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 33

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 33

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Finally, after a lapse of a few years, the ques- tion was again submitted to the people at an elec- tion held May 22, 1877, on which occasion forty- two votes were cast against the removal and 603 in favor of it, making a majority of 561 in favor of the project, and the court again declared Boyds- ville to be the county seat, to which place the

records were soon removed and placed in a tem- porary court-house, previously erected by order of the county court. The first term of the county court was held in Boydsville beginning on Monday October 1, 1877.

By an act of the General Assembly of the State, approved December 6, 1875, the name of "Clayton " County was changed to " Clay."

Having lost the county seat, the people of Corn- ing and the western portion of the county, finding it difficult to reach Boydsville, commenced to con- sider the question of dividing the county into two districts. Consequently the legislature, by an act approved February 23, 1881, provided that the county should be divided into two judicial districts, the "Eastern " and the " Western." and that the following described line should separate them: Commencing at the center of the main chan- nel of Black River where it crosses the Missouri and Arkansas State line; thence down the main channel of said river to the range line between Ranges 5 and 6, in Township 21; thence south on the range line to the west bank of Cache River: thence with the west bank of Cache River or lake to the line between Clay and Greene Counties. The act further provided that the seat of justice for the Western district should be at Corning; that the circuit. chancery and probate courts should be held both at Boydsville and at Corning; that the circuit courts established in the re- spective districts of the county should be as sepa- rate and distinct, and have the same relations to each other, as if they were of distinct counties; that the sheriff, clerk, treasurer and probate judge of the county should be the same for both districts: that the financial affairs of each district should be kept as separate and distinct as though they were separate counties. and that the offices for the West- ern district should be filled by the deputy county officers.

After dispensing with the temporary court- house at Boydsville, the present two-story frame court house, with the hall and four rooms on the first floor, and court-room on the second. was erected, about 1881. The present log and board jail, with iron cells, at Boydsville, was erected

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immediately after the county seat was perma- nently located there .* The public buildings at Corning consist of a court-house similar to the one at Boydsville, and the original jail with iron cells, which latter were put in immediately or soon after the county was divided into districts. The county has no "poor farm" or asylum for her paupers. The latter are let out separately for their keeping, to the lowest responsible bidders.

Following is a list of the county officers of Clay County, from its formation to the present time:

Judges: T. M. Hollifield, 1874-78; E. N. Royall, 1878-86; Robert Liddell, present incum- bent, first elected in 1886.

Clerks: T. L. Martin, 1873-74; W. H. Smith, 1874-78; R. Liddell, 1878-86; W. E. Spence, present incumbent, elected in 1886.

Sheriffs: William G. Akers, 1873-74; E. N. Royall, 1874-76; E. M. Allen, 1876-78;+ J. A. McNiel, 1878-86; G. M. McNiel, 1886-88: B. B. Biffle, present incumbent, elected in 1888.

Treasurers: William Little, 1873-74: James Blackshare, 1874-78; John Bearden, 1878-80; N. J. Burton. 1880-82; W. S. Blackshare, 1882-84; J. S. Simpson, 1884-86; A. L. Blackshare, present incumbent, first elected in 1886.

Coroners: J. Cunningham, 1873-74; J. J. recorder. Payne, 1874-76; J. N. Cummins, 1876-78; H. W. Cagle, 1878-84; Dallas Taylor, 1884-86; D. G. See, elected in 1886, but failed to qualify; office since vacant.

Surveyors: W. C. Grimsley, 1873-74; E. M. Allen, Jr., 1874-76; A. J. Caldwell, 1876-82; E. M. Allen, 1882-86; A. Williams, 1886-88; E. M. Allen, present incumbent, elected in 1888.

Assessors: E. N. Royall, 1873-74; J. S. Rodgers, 1874-76; W. H. Mack, 1876-78; J. W. Rodgers, 1878-82; Henry Holcomb, 1882-86: J. S. Blackshare, present incumbent, first elected in . 1886.

The county at this writing is represented in the State legislature by Hon. J. W. Dollisou, of

Greenway, and the offices of the Western district are filled by the following persons, viz .: E. D. Estes, deputy clerk; W. A. Brown, deputy sheriff; E. V. Sheeks, deputy treasurer; Jacob Brobst, deputy assessor; Z. T. Daniels, deputy surveyor. The judge of the county court is also judge of the probate court, and the clerk, by virtue of his office, is recorder of deeds, the sheriff, by virtue of his office, being collector of revenues. The school examiner for the Eastern district is R. L. O. Bryen, and for the Western district, F. G. Taylor.

Politically the county of Clay is strongly Dem- ocratic. At the State election, held in September, 1888, J. P. Eagle, the Democratic candidate for Governor, received 1,108 votes, and C. M. Nor- wood, the Wheeler, Labor Union and Republican candidate, received 717 votes. At the same time B. B. Chism, Democratic candidate for secretary of State, received 1,121 votes, and G. W. Terry, opposition candidate for the same office, received 697 votes. Only a light vote was cast at the pres- idential election.

The several courts of the county consist of the county, probate and circuit courts. The judge of the county court is also judge of the probate court, and the clerk of the circuit court is also clerk of the county and probate courts, and ex officio

The county court, which is held only at Boyds- ville, meets on the first Mondays of January, April, July and October of each year, and the pro. bate court meets at Boydsville on the third Mon- days, and at Corning on the fourth Mondays of the same months. The circuit court convenes at Corning on the first Mondays of January and August of each year, and on the third Mondays of the same months at Boydsville.

The local bar of Clay County consists of G. B. Holifield, of Boydsville, F. G. Taylor. G. B. Oliver and J. C. Staley, of Corning, John Jones, of Peach Orchard. J. A. Barlow, of Rector, and H. W. Moore, of Greenway.

Only two men have been legally executed in Clay County for the crime of murder; one of these being Bent Taylor, hanged for the murder of Riley Black. and the other Lafayette Melton,

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

for the murder of Fank Hale. Both were executed at Corning, the former in 1882, and the latter in 1884. Other crimes have been committed within the county, for which the perpetrators have re- ceived lighter punishments.

The territory over which Clay now extends was but slightly over-run and devastated during the Civil War of 1861-65. The citizens at that time, having emigrated mostly from Tennessee and other slaveholding States, were in full sympathy with the Southern cause, in consequence of which a goodly number of soldiers were furnished for the Confederate army, while none joined the Union forces. Three companies of soldiers, organized re- spectively by Capts. F. S. White, Reed and E. M. Allen, were recruited principally from what is now Clay County. A few also enlisted in the company commanded by Capt. G. D. Byers. A company of Home Guards consisting of old men was or- ganized. In the spring of 1863 Col. Daniels with a force of Federal cavalry moved southward on Crowley's Ridge, and at a point about two miles northeast of the present site of Rector, came in contact with this company of Home Guards, firing upon and dispersing them. In this action Squire . George Lynch of the attacked party was killed. There was no general bushwhacking here during the war, but a number of citizens were taken out and "removed" by scouting parties.

Of the towns of the county, Advance is a post- office in the northeastern part.

Boydsville, the county seat, situated on the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 25, Township 20, Range 6. was established in 1877. It contains the court-house and jail, four general stores, one drug store, one grocery, one hotel, two cotton-gins with grist and saw-mills attached, one school-house, two churches-Meth- odist Episcopal, South, and Methodist Protestant, with a hall over the former; a lodge each of Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Honor, some mechanics' shops, and a population of abont 150.

Corning, the seat of justice for the Western district, situated on Section 6, Township 20, of Range 5, and on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, was established in 1973. It

contains the court house and jail, six general stores, two drug stores, one grocery, three saloons, one livery stable, four hotels, one stave factory, two cotton-gins with grist mills attached, one wagon shop, one blacksmith shop, two shoe shops, three church organizations-Methodist Episcopal, South, Christian and Baptist-with but one church edifice. belonging to the Methodists, one school house, postoffice, and a population of about 600. It also contains a lodge each of Masons, Good Templars and Triple Alliance.

Don is a postoffice in the western part of the county.

Greenway, a town on the St. Louis & Texas Railroad, on Section 28. Township 20, Range 8. was laid out in February, 1883. by the South- western Improvement Company. It contains four general stores, one drug store, two groceries, one hardware and furniture store, one saloon, two saw- mills, two grist-mills, one stave factory, one school- house, two church organizations-Methodist and Baptist-five physicians, one attorney, the post- office, and a population of about 500.

Knobel, a station at the junction of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad and Helena branch, on the south part of Section 36, Township 20, Range 4, was established soon after the completion of the railroad. It contains three general stores, the railroad buildings, a large hotel, one school house and about twenty-five residences.

Moark, situated on the same railroad, near the northern boundary of the county, was established soon after the road was completed. It contains three saw-mills, one of which is located on Black River, three miles east, being connected with the village by a wooden tramway, one general store. : one school house, postoffice. and a few residences.

Peach Orchard, a station on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, on Section 20, Township 19, Range 4. contains one general store, one cotton gin, with sorghum and corn mill attached, postoffice, and a few residences.

Piggott, on the St. Louis & Texas Railroad. on Section 10, Township 20. Range 8. was laid out in November, 1SS2. It contains two general stores. one drug store, three groceries, one cotton gin and

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grist-mill combined, one stave factory, one hotel, some work-shops, one school house, church and hall combined, a lodge of Odd Fellows, a post of the G. A. R., two physicians, and about 150 inhabitants.

Pitman, a postoffice hamlet, is in the extreme northwest corner of the county.

Rector, on the St. Louis & Texas Railroad, on the south half of Section 23, Township 19, Range 7, was laid out in June, 1882. by the Southwestern Improvement Company. It contains seven gen- eral stores, three drug stores. one grocery, two (temperance) saloons, one hardware and grocery, one harness and saddlery store, some work-shops, a photograph gallery, one stave factory, two saw- mills, two cotton gins. with grist-mills attached, one livery stable, two hotels, one meat market, a millinery store, postoffice, four church organiza- tions-Baptist, Cumberland Presbyterian, Meth- odist Episcopal, South, and Methodist Protestant; two church edifices, a lodge each of Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Honor, a public school- house, two select or private schools, four physi- cians, and a population of 700 or over.

St. Francis, on the St. Louis & Texas Railroad, on the west bank of St. Francis River, was laid out in January, 1883, by the Southwestern Im- provement Company. It contains six general stores, one drug store, four groceries, four saw- mills, one stave factory, one meat market, some work shops, two churches, Methodist and Cum- berland Presbyterian, two hotels, one school house, restaurant, postoffice, two physicians, a lodge of Triple Alliance, and a population of about 200.

Thurman is a postoffice seven miles west of Corning.

Vidette is a postoffice ten miles northwest of Corning.

Williams is a postoffice four miles west of Moark.

The press of Clay County has ever exerted no slight influence in the growth and development of this section. While not numerous, those journals found here are ever active and energetic in giving to the outside unprejudiced. candid facts relating to the locality whose interests they represent.

The Corning Index. a six-column folio weekly

newspaper, at Corning, was established in the fall of 1887. It is published by Clyde C. Estes, and edited by E. D. Estes in an acceptable manner, in- dicating ability and force.

The Clay County Record, a seven-column week- ly newspaper published at Rector, was established in January, 1889, by its present proprietor, Mr. Taylor. This journal also has at heart the welfare of the community, and enjoys a liberal circulation.

Before the inauguration of the free school sys- tem, the educational facilities of the territory now composing this county were very meager. The old subscription schools taught in the primitive log school houses were generally of little benefit to the country. The scholastic population of the county in 1882 amounted to 2,863, five of them being colored, and in 1886 it reached 3,274, with only one colored-an increase, in the four years, of 411. In the latter year only 1.791 pupils (all white) were enrolled in the public schools, but a little over one-half of the scholastic population. This shows that the schools were not well attended, or that nearly one-half of the children were not compelled to attend school. For the year ending June 30. 1886, there were thirty-four male and eight female teachers employed to teach the common schools of the county. The male teachers of the first grade were paid an average salary of $50 per month. and the female teachers of the same grade $37.50 per month. The male teachers of the second grade were paid an average salary of $35, and the female teachers $32.50 per month. The male teachers of the third grade were paid an average salary of $25. and the female teachers $20 per month. The number of school houses reported in the county in 1886 was thirty-six, both frame and log, valued at $6,505. The amount of revenue received for the year ending June 30, 1886, was $13,224.60, aud the amount expended for the same time was $11,272.00, leaving a balance on hand of $1, 951.60. These statistics have been taken from the last pub- lished report of the State superintendent of pub. lic instruction. The public schools here, as else- where, are improving and becoming more and more efficient.

The first organization of the Methodist Epis-

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copal Church, South, in Clay County was effected at Mar's Hill, four miles north of Boydsville, early in the 50's, and the first church edifice was erected there in 1856. The next society was organized at the house of Capt. F. S. White, at Oak Bluff, in 1856, near where Evans' Chapel was erected the next year. There are now three circuits of this church within the county, with an aggregate of eighteen organizations and about 570 members. The circuits are the Boydsville, St. Francis and Corning, belonging to the Jonesboro district of White River conference.

Salem Church, three- fourths of a mile south of Boydsville, was the first Missionary Baptist Church organized within the county, and the num- ber has since increased to fourteen, with a total membership of 630. Elder Lloyd preached here forty years ago, and was probably the first Mis- sionary Baptist minister in the county. The Beth- lehem Missionary Baptist Association was organ- ized at Salem Church in 1868.

The first society of the Methodist Protestant Church within the territory of Clay County was organized in 1858, at Liberty Hill, five miles north of Rector. There are now ten or more organiza- tions within the county, with a membership of about 350.

The oldest Cumberland Presbyterian Church here was organized at Chalk Bluff, about the year 1855. There are now four organizations, located respectively at St. Francis, Piggott, Greenway and Rector. The total membership numbers, perhaps, 100.

Within the county there are at least two Regu- lar Baptist Churches, with an aggregate member- ship of about fifty, and one or more Free Will Baptist Churches. There are also a few Christian Churches of recent organization.

S. W. Alexander, manufacturer and dealer in hard wood lumber, railroad ties, wagons, agricul- tural implements. car material, etc .. at Corning, Ark., was born in Hancock County, Ind., October 17, 1835, his parents, James and Mary (Mac Michael) Alexander, and his grandparents, on

both sides, being natives of Orange County, N. C. They all emigrated at an early day (about 182S) to Indiana where they died. The great-grand- father was in the Revolutionary War, and fired the first cannon in that service. James Alexander remained in Hancock County, Ind., until the spring of 1857, when he emigrated to Polk County, Iowa, where he was living at the time of his death, in 1882. His wife died in 1872, have borne five children: John C., Julia A., Simeon W., James A. and Louisa. Mr. Alexander was a farmer by occupation. Simeon W. Alexander, our subject, was reared and educated in his native county, and from childhood has been familiar with farm life. On reaching his majority he was married, and emi- grated to Illinois, locating in Cumberland County, where he was engaged in the saw-mill business until 1859, when he removed to Polk County, Iowa, but returned to Illinois in December, 1863. and there resided until the fall of 1869. In the fall of that year he sold his mill and returned to Iowa, where he remained until 1886, being en- gaged in both lumbering and farming on an exten- sive scale. He owned 400 acres of good land. and on coming to Clay County, embarked in the lumber business, putting up a large saw-mill. He still con- tinues this business and employs a great many hands. He owns about 2,400 acres of land in Clay County, some 1,000 of which will make fine farming land when improved. He also has one of the best houses in the county, situated in Corn- ing. October 23, 1856, he was married to Miss Mary Faster, a native of Indiana, by whom he has seven children: William (in Dakota), Lucy M., Cora (wife of T. J. Conway, of Chicago), Charles W., Addie, Freddie and Edward. Mr. Alexander is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is one of the public-spirited men of Clay County. always being ready to advance the interests of the people.

J. H. Allen, stockman and farmer of Clay County, Ark., was born in North Carolina in July, 1828. being the eighth of nine children born to Isaac and Sarah (Hawkins) Allen, who were born in North Carolina and Virginia, respectively. the latter being a daughter of a Revolutionary patriot. Both parents died on their home farm in North

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Carolina. J. H. Allen attended the public schools for some time and remained at home until twenty- four years of age, being engaged in overseeing the farm until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he gave up this work and began operating a grist mill. In November, 1866, he came to what is now Clay County (then Randolph County), and settled twenty-five miles from Pocahontas, in which locality he rented land for some time. He then purchased 380 acres of wild land two miles west of Knobel, on which he immediately began to make improvements. At the present time he has 150 acres under cultivation, well improved with good buildings, orchard, fences, etc. He has added 120 acres to his original purchase, on which he raises a large number of horses, cattle and hogs each year. He has devoted most of his cultivated land to corn and stock for his cattle and horses, but this year (1889) has put in about fifty acres of cotton. He has always been quite active in poli- tics, and has held the office of justice of the peace for ten years, and has been school director a number of years. In 1853 he married Miss Margaret Wagner, who was born in North Carolina, and by her had five children: William, John, Isaac, Henry, and Albert, all of whom are dead. In 1871 he married Miss Nancy Demaree, a native of Illinois, and to them were born three children: Amanda, Jesse and David, all now living at home.

located in Arkansas, the nearest post-office at that time being sixteen miles distant, and the second nearest (Pocahontas) fifty miles distant. The families of McNiel, Nettles. Wooter, Singleton, Copeland, Sexton and White, were the only ones within a radius of ten miles. Wild animals roamed the country at will, and Indians were also very numerous. Schools were almost unknown, and Mr. Allen assisted in building many of the first houses. John G. Taylor, a Missionary Bap- tist minister, came with Mr. Allen to the State, and preached the first sermen in Northeast Arkansas. The latter opened thirty acres of land the first year, which was heavily covered with timber. He was a slave owner, and served for twelve months in the Confederate army under Price, holding the rank of captain, when he resigned on account of his age. He died in 1877. His wife was born in Jasper County, Ga., about 1822, and was there married to Mr. Allen, by whom she became the mother of ten children: William A., John J., Elizabeth J., Edward M., Thomas M., living to be grown, and the following dying in infancy: Martha, Stapie, and two infants. Mrs. Allen died in 1860, and Mr. Allen then married Sarah J. Palmer, who bore him five children: Robert. Georgia L., George W., Willie, and Odus. Capt. Allen, our subject, has resided in Arkansas since twelve years of age, but spent his entire school days in Georgia. He was reared on the farm on which he is now residing, and remained at home until his marriage at the age of eighteen years, when he was engaged in farming until 1861. Then he enlisted in Company H, Fifth Arkansas Volun . teer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, participating in many battles: Helena, Fred- ericksburg, Boonville, Lexington, Newtonia. and many others of less note. He enlisted as a pri- vate, but was promoted to captain, and was then transferred to the cavalry, serving two years. :After coming home he engaged in farming, and in 1868 opened a mercantile establishment at Scatter- ville, and followed this occupation in connection with ginning for four years. He then removed August, 18SS. since which time he has been one of

Capt. John J. Allen was born in Lee County, Ga., on the 2nd of July, 1841, and is the son of Edward M. and Mary J. (Knight) Allen. The father was born in the "Palmetto State" in 1819 of Scotch-Irish parents, and was a mechanic and ginwright, making machines by hand. He was taken to Georgia when small, and was there reared to manhood. During the Indian troubles in the Southern States, especially in Florida, Mr. Allen participated as a private, and received in payment for his services a land warrant for 160 acres, and in 1853 chose the land on which Capt. John J. Allen now resides. Prior to this, however. he took a trip through Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi and the Indian Territory. making the journey on horse- back, a distance of 3.000 miles. He then re- to Tilton, where he was occupied in business until turned to Georgia, and the following year (1853).

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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 33

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