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 72

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis : The Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1026

USA > Arkansas > Biographical and historical memoirs of northeast Arkansas : comprising a condensed history of the state biographies of distinguished citizens a brief descriptive history of the counties, and numerous biographical sketches of the prominent citizens of such counties. V. 1 > Part 72

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

James Lomax was also reared to the arduous duties of the farm, and is still engaged in that pursuit. He came to Randolph County, Ark., in 1857, settled in Roanoke Township, improved a good farm, and now resides in the same neighbor- hood. J. T. Lomax came with his parents to Randolph County, when a child, and remained on his father's farm until seventeen years of age, re- i ceiving his education in the meantime in private schools. At the atove mentioned age he began teaching school, and followed this occupation until 1882, studying law in the meantime. The two years following he taught school in Pocahontas, and was admitted to the bar in February, 1883, after which he established himself in practice at this point, and has been actively engaged ever since. The firm hold a large and growing clientage, and their co-partnership is a happy and prosperous one. They make a specialty of collecting and ab- stracting, and have a complete set of abstracts of Randolph and Clay Counties. Mr. Lomax was married, in 1879, to Miss Josephine V. Mitchell, a native of Randolph County. Mr. Lomax is closely identified with school matters, and has been one term county examiner. He was also mayor of the town one term. Aside from his practice Mr. Lo- max is also the owner of some town property. He is of English descent on his father's side, and German on his mother's.

Erasmus D. Looney, farmer, Dalton, Ark. All his life Mr. Looney has followed, with substan-, tial success, the occupation to which he was reared, and in which he is now engaged, farming. One cattle lived on the cane. A number of years of the largest land owners in Davidson Township, he is also one of its recognized leading agricultur- ists, and as a man, no less than as a citizen, he is highly esteemed. His birth occurred May 1, 1848, and he is the son of W. S. Looney, who was also a native of Arkansas, born in 1820. The elder Looney received very meager opportunities for schooling, but his father, being an educated man, taught his children at home, and thus they became fairly educated. W. S. Looney was married in 1834 to Miss Pollie Wells, a native of Tennessee, and the result was the birth of two children: one who died when small, and Erasmus D., the subject ; in a number of battles, notably Prairie Grove.

of this sketch. Mrs. Looney died in 1851, and Mr. Looney was married, the second time, to Miss Catherine Garrett. and ten children were born to their union, all of whom died young. Mr. Looney was forced into the army, but being very unhealthy his son Erasmus D. took his place, and the father remained at home. When first married the latter possessed very little property, but at the time of his death he was the owner of about 1,000 acres, with about 300 acres improved. He had made all this without assistance, and was a self-made man in every sense of the term. He was a mem- ber of the Golden Circle during war times, and in his political views affiliated with the Democratic party. Previous to the war he owned a dozen negroes, besides other personal property, to a great extent, horses, cattle, etc. He was one of the wealthiest men in the county, but lost all except his land during those times. The paternal grand- father of our subject was born in Knox County, Tenn., and was the first white man that settled on Eleven Points, as he came here as early as 1802, and entered 1.500 acres of land. He brought three negroes with him, and for a number of years was obliged to go to Cape Girardeau, Mo., 135 miles distant, and be gone for about two weeks, to buy his groceries and other necessary articles. Their meat was obtained from the forest which abounded in bears, deer, turkeys, etc. He could not raise hogs on account of the bears. Very little farming was done in those days, as from six to ten acres was considered a good crop, and the horses and elapsed before there were any settlers besides him- self and two brothers named Stubblefield, on this stream, and it was fifteen to twenty miles to the nearest neighbor. He had a fine orchard, and made brandy in great quantities, about 1,500 gal- lons per year. Erasmus D. Looney early in youth learned the mysteries of farm life, and obtained a fair education by attending the subscription schools of his day. In 1863. he joined the Confederate army, Company E, Col. Reeves' regiment of cav- alry, and served until June 5, 1865, when he sur- rendered at Jacksonport. Ark. He was engaged

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RANDOLPH COUNTY.

Fredericktown, Pilot Knob, Jefferson City, Cali- fornia, Brownville, Lexington, Glasgow, Inde- pendence and quite a number of minor engage- ments. After the war Mr. Looney returned home, and went immediately to work to repair the losses sustained by the war. He commenced farming, and continued this occupation until 1867, when he engaged in merchandising. Previous to this, in March, 1866, he married Mrs. Frances E. Herren, nee Overton, of Mississippi County, Mo., and seven children blessed this union, five now living: Laura B., wife of Frank Jackson, and born January 18, 1867: William S., born December 22, 1868: Mary A., born November 7, 1872; Caroline, born November 27, 1875; Richard (deceased). born July 4, 1878; Della (deceased), born September 3, 1881; Thomas Estell, born March 5, 1882. The two who died were Della, March 5, 1873, and Richard, March 5, 1883. Mrs. Looney was born July 8, 1844, and is the daughter of James and Mary (Beacham) Overton, natives of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Overton came to Missouri at an early day, and settled in Mississippi County. They were the parents of six children, three ar- riving at maturity, Richard (deceased), whose family resides in Mississippi County, Mo., Charles (deceased), and Frances E., wife of our subject. Mrs. Looney was first married to Mr. Thomas Herren, and by him became the mother of one child, James W., who lives at Cherokee Bay, Randolph County. Mr. Herren was in the Con- federate army, and was murdered by Leeper's men in the last year of the war. Mrs. Looney's father died in 1865, and her mother in 1854. Mrs. Looney and her daughter, Laura B., are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Looney is a Democrat in politics, and is one of the enterprising citizens of the county.

Stephen C. McCrary. The agricultural affairs of Randolph County, Ark., and particularly of Current River Township, are ably represented by Mr. McCrary, who comes of an old established family of this community. Hugh Mccrary, his father, a Kentuckian by birth, who was a black- smith and a farmer by occupation, was one of the early pioneers of Phillips County, Ark .. and made

the second cotton scraper ever used in Phillips County. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and took an active part in the battle of New Orleans. He died in 1870 at the age of seventy- seven years, and his wife, whose maiden name vas Elizabeth Wilson, also died here. When twe ve years of age Stephen C. McCrary began to fight the battle of life for himself and made his home with his relatives until August, 1864, when he en- listed in the Confederate army, and until the close of the war was in several hotly contested engage- ments. After his return to Phillips County he engaged in farming. continuing until 1867, since which time he has followed the same occupation on Current River, in Randolph County. He im- proved a small farm, but in 1880 removed to Reyno and built a cotton-gin, grist and saw mill (the first in the place), which he is still conduct- ing. The capacity of his saw-mill is 8,000 feet per day, and gives employment to twelve hands. and about one-half the town of Reyno is laid out on his land, of which he has 120 acres. In 1866 he was married to Miss Harriet Susan Hite, of Phillips County, and their family comprised seven children, only three of whom are living: Sallie C., widow of J. S. Reynolds, of Reyno; Blanche, wife of James E. Casey, and John, at home. The family was called upon to mourn the death of the mother in 1879. Two years later Mr. McCrary married Elizabeth Goodwin, whose maiden name was Luttrell, and by her he has three children: Maude, Helen and Vistor. Mr. Mccrary is a Mason, and his wife belongs to the Eastern Star Lodge.

Dr. Jonathan M. McGuire is worthy of being classed among the substantial residents of Ran- dolph County, Ark. He was born in Scott Coun- ty, Va., May 27, 1823, and is a son of John B. and Nancy (King) McGuire, who were also Virginians. the father a farmer and blacksmith by occupation. who after coming to Randolph County, Ark., in 1858. continued to follow these occupations until his death, which occurred in 1864, at the age of sixty-two years. He was a Mason, a Democrat politically, and the last forty years of his life was an elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

was an eloquent expounder of the Christian faith. His wife, who was also an earnest member of that church, died in 1867. The following are the surviving members of their nine children: J. M., whose name heads this sketch; J. F., a farmer, residing in St. Clair County, Mo .; T. B., a practic- ing physician, of Kansas, and David F., a farmer, of Ripley County, Mo. Dr. Jonathan M. McGuire received a limited education in youth, and at the age of nineteen years began the battle of life for himself, and from 1824 to 1859 was engaged in husbandry in Middle Tennessee. At the latter date he moved to Arkansas, and located on his present farm of 160 acres, which is well improved, with good buildings and orchard. In addition to his farm work he is a practicing physician, and is well and favorably known throughout Northeast Arkansas, having followed this profession for the past thirty years. He has held the office of dis- trict commissioner for ten years, and is an active supporter of all worthy movements in his commun- ity. Politically he is a Republican, and cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison, for Presi- dent, and his last for his grandson, Benjamin F. Harrison. He was married on the 13th of Octo- ber, 1841, his wife being a native of Middle Ten- nessee. She died in 1863, having borne the fol- lowing children: James, who died in Arkansas, at the age of forty years; Nancy A. (Miller) who also died in Arkansas, at the age of twenty-six years; Mary (Shoemaker), who died in this State, at the age of twenty-two years; Nebraska Delaney, who died in Arkansas, when twenty years of age, and Thomas Cary, who is married, a farmer, and re- sides in Clay County, Ark. Mr. McGuire was mar- ried to his second wife April 22, 1865, she being a Mrs. A. A. Friar, of Como County, Miss., who died in January, 1882, having borne two children: America Jane, who was born in 1865, and died when six months old, and J. B., who was born in January, 1868, and is now married to Emeline Odum, of Missouri.

Hon. Hammet McIlroy, the oldest living set- tler of Randolph County, Ark., was born in Madi- son County, Mo., March 9, 1812. it being then a portion of Louisiana Territory. He is a son ;

of Samuel and Elizabeth (McLain) MeIlroy, the father's birth occurring in Culpeper County, Va .. in 1781, and his death in Randolph County, Ark .. April 8, 1853. The early youth and manhood of the father were spent in his native State, and his first removal from there was to Hopkins County, Ky., where he met and married Miss McLain, whose birth occurred in South Carolina, in 1793, their union taking place in 1808. Shortly after their nuptials they removed to Cape Girardeau County, Mo., then to Madison County, and in 1813. came to what is now Randolph County, Ark., where they made their home until their respective deaths. The mother died December 5, 1850. Samuel McIlroy was a soldier in the War of 1812, and fought the Seminole Indians. In his youth he learned the hatter's trade, but the most of his later years was spent at farming, in which occu- pation he was quite successful. He was a Demo- crat. His father, Daniel MeIlroy, was born in Virginia, and was of Scotch descent. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and was once captured at the battle of Long Island. Alexander McLain, the paternal grandfather, was also in that war, and was at the battles of King's Mountain, Cowpens and others. There were born to the marriage of Samuel and Elizabeth McIlroy, ten sons, seven of whom lived to maturity. Hammet was the second child, and is one of only two who are now living. He and his brother, Andrew J., worked for their father until sixteen years of age, learning in the meantime the hatter's trade, and after that time began working at their trade for themselves. In 1844 Hammet turned his attention to farming, and his labors in this direction have been attended with good results, he being now the owner of 650 acres of excellent land, a considerable portion of which is rich bottom soil. He has been an exten- sive trader in grain and stock, and has shipped both down the river on flatboats. In politics he has always been a Democrat, and in 1850 he was elected to represent Randolph County in the State legislature, and in 1852 was re-elected to the same position. July 11, 1833, he married Miss Elizabeth Davis, a daughter of Lot and Mary Davis, who came from Iron County, Mo .. to this

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RANDOLPH COUNTY.

county in 1818. She was born May 14, 1815, and died February 1, 1871, having been an earnest member of the Baptist Church for many years. Five of her ten children are now living: William, Thomas J., Archibald Y., Elizabeth Jane and Clorah T. Mr. McIlroy married his second wife on the 10th of September, 1871, her maiden name being Maria L. Cooper, who was born in Greene County, Ind., April 22, 1828, a daughter of M. Cooper, and the widow of William J. Inman. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church, and although they are now quite aged, they are yet hale and hearty, giving promise of spending many more years of usefulness in Randolph County. In the legislature of 1850 Mr. McIlroy heartily indorsed the compromise act as it was passed by Congress that year, and warmly supported by Clay, Webster, Douglas and others. This session witnessed resolutions introduced, some approving and others opposing the' action of that honorable body. In 1860 and 1861, when the subject of secession was being warmly discussed, he opposed secession to the utmost of his ability, first because he did not think there was sufficient cause to justify such a course, and next owing to a belief that secession could not win. After the war had pro- gressed about three years and President Lincoln had offered his amnesty proclamation, he was in favor of accepting that, and when the Confederate armies had surrendered and peace was made and the Southern States offered pardon and restoration to their constitutional rights in the Union on cer- tain conditions, he advocated reconstruction as proposed by the Federal government, as they were the victorious party, and as such had the right to dictate the terms of peace to the vanquished.

Andrew McIlroy is one of the oldest and most prominent residents of the county, and during his entire life, which has been spent in this county, naught but good has been said of him, for he has been honest, industrious, and has kept himself thoroughly apace with the times. His birth oc- curred on the 10th of September, 1821, and he is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (MeLain) MeIlroy, a short sketch of whom is given in the biography of Hon. Hammet MeIlroy. Andrew Mellroy at-

tended the common country schools in his youth, where he acquired a fair knowledge of the English branches, and up to mature years his knowledge of the world was only such as could be learned on the home farm. At the age of twenty he com . menced driving stock, and the following year he took charge of the stage line from Fredericktown, Mo., south to Reeves' Station, same State. Two years later he bought forty acres of land and com- menced farming, and since that time has added thereto, until he now has 970 acres, all of which is the result of his own good business ability and shrewd management. He has made it a point through life never to go in debt, and he can now look back over a useful and well-spent life. His wife was formerly a Miss Sarah A. Davies, whom he married in 1844. She was born in Virginia, March 3, 1823, and has borne a family of ten children, of whom Margaret E. (Williams), Mary Susan (Lewis), James F., Dan W., Amanda C., Martha Josephine and Sarah A. are living. John A. died when thirteen years of age, and the others in infancy. Mrs. McIlroy is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. McIlroy is a Mason, a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and a Democrat. Previous to the war he was post- master at Lima seven years, and it was chiefly through his efforts that the postoffice at that point was established.

T. J. McIlroy, farmer, Dalton, Ark. Mr. Mc- Ilroy is a practical farmer-one who believes that it is beneficial to have all his farming operations conducted in a manner so thorough as to not slight one department of labor in order to bestow more work on some other portion. This idea is carried out very completely. He is a native of the State of Arkansas, where he was born in 1840, and is the son of Hammet and Elizabeth (Davis) MeIlroy, natives of Arkansas and Missouri, respectively. The father was one of the very earliest white chil- dren born in this section [see sketch of Andrew Mellroy for history of grandparents], and was early reared to farm labor. He also learned the hatter's trade, and worked in the shop until grown. He made some hats after being married, and let his sons manage the farm. His marriage occurred in

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

1833 with Miss Davis, and their union was blessed by the birth of ten children, seven of whom lived to be grown: William, living in Texas; T. J. (sub- ject), Martha (deceased wife of Newton Robinett); Maria L. (deceased wife of Columbus Fry); Elizabeth J., wife of William Baker; A. Y., living in Hood County, Tex., and Clorah, wife of W. C. Bird. Hammet McIlroy received but a limited education, though, after all, one superior to most boys in those days, for he was fond of study and was a good pupil. In 1850 he was elected to rep- resent his county in the legislature, and two years later was re-elected, thus serving two terms. He never held any other office. He was opposed to the secession of the States, though he is a strong Democrat, and never served in any of the wars. At present he is residing on the farm that he pur- chased fifty-seven years ago. He is a member of the Baptist Church. His wife, who died in 1871, at the age of about fifty-six years, was also a mem- ber of the same church. When it became neces- sary for the subject of this sketch to start out in life for himself, he very naturally and wisely chose the occupation to which he had been reared, and from that time until the present his success has been such as only a thorough acquaintance with his calling and years of experience could lead him to achieve. He began tilling the soil on land purchased from his father, and when in his twenty- first year (1861) he was united in marriage with Miss Mary White, of Randolph County. To them were born seven children: W. T., a merchant at Dalton, Ark .; Nora E., wife of James Dalton; Robert L., James I. I. and Henry M. (twins), Sarah A. and Mary F. Mrs. McIlroy is the daughter of Howell and Elizabeth (Stubblefield) White, natives of this county. They were the parents of four children, three of whom lived to be grown: Henry. Mary, and Frances M. (deceased). Mr. McIlroy joined the Confederate army in 1861, and served eighteen months in Gen. Price's command. He was not in any battles that amounted to anything, but was in a number of skirmishes, and although serving only the above mentioned time, he was still enrolled at the close of the war. He surren- dered at Jacksonport, Ark., June 5. 1865. He

then came home, engaged in farming and stock raising, and has continued the same ever since. At that time he was the owner of 130 acres, thirty being under cultivation. He is now the owner of about 500 acres, with 220 improved. He also owns con- siderable personal property, and makes a specialty of raising mules. Instead of cotton he raises corn, wheat and clover, and has one of the best improved farms in the county, with good barns, out buildings, etc. Mr. McIlroy is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He takes a great interest in school affairs, and is a lib- eral supporter of all laudable enterprises.

Cicero D. McIlroy is a man well known to the people of Randolph County, Ark., for he was born here on the 24th of April, 1850, and is a son of John and Mary A. (Jones) McIlroy, who were na- tives of Madison County, Mo., and Randolph County, Ark., respectively. The father was born in the former county in 1818, and died in the latter in November, 1862. His widow survives him and resides in Randolph County. Both were church members, he being in communion with the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, South, and she with the Baptist. His life was given to tilling the soil, and the manner in which he acquired his possessions showed him to be an energetic and excellent busi- ness manager. His first money was obtained by making rails, and he afterward traded in stock, shipping south on flat boats. He was a stanch Democrat in his political views. Cicero D. MeIl- roy is the third in the family, the names of the others being as follows: Callie (Brook), Mary E .. wife of John Amos, a farmer of the county: Al- exander H., also a farmer, residing on the old homestead; Robert J., residing in the county; Penelope, wife of Jasper Vandergriff, of this county; Samuel B., also residing here, and Eva- line, the wife of Gilleon Thompson, who is now assessor of this county. Cicero D. MeIlroy re- ceived his education in the common schools, and being the eldest of the family it fell to his lot to take charge of the home farm after his father's death, but he proved to be a successful manager. In 1870. 1874 and 1875 he acted as salesman in a

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Biographical and historical memoirs of northeast Arkansas : comprising a condensed history of the state biographies of distinguished citizens a brief descriptive history of the counties, and numerous biographical sketches of the prominent citizens of such counties. V. 1, Part 72

Author: Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis : The Goodspeed Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1026

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis : The Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1026