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 45

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 45

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The territory of Woodruff County was origin- ally an unbroken forest of timber, large and dense, and it is estimated that over five-eighths of its area is yet covered with timber. The remaining forests as yet are mostly unbroken, and throughout the uplands are accessible at all times of the year. The varieties of timber are white, red, black, over- cup, burr and swamp oak, gum, cypress, ash, wal- nut, hickory, etc. A number of saw-mills and an extensive stave factory are now in operation in the county, cutting the timber into lumber and staves for shipping purposes, and much of it is thus go- ing to distant markets. A large amount of timber is also floated down the streams in the log.

There are but few, if any, valuable springs in Woodruff County, but well water of an unexcelled quality, is everywhere obtainable at a depth vary- ing from twenty to forty feet, without digging or boring through any solid rock. Driven wells are in general use, and they can be easily put in and at a cost comparatively low. Some cisterns are found, though driven wells are preferable, as from them a fresh and pure supply of water can always be had. From the sources named, an abundant supply of water for all purposes is obtained. No minerals have been found to exist here.

At present, and for some time to come, there is and will be, a considerable income from the timber resources of the county, but this can not always continue, for the supply will sooner or later become exhausted. Agriculture, horticulture and the rais- ing of live stock are the principal resources, and these will be permanent. The soil is well adapted to the growing of cotton, corn, oats, millet, clover, the tame grasses, and all kinds of vegetables. With proper cultivation it will yield, in fair seas- ons, from 1,000 to 1,500 pounds of seed cotton to the acre, forty to sixty bushels of corn, thirty to fifty bushels of oats, from 200 to 300 bushels of Irish or sweet potatoes, and other things in pro- portion. Wheat sometimes does well, but it can not be claimed as a good wheat-producing country. Immense quantities of hay can be produced, but as yet the farmers have not turned their attention, to any considerable extent, to its production. Clover and the tame grasses are but little culti-

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vated. The soil has continued to produce so well that cotton and corn have been raised from year to year, on some lands for half a century, without re- turning anything to the land to refertilize it. Fertilizing matter is seldom gathered and returned to the soil. Clover has not been grown at all as a fertilizer. A better and more economical system of farming should be adopted. The price of im- proved lands varies, according to quality, from $10 to $40 per acre, and unimproved lands from $2 to $10. "Cotton is King," but still a great amount of corn is produced.

According to the United States census of 1880, there were 934 farms in Woodruff County, and the amount of improved land was 40,671 acres, and from these the estimated value of all farm products raised in the year 1879, was $684,059. Following are the number of bushels, pounds, etc., of the cereal and vegetable productions of the county for that year: Indian corn, 229,962 bushels; oats, 9,908 bushels; wheat, 1,867 bushels; hay, 124 tons; cotton, 12,311 bales; Irish potatoes, 3,691; sweet potatoes, 6,960 bushels; tobacco, 2,435 pounds. The products of the present year, 1889, will be given in the next United States census reports, and will be interesting to compare with the products here given for the year 1879. In the last ten years the area of improved land has been largely in- creased, and the productions in proportion. In 1880 there were 1,455 horses, 1,038 mules and asses, 7,720 neat cattle, 1,107 sheep and 10,539 hogs in the county, and in 1888, according to the assessor's reports, 2,135 horses, 1,755 mules and asses, 8,941 neat cattle, 403 sheep and 6,356 hogs, a large increase in horses, mules and asses and neat cattle, but a material decrease in the number of sheep and hogs. The decrease in the number of sheep is probably due, largely, to the reduction in the price of wool, while the decrease in the number of hogs is wholly due to the fact that the number shown on the assessment rolls is only the number that was "on hand" when the assessment was taken, and did not, as did the census report of 1880, include those slaughtered, sold or otherwise disposed of during the previous year. When these figures are compared with the forthcoming census

of 1890, a large increase in the number of all, ex- cepting, perhaps, sheep, will appear. Woodruff County is well adapted to the raising of live stock, on account of the productiveness of its soil, the mildness of its climate and its abundant supply of water. But little feed is required, except for a short season in the winter, and costly buildings for shelter are not required at all. Cheap buildings with good roofs, and single board walls are all suf- ficient for wintering stock here. Horticulture has not yet been developed, except for the home sup- ply of fruits. Apples, pears and cherries do not succeed so well as in the more elevated portions of the State, but peaches and plums thrive well, and the smaller fruits and berries can be raised in un- limited quantities, the soil and climate being so well adapted for them. For strawberries the soil is unsurpassed. The market facilities by rail to the city markets being so good, the county must eventually become largely a garden of small fruits and berries.

In 1880, the real estate of Woodruff County was assessed for taxation at $898,316, the personal prop- erty $330,121; thus making a total of $1,228, 437; and the total taxes charged thereon were $31,278. In 1888 the real estate of the county was assessed for taxation at $1,337,297, and the personal property at $582,402, making a total of $1,919,699, and the total amount of taxes charged thereon was $30,- 170.64. By comparison it will be seen that during the eight years the taxable wealth of the county increased to the amount of $691,262, or 56 per cent, while the amount of taxes slightly decreased.

Woodruff is traversed by three railroads. The St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad (the Cot- ton Belt) enters on the fifth principal meridian, near the middle of Township 7 north, and runs thence in a southwesterly direction, leaving it near the southwest corner of Township 5 north, Range 1 west, the length of its line within the county being sixteen miles. The Batesville & Brinkley Railroad runs north and south through the cen- ter of the county, the length of its line through these limits being twenty-four miles. The Bald Knob & Memphis branch of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway, crosses Woodruff

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County east and west, near the line dividing Town- ships 7 and 8 north, thus leaving about one-fourth of the area to the north and three-fourths to the south. The length of its line here is twenty miles. This makes the combined length of railroads in the county sixty miles, and for the year 1888 they were assessed for taxation at $310,470. The railroad property constitutes a large proportion of the county's taxable wealth, and, accordingly, pays a large percentage of the several taxes.

The population of Woodruff County was, in 1870, white, 4,205, colored, 2,686, total, 6,891; in 1880, white, 4,163, colored, 4,483, total, 8,648. The increase since 1880, on account of the large immigration, has been so great that the population is now estimated at 14,000; the late immigrants being mostly white has caused the white population to exceed the colored by several hundred.

The educational facilities of Woodruff County consist of the free schools, with now and then a private school. The following statistics pertaining to the free schools of the county are taken from the report of the State Superintendent of Public In- struction for the year ending, June 30, 1888: Scholastic population : white, males, 975, fe- males, 835, total, 1,810; colored, males, 1,185, fe- males, 1,173, total, 2,358; total, white and colored, 4,165. Number of pupils taught in the public schools : white, males, 641, females, 516, total, 1,157; colored, males, 845, females, 790, total, 1,635; aggregate, 2,792. Number of school dis- tricts, 25; number reporting enrollment, 18; num- ber voting tax, 15. Number of teachers employed, males, 45, females, 30, total, 75. Average monthly salaries paid teachers: first grade, males, $45, females, $35; second grade, males, $40, females, $40; third grade, males, $35. Amount expended for the support of the schools, all purposes, $10,318.79.

By comparing the above figures it will be seen that only 64 per cent of the white, and only 70 per cent of the colored scholastic population were taught in the public schools. In most of counties a greater per cent of the white than of the colored children are taught in the public schools. That the reverse of this is true in Woodruff County,

speaks well for the system, as it shows that the authorities have provided ample facilities for the education of the colored, as well as for the white children. It will also be observed that a less per cent of the white than of the colored children were taught in the free schools. This is accounted for by the fact that some of the white children were taught in private schools at home, and in colleges or schools abroad. The public school at Augusta is graded, and upon the whole Woodruff is fully up with other counties in sustaining the free school system. A teachers' institute was held at Augusta, beginning July 30, 1888, with only a small num- ber of teachers present.

Of the various religious denominations, it seems that the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, has Woodruff County as an almost exclu- sive field of labor. Early in the 50's Mr. Thomas Hough, of Augusta, built at that place a sub- stantial two-story frame edifice, at a cost of about $6,000, and donated it to the religious denomina- tions and the Masonic fraternity, the lower story to be used as a church and the upper as a lodge hall. The church was dedicated for union relig- ious services in June, 1854, by Rev. Joshua F. Green, a Presbyterian minister at Little Rock. The denominations that occupied it were the Meth- odists and Presbyterians. In the course of time the latter retired, and for a consideration, con- veyed their interest in the property to the former, and finally the Methodists became the sole owners thereof. During the month of July, 1889, they removed the upper story, elevated the lower, and remodeled the building entirely and made a com- plete church edifice of it. This was the first church house erected in what is now Woodruff County.

On retiring from this building, the Presbyte- rians received by donation from the hands of Mr. Hough, a beautiful site upon which to erect a sepa- rate church edifice, and with the able assistance of the liberal donor and his estimable wife, they erect- ed, in 1876, the present large and handsome brick church. This was the only Presbyterian Church erected in the county, and unfortunately the Pres- byterian society has become, in a measure, disor- ganized and regular preaching has been dispensed

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with. A site was also donated by Mr. Hough to the Baptists, on which they built a frame church edifice, prospered for a few years and then disor- ganizing sold the property to the colored people who now use it for religious purposes. White Church, in the northern part of the county, is owned by the Baptists, but the latter are scattered throughout the county and are not generally or- ganized.

Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, there is Augusta Station, Rev. N. B. Fizer, pas- tor, membership 132; De View Circuit, consisting of five appointments, Rev. Thomas Whittaker, pastor, membership 327; Howell Circuit, with four appointments, Rev. M. U. Umstead, pastor, mem- bership 168; Union and Revel Circuit, with four appointments, Rev. G. A. Dannelly, pastor, mem- bership 142, and a part of the Weldon Circuit, located mostly in Jackson County. Augusta Sta- tion and Union and Revel Circuit belong to the Searcy District; De View and Howell Circuits to the Helena District, and all belong to the White River Conference.

The people of Woodruff county, excepting those born there, are from many different parts of the Union, and a few are from "foreign lands." In the language of Dr. Dale, "Society is well organ- ized, but without any cliques or 'sets' to set their faces against any lady or gentleman who is entitled to recognition; the people are not distant toward strangers, but, on the contrary, cordial and hos- pitable, and the lines of their lives having been in pleasant places, their visions of the world are not hedged by State or county boundaries."

Augusta, the county seat of Woodruff County, is situated on the east bank of White River, a mile and a quarter north of the Bald Knob & Memphis Branch of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & South- ern Railroad, and is connected with the latter by means of a street-car railway. As elsewhere stated, the place was originally called Chickasaw Crossing, and here, in the spring of 1847, John R. Elliott, from Philadelphia, Penn., in partnership with William Polite, opened the first store in the town, at the point where the printing office now stands, at the west end of Main Street. Elliott soon

retired from the business, and his partner, Polite, entered a piece of land adjacent, and moved the store thereto. Thomas Hough then began business in the building first occupied by Elliott & Polite. In March, 1848, the town was surveyed and laid out by Thomas S. Carter, of Independence County, for Thomas Hough, its proprietor and founder, who named it Augusta in honor of his favorite cousin, Miss Augusta, daughter of S. B. T. Cald, of Virginia, where Mr. Hough formerly resided.

The town has a beautiful site, and is well laid out, with streets crossing at right angles and run- ning east and west and north and south. The site is at least ten feet above high-water mark, and there is a good river landing. After the town was laid out the second business house on the site proper was erected on the opposite side of the street from the first one, and from thenceforward the place began to grow, and at the beginning of the Civil War it had attained a population of about 600. During the war the town was almost en- tirely destroyed. On the approach of the Federal army, in 1862, the citizens generally fled and abandoned their houses, which were then torn down by the soldiers, who used the material to build shanties in their camps. At the close of the war many of the citizens who had fled returned, and together with those who had remained and some newcomers, began to rebuild the town, which, having the advantages of a good navigable river, and, there being no railroads through the adjacent territory to interfere with or draw its trade away, it soon recovered and became prosper- ous, doing a good business and an immense amount of shipping by river communication. It reached its climax early in the decade of the seventies, when it had a population of about 1,000. Since that time three railroads, the Iron Mountain, Batesville & Brinkley, and the Bald Knob & Memphis have been constructed, all missing the town except the latter, which is a mile and a quarter distant. On these railroads villages have sprung up all around Augusta, and compelled it to divide its former trade with them, and consequently it has declined so that its population is now estimated by the best- informed citizens, at about 700 to 800. However,

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having the advantages of one railroad, a navigable river and the county seat, it will continue to be a good trading point and a desirable place in which to live. It has many handsome residences, with beautiful and well kept lawns. White River is navigable to this point for large vessels, at all sea- sons of the year, and at low water it is the point at which the freight bulk is broken for steamers which ply the upper White and Black Rivers.

Augusta has suffered great loss by fire, but it has been rebuilt, and now contains six general, two drug, six grocery, one harness and saddle, one confectionery and two furniture stores, four hotels (including boarding houses), a restaurant, two meat markets, a jewelry store, two livery stables, a com- plement of mechanics' shops, a saw-mill, four church edifices (two each for the white and the col- ored people), two public school-houses (one for the white and one for the colored people), three physi- cians, two lawyers, etc. Also Augusta Lodge No. 45, A. F. & A. M., Augusta Chapter No. 37, Augusta Council No. 22, Augusta Lodge, K. of H., No. 1122 and Chickasaw Lodge No. 244, K. & L. of H. The Augusta and White River Street Rail- way connects the town with the Bald Knob & Mem- phis Railroad at Augusta Station. The "Chick- asaw" steamboat, during the summer months, makes one trip per week between Augusta and Memphis, and during the cotton-shipping season other boats also ply the river regularly. Augusta is incorporated and has a full line of corporate offi- cers. E. E. Blackman was mayor at the time of compilation (July, 1889). The town consists almost wholly of wooden buildings.

The Woodruff County Vidette, now in its twelfth volume, is published weekly at Augusta, by W. W. Folsom, editor and proprietor. It is an eight-column folio, is neatly printed and ably edited, and is Democratic in politics. The first newspaper published in Augusta was The Augusta Sentinel, established about the year 1860, by Maurice Lewis, and printed on a press owned by Thomas Hough. The press was destroyed by Fed- eral soldiers, and the editor, Mr. Lewis, was killed in the Confederate army in front of Atlanta, Ga. Dr. F. D. Dale, in his pamphlet on " Woodruff

County," says: "Cotton Plant is located in Cot- ton Plant Township, in the southern portion of the County, on the Batesville & Brinkley Railroad. Its shipments per annum are from 1,500 to 2,000 tons of cotton seed and from 4,000 to 7,000 bales of cotton. The directory of the place gives seven cotton buyers and general merchants, one mill, two druggists, four grocers, one cabinet-maker and undertaker, one carpenter, one blacksmith, one wheelwright, two physicians, two lawyers, two ho- tels, one restaurant, one butcher shop, one livery stable, one steam saw and grist mill, with gin at- tached. The population numbers from 500 to 600. According to size it is one of the busiest hives of industry in Eastern Arkansas. It is the natural center for all the trade of Freeman, Cotton Plant and Cane Townships." Since this sketch of Dr. Dale was written there has been much additional improvement in the town, and being situated, as it is, in a representative cotton-growing district, it is destined to continue a prosperous and substan- tial town. It has been wholly built since the con- struction of the Batesville & Brinkley Railroad.

De View is an old village situated two miles south of McCrory, containing two general stores, a drug store, blacksmith and wood shop, a church edifice, and a school-house, with a Masonic hall in the second story. It has only a few families, and its business is being absorbed by the neighboring towns on the railroads.

Gray's Station, on the Batesville & Brinkley Railroad, two and a half miles south of its cross- ing with the Bald Knob & Memphis Railroad, con- tains two general stores, a "temperance saloon," a boarding house, restaurant, school-house and church combined, a blacksmith shop and a livery stable.

Howell Station, also on the Batesville & Brink- ley Railroad, about eight miles farther south, contains three general stores, a blacksmith shop, church edifice, etc.

McCrory, on the Bald Knob & Memphis Rail- road, two miles east of its crossing with the Bates- ville & Brinkley Railroad, is only two years old and contains seven general stores, two grocery stores, a hardware and furniture store, a comple-

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ment of mechanics' shops, one of the largest stave factories in the State, a hotel, livery stable, two restaurants, two frame church edifices (one for the white and one for the colored people), a public school-house, two physicians and from 250 to 300 people. It was named after its founder, Wade McCrory, the owner of its site. It has a beauti- ful location, and being near the railroad crossing is the most accessible town from all parts of the county, and is, therefore, a prospective candidate for the subsequent location of the county seat, which in due time it will make an effort to secure. The town is well laid out, the streets running north and south and east and west, and being of good width. It is also easy of access by import- ant wagon roads. It has a large area of excellent farming country tributary to it.

Riverside, located on the Batesville & Brinkley Railroad, two miles north of its crossing with the Bald Knob & Memphis Railroad, contains three gen- eral, a drug and a grocery store, a "temperance sa- loon," hotel, livery stable, blacksmith shop, a steam saw-mill, a church and school-house combined, three physicians, etc.

The intersection of the two railroads above named is called Martin Crossing, and there is noth- ing there but a depot and a small dwelling house near by. All the towns named above, that are sit- uated on railroads, have each a railroad depot and a postoffice, and all do their proportion of shipping products. The county has a few other post ham- lets or villages, consisting of a postoffice, store, etc.

I. T. Andrews, planter, of Cotton Plant, Ark., is one of the leading planters of Woodruff County, and was born in Limestone County, Ala., in 1837, being the son of Daniel and Mary (Morris) An- drews, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, and born in 1814 and 1815, respectively. The parents were married in 1836, and to their union were born two children, a son and daughter: I. T. and Dionitia, wife of T. L. Westmoreland. Daniel Andrews died in 1841, and Mrs. Andrews was mar- ried the second time in 1843 to J. H. Deaver. By this union she became the mother of five children:

Mary A. (wife of Dr. J. W. Westmoreland), Thomas H., Martha J. (widow of Saul Slinger), Bettie (wife of H. C. McLawrence) and D. J. (wife of J. B. Whitfield). J. H. Deaver died in 1853, and Mrs. Deaver, who survived her husband, now lives with her widowed daughter, Mrs. Slinger, at Cotton Plant. She is and has been for many years a con- sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. I. T. Andrews started into business for himself in 1858, by farming his mother's land in Tennessee, but left that State and immigrated to Arkansas in 1860, locating in Poinsett County. His mother purchased 240 acres of land, which he farmed until the breaking out of the war when he enlisted in the infantry under Capt. Westmoreland, and served until July 9, 1863. He was then capt- ured at Port Hudson, taken to Johnson's Island and there held until February 9, 1864, when he was transferred to Point Lookout; there retained until March 3, when he was sent to City Point and was there paroled. After the war he resumed farming, also operated a cotton-gin in Woodruff County. He selected as his companion in life, Miss Martha West- moreland, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas West- moreland, and was united in marriage to her in 1858. This union has been blessed by the birth of three children, but only one is now living: Samuel, who married a Miss C. Keath, and resides on a farm in this county. The children deceased were named: Edione and Minnie. Mrs. Andrews was born in Giles County, Tenn., in 1836. Her father died in 1865, and her mother in 1887, both mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Andrews is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 76, and he and wife have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for seventeen years. Mr. Andrews is one of the enterprising farmers of the county, is the owner of 230 acres of land in Woodruff County, Ark., with 120 acres under cul- tivation and his principal crops are corn and cotton.

Dr. L. L. Battle, a man of remarkable ability and great prominence in the profession, is num- bered among the leading members of the medical fraternity in Woodruff County, Ark., and origin- ally came from Wake County, N. C., where he was born March 20, 1828. He was reared in

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Shelby County, Tenn., whither his parents, Will- iam and Chloe (Body) Battle, moved from their native State of North Carolina, both dying in Memphis, Tenn., and here our subject received a liberal education. He began the study of medicine when eighteen years of age, and having chosen this profession as his life's vocation, he graduated from the Memphis Medical College in 1849, and in 1851 from the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadel- phia, Penn. Thus becoming thoroughly fitted to successfully pursue his calling, he settled in Shelby County, Tenn, but at the end of two years came to Mississippi County, Ark., and in 1855 returned to his first location. Here he remained until 1885, then came to Riverside, where he has since suc- cessfully practiced, and is now a member of the Woodruff County Medical Association, and is vice- president of the Trio-State Medical Society of Memphis. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and since 1854 has been a married man, his first wife being Miss Martha B. Chester, a daughter of Robert I. Chester, of Jackson, Tenn., by whom he has the following children: Dr. William B., Mrs. Dr. J. W. Jones, Mrs. L. P. Cooper, Jr., Mrs. John Cunningham and Miss Patsey C. Dr. Battle's second wife was a Mrs. Preston, who bore him one son, Preston, and for his third wife he took Mrs. M. W. Riley. The Doctor is one of the wealthy men of the county, and owns about 1,500 acres of land, of which 375 acres are under cultivation. In 1849 he was appointed surgeon of a company of men on their way to California to dig gold, but before reaching their destination thirteen men starved to death and the Doctor was reduced in flesh thirty-five pounds. His expedition suffered many hardships and privations, and met with many thrilling adventures, too numerous to be given to this volume. During the hostilities between the foreigners and Americans in South California, in the winter of 1849 and 1850, he was appointed surgeon of the latter's forces.

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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