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 35

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 35


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W. A. Glass. The manufacturing industries of Independence County, Ark., are ably represented by the pottery establishment belonging to Mr. Glass, which is located at Sulphur Rock. Mr. Glass was born in Texas, in 1858, and came with his parents to Saline County, Ark., where he grew to manhood and was educated. At the early age


of fourteen years he commenced learning the pot- ter's trade, serving an apprenticeship under his father, and at the age of about twenty years began working on his own account, and operated a pot- tery establishment in Benton for some time, and then followed the same occupation in Bradley County for about one year. Since that time he has been in Sulphur Rock, with the exception of three years, when he returned to Benton, and since June 19, 1888, he has had a permanent pottery establish- ment at this place, which he considers a fine loca- tion, as the clay is of a superior quality, and the advantages for shipping are good. He has a very large trade, and although his establishment turns out 3,000 gallons per week, he can hardly supply the demand. He was married in Saline County, Ark., to Miss Mary Glidewell, who was born in Tennessee, but was reared in Arkansas. To them have been born four children: John C., William A., and Lula. Frederick died at the age of two years. Mr. Glass is a son of Lafayette and Eliza H. (King) Glass, the former of whom was born in Tennessee, on the 5th of July, 1830, and the latter on the 5th of December, also of that year. The father lived for many years in Saline County, but died in Mississippi. He and wife were the parents of seven children, W. A. being the third of the family. Grandfather Glass was born in Tennessee. emigrated to Texas at an early day, then came to Arkansas, and made his home in Sebastian County until his death. He was a hatter by trade, and was a Master Mason, as was his son Lafayette.


John W. Glenn, a retired merchant, and one of Batesville's leading citizens, was born in Inde. pendence County, on April 29, 1850. His parents were William W. and Martha E. (Hassell) Glenn. of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. The father emigrated to Tennessee at an early period, and met and won his wife in that State. In 1828 or thereabouts he moved to what is now In- dependence County, Ark., and located on the old homestead, where he now resides. The Indians were still here when he arrived, and all the dangers of a pioneer's life were fully experienced. Wild game of every description abounded in plenty, and in return for the warfare made upon his stock by


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the savage animals in that country the elder Glenn hunted considerably. His first residence was a lit- tle log cabin covered with clapboards, and this section was chosen on account of his wagon break- ing down at that point. After stopping awhile and looking over the country, he concluded that it would be about the right place to locate, and immediately commenced building a home. Jeanette Hassell, Mr. Glenn's father-in-law, came with them, and built a home near by. He had but two children with him, Martha E. and Mary, the latter shortly after being married to James Wilson, a Presby- terian minister, who emigrated to Arkansas with them, and after the war removed with his wife to Arkadelphia, where he resided until his death. Mr. Wilson was an officer in the late war, and served with distinction throughout the entire fight. Mr. Hassell died from a stroke of paralysis, at the home of his son-in-law, W. W. Glenn, in this county. He was a large slave-owner, and had accu- mulated a fortune in real estate. W. W. Glenn was born in 1808, and came to Independence County when in his thirty-second year. He passed through all the trials and obstacles of a new country with a determination of purpose that eventually made him a successful man, and he is now very wealthy. He is in his eighty-first year, but is still as active as a man with twenty years' less weight on his shoulders, and has been a resident of Inde- pendence County for over sixty years, watching it grow from infancy to a thriving and populous cen- ter of civilization. Five children were born to the elder Glenn and his wife, four of whom grew to maturity, and three still living: John W., Mrs. A. M. Hickerson, and Mrs. T. R. Taylor (whose hus- band is the owner of the Arlington Hotel). Those deceased were the first child, who died in in- fancy, and Mrs. Nellie Irwin, the latter, a noble woman and loving sister. The father, W. W. Glenn, was sheriff of Independence County for a number of years, whose name was a terror to evil- doers, and it was through his efforts that a great many of the desperate characters of earlier years were run to earth. He also held the office of coun- ty judge, besides a number of minor positions, all of which he filled honorably. John W. Glenn


was educated in Batesville, and at various other places, and upon finishing his college life com- menced merchandising at the former city in 1872. He carried on this business until 1886, when he was burned out, causing a loss of $15,000. Since then he has been winding up the affairs of his old business and dealing in real estate. He owns be- tween 2,000 and 3,000 acres of land, some of it lying in the river bottom, and very valuable, and has a large amount of it under cultivation, one farm of 400 acres producing some of the best crops in that section. He also deals extensively in horses and mules, and owns some of the best an- imals in Arkansas. In 1875 Mr. Glenn was mar- ried to Miss Sarah E. Maxfield, a daughter of Uriah Maxfield, and sister of Maxfield Bros., prominent merchants of this locality. This mar- riage has given them five children: Edgar H., Nora A., Effie M., Nellie L. and June. Mr. and Mrs. Glenn are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Glenn belongs to the K. of H. and K. & L. of H. Both parents have attended the Methodist Church for a great many years, and are held in high esteem by the entire community.


H. H. Goodwin. Among the representative farmers of Independence County, Ark., there are none more favorably known, or more highly re- spected, than Mr. Goodwin, for, like the majority of farmers, he has been sober, honest and indus- trious, and has won the property he now owns by the sweat of his brow. He is a native of the county, born in 1844, and is a son of O. P. Good- win, a Virginian by birth, born in Hanover County, in 1810. When about twenty-five years of age he moved to the State of Arkansas, and has since been a resident of Independence County, where he is well and favorably known. His wife, whose maid- en name was Elizabeth Hotchkiss, was born in Roane County, Tenn., in 1817, and bore him fif- teen children, the following of whom survive: O. P., who married Miss Carrie Bryant, a native of Mississippi; J. W., who wedded Miss Bettie Searcy. a native of Arkansas; P. J .. who married Miss Emma Gibson, an Alabamian by birth; Martha G .. who wedded William Hurt, a native of Arkansas:


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Emma G., the wife of Richard Lee, of Arkansas; O. P. and H. H. The latter, like the majority of farmers' sons, devoted his time and attention to farming as he was growing up, and in the mean- time acquired a good, common-school education. After reaching mature years he was married to Miss Mary Pope, a Georgian by birth, their nup- tials taking place March 6, 1876, and to their union have been born six children: Albert S., Rob- ert E., Elizabeth M., Kirby A., Hattie, and an infant unnamed. Mr. Goodwin is a Mason, and has held the office of treasurer of his lodge for three years. During the Rebellion he joined McBride's forces in August, 1862, and his first hard fight was at Prairie Grove. After receiving his discharge on the 16th of May, 1865, he returned home, and resumed the peaceful pursuit of farming, which occupation he has since industriously followed. He is an enthusiastic patron of education, and for five years has served in the capacity of school di- rector. Mrs. Goodwin is a daughter of M. L. and Melvina Pope, who were native Georgians. The father was killed at the battle of Baker's Creek, Miss., May 16, 1863, and was followed to his long home by his wife in 1867. Mr. Goodwin owns a good farm of 120 acres, of which about fifty are under cultivation, and since his marriage has cleared fifty acres of woodland.


E. R. Goodwin, druggist, Batesville, Ark. There is no branch of business more important in the whole list of occupations than that of a chem- ist and druggist. A prominent and representative establishment devoted to this branch of industry, is that of Mr. Goodwin, who, for a number of years, has been before the public in this line, and whose house is one of the best in the city. He was born in Panola County, Miss., on the 19th of December, 1845, and is the son of Albert G. and Maria A. (Moore) Goodwin, both natives of Suf- folk, Nansemond County, Va. They were mar- ried in Virginia, and emigrated to Mississippi about 1838, locating in Panola County, where they remained until 1849. They then removed to Perry County, Ark., and in December, of the same year, moved to Batesville, of the same State. While living in Perry County the mother died, in


1859, and ten years later the father died in Bates- ville. He was a merchant by occupation, but the war almost ruined him financially. They were the parents of eight children, only three living: Albert F., Charles E., and Eugene R., who is the youngest of the three living. He was but four years of age when he went to Memphis with his parents, and was but fourteen when he came to Batesville. He received the principal part of his education in Memphis, Tenn., for after coming to Batesville he remained in the store with his father until the opening of the conflict between the North and South. In 1862 he enlisted in Capt. McGuf- fin's company, and served until the surrender, in June, 1865. He was with Price's raid through Missouri, and was in almost a continuous fight. At the close of the war he returned to Batesville, and began clerking in a dry-goods store. In Octo- ber, 1868, he started clerking in a drug store, and in 1872 he entered in partnership with A. W. Lyon, continuing until March, 1875, when Mr. Goodwin engaged in the business for himself, and this has since continued, a period of seventeen years. He carries a general line of drugs, sta- tionery, etc. He was married in 1871 to Miss Louisa F. Davies, a native of South Carolina, who bore him four children: Lillie F., Cora D., Mabel T., and Lula H. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin and family are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the K. of H., and also the Le- gion of Honor.


Abraham Gossett is the proprietor of Distillery No. 154, at Newark, Independence County, Ark., which was established in November, 1888, and has a capacity of fifty gallons per day, which, it is ex- pected, will soon be increased to seventy-five gal- lons per day, consuming all the surplus corn raised in that portion of the county. Mr. Gossett is a native of Independence County, and was born February 2, 1862. His parents are Allen and Charlotte (Brannan) Gossett, both natives of Ten- nessee, who, in early life, removed with their par- ents to Arkansas, where they married. They are active members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and are among the most prominent residents of Independence County, where they now reside.


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Allen Gossett was in the Confederate service four years during the late Civil War, serving a greater portion of the time as orderly sergeant; he has been a farmer all his life, and has been most suc- cessful in his chosen occupation. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and his political sym- pathies are with the Democratic party. Nine chil- dren have been born to the parents of our subject, viz. : Abraham, Robert M., Cassandra, Florence (wife of William Kenman, a farmer of Independ- ence County), Williamson and John (twins), Mad- ison, Lena and Sarah (deceased); the latter was married to William Bruce, and died at the age of twenty-two years. Abraham Gossett received a common-school education, and at the age of twenty. one years began farming for himself, but after one year, abandoned the farm, and engaged in trading, in which he was successful for a time. In 1881 he turned his attention to the mercantile business in Johnsonville, Humphreys County, Tenn., and two years later removed to Newark, Ark., where he engaged in the same business, and built the second business house in that place. He continued mer- chandising until January 1, 1889, when he deter- mined to devote his entire time and attention to distilling, of which he is making a great success. April 22, 1885, Mr. Gossett married Miss Black- head Tomblinson, a daughter of John N. Tomblin- son. Mrs. Gossett is a native of Independence County. They have two children: Owen and Newel. Mr. Gossett is a member of the Baptist Church, the I. O. O. F., and Masonic fraternity.


Capt. Hiram Vardeman Gray (deceased). The above name is familiar to all the old citizens of In- dependence County, for it was borne by a man who was honest and upright, and whose life was without reproach in his intercourse with his fellowmen. Capt. Gray was born on the 22d of April, 1822, in Graves County, Ky., and was the son of Capt. Gil- son and Rachel (Hodge) Gray, natives of North Carolina, who were among the early settlers of Graves County, Ky. The father was a captain in the War of 1812. In their family were five chil- dren. George M., a school teacher by profession, who went to Illinois in 1849, was elected and served two years as sheriff of Massac County.


Later he represented a senatorial district in the Illinois legislature. In 1857 he contracted con- sumption and died at the age of thirty-nine years. Gilson, farmer and youngest son, on hearing that his brother Hiram had enlisted in the war, came to the home of his brother, and then, learning that the latter was at Helena, joined him there. He was his brother's nurse, remaining as such till his death, which occurred in Memphis in 1876, at the age of forty-eight years. Celia was the wife of Luke Ogden, a farmer of Kentucky, and her death occurred in 1852, at about thirty years of age. Malenia was the wife of Tillman H. Steele, a soldier of the Mexican War, and a farmer. She and her husband came to Arkansas in 1854, and here her death occurred in 1867, at the age of forty years. Capt. Hiram V. Gray was reared as all other farmers' boys, but was left an orphan when but a lad, and he and his brothers and sisters were left to look out for themselves. As might be supposed, his educational advantages were not of the best, but being naturally of a studious turn of mind he improved spare moments and became an average scholar. His early life on the farm gave him a strong constitution physically, and made him a practical, sensible man, and fitted him in an admira- ble manner for the public life he was destined to live. During his early manhood he followed agri- cultural pursuits, and in 1840 was married to Miss Mahala Sweeny, a daughter of David Sweeny, who was a school teacher and a native of Tennessee. After his marriage Capt. Gray lived in Kentucky and tilled the soil until 1852, when he came to Arkansas, and at first stopped in White County. Not being pleased with the country, he started to return to his native State, but when he reached Black River Township, and became acquainted with some of the people, he concluded to settle there. He at first entered eighty acres of land, which he improved, and later bought 400 acres of J. N. Tunstill, which he added to this tract. He erected good buildings on the same and cleared forty acres of the land. Subsequently he bought 160 acres about four miles from the first, which was woodland. In 1854 he was elected to the office of constable, which office included the duties


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of deputy sheriff, in which capacity he served, having been re-elected twice, until the breaking out of the war, in 1861. Being a strong Union man and his politics well known, he found plenty of opportunities to argue his opinions. In the spring of 1862, while in Batesville, he was asked under what flag he would fight, and made this answer: "I will be found under the stars and stripes, battling for God and liberty;" upon which he was struck by a citizen and surrounded by 100 others, one of whom had a rope to hang him. Being a highly respected Mason, some of the members of that order interfered in his behalf, and this saved his life. Later, in May, 1862, Mr. Gray organized a company of 100 men, and, on the 24th of June, he joined Curtis' army at Batesville, and was mustered in at Jacksonport. From there he went to Helena, where he remained stationed to await orders. While lying there one- half of his command, unused to malarial atmos- phere, sickened and died. Capt. Gray, himself, took sick with measles, and after sixty of his men had died, he and the remnant of his command were sent to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, for their health. Capt. Gray was sent to the Fifth Military Hospital, and, notwithstanding that he was at- tended by the best medical skill that could be pro- cured, and the most careful nursing, he continued to decline until December 2, 1862, when death came to his release. At present there are but eleven of his company of 100 men living, seven in Independence County. In this brief memoir it is impossible to do justice to the person whose mem- ory it is designed to commemorate. His memory is perpetuated in Independence County by having his name given to the G. A. R. Post at Sulphur Rock, No. 33. His premature death left Mrs. Gray a widow with six children in the country of the enemy, and in the midst of the greatest fratri- cidal contest the world has ever known. Her oldest child was twenty years of age and the youngest six. Mrs. Gray soon lost all her property, and was so harassed by the soldiers that she had to take refuge in another State, going to St. Louis in the spring of 1863. In 1864 she moved to Illi- nois, and, after a short residence in that State,


moved to Potosi, Washington County, Mo., where she met Gen. Price's army, and was robbed of her all. Thus she was left entirely without funds, and, to add to her trouble, her eldest son was taken pris- oner. However, on account of physical disability, and at the instance of some of his friends in the Confederate ranks, young Gray was released after a short time and allowed to return to his home. The subsequent trials of Mrs. Gray would fill vol- umes, and this continued until the close of the war, or in the fall of 1865. They then returned to their home in Arkansas, to find that the ruthless hand of war had taken everything movable away, the house alone remaining. Here she passed the remainder of her days, her death occurring on the 14th of October, 1884, at the age of sixty years. She was the widow of Capt. Gray, at her death, never having married again, and devoted her life to her children .. Capt. Gray and wife were both Christians, he having received the ordinance of baptism on his death-bed. Mrs. Gray had been for forty years a member of the Baptist Church. They were the parents of seven children: Henry C., born in August, 1841, was reared to farm life, was unmarried, and when the war broke out joined his father's company. He was one of the unfor- tunates who died at Helena, his death occurring in August, 1862; Sally A. was born August 2, 1851, and died at Potosi, Mo., on the 30th of De- cember, 1864; William C. was born on the 2d of December, 1842, in Marshall County, Ky., and was reared to farm life. His education was lim- ited, but through his own efforts he is a good practical scholar. He came with his father to this State in 1852, and his career up to 1865 has been given. On the 31st of January, 1867, he married Mrs. Martha (Edwards) Burt, a native of Tennes- see, and by her he has one child, Lydia A., who was born on the 5th of February, 1868, and is at present her father's housekeeper. Mrs. Gray died of consumption on the 30th of June, 1870; and, May 2, 1875, Mr. Gray married Miss Amelia A. Anderson, a native of Arkansas. Three chil- dren were born to this union: William C., born . on the 9th of February. 1876; Thomas B., born on the 15th of September, 1877, and John H ..


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born on the 20th of September, 1879, and died in November, 1880. Mrs. Gray died on the 4th of October, 1879. She was an excellent woman, and a devoted member of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church. Mr. Gray continued farming un- til his thirty-fourth year, when, on account of bad health, he picked up the basket and chair-making trade, which occupies his attention at the present time. He votes with the Republican party, and is a member of the Wheel. Capt. Gray's next child was Mary A., wife of W. H. Gires, a farmer of Black River Township; Benjamin J., was born on the 14th of January, 1847, and was married on the 6th of November, 1869, to Mrs. Margaret (Alexander) Hall, and has the following family: Hiram V., born January 3, 1871; James W., born December 24, 1872; Sarah A., born October 15, 1875, and Robert B., December 30, 1878. Mr. B. J. Gray and his three sons are all natural musicians, all playing the violin. His principal occupation is that of a farmer. He votes with the Republican party, and like his brother, W. C., is a member of the A. O. U. W. The next child of Capt. Gray is James G., who was born on the 7th of February, 1853, and on May 7, 1874, he married Miss Susan Kennedy, a native of Arkan- sas, and seven children were born to this union, five of whom are now living: Ida, born on the 21st of February, 1875; Joseph I., born on the 19th of March, 1881; Nellie Zora, born on the 19th of February, 1884; Elam, born on the 10th of February, 1886, and James G., born on the 16th of February, 1888. Those deceased are: Martha J., died on the 15th of May, 1878, at the age of one year, and the others were unnamed. James G. Gray has followed agricultural pursuits all his life, and also votes with the Republican party. He is a member of the Wheel. He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and are highly-esteemed citizens.




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