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 31
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Clara, who died December 2, 1871, aged five years; Minnie and Albert, who still remain under the parental roof. Mr. Warren has a splendid little farm of about 100 acres in cultivation, and a neat, comfortable home, and is much beloved and highly respected for his sterling integrity as a citizen and as a Christian gentleman. He is a distinguished member of the Masonic fraternity, and has served in several important positions in a local sphere. and is now (1889) serving his second year as grand lecturer of the State. He takes a lively interest in the work and lectures of this ancient and honor- able institution, and travels extensively in the dis- charge of the duties of his high office. He is also an uncompromising advocate of temperance, and is opposed to the liquor traffic in all its forms, be- lieving it to be the greatest enemy to the pros- perity and happiness of the people. In November, 1872, he was elected clerk of his county, to which position he was re-elected for ten years in succes- sion, and served his people with fidelity and marked ability, performing the intricate and complicated duties of the office with satisfaction to the people, and in 1882 he voluntarily retired to private life, followed by the good wishes and benedictions of all the people, and has well earned their universal plaudit, "Well done, thou good and faithful ser- vant."
John E. Watson, father and stockman of Greene County, Ark., was born in Lawrence Dis- trict, S. C., July 25, 1841, and is a son of Till- man and Sarah (Pape) Watson, who were also born in that State. The father was a Democrat, a farmer, and he and his wife were members of the Baptist Church. They moved from South Carolina to Alabama in 1842, remained there un- til 1869, and the year following the father's death, which occurred in 1875, the mother came to Greene County, Ark .. where she is still residing. The following are their children: William F .. James H., Martha M., J. E .. Sarah J., Elizabeth, Israel, and Louis J., who died when five years of age. William F. is a farmer of West Tennessee. and he and John E. are the only ones of the family living at the present time. The latter began an independent career at the age of twenty years,
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and enlisted in Company D, Twenty-second Ala- bama (Day's) Regiment, and Bragg's division, of the Army of the Tennessee, and was in the battles of Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Atlanta. He was captured at Atlanta on the 3d of August, 1864, and was kept in prison at Camp Chase, Ohio, until the 18th of March, 1865, when he was released on parole, but before the parole term had expired the war was ended. After his return to Alabama he engaged in farming with his father, and in August, 1865, was married to Miss Martha P. Greenway, a daughter of Thomas and Olive Greenway, natives of Georgia, the fa- ther a farmer by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Wat- son became the parents of five children: Lugenia (Turner), of Greene County, Ark .; Laura S. (Tatum), John H., living, and Mary Lee and James F., deceased. Mr. Watson's second mar- riage was to a Miss Smith, in July, 1880, and by her he has one child, Milton. This wife died in November, 1885, and in January, 1886, he mar- ried his third wife, Mrs. Catherine C. (Lender- man) Hyde. To this last union has been born a son, William Tell. After his first marriage Mr. Watson lived one year in Alabama, then removing to West Tennessee, where he was engaged in farming until the fall of 1869, since which time he has been a successful tiller of the soil in Greene County, Ark., his first purchase being 120 acres. Five years later he traded this farm, which he had improved somewhat, for other land, forty acres of which are in the place he now owns. His farm con- sists of 140 acres of very finely improved land, and the most of this he devotes to cotton, though also giving attention to other crops. He is also inter- ested in stock breeding. He is an independent Democrat in politics, and he and wife are mem- bers of the Christian Church. His wife became the mother of five children by her first husband: Christiana E., wife of D. C. Smith, a farmer residing with Mr. Watson; John Thomas, Edward. Jasper E. and Walter, all living with their mother and step-father.
William M. Weatherly. In the series of names which have made Greene County one of the most populous and prosperous of the State, Mr. Weath-
erly's name holds a prominent place. He was born in Madison County, Tenn., in 1834, and is a son of Wright M. and Ann (Bryant) Weath- erly, who were born in North Carolina and Ten. nessee, in 1805 and 1808, respectively. The father came to Tennessee in 1826, where he was mar- ried soon after, and then located in Madison County, where he remained until 1881, after which he moved to Arkansas, and here died, in January, 1888. He was a successful farmer up to the time of the war, but during that time lost his property. He was a Democrat in poli- tics, was very active in supporting schools and churches, and in early life was a Whig in poli- tics, afterward becoming a Democrat. His wife was also a member of the Baptist Church, and died in February, 1886, mourned by all who knew her. They were the parents of nine sons and three daughters: John T. (killed at the battle of Missionary Ridge), James (killed at the battle of Franklin), Thomas, Robert, William, Houston S., Rufus A., Richard T., Alexander, Wright, Elizabeth C., Mary and Nancy A. Will- iam M. Weatherly attained his majority in Mad- ison County, and commenced doing for himself in 1855, clerking in a dry goods store in Den- mark one year. He then married and commenced farming in Madison County, continuing two years. and spent the following three years as overseer of a large plantation in that State. In 1863 he enlisted in Company C, Fourteenth Regiment of Cavalry, commanded by Capt. Voss, and was at the battles of Franklin and Memphis. He was wounded at a little fight in Haywood County, and was relieved from duty for two weeks. At the time of the surrender he was at Gainesville. Ala., and returned home, where he farmed until 1877, then coming to his present farm in Greene County, Ark. On the 26th of January, 1878. he was married to Ann Rievely, who was born in Madison County, Tenn., in 1835, and by her became the father of three children: Mollie B. (who died in infancy), James William (who attend- ed school in Denmark, Tenn., and at Austin, Ark .. and has been a teacher of ten years' standing, and is now drumming for a St. Louis grocery and pro-
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vision company), and Robert H. (who is a farmer of Greene County, is married and the father of two children). Mr. and Mrs. Weatherly are mem- bers of the Baptist Church, and he has been a member of the A. F. & A. M. since 1873. He has always supported the principles of the Democratic party. He and wife are rearing a little girl by the name of Ida Davis.
S. H. Weatherly, a planter, of Friendship Township, was born in Madison County, Tenn., in 1837, being a son of Wright and Ann (Bryant) Weatherly, the father a native of North Carolina, and the mother of Middle Tennessee. They were married and resided in the latter State until 1881, when they disposed of their large farm, and came to Greene County, Ark., and made their home with our subject until their respective deaths, in 1882 and 1885. . S. H. Weatherly assisted in clearing the home farm in Tennessee, attended the common schools, and, while still a resident of that State, began doing for himself. He was married in Mad- ison County, Tenn., in 1867, to Miss Ann Valen- tine, a daughter of William and Charity Valentine, who came originally from North Carolina and set- tled in Tennessee. They were agriculturalists, and the father died in his adopted State. The mother came to Greene County, Ark., in 1867, and is now residing in Friendship Township, being the widow of William Burton. Mr. Weatherly re- mained one year in Tennessee after his marriage. and in 1867 came to Greene County. Ark., where he bought a farm of 240 acres, only ten of which were under cultivation. He has since added 360 acres more to his land, and has 100 acres under cultivation, on which are a good residence and orchard. He makes a specialty of raising corn and hay. He votes with the Democratic party, and has ever taken an interest in the political affairs of the county. He and wife are members of the Bap- tist Church, and are the parents of a family of seven children, six of whom are living: Texanna (Mrs. David Falkner), Mosella. Eldredge M., Florence Ethel, Egbert Eugene and Cornelia A. Mr. Weatherly has done a large share in develop- ing the county, and has always taken an active interest in enterprises tending to benefit the same.
While in Tennessee he joined Company G, Sixth Tennessee Infantry, Confederate States Army. . and was mustered in at Jackson, Tenn .. April 22. 1861, and was at Missionary Ridge, Franklin, Mur- freesboro. Atlanta, and was discharged at Browns. ville, Tenn.
Andrew Webb, an enterprising tiller of the soil, of Greene County, Ark., and postmaster of Bethel. was born in the State of Tennessee, in 1824, and is the fourth of nine children born to James and Monnima (Crisp) Webb, who were natives of North and South Carolina, respectively. The father fol- lowed farming on an extensive scale, and was a soldier in the War of 1812, being with Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. He died in Tennes- see, where he had made his home for many years. in 1866, at the age of seventy-six years, followed : by his wife in 1867. Andrew Webb resided on a farm in Tennessee, and when twenty-one years of age purchased a farm, and began doing for him- self. He was married about this time to Miss Winnie C. Coburn, a native of Alabama, and re- mained in the State of Tennessee engaged in im- proving his farm, until 1858, when he sold out and came to Greene County, Ark., where he bought a tract of eighty acres of wild land. He cleared about forty acres of this farm, set out orchards. and put his property under fence, but some three years later traded it for a tract containing 160 acres, on which is now situated the station of Bethel. Here he opened up about sixty acres, erected good buildings, set out orchards, etc .. and when the railroad was established he sold a con- siderable amount of his property for business pur- poses. In 1883 he received a commission as first postmaster of Bethel. and has held this office up to the present time. His wife. who died in October. 1887, bore him tive children: Lucinda E., wife of W. A. J. Wood; James W .. John William, who died at the age of nineteen years: Pamelia E .. wife of W. O. Lane, and Sarah Ella, who died at the age of six years. May 3, 18S9. he was mar- ried to Mrs. Mary C. Yepp, a native of Georgia. James W. Webb, the only living son of Andrew Webb, is at present thirty-seven years of age, and is tilling the soil on a portion of his father's farm.
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and on 120 acres which he had purchased. Mr. banon, Tenn., graduating in June, 1874, later Webb has one of the best farms in his section, practicing this profession for five years in Lexing- ton. In the fall of 1879 he entered Vanderbilt University, at Nashville, Tenn., attending during that year and 1880, and then resumed his practice in Lexington, continuing until 1886, when he re- turned to college and graduated from the medical department in the spring of 1886. Since that time he has resided in Gainesville, Ark .. where he has become a leading practitioner, although a resident of the county only a few years. He is becoming well known, but the heavy calls for his services at home prevent him from going much abroad. In 1878 he was married to Miss Addie E. Smith, who was born in Henderson County. Tenn., and is the mother of three children: Cossy T., Ella Louisa and Robert B. Mrs. Webb is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. about sixty acres being under cultivation and fence. Ho takes considerable interest in politics, and is a Democrat, having been elected on that ticket, in 18SO, to the office of justice of the peace, which position he has since held, with the exception of two years. He was married in 1869 to Miss Mary R. Wood, a native of Mississippi, and a daughter of James R. Wood, who came to Arkansas in 1859, being one of the early settlers of Greene County. To them have been born five children: Calador W. J., Sarah Ella, James A., who died at the age of four years and one month, and Mary Lelor. One child died in infancy, unnamed. Mr. Webb has a pleasant home in Bethel, his lot consisting of two acres. He has always been a patron of education, and all worthy public enterprises, and his business as justice of the peace is quite extensive. He has served as school director for six years.
Dr. Henry McC. Webb. The name of Webb is one of the most influential in Greene County, Ark., and Dr. Webb, among its most talented physicians, has obtained a reputation placing him in the front rank of the medical fraternity. He was born in Madison County, Tenn .. in 1851, being a son of Theodric and Elizabeth (Watson) Webb, who were born, married and resided in South Carolina, and about 1842 settled on a farm in Madison County, Tenn., where he is now living at the age of seventy-six years. His wife died in 1861. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, and the father is now a Democrat in his political views. a Royal Arch Mason, and an en- thusiastic patron of schools, churches. etc. Dr. Henry McC. Webb is next to the youngest of the four surviving members of their family of eight children. After attending the common schools and the High School near Greeneville, he entered the University of Alabama in 1872. from which insti- tution he was graduated in July of the following year. He then returned to Lexington, Tenn., and being well fitted by nature for the profession of medicine soon entered upon his medical studies under Dr. H. W. Wassen, but gave this up after a short time and entered the law school at Le- . he purchased a small farm which he sold later
James H. Willcockson, one of the wealthy resi- dents of the county, is a native of Middle Tennes- see, where he was born in the year 1845. He was the third in a family of nine children born to William and Mary (Rose) Willcockson, who were Tennesseeans, the grandparents being wealthy farmers of Middle Tennessee. Grandfather Rose went to Texas, where he bought a large tract of land on which he made his home until his death. William Willcockson engaged in farming for him- self after attaining his majority, and resided in Tennessee (where he was married about 1841) until 1850, then moving to Texas, where he bought a tract of 160 acres, which he opened for cultiva- tion, improved with good buildings, and on which he resided until 1853, then coming to Greene County, Ark. After residing here for four years on two different farms he returned to Texas, where he died in December, 1860. his wife also dying the same month. James H. Willcockson returned to Arkansas after the death of his parents, and for some time made his home with his grandmother. In 1865, at the age of twenty years, he began farming for himself on rented land, and continued this for three years, when he married Miss Adaline Bowling, a native of Greene County, and a daughter of one of the early settlers. After his marriage
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on, and then bought an excellent tract of land consisting of eighty acres in the Cache bottom, which was then wild land but is now one of the finest farms in the county. "He has since purchased twenty-six additional acres, and has now seventy acres under fence and cultivation, it being devoted to raising the cereals and cotton. He is improving his grade of stock, and has crossed his cattle with Durham, and has some fine Jersey red hogs. Mr. and Mrs. Willcockson are members of the Baptist Church, and are the parents of the following children: William Carroll, Robert Alexander, Lawrence Jefferson, and Anna Lee, who died at the age of eighteen years.
Joseph H. Willcockson ranks among the first of the many wealthy farmers of Greene County, Ark. He was born in Tennessee in 1845, and is the sixth of a family of fifteen children born to the marriage of Sam Willcockson and Frances Gibson, who were Tennesseeans, and came to Greene County, Ark., in 1850. They settled on a tract of land on the west side of Crowley's Ridge, but sold this soon after and purchased 200 acres near by, on which he erected a steam saw and grist-mill in 1853, which was the first mill of the kind in the county. Mr. Willcockson owned this mill for many years, and many of the houses and buildings in this sec- tion are made of lumber sawed here. He soon had 100 acres of his land cleared, on which he erected a nice residence. He became quite wealthy, and continued to add to his original purchase until he was the owner of about 1,000 acres of land. He was a conspicuous figure in the political circles of his section, and besides holding many minor offices in the county, he was elected to the State legisla- ture from Greene County. which position he filled for two successive terms. He assisted in the or- ganization of the school districts of this locality, and held the office of school commissioner for many years. In 1870 or 1871 he disposed of his ; extensive farming interests in the county, and moved to Newton County, where he purchased a large milling property, consisting of a saw and flouring mill, and a cotton-gin. Here he did a successful business for many years, and sold out at a large advance over what he originally paid. He
next moved to Brown County, where he bought a farm, which he managed until his death, in 1886, at the age of seventy years. His widow still sur- vives him, and resides on the estate left by her active and enterprising husband. Joseph H. Will- cockson, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared on his father's extensive farm, and in his youth received limited educational advantages. At the age of twenty years he rented land and began farming for himself, and after one year bought a tract of wild land on the St. Francis River, where he cleared about fifty acres, erected buildings, and made a good and pleasant home. Subsequently he married Miss Matilda McDaniel, a native of Greene County, and a daughter of John McDaniel. who belonged to one of the first four or five fami- lies who settled in Greene County. After resid- ing one year in Bethel, Mr. Willcockson bought a tract of 160 acres of wild land on Crowley's Ridge, and here his wife died, at the end of two years, leaving two children: John Gibson and Virginia C. (wife of John Patton), who resides on a farm belonging to Mr. Willcockson. The latter has improved his property very much, and has seven- ty-two acres under cultivation and fence, on which is a good orchard of assorted fruits. In 1SS8 he erected a commodious dwelling, which is fitted up with many conveniences. He carries on general farming, but makes a specialty of raising corn, and this year (1889) has devoted fifty acres to that grain. In 1888 he raised 2,000 bushels. Miss Mary Jane Roberds became his wife in 1884. She was born in Arkansas, and by Mr. Willcockson is the mother of two children: Ovid Clifton and Ota Louisa. Mr. Willcockson is a Democrat politically. but is not an active politician.
T. R. Willcockson, sheriff of Greene County. Ark., was born in Giles County. Tenn., August 10, 1848, and is the son of Samuel and Frances (Gibson) Willcockson. the father a native of Vir- ginia, and the mother of Kentucky. They were married in Tennessee, and there remained until October, 1851, when they immigrated to what is now Greene County, Ark .. coming through in wagons, and locating near the old Crowley farm. in Cache Township. Here the father bought a 1
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forty-acre tract. which was about the first deeded land in this section of Arkansas. He also put up the first steam, saw and grist-mill in Greene County, and ran this for several years. He also carried on farming, and being one of the earliest settlers, ex- perienced all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. In 1868 he removed to Boone County, Ark., where he died in June, 1886. The mother is still living. They were the parents of fifteen children, only six now living: John W., Isaac (deceased), William and Mary Annie (twins and both deceased), David C. (deceased), James (deceased), Joseph, Thomas R., Sina, Sarah, Sam- uel (deceased), Marion and Frances (twins and deceased). Polk and Virginia. T. R. Willcockson, the subject of this sketch, was but an infant when he was brought to Greene County by his parents, and here he grew to manhood and received his education in the common schools. He was reared on the farm, and tilling the soil has been his chief pursuit ever since. He owns 241 acres of land, with about sixty acres under cultivation. He was elected sheriff and collector in 1880, served four
1 years, and in 1886 was re-elected to the same office, which position he is now filling. He was married in 1868 to Miss Mary Bowlin, who bore him six children: Callie, Lucy, Deany, Mack, Sudie and Nannie. Mrs. Willcockson is a member of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Willcockson is a member of the K. of P.
J. W. Williams is a native of Panola County, Miss., where he was born in the year 1859, being the eldest of two children born to John and Mary J. (Bishop) Williams, the former of whom was an extensive farmer of that section for a long time. whither he had come with his father at an early day. When the war broke out he enlisted in the Confederate army in the company known as the "Sardis Blues," and was killed in the battle of Shiloh, on the 7th of April, 1862. His widow is still living, and resides in Mississippi on the old homestead. J. W. Williams was reared to farm labor and attended the common schools until four- teen years of age, when he began working for himself. continuing at farm labor for seven years. In 1550. at the age of twenty-one years, he came
to Greene County, Ark., and located at Walcott, where he has since been engaged in renting land; this year farming on some of Capt. Crowley's property. He contemplates entering a tract of 160 acres in the fall. He is active and enterpris- ing and takes an interest in all matters pertaining to the good of the locality in which he has made his home. On the 7th of October, 1888, he was married to Miss Susie Eubanks, a native of Greene County, and a daughter of James and Mary E. (Gramling) Eubanks [see sketch of Judge Gram- ling]. The former came to Greene County, Ark., at an early day and entered a large tract of land. on which he did extensive improving, clearing about 160 acres and erecting excellent buildings. He died a few years ago, and is remembered by all as an honest gentlemen and an estimable citizen. A brother of J. W. Williams, Charles H., came with him to Arkansas and married Miss Janie Eubanks. a sister of Mrs. J. W. Williams.
William Worrell, stockman and farmer, was born in Tennessee in 1839, and is the tenth of twelve children born to Peter and Martha Nancy Worrell, who were born, reared and married in Virginia, and emigrated to Madison County, Tenn., in 1833. They purchased a farm of 103 acres. which they improved and made their home until their respective deaths. The father died in 1974 at the age of seventy-four years, and the mother when her son William was a child. The latter was reared to farm labor and attended the public schools until the age of twenty, then renting land and farming for three years. In 1862 he en- listed in Company C, Twenty-second Tennessee Infantry, Confederate States Army, and was in the battles of Belmont, Richmond and Mur- freesboro, where he was captured and sent to Camp Douglas, at Chicago, and there he took the oath of allegiance and returned home, where he was almost an invalid for three years. In 1564 he purchased a farm of 3033 acres, where he resided until 1871, making many improvements, then sold out and came to Greene County. Ark .. settling near Gainesville, where he lived for two years, later moving to a tract of 360 acres, which he had previously purchased. Here he cleared
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