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 62
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William D. Safley is well known and highly re- spected throughout Buffalo Island Township as one of its worthy and intelligent citizens, public- spirited and of sterling integrity. He was born in Stanley County, N. C .. in 1851, and is a son of William B. and Mary Ann (Biles) Safley, natives
of North Carolina, where they were reared, edu- cated and married. In 1859 they came to East Tennessee, locating on a farm in Cocke County, where he died, but not until after espousing the Southern cause, and serving valiantly in the Con- federate army. The mother and family came to Craighead County, Ark., in 1869, and located in Powell Township, where they remained for several years. In 1881 Mrs. Safley started for Oregon, where she died the day after reaching Eugene City, May 22 of the same year. She was a member of the Baptist Church, and well liked by all who knew her. Mr. and Mrs. Safley were the parents of nine children, all of whom lived to maturity, and eight of whom are still living. They were Mrs. Sarah E. Jackson (deceased), Thomas F., Mrs. Mary L. Heritage, Alexander W., William D. (the immediate subject of this sketch), Julius H., Mrs. Rebecca E. Cox, Mrs. Margaret A. Yarbrough and Mrs. Edosia J. Hawthorne. William D. is the fifth child, and has made his home in this State since 1869. When twenty-four years of age he chose as his life companion Anna E. Stoddard, a native of this State, who died March 16, ISSS, leav- ing a family of five children: David E. (deceased). Sarah M., Joseph F., Rosa Lee and Lillie May. Mr. Safley has since married Mrs. Sarah E. Meach- iem, nee Foster, a native of Tennessee, who was the mother of two children by her former marriage. One of them, Willie, is deceased; the other, James E., lives with his parents. Mrs. Safley is a zeal- ous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Safley made a trip to Oregon and other points in 1888, and has seen a great deal of the world.
L. J. Salmons, a substantial farmer of Craig- head County, was born in Cherokee County, Ala., April 14, 1839. His father, Jeremiah M. Sal- mons, who was a native of Franklin County, Ga., and was educated in that State, was a farmer by occupation, and had married Lucinda Waters, born and reared in Georgia. Jeremiah M. Sal- mons had five sons and five daughters, four of whom live in this county. In politics he was a Whig. L. J. Salmons was educated in Alabama at the Lawrence school, and while yet a young man came to Arkansas. In 1862 he entered the
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
Confederate service, and was in several engage- ments, receiving a number of wounds. He was discharged in May of 1865, when he returned home to his farm and devoted himself to its im- provement. December 19, 1867, he was united in marriage with Nancy Christian, a native of Craig- head County, Ark., born December 26, 1846, and both he and his wife are zealous members of the Baptist Church, and contribute liberally to its sup- port. Mr. Salmons has about 1,880 acres of good land, about 100 of which is very rich soil and the best farming land. He has been justice of the peace in Poinsett County, and has been for five years a member of the school board of directors. He is a prominent member of the Agricultural Wheel, of which he was president for one year. Having made a thorough study of mineralogy and the locating of all kinds of minerals, and having made research throughout the State and discovered gold and other metals in more or less paying quan- tities, he may be considered expert in all such matters.
Anderson M. Self, a young and prosperous planter of Craighead County, was born on Crow- ley's Ridge in 1856. His father, Noble Self, was a native of Alabama, but has been a resident of Craighead County since 1840, at which time his parents located on "The Ridge," where he grew to manhood and married Miss Emily Mountz, a native of Illinois. He was a soldier in the Mexi- can War, and served in the Confederate army during the War of the Rebellion, seeing consid- erable active service in both wars. Three chil- dren were born to his union with Miss Mountz: Thomas, Anderson M. and one that died in in- fancy. Mrs. Self died July 3, 1858, and Mr. Self, by a subsequent marriage, is the father of ten children. He is still a resident of Craighead County, and one of its earliest and best-known citizens. Anderson M. was reared upon his father's farm, receiving but a rudimentary educa- tion. He began life's duties for himself at twen- ty-one years of age, with no capital, but plenty of energy and native ability. He located on his pres- ent place in the fall of 1879, and soon after was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca, daughter
of Allen Smith, and a native of Georgia. To this union have been born three children: William. Maude and James. Mr. Self owns 234 acres of land, with 135 under cultivation. He also owns and operates a cotton-gin, which, in 1887, turned out 124 bales, and, in 1888, 205 bales. He is a push- ing, energetic and thrifty farmer and business man, and has, for the most part, gained what he has by his own endeavors. Mrs. Self is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Stephen Shelton, an enterprising farmer and influential citizen of Craighead County, Ark., was born in Jackson County, Miss., September 22. 1826. His parents, Stephen and Matilda (Martin) Shelton, both natives of the "Old Dominion," were of Welsh and German descent. Stephen : Shelton, Sr., a physician by profession, in 1828 moved his family to Arkansas, and located in St. Francis County, but being displeased with the locality, removed to Mississippi. Later he came again to Arkansas, this time selecting a situation at the mouth of Big Bay, near the site of Witts- burg. After practicing his profession there for a year, he moved fifty miles, near where Harrisburg is now located, twenty years later to near the southern line of this county, where after two years he died. He was one of the earliest and most noted physicians of Arkansas, then a Territory. and patients from hundreds of miles around were brought to him for medical and surgical aid. He is the father of seven children, but only one is now living, one having died before and five after the father's coming to Arkansas. After the husband's death, the mother brought her family to Craighead County, and here resided until 1863, when trouble over the Civil War caused her death. She was about seventy years old. Stephen Shelton was mostly reared in the Territory and State of Arkansas, his widowed mother giving him the best education the country afforded. He had no taste for medicine or surgery, but was reared on a farm and has been engaged in farming all his life. He now owns 197 acres of land five miles south of Jonesboro. about ninety acres of which are under cultivation. While this section was a portion of Poinsett County, Mr. Shelton was deputy internal improvement com-
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CRAIGHEAD COUNTY.
missioner, was also deputy sheriff and constable, and for four years a preacher of the Christian denomination. He was once offered license, but not deeming himself sufficiently qualified, he thought best to decline. Mr. Shelton is and has always been a Republican in politics, and has once been constable of Jonesboro Township. He mar- ried Mahalia McCracken, daughter of Aquilla and Nancy (Lane) McCracken, and to them have been born the following named children: Matilda J., wife of L. T. McDanield, of Gilkerson; Eliza P., wife of G. Edgar, residing near Jonesboro; Mary A., wife of Prof. Walter E. Dean, educator, of Smith County, Tex. ; Thomas B., Nancy J., George W., Louisa, Belle, Stephen A., Francis M. N. and William D. Mr. Shelton was quite a noted and successful hunter of early times. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., a practical and self-made man, and one of the county's earliest and most worthy citizens.
William Stephen Shores, a prominent planter of Jonesboro Township, was born in Poinsett County, January 17, 1842. His father, a retired farmer of the same township, and one of the oldest settlers in what is now Craighead County, was born in St. Clair County, Ala., March 2, 1S15. The paternal grandparents were William and Mary (Pipes) Shores, natives most probably of Alabama. William Shores was a soldier under Gen. Jackson, and fought in the battle of New Orleans, was taken sick in that city and died in 1815. His widow subsequently removed with the family to Wayne County, Ill., near the Little Wabash River, where she died about 1825. About 1830 the family came to Arkansas Territory and located in Poinsett (now Craighead) County. In those early days game was very plentiful, and Calvin-then about fifteen years of age-worked hard on the farm and had great sport hunting all kinds of wild game. Memphis, the nearest trading point, being seventy - five miles, they had to grate corn and beat it in mortars to get corn-meal, and were subject to the many hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. When he grew to manhood, he bought 160 acres of land in Poinsett County, where he lived twenty-five years. Just before the Civil War he ; to give their children a thorough education.
moved to his present location, where he entered eighty acres of land and has since added 200 acres. The ground was covered with a dense forest, so that he and Sol McDaniel took axes and cut a road to enable him to move to his home. By energy, economy and thrift, he has cleared over 150 acres of land and become one of the foremost farmers of the county. He now owns 160 acres, having given to his boys the remainder. He has lived in Arkansas about sixty years, but this last year gave up the cultivation of the farm to his youngest son, Andrew. He has been married four times, his last marriage being with Mrs. Emmaline (Suffell) Nelson, a native of Mississippi. Her parents, Zachariah and Susannah (Cornelius) Suffell, came to Arkansas about thirty-two years ago, locating two miles southwest of Jonesboro. The mother died February 6, 1884, and the father July 4. 1871. Mr. Shore has been the father of sixteen children: William S. (subject of this sketch), mar- ried and living on part of the old homestead; Levi, married to Olie Hopkins, living near the home stead; Webb, married to Lane Shelton; Mary, wife of William McGown; Eliza, wife of Lewis Lynch; Alice, wife of Sam Gridsinger; George married to Edna Nealy; Thomas and Andrew, living. He has thirty grandchildren and two great-grandchil- dren (one living). Mrs. Shore was formerly a a member of the Methodist Church, but is now a member of the Christian Church, of which her husband has been a member for about twelve years. William Stephen Shores resided with his father until his marriage with Aily MeGown, who died a few years later. He then married Fanny H. Duke. To them have been born eight children. five living: John C., Marshall A., Alivia H .. Thomas H. and Laudie L. Mrs. Shores is a member of the Baptist Church, a devout Christian and a charitable lady. Mr. Shores owns a well- improved farm, is a Republican in politics, and was a member of Company A, Thirteenth Arkan- sas Infantry, serving in Col. Lyle's regiment about seventeen months. Having had but limited educa- tional advantages themselves, and realizing its great importance, both he and his wife are striving
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
John M. Sipes, a lumber manufacturer of Buf- falo Island, is a native of Missouri, born in Bu- chanan County, July 18, 1840. His parents, Eli and Christina (Rhynes) Sipes, the former born and reared in Pennsylvania, the latter in South Caro- lina, were married in Perry County, Mo. Mr. Sipes was one of the pioneer settlers of Buchanan County, Mo., having gone there in 1830. In 1856 he moved to Greene County and remained there until his death in 1859. John M. grew to manhood in Missouri, and resided in Buchanan, Perry, Greene, Webster and Barton Counties. He re- mained on the home farm until his father's death. In 1861 he entered the Confederate service, enlist- ing in the Eighth Arkansas Infantry, and served until the final surrender. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chat- tanooga, and many lesser engagements. He was never wounded, taken prisoner, nor lost a day from service. After the war he remained for a time in Arkansas, then went to Missouri. In 1866 he set- tled in Craighead County, Ark., where he has since resided. When, in 1868, be bought his present farm, it was but little improved; now he has 120 acres, 112 under fence, with a very good house and out buildings. Mr. Sipes began operating a grist- mill and cotton-gin in 1881, which burned down in 1887. He then put up a steam saw-mill and cot- ton-gin, which has proved a very successful enter- prise. In the spring of 1865 he married Nancy J. Smith, a native of Kentucky, whose parents died while she was yet a child. This union has been blessed with six children: Joel, Serena, George W., Rose Ann, Julia C. and Henry. Mr. Sipes is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has held all the chairs of the subordinate lodge.
William S. Skelton was born in Tennessee, July 14, 1857, and is now one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of Buffalo Island. His parents were John M. and A. C. (Stoddard) Skel- ton, natives of Alabama. The family came to Arkansas in 1860, locating near Wittsburg, where they remained for about four years and then came to Craighead County, locating first on Cane Island and later on Buffalo Island. Here Mr. Skelton died in 1882, and his wife, since married to G. W.
Finch, still resides on the old homestead. William S. Skelton is the second of the family of twelve children, seven of whom are now living, three hav- ing died in infancy and the others after reaching maturity. He grew up in Craighead County and began farming on his own responsibility when nineteen years of age, when, July 6, 1876, he mar- ried Dora A. Goss, a native of this State, who died the next year, 1877. He farmed on the homestead some time and in 1879 settled on his present farm, then in heavy timber. Now he has under cultiva- tion forty-eight acres of splendid land, and has built him a good home. He also owns one-quar- ter interest in the Lumsford & Co. cotton-gin. For his second wife he chose Rebecca E. Richard- son, and their union has been blessed with four children: Jodella, Jonathan N., James T. and Paul W. Mr. Skelton is progressive and influential. and his wife is a member of the Methodist Church.
Allen Springer, merchant and postmaster at Lake City, and a prominent farmer of Buffalo Island, is a native of Indiana, born in Crawford County, of that State, January 4, 1843. His parents, Elihu and Mahulda (Pearson) Springer, both natives of Indiana, were reared and married in that State, and there resided until the death of the former in 1852. Mrs. Springer still survives her husband, who was a prominent farmer and esteemed by all as a worthy citizen of the county. Allen Springer, at his father's death a boy nine years of age, grew to manhood in his native county, receiving his education at the county schools; and in July of 1861 enlisted in the Indiana Infantry, and served until mustered out at Indianapolis, July 29, 1865. He participated in many engage- ments, among them Shiloh, Champion's Hill, siege and surrender of Vicksburg, siege and surrender of Atlanta, was with Sherman in his memorable march to the sea, and his last engagement at 'Goldsboro. During his entire service he received but one slight wound, at the siege of Vicks- burg. He participated in the grand review at Washington, and when peace was restored re- turned to Indiana, and engaged in boating on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers until 1870, when he came to Arkansas. He located in Lee County and
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there engaged in milling for two years, then went to Howard County, Kas., and farmed one year, then came to Craighead County, Ark., locating on Buf- falo Island. Here he followed farming until 1880, when he moved to Lake City, where he continued the same occupation. In 1885 he purchased an established mercantile business, and keeps a good stock of dry goods, clothing, boots, shoes, hats, caps, implements, etc. At merchandising he has been very successful, doing an annual business of $15,000. He was appointed postmaster in 1888. June 7, 1867, he was united in marriage with Nancy Ellen Walker, a native of Indiana, born and reared in Crawford County. She died in 1886, leaving two children, Samuel E. and Percy, both promising young men. Mr. Springer married his present wife, whose maiden name was Emily Cum- mings, in December, 1887, in Kearney County, Kas. She is a native of Indiana, and was in child- hood a schoolmate of Mr. Springer. She is a con- sistent member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Springer owns one farm of 240 acres on Buffalo Island, with 125 acres cleared, and in his home place has 235 acres, with about eighty under cul- tivation. He has also 200 acres of timbered land. All this property and all that he has, he owes to his own perseverance, industry and excellent manage- ment. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and is Master of the Lake City lodge.
John H. Stephens is a substantial farmer of Craighead County, and was born in Bedford Coun- ty, Tenn., June 7, 1826. His father, Wiley Steph- ens, was a native of North Carolina, and a very successful farmer until his death in 1873. His mother, Mildred (Carlisle) Stephens, was also a na- tive of North Carolina, and both she and her hus- band lived consistent Christian lives, and were members of the Baptist Church. After her hus- band's death, she was married to H. Smith, and died in 1886. J. H. Stephens was the eldest of eight children, only two others, William S. and Leander, the youngest, now living. He has 295 acres of land, half of which is very rich farming land, and of this he has cleared about eighty acres. He also gives much attention to stock raising, and owns many fine horses, mules, and Poland . China
hogs. He is a Mason, and a member of the Grange, and is popular among his many friends. Both he and his wife, who is a member of the Methodist Church, are liberal to all progressive enterprises.
Arnold Stotts. Joshua and Rebecca (Thomas) Stotts, the paternal grandparents of our subject, were natives of Virginia and North Carolina, re- spectively, and after their marriage remained some time in Virginia, and in 1810 went to Wilson County, Tenn., and in 1827 went farther west to Perry County, where the husband died the same year. Mrs. Stotts married a second time, and about 1850 came to Arkansas, locating near Jones- boro, now Craighead County, where she died about 1853 at the age of ninety-eight years. Of the nine children born to this union only one is now living, William Stotts, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of the island. He was born in Wythe County, Va., in 1802, and, being but a child when his parents moved to Tennessee, grew to manhood in Tennessee. In 1843, he came by wagon to Arkansas, and located in what is now Craighead County, below Jonesboro, where he re- mained till 1878, when he moved to Buffalo Island, where he has since resided. He was first married in 1830 to Frances Thomason, a native of North Carolina, who died February 12, 1877, aged fifty- three years. By this union there were nine chil- dren, four of whom are still living: Arnold, Eliz- abeth (widow of John Garrett), Wiley and Mrs. Sarah Randson. Those deceased are William, Rebecca A., John and two infants. Mr. Stotts' second wife was Mrs. Tempie Cannon, nee Morgan, and both of them are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Stotts has a small farm of forty acres, with twenty-eight under cultivation, which he cultivates himself and upon which he makes his living and clears about $500 per year. Arnold Stotts, the oldest child of William, and the imme- diate subject of this sketch, is a merchant and farmer of Stottsville and also owner and proprietor of a cotton-gin and saw and grist-mill. He was born in Perry County, Tenn., in October, 1831, and was but twelve years of age when his parents came to this State. July 18. 1851, he was united in marriage with Cynthia Mattox, born near Gaines-
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ville, Ark., and daughter of Edward Mattox. This union has been blessed with five children: Mary Ann (wife of J. Tonson), James, Amanda (wife of Richard Mangrum), William and Alabama (wife of Walter Skelton). All are married and live around the home place. After his marriage Mr. Stotts lo- cated near Jonesboro, and in 1863 moved to Buffalo Island, and in 1881 to his present place. He owns 580 acres of land, and on his home place 320 acres, with 109 under cultivation. In 1874 he began merchandising, and in 1876 put up a cotton gin, a year later adding a saw and grist-mill. He has also a blacksmith shop. When he located on the island there were but four families residing on it, and he has killed deer and bears in numbers. He raised the first cotton crop ever made on the island, and the first year he built his gin, ginned sixty-five bales of cotton, and in 1888 ginned 378 bales. He
J. M. Stotts, postmaster of Dee, and a farmer of Greenfield Township, is a native of Craighead County, born December 28, 1842. His parents, Andrew J. and Mary Ann (Crowder) Stotts, were among the first settlers of Craighead County, com- ing from Tennessee, their native State, in 1836. The father died in 1852, the mother five or six years later. These parents had nine children, five living and residents of this county: William, mar- ried to Caroline Pierce; Martha, wife of Abner Patterson; A. J. Stotts, married to Mila Ann Rickles; Thomas, married to Lena Freeman, and J. M. Stotts, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Stotts was reared in this county, and received a fair common-school education, the war breaking out when he was yet a boy. When about seven- teen years of age he entered the Confederate army, Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry, and served two years. On Christmas day, 1865, he was united in marriage with Sarah Ann Bishop, a daughter of Jones and Margaret (Holland) Bishop, both of whom are natives of Georgia, and came to Arkan- sas in the spring of 1861. The father is deceased, but the mother is still living, and is about fifty
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years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Stotts were born nine children, four of whom are deceased: Abra- ham, Hiram, Andy J. and Mary Ann. The living are William Levi, James Warner, Sarah Ann, Marietta and Hattie. Since his marriage Mr. Stotts has been engaged in farming, and now owns a well-improved farm of fifty acres, mostly under cultivation. He was for four years a merchant of Dee, and in November, 1882, was appointed post- master, which office he has since held. He is a member of Harrisburg Lodge No. 77, I. O. O. F., and both he and his wife are members of the Christian Valley Church.
Albert F. Taylor, one of the most extensive farmers and stock dealers of Craighead County, was born in Henderson County, Tenn., in 1824. His parents, Abner and Mary (Baker) Taylor, were natives of East Tennessee, where the father
is one of the leading citizens of the community, and , was a prosperous and successful farmer. About is eminently a self-made man. Mrs. Stotts is a charitable lady and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
1820 they moved to Western Tennessee, where, being owner of a number of slaves, he engaged ex- tensively in farming. The father died in the "Old Volunteer State," and the mother came with her family to Arkansas, where she died a few years thereafter. They were the parents of four chil- dren, Albert F. being the second child, and the only one now living. He came with his mother to Arkansas in 1838, and located on Crowley's Ridge, now in this county, where he remained for six years, and then moved to Maumelle Prairie, near where he is now living. There he purchased and improved a large farm, and remained on it for six- teen years, and then came to his present location. Since coming to this county he has put in cultiva- tion over 600 acres of land, and now owns over 3, 000 acres, with about 500 on the home place, where there are forty acres in clover and timothy meadow, good residence, tenant house, orchards and barns. He has 150 head of cattle, and in connection with his farm operates a cotton-gin. He was married in 1852 to Elizabeth Snodderly, born in Tennessee, who is the mother of seven children, one, Jennie, deceased. Those living are Alanson L., Fer- gus W., William, Albert F., Jr., John P. and Thomas W. Mr. Taylor is a member of the A. F. & A. M., is a Democrat in politics, and in the late
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