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 46

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 46

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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three tenement houses on it, and gives homes and employment for three families. Mr. Webb believes in thorough farming, and so in addition to his crops of corn and cotton, he raises all kinds of grain. He depends entirely for his support on the products of his farm. He was reared a Democrat, and voted with that party until the Wheel was organized in his county. He was solicited as a charter member June 27, 1884, for Wheel No. 383, and since that time has thoroughly identified himself with that order, and in 1886 was nominated by the farmers for assessor, and elected. He has served in that capacity with credit to himself and his constituents. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a mem- ber of Sulphur Rock Lodge No. 1189, K. & L. of H., and is one of those liberal, free-hearted men upon whom depends, to a great extent, the future progress of his country. His future prospects look bright.

R. D. Williams. The merchants of Batesville have the reputation of being among the most en- terprising in Arkansas, and Mr. Williams stands in the foremost ranks of commercial life at that point. He was born in Henry County, Tenn., on October 28, 1836, and is a son of William R. and Evaline (Moody) Williams, of Kentucky and Ten- nessee, respectively. The parents were married in the latter State and moved to Arkansas about the year 1839, locating in Independence County. They remained here two years and then removed to ! Lawrence County, now Sharp County, and located near the county seat, Evening Shade. They were among the early settlers of that section, where the father's occupation was farming, and where they : resided until the time of their death. They were the parents of eight children, of whom three only ; are living at present: Richard D., Cordelia, wife of M. G. Wainright, and Nancy J., wife of W. T. Cunningham. Richard was only three years old when he came to Lawrence County with his par- ents, and was educated in the common schools of that place. Some idea of the schools of that period may be obtained from the one he attended, which was merely a log cabin, and had nothing but the bare earth to serve as a floor. He remained on

the farm until he reached maturity, and then oc- cupied a responsible position with a business house at Evening Shade, in which he was employed for two years. In 1858 he became a merchant himself, and carried on a profitable business until the war commenced, when he left it in charge of a friend and enlisted in Company D, Fourteenth Arkansas Regiment. He was taken violently ill shortly after joining the army and returned home, but after re- covering he again enlisted, becoming a member of Wade's Company, and served a short time in Price's raids through Missouri. He was captured near his home soon after this raid, but after two weeks' confinement was paroled, and after the sur- render returned home and took charge of his busi- ness at Evening Shade, continuing there until the fall of 1887, when he moved to Batesville and opened up a large and well-stocked store. He still retains his interest in the business at Evening Shade, however, the firm there being Williams, Price & Co., while that one at Batesville is known as R. D. Williams & Co. He owns about 1,200 acres of land in Sharp County, and has about 500 acres under cultivation. Mr. Williams is a true representative of the wide-awake, active and en- terprising business man, and his ability has made him one of the most successful men in commercial circles in Batesville. He was married in 1867 to Miss Mary E. Shaver, by whom he has one child living-Clara. He lost this wife, and was again married in 1882, his second wife being Mrs. Mat- tie Wasson, widow of W. G. Wasson. Mr. Wil- liams is a member of the Masonic fraternity and . the Knights of Honor, and, with his wife, attends the Methodist Episcopal Church.

James Alfred Williamson, M. D., a prominent physician of Elmo, whose name is familiar in many homes throughout Independence County, is a son of Alfred and Caroline Virginia (Sanders) Williamson, the former a native of Maine, and the latter of Kentucky. The parents were married near what is now Saloma, Taylor County, Ky., where James Alfred was born, on the 20th of March, 1857. The parents moved from Kentucky the same year. and settled in Arkansas, at a point near Batesville. where the father commenced practicing his pro-

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

fession in addition to cultivating a farm. The Doc- tor was reared on the home farm, and educated in the schools of Independence County. After grad- uating from these schools he took a course in liter- ature at the Batesville High School, and in 1880 commenced the study of medicine under his father. He received his first course of lectures at the Mis- souri Medical College, of St. Louis, Mo., in 1882 and 1883, and afterward located at Elmo, Ark., where he practiced until the fall of 1884, when he matriculated at Vanderbilt University, and gradu- ated that term, also graduating from the medical college at Nashville, Tenn., in 1885. Dr. William- son was married to Miss Henry Clay Tunstall, of Arkansas, a daughter of Clay and Nancy (Arnold) - Tunstall, both natives of Tennessee, but among the earlier settlers of the former State, and Clay Tunstall's name is associated with much of Inde- pendence County's early development. To the Doctor's marriage were born three children: Jessie, Basil and Imogene, and they contribute to make this one of the brightest and happiest homes in Northern Arkansas. The Doctor has built up a large practice in this section, and enjoys the con- fidence of everyone with whom he comes in contact. He is a general practitioner, and skillful in his pro- fession, having made it the study of his existence. In the winter season, when pneumonia, bronchitis, croup and kindred diseases are prevalent, he has his hands full, and in the summer months, when malarial affections are lurking everywhere, he is one of the busiest men in that county. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat, and in religious faith he, with his wife, attends the Methodist Episcopal Church. Dr. Williamson is a member of McGuire Lodge No. 208, Oil Trough, Independence County, and filled the chair of Senior Warden at one time, but is now the Senior Deacon. He also belongs to Oil Trough Chapter No. 84, at Oil Trough, and holds the position of Captain of the Host.

his father on the home farm. On the 26th of Jan- uary, 1859, he was married to Miss Mary E. West, a native of the "Bay State," who came with her parents to Arkansas when a child. Her death oc- curred on the 27th of January, 1873, and she left her husband and three children to mourn her loss, the names of the latter being: Ed. M., Charley G. and Florence, who died aged twenty-seven years, the wife of Solon Burkett, and left two children. Mr. Wilson took for his second wife Miss R. F. Morgan, a native of Alabama, and the following children have been given them: Emma, Myrtie, Bertha, Fay, and Julia A. Two children died when quite small. When the thunders of war re- sounded through the land, Mr. Wilson enlisted in the Confederate army, in the First Arkansas Cav- alry, and served from July 26, 1862 to June 5, 1865, surrendering at the latter date. He was in Little Rock, Helena, and various fights in Missouri, being with Price on his raid through the latter State. After the war he returned home and re- sumed farming, continuing until 1885, when he came to Sulphur Rock and embarked in his pres- ent business, which is one of the most popular es- tablishments of the kind in the county, and is meet- ing with well-deserved success. He has a fine farm, two miles north of Sulphur Rock, and is well fixed in a worldly point of view. In April, 1889, he was elected mayor of Sulphur Rock, Ark., and also served part of an unexpired term of the pre- vious year. Besides this, he served one term as constable and four terms as justice of the peace. He belongs to the Blue Lodge of the A. F. & A. M., is a Royal Arch Mason, and Royal and Select Master Mason, and is a member of the K. and L. of Honor. In his religious views he is a Methodist. He is one of the substantial residents of the county. and is well known and highly respected by all. . His parents, William M. and Hannah (Masters) Wilson, were born in Tennessee and Missouri, re- spectively. The father moved to the mother's na- tive State after reaching manhood, and afterward went to Arkansas, and located in Independence County, where he died in November, 1864, at the November, 1868. Of the ten children born to

W. G. Wilson is the mayor of Sulphur Rock, Ark., and is the proprietor at that place of one of the best livery stables in the county. He is a native- born resident of the county, his birth occurring in 1837, and during his early youth and manhood he | age of seventy-five years, followed by his wife in attended the subscription schools, and worked with |

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INDEPENDENCE COUNTY.

them, only two are living-our subject, W. G. Wilson and his sister, Mrs. Davidson.

Samuel M. Wyatt, a genial and popular farmer and stock raiser, of Independence County, was born in Davidson County, Tenn., in 1837, and is 1 a son of Isaac and Eleanor (Mccutchen) Wyatt, of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, the mother dying when Samuel was four years of age. The father moved to Gibson County, Tenn., the following year after her death, where he resided until 1857, and then came to Independence Coun- ty, Ark., spending the balance of his life in that lo- cality. He was a prosperous and highly-respected farmer at the time of his death, in 1885, and a member of the A. F. & A. M. His parents both died when he was still very young, and he was reared by an uncle in Tennessee. After the death of his wife he sincerely mourned her absence, and remained a widower all his life. Mrs. Wyatt's parents were natives of Ireland, who emigrated to America and settled in Tennessee, where they re- sided until their decease. The father, John Mc- Cutchen, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and fought under Gen. Jackson, at the battle of New Orleans. Samuel was the fourth child of one son and four daughters born to his parents, and re- ceived a good common school education in his young days. He moved to Arkansas with his fa- ther and sisters, and has made that State his home ever since. When the war broke out he cast his lot with the Confederate army, and enlisted in the First Arkansas Mounted Riflemen, operating through Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee. Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, Florida, and, in fact, all the Confederate States. He took part in almost all of the principal battles during that mem- orable period, besides a great number of skirmishes and minor engagements, and though the Confed- eracy had followers for her cause whose names are far better known to the world, she had no braver soldier than Mr. Wyatt. After his surren- der at Jacksonport, in 1865, he returned to his . farm, and again commenced cultivating the soil. In 1867 he was married, in Independence County, ; after receiving the money for the sale of his land to Mrs. Mary Gainer, a charming young widow, and a daughter of John and Tobitha Rodman, of

famous old Bourbon County, Ky. Two sons and one daughter were born to this union: Isaac R., John and Mamie. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Wyatt settled on White River, and commenced farming in that neighborhood. residing there ever since. He has become one of the leading farmers in that section, and now owns about 1,000 acres of land, in different tracts, with about 500 acres un- der cultivation. He inherited a portion of his land, but the greater part has been derived from his own industry and enterprise, and outside of being a. practical farmer he is a wide-awake and energetic business man. In politics he is a Dem- ocrat, and has been a stanch adherent to that party all his life. Mrs. Wyatt is a member of the Epis- copal Church, and a devoted wife and mother, who makes her home one of the most pleasant in Inde- pendence County.

William C. Wyatt is a successful farmer and stockman of Independence County, Ark .. and is a man who, by his sterling characteristics and genial and hospitable disposition, has won a host of warm friends, and the universal respect of those whom he meets. He is a son of James and Martha (Davis) Wyatt, the former a native of North Caro- lina, and the mother of old Virginia, and of Swiss and Scotch descent, respectively. The paternal ancestry is traced back as far as the great-grand- father, and the grandfather participated in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. in the latter war taking part in the battle of New Orleans. His death occurred while coming home from that battle. In the year 1852 James Wyatt emigrated with his family to Arkansas and located in Inde- pendence County, where he turned his attention to farming, an occupation which he had always fol- lowed, on forty acres of land which he had pur. chased. He cleared this of timber, and many of his early days were spent in hunting, his trusty rifle bringing down many wolves, bear, panthers. deer and wild turkeys. In 1867 Mr. Wyatt re- turned to Tennessee, where he had lived a number of years, to dispose of his possessions there, and he started for his home in Arkansas, but. after crossing the Tennessee River, he disappeared and

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has never been heard from since. He is supposed to have been killed for his money, and his family mourn him as dead. William C. Wyatt was one of his eight children, and was the fourth in order of birth, this event occurring on the 5th of January, 1842. He came to Arkansas when ten years of age, and was reared to farm life and educated in this State. When the war broke out he enlisted in Company B, Eighth Arkansas Volunteer Infan- try, United States Army, and participated in the bat- tles of Stone River, Perryville, being captured at the former battle on the 31st of December, 1862, and was exchanged on the 22d of March, 1863. In the same engagement in which he was captured he was severely wounded, having his left arm broken, but thinks he has now entirely recovered. After being exchanged at Petersburg he returned home on furlough, and this ended his services as a soldier. On the 18th of January, IS66, he was married to Miss Mary M. Dodd, a native of Arkan- sas, and a daughter of Abner H. and Mary Jane (Martin) Dodd, the father born in Tennessee and the mother in Kentucky, the latter being a great- granddaughter of Col. Ben Hardin, of Kentucky. To Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt have been born the fol- lowing children: William Abner, who was born on the 25th of November, 1866; Andrew David, who was born August 11, 1869; George Washington, who was born July 24, 1877, and Edna Inez, born January 14, 1887. Mr. Wyatt made his first pur- chase of land in 1876, it consisting of forty acres of timber land, and has added to it until he now has seventy-eight acres in the home farm, the re- mainder being inherited by Mrs. Wyatt from her father's estate. About fifteen acres were under cultivation, and he now has thirty-five acres cleared and improved. He has a good frame dwelling house and substantial barns, stables, etc. His en- tire acreage at the present time amounts to 290 acres, with sixty-five under cultivation. He and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he is a Democrat in his political views, and is a warm friend of progress, and a liberal contributor to all worthy enterprises.

M. A. Wycough, county clerk of Independence County, and one of its most scholarly men, was

born February 3, 1835, and is a son of Samuel B. and Malinda H. (Bandy) Wycough, of Lincoln County, N. C. In 1835 the parents emigrated to Independence County, Ark., and located at Bates- ville, where their son was born. The father was a carpenter, and master of his trade, as some of the finest buildings in Batesville, and also some of the first, will testify. He held the office of county treasurer for five successive terms, and also repre- rented Independence County in the legislature for one term, and was one of the most prominent and brilliant politicians in Independence County at that period. His word carried considerable weight, and his influence was eagerly sought after by others. The Wycough family are of German ori- gin, and the name has been illustrious for several generations as soldiers, statesmen and honorable men. The grandfather was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his bravery was often the theme of conversation among his fellow-comrades, while Samuel B. Wycough, though dying in 1880, his brilliant career in the political arena is still remem- bered in Arkansas. The mother died in 1864. leaving eight children, of whom five are still liv- ing: Marion A., Martin A. R., Samuel B., Henry C. and William H., the latter a Presbyterian min- ister in Texas. M. A. Wycough was reared and educated at Batesville. The facilities for attend- ing school at that period were very limited, conse - quently young Wycough did not receive quite the learning that he wished for, but his natural ability and bright intellect made up for any deficiency. At fifteen years of age he occupied a position of trust for several years, with a firm in Batesville. and then followed the carpenter's trade for a number of years after his marriage. In 1861 he enlisted in Capt. McGuffin's company, and accom- panied Gen. Price in his raids through Missouri, and while on a scouting expedition, he received a gunshot wound in the left foot. After the war Mr. Wycough entered into commercial life up to the time of his election to the present office. in 1879. He took charge of the position in 1880. and his distinguished services have been recog- nized to that extent that he has been re-elected five times in succession-the first and third terms

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INDEPENDENCE COUNTY.

without opposition. In 1856 he was married to Miss Emma A. Bevins, and has had three children by this union, of whom one is yet living, Ralph, who resides in Colorado. Mr. Wycough was mar- ried a second time, in 1870, to Miss Sarah J. Ken- nedy, by whom he has had two children, one of them, Jessie, still living. He is a stanch Demo- crat, and that party has no more able and loyal supporter. Mr. Wycough and wife are both mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church, and are much respected by their neighbors and fellow-citizens.

M. A. R. Wycough, who has the honor of be- ing the oldest native-born individual in Batesville, was born in that city, on November 27, 1839, and is a son of Samuel B. and Malinda H. (Bandy) Wycough, of North Carolina, who emigrated to Arkansas, in February, 1835, and located at Bates- ville, where the father died. Mr. Wycough was reared and educated in Batesville, and reached his maturity in the same year that the Civil War com- menced. He enlisted in Company K, First Ar- kansas Mounted Riflemen, and served with that body until after the battle of Murfreesboro, in 1863, when he was granted a furlough and returned to his home. He again entered the army, joining Crabtree's cavalry, and was assigned to the quart- ermaster's department. He was present at the battles of Oak Hill, Elkhorn. Farmington, Mur- freesboro and in Price's raids through Missouri, up to Jefferson City, where he was captured and taken prisoner to St. Louis, Mo., and kept in con- finement until February 25, 1865. He was then exchanged, and went to Richmond. but immediately left for Mobile and from there to Jackson, Miss., where he was paroled, and came home. On his re- turn he commenced farming and speculating, and also keel boating to some extent from Jacksonport to Batesville. Shortly after settling down at Bates- ville again, he was elected deputy sheriff, collector and clerk, holding that office for about twelve years, and for a short period was engaged in the United States revenue office. He has also been the assistant assessor of Independence County, but during all this time he still continued looking after his farm interests, and at the present time owns about 2,000 acres of land, with some 800 acres

under cultivation. In 1865 Mr. Wycough was married to Mrs. Catherine E. Cullens, a pleasant lady and widow of James Cullens. Four children were born to this marriage, two boys, now deceased, and two girls: Monnie M., wife of C. W. Maxfield, and Nettie A. The wife died in 1872, and on July 14, 1873, he was again married, his second wife being Miss Mary E. Neely, by whom he has had three children: Lillie Lee, and two boys, now de- ceased. This wife died in 1877, and after his period of mourning, Mr. Wycough was married a third time, the lady being Miss E. A. Boone. of Callaway County, Mo., by whom he has had two children, Emma A. and Agnes B. Mr. Wycough is a Mason and has been secretary of the Blue Lodge for some time. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, and in religious faith belongs to and at- tends the Methodist Episcopal Church, with his wife, having served on the official board for a num- ber of years. For several years he was engaged in commercial life, but gave it up on finding that his farms would need all of his attention, and since then he has built up and improved it so well that he now owns one of the finest farms in North- east Arkansas; together with some very valuable town property. He is an enterprising man, and a prominent figure in Batesville circles, where he enjoys a large degree of popularity.

Col. J. C. Yancey, a prominent attorney of Batesville, and a man of brilliant attainments, whose words of eloquence have often been heard in the halls of justice, was born in Orange County, Va., on July 10, 1853. He is a son of James E. and Mary E. (Waller) Yancey, both natives of the same county in Virginia, who moved to Jefferson County, Ky., in 1859, and remained at that place until 1873, when they repaired to Phillips County, Ark., in which place the father died in 1876, while the mother still survives him, and resides in that county. They were the parents of six children: Archilles N., Charles C., Elizabeth, Amelia, John C. and George W. Col. Yancey was reared in Virginia and Kentucky, and received his education from the schools of both States, his inclination for the law being developed at an early age. At eight- een years of age he began the study of law, and

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

in 1874 was admitted to the bar in Crittenden County, Ark., where he practiced about one year. He then formed a partnership with Col. A. Crockett, a grandson of famous Davy Crockett, and moved to Arkansas County, Ark., to practice. They re. mained at this place until 1878, when Col. Yancey came to Batesville, and established a law office, where he practiced alone until 1882, and then formed a partnership with Col. H. S. Coleman, under the firm name of Coleman & Yancey. In 1885 Col. Yancey was elected to the XXVth Gen- eral Assembly, serving one term, and in 1889 was elected mayor of Batesville, an office he holds at the present time, and fills with distinction. In 1884 he was married to Miss Ella A. Dunnington,

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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 46

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