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. 2, Part 12

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis : The Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1044

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. 2 > Part 12

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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MISSISSIPPI COUNTY.

dren born to Joseph M. and Kittie (Myers) Rhea, who were born in Tennessee and Maryland, respect- ively. The father was a school teacher for many years, and also followed the occupation of farming. They both died in 1860, he in August and she in February.

J. W. Rhodes is one of the more recent acquisi- tions to the agricultural and mercantile interests of Mississippi County, Ark., but he has already been found to be one whose leading characteristics are progressive and enterprising in their nature, and thus of much worth to the people of this com- munity. A native of Hines County, Miss., born near Vicksburg, he was only four years old when his father (in 1857) removed with him to the "Lone Star State." Here the latter died in 1866, his wife and children, consisting of seven boys and three daughters, removing to the State of Tennes- see the following year. J. W. Rhodes resided at home with his mother until sixteen years of age, spending his boyhood days as other youths of the community, and received a fair education in the common schools. He then obtained a position with Cunningham, Wicks & Malone, commission mer- chants of Memphis, Tenn., with whom he remained two years, then went to Bay Springs, Miss., and worked as a book-keeper for J. M. Nelson & Co., for one year. He again returned to Memphis, Tenn., and secured employment with the Charles- ton & Memphis Railroad Company, where he kept books, and afterward clerked on the river for the Memphis & Osceola Packet Company, and was em- ployed in this capacity on different steamboats of that line for about four years. In 1876, he leased the Crowell Landing for a term of five years, but bought the landing in 1878. This was washed away in the freshet of 1883, but Mr. Rhodes soon purchased thirty-seven acres of land, on which he is now living. and established a landing called Golden Lake, which took its name from the post- office, which he had established, and of which he has been postmaster since 1885. He first estab- lished a store in 1883, at Crowell Landing, but when the land began to be washed away at that point, he moved his goods back farther inland, to his present location, where he and E. A. Norton

formed a partnership under the firm name of Rhodes & Norton, which continued until their es- tablishment caught fire, and was consumed, Janu- ary 22. 1SSS. Their loss was estimated. over and above their insurance, which amounted to $2,000, at $5,000. Directly after the fire. Mr. Rhodes erected a substantial frame building, 36x60 feet. on the site of the burnt building, and is now carry - ing one of the largest and most complete stocks of goods in the county, valued at $5,000. He also owns a fine cotton-gin, and is now replacing the old machinery with the latest improved in the market, its capacity being twenty-five bales per day. He has in his plantation about 120 acres, eighty five of which are under the plow, and is improved with good buildings, his residence being an exceptionally fine one. His peach orchard is also one of the best along the river. In the year 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara M. Pulliam, a daughter of E. Pulliam, of Bartlett. Tenn. Mrs. Rhodes is a lady of culture and re- finement, and she and Mr. Rhodes are the parents of the following children, two girls and two boys: Ella Nelson, Lucy Pulliam, Joseph Wicks. Jr .. and Charles Robert. A great deal of business is done at Golden Lake, Mr. Rhodes acting as agent for the steamboats at that point. He is a mem- ber of the K. of H., and his wife is a member of the Methodist Church.

Leon Roussan, editor and publisher of the Osceola Times (which he purchased in 1870), is a gentleman of culture, of large general information. and has proven himself to be a man of good judg- ment in directing the editorial policy of his paper. He was born in Ste. Genevieve, Mo .. in 1838, and was the second in a family of seven children born to Michael and Sophia (Janis) Roussan. The parents were natives of Missouri, but were descend- ants of early French pioneers in that section. Leon Roussan attended the public and private schools of his native town until sixteen years of age, when he entered the newspaper office of the Ste. Genevieve Plain Dealer, and there remained one year. He then clerked in a store until 1861. when he enlisted in Company C, First Confederate Battalion, and was assigned to Mississippi River

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

division. He was in the siege of Island No. 10, was there captured and taken to Johnson's Island, Lake Erie, where he remained some six months, and was then exchanged at Vicksburg. Later he joined the Forty-second Tennessee Regiment, and was elected lieutenant of Company C. He was in the Georgia campaign, and was wounded at At- lanta. After the close of the conflict Mr. Roussan went to St. Louis, where he clerked for a year, and then moved to Randolph, Tenn., where he en- gaged in commercial pursuits. In 1870 he came to Osceola, and bought the paper which he now conducts. The Times is one of the old and well- established papers of this portion of the State, and has ever exerted a potent influence in public af- fairs and the general interests of Mississippi Coun- ty-never more so than in late years, whilst under the supervision of its present editor. It has a good patronage, and commands the respect and confidence of the entire reading public among whom it circulates. At the incorporation of Osce- ola, in 1872, Mr. Roussan was active in promoting a harmonious organization, and was elected its first mayor. Since then he has been justice of the peace, and is at present county examiner. In 1879 his marriage was consummated with Miss Adah L. Pettey, a native of the "Lone Star State," and the daughter of Dr. F. M. Pettey. Mr. Roussan is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 27, of Osceola, and is also a member of the Arkan- sas Press Association.

Hon. L. D. Rozell. Every life has a history of its own, and although in appearance it may seem to possess little to distinguish it from others, yet the political career and experience of Mr. Rozell, as well as his connection with the agricultural and stock raising affairs of this community, have con- tributed to give him a wide and popular acquaint- ance with nearly every citizen of Mississippi Coun- ty, if not personally, then by name. He was born in Davidson County, Tenn., in 1836, and was the second in a family of seven children born to Rev. A. B. and Henrietta (Burnett) Rozell. The father was an extensive farmer, and was also a well-known . and popular Methodist preacher in Middle Tennes- see, where he died in 1886. The mother died in

1845. The paternal grandfather, Solomon Rozell, was a native of North Carolina, and was one of the pioneers of West Tennessee, settling near Mem- phis, which at that time was composed of less than half a dozen huts. The maternal grandfather was a very early settler in Middle Tennessee, and both families became well known in the localities where they cast their lot. As L. D. Rozell was reared as an agriculturist, it is but natural that he should permanently adopt that calling as his life occupa- fion, and he has always followed it. He attended the common schools when a boy, and at his major- ity engaged in tilling the soil for himself. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C, First Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, and participated in the bat- tles of Holly Springs, Spring Hill, Chickamauga, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin, Nashville and others. In 1865 Mr. Rozell came to Mississippi County, Ark., and settled on the river about ten miles above Osceola, on a tract of land purchased by his father in 1855. In 1867 Miss Margaret Bowen became his wife. She was born in Mississippi County, and was the daughter of Reese Bowen, who died in 1856, and was one of the earliest set- tlers in this county. The year previous to his marriage Mr. Rozell purchased a tract of 100 acres of partially improved land, to which he has since added, until he now owns 1,200 acres of excel- lent bottom soil, with 350 acres under cultivation. He has erected good buildings, fences, etc., and is now enjoying the result of his labor. He has a good grade of stock mixed with Durham, and has a fine bull for breeding purposes. He has taken an active interest, politically, in the affairs of the county, and has held many positions of public trust. He was elected justice of the peace in 1S6S, and in 1871 represented his county in the Legis- lature, to the satisfaction of his constituents and the public in general. In 1886 he was elected county judge, was re-elected in 18SS, and is hold- ing that position at the present. He is active in school matters, and has served as director for many years. In all things that promise to contribute to the good of this section the Judge may be counted upon to take a leading part. By his marriage to Miss Bowen, he became the father of eight chil-

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MISSISSIPPI COUNTY.

dren, two of whom are deceased. Those living are Ashley, William, Martha, Bascom, Lockey and Shoemaker. Margaret and Emma died in in-

1 fancy. The Judge is a member of Lodge No. 27. A. F. & A. M.

A. A. Rounsaville. The occupation which this gentleman now follows has received his attention the greater part of his life, and it is but the truth to say that in it he is thoroughly posted and well- informed, and his labors in this direction have con- tributed very materially to the reputation Missis- sippi County enjoys as a rich farming region. Like many of the residents of the county he is a Tennesseean by birth, having been born in 1839, and was the eighth of eleven children born to Clayborn and Elizabeth Rounsaville, who were born, reared and married in the State of Alabama, and shortly after removed to Tennessee. In 1851 they resolved to move still farther to the west, and accordingly settled in Mississippi County, Ark., where they opened up a large section of land, on which they spent the remaining years of their lives, the father dying in 1867, and the mother in 1854. From earliest youth A. A. Rounsaville has been familiar with the duties of farm labor, and up to the breaking out of the late war he was en- gaged in following this occupation, and in attend- ing the old time subscription schools. He espoused the cause of the Confederacy and joined Capt. Fletcher's company, and was a participant in the battles of Shiloh and Farmington, but after the latter battle was discharged from service on ac- count of sickness, and returned home. In 1864 he re-enlisted in Price's command, and accompanied that general on his raid through Missouri, taking an active part in all the battles of that campaign. ! After his surrender at Shreveport, La., in 1865, he returned to Mississippi County, Ark., where, un- til 1868, he was engaged in rafting and wood- chopping. The three following years he farmed the old family homestead, and in 1871 bought a tract of forty acres, one mile east of Blythesville, on which farm he has since built a commodious and substantial dwelling-house, and has reduced twenty-five acres to cultivation and otherwise added greatly to its improvement. He has pur-

chased forty more acres of land, and also is the owner of some valuable town property. His lands are fertile, and will produce one bale of cotton to the acre, and forty bushels of corn. He also gives considerable attention to the propagation of a good grade of stock. He was married in 1868 to Mrs. Nancy Hudgins, formerly Miss Synclear.

H. T. Rounsaville is a brother of A. A. Roun- saville, whose sketch appears above, and like his brother, is careful and painstaking in the cultiva- tion of his land, and thorough in everything con- nected with its management. It is, perhaps, not to be wondered at that he is meeting with success in his chosen calling, for he has always attended strictly to the details of farm work, and is one of the intelligent and enterprising class of citizens who would give life to any community in which they might settle. His birth also occurred in Ten- nessee, in the year 1842, he being the youngest child living born to his parents, and up to the age of twenty-one years his time was divided between working on the farm and in attending school, where he received a good practical education, and from that time until he arrived at the age of thirty-one years, he traveled about through thirteen different States. After his return to the State of Arkansas, in 1871, he purchased a small but exceedingly fer- tile farm of forty acres, one mile east of Blythes- ville, which was then heavily covered with timber, and now has twenty-six acres in a high state of cultivation; has built good fences and made other improvements, securing a pleasant and comforta- ble home, which he is enjoying with his wife (whose maiden name was Amanda Sawyer, and whom he married in 1873) and his three children, Margaret Ann, Franklin Monroe and Joel Alvin. Mrs. Rounsaville is a daughter of William Sawyer, a pioneer settler of this section.

Rucker Brothers. Nowhere in Mississippi County, Ark., are there to be found individuals of more energy, determined will, or force of charac- ter than these young men possess, and no merchant or agriculturist is deserving of greater success in the conduct of his store or the management of his farms than they. The firm comprises Albert G. and Egbert E. Rucker, both of whom were born

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

in Lauderdale County, Tenn., the former's birth occurring November 19, 1855, and the latter's December 1, 1856. Like most of the youths of their county, as they grew up they devoted their time and attention to farm life, receiving in the meantime good common-school educations. After attaining his majority Albert engaged in farming for himself, following this occupation until twenty- ; eight years of age, when he engaged in commercial business at Barfield, in connection with Egbert E., who had been following that business ever since attaining his majority, and succeeded Carr & Co. On the 20th of November, 1888, they purchased a tract of land, comprising eighty acres, of Z. T. Williams, the most of which was under cultivation, and about the same time they purchased forty -acres of J. W. Buckner. In May, 1889, they bought 160 acres two miles west of Barfield, which they intend improving and clearing at once. Their stock of general merchandise is valued at about $4,000, and in connection with this work, which is proving quite remunerative, they buy and ship cotton and all farm products, and own a half interest in a cotton-gin at Hickman's Bend. While engaged in farming, Albert raised 4,500 bushels of corn on seventy-two acres of land, at Hickman's Bend, this crop only requiring his time and attention for about sixty days, and shows the productiveness of the soil at this point. In the vicinity of Barfield, the cotton crop has averaged one bale to the acre for the past five years. There are three saw- mills within a radius of three miles from their home, each having a capacity of 50,000 feet of lumber per day, and this lumber is mostly shipped from Rucker Brothers' landing. Barfield is the best business point between the northern limits of the county and Osceola, being the main shipping station for Chickasawba, and last year 2,500 bales of cotton were shipped from that point. The Rucker Brothers have acquired an enviable repu- tation for safe, thorough, and reliable transactions in the affairs of every day life, and have done much to increase and extend the trade and intlu- ence of Barfield. They are members of the Bap- tist Church, and are men who have always endeav- ored to follow the teachings of the golden rule,

and have gained the esteem and approbation of their fellow men. Egbert was married, February 15, 1884, to Miss Florence Chambers, a native of Tennessee, and is now filling the duties of post- master of Barfield, and prior to the year 1888, beld the office six years. Their parents, James M. and Julia A. (Chadwick) Rucker, were born in Virginia and Ohio, respectively, and while a young man, the former moved to Tennessee, and after- ward to Arkansas, his marriage taking place in Mississippi County in 1847. They subsequently made their home in Tennessee, where the father's death occurred in 1879. His widow is still resid- ing on the old homestead in that State.

Hon. J. F. Ruddell. Among the citizens of Mississippi County, Ark., long and favorably iden- tified with its social and business interests, is Mr. Ruddell, whose biography will no doubt be read by old and young, for there is always an instinct- ive curiosity to know the true and inner history of men who have had such a close association with the affairs of this county from primitive date. He was born in Miami County, Ohio, in 1826, being the fourth in a family of five children born to Archibald and Ann (Neal) Ruddell, who were en- gaged in following agricultural pursuits in the "Buckeye State." Later they removed to Boone County, Ky., where the father remained until his death, in 1833. His widow afterward became the worthy companion of Jordan Bass, and in 1836 emigrated to Arkansas, and died at the home of our subject in 1873. J. F. Ruddell, brought up to a knowledge of farm duties, very naturally chose that occupation as his calling in life when it be- came necessary for him to select some permanent industry, and the experience he has since had has proven the wisdom of his judgment. He attended the common schools until 1836, then made his home in Kentucky with an uncle until 1840, after which he worked as a farm hand for several years. In 1843 he made a trip to Arkansas, but in 1847 located permanently at Osceola, Mississippi Coun ty. where he ran a trading post on the river for one year. In the fall of 1849 he came to Chickasawba Township. entered eighty acres of : Government land and after making many improve.

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MISSISSIPPI COUNTY.

ments and living on this tract for many years, he Noah Sawyer, is well remembered by the early sold out and bought 160 acres at Clear Lake. Three years later he came to Blythesville, where

citizens of this county as a man worthy the re- spect and esteem of all, and a short sketch of his į he now has 120 acres near the village. all under life will be interesting to his relatives and nummer- ! ous friends. He was born in North Carolina, and went to Tennessee at an early day, being married there to Miss Martha Henderson, also a native of the "Old North State." They resided in the State of their adoption until 1852, at that time coming to Arkansas, and settling at Daniels' Point, on the river, where they entered 160 acres of land, fifty of which he cleared and put under cultivation, and made a comfortable home until 1857. He then ; sold out, but later bought a farm of 260 acres on Long Lake, which at the time of his purchase was a wilderness, and on this farm Elisha Sawyer cut the first cane for clearing. They soon had a house erected, and here Mr. Sawyer lived until 1873, respected and esteemed by all who knew him. In 1871 he bought 160 acres near what is now Blythesville, and on this made his home un- til 1878, when he quietly breathed his last. His entire course through life had been one marked with singular honesty and fidelity of purpose, and to every charitable object he was a liberal contribu- tor, and was a man held in high esteem by all who knew him. He held the office of justice of the peace for a number of years, and when a mere boy : united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and cultivation, with fair buildings and a good small orchard. The land is very productive, and will readily yield one bale of cotton to the acre. He also owns eighty acres on Dogwood Ridge, twenty being under the plow. When the Rebellion broke out he joined Capt. Fletcher's company, which was known as the Fletcher Rifles, and was in the battle of Shiloh, where he was wounded; was captured at Murfreesboro, being afterward ex- changed; Chickamauga and Decatur, Ala., where he was again taken prisoner, and was kept in captivity until the close of the war. After leaving the bat tle field he returned home, and again took up the implements of farm life. From 1854 to 1861 he filled the office of justice of the peace, and after returning from the war was again tendered that position, which he accepted. In 1874 he was chosen to represent his county in the State legis- lature, and served to the entire satisfaction of his constituents for one term. At the present time he is a member of the Tax Equalization Board, and as he has always been an active advocate of schools, he has served many years as school director. In 1850 he married Miss Nancy Mobely, a daugh- ter of John Mobely, one of the old pioneers of Mississippi County, who came here in 1826 . lived up to its rules throughout his whole life. from Missouri. Mrs. Ruddell died in 1862, leav- ing five children, who are now also dead: John T., Louisa A., Charles A., Emily E. and Sarah E. In 1867 he married Amanda Mobely, a sister of his first wife, but she, too, died leaving him again a widower with two children to care for: Thomas O. (deceased), and Martha A., who is attending school at Lexington, Ky. Mr. Ruddell married his present wife, who was Mrs. Margaret Walker, in 1889. In 1888 he made a visit to relatives in Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, but saw no coun- try that, in his estimation, was so desirable as Mississippi County, Ark., and here he is contented to pass his declining years among his many tried and true friends.

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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. 2, Part 12

Author: Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis : The Goodspeed Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1044

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis : The Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1044