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 23
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a member of the same family as Dr. Scudder, of Chicago. Mr. Peters has seen many improve- ments in the county since locating, and considers this an exceptionally healthy locality. It is an ex- cellent grazing region, and in any ordinary season will pasture stock the year round. He has 800 acres of land, which he expects soon to open to settlers; and he and his business partner have a timber tract of 240 acres. He has always been interested in schools, and, owing to his influence in District No. 2, the building is equipped with all modern improvements, and they have adopted the Harpers' and Standard systems of books.
B. F. Powell is a well-to-do planter of the coun- ty, this occupation having received his attention from early boyhood, and after his marriage, which occurred in Poinsett County, Ark .. in 1872, he purchased a timber tract embracing 160 acres of land, and now has 100 acres cleared and under cultivation, which he devotes to raising cotton and corn. He is independent in his political views, but is an active advocate of schools, and has been a member of the school board in his district for twelve years, in every respect being a public- spirited citizen. On the 26th of February, 1862 he enlisted in Company A, Twenty third Arkansas Infantry, and was a participant in the battles of Corinth, Iuka, Port Hudson and others, remaining on active duty until the close of the war. The maiden name of his wife was Miss S. L. J. Clam- pet, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Henry and Mary (Riley) Clampet, also of that State, who came to Arkansas at an early day. The mother died a few years ago, but the father is still living, a resident of this county. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Powell was blessed in the birth of eight children, five now living: Mary H., Sue E., Arthur Lee, David C. and Daisy, Those deceased are Laura M., who died in 1882, at the age of eight years; Anna Jane, whose death occurred in 1885, at the age of five years, and Henry E., who died in 1889, at the age of eleven years. Mr. Powell was born in Greene County, Ala., in 1845, and is the fifth in a family of eight chil- dren born to James E. and Harriet H. (Burton) Powell, who were born in the "Palmetto State,"
but settled in Alabama, and in 1849 removed to Poinsett County, Ark., making this State their permanent abode until their respective deaths, March 4, 1861, and June 27, 1861. The father was a farmer throughout life.
John W. Rooks, real estate agent and hotel- keeper, Harrisburg, Ark. This prominent and successful citizen is a native of Tennessee, whose birth occurred in Shelby County, December 5, 1848, and is the son of Joseph Rooks, a native of Middle Tennessee, who was married in his native State to Miss Melinda Montgomery, also a native of Middle Tennessee. They moved to Arkansas about 1856, settled on the Bay Road, five miles east of Harrisburg, in Bolivar Township, and there the father opened up 160 acres of wild land, clear- ing about fifty acres, and erecting buildings, etc. Later he moved to the west side of Crowley's Ridge, in Scott Township, and there purchased 240 acres of land, of which he cleared 100 acres. He was a farmer and brick mason, and a very in- dustrious. enterprising man. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and his family were consistent members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, South. He died in 1860. The . mother Mrs. Melinda (Montgomery) Rooks, was born in Bedford (now Crawford) County, Tenn., in the year 1807, and is still living. She is the daughter of William and Mary (Lyons) Mont- gomery, natives of North Carolina, and early set- tlers of the State of Arkansas. Her father was a farmer, and removed to Middle Tennessee about 1800. When a very old man, he returned to his native State to settle up a legacy, and was never afterward heard from. Her mother died in Mid- dle Tennessee, when about fifty years of age. Mrs. Rooks was one of five children born to her parents, and is the only one living. She was mar- ried at the age of seventeen years to Mr. Rooks, a son of one of the oldest families of North Carolina. and in. 1856 removed to Arkansas. To their union were born twelve children, ten of whom lived to be grown, became married and had families. The children were as follows: Mrs. N. E. Flowers, died in 1870 and left two children; Eli, who was en- gaged in merchandising at Bay Village, and who
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died December 15, 1878; James W., died in 1864 at the age of forty years; Martha A., widow of Henry Gilbert; Sarah J., wife of T. C. Broadster; Eliza, wife of J. W. Killough; James K., died about 1867; Michael K. died in his tenth year; Mary E., died in infancy; Evalyn, wife of Rev. A. C. Griffith, an elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Harrisburg; John W. (subject of this sketch), and one who died unnamed. Mrs. Rooks furnished three sons for the late war, and one son- in-law. William, one of the sons, died during that struggle, but the others served the entire time without harm. As before stated, Mrs. Rooks was left a widow in 1860, just at the outbreak of the late war, and she bravely struggled to support her family, but lost all her property during the con- flict. She was left in debt to the amount of $2,500, but this, by skillful management, she con- trived to pay off. She has long been a Christian, and a consistent member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, of which her children are also mem- bers. In 1868 she gave up housekeeping, and has since made the homes of her children happy by her presence. Her son, John W. Rooks, was taught the principles of farm life when young, and received his education in the common country schools, and supplementing the same by a course in the high school, at Harrisburg, under the tutor- ship of Prof. C. O. Turbeville. In 1871, when twenty-one years of age, he began clerking in the store of Kellough, Mitchell & Co., at a place called Lick Skillet, five miles south of Harrisburg, and worked one year. In 1871 he began clerking in Wittsburg, and continued in that work until 1875, when he opened a general store under the firm name of J. W. Rooks & Co. This business he continued with success until 1882, when he sold out and built a store at Cherry Valley, in Cross County, Ark. In 1885 he sold out and re- turned to Harrisburg, where he built the Rooks House and opened that hotel to the public. This he built in 1878, and it was destroyed by fire, with all its contents, in 1882. The same year the pres- ent hotel was built, and this he still conducts. In the year 1887 Mr. Rooks originated the real estate firm of Rooks & Ainsworth, it being the
only recognized real estate firm in Poinsett County, and they do a very successful business. Mr. Rooks has always taken a decided interest in poli- tics, and has twice been defeated for county treas- urer by a small majority. He served one term as deputy clerk for T. B. Sparks. He votes with the Democratic party, and is an earnest temperance worker. On the 18th of April, 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Julia E. Gant, daughter of J. W. and S. S. (Keller) Gant, natives of North Carolina, who settled in Craighead County, Ark., in 1860. To Mr. and Mrs. Rooks were born the following children: Mary B., Joseph W., and Harry G. Mr. Rooks is a member of the Masonic fraternity, also the K. of H., and he and wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Judge John T. Roy, Poinsett, Ark. Judge Roy is a man who needs no introduction to the readers of this volume. His birth occurred in Shelby County, Tenn., April 15, 1834, and he is the son of Merida and Susan (Gentry) Roy, natives of South Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. To the parents were born ten children, eight of whom lived to be grown. They are named as follows: John Thomas; W. A., farmer and stock raiser, lives in Jackson County, Ark., and is justice of the peace; Eliza, wife of Lemuel Crane, a farmer re- siding in Shelby County, Tenn .; Frances, wife of William Crarage, a book-keeper; Jesse; Merida, a farmer, and resides in the house where he was born; Alfred, a farmer, who lives in Scott Town- ship; Daniel, farmer, living in Scott Township; Nathaniel G., died at the age of seven years, and Elmira, died in childhood. The father of these children, Merida Roy, was born September 19, 1805, and died May 1, 1885. He was well edu- cated, was a farmer, and followed tilling the soil all his life. He was also a minister in the Prim- itive Baptist Church, a member of the Masonic order, and in politics a Democrat. His wife, Susan (Gentry) Roy, was the daughter of Thomas Gentry, a native of Virginia, and a near relative of Merideth Gentry. the famous senator from Tennessee. Judge John T. Roy assisted his father on the farm until grown, and December 3, 1853, he was united in marriage to Miss Frances
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Goswick, a native of Tennessee, and the daughter of George W. Goswick, a native of South Carolina. To the Judge and wife were born eight children, five of whom are now living: Susan, wife of W. D. Gray, a farmer, living in Poinsett County; Theo- dosia A., married to Joseph Cooper; Martha M., wife of Joshua Curtis, farmer; Frances, wife of William Bledsoe, merchant, of the firm of Bledsoe & Tillery, at Bay Village, Cross County, Ark., and William Edward, at home. The children deceased were named: Annie D., Luella and Ophelia P. The mother of these children died in June, 1876. She was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. Mr. Roy has remained single since that time. He came with his family to Poinsett County in 1872, and bought 160 acres of land, which he cleared and improved. He has forty-five acres under cultivation, has a good orchard, and is one of the representative farmers of the county. He has served as a school director for nine years, and in 1880 was elected presiding judge of the county court, serving two years. In 1888 he was again elected to the same office, which position he still holds. He is a man whose decisions are not made carelessly and without study, but are the result of much care and painstaking, so that all feel that he can be relied upon. In 1862 he enlisted in Com- pany D, Capt. J. Hazlewood. Twelfth Tennessee Cavalry, but in July, 1864, left the army on account of sickness, and was in the hospital until in Novem- ber of the same year. He then returned home, and served as a courier and recruiter until the close of the war, and consequently participated in very few engagements. Judge Roy is a man honored and respected by all acquainted with him, and is a liberal supporter of all schools and churches and all laudable public enterprises. In his political views he is Democratic.
ing on it until 1879, he came to Poinsett County and settled on land in West Prairie Township. This land he improved and resided on until his death, in 1888, his wife having passed from life in 1859. He married again in 1861, this wife dying in 1886. The children of the first union are as follows : Thaddeus W. died in Poinsett County in 1886 at the age of thirty-three years; L. W. died in 1886, aged thirty years; H. W. died in 1888, aged thirty-one years; James B. died in 1887, aged eighteen years; and A. W., our subject. The latter received his education in the schools of An- derson, Ind., and after leaving school he was en- gaged in teaching for some years. After coming to Poinsett County, in 1879, he began farming, pur- chasing an unimproved farm in West Prairie Town- ship, and is now the owner of some 800 acres of land. He has always been an active politician, and votes the Democratic ticket, and was elected by that party to his present position, the duties of which he has filled to the satisfaction of all con- cerned. Besides this, he has filled the office of constable of his township, and has been school director in his district. In his present official ca- pacity he has noticed a decided improvement in the agricultural districts, and the country is being set- tled up and land rapidly improved. He was mar- ried in Madison County, Ind., in 1876, to Miss Margaret Boxley, a native of Hamilton County. her death occurring in Madison County, in 1877, after having borne a daughter, Grace L.
A. C. Shaver, justice of the peace, postmaster and farmer, Bay Village, Ark. Born in Poinsett County (now Cross County) on the eighth of Oc- tober, 1844, Mr. Shaver has ever since resided here, and is accounted one of the representative men of the county. He is the son of W. A. and Matilda (Stone) Shaver. natives, respectively, of Missouri and Tennessee. The parents were early settlers of this section. coming here about 1826. and the father held the office of justice of the peace for a number of years. He was Democratic in his political principles, and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They reared to maturity seven children: A. C .; C.
A. W. Scott, surveyor of Poinsett County, Ark., is now serving his third term. He was born in Adams County, Ind., in 1852, and is the eldest of the family of five. children of Hamilton and Jane (French) Scott, who were born, respectively, in Ohio and Indiana. The father removed to the latter State at an early day, and was married there in 1851. After opening up a good farm and resid- | R., a farmer living in Cross County, Ark. ; Fanny
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died in 1880, and was the wife of J. B. Henshaw, a mechanic; Josephine died in 1883, and was the wife of Henry McAden, a farmer of Poinsett County; Jerline, wife of James Copeland, a farmer of Cross County, Ark. ; T. J. engaged in general mechanics in Bay Village, and Rebecca, wife of Rev. J. I. Maynord. The father of these chil- dren died on the 19th of April, 1875, and the mother in September, 1869. A. C. Shaver, like most of the youths of the vicinity, passed his boy- hood days in assisting on the farm and in attending the common schools, although he received the prin- cipal part of his education by his own individual efforts, and in 1862 enlisted in Col. McGee's regi- ment, Arkansas Cavalry. He was wounded at Helena on the 4th of July, 1864, and was never able to enter service after that. He left with the rank of orderly sergeant. At the age of twenty-five he started out for himself by marrying, in 1869, a Miss Georgia Brooks, and by her became the father of five interesting children: Willie W., Sallie A., M. G., Myrtie, and Olive W., all living. Since his marriage Mr. Shaver has followed agricultural pursuits, cotton-ginning, merchandising, etc., and in all has been successful. He has three times been elected to the office of justice of the peace, twice in Cross County and once in Poinsett County, and is now holding that position and discharging the duties of the same in a very able and efficient manner. He was appointed postmaster in 1883, and is still holding that position. He is the owner of 175 acres of land, 120 in Poinsett County and fifty-five acres in Cross County, with fifty acres under cultivation. He lives on the old homestead, just over the line in Cross County, and is one of the stirring, industrious farmers of the County. He and his wife and two oldest children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he contributes liberally, as he does to all public enterprises. In politics he votes with the Democratic party.
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M. D. Simmons & Co., druggists of Harrisburg, Ark. Among the more recent acquisitions to the business interests of the town is the establishment of which Mr. Simmons is a member, which has secured a reputation such as one might think be- ;
longed to an older established house. Their store was opened in February, 1882, and, after renting a building for some years, they, in 1888, put up their present substantial frame business house, into which they moved in the spring of that year. The senior member of the firm, Mr. Simmons, was born in Marshall County, Miss., in 1859, and is the eldest in a family of three children born to John and Victoria E. (Douglas) Simmons, the for- mer a native of Tennessee, and the latter of Mis- sissippi. John Simmons removed to Cross County, Ark., in 1860, and located near Vanndale, and in 1871 located in Wittsburg, Ark., where the mother died, in 1872. The father was a Mason and a member of the K. of H. He now makes his home in Vanndale. M. D. Simmons received his early education in the public and high schools of Witts- burg, and after attaining a suitable age he began the study of pharmacy under a physician of that place, and was prescription clerk in his store for some years. Mr. Simmons is not a very active politician, but has served as a member of the town council. He has belonged to the Methodist Epis- copal Church, South, for a number of years. is an active worker for the cause of Christianity. and has been superintendent of the Sunday-school for a number of years. He was married in Clarks- ville, Tenn., on the 18th of June, 1884, to Miss Hardin Duncan, a native of that State, and by her is the father of two children: Bessie May and Louise Kendrick. Mrs. Simmons is a daughter of John and Mary Elizabeth (Johnson) Duncan, the former a native of Scotland, and the latter of Ten- nessee. John Duncan removed to Tennessee at an early day, and settled in Nashville in 1844, where he followed the occupation of painting. He is still living, and resides with Mrs. Simmons, but the mother died in Little Rock, Ark., in 1884. where they were residing at the time.
J. Logan Smith, junior member of the firm of Sparks & Co., Harrisburg, Ark. Born on the 5th of February, 1837, at Old Bolivar, Poinsett Coun- ty, Ark., Mr. Smith is one of the old settlers of the county and a much respected citizen. of the same. He is the son of William and Sarah (Clark) Smith, natives of Tennessee and North Carolina.
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respectively. William Smith and wife came to Arkansas in 1831, when the country was very un- settled, and began improving wild land. He held the position of county treasurer in 1844, and was a prominent and enterprising citizen. He and wife were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Their family consisted of thirteen children, all of whom are now deceased except J. Logan and J. W., who is a minister in the Christian Church, and resides in Craighead County, Ark. Mrs. Sarah Smith's father was one of the early settlers of Greene County, Ark., and built the first water- Who crossed with the boatman cold and pale. For none return from that quiet shore, We hear the dip of the golden oar, mill in that county. J. Logan Smith's facilities for an education in youth were not of the best, We watch for a gleam of the snowy sail; and what schooling he did receive was in the old court-house at Old Bolivar, a log structure about 20x28 feet in dimension, with fire-place, punch- eon benches with pin legs, and the writing desks We only know that their bark no more Will sail with ours o'er life's stormy sea: were puncheons supported by pins driven in the wall. Mr. Smith can distinctly remember the Yet somewhere, I know, on that unseen shore. They watch, and wait, and beckon to me. original chimney was stick and clay, which were afterward supplanted by brick. The school was of course a subscription school. Early settlers fre- quently built their houses without nails, and the first sawed lumber was manufactured by hand and with a whip-saw. Mr. Smith was reared on a farm, and spent some time as a brick-maker. At the age of twenty-two he enlisted in Company F, Sixth Arkansas Infantry, and was in the battles of Shiloh and Perryville, Ky., where he was wounded and taken prisoner. At the end of thirty days he was exchanged, and took part in the battle of Stone River, where he was again wounded, and after lying in the hospital at Ringgold, Ga .. until Feb- ruary, 1863, joined the army again. He was in the battle of Chickamauga, and at that engage- ment received two wounds. He was also at Mis- sionary Ridge, Tenn., then at Ringgold Gap, and after this at Resaca, Kenesaw (Ga.), Smithfield (N. C.), and surrendered at Greensboro (N. C.) He then came to Poinsett County, Ark., tilled the soil, and, in February, 1866, was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Stanford, daughter of William and Matilda (Hall) Stanford, natives of Tennessee and early settlers of Arkansas. To Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Smith is a successful farmer of the coun- Smith were born the following children: Lockie L., ty, and was born in Henderson County, Tenu., in
wife of Thomas C. Ainsworth, a farmer of Poinsett County; Rutha V., keeps house for her father; Roger Williams, Joseph T. and Logan S. (twins), who live at home. Mrs. Smith died on the 18th of October, 1881, and was a worthy and much-esteemed member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, an active Sunday-school and church worker, a loving wife and mother, whose memory will remain green in the hearts of her many relatives and friends long after her body has moldered to dust.
But, lo! they have passed from our yearning hearts, They have crossed the stream, they are gone for aye. We may not sunder the vale apart That hides from our vision the gates of day;
In June, 1865, Mr. Smith, at the request of the people, was appointed by Gov. Murphy, then mil- itary governor, to fill the position of assessor and collector for his county, and in the following year was elected to fill the same office, which he did until the reconstruction, in 1868. He then followed farming until 1874, when he was elected sheriff, and re-elected in 1876. He again returned to the farm, and there remained until 1881, when he em- barked in the mercantile business, continuing at the same until 1884, when he again became a tiller of the soil. In 1888 he became a member of the above mentioned firm, but during his entire life he has followed farming. He is the owner of five farms of over 1,000 acres of land, 200 acres under cultivation. He takes much interest in stock raising and has Jersey and Short-horn cattle, and Berk- shire hogs. Mr. Smith became a member of Poin sett Lodge No. 184, A. F. & A. M .. and is a mem ber of the Chapter and Council, Harrisburg: is also a member of Lodge No. 74, K. and L. of H. Council No. 29 was organized in 1SS7. He is a Democrat in his political views.
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1847, being the third of eleven children born to J. C. and Susan (Johnson) Smith, who were also Tennesseeans, the former being a gunsmith by trade. In 1850 he settled in Poinsett County, Ark., and made the town of Bolivar his home until the county seat was changed to Harrisburg, when he moved to the latter place, this being in the year 1857. In 1863 he settled on an excellent farm in Craig- head County, near Jonesboro, and here worked at his trade until his death, in 1885, at the age of sixty-six years. He was a Democrat, and held the office of deputy sheriff of the county for many years, and in 1860 was elected county treasurer, winning, during his official career, the respect and esteem of all who knew him. His worthy wife died in 1883. J. J. Smith was educated in the subscription schools of Bolivar and Harrisburg, and at the age of twenty years started out in life for himself, and is now one of the well-to-do agri- culturists of the county. His first purchase of land was a timber tract embracing 100 acres, and this he commenced clearing, and added to until he now owns 560 acres, with over 200 acres under cultivation, his being one of the largest farms in the county. He is extensively engaged in stock dealing, and his farm is devoted principally to raising cotton and corn. He is a Democrat, and as such was elected, in 1880, to the office of treas- urer of Poinsett County. He has always been a patron of education, and socially is a member of the K. of H. Having been a resident of this county from earliest youth, he has witnessed the gradual growth and improvement, and has aided largely in bringing about this desirable result. He is a thoroughly self-made and self-reliant man, and his opinions on all subjects are acknowledged to be sound and unbiased. He and wife, whose maiden name was Mary Davidson. a native of Harrisburg, and whom he married in 1867, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Pleasant Valley, and are the parents of the following family: Hattie, Lucy, Dovie, Emis- ley, Johnny, Jennie, Dexter, Augustus, Grover C. and Elizabeth, who died in infancy. Mrs. Smith is a daughter of James and Harriet (Lokey) David- son, who were Tennesseeans, the father a farmer
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