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 61

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 61

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

tage which he bought in 1889. He was married July 6, 1864, to Miss Catherine Brown, a native of Indiana, and three children have been the re- sult of this union: Lulie May, Charles and Miles. Mr. Orr is the youngest in a family of eleven chil- dren born to William and Lucinda (Macy) Orr, natives of Ohio.

Anderson Phillips, one of the most prominent colored farmers in Searcy township, was born a slave of David H. Walker, of Carroll County, Mo., in 1843. His father, Carter Phillips, died in 1889. His mother at last accounts was in Nebraska. Mr. Walker had crossed the plains with his slaves, and left the mother of our subject in the West, and she never returned. After the Emancipation Procla- mation, Anderson Phillips came north and joined the Federal army, and served until October, 1865, when he received his discharge, then coming to Phillips County, Ark., where he remained seven years. In 1874 he bought his present property, consisting of 240 acres in Cross County. He first purchased 660 acres, but has given a portion to his children, and now has 130 acres under cultivation. Mr. Phillips was married first in 1866 to Charlotte Smith, who died in 1874, leaving three children: G. A., James H. and Glenn A. (wife of Jeff Ham, a resident of this county). His second marriage was to Alice Ham (who was killed in a railroad accident in 1879). They became the parents of four children, all of whom are deceased. Mr. Phillips' present wife was formerly Martha E. Davis, whom he married in 1880. They have one boy, An- derson. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips are members of the Independent Order of the Immaculate, and are connected with the Baptist Church. The former is a strong Republican, and takes an active part in politics, having held the office of coroner of the county two terms.

William M. Pierce is a son of James Pierce, who was born in Indiana, where he was reared, but coming to Arkansas when a young man, he lo- cated in Pope County, and there married Susan Davidson. She first saw the light in St. Charles County, Mo., and died in Pope County in 1868. Her father was a soldier in the War of 1812. Will- iam Pierce, the second son in a family of three

376

HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

children, and the only one now living, was born in Pope County, December 24, 1855, and came to Cross County when fourteen years of age, the year after his mother died, his father having died when he was a small boy. He was married in 1875, to Miss Fannie Staner, a native of Illinois (born about 1858), who departed this life in June, 1888, leaving four children: Willie and Anna (twin daughters), Edgar and Samuel. Mr. Pierce moved to his present farm on the St. Francis River in 1875, and now has a fine place of 120 acres, with forty acres under cultivation. He is a decided Democrat, and a good citizen.

Maj. Riddick Pope, a prosperous agriculturist and citizen, was reared on a farm in Southamp- ton County, Va., gaining his mental knowledge in the common schools of that county, remaining in these until nineteen years of age, after which he accepted the position of clerk in a dry goods store at Drewryville, Va. Two years later he went to Memphis, Tenn., and again engaged as clerk in his former trade, where he remained two years. In 1854 he formed a partnership with his brothers, Oswald and Madison, and started in the dry goods business, and about this time they bought 700 acres of land, in what is now Cold Water Town- ship, Cross County, but was then Poinsett County, and after putting 100 under improvement, they closed out the business in 1859, removed to this farm. In 1861 Mr. Pope enlisted in the Confederate serv- ice, in Company A, of the Fifth Arkansas In- fantry, in which he was appointed third lieutenant, and served throughout the war. He was later made major, which position he held until after the battle of Shiloh, when he was then transferred to Price's command, and took part in that never-to-be forgotten raid through Missouri: In this he offici- ated as brigade-quartermaster, being in McCray's Brigade. After the war Mr. Pope came home and engaged in farming for the next nine years. Then followed a period of nine years in which he held a position in the largest dry goods house in Witts- burg. In 1885, after his return home, he was elect- ed to the State senate, which office he still fills. Maj. Pope was born in Virginia, in 1830, and was a son of Nathan and Annie (Stephenson) Pope, na-

tives of Virginia. Nathan Pope was a planter, and one of the largest slave-owners in Virginia, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. His father was a participant in the Revolutionary War, and was present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. Nathan Pope was in the battle of Parkersfield at the time of the insurrection of the negroes in 1831, dur- ing which he was unhorsed and slightly wounded, but was rescued by six of his companions from some sixty or seventy infuriated negroes. He was twice married, first to a Miss Joyner, by which marriage he was the father of two children. After his first wife's death, Mr. Pope married Mrs. Annie (Stephenson) Barrett (the mother of our sub- ject), who became the mother of eight children, Riddick, being the only child living. Mr. Pope was a member of the English Church, and Mrs. Pope a member of the Methodist Church. He died in 1841. Maj. Riddick Pope was married in December, 1865, to Miss Virginia Mosby, a daugh- ter of J. H. and Maria (McClain) Mosby, natives of Virginia and Tennessee, respectively, and the parents of eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Pope are the parents of five children, all of whom (with Mrs. Pope) are deceased. Himself and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He affiliates with the K. of H., the K. & L. of H. the A. F. & A. M., being a Knight Templar, a member of the I. H., and is connected with the County Wheel. He is one of the leading politicians of his county, and very popular, as is shown by the overwhelming majority given him at the polls when elected to the senate, and which confidence has been more than justified by the way in which he has discharged his duties.

Albert M. Pope, a prominent citizen of Cross County, was born near where the village of Vann- dale is now situated, and in what was then (1861) Poinsett County, and is the only child of Madison and Julia F. (McClaran) Pope. Madison Pope was a native of Southampton County, Va., where he spent his youth and where he received his edu- cation. In 1852 Mr. Pope immigrated to Arkansas, and with his two brothers, Oswald and Riddick, bought and entered lands to the amount of 2,000 acres, after which they formed a partnership in the

377

CROSS COUNTY.

mercantile business in Memphis, which they con- tinued until 1860, doing a large business. At that time the war coming on, and attendant circum- stances, freed their slaves and left them with noth- ing but land. Mr. Pope was married in 1858, to Julia F. McClaran, of Macon, Fayette County, Tenn., a lady of education, who has taught school in the immediate neighborhood of Vanndale, for over the space of twenty years. Mr. Pope died in 1862, leaving to his widow and infant son a large tract of land, and the much better legacy-a good name. He was one of those men whose deeds live, after they have departed this life. His brother Oswald, senior partner of the firm, died in 1879, while Riddick survives, and is an honorable member of the State senate. Mrs. Julia F. Pope, after remaining a widow for twelve years, was married in 1874, to J. C. Brookfield, her present husband, with whom she now resides in the town of Jonesboro, Craighead County. A. M. Pope re- mained on the farm with his mother, till about eighteen years of age. He then clerked, respect- ively, in the towns of Wittsburg and Harrisburg, for about three years, after which he returned home and engaged in farming and stock-raising, till the removal of his mother to Jonesboro, when he built a neat and substantial residence in Vann- dale, where he now resides, engaged in the drug business with Dr. T. D. Hare.

Napoleon B. Raulston, postmaster at Tyronza, is a native of Georgia, and a son of William Evan- der Raulston, also of Georgia birth, who is now living in Crittenden County. The latter was mar- ried in Georgia, before coming to this State, to Mary Tate, who died in 1855 in Prairie County, to which he first moved, leaving two children, of whom Napoleon was the eldest. The subject of this sketch was born July 24, 1853, and was reared in this State from the age of two to thirteen years. At the latter period he went to Tennessee and re- mained a number of years, being married in No- vember, 1878, to Miss Alice Robins, who was born in Shelby County, Tenn., in 1861. They then moved to Arkansas, and have been residents of Cross County since 1884, having moved here from St. Francis County at that time. They are the 24

parents of three children: Willie G., Howard E. and Thomas B. Mr. Raulston has held the office of justice of the peace, and is now postmaster of this place. He has no land of his own but has control of the farm on which he lives. He always voted the Democratic ticket, and cast his first pres- idential vote for Samuel J. Tilden in 1876.

M. A. Riley, well known among the business circles as proprietor of one of the largest cotton- gins and grist-mills in Cross County, was reared on a farm in Shelby County, Tenn., and subse- quently farmed for himself in his native county, until 1869, when he removed with his family to this county, and purchased his present farm of 100 acres, then in a wild state. He now has fifty acres under cultivation, with a good house, barn and buildings. M. A. was the son of L. C. and Eliza C. (Wiley) Riley, of North Carolina origin. His parents were married in North Carolina, and came to Tennessee in 1836, where his father pur- chased 320 acres of land. Mr. Riley, Sr., was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and died in 1846, his wife dying in 1881 at the age of sixty-two years. To these parents were given five children, three of whom are still living: Will- iam, John and M. A., all residents of this county. In 1885 M. A. Riley moved to Cherry Valley, where he purchased four acres of land, and erected one of the finest residences to be found in the vil- lage, and also erected a large steam cotton-gin and grist-mill, and has a large custom throughout the surrounding territory. Mr. Riley was married in 1868 to Miss Rebecca A. Wiley, a native of Ten- nessee, and a daughter of Macaney and Nannie (Lovel) Wiley, also of Tennessee. They are the parents of five children, two of whom are de- ceased: Luella (deceased), Etta, Laura, Robert (deceased) and Walter. Politically Mr. Riley is a Democrat. He and his wife are connected with the Baptist Church.

William Henry Roberts is, not without merit, conceded to be one of the substantial farmers of Smith Township. His father, Zachariah Roberts, was a native of Virginia, and leaving that State in 1827 moved to Tennessee, where he married Sarah Fly. She still lives, and resides with Will-

378

HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

iam Henry, our subject, who is the only child of the family living. In 1850 Mr. Roberts settled in Cross County, Ark., and resided here about three years, then returning to Virginia, where his death occurred a short time after. William Henry Roberts was born in Gibson County, Tenn., Au- gust 6, 1835. He was reared on a farm, being denied the privileges of an education, and was mar- ried in 1861, to Eliza J. Thomas, who has borne seven children: William S., Georgia, Robert L., Mary L., James H., Nannie L. and Fannie D. Mr. Roberts enlisted in 1862 in the Fifth Arkansas In- fantry and served about two years, when he was wounded at the battle of Helena, by a minie-ball, in the left shoulder. This disabled him, and he returned home. In 1865 he purchased the farm on which he now resides, then containing eighty acres, and has at this time 120 acres, with forty- five acres under cultivation. Mr. Roberts is a Democrat in his political preferences, and an esteemed resident of the community.

Judge W. F. Robinson, an esteemed member of the bench, was reared on a farm in North Caro- lina and at the age of nineteen, commenced farm- ing for himself, but four years later he entered the Peabody School of Pigeon Gap, N. C., but remained in this institution for a short time only, when in the fall of 1873 he came to Arkansas, locating in Cross County and renting a farm in Searcy Town- ship until 1888, when he purchased his present farm, which consists of eighty acres of timbered land. The Judge was born in Haywood County, N. C., on November 22, 1849, and was a son of John P. and Jane M. (Clark) Robinson, of North Caro- lina nativity. Mr. John P. Robinson (the father) was a farmer by occupation. Hearing his country call for volunteers during the Civil War, he en- listed in the Sixteenth North Carolina Infantry. He is still a resident of Haywood County. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson were blessed with ten children, five of whom are still living: W. F. (our subject), I. M., Dovie L. (wife of James Rinehart), John B. and Lorah J. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a worthy member of the A. F. & A. M. Judge Robinson has been twice married. First to Miss

Mary E. Shaver, on August 5, 1880, and who died the following March. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was married the second time on March 28, 1889, to Miss Mary Baker, of this county. In 1876 the Judge was elected justice of the peace of Searcy Township, which office he held eight years, resigning it to accept that of county and probate judge, to which he had been elected, and is now serving his second term, with satisfaction to the people who honored him with their votes and confidence, and with great credit to himself.

Reuben R. Rogers, is also numbered among the representative agriculturists of Cross County. A native of Louisiana, he was born November 24, 1852, being the son of James and Huldah (Arm- strong) Rogers, both originally from Mississippi. James Rogers moved to Louisiana when a young man and engaged in farming and stock raising, in which occupation he was interested until his death in 1860. His wife died in this county, in 1879 at the age of forty-nine, leaving three children. Reuben Rogers was reared on the home farm in Louisiana, until about five years after his father's death, when the widow removed with her family to Cross County, the subject of this sketch being at that time thirteen years of age. He lived with his mother up to twenty-two years of age, when he was married December 27, 1874, to Miss Alice Stanley, a native of Crittenden County, Ark., and a daughter of John Stanley. Though of Mississippi origin, he became one of the early pioneers of Crittenden County. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are the parents of eight children, four now living: Leslie T., Irwin E., Lewin C., and Fannie G. Mr. Rogers has a fine farm of 255 acres, with about 100 acres under cultivation, situated some three miles from the month of the Tyronza River, at the place formerly known as Robinson Ferry. He also owns a farm of 160 acres, three-fourths of a mile east of home place, and located on the same river, of which upward of sixty acres are under cultivation. Mr. Rogers is an energetic and en- terprising young farmer and is making a success of his business, being well known and highly respected by all.

379

CROSS COUNTY.

J. T. Rolfe, proprietor of the Vanndale Hotel, if for no other reason, deserves especial mention as a direct descendant of the famous John Rolfe and Pocahontas; this is undisputed and reliable, as the traditions for many generations point directly to those illustrious characters as the founders of the family. Mr. Rolfe was born in Mecklenburgh County, Va., in 1834, being a son of Samuel D. and Susan (Stone) Rolfe. He attained his major- ity in the " Old Dominion," and became engaged in mercantile pursuits at the age of sixteen. Com- ing, in 1857, to Arkansas and settling in Poinsett (now Cross) County, where he resumed his inter- ests of merchandising at a town called Pineville. This place has now disappeared. Here Mr. Rolfe remained until 1862, when he enlisted in the Con- federate army, in McGee's company. After the war he took up farming and gave his attention to it until 1882, also serving as constable and deputy sheriff for two years during that time. In 1882 he moved to Vanndale and built a hotel and has been engaged in the hotel business since that time, with very successful results. The hotel building is a large, two-story structure 28x60 feet, and erected at a cost of $1,200. Mr. Rolfe was married, in 1860, to Miss Lizzie Rose, who died in 1864, leaving one child, Mary Susan (now Mrs. Rodg- ers). He was subsequently married to Mrs. Mary V. Rolfe, the widow of his brother Alexander. Mr. and Mrs. Rolfe are the parents of one son, Samuel A. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal and Baptist Churches, and also of the K. & L. of H. In addition to his hotel, Mr. Rolfe owns a store in Vanndale, in which a large and steadily increasing business is being carried on.

Eli E. Sigman (deceased). Among the many estimable citizens of Cross County, who have passed to their long home, but who, from an early day were intimately and prominently associated with the county's development, the name of Eli E. Sigman can not be omitted. He was born in Ca- tawba County, N. C., in 1835, and was the son of Barnet Sigman, who was a farmer in his native State. Eli E. Sigman remained at home and at- tended the common schools, supplementing the same by a course at Newton, N. C., after which he began

the carpenter's trade and followed this in his na- tive State until 1858, when he came to Arkansas and settled in what is now Cross County. Here he followed his trade and erected most of the frame houses from that time up to the beginning of the war. He then volunteered in Company A, Fifth Arkansas Regiment, was elected second lieutenant and later promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, serving with distinguished bravery in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville, Chickamauga, Nashville, Murfreesboro, Franklin and many other minor en- gagements. He surrendered in North Carolina soon after the battle of Raleigh. On his return in 1865 he soon married Miss Marie J. Lewellen, a native of Tennessee, who came to this State with her parents in 1850. Previous to the war Mr. Sigman bought a farm of 320 acres, about one and a fourth miles west of the present village of Vann- dale, and when peace was declared he moved to this farm, on which there was but slight improve- ment, and at once began to clear up. He soon erected a neat residence, cleared about fifty acres of land and made a pleasant home. Mr. Sigman raised a variety of crops and was also engaged in the rearing of stock. To his marriage were born these children: Henry J., Willie E., M. Luther and N. Jervel. One infant died unnamed. Mr. Sigman joined the Lutheran Church in his youth but on his arrival in Cross County he connected himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and was class leader, steward and Sunday- school superintendent for a long time. Mr. Sig- man departed this life on December 8, 1879, from pneumonia, and his death was lamented by a large circle of relatives and friends. The community, the church, the Sabbath school, all felt the loss of a good and wise man. Mrs. Sigman is a daughter of James Lewellen, who came to this county in 1850 and who was one of the pioneers and most highly respected citizens of the community. He reared a large family of children and up to 1881 they with their parents were all living within the vicinity of Vanndale. Since then the parents have died, also two of the children, but still a number are yet living in the community and are among Cross County's most respected citizens. Mrs. Sig-

380

HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

man has a very pleasant home which she makes more attractive by the cultivation of innumerable flowers. With the assistance of her sons she man- ages and cultivates her valuable farm.

W. H. Slocum. One of the leading farmers and old settlers of Cross County is W. H. Slocum, who is a native of North Carolina, and the eldest son of G. C. and Sarah (Griphith) Slocum, also of North Carolina birth. Mr. G. C. Slocum was a blacksmith by trade, and moved to Tennessee in 1844, where he died in 1849, and his wife in 1879, leaving nine children, three of whom are now liv- ing: Mary (the wife of E. Robins, of this county), Joseph D. and W. H., all residing in this township. The subject of this sketch dates his existence from January 6, 1828. He received only five months' education in youth, his father needing his help in the blacksmith shop, in which he worked from the time he was able to swing a sledge until twenty- three years of age. In 1844 he accompanied his father to Tennessee, and in 1851 was married to Elizabeth Roberts, after which he moved to Arkan- sas and settled in this county (then Poinsett), where he rented a farm for two years. In 1853 he made entry of a quarter section, on which he now resides, and afterward bought 960 acres, about 500 of which he has given to his children. When Mr. Slocum first moved to Brushy Lake Township, in February, 1861, there were but three families for a distance of ten miles north or south. When he entered his land there were no clearings on it, and he erected a shanty in which he lived by himself until a log house was built. In 1874 he con- structed the first steam mill and gin in the town- ship, at that time the woods abounding in game, including bear, deer, and wild turkey. Mr. and Mrs. Slocum are the parents of nine children, eight living: Benjamin, Preston, Rebecca (now Mrs. Ott), Lovenia (wife of B. Burns), Samuel, Charles and Virg. Mr. Slocum joined the Confederate army in 1863, and served until the close of the war. He was taken prisoner south of Little Rock on July 4, 1863, and removed to Little Rock, from which he was paroled, and afterward rejoined the army, serving throughout the war. Upon the close of hostilities he returned home and engaged in farm-

ing and stock raising, in which he has been very successful. Mr. and Mrs. Slocum are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and take an active part in its affairs.

R. M. Smith, senior member of the firm of Smith, Graham & Jones, merchants at Wynne, owes his nativity to Batesville, Independence County, Ark., where his birth occurred in 1849. His parents, William and Mary (Miller) Smith, were also natives of Arkansas, and the father died when his son, R. M., was quite young. The pa- ternal grandfather, Robert Smith, was a native of Maryland and came to Arkansas in about 1835, set- tling at Batesville where he followed farming for many years. He owned a fine tract of land on the opposite side of the river from the town. He moved to Springfield, Mo., in 1878, and there he died a few years later at the age of seventy-eight years. The maternal grandfather, John Miller, moved to Independence County, Ark., in 1817, bought a large tract of land near the site of the present city of Batesville and was a very success- ful farmer, accumulating a very large fortune. He died in 1886 at the advanced age of ninety-seven years. R. M. Smith passed his youth in Bates- ville and in 1866 went to Little Rock, where he en- tered St. John's College, and there remained for four years. After this he engaged in the retail grocery business in Little Rock, remaining there until 1871, when he sold his business and went back to Batesville. Going to Wittsburg in 1875 he started a drug store, which he carried on until 1881 when the firm title was changed to Hamilton, Smith & Co., continuing thus until January, 1888. That partnership was then dissolved and the firm of Smith, Graham & Jones was formed, which in February, 1888, opened business in the brick block known as the Commercial Hotel, at Wynne. Here they carry an average stock of $20,000 and are doing a good business. Mr. Smith was married in 1881 to Miss Mary Mebane (a native of Cross County and daughter of W. T. Mebane). To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born two children: Bertie and Willie. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Smith owns two farms comprising 475 acres, with fifty

381

CROSS COUNTY.

under cultivation and another tract three miles southeast of Wynne with 125 acres under cultiva- tion. He is at present building an elegant new cottage with the hall and ceilings finished in natu- ral wood and the rooms planned and designed by Mrs. Smith.

T. B. Smith, of the firm of Smith, Cole & Davis, of Cross County, is a native of Northern Alabama, a son of W. H. and Minerva (Levesque) Smith, who also came originally from that State. The father moved to Arkansas in 1854 and located in Poinsett (now Cross) County, where he bought and entered a farm of 640 acres. He served in the Indian War of 1836 for a short time, and was mar- ried in 1842-43, being the father of ten children, five of whom are still living: W. A., T. B. (our subject), Ophelia (wife of J. W. Perkins, of Jones- boro), Ala (wife of R. P. Fulenwider, of Jack- son, Mo.), and Laura (wife of J. M. Puryear, of Jonesboro). Mrs. Smith was a member of the Methodist Church, and died in 1879, her husband surviving until 1884. He was a very popular man and served in several local offices. T. B. Smith was reared on a farm and educated in the subscrip- tion schools of this county, also attending the school of Covington, Tenn. He afterward en- gaged in farming on his father's land and also on a rented farm until 1876, when he bought a place containing 240 acres. This original amount has been increased until he now owns some 2,000 acres, having about 400 acres under cultivation. Mr. Smith was married in 1874 to Miss Bettie Levesque, daughter of Capt. J. M. Levesque [whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work]. They are the parents of three children (two living): Nannie B., Rufus (deceased) and Morris. Mr. Smith is the largest farmer in the county, cultivating over 1,000 acres, and is also extensively engaged in the saw- mill business, having an interest in two mills with Messrs. Cole and Davis. Their output will be some 2,000,000 feet yearly from each of the two mills. He is also interested in a steam-gin, in connection with one of his saw-mills. His brother- in-law, Mr. W. T. Levesque, is associated with him in the gin. Mr. Smith has served as a mem- ber of the county court, and is at present county

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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