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 22

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 22

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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His last union resulted in the birth of three sons, two of whom survive. His death occurred in 1846, in Russell County of that State, his wife having died in North Carolina in 1829. He was a stanch Democrat, and a member of the Baptist Church.

John Jones, postmaster, White Hall, Ark. Mr. Jones was born in Abbeville District, S. C., and is the son of Robert and Mary (Conn) Jones, natives of South Carolina, and of Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Jones were among the first settlers of South Carolina, and there the mother died when her son John was but an infant. He was taken and reared by his grandfather, John Conn, and his father went to Alabama, where he was married the second time. After the death of his grandparents our subject was taken to Alabama by his father, and received his education in the common schools of that State. His father was a miller, and was very successful in this occupation. He was a member of the Christian Church, and his death occurred in Alabama in 1862. John Jones was reared to farm labor, and began his own career at the age of fif- teen years. When eighteen years of age he left Alabama for West Tennessee and worked for money to enable him to attend school. This was in 1837, and he returned to Alabama, where he went to school for about two years, after which he was elected to the office of constable, although he continued to farm until 1842. He took for his life companion Miss Martha Thurman, a native of Ala- bama, and after marriage began farming on rented land, where he remained for fourteen years. In 1856 he moved to Poinsett County, Ark., and pur- chased the farm on which he now resides. At first he purchased 160 acres of wild land, and began to improve it, living in a tent until he could erect a cabin. He cleared about eight acres the first year, and since then has continued to clear and other- wise improve his farm, until now he has 200 acres of land, with 120 acres cleared. About 1869 he erected a gin and grist-mill, and has since con- ducted that business in connection with tilling the soil. In 1887 that mill was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt in 1888. The year 1887 was an unfort- unate one for Mr. Jones, as he had his residence

and all the contents destroyed by fire in that year. To his marriage were born these children: J. P., a farmer, living in Scott Township, and is magis- trate for his township; Isaac L., now twenty-one years of age, lives with his father; William C., born in 1844 and died in 1863, and Josephine E., born in 1846. Mr. Jones had two sons in the Con- federate army; one. William C., sickened and died in Columbus, Miss., his father being present and attending to his wants until his death; the other son, J. P., came out without injury. Mr. Jones votes with the Republican party, and takes an act- ive interest in politics. He held the office of jus- tice of the peace before the war, and has filled many local positions of trust and responsibility, such as coroner and school trustee, and has been postmaster for the last twelve years. During the year 1851 Mr. Jones held the office of tax-collector in Limestone County, Ala., under a bond of $75,000. He is a member of Harrisburg Lodge No. 184, A. F. & A. M., and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

J. P. Jones is another successful farmer of the county, of which he has been a resident since No- vember, 1856, having come here from his native State of Alabama at that date. He was born in 1842, and is the eldest of four children of John and Martha A. (Thurman) Jones, the former born in South Carolina and the latter in Alabama. They were married in the latter State, and there the father followed the occupation of a planter until his removal to this State. He located on a woodland farm, where he has made his home up to the present date, and during his residence here he has been quite an active politician; he has filled the office of postmaster at White Hall for some ten years, and was also justice of the peace in 1858. He and his wife now reside near their son, J. P., who from his earliest youth has been familiar with farm life. He received his early schooling in Ala- bama, but in 1861 he dropped his books and aban- doned the plow to enlist in the Confederate army. becoming a member of Capt. Harris' Company of the Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry, and served east of the Mississippi River. He was at Belmont, Shiloh, and also in many skirmishes. At the ex-

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piration of his term of service he left the army and returned home, and was married the following year in Poinsett County, to Miss L. D. Eskridge, who was born in West Tennessee. Her death oc- curred in January, 1884, and in November of the same year he espoused Miss J. A. Stafford, a na- tive of West Tennessee, and a daughter of J. D. and Hester Ann (Harrison) Stafford, who removed from North Carolina to Arkansas in 1880. Here the father died in 1880, and the mother four years later. Mr. Jones has a farm of 200 acres, with fifty acres under cultivation, on which he raises cotton principally. He devotes considerable at- tention to stock, and in connection with his father operates a cotton-gin. He is a Republican in his political views, and for the past ten years has acted as justice of the peace of his township. He filled the office of county treasurer for nearly five years, and has been a member of the school board for many years. He is a member of Lodge No. 77 of the I. O. O. F., at Harrisburg, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

J. W. Kaisner, planter, of Bay Village, Ark. This enterprising citizen owes his nativity to Ran- dolph County, Ark., where his birth occurred in 1845. He was the youngest of a family of three children, and the only one now living, born to James and Polly (Winnehan) Kaisner, natives of Tennes- see and Arkansas, respectively. James Kaisner, when a young man, came with his father to Ran- dolph County, and there died in the year 1845. The mother died in February, 1855. Grandfather Winnehan was a Methodist minister. J. W. Kais- ner was reared by his grandfather Kaisner to farm life, and received a practical education in the district schools of Marion County, Ark. During the late unpleasantness between the North and South he enlisted in the Fourth Missouri Infantry, Confederate army, in February, 1862, and served three years, or during the war. He participated in the following battles-Iuka. Corinth, Vicksburg, Champion's Hill and others of less note. He was paroled at Jacksonport, in June, 1865, after which he came to Crittenden County, Ark., and there re- mained until January, 1866, when he entered Poin-

sett County. He there followed farming in a suc- cessful manner, and in 1867 purchased 160 acres of land, with twenty-five acres under cultivation. He commenced at once to improve, and now has 220 acres with sixty-five under cultivation. He raises considerable stock, and over his meadows roam horses and cattle, principally the latter. He is not active in politics, but votes with the Demo- cratic party, and though often solicited to run for office has never done so. Socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and also of the Agricultural Wheel. Mr. Kaisner selected for his companion in life Miss Jane Morrison, a native of the Blue Grass State, and was married to her in Poinsett County, in 1868. After his marriage Mr. Kais- ner settled on his present property, and there he has since resided. He and wife are both church members, he of the Methodist and she of the Baptist denomination. To Mr. and Mrs. Kaisner has been born one child, James Todd. Mr. Kais- ner has seen many changes in the country since his residence here. At first they were obliged to go twenty miles to market, and a trip to Memphis was made in eight or ten days. He is, in every sense of the word, a self-made man, and to his own industry and enterprise is due his success.

J. B. Lynch, the junior member of the firm of Grant & Lynch, general merchants of Weiner, Ark., was born in Giles County, Tenn., in 1860, and since February, 1889, he has been engaged in his present business. The firm carry a complete and select stock of groceries, canned goods, dry goods, boots and shoes, shelf hardware, furniture, etc., and will soon put in a stock of clothing for their fall trade. They are wide awake, plucky and reliable, and fully deserve the paying trade which they have secured. Mr. Lynch is the third in a family of nine children born to W. F. and Susan E. (Gibles) Lynch, who were Tennesseeans, the father an undertaker by trade. He remained at Lynchville, Tenn .. until his death, which occurred in 1882, his wife having passed from life in 1876. The father was an Odd Fellow, and was a man whom everybody respected and admired. In 1882 J. B. Lynch came to Jackson County, Ark .. and began farming; in the fall of that year he went to

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Johnson County, and after residing in the town of Clarksville for some time, he returned to Jackson County, and came to Poinsett County in 1884, where : his attention was for some time given to railroad- tie contracting. continuing this till up to the time of embarking in his present business. His efforts in this direction are meeting with good results, and he can, with every assurance of success, look for- ward to a prosperous future. Socially, he is a member of Lodge No. 184. of the A. F. & A. M., of Harrisburg, and in politics, although not very active, he usually votes the Democratic ticket.

J. J. Mardis, attorney at law. The name of Mardis is identified with the professional standing, the welfare and material and social happiness of Poinsett County, of which he is a native-born resident, his birth occurring November 18, 1850. He is the youngest of a family of six children of John P. and Delilah (Hamrick) Mardis, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Alabama. They were early settlers of Poinsett County, and entered Government land, on which they resided until his death, which occurred in 1856; in addition to managing his farm, he was actively engaged in the practice of medicine, his services being re- quired over a very large area. His widow still survives him, and resides on the old homestead. Their children are as follows: Amanda J. (Mrs. Thorn), B. R. J. (married, and residing on the old homestead), N. B. (a widower, residing in Scott Township), and J. J. (our subject.) The latter was educated in the schools of Harrisburg and vicinity, and, after reading law in that town for some time, he was admitted to the bar in 1886, since which time he has been actively engaged in practicing his profession, and is considered by all to be a practical thinker and an earnest and forci- ble speaker. His property has been acquired through his own exertions, and 100 acres of his farm are under cultivation. He was married here in April, 1872, to Miss Sue Harris, and of seven chil- dren born to their union six are living: John A., Agnew, Henry, Maggie Lee, Simmie and Freddie. Dovie died in August, 1886, at the age of eleven years. Mrs. Mardis is a daughter of John and Sarah (Copeland) Harris, who were Tennesseeans,

and came to Poinsett County, Ark., in 1829, taking up their abode on a farm near Harrisburg, where the father died in 1885, the mother in 1884. Mr. Mardis has taken quite an active interest in pol- itics, and always votes with the Democratic party : he served on that ticket in the capacity of magis- trate for six years. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Harrisburg Lodge, No. 184, and also be- longs to the K of H. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and since De- cember, 1887, have been residents of Harrisburg. where Mr. Mardis has built up a large and con- stantly increasing clientage. He is well versed in the intricacies of the law, and is thoroughly com- petent and reliable.

Michael Mayer, farmer and stock raiser. Weiner, Ark. The reader is herewith handed a plain state- ment of a useful life; for certainly, if what is of the most use is of the most value, then, indeed, it is in recording the lives of representative men that biography is to be useful to posterity. Mr. Mayer was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1844, and was the seventh in a family of eight children born to the marriage of Michael and Mary (Markworth) Mayer, the father a native of Bavaria, and the mother of Canton Worms, France. Michael Mayer. Sr., was reared in his native country, and became a successful agriculturist. He owned a very large vineyard, but sold out in 1853 and came direct from Germany to Illinois, where he later purchased land in Vermilion County, and made his home for some time. Later he moved to Danville, Ill .. where his death occurred in October, 1870. and one year later his excellent wife also closed her eyes to the scenes of this earth. The early life of Michael Mayer, Jr., was passed between assist- ing on the farm and in attending the public schools of Danville, Ill. When the late war broke out he enlisted in Company B, Tenth Illinois Cav- alry, Independent Regiment, at Camp Butler. Springfield, Ill., and was assigned to the Western Department. He was in the battles of Wilson's Creek, Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Arkansas Post. Little Rock, Saline River. Pleasant Hill, Helena. Vicksburg, Nashville, was at Stone River. siege of Atlanta, and was in the memorable march to

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the sea. He was at Mobile, New Orleans, and was also in the Red River campaign; was also in the battles of Corinth and Pittsburg Landing. He received his discharge at San Antonio, Tex., in 1865, but was on the border during that winter, guarding the railroads. He then returned to Dan- ville, Ill., and engaged in merchandising, which he continued for about five years. In 1866 he was married, in Danville, Ill., to Miss Mary Klaege, a native of Germany, and the daughter of John and Mary (Geise) Klaege, also natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Klaege came to the United States in 1856, settling in the city of Brooklyn, where the father was employed for some time, and then moved to Danville, Ill., in 1865. He died there in the fall of 1868. The mother moved to Poin- sett County, Ark., in 1882, and made her home with the subject of this sketch until her death, which occurred one year later. Michael Mayer continued his mercantile pursuits, as before stated, for five years in Danville, Ill .; then embarked in contracting, and worked on the I. B. & W. R. R. He remained in Danville until 1881, when he moved to Poinsett County, and in September pur- chased a timber tract of 280 acres. He now has good buildings, and has 100 acres under fence. He also owns 160 acres partly under cultivation, with a good two-story house, etc. He raises consider- able cattle of the Ayrshire grade, and is one of the wide-awake farmers of the county. He votes with the Democratic party, but is not very active in politics. While living at Danville, Mr. Mayer was a member of the board of alderman, and since living here he has been a member of the school board, he being deeply interested in educational affairs, having been instrumental in organizing the school district. Mr. and Mrs. Mayer are members of the Catholic Church. To their united lives has been born one child, Emma Elizabeth, who is now Mrs. J. M. Steele [see sketch], and re- sides in Poinsett County. They have an adopted son, Thomas Leonard, whom they took when four years of age. He now bears the name of Thomas Mayer.

life which seem to be the chief prerogative of the average native of Illinois. He was born in Kane County in 1852, and is the eldest of four children born to Patrick and Ann (Kane) Murray, both of whom were born in the "Emerald Isle." At an early day they emigrated to the United States, and after residing some time in Pennsylvania, they removed to Illinois, and here they both died in Kane County, some years ago. P. J. Murray received such education as the district schools of Kane County afforded, and his youth and early manhood were spent in aiding in the development of the home farm. After working in the pineries of Northern Michigan for some time, he went to Louisiana, and in January, 1882, came to Poinsett County, where he engaged in mercantile business, and also had the contract for grading five miles of the Kansas City & Memphis Railroad. After completing one mile the company raised the grade, and Mr. Murray threw up the job, then returning to his store, to which he gave his undivided attention for some eighteen months. He then commenced farming, and purchased a timber tract of eighty acres, which he began immediately to improve. He now has forty acres cleared and under cultiva- tion, and is making a good living. He is an active Democrat in his political views, and is at present serving his third term as magistrate. He was instrumental in organizing a good school in his district. Socially, he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and belongs to Jonesboro Chapter. He was married in Little River Township, in 1883, to Miss Lydia A. Davidson, a native of Dunklin County, Mo., and a daughter of Zachariah and Sarah Davidson, who were natives of that State. They removed to this county in 1877, and the father is now living with Mr. Murray, his wife having died some years ago. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Murray: Zachariah and Felix. Since locating here Mr. Murray has seen many changes take place, and the country rapidly fill up with a good class of settlers. The soil here is fertile, and will readily yield fifty bushels of corn to the acre.

P. J. Murray is possessed of those advanced ideas T. H. Peck, through good management and and progressive principles regarding agricultural ' energy, has become the owner of 180 acres of ex-

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cellent land, of which about forty acres are under cultivation, and eighty are in timber land. He was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., in 1834, and is the eldest of a family of six children born to the marriage of William R. Peck and J. C. Arledge, the former a Tennesseean, and the latter a native of South Carolina. The latter attended school in Columbia, in her native State, being a schoolmate of Gen. Wade Hampton. The parents were mar- ried in the latter State, and in 1846 removed to Poinsett County, where they resided on a farm in Bolivar Township until their respective deaths, in 1846 and 1872. The early educational advantages of T. H. Peck were somewhat limited, as he re- mained faithfully by his mother, assisting her on the farm until he was twenty-five years of age. In 1869, he was married in Crittenden County, Ark., to Miss Mary M. Dean, a native of Mississippi, whose death occurred in 1870, she having borne Mr. Peck two children: William L., who is mar- ried and resides in the county, and George W. In the latter part of 1870 Mr. Peck was married, in Poinsett County, to Miss Mary S. Ware, of Middle Tennessee, but after bearing one child, Mary O., she died in 1873. He espoused his third wife, Miss Mary E. Allen, a native of South Caro- lina, in 1875. In 1861, Mr. Peck enlisted from Poinsett County in Company C, Capt. Benjamin Harris' Company, and was in the battles of Shiloh and Belmont, being wounded in the former engage- ment by a gun-shot. After serving one year, he returned to Poinsett County, and for some time was engaged in buying and selling land, but for a number of years has given his attention to farm- ing. He is an active politician, voting the Repub- lican ticket, and has served as magistrate of his township for seven years. He has always been deeply interested in schools, and for a number of years has been a member of the school board. He belongs to the Agricultural Wheel.

George C. Peters is the senior member of the firm of Peters & Oats, who are the proprietors of a saw-mill at Weiner, Ark., which has an extensive capacity and a forty-horse-power engine. They manufacture hardwood lumber, of all kinds, and make a specialty of wagon materials, shipping their

product to Hawley, Paddock & Co., and the Mis- souri Car & Foundry Works, at St. Louis, Mo. They have been established in business here some little time, and, judging from the patronage they already command, they can look forward to a pros- perous and successful future. Mr. Peters was born in Dutchess County, N. Y .. in 1853, and possesses the many admirable qualities which are so charac- teristic of natives of the "Empire State." He was the third of five children born to Henry W. and Caroline E. (Flint) Peters, also natives of New York, and inherits English blood from his father. The latter was for many years one of the honest "sons of the soil," but is now living in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., retired from the active duties of life. His children are Alfred H., who resides in Poughkeepsie, and devotes his time to literature, being a contributor to the Century and Harpers magazines, also other noted periodicals; Jacob O., who is married and resides on the old homestead of 400 acres, near Amenia, N. Y .; G. C .; K. E., wife of S. F. Davidson, residing in Topeka, Kas., and is chief clerk in the treasurer's office of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fé Railroad, and Car- rie, a twin sister of Jacob O., who resides in Pough- keepsie. George C. Peters was reared principally in the City of New York, but received the greater part of his education at Poughkeepsie, in Bisbee's Military Academy, and after completing his course there he went to New York City, and engaged in business on Wall Street, but removed from there some time after to Topeka, Kas. (in 1874), and had charge of the Wells Fargo Express Company, and later the Adams Express Company. In 1879 be went to San Juan County, Colo., on a prospecting tour, but soon after returned to New York, and, in 1880, went to Chicago, and until 1885 was em- ployed in the Union Stock Yards. In the latter year he came to Harrisburg, Poinsett County, Ark .. and from there moved to Weiner, where he dealt in stock until embarking in his present enterprise. He was married in 1889 to Miss Belle F. Duke, a native of Wayne County, Iowa, their marriage taking place in Poinsett County. She is a daugh- ter of James M. and Ann E. (Scudder) Duke, aud from them inherits Scotch blood. Her mother was

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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 22

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