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 15

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 15

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essence of fortitude and courage, and the owner of it is a man who has gone through the dangers of war and the vexations of after-life, and come out triumphant at the end. He is a planter near Pecan Point, and was born in 1839 at Selma, Ala. He was the oldest child born to John and Louisa (McLean) West, the father being a well known planter and merchant in Alabama, and the grand- father one of the pioneers of Dallas County, Ala. Mr. West remained at home and attended school until his twentieth year. At the outbreak of the war he entered the Confederate army and enlisted in Company A, Fourth Infantry, and was assigned to duty in Virginia. At Manassas his regiment had the honor of supporting Gen. Jack- son, when the remark was made that gave that gen- eral the soubriquet of "Stonewall," and made him famous in history, namely: "There stands Jack- son and the Virginians like a stone wall." Mr. West was badly wounded at this battle, and unable to fight any longer. Consequently he was discharged and returned home to recover. In October of the same year he re-enlisted, becoming a member of Company E, Seventeenth Alabama Regiment, and was assigned to the Western army under Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston. He took part in the battle of Shiloh, and was again severely wounded and sent home to recuperate, but though on the brink of death in two instances, it did not dampen his ardor for battle in the least, and he joined the army a third time, entering into the ranks of the Twenty-fourth Alabama Battalion as a lieutenant of cavalry, and taking part in the battles of Resaca, Ga., Kenesaw Mountain, New Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek, Jonesboro, and in an almost innumerable number of minor engage- ments. His bravery won for him the rank of adjutant-general of his brigade, and at the cessa- tion of war he was surrendered by Gen. Lee at Columbia, S. C. After peace had been estab- lished he returned to his home in Autauga County, Ala., where he was engaged in planting and farm- ing for five years. On the 14th of April, 1861, he was married to Miss Bettie Zeigler, who died in 1865, and left one son, William McLean, now a contractor on the Georgia Pacific Railroad. His

second wife was Miss Laura Hoffman, of Alabama, whom he married on the 11th of October, 1868, but after a short and happy married life of nine months this lady died. In 1869 Mr. West moved to the State of Mississippi, and settled on the Yazoo River, where he met and was married to Miss Matilda Booth, of Mississippi, a daughter of Will- iam Booth, who built the first frame house on the Yazoo River above Yazoo City. Mr. Booth was also one of the projectors of the Mississippi Central Railroad, and after its completion was for several years a director of that road, and one of the most pop- ular railroad men in the South. He held the office of sheriff of Carroll County a number of terms, and was also representative from that county, and later on State senator. Mr. Booth came originally from New York State to Mississippi, in 1818, and was one of its most influential and valued citizens for many years. Capt. West left the Yazoo River in 1880, and moved to Coahoma County, where he bought a plantation of 1,800 acres, and placed 350 acres under cultivation, besides making a great many improvements. In 1886 he sold out his place and came to Mississippi County, Ark., settling at Pecan Point, where he farmed on rented land for one year, and then moved to Phillips County. After a short residence in the latter place, he returned to this county and bought 600 acres of land, which he is now clearing, and expects to have 500 acres under cultivation next year. The Captain is very striking in appearance, and would not fail to be noticed in any company. He is six feet tall, hearty and robust, and carries with him that courteous, pleasing address, that is always evident in the true Southern gentleman. He has not escaped his full share of misfortune, and on one occasion he was almost ruined by the Yazoo River floods, being compelled to sell a fine plantation in Le Flore County, Miss .. in order to obtain a fresh start. But he possesses that spirit of enterprise and an indomitable will that are steadily overcoming all obstacles, and carving a fortune out of the green woods of Mississippi County. Capt. West has but recently purchased his land, but on every side men are at work clearing away the timber, and erecting buildings for the crop of 1890. He will

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MISSISSIPPI COUNTY.

erect a fine dwelling for himself on an elevated site near the river bank, with a grove of noble trees to make a natural park, and expects to have one of the most comfortable homes on the Mississippi River. His present crop of 300 acres of cotton has been well cultivated, and shows the watchful eye of a man who has made cotton-planting the business of his life. Mr. and Mrs. West are the parents of seven children, three of them having died in infancy: Henry, Minnie and Robert; and those still living are Ludie, Ida, Robert and Mary. He has an interesting family, in which he takes great pride, and wants nothing to complete his hap- piness, unless it is to have his two daughters, who are attending school in Kentucky, by his side at home. Capt. West is a member of the K. of O., and Mrs. West, a devout Christian lady, attends the Presbyterian Church.

O. S. Wigley, who stands in the front rank of Mississippi County's prominent farmers. was born at Atlanta, Ga., in 1847. His parents were George W. and Mahala (Kyle) Wigley, of that State, where the mother died in 1854. The father married again, in 1856, and in 1859 moved to the State of Arkansas, settling in what is now Cross County. He began farming in this locality until 1865, when he moved to Mississippi County, and remained there until his death, in 1872. George W. Wigley attained a high degree of popularity wherever he made his home, and at the time of his death, was one of the most substantial citizens of Mississippi County. O. S. Wigley remained at home until the first outbreak of war, and as the tales of battle came to his home, his bosom was fired with the ambitions and longings indulged in by every true soldier. He enlisted in Dobbin's regiment, and

charge, and also accompanied Gen. Price in his noted raids through Missouri. He can relate many an incident of these dark and bloody times, which thrills the ears of his listeners, and would fill a vol- ume. Mr. Wigley returned to Arkansas with Gen. Fagin, and surrendered in April, 1865. He then went home, and joined his father in moving to Mississippi County, Ark., and for awhile was en- gaged with him in farming. In 1869 he was mar-

ried to Miss Savanah Bennett, of Tennessee, a daughter of Capt. B. F. Bennett, a prominent planter and merchant, who met his death from being kicked by a savage horse. After his marriage Mr. Wigley was retained by his father-in-law as overseer, and remained with him in that capacity for eight years. He then rented land and farmed for five years, after which he bought a farm near Pecan Point, and after improving it, sold the land to R. W. Friend. In 1886 he moved to his pres- ent residence, where he farms some 170 acres, and this year has had about 135 acres in crops. Mr. Wigley farms on purely scientific principles; he makes a study of it, and the crops he produces are among the finest in Mississippi County. He is also engaged, quite extensively, in stock raising, and has made a success of that business by prop- erly feeding his stock, and taking good care of them. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wigley were born seven children: Florida Ann (wife of Charles Bell), Mamie Frances (wife of Johnson St. Clair), Georgie Franklin, Walter (who died in infancy), as did Oliver and two others, unnamed before their deaths. Mr. Wigley has lately joined the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and has always held the esteem of his fellow-citizens.

John W. Williams, the son of William Will- iams and Sallie Philips, was born in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, in the year 1821. He immigrated to, and settled in, the good County of Mississippi, State of Arkansas, in 1849, subsequently being married to Anna Fletcher, eld- est daughter of Elliott H. Fletcher and Frances Hickman, in the year 1858. By this marriage. and at this time of writing, there are three living children: Susan F., Elliot and Sallie P. He now took part in many a hot skirmish and gallant . resides on his farm, one mile above Elmot, front- ing on the Mississippi River.

James H. Williams. The entire life of Mr. Williams has been one unmarked by any unusual occurrence outside of the chosen channels to which he has so diligently and attentively given his time and attention. A native of the State of Tennessee (born near Nashville in 1826), he has given his at- tention to tilling the soil. and the manner in which he has acquired his present estate denotes him to

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

be an energetic, successful agriculturist. His early scholastic advantages were received in his native State, and, after attending the common schools, he entered a college in that State, which he attended until twenty years of age, after which he engaged in the lumber business in the city of Nashville. His wife was formerly Miss Mary E. Finley, of Lebanon, Tenn., whom he married in 1847, she being a sister of Jesse J. Finley, a United States senator from Florida. After making several an- nual trips to Mississippi County, Ark., he settled here in 1849, and on the first of January of the following year he took possession of a fine tract of land, comprising 480 acres, situated about four and a half miles north of Osceola. It was at that time covered by a dense canebrake, with the ex- ception of twenty acres which were cleared, and here Mr. Williams entered actively upon his work, and his career since that time has been marked by industry and strict attention to his calling. He has 160 acres under cultivation, and in addition to this property has 160 acres of cleared land on Big Lake. In 1880 he erected a fine residence on his estate, which is now one of the pleasantest homes in this section of the country: and everything about his home indicates the enterprise and thrift which have ever characterized his efforts. He has always taken an active interest in the development and improvement of Mississippi County, and has also been quite an active politician. In 1856 he was chosen justice of his township, and in 1876 was elected to represent his county in the State legislature, having filled, since completing his term of service, the offices of school director and justice of the peace. Mr. Williams' wife departed this life in 1858, leaving a family of four children: William F., married to Miss Kizer; Sallie. wife of N. G. Cartwright, of Osceola; Alice, wife of F. M. Moseley, of Blythesville, and Katie, wife of Ben. H. Bacchus, a druggist of Osceola. In 1861 Mr. Williams married his second wife, Miss Nellie Heath, of Illinois, who died in 1872, leaving four children: Edward H., who is married to a Miss Dunn, of Florida, and is a merchant of Elmot; Henry E., who is superintendent of Goodrich Iron Works, belonging to James C. Warner; Zerlena

W. and Maggie. Miss Mary Dunkle, of Missouri, became Mr. Williams' third wife, but died the third year of her marriage. He wedded his pres- ent wife in 1882, she being a Mrs. Sarah A. Dun- navant, nee Alexander, of Crockett County, Tenn., widow of Leonard Dunnavant. Mrs. Williams was the mother of three children by her first marriage, who are as follows: Robert, a pilot on the Missis- sippi River; Reid and Lillie, all of whom make their home with Mr. Williams. His wife belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and he to the Presbyterian. He is also a member of Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M., of Osceola. He was the seventh of a family of children born to Josiah F. and Margaret (Phillips) Williams, the former a planter of Tennessee, who purchased, in 1837. a large tract of land in the southern part of Mississippi County, Ark., which he conducted for about eight years, then selling out to Mr. Lanier in 1843. Mr. and Mrs. Josiah F. Williams were very fortunate in the growing up of their children, twelve of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. The three eldest daughters married Ewings (three brothers), prominent men. The fourth daughter married Dr. Henry Whitaker; the fifth married Mr. I. C. Warner, the great "Iron King of the South;" the sixth married Mr. John A. Dunkin, a wholesale merchant, of Nashville, Tenn,; the seventh married Dr. Kennedy, of Chattanooga. One granddaughter married Mr. Henry Watterson, editor of the Courier-Journal, of Louisville. The sons were all good men, and married well. Mrs. Williams died near Nashville, in the year 1845. Mr. J. F. Williams died at the same place, in the year 1852, having been a great sufferer for five years with cancer in his eye. He left a noble . record for his family.

Edward H. Williams. He whose name heads this brief sketch is one of Mississippi County's most active and enterprising business men, alive to all current topics, and public-spirited and pro- gressive in all matters tending to benefit the com- munity. He was born near Elmot, in 1859. bis parents being James H. and Nellie (Heath) Will- iams [for whose history see sketch of James H. Williams]. As Edward grew toward youth and

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MISSISSIPPI COUNTY.

early manhood he attended school in the neigh- borhood of his home, and worked on the farm for his father until he was twenty-one years old, at which time he engaged as a clerk for A. Goodrich of Osceola, with whom he remained one year. After renting and tilling his father's farm for two years, he started from home with the intention of going to Florida. but stopped in Ala- bama, and attended school at Florence for some six months, after which he concluded that bis native State was good enough to suit him, so he returned and went into business with D. T. Waller, which partnership was dissolved at the end of twenty months, Mr. Waller purchasing his interest. He then bought out N. W. Goodrich, and for two years was associated with A. Goodrich. purchasing his partner's interest at the end of that time; he has conducted affairs in a very satisfactory manner, proving himself to be a man of rare business ability and efficiency. He keeps an excellent assortment of general merchandise, his stock being valued at about $4,000, and has won the reputation of being one of the first business men in Mississippi County. He is enterprising and energetic, studying largely ;

the interests of the people, and fully justifies the confidence and esteem which are bestowed upon him. In connection with his mercantile interests he is managing his father's farm, growing cotton, and has been postmaster at Elmot since May, 1885. His estimable wife was formerly Miss Maude Dunn, of Pensacola, Fla., to whom he was married on the 17th of March, 1885, and by her he has one child, Edward James. Mrs. Williams is connected with the Catholic Church.

William F. Williams is one of the best known and most highly respected residents of Mississippi County, Ark., and is a man whose life has been an active one, and not without the substantial rewards of success. His grandfather, Josiah Williams, was a resident of Nashville, and a man of enterprise and discretion. He became an extensive landholder in Mississippi County, purchasing his property at what was then known as Social Bend, about the year 1835, which property was managed by his sons, James H. and his brothers, who were then young men, the place being well stocked with

slaves. About 1850, James H. Williams purchased a farm near Elmot, above Osceola, and with the help of his slaves, he opened up about 200 acres, and on this farm he is still residing. William F. Williams was the eldest of eight children born to his parents, and received some educational ad- vantage's in the schools of Osceola. After reaching manhood, he was united in the bonds of matri- mony to Miss Christina Kieser, a daughter of F. W., and granddaughter of John Kieser, who came from Germany to the United States in 1831, bring- ing with him his wife and two children. F. W. Kieser being the only one of the latter that is liv- ing. The grandfather is still living, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-nine years, and divides his time about equally between Kentucky and Osceola, Ark. F. W. Kieser is also living, in Kentucky. William F. Williams, after his marriage, which oc- curred in 1875, moved onto his father-in-law's place, which adjoins Osceola, and is now manag- ing 600 acres of land. He pays an annual rental of $3,000 for his land, and his principal crops are cotton and corn, the yield of the former being about three-quarters to one bale, or forty bushels of corn, to the acre. There is nothing that he has ever tried to make grow on his land that has not thrived, whether grain or fruit. He is also en- gaged in stock dealing, and thinks the farmers of this region have thoroughly awakened to the faet that it pays to raise a good grade of stock. The mules of Mississippi County are becoming espe. cially noted; Mr. Williams has also some Holstein cattle, which he considers a better breed for this region than any other. He has a fine male animal, which was imported from Holland, and al- though but two years old, weighs 1,218 pounds. His hogs are of the Berkshire breed, brought from Kentucky, and are very fine. He keeps a few sheep, which he finds fairly profitable, but thinks the country here too level for them to thrive well. Mr. Williams has acted as school director for a number of years, and from his own observations has seen a decided improvement in the standard of schools since the year 1870. and consequently a decided improvement in the people of this section. The education of his three children. May, Fred

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and James, is being attended to by their mother, who is a lady of culture and. refinement, and was educated at Cape Girardeau. Mo., and Memphis, Tenn. Mrs. Williams is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, South, at Osceola: Mr. Williams has passed the Blue Lodge and Chapter of the A. F. & A. M., of Osceola, and is a charter member of Apollo Commandery at Forest City, Ark. He is also a member of the K. of H.

William R. Williams, although still a young man, has risen to a position in the agricultural af- fairs of the county which many men older in years and experience might envy. His life has been without any material change from the ordinary pursuits of farm toil, but yet has not been devoid of substantial results. He was born in Memphis, Tenn., in the year 1854, and in 1861 came, with his father, to Mississippi County, Ark., where the latter resided until his death, in 1880. William R. Williams received educational advantages far beyond the average, and these advantages he did not fail to improve, but applied himself diligently to his books, and acquired an excellent education which proved of great benefit to him in later years. His plantation, which is situated in the southern part of Mississippi County, comprises 300 acres, of which eighty are cleared and under cultivation, and in good seasons average about one bale of cot- ton to the acre. He has several good log houses on his property, and is doing a fairly prosperous business. In Mississippi County, Ark., he was married to Miss Sallie Baskin, of Phillips County, Ark., and by her became the father of two inter- esting children-Anna, who died at the age of three years, and Ella, a little girl of seven years, at home. Mr. Williams is an agreeable and intelli- gent gentleman, and one who is ever ready to reach out a helping hand to the needy, or to engage in any legitimate enterprise which might tend to benefit the county.

B. A. Williamson (deceased) was a prominent farmer of Mississippi County, Ark., and was born in the Blue Grass State, in 1820. He passed his youth on his father's farm, and subsequently learned the brickmason's trade. Later in life he went to Louisville, Ky., worked at his trade for

about eight years, and then in 1855 he came to Arkansas, where he settled on the Mississippi River, about three miles above Osceola. He located on a tract of wild land, which he soon submitted to a course of improvement, and which was transformed into a remarkably pleasant home. After making many improvements he sold out in 1861, at a large advance, and then bought a choice location in the vicinity, which Mrs. Williamson still owns. Mr. Williamson was married in November, 1861, to Miss Lithe Jane Hale [see sketch of Hale Bros. ], and immediately afterward the war broke out. Farming was almost suspended, but Mr. Williamson found employment at his trade, and nearly all the brick chimneys of that time were of his construc- tion. He made many improvements on his farm, erecting buildings and clearing about seventy acres. In 1871, after an unusually active and prosperous life, Mr. Williamson received his final summons. Since then Mrs. Williamson has opened up about twenty acres, has conducted the home place, and now has no trouble in renting the farm for $600 or $700 annually. This land is very productive, and has often yielded one and a half bales of cotton to the acre. In 1884 Mrs. Williamson bought a pleasant residence in Osceola, which she has im- proved and made into a pleasant home. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Williamson were born six children, only one now living: Eliza Ann died at the age of ten years; Mary Elizabeth is the wife of Abner Driver, and resides in this county; James Edward died at the age of seven years; Levina died at the age of fifteen years, and two died in infancy. Mrs. Williamson has since married her deceased husband's brother, Bland W. Williamson. The family are now living in a very pleasant cot- tage in Osceola.

Robert E. L. Wilson is numbered among the younger of the successful and rising agriculturists of this county, and none will have a brighier fu- ture, or will make better use of their advantages than he. The citizens of Mississippi County are ;proud to claim him as one of its sons. for he was . born here in the year 1863. His father, Joseph L. Wilson, came from Tipton County, Tenn .. in 1847. and purchased a traet of land in Mississippi County

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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 15

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