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 43
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Henry Swift was born in Orange County, N. Y., July 29, 1843, and is a son of John and Jane (Welch) Swift, who were born in Nottingham, England, the former's birth occurring in 1815. His father, William Swift, was a, postman, and carried the mail from Longar to Elton, a distance of four and a half miles, making two trips per day, and in fifty-three years' service did not lose one day's time. John Swift served as a private in the Crimean War, and was in the siege of Sebastopol, being one of the only two surviving members of his camp. He died in 1882. having been a mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a well- to-do land holder. His wife was also a member of the Methodist Church, and in 1843 came to the United States, locating in New York State, but re- turned to England the same year, and died there in October. 1846. Henry Swift lived with his grandfather until his eleventh year, and received a good common school education in the schools of Longar. He then made a trip to the United States, and after living three years in York State returned to England and again attended school. Eleven years later he came again to the United States, and lived with an uncle in Jo Daviess Coun- ty, Ill., for about three years, later working out and residing among the farmers in that county for two years more, attending school during the winter and doing farm work in the summer months. While the war was going on he traveled over the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and at the close of hostilities began working on the Missis- sippi River, being engaged in the construction of the Belleville Railroad, continuing such work until 1873, when he came to Arkansas. He was occu- pied in farming in Randolph County until 1885. since which time he has been a resident of Clay County, and owns 280 acres of fertile land, eighty- three of which are under cultivation, although all could be easily put under improvement. It was heavily covered with timber, but is now furnished with good buildings and fences. He gives much attention to breeding Poland China hogs, and is a thrifty and successful farmer and stockman. He was among the first to demonstrate the fact that swamp and overflowed land could be tilled as profitably as the sand ridges, and seven or eight of his neighbors have followed his example and now possess comfortable homes of their own. He is active in school matters, is a Mason, and in his political views is a Democrat. He was first mar- ried February 7, 1879, to Miss Malinda Smart, a daughter of Lemuel and Jane Smart, of Arkansas. and by her became the father of two children: Laura, who died at the age of fifteen months. and an infant, deceased. His wife died in 1882. and he took for his second wife, in 1884, Miss Retta Boyd, a daughter of William Boyd, of Shan-
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
non County, Mo. She died quite suddenly in February, 1885, having borne one daughter: Hen- rietta, who was born on the 22d of March, 1883.
Dr. C. C. Symonds. There are always, in the profession of which this gentleman is a member, some individuals who become eminent and com- mand a large patronage, and among these deserv- ing of especial recognition is Dr. Symonds, who is a skillful physician and surgeon. He was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., February 15, 1829, and was the fourth in a family of five children born to the marriage of Shubel Symonds and Mary Baker, natives of Rhode Island. They were early pio- neers of Syracuse, N. Y., where the father fol- lowed tilling the soil, and resided for a number of years. He died in Allegany County, of the same State, in 1853, at the age of seventy-six years. His excellent widow still survives him, and resides at Flora, Ill., having reached the advanced age of ninety-three years. Dr. C. C. Symonds attended the common schools of Cayuga County, and after attaining a suitable age, began the study of med- icine. May 4, 1832, he was married to Miss Sally Ann Sawyer, and soon after moved to Allegany County, N. Y., and in 1857 to Clay County, Ill., where he practiced medicine, and was also engaged in merchandising and shipping grain. In 1878 he emigrated to Corning, Clay County, Ark., where he has since been devoting his time to the practice of medicine and surgery. He assisted in incor- porating Corning, and has been one of the fore- most men in building up the town, being now a member of the city council. He has always been interested in educational advancement, and is inde- pendent in his religious views. He has never been very active in politics, but casts his vote with the Republican party. He owns a good farm in the western division of Clay County, besides other property. He and wife are the parents of the fol- lowing children: Harriet (Mrs. Loppins), residing in Clay County. Ark. ; Amanda (Mrs. Marrow). residing in Madison County, Ind .; Ida (Mrs. Noble Stacey), whose husband is a druggist at Du Quoin, and Marenous, who is married and resides with his parents. Mrs. Symonds was born in Cayuga County. N. Y., and is a daughter of Eben-
ezer and Laura (Smith) Sawyer, also natives of New York State. The father was a sturdy tiller of the soil, and remained in his native State until his death, in 1854, his wife having died in 1844. The Doctor has three brothers: Syrenous, who is married and resides in Cortland County, N. Y., seventy-three years of age; John S., who is married and lives at Flora, Ill., of which place he is a prominent resident (he represented his county in the State legislature, and is now in- spector of the Southern Asylum), and Marenous. who resides in Sedgwick County, Kas., near Wichita, and is engaged in farming.
R. I. Taylor is a native of Henry County, West Tenn., and was born on the 9th of April. 1839, his parents being John and Sarah (Carey) Taylor, the father a native of West Tennessee and the mother of South Carolina. The paternal grandfather was a Virginian by birth, the maternal grandfather having come originally from South Carolina. John Taylor emigrated from Tennessee to what is now Clay County, Ark., about 1852, coming in a wagon drawn by an ox team, and settled on the farm now owned by Robert Haw- thorne, in Carpenter Township, where he made improvements and resided until about 1859. Then he removed to Howell County, Mo., and died there in 1866. His wife died in Stoddard County, Mo., on her way to Arkansas. To them were born four children R. I. Taylor being the third in order of birth. He was but thirteen years of age when he came to this State, and received only limited educa- tional advantages as there were but few settlers and no schools in the country at that time. Such knowledge of books as he possesses was obtained at home by self application. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted in Company F, Seventh Arkansas Regi- ment, and served until the close of the war, being a participant in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville. Murfreesboro, Mission Ridge and several hard skirmishes. He was wounded by a gun shot in the left arm at Shiloh, which has nearly ruined the use of that member, and was also wounded by a gun-shot at Murfreesboro, but soon recovered as it was merely a flesh wound. He served as second sergeant and was paroled in 1865. He returned
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to Clay County, and about 1872 located on his present farm, which consists of 200 acres of land, with some sixty-five acres under cultivation. He raises corn principally, and gives considerable attention to stock. Having followed farming all his life he is thoroughly acquainted with its varied features. In 1867 he was married to Rebecca Howell, a native of Missouri, by whom he has three children: John, Lewis and Alma. By his second wife, whose maiden name was Annie Heath, he had two children: Rosa, living, and Rosella L., who is deceased. Mr. Taylor is a well-respected pioneer of Clay County, having resided here since the time when not more than a half dozen families were within miles of him. He has aided very materially in the advance and progress of the com- munity.
Daniel D. Throgmorton, who is classed among the respected farmers and stock-raisers of Clay County, Ark., was born on a farm in Henry County, Tenn., January 20, 1850, and is the son of James W. Throgmorton, a native of North Carolina. James W. Throgmorton was reared in Tennessee, and was there married to Miss Eleanor Pollard, also of North Carolina nativity. After marriage he re- sided in Henry County, Tenn., until 1869, when he came to Arkansas and settled in Clay County, where he died June 18, 1876. His wife had died in Tennessee in 1866. Daniel D. Throgmorton grew to manhood in Henry County, Tenn., came to Ar- kansas in 1870, and later spent three years in Dunk- lin County, Mo. In 1874 he settled on the place where he now lives, and bought raw land, which he has since cleared, and the town of Piggott is laid out on his land. Mr. Throgmorton has about ninety acres, with some forty acres under good cultivation. He was married first in Dunklin County, Mo., February 15, 1873, to a widow, Mrs. Amanda E. Lively, who died May 23, 1883. Mr. Throgmorton was married in Clay County. Ark., December 27, 1883, to Miss Nancy B. Featherston, a native of Tennessee, who was reared in Dyer County, and a niece of his first wife. This last union resulted in the birth of three children: Missouri, and by her became the father of five Thomas Edward, born November 24, 1884, and Nora B., born September 26, 1888. They lost one : John, and one deceased. He took for his second 16
child, L. Ora, who died October 15, 1887, at the age of thirteen months. Mr. Throgmorton has been elected to and held the office of justice of the peace for twelve consecutive years, and has also filled other local positions. Mrs. Throgmorton is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
John Tisdial, a farmer residing near Corning. Ark., was born in Marshall County, Ky., July 22. 1837, and is a son of Sherrill and Julia (Casinger) Tisdial, who were also Kentuckians, and of Ger- man descent. The paternal grandfather, John, was an early-settler of Kentucky, and there reared six children and resided until his death. Sherrill Tisdial was reared and educated in his native State and in 1838 emigrated to what is now Clay Coun- ty. Ark., making the toilsome journey in wagons. He erected a little log cabin at Rockfield, weighted down with poles, in which he resided a few years. then locating one mile below on the river. In the winter of 1866 he was thrown from a horse and killed. He was an extensive stock dealer, and was leading a steer when he became fast in the rope. During the war he lost heavily, as all his stock was taken from him by the soldiers. His widow is still living, being in her seventy fourth year. They were the parents of thirteen children, twelve of whom grew to maturity and six of whom are living at the present time: John, Frank, Monroe, Eliza- beth, Ellen and Margaret. John Tisdial was an infant when brought to Arkansas, and from ear- liest boyhood has had the welfare of his adopted county at heart. In his youth the country was nothing but a wilderness, with a few scattering log cabins long distances apart, and he assisted his father in clearing their farm and remained with him until he attained his majority. Although there were no schools at that time he applied him- self to such books as came in his way, and became a well educated man. After his marriage in 1860 he moved to a place of his own, and in the spring of 1864 came to his present farm, which consists of 160 acres, eighty being under cultivation. He was married to Miss Polly Harriet, a native of children: William J., Euphemia D .. Julia A ..
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wife Miss Fannie Leslie, who has borne him two children: Daniel H. and Thomas A. His third marriage was to Miss Long, who has borne him three children: Avey and Noverller living, and Bertha deceased. In 1863 Mr. Tisdial enlisted in Company E, Second Missouri Cavalry, and served until September 15, 1863, when he was discharged on account of disability, and remained in the hos- pital until convalescent. On entering the army he weighed 175 pounds in his stocking feet, but on coming out only weighed ninety pounds. In 1864 he took his family away from Arkansas, though he returned in 1866 and has since lived here.
Marion J. Tucker, merchant and postmaster at Greenway, Clay County, Ark., was born in Nash- ville, Tenn., November 14, 1844, his father, Col. Thomas J. Tucker, being a native of Virginia. Upon remaining in the "Old Dominion " until a young man, the father went to Tennessee, where he was married to Nancy Nance, of that State, and after residing in Nashville, Tenn., for several years, moved to Haywood County, Tenn., where he became the owner of a plantation, and lived until his death, his wife having died some time before. He was a colonel of militia, and was a prominent and well-known man in his day. Marion J. Tucker grew to manhood in Haywood County, and when the war broke out, in 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate service. Ninth Tennessee In- fantry, and served until captured at Chick- amauga, and was held a prisoner of war until the close of the conflict, most of the time at Indian- apolis. He was at first in Nashville, Tenn., and was placed with 115 others in the top story of the Maxwell House, which broke through with them, and he and the others were carried clear to the basement. Mr. Tucker was badly wounded, and had one leg and an arm broken. After remaining in the hospital until convalescent, he was sent to Indianapolis. He was in the engagements at Bel- mont, Chickamauga, Murfreesboro and several others. After the close of the war he returned to his home in West Tennessee, and was married, in Lauderdale County, January 9, 1866, to Mary Jane Chambers, a native of Tennessee and a daughter of Thomas Chambers. After following
mercantile pursuits in Alamo, Tenn., for one year. he, in 1867, moved to Lauderdale County. there being engaged in farming up to 1874, when he sold out and located in Clay County, Ark., purchas- ing a farm and engaging in tilling the soil, also following the occupation of merchandising. He established a postoffice at that point, of which he became postmaster in 1878. He continued this business until 1887, then gave the management of affairs into the hands of his son, and moved to Greenway, where he built a store and put in a stock of general merchandise. He has a general stock of goods, and in connection with this also owns and conducts a livery barn. Since Septem- ber, 1888, he has held the office of postmaster of Greenway. He is a Master Mason, and is a deacon in the Missionary Baptist Church. January 20. 1889, his wife died, leaving him with a family of nine children: Edgar M .. Columbus, Laura, Gas- ton, Wittie, Clyde, Lily. Luther and Lola. Mr. Tucker owns two farms in Clay County, amounting to about 300 acres, and has some 175 acres under cultivation. He married his present wife, a Mrs. Annie Gault, May 12, 1889. She was born in Illinois.
Dr. Wiley V. Turner, a retired physician and farmer of Greenway, Ark .. was born in Humphreys County, Tenn .. May 19, 1836, his father. Wiley Turner, being a native of South Carolina. He was reared in Wilson County. Tenn., and was mar- ried in Davidson County to Miss Maria Thompson. who was born near Nashville. He served in the War of 1812 under Jackson, and was at the battle of New Orleans, dying in Humphreys County. Dr. Turner grew to manhood in that county and until he attained his majority made his home with his father. He received a good practical education in Waverly Academy, and when twenty years of age commenced the study of medicine under Dr. Ellis, taking his first course of lectures in the winters of 1858-59 and 1859-60, in the University of Nashville, graduating from that institution in the spring of the latter year. He then practiced his profession in Houston County until the open- ing of the war, and in the fall of 1862 enlisted as a private in the Fiftieth Tennessee Infantry, Con-
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CLAY COUNTY.
federate States Army. He was soon after detailed as assistant surgeon, and served in this capacity until 1864, when he left the army and returned home and resumed practice. Here he remained until 1871, when he removed to Clay County, Ark., and continued the practice of his profession for nine years. About 1875 he was appointed post- master of Clayville, and in 1878 became the first postmaster of Greenway. He kept a stock of general merchandise at his residence, and con- tinued for one year after the location of the town of Greenway, when he moved his store to about one-half mile from his residence. He has also been engaged in farming for a number of years. Au- gust 4, 1864, he was married, in Tennessee, to Miss Louisa Skelton, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of A. B. Skelton. The Doctor and his wife have four children: James, Joseph, Charles and Robert. Minnie was the wife of B. B. Bif- fle, and died in December, 1884. The Doctor and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church, in which he is a ruling elder, and he belongs to the Masonic fraternity.
Wright Ward was born in Webster, Hancock County, Ill., July 18, 1849, and is a son of Zebe- diah and Arzilla (Wright) Ward, natives, respect- ively, of New York and Tennessee, the former's birth occurring on the 23d of March, 1816, in New York City. When a child he removed with his parents to Dearborn County, Ind., where he grew to manhood, and then located in Hancock County, Ill., where he apprenticed himself to the wagon- maker's trade, which calling has received his atten- tion up to the present time. He is a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church. Their children are Wright, a farmer and mechanic; Lorinda, who lives in Carthage, Ill .. and Mark, a farmer residing in Northeast Missouri. Wright Ward was married in Illinois, on the 1st of May. 1873, to Miss Elizabeth L. Pryor, a daugh- ter of Lewis R. and Hannah J. Pryor, natives of Hancock County, Ill., and by her he has one child, Cora L., born October 21. 1874. Mr. Ward moved with his family to Marion County, Mo .. in 1875, and in 1879 to Randolph County, Ark., where he rented land and farmed for four years. then
coming to Clay County, Ark., where he purchased a tract of land containing 200 acres. He has fifteen acres under cultivation. He has a good young or- chard, and substantial fences and buildings, and is preparing to erect a new residence. He is a Dem- ocrat, is active in his support of schools and churches, and is an industrious farmer.
W. H. Watts, hotel-keeper at Boydsville, was born in Humphreys County, Tenn., in 1846, where he remained until after the war, although during that eventful period he joined Gen. Forrest's cav- alry and participated in the battles of Athens, Ala., Johnsonville, Tenn., Paducah, Ky., Fort Pillow, Parker's Cross Roads, Gun Town, and was on the Hood raid from Florence, Ala., to Nashville, Tenn. He was in thirteen fights, among which was the Franklin fight, where fully one-third of the men in the company and regiment were lost, and in the Nashville fight, after which a retreat was made to Florence, Ala., continued skirmishing be- ing experienced. During this time Mr. Watts had his clothes riddled with bullets, and his hat rim shot away in pieces, but he miraculously escaped without injury to himself. He was discharged in Missis- sippi, and sent to Nashville, Tenn., where he took the oath of allegiance to the United States. He was offered $100 in gold by the officers to go to Texas and not to Nashville. He then returned to Humph- reys County, Tenn., where he remained about two years, after which he moved to Graves County, Ky., where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for about seven years. In 1868 Miss L. F. Simp- son, daughter of D. M. Simpson, became his wife, and, in the spring of 1874, they moved to Clay County, Ark .. and settled where Boydsville now stands. At that time the county seat question was not settled. but the object was to have it at Boydsville, and Mr. Watts built the first house on the ground. He lived in one part of this house and sold goods in the other, thus continuing until the fall, when he gave it up for the county records, built a log house and resided in that a number of years. In 1878 the county erected the building at present used as the county court-house. Mr. Watts now owns the house, a large frame one, which he and Judge Holitield built in 1876, and he has
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bought and sold several farms in this locality. To his marriage were born four children, two of whom were born in Kentucky, and three are now living. They are named as follows: Laura C., wife of C. B. Johns, and the mother of two chil- dren, now resides in Boydsville, where her hus- band is engaged in the stock breeding business; William H. and Albert Sidney. Mr. Watts is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also a member of the K. of H., and he and wife belong to the Primitive Baptist Church.
H. J. Weindel, manufacturer of all kinds of staves, headings, also lumber and cooperage stock in general, always carries a large stock, and has on hand from 4,000,000 to 5,000,000 staves. He runs the largest factory in Northeast Arkansas, and pays out about $5,000 per month for labor. The factory was organized by L Weindel and L. Wirth- lin, in 1862, at St. Louis, and just at the comple- tion of the Iron Mountain Road was moved to Corning, where in 1883 the name was changed to the Southern Cooperage Company. Mr. Weindel was superintendent of the company from 1881 to 1885, after which he purchased the business from the Southern Cooperage Company, and has had charge of it since that time. He has a large and extensive trade, and has made the busi- ness what it is by upright and honest dealing. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, July 9, 1861, and is the only son born to the union of John and Mary (Brobst) Weindel, also natives of Bavaria, Germany. The parents moved to St. Louis in 1882, but in the same year came to Corning, and here the mother died in 1882. The father is still living. H. J. Weindel came to this country in 1880, first settling in St. Louis, attended col- lege, and there learned the English language. Prior to this he had received a thorough education in Europe, had taught school, was also a teacher of music, and held an excellent position. He came to Corning, Ark., in 1881, not with the inten- tion of remaining, but being so thoroughly satis- fied with the country, concluded to stay. He was married at Corning, in 1886, to Miss Jessie Mc- Kay, a native of Illinois, and the daughter of Will- iam and Mattie (Knowlen) McKay, the father a
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native of Scotland, and the mother of Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. McKay came to this country at an early day, locating in Illinois, and in 1880 moved to Corning, Ark. The father died in the spring of 1882, but the mother is still living, and resides in' Corning. After marriage Mr. Weindel settled where he now lives, and there he has since lived. He has always taken an active interest in building up the town, and in all enterprises pertaining to the good of the country. He is not particularly active in politics, but votes with the Republican party. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. To his union with Miss Mckay were born two children, one living, named Hermina. The one deceased was Winifred.
Joseph Whitaker is one of Clay County's most prosperous farmers and stockmen. His birth occurred in Crawford County, Penn., in 1838, he being the second of a family of ten children born to the marriage of John Whitaker and Euphemia Ann Johnson, originally from New York State. After their marriage in their native State, they immediately moved to Crawford County, Penn., where they bought land and were engaged in farming for about fifteen years, then purchasing land in Erie County, twenty miles from the city of Erie. Here the father is still living, but the mother died in 1SS2. Joseph Whitaker attended school until he was about nineteen years of age, and on the 6th of May, 1861, enlisted in Company D, First Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, which was known in the field as the "Old Buck-tail Regi- ment." He was in the First Army Corps, and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, partici- pating in the battles of Drainsville, the Peninsula Campaign, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and was with Grant until the battle of Cold Harbor, which was the last combat in which he took part. He received his discharge on the 4th of July, 1864. and was mustered out at Harrisburg, but soon af- ter re-enlisted in the service, joining the Ninety- eighth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, and was sent to the front after Johnston, in North Carolina. When the latter surrendered, he returned to Wash- ington, D. C., but was mustered out at Philadel-
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