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 83

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 83

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From the distress and poverty entailed by the most disastrous war in modern times, Mississippi County is rapidly passing to the period when it will become one of the most prosperous counties in the State. No one who studies the facts in the case can question this. Here is a county "rich beyond compare;" a county with timber resources almost without limit; with agricultural possibili- ties not surpassed, probably not equaled, by any other county in the State, in the production of that wonderful product -- cotton, and nowhere else can there be added to this such facilities for fruit rais- ing, for early and late vegetables, for the cereals and grasses, as in this favored section.

What most impresses a chance visitor to this locality is the large number of self-made men -men who came here a short time ago with absolutely no resources, who are now, after a few years' cul- tivation of this productive soil, living in compara- tive affluence. This is undisputed evidence that it is one of the most promising counties for emi- gration that the South can show.

Mississippi County has an immense wealth of timber awaiting the advent of capital and labor to put it in the markets of the world. All these ad- vantages are so apparent, that settling here has long passed the range of speculation, and success and prosperity are positive rewards of moderately directed energy and industry.

Reginald Archillion, has been employed as farmer, school-teacher and surveyor during his residence in the county, and resides upon his wife's lands on Clear Lake. He is a native of

Indiana, his birth having occurred in Madison County, in 1855. He is the eldest of two children born to Anthony and Maria Archillion, and in the county of his birth he continued to make his home until nine years of age, afterward entering school at Evansville, Ind., where he remained until fifteen years of age, his father having passed to his long home two years previously. At the early age of thirteen years Reginald began depending on his own resources to obtain a livelihood, and although quite young he perceived that if he wished to make a success of his life a good education was very es- sential; accordingly he continued to attend school until seventeen years of age, the last few years being spent in Richmond. He also attended the schools of Huntington, Ind., one year, and was also engaged in studying law in that place until he was twenty years of age, at which time he went to Louisiana, and two years later to Texas. On the 7th of February, 1880, he came to Osceola, Ark., soon after engaging as a farm hand for A. B. Young, at Osceola, but spent the winter months up to a few years ago in teaching school. He is a member of Chickasawba Lodge No. 134, F. & A. M .; is now filling his second term as county sur- veyor, having been elected first in 1887 to fill a vacancy. In 1881 Mrs. Rebecca (Cutwright) Hetherington, a native of Indiana, became his wife.

Rollo Archillion, like his brother, Reginald Archillion, is an energetic and enterprising young agriculturist of Mississippi County, and now owns an excellent little farm of eighty acres, situated about one mile south of Blythesville, which property has been in his possession since 1887. At that time but twenty-five acres were under cultivation, but he has since made many improvements in the way of repairing the house, building fences, and clearing up the land; he has opened up five addi- tional acres, and expects soon to have his entire farm under the plow, which can be readily done. His father died when he was an infant. but, through his own determination and the assistance of a kind and willing mother, he succeeded in attending school until about sixteen years of age; then. in company with his brother Reginald, he started for

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

the South with the expectation of bettering his con- dition, and after working in Louisiana for some time he went to Texas, in which State he remained for very nearly two years. After another short period spent in Louisiana he came to the State of Arkansas, and settled in Mississippi County at Clear Lake, where he spent some time in tilling the soil, and was there united in marriage to Miss Elma A. Conley, a native of the county and a daughter of one of the old and worthy settlers of this region. Mrs. Archillion owned an interest in a farm on Clear Lake, on which they located after their mar- riage, and during their two years' residence at this place Mr. Archillion taught school. At the end of this period (in 1883) they concluded to go to the Lone Star State, where they both engaged in ped- agoguing for three years; then returned to Mis- sissippi County, Ark., where they have since made their home. Mr. and Mrs. Archillion are the parents of two children, Maud and Mabel. The mother has been for a number of years a consistent and worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Archillion is a member of Chicka- saw ba Lodge No. 134, F. & A, M. He is a young man whose activity and energy will one day place him among the foremost agriculturists of the county, for everything about his place indicates . thrift, which is one of the prominent characteristics of its owner.

Jesse Ashburn is recognized as a careful, ener- getic agriculturist of this community, and by his advanced ideas and progressive habits has done no little good. for the farming interest hereabout. Originally from Huntsville, Ala., he was born in the year 1823, and is the son of Byrd Ashburn who, shortly after the birth of his son Jesse, loaded his family and effects on a flatboat at Huntsville and floated down the Tennessee River to the Ohio, on that river down to the Mississippi, and thereon to the mouth of the Hatchie River. He then sailed up that river to the mouth of Indian Creek, where he disembarked and took up land in Tennessee. Here he opened up a fine farm, but later sold out and moved to near Randolph, where he remained one year. He then moved with his family, con- sisting of his wife and four children, direct to : the father of six children; Savannah, who married

Frenchman's Bayou, settled about a fourth of a mile from where his son Jesse now resides, and there remained until his death, which occurred in 1847. His wife survived him eleven years. Jesse Ashburn has lived in this settlement ever since, with the exception of about five years spent in Missouri, whither he had moved in 1863. During the war he took part with neither side except to suppress a few guerrillas who were plundering indiscriminately in Missouri. For many years after his residence in Arkansas, there was no market, and but two settlements on the Bayou- one family by the name of McClung and another by the name of Owens-but they left no descend- ants here. The first school taught was at Owens' house, and McClung's son taught the first term. Mr. Ashburn attended, and the only book used was the spelling book. This was about the year 1836. The few settlers lived on corn bread and bear meat, this being the regular diet. The woods were full of animals, and privation and hardship were the order of each day. Once in a while a little coffee was secured from the boats on the river, but it was scarce and high. Most of their clothing was homespun, although they sometimes secured a little shirting from the boats, and their shoes were made of leather tanned by themselves. Caps were made of otter hides. The first cotton was raised about 1849 or 1850, but was not culti- vated as a crop until a few years before the war, after which it was raised with great protit along the river front. It has been noticed that as the land is improved and cleared up the whole surface becomes dryer. Even in the last ten years there has been a very noticeable improvement. Mr. Ashburn has in his field now, under a fine state of cultivation, land that the water used to stand on as high as his waist. His marriage with Miss Emily Adkinson, occurred in 1846. She is the daughter of John B. and C. A. (Watts) Adkinson, the father a native of Georgia, but who passed his last days in Missouri, and the mother a native of Tennessee. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ashburn were born six children: Andrew J., John David, who married Miss Higgins, of Mississippi County, Ark., and is

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Joe N. Hays, and now lives on the Chickasawba, they have two children: Lavina J., married to J. R. Music, of Mississippi County, Ark .; Thomas J. and A. Forrest, at home. Mr. Ashburn is a mem- ber of Masonic Lodge No. 251, of Frenchman's Bayou, and has been a member and a main pillar in the Missionary Baptist Church for the past nine years.

N. L. Avery, who is one of the important fac- tors in the business growth and prosperity of Os- ceola and Mississippi County, is justly entitled to more than a passing notice in this volume. Since his identification with this city as a business man, no one has been more active and enterprising, or has done more in the mercantile line to increase and extend the trade and influence of the place. His stock is large and complete, and the patronage drawn to him results largely from liberal and po- lite treatment. His native State is Tennessee, and he was born in Memphis, January 1, 1853. His parents, Hamilton and Henrietta (Polk) Avery, were natives of New York and South Carolina, re- spectively. His father came to Memphis about 1845, was engaged in the book business for a few years, and then became editor of the Memphis Bul- letin, remaining thus occupied for several years. He was then appointed wharf-master, but on ac- count of ill-health he resigned that position, and spent two years in traveling. He returned to Memphis in 1859, and soon afterward died there. His mother is still living, and makes her home in Memphis. The paternal grandfather died at Syra- cuse, N. Y., in 1589, at the age of eighty-nine years. The paternal grandmother is still living in that city, and is seventy-eight years of age. The maternal grandparents died when N. L. Avery's (the subject of this sketch) mother was a . child, and her grandfather was a brother to Pres- ident James K. Polk. N. L. Avery passed his boyhood days in attending the public and private schools of Memphis. At the youthful age of thir- teen he engaged as messenger in a steamboat office, but subsequently entered a drug store with Mans- field & Higbee of that city. In 1868 he engaged in a wholesale dry goods establishment (Joyner, Lemmon & Gale), remaining thus employed until

1882. He began as an errand boy, and was suc- cessively promoted to the highest position. being at his retirement manager of and buyer for the no- tion department. In 1882 he came to Osceola and established his present business in that city, with a capital of $750. In 1SSS he erected the large, fine store-bouse which he now occcupies. In the same year Mr. Raphael Semmes [see sketch of S. S. Semmes] was admitted as partner in the firm, which probably does the largest business on the Mississippi River between Memphis and Cairo. Mr. Avery owns a large tract of land, 1,000 acres, six miles west of Osceola, and is farming about 400 acres. The firm are the owners of a large tract of land in Phillips County. They have a branch store at Blythesville, which has a large and exten- sive trade. Mr. Avery is the owner of a block in town, and also other property in the same place. By his marriage with Miss M. F. Pullen, daughter of B. K. Pullen, of Memphis, on November 3, 1875, he became the father of seven children: Hamilton King, Norman L., Jr., Walter Graham (died in infancy), Charles L., Bennie Pullen (died in in- fancy), Eugene R. and Percy P. Mr. Avery's family are members of the Episcopal Church. He is a fair type of the self-made man, having risen from the lowest to the highest offices of a large store; and at last, after years of earnest, honest work, we find him starting for himself, with a capital of but $750. In six years he had built that business up from $5,000 in 1882 to $100,000 in 1889, at the same time managing a branch store. doing an annual business of $30,000. This is a creditable showing for a young man, even in this community of almost universally self-made men.

E. M. Ayres. It is a fact recorded in history that the first English immigrants to Virginia were a superior race, with most progressive views of government, liberty and laws, and who sought out homes in the New World in obedience to im- pulse prompted by lofty ambition and an earnest desire to benefit the race. From these ancestors sprang men who subsequently became eminent in different localities. A worthy native of that State is Mr. Ayres, who is one of the prominent planters of Mississippi County, Ark., and resides two miles

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west of Osceola. He was born in Buckingham County, Va., in 1840, and is the seventh in a fam- ily of nine children born to John W. and Mary (Masey) Ayres. The parents were also natives of Virginia, where they spent their entire lives, the mother dying about 1848 and the father in 1857. The latter was a well-known planter in his native State, and the family was widely known and univer- sally respected. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. The paternal grandfather was a farmer and miller, and was also a very prominent Methodist Episco- pal preacher, having married every couple in his county for a period of twenty years. E. M. Ayres learned the rudiments of farming in his native State, and attended the common schools until six- teen years of age. He remained at home until the age of twenty one years, and in 1859 went to West Tennessee, where he engaged as overseer for his brother-in-law, John W. Chambers. At the break- ing out of the late war he threw down the imple- ments of peace to take up the weapons of war- fare, and enlisted in Capt. Dean's command, after- ward joined to the Fourth Tennessee Regiment of. Infantry under Col. Nely. He was assigned to the Mississippi division, and soon secured permission to organize a company, which he at once did, namely Company A, united with the Forty-seventh Tennes- see Infantry. He was in the battle of Shiloh, and during that most destructive engagement his com- pany was almost totally annihilated, only eighteen out of the 108 returning. Mr. Ayres then joined the Henderson Scouts. under Capt. Tom Hender- son, and operated in the Mississippi Valley. He was in the battles of Corinth, Parker's Cross Roads, Franklin, Tenn., and Murfreesboro, where he re- ceived a severe wound in the hand. The company then made a campaign into Mississippi, and sur- rendered at Gainesville. Ala., in 1865. During his time of service Mr. Ayres had three horses shot from under him, was captured several times, but always succeeded in making his escape. He was in many close engagements, was a fearless and daring sol- dier, and saw a great deal of the war. In 1865 he came to Mississippi County, and engaged in the saw-mill business with Dr. Hardin, of Nash- ville. Here he sawed the timber to put up the first

store-house built in Osceola after the war. Mr. Ayres continued this business in a successful man- ner for over twenty years, and supplied the lum- ber to build most of the frame houses in this county. He has made a great deal of money by strict application to business, and the energetic and thorough manner in which he has taken ad- vantage of all methods, tending to enhance the value of his property, has had a great deal to do with his obtaining the competence which he now enjoys. His wife was originally Miss Sallie Bowen. whom he married in 1867. Her father, Arthur Bowen, is one of the well-known settlers in this county. From time to time Mr. Ayers has bought large tracts of land, and is now the owner of about 6,000 acres, 200 of which are under cultivation. He has made all the improvements on his place, and has assisted in opening 2,000 acres for cultivation. During his residence in Mississippi County he has seen many changes, and he speaks very highly of this section. The result of his marriage with Miss Bowen has been nine children, three of whom are deceased: Lizzie died at the age of two years; Charley died at the age of two years, and Lelah died at the age of fourteen years. Those living are Willis, who lives at home and is fourteen years of age; Arthur, twelve years of age; Clay, ten years; Louis, eight; Sallie B., six, and Eddy, two years in 1889.

Benjamin H. Bacchus, a prominent druggist and farmer of Osceola, Ark., is a native of Kent County, Md., born at Chestertown on October 15, 1848, and of the six children born to his parents. William and Harriet (Greenwood) Bacchus. Benja- min H. was the fifth in order of birth. The par- ents were natives of Maryland, and the father for a long time was a miller and farmer of that place. The mother died in 1856, and in 1859 the fa- ther married Miss Susan Arthur. He died in 1872. having during the latter years of his life lived in retirement. Benjamin H. Bacchus passed his youth in Chestertown, and received an exception . ally good education in public and private schools. supplementing the same by a two years' attend- ance at the college at Chestertown. He then took a course of instruction at Bryant, Stratton & Sadler's

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Business College, at Baltimore, and left that in- stitution fully equipped to enter upon any pursuit. He followed the teacher's profession for one term, and in 1867 went to Memphis, where he engaged in the cotton and oil business. At the end of one and one-half years he came to Mississippi County, Ark., and commenced farming at Elmot, where he continued until 1880. In 1878 Mr. Bacchus was elected county surveyor, and in 1880 he was elected clerk of the supreme court, ex-officio clerk of the county and probate courts, and recorder. So well did he fill this position that he was re-elected in 1882. In 1887 he was elected mayor of the city of Osceola. At this time the city was heavily in debt, and its warrants were worthless; but at the expiration of Mr. Bacchus' term of office the debt of the city was wiped out, and the warrants were worth their face value. In July, 1885, Mr. Bacchus engaged in the drug business in Osceola, and in 1888 he erected a fine store-house, into which he moved in February, 1889. The new quarters are neat, tasty and ornamental, and contain a complete line of fresh drugs. Mr. Bacchus selected Miss Katie M. Williams as his companion in life, and was wedded to her in 1871. She was born in Mississippi County, and is the daughter of James H. Williams, who was formerly from Tennessee, and one of the old settlers of Mississippi County. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bacchus were born seven children: Alice W., Lallie C., Lena S., Ben- jamin H., Jr., J. Greenwood, Minnie Avery and Mary Kate. Mr. Bacchus is a member of the Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Bacchus of the Meth- odist Episcopal. Mr. Bacchus is a member of Masonic Lodge No. 27. Osceola, occupying an official position. He was school commissioner of the county from 1872 to 1880, and takes a decided interest in all school matters.

G. C. Baldock, a popular and enterprising farmer at Frenchman's Bayou, is the eldest of three children born to Derastus and Mary Jane (Hill) Baldock, and was born in Tennessee in 1855. The elder Baldock was a farmer, and followed that occupation until the outbreak of war, when he en- listed in the army and gave up his life in 1862. After the father's death the family went to reside

with Mr. Addison M. Hill, Mrs. Baldock's father, who was one of the best known citizens of Tip- ton County, Tenn., and a pioneer of that coun- ty, upon whom the citizens of that section still look with veneration and respect. G. C. Baldock began life for himself when nineteen years of age, and rented the land upon which he made his first crop. He continued farming until the year 1880. when he sold out his place and moved to Mississippi County, Ark., where he settled on Frenchman's Bayou. In 1887 he bought 200 acres of fine land in that section, and at the present time has eighty- five acres under cultivation, besides making exten- sive improvements which will make the land aver- age about one bale to the acre. He also owns a herd of fine stock cattle and horses, and over 100 hogs. January 17, 1882, Mr. Baldock was married to Miss Rosie P. Notgrass, a charming lady of Tennessee, and by this marriage has had three children: Mary Peete, Ella Maud and Derastus Norton. He is active in school matters, and has served as school director, believing that education should be within the reach of every child. Mr. Baldock is a pleasant and hospitable gentleman, whose genial manner has won for him a large cir- cle of stanch and influential friends. He is a suc- cessful farmer, a valued citizen, and stands high in the estimation of the surrounding community.

Barton Bros. & Co., an enterprising firm at Golden Lake, Ark., consisting of T. A., W. P. and Ida M. Barton, began business here as the successors of T. A. Barton, in 1886. In 1873 Mr. T. A. Barton came from the State of Mississippi. and entered into commercial life at Golden Lake. At that time (1881) the business at this point was slight, and many business men would have given up the venture as a failure, but with that foresight that has always marked his success, Mr. Barton saw that the prospects in the future were very flattering, and he continued his business. He kept adding to his stock from year to year, as the busi- ness increased under his good management, and in 1886 he was joined in partnership by his brother. who had previously worked for him as clerk. Their business consists of one of the finest cotton-gin- on the Mississippi River, with a capacity of fifty

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bales per day, a saw-mill with a capacity of 20,- 000 feet of lumber per day, and a general merchan- dise store that enjoys a large patronage. Altogether they did a business last year of $30,000, which will be largely increased this year. The firm also have large land interests in Mississippi County, owning in various tracts about 500 acres, from which they are cutting the timber to supply their saw-mill, and in addition to this they have 500 acres of land under cultivation, in Frenchman's Bayou, besides a branch store and fine saloon at that place, and a tramway from the river to French- man's Bayou, a distance of six miles, which pene- trates the timber region. The Barton family are natives of North Carolina, where T. A., the eldest of a family of seven children, was born in 1851. The parents were J. T. and Mary M. (Adams) Bar- ton, of South Carolina and Georgia, respectively. Thomas A. remained with his parents on the farm, and attended school until his twentieth year. In 1873 he was married, in Tennessee, to Miss Ida Parker, of Mississippi, and after his marriage moved to Arkansas, where they settled in Poinsett County. He remained in that county one year, and met with a great many losses during that time, afterward moving to Mississippi County, where he farmed for six years prior to entering business at Golden Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Barton are the par- ents of six children: William Arthur, Ida Ellen, Veta May, Joseph T., James and Quincy G., and Mr. Barton is a member of the K. of H., in which association he carries a $2,000 policy. William P., junior partner of the firm, was born in North Carolina in 1857, and was the fourth child of the family. He moved first to Poinsett County, and later on came to his present home, in company with his brother, Thomas, with whom he has been asso- ciated in business since the firm commenced oper- tions. He was married, in December, 1887, to Miss Mary Musick, of this county, and they are the parents of one child, a girl, named Tennessee Block. Among the many enterprising and pros- perous citizens of this county, certainly none are more worthy or deserving of success than the mem- bers of the firm of Barton Bros. & Co. Upon entering Arkansas their arrival was beralded by

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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 83

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