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 63

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 63

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John N. White, proprietor of the cotton-gin at Levesque, Smith Township, Cross County, Ark., first saw the light of day in Michigan, in 1848, and was the second of six children born to the marriage of James and Jane (Williams) White, natives of England and New York, respectively. The father went to California in 1849, and after returning fol- lowed agricultural pursuits in Michigan at an early day. Both parents are living at the present time. John N. White attended the public schools and the college at Hillsdale, until twenty-one years of age, when he engaged in the hardware business for himself in that town, and this continued for some time. In 1873 he moved to Missouri, located

in Cole County, and engaged in the timber busi- ness, which he continued for three years. He then came to Arkansas and engaged in the same busi- ness on White River. In 1884 he came to Cross County, settled at Cherry Valley, erected a saw- mill and there remained about a year in partner- ship with D. J. Burks. They moved the mill in 1885, continuing at this new location until the fall of 1886, and then bought a mill on the bay, where they were engaged in cutting timber for the railroad during 1886 and 1887. They then built a gin and saw-mill on the railroad, at a point now named Levesque, and soon after erected and opened the first store at that place. This store was soon sold to O. A. Hamilton, and in 1887 the gin was burned down. Mr. White then bought his part- ner out and, in 1888, put up a new steam-gin with a capacity of twelve bales daily. In 1889 he sold the saw-mill to Smith, Cole & Davis. At present Mr. White is engaged in the logging business in the St. Francis bottom and in his gin at Levesque. He is a prominent saw-mill and timber man, is act- ive and energetic, and although of Northern birth, finds Arkansas good enough for him. He was married, in 1884, to Miss Alice Cartright, of Pine Bluff, and to this union has been born one child, a son named Elmer.

W. P. Wilkins was partly reared to farm life in Tennessee, where he was born, and also in Ken- tucky, his parents having removed to the Blue Grass State when he was twelve years of age. In 1847 he came to Arkansas and located in what was then St. Francis (now Cross) County, within two miles of his present place of residence, and was en- gaged for the next five years as a farm laborer. In 1852 he purchased a quarter section of land, since which time he has added forty acres more, now having over 100 acres under cultivation, with a good house, buildings and orchard, etc. In 1861 Mr. Wilkins joined the Confederate service in Mc- Gee's regiment, in which he served until the close of the war, participating in the battles of Big Creek, Ironton (Mo.), Wittsburg, and a number of skirmishes. Mr. Wilkins was born in Tennessee, in 1827, as a son of William and Nancy J. (Sutfin) Wilkins. The father was a prominent Tennessee

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

farmer, and in 1839 moved to Kentucky and settled in Jackson County, remaining there until the year 1845, when his wife died. Returning thence to Marshall County, Tenn., he also died, at the age of ninety-six years. Mr. Wilkins served in the Revolutionary War, and was present at the sur- render of Cornwallis. He was always blessed with good health, and was never known to call a doctor in his life. He had been twice married; first, to a Miss Ellison, who was the mother of four chil- dren, all now deceased, and after her death to the mother of our subject, who bore eleven children, three living: Isabella (the widow of William Trout), B. F. (a resident of Yell County, Ark.) and W. P. The latter was married in 1849 to Miss Mollie El- dridge. They have a family of ten children, seven of whom survive: P. P. (a resident of Wynne), Isa- bella (wife of P. Anderson), N. J., John, Mollie L. (the wife of James Halk), Rufus C. and R. G. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He is connected with the A. F. & A. M., and is a member of the school board. Mr. Wilkins is a prominent man here- abouts, and takes an active part in politics, having served as constable of the township.

H. C. Winters is widely remembered as an old settler of Bedford Township. A native of Alabama, he is the eldest son of Henry and Sarah (Rinfrow) Winters, who came originally from North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. Henry Winters went to Alabama in 1828 and settled in Morgan County, where he remained five years, going thence to Tippah County, Miss. He was twice married, and by his first wife had two boys, one of whom is living: Aaron, a resident of Pope County, Ark. Mr. Winters was married to the mother of our subject in 1828. They were the parents of six children, all of whom are still living: H. C., J. J. Thomas, William C., Mary E. (now Mrs. Harbin- ger) and Sarah J. (Mrs. Vandover), all living in Texas excepting the first named. Mr. Winters was a soldier in the War of 1812, and died in 1852. Mrs. Winters was a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, and died in 1880. H. C. Winters was born in Morgan County, Ala., in 1829, and was reared on a farm in Tippah County,

Miss., remaining at home until twenty-six years of age, when he came to St. Francis County, Ark., and was an overseer for some five years on a plan- tation. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate service, Fourth Arkansas Infantry, and served in the Trans-Mississippi Department, being wounded at the battle of Jenkins' Ferry, and having the thumb shot from his left hand. After the war Mr. Winters returned home and engaged in farm- ing on his own land, which he had bought in 1859, consisting of 160 acres. In 1880 he purchased the interests of the heirs of his father-in-law to his farm on which he now lives. It is a fine place, consisting of 240 acres of land, of which some sixty acres are under cultivation, and he also owns 600 acres besides, with forty acres improved. Mr. Winters has been married twice; first, to Miss Mary E. Meek in 1866, who died in 1886, after having reared eight children; five of these are still living: H. L., R. M., W. T., J. E. and G. M. In December, 1886, Mr. Winters was married to Mrs. Ada Edwards (nee DeKey). She is a member of the Baptist Church, his first wife being a member of the Christian Church as he himself is. Mr. Winters belongs to the A. F. & A. M., and is a charter member of Levesque Lodge No. 227; he is also a member of the I. O. O. F.

J. G. Wright, M. D., one of the prominent physicians and surgeons of Cross County, is a native of Illinois and was born in 1830, as the son of T. J. and Mary (Griffin) Wright, originally from Virginia, and of English descent. The father moved to Illinois in 1829, and settled in Edgar County, where he farmed until 1855, then going to Worth County, Mo. Buying a farm he resided until his death which occurred in 1866, at the age of fifty-four years. Mr. Wright served as justice of the peace four years in Missouri. Mrs. Wright still survives him and lives in Worth County, and though eighty years of age, she enjoys the best of health. They had in their family five children (two of whom are living): J. G., Martha (the widow of Samuel Adams, late of Missouri), C. C., Ester (de- ceased) and Elizabeth (deceased). Mrs. Wright is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Dr. J. G. Wright joined the United States army at

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the age of sixteen, and served in the war with Mex- ico, participating in the siege of Vera Cruz, and a number of other prominent battles. After the engagement at Vera Cruz he received his dis- charge and returned home. During his time of service in that war he marched 500 miles on foot, and was disabled and laid up for eight weeks at the hospital at Matamoras. After coming home he entered upon the study of medicine at the age of eighteen in the office of Dr. Lenbrook, of Paris, Ill., a graduate of the Jefferson College of Medicine at Philadelphia. In 1849-50 Mr. Wright attended the Rush Medical College at Chicago, and in 1850 began his career as prac- titioner under his former instructor, where he remained for six years, then going to Worth County, Mo. Locating at Oxford, he continued

the practice of his profession until 1886 and also served as county justice for two years, and was postmaster of Oxford for eight years. He then moved to Ottawa, Kan., but after six months came to this county. Dr. Wright was married in 1851 to Miss Julia Daugherty, of Ohio. They are the parents of five children: Florence E. (wife of W. D. Sharp, of Ottawa, Kas.), Alice D. (wife of J. W. Cubine, of Coffeeville, Kas.), C. J. C. and T. J. (both at home) and Mary M. (now Mrs. J. M. Tinson, of Kansas City, Mo.). Mrs. Wright is a member of the Baptist Church. Dr. Wright is a very decided Democrat, but does not take an active part in politics. He has a large and exten- sive practice as the constant demands made upon his time amply indicate, and his kindly manner makes him welcome in the sick room.

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

CHAPTER XVI !!

CRITTENDEN COUNTY-ACT OF ORGANIZATION-THE NAME-EARLY SETTLEMENTS AND LAND ENTRIES- TRIBUNAL CENTERS-PUBLIC EDIFICES-MATERIAL ADVANCEMENT AND PROGRESS-THE CRIT- TENDEN OF TO-DAY-ITS DESIRABILITY AS A PLACE OF RESIDENCE-RESOURCES, LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY-MILITARY AFFAIRS-OFFICIAL DIREC- TORY - MILITARY ROAD-RAILROADS-SCHOOL MATTERS- RELIGIOUS CONDITION-NEWSPAPER PRESS-TOWNS AND VILLAGES-BIOGRAPHY.

On the overwork'd soil Of this planet enjoyment is sharpen'd by toil; And one seems, by the pain of ascending the height, To have conquered a claim of that wonderful sight .- Meredith.

ROPERLY speaking, the history of any definite local- ity commences with its for- mation. The county of Crit- tenden was formed by an act of the Territorial leg- islature of the territory of Arkansas, in 1825. It em- braced a large part of what is now Cross, St. Francis and Lee Counties and portions have been cut off from time to time as those various counties were formed. It now comprises less than half of its original area. This county was named in honor of Robert Crittenden, who was appointed first secretary of Arkansas Territory, and served in that office from 1819 to 1829.

The earliest record of land entries in Critten- den County are forty Spanish claim grants. Some of these grants are now located in other counties, as they were formed from parts of this. The first entry is dated 1828, and is by John J. Bowie, the

patentee of the Bowie knife. In 1829 land was entered by Charles Kelley, Francis Duvall, W. D. Ferguson, Antoine Bearvis and Richard Searcy. The first entries of United States lands were in 1829: eighty acres by Joseph Hudson; eighty acres by Weldon Vanwinkle in 1831; eighty acres by Rob- ert Larkin in 1832. In 1833 land was entered by Michael Elsberry, William Hagins and Preston Yeatman; in 1834 by James Erwin, James Shel- by and Isaac Bledsoe; in 1835 by James Erwin, Isaac Bledsoe, Jonathan Hand, Robert Larkin, Daniel Harkelwood, Preston Yeatman, Robert Lar- kins, Jonathan Hann and John J. Walton. In 1836, the year in which Arkansas was admitted as a State, there are too many to enumerate. In 1826 John Grace deeded a tract of 220 arpents to Nancy Procter. On the record book of this county there is on record a freedman's certificate given by Will- iam Williams, a notary public of New York, to John Brown, a negro, dated May 13, 1812.

Benjamin Flooy was perhaps the earliest settler in Crittenden County. He was military comman- dant at the Spanish post or fort of Camp of Hope,

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on the Mississippi River, opposite Memphis, now known as Hopefield. When this country was sold to France, by Spain, and his office was abolished, he remained at the old post and began farming. Here was made the first clearing, and here he lived and died and left children who lived here for many years after him. The old house which he built was standing till 1858, when the land on which it stood caved into the river, and this old landmark was destroyed.

Augustine Grandee came to what is now Crit- tenden County, as a Spanish officer, about 1801. Upon the sale of this country to France, he, like Commandant Flooy, concluded to remain and make this fertile land his home. He settled about four miles west of the Mississippi River, on a lake that has since borne his name, and near where the town of Marion is now built. He died on his plantation and left six children, of whom many descendants are still living in Eastern Arkansas.

Gen. Bradley settled on the Mississippi River, eighteen miles above Memphis, at an early day. He opened up a large plantation and became one of the prosperous planters in the pioneer period of Crittenden County.

A member of the State Confederate Conven- tion, which met at Little Rock in 1861, he opposed the secession of the State with all power, and when he died it was with the same sentiment, though he was highly esteemed by all who knew him; he was the soul of honor, and while his course aroused the animosity of most Confederates, they soon promoted him to a command of a regiment, but on account of old age and feeble health he afterward resigned.

Some of the oldest settlers in this county were the Harklerodes, Burgetts, Foglemans, P. G. Pollock, E. Garrett, B. F. Allen and Maj. J. B. Lyles, who settled at Marion in 1841; at that time he bought and ran the old hotel which still stands in the village.

The Territorial legislature placed the seat of jus- tice of Crittenden County, temporarily, at Green- ock. This place was soon selected as the permanent county seat, and the first court was held here, in the house of William Lloyd in June, 1826.

The old record of deeds of this county shows that on June 13, 1827, H. N. Ferguson transferred to the county of Crittenden, a tract of land for county purposes. This place remained as the seat of jus- tice for ten years, when it was permanently re- moved to Marion. The site of old Greenock has long since been washed away by the Mississippi River.

In 1837 the county court appointed J. R. James and John Owens commissioners to select a site for the county . seat, as the people of the county had petitioned for a change. They chose a point fourteen miles northeast of Memphis, and four miles west of Oldham. On the records is found that on June 25, 1837, a deed was given to these com- missioners in trust for the county of Crittenden for county purposes, by Marion Tolbert and wife, Temperance, for one-half of the lots in twenty acres. A town was here laid out, and, in honor of Mr. Tolbert, was named Marion.

The first court of Crittenden County was held in the house of William Lloyd, and it is not positively known whether a court house was ever erected at Greenock or not. Mr. A. H. Ferguson remembers seeing the old jail at that place, but the site of this old town disappeared beneath the waves of the Mississippi River so long ago, that no one now remembers whether there was a court house there or not; it is probable, however, that one was erected there.

Soon after the seat of justice was removed to Marion, the county erected a frame court house; this was destroyed by a cyclone, and thus for many years court was held in various buildings, in old churches or vacant store-houses, till 1873, when the new brick building was constructed. The contract for this building and the jail was let at $60,000, and county bonds were issued for that sum to pay the bill. For two years no work of any kind was done, but the county was required to pay the interest on the bonds. The building was completed in 1873-74, but before the indebt- edness was canceled it cost the county over $100,- 000. It is, however, a neat, two-story brick build- ing, commodious and thoroughly satisfactory for all purposes.

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

From the first settlement of Crittenden, early in the nineteenth century, the productiveness of its lands have been phenomenal. With a climate mild and genial, admitting of outdoor labor almost every day of the year, and a soil that will yield abundantly every variety of plant or vine, and in addition that king of vegetable products- cotton, Crittenden soon began to secure a class of active, enterprising and wealth-acquiring citizens. During the latter part of the decade of 1840, and all through 1850, this county enjoyed unparalleled prosperity. By this time immense areas had been reduced to cultivation, and wild land was selling at from $10 to $35 per acre. The change in the current of affairs at the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, settled like a blight upon the fair fields of Crittenden, compelling a cessation of all farm- ing operations, and this in an agricultural district, meant poverty and ruin. Most of the able-bodied men also enlisting in their country's service, left the land without protection or support. As a great part of the planters' wealth consisted in slaves, the close of the war found many ruined, while the homes of nearly all were despoiled, fences destroyed, and the land run to brush and bramble. Notwithstanding all these drawbacks the people began life after the war, under the changed condi- tion of things, with hope and promise. Then fol- lowed the days of reconstruction, which proved for Crittenden County a far worse evil than the war. The people look back upon those times with hor- ror, and speak about them with indignation, Nearly all the county offices were held by negroes, who, in the main, were both ignorant and incom- petent. The State militia, mostly negroes, were quartered in the county for the better part of two years, during which time constant strife, many murders, and other crimes were constantly being committed. Taxation rose till it reached the limit of legal interest, while the county scrip depreciated to a value of 5 per cent on the dollar.

In 1874, under the adoption of the new State constitution, the county passed out of this crucify- ing period, and the prosperity of the people since has only been interrupted by the general overflows from the Mississippi in 1882-83.

Land is being rapidly cleared and improved in every township in the county, and the general con- dition of the people now is better than at any period of its past history. Under the wise admin- istration of county and local affairs, taxation has been reduced to thirteen mills on the dollar, while the annual assessments are being constantly re- duced.

The lands, both cultivated and in the timber, are rapidly rising in value, and, with the construc- tion of a levee to protect the country from over- flow, will in all cases advance at least 100 per cent more. The completion of this levee, which will unquestionably be an accomplished fact in a few years, will make hundreds and thousands of acres accessible to the farmer, and increase the county's wealth almost beyond belief; for these overflowed lands are the richest and most productive in the Mississippi basin, and will annually yield from one to one and a half bales of cotton per acre; practi- cally inexhaustible, it may safely be said that for a hundred years their fertility would scarcely be impaired.

The erection of the Memphis bridge will bring new lines of railroads through Crittenden County, adding to her already favorable market facilities, while at its western terminus in this county, West Memphis, a large town will be apt some day to rise.

The county is well supplied with schools and churches and a condition of peace and tranquility, indicating continued prosperity for all, is appar- ent. Some of the grandest plantations to be found in the South, are situated in Wappanocca, Jasper, Jackson and Proctor Townships of this county, whose individual excellencies it would require too much space to record. Suffice it to say, that the owners of many of these places came here poor, and are actually self-made men, the wonderful fertility of the soil making it possible to accumu- late a fortune here by farming operations in a few years. It is safe to assert that few localities in the United States can offer to the husbandman ad- vantages like this.

Wild lands in Crittenden County are still to be bought at from $1 to $10 per acre, on which

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in many cases, the timber can be sold for an ample sum to pay the cost of clearing and preparing for the plow. This land may now be valued at from $40 to $100 per acre, and, with the most ordi- nary improvements in the way of buildings, will rent for cash at a price per acre which will yield a profitable investment for the latter sum, or even at $6 per acre, yielding an annual return * of 6 per cent on $100. This is no exceptional in- stance, but is the general rule throughout the entire county. That this state of things should exist so near the thickly populated districts of the North and East, without more people from those sections taking advantage of the wonderful oppor- tunities, can only be accounted for by the fact that Eastern Arkansas has long rested under the odium of prejudicial and falsifying reports.

It is true that for ten years following the war the condition of the State was most critical. Dur- ing that period the eyes of the rest of the Union were intently gazing upon its various phases of life and action while passing through a most trying social and political ordeal. Hearsay evidence was often employed and political capital manufactured by the press out of the most ordinary occurrences of civil life. Anarchists in Pennsylvania and Illi- nois might murder citizens by the dozen in defiance of State authorities; railroad employes in Ohio might band together and obstruct general travel, to the danger of the lives of thousands of people; mobs might gather in New York and Massachu- setts, demanding bread or work in menacing terms; anything else of a like nature and worse character might transpire in any Northern city without at- tracting special attention from the news agents, but the moment any trivial offense of law happened in Arkansas the whole country must be aroused to gaze upon the evil times in this unlucky State. But whatever hopes or fears may have been the se- cret of this unfortunate condition of affairs, they no longer exist, and no community in the land en- joys more absolute obedience and respect for the civil law, than the people of Crittenden County. There also exists abroad a very wrong opinion as to the healthfulness of Eastern Arkansas. Reports were circulated in the pioneer period of the county's

history, based, perhaps, on reports from hunters, trappers, wood-choppers, etc., people whose ex- posed occupations would tell upon the strongest constitutions. At the present time, however, one may find, by six months' constant travel through Eastern Arkansas, as favorable a condition of health among its people, as could be expected in any new country; many of the citizens here report cases of continual good health among all the members of their families for many years. The leading phy- sicians state that, as the land is being cleared, cul- tivated and drained, the proportion of sickness is materially decreasing. To all who contemplate removing to Crittenden County, or to Eastern Ar- kansas, it is not improper to state that no fear need be anticipated of serious ill health; the only requi- site being to conduct one's self and live as people in a somewhat colder climate are compelled to do, and this will be found as healthy a locality as any section of the Mississippi Valley.

With all these advantages to attract immigra- tion the citizens of Crittenden cordially invite and warmly welcome all worthy and enterprising set- tlers. This county is capable of supporting ten times its present population. Farm hands here, at the present time, are scarce, and a thousand la- borers might secure employment the year round, such help being earnestly sought for and gladly employed.

To the actual settler who comes here with his family and buys his farm, need only be shown the many cases of the county's self-made men as con- vincing proof that success is sure and fortune cer- tain.

Crittenden is purely an agricultural county, and as such ranks among the very first in Eastern Ar- kansas. While the staple product is cotton, almost any plant, vegetable or grain that thrives in a sim- ilar latitude can be produced here. Until recent years it was scarcely thought to be possible to raise domestic grasses, but it has now been demonstrated that no soil can raise better clover, timothy, orchard grass and red top. Vegetables of nearly every known kind grow here, planted as early as Febru- ary. Fertilization is practically unknown, yet Irish potatoes yield on an average seventy-five

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bushels to the acre, sweet potatoes from 150 to 200 bushels, turnips 250 bushels. Watermelons, musk- melons and pumpkins are of famous growth. Cab- bage, peas, beans, lettuce and spinach do well.

A good variety of domestic and wild fruits is found: Apples, peaches, pears, cherries, plums and the several berries. Of apples, early varieties do best; of peaches, the medium and late; of plums, wild goose and other native plums; of the berries, strawberries and blackberries are the best, and requiring but little cultivation grow abun- dantly. At the New Orleans International Expo- sition, held in 1885, and at the California Exposi- tion held in 1887, at San Francisco, Arkansas apples and other fruits took the first prizes. It must be remembered that though Crittenden County possesses great natural adaptability to pro- duce all the above they are in almost every case made subsidiary to the one great crop-cotton; the majority of the people scarcely raising enough for their own use, and none producing any for market. It will thus be seen that as the field is wholly un- occupied in the production of these articles their cultivation would be attended with profitable re- sults from the beginning; even corn, a great and never-failing crop, is seldom raised in sufficient abundance to supply the home demand.

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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