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 64
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prietors of the site donated the public square to the county. Soon after a contract was entered into between the county and Thomas O. Marr, for the construction of a two-story brick court-house, 40x 40 feet in size, with the court room below and the offices above. The contractor agreed to complete the building for $2,400, but it was several years be- fore it was finished and accepted. This house stood until about the year 1870, when on account of its improper construction it fell down. A Mr. McKay secured the contract for the construction of the present courthouse, for the sum of $45,000, and the material of the old building. Afterward, in 1874, when the local administration changed hands, and before the contractor had received his pay, it was discovered or believed that some fraud had been connected with the contract, which led to litigation, whereupon a compromise was made with the contractor by confessing judgment in his favor for $28,000, which, together with costs and inter- est, amounted by the time it was all paid to about $35,000. The court-house is a substantial and fairly handsome two-story brick structure, on a rock foundation, with a fire-proof vault for the records attached, and with offices below and court- room above.
A double-walled, squared-log jail, with stone filling between the walls, and two stories in height, was erected about 1840, and was used until 1870; then a frame jail, with an iron cell was erected and used until 1886, when the present one, a frame with an iron cell, metal roof and siding, was con- structed at a cost of a little over $4,000. These constitute all the county buildings, there being no poor farm or poor asylum.
The following list includes the names of the officers of this county, together with their terms of service, from its organization to the present.
Judges: P. R. Pittman, 1835-42; James Mar- tin, 1842-46; B. J. Wiley, 1846-50; James Mar- tin, 1850-52; B. J. Wiley, 1852-54; J. P. In- gram, 1854-60; William Thompson, 1860-62; H. Cockran, 1862-68: C. V. Cory, 1868-72: com- missioners, 1872-74: Isham Russell, 1874-76: J. H. Purkins, 1876-78; S. J. Johnson, 1878-82: J. H. Richardson, 1882-86; Daniel Wyatt, 1886-
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88; A. J. Witt, present incumbent, elected in 1888.
Clerks: B. J. Wiley, 1835-42; J. H. Imbo- den, 1842-44; T. O. Marr, 1844 -- 49; Alex. Smith, 1849-50; L. F. Johnson, 1850-52; J. C. Walker, 1852-54; E. L. Urmston, 1854-58; J. B. Kelsey, 1858-64; C. C. Elder, 1864-68; E. Rock- well, 1868-72; J. T. Robinson, 1872-76; J. Schoonover, 1876-82; J. T. Robinson, 1882-86; W. T. Bispham, present incumbent, first elected in 1886.
Sheriffs: Wm. Black, 1835-40; J. H. Imbo- den, 1840-42; J. Spikes, 1842-49; John Chand- ler, 1849-52; W. G. Murphy, 1852-58; D. C. Black, 1858-62; M. McNabb, 1862-64; S. M. Truly, 1864-65; D. C. Black, 1865-68; G. A. Eaton, 1868-72; J. T. Fisher, 1872-74; J. F. Spikes, 1874-76; D. C. Black, 1876-78; W. Con- ner, 1878-82; A. J. Witt, 1882-86; B. F. Spikes, present incumbent, first elected in 1886.
Treasurers: B. M. Simpson, 1836-38; J. New- land, 1838-46; W. L. Rice, 1846-52; J. D. Cross, 1852-57; W. W. Douthit, 1857-64; Thom- as Foster, 1864-68; A. J. Pack, 1868-72; J. Hufstedler, 1872-74; T. S. Bennett, 1874-76; J. W. Slayton, 1876-78; A. H. Kibler, 1878-86; J. R. Chambers, present incumbent, first elected in 1886.
Surveyors: J. M. Cooper, 1835-38; John John- son, Sr., 1838-40; J. Vanbibber, 1840-42; I. L. Garrett, 1842-44; William McLain, 1844-54; T. S. Swingington, 1854-56; I. L. Garrett, 1856- 66; N. C. Dodson, 1866-68; I. L. Garrett. 1868- 72; N. C. Dodson, 1872-82; J. H. Skaggs, 1882- 84; N. C. Dodson, 1884-88; G. B. Smith, present incumbent, elected in 1888.
Assessors: L. F. Johnson, 1862-68: D. C. Downey, 1868-72; J. D. Wyatt, 1872-74; S. W. Thompson, 1874-76; J. H. Richardson, 1876-82; W. H. Johnson, 1882-84; M. D. Bowers, 1884- 88; Gideon Thompson, present incumbent, elected in 1888.
Representatives in constitutional conventions: 1836, none; 1861, J. W. Crenshaw; 1864, none; 1868, Ham. W. Ratcliffe: 1874, none.
The first representatives of Randolph County
in the lower house of the legislature of 1837-38 were W. Piboum and J. Anthony.
The first State senator of the county was Rob- ert Smith, who represented this and Lawrence County.
At the last election for President, Randolph gave Cleveland 1,606 votes, Harrison, 249, Street- er, 45, and Fisk, 6.
Randolph County is in Northeast Arkansas, and is bounded north by Oregon and Ripley Counties, in Missouri, east by Clay and Greene Counties in Arkansas, south by Lawrence, and west by Sharp Counties, and contains about 640 square miles, of which only about one-fifth is improved.
Its boundary lines are as follows: Beginning on the State line between Missouri and Arkansas, it crosses the line between Ranges 2 and 3 east; thence, south on the range line to the line dividing Townships 20 and 21 north; thence, east on said line to the northeast corner of Section 4, Township 20 north, Range 3 east; thence, south on the sec- tion lines to the middle of Black River; thence, down the middle of Black River to the line divid- ing Ranges 2 and 3 east: thence, south on the range line to the line between Townships 17 and 18 north; thence, west on the township line to the middle of Black River: thence, down stream to the mouth of Spring River: thence, up Spring River to the line dividing Ranges 2 and 3 west; thence, north to the northeast corner of Township 18 north, Range 3 west; thence, west to the south- west corner of Section 36, Township 19, Range 3; thence, north to the northeast corner of Section 23, same township and range; thence, west to the northwest corner of that section: thence, north to the northwest corner of Section 26. Township 20, Range 3; thence, northwesterly to a point on the State line near the northwest corner of Township 21, Range 4 west: thence, east on the State line to the place of beginning. *
Black River enters the county from the east. south of the center of its eastern boundary. and runs in a southwesterly direction to its junction with Spring River. where it passes out. Current
*The northern portion of the western boundary of the ¡ county has never been definitely located and described.
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River enters from the northeast, in Section 4, Township 20 north, Range 3 east, and flows thence southwesterly to its junction with Black River, in Section 30, Township 19 north, Range 2 east. Black River is navigable for boats of fair size, to the mouth of Current, and the latter is navigable up to Shoemaker's Ferry, near the eastern bound- ary of the county. Both are navigable farther up for smaller vessels. Fourche Dumas-originally Fourche á Thomas-enters from Missouri in the eastern part of Range 1 east, and flows in a south- erly direction to its confluence with Black River, a mile above Pocahontas. Eleven Points River first touches the county from the north, near the mid- dle of Range 2 west, and flows southward, bearing slightly to the east, and empties into Spring River, near the southern boundary. Janes Creek rises in the county's extreme northwest corner and flows southeasterly to its junction with Spring River, in Section 7, Township 18 north, Range 2 west. Spring River flows in a southeasterly direction, forming the boundary between Randolph and Law- rence Counties, and empties into Black River at the extreme southern point of the former. These streams have many tributaries, and together form a beautiful "river system " for the county. The surplus water of the county flows into Black River, and all the streams named, with the exception of Janes Creek, have their source in Missouri. Their united direction resembles a fan or a tree with a spreading top, the lower Black River being the handle of the fan or the trunk of the tree. The soils of the bottom lands.
natural drainage of the county is good. Fish are abundant in all the streams.
About one-half of the lands of Randolph County are level river bottoms, and the remainder hill or uplands, the latter being mostly in the western portion. Its location is such that nearly all is fit for cultivation.
There are large quantities of Government land subject to sale at $1.25 per acre, or that can be taken as a homestead by heads of families, in tracts of 160 acres each, also a large area of State lands, to be had at 50 cents per acre, or that can be do- nated at a cost of $15 for 160 acres, to actual set- tlers. Much land has already been taken up by
"homesteaders." There are indications of met- als beneath the surface, such as lead, zinc and copper, but mines have not yet been opened.
In addition to the many streams mentioned, numerous springs abound, especially in the hilly portions of the county, two of which, " Warm Springs" and "Ravenden Springs " have obtained more than a local reputation for their curative properties. Each of these springs is provided with a commodious hotel for the accommodation of pleasure and health-seekers. An abundance of well water can be obtained throughout the county at a moderate depth, and at reasonable cost. Cis- terns, constructed at a small expense, are in general use. These various sources furnish an abundant water supply.
About four-fifths of the whole area of the coun- ty is covered with a dense forest of fine timber, consisting of white, black, red and swamp, or cow, oaks, white and black hickory, white and black ash, cypress, sweet gum, cedar, birch, cherry, and some walnut and sassafras. The higher or hilly lands abound with oak and hickory, the more valuable timber being generally in the bottoms or level lands.
The soil here is generally good, and with proper cultivation is well adapted to the production of corn, cotton, oats, wheat, clover, the tame grasses. tobacco, vegetables, and all fruits common to this latitude. It varies in quality from the poorer to the richest, the latter being the alluvial
Among the many resources of this section is the seemingly inexhaustible supply of timber. though only about six saw-mills are found; conse- quently the timber now being cut is mostly rafted down the streams in the log to Black River, and thence to Black Rock and other points below where it is sawed. The land owners receive a large in- come from the sale of the timber in the log, or on the stump, and enough is sold from many tracts to pay for them. Besides timber, agricultural pur- suits and the raising of live stock are excellent sources of income. According to the United States Census of 1880, there were 1.476 farms within the county, and 55, 133 acres (about one eighth of the
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entire area) improved, and the vegetable produc- tions for the previous year were: Corn, 782,403 bushels; oats, 33, 137 bushels; wheat, 31,244 bush- els; hay, 275 tons; cotton, 6,248 bales; Irish po- tatoes, 6,696 bushels; sweet potatoes, 5, 570 bush- els; tobacco, 13,348 pounds. In the amount of tobacco produced, it ranked as the tenth county in the State. These figures show that corn and cotton were then, as now, the staple products of the farmers. A good supply of grist-mills and cotton- gins convert the raw material into marketable con- dition. The same census shows the following num- ber of head of live stock: Horses, 3,021; mules and asses, 1,216; neat cattle, 10, 720; sheep, 6,334; hogs, 33,184. The assessment rolls of the taxable personal property for 1888 showed: Horses, 3,594; mules and asses, 1,610; neat cattle, 17,481; sheep, 6,673; hogs, 19,915-a large increase in all except hogs.
In 1880 real estate was assessed for taxation at $384,141, and personal property at $285,597, making a total of $669,720; the total amount of taxes charged was $26,513. In 1888 the real estate assessment amounted to $690,677, and per- sonal property, $671,202, making a total $1,361, - 879, taxes on which were $20,795.59. By com- paring these figures it will be observed that since 1880 the taxable wealth of the county has a little more than doubled, while the taxes have become less. The recent immigration and the more rapid development of all resources account for this in- crease in values. The county's public debt is about $15,000, and its scrip is, at this writing, worth from 75 to 85 cents on the dollar.
The aggregate population of Randolph since its organization has been as follows: 1840, 2,196; 1850, 3,275; 1860, 6,261; 1870, 7,466; 1880, 11,724. The colored population in 1860 was 359, in 1870, 357, and in 1880, 627. The census of 1890 will probably give the aggregate population at about 15,000. On each occasion when the census was taken prior to 1880, the area of the county was about 40 per cent larger than at the present time.
About two miles of the main line of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad run
across the southeast portion of the county, and 1,046 feet of the main line of the Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Memphis Railroad run near Ravenden. O'Kean, on the former line, is the only railroad station within the county limits.
At the beginning of the Civil War in the spring of 1861, the people of Randolph County, with but few individual exceptions, were in favor of the proposed Confederacy, and did all in their power to help establish it. At least eight com- panies of soldiers, commanded, respectively, by Capts. Joseph Martin, T. J. Mellon, Albert Kelsey, Eli Hufstedler, Mahlon McNabb, William A. Black, Isaac Schmick and John Mitchell, were raised here for the Southern army. With these com- mands, and recruits that joined others, both in Arkansas and Missouri, it is estimated that the county furnished over 1,000, perhaps 1,200, sol- diers. Nearly every able-bodied man-including boys over fifteen years of age (save a few who refugeed) were in the Confederate army. For a long time early in the war period, Gen. Hardee had his headquarters at Pocahontas while he or- ganized an army of about 10,000 men, consisting of Hindman's Legion, a battery, and several Arkansas regiments, all of whom were camped at different points along Black River.
No command or commands were raised within the county for the Federal army. In the summer of 1862, after Hardee's army had moved away, Gen. Steele, with a division of Federal troops, occupied Pocahontas for several weeks, and to his honor it can be said that the citizens of the place and vicinity found no fault with his treatment, and that they still remember him with kindness. In September, 1863, a portion of Col. Reeves' regi- ment of Confederates concealed themselves in am- bush on the Herron farm on Current River. from which they fired upon and killed and wounded a few men of Col. Leeper's regiment of Federal troops as it passed along. Aside from this there were only a few shots exchanged within the county between the contending parties. There was no "bushwhacking" between its citizens, but a few men were killed by transient scouting parties. Hav- ing graciously accepted the result of the war the peo-
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ple are generally pleased that the Union was pre- served, and now extend a hearty welcome to immi- grants. Sectional animosity long ago disappeared.
The records of the sessions of the several courts held within this Territory prior to the admission of Arkansas as a State have not been preserved. Upon the county's organization, courts were held at the house of James G. Russell, eight miles north of Pocahontas, on the farm now known as the Fos- ter place, and until the county-seat was located. The records show that a county court convened as early as July, 1836, but it is probable that one or two sessions were held prior to that date. The first recorded session of this court was in Pocahon- tas, in July, 1837, when there were present Peyton R. Pittman, judge, and William L. Rice and Jo- seph Spike, associate justices. Court now con- venes on the first Mondays of January, April, July and October of each year, and the probate court convenes on the second Mondays of the same months. The first session of the circuit court was held at the house of Mr. Russell in August, 1836, and was presided over by Judge Archibald Yell. The first term held at Pocahontas, as appears of record, began on the fifth Monday after the fourth Monday of April, 1837, Judge Lewis B. Tully pre- siding. The circuit court of the county now con- venes in regular session twice a year, beginning on the first Mondays of February and August.
The legal bar of Randolph County is composed of men who have demonstrated themselves to be possessed of ability and thorough knowledge of the legal profession. The following named attor- neys are located here: Rufus H. Black, John P. Black, R. D. Brown, J. T. Lomax, George T. Black, M. F. Collier and S. A. D. Eaton.
Randolph, like all the other counties, has had its share of suffering on account of criminal offend- ers. But few capital offenses, however, were committed prior to the war period. The first exe- cution, in its present boundary, was that of a slave who killed his mistress, in 1830, and was hung in 1831, at old Jackson, then the county-seat of the mother county, Lawrence. Nothing now remains of this old town. In 1850 two men, Miner and McGee, waylaid a stranger, a Kentuckian, who
was passing through the county. One struck bim from his horse with a gun, dragged him from the road into the woods, and there left him for dead. His horse, and saddle-bags containing some money, were then taken, after which the assailants at- tempted to escape. The stranger recovered suffi- ciently to give an alarm. The offenders were caught by the citizens, and, upon being identified by the injured man, were tried and hanged for the offense. The victim died from the effects of his wounds. About the close of the Civil War two men, Brainard and Turpin, broke into a store and killed the keeper, for which offense they were tried and hanged. Later, during the reconstruction per. iod, when chaos reigned, a number of murders were committed, and the offenders went unpun- ished. In 1877 Marcus A. Whitley killed Duke Summers, and subsequently was tried and hanged. : In 1884 William H. Harper killed John Sellers. He was tried in Greene County, on a change of venue, found guilty, and there executed. A few individuals have been compelled to take the lives of antagonists in defense of their own. Ever since the reconstruction period law and order have pre- vailed here, and a safer or more peaceable com- munity cannot now be found.
Education is not at a standstill in this section. as the following from the report of Mr. C. E. Witt, county examiner, amply indicates: There was within the county in 1888, a scholastic popula- tion of 4,804 white, and 189 colored children, making a total of 4,993. Of these, only. 1,306 white, and eighty-six colored. making a total of 1,392, were enrolled in the public schools. But the latter-owing to the failure of directors to make reports-is not a true representation, as the at- tendance is only given for the number of schools reported, and thus the system does not receive credit for its actual work.
The following letter bearing so directly to the point is worthy of insertion:
POCAHONTAS, ARK., SEPT. 25. 1888. HON. W. E. THOMPSON, Little Rock, Ark.
Dear Sir :- You will find enclosed the annual report of the public schools of this county. It is not a correct report by a great deal. It is untrustworthy in every par- ticular; nearly seventy-five percent of the districts failed
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to report anything except the number of persons between the ages of six and twenty-one years, and four districts did not report anything at all. The public schools of this county are more popular with the natives than any other class of people, but not appreciated like they should be, taking into consideration the immense amount of good they are doing. Yours truly,
C. E. WITT, County Examiner.
Other county examiners complain of the failure of the district directors to make reports as re- quired by law. There are seventy-five school dis- tricts in the county, and for the year ending June 30, 1888, there was expended on account of the public schools the sum of $8,822.63. The aver- age monthly wages paid teachers with first-grade certificates was: Males, $37.50; females, $35.
The Roman Catholic Marienstine Institute, located at Pocahontas, is under the management of the Sisters. This is an institution of great ex- cellence, and wields considerable influence in edu- cational circles.
The religious denominations of Randolph County are: Methodist Episcopal, South, Baptist, Christian and Roman Catholic. The former two - were the pioneer Christian workers, having organ- ized the first religious societies in the county. Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, there are three circuits and a mission. The Pocahontas Circuit, consisting of Pocahontas, Clearview Chapel, Oak Grove and Mount Pisgah, with Rev. R. H. Grissett, pastor, has a membership of 301. The Siloam Circuit containing several appointments in the northeast part of the county, Rev. J. S. Best, pastor, has a membership of 368. The Walnut Hill Circuit, covering several points in the northwestern portion, Rev. J. F. Armstrong, pastor, has a membership of 215. The Warm Springs Mission in the central part, Rev. J. G. Miller, pastor, has a membership of seventy-two.
Belonging to the Baptist Churches are Witt's Chapel, Pleasant Grove, Oak Grove, Mount Pleas- ant, Little Vine, Shiloh, Spring Hill, Macedonia, Antioch, Mud Creek. Dry Creek, James School- house, Vandergriff School house, Reyno and a few others, all with an average membership of from forty to fifty. Some of these are attached to the State Line Association of Missionary Baptists,
and some to the Spring River Baptist Association. Among the Baptist ministers of the county are elders I. H. Witt, D. A. Pressley, J. B. Roach, M. D. Bowers, Isham Looney, John A. Giles and A. W. James.
The Christian Churches are represented by Stony Point, Dry Creek, Maynard. Union, Liberty, Warm Springs and one near Noland postoffice. Elder B. F. Hollowell is pastor of the first three named. Two elders by the name of Lemon also preach to the people.
The Roman Catholics have one church, St. Paul's, with a large membership, located at Poca- hontas. Rev. Father J. Eugene Weibel is the pas- tor. The Marienstine Institute, before mentioned, is located by and connected with this church.
All these denominations, except the latter, main- tain Sunday-schools in the most thickly settled neighborhoods, and all according to their several creeds are actively engaged in the advancement of Christianity.
Randolph County is not without its towns. Al- bertha, twelve miles northeast of Pocahontas, con- tains a postoffice, store, grocery, and church and school-house combined.
Dalton, a post hamlet on Eleven Point River, is composed of two stores, and a water-power grist- mill.
Elm Store is a postoffice near Eleven Points River, on the north line of the county.
Ingram is a post hamlet near the mouth of Mud Creek.
Kingsville, in the western part, contains two general and one drug store, and a church and schoolhouse combined.
Lima, a postoffice, is ten miles northwest of Pocahontas.
Maynard, fourteen miles northeast of Pocahon - tas, comprises a postoffice, two stores, a hotel, grist and saw-mill, cotton-gin. a church and school. house.
Middlebrook, on Fourche Dumas, has a post- office, two stores, a cotton-gin, and church, school- house and Masonic lodge combined.
Noland is a postoffice in the south central part of the county.
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O' Kean, a station on the St. Louis, Iron Mount- ain & Southern Railroad, in the southeast corner, contains a general store, drug store, hotel and liv- ery stable.
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