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 43

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 43

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and were honored and respected wherever they made their home. They both died on the old plantation in Mississippi. Their son, William, was for many years a prosperous and influential citizen of Memphis, where he acquired considerable prop- erty, and was beloved by all. He was a Mason, belonging to St. Elmo Commandery. He died in 1885. Emily, a daughter was married to Thomas Bice. Rachel married W. C. Wooten: they are both deceased, also Caroline, who died in 1867. Mary married Patrick Smith, and in 1887 she and her son moved to White County, Ark., with A. J. West, where they now reside. A. J. spent his early life on the plantation in Mississippi, and re- ceived his schooling at Oxford University, and aft- erward at Murfreesboro, Tenn. After leaving col- lege he farmed and taught school; his father and brother-in-law being dead, he devoted the best years of his life in caring for his widowed mother and sisters and their families. He was married January 15, 1888, to Miss Jessie Bramlitt, of Cor- inth, Miss., who was a daughter of Jessie L. and Mary (Anderson) Bramlitt. Her father was for many years a successful merchant of Jackson, Miss. He moved from there to Prentiss County, Miss., and purchased one of the most desirable farms in the county, Her mother was the only daughter of Samuel Anderson, of Pulaski, Tenn,

Samuel A. Westbrook, of Beebe, White County, Ark., was born in Maury County, Tenn., April 29, 1833. Being left a poor boy, after arriving at the age of eighteen, he followed overseeing for several . years, and came to Arkansas in December, 1858, where he engaged in the mill business and farming. The former he has discontinued, and now gives his attention to farming and stock raising. He has become noted for the fine stock he raises, and especially for his Short-horn cattle and Clydes- dale and Morgan horses. In addition to his land being well adapted to stock raising, it is exceed- ingly fertile, and all kinds of fruit and grain can be raised in abundance. Mr. Westbrook is one of the pushing men of the county, and from his mill lumber was procured with which to build nearly every church and school-house in the county. He served three months in the army, but as he was

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exempt, and on account of his services being re- quired at home to operate his mill, he returned to Arkansas. He was a Whig in former times, but is now Independent in his political views. On March 30, 1865, he was married to Miss Susan A. Walker, a daughter of Rev. C. B. Walker, of Mississippi, who removed to Arkansas in 1857. Of eight chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Westbrook five are liv- ing: Charles B., S. A. and W. H. (twins), Jennie, ' Robert T., Willie and Walker Lipsey.

Daniel W. Wheaton, son of James and Betsey A. Wheaton, was born in Pomfret, Conn., October 3, 1833, on the old Wheaton homestead, which had been in the family since the Revolutionary War, being the youngest of a family of thirteen children. His father, James Wheaton, a native of Connecti- cut, was born in 1790, and his mother, Betsey (Angell) Wheaton, was born in Rhode Island, in 1795. They were married about 1815, and the fol- lowing are the names of their children: Marshal (who died in Rhode Island. in 1840, at the age of twenty-four years), Mason N., Angell, Seth T., Gurdon N., Monroe, Nancy L., Horatio, Henry W. and D. W. James Wheaton was a farmer all his life, and died on his old homestead in Connecticut, in 1876. He was twice married, his first wife dy- ing in 1814, left him with two children: Warren L. and Jessie C. His second wife, the mother of our subject, died in 1857, on the old farm in Con- necticut. James Wheaton, the grandfather, reared a family of five children. D. W. Wheaton, our biographical subject, remained on the home farm in his native State until he was twenty-five years of age, then came West and spent twelve years in the State of Illinois, Du Page County, and was there married to Priscilla P. Beith, a daughter of William and Mary (Allen) Beith, her birth having occurred in Illinois. Her parents were Scotch and settled in Illinois about 1844, where they became the parents of three children. Mr. Wheaton and his wife have become the parents of four children: Mary E. (wife of A. P. Moody), Julia, Clara and William. Since the year 1871, Mr. Wheaton has re- sided in White County, Ark., his farm, comprising 275 acres, being situated one and one-half miles from Judsonia. At the time of his purchase, the

land was heavily covered with timber, but he has cleared about seventy-five acres and devoted it to the raising of fruit, for which he finds a ready sale. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he being one of its stewards, and in his political views he is a Republican. He has two brothers who are large land holders at Wheaton, Ill., the town taking its name from them.

James K. Whitney has risen to a position as one of White County's leading citizens through his own merits. A native of Tennessee, he re- ceived his education in this county, and graduated from the Bryant & Stratton Commercial College, after which he went into the mercantile business in company with C. P. Douthar, at West Point, there remaining until 1874. He then wound up his father's business, and engaged in farming and stock raising, and in 1884 commenced the breeding of Holstein cattle, the only herd of which breed he now has in White County. Mr. Whitney was born in Fayette County, Tenn., January 27, 1846, being a son of Elijah and Mary (Anderson) Whitney, of Kentucky and Tennessee nativity, respectively. Mr. Whitney, Sr., learned the machinist's trade when a young man, and was en- gaged for a number of years in selling cotton-spin- ning machinery, through Kentucky and Tennes- see. After his marriage, February 22, 1842, he removed to Fayette County, Tenn., and carried on farming, in 1859 removing to Arkansas, and locat- ing in White County, where he lived until his death, in January, 1873. He was a son of Hiram Whitney, a soldier in the War of 1812, and was with Gen. Hull on his disastrous campaign. His wife was a niece of Gen. William H. Harrison. The Whitney family are of English descent, and the Anderson family of Scotch origin. Mr. and Mrs. Whitney had a family of five children, two of whom only are living: a daughter (now Mrs. Douthar, whose husband is a merchant of White County) and James K. (our subject). In 1876 James K. Whitney was married to Miss Ella T. Black, daughter of W. D. Black. She was born in White County in 1858, and has borne six chil- dren, four of whom are still living: Leslie E.,

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Floyd W., Bessie and Mary E. Mr. and Mrs. Whitney are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which the former is clerk and treas- urer. He is one of the leading Democrats of the county, and as a citizen and neighbor enjoys wide respect.

I. J. Whitsitt is also numbered among the well- to-do farmers of Dogwood Township. He was born in Alabama in 1848, as the son of Wilson and Elizabeth (Price) Whitsitt, Kentuckians by birth. Wilson Whitsitt was born in 1808, and moved to Alabama when a boy with his father, be- ing married in 1828 to the mother of our subject. Her birth occurred in 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Whit- sitt were the parents of ten children, seven of whom are still living: Jane, Camily, Sallie, Harriett, I. J. (our subject), Katie and William. The father was a prosperous farmer and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, as was also his wife. He died in 1878, having survived his worthy companion eight years. I. J. Whitsitt passed his school days in Alabama, and commenced his occupation of a farmer in that State in 1864. In 1873 he chose for his life associate, Elizabeth Sherwood, a daughter of Thomas and Ruth (Jink- ins) Sherwood, natives of Tennessee. They havea family of two children: Benjamin and Hughes. In 1876 Mr. Whitsitt moved to Texas with his family, and was engaged in farming until 1881, then com- ing to White County, Ark., where he bought his present farm, consisting of 160 acres of land, with fifty acres under cultivation at the present time. He is a stanch Democrat and a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, as is his wife. Mr. Whitsitt is indeed a good citizen of White County, taking an interest in all work for the benefit of the community in which he lives.

William M. Williams, a native of Randolph County, N. C., and a son of John and Ellen (Crav- en) Williams, also originally from the old North State, was born in 1842. John Williams was a son of James and Frances Williams, and was mar- ried between 1825 and 1830, rearing a family of seven children: Evaline, Sauliman, Robert, Susan, William M., Alexander and John. Mr. Williams died in 1846. William M. started in life for him-

self, in 1868, at farming, and, in 1871, came to Ar- kansas, settling on a farm in White County, which he rented. A short time afterward he bought 320 acres of land, and now has eighty acres under cul- tivation. During the war he enlisted in the Con- federate army, in the Forty-sixth North Carolina Infantry, and was engaged in the battles of Seven Pines, Oak Grove, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg and the battle of Plank Road and others, serving until the close of the war, and being present when Lee surrendered under the famous old apple tree at Appomattox. Mr. Williams was married in 1872 to Miss Frances Tote, a daughter of Andrew and Mary (Tees) Tote, natives of North Carolina. Him- self and wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, South. Mr. Williams says the soil of Arkansas will raise anything that can be grown elsewhere. He has been very prosperous in the nineteen years of his residence here and counts his friends by the score.

Dr. F. M. Winborn, one of the most prominent physicians of White County, is a native of Alabama, and was born in Florence, February 27, 1835, being one of nine children in the family of William and Mary (May) Winborn. The former's birth occurred in North Carolina, July 5, 1800. He was educated in the schools of Alabama, and immigrated from the latter State in 1816 to Tennessee, whence, after a residence of two years in Tennessee, he returned to Alabama and was married, there passing the rest of his life. His wife, Mary May, was a daugh- ter of John and Elizabeth May, of Alabama. Mr. Winborn's demise occurred in December, 1875, his wife having been called to her final home some years before. The grandfather, William Winborn, was of North Carolina nativity and a soldier in the War of the Revolution. He died in Alabama in 1832. The maternal grandfather, John May, was originally from Georgia, and served in the War of 1812. His death occurred in 1854. His father was born in England, his mother being a native of Ireland. F. M. Winborn was educated at the Diasburg Academy, Tennessee, and received his medical education at the University of Mississippi, graduating with honors from that institution. He was married in November, 1858, to Miss Amorett

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Doyle, a daughter of Sarah and David Doyle. Dr. and Mrs. Winborn are the parents of nine children, four boys and five girls: William G., Robert L., Lemuel H., John B., Ida, Edgar V., Dock, Louella and Olla A. Dr. Winborn moved from Mississippi to Arkansas in 1878, and settled in Lonoke, where he practiced his profession suc- cessfully for three years. Thinking, however, that White County offered better inducements as a place of residence he came here, and has established an enviable reputation as a careful, able practitioner. He is almost constantly at the bedside of the sick, and is invariably given the most hearty welcome, for his coming means the alleviation of their suffer- ing. But though his attention is so taken up in the pursuance of his chosen profession, he aids and supports all enterprises of a worthy character. He is a member of the Masonic order, and has held the office of magistrate for two years. He served in the late war, and enlisted in 1861 under Gen. Polk, Preston Smith's Brigade, Forty-seventh Tennessee Regiment, being wounded at the battle of Shiloh by a ball passing through the calf of his left leg. The Doctor also held the office of first lieutenant in the Kentucky campaign, a position which he filled with honor. The company was known as the Miller Guards of Richmond, Ky.

Robert J. Winn is a Buckeye by birth, and during the period of the Civil War served in the Federal army, enlisting in the Second Ohio Infan- try, August 16, 1861. He was in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Mill Creek Gap, Buzzard's Roost, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta and a number of others, and was captured at Pulaski, Tenn., May 30, 1862, by Morgan, but was exchanged and received his dis- charge, October 11, 1864. March 7, 1866, Miss Alma Wymer became his wife, a daughter of John and Rebecca (Gormer) Wymer, originally from Pennsylvania. Robert J. Winn was born in Mus- kingum County, Ohio, in 1837, and was a son of Adolphus and Rebecca (Jordon) Winn. Adolphus Winn was a Virginian by birth, his existence dat- ing from 1810, and he was one of a family of twelve children born to William and Rebecca (Russel) Winn, also of the Old Dominion. He

was married in 1836 and moved to Ohio, where he bought a farm of 500 acres, there residing until his death in 1885. Mrs. Winn, the mother of Robert J., was a daughter of Cabot and Rachel Jordon, natives of Maryland, and who went to Ohio in 1825, where Rebecca was born. Her par- ents lived to an advanced age, her father dying when seventy-six years old, and her mother at the age of seventy-eight. Mr. and Mrs. Adolphus Winn were the parents of thirteen children: Rob- ert J., Martha R., Nancy J. (deceased). Caleb J. (deceased), Elizabeth and Margaret (twins), Fen- nan S., John A., Albert J., Mariah, Hattie, Har- mon S. and Simeon S. Mrs. Winn is still living., To the subject of this sketch, and wife, six chil- dren have been given: Lillie C., Herbert H., Edith R., Louis A., Mable O. and Clarence A. Mr. Winn moved to this State in 1875 and settled in Judsonia, White County, where he bought a farm of eighty acres, and is engaged principally in raising fruit and vegetables for market. He also owns considerable town property and an in- terest in the Judsonia Canning Company, of which he is president, being also president of the board of trustees of the Judsonia University, and is a member of the board of trustees of the Building Association. Besides he is secretary of the Arkan- sas Fruit Growers' and Shippers' Union. Mr. Winn is a member of Judsonia Lodge No. 54, I. O. O. F., and of the Grand Lodge of the State. He and his wife and eldest daughter belong to the Baptist Church, and take an active part in all re- ligious work. The former has been engaged in teaching school for a number of years.

John W. Womack is the son of Jacob and Nancy (Bates) Womack, and was born in Meigs County, Tenn., February 16, 1833. Jacob Wo- mack was a Virginian by birth, his natal day being in 1797. His youth was passed in the Old Domin- ion and in 1822 he was united in marriage with Miss Bates, also a native of Virginia. One year after this event Mr. Womack moved to East Ten- nessee and died there in 1863, his wife surviving until 1865. He was a successful farmer and a quiet, law-abiding citizen. In his political views he sided with the Democrats, and was a Primitive

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Baptist in his religious belief. Mr. and Mrs. Wo- mack became the parents of eight children, three of whom are now living: John W., Martha J. (Mrs. J. N. Brown, of East Tennessee), and Eliza- beth (widow of James Masner, of Independence County, Ark.). Those deceased are: David, Sarah (Mrs. Heard), Daniel, Mary A. (Mrs. W. C. Grubbs) and Susana (wife of Thomas Bonner). John W. Womack was reared in Meigs County, Tenn., and received such advantages for an edu- cation as the schools of the period afforded. Re- maining on the farm with his parents until thirty years of age, at the expiration of that time he branched out for himself, engaging in farming and stock raising, which is his present occupation. In 1867 he removed to Arkansas and settled on his farm where he now resides. The farm consists of 240 acres of valuable land, highly cultivated and his stock is of various kinds, all of the finest breeds. Mr. Womack was married in 1867, in Meigs County, Tenn., to Miss Ellen B., daughter of Uriah and Mary Denton, of Virginia, and to them a family of five children have been born, four living: Daniel U., Mary A., John and Sabinus. Mr. Womack served in the Confederate army, in Col. Mckenzie's Third East Tennessee Cavalry during the war, and was mostly on scout duty in various skirmishes and fights, but in no regular battles of any prominence. He was captured while ill, in 1865, being released just before the final surrender. Mr. Womack is an influential member of the school board, a stanch Democrat in poli- tics, and has been a Master Mason for over twenty years.

Alfonsus A. Wood might well be called a self- made man. His father, Joseph P. Wood, a native of Weakley County, Tenn., was a farmer by pro- fession, and very successful in that calling. He was united in marriage, in 1836, in Weakley County, Tenn., to Mary E. Freeman, of Virginia. In 1870 they moved to Arkansas, and settled in Jackson County, where Mr. Wood was residing at the date of his death, in 1872, though he was in Tennessee when he died, having been called there on business. His belief was with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. and Mrs. Wood

were the parents of eleven children, five of whom are now living: Fannie (wife of T. M. Thompkins, of Carroll County, Tenn.), Mary F. (Mrs. W. B. Gamble, of White County, Ark.), Emma B. (Mrs. H. S. McKnight, residing in White County, Ark. ), Alfonsus A. and Portia S. (wife of B. F. Whitley). Mrs. Wood makes her home at this time with her son in White County, and notwithstanding that she has reached the age of three-score years and ten, is still active in all church and charity work, and a liberal contributor to these enterprises. Al- fonsus A. began for himself at the age of eighteen, choosing his father's occupation, which he has suc- cessfully conducted ever since. He owns eighty acres of excellent land in White County, and a half interest in a large steam grist-mill and cotton- gin, at Russell, Ark., where he is now residing. Mr. Wood was married in White County, on De- cember 16, 1875, to Miss Lucinda F. Plant, a daughter of William and Emily Plant, old settlers of White County. By this marriage one child was born, who died in infancy. Mrs. Wood died No- vember 18, 1876, and in 1881 Mr. Wood was united in marriage to Margaret L. Drenan, whose parents, A. R. and Mary Drenan, natives of Ten- nessee, are now residing in Russell. Mrs. Wood died in February, 1884, leaving two children: Tennie and Alvis A. Mr. Wood is a Democrat in his political views, though not an enthusiast. He is an earnest worker and a member of many years' standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church, also belonging to the Triple Alliance, a secret mutual benefit association. He is a man of quiet habits, charitable, and very popular in the society of his little town, being respected by all.

Daniel T. Woodson was the eldest son of James M. and Pauline L. (Gregory) Woodson; the former was a native of Virginia and went to Western Tennessee in 1845, removing in 1858 to Arkansas, and settling in White County. Daniel T. Woodson first saw the light in Virginia, on October 19, 1839. He accompanied his parents to Arkansas at the age of nineteen, where he was married at the age of twenty-one years to a Miss Park, of Tennessee nativity, and who came to White County four years previous to the Woodsons. Daniel T. en-

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listed during the war, in May, 1862, in the Con- federate army, first in the cavalry and afterward in the infantry service, being a member of a foraging force throughout the war. Foraging was a dan- gerous occupation at that time, and he had many narrow escapes from capture. After the cessation of hostilities Mr. Woodson bought a place of 160 acres in White County, on which he resided until 1877, when he sold his farm and purchased another of 211 acres in the same township, near Centre Hill. In 1882 he bought a mill and cotton-gin, in which business he has been very successful. Mr. Woodson's wife died in 1870, leaving two sons, James M. and Joseph Y. He was married the second time in November of that year to N. L. Dollar, by which marriage five children have been born: Phillip C., Mary L., Bula L., Zula B. and Bertha D. Mr. Woodson is a member of the Masonic order, to which he has belonged since 1862; his membership is now in Centre Hill Lodge No. 114, where he has held an office for the last fifteen years. He is a decided Democrat, politically, and held the office of justice of the peace in his township in 1887-88. Mr. and Mrs. Woodson be- long to the Missionary Baptist Church, of which they have been members nearly all their lives. In the organization where they worship, Mr. Wood- son is leader in the choir and also superintendent in the Sunday-school.

James R. Woodson. There is generally more or less similarity in the sketches of those who have for the most part been engaged in agricultural pur- suits from boyhood, but Mr. Woodson's career has been sufficiently diversified as to render him well posted with different affairs, people, etc. The State of his nativity is West Virginia, where he was born in 1841, being the second of a family of ten children born to James M. and Paulina (Greg- ory) Woodson, both of whom were Virginians, the former's birth occurring in 1813. They were mar- ried in 1838, and their union resulted in the birth of the following children: Daniel T., James R., Elizah, John L., William J., Martha J., George W. D., Clements and Bettie. James R. Woodson removed to Tennessee with his father in 1843, and after residing there twelve years came with him to

White County, Ark., but the latter's death oc- curred in Memphis, Tenn., in 1862. James R. Woodson gave his attention to farm work until the outbreak of the war, then enlisted in Company A, Seventh Battalion, under Col. D. Shay, and took part in the following engagements: Perryville, Dal- ton, Spring Hill, Franklin, Nashville (Tenn.) and Atlanta, and in the last-named engagement re- ceived a gunshot wound in the thigh, and thirty- six bullet holes in his clothes. At the time of the surrender he was filling the position of teamster. He came to Arkansas, and in 1866 was married to Amanda Goad, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Sowell) Goad, natives of Tennessee. He now owns a farm of 120 acres, and has fifty acres under cultivation, all his property being acquired by hard and persistent labor. The children of this mar- riage are: Mary L. (the wife of Monroe Henderson and the mother of one child, Julia E), Docia A. (the wife of William Elded and the mother of one child, Martha J.), Emma G. (was married to Thomas Baker, by whom she has one child, Elmer J.), Martha F., James H., Alice M., William E., George E., Lula E., John S. and Joel F. Mrs. Woodson died February 2, 1889, her infant son, Aaron, also dying. Mr. and Mrs. Woodson held memberships in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he has always been an active worker for schools as well as churches. He is a member of Mount Pisgah Lodge No. 242 of the A. F. & A. M., and has been an officer of the same.

James Maury Wright ranks among the most prosperous of White County's agriculturists, and enjoys the reputation of being not only a substan- tial and progressive farmer, but an intelligent and thoroughly posted man on all public affairs. He first saw the light of day August 12, 1834, in Madison County, Tenn., and through his paternal ancestor, James Wright, has inherited Irish blood, his grandfather having come from Ireland to America about the year 1780, and took up his abode in Franklin County, N. C., where he en- gaged in farming and died at an advanced age. James Wright was married in North Carolina in the year 1818 to Miss Patsey Stigall, and after they had become the parents of five children they

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removed to Gibson County, Tenn., where their family was increased to eleven children. James Maury Wright was born in the latter State, and was the tenth of the family in order of birth. His early education was confined to the subscription schools, and he was reared to the duties of farm life on his father's plantation. September 11, 1856, his nuptials with Miss Martha R. Vann were cele- brated, she being also a native of Tennessee. Their children were as follows: Elizabeth (born June 14, 1857, was married to William G. Ross in 1878, and has five children), Mary (born in January, 1858, died February of the same year), Martha (born May 15, 1859, was married to Thomas Burns in 1878, and bore one child. Both she and her husband are now dead, the former dying in 1884, and the latter in 1879), James Henry (was born on January 31, 1860), William N. (born Janury 31, 1863, and is now a salesman in the mercantile house of Messrs. Warren & Phelps of El Paso, Ark.), Charles T. (born May 19, 1867), John R. (born August 27, 1869), Nettie (born in July, 1871), and Hattie (born in June, 1874). The mother of these children died in July, 1880, an earnest mem- ber of the Missionary Baptist Church, and two years later Mr. Wright wedded Miss Minerva Hen- dricks. In 1857 the family came to Arkansas, and Mr Wright began to make improvements on a tract of railroad land, but one year later moved to El Paso, where he began working at the carpenter's trade having served an apprenticeship under his father, but also continued his farming operations on a tract of land containing forty acres adjoining the town. In 1860, in company with T. W. Wells, now of Searcy, he erected the first grist-mill in the vicinity of El Paso, a need which had been long felt by the people of the community. Peach Or- chard (now El Paso) at time of Mr. Wright's loca- tion only consisted of a double log-house, but in the fall of 1859 and the winter of 1860, there were. three business houses erected. Wild game was plentiful in the surrounding woods, and many a deer was brought low by the unerring aim of Mr. Wright's rifle. In 1861 he sold his land and pur- chased two acres in the town upon which he erected a dwelling house and other buildings, oc-

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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