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 86

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 86

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retary of State of Mississippi), Sarah (the wife of John M. Billups, of Columbus, Miss.), Bettie and William H. (our subject, and the next to the oldest). Andrew R. Govan moved from North Carolina in 1831, and settled in Western Tennessee, near Sum- merville, going five years later to Mississippi, where he died in 1841. His wife was a native of New Berne, N. C., and was born in 1802, and died on July 12, 1888, in Mississippi. William H. Govan was born in Northampton County, N. C., in 1831. He was married in 1878 to Miss Jennie Jackson, daughter of John S. and Isabella R. (Rhodes) Jackson, natives of Tennessee and Mississippi, re- spectively. She was born in Louisiana, in 1834. Mr. Govan moved to Arkansas in 1858, and bought a farm in Phillips County, where he lived until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in the Second Arkansas Infantry, serving as quarter- master and paymaster. At the close of the conflict he embarked in the mercantile business with Maj. W. E. Moore, and the following year sold out and entered into partnership with Hon. H. L. Hawley and Oliver H. Oates, in the practice of law at Hel- ena. The next year he returned to Phillips County, and engaged in farming, but in 1874, resumed the practice of law with Hon. John H. Huett, at Mar- iana, where he remained until 1878. Moving to Monroe County, he purchased a farm of 500 acres, with over 300 acres under cultivation. The house he now occupies is one of the oldest in the county, having been built by Dr. Duncan in 1834. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M .. and of the K. of H. Mrs. Govan is a member of the Presby- terian Church.

Grant Green is a member of the law firm of Price & Green, of Clarendon, Ark. The profes- sion of law is one of the most important of human callings, and he who takes upon himself the prac- tice of it, assumes the weightiest responsibilities that his fellow-man can put upon his shoulders. As a copartnership, whose honor is above criticism, and whose ability places it among the leading law firms of the West, is the above named. Mr. Green, the junior member, was born in Monroe County, Ark., in 1850, and is the son of Dr. Henry D. and Martha H. (Lambert) Green, who were born in

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Henderson County, Ky., in 1824 and 1832, re- spectively. In 1847 Dr. Green removed to Mont- gomery Point, Ark., but after a short time re- turned to his former home, and in 1848 came to Monroe County, Ark., where he was married in 1849, being among its early settlers, and one of its most prominent physicians for many years. He was an influential and public-spirited citizen, and did a great deal toward developing the country and improving the morality of the com- munity in which he resided. His medical educa- tion was acquired in Louisville, and during the Rebellion he was assistant surgeon in the Con- federate States army. . He served as county judge of Monroe County, and filled the office of county treasurer two terms. He was a prominent Mason, a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and died in 1879. His father, John W. Green, was born in Kentucky, in all probability, and was killed while serving in the Mexican War. Dr. Green's wife bore him two sons and one daughter, and from a child she was reared in Monroe County, Ark., and left him a widower in 1857. She was a daughter of Rev. Jordan B. Lambert, who was a Kentuckian, but was one of the early settlers of Monroe County, having come here in 1839. He represented Monroe County in the State legisla- ture, was at one time judge of the county, and was an influential citizen and a prosperous farmer. Dr. Green was married a second time, in 1859, to Miss Minnie I. Swift, in Fayette County, Tenn., who bore him four sons and two daughters, all of whom, including herself, are still living. Their eldest son is Henry D. Green, Jr., the present treasurer of Monroe County, and an energetic and successful young merchant at Clarendon. Mr. Lambert was a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Grant Green, our immedi- ate subject, was educated in the local schools of Monroe County and West Tennessee, and for one year was an attendant of the Jesuit School of St. Louis. At the age of nineteen years he entered the Law Department of the Cumberland University of Lebanon, Tenn., attending two terms, and after teaching school a few terms, and pursuing the study of law in the meantime, he was admitted to

the bar in 1870, but did not enter actively upon his practice until two years later. Since then he has been actively engaged in practice; two years, 1875 and 1876, he was at Helena. He has been one of the leading members of the Monroe County bar for a number of years, and since 1882 has been associated with Mr. Price. He is one of the well- to-do men of the county, and is the owner of a fine farm comprising 1,000 acres, eight miles from Clarendon, of which 400 acres are under cultiva- tion. Mr. Green voted first for Greeley in 1872, and has always been a Democrat in his political views. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the Knights of Honor and the Knights of Pythias, and has been presiding officer in all these orders. June 1, 1875, he was married to Miss Loula M., a daughter of Dr. Henry G. Jackson, of Monroe County, Ark., but she left him a widower in 1876. Mr. Green's second marriage was celebrated at Somerville, Tenn., in 1883, his wife being Mrs. Willie Word, a daughter of Maj. W. E. Winfield, of Fayette County, Tenn., who obtained his title while serving in the Confederate army under Gen. Johnston. Mrs. Green was born in West Tennes- see, and she and Mr. Green have two children, a son and a daughter. They are members of the church, Mr. Green being a member of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church, and Mrs. Green of the Old School Presbyterian Church.

Henry D. Green, treasurer of Monroe County, Ark., is the son of Dr. H. D. Green, who was mar- ried twice, his last wife being the mother of our subject. His grandfather Swift, was a Tennesseean, who died in Fayette County. Henry D. Green was born in Monroe County, Ark., in 1863, the fifth of ten children, six sons and four daughters, and as he grew up he was daily instructed into the mysteries of farm life. Although he only attended school for about eighteen months he made the most of the advantages offered him and later by reading and contact with the business affairs of life, has become one of the well informed and in- telligent young men of the county. Upon the death of his father he began the battle of life for himself, and until 1884 was engaged in tilling the soil. From that time until 1885 he clerked in a

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store in Clarendon, then engaged in general mer- chandising on his own responsibility and has a stock of goods valued at $1,000, the firm being known as H. D. Green & Co. He was notary public for four years or until 1888, then was elected to the office of treasurer of Monroe County by the Democratic party, of which he has long been a member, and is now filling the duties of this position. He is a member of the K. of H., of Clarendon Lodge No. 2328, and he and wife, whom he married in 1888, and whose maiden name was Kate Blake, are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Green was born in Henderson County, Ky., and she and Mr. Green are the parents of a daughter. Her parents, Augustus and Gertrude Blake, were born in Hen- derson County, Ky.

William Jasper Hall, planter and stockman, Holly Grove, Ark. This prominent agriculturist is the son of Thomas and Mournen (Stephens) Hall, the father of Scotch-Irish and English descent. The ancestors of the Hall family came to America prior to the Revolutionary War, and the grand- father Hall, who was probably a native of North Car- olina, served in this war. The maternal ancestors were of French-Scotch descent, and the parents of Mrs. Hall, Willoughby and Margaret (Littleton) Stephens, were natives of North Carolina, their an- cestors having emigrated to America previous to the War of 1776. William Jasper Hall was born on January 31, 1844, in Onslow County, N. C., and received the rudiments of an education in a private school at Mill Run, Onslow County, completing his education at Jacksonville, the same county. He was early initiated into the duties of farm life and remained at home until the early part of 1862, when he enlisted in Company C, Fourth Regiment North Carolina Cavalry. The command was called up after the battle of Gettys- burg to cover the retreat of the Confederate army after their defeat in that battle, and the regiment dismounting at a bridge on the Hagerstown road, were surrounded by Federal forces and were cut off from their horses and lost nearly all of them. The command remained on the north side of the Po- tomac for about three weeks after the battle, in con-

sequence of the high water. They finally forded the river at Williamsport, a number being drowned in the attempt, and joined their comrades. Mr. Hall was with his command nearly all the time, ex- cept when driven out of Culpeper, and was pa- roled at New Berne, N. C., in April, 1865. He walked from New Berne to his home the latter part of April, and engaged in tilling the soil, which oc- cupation he continued until 1870, when he came to Arkansas, locating near Indian Bay, Monroe County, where he worked for Samuel Pointer, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. He returned to North Carolina about Christmas of the same year, and was united in marriage to Miss Sallie L. Stephens, the daughter of Enoch and Mary (Tatum) Stephens. Mr. and Mrs. Hall arrived in Arkansas on February 16, 1871, rented a farm on shares, and, after remaining there one year, moved on the John Walker farm, Jackson Township, Monroe County. He made his first purchase of land in 1879, a tract of 200 acres with no improvements, and has added to this until he now is the owner of 600 acres, 480 acres in one body and 275 acres under cultivation. He princi- pally raises cotton, but also raises good corn, and has a good young orchard. He is quite a stockman and raises cattle and hogs. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall have been born eight children, seven now living: Florence Geraldine (born January 1, 1872), Will- iam Enoch, Samuel Norman, Beatrice Rosa, Paul Ransom (deceased), Paula E., Mary M. and Sallie Edith. Mrs. Hall died in Jackson Township, in November, 1887. Mr. Hall takes a deep interest in all educational matters, and is determined to give his children all the advantages possible in that direction. He is a member of the Masonic frater- nity, Indian Bay Lodge No. 256, and also holds membership in the K. of H. Lodge No. 16, Indian Bay, and is a charter member of the L. of H. In 1886 he was elected to the office of county coroner, but never qualified, having been elected without being consulted.

William Hooker. Among the many enterprises necessary to complete the commercial resources of a town or city, none is of more importance than that of the grocer, as he is one of the main factors

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

in the furnishing of our food supplies .. Promi- nent in this trade is Mr. Hooker, who has been established here in business since October, 1889, his stock of goods being valued at about $1,500. He was born in Shelby County, Tenn., in 1856, and is a son of Joseph W. and Fannie A. (Jones) Hooker, the former a Tennesseean and the latter a native of South Carolina. Their marriage took place at Memphis, and prior to the war they came to Arkansas, and opened a farm on White River. During the struggle between the North and South they returned to Tennessee, coming again to Ar- kansas after the war had closed. From that time until his death he kept a hotel at Clarendon, and in the latter years of his life also an eating-house at Brinkley, and one at Black Fish for the Lit- tle Rock & Memphis Railroad. He met a violent death, being killed in a railroad accident in 1879. He was a soldier for three years in the Confeder- ate army, being a member of an Arkansas regiment. His widow survives him, and is a member of the Methodist Church. William Hooker is the second of seven children, three now living, and received his early education in the city of Memphis, his higher education being acquired in Leddin Com- mercial College. After clerking for nine years for Walker Bros. & Co., of that city, then the largest mercantile house in the South, he became a book- keeper for Saul Alinger, of Saulsbury, with whom he remained eighteen months, then clerked for Gunn & Black, until they sold out. During 1883 he associated himself with Louis Salinger, in the general mercantile business, continuing until 1887, then began trading in real estate. Mr. Hooker is a Democrat politically, and has shown his approval of secret organizations by joining the Knights of Honor and the Knights and Ladies of Honor. On March 12, 1887, he was married to Emma, a daughter of John A. McDonald. She was born in Jackson County, Ark.

Wesley H. Hughen, farmer and stockman, Holly Grove, Ark. Mr. Hughen was born May 19, 1824, in Abbeville District, S. C., and received a limited education in Coweta County, Ga., whither his parents had moved in 1831. Later they moved to Rome, and there Wesley attended the male

academy for about two years. He was early ini- tiated into the duties of farm life, and on Decem- ber 21, 1845, he was married in Floyd County, Ga., to Miss Elizabeth Mann, who was born November 14, 1825, and who was the daughter of Young and Mary A. (Garrison) Mann, natives of North Carolina and Georgia, respectively. After marrying Mr. Hughen engaged with his brother and father in farming, and the following year immigrated to Alabama. To his marriage were born these children: Martha A. (born August 6, 1847), Mary L. B. (born July 21, 1849), Sarah A. (born December 17, 1850), Robert A. (born August 22, 1853) and William R. (born August 22, 1855). The mother of these children died September 4, 1866, and was buried in Floyd County, Ga. While living in Alabama Mr. Hughen followed agricultural pursuits, and in 1855, he moved to Gordon County, Ga., where he engaged in the milling business with Mr. Mann (his father-in- law), and erected a flouring and saw mill. By a freshet, the property was badly damaged, but they rebuilt and had gotten fairly started again, when the Rebellion broke forth, and put another stop to their operations. In May, 1863, Mr. Hughen en- listed as a soldier, and was assigned to duty in the First Georgia Regiment Infantry, serving from that time until December, 1865. He participated in two engagements: Stone River, and during the siege of Fort Sumter he frequently went into the fort to witness the manner of defense. On the 5th day of December, 1864, while on duty, he was captured by the Union soldiers and taken to New York. being confined for thirteen days. He then took the oath of allegiance to the United States, and afterward went to Edgewood, Ill., where he engaged in milling, following this until the close of the war. He then returned to his home in Georgia, where he was employed for some time in endeavoring to repair the damages done during the war, and working at various occupations, until the fall of 1869, when he came to Arkansas. He rented land for three or four years, and in 1873 bought the land upon which he now lives, and where he has since made his home. The tract contains sixty-six acres of wild, woody land, upon

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which not an improvement had been made. At the present time Mr. Hughen has forty-seven acres under cultivation, and has good buildings, or- chards, etc. On October 3, 1867, he took for his second wife Mrs. Eliza Moore, who bore him one child, Ida Lee, whose birth occurred July 9, 1868. At the present time, five of Mr. Hughen's children are living, and all are married: Martha A. (wife of Mr. Knowlis, who became the mother of four children. Her second marriage was to Mr. Bon- ner, of Texarkana), Mary L. B. (married Jasper Lampley. She died in 1883, and left children), Sarah (married twice, first to Zeke Meeks, by whom she had one child, and second to Mr. Fitzhugh, by whom she had four children, all deceased. She died in 1884), Robert A. (died at Little Rock, in 1885), William R. (died on December 9, 1887, and left four children, the result of his union with Miss Elizabeth Chrisp), Ida Lee (became the wife of Elihu Williams, and has one child). Mr. and Mrs. Hughen are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, South, and Mr. Hughen has been a local preacher since 1883. He has been a member of that church for thirty-eight years. He is in- clined to be Democratic in his political views. He is the son of James and Elizabeth (Anthony) Hughen, the father born and reared in South Carolina, and of Irish descent. His ancestors came to America, previous to the Revolutionary War, located in South Carolina, and the paternal grandfather, R. A. Hughen, was a commanding officer in the Revolutionary War. His uniform was seen by the subject of this sketch, in the clerk's office at Coweta, Ga., thirty years ago, at which time it was in a good state of preservation. Others of this family participated in the Florida War. James Hughen and Miss Elizabeth An- thony were married August 31, 1822, in Anderson District, S. C., and became the parents of seven children, all of whom grew to mature years. Mrs. Elizabeth (Anthony) Hughen was the daughter of Joel and Mary (Bratton) Anthony.

James Benton Hughes, planter, Lamberton, Ark. On August 8, 1841, there was born to Joshua and Nancy (Bookout) Hughes, a son, James Benton Hughes, who was one of a family of thirteen chil-

dren, the result of their union. The father was born in Tennessee in 1814, and was of English descent, his ancestors having emigrated to America pre- vious to the Revolutionary War. The Grandfather Hughes participated in the struggle. James Ben- ton Hughes' birth occurred in De Kalb County, Ala., and of the large family of which he was a member, only eight are now living. He was edu- cated in the subscription schools of his native county, and subsequently attended Sulphur Springs Academy. He was reared to the arduous duties of the farm, and this has been his principal occupa- tion during life, although for about three or four years he was engaged in rafting on the White River, between Indian Bay and New Orleans, their cargo being cypress logs. In 1859 Mr. Hughes went to Texas, where he was engaged in farming and herding for a year or two. He contracted with the Government to deliver supplies to the troops at Fort Colorado, and in March, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Twenty-fourth Texas Cav- alry, afterward the Twenty-fourth Texas Infantry, serving until the close of the war. He participated in the battle of Helena, was in the Missouri raid under Gen. Price, and at Pilot Knob, where he received a wound in the hand. He was also in a number of skirmishes previous to the Missouri raid. He went from his home to take the oath of allegiance at Jacksonport, but was not successful. In 1866 he worked on Dr. Washington's farm on shares, for one year, and then engaged in rafting as before mentioned. On March 5, 1871, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Sallie (Simmons) Stunson, the daughter of John and Jennie Simmons, who were among the first settlers of Eastern Arkansas. One child, Rosabell, was born to this union, her birth occurring on August 16, 1872, and her death on November 1, 1885. Mrs. Hughes died on April 14, 1876. Mr. Hughes made his first purchase of land, a tract comprising forty acres of wild land, in 1873, and has since added to this, until he now owns 380 acres, with about ninety acres under cul- tivation, his principal crops having been corn and cotton. He has a fine young apple and peach or- chard, and raises as fine peaches as can be found anywhere. In his political views he coincides with

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the Democratic party. He officiated in the ca- pacity of deputy sheriff for eight years by appoint- ment, and was a capable and efficient officer. He is a member of the K. of H., Indian Bay Lodge No. 2491, and is also a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

G. W. Hurst, at the early age of fifteen, was made overseer of an extensive plantation, and had the full management of the same, in Monroe County, Miss., for over three years. After this he took charge of a large gang of negroes for James Erwin, being thus engaged until the opening of the war, when he enlisted in the Eleventh Missis- sippi. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Gettysburg, and removed to Ohio, where he was held for seven months, when he escaped and went to Buffalo, and a number of other cities, but was unable to join his regiment. G. W. Hurst was born in Franklin County, Ala., in 1840, being a son of Henry and Mary (Austin) Hurst, natives of Georgia and Alabama, respectively. They were the parents of nine children, five of whom are still living: G. W., Richard, Henry, William and Eliz- abeth (the wife of David Hooker, of Mississippi). Mr. Hurst was a member of the A. F. & A M., and of the Baptist Church, as was also his wife. He died in 1853 or 1854, and his worthy companion in 1849. At the close of the war the principal of this sketch returned to Franklin County, Ala., where he was married to Miss Mary E. Askew, daughter of Josiah and Permelia Askew, natives of that county. The following year they removed to Arkansas and located in Monroe County, and engaged in farming. They had a family of eight children, five of whom are living: Mary J. (the wife of W. H. Odon, of Ellis County, Tex.), James F., Clara J., George A. and John H. Mr. Hurst is a member of the K. of P., and his wife of the Baptist Church.

T. H. Jackson is the senior member of the gen- eral mercantile firm of T. H. Jackson & Co., of Brinkley, Ark., their stock of goods being valued at $35,000, and their annual sales reaching $120, - 000, and in addition to successfully disposing of the manifold duties connected with this establish- ment, he is connected with the Brinkley Car

Works and the Monroe County Bank and director of the Louisiana, Arkansas & Missouri Railroad. Being a native-born citizen of the State, he has ever had the interests of his State and county at heart, and has manifested his desire to witness their advancement by taking an active interest in all worthy enterprises, such as schools, churches, and the erection of public buildings of all kinds. In every walk of life he has proven himself to be a man of strict integrity and moral worth, and his influence in all public affairs has always been on the side of right. His birth occurred in Helena, Ark., in 1855, and he is a son of Jesse A. and Eliza L. (Hicks) Jackson, the former of whom is supposed to have been born in North Carolina, and the latter in Tennessee, their marriage taking place in Helena at an early day. During the war Jesse A. Jackson was a recruiting officer for Company A, but he afterward settled in Helena, Ark., of which place he was several times mayor, and councilman for some years, and was also in the United States land office, being there for some time, and after- ward becoming interested in banking and mercan- tile business. He moved to Shreveport, La., where he died of yellow fever, in 1873. He was a member of the A. F. & A. M. His wife is still living and is sixty-two years of age. T. H. Jackson is the fourth of ten children, and received his education in the city of Helena, and spent three years in the Cumberland University of Lebanon, Tenn. Upon leaving that institution he was about sixteen years of age, and although his knowledge of the world was at that time very limited he was compelled to begin the battle of life for himself and his first work was in the capacity of clerking. He remained with one firm at Helena for seven or eight years, then became traveling salesman for William R. Moore & Co., of Memphis, but after remaining with them for a period of five years he settled at Brink- ley (in 1886) and is now classed among the lead- ing men of the county. He is a conservative Dem- ocrat in his political views, and socially is a mem- ber of Brinkley Lodge No. 3127, of the Knights of Honor, the Knights and Ladies of Honor and Knights of Pythias, being Chancellor Commander of the latter order. January 6, 1886, witnessed

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the celebration of his marriage to Lena A., daugh- ter of Maj. William and Bena Black, prominent residents of the county. Mrs. Jackson was born in Memphis, Tenn., is a member of the Catholic Church, and her union with Mr. Jackson has been blessed in the birth of two bright little sons.

Capt. Benjamin F. Johnson is a member of the general mercantile firm of B. F. & G. F. Johnson, they being also engaged in cotton dealing at Clar- endon. This firm is one of the most successful and enterprising in Eastern Arkansas, and the senior member of the firm, our subject, was born in La Fayette County, Miss., in 1839, being a son of Benjamin J. and Harriet T. (Owen) Johnson, the former a Georgian, born in 1802, and the latter a Virginian, born in 1818. The nuptials of their marriage were celebrated in Maury County, Tenn .. and soon after they removed to La Fayette County, Miss., coming to Monroe County, Ark., in 1848, and settling near Cotton Plant. Here they im- proved a good farm, but becoming a little dissatis- fied with his location, he, in 1859, went to Texas. He soon returned, however, to Monroe County, and here spent the rest of his days, dying in 1869, a successful planter and one of the leading pioneers of the county. For some years he was a lead- ing commissioner of what was then St. Francis County, and, as he was enterprising in his views and honest and upright in character, he had many warm admirers and friends. He and wife were Baptists, and he was a son of Henry Johnson, a native of Ireland who, when but sixteen years of age, came with a brother to the United States. He served in the Revolutionary War and afterward made his home and was married in Virginia, mov- ing thence to Georgia, but his death occurred in Alabama, he having settled where Decatur is now situated. The maternal grandfather, John W. Owen, was born in Scotland and being of an en- terprising and adventurous disposition he emi- grated to America when a young man and also participated in the American Revolution. He spent many years of his life in the Old Dominion. but his declining years were spent on a farm in Fayette County, Tenn. Capt. Benjamin F. John- son lost his mother in 1854, and in 1858 his father

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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