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 66

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 66

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William H. Brown, an enterprising farmer of Wappanocca Township, was born in Hardeman County, Tenn., May 10, 1834, and is the son of John Brown, whose birth occurred in Williamson County, Tenn., in 1806. He always resided in that State, following the calling of a farmer and merchant. He was married to Rachel Hamor, also of Tennessee nativity, and to them were born nine children, of whom William H. was the sixth. The father was a son of William Brown, of Irish de- scent; he died in 1875, and his wife followed four years later. William H. was reared in his native State, where he received a limited education, and was married to Mary N. Craig in 1859. She was also born there in 1840 and is the daughter of Da- vid and Nancy Craig, of Tennessee. Mr. and Brown are the parents of twelve children, of whom

the following eight are now living: James W., Robert H., Charles F., Samuel F., M. Ellen, Alice, Minnie P. and Lester, all at home. In 1874 Mr. Brown emigrated from Lauderdale County, Tenn., to where he now lives, and in the following year purchased a farm of 160 acres, with sixty acres under cultivation. He now has one of the finest places in Crittenden County, there being about 125 acres under cultivation. In 1881 he erected a cotton-gin, which he has run very successfully ever since, and in 1889 attached a shingle-machine. The entire plant runs by steam, and cost about $2,000. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and are good, honest citizens, being held in the highest esteem by all that know them. The former is a Democrat in politics, and cast his first vote for Bu- chanan.

Albert H. Campbell, one of the oldest settlers of Tyronza Township, was born on the farm on which he lives, in 1852, being the only child re- sulting from the union of Hiram and Julia Mar- riman (nee Richards) Campbell. Mr. Campbell had been previously married, and was the father of four children by his first wife, of whom Steve and John are the survivors. He came to this State in 1834, and was one of the earliest settlers in this county, having come here before there was any thing in the way of a farm in this section. He only took up 220 acres of land, where he farmed and run a store and also had a ferry on the Tyron- za. He raised a great deal of stock and was one of the leading merchants of this county at the time of his death, which occurred in 1852. Hiram Campbell was born and reared in New York, going from there to Illinois in 1821, and thence to Ar- kansas by way of the Mississippi River to Wap- panocca Lake. Proceeding down that body of water to Big Creek, he floated down the Tyronza River and settled on the bank of the stream in the present Crittenden County. Mrs. Campbell died June 18, 1883, at the age of sixty-three years. Al- though coming to this State when there was much game, such as bear, elk, deer, turkey, etc., he did not spend much time hunting, but devoted most of his attention to his farms and in rafting logs. A.

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H. Campbell was reared to farm life and educated in this county, and at the age of sixteen years took charge of his mother's affairs, which he continued until 1885, when the farm was divided. Young Albert got 110 acres of land with seventy-five acres in cultivation, on the home place, and since that time he has added forty acres of wild and twenty acres of cultivated land. Like most farmers in this county he raises considerable cotton, though plenty of corn, hay, etc., is also grown, and he devotes a great portion of his time to cattle and horses in the bottoms, making a specialty of the former. In 1887 Mr. Campbell was united in wedlock to Miss Bettie, daughter of R. C. and Mary E. (May) Hampton, natives of Vir- ginia and Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Hampton are the parents of five children, with four still living: Richard, Bettie, Thomas D., J. F. and L. L. (de- ceased). Mr. Hampton died in 1867 and his wife survived him eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are the parents of two children: Nancy S. and Charles A. Being quite an enterprising young man and a native of this State, Mr. Campbell ap- preciates the advantages derived from education and emigration, therefore he favors these as an op- portunity to develop the excellent qualities of his life-long home.

Thomas Cashion (deceased) was born in Bullitt County, Ky., in May, 1858, and died December 3, 1888, in Crittenden County, Ark. When a boy he went from his birthplace to the State of Texas, where he was married to Miss Nannie E. Rives, January 11, 1880. She was born April 27, 1860, in this county, and is the daughter of Samuel D. Rives, who was born in Kentucky and died here on April 16, 1865. He came from the Blue Grass State, with his parents, when he was a boy. Mrs. Cashion's father was a well-to-do farmer; her mother was born and raised in this county, where she died December 31, 1879, having had four chil- dren of whom two are still living: Nannie E. and Edna (who resides in Galveston, Tex.). Mrs. Cashion, the second child, moved from Crittenden County to Texas with her mother, and received her education in the district schools of Collin County, afterward attending the high school in Mckinney.

She has borne three children: John P. (born Oc- tober 12, 1880), Mary J. (born April 3, 1882), and Thomas E. (born October 4, 1884). Thomas Cash- ion, Sr., was an employe of the Houston & Texas Railroad, while in Texas, and remained in that position for nine years. Discontinuing railroading in 1884 he farmed in Texas one year, when he came to this county and located on the farm now owned by his widow, formerly the property of Mr. Rives. This contains 800 acres, with 375 acres in cultivation, and is located on the Mississippi River bottoms. The farm now belongs to Nannie and her sister and never has been divided. Mr. Cashion was a member of the Masonic and Knights of Honor fraternities, and was a good citizen and highly respected. His widow rents all her land, but lives on her farm. Her grandfather, Peter G. Rives, was one of the first settlers of this county, having come here before Pierce was president. He was a large land owner, and cleared most of the land south of West Memphis, and was a prominent and useful citizen.

Anthony M. Clement (deceased) was a son of William and Mary E. (Brassfield) Clement, natives of North Carolina. He was born January 9, 1826, and was the twelfth child and seventh son of sev- enteen children, of whom Mary (widow of James Leach, residing near Beebe, Ark.) is the only sur- viving child. A. M. Clement was born in Tennes- see, reared and educated in Gibson County, and at the age of twenty-one engaged in business for himself, principally merchandising, near Humn- boldt. In 1852 he was married to Mary Cather- ine, daughter of R. N. and Margaret (Froenaba- ger) Patrick, natives of South Carolina and North Carolina, respectively, but at that time living in Gibson County. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom Mary Catherine was the eldest. During the war of the Rebellion Mr. Clement re- sided near Humboldt, but took no part in the con- test. In the spring of 1867 he moved with his family to Crittenden County, Ark., locating on the Mississippi River, near Bradley's Landing, and in 1869 purchased the tract of land on which his widow now resides. He was of English descent, his grandfather (father of William Clement) having

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come from England many years before the revolt of the colonies, settling in North Carolina. From the beginning of the Revolution he and his sons took an active part, he being surgeon and his sons soldiers in the American army. They were in the battle of King's Mountain, one son being killed. At the age of ninety he married a second wife, who was quite young (mother of William Clement) and lived to see a young family growing up around him. Mr. Clement and wife (parents of the sub- ject of our sketch), were active members in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Clement died in 1867, aged eighty-nine, leaving a second wife, his first wife having died many years before. An- thony M. Clement and wife became the parents of eight children, five of whom are now living. They are: Matilda (who is the second time a widow), Josie M., Robert E. Lee and Benjamin C. (the youngest), all at home with their mother. Lillian, the sixth child and fourth daughter, was married September 13, 1888, to S. S. James, of Jericho, this county. Mr. Clement was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in Gibson County, Tenn., and a member of the A. F. & A. M., and at the time of his death was justice of the peace in his township. He was kind-hearted, genial, generous to a fault; though quick to resent an in- sult, ready to forgive an injury-a typical South- ern gentleman. He died November 24, 1888, being sixty-two years of age. Mrs. Clement is a good, Christain lady, and a member of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church.

Seth C. Cocks has attained a prominence and merited reputation as one of the leading farmers of this county. Born at the Gayosa Hotel of Memphis, in 1860, while his parents were on their way from Mississippi to Crittenden County, Ark., he was a son of Philip A. Cocks, of Kentucky nativity, who moved from there to Mississippi, where he was married (in Washington County) to Miss Anna C. Egg, a native of that State. Mr. Cocks moved to Arkansas in 1860 and located on the farm he had purchased the previous year. He was an energetic and prosperous farmer and died February 5, 1869, on the place he settled, and on which his family still lives. Mrs. Cocks, his

widow, survived him till 1878. They were the parents of three children, of whom Minnie was burned to death at the age of three years. in Crit- tenden County, Ark .; Seth C., our subject, and Blanche D., an artist of talent, is the widow of Charles L. Lyles, son of Col. Lyles, now of Mem- phis. [See sketch. ] Mr. and Mrs. Lyles gave birth to one son, Philip Lyles. Seth C. Cocks attained his majority in this State, having continued to live on the place settled by his parents in 1860. He is a man of great energy and business ability and one of the successes of his career is seen in the po- sition he now occupies, as the owner of a large farm. His parents having died while he was very young, he has, by his own vim and push, kept up the old place. He attended school in Memphis for two years, and then after spending four years at the Frankfort Military Academy of Kentucky, re- turned to the home farm and was married to a very estimable lady, Miss Mary Belle Lyles, daugh- ter of Col. Lyles, one of the old and prominent settlers, and for many years clerk of this county, now numbered among the leading lawyers of Mem - phis. Mrs. Cocks is a very highly educated lady and an excellent conversationalist, and is in every way a woman to be admired. She and her hus- band are the parents of three children: Amy, Blanche and an infant girl. Mrs. Cocks is a prom- inent member of the Episcopal Church. Politic- ally, Mr. Cocks is a Democrat. He owns a large farm under cultivation bearing all the latest im- provements.

Robert F. Collins, a prosperous planter of Proctor Township, is a native of this county, born December 16, 1843, and the son of Thomas M. Collins, who was born in Virginia, in 1813, and died in Memphis, in 1853. His parents moved from Virginia to Tennessee in an early day, and Thomas came to this State while yet single, marry- ing, in this county, Miss Virginia W. Hulbert, a native of Pennsylvania. After Mr. Collins' death she was married, in 1857, to W. E. Scanlan, and died in 1878. She was a sister of Henry T. Hul- bert, who was a great literary man and a prominent lawyer of Memphis. Thomas M. Collins was one of the early settlers of this county, and a promi-

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nent man, being popular as a politician; he was a member of the State legislature from an early day until nearly the time of his, death, and could have been Governor had he been a Democrat instead of a Whig. He was a large owner of real estate, and was a prominent Mason; was very charitable, and educated many children with his own means. Noted for his integrity, he was mail contractor from Memphis to Little Rock for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Collins were the parents of eight children, of whom three sons are the only survivors. Robert F. Collins was reared in this county, and was educated in St. Joseph's College, of Kentucky, his brothers attending St. Mary's .College of Kentucky. He lived with his mother and step-father till twenty-one years of age, when he commenced life for himself as a farmer, which he has followed up to the present time. He and his two brothers jointly own 205 acres of land, with 150 acres under cultivation. Mr. Collins was married January 5, 1870, to Miss Julia Wood, who was born in Brownsville, Tenn., September 4, 1847, and is a daughter of William P. and Ara A. (Leanard) Wood, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively; both died in Brownsville. To Mr. and Mrs. Collins have been given two children: Robert A. and Sadie W. Mr. Collins is a Democrat in politics, and cast his first vote for Hancock. He is a member of the K. of H., and he and his wife are members of the Catholic Church, and are good citizens, and highly respected.

Richard Stephen Combs (deceased), who was an enterprising farmer of Tyronza Township, was born in Carroll County, Va., October 25, 1853, and died October 15, 1889. His parents were both Virginians by birth and came to this county in 1876, locating where the widow of the subject of this sketch now lives. R. S. Combs was mar- ried October 23, 1883, to Mrs. Julia F. Cloar, who was born in this county October 11, 1856, the widow of Y. Y. Cloar and daughter of Joseph A. and Julia (Richards) Lyles. Mr. Lyles was born in Obion County, Tenn., and immigrated to Critten- den County, Ark., at an early day. He and his wife both died in this county, the former in 1862 and Mrs. Lyles in 1883. Mrs. Combs lives on the 26

farm that she inherited from her father. It con- sists of 225 acres, with 125 in cultivation, upon which is a fine young orchard and good buildings. A part of her land is located on the Tryonza River. Mrs. Combs is the mother of one child, Mary Lyles Combs. She is an estimable lady, and is respected by all who know her. She is a sister of Albert H. Campbell, a sketch of whom appears on a previous page.

Baxter C. Crump (deceased), one of the old and much-esteemed citizens of this county and who for many years was sheriff before and after the late war, was a native of Virginia, born in 1822, and died in 1874. He came to Arkansas some time previous to 1840, and when a young man held the office of county judge, also representing this county in the legislature, being a very prominent politician. He was a Union man at the outbreak of the Civil War, but deeming it his duty to stand by his people he raised three companies, of the second of which he was captain. He was slightly wounded in the ankle at the battle of Belmont, where all of his company but three men deserted him, whereupon he returned home and organized another company being made its captain. He was again wounded at the battle of Helena, Ark., and was afterward quartermaster, doing active service till the close of the war, when he sur- rendered with his regiment in Arkansas. At the cessation of hostilities he returned home to his family of small children, his wife, formerly Miss Lucy McPeak, having died in 1861, leaving five small children, two of whom are still living, namely: Mrs. Alice Geaurant, at Barton, Ark., and Mrs. Dellan Swepston, in Nashville, Tenn. Mr. Crump was subsequently married to Mrs. Mary E. (Butler) Higgs, a native of North Carolina and daughter of William C. and Court- ney R. (Green) Butler, who were also of North Carolina origin, moving to Georgia in 1844. In Floyd County, Ga., Mrs. Crump attained her womanhood and was married to Marcus A. Higgs, formerly from North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Higgs moved to Memphis, Tenn., in 1856, where he practiced law, having studied and been admitted to the bar in Georgia. He remained in Memphis

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until the fall of 1859, when he came to Crittenden County, Ark., and followed his profession, until the war broke out, when he joined the Confederate army and was killed in September, 1863. He and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of five children given them three lived to be grown, and of these Mrs. M. Aurelia Morgan, of Tennessee, is the only sur- vivor. Paul C. and Randolph E. who attained their manhood and were promising young men are now deceased. Mrs. Crump's mother, Mrs. Butler, is still living and is making her home with her daughter; she is seventy-three years of age and is active and healthy. Her husband was a Master Mason, and was buried by that order with the highest honors. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and reared a family of six children to be grown, of whom the follow- ing three still survive: Mrs. Kate Ritche (who lives in Florida), Mr. L. W. Butler and Mrs. Crump.

Carlile Daniels is a substantial farmer of Wap- panocca Township, and the son of Bevley and Charlotta (Measles) Daniels, having been born in this county, January 4, 1846. Bevley Daniels was a Virginian by birth, and came from North Carolina to this county, where he remained till his death, which occurred when our subject was a child. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, one daughter and six sons, three of whom are living, two in this county and one in Baxter County. After the death of Bevley Daniels, his wife was married twice; she died August 20, 1887. Carlile Daniels received his limited edu- cation in this county, and October 8, 1877, mar- ried Mrs. Alice A. Daniels, of Greenville, Miss., a daughter of Samuel Truley. Four children blessed this union, two of whom are now living, viz. : Walter C. and Horace W. Mrs. Daniels died May 28, 1887. Mr. Daniels and his brother, Will- iam B., own 300 acres of valuable land on the Mississippi River, about twenty miles above Mem- phis. About 100 acres of this are in cultivation, and under the skillful management of these gen- tlemen it produces a bountiful crop each year. Carlile Daniels served six months in the Confeder- ate army near the close of the war. He is and

has been a perfect Democrat since he cast his first vote, which was for Seymour. He is a member of the County Wheel, and has served very efficient- ly as school director for six successive years in School Districts No. 9 and 10. He, along with his mother and wife, has for a long time been a work. ing member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

Peter G. Daugherty, a well-to-do and enter- prising farmer of Jackson Township, was born in Northern Alabama, in 1849, to the union of Noble and Judith (Gassett) Daugherty, natives of Vir- ginia and Kentucky. The father moved to the Blue Grass State when a young man and remained there several years, then moving back to Alabama, where he was married. When Peter G. was but a child, both he and his wife died, leaving a family of seven children, of whom our subject is the fourth child; of that number three are still living. Peter G. Daugherty grew to maturity in Alabama, where, having been left upon his own resources, he com- menced to earn his livelihood at the age of fifteen years, as an overseer on his uncle's plantation. There he remained for three years and then came to Arkansas, settling in Crittenden County, where he rented land for several years. Later purchas- ing a tract of wild land four miles from Crawfords- ville, he settled upon and commenced to clear it. In 1876 he moved on another place and remained there till 1884, when he moved to the estate on which he now lives, where he has over 200 acres of land under cultivation, all the result of his own labor. He started in the world with nothing, and when he came to this State had only about $800 with him, which he took as a foundation; and to- day it has grown to be 320 acres of this county's best land. Mr. Daugherty served in Johnson's regiment from Alabama, during the latter part of the war, and was captured at Selma, Ala., being held prisoner for eleven days, when he made his escape and returned to his regiment; soon after- ward he surrendered, with his regiment, at Mount Hope, Ala., in May, 1865. He takes but little part in political matters, but at all times votes the Democratic ticket. He has held some of the minor offices of the township, and is a hearty advocate of

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schools and a liberal contributor to any move- ment that he deems worthy of support.

Samuel K. Davis has for some time been occu- pied as a planter and merchant of Bartonville. A native of Maryland, he was born in Hartford County in 1842, being the son of Philip and Louisa B. (King) Davis, both also of Maryland nativity. They moved to Vermilion County, Ill., in 1854, and remained till 1867, when they went to Missouri, locating in Barry County. Four years later Kingman, Kas., became their home, where the mother still lives. The father was born in 1811 and died in 1888; the mother was born in 1821. She is a good Christian lady and takes an active part in church and Sunday-school matters; she is a member of the Baptist Church and is superintend- ent of a Sunday-school. Mr. Davis was a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. for many years before his death; was a Democrat in politics, and manifested a great interest in school matters and anything that would promote the welfare of the public. Himself and wife were the parents of ten children, of whom two died before leaving Maryland; one from a fall and one by drowning. The others lived to be grown and six are still living. Samuel K. Davis, the second born, attained his majority in Illinois, and moved to Memphis in 1862, entering the serv- ice of the Adams Express Company and remaining with them four years. He then commenced farm- ing in Phillips County, Ark. (now Lee County), and in company with his brother Reece he tilled about 1,000 acres till 1874, and in 1875 he com- menced merchandising. He was married in Feb- ruary, 1874, to Miss Augusta Holt, a native of Ten- nessee. Mr. Davis was engaged in merchandising at Phillips Bayou for several years, when he moved to Hot Springs, Ark., the year of the big fire at that place, and bought out Mr. King's interest in the firm of Gordon & King. The trade was made on Thursday and on Monday the establishment was in ashes. The morning after the fire his pos- sessions consisted of but $6.15 upon which to again commence. His wife owned a house and lot, how- ever, so he worked and sold goods for about six years, when he came to Crittenden County and started a store at Needmore, where he remained in

business till he moved to Bartonville. He is now running a store with good success and a farm of 400 acres. Upon moving to this county from Hot Springs he had $800 and now owns a fine farm well equipped. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the par- ents of two daughters and three sons: Fannie K., Florence Lee, Samuel K., and Claudie W. and Clarence W. (twins); one child is deceased, Effie May. Mrs. Davis is an active member of the Bap- tist Church, and her husband is a member of the Masonic fraternity, of which he has held several offices. He is a Democrat in politics, but takes lit- tle part in any party movement, giving his whole attention to his store and farm. Mr. Davis has been very successful in business and is a man of enterprise and decided business ability.

Alexander H. Ferguson, the present efficient and popular treasurer of Crittenden County and also a merchant at Marion, was born at Greenock, on the Mississippi River, in this county, March 17, 1839, and is the son of Horatio N. and Jane G .* (Proctor) Ferguson, natives of Tennessee and Ar- kansas. The Grandfather Ferguson went from Greenock, Scotland, to Virginia, while a young man, moving from there to Tennessee, where he lived until his death. He was the father of three chil- dren: William D., Allen McL. and Horatio N. (all now deceased). The boys came to Arkansas in 1820 and settled at Greenock, a Scottish town named after the town in which their father was born. William D. was the first sheriff of Critten- den County, holding the office from 1825 to 1835, and died at Memphis, Tenn., in 1866. He fought in the battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815; was a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity and belonged to the Presbyterian Church. He took active part in the development of this county and filled the office of deputy surveyor for sev- eral years. Allen McL. served as postmaster of Oldman, now Greenock, and was justice of the peace for several years. He died in Sharp County, Ark., in 1872. Horatio N. the father of our subject, came to this State when a young man, married upon attaining his maturity, and settled at what was afterward called Greenock, remaining here until 1835. Then he moved to a

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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