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 99

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 99

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T. C. Merwin is a successful general merchant of Marianna, Ark., and is an example of the success attending hard work and honest dealing. He was born in Louisville, Ky., December 25, 1845, and is a son of A. W. and Anna L. (Chartres) Merwin, the former of whom died when our subject was small. He was a carriage dealer in Louisville, and died there in 1852, followed by his wife in 1864, her death occurring in the State of Mississippi. Of six children born to them, four lived to be

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grown, but T. C. Merwin is the only one now liv- ing. He and his mother moved to Mississippi in 1860, and were residing near Austin at the time of the latter's death. Mr. Merwin was educated at South Hanover College, Kentucky, and when the war broke out he joined the Confederate forces and was a member of Maj. Corley's cavalry. Shortly after he was discharged on account of physical dis- ability, but about six weeks later he joined another command, the company being raised by Capt. Nall, of Missouri, and with this he remained until the close of the war, serving in the capacity of lieuten- ant, and operating in Missouri and Arkansas. On October 19, 1864, he and his men were captured by a force of Federals under McNeal, and the fol- lowing morning one of his men was hanged by Mc- Neal, at Lexington, Mo. They remained captives of war until June 18, 1865. After the war he be- gan farming in Arkansas, and for eleven years con- tinued to till the soil along the Mississippi River. After moving to Marianna he served as collector of taxes for two years, and was then elected circuit court clerk, and ex officio clerk of all other courts, serving by re-election until 1884. In the fall of 1885 he was appointed clerk of the State land office at Little Rock, and was installed in January, 1886, and held the position until November 1, 1889. He then resigned, and returned to Mari- anna, and opened his present establishment, which is proving a paying investment. He is a Demo- crat, a Royal Arch Mason, a K. of L., a member of the K. & L. of H., and also belongs to the R. A. He was married December 20, 1874, to Miss Laura Campbell, who was born in Woodford County, Ky., in 1852, and died June 18, 1877, leaving one child, Olie. His second wife was a Miss Emmie Govan, a niece of Gen. D. C. Govan, and a daughter of E. P. Govan, the latter a prominent planter before the war. Mr. Merwin and his present wife have had three children: Mary, Govan (who died in 1844, aged two years) and Willie. The family worship in the Episcopal Church.

Jonas Miller owns a fine farm of 240 acres in Hampton County, also a steam grist-mill and cot- ton-gin at Moro, Lee County. He is a native of North Carolina and a son of Moses and Rolly

(Cross) Miller, also originally of that State. Mr. and Mrs. Miller made North Carolina their home until 1853, when they removed to Mississippi, and two years later came to Arkansas, locating in Mon- roe County. The father was a very successful farmer, always having something to sell, and not owing any man, and was well known and highly respected throughout the community until his death, in 1880, twenty-three years after the death of his wife. They were members of the Missionary Baptist Church and had a family of eight children, three still living: Carrie (wife of I. W. Burrows, of Woodruff County), Polly (wife of John Boyer, also of Woodruff County) and Jonas. The subject of this sketch was born in Cape Barrow County on July 15, 1845, and began life for himself as a farm- er and miller at the age of twenty. He was mar- ried in March, 1873, to Miss Martha E. Breeding, daughter of Wesley and Mary (Brooks) Breeding. They are the parents of eight children, five still living: William, John, Elizabeth, Kate and Cricket. Mr. Miller has about 100 acres under cultivation, in cotton and corn principally, but is now turning his attention to stock raising, and consequently raising more grasses and grain. He has held the office of deputy sheriff and constable, both of which he filled with credit to himself and with per- fect satisfaction to the citizens of the community.

William T. Moore, who is well known among the citizens of Richland Township, came originally from Alabama and is a son of Lewis and Willie (Riel) Moore, natives of Georgia and Alabama, re- spectively. Mr. Moore was of English descent, and moved to Alabama when a young man, where he was married, making that his home until 1838. Removing to Mississippi, he purchased a large plantation in Chickasaw County, and at the time of his death, in 1866, at the age of sixty-two years, was the wealthiest man, but one, in the county. His wife died in 1862, at the age of fifty-two years. She was the mother of eleven children, the follow- ing of whom now survive: Elizabeth (wife of B. F. Fitzpatrick, of Mobile, Ala.), John P. (a prom- inent merchant and real estate dealer, of Helena), Mary Ann (deceased, wife of Dr. J. P. Rockatt, of Mississippi), S. C. (a farmer of Chickasaw

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County, Miss.), C. C. (a farmer and merchant of Houston, Miss.), James B. (a farmer of Pickens County, Ala.), Cora F. (wife of S. C. Pippen, of Helena), Dora (now Mrs. Bass, also of Helena), J. H. (who was killed at the battle of Gettysburg and was captain of Company H of the Eleventh Mississippi Infantry), and William T. (our sub- ject). The latter, the third child of this family, was born in Greene County, Ala., on September 23, 1835; and remained home with his father until a short time before the war, when he commenced farming for himself. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate army, in the Forty-first Mississippi Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war, being present at the surrender at Appomattox Court House. After the war he returned to his home in Mississippi and engaged in farming, and in 1878 came to Arkansas, locating in Phillips County, where he was occupied in agricultural pursuits for a short time; subsequently he moved to La Grange. He was married in 1855 to Miss Lucy J. Buckingham, who was born near Oko- lona, Miss., in 1841. They were the parents of six children, four still living: John T. (who is in the mercantile business with his father), Mary (wife of J. B. Foster, agent and operator at Har- per, Mo., for the Iron Mountain Railroad), Lulu B. (wife of Thomas M. Jack, surveyor and civil engineer at Helena), and George C. (at home). Mr. and Mrs. Moore are members of the Mission- ary Baptist Church, in which they take an active part.

James H. New traces his ancestry back to Revolutionary times, his grandfather, William New, having been a soldier in that war, in which he served as a member of Marion's famous legion. The great-grandsire, William New, came to this country in 1763, settling on the Chickasaw River, in Virginia. He had two sons, John and William. William and his two sons were also in the Revo- lutionary War, the former being colonel of Lee's dragoons. He was wounded on Roanoke River, while pursuing Lord Cornwallis, and died from the effects of that injury. William, pere, was in the War of 1812, and his two sons, John and Will- iam, were in the battle near Baltimore, Md.

James H. is also a descendant, on his mother's side, of Jesse Lee. His parents were James and Mary M. (Blankenship) New, Virginians by birth. James New, Sr., was born in Halifax County, on July 4, 1805, and was of English and Irish extrac- tion. He was married in November, 1833, shortly after which he removed to Georgia, and remained one year, then going to Lauderdale County, Miss., where he lived until his death, on September 7, 1864. They were the parents of four children: Saleta A. (wife of John H. Anderson, of Illinois), Mary M. (widow of Irvin McRovy), John R. (a farmer of Lee County) and James H. (our subject). The latter, the next to the eldest, was born in Lauderdale County, Miss., on August 14, 1839. He commenced farming for himself at the age of twenty-two, and in 1869 came to Arkansas, and lo- cated on his present farm, which was then in Phil- lips County (now in Lee), composed of 160 acres of land, seventy acres being under a good state of cultivation. Mr. New was married in August, 1865, to Emily Clayton, also a native of Missis- sippi, who died in December, 1884, after having borne ten children, six still living: William U., Pattie L. (wife of J. A. Smith, a farmer of this county), James J., John R., Rebecca C. and Walter T. Mr. New enlisted in the secret service of the United States, in November, 1862, and was a member and non-commissioned officer of the First Mississippi Mounted Riflemen. He served until the close of the war, participating in the battles of Chickasaw Bluff, Harrisburg, and a number of others. He is a conservative Demo- crat, and a member of the Agricultural Wheel and Farmer's Secret Alliance. He is also ruling elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which he has been a member eighteen years.

Rev. L. K. Obenchain, pastor of the Baptist Church of Haynes, was born in Botetourt County, Va., on January 23, 1841, being a son of Peter M. Obenchain, also of that county, and of German descent. He was reared on a farm in his native county, and received a good education in the com- mon schools, later attending Roanoke College, and also Alleghany College, in Greenbrier County, Va. He was first located, after entering the ministry, in

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the mountains of Rock Bridge County, having been ordained at Mill Creek Church, where he remained three years. Coming to Arkansas in 1869, he was occupied in preaching at Phillips Bayou, and also taught school for three years, the following three years serving at Forrest Chapel. He next had charge of the Salem Church, of Phillips County, and of the churches at Marvel, Barton and Trenton for

seven years. Mr. Obenchain later moved to La Grange, and had charge of that church, and also of the one at Phillips Bayou, where he had before been located. He came to Haynes, in January, 1888, and has since resided here, being the pastor of the Baptist Church at this place, and also at Oak Grove. He was married on the second Sunday of June, 1862, to Miss Sarah A. Baker, a daughter of Henry Baker, of Botetourt County, Va. They became the parents of five children, three of whom are still living: Bettie (wife of W. H. Ward, of Marvel), Edward B. and Ella D. Mr. Obenchain is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of the Masonic order, and of the Knights of Honor. His life has been devoted to the service of his Master, and no man in the county is more highly respected or honored, and by the purity of his life, and the example he sets, he is well worthy the confidence and respect which are placed in him.

R. B. Owen, a prosperous farmer of Richland Township, Lee County, is a native of Alabama, and was born in 1833, being the fifth in a family of nine children given to Richardson and Tobitha (Allin) Owen. Their names are as follows: Tobi- tha, Henry R., Edward T., Sarah H., R. B., Mary F., Susan E., Anna E. and Thomas Grant. Rich- ardson Owen was born in North Carolina in 1790, and in 1820 was married to Tobitha, a daughter of Grant Allen, of Tennessee. Mr. Owen afterward settled in Alabama, where he engaged in farm- ing, and was also a minister of the Methodist Epis- copal Church and a doctor, having practiced medi- cine for some years previous to his death. Coming to Arkansas in 1851, he settled in Lee County, Richland Township, where he purchased 500 acres of valuable land. He was a public-spirited and progressive man, lending his support and influence to all public enterprises. In politics he was an

old line Whig. R. B. Owen moved to Arkansas with his parents, and in 1862 enlisted in Capt. Anderson's company of Johnson regiment. He was soon after exchanged to Company C, Sixth Mississippi Infantry, and was a non-commissioned officer, serving as an ordnance-sergeant. He par- ticipated in the battles of Prairie Grove, Helena, Jenkins' Ferry and many others of minor import- ance. After the war Mr. Owen returned to Ar- kansas, settling in Lee County and resuming his occupation of farming, where he has since re- mained. He owns 310 acres of land, with 200 under cultivation. He was married in 1860 to Martha E. Sellers, a daughter of William B. and Mahala J. (Estes) Sellers, natives of Tennessee, but who immigrated to Mississippi, and then to Arkansas in 1847, settling in Lee County. Mr. Sellers died in 1858, and his wife in 1868. They were the parents of five children: William, Martha, Mary, Vianna and one deceased in infancy. To Mr. Owen's marriage five children have been born: Virginia D. (died in 1861), Helena (now Mrs. Walter Rainey, residing in Mississippi), Leila A., Mattie M. and an infant. In secret organizations Mr. Owen is identified with the Knights of Honor. He takes a great interest in all public improve- ments, and is especially interested in schools, in which he can see vast advancement and progress.

C. A. Otey, attorney-at-law of Marianna, is a native of Madison County, Ala., and spent his early boyhood days in the southern part of the State, but the death of his father necessitated his return to his native county, where he remained for some time, while preparing himself for entering the mili- tary school at La Grange. He attended that in- stitution only a short time, as the Civil War broke out shortly after his entering college, when he im- mediately joined the Confederate army, enlisting in the Fourth Alabama Infantry, which was at- tached to Johnston's division of Confederate States troops and Bee's brigade. The Fourth Alabama distinguished themselves at the first general en- gagement, but it is to be regretted that they lost their gallant commander, Col. Jones, who sacra- ficed his own life as well as many of his command to save the day. Gen. Bee, after Jones had fallen,

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came up, and saying, "Fourth Alabama! I have seen your gallant fighting from yonder hill, and your ranks mowed thin while you held your posi- tion against fourfold odds! Follow me; Jackson has arrived, and he stands like a 'stone wall.' Let us go to his relief." So Jackson received the immortal soubriquet of Stonewall, while Bee was leading the Fourth Alabama in that charge, and he who knighted him, the immortal Bee, fell shot through the heart a few moments afterward. The Fourth Alabama erected a monument on the spot. The false accusation that Gen. Bee was intoxicated, which was the cause of his reckless bravery, is ex- plained by our subject by the fact that he was seen to drink repeatedly from a flask during the engage- ment, but which he knows contained water, as he himself filled it for him at a spring. Mr. Otey was wounded at the battle of Gaines' Mill by a bullet, breaking his arm, which laid him up for about three months; rejoining his regiment at the battle of Antietam, he was captured at the bat- tle of Lookout Mountain, and was a prisoner for one year, before being exchanged. At the close of the war he came to Arkansas and located at Helena, where he commenced the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1871, and later admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court. He then commenced the practice of law at Helena, and was shortly after elected prosecuting attorney, having filled the office of city attorney two terms. He was editor of a daily and weekly newspaper during two campaigns, from 1874 to 1879, and was in the legislature in 1887. Having become largely inter- ested in real estate in this county, he moved to Marianna in 1883, where he has since lived. He now owns 4,000 acres of land, including a large planta- tion, on which is situated a general supply store, a saw-mill and steam cotton-gin, all under his general supervision. Mr. Otey was a son of Christopher and Emily (Smith) Otey, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. He was married in the State of Arkansas to Miss Kate McAnulty, a native of this county. Mr. Otey is well known and highly spoken of by all who are acquainted with him.

J. H. Parnell, of Marianna, Ark., was born in

Southern Alabama, July 4, 1837, and is a son of John and Temperance Jane (Avery) Parnell, the former having been born in Putnam County, Ga., in 1806, and died in February, 1889, a farmer by occupation. He was a Whig in politics, was strongly opposed to secession, and served for some time in the capacity of magistrate. At the time of his death he weighed 225 pounds. His wife was born in South Carolina, and when young was taken to Ala- bama, where she grew to womanhood and met and married Mr. Parnell. She died about 1850, having borne a family of sixteen children, only the four oldest and the four youngest being now alive. Five sons were in the Confederate army, M. W. Parnell being a lieutenant under Gen. Price; Thomas J. was in the cavalry under Hood, Elijah being under Hood in the infantry, and was killed at Chickamauga; Daniel was in Jeff Davis's artillery and fired the last cannon at the battle of Bull Run, was taken prisoner to Elmira, N. Y., and after being paroled, died on his way home, his death being caused by exposure. Henry was in Forrest's army, and after procuring a furlough, came home, where he died of measles. All the brothers-in-law returned safe from the war. J. H. Parnell grew to manhood near Selma, Ala., and in his youth ac- quired a good English education. He farmed un- til the close of the war, then engaged in merchan- dising at Jacksonville, where he remained until 1869, when he immigrated to Osceola, Miss., and followed the same occupation there until 1882, at which time he came to Marianna, and until recently was a merchant there also. For the last six months he has been occupied in the hotel business, which is proving fairly remunerative. He owns some good property in the city and sixty acres of farming land, which is said to be quite valuable. Mr. Par- nell is a Democrat, a Mason and a member of the A. O. U. W. His wife, who was Miss Mollie Rig- ney, was born in Marianna, Ark., in 1868, and is a daughter of Hy. and Cynthia (Webb) Rigney, who were former residents of Huntsville, Ala., the fa- ther a Confederate soldier during the Civil War. The paternal great-grandfather of Mr. Parnell was born in England, and came to America many years prior to the American Revolution, his son, the

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grandfather of our subject participating in that struggle.

Thomas G. Phillips, mayor of Haynes, came to Arkansas in 1855, and located in Lee County, where he was engaged in farming until the war. He enlisted in August, 1861, in the Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry, being appointed orderly ser- geant of Company G, and participated in the bat- tles of Belmont, Shiloh (where he was slightly wounded), Murfreesboro, Liberty Gap, Chicka- mauga, Missionary Ridge, and all of the principal battles of the Georgia campaign. He was severely wounded at Atlanta, was afterward elected second lieutenant, and rejoined his regiment just before the surrender. After the war Mr. Phillips re- turned to his farm, which he had purchased pre- vious to entering the army, consisting of 327 acres of land. In 1879 he entered into the mercantile business. He carries a stock of goods invoicing about $2,500, and his annual sales will amount to $3,000 per year. He also owns the farm pur- chased before the war and, too, other property, in all 767 acres, with nearly 100 acres under cultiva- tion. He has been twice married; first, to Miss Antonette Hustus, who died in 1879, leaving two children: Mollie (deceased) and Emma M. (still living). His second marriage was in 1885 to Mrs. Thompson, who died in 1887. Mr. Phillips was born in Indiana, May 21, 1832, as a son of Joseph and Sallie Phillips, natives of North Carolina and Ohio, respectively. They were the parents of eight children, all of whom survive and five of them are residents of Arkansas. Mr. Thomas Phillips is a strong Democrat. He has held the office of justice of the peace of his township, and on the incorporation of Haynes, was elected mayor, which office he still holds. He is a member of the Masonic order, and of the Knights of Honor, and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

George W. Pittman. Of that sturdy and inde- pendent class, the farmers of Arkansas, none are possessed of more sterling principles than he whose name heads this sketch, and as a merchant he has not his superior in the county as far as intelligent management, honesty of purpose and

energy are concerned. He is a Georgian, born Feb- ruary 16, 1849, and is a son of James R. Pittman, also of that State, who was born, reared and mar- ried there, the last event being to Miss Bettie A. Nash. Of a family of ten children given to them, five are now living: John C., James G., Jesse W., Mary J. (wife of Thomas J. Pinkston and the mother of seven children) and Mattie B. (who is the wife of A. S. Sears and is the mother of four children). Mr. Pittman was a farmer by occupa- tion, and in this calling became quite wealthy, be- ing the owner of 1,700 acres of valuable and pro- ductive land at the time of his death, which oc- curred in 1868. He was always interested in the local politics of the community in which he resided, and also furthered the building of churches and schools with his purse as well as by his influence, and was ever considered one of the leading and public-spirited men of the county. His wife's death followed his, January 12, 1887, she having been an earnest Christian lady and a member of the Baptist Church. George W. Pittman, our im- mediate biographical subject, inherits English blood from his mother, and his early education was received in the schools near Georgetown, Ga. In 1874 he immigrated to Mississippi, and at the end of two years went to Louisiana, a year later return- ing to Mississippi. Since May, 1882, he has been a resident of Arkansas, and has successfully fol- lowed the occupations of farming and merchandis- ing, and where he was then worth $800, he is now worth ten times as much.

Maj. E. D. Ragland is the son of Dr. Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Love) Ragland, his birth occurring in Shelby County, Tenn., in 1834. Dr. Ragland, a native of Virginia, was born in 1793, and served in the War of 1812. He attended the Philadelphia Medical College, and upon commencing the prac- tice of his chosen profession, in 1818, selected Louisville, Ky., as the field of his labors. He was married in 1816 to Elizabeth, daughter of Mathew Love. To their union seven children were born, E. D., the subject of this sketch, being the sixth in order of birth. Their names were: James B., Louisa M. (now Mrs. Dr. B. D. Anderson of Texas), Dr. Nathaniel (who died in 1870 in De Vall's Bluff,

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and was a sergeant in Price's regiment), Mary E. (now Mrs. Rembert, residing in Memphis, Tenn.), Sarah V. (Mrs. Dunlap of Memphis, Tenn.), and Samuel W. (died in 1861 leaving a family.) His wife is the daughter of Avan Huntsman, a former Congressman of Tennessee. Dr. Nathaniel Rag- land (father of our subject) died in 1859, and his wife in 1873. They were members of the Pres- byterian Church, to which the former lent his hearty support and valuable influence. He was a man of great public spirit, and many improvements of early days in his city stand as monuments to his memory and liberality. He had the name of being the proprietor of the first drug store ever estab- lished in Memphis, and died very wealthy, his estate alone being valued at $294,000. Maj. E. D. Ragland passed his boyhood days in Shelby County and graduated from the University at Lebanon, Tenn. He was married in 1857 to Cor- nelia Mottley, daughter of B. F. and Martha (Doak) Mottley. Mr. Mottley was State repre- sentative of Tennessee for years, and died in 1847, his wife only surviving him three years. Mr. Rag- land entered the army in 1862 as major in the Memphis Light Dragoons, attached to the Seventh Tennessee Cavalry and served three years. In 1864 he was taken prisoner of war and held eleven months, making his escape April 19, 1865. He participated in most of the principal engagements, and by his kindness and thoughtfulness to his men won from them their life-long respect and esteem. Maj. Ragland is indeed a generous man, never being behind in contributing to any worthy pur- pose, but his liberality does not end there, for many benevolent acts never reach the ears of the outside world, though his generous deeds are recog- nized by the happy recipient of his bounteous gifts. Major Ragland settled in Phillips County, Ark., in 1865 being occupied in the independent profession of farming in that locality until 1869, at which time he moved to his present home in Richland Township. He owns 160 acres of land, all culti- vated and stocked with the various superior grades necessary to successfully operate a farm of that size. He is a Mason, being a member of La Grange Lodge, No. 108, and also belongs to the

Chapter at Marianna. The city council recognize in him an efficient and influential member. The Major and Mrs. Ragland are members of the Methodist Church at Marianna, Ark. He is in- terested in all enterprises for the development or promotion of the county, and has witnessed the growth of Marianna from a place that could only boast of one store to its present prosperous pro- portions.

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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