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 9

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 9

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As an evidence of the similarity of the con- tests and respective leaders of the two parties

here to those throughout the country, it is only necessary to point out that Crittenden drew to his following such men as Albert Pike, a genius of the loftiest and most versatile gifts the country has so far produced, while Jackson, ever supplying reinforcements to his captains, sent among others, as secretary of the Territory, Lewis Randolph, grandson of Thomas Jefferson, and whose wife was pretty Betty Martin, of the White House, a niece of Jackson's. Randolph settled in Hemp- stead County when it was an unbroken wilder- ness, and his remains are now resting there in an unknown grave.

Clay, it seems, could dispatch but little addi- tional force to his followers, even when he saw they were the hardest pressed by the triumphant enemy. There was not much by which one could draw comparisons between Clay and Jackson-unless it was their radical difference. As a great ora- tor, Clay has never been excelled. and he lived in a day when the open sesame to the world's de. lights lay in the silver tongue; but Jackson was a hero, a great one, who inspired other born heroes to follow him even to the death.

Arkansas was thus started permanently along the road of triumphant democracy, from which it never would have varied, except for the war times that brought to the whole country such con- fusion and political chaos. Being a Jackson State, dominated by the blood of the first governor of Tennessee-Gen. John Sevier, a man little in- ferior to Jackson himself-it was only the most cruel circumstance that could force the State into secession. When the convention met on the 4th of March, 1861, "on the state of the Union," its voice was practically unanimous for the Union, and that body passed a series of as loyal resolu- tions as were ever penned, then adjourning to meet again in the May following. The conven- tion met May 6, but the war was upon the coun- try, and most of the Gulf States had seceded. Every one knew that war was inevitable: it was already going on, but very few realized its immen- sity. The convention did not rush bastily into secession. An ordinance of secession was intro- duced, and for days, and into the nights, run-

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

ning into the small hours, the matter was delib. erated upon-no preliminary test vote was forced to an issue. Delegates were present in anxious attendance from the Carolinas, Alabama and Georgia. They knew that the fate of their action largely depended upon the attitude of Arkansas. If Arkansas voted no, then the whole secession movement would receive a severe blow. The after- noon before the final vote, which was to take place in the evening, these commissioners from other States had made up their minds that Arkansas might possibly vote down secession. When the con- vention adjourned for supper, they held a hurried consultation, and freely expressed their anxiety at the outlook. It was understood that the dis- cussion was closed, and the night session was wholly for the purpose of taking a vote. All was uncertainty and intense excitement. Expressions of deepest attachment to the Union and the old flag were heard. The most fiery and vehement of the secessionists in the body were cautious and deliberative. There was but little even of vehe- ment detestation of the abolitionists-a thing as natural then for a Southern man to despise as hatred is natural to a heated brain.

At a late hour in the evening, amid the most solemn silence of the crowded hall, an informal vote was taken. All except six members voted to secede. A suppressed applause followed the announcement of the vote. A hurried, whispered conference went on, and the effort was made to have the result unanimous. Now came the final vote. When the name of Isaac Murphy, afterward the military governor, was reached, it was passed and the roll call continued. It was so far unani- mous, with Mr. Murphy's name still to call. The clerk called it. Mr. Murphy arose and in an earnest and impressive manner in a few words ex- plained the dilemma he was in, but said, " I cannot violate my honest convictions of duty. I vote 'No.'"

When the day of reconstruction began, at first. it was under the supervision of the military, and it is yet the greatest pity that Congress did not let the military alone to rehabilitate the States they had conquered. Isaac Murphy was made governor.

No truer Union man lived than he. He knew the people, and his two years of government were fast curing the wounds of war. But he was turned out of office.

The right to vote compels, if it is to be other than an evil, some correct and intelligent under- standing of the form of government prevailing in the United States, and of the elementary prin- ciples of political economy. The ability to read and write, own property, go to Congress or edit a political paper, has nothing to do with it, no more than the color of the skin, eyes or hair of the voter. The act of voting itself is the sovereign act in the economic affairs of the State; but if the govern- ment under its existing form is to endure, the average voter must understand and appreciate the fundamental principles which, in the providence of God, have made the United States the admira- tion of the world.

Arkansas, the Democratic State, was in political disquiet from 1861 to 1874 -- the beginning of the war and the end of reconstruction. When in the hands of Congress it was returned at every regular election as a Republican party State. The brief story of the political Moses who led it out of the wilderness is of itself a strange and interesting commentary on self-government.

When the war came there lived in Batesville Elisha Baxter, a young lawyer who had been breasting only financial misfortunes all his life. Utterly failing as a farmer and merchant, he had been driven to study law and enter the practice to make a living. An honest. kind-hearted, good man, loving his neighbor as himself, but a patriot every inch of him, and loving the Union above all else, his heart was deeply grieved when he saw his adopted State had declared for secession. He could not be a disunionist, no more than he could turn upon his neighbors, friends and fellow-citi- zens of Arkansas. He determined to wash his hands of it all and remain quietly at home. Like all others he knew nothing of civil war. His neighbors soon drove him from his home and family. and, to save his life, he went to the North- ern army, then in Southern Missouri. He was welcomed and offered a commission in the Federal

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

army and an opportunity to return to his State. He declined the offer; he could not turn and shed the blood of his old neighbors and former friends. In the vicissitudes of war this non-combatant was captured by an Arkansas command, paroled and ordered to report to the military authorities at Lit- tle Rock. He made his way thither, and was thrown into a military prison and promptly indicted for high treason. Then only he began to under- stand the temper of the times, for the chances of his being hanged were probably as a thousand to one to acquittal. In this extremity he broke jail and fled. He again reached the Northern army in which he accepted a commission, and returned to his old home in Batesville, remaining in mili- tary command of the place. He was actively engaged in recruiting the Union men of Northern Arkansas and forming them into regiments. It goes without saying that Baxter never raised a hand to strike back at those who had so deeply wronged him, when their positions were reversed and he had the power in his hands.

At the fall election, 1871, Baxter was the regu- lar Republican candidate for governor, and Joseph Brooks was the Independent Republican nom- inee. The Republican party was divided and each

bid for the Democratic vote by promises to the ex-Confederates. Brooks may have been elected, but was counted out. Baxter was duly inaugu- rated. When he had served a year the politicians, it is supposed, who controlled Arkansas, finding they could not use Baxter, or in other words that they had counted in the wrong man, boldly pro- ceeded to undo their own acts, dethrone Baxter and put Brooks in the chair of State. An account of the Baxter-Brooks war is given in another chapter.

Thus was this man the victim of political cir- cumstances; a patriot, loving his country and his neighbors, he was driven from home and State; a non-combatant, he was arrested by his own friends as a traitor and the hangman's halter dangled in his face; breaking prison and stealing away like a skulking convict, to return as ruler and master by the omnipotent power of the bayonet; a non-party man, compelled to be a Republican in politics, and finally, as a Republican, fated to lead the Demo- cratic party to success and power.

The invincible Jacksonian dynasty. built up in Arkansas, with all else of public institutions went down in the sweep of civil war. It has not been revived as a political institution. But the Demo- cratic party dominates the State as of old.

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

CHAPTER VII.

SOCIETIES, STATE INSTITUTIONS, ETC .- THE KU KLUX KLAN-INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS- ANCIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS-GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC-BUREAU OF MINES- ARKANSAS AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS-STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY -- THE WHEEL -THE STATE CAPITAL-THE CAPITOL BUILDING-STATE LIBRARIES-STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY-STATE BOARD OF HEALTH-DEAF MUTE INSTITUTE -SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND-ARKANSAS LUNATIC ASYLUM-AR- KANSAS INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY-THE STATE DEBT.

Heaven forming each on other to depend. A master, or a servant, or a friend, Bids each on other for assistance call, Till one man's weakness grows the strength of all .- Pope.

ECRET societies are a form of social life and expression which, in some mode of existence, antedate even authentic his- tory. Originally a manner of securing defense from the common enemies of tribes and peoples, they have developed into social and eleemosynary insti- tutions as advances in civilization have been made. At first they were but a severe necessity, and as that time slowly passed away, they became a luxury and a pleasure, having peculiar and strong attrac- tion to nearly all men. That part of one's nature which loves to lean upon others for aid, even in the social scale, finds its expression in some of the many forms of societies, clubs, organizations or institutions that now pervade nearly all the walks of life. In every day existence, in business, church, state, politics and pleasure, are societies and organizations every. where-for the purposes of gain, charity and

comfort-indeed, for the sole purpose of finding something to do, would be the acknowledgment of many a society motto. The causes are as diversi- fied as the bodies, secret and otherwise, are numerous.

The South furnishes a most remarkable instance of the charm there is in mystery to all men, in the rise and spread of the Ku Klux Klan, a few years ago. Three or four young men, in Columbia, Tenn., spending a social evening together, con- cluded to organize a winter's literary society. All had just returned from the war, in which they had fought for the "lost cause," and found time hanging dull upon them. Each eagerly caught at the idea of a society, and soon they were in the intricacies of the details. Together, from their sparse recollections of their schoolbooks, they evolved the curious name for the society. The name suggested to them that the sport to be derived from it might be increased by making it a secret society. The thing was launched upon this basic idea. In everything connected with it each one was fertile it seems in adding mystery to mys. tery in their meetings and personal movements.

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The initiation of a new member was made a grand and rollicking affair. So complete had the mem- bers occasioned their little innocent society to be a mystery, that it became in an astonishingly brief time a greater enigma to themselves than even to outsiders. It swiftly spread from the village to the county, from the county to the State, and over-ran the Southern States like a racing prairie fire, changing in its aims and objects as rapidly as it had grown. From simply frightening the poor night-prowling darkeys, it became a vast and uncontrollable semi-military organization; inflict- ing punishment here, and there taking life, until the State of Tennessee was thrown into utter con- fusion, and the military forces were called out; large rewards were offered for the arrest even of women found making any of the paraphernalia of the order. Government detectives sent to pry into their secrets were slain, and a general reign of terror ensued. No rewards could induce a mem- ber to betray his fellows; and the efforts of the organizers to control the storm they had raised, were as idle as the buzzing of a summer fly. Thousands and thousands of men belonged to it, who knew really little or nothing about it, and who to this day are oblivious of the true history of one of the most remarkable movements of large bodies of men that has ever occurred in this or perhaps any country. It was said by leading members of the order that they could, in twenty- four hours, put tens of thousands of men in line of battle, all fully armed and equipped. It was indeed the "Invisible Empire." By its founders it was as innocent and harmless in its purposes as a Sunday-school picnic, yet in a few weeks it spread and grew until it overshadowed the land -- but little else than a bloody, headless riot. The imagina- tions of men on the outside conjured up the most blood-curdling falsehoods as to its doings: while those inside were, it seems, equally fertile in schemes and devices to further mystify people, alarm some and terrify others, and apparently the wilder the story told about them, the more they would enjoy it. Its true history will long give it rank of first importance to the philosophie and careful, painstaking historian.

Among societies of the present day, that organization known as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows is recognized as a prominent one. The Grand Lodge of the order in Arkansas was organ- ized June 11, 1849. Its first past grand master was John J. Horner, elected in 1854. His succes. sors to date have been as follows : James A. Henry, 1858 ; P. O. Hooper, 1859-1866 ; Richard Bragg. Sr., 1862; Peter Brugman, 1867, 1868, 1871; Isaac Eolsom, 1873; Albert Cohen, 1874; John B. Bond. 1876; E. B. Moore, 1878; James S. Holmes, 1880; Adam Clark, 1881; W. A. Jett, 1882; James A. Gibson, 1884; George W. Hurley, 1885 ; H. S. Coleman, 1886, and A. S. Jett, 1887. The pres- ent able officers are R. P. Holt, grand master: J. P. Woolsey, deputy grand master; Louis C. Lincoln, grand warden ; Peter Brugman, grand secretary; H. Ehrenbers, grand treasurer; H. S. Coleman, grand representative; A. S. Jett, grand representative; Rev. L. B. Hawley, grand chap- lain; John R. Richardson, grand marshal; J. G. Parker, grand conductor; William Mosby. grand guardian ; W. J. Glenn, grand herald. In the State there are eighty-two lodges and a total mem- bership, reported by the secretary at the October meeting, 1888, of 2,023. The revenue from sub- ordinate lodges amounts to $13,S32, while the relief granted aggregates $2,840. There were sixteen Rebekah lodges organized in 1887-88.

The Masonic fraternity is no less influential in the affairs of every part of the country, than the society just mentioned. There is a tradition-too vague for reliance-that Masonry was introduced into Arkansas by the Spaniards more than 100 years ago, and that therefore the first lodge was established at Arkansas Post. Relying, however, upon the records the earliest formation of a lodge of the order was in 1819, when the Grand Lodge of Kentucky granted a dispensation for a lodge at Arkansas Post. Robert Johnson was the first mas- ter. Judge Andrew Scott, a Federal judge in the Territory, was one of its members. But before this lodge received its charter, the seat of govern- ment was removed to Little Rock, and the Arkan- sas Post lodge became extinct. No other lodge was attempted to be established until 1836, when

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

a dispensation was granted Washington Lodge No. 82, at Fayetteville, October 3, 1837. Onesimus Evans, was master; James McKissick, senior war- den; Mathew Leeper, junior warden.

In 1838 the Grand Lodge of Louisiana granted the second dispensation for a lodge at Arkansas Post-Morning Star Lodge No. 42; the same year granting a charter to Western Star Lodge No. 43, at Little Rock. Of this Edward Cross was master; Charles L. Jeffries, senior warden; Nicholas Peay, junior warden. About this time the Grand Lodge of Alabama granted a charter to Mount Horeb Lodge, of Washington, Hempstead County.

November 21, 1838, these four lodges held a convention at Little Rock and formed the Grand Lodge of Arkansas.

The representatives at this convention were: From Washington Lodge No. 82, of Fayetteville, Onesimus Evans, past master; Washington L. Wil- son, Robert Bedford, Abraham Whinnery, Richard C. S. Brown, Samuel Adams and Williamson S. Oldham.

From Western Star Lodge No. 43, of Little Rock, William Gilchrist, past master; Charles L. Jeffries, past master; Nicholas Peay, past master; Edward Cross, past master; Thomas Parsel, Alden Sprague and John Morris.

From Morning Star Lodge No 42, of the Post of Arkansas, John W. Pullen.

From Mount Horeb Lodge, of Washington, James H. Walker, Allen M. Oakley, Joseph W. Mc- Kean and James Trigg.

Of this convention John Morris, of Western Star Lodge No. 43, was made secretary. Mr. Morris is still living (1889), a resident of Auburn, Sebastian County, and is now quite an old man. Mr. John P. Karns. of Little Rock, was in attendance at the convention, although not a dele- gate. These two are the only ones surviving who were present on that occasion.

The Grand Lodge organized by the election of William Gilchrist, grand master; Onesimus Evans. deputy grand master; James H. Walker, grand sen- ior warden; Washington L. Wilson, grand junior warden: Alden Sprague, grand treasurer, and George C. Watkins, grand secretary.

The constituent lodges, their former charters be. ing extinct by their becoming members of a new jur- isdiction, took new numbers. Washington Lodge, at Fayetteville, became No. 1; Western Star, of Little Rock, became No. 2; Morning Star, of the Post of Arkansas, became No. 3. and Mount Horeb. of Washington, became No. 4. Of these Wash- ington No. 1, and Western Star No. 2, are in vig- orous life, but Morning Star No. 3, and Mount Horeb No. 4, have become defunct.

From this beginning of the four lodges, with a membership of probably 100, the Grand Lodge now consists of over 400 lodges, and a member- ship of about 12,000.

The following are the officers for the present year: R. H. Taylor, grand master, Hot Springs: J. W. Sorrels, deputy grand master, Farmer, Scott County; D. B. Warren, grand lecturer. Gainesville; W. A. Clement, grand orator, Rover, Yell County; W. K. Ramsey, grand senior ward- en, Camden; C. A. Bridewell, grand junior ward- en, Hope; George H. Meade, grand treasurer, Lit- tle Rock; Fay Hempstead. grand secretary. Little Rock; D. D. Leach, grand senior deacon, Augusta; Samuel Peete, grand junior deacon, Batesville: H. W. Brooks, grand chaplain, Hope; John B. Baxter, grand marshal, Brinkley; C. C. Hamby, grand sword bearer, Prescott; S. Solmson, senior grand steward, Pine Bluff: A. T. Wilson, junior grand steward, Eureka Springs; J. C. Churchill, grand pursuivant, Charlotte, Independence County: Ed. Metcalf, grand tyler, Little Rock.

The first post of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic. Department of Arkansas, was organized under authority from the Illinois Commandery, and called McPherson Post No. 1, of Little Rock. The district then passed under command of the Depart- ment of Missouri, and by that authority was or- ganized Post No. 2, at Fort Smith.

The Provisional Department of Arkansas was organized June 18, 1883. Stephen Wheeler being department commander. and C. M. Vaughan, adju- tant general. A State encampment was called to meet at Fort Smith, July 11, 1853. Six posts were represented in this meeting. when the following State officers were elected: S. Wheeler. com-

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

mander; M. Mitchell, senior vice; R. E. Jackson, junior vice; H. Stone, quartermaster, and the following council: John F. Owen, A. S. Fowler, W. W. Bailey, A. Walrath, Benton Turner.

There are now seventy-four posts, with a mem- bership of 2,500, in the State. The present offi- cers are: Department commander, A. S. Fowler; senior vice commander, John Vaughan; junior vice commander, E. A. Ellis; medical director, T. G. Miller; chaplain, T. R. Early.

The council of administration includes A. A. Whissen, Thomas Boles, W. S. Bartholomew, R. E. Renner and I. B. Lawton. The following were the appointments on the staff of the department commander: Assistant adjutant-general, N. W. Cox; assistant quartermaster-general, Stephen Wheeler; judge advocate, S. J. Evans; chief mustering officer, S. K. Robinson; department inspector, R. S. Curry. Headquarters were established at Little Rock, Ark.

There are other bodies in the State whose aims and purposes differ materially from those previously mentioned. Among these is the Arkansas Bureau of Mines, Manufactures and Agriculture, which was organized as a State institution at the session of the legislature in 1889. The governor ap- pointed M. F. Locke commissioner, the latter mak- ing M. W. Manville assistant. They at once pro- ceeded to organize the department and open an office in the State-house. The legislature appro- priated for the next two years for the bureau the sum of $18,000.

This action of the legislature was in response to a demand from all parts of the State, which, growing in volume for some time, culminated in the meeting in Little Rock of numerous promi- nent men, and the organization of the Arkansas State Bureau of Immigration, January 31, 1888. A demand from almost every county prompted Gov. Senior P. Hughes to issue a call for a State meeting. The meeting was composed only of the best representative citizens. Gov. Hughes. in his address, stated that "the State should have an agricultural, mining and manufacturing bureau, which should be a bureau of statistics and immi- gration, also." Hou. Logan H. Roots was elected

president of the convention. He voiced the pur. poses of the meeting still further when he said. "We want to educate others on the wealth-mak- ing properties of our State." A permanent State organization was effected, one delegate from each county to constitute a State Board of Immigra- tion, and the following permanent officers were chosen: Logan H. Roots, of Little Rock, presi- dent; Dandridge McRae, of Searcy, vice-president; H. L. Remmel, of Newport, secretary; George R. Brown, of Little Rock, treasurer; J. H. Clen- dening, of Fort Smith, A. M. Crow, of Arkadel- phia, W. P. Fletcher, of Lonoke, additional exec- utive committee. The executive committee issued a strong address and published it extensively, giv- ing some of the many inducements the State had to offer immigrants. The legislature could not fail to properly recognize such a movement of the people, and so provided for the long needed bu- reau.

Arkansas Agricultural Association was organ- ized in 1885. It has moved slowly so far, but is now reaching the condition of becoming a great and prosperous institution. The entire State is soon to be made into sub-districts, with minor organ- izations, at least one in each Congressional district, with a local control in each, and all will become stockholders and a part of the parent concern. A permanent State fair and suitable grounds and fixtures are to be provided in the near future, when Arkansas will successfully vie with any State in the Union in an annual display of its products.

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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 9

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