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 77

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 77

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H. A. Slaughter, M. D., is one of the very foremost among the professional men of the county, and has won an enviable reputation as a practi- tioner of the "healing art." He possesses ad- vanced ideas and progressive principles regarding his profession, and is gifted with a full share of the sterling characteristics of the native Kentuckian. His birth occurred on the 14th of August, 1839, and he is the tenth of twelve children, five of whom are living, born to the marriage of French G. and Mary W. (Anthony) Slaughter, who were born in the Blue Grass State and the " Old Do- minion," respectively. The father followed bus- bandry throughout life, and although he had an excellent knowledge of the law, having studied it in his early manhood, he never practiced. He held many different offices in Nelson County, Ky., such as justice of the peace and sheriff, and died

in that State in 1871 at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife also died there, she having been an earnest and consistent member of the Presby- terian Church for many years. The paternal grandfather, James Slaughter, was a Virginian, who died in Kentucky. Dr. H. A. Slaughter re- ceived the rudiments of his education in Winslow, Graves County, Ky., and from the time he was eighteen years of age until the breaking out of the war he was engaged in farming. He then enlisted in Company L, of the Eighth Kentucky Cavalry, but after serving faithfully for two years he was discharged on account of disability, and after re- turning home located in Kenton's Station, where he spent about three years. He also studied med- icine during this time under Dr. David Yandall, and afterward pursued his studies in the Louisville Medical College. From 1868 to 1870 he resided in Ballard County, Ky., and then took up his abode in Randolph County, Ark., where he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession, the large extent of territory over which he travels speaking louder than mere words can do of the estimation in which he is held by the public as a member of the medical fraternity. Politically he supports Democratic principles; he is a Royal Arch Mason, and belongs to the Chris- tian Church.

John F. Spikes, who is one of the substantial and progressive agriculturists of the county, was born here on the 20th of February, 1836, and is one of a family of seven children who were born to the marriage of Joseph Spikes and Permelia Wad- dell. who were born in Hawkins County, Tenn .. in 1806 and 1805, and died in 1853 and 1864. respect- ively. They were married in their native State. and moved to Arkansas, being among the very first families to settle in what is now Randolph County. Mr. Spikes was engaged in farming and trading. and in every enterprise to which he turned his at- tention he met with good returns. He was sheriff of Randolph County for many years. and was filling the duties of this position at the time of his death. He was a Democrat, and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John F. Spikes received fair educational advan-

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tages in his youth, and made his home with his mother until a short time before her death, when he started out in life for himself. After the war he was left without means, but as he inherited some of his father's excellent business qualities, coupled with his energy and enterprise, he has succeeded far beyond his expectations, and is now the owner of 840 acres of some of the best land in the county. When barely twenty-one years of age he was elected constable, and served in this capacity for eighteen years, then positively declined to serve further. In 1874 he was elected county sheriff, and at the end of the term, although solicited by many to again become a candidate, he declined to put up his name. Although he is a non-partisan, he has always supported the men and measures of the Democratic party. He is a Mason, and he and his wife, whom he married February 7, 1863, and whose maiden name was Martha E. Mock, are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mrs. Spikes was born in Randolph County in 1840, and is a daughter of Matthias Mock. To their union eight children have been born: Amanda P. (wife of Franklin Tiner, a farmer and teacher of the county), Mary J., James C., Will- iam A., John W., Sulah M., Thomas F. and Jo- seph A., all at home.

Samuel E. Spikes. Among the families who were early settlers of the State of Arkansas, was that of which the subject of this sketch is a worthy member, although the exact date of their settle- ment is unknown. He himself was born on the farm where he now lives, May 15, 1840, and is one of three surviving members of a family of four children born to William and Mary L. (Masters) Spikes, who were born in Hawkins County, Tenn., and near Charleston, S. C., in 1784 and 1802, and died in 1855 and 1881, respectively. At the time they located in Randolph County, Ark., the set- tlers were very scarce, and the nearest neighbor was eight miles away. He cleared a farm on which he resided until his death, and in addition to managing this farm he carried on the cooper's and wheelwright's trades which he had learned in his youth. He was a successful financier, but was rather improvident and spent his money freely,

laying up but very little for a rainy day. He was an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he had been a member for many years, and in his political views was a Democrat. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary L. Mas- ters, was first married to a Mr. Alexander, and with him moved to Arkansas, where he was after- ward drowned. She then wedded Mr. Spikes, being his third wife, and by him became the mother of the following children: Samuel E., Eliz- abeth C. (widow of George Kerzey), Mary P. (widow of Madison Gallich), and two others de- ceased, one of whom was L. F., who died while serving in the Confederate army. Mr. Spikes' first union resulted in the birth of six children: Joseph W., who was the third sheriff of Randolph County, and died in New Orleans; Jesse, John William, Martha and Nancy, all of whom died in the same county, except Nancy who died in Texas. Samnel E. Spikes enlisted, in 1862, in Capt. B. Shores' company, Col. Adams' regiment, and served until the close of the war, being a participant in the battles of Cane Hill and Delhi. After his return home he was married to Miss Mary Frances Stone. a daughter of Rufus Stone. She was born in Tennessee, May 6, 1847, and died in Randolph County, Ark., December 24, 1882, having borne a family of eight children, seven now living: Will- iam R., Samuel E., Mary C., Martha J., Fannie E., Robert A. and Francis M. A daughter named Eliza A., was born April 9, 1870, and died No- vember 24, 1887. Our subject started in life without means, but by his own energy and good management he is now one of the wealthy resi- dents of the county. He is a Mason in good stand- ing, and is a Democrat in his political views. After his marriage, his mother made her home with him until her death.

Mrs. Alice L. Surridge, widow of Robert Sur- ridge, and a lady of culture and refinement, was born in Jackson County. Tenn., and is the daugh- ter of A. W. W. Brooks, one of the prominent and wealthy farmers of Randolph County, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Surridge came to Arkansas with her parents when a child, was reared on a farm and received her

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education at Warm Springs high school. When twenty-one years of age she was united in marriage to Mr. Robert Surridge, a native of Missouri, born May 8; 1862. Heaven blessed this union with three children: Sudie, Lena and Robert Caldwell. Mr. Surridge was engaged in the grocery business at Pocahontas, and was an excellent business man and, above all, thoroughly honest. He continued in this business until his death, which occurred February 28, 1889. It is sad to think of death in connection with the young, and especially so with regard to Mr. Surridge, who, with his wife and lit- tle children around him, was full of business and enterprise until the grim destroyer entered and laid him low. Mrs. Surridge is the owner of 380 acres of land, and also considerable town property.

James F. Sutton is a farmer residing near Po- cahontas, Ark., and was born in Tennessee Feb- ruary 18, 1828. He is one of six sons and six daughters born to the marriage of Forester and Mary (McNiece) Sutton, who spent the greater portion of their lives in Marshall County, Tenn., and there resided until their respective deaths. James F. was the eldest of their children, and re- mained in his native State until 1852, at which time he settled in Southwest Missouri; three years later he came to Randolph County, Ark., and here has made his home up to the present date, with the exception of the time spent in the army. He joined the Confederate forces in 1861, becom- ing a member of Company H, Col. Shaver's regi- ment of infantry, and was a private until the sur- render of Little Rock, Ark., and was on the In- firmary corps until the battle at Cane Hill. He returned to the duties of farm life after the battle of Little Rock, and has pursued the occupation of husbandry on his 160-acre farm ever since. This land he purchased prior to the war, paying 12} cents per acre, and he now has seventy five acres in an excellent state of cultivation. While he has never held any office of public trust, yet he is a man who does all in his power to assist in the im- provement of his county; is a liberal supporter of worthy movements, and is a strong advocate of free schools. Politically he is a Republican. His marriage with Miss Anna Noblin occurred in 1849,

and by her he became the father of eleven children, five of whom are now living: G. W., who resides in the county; F. M. ; Mary E., wife of John Kin- caid; Samuel T. and Benjamin F. His wife and eldest three children are members of the Baptist Church. Prior to the Rebellion he served in the State militia as first lieutenant, and has held the same position since.

Richard Sweeza. In giving a history of Ran- dolph County, Ark., the name of Mr. Sweeza deserves honorable mention, for he has always been industrious and enterprising, and has ever aided enterprises which tend to the interests of the county. He was born near where he now lives, on the 1st of February, 1837, and is one of two sur- viving members (the other survivor being Nancy Jane, the wife of Joseph Thomas, a farmer of the county) of a family of nine children born to Rich- ard and Matilda (Bigger) Sweeza, both of whom were born in Missouri, former's birth occurring in Carter County. They were reared to maturity and married in that State, and after the celebration of their nuptials they resided in Carter County several years, then came to Randolph County, Ark., being among the very first settlers of the county. The country was full of Indians and wild animals at that time, but Mr. Sweeza began to clear a farm, and followed this occupation in con- nection with blacksmithing throughout life, accu- mulating thereby a large amount of property. He died in 1841, when a comparatively young man, his widow afterward becoming the worthy com- panion of Randolph Cook, of Illinois, and her death occurred in that State, in 1855. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sweeza were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he was of French descent. Richard Sweeza, the immediate subject of this sketch, received his early education at home, and made his home with his stepfather. Mr. Cook, until the opening of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in Company C, of the Eighth Arkansas Infantry, Confederate States Army, and was on active duty east of the Mississippi River until the close of the war. He was in twenty-three regular engagements, among which were the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Perryville.

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Atlanta, Nashville, Missionary Ridge and many others. He was wounded by a musket ball in the upper lip, at Atlanta, and also at Ringgold Gap by a shell striking the lock of his gun and bursting. At Atlanta he was taken prisoner, but was re-taken by his friends ten minutes later, and in this en- gagement his whole command was captured with the exception of twenty men. He saw some very hard service, and after the war he returned home with the consciousness of having been a brave and faithful soldier. Like his father before him he has always been engaged in farming and black- smithing; and although he commenced life for him- self with little or no means, he has succeeded well, and now owns 200 acres of excellent land. In 1867 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Louisa Jane (Russell) Bigger, a daughter of Col. James G. Russell, and the widow of Ransom Bigger, who was killed during the war. She died in 1870, an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and three years later Mr. Sweeza wedded Mrs. Sarah A., the widow of Marion Rus- sell. She was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., De- cember 14, 1834, and both are now members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he being a steward in the same. He is a Democrat politically, and is one of the enterprising men of the county.

John S. Tanner, merchant of Kingsville, Ark., needs no introduction to the people of Randolph County, for his connection with its affairs dates back to 1875, and although his name has never been thrust before the public for purposes of notoriety, he is one of the county's most successful young business men. He was born in Fulton County, Ark., March 1, 1864, and is a son of Will- iam W. and Sarah Ann (Reeves) Tanner, both of whom were born in Obion County, Tenn., the former's birth occurring in 1832, and the latter's in 1834. They were married in that county, and moved from there to Fulton County. Ark., being among its earliest settlers, but in 1875 came to Randolph County. The father had been familiar with merchandising from earliest boyhood, but a short time prior to his death, which occurred on the 16th of October, 1888, he had retired from the active duties of business life, and left af-

fairs to the management of his son. He was also engaged in farming, was a Mason, a Democrat, and while in Tennessee held the office of constable, and after coming to Arkansas was justice of the peace for several years. He served in the Confederate army throughout the war, and was a participant in a number of important engagements. His widow now resides in Kingsville, Ark., and both were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Of their nine children our subject is the third. and eight of the family are now living: Mary F. (Blackwell), Nancy W. (Baker), John S., William S. (who is deputy clerk of Randolph County), Sarah A., Emma J., Ida B., Arthur A. (who died when in his third year) and Lula. John S. Tanner's early scholastic advantages were received in his na- tive county, and were such as the common schools afforded, but these advantages he improved to the utmost, and he is now acknowledged by all to be one of the bright, energetic and enterprising young men of the county. In later years he finished his education in the Cumberland University at Leban- on, Tenn., and was one of its most substantial stu- dents. February 3, 1884, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Nora Ann Fuller, a daughter of Albert Fuller. She was born in Grayson County, Ky., and is the mother of two children: Nellie G. and Guy W. Mr. Tanner and wife are in commu- nion with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and as far as his political views are concerned Mr. Tanner has followed in the footsteps of his father, being a staneh Democrat.

Samuel W. Thompson, although just in the prime of life, has made his way to the front ranks among the energetic farmers of this county, and owing to the attention he has always paid to each minor detail, he has accumulated a fair share of this world's goods. He is a native-born resident of the county, his birth occurring on the 9th of December, 1845, and he is a son of William and Mary (McLean) Thompson, who were also well known here. The father was born in Virginia. March 3, 1815, and when a child only seven years of age, he was taken to Knox County, Tenn .. by an uncle, whence, after remaining there a short time, he came to Arkansas, and became interested in farm-

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ing and wagon making, which occupations he fol- lowed for many years. After the war, he farmed exclusively, and was school commissioner for years, also county and probate judge, and was filling the latter position at the opening of the Rebellion, being appointed to the same position after the cessation of hostilities. He was a well-known and respected citizen, and he and his wife, whose native State was Missouri, having been born there in 1816, were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Her death occurred in this county in 1856. He died November 23, 1883. During early times, meetings were held in their house in lieu of a pub- lic building, and for years he was superintendent of the Methodist Sunday-school. He was a life- long Democrat and Mason, and was an active worker for all causes tending to the good of the county. His father, who was born in Ireland, at an early day came to the United States and settled in Virginia, but afterward returned to Ire- land, and was never afterward heard from. The maternal grandfather, William McLean, was a Vir- ginian, who removed to Kentucky, thence to Cape Girardeau County, Mo., and afterward to Ran- dolph County, Ark., and in the latter county took up his abode on the farm on which our subject is now residing. To William and Mary Thompson eleven children were born, of whom the following are living: John B., a resident of Washington Terri- tory; David D., a farmer of Randolph County, Ark., and Samuel W. The latter acquired a fair knowl- edge of the English branches in the common schools of his native county, and remained at home assist- ing his father until 1863, when he enlisted in Capt. Connor's company, Confederate States army, Cav- alry service, and was on active duty until June 5, 1865, when he was discharged at Jacksonport, Ark. He started for himself with no means, but now has 320 acres of some of the best land in the county, and is considered one of its best farmers. He is a Democrat in polititics, and in 1874 was elected county assessor, also to the office of justice of the peace, and filled both positions with much credit to himself for four years. December 20, 1866, he was married to Maria E. Adams, a daugh- ter of William H. Adams. She was born in Bed-

ford County, Tenn., April 20, 1849, and is the mother of six children: Beatrice, Hettie E., Will- iam A., Edward, Eugene and Marion E. Willie, Augustus and Luther are deceased. Mr. Thomp- son is a Royal Arch Mason, and belongs to the K. of H.

J. P. Throgmorton, M. D., who is numbered among the successful members of the medical fra- ternity in Randolph County, Ark .. came originally from Henry County, Tenn., where he was born January 4, 1836. Richard and Elsie (Barnwell) Throgmorton, his parents, were born in the " Old North State," but were married and resided in Henry County, Tenn., where the father was killed during the Rebellion by guerrillas. He was a farmer and carpenter, and in his political views was an old-line Whig. He served several years as justice of the peace, and he and wife were mem- bers of the Methodist Church. Four of their chil- dren grew to maturity, of whom our subject is the eldest. His early youth was passed in the State of his birth, and there he was favored with a good education, being a student for some time in Bethel College, in Carroll County, Tenn., where he was a faithful and conscientious student. He remained with his parents on the farm until 1559. but that work not being at all suited to his tastes he began taking medical lectures in the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, and there dis- tinguished himself by his faithful application. as well as at school. After leaving that college he spent a short time in Illinois; then returned to Tennessee, and after residing there until the spring of 1865 he moved to Williamson County, Ill., and there located and pursued the practice of his pro- fession until 1871, when he came to Arkansas and lo- cated on the farm on which he is now residing. The following year he returned to the State of Illinois on account of the ill-health of his wife, but after her death, which occurred in 1873, in Williamson County, he determined to improve his medical edu- cation, and again entered the University of Penn- sylvania, from which institution he was graduated in 1874. Soon after this he returned to Randolph County, where he has since been engaged in a gen- eral practice, and the success which has attended

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his efforts in healing the sick is shown by the ex- tended territory over which he practices. He also successfully conducts his home farm, which com- prises a tract of 300 acres, and he also owns an- other farm, in which are 120 acres. His farm is finely located and improved, and he has one of the handsomest residences in the county and a fine barn for his stock and grain, all the result of his own work. In 1864 he was married to Miss Caro- line Davidson, a native of Henry County, Tenn., who died in Illinois as above stated. Two of the three children born to their union are living: Richard, and Rosa Lee, the wife of John Earley, a farmer of the county. Laura died in infancy. March 17, 1870, the Doctor's nuptials with Miss Pollie E. Barnett were consummated. She was born in Williamson County, Ill., and died July 14, 1873, having borne two children: Hiram L. (at home) and Ann E. (deceased). September 10, 1874, Isabel Lentz, a daughter of Eli Lentz, of Williamson County, Ill., became his wife. She was born in that county on the 22d of January, 1859, and she and the Doctor are the parents of the following family: Frederick E., Clara A., Helen, Viola N., James G., Edna, and Clara A. who is deceased. Mrs. Throgmorton is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church; the Doctor is a Mason in good standing, and in his political views is a stanch Republican. He is one of the public- spirited men of the county, and at all times sup- ports worthy enterprises, being especially the friend of education.

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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 77

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