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 87

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 87

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married again, having one daughter by his last wife, and three sons and two daughters by his first. Benjamin F. is the only child living born to his parents, and many of the important years of his life were spent on a farm, but although en- gaged in the monotonous duties of farm work he obtained a fair education in the schools near his home. September 13, 1859, witnessed his marriage to Miss Jane E., a daughter of William A. and Mary Pickens, who were born, reared and married in Tennessee, and moved from there to Mississippi, thence to Monroe County, Ark., in 1858, both par- ents dying here in 1860, having been farmers and worthy citizens of the county. Mrs. Johnson is a native of Tennessee, and two years after her mar- riage her husband left her to join Company B, First Arkansas Infantry, and during a service of about three years he was in the fights of Pea Ridge, Big Black, Richmond, Murfreesboro and many others. On account of failing health he was fur- loughed and remained at home about three months, but soon recovered his wonted energies, and in 1862 returned to the army, becoming one of Price's men, and was with him while on his raid through Mis- souri .. He was paroled at Wittsburg and returned to farm life, but in 1869 also engaged in merchan- dising at Crockett's Bluff. Owing to the dullness of trade he moved to Clarendon in April, 1869, and began business after settling in Clarendon, continuing until 1874, when misfortunes overtook him and all his accumulations of years were swept away. He then went to Helena, Ark., where he worked for wages a few years, and by dint of econ- omy and many self-denials he had accumulated sufficient property by 1878 to permit him to again embark in mercantile pursuits on a small scale. Owing to the many warm friends he had previously made in Clarendon and to his honesty, industry and strict attention to the details of his business, his patronage has steadily increased and he now does an annual business of about $90,000 in Clarendon, besides a business of $25,000 in Indian Bay. His nephew, G. F. Johnson, whom he has reared from a lad of thirteen years, is his partner and is an intelligent and wide-awake young business man. Mr. Johnson owns about 3,000 acres of land, with

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about 1,700 acres under cultivation, all of which he has earned since 1878. He is a Democrat, a member of the A. F. & A. M., the K. of H. and the I. O. O. F. He and wife are worthy mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. They have no offspring, but have raised and educated seven or- phan children, one girl and six boys, all of them steady and of good habits. One of the boys will study law, another medicine, one civil engineering and still another one will embark in stock raising out west. G. F. Johnson is his partner, and the sixth and last one, died just as he was in his eighteenth year. The names of these children are James B. Benson, Jasper W. Benson, Frank Mil- ler, G. F. Johnson, William H. Johnson, E. B. Montgomery and Miss Mattie Lee Benson.

Capt. William J. F. Jones is a farmer and me- chanic of Pine Ridge Township, Monroe County, Ark., but his birth occurred in Maury County, Tenn., in 1831, his parents being William and Penny (Skipper) Jones, natives respectively of North Carolina and Virginia. They were both taken to Maury County, Tenn., when small and were reared, educated and married in that State. Mr. Jones died when our subject was about twelve years of age, and his wife afterward married again and removed to Texas, where she died in 1883, both she and Mr. Jones having been earnest mem- bers of the Methodist Church. Mr. Jones was a farmer, as were his father and father-in-law, Joseph Skipper, and all were early settlers of the State of Tennessee. Capt. William J. F. Jones was the second of five children, and he and his elder brother, John W., were reared to a farm life and after their father's death assisted in the support of the family until they attained manhood, William J. F. being so occupied until he was twenty-four years of age. He was married in 1854 to Nancy A., a daughter of William and Louisa Malone, by whom he became the father of ten children, three sons and two daughters being now alive: William C., James T., Maggie I. (wife of John L. Barnett), Viola J. and Theodore T. After his marriage Mr. . Jones resided in De Soto County, Miss. (which was Mrs. Jones' native birthplace), until 1856, since which date he has been a resident of Monroe

County, Ark. His first home here was a little log-cabin among the woods, twelve miles east of Clarendon, and here, after many years of slow and disheartening labor he finds himself the owner of 680 acres of as fine land as there is in the county, and by his own efforts he has put 125 acres under the plow. At the breaking out of the war he owed $500 on his homestead of 120 acres, but during this time he paid off the debt in full, and although suit was afterward brought against him for the amount, the case was decided in his favor. The rest of his property has been made since then. In 1861 he joined Company A, Fifteenth Arkansas Infantry, as a private and became a member of the Army of the Tennessee, participating in the battle of Shiloh. On May 15, 1862, he was detailed home for re- cruits, and had no difficulty in raising sufficient men to form Company E, which was attached to the Sixth Arkansas Infantry, and he became its cap- tain. He was in the engagements of Prairie Grove and Helena, but was taken captive at the latter place on July 4, 1863, and was taken to Alton, Ill., where he spent one month, and from that time until January 9, 1865, he was kept a prisoner at Johnson's Island. After being paroled he returned to his farm. His first presidential vote was cast for Pierce in 1852, but since 1874 he has been a member of the Union Labor party. He belongs to the Agricultural Wheel. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.

Benjamin F. Kerr is one of the early residents of Monroe County, and is a retired merchant and planter of Clarendon. He was born in what is now Hale County, Ala., in 1830, his parents, John W. and Margaret (Dial) Kerr, having been born in Lincoln County, Ky. and Newberry District, S. C., respectively, the former's birth occurring in 1798. Their nuptials were celebrated in Greene County, Ala., and in 1852 they came to Monroe County, but the father did not long live to enjoy his new home, as he was taken sick while en route to St. Louis, and died in that city in 1855. He was a very suc- cessful man of business, having been a planter and merchant, and at the time of his death was quite wealthy. His father, James Kerr, was born in Scotland, and when a young man came to the

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United States and settled in Kentucky, where he made his home until his death. David M. Dial, the maternal grandfather, was born in the "Emer- ald Isle," and died in Sumter County, Ala., in 1834, having been a wealthy farmer. Benjamin F. Kerr is the second of six children, and although his youth was spent at hard labor on the farm he succeeded in acquiring a good education, and after attaining his twelfth year attended school at Bridgeport, Conn., for two years, then Middletown, Conn., two years, and spent the three following years at Danville, Ky., graduating from a school at that place in 1849. He spent the following eight years with a wholesale house of St. Louis, and in 1855 came to Monroe County, Ark., and settled at Holly Grove, where he farmed until 1875. Since then he has resided in Clarendon, and, until March, 1877, he was engaged in the mercantile business, but since that time he has been retired from the active duties of life. He is quite well off as far as worldly goods are concerned, and has a fine farm of 300 acres and a good house in town. His wife, whose maiden name was Kate May and whom he married in Sumter County, Ala., in 1851, was born in Marengo County of that State, and by Mr. Kerr is the mother of four sons and two daughters. She is a daughter of Asel and Charlotte May, natives, respectively, of Alabama and Kentucky. The former died in his native State in 1835, and the latter's death occurred in Rankin County, Miss. Mr. Kerr was a Whig prior to the war, but has since been a Democrat. He served the Confederate, cause in the commissary depart- ment until 1863, and afterward went to Little Rock, where he was made recruiting officer. He was cap- tured near Helena, in 1864, and was imprisoned at Camp Chase, Ohio, until just before the close of the war, when he was exchanged. He is a Knight Templar in the Masonic fraternity.

W. D. Kerr, manager of the firm of Isaac Hal- pin, was born in Jackson County, Ala., in 1832, and is the son of James Kerr, whose birth occurred in Pulaski County, Ky., in 1804. The father was a mechanic by trade, and this occupation carried on until late in life, when he began farming, continu- ing at this until his death. He was married to Miss

Cynthia Taylor, of Alabama, in about 1829, and they became the parents of fourteen children, seven sons and seven daughters, seven of whom are now living: Eliza J. (wife of J. T. Simms, of Texas), W. D., John M., James A., Rufus L., Emma A. (wife of W. H. Sperry, of Holly Grove), Martha E. (widow of Mr. Beever) and Charles G. James Kerr was a member of the A. F. & A. M., and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for over forty years, being class leader and steward in the same. He immigrated from Alabama to Arkansas in 1853, located in this county, and was the founder of the town of Holly Grove, owning part of the ground the town now stands on. He bought land when he came here and built a log-cabin, having previously lived in a tent. He died in 1881, and his wife died in this county in 1888. She was also a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. W. D. Kerr began life for himself in 1852, as a clerk in a book and music store of Gainesville, Ala., and there remained for a year, when he began clerking in a drug and dry goods store for J. H. & J. G. Webb, of Sumterville, Sumter County, Ala. He moved from that State to Arkansas in 1858, and located in or near Holly Grove, where he has re- mained ever since. He was married to Miss Eliza- beth D. Nicholson, of Alabama, in 1854, and by her became the father of three children: Lillian (wife of W. B. Wellborn), Gertrude E. and Hattie N. Mr. Kerr was elected justice of the peace in 1860, and held the office two terms; was also county judge a number of years. Mrs. Kerr was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in 1884. Mr. Kerr took for his second wife Mrs. Emma Metcalfe, a native of Union County, Ky., born in 1840, and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Berry, of Union County, Ky. Mrs. Kerr is a member of the Presbyterian Church, but Mr. Kerr has been a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, South, since he was sixteen years of age.

L. W. Kizer, farmer, Cypress Ridge, Ark. Mr. Kizer is a man who can appreciate the comforts of a desirable home and surroundings, and his well- improved farm and attractive residence prove an

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

ornament to the community. His father, David Kizer, was born in Tennessee in 1810, was reared on a farm and followed agricultural pursuits as a livelihood all his life. He was married to Miss Susan Ferguson, of Tennessee, and they became the parents of seventeen children, only five of whom are now living: Thomas D., James M., Joseph F., William and L. W. Mr. Kizer died in Mississippi in 1877, and his wife died in 1835. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. L. W. Kizer was married, in 1883, to Miss Sallie Fergu- son, a native of De Soto, Miss., born in 1855 and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Ferguson. Four children have been the result of this mar- riage, three now living: Georgia E., Katie and Grover C. Mr. Kizer is the owner of 320 acres of excellent land, with 175 acres under cultivation, and he also owns and operates a large cotton-gin. He moved from Mississippi to Arkansas in 1883 and has since made his home in this county. He is one of the leading farmers and citizens in this sec- tion. Mrs. Kizer is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Charles B. La Belle is the capable cashier of the Monroe County Bank, and is also a member of the general mercantile firm of T. H. Jackson & Co., of Brinkley. He was born in Little Rock, Ark., in 1860, and is a son of Charles and Marga- ret (Crudgington) La Belle, the former a Canadian, who, after traveling in different States, finally set- tled in Pulaski County, Ark., becoming one of its pioneer settlers. Here he was married and spent the rest of his life, dying June 26, 1888, a contractor and brick-mason and a large real-estate owner. He was a well-known citizen of Little Rock, a Democrat in his political views, and at the time of his death was in full communion with the Catholic Church. His wife died October 4, 1877, having borne two children, a son and a daughter, the latter now being Mrs. J. H. Laster, of Little Rock. Charles B. La Belle attended the public schools of his native town, and later graduated from the Little Rock Commercial College, after which he became book-keeper for T. S. Diffey & Co., of that city until 1883, when he came to Brinkley and spent the first three years as a clerk

for M. Kelley. He also filled the position of clerk and book-keeper for T. H. Jackson & Co., and in the month of May, 1888, was made a member of that well-known and enterprising firm. Although young in years he ranks among the leading busi- ness men of the place and in every respect deserves success, which has attended his career. In politics he is a Democrat and his first presidential vote was cast for Cleveland in 1884. He has served one year as alderman of Brinkley, and socially is a member of Brinkley Lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and also belongs to the Knights of Honor. October 3, 1888, he was married to Miss Anna, a daughter of the late Maj. William Black, whose history is given in this work. Mr. La Belle and his wife have one son, whom they expect to rear in the Catholic faith.

B. J. Lambert, merchant and farmer, Lamber- ton, Ark. Among the most important industries of any community are those which deal in the necessaries of life, and nothing is more necessary than bread and meat. Lamberton at least has one first-class establishment doing business in this line, which is successfully conducted by Mr. Lam- bert and son, who handle nothing but the best and freshest goods. This gentleman owes his nativity to Tennessee, his birth occurring in Madison County, in 1838, and is the son of Jordan B. and Judith W. (Key) Lambert, the father a native of the Old Dominion, born in 1797, and the mother of North Carolina, born in 1799. They were mar- ried in Henderson County, Ky., and later moved from there to Madison County, Tenn., where they resided for seventeen years. In 1839 they came to Monroe County, located near Indian Bay, among a wild and immoral class of people, who were op- posed to culture or refinement, and rather disposed to riot and turmoil. Such a class of people was very obnoxious to the cultured and refined taste of Mr. Lambert, who put forth every effort to effect a change in that direction, and his exertions were eventually crowned with success. Here he passed the closing scenes of his life, his death occurring in January, 1860. He was a prominent Cumber- land Presbyterian minister for many years, and was one of seven brothers, six of whom were min-

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isters in that church. He was the only one to reside in Monroe County, where he was one of the prominent pioneers. In 1844 he served in the Arkansas legislature, and afterward was judge of the county and probate court. He probably did more toward moralizing the people and advancing the general interest of the country than any other one man. He was a member of the A. F. & A. M. His father, Joel Lambert, was a native Vir- ginian, of English descent, and died in Kentucky, Mrs. Lambert (mother of the subject of this sketch) died in 1868. She was the daughter of Chesley Key, who was a native of North Carolina and who died in Kentucky. B. J. Lambert was next to the youngest of ten children, eight sons and two daughters, seven of whom lived to be grown, but only two of whom are now living: B. J. and S. T. The former received his education in the common schools and attended two and a half years at Princeton, Ky., and one year at Mc- Lemoresville, Tenn. He then engaged in agricult- ural pursuits and continued at this until the open- ing of the war. He served two and a half years in the Confederate army, in different companies, and was first with his brother, Capt. Robert Lam- bert, who was killed at the battle of Shiloh. After- ward he was in McCrea's brigade and operated in Arkansas. He was captured in Monroe County, April 10, 1864, and was imprisoned at Camp Chase, Ohio, until the close of hostilities, and then returned home. He was married March 20, 1861, to Miss Fannie A. Beasley, a native of Ten- nessee, and the daughter of Maj. John P. and Evaline T. Beasley, who came from West Tennes- see to Monroe County, Ark., in 1859. There Mrs. Beasley still resides, but Mr. Beasley was murdered in Texas, December 14, 1865, whither he had gone after stock. He and wife were natives of Alabama, and both were church members, he of the Method- ist and she of the Baptist. To Mr. and Mrs. Lambert were born eleven children, three sons and two daughters now living, and since 1871 Mr. Lambert and family have resided at Lamberton, where he purchased 1,500 acres of land, and has about 500 acres under cultivation. Since 1883 he has conducted the plantation store. He has been

postmaster at Lamberton since the establishment of that office, and in 1872 was elected sheriff of Monroe County, but was counted out and the mat- ter was not settled for three years. In politics he was formerly a Whig, but is now a Democrat, and his first presidential vote was cast for Bell in 1860. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Indian Bay Lodge No. 256, and Forest Home Chapter No. 16, at Clarendon. He and wife are members in good standing in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Henry A. McGill began life for himself at the early age of twelve years, by learning the painter's trade. Six years later he went to Mason County, Ill., where he worked at his trade until the break- ing out of the war, then enlisting in the Twenty- eighth Illinois Infantry, and participating in all the principal engagements of his division. He received his discharge in April, 1865, when he returned to Illinois, and engaged in farming until 1867, the time of his removal to Arkansas. Then he located in Monroe County, where he again took up his trade of painting. Four years later he bought a farm of 180 acres, with 130 acres under cultiva- tion, and now owns a cotton-gin and grist-mill, built in 1883, which he operates in addition to his farm. Mr. McGill was born in Madison County, Tenn., in 1845, and is a son of William McGill, a native of the same county. The latter was born in 1824, and was married, in 1849, to Miss Adaline Gustin. They were the parents of three sons: Henry A. (our subject), John and William, de- ceased. He immigrated from Tennessee to Arkan- sas in 1849, and there died, having been a planter and overseer all of his life. Mr. Henry McGill was married in 1877 to Miss Annie S. Hallum, who was born in Poinsett County, in 1855. They were the parents of seven children, three of whom only are living: Volency H., Harrold and Julius. Mr .. McGill is a member of the K. of H., and he and wife belong to the Baptist Church. He is a strong Democrat, and a well-known and respected citizen.

M. J. Manning is a member of one of the lead- ing law firms of the State of Arkansas, that of Roberts & Manning. He was born in De Soto County, Miss., in 1861, and is a son of Hon. T. P.

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and K. A. (Barbee) Manning, natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Tennessee, who were mar- ried in De Soto County, Miss., where the mother died in 1882. Mr. Manning was a very successful lawyer of that State for twenty years and made his home in the above-named county until 1884, since which time he has resided in Paris, Ark., and the reputation he has acquired as a lawyer has been gained through his own efforts and at the expense of diligent study and hard practical experience. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, and during the late Civil War commanded a company of men from Mississippi, Confederate States army, and on many occasions showed marked ability as a commander and achieved considerable distinction. In 1874 the people of De Soto County showed their apprecia- tion of his ability, by electing him to the State legislature of Mississippi, and he served in that body with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. M. J. Manning, whose name heads this sketch, was the second of nine children and after acquiring an excellent education in the schools of his native county he entered the Law Department of the Mississippi University at Oxford and upon graduating, in 1883, came immediately to Clarendon, and in September of the same year was admitted to the Monroe County bar and has already risen to distinction in his profession, and notwith- standing the fact that he is young in years he has already attained prominence in his calling. He is a Democrat in his political views, an active member of the K. of P. and the K. of H., also the Ameri- can Legion of Honor. In 1885, Miss Jessie, a daughter of Major William E. Winfield, of Ten- nessee, who was a soldier in the Confederate army, a farmer by occupation and who died in 1878, became his wife. She was born in Ten- nessee and by Mr. Manning is the mother of two daughters. She belongs to the Episcopal Church and he to the Baptist.

M. D. Martin is a member of the general mer- cantile firm of Martin, Black & Co., of Indian Bay, Ark., the business being established on February 1, 1877, the average value of the stock being about $10,000, and their annual sales amounting from $40,000 to $80,000. In connection with their dry -

goods establishment they own and operate a good steam cotton-gin and saw-mill. Mr. Martin was born in Atlanta, Ga., in 1840, and was a son of Joseph J. and Jane (Thurmond) Martin, who were born in South Carolina and Atlanta, Ga., in 1811 and 1820, respectively. They were married in the mother's native birthplace, but in the year 1852 removed to Tilton, at which place the mother's death occurred in 1867, and the father's in 1886. He was an extensive planter, and a prominent man, and both he and his wife were members of the Baptist Church. The paternal grandfather, William G. Martin, was born in Virginia, and died in Atlanta, Ga., but a number of the years of his life were spent in Abbeville District, S. C. He was colonel of a regiment of militia during the War of 1812, but did not see much service. His father was a Virginian, the first one of the family born in America, as his father was a native-born English- man. M. D. Martin, our immediate biographical subject, is the eldest of a family of eleven children, eight now living, and his early education was ac- quired in the high school of Atlanta, Ga., and in the schools of Dalton. He next studied under a private tutor, and afterward read law with Judge John G. Stewart, and was admitted to the bar just at the breaking out of the late Civil War. He im- mediately joined the Second Georgia Battalion, and served in the Army of Virginia, until after the bat- tle of Gettysburg, at which time he was captured. From that time until April, 1864, he was kept a prisoner at Fort Delaware and Point Lookout, and was then paroled. After spending a short time in New York City he came to Memphis, and was en- gaged in the timber business in that city until 1869. Since that time he has resided in Indian Bay, and after following the same business here for a few years he began keeping books, and a year later in connection with this work engaged in farming. From 1877 to 1882, he was engaged in merchandis- ing for himself, but at the latter date he formed a partnership with Maj. S. L. Black, who sold his interest to his son, John L. Black and J. W. Mar- tin, a brother of our subject and they now consti- tute the present firm. In 1872 M. D. Martin was married to Sarah E., a daughter of William Rad-

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man, formerly of Indiana, who died in Monroe County, Ark. Mrs. Martin was born in Indiana, and she and Mr. Martin have become the parents of six children, two sons and one daughter living. By push and energy Mr. Martin has become a well- to-do man, and his farm of 332 acres, near Indian Bay, is the result of his own industry. He is a Democrat, his first presidential vote being cast for Greeley in 1868, and he belongs to Indian Bay Lodge No. 256, A. F. & A. M., and has filled nearly all the chairs of this order. He also belongs to Advance Lodge No. 2491, K. of H., at Indian Bay, and the American Legion of Honor, Warsaw Lodge, at Indian Bay. He and wife are Meth- odists.

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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