moved to North Carolina when children. The maternal grandparents, Isaiah and Jane (Hern- don) Burnett, were natives of North Carolina, and always made that State their home. They died many years ago. The seven children born to E. P. and Nancy (Burnett) Snipes are named as fol- lows: Walter A. (married, and in 1856 came to

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White County, locating in Marion Township, fol- lowed farming, and there remained until 1857, when he went to Jefferson County, and there con- tinued his former occupation; his death occurred in the winter of 1884-85, and he left one child, William E., who is a machinist and resides in Jefferson County, Ark.), Eliza J. (widow of C. B. Horton, resides at the Doctor's), Dr. J. A., Far- rington B. (married, resides in Madison County, Tenn., and is a lawyer and farmer), Julia A. (now Mrs. Allen, of Brownsville, Tenn.), Martha M., (now Mrs. J. T. Key, of Searcy, Ark. ) and Thomas J. (who enlisted in the army in Jefferson County in 1862, and died of smallpox in Mississippi two years later). Dr. J. A. Snipes was reared to farm labor and was favored with such educational ad- vantages as the district schools of that day afforded. After coming to Tennessee he engaged in teaching and also read medicine for about three years, sub- sequently attending that far-famed institution, the Jeffersonian Medical College, at Philadelphia, Penn., in 1848. In 1851 he began the practice of medicine in Dyer County, Tenn., thence in 1852 went to Madison County, Tenn., and finally in 1854 came to White County, locating in Searcy, and has practiced his profession in White County continuously for thirty-five years. He is one of the earliest practitioners and is one in whom all have confidence. Aside from his practice he has also been engaged in farming in this and Marion Townships. He resided in the last-named town- ship from 1856 to 1868, and opened up a large farm in Big Creek. He has resided in Searcy since 1868, with the exception of three years, when he resided on his farm in the suburbs. Dr. Snipes was married in Lauderdale County, Tenn., in De- cember, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth J. Murphy, a na- tive of Halifax County, Va., and the daughter of Thomas and Lucy (Coleman) Murphy, natives of Virginia. Her father died in that State, and the mother afterward immigrated to Tennessee (1842), thence to Searcy in 1854, and made her home with the Doctor until 1867, when she was killed in the memorable cyclone of May 27 of that year. By this union five children were born, three now liv- ing: Anna B. (now Mrs. W. H. Lightle, of Searcy), 16

Minnie (now Mrs. John T. Hicks, of Searcy) and Emmett (a pharmacist in the drug store of the Doctor). Mrs. Lightle has four children: Minnie H., Edward J., Bettie K. and Julian. Mrs. Hicks has two children: Everett B. and Willie Burnett. The Doctor's deceased children are named as fol- lows: Everett (died, in 1876, at the age of eighteen years, and Camillus (died, in 1874, at the age of fourteen years). Socially, the Doctor is a member of Searcy Lodge No. 49, A. F. & A. M., and is a member of Tillman Chapter No. 19, R. A. M. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge at Searcy. Dr. Snipes has seen the full growth and develop- ment of Searcy during the many years of his res- idence here. What is now Mrs. Chambless' hotel was the court house at that time, and many and great have been the changes. He took an active interest in working for the location of the State University that was finally located at Fayetteville, but union not existing in Searcy, that city failed to get it. The Doctor, his wife and all the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Dr. Snipes has always been deeply interested in educa- tional matters.

Omal H. Stanley is the eldest son of a family of eight children born to John H. and Elizabeth (Yancey) Stanley. John H. Stanley, born in about 1800, was a native of Halifax. Va., and a carriage- maker by trade, his marriage occurring in 1829. He afterward moved to Jackson, Tenn., where he went into the carriage business, and there he died in 1848, his wife following in 1873. O. H. Stan- ley learned the carriage-maker's trade of his father when a boy, and upon reaching manhood was mar- ried, in Jackson, Tenn., in 1852, to Jane M. Lauffort, originally from Madison County, Tenn., born in 1835. Her father held the office of county clerk in 1848 and for four years following, and in 1852 was elected county treasurer, occupying this official position for two years. In 1856 he moved to Arkansas, where he died in 1862. After his marriage, Mr. Stanley started a carriage shop at Jackson, remaining until 1860, when he removed to Austin, Prairie County, Ark., and carried on business there until 1864, excepting one year, while serving in the Confederate army, in Glenn's

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regiment; he was in the quartermaster's depart- ment. Upon receiving his discharge, in 1864, he went to Perry County, Ill., but thirteen months after, or in September, 1865, came back to Arkan- sas, and settled at Devall's Bluff, where he took charge of the Government shops. Four years later he started a shop in Searcy, tarried two years, then moved to a farm on Dead River, where he re- mained four years, and in 1874 came to Cane Township, White County, purchasing 160 acres of wild land. This he has partially cleared (about sixty acres), and on it has erected a good house and other buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Stanley were the parents of ten children, nine of whom are still living: Edgar H. (deceased), James R., Jason C., Mary E. (now Mrs. Smith), Elanora, Willie B., Oscar L., Gertrude, Emma L. and Charles W. Mr. and Mrs. Stanley are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, Mr. Stanley being chair- man of the board of trustees. He is a strong Democrat in his political preferences, and takes an active interest in all movements for the good of the community.

J. W. Starkey is a representative and wide- awake farmer of White County, Ark., having been a resident in this county since 1870. He first saw the light of this world in Tuscaloosa County, Ala.,. in 1853, and was the second in a family of twelve children given to John B. and Nancy (Weaver) Starkey, the former born in North Carolina and the latter in Alabama. They married in the latter State in 1851, and after clearing and living on a farm there until 1866, he immigrated to Itawamba County, Miss. Four years later he settled in White County, Ark. ; here he purchased a partially improved farm of 160 acres, and now has 100 under the plow. In 1862 he enlisted from Ala- bama in the Confederate army, and served three years. His death occurred in White County, Jan- uary 14, 1889, and at the time of his demise was counted one of the members of the Wheel organi- zation. His wife still lives, and resides on the old homestead. Their children are: Martha A. (Mrs. Weeks), John W. (the subject of this sketch), D. A. (a resident of the county), E. J. (Mrs. Worthen, of Kentucky Township), N. B. (Mrs. Troxell, of

the same township), M. F. (Mrs. Rissell, of the same township), R. C., Ellen, George Robert, Robert Bruce, William Bedford and Ollie B. John W. Starkey learned the carpenter's trade in his youth, in addition to becoming familiar with farm work, and received the greater part of his educa- tion in the schools of Mississippi. At the age of twenty-four he began farming for himself, and was married to Mattie Jones, a native of Georgia, pur- chasing soon after a timber tract of eighty acres, and now has fifty-five cleared and improved. He gives considerable attention to raising stock, and is succeeding in his enterprises. In politics he is a Democrat, and he, with his wife, worships with the Missionary Baptist Church, to which they belong. They are the parents of five children: John T., Alwilda, Nancy Jane, Grover Cleveland and Ber- sada. Mrs. Starkey is a daughter of Thomas F. and Nancy (Kilpatrick) Jones, who were native Georgians, the father a boot and shoe maker by trade. In 1870 he settled in Brownsville, Prairie County, Ark., but a year later removed to Searcy, White County, and, in 1885, to Texas, where he now resides. His wife died in Searcy, in 1873.

Hon. Lee Thomas Stewart, a man who has held public office every year since he was twenty-one years old, of Beebe, Ark., was born in the county in which he is now residing on April 16, 1863, and is one of seven surviving members of a family of thirteen children born to Robert M. and Catherine (Walker) Stewart, from whom he inherits Scotch- Irish blood. The father and mother were born in North and South Carolina, respectively, and were among the early immigrants to White County, Ark., settling about ten miles from Searcy on the Searcy and Des Arc road. Here Mr. Stewart improved a farm and at the time of his death, in 1868, owned considerable land, of which seventy-five acres were under the plow. When the war broke out he owned fifteen slaves, but of course they were all lost during the Rebellion. R. M. Stewart moved to this State in 1856. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a Mason, standing high in this order and was buried with Masonic honors. He also helped build the first church and school- house in the southern part of White County. The

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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