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 63

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 63

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Greene E. Raney, a prosperous and well-known farmer of Smithville, Ark., was born in Lawrence County, near that town, September 20, 1850. He is a son of Morgan Raney. also a native of Arkansas. born March 18, 1818, and died in 1877. Samuel Raney, the grandfather of Greene E., was a Vir- ginian by birth, who married and settled in Mis- souri, where he reared part of his family. His son, Morgan Raney. was the youngest of eight chil- dren, and was born in Arkansas, in which State he lived all his life, never having evinced any desire to go out of it. Morgan Raney was one of the most in- dustrious and able men of his day, and at the time of his death owned about 1,880 acres of fine land, with a good portion of it under cultivation. At the time of his decease he presented each of his children with $2,000 cash, and a tine farm, since which time the land has doubled in value. He was

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married to Miss Nancy Taylor, of Lawrence Coun- ty, Ark., who was born in 1827, and died in the year 1867, meeting her death through a very pain- ful accident while coming from church. They were the parents of seven children, all of them now dead, with the exception of Leah, wife of G. W. Brady, postmaster of Smithville, and Greene E. Raney. His second marriage was with Miss Elvira Janes, by whom he had two children, Loey G. and an infant, both deceased. Greene E. Ra- ney was reared in this (Lawrence) County, and, like his father, prefers to remain on the soil of Ar- kansas all his life. He began farming for himself after his father's death, and the same energy that characterized the latter was part of his own spirit, as he has demonstrated by his present prosperity. His brother, John W., enlisted in the army, and was killed during the war, while he remained at home to assist his father, who needed his help. After the death of the elder Raney, he took charge of the entire estate, and has brought it up to its present proportions. He was married October 22, 1873, to Miss Sarah Jackson, of Sharp County, Ark., a daughter of Marcus Jackson, of Tennessee. Six children were born to them by this union: Lotta, Ernest and Joseph M., all of whom are liv- ing, and three others who died very young. Mr. and Mrs. Raney are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Raney is a Dem- ocrat in politics. He is a prominent man in all enterprises for the advancement and improvement of his county, and is one of the most liberal, open- hearted men in that section.

Moses Bolling Rhea is one of the oldest set- tlers of Lawrence County, and has been here over fifty-four years. There is only one citizen in the above county, C. S. Pinnell, who has been in this section longer than Mr. Rhea. He was born in Warren County, Tenn., June 6, 1822, and is the son of Obadiah Rhea, of East Tennessee, who set- tled in Arkansas about the year 1835, and located within fifteen miles of the present town of Walnut Ridge, where he lived until his death, in 1855. The wife of Obadiah Rhea was Miss Elizabeth Lit- tlepage, of Tennessee. They were the parents of ten children, six of whom are still living. Their

names are: Moses B., Thomas, a farmer of Greene County; Elizabeth, widow of James G. Ruther- ford, residing near the old homestead; Nancy, wife of James Edward, of Greensboro, Ark. ; Mary, the wife of C. C. Grayson, of Greene County; Emily. the wife of Allan Pierce, a resident of Cache Town- ship. This is indeed a remarkable showing for one family. Six of the ten children are living, the oldest being sixty-eight years old and the youngest fifty-four years. They have outlived every family who settled in Lawrence County, at about the same time, and have more living members as a proof of their longevity than any other of the early settlers. The mother of these children died at the age of seventy-two years, in 1871 or 1872. Moses B. was thirteen years of age when he first came to Law- rence County, but resided in Greene County, until his twenty-third year, before he settled on his pres- ent farm, seven miles east of Walnut Ridge. He has been a farmer all his life, and a very success- ful one, owning some 1,200 acres of land, of which 550 acres are under cultivation, and besides his lands, he owns considerable stock. His children have cause to remember him with gratitude, as he has presented each of them with a good farm. He first started in life for himself when twenty-two years of age, with nothing but a mare and colt. The meagerness of his worldly possessions, however. did not disturb him in the least, and it was not long before his industry secured for him almost all of the freighting between Cape Girardeau, Mem- phis, Powhatan, Jacksonport, Forest City and other points, and no doubt he has hauled more freight than any other man in Lawrence County. He fought under Price during the war, and was in that general's raids through Missouri and Kansas. Hard work never affects him apparently, and he keeps it up steadily on the farm. His principles were toward the Union at first, but he afterward changed to be a strong Southern man. In his early days he was a Whig. and mingled in politics considerably, but under no circumstances would he ever accept an office, although often urged to do so. He was married February 8, 1844, to Miss Sarah C. Lamb, of Alabama, whose parents, Will. iam and Mary (See) Lamb, were among the ear-

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lier settlers of this county. She died in 1867, and Mr. Rhea was again married in 1868 to Clementine Seego. This wife died in 1869, and in 1870 he was married to Miss Mary Slavin, whose death oc- curred in 1871. His fourth wife was Miss Sarah Daily, who died in 1876, and his present wife is Miss Ruth Kinyon, who has lived in this county about thirty-eight years. Mr. Rhea is the father of sixteen children, only five of whom are living: Murcinda, wife of William Hennessee; John A., of Walnut Ridge; Flavius, married; Laura Daily, who lives near the homestead; James and William, who live at home.

John A. Rhea, proprietor of Walnut Ridge liv- ery stables, was born in Greene County, Ark., September 30, 1854, and came to Lawrence County, when twelve years of age. He received but a lim- ited amount of schooling in his young days, and was reared on his father's farm. On July 3, 1876, he was married to Miss Lizzie Cooper, a daughter of Thomas and Ibbie (Willis) Cooper, early settlers of this county. After his marriage he commenced farming for himself, but shortly afterward gave up that occupation, and came to Lawrence County in the year 1877, where he opened a hotel. Five years later he went into the business of buying and selling horses, and then started a livery, which he has fostered into a complete success. It is the only livery stable in the Eastern district of Law- rence County, and commands quite a large trade. He also buys and sells horses, and is the owner of a farm of 143 acres, of which 133 acres are under cultivation. The 'bus line running between Wal- nut Ridge and Hoxie is controlled by him, and he has the mail contract between those points. In politics Mr. Rhea is a Democrat, and was the first town marshal of Walnut Ridge. He has two children, Harry and Annie L.

Dr. J. V. Richardson, whose name is well known throughout Northeast Arkansas, was born in Spencer County, Ind., on the 8th of April, 1838. His parents were J. V. and Elizabeth (Ev- erton) Richardson, of Kentucky and Indiana, respectively, who moved to Arkansas in 1844, and settled in Sharp County, where they lived until the year 1861. They then removed to Texas, but

came back to Arkansas in 1866, and located in Ful- ton County, where the elder Richardson still resides at the age of eighty-six years, his wife dying about the year 1870. Dr. Richardson came to this State with his father when a boy of eight years, and re- mained with him until he had reached his matur- ity. He then commenced the study of medicine in Jackson and Lawrence Counties, under the guid- ance of the then celebrated Dr. Hatfield, and in 1860 first began practicing in Jackson County. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate army as a private, but was shortly afterward promoted, and sent out on detached duty. He visited his home again in 1863, and in the spring of the following year rejoined his company, and served until his surrender at Jacksonport, in June, 1865. The Doctor fought in the battles at Little Rock, Inde- pendence (Mo.), Kansas City, Big Blue, Boons- boro (Ark.), and in Price's raids through Missouri. After the war was over he returned to Jackson County, and resumed his practice and farming until 1873, when he moved to Lawrence County, and located in the neighborhood of where he now resides. He continued in his profession up to 1879, when he built a store-room, and in 1880 be- gan dealing in general merchandise. He has been very active in commercial life and farming since then, giving up his practice entirely, and has now built up a successful business, and is one of the leading merchants of that section. The Doctor was first married June 11, 1865, in Jackson Coun- ty, to Miss Sarah A. Johnson, who died June 4, 1870. There were two children by this marriage: William D., who died in his twelfth year, and Ma- hala E., wife of William Beavers, of this county. He married his present wife in Jackson County, in 1875. The lady's name was formerly Miss Eliza- beth Brackenridge, a daughter of James Bracken- ridge, one of the pioneers of Jackson County. There are four children by this marriage: Ada, Gilbert, Aggie and May. Dr. Richardson is a member of Thornburg Lodge No. 371, A. F. & A. M., and is Master of his lodge. He is also a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of Walnut Ridge Chap- ter, and has represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge on several occasions. He has served as Wor-

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shipful Master for six or seven years, and has a lodge-room over his store-room.

Hamilton W. Richey is a son of John Richey, of Virginia, who moved to Indiana in his younger days, and married Miss Polly Woods, of that State, locating in Gibson County, where Ham- ilton was born December 29, 1829. John Richey followed his occupation of farming in Indiana un- til the year 1844, when he removed to Arkansas, and settled in Lawrence County. He resided in that place, and reared his family, until the time of his death, in the fall of 1861, when he passed away, regretted by all who knew him. Up to the time of his decease Mr. Richey had been a sur- vivor of the War of 1812, and was at Mobile, Ala., when the battle of New Orleans was fought. He was also a captain of militia during his resi- dence in Indiana. Hamilton W. Richey came to Arkansas when in his fourteenth year, and is the oldest of three surviving sons, out of a family of eight who grew to maturity and had families of their own. He remained with his father until his twenty-third year, and was then united in marriage to Mrs. Sarah Ann Richey, December 12, 1852, the lady being a widow, and a native of Lawrence County. After their marriage they settled on a small farm in Flat Creek, and, in the spring of 1867, moved to their present home. Mr. Richey commenced clearing his land at once, and at the present time has almost 225 acres under cultiva- tion. He owns altogether about 700 acres of land, on different tracts, a portion of it being cleared, and owes his present prosperity to his own enter- prise, having but very little property when he first started in life." Mr. Richey is one of the substan- tial and progressive men to whom Lawrence County can point with pride, and by his industry and economy has placed himself upon a basis where others must look at him with admiration. In March, 1862, he enlisted in the Confederate army, becoming a member of the First Arkansas Battalion, and served until taken prisoner, at Port Hudson, July 8, 1863. The command was again re-organized the following fall, and then Mr. Richey held the rank of first lieutenant, and con- tinued in that capacity until his surrender, at Jack-

sonport, Ark., where he was paroled in June, 1865. He had two children by his first wife, both of them deceased, and his wife also dying in 1857. He contracted a second marriage, his wife being Miss Mary Wayland, of Arkansas, who died in 1876, leaving six children: David H., John H. and Jo- seph W., while three others lived to maturity, and two married before their deaths occurred. Their names are Hamilton W., Sarah Ann M. and Amanda J. Mr. Richey was again married, his third wife being Miss Mattie E. Walker, of Gib- son County, Tenn., and has had two children by this marriage, Nora May and Mattie Aoma. He was elected justice of the peace of his township, and, at the expiration of his first term, was re- elected to a second term. Mr. Richey and his wife are both members of the Christian Church, and he is also a member of the Agricultural Wheel.

James P. Rogers, a well-known farmer of Cache Township, was born in Middle Tennessee, March 10, 1847. He is the son of John B. Rog- ers, a native of North Carolina, who settled in Tennessee about the year 1846, and from there came to Arkansas and located on Black River, eight miles or more east of Pocahontas, where he resided until his death, two years later. His wife was Miss Ann S. Collier, of North Carolina, a daughter of Henry Collier, who settled in Arkan- sas about the year 1850 and located on Black River, in Randolph County, in which place he pur- chased half a section of land. He was one of the first settlers in that region and lived there until his death, in 1855, or thereabouts. Mrs. Rogers is still living and resides in Red River County, Tex., at the age of seventy years. She is the mother of twelve children, seven of them living, whose names are: James P. Rogers, Martha L., widow of William Sutton, a resident of Red River County, Tex. ; John C. and Henry C., twins, the former a resident of Fort Worth, Tex., and the latter near Arkadelphia, Ark .; Mary E., the wife of John W. Scoggin, of Red River County, Tex. : Senora, wife of Samuel Daniels, and Robert Lee, also of Red River County, Tex. James P. Rogers spent the earlier part of his life on a farm in Ten- nessee, and in his twenty-second year went to

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Sherman, Tex., where he worked as a carpenter. He then traveled through the Indian Territory for a short time, after which he undertook the busi- ness of freighting between Paul's Valley and Fort Sill. His next trip was back to Texas, along the Red River, and after finding a suitable location he commenced farming. He continued at various oc- cupations until the year 1871, when he came to Randolph County, Ark., and bought 120 acres of land, and on December 23, 1872, was married to Miss Ellen E. Brooks, a daughter of Albert W. W. Brooks, who has the reputation of being the wealthiest man in Randolph County, Ark. Mr. and Mrs Rogers then came to Cache Township, in Lawrence County, and settled on a farm of 240 acres, of which 115 acres are in a good state of cultivation. He owns 440 acres more in two tracts of land in Randolph County. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are the parents of seven children, five of them living, whose names are recorded as follows: John A., William H., Julia A., Magnolia, Mary Susan. He is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Honor, and a man held in high esteem.

Charles C. Rogers, attorney and county ex- aminer, was born in Madison County, Tenn., April 1, 1852. He is a son of Hon. D. S. and Nancy G. (Taylor) Rogers, of North Carolina and Virginia, respectively. After his marriage, the elder Rog- ers resided in Tennessee for a number of years, where he farmed to a considerable extent, and for twenty-five years was chairman of the county court of Madison County. In his sixty-fifth year Mr. Rogers was admitted to the bar, but as he had al- ways declined to practice, his membership was con- ferred more as an honor. Previous to the war he had been elected a member of the legislature, and for almost twenty-five years, continuously, he held the office of justice of the peace. His death oc- curred in the spring of 1886, leaving behind him a name respected and honored wherever mentioned. Charles C. Rogers grew to manhood on the farm in Tennessee. His facilities for attending school in his youth were very meager, but, knowing the advantages of a good education in order to make a success in life, he applied himself studiously to his books at every opportunity, and now not only is

he posted in the common and higher English branches, but is also well versed in Greek and Latin. After mastering his studies, Mr. Rogers taught school himself in Tennessee for five terms, and for one term in Arkansas. In 1875 he com- menced the study of law at the Cumberland Law School, Lebanon, Tenn., and completed his full course. He then located at Jackson, Tenn., and in 1881 was offered the editorial chair of a news- paper in that city, which he occupied for eight months, his work during that time attracting wide- spread attention. In 1882 he moved to Powhatan, where he has resided ever since, and commenced the practice of law. He has been successful from the very beginning, and now ranks as one of the best lawyers in Northeast Arkansas. Mr. Rogers was married to Mrs. Ella Croom, a charming widow, of Tennessee, who had been the companion of his youth. Mrs. Rogers has one daughter by her former marriage, and her union with Mr. Rogers has given them a son-Willie P. Rogers. They are both members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, South, of which Mr. Rogers is steward, and the latter also holds the office of county ex- aminer, to which he was appointed in 1888.

Dr. D. B. Rudy, physician and surgeon, is a man of whom it can be truly said that he has reached the top round in his profession. He was born in Henderson County, Ky., December 24, 1851, and is a son of William R. and Jane P. (Smith) Rudy, both of the same county and State, the father being an extensive stock raiser and farmer. The Doctor grew to manhood in Hender- son County, and in his youth received the best ed- ucation to be had. He attended the high schools and also the Cairo Academy, of Cairo, that county, and in 1871 commenced the study of medicine under Dr. Samuel Furman, of Cairo, a noted physician of that period. He obtained his first course of medical lectures at the University of Louisville, and graduated in 1875. His first lo- cation was in McLean County, Ky., where he : practiced until the fall of 1876, and then moved ! to Sharp County, Ark. In 1878 he left Sharp County and returned to the University to pursue his studies still further, and graduated on March

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1, 1879. He then came to Lawrence County, Ark., in May, 1879, and commenced practicing, and is now looked upon as one of the leaders in the med- ical profession. The Doctor was married at Smith- ville, Ark., to Miss Belle Henderson in 1880, who died seven years later, leaving three children. His second marriage was to Miss Paralee Fortenberry, of Lawrence County, in 18SS, and the result of this happy union has been one child. The names of those children by his first wife are Maud, Anna Belle and William B., and the child of his last wife is James Frederick. The Doctor has built up a splendid practice, and owns considerable prop- erty in Lawrence County. He is a very popular man, owing it to both his skill as a physician and his personal magnetism. He also devotes a por- tion of his attention to stock raising and farming, and has been very successful in both, and is also a member of the Lawrence County Medical Society.

Silas Ruffner, of Walnut Ridge, is one of the oldest citizens of Lawrence County. He was born in New Madrid County, Mo., in 1836, and is the same age as that of his adopted State-Arkansas. His father was Elias Ruffner, of what is now Kanawha County, W. Va., who was a farmer by occupation. The elder Ruffner moved from Vir- ginia to Indiana, and afterward to Illinois, Wiscon- sin, Arkansas and Texas. He came to Arkansas in 1844, and located at Crowley's Ridge, in Poinsett County, and in 1857 removed to Texas, where he contracted pneumonia, and died the same year, aged sixty years. He was married to Miss Nancy Phillips, of Virginia, and had five children, four of them living in Lawrence County and one in Prairie County. The mother is still living in the former county, at the age of seventy-eight years, and has full possession of all her faculties. Silas Ruffner was reared as a farmer, and had been in that business until within the past three years. He has had but a limited education, but is a man of strong will and a determination that overcomes all obstacles. He has resided the greater portion of his life in Lawrence County, having come here in the year 1850, and can recount a score of rem- iniscences of the early days of this State. He first lived in Poinsett and Jackson Counties, and re- !

members when Jacksonport, in the latter county. was merely a canebrake. He can also remember when the Jacksonport and Pocahontas country road was opened, which covered a distance of sixty-two miles, and had but one house upon it, which was called the "Stranger's Home," as that was the only place of accomodation on the entire road. In 1886 Mr. Ruffner established himself in the mer- chandising business at Walnut Ridge, and has had very fair success. He is a member of Walnut Ridge Lodge No. 19731, Knights of Honor. and also a member of the town council. In 1862 he en- listed in Capt. Henry's company, and served three and one-half years through the war. He was dis- charged June 5, 1865, and held the rank of second lieutenant at the time of his release. He has been married four times, two of his wives having been sisters, and all four of them cousins. He has had eleven children altogether, and seven of them are still living: Savannah (the wife of John E. John- son, of Walnut Ridge), Joseph and Nancy Owen (who reside in this county), Williger (the wife of Edgar O' Neal, of the "Stranger's Home"), Julia (the wife of Davis Ruffner, of this county), Henry, George and John. He has married for the fifth time, his present wife having been Rachel Up- church. Mr. Ruffner is in splendid health, and has never taken a cupful of medicine in the whole course of his existence, nor touched a drink of whisky. In politics, he is a Democrat.

T. A. J. Runyan, M. D., one of Lawrence County's popular citizens, and a physician of excellent reputation, was born in Vermillion County, Ind., in the year 1829. He is a son of William and Melinda (Murey) Runyan, of Tennes- see and Kentucky, respectively, who were married in Tennessee, and moved to the State of Illinois, shortly after. Dr. Runyan received his education from the district schools in his earlier days, and later on at the Academy of Georgetown, Tenn. He commenced the study of medicine in 1855. under the guidance of Dr. John L. Yarnell, a celebrated physician in those day, and is now one of the leading men in his profession. He also practiced five years under the care of an elder brother, Dr. M. D. L. Runyan. While at Nashville

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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 63

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