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 32

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis : The Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1026

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 32

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

about 150 acres, erected good buildings, set out orchards, and now has one of the most pleasant homes in the county, but owns only eighty acres, having sold the rest. He has given considerable attention to stock raising, and raises a good grade of Berkshire hogs. March 20, 1858, he purchased a fine Norman-Percheron stallion, named George, which weighs 1,660 pounds, and is finely marked in all points. This animal has an excellent record from Indiana where it was raised, and shows a fine grade of colts from last season. It is undoubt- edly one of the best horses in Northeast Arkansas. He also owns another horse named Buck, which has an enviable record. On the 7th of July, 1859, Mr. Worrell was united in marriage to Miss Ann Eliza Freeman, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of William and Nancy Freeman, who : were also Tennesseeans, coming to Northeast Ar- kansas in 1859. To Mr. and Mrs. Worrell have been born the following children: John Isaac, who is married and resides in Greene County, and Loueza, wife of J. R. Hicks, also of this county, being the only ones living. Those deceased are Newson, who died at the age of twenty years: Lulu Bell, who died when eighteen; Willie, at the age of sixteen; Savannah, who died in infancy, and Eveline, at the age of eight years. The fam- ily attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Worrell takes considerable interest in the culture of bees, and has forty stands, all doing well.

Henry Wrape, manufacturer of tight barrel staves, at Paragould, was born in Jennings County, Ind., January 15, 1850, and is the son of Henry, Sr., and Ann (Bible) Wrape, the father a native of Ireland, and the mother of New York State. Henry Wrape, Sr., emigrated from the Emerald Isle when a boy, locating for a while in New York State, and went from there in 1850 to Jennings County, Ind. He became a large railroad con- tractor, and was on the I. M. R. R., and on sev- eral other noted railroads. Both parents died in Indiana. They had four children: John, Robert, Kate, wife of Able T. Morgan, and Henry, who is the youngest of the family. The latter was reared and educated in Indiana, at Notre Dame, the re- nowned Catholic school. He assisted his brother

on the farm until sixteen years of age, when he engaged in merchandising at North Vernon, Ind .. and this continued for one year. He then took a trip to South America, stopping at Buenos Ayres to settle up the estate of an uncle. He was absent about eighteen months, and on his return engaged in the stone-quarry business at North Vernon, which he followed for five years. In 1882 he came to Greene County, Ark, and embarked in his present business, which he has since continued. He has a large factory, and employs about fifty men. He makes a good stave, and turns out about 5,000,000 per year. He is president of the Para- gould & Buffalo Island Railroad, which was built in 1888, and which extends to the St. Francis River. Mr. Wrape is one of the prosperous and public-spir- ited men of Paragould. He was married in 1885 to Miss Emma Davis, a native of Indiana, and to them have been born two children: Harold and Emma. Mr. and Mrs. Wrape are members of the Catholic Church. He is the owner of 4,000 acres of land in Missouri, and a number of acres in this county.

Hezekiah B. Wright. In reviewing the various business interests of Greene County, Ark., the name of Wright is found to be one of the most prominent, especially in connection with farming and mer- chandising. Mr. Wright was born in Hickman County, Tenn .. in 1829, and there made his home until 1850, when he came to Arkansas, having commenced the battle of life at the age of eighteen years. Two years later he located on his present farm, and has about 250 acres of land in an excel- lent state of cultivation, besides several other tracts. all of which he has earned by energy and good judgment. He is also engaged in general merchandising at Gainesville, the style of the firm being H. B. Wright & Co .. and they are enjoying a prosperous trade, owing to their thorough knowl- edge of the details of the business and the wants of the public, combined with honorable dealing. Mr. Wright was married to Mrs. Martha J. (Stares) Perry, who died in 1563, having borne two chi !- dren by Mr. Wright: William J. and John N. (twins); and one childl by her first husband, Mr. Perry: Mary, the wife of H. C. Sharer, of Wright County, Mo. Mr. Wright took for his second wife

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GREENE COUNTY.

Mrs. Permelia E. (Ward) Wood, widow of C. Wood. Their union has resulted in the birth of eight children: Joseph D., Franklin C., Alvin T., Emma M., Anna A., Revis and Hezekiah B. Addie J. died when two years and nine months old. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are members of the Mission- ary Baptist Church, to which their children, Jo- seph, Frank and Emma, also belong. Mr. Wright is a Royal Arch Mason, and in his political views is a Democrat: he was elected county coroner on that ticket in 1858, and held the position until the breaking out of the late Civil War. He is a strong advocate of and a liberal contributor to schools and churches. He is the only surviving member of a family of three children (Thompson and Re- becca being the other two) born to John and Sarah (Barr) Wright, who were natives of South Carolina and Kentucky, respectively. When a small boy the father was taken by his parents to Tennessee, and resided first in Robertson County, then in Hickman County, where he attained his majority, and where his father died at an advanced age. He was the eldest child, and in 1849 moved to Arkan- sas, and died in Greene County, in 1867, at the age of sixty-five years, his wife dying in 1851, aged about forty-seven years.

Christopher C. Wright (deceased) was one of the representative citizens of Greene County, and followed the occupations of farmer and miller the principal part of his life. He was born in Vir- ginia in 1841 and died February 15, 1889, while yet in the prime of life. His father. Dr. John Wright, is still living in Lunenburgh County, Va., and is a prominent physician and farmer of that State. Christopher C. Wright remained in his native State until nineteen years of age, and seven years of that time were spent at the tobacco-manu- facturing business. He then went to Missouri and remained in Franklin County until the breaking out of the late unpleasantness between the North and South, when he went South and joined the Con- federate army. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, and taken to Memphis. Tenn., where he was discharged. He then went to Arkansas, re- mained on Crowley's Ridge for a number of months, and then re enlisted in Price's army, with which

he continued until the last raid through Missouri. After the war he came back to Clay County, Ark. (then Greene County), where he remained three years, and at last settled on what was known as the Meredith farm, at the original site for the county seat of Greene County, where his widow now resides. The farm was then unimproved, but Mr. Wright went to work and soon had it under cultivation and in fine condition. In fact he was so industrious and such an inveterate worker that he undermined his health, and death was the re- sult. Aside from his farming interest he also ran a saw and grist-mill, which he conducted until within a short time of his death, when he sold the saw-mill, and afterward ran a grist-mill and cotton-gin. This Mrs. Wright now manages and conducts. Mr. Wright was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he was a liberal contributor, and although quiet and unob- trusive in his demeanor, not a better man was to be found in the county. Well respected and cordially liked by all, his death, which was a sad blow to his wife and children, was also lamented by his many friends. He was married first at Oak Bluff, Ark., to Miss Ann Boothe, who died about one year afterward. His second marriage was in January. 1866, to Miss C. A. Ledbetter, a native of Chatham County, N. C., and the daughter of Thomas and Frances Ledbetter, also natives of North Carolina. Her parents moved to Arkansas in 1851 and located in Greene County, within one mile of where the mother is still living, at the age of seventy-one years. Her father died May 26. 1883. To her parents were born nine children, two of whom are now deceased. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wright were born eight children, seven of whom are living: Charles (died in in- fancy), Lillie, Billie, Katy. Thomas M. and John H. (twins), Ruby J. and Robert W. Mrs. Wright and family have conducted the farm and mill since the death of her husband. She and her eldest daughter belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Dr. T. H. Wyse, president of the Greene County Bank, was born in Jones County, N. C .. April 19, 1827, and is the son of James and Nancy

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(Nunn) Wyse, who were natives of North Carolina, and who emigrated to Tennessee in 1833, in that State passing their last days. The father was a farmer by occupation. Dr. T. H. Wyse, one of ten children, four now living, was reared in what is now Crockett County, Tenn., and received his education in the common schools. At the age of twenty-four years he began the study of medicine, and graduated at the University of Nashville in 1854. He then came to Greene County, Ark., locating at Gainesville, then the county seat, where he practiced for about twenty-five years. He was also engaged in mercantile business at that place for eighteen years. He has now retired from practice. In November, 1887, he moved to Para- gould, and in February, 1888, the Greene County Bank was organized, with Dr. Wyse for president, which position he now holds. In 1861 he was

elected to the legislature and served one term. He served six years as county treasurer of Greene County, and has been one of the county's most prominent citizens. He owns some 2,000 acres of land in Greene County, about the same number in Randolph County, and has nearly 400 acres in cultivation. He was married first, in 1851, at Brownsville, Tenn., to Mary Williams, and his second marriage was to Miss Alice Kibler, of Ran- dolph County, Ark. No children have ever blessed his marriages. The Doctor is a member of the Masonic fraternity, a member of the I. O. O. F., and also belongs to the Chapter. He has repre- sented both of these lodges several times in the grand lodges, and takes a great interest in each of them. He is also a liberal contributor to worthy enterprises, aiding by his influence in all laudable movements.

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CLAY COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVI.

CLAY COUNTY-LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION-DRAINAGE-TIMBER-SOIL -- NATURAL RESOURCES-LIVE STOCK -TAXATION - POPULATION-RAILROADS-SETTLEMENT-COUNTY ORGANIZATION-CHANGE OF NAME-THE COUNTY DIVIDED-PUBLIC BUILDINGS-COUNTY OFFICERS-POLITICS- THE COURTS-LEGAL EXECUTIONS -- THE CIVIL WAR-TOWNS AND VILLAGES-

NEWSPAPERS-EDUCATION AND RELIGION-BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

I love everything that's old-old friends, Old times, old manners, old books, old wine .- Goldsmith.

LAY COUNTY lies in the northeast corner of the State, and is bounded north by Ripley and Butler Counties, in Missouri; east by Dunklin County, of that State; south by Greene County, Ark., and west by Randolph, in the latter State. It is separated from Dunklin County, Mo., by the St. Francis River, and its boundary lines are as follows: Com- mencing where the line between the States of Arkansas and Missouri inter- sects the St. Francis River: thence down said river, following its meanders, to the line between Sections 21 and 28, Township 19 north, Range 9 east; thence west on the section lines to the range line between Ranges 2 and 3 east; thence north on the range line to Black River; thence with the meanders of that river to the line between Sections 15 and 16, in Township 19 north, Range 3 east; thence north on the subdivis- ional lines to the line between Townships 20 and 21 north: thence west to the range line between Ranges 2 and 3 east: thence north on the range line to the State line between Arkansas and Mis- sonri; thence east on the State line to the place of

beginning. The area of the county is 613 square miles, or 392,320 acres, about one-tenth of which is improved.

A strip of broken or hilly lands, averaging between seven and eight miles in width, known as Crowley's Ridge, extends through the county in a southwesterly direction from its northeast corner. The summit of the hills in this tract reaches an altitude of from 100 to 200 feet above the surround- ing country. There are also four or five sections of hilly lands in the northwest portion of the coun- ty, west of Current River; and all the balance of the county varies only a few feet from a level sur- face. The village of Knobel, on the St. Louis. Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, is 151 feet above sea level, and this is about the average elevation of all except the hilly portions of the county; hence the highest point in the county may reach an elevation of 400 feet above the sea. All that portion lying east of the broken or hilly tract above described is drained by the St. Francis River and its tributaries, a large part of it being subject to overflow in the winter and spring, and that division located west is drained by Cache. Black and Current Rivers and their tributaries.

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

through the county in a southwesterly direction to Cache Lake, on the southern boundary line, in the eastern half of Range 5; thus dividing the area of the county into nearly two equal portions. It drains the western slope of Crowley's Ridge, and central portion of the territory. Black River enters from the north about two miles east of the range line, between Ranges 5 and 6, and flows, on a very tortuous route, toward the southwest, leav- ing the county at a point about two miles north of its southwest corner. Current River enters the county from the west, a short distance south of the northwest corner, and flows thence easterly to the second tier of sections, thence in a southerly and finally in a southwesterly direction, passing out at the western boundary of Section 30, Township 20 north, Range 3 east. The bottom lands along the St. Francis and Black Rivers usually overflow in the late winter and early spring to a depth of from one to two feet, and those along the Current River from three to five feet. The water, however, re- cedes so early as seldom to interfere with the rais- ing of summer crops, and the overflow always de- posits a sediment which enriches and re-fertilizes the land. It has been demonstrated that the river beds are sufficiently low to admit of the complete drainage and reclamation of nearly all swamp and overflowed lands in the county. Such can be done by removing the drift and rubbish from the rivers, straightening their channels, and constructing lat- eral ditches to empty into them. This, however, can only be accomplished by a State drainage law, which will assess for the purpose the lands alike of the non-resident and resident owners.

The entire county was originally covered with a dense forest, consisting of four varieties of white oak, several of black and red oak, three of gum, several of hickory, a little walnut, cypress, ash, maple, honey locust, poplar. beech, elm, sassafras, catalpa, etc., with an undergrowth of dogwood, pawpaw, redbud, spice-wood, hazel, privet, horn- beam, huckleberry, blackberry, etc. Some trees of the largest kinds of timber measured from four to six feet across the stump. Much of the timber has been cut into logs and floated down the streams and thus shipped away; and since the

county has been traversed with railroads, a great deal has been cut into lumber and shipped by rail, and there is yet a seemingly inexhaustible supply. The average acreage production of lumber is care- fully estimated as follows: Cypress, 5,000 feet; poplar and sweet gum, 3,000 feet each; white oak, 2,000 feet; hickory, ash, walnut and black oak to- gether, 3,000 feet. Logs can be rafted on all the rivers mentioned and on some of their tributaries. It is estimated that each acre of timbered land will produce from twenty-five to thirty cords of wood, after the saw timber is taken away.

The soil of the entire county is moderately rich and fertile, that of the bottom or overflowed lands being mostly composed of alluvial deposits; the balance is formed of sand, clay and vegetable mould, and the whole is underlaid with a clay subsoil.

At present the cutting and shipping of logs and lumber, with the running of the many saw- mills in the county, which give employment to a large number of men, constitute one of the leading industries and form a source of considerable rev- enue to the people of the county. This occupation will continue for many years, or until the supply of timber becomes exhausted. The vegetable pro- ductions, as shown by the census of 1880, were as follows: Indian corn, 343,836 bushels: oats, 12,406 bushels; wheat, 13,408 bushels; hay, 100 tons; cotton, 2,307 bales; Irish potatoes. 4,427 bushels; sweet potatoes. 5,381 bushels: tobacco, 11,390 pounds. These amounts were then pro- duced from much less than one-tenth of the area of the county. Considering the large increase of the present population over that of 1880, together with the advanced improvements, it is certain that the amount of vegetable productions now far ex- ceeds, and in some things more than doubles that of 1880. Surely "Cotton is king " in Clay Coun- ty, as it is the moneyed crop. and the source of the greatest income. It is raised to the exclusion of many other things that might be produced in larger quantities. Some of the late immigrants have begun the raising of clover and tame grasses. for which the soil is well adapted, with a view of making the raising of stock a leading industry.

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CLAY COUNTY.

The number of live animals in the county in ISSO, according to the census of that year, were as follows: Horses, 1,444; mules and asses, 832; cattle, 6,574; sheep, 1,960; hogs, 24,277. The number of animals within the county, according to late assessment rolls, are: Horses, 1,698; mules and asses, 922; cattle, 8,802; sheep, 1,159: hogs, 1,325; a large gain in all except sheep and hogs. The reduced price of wool accounts for the decrease in the number of sheep, and the hogs enumerated in 1880 were all that were produced and on hand during the year, including those slaughtered and sold; while those recently enumerated included only those on hand when assessed for taxation; consequently there is not a decline in this direc- tion. As before stated, the county is well sup- plied with streams, and an abundance of good well water can be obtained almost anywhere at a depth of from twenty to forty feet by simply digging, without any blasting or boring through rock. These facts, coupled with the great adaptability for the growing of tame grasses and clover, the mildness of the climate, and the good shipping facilities, must eventually make Clay one of the best stock-growing counties in the United States, a truth of which farmers may profitably avail themselves. It is also well adapted to the grow- ing of all kinds of fruit common to this latitude. Fruit-growing however has not been made the specialty that it might. Some of the late immi- grants have set out, and are preparing to do so, large orchards and develop this industry, having perfect confidence of success.

In 1880 the real estate of the county was as- ; sessed at $468,561, and the personal property at $244,717, making a total of $713,278: and the total taxes charged thereon were $10,022. The real estate of the county, as shown by recent assessment rolls, was valued at $1,211.258, and the personal property at 8522,227. making a total of $1, 733,485, upon which the total taxes charged were $25,502.25. By comparison it will be seen that since 1880 the taxable property and taxes charged have much more than doubled. The county has fair public buildings, is out of debt, and its serip is worth one hundred cents on the dollar.

There are twenty-six saw mills and eight stave factories within the county.

In 1880 the population of Clay County was white 7,191, colored 22, total 7,213. Since that time, and especially within the last four years, emigration has so increased that the population at this writing (1889) is estimated at about double that of 1880.

The St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad runs in a southwesterly direction across the western half of Clay County, the length of the main line within its territory being about nine- teen miles. The Helena branch extends in a southeasterly direction from Knobel, and has a length of about four miles within the county. The St. Louis & Texas Railroad crosses the St. Francis River in Section 18, Township 21, Range 9, where it enters the county, and runs southwesterly along the eastern side of Crowley's Ridge, departing a few hundred yards below Rector. The length of its line here is about seventeen miles. The com- bined length of the railroads within the county is forty miles. not including a few branches extend- ing one or two miles out to certain saw mills. The main line of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad was completed through the county early in the 70's.

The Helena branch of this road. and the St. Louis & Texas (Cotton Belt) Railroad were com- pleted through this vicinity in 1882.

The settlement of the territory composing Clay County began about the year 1832, but increased very slowly for the first twenty years, after which it advanced quite rapidly, until the outbreak of the Civil War, when it came to a standstill. Its most noticeable growth has been within the last five years, immigrants having located here from Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and other States. Among the first settlers in the western part of the county were John J. Griffin. who located on Black River in 1832. and Abraham Rob- erts, who settled a few years later near the present site of Corning. Prominent pioneers in the east- ern part of the county-mostly on Crowley's Ridge -were William and Elihn Davis, who settled early in the 30's and were soon followed by the Payne,

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

Hollis and other families. Among the settlers of the 40's were William H. Mack, James Watson and others, and during the 50's the families of : the Liddells, Millers, J. G. Dudley, Buck Wagster, B. H. Mitchell, William Dean, H. M. Granade, James Campbell, Singleton Copeland, Edward Allen, C. H. Mobley, Dr. Simmons were some of those who became settlers. Nearly all of the ear- liest comers were from Tennessee. Later immi- grants came from other Southern States, and now many are entering from the North.

Clay County was organized as Clayton County, in accordance with an act of the General Assembly, approved March 24, 1873, and became a part of the Third judicial circuit and of the First Con- gressional district. That part of it now known as the Eastern district was taken from Greene, and that known as the Western district was removed from Randolph County. The county seat was originally located at Corning, on the lot of ground now occupied by the present court-house in that place. The first term of the county court was held at Corning, beginning on the 16th day of May, 1873. Soon after a temporary frame court-house, 22x40 feet in size, containing two rooms, was built, by order of the court, under the supervision of the sheriff. A common jail was also erected; subse- quently the question of the removal of the county seat to Boydsville-a more central point-began to be agitated, and on the 30th of June, 1874, an election was held for the purpose of submitting the question to the electors of the county, and when the votes were counted it was found, by the court, that the people, by a majority of 316, had voted in favor of removal. Thereupon the court declared Boydsville to be the county seat. However, such strong resistance to this decision was manifested that no permanent removal of records was made for a long time.

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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 32

Author: Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis : The Goodspeed Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1026

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis : The Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1026