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 49

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 49

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F. B. Jones is a member of the general mercan- tile firm of S. M. Jones & Co., of Riverside, and was born in Limestone County, Ala., in the year 1851, and is a son of I. H. W. and Mary Jones, who were natives of the State of Alabama. They removed to Woodruff County, Ark., in November, 1861, and located four miles east of Augusta, and here both died on a farm which they had pur- chased. At the time of the father's death he owned 480 acres of land, about 200 of which was under cultivation, Of the seven children born to them two are now living: F. B. and S. M. F. B. Jones was in his ninth year when brought to this State, and here he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the St. John's Masonic School of Little Rock. He also graduated from the East-

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man Business College of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1874, and after clerking for his uncle in Searcy for some time, the present firm was established (in 1885), and has since continued under very favorable auspices. They carry a general line of merchan- dise, and also handle large quantities of cotton and produce. F. B. Jones has land to the extent of 420 acres, and has 150 acres under cultivation, and in addition to giving much of his attention to his farm, he raises considerable stock. He has served as constable one term, and he and his brother have charge of the postoffice, which was established in 1884, S. M. Jones being appointed postmaster one year later. Mr. Jones was married in 1883 to Miss Claudia H. Jelks, by whom he had one child, now deceased.

S. M. Jones, of the general mercantile firm of S. M. Jones & Co., of Riverside, is an Alabamian, who was brought to Arkansas by his parents when an infant, and until ten years old was a resident and attendant of the schools of Woodruff County. The next fifteen years were spent in White Coun- ty, and since then he has resided at his present place of abode. In the spring of 1884 he engaged in the mercantile business, but gives the most of his attention to the conducting of his farm, which comprises a tract of 430 acres, with 200 acres under cultivation. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and is an intelligent and enterprising young man. May 3, 1887, he was married to Miss Mary B. Word, a native of Arkansas. Maj. B. M. Jones is a merchant and proprietor of a hotel at Riverside. He was born in Limestone County, Ala., March 24, 1830, and is a son of John J. and Martha (Wilburn) Jones who were born in Virginia. They removed to Northern Ala- bama at an early day and there resided until their respective deaths, the father being an energetic tiller of the soil. Maj. B. M. Jones was reared and educated in Alabama, and in 1858 came to White County, Ark., and located at Searcy, where he carried on the mercantile business for several years. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, Thirty- sixth Arkansas Infantry as first lieutenant, was pro- moted to captain, and at the time of the surrender was mustered out as major, and returned to his

home at Searcy, where he remained until 1884. Since that time he has been a resident of River- side, engaged in merchandising, and also buys cotton very extensively. To his marriage with Susan Greene in 1860 one child was born, who is now deceased, and by his present wife, who was a Miss Elizabeth A. Dismukes, he has three children: Henry, Lizzie and Fannie.

Maj. D. D. Leach is one of the few men who fully recognize that a thorough education is abso- lutely necessary if a man wishes to become eminent in the practice of law, and he is also cognizant of the fact that a systematic course of reading gives variety to thought and a clearer perception to the motives of men. The Major is a prominent attorney of Augusta, and was born in Homer, Mich., March 29, 1841, being a son of R. T. and L. M. (Cal- houn) Leach, the former a native of New York and the latter of Pennsylvania. After their mar- riage they removed to Michigan (about 1846), and a few years later settled in Wisconsin, and in 1871 removed to Arkansas, locating in Augusta where the father died in 1875. His widow still survives him. He was deputy sheriff, constable and city marshal for some years, and by trade was a mill- wright, at which he worked for years. D. D. Leach was reared principally in Waukesha, Wis., receiv- ing his education in Carroll College. After study. ing law in Waukesha for some time he removed to Colorado, and while in Central City, in 1864, passed a legal examination, and was admitted to the bar. Prior to this, he had enlisted in the Twenty-eighth Wisconsin Infantry (in 1862), and was an able soldier of the Union until the close of the war. For bravery and good conduct he was advanced in the rank of officers to that of major. In 1868 he came to Augusta, Ark., and established himself as a law- yer, continuing in this profession ever since, win- ning for himself an excellent reputation as a pleader, his speeches being eloquent and to the point. He held the office of prosecuting attorney for ten years, and in 1886, was a candidate for Congress on the Republican ticket, but owing to the large Demo- cratic majority in his district he was defeated. The Major is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the K. of H., being Past Grand Dictator of the

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latter lodge and is Deputy Supreme Protector of the K. & L. of H., and has also been Thrice Illus- trious Grand Master of the Grand Council of the State of Arkansas. In 1864 he was united in mar- riage to Miss Dora Smith, a native of Wisconsin, and by her is the father of three children, Cal- houn D. surviving.

A. C. Lewis is known as a worthy son of John Lewis, a native of Missouri, who was born in 1800, and educated to farm life, but when quite young he left his father's home and operated a steam- ferry on the Mississippi River at St. Louis. He was married, in 1822, to Miss Nancy M. Curry, and by her became the father of the following family: Harvey, Robert O., Elizabeth (the wife of William S. Halloway) and A. C. (the subject of this sketch). Mr. Lewis was a gallant soldier in the Indian War, and at the time of his death, in 1848, was residing in St. Louis County, Mo. Mrs. Lewis died in the same county in 1863, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was also her husband. A. C. Lewis first saw the light of day in St. Francis County, Mo., in 1835, and com- menced life on his own responsibility at the age of eighteen years. After managing his mother's farm until the war, he laid down the implements of peace to take up those of a soldier, and enlisted in the artillery service under Capt. Emmett Mc- Donald. In 1861 he was captured and taken to Vicksburg. During his career he participated in the battles of Wilson's Creek, Pea Ridge and the skirmishes at Corinth, the battles of Iuka, Baker's Creek and the siege of Vicksburg, serving as sec- ond lieutenant in the battery for a short time, just before the closing of hostilities. In 1866 Mr. Lewis was married to Miss Barbara Edmond, daughter of William Edmond and wife, of Ala- bama. Mrs. Lewis was born in Tennessee, and died in 1869, leaving three children: Fletcher, Eleanor (the wife of Joseph Grant) and one child not named. Mr. Lewis chose for his second wife Miss Lena Jelks, and to them five children have been given: Ada, Letitia, John, Austin and Gracie. Mr. Lewis owns and operates a cotton-gin and grist-mill, which is second to none in the county. His farm consists of 780 acres of land, with 300

acres under cultivation, the principal crop being cotton and corn. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a public- spirited man, supporting all educational and relig- ious enterprises; a good financier, he is also a prac- tical farmer and excellent business man, well worthy the respect and esteem in which he is held by all who are so fortunate as to know him.

Thomas T. Locke, planter, ginner and mer- chant, and one of the representative men of Cotton Plant Township, is originally from Rowan County, N. C., being born in 1825, and one of six children given to J. Richard and Margaret (Gheen) Locke. Richard Locke and wife were of North Carolina nativity, and died in that State in 1836 and 1849, respectively. He was a prosperous farmer, and his father, Alex. Locke, was also of North Carolina, his birth and death occurring in that State. The maternal grandfather, Joseph Gheen, was of Dutch descent, a native of North Carolina, and died in Kentucky. Thomas T. Locke is the only member of his father's family living. He was educated in the common schools of his home, and in 1851 was married to Margaret A., daughter of Daniel and Hethey Harris, who were natives and life-long res- idents of North Carolina. To Mr. and Mrs. Locke seven children have been born, two of them now living: Thomas A. and Ida L. (wife of Frank P. Hill). Mr. Locke came to Woodruff County in 1858, settling on his present farm, which is five miles north of Cotton Plant. It is, without doubt, one of the finest farms in the county, consisting of 640 acres, with over 450 under a careful state of cultivation. On his daughter's marriage he pre- sented her with 200 acres, which in itself is a very fine farm, and the two farms combined make a very fine plantation. Mr. Locke operates a plantation store and a gin, which has been in successful opera- tion since his residence in Arkansas. It would seem that with so much on his mind something would have to be neglected, but Mr. Locke man- ages his farm, gin and mercantile business in a way that demonstrates his perfect efficiency to com- plete anything he undertakes. Mrs. Locke died in 1868, while in Mississippi, where she had gone for her health, and in 1876 Mr. Locke again mar-

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ried, this time to Mrs. Mary E. Linthicum, of Ar- kansas, and a daughter of the Hon. Parley P. Hill, who was among the first settlers in Woodruff County, and one of its most prominent citizens in an early day. He was a member of the legisla- ture from Woodruff County from 1848 to 1849, and a wealthy planter. His deatlı occurred in 1866. Mr. Locke served in the war a short time, under Capt. Cauley, in 1864. Previous to the war he was a Whig, voting for Taylor in 1848, but since that time has been a stanch Democrat. He has been connected with the Cotton Plant Presbyterian Church since 1864, and has presided as an elder since 1877. Mrs. Locke has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for a great many years, and is known and respected by every one. Mr. Locke is a good citizen, lending his support to all worthy movements, and is of the character of men who help to build the villages into towns and the towns into cities.

Robert C. Lynch is the youngest of the chil- dren of William D. and Eliza J. (Mann) Lynch. The former, of Irish descent, was born in Mississippi in 1819, and in 1846 moved to what is now Wood- ruff County, becoming engaged in the mercantile business in Cotton Plant, where he built the first store, and was largely the means of making the town what it is at this time. When Mr. Lynch moved here his nearest postoffice was Des Arc. He entered a large amount of Government land in the township, and made it his home until his death, which occurred in 1876. He was a Mason. Robert C. Lynch was born in Cotton Plant in 1855, and received a good education, graduating from the Mound City Commercial College of St. Louis in 1874, after which he embarked in the mercantile business with his father. Upon the demise of the latter he took the old homestead (which he still owns and on which he was born, consisting of 320 acres), and other land in the county, having over 300 acres under cultivation. He carried on farming with good success. Mr. Lynch was married in 1876 to Augusta J. Woods, a daughter of Daniel and Jane Woods, natives of North Carolina. He is now occupied as book- keeper for Alexander Salinger, of Cotton Plant,

in connection with his agricultural duties. Mr. Lynch is a member of the Knights of Pythias, in which he holds the office of Keeper of Records and Seals; is also a member of the A. F. & A. M., of the K. of H., and of the K. and L. of H., in the last-named lodge filling the office of Past Dictator. Mrs. Lynch is a member of the Presby- terian Church. Her husband is a highly respected citizen, and one of the leading men of Cotton Plant, having the finest residence in the place.

John J. McDonald. Perhaps the most impor- tant of Mr. McDonald's history is his war record, which is without a blemish, and though not char- acterized by any special act of prominence, it is one to which he can refer with pardonable pride, and that may be read by those who are to come after him with a sense of honor. He enlisted in the Confederate army in 1861, and joined the Sixth Georgia Infantry, his service extending over the States of Virginia, North and South Carolina. During this time he participated in the battles of Seven Pines, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Second Manassas, battle of the Wilderness, and the seven days' fight around Richmond, besides many minor engagements. He was with Stonewall Jack- son when that great general was killed, but was never himself wounded or captured. Early in 1865 he was sent South, and was under Johnston at his surrender. His two older brothers (twins) William and John, were in the same war, both receiving severe injuries in the seven days' fight. After they were all at home he in company with his father and one sister came to White County, but about a year later his father returned to his native State. Mr. McDonald is a native of Jones County, Ga., and was born in 1842, the son of John and Wealthy (Clifton) McDonald, originally from North Carolina and Georgia, respectively. They were married in Georgia and reared a family of eight children, of whom John J. is the fourth in order of birth. Mrs. McDonald died in 1854. Mr. Mc- Donald married again, and with the exception of a few years spent in Arkansas, as before stated, re- sided in Georgia all his life, his death occurring there in 1874. He served in one of the Indian wars. His father, Henry McDonald, a Scotchman

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by birth and a soldier in the Revolutionary War, died in North Carolina. John J. McDonald was married in 1870 to Miss Mary, daughter of Will- iam Thompson. She was born in Georgia and died after nine years of wedded life. For his sec- ond wife Mr. McDonald chose Victoria Turner, whose parents, Stephen and Susan Turner, were married in North Carolina and from there moved to Jackson County, Ark., where the former died, but Mrs. Turner is still living. Mrs. McDonald was born in Jackson County and died in 1889, a member of the Christian Church. She bore five children: John L., William H., Walter H. Eu- gene and Rufus. In 1869 Mr. McDonald moved to White County, and since 1880 has resided on his present place, consisting of 600 acres with 125 in a successful state of cultivation. The farm at the time of his purchase was nearly all woods, but it is now second to none in the county, as far as careful cultivation is concerned, all brought to this condition by the individual efforts of Mr. Mc- Donald. He is an enterprising farmer and citizen, lending his support to all worthy movements for the good and growth of the county, and enjoys the esteem and respect of those who know him. He has been school trustee for many years, and many a successful termination of some enterprise owes its existence to a large degree to his quick judg- ment and keen penetration. He has been a Dem- ocrat during life, and voted for Greeley in 1868. The Colony Lodge No. 190, A. F. & A. M., find in him one of its best members.

Ransford P. McGregor, a man looked up to and held in the highest esteem by his fellow-citi- zens, also a wealthy planter of Cotton Plant, is a native of Tennessee, and was born in Rutherford County, in 1848, being the son of Ransford and Isabella (Henderson) McGregor. The senior Mc- Gregor was probably born in Davidson County, Tenn., in 1801, and his wife in Rutherford County. They were married in the latter State, where their entire lives were passed. Mrs. McGregor was called to her final home in 1849, and her husband died in 1882. He was a justice of the peace and a leading farmer at the time of his demise. His father was of Scotch-Irish descent, and among the

early settlers of Davidson County, Tenn., his death occurring in Wilson County. His grandfather, Col. James Henderson, was killed at the battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815. He was colonel of a Tennessee regiment, and a man of considerable prominence. Ransford P. was the youngest of seven children, five sons and two daughters. He is the only one married, and the only one living out of their native State. His education was greatly interfered with by the war, but notwithstanding he is a well-read, intelligent gentleman. At the age of twenty-seven he left his home and went to Ala- bama, where he engaged in farming for a few years, and in 1878 came to Cotton Plant, where he was married in the year 1879. His wife was Sallie, daughter of William Cooper, of South Carolina. She was left an orphan when quite small, but was reared and educated by Dr. T. D. Chunn. To Mr. McGregor's marriage seven children were born, four sons and three daughters, all of whom are be- ing educated by a private tutor at home. He resided on a farm one mile east of his present home, till 1889, then came to the town, where he has recent- ly built a very fine residence. His farm is second to none in the county, consisting of 3,000 acres with about 1,000 under a high state of cultivation, also a good school house and yard in connection with his property in town. Mr. McGregor is one of the principal land holders of the county, rising from the possessor of a few hundreds to one of the wealthy and influential men of the county. He has a good steam gin, which has been in successful operation since his residence here, and is now gin- ning twenty bales per day, and he will produce about 600 bales of cotton from his land this year. Mr. McGregor is a stanch Democrat, and voted for Greeley in 1872. He is known far and wide for his charities and liberal contributions, doing many of his kind acts and generous deeds, which never reach the ears of the outside world. Mrs. Mc- Gregor is a member in good standing of the Pres- byterian Church.

Andrew J. Marsh. I. M. and Jane M. (Walker) Marsh, the esteemed parents of our subject, were natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respect- ively, their marriage occurring in the latter State,

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and in 1858 they moved to Arkansas, settling in Woodruff County, four miles from the present site of Howell Station. Here the senior Marsh im- proved a large farm, residing on it until 1867, at which time he returned to Tipton County, Tenn., where he lived for several years, but while visiting in Arkansas, in the year 1869, was claimed by Death. His wife died from injuries received from a vicious mule at her home in Tipton County, Tenn., in 1870. They were both members of the Presbyterian Church. To their marriage a family of thirteen children were born, Andrew J. being the ninth in order of birth. His education was from necessity very limited, as the schools in the days of his youth were not many. He was thor- oughly drilled in the management and successful operation of. the farm, and has proved himself a worthy example of the sons of the soil. Since his twelfth year Mr. Marsh has resided in Arkan- sas, and is an ardent admirer of the land of his adoption. In 1871 he settled on his present farm (it then being in the woods), three miles northeast of Howell Station, and is now the owner of 400 acres of excellent land, with 125 under cultivation, all the result of hard work and good management. With the exception of two years in Colona, where he engaged in the merchandising business, Mr. Marsh has always followed the occupation of farm- ing. In 1864 he enlisted in Company C, Third Missouri Cavalry, operating in Indian Territory, Missouri and Kansas; also participated in numer- ous skirmishes in Arkansas. He was with Gen. Price on his famous raid through Missouri, Kansas and Indian Territory, surrendering at Shreveport, La., June 7, 1865. After the war he returned to his home. Mr. Marsh has been married three times, his first marriage being in 1869 to Miss Sarah A. Sanders, who bore him two children. She died in 1872, leaving an infant twenty-four hours old. Mrs. Marsh was born in Mississippi, and came with her mother and step-father (Mr. Collins) to this State, settling in Woodruff County. Her mother is now residing in Texas. In 1873 he was again married, to Mary Tubbs, of Humphreys County, Tenn., she being the mother of two sons. This wife dying in 1882, in 1885 he married Julia

Joyner. He has met with many accidents, narrow- ly escaping death at times, one accident in par- ticular being the fall of a nail-keg filled with mud. This keg fell thirty-two feet striking him on the head, fracturing it and breaking his arm and shoul- der. Politically he is a Democrat, his first vote being for Seymour, in 1868. He was formerly allied with the lodge of K. of H. at Cotton Plant, and, with the exception of his sister, is the only mem- ber of his family residing in Woodruff County. Mr. Marsh, his wife and two children belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is steward.

Robert T. Martin. Among the leading planters of Cadee Township the name of Robert T. Martin is well known. This name is synonymous of all that is honorable and upright, and is a guarantee that the confidence reposed in him will not be be- trayed. He was born in Spartanburg District, S. C., in 1846, and is the son of Thomas Jefferson and Louisa M. (Dodd) Martin. Thomas J. Martin and wife were natives of South Carolina, and in 1850 came to Cass County, Ga., thence to Missis- sippi, where his death occurred in 1858. He was a major in the South Carolina militia at an early day. His father, Thomas Martin, was also of South Carolina nativity, though of Scotch-Irish descent, and during his life was a very prominent planter. His wife was of French origin. To Thomas J. and wife a family of five children were born, of which Robert T. is the oldest. After her husband's demise, Mrs. Martin and her family moved to Arkansas, settling in what is now Wood- ruff County, where she died May 3, 1866. She was the daughter of Thomas Dodd, a native of South Carolina, but who resided in Georgia, also Mississippi, and finally ended his days in Arkansas, in 1865. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, and at the time of his death was a successful planter of St. Francis County. Robert T. Martin has called Arkansas his home since his thirteenth year; though the facilities for schooling were far from satisfac- tory in his early youth, he has, by constant read- ing, become conversant with the events of the times. In 1862 Mr. Martin joined Company G, Eighteenth Arkansas Infantry, and was in service

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east of the Mississippi till the siege of Port Hud- son. He participated in the fights of Farming- ton, Corinth, Big Creek, Ironton, and all through the raid of Gen. Price in Missouri, Kansas, In- dian Territory, etc. He surrendered at Helena, June, 1865, and was held prisoner for about eight days after the capture of Port Hudson. After the close of the great struggle Mr. Martin resumed his occupation of farming, and in July, 1867, he married Mattie E. Robertson, a native of Georgia, and a daughter of Elijah and Sarah (Miliner) Robertson. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson re- sided in Georgia for a number of years, then moved to Florida, thence to Cape Girardeau, Mo., and during the war they came to Arkansas. After a short residence in Arkansas they moved to Mis- sissippi, and then again to Alabama, where Mrs. Robertson now lives, her husband having died in Alabama a number of years ago. He was at one time a farmer and merchant, and later a contractor and builder. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Martin eleven children have been born, two sons and one daughter now living, and all enjoying ex- cellent educational advantages, no expense nor pains being spared. Mr. Martin lived near Cotton Plant, engaged in farming until 1883, then came to How- ell Township, where he is now residing. While in Howell he engaged in the mercantile business, which he successfully carried on for three years in connection with his farming. He is one of the leading land holders of Woodruff County, owning 1,300 acres of land, 600 of which are under culti- vation, and on this farm is erected one of the most magnificent residences in this county, all the re- sult of good management and careful attention to every detail of business, however trifling or insig- nificant. He has met with several severe reverses, in 1867 and 1869 lost all, but after a short ab- sence in Mississippi, he returned, and went to farming on shares till 1873. Subsequently he pur- chased 164 acres near Howell, this being his first land, since which time he has constantly added to his possessions until obtaining the present amount of land, which he calls his own, and all through his own exertions. He has served in the official position of court deputy, sheriff, etc. In his

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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