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 90

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 90

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F. J. Robinson's career in life, as far as its connection with industrial affairs is concerned, might be divided into two periods, that during which he was occupied in merchandising, and his more recent experience in the capacity of a farmer. In each of these callings he has had the energy and push to attain success, and he seems admir- ably fitted for the business in which he is now en- gaged. He was born in Shelby County, Tenn., in 1853, and is a son of F. M. and E. A. (Erwin) Robinson, the father being also a native of that State, born in 1828. In 1859 he came with his wife and family to Monroe County, Ark., and set- tled at Holly Grove, where he spent his declining years, and died in 1882, having been engaged in merchandising and farming. He and his wife (who died in 1880) were members of the Bap- tist Church, and he was quite a politician, and be- sides holding the office of justice of the peace, he represented Monroe County in the State legisla- ture from 1874 to 1876. The maternal grandfather, John Erwin, was a farmer of Tennessee. F. J. Robinson is the eldest of six children, and in his youth received but meager educational advantages as he was obliged to assist his father in improving the home place. In 1876 he was united in mar- riage to Lois, daughter of D. A. L. and Anna Wilson, who were formerly from North Carolina, but died in Monroe County, Ark., and their union was blessed by the birth of four children. Mr. Robinson lived at Indian Bay from 1868 to 1882, engaged in merchandising and farming, but since the latter date has given his time and attention solely to farming, at which he has been remark- ably successful. He has a fine farm of 800 acres, and has about 300 acres under cultivation, all of which he has gained since 1882. Politically he is a Democrat, and his first vote was cast for Tilden, in 1876. His wife is in communion with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

J. W. B. Robinson is the efficient sheriff and tax collector of Monroe County, Ark., and was

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born in Serepta, Miss., in 1856, being a son of Dr. Thomas F. and Nancy S. (Park) Robinson, natives of the "Palmetto " State. They were married in Mississippi in 1849, and in 1856 came to Monroe County and settled eight miles east of Clarendon, taking up their abode on a woodland farm, on which the father died the same year. On this farm his family resided until 1886, when they removed to Clarendon. Mrs. Robinson is a mem- ber of the Old School Presbyterian Church, of which the father was an elder during his life- time. He was a very successful medical prac- titioner, and owing to his early death but little is known of his parents or other relatives. He left his home in South Carolina when quite young and went first to Alabama, and thence to Missis- sippi, where he was married. Our subject is the youngest of his four children and is now the only one living. Like so many of the substantial citi- zens of this county at the present time, he was initiated into the mysteries of farm life from the very first, and this continued to be his calling up to within a few years of 1886, when he was elected to the office of sheriff and county collector, and has made an efficient officer. He first voted for Hancock for the presidency in 1880, and has always affiliated with the Democratic party. The old homestead, of which he is the owner, com- prises 240 acres, with about 125 acres under culti- vation, and he also owns a good house and lot in Clarendon. The history of Mrs. Robinson's family will be found in a sketch of Dr. William Park, who is her brother.

W. F. Sain, a prominent planter of this town- ship, was born in Gibson County, Tenn., in 1841, and is a son of William Sain, deceased, who was a native of North Carolina, and whose first wife was Virginia Ann Goward, of North Carolina; she being the mother of two children: Henry and Mary. He removed to Gibson County, Tenn., after his wife died, and was there married to Frances Lathan, originally of North Carolina, and who died in 1886. She was the mother of four children: Nancy J. (the wife of Josiah Cooper, of Tennessee), W. F. (the principal of this sketch), John A. and James A. Mr. Sain belonged to the Masonic lodge, and to

the Presbyterian Church. He died in 1848. W. F. Sain was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in the Thirty-fourth Mississippi Infantry, and served until his capture at Lookout Mountain, and was taken to Rock Island, Ill., where he was held until about the close of the war. He then returned to Byhalia, Miss., in 1877, and then removed to Ger- mantown, Penn., where he remained until 1881, thence to Arkansas and located within five miles of Forrest City .. In 1883 he moved to this county and bought his present farm of 160 acres. Mr. Sain was married in 1861 to Mildred Alexander, a daughter of Moses and Margaret Alexander. They were the parents of nine children, all of whom are still living: William C., J. A. S., E. A. S., Ollie B., Robert E., T. C. S., V. L. S., Mamie A. and Lelia L. S. They belong to the Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Sain is one of the elders and an in- fluential member.

Louis Salinger. Well directed energy and honorable dealings always tell in business, as in- deed in everything else. Mr. Salinger has con- ducted a very prosperous business since 1871 and during the whole time that has elapsed his trade has advanced by rapid strides, until to-day he is enjoying one of the best retail trades in Brink- ley. His stock of goods is well selected and will invoice at about $10,000, the sales of which will amount to $35,000 annually. Mr. Salinger was born is Prussia in 1840, and like all natives of the Fatherland, he acquired a good education. When about fourteen years of age he and an elder brother determined to seek their fortune in the New World, and after spending five years in the States of Indi- ana and Illinois they came to Arkansas and made their home in Woodruff and Monroe Counties. Two years later Louis Salinger joined the Fifth Arkan- sas Infantry and was under Gens. Hardy, Johnston and Beauregard. While on duty in Kentucky he was captured just before the fight at Perryville, but was soon after released on bond and returned North and resumed his farming operations in Arkansas. In 1866 he engaged in the mercantile business at Augusta, continuing until 1870, and in 1871 he re- turned to his native land and brought his mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Cohn, with him

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to America, her death occurring in the city of St. Louis in 1881. The father, Saul Salinger, died during our subject's youth, having been a farmer in the old country. In 1872 Mr. Salinger was united in marriage to Miss Lena Fillman. He is one of the wealthy men of the county and, besides owning about 2,000 acres of land in Monroe County, he has a splendid brick residence in Brink- ley, which was erected in 1887, and a substantial and commodious brick business block which was built in 1888. In 1882 he gave up merchandising and turned his attention to the real-estate business, but since 1887 has been following his old calling. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the K. of P. and the K. & L. of H.

James S. Seale. An important branch of in- dustry is that represented by Mr. Seale, carpenter, blacksmith and general wood workman of Claren- don, and his superior work has entitled him to the distinction of a representative business man. He was born in Shelby County, Ala., in 1850, a son of Willoughby and Sarah (Ford) Seale, who were born in South Carolina and Georgia, in 1818 and 1829, respectively. They were married in Shelby County, Ala., and are still living there, the father being a prominent farmer and wagon maker. He served in the Confederate army the last year of the war. His father, Herod Seale, served in the War of 1812, was a mechanic by trade, and died in Cal- houn County, Miss., in 1875. Rev. John Ford, the maternal grandfather, was a Methodist minis- ter and died in Macon, Ga. James S. Seale is the second in a family of four sons and one daughter, and was brought up and educated in the State of Alabama, but his advantages, as far as his school- ing was concerned, were very limited indeed. He learned the trade of wagon maker of his father in his youth, and in 1873 came to Monroe County, Ark., and until 1887 lived on a farm four miles north of Clarendon, since which time he has been a resident of the town, and has worked at his trade the greater part of the time and is considered an excellent carpenter and blacksmith. Besides his fertile farm of 250 acres, of which 100 acres are under cultivation, he owns an excellent house and lot in town, all of which is the result of earnest

and consistent endeavor on his part. He has always been a Democrat in his political views, and his first presidential vote was cast for Greeley, in 1872. He belongs to the Knights of Honor, and his wife, whom he married in 1875 and whose maiden name was Mattie Arnold, is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She was born in Calhoun County, Miss., is the mother of five children, three daughters living, and is a daughter of Warren Arnold.

Miles A. Simmons, Jr., a merchant and planter of Palmer Station, is a son of Miles A. Simmons, Sr., a resident of Mississippi, who was born in Georgia in 1820, of English ancestry. He was married in 1842 to Miss Elizabeth Revel, born in the State of North Carolina in 1825. They were the parents of ten children, four of whom are still living: Charles F., Miles A., Jr. (the principal of this sketch), Virginia W. (the wife of John E. Done) and Eazer P. Mr. Simmons is the patentee and manufacturer of the famous "Simmons Liver Regulator," and has been engaged in the manufact- ure and sale of that medicine for thirty- nine years, now, however, being retired from business. He and his wife are living in the State of Mississippi, where they moved in 1844. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife belongs to the Baptist Church. Miles A. Simmons, Jr., was born in Mississippi in 1866, and was married at the age of twenty to Miss Inez L. Smith, daughter of Capt. W. F. and Electa Smith. She was born in Springfield, Ill., in 1866. They have one son, William F. Mr. Simmons commenced clerking in his brother's drug store at the age of eighteen, and two years later bought his brother's interest, a short time after selling out to his father and removing to St. Louis, where he was engaged as book-keeper. In 1887 he came to Palmer, and was occupied in get- ting out railroad ties until 1889, when he started in the mercantile business, his present calling. He is also postmaster of Palmer, and is the rail- road agent at that place. Besides his other inter- ests he owns a large steam cotton-gin and corn- mill, and a farm of 640 acres with some eighty acres under cultivation. Mr. Simmons is a mem-

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ber of the K. of H., and of the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church, as is also his wife.

Stephen Simons, a progressive and successful farmer of Monroe County, is a native of Alabama, his father, William Simons, having come originally from Massachusetts. He was a bridge builder and carpenter by trade, which occupation he followed up to the late war. He then erected a steam grist- mill in Alabama, and operated it until his death in 1877. He married Susan D. Wheelock, a native of Alabama and a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, who died in 1861. They were the parents of ten children, four still living: Stephen (our subject), Cornelia (the wife of A. S. Neeley, of Kentucky), Martin E. and John. Stephen Simons was born in 1848, and remained in his native State until 1874, when he removed to Ark- ansas, settling in this county. He worked at the carpenter's trade the first two years, and for three years following was engaged in the saloon business, after which he began farming on his present farm of 168 acres, with sixty acres under cultivation. He was married in 1878 to Miss Nancy A. Brown, daughter of Jesse and Mary Brown. She was born in this county in 1854. Her parents are now dead, her father having been killed in the late war, and her mother dying in 1877. Mr. Simons is an influential Democrat in political circles and a lead- ing man in his township.

Washington Simpson, planter, Cotton Plant, Ark. Of that sturdy and independent class, the farmers of Arkansas, none are possessed of more genuine merit and a stronger character than he whose name stands at the head of this sketch. Mr. Simpson first saw the light in Morgan County, Ala., January 21, 1823, and was one of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, born to the union of Samuel and Elizabeth (Owen) Simp- son. The father was born in the Old Dominion, was a farmer by occupation, and, in connection, carried on the tanner's trade for many years. He immigrated from Alabama to La Fayette County, Miss., in 1837, and there carried on both his for- mer occupations, until 1852, when he moved to Arkansas, locating in St. Francis County. He took up land, built a cabin, and there remained

until his death, which occurred in 1860. His wife died in Monroe County, in about 1857. She was a member of the Baptist Church for many years. Of the large family born to his parents, Washing- ton Simpson is the only one now living, although all were reared to maturity. He was married in 1847 to Miss Martha Davis, and they became the parents of seven children, of whom only three are now living: Josiah A., Allice M. and Mary E. (the widow of John C. Madox). The mother of these children died in 1860; she was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Two years later Mr. Simpson took for his second wife Miss Frances Henderson, who died in 1869. In 1871 he mar- ried Miss Mary A. Anderson, who bore him nine children, six daughters and three sons, seven of whom are living: Alexander A., John W., Anna P., Mittie E., Mary O., Margaret A. and Hassie P. Mr. Simpson owns 207 acres of land, has about 120 acres under cultivation, and is a very successful farmer. In 1863 he enlisted in the infantry under Capt. Wilson, and served until the surrender at Wittsburg, in 1865. He filled the position of con- stable for eight years in this county, and he and Mrs. Simpson are members of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Simpson was born in La Fayette County, Miss., in 1853, and came to Arkansas with her father in 1859. He was a farmer, and died in 1862. Her mother died in 1885. Both were members of the Baptist Church.

William K. Sims is a dealer in drugs and medicines at Brinkley, Ark., and has been estab- lished in business at this point since February, 1883, his stock of goods amounting to about $2,500. He was born near Helena, Ark., in 1860, and is a son of Dr. William K. and Mary (Scaife) Sims, who were born, reared and married in the "Palmetto State," and there made their home until some years prior to the late Civil War, when they came west and settled in Phillips County, Ark. About the time of the opening of hostilities Mr. Sims died, and his family returned to South Carolina, but liking the West best, and thinking the prospects for becoming rich much better here than at their old home, they returned to Arkansas in 1868. From that time until 1883 they made their

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home in Phillips County, then came to Brinkley where the mother's demise occurred on November 9, 1885, she having been an earnest member of the Baptist Church for many years, as was her husband. The latter was a successful physician for many years, a graduate of his profession, and was a son of William Sims, who was a Virginian, but died in South Carolina, a well-to-do farmer. The maternal grandfather, Vida Scaipe, was of Welsh descent, and is supposed to have been born in South Carolina, but came to Phillips County, Ark., in 1868. William K. Sims is the youngest of three children born to his parents, and spent his youth in tilling the soil and acquiring a common- school education. He began for himself at the age of fourteen years as a farm hand, continuing until he was about twenty-three years old, in the mean- time clerking in Helena part of the time, and pre- · vious to coming to Brinkley he clerked in a drug store in Trenton, Ark., for one year. Since es- tablishing himself in business at Brinkley, he has become one of the leading druggists of the town, and by his thorough knowledge of drugs, his ac- curacy, intelligence and honesty, he has established a large and lucrative trade. From October, 1885, to October, 1889, he was postmaster of the town, being appointed to the position by President Cleveland. Mr. Sims is a Democrat, and is quite well-to-do for a young man, being the owner of an excellent business lot on Main Street.

William E. Spencer is the efficient editor of the Monroe County Sun, published at Clarendon, and owing to the admirable manner in which it is conducted it has had a most flattering increase in its circulation. It has been in existence since 1876, and has already become one of the leading newspapers in the State. Mr. Spencer was born in Minneapolis, Minn., in 1865, and is a son of Abraham and Agnes (McMurray) Spencer, who were born in Liverpool, England, and Glasgow, Scotland, respectively. They were married in the mother's native land, and in 1863 removed to Quebec, Can- ada, and the following year to the State of Minne- sota, where their son, William E., was born. In the year 1871 they removed to Indian Bay, Ark., and in 1881 to Clarendon. Mrs. Spencer died

three years previous, having been an earnest mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church for many years. Mr. Spencer was a machinist by trade, and a mem- ber of the Baptist Church. William E. Spencer is the fourth of their five children, two sons and three daughters, and in his youth received a com- mon-school education in Winchester, Tenn. At the early age of eight years he began learning the printer's trade in an office of his own, and after reaching a suitable age began clerking in his father's hardware store, continuing until 1886, when he began editing the Monroe County Sun, which has already become one of the well-estab- lished journals of the State, and is published in the interests of the Democrat party, of which Mr. Spencer has always been a member, his first presi- dential vote being cast for Cleveland. He belongs to the Arkansas Press Association and is a mem- ber of the K. of H. and K. of P. In November, 1888, he was married at Malta Bend, Mo., by the Rev. W. B. Palmore, to Miss Ella Bonner, who was born in Clarendon, is a member of the Meth- odist Church, a daughter of W. H. Bonner, who was a prominent farmer and resided in Monroe from 1854 until his death in 1887. He was asses- sor of the county from 1882 till 1886.

William Grant Sutton has been a resident of this State since 1853. He was born in Fayette County, Tenn., in 1853, but his parents came to Arkansas that year, and located in this county, where they purchased land. His parents were Thomas and Sarah (Weeks) Sutton. Thomas Sut- ton was born in Perquimans County, N. C., in 1804, and was a son of Thomas and Helena (Raper) Sutton, both of English descent. On coming to this county he purchased 240 acres of land, almost all in timber, which he improved and made a good farm, living upon it until his death, August 28, 1854. Mrs. Sutton was born in 1815, and was married to the father of our subject in 1831, and died in March, 1860. Thomas Sutton was the father of fourteen children, this being his second marriage; there were eleven children, three of whom are living: Susan F. (the wife of J. M. Kerr), Anna (the wife of Rev. R. B. Cavett) and William G. (our subject). The latter, the young-

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est of the family, was an infant at the death of his father. He now owns a fine farm of 174 acres, with sixty acres under cultivation. He is a well- known Democrat of Duncan Township, and highly spoken of by all who have become acquainted with him.

Judge James S. Thomas is an attorney at law, of Clarendon, and is a member of the legal firm of Ewan & Thomas. He was born in Anson County, N. C., in 1844, and is a son of A. J. and Eliza C. (Smith) Thomas, of South Carolina and North Carolina, respectively, the former's birth occurring in 1813. They were married in North Carolina, in 1844, and moved soon after to Weakley County, Tenn., and in 1858 to Prairie County, Ark., where his wife died in October, 1867. Mr. Thomas is still living, and is a planter by trade, and a mem- ber of the Methodist Church and the A. F. & A. M. John Thomas, the grandfather, was of Welsh de- scent, a native of South Carolina, who died in Weakley County, Tenn. Our subject's father has been married three times, his second wife bearing him seven children, of whom James S. is the eld- est. He was reared to the duties of a farm life and acquired a limited education in the country schools. In 1861 he joined Company E, First Arkansas Infantry, and was discharged at Fort Pillow on account of ill health, but soon recovered and rejoined the army, becoming a member of the Fourth Arkansas Battalion. He was captured at Island No. 10, and was confined at Camp Chase for some time, after which he was removed to Johnson's Island, and was exchanged in 1862. He was then given a position in the commissary department, and in 1863 was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department, and served in the quartermaster's department until the close of the war. He held all the ranks, from that of a private to captain, being made the latter in December, 1862. He surrendered at Gilmore, Tex., in June, 1865, and returned to his home and friends, and took up the study of law. After becoming thor- oughly prepared to enter upon his practice, he located in Des Arc, where he was a successful prac- titioner until 1888, since which time he has been in Clarendon. In 1870 he was elected to repre-

sent Prairie County in the State legislature, and in 1874 was choson tax collector, filling this posi- tion until again elected to the legislature in 1876, which position he held by re-election until 1880. In 1882 he was elected county and probate judge, and served by re-election six years, continuing during this time the practice of law. He spent five or six years in the newspaper business, being editor of the Prairie County Appeal, and afterward edited the Des Arc Citizen until his removal to Clarendon, and-during his editorial career served for some time as president and vice-president of the Arkansas Press Association. He edited his papers in the interest of the Democrat party, with which he has always affiliated, and by his pen did much to sway the politics, of not only his county, but the State also. He has shown his brotherly spirit by joining the Masons and the Knights of Honor, and is a member of White River Lodge No. 37, of Des Arc in the former order and Clarendon Lodge in the latter. In 1867 he was married to Anna, a daughter of E. B. and N. N. Powell, who were born, reared and married in Tennessee. They removed to Prairie County, Ark., in 1861, and are there still living. Mrs. Thomas was born in Ten- nessee, and by Mr. Thomas is the mother of one son and two daughters. She has been a member of the Methodist Church for many years. Mr. Thomas is a large real-estate holder, and owns 1,500 acres of land in Prairie County. The first of the family to come to America, was shipped from Wales in a box to avoid punishment, as he had participated in a rebellion, and one of his de- scendants was afterward a general in the Revolu- tionary War.

Frank B. Toms is a planter residing near Clar- endon, Ark., and was born in Perquimans County, N. C., in 1847, being the eldest of six children born to Henry C. and Susan M. (Lynch) Toms, also of that State, born February 6, 1825, and in December, 1829, respectively. They were mar- ried in their native State, in 1846, and there re- sided until 1851, then came to Monroe County, Ark., and settled on a woodland farm, about five miles southeast of Clarendon. Mr. Toms was a man of very limited means at that time, and

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came west in order to make a home for his family, and in this succeeded, for at the time of his death he was the owner of a good farm. He was a man possessing high moral principles, temperate, in- dustrious and of exemplary habits, and his death, which occurred in 1859, while he was representing his lodge in the Masonic Grand Lodge at Little Rock, was deeply lamented, not only by his im- mediate family, but by all who knew him as well. His wife was a consistent member of the Method- ist Church, and died in 1868. The paternal grandparents, Francis B. and Sarah Toms, were probably born and married in England, and were early emigrants to and farmers of the "Old North State." Richard and Nancy Lynch, the maternal grandparents, were also early settlers of North Carolina, from Ireland, in which country they were born, reared and married. They came to this country on account of persecution, the father having participated in a rebellion in his native Jand. Both died in North Carolina. Frank B. Toms and his sister Sarah, widow of A. W. Harris, are the only ones of their father's family now liv- ing. The former spent his early days on a farm, and after his father's untimely death, the principal care of the family devolved on him. This left him with but little chance of acquiring an education, but he remained faithful to his trust until his mar- riage, in 1877, to Fannie, a daughter of Reuben and Rebecca Harrod, natives respectively of Loui- siana and Mississippi, and very early settlers of Monroe County, Ark. The father was a soldier in the Confederate States army, a farmer by occupa- tion, and died in 1872, followed by his wife two years later. Mrs. Toms was born in Monroe County, and she and Mr. Toms are the parents of one daughter. Mr. Toms lived on the old farm, on which his father settled, until 1888, when he removed to Clarendon, where he now owns a com- fortable and commodious home. His farm of 160 acres comprises some of the best land in the coun- ty, and he has eighty acres under cultivation, all being acquired by his own good management and industry. He is a Democrat, his first presidential vote being cast for Greeley, in 1872, and he is a Royal Arch Mason. He also belongs to the K. of

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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