USA > Arkansas > Biographical and historical memoirs of northeast Arkansas : comprising a condensed history of the state biographies of distinguished citizens a brief descriptive history of the counties, and numerous biographical sketches of the prominent citizens of such counties. V. 1 > Part 10
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The officers of the Agricultural Association for 1889, are as follows: Zeb. Ward, president, Little Rock; B. D. Williams, first vice-president, Little Rock; T. D. Culberhouse, vice-president First Congressional district; D. McRae, vice president Second Congressional district; W. L. Tate, vice- president Third Congressional district ; J. J. Sump- ter, vice-president Fourth Congressional district: J. H. Vanhoose, vice-president Fifth Congressional district: M. W. Manville, secretary ; D. W. Bizzell. treasurer.
Arkansas State Horticultural Society was or- ganized May 24, 1879, and incorporated January 31. 1889. Under its completed organization the
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first fair was held in Little Rock, commencing Wednesday, May 15, 1889. President, E. F. Bab- cock; secretary, M. W. Manville; executive com mittee, S. H. Nowlin, chairman, Little Rock; George P. C. Rumbough, Little Rock; Rev. S. H. Buchanan, Little Rock; E. C. Kinney, Judsonia, and Fred Dengler, Hot Springs, constitute the official board.
In 1881 three farmers of Prairie County met and talked over farm matters, and concluded to organize a society for the welfare of the farming community. The movement grew with astonish- ing rapidity. It was organized as a secret, non- political society, and in matters of trade and com- merce proposed to give its members the benefit of combination. In this respect it advocated ac- tion in concert with all labor unions or organiza- tions of laborers. A State and National organiza- tion was effected, and the sub-organizations, ex- tending to the smallest school districts, were re- quired to obtain authority and report to the State branch and it in return to the National head. Thus far its originators sought what they believed to be the true co-operative method in their business af- fairs.
The next object was to secure beneficial legis- lation to farmers-each one to retain his polit- ical party affiliations, and at the ballot-box to vote for either farmers or those most closely identified with their interests as might be found on the respective party tickets.
The officers of the National society are: Isaac McCracken, president, Ozone, Ark., and A. E. Gardner, secretary and treasurer, Dresden, Tenn. The Arkansas State Wheel officers are: L. P. Featherstone, president, Forrest City; R. H. Morehead, secretary, White Chapel, and W. H. Quayle, treasurer, Ozan.
amazement of the better men in the society, they soon awoke to the fact that they were in the hands of the wily politicians. It is now estimated that the ranks in Arkansas are reduced to 20,000 or less-all for political causes. The movement now is to purge the society of politics and in the near future to meet the Farmer's Alliance in St. Louis, and form a combination of the two societies. It is hoped by this arrangement to avoid the dema- gogues hereafter, and at the same time form a strong and permanent society, which will answer the best interests of the farming community.
As stated elsewhere, the location of a capital for Arkansas early occupied the attention of its citizens. On November 20, 1821, William Rus- sell and others laid off and platted Little Rock as the future capital of the Territory and State. They made a plat and a bill of assurances thereto, subdividing the same into lots and blocks. They granted to Pulaski County Lots 3 and 4 in trust and on the conditions following, viz. : "That the said county of Pulaski within two years" should erect a common jail upon said Lots 3 and 4. Out of this transaction grew a great deal of litigation. The first jail was built of pine logs in 1823. It stood until 1837, when it was burned, and a brick building was erected in its stead. This stood for many years, but through the growth of the city, it in time became a public nuisance and was condemned, and the location moved to the present site of the stone jail.
The Territory was organized by Congress in 1819, and the seat of government located at the Post of Arkansas. In the early part of 1820 arose the question of a new site for the seat of government, and all eyes turned to Pulaski County. A capital syndicate was formed and Little Rock Bluff fixed upon as the future capital. The one trouble was that the land at this point was not yet in market, and so the company secured " sunk land serip" and located this upon the selected town site. The west line of the Quapaw Indian reser- vation strnek the Arkansas River at "the Little . Rock" and therefore the east line of the contem- : plated capital had to be west of this Quapaw line.
The scheme was inviting to honest farmers and the humble beginning soon grew to be a most pros- perous society-not only extending over the State, but reaching boldly across the line into other States. When at the zenith of its prosperity, it is estimated there were 60,000 members of the order in Arkansas. This was too tempting a pros- pect for the busy political demagogues, and to the . This town survey "west of the point of rocks.
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immediately south of the Arkansas River, and west of the Quapaw line," was surveyed and re- turned to the recorder at St. Louis as the new town site and Territorial capital-called Little Rock. The dedication of the streets, etc., and the plat as laid off, was dated November 10, 1821. Grounds were given for a State house, and other public buildings and purposes, and for "the permanent seat of justice of said county (Pulaski)" was ded- icated an entire half square, " bounded on the north by Markham Street and on the west by Spring Street and on the south by Cherry (now Second) Street " for court house purposes. In return the county was to erect a court house and jail on the lots specified for these purposes, "within ten years from the date hereof." A market house was to be erected by the city on Lots 4 and 5, Block 99. The latter in time was built on these lots, the upper story containing a council chamber, which was in public use until 1864, when the present city hall was erected.
By an act of the legislature, October 24, 1821, James Billingsly, Crawford County, Samuel C. Roane, Clark County, and Robert Bean, Inde- pendence County, were appointed commissioners, "to fix on a proper place for the seat of justice of the County of Pulaski;" the act further specify- ing "they shall take into consideration donations and future divisions." The latter part of the sentence is made still more important by the fact that at that time the western boundary of Pulaski County was 100 miles west. at the mouth of Petit Jean, and the eastern boundary was a few miles below Pine Bluff.
October 18,1820, the Territorial seat of govern- ment was removed from the Post of Arkansas to the Little Rock, the act to take effect June 1, 1821. It provided "that there shall be a bond * *
* for the faithful performance of the promise and good faith by which the seat of government is moved."
In November, 1821, about the last of the belong- ings of the Territorial capital at the Post were ! removed to Little Rock. It was a crossing point i
as the "Missouri Crossing," but the French had generally called it Arkapolis.
During the short time the Territorial capital was at Arkansas Post, no effort was made to erect public buildings, as from the first it was under- stood this was but a temporary location. When the capital came to Little Rock a one-story double log house was built, near the spot where is now the Presbyterian Church, or near the corner of Scott and Fifth Streets. This building was in the old style of two rooms, with an open space between, but all under the same roof. In 1826 the log building was superseded by a one-story frame. March 2, 1831, Congress authorized the Territory to select ten sections of land and appro- priate the same toward erecting capitol buildings; and in 1832 it empowered the governor to lease the salt springs. With these different funds was erected the central building of the present capitol, the old representative hall being where is now the senate chamber. In 1836, when Arkansas became a State, there was yet no plastering in any part of the brick building, and in the assembly halls were plain pine board tables and old fashioned split bottomed chairs, made in Little Rock.
In 1886, at the remarkably small cost of $35,000. were added the additions and improvements and changes in the capitol building, completing it in its present form. And if the same wisdom con- trols the State in the future that has marked the past, especially in the matter of economy in its public buildings, there will be only a trifling additional expenditure on public buildings during the next half century. The State buildings are sufficient for all public needs; their plainness and cheapness are a pride and glory, fitting monuments to the past and present generation of rulers and law makers, testifying to their intelligence and integrity.
The State library was started March 3, 183S, at first solely as a reference and exchange medium. It now has an annual allowance of $100, for pur- chasing books and contains 25,000 volumes, really more than can suitably be accommodated.
on the river of the government road leading to : The Supreme Court library was established in Missouri, and the place had often been designated ' January, 1851. It has 8,000 volumes, including
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all the reports and the leading law works. The fees of attorneys' license upon admission to the bar, of ten dollars, and a dollar docket fee in each case in court, constitute the fund provided for the library.
The State Medical Society, as now constituted, was formed in May, 1875. It held its fourteenth annual session in 1889, at Pine Bluff. Edward Bentley is the acting president, and L. P. Gibson. secretary. Subordinate societies are formed in all parts of the State and are represented by regular delegates in the general assemblies. In addition to the officers for the current year above given are Z. Orts, assistant secretary, A. J. Vance, C. S. Gray, B. Hatchett and W. H. Hill, vice-presidents in the order named.
The State Board of Health was established by act of the legislature, March 23, 1SS1. It is com- posed of six commissioners, appointed by the gov- ernor, "a majority of whom are to be medical grad- uates and of seven years' practice in the profes- sion." The board is required to meet once in every three months. The secretary is allowed a salary of $1,000 per annum, but the others receive no compensation except traveling expenses in the discharge of official duties.
The present board is composed of Dr. A. L. Breysacher, president; Dr. Lorenzo R. Gibson, seo- retary ; Doctors J. A. Dibrell, P. Van Patton, W. A. Cantrell and V. Brunson.
The beginning which resulted in the present elegant State institution for deaf mutes was a school established near the close of the late war, in Little Rock, by Joseph Mount, an educated mute, who gathered a few of these unfortunate ones together and taught a private school. The State legislature incorporated the school and made a small provision for it, July 17, 1868, the attendance that year being four pupils. The buildings are on the beau- tiful hill just west of the Union Depot, the im- provement of the grounds being made in 1869. The attendance in 1870 was 43 pupils, which in the last session's report, 18SS, reached the number of 109; and the superintendent, anticipating an at- tendance for the current two years of 150, has solicited appropriations accordingly.
The board of trustees of the Deaf Mute Insti- tute includes: Hon. George E. Dodge, president; Col. S. L. Griffith, vice-president; Maj. R. H. Par- ham, Jr., secretary; Hon. W. E. Woodruff, treas- urer; Maj. George H. Meade and Col. A. R. Witt. The officers are: Principal, Francis D. Clarke; instructors: John W. Michaels, Mrs. I. H. Carroll, Miss Susan B. Harwood, Miss Kate P. Brown, Miss Emma Wells, S. C. Bright; teacher of articulation, Miss Lottie Kirkland. Mrs. M. M. Beattie is matron; Miss Lucinda Nations, assistant : Miss Clara Abbott. supervises the sewing, and Mrs. Amanda Harley is housekeeper. The visiting phy- sician is J. A. Dibrell, Jr., M. D .; foreman of the printing office, T. P. Clarke; foreman of the shoe shop, U. G. Dunn. Of the total appropriations asked for the current two years, $80, 970, $16,570 is for improvements in buildings, grounds, school apparatus, or working departments.
The Arkansas School for the Blind was incor- porated by act of the legislature, February 4, 1859, and opened to pupils the same year in Arkadel- phia. In the year of 1868 it was removed to Little Rock, and suitable grounds purchased at the foot of Center Street, on Eighteenth Street.
This is not an asylum for the aged and infirm, nor a hospital for the treatment of disease, but a school for the young of both sexes, in which are taught literature, music and handcraft Pupils between six and twenty-six years old are received. and an oculist for the purpose of treating pupils is a part of its benefits; no charge is made for board or tuition, but friends are expected to fur- nish clothing and traveling expenses.
It is estimated there are 300 blind of school age in the State. The legislature has appro- priated $140 a year for each pupil. On this allow- ance in two years the steward reported a balance unexpended of $1,686.S4. In ISS6 was appro- priated $6,000 to build a workshop. store-room. laundry and bake-oven. In 1860 the attendance was teu-five males and five females: in 1862. seven males and six females. The year ISSS brought the attendance up to fifty males and fifty. two females, or a total of 102. During the last two years six have graduated here-three in the
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industrial department, and three in the industrial and literary department. Four have been dis- missed on account of recovered eyesight.
The trustees of the school are: J. R. Right- sell, S. M. Marshall, W. C. Ratcliffe, J. W. House, and D. G. Fones; the superintendent being John H. Dye.
Another commendable institution, carefully providing for the welfare of those dethroned of reason, is the Arkansas State Lunatic Asylum, which was authorized by act of the legislature of 1873, when suitable grounds were purchased, and highly improved, and buildings erected. The in stitution is three miles west of the capitol and one- half mile north of the Mount Ida road. Eighty acres of ground were originally purchased and enclosed and are now reaching a high state of improve- ment. The resident population of the asylum at present is 500 souls, and owing to the crowded conditions an additional eighty acres were pur- chased in 1887, making in all 160 acres. A care- ful inquiry shows there are in the State (and not in the asylum, for want of room) 198 insane persons. entitled under the law to the benefits of the insti- tution. Of the 411 patients in the asylum in 1888, only four were pay patients.
John G. Fletcher, R. K. Walker, A. L. Brey- sacher, John D. Adams and William J. Little are trustees of the institution, while Dr. P. O. Hooper is superintendent.
In 1885 the legislature made an appropriation of $92,500 for the erection of additional buildings and other needed improvements. This fund was not all used, but the remainder was returned into the State treasury. The total current expenses for the year 1887 aggregated $45, 212.60. The current expenses on patients the same year were $29.344. 80. The comfort of the unfortunates-the excellence of the service, the wholesome food given them, and at the same time the minimum cost to the tax payers, prove the highest possible commendation to those in charge.
The Arkansas Industrial University is the prom- ise, if not the present fulfillment, of one of the most important of State institutions. It certainly deserves the utmost attention from the best people
of the State, as it is destined to become in time one of the great universities of the world. It should be placed in position to be self-supporting, be- cause education is not a public pauper and never can be permanently successful on charity. Any education to be had must be earned. This law of nature can no more be set aside than can the law of gravitation, and the ignorance of such a simple fact in statesmen and educators has cost our civili- zation its severest pains and penalties.
The industrial department of the institution was organized in June, 1885. The act of incor- poration provided that all males should work at manual labor three hours each day and be paid therefor ten cents an hour. Seven thousand dollars was appropriated to equip the shops. Prac- tical labor was defined to be not only farm and shop work, but also surveying, drawing and labor- atory practice. Mechanical arts and engineering became a part of the curriculum. The large major- ity of any people must engage in industrial pur- suits, and to these industrial development and enlightenment and comfort go hand-in-hand. Hence the real people's school is one of manual training. Schools of philosophy and literature will take care of themselves; think of a school (classical) endeavoring to train a Shakespeare or Burns! To have compelled either one of these to graduate at Oxford would have been like clipping the wings of the eagle to aid his upward flight. In the edu- cation at least of children nature is omnipotent and pitiless, and it is the establishment of such train- ing schools as the Arkansas Industrial University that gives the cheering evidence of the world's progress. In its continued prosperity is hope for the near future; its failure through ignorance or bigotry in the old and worn out ideas of the dead past. will go far toward the confirmation of the cruel cynicism that the most to be pitied animal pell-melled into the world is the new-born babe.
The University is situated at Fayetteville. Washington County. It was organized by act of the legislature, based on the "Land Grant Act" of Congress of 1862. and supplemented by liberal donations from the State, the County of Wash- ington, and the city of Fayetteville. The school
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
was opened in 1872. March 30, 1877, the legisla- ture passed the act known as the "Barker Bill," which made nearly a complete change in the pur- view of the school and brought prominently for- ward the agricultural and mechanical departments. "To gratify our ambitious" [but mistaken] "youth," says the prospectus, " we have, under Section 7 of the act, provided for instruction in the classics."
Under the act of Congress known as the " Hatch Bill," an Agricultural Experimental Sta- tion has been organized. Substantial buildings are now provided, and the cost of board in the in- stitution is reduced to $8 per month. The attend- ance at the present time is ninety-six students, and steps are being taken to form a model stock- farm. The trustees, in the last report, say: "We recommend that girls be restored to the privi- leges of the institution." The law only excludes females from being beneficiaries, and females may still attend as pay students.
A part of the University is a branch Normal School, established at Pine Bluff, for the purpose of educating colored youth to be school teachers. These Normal Schools have for some years been a favorite and expensive hobby in most of the Northern States. There is probably no question that, for the promotion of the cause of education among the negroes, they offer unusual attractions.
The following will give the reader a clear com- prehension of the school and its purposes. Its departments are:
Mechanic arts and engineering, agriculture, experiment station, practical work. English and modern languages, biology and geology, military
science and tactics, mathematics and logic, prepara- tory department, drawing and industrial art, and music.
To all these departments is now added the med- ical department, located at Little Rock. This branch was founded in 1871, and has a suitable building on Second Street. The tenth annual course of lectures in this institution commenced October 3, 1888; the tenth annual commencement being held March 8, 1889. The institution is self- supporting, and already it ranks among the fore- most medical schools in the country. The graduat- ing class of 1888 numbered twenty.
The State Board of Visitors to the medical school are Doctors W. W. Hipolite, W. P. Hart, W. B. Lawrence, J. M. Keller, I. Folsom.
The debt of Arkansas is not as large as a cur- sory glance at the figures might indicate. The United States government recently issued a statis- tical abstract concerning the public debt of this State that is very misleading, and does it a great wrong. In enumerating the debts of the States it puts Arkansas at $12,029,100. This error comes of including the bonds issued for railroad and levee purposes, that have been decided by the Supreme Court null and void, to the amount of nearly $10,000,000. They are therefore no part of the State indebtedness.
The real debt of the State is $2,111,000, including principal and accumulated interest. There is an amount in excess of this, if there is included the debt due the general government. but for all such the State has counter claims, and it is not therefore estimated in giving the real indebtedness.
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CHAPTER VIII.
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THE BENCH AND BAR-AN ANALYTIC VIEW OF THE PROFESSION OF LAW-SPANISH AND FRENCH LAWS -- ENGLISH COMMON LAW-THE LEGAL CIRCUIT RIDERS-TERRITORIAL LAW AND LAWYERS -THE COURT CIRCUITS-EARLY COURT OFFICERS-THE SUPREME COURT -- PROMI-
NENT MEMBERS OF THE STATE BENCH AND BAR-THE STANDARD OF THE EXECUTION OF LAW IN THE STATE.
Laws do not put the least restraint Upon our freedom. but maintain't; Or if they do, 'tis for our good, To give us freer latitude; For wholesome laws preserve us free By stinting of our liberty .- Butler.
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HE Territory when under Spanish or French rule was governed by much the same laws and customs. The home government ap- pointed its viceroys, who were little more than nomi- nally under the control of the king, except in the general laws of the mother country. The neces- sary local provisions in the laws were not strictly required to be submitted for approval to the mas- ter powers before being enforced in the colony. Both govern- ments were equally liberal in bestowing the lands upon sub- jects, and as a rule, without cost. But the shadow of feudal times still lingered over each of them, and they had no conception that the real people would want to be small landholders, supposing that in the new as in the old world they would drift into villanage, and in some sense be a part of the possession of the landed aristocracy. Hence,
these governments are seen taking personal charge as it were of the colonies; providing them masters and protectors, who, with government aid, would transport and in a certain sense own them and their labor after their arrival. The grantee of cer- tain royal rights and privileges in the new world was responsible to the viceroy for his colony, and the viceroy to the king. The whole was anti-dem- ocratic of course, and was but the continued and old, old idea of "the divine rights of rulers."
The commentaries of even the favorite law- writers to-day in this democratic country are blurred on nearly every page with that monstrous heresy, "the king can do no wrong"- the gov- erning power is infallible, it needs no watching, no jealous eye that will see its errors or its crimes : a fetich to be blindly worshiped, indiscriminately, whether it is an angel of mercy or a monster of evil. When Cannibal was king he was a god. with no soul to dictate to him the course he pursued. " The curiosities of patriotism under adversity " just here suggests itself as a natural title-page to one of the most remarkable books yet to be written.
The bench and bar form a very peculiar result
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
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