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 20
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GREENE COUNTY.
At the outbreak of the Civil War of 1861-65, the citizens of Greene County, being mostly immi- grants or descendants of immigrants from the former slave-holding States, were found to be almost to a man, in full sympathy with the South- ern cause, and consequently lent their energies to sustain it. As might be expected great excitement then prevailed, and in the spring of 1861 Capt. W. G. Bohaning raised a full company of soldiers mostly in the territory now composing Greene County, for the First Regiment of Arkansas Con- federate Infantry. Soon thereafter Capt. J. L. Kuykendall formed another company in the same territory for the same regiment, and later Capt. D. G. Byers recruited a company for the Twenty- Fifth Regiment of Arkansas Confederate Infantry. In 1864 Capis. Park Willcockson, John McHenry and H. W. Glasscock, each raised a company of cavalry in Greene County for Maj. J. F. Davies' battalion of Col. Kitchens' regiment. The pop- ulation being then small, these were the only or- ganized bodies of soldiers raised in that part of the county as it is now composed. Other troops were obtained in that portion since set off to Clay. No skirmishes or battles took place in the county dur- ing the war, and it was but little over-run with soldiers, consequently not suffering the devasta- tions incident to many other counties in the State.
Only two Federal commands, together with a few small scouting parties, passed through the county, and as a result the people fortunately es- caped the raids of foragers; owing also to their unanimity of sentiment, there was but very little bushwhacking done. In addition to the com- panies above mentioned some individuals went out of the county and enlisted in other commands. Notwithstanding the natural preferences of the people here in the war period, they are now vieing with the immigrants from both North and South, in developing the resources of this section. Uni- versal peace and harmony prevail, and all just and upright newcomers are received with a hearty wel- come. The survivors of both armies have organ- ized an association in Paragould known as the "Blue and Gray " -- there being many ex-Federal soldiers among the recent arrivals in the county,
and together they meet and rejoice that the con- flict is forever settled, and that while they were enemies in war they are friends in peace.
Greene is well supplied with villages, towns, postoffices, etc., as the following facts indicate:
Bethel is a postoffice and flag station on the railroad, five miles south of Paragould.
Crowley is a postoffice twelve miles northwest of Paragould.
Finch is a postoffice ten miles southwest of Paragould.
Gainesville, on the Helena branch of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, eight miles north of Paragould. formerly the seat of justice for Greene County, was established about the year 1840. In 1846 it contained a log court- house, two store buildings and five dwelling houses -all log except one dwelling house, which was a frame, sided up with clapboards. The town has ever been of slow growth, but situated as it is in a good community far from other villages, it is a point of considerable trade, containing four general stores, one drug store. four family groceries, two black- smith shops, one steam grist mill and cotton-gin combined, two hotels, one printing office, from which is published the Greene County Event, by F. M. Dalton, one livery stable, two church edi- fices-Cumberland Presbyterian and Methodist- one public school-house, three physicians, and one lawyer, the latter being the Hon. J. E. Reddick, present judge of the circuit court of this judicial circuit.
Halliday, a postoffice and flag station on the "Cotton Belt" Railroad, is six miles north of Paragould.
Herndon is a postoffice in the southwest part of the county.
Lorado, also but a postoffice, is in the south- west part of the county.
Marmaduke, a town of about 200 inhabitants ou the "Cotton Belt" Railroad, twelve miles north- east of Paragould, contains four stores, a black- smith shop, cotton gin and press, church. school house, a saw-mill and boarding house. From here a tramway is run a mile out on the St. Francis River, where other mills are located. The village
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
was first laid out in 1882 by the Railroad Company.
Paragould, the county seat of Greene County, situated at the connection and crossing of the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas and the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroads, was laid out in April, 1882, by the Southwestern Improve- ment Company, Willis Pruet and wife and J. A. Lambert and wife. It was named after President Paramore of the former and President Gould of the latter of these routes, the name Gould being substituted for the last syllable of Paramore, mak- ing it Paragould. The town has grown rapidly, and in the seven years of its existence has attained a population of about 2,000. It contains the Greene County Bank, nine general stores, five family groceries, four drug stores, one hardware, saddlery and farm implement store, six saloons, two baker- ies, two millinery stores, four hotels and many boarding houses, two livery stables, two butcher shops, one shoe, four blacksmith and one foundry shop, five stave factories, three saw-mills, one cotton gin, a feed store, photograph galleries, bar- ber shops, laundry and many other industries, four church edifices -- Methodist, Baptist, Cumberland Presbyterian and Christian, a public school-house, seven physicians, three dentists, a lodge each of Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Honor, Knights of Pythias and a Post of the G. A. R. : also these newspapers-the Paragould Evening Times, pub- lished daily, by W. A. H. McDaniel, editor and pro- prietor; the Record, published weekly, by Messrs. Taylor & Carter, the Press recently being consoli- dated with this journal. In politics the entire press of the county is Democratic, but the papers . are published in the interest of the people, and are doing their best to promote and increase the pros- perity of the county. Near Paragould on the west side are situated the grounds and buildings of the "Greene County Fair Association," which held its second annual exhibition in October, 1888. Paragould is incorporated as a city, and has a mayor, recorder, marshal, and a board of five aldermen. The present officers are H. W. Glasscock, mayor: T. P. Cole, recorder; John M. Winder, marshal. A vast amount of capital is here invested. The town is beautifully located, and its growth is rapid
and permanent. It is surrounded by a good agri. cultural and stock raising country, which insures its future prosperity. The Bank of Paragould which was organized on March 19, 1SS9, is deserving of mention. It was incorporated with C. Wall, president, E. S. Bray, cashier, and A. A. Knox as secretary of the board of directors. The directors are as follows: Dr. C. Wall, A. Berteg, A. P. Mack, W. H. Jones, J. W. Crawford, D. D. Hodges and A. A. Knox. They have a capital stock of $30,000. The new bank building, which is a neat two-story structure located on the corner of Pruet and Emerson streets, was completed and occupied on the 1st of July, 1889.
Stonewall, a post village on the Iron Mountain Railroad. fourteen miles north of Paragould, con- tains a store, saw mill and shingle factory.
Tilmanville is a postoffice fifteen miles north of Paragould.
Walcott is a postoffice twelve miles west of Paragould.
As was common throughout Arkansas in early days, the pioneer schools of Greene County were "few and far between," and of the most inferior nature. A few of the pioneer settlers employed such teachers as could be obtained for what might be considered ordinary laborers' wages, and thus afforded some meager facilities for the educa. tion of their children. Though the State had a school system, there were practically no free schools prior to the inauguration of the present school sys- tem, which has taken place since the Civil War. Owing to the inadequate facilities for education, many of the citizens of the county reached their manhood without ever attending school. The children of this generation have great advantages over those of their parents. Seven years ago, as shown by reports of the State superintendent of public instruction, there were thirty-nine school distriets organized in Greene County, with only seven* wood school-houses, to accommodate a scholastic population of 2.191. The following statistics, taken from the superintendent's report for the year ending June 30. ISSS, will show the improvements since made within the territory:
*There were perhaps others not reported.
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GREENE COUNTY.
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The white school children number 4,387; col- J. C. Ritter is pastor of the charge at Paragould. ored, 14; total, 4,401. The number taught in The Baptist Church has at least fourteen organ- izations within the county, one of which is the colored church at Paragould. The others are named New Providence, Friendship, Liberty. Epsaby, Fairview, Unity, New Hope, Rock Hill, Pleasant Grove, Cedar Hill, Mount Zion, Para- gould, and another, name not learned. New Providence, Friendship, Fairview, New Hope, and perhaps others, were organized long before the Civil War. All of these organizations have an average, membership of about fifty. and the Meth- odist denomination is about equal in strength. Elders David Thorn, Lively, W. C. Jackson, Faulkner, J. T. Edmonds, and Halcomb are the ministers now officiating at these several churches, all of which are designated as Missionary Baptists. the public schools is: White, 2,219; colored, none; number of school districts, 59; number of teachers employed, males, 37; females, 14; total, 51; average monthly wages paid teachers of the first grade, males, $42.50; females, $37.50; second grade, males, $40; females. $35; third grade, males, $32.50; females, $30; frame and log school-houses reported, 28, valued at $4,338.75; revenue raised for the support of common schools, $18,957.09; amount expended, $9,690.58; amount unexpended, $9,266.51. These figures show a great increase over those of seven years ago. The schools are increasing in number and quality-the wages paid being sufficient to secure teachers of good ability. The figures show also that of the scholastic pop- ulation of the county only a little over one-half were taught in the public schools, which is con- clusive that the people do not as yet fully sustain and patronize the free school system. However, the outlook for popular education is encouraging. A. Knox is the present county examiner.
Religious meetings were held, and preaching was had in Greene County soon after it was or- ganized, and from the best information obtainable societies of the Methodist and Baptist denomina- tions were probably formed during the 40's. The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, has now at least seventeen organizations within the county. The Paragould circuit consists of the following: Mount Carmel, Pleasant Grove, New Bethel, Wood's Chapel, a congregation four miles west of Paragould, and Greensboro and Pine Log, in Craighead County, with Rev. W. W. Anderson, pastor in charge. Lorado circuit consists of Pleas- ant Hill, Shady Grove, Warren's and Owen's Chapels, Old Bethel and Salem, with Rev. T. B. Williamson, pastor in charge. Gainesville circuit includes Friendship, Hurricane, Harvey's Chapel. Starne's Chapel, Scatter Creek, Beech Grove and Strong's Chapel, with Rev. N. W. Farrar, pastor in charge. Another congregation in the eastern part of the county, belongs to an outside circuit. Rev. W. W. Watson is pastor of the charge com- posed of Gainesville and Oak Grove, and Rev.
The several organizations of the Christian Church within the county are known as Paragould, Pine Knot, Sugar Creek, Gainesville and Liberty, with a combined membership of nearly 400. Pine Knot was organized in a very early day -- long before the Civil War, and has had a very large membership. Liberty, which was organized in 1879, was composed mostly from the membership of Pine Knot. The Christian Church in Para- gould was organized in 1885.
The organizations of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church within Greene County are known as Gainesville, Friendship and Paragould, the latter having been organized in 1884. The one at or near Gainesville was organized early in the 80's. In point of numbers this is probably the weakest denomination in the county. There are no Roman Catholic organizations here, but this sect is pre- paring to build a church edifice in Paragould.
Nearly all of the church organizations named have houses of their own in which to worship, and all, except a few not supplied with pastors, bave regular preaching, and are doing good work. In the summer season Sunday-schools are connected with them, but only a few in the more populous districts continue throughout the year.
The people of Greene County are almost with- out exception moral, law abiding. kind, generous and hospitable, and welcome and protect all de-
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serving immigrants that come among them. Here the opportunities for securing a home in a com- paratively new country, where the climate is mild, the railroad facilities good. churches and schools numerous, all without the inconveniences of front- ier life, are unexcelled.
Church. Three of the four children born to their union are living: Clyde Eugenia, Dero Dean, and Vernie Pearl. Adolphus Burdette died in 1881 at the age of six months and three weeks. Mr. Alli- son is still engaged in teaching, having followed that occupation a part of four years in Greene County, and is considered one of the successful educators of his district.
T. J. Archer. Among the many sturdy "sons
W. T. Allison was born on the 25th of Decem- ber, 1850, in Gibson County, Tenn., being the of the soil" of Greene County, Ark. who have eldest of six children, two now living, born to attained wealth and prominence in their calling by the sweat of their brow. and who command an en- viable social position. is Mr. Archer, the subject of this biography. He was born in Alabama in 1847 and is the youngest in a family of nine children born to the marriage of Rev. Philip Archer and Artemisa Maxwell. The father, in connection with his ministerial duties, was engaged in farming. and followed these two occupations until his death which occurred on the 10th of August, 1868. his death being preceded by that of his wife by twenty-one years. The paternal grandfather left Alabama and settled in Arkansas during the early history of that State, being an extensive farmer for many years. His death occurred very suddenly. T. J. Archer was reared to farm labor, and at the age of twenty-one years married Miss Lenora Amorine, of Alabama, and two years later came to Arkansas, settling first in Polk County, remaining one year, and then went to Monroe County, where he stopped five years. Since 1875 he has resided in Greene County, and the first few years was engaged in tilling rented land, and since 1855 has been the owner of 160 acres of land near the Cache bottoms, which was at first wild land but is now well improved, with seventy-five acres under fence and cultivation. His land is among the best in this section and is devoted principally to raising corn and cotton. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Archer have been born the following children: Philip William Thomas, who is married and resides on his father's place: Benjamin O .. Adolphus, Osceola. Thome and Moses Ray, living: and John. Ida, Eldora and Daniel, deceased. John W. and Elizabeth (Harrington) Allison, who were born in the "Old North State " and emigrated to Gibson County, Tenn., in 1828, where the father engaged in cabinet making and farming, and made his home until 1867, when he moved to Weakley County, Tenn., where he now resides. In 1862 he enlisted in the army and served under Gen. Forrest until nearly the close of the war. He is a Democrat. His wife died in 1861. W. T. Allison attended the schools of Gibson County, and in his youth also followed the plow, which occupation has been his chief calling ever since. In January, 1876, he removed to Stoddard County, Mo., and for a number of years was engaged in teaching school in Dexter and other places. While there he was married on the Sth of May, 1879, to Miss Minnie A. Walker, a native of Carroll County, Tenn., and a daughter of John and Sarah (Gib- bons) Walker, also Tennesseeans and farmers by occupation; after residing in Stoddard County, Mo., for five years, the father died in 1877. The mother is still a resident of that county. Remain- ing in Stoddard County until the 5th of Sep- tember, 1882, Mr. Allison and wife then moved to Craighead County of this State, and after work- ing as salesman in that county until March, 1883, he came to Greene County, Ark., and purchased two years later eighty acres of improved land, to which he has since added 122 acres, making 202 acres in all, of which forty are under culti- vation. He has taken an active part in politics, and votes the Democratic ticket, being the present justice of the peace and is filling his second term. Socially, he is a member of the Agricultural Wheel H. L. Ayers, a wealthy farmer of Greene County, Ark., was born in Bedford County. Tean .. at Halliday, and be and wife belong to the Baptist
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GREENE COUNTY.
in 1858, and is the second in a family of four chil- education in Austria, and remained on the farm with his father until fourteen years of age, when he began learning the baker's trade. In 1867, dren born to the marriage of Frank and Loddie ( Williams) Ayers, the former a native of Pennsyl- vania and the latter of Tennessee. At the early . when in his twentieth year, he took passage from age of eight years H. L. Ayers left home and Bremen to America on the steamer "Ocean," which was stranded one year later, and landed at New York City. He came on to Cincinnati, where he worked for about eight years in and around the began depending on his own resources for obtain- ing a livelihood, and up to the age of seventeen years worked on farms and did teaming. In 1879 he was married in Gibson County, Tenn., to Miss city. He then went to Chicago, remained there about three years and then engaged in business for himself at Joliet, Ill. In 1886 he came to Paragould and immediately engaged in his present business, at which he has been very successful. He is an excellent baker and keeps a good stock of everything carried in his line. He was married in October, 1873, to Miss Mary Gaker, a native of Hamilton County, O., and a daughter of John and Rosa (Schleer) Gaker, who were natives of Ger- many and early settlers of Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Bleier have been born five children, three now liv- ing: John K., Frank and Joseph E. The two deceased were Robert and Mathew. Mr. and Mrs. Bleier are members of the Catholic Church. Addie Rosson, who was born, reared and educated in that State, being a daughter of John Rosson, who was known as one of the best farmers in West Tennessee, his farm of 300 acres being valued at $9,000. After his marriage, Mr. Ayers worked with his father-in-law until 1883, when he made a trip to Arkansas and traveled over the greater por- tion of that State, as well as Missouri, the Indian Territory, Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana and Mississippi. After one year he returned to West Tennessee, and at the end of one year went to Fulton County, Ky., where he resided two years. In August, 1886, he moved his family to Greene County, Ark., where he engaged in the teaming business, which he followed for two years, and then acted as stave inspector for J. F. Hasty & Son for one year. He next began farming on a tract of 160 acres of land in Greene County in December. 1888, and on this he immediately began to make improvements, and has introduced many new methods of farming. He has thirty-five acres in corn, fifteen in oats, thirty-five in rye and oats for pasture, and two in potatoes. On this farm is a fine orchard of 540 trees, mostly peach, beside a fine assortment of other fruit. He is doing well in his calling and promises to become in time a wealthy man. He and wife are the parents of one daughter, Lizzie May
Joseph Bleier, proprietor of the Vienna Bakery, at Paragould, was born in Bohemia, Austria. December 17, 1846, and is the son of Ignatz and Anna (Freitle) Bleier, also natives of Austria. The parents are still living in their native country. and the father follows the occupation of a farmer. In their family were eight children: Joseph, Frank, Robert, Ignatz, John and Otto (twins), Barbara and Anna. Joseph Bleier received his
E. M. Bobo. Among Greene County's self- made, enterprising and successful citizens, none deserve more favorable mention than the subject of this sketch, E. M. Bobo, who was born in South Carolina in 1840. His father. A. P. Bobo. came from the Palmetto State to Arkansas in 1857, and entered 160 acres of land, upon which he lived engaged in farming and stock raising until his death in 1886. He was held in favor by his fel- low farmers, and was for two years coroner of Greene County. Of his family of seven children, two sons and five daughters, four are still living. one in North Carolina, two in Texas, and one in Arkansas. They are Mary (Bobo) Prince, E. M. Bobo. Virginia (Bobo) Swindle, and Spotana (Bobo) Love. E. M. Bobo was seventeen years of age when he came with his father to this State. where he has since made his home. He has about 154 acres of land, with eighty under cultivation. forty of which he has cleared himself, and his farm is well stocked with horses, cattle, hogs and fine sheep. October 2. 1861. Mr. Bobo enlisted in the Fifth Arkansas Infantry, and though twice
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
wounded, continued in service during the entire war. He and wife have reared a family of nine children: M. A., born in 1862; Matilda, born in 1866; G. M., born in 1867; Olive, born in 1869, Victoria, born in 1871; Arthur E., born in 1872; J. E., born in 1874; Alice, born in 1875, and Ada, in 1878. Mr. Bobo belongs to the Agricultural Wheel, and he and wife and family are active members of the Methodist Church.
M. W. Boyd (deceased) was an enterprising and industrious farmer of Greene County, Ark. He was born in Tennessee on the 12th of October, 1846, and came to Arkansas with his father when a child, where the latter died shortly after. In 1868 M. W. Boyd was united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss M. J. McMillin, who was born in the "Palmetto State" and came to Arkansas with her parents, W. P. and Adaline (Cooley) Mc- Millin in 1853, settling on what is known as the old Willcockson estate, consisting of 500 acres. Here Mr. McMillin greatly improved his farm, became a well-known citizen of the county, and died on the 19th of May, 1862. After his marriage Mr. Boyd began improving his farm on an exten- sive scale by erecting good buildings, setting out orchards, etc., and did considerable in the way of stock raising. He was interested in all things that promised to promote the welfare of his section, and was a liberal contributor to churches and schools. He died on the 27th of May, 1885, leaving his wife and children one of the best farms in the county, on which is a roomy and substantial dwelling-house, surrounded by ornamental trees and shrubbery. Mrs. Boyd is ably managing the farm, and besides the usual crops is engaged in raising cotton. She and Mr. Boyd became the parents of the following children: Onie, Alice, Clara and Selma.
E. S. Bray, postmaster at Paragould, and cash- ier of the Bank of Paragould, is classed among the prominent and successful business men of that town. He was born in Chatham County, N. C., and is the son of Solomon and Sarah (Brooks) Bray, natives of North Carolina. where they passed their entire lives. They were the parents of nine children, seven now living, three in North Carolina,
two in Tennessee, and two in Arkansas. E. S. Bray was but a lad when his parents died, and he went to live with an elder brother in Tennessee, where he remained until grown. He received his education in that State and remained engaged in assisting on the farm until 1878, when he came to Arkansas. Previous to this, in 1869, he married Miss Margaret E. Cox, a native of Tennessee, and after coming to Arkansas he located three miles from Paragould and followed agricultural pursuits until July 14, 1885, when he was appointed post- master. He is the owner of 440 acres of good land with about fifty acres under cultivation, and has made many improvements since purchasing the farm. He has been magistrate for a number of years, and was one of the enumerators of the census of Greene County in 18SO. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic Fraternity, and represented his lodge at the Grand Lodge. He is also a member of the K. of P. He and wife belong to the Baptist Church.
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