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 61
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Francis M. Newcom and Robert T. Wallace are both natives of Kentucky, the former born in Crittenden County, October 15, 1855, the latter in what is now Webster County, August 27, 1847. They are now prosperous and representative farm- ers of Craighead County, Ark. Francis M. Newcom
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is a son of W. D. and M. E. (Heath) Newcom, na- tives of Kentucky, who later settled in Webster County, where both parents died. Francis M. came to Arkansas in 1882, and three years later to his present residence. He has cleared and now has under cultivation seventy-five acres of good land. October 12, 1882, he was united in mar- riage with Eliza Wallace, born and reared in Ken- tucky, and to this union have been born four chil- dren: Ivy Lillie, Nannie D., Lee E., and Rosa Belle (deceased). Mr. Newcom is a prominent member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Rob- ert T. Wallace is the eldest of the six children born to the union of Col. Benjamin P. Wallace and Eliza Bruce, natives of Kentucky. The father was a farmer in his native State, and in the Civil War enlisted in the Confederate service, in which he was colonel. He died July 12, 1870, the mother hav- ing previously died July 16, 1869. Robert T. was reared in Kentucky, and lived with his father until his death, when he bought the old homestead, on which he resided until he came to Arkansas, in 1882. He had been deputy sheriff for one year, and sheriff for two. Since 1882 he has resided in Arkansas, except one year spent in Howell County, Mo., and he moved to his present location Christ- mas of 1887. He owns several tracts of land, and has a well-cultivated farm. July 17, 1875, he married Annie Moore, also a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Allen Moore. They had grown up together in the same county. The fruits of this union have been four children, only one living, Maude. Those deceased are Florence, died in 1885, at the age of nine years; Molly, died when five years of age, and Willie, who died at three years of age. The parents are both consistent Christians, the father a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and the mother of the Meth- odist Church. Mr. Wallace is a member of the I. O. O. F.
Rev. William J. Newton, one of the leading citizens of Buffalo Island, was born on the place where he now lives, March 3, 1849, and is the son of John Newton, who was born in Tennessee, and reared near Nashville. To better his fortune, he came to Arkansas in 1841, and here married Cather-
ine Lamb, the mother of our immediate subject. The father died in 1857. William J. attained his majority on the Island where he had always lived, and served for seven months in the Confederate ranks. He lost his right limb in New Madrid, Mo., in 1865. In September, 1880, he and Martha L. Towers were married. She was a na- tive of Arkansas, born on Crowley's Ridge, this county. The fruits of this union have been six children: Minerva A., Bertha, Charles J., Gert- rude, William J. and John R. Mr. Newton has a farm of 200 acres, with 124 under cultivation, is an energetic man and has cleared all but eight acres of this himself. In 1874 he professed religion, in 1876 was licensed to preach, and in 1880 was ordained a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. At first he had charge of a circuit for two years, 1880 to 1882; but since that time has been stationed, and has labored zealously in the cause of Christ, doing much good through- out this section. By his kindness to the poor, and generosity to his fellow-men, as well as by his fer- vent piety, he has attained an enviable popularity.
W. W. Nisbett, lumber dealer and manufact- urer of brick, etc., is a native of Lancaster County, S. C., born October 14, 1836. His parents, James and Jane Y. (Rogers) Nisbett, natives of South Carolina, were of Irish descent, the grandfather, a native of Ireland, having been an early immigrant to South Carolina. The paternal grandfather, Jo- siah Nisbett, was a soldier of the Revolution, and he and all the grandparents lived and died in South Carolina. James Nisbett emigrated with his fam- ily to Coffee County, Tenn., in 1844, and three years later to Monroe County, Miss., thence to Memphis, Tenn., in 1850, and in 1852 came to what is now Craighead County, Ark., locating where Jonesboro now stands. He was a farmer and mechanic, and followed both occupations for several years; made the first improvements and built the first frame house in Jonesboro. He then kept a hotel in Jonesboro for some time, and in 1867 moved to Pike County, where he resided for five years, then returned to this county, where he remained until his death in 1884. The mother died three years later. They were the parents of
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six children, five now living, four sons and one daughter: William W., John G. R., Benjamin F., Joseph A. and Sarah, widow of P. H. Winke. William W. was but eight years of age when he left his native State, and, school advantages being very poor, his education was necessarily very lim- ited. However, since arriving at maturer years, he has closely applied himself to study, and is now a self educated man. He was eighteen years of ago when he came with his parents to Craighead County, and had learned from his father the car- penter's trade, and intelligent farming. His early life was devoted mainly to mercantile business un- til the late war, and after the surrender, he was for many years a furniture dealer and undertaker. While in business, he was three times burned out, but was by no means discouraged by his misfor- tunes. After the fire of 1886, he closed out what remained of his stock, and turned his attention to his milling business. He has been for twenty years engaged in the milling and lumber business, also handling grain, and is now engaged in the man- ufacture of brick, making from 35,000 to 40,000 per day. Having a nice farm in the suburbs of Jonesboro, he also gives some attention to agricult- ural pursuits. In 1882, he began the study of law, and in 1884 was admitted to the bar, and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. He has been the leader of the Republican party since the war, and has been identified with all its meet- ings and important moves. He was elected sheriff of Craighead County in 1866, and served until 1872; was also sheriff in 1865 under military order. He has held the offices of county supervisor, presi- dent of the board of supervisors, county assessor, sheriff, collector, postmaster, assessor of internal revenue, and deputy United States marshal. In 1858 he was united in marriage with Mary Mattix, and they are the parents of ten children, seven of whom are living: Elizabeth (wife of J. R. Smith), Mattie (wife of H. H. Houghton), William S., Alice, Delia A., Minnie M. and George E. Mr. Nisbett is a member of the Masonic fraternity, is Master of the Blue Lodge, and High Priest of the Chapter. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., and also to the Eastern Star.
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William O'Guinn. Among the pioneer settlers of Craighead County, none are more worthy of special mention than the subject of this sketch, who came with his parents to this State in 1836, when, before the encroachment of civilization, wild game was plentiful. He was a great hunter in his youth, making this sport the means of his support. He was born in Perry (now Decatur) County, Tenn., May 17, 1827, and is a son of Daniel and Mar- garet (Anderson) O'Quinn, natives of the "Old Volunteer State," who were reared and married in that State, and in 1836 came with their three sons and daughter and grandfather Anderson and a part of his family, to Arkansas. All located first on Crowley's Ridge in Greene (now Craighead) County, and Daniel O'Guinn opened up a splen- did farm in the timber, near where Jonesboro is now situated, where he reared his family and died in 1859. His wife followed him in 1872. Both were very worthy citizens and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They were the par- ents of thirteen children, ten of whom lived to be grown, but only two, William, the oldest child, and the youngest child, Martha, now the wife of Henry Haze, are now living. Willaim O'Guinn began life on his own responsibility when nineteen years of age, married and settled on a timbered place near the old homestead. He cleared a small farm, but kept eighteen or twenty hunting dogs, and spent most of his time hunting, often spend- ing the whole night in this occupation, sometimes with the Indians as companions. Four years later he sold his farm, and improved another which two years later he likewise sold; then bought a small partly improved farm. afterward clearing forty additional acres, and here he resided until the breaking out of the late war, when he moved with his family to Scott County, Mo., remaining there until 1866, when he returned to the old home place and resumed his farming. In 1869 he came to his present place of residence, on Big Bay. where he owns 800 acres of land, and has improved about 120 acres. His farm is well stocked and bears every evidence of prosperity. Mr. O'Guinn has been married four times, and is the father of twenty-four children. and twelve of them are now
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living. He was married to his present wife (Calli- donia Coleman) in 1883, and she is the mother of four children, two deceased. Mr. O'Guinn is a stanch advocate of both church and school, and contributes liberally to their support. Both he and Mrs. O'Guinn are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
J. W. Owens, Jr., postmaster at Jonesboro, Ark., received his appointment in 1885, and has been a most courteous, obliging and efficient offi- cial. He was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., February 29, 1856, and is a son of J. W., Sr., and Frances H. (Tune) Owens, the father a native of Kentucky, and the mother of Virginia. They were married in Rutherford County, Tenn., where their parents had immigrated in an early day. J. W. Owens, Sr., a blacksmith by trade, came to Craig- head County in 1870, and located in Jonesboro, where he followed his calling until 1874, when he went to Southern Illinois, where he died in 1879. The mother died in 1859. She was the mother of seven children, J. W. being the only one now liv- ing. The father had married three times. By his second wife he had one child, Robert H., and by his third marriage eight children, six living: Joseph E., George W., Lizzie, Jennie, Willie and Lura. J. W. Owens, Jr., came with his parents to Arkansas when thirteen years of age, and was reared partly in Tennessee and partly in this State, receiving his education in the county schools of the former and in the Jonesboro schools. Reared to farm life, he followed that occupation until 1881, and then entered the employ of J. B. Colt & Son, railroad contractors, and remained with them eighteen months. In October, 1883, he went into the Jonesboro postoffice as assistant postmaster, where he remained in that capacity until he received his appointment as postmaster. May 20, 1885, he was united in marriage with Miss Nannie E. Hannah, a native of Craighead County, and their union has been blessed with two children, Mollie and Morris B. Mr. Owens is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. and belongs to the K. and L. of H. He is energetic and industrious, enjoys an enviable popularity, and ·richly deserves the official favor accorded him.
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Alfred Pagan, one of the leading farmers of Cane Island, was born in Meade County, Ky., Feb- ruary 8, 1851, and is the son of David and Han- nah (Halls) Pagan, the former a native of Vir- ginia, the latter of Kentucky. The father was reared and educated in Virginia and when a young man moved to Kentucky and was there married. He remained for several years in Meade County, and then removed to Daviess, where he engaged in farming until his death in 1864. His wife sur- vives him and now resides on Cane Island. All of the family of six sons and two daughters reached maturity, but one son, who was a soldier in the Con- federate service, and who died since the war. One brother lives in Kentucky, four brothers and one sister on Cane Island, and one sister in Missouri. Alfred Pagan was reared in Kentucky and re- mained with his mother until his marriage, Feb- ruary 17, 1872, with Ellen Martin, a native of Daviess County, Ky., and a daughter of James and Jane Martin, who still reside in Daviess County. Mr. and Mrs. Pagan are the parents of six chil- dren: James, Minnie, Mary, Eva, Alfred and Rosa. Two children died in infancy. Mr. Pagan was always a farmer in Daviess County until 1881, when he came to Arkansas. He remained one year at Elmot Landing, Mississippi County, then came to Craighead County, selecting the place where he now resides. It was then but little im- proved; now he has four farms, aggregating 350 acres, with about 100 acres cleared and improved. It is all rich and valuable land and he has on the home place two residences and one on each of the other farms. Mr. and Mrs. Pagan are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which Mr. Pagan is also a deacon.
J. M. Penix, whose well-improved farm is sit- uated three miles from Jonesboro, is one of the progressive, wide-awake citizens of the county. He was born in Cherokee County, Ala., November 12, 1836, and is the son of John and Sallie (Roach) Penix, the former a native of Alabama, the latter of Shelby County, Tenn. After the death of his wife and in the first year of the Civil War, Mr. Penix came to Arkansas and located in what is now Powell Township, Craighead County, and there
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resided for three years. In 1865 he moved to Louisiana, where he died in 1867. Of the four- teen children born to them, only four are now living-our immediate subject being the only one in Craighead County. He was reared on a farm, and in 1857 came to Arkansas, and in 1860 married Elizabeth Albright, a native of Tennessee, whose parents were Simpson and Hulda (Snodderly) Al- bright-the former is deceased, the latter resides with Mr. Penix. In the war of the Rebellion, he i gave his support to the Confederate cause, serving in the Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry for about eight months, when he was discharged on account of sickness. He re-enlisted in the Trans-Missis- sippi department at Little Rock and served another twelve months. At the close of the war he re- turned to Craighead County and bought eighty acres of his present farm of 100 acres, forty of which are splendidly improved. Mr. and Mrs. Penix are the parents of nine children: Wiley E., William T. S. and an infant (deceased), and Eli Thomas (mar- ried to Lucinda Raines), Mary Magdalene, James Cornelius, Midas Ludella, Samuel Elbert and Scott Hinman. Mr. Penix is a Democrat, has been school director for five years, and has given one- half acre of his farm for a school-house site. He and his wife and oldest son and daughter are active members of the Baptist Church.
David L. Perkins, one of the foremost citizens of Craighead County, and a resident of Jonesboro Township, was born in Fayette County, Tenn., October 17, 1845, and is the son of William H. Perkins, a native of Virginia, who emigrated from the "Old Dominion" to Tennessee in 1826, and Sarah (Wrightsell) Perkins, a native of Tennes- see. They had six children, four of whom are living-three sons and one daughter-and three are residents of this county: Mary (wife of P. T. Hudson), D. L. and John W. Mr. Perkins made a visit to this State in 1871, but returned to the old homestead in Fayette County. Tenn., where he and his wife still reside, aged seventy-nine and sixty four years, respectively. David L. spent his boyhood on the farm, and received a fair education in the common schools of the county. He came with his father to this State in 1871, and selected
it as the place of his permanent residence. The father bought 200 acres of land, and for nine years David L. lived on it, but then bought his home- stead of 160 acres. He has a well-cultivated farm, with about fifty-five acres improved. December 26, 1872, he wedded Laura Thurman, a native of Fayette County, Tenn., who died in May, 1887, leaving five children: Clarence C., Howard L., William D., Linnie E. and Ernest D. He was again married, October 13, 1887, this time choosing Mrs. Nannie E. (Fuller) Falls, a resident of this county. The result of this union has been one boy, Edward Cecil. Mr. Perkins is prominent in religious and educational interests, and in politics is a stanch Democrat. He is a member of the Christian Church, and is an elder of the Hope Church of that denomination. Mrs. Perkins is a benevolent Christian lady, and also a member of the Christian Church at Hope.
J. D. Phillips was born in Pike County, Ga., December 1, 1828, and is a son of Thomas G. and Mary L. (Sessions) Phillips, both natives of South Carolina. They made their residence in Georgia, where the father died in 1867. The mother's death occurred in 1868, while on her way to this State. They had twelve children, six of whom are living, but only one, the subject of this sketch, in this State. James D. was reared on a farm until fifteen years of age, when he learned the machinist's trade at Savannah, Ga., and after nine or ten months engaged in the saw and grist- mill business in Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky. He came to Craighead County, Ark., in March of 1861, and followed blacksmithing until 1871. He went to Phillips County. where he remained but two years, and then returned to Craighead, and has since then been engaged in farming, at which he has been very successful. He has been an ex- tensive land holder in both this and Poinsett Counties, and at present owns a farm of 320 acres, forty of which are under cultivation. He operated the first saw-mill in Craighead County, thus in- troducing one of the leading industries, and is one of the oldest and most experienced mill men in the county. He was married, September 9, 1852. at Chattanooga, Tenn., to Sarah A. McLemore, a
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
native of East Tennessee. Their union has been blessed with nine children: Josephine, Thomas, James A. (was married to Melinda McCarty), Henry C., Mary and Alonzo, all deceased, and Eliza Virginia, Vestie A. and William R. Mrs. Phillips and two daughters are members of the Christian Valley Church. Mr. Phillips is a mem- ber of the. Masonic fraternity, and is greatly in- terested in religious and educational matters. He belongs to the Agricultural Wheel, and was among the first and is one of the most prominent Wheelers in the county.
Albert Pierce, of Jonesboro Township, is the oldest living settler, in point of location, in Craig- head County and Northeast Arkansas. He was born in Giles County, Tenn., September 12, 1826, and is the son of John Pierce, also a native of Ten- nessee, who came to Arkansas in 1831, locating in Poinsett (now Craighead) County. He was one of the first settlers of the county, and took a deep and active interest in its early formation. Though a farmer by occupation, he hunted much in early days, and devoted much time to stock raising. He at one time owned 320 acres of land. His wife was Nancy Maguire, also a native of Tennessee, and of their ten children, seven are now living, four daughters and three sons, all residents of this county. The father is dead, but the mother is still living in full possession of all her mental and physical faculties. She is eighty-three years of age, and resides with her daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Cacry, widow of John Cacry. Albert Pierce was but six years of age when he came with his father to this county, and has lived within ten miles of his present farm for almost sixty years. He had no educational opportunities in childhood, but has been an energetic farmer and stock raiser all his life, the result of which is a large farm of 180 acres, with 100 under cultivation. He is a mem- ber of the Agricultural Wheel, and is a Democrat. In 1844 he was married to Rebecca Simmons, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah Simmons, residents of this county. Of the ten children born to them nine are yet living. They are Mary, wife of Franklin Lee; Franklin, married Caroline Howell; David, married Mrs. Emily Smith; Samuel, mar.
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Robert W. Rains, a leading farmer of Jones- boro Township, resides on his well-improved farm three miles north of Jonesboro. His parents were natives of Tennessee, in which State he was born August 27, 1847. His father, Hugh G. Rains, came to Craighead County, Ark. in the year 1871, locating in Powell Township on a farm of 270 acres, 100 of which are improved, and resided there until his death in 1872. He was a Mason and was buried with Masonic honors. In his po- litical convictions, he espoused the cause of the Democratic party. He was married to Margaret A. McCarns, who still resides on the old home- stead; and of this union fourteen children were the issue, of whom the following reached their majority : Sarah, Cathaline, Robert W., John M., Neal B., James F., Alantha C., Margaret E. and Mar- garet Ann and Lucinda J. (twins). Robert W. Rains was reared in Tennessee, and was there married November 6, 1866, to Margaret E. Stiles, a native of Tennessee, whose parents were Evan and Polly Stiles, the latter deceased, the former still residing in Tennessee. He lived with his father for two years, then bought a farm near Herndon and remained there for the same period. Then he bought eighty acres of land near his moth- er, and after three years there, went back to Ten- nessee for a year. Returning to Arkansas, he en- gaged in the saw and grist-mill business in Powell Township for two years. He then bought his present farm of 120 acres, and on this and his farm of 128 acres has about sixty under cultiva- tion. Mr. Rains has been married three times, his second wife was Margaret M. Albright, and his present wife who is a pious lady and a member of the Methodist Church, South, was Engenia O. Grigsby. Mr. Rains has had five children: Lee Etta, Cicero D., Margaret E., Ida C. (deceased) and Kenneth W. He is a Mason, and a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, has always
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been a Democrat in politics, and was elected in 1888 justice of the peace of Jonesboro Township.
Emmet Rodgers, editor of the Craighead County Sun, is the oldest son of Calvin and Al- media Rodgers, and was born in Jonesboro, Ark., September 21, 1866. He attended the common schools of Jonesboro until thirteen years of age, and went the term of 1881-82 to the Judson Uni- versity. Until sixteen years of age, he engaged in farm work, and assisted his parents in the hotel. For three years he was a railroad brake- man, and in the winter of 1887-88, engaged as clerk in general mercantile business in Florida. Returning home in May, he became interested with Wrenn & Phelps, in publishing the Craig- head County Sun, and January 18, 1889, became sole proprietor of that paper. He is one of Jonesboro's popular and promising young business men, and has the talent and ability to accomplish whatever he may undertake.
H. C. Roy, a prominent and substantial planter of Craighead County, Ark., was born in the county, and is one of its leading citizens. His father, Jesse L. Roy, also a successful farmer, was born in Tennessee, in 1828. He married Emily C. Courtney, a native of Mississippi. In the Mexican War he was a valiant soldier, and in the late war was a captain in the Confederate ser- vice. He participated in several engagements, Helena being the most important. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic Lodge and has occupied many of its official chairs, and is also connected with the Agricultural Wheel. Both he and his wife are highly respected citizens, and are zealous members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Roy is a man of sterling worth in the community, strong in his political views and his convictions of right; and as the fruits of his industry has a farm of 100 acres, about half of which is in a splendid state of cultivation.
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