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 39

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 39

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Franz Kopp, farmer and proprietor of Kopp's saw-mill, in St. Francis Township, was born in Ba- varia, Germany, May 24, 1846, and is the son of Philip and Mary Ann Kopp, both natives of Ba- varia. Philip Kopp emigrated to the States in 1848 and nine years later, or in 1857, Mrs. Kopp and family arrived and settled in New Madrid, Mo., where Mr. Kopp engaged in the lumber business, manufacturing for a number of years. He died in October, 1879. Franz Kopp attained his growth in New Madrid, Mo., and there followed farming and assisted his father in the manufacture of lumber until twenty-one years of age. In August, 1864, he enlisted in the Federal army. First Missouri Cavalry, and served until his dis- charge, September 1, 1865. He was stationed at Little Rock, Ark., and was mustered out there. He then returned to his home and for a number of years was engaged in farming and in the lumber business. June 3. 1880, he married Miss S. C. Morrison, a native of New Madrid, Mo., and the daughter of Hon. T. J. O. Morrison, one of the pioneers and prominent men of New Madrid Coun- ty. After marriage Mr. Kopp followed his former business for three years in the county mentioned.

Marcellus Ketchum, hotel-keeper and farmer, at Knobel, Clay County, Ark., was born in Will- iamson County, Ill., in 1852, being the third of seven children born to Jesse and Elizabeth (Mc- Cowan) Ketchum, who were born in North Caro- lina and Illinois, respectively. The maternal grandfather, who was a native of Ireland, became an early settler of Illinois. Jesse Ketchum fol- lowed the occupation of farming throughout life and died when his son Marcellus was a child. The latter has been familiar with farm life from early boyhood, but received little or no educational advantages in youth. At the age of nineteen years he began farming for himself in his native | and then in July, 1883, removed his mill to

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

Arkansas and located in St. Francis Township, Clay County, where he has been manufacturing lumber ever since until a short time ago, when he leased the mill out. He has been very suc- cessful in this business. Mr. Kopp settled with his family at Piggott and opened up a farm adjoin- ing the town. He now has some eighty acres of cleared land and about 800 acres of heavily tim- bered land all in a body. He has a neat residence and good outbuildings. Mr. Kopp served as al- derman while in New Madrid and filled other local offices. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church. He has cut on an average 500,000 feet . of lumber per year.

A. J. Langley, a South Carolinian by birth, who is prominently identified with the farming in- terests of Clay County, was reared and remained in his native State until forty-two years of age. He attended the common subscription schools of the county of his birth, and in 1862 enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Mississippi Regiment, Volunteer In- fantry, and served three years. He was under Gens. Bragg, Johnston and Hood, in all the prin- cipal fights, was captured at the battle at Franklin, Tenn., in November, 1864, and was sent to Chi- cago, Ill. He was held at Camp Douglass as a prisoner of war until he was released June 18, 1865, and then returned to Mississippi. where he followed farming until 1869, finally moving to his present residence, seven miles west of St. Francis, Clay County. He is the owner of 240 acres of land, 100 under cultivation, and is one of the wide-awake, thorough-going farmers of the county. His first marriage was to Miss Mary A. Pert, of South Carolina in which State Mr. Lang- ley first met her, and to them were born two chil- dren, one of whom, Thomas L., now lives near Yazoo City, Miss., where he owns a farm, and is the father of one child. Mr. Langley was mar- ried the second time to a sister of his former wife, Miss Elizabeth Pert, who bore him one child, Eliz- abeth, who is now married to Willis White, and a resident of South Carolina. After the death of his second wife Mr. Langley married Miss Mary A. Goodman, also of South Carolina, she being the daughter of James W. Goodman, of Cross Hill.

To this union were born eleven children: W. W. lives on a farm in Mississippi; Virginia, one of a pair of twins, married J. W. Daniels, a farmer of Clay County, and is the mother of seven children; Andrew W. married Miss Fannie Malone, and is the father of three children-he is farming in Clay County; Charles married, and died, leaving a wife and child; Jackianna, married R. M. Ways- ter, of Clay County, where they now live, and are the parents of three children; Samuel, recently married to Miss Lula Booth, is now living in Mis- souri; Fannie, who married John McLeskey, bore two children, and is now deceased; Tollula, mar- ried D. J. McCleskey, and is now deceased; Eugene P. is not married, and lives on a farm in Missouri; Ira C., at home, and Robert, at home. Mr. Lang- ley is a Democrat in his political views; is a mem- ber of the Methodist Church, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity, Blue Lodge and Chapter. He is generally identified with all public enterprises, giving cheerfully as far as he is able.

W. S. Liddell, postmaster, and one of the prominent business men of St. Francis, was born in Weakley County, Tenn., and is the son of William and Louisa (Mitchell) Liddell, the latter a daughter of Archilles Mitchell, of Virginia. William Liddell is a native of Tennessee, and im- migrated to Arkansas, settling in Clay (then Greene) County, in 1852. There Mrs. Liddle died in 1881, and he in 1887. W. S. Liddell remained on the farm until he enlisted in the Fifth Trans- Mississippi Regiment, commanded by R. A. Hart, and was in the battle of Helena, Ark., July 4, 1863, where he was captured and carried to Alton, Ill., and there held as a prisoner of war until March, 1864, when he was removed to Fort Dela- ware, Del. There he was held until the close of the war. After this he returned to Clay (then Greene) County, Ark., continuing on his father's farm, and was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Dalton, in 1867, a native of Clay (then Greene) County, and the daughter of Timothy Dalton. Mr. Liddell continued farming until 1832, and in connection with it he found time to assist in con- ducting a store and attend to his duties as post- master of Chalk Bluff. When the "Cotton Belt "

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Route was opened through the county in 1882, Messrs. Liddell & Sons built a storeroom in St. Francis, which was just started, and moved their stock of goods. The original firm, up to the time of the death of Mr. Liddell, Sr., was Liddell & Sons; since then it has been changed to Liddell Bros. They carry a stock of goods valued at $2,000 during the busy season, consisting of gen- : eral merchandise. W. S. Liddell is at this time postmaster, which office he has held since 1878, beyond the existence of St. Francis as a town. Since coming to this place he has built a nice house, which he now occupies. To his marriage were born seven children, four now living: James Albert, who assists his father in the postoffice and store; Stella May, at home attending school; Fan- nie E. and Thomas. In politics Mr. Liddell affil- iates with the Democratic party. He is a mem- ber of Eastern Star Lodge of the A. F. & A. M., also of Chalk Bluff Lodge No. 72, I. O. O. F. In the former he has held the office of secretary for about eight or ten years, and has also served as treasurer and junior warden.

Robert Liddell, judge of the county and pro- bate court of Clay County, Ark., was born in Tennessee, in 1850, and is the son of William and Louisa (Mitchell) Liddell, and a grandson of Fran- cis Liddell. In 1852 the parents emigrated to Greene County, Ark. (which was afterward formed into Clay County), and made their home at what is now known as Chalk Bluff, Clay County, where they continued to pass the remainder of their days. Judge Robert Liddell was but two years of age when he came with his parents to Greene County, and here he grew to manhood. He received a practical English education in the common schools of the locality, which he supple- mented by attending two terms in Missouri. He then followed agricultural pursuits until 1878. when he was elected clerk of the circuit court, and held this position with honor and credit until Octo- ber, 1886. He was then elected judge of the county and probate court, and has served in that capacity ever since. He takes a deep interest in all laudable and worthy enterprises, and is a liberal : contributor to the same. He is a genial companion, iam J., is married and resides in Clay County.

an intellectual associate, as his many warm friends can testify, and is in every way fitted to fill his present position. He was married in 1873 to Miss Mary Crawford, of Butler County, Mo., and the daughter of P. P. and Margaret (Hudson) Craw- ford. Mrs. Liddell was but a child eight years old when her mother died, and her father died soon after her marriage. To the Judge and wife eight children have been born, five of whom sur- vive: Clara, Willie, Beulah, Finis and Eunice. The others died in infancy. The Judge is a mem- ber of the Masonic Order, the I. O. O. F. and K. of H., and he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, located at St. Francis.

Rev. Garland Lively, a successful merchant of Piggott, Ark., was born in Monroe County, Ark., February 10, 1848, and is a son of William R. Lively, who was born, reared and married in Mis- sissippi, the latter event being to Miss Elizabeth Hall of the same State. They moved to Arkansas in 1852, but after some time went back to Missis- sippi, and there the father died in De Soto County in 1858. His widow returned to Arkansas, and after living for three years in Phillips County, moved to Tennessee, locating in Dyer County. Here our subject was reared, and when in his eighteenth year was married January 30, 1866. to Miss Martha J. Hall, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Jesse Hall. After their marriage they resided in that State up to 1870, then moving to Arkansas, and in October of that year settled on a farm near the town of Piggott, where he was en- gaged in tilling the soil up to 1888. Since 1872 he has been a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, having previously been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for eight years. In 1873 he was licensed to preach, and was or. dained a minister the following year, and has bad charge of a number of churches since that time. In 1889 he engaged in the mercantile business, and carries a good stock of drugs and groceries. He is a Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F., in which he has been Noble Grand, and has represented the former order in the Grand Lodge. One son, Will-

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

Loda & Bro., proprietors of the Knobel House at Knobel Station, Clay County, Ark. This is one of the finest hotels in the State, and was erected in 1884 by the Iron Mountain Railroad Company at a cost of about $10,000, and was first opened to the public in June of that year. being placed under the management of the Loda Bros., who are experienced hotel men. Eli, the elder member of the firm, was born in Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, N. Y., in 1853, and is the seventh of twelve children born to Leision and Adelaide (Boler) Loda, who were natives of Lower Canada. The father was a ship builder by trade, and later followed the business of hotel keeping, which oc- cupation received his attention until his death, which occurred in 1865. His wife died in 1871. Eli Loda attended school until his father's death, and then secured employment on the lake steam- ers for several years, and after that was engaged in the railroad business for three years as fireman and engineer. In 1874 he came to St. Louis, Mo., securing employment on the Iron Mountain Railroad, and ran the engine of the pay-car for several years, and in 1884 made a run of over 3,900 miles with engine No. 380, of the Missouri Pacific, which is the longest run ever made by an engine; and on this trip he hauled the general manager of the road. Mr. A. A. Talmadge. He gave up railroad work in June, 1854, leaving an excellent record behind him, for during his experi- ence on the road he never had an accident happen to one of his trains. In 1883 he assumed the management of the Belmont Hotel, at Belmont, Mo. , it being conducted by his wife (whose maiden name was Miss Ida Cloud, and whom he married in 1877) and by his brother, Darius. The follow- ing year he and his brother assumed the manage- ment of the Knobel House, which they have since carried on with the best of success. The younger member of the firm, Darius, was also born at Cape Vincent, N. Y., in the year 1857. He was en- gaged in steamboating for about nine years, act- ing as steward the most of the time, but in 1878 he gave up this work and went to Colorado and opened a restaurant at Georgetown, where he re- mained for about three years, being also occupied

in mining to some extent. He next went to Wyo- ming Territory, and was engaged in hotel keeping at Laramie City for several months. In 1882 he came east as far as Missouri, and in partnership with his brother soon after opened the Belmont Hotel. These gentlemen are extensive stock raisers and farmers, but devote the most of their fine farm of 120 acres to stock raising, and give their prin- cipal attention to the propagation of horses. They purchased their fine Norman-Percheron stallion, St. John, in Illinois, in 1887, at a cost of $600. He is a draft horse of about 1,800 pounds, and is a colt of St. Benoit, Jr., by the imported horse St. Benoit, owned by the Browns. St. John is one of the best animals ever brought into Northeast Arkansas. The Loda Bros. also keep twelve breeding mares. Owing to the enterprise of these men, there is a growing desire among the citizens for a better grade of stock, and this feeling is being shown by an improved class of stock on the farms. Eli Loda has about 140 acres of land under culti- vation, which he devotes to raising such crops as are needed for his stock. In 1888, in partnership with W. P. MeNalley and Harry Flanders, he pur- chased 100 acres of land adjoining the station and railroad land at Knobel, and they immediately had their land surveyed and laid out into city lots, and their enterprise will secure a fine town here as soon as this point is made the terminus of a division. Mr. Flanders is master of transportation for the South Division of the Iron Mountain Railroad, and Mr. McNalley is passenger conductor for the same division. Three children have been born to the marriage of Eli Loda and wife: Guy, who is de- ceased; Mabel, and Nellie Irene.

W. R. Looney, a popular druggist of St. Fran- cis, Ark., and one of the most successful in the county, was born in Tennessee in 1853, and on ac- count of poor health in youth received but a lim- ited education, although he has in late years made this up to a great extent by observation and study. At the age of seventeen he came, with his father. mother, and brother, James W. (who died in 1873). to Clay County, Ark., and settled near Chalk Bluff on the 10th day of January, 1870. Here he remained until twenty-two years of age, and Feb-

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ruary 23, 1875, he married Miss Susan E. Leigh, daughter of J. H. and Susan E. (Long) Leigh. After marriage Mr. Looney remained on the farm in Clay County until March, 1881, when he moved to Dunklin County, Mo., and was there engaged in the dry-goods store of Sheldon & Wright Bros., at Malden. Afterward, in June, 1883, he was em- ployed by J. S. Kochtitzky & Co. to run a steam corn-sheller, and on the 20th of November met with a very serious accident. Having been caught in the main shaft of the machinery, his clothing was wound so tightly about him that it dislocated his left arm at the shoulder. He suffered exeru. ciatingly from this, failed to get a night's rest for forty days, and is now a cripple in that arm. Em- barking in the grocery business, in partnership with Mr. John Allen, under the firm title of Allen & Looney, six months later he bought Mr. Allen out and continued the business until April, 1886, when he sold out, and came to St. Francis May 19 of that year, then starting a drug and grocery store. One year later he closed out the groceries and now has the finest drug store in the county. The firm name is W. R. Looney & Co., and they enjoy a profitable, legitimate trade. Mr. Looney has been generally identified with the enterprises of the town and county. He is the owner of about 120 acres of land adjoining his father's place, some four miles from St. Francis, and is paying particular attention to the raising of clover, which he thinks is a successful crop and also renews the land. Mr. and Mrs. Looney became the parents of six children, all of whom died in infancy. He is a Democrat in politics.

Samuel W. McDonald, a progressive farmer and stock raiser, and one who has kept thoroughly apace with the times, was born in Randolph County, Ala., in December, 1844, being the son of Sebbon McDonald, who was born and reared in Georgia, but who was married in Alabama to Miss Rhoda Blackston, a native of the last mentioned State. Mr. McDonald served in one of the old Indian wars. He was a farmer, and followed this oc- cupation in Alabama until his death, which oc- curred about 1864. Samuel W. McDonald at- tained his growth in Alabama, remained with his

father until grown, and in 1862 enlisted in the Confederate army, Seventeenth Alabama Infantry, serving until the final surrender of the Confed- eracy. He participated in the fight near Dalton, and was stationed nearly all the time at Mobile. He surrendered in 1865, and after being paroled returned to Alabama, where he engaged in farming in Randolph County. He moved to Arkansas in 1876, located in Clay County, remained there two years, and then moved to Boone County. Ark., whence after a residence of two years he returned to Clay County, and settled on his present farm in 1881. He has 120 acres of land, with about sev- enty-five fenced, and some forty under cultivation. Mr. McDonald has been married twice; first, in Clay County, in 1874, to Miss Elizabeth Sexton, a na- tive of Illinois, who was reared in Arkansas. She died in 1885, and was the mother of four children, who are named as follows: William B., Riley S., Samuel W. and Ollie B. Mr. McDonald took for his second wife Mrs. Adaline Melton, in September, 1886, and the results of this union are two chil- dren: John E. and Reuben H. Mrs. McDonald is a native of Clay County, Ark., where she grew to womanhood. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. McDonald is a member of the Baptist Church.

Thomas Cary McGuire was born in Carroll County, Tenn., June 9, 1850, and is a son of Dr. J. M. McGuire, mentioned elsewhere in these pages. He became the architect of his own fortune at the age of twenty years, and was actively engaged in tilling the soil until twenty-seven years old, when he was married to Miss Louisa Jane Gossett, a native of Jefferson County, Ill., and a daughter of William and Mary Gossett, who were farmers. To Mr. and Mrs. McGuire have been born the fol- lowing family of children: America Leota, born February 21, 1875, and died February 7, 1881; Melissa J., born November 18, 1877: William Mar- tin, born March 25, 1879: Dora, born September 4. 1880, and died September 30, ISS4; Mary J .. born March 21, 1882; Louella, born January S. 1884; John H., born December 18, 1885: Fred. born February 14, 1857, and died June 11. 1SSS, and Ida May, born November 18, 1SSS. Mr.

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McGuire has a good farm of eighty acres, twenty- five of which are under cultivation, on which he raises corn and cotton. This farm is well improved with good buildings, fences and orchard, and in fact is one of the best improved places in the county. He also devotes a considerable amount of time to raising cattle and hogs, and is active in furthering the cause of education. He belongs to the Masonic order, is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, and in his political views is a Democrat.

George M. McNiel, ex-sheriff of Clay County, Ark., was born in this county February 28, 1847, and is the son of Neal MeNiel, who was a native of Tennessee. The father left that State about fifty years ago, emigrating to Arkansas, and settling in what is now Clay County. He was here married to Miss Nancy Thomas, daughter of Matthew Thomas, one of the earliest settlers of Arkansas. Mr. McNiel was for many years a leading stock dealer of Arkansas, and died in 1857, at Helena, Ark., while on a trip to New Orleans, with a large drove of hogs and cattle, valued at $5,000. After the stock was sold in New Orleans the money was sent to his widow. She is still living, is eighty years of age, and has resided near Rector for the past thirty-eight years. George M. McNiel re- mained with his mother until his marriage, which occurred in 1880, to Miss Clara Rosaline Seegraves, daughter of J. H. Seegraves, of Oak Bluff, Clay County, Ark. Mrs. McNiel died in September, 1888, leaving three children: Ruth Edith, George A. and Ethel. The mother was a worthy and con- sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in that faith. The children are now liv- ing with Dr. Seegraves, in Rector. In 1874 Mr. McNiel engaged in business in Oak Bluff, remain- ing there about a year, and then went to Bollinger County, Mo., where he accepted a position in the firm of Eli Lutes, and there continued eight years. He then left and took a place as deputy under his brother James, who was sheriff of Clay County, and filled this position for eight years. He was elected sheriff in 1886, and his brother was deputy under him for two years, ending in 1888. Mr. Mc- Niel is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is also a member of the K. of H., in which he has

filled many important offices. During the late war he was a member of Capt. J. J. Allen's company, Davis' battalion, Clark's brigade, under Gen. Price, and surrendered at Shreveport, La., in 1865, this command being the last army of the Confederation to surrender.

James A. McNiel, ex-sheriff, and one of the sturdy sons of toil of Clay County, Ark., was born in this county at Oak Bluff, near where Rector now stands, February 7, 1849, his parents being Neal McNiel and Nancy (Thomas) McNiel, natives of East and West Tennessee, respectively. The maternal grandfather, Matthew Thomas, was a na- tive of North Carolina. James A. McNiel attended such schools as the country afforded, which were very primitive up to the breaking out of the late war, when all the schools were closed. During that time he remained at home with his mother, and still continued with her until 1878, when he was elected to the office of sheriff of the county. He was re-elected four consecutive terms, holding that office until 1886, when his brother, George MeNiel, was elected to the same office. Mr. McNiel was married November 19, 1879, to Miss Mary Luella Brake, daughter of Jesse Brake, of Clay County, and five children were the result of this union, four now living: Jesse McNiel, Lil- lian Lee, Ralph Alonzo and Rudy Eugene, all now at home. Since retiring from office Mr. McNiel has followed agricultural pursuits, and has been paying considerable attention to trading in stock. He has an excellent farm of 580 acres, is the owner of one and a half blocks in Rector, and is also the owner of his residence in Boydsville. He is an honest, upright citizen, and stands in the front ranks of his townsmen. He is a member of Boydsville Lodge No. 75, A. F. & A. M., is also a member of Boydsville Lodge No. 16, I. O. O. F., and is a member of the local Knights of Honor. Mr. McNiel is a Democrat in his politics. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.

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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 39

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