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 67

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 67

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).

Is to intet Seatt and bourdon sal

However godt tallerse

dom

„GO-109A 10 407/ 2015)

algoneeds

noin MA hne vilavno Twinagio otow ,In ni

Á Letodto bamigos

stsbaued a watbo edenidliw

ibivital woł

Fad out anijugos piatalojos lo groif Wifiw odils

molto ini wal bulles wols oomlo edt da .namobil

Paymoredit Inton

835

JACKSON COUNTY.

tian. The Methodists have three stations-New- port, A. M. Branson, pastor, with a membership of 115; Jacksonport, W. E. Rutledge, pastor, mem- bership about ninety, and Auvergne, W. R. Foster, pastor, with a membership of sixty-three ; also Tuckerman circuit, E. M. Davis, pastor, and Weldon circuit, R. M. Manley, pastor. The former of these circuits embraces two or more appointments with an aggregate membership of sixty-three; and the latter, three or more appoint- ments, with an aggregate membership of 112. Seven Sunday-schools are reported with these church organizations .*

Of the Baptist Church organizations there are Pleasant Valley at Auvergne, Elder J. I. Martin, pastor, with a membership of seventy-four; Oak Grove, Elder John Ball, pastor, membership nine- teen; Hickory Grove and Litchfield, Elder F. M. Brannon, pastor, membership, respectively, eighty- two and eighteen, and Pleasant Hill, the latter having only a small membership. All of these belong to the White River Valley Baptist Associa- tion.

There is only one Presbyterian Church organi- zation in the county, the one located at Newport. It was organized January 29, 1882, by Rev. Dr. Long of Batesville. The present pastor is Rev. Richard B. Willis, of Searcy, and the membership is nineteen.

Of the Christian Church, there are within the county the following named organizations: Shiloh, Surrounding Hill, Grand Lake, one at Mccullough's School-house on Departee Creek, Robinson's Chapel, Hopewell, one in Richwood Township, one eight miles southeast of Newport, one three miles east of Tuckerman, and Swifton; the whole having an aggregate membership of about 500. Elder Ritch- erson preaches at Shiloh, Surrounding Hill and Robinson's Chapel; Elder S. Bowman at Hopewell; Elders Townsend and Mills at and near Swifton, and Elder J. G. Connor at a point three miles east of Tuckerman.

In addition to the foregoing there is one Epis- copal Church in the county, located at Newport. Rev. Coursan, of Little Rock, officiates as rector.

*Statistics mostly from last Conference minutes.

The educational facilities of Jackson County are best shown by the following statistics, taken from the report of the State superintendent of public instruction, for the year ending June 30. 1888: Scholastic population-white, males 1, 746, females 1,565, total 3,311; colored, males 567, females 548, total 1,115. Number of pupils taught in the public schools-white, males 1,122, females 928, total 2,050; colored, males 407, fe- males 382, total 789. Number of school districts 31; number reporting enrollment 24; number vot- ing local tax 20; number of teachers employed, 71; average monthly salary of teachers-first grade, males, $50; females, $45; second grade, males, $42.50, females $37.50; third grade-males, $35, females $30. Amount expended for the sup- port of the free schools-teacher's salaries, $18, - 015.47; treasurer's commissions, $465.35, total $18,480.82. These statistics, if full and correct, would show that only a little over sixty-one per cent of the white, and a little over seventy per cent of the colored scholastic population, were taught in the public schools; this, however, is not correct for the reason that the number of pupils attending school in seven of the thirty-one districts were not re- ported at all. The State school system is very defective. A school law should compel full and complete statistical reports showing all of its opera- tions, proving itself adequate to meet the demands of the cause of education. The wages paid teachers is sufficient to secure good talent, and the amount of money expended for the public schools, if prop- erly applied under a more efficient school system, would bring about better results. Jackson County, however, makes a far more favorable showing in respect to her schools than many other counties within the State.

Auvergne Academy is a private enterprise, and was established in 1885 at the progressive town of Auvergne, by the request of the leading citizens of that place and vicinity. The Academy building, which is a large two-story frame, was erected in 1885, by D. W. Bristol, of Beebe, under the man- agement of Dr. G. D. Clements and R. M. Laird. The property was purchased June 22, 18SS, by D. L. Paisley and A. L. Blake, now the principals

Tida mumiem a daiw . botenq

Huonin seoblo V/

Matt milo& TobiI .ovonD Estetica

myrt ftoma s yluo quived

Bison d. lastaff vells V gari plid'W end of ignaled

ylao et vibdT

aforod) noiteindO eds 10

o floweyont

900 Stowell to lenedtuoa salim

sodio mount wendt elomuist med of dosques Has gained plo Tooffiwel bad nsanodonT & voda fe gidendident o sergge ; lewegol'is namwoll .& bd ; lagad) . cuando se sont don't to

" DET MOREN MATodos

avisosleb

Impots of his podat hope stage of them there

Bryg modded tarifa sund

836

HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

of the faculty of the Academy. The town of Auvergne is high and rolling, free from mud and malaria, and the school is strictly moral, but not sectarian. It is open to both sexes. More ex- tended mention of this institution is made in sub- sequent pages.

The settlement of the territory now composing Jackson County began some time prior to 1830, the date of its organization, but by whom or just when the first settlement was made can not be definitely stated. The following named persons who composed the first grand jury of the county were, as a matter of course, prominent pioneers here: Nicholas Copeland, Dudley Glass, Jesse Gray, Jacob Haggerton, Michael Haggerton, Silas T. Glass, Samuel Stokes, Joseph Haggerton, Elijah Bartley, Holloway Stokes, John Teague, John Flannery, Jacob Flannery, William Melton, John James, Martin Copeland, Martin Bridgeman and Redding Stokes. Some of these, perhaps, lived in that part of the county since cut off in the formation of Woodruff County. John Wideman, at whose house the first courts were held, the Cope- lands and Newton Arnold, were the first settlers in the neighborhood of what is now Irwin Station, on the Batesville & Brinkley Railroad. George Hatch and a Mr. Daugherty were the first to locate at Newport.

Alexander, George, William, Samuel and John Robinson, five brothers, and their cousin James Robinson, all from Tennessee, together with George Crummel and several others, with their families, located in 1831 in the neighborhood of Litchfield. The Grays and Stokes were the first settlers in the southern part of the county, a Frenchman, Shave- naugh by name, Dunbar and the Hollenheads, were among the first in the northern part, and Thomas T. Tunstall and Samuel Reid were early residents at Jacksonport. About the year 1833 or 1834, the Robinsons bought a steam-boat, the "Mount Pleasant," with which they carried on a trade for several years following, between their landing at Newport and New Orleans. [For the names of other pioneer settlers see the early county officers and biographical sketches. ]

The county lies in Northeast Arkansas, and

is bounded on the north by Lawrence, east by Craighead, Poinsett and Cross, south by Woodruff and White, and west by White and Independence Counties. It has an area of 650 square miles, of which only about one fifth is improved. There are some government lands in the county subject to homestead entry, and some State lands subject to donation, and about 30,000 acres belonging to the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Company; the remainder is owned by individuals.

The boundary lines of the county are as fol- lows: Beginning on the fifth principal meridian, where it is intersected by the township line divid- ing Townships 14 and 15 north; thence south on the meridian line to the point where it is inter- sected by the township line dividing Townships 8 and 9 north; thence west on the township line to the range line between Ranges 2 and 3 west; thence north on the range line to the township line dividing Townships 9 and 10 north; thence west on the township line to the range line between Ranges 5 and 6 west; thence north on the range line to the township line dividing Townships 10 and 11 north; thence east on the township line to the range line between Ranges 3 and 4 west; thence north on the range line to White River; thence down White River, following its meanders, to the mouth of Black River; thence up Black River, following its meanders, to the point where it first crosses (in its downward course) the township line dividing Townships 14 and 15 north; thence east on the township line to the place of beginning.

Jackson County is situated in the valleys of White, Black and Cache Rivers. White River, after forming a short portion of the boundary, enters from the west at the town of Jacksonport, and flows thence in a general southeasterly direc- tion to Newport, and thence a little west of south until it crosses the southern boundary, in the middle of Range 4 west. It is a most magnificent river, and is navigable throughout the year to points far north. Black River, as has been noted, forms about one-half of the western boundary of the county, and empties into White River just above the town of Jacksonport. It also is a beautiful | stream, very deep, and is navigable during all the

choll bezos lied os nugo at ax .barradosa

BUOP SAM

Botade visiinteb

erguitorg

,919W

wwwiote? warbbeft ban

WushooW/ Jo molinmarzo?

twit od varod geodw is fr asydihe Jar wild mew blomk notwell bga abdal

h& edt no

of desit enlignew. R. bas doleH noqwell to sterol

varejistas Imori Ils uomitidos

edt di 188E'ut bajasol

medoder' s ytume add to ring medica

yusenne salt to nothing frode a guarrot lo uwol gdl *& #pow odt- prout

mich (Podemosfinoa Istrongy a mi ennadd newh hide strive to drow offfil sennedt bins ,30oxy od gold

de To vislonged couteaux and to us movist dostal

jogwell J'gnibas!

[ gododpodle legidijaspoid Tina escolao clavos

ger wonedr nevid sold to dinom

ni : 243409%

837

JACKSON COUNTY.

year for a considerable distance. Cache River makes its appearance near the center of the eastern boundary, and flows thence west of south, passing out at a point about eight miles west of the southeast corner. Village Creek enters the county at a point about two and a half miles west of its northeast corner, and flows in a southerly and southwesterly direction, and empties into White River about four miles south of Newport. Departee Creek, from the north, runs in a south- erly direction across the eastern part of Township 10 north, Range 4 west, and empties into White River below. These, the principal streams of the county, and their tributaries, furnish its entire drainage. Cache River, and some of the smaller streams are extremely slow and sluggish. In that region lying east of Black and White Rivers there are several small lakes or bayous. Some good springs are found here, though they are not so numerous as in a more hilly country. Cisterns and wells are in general use, and the supply of good water for all purposes is abundant.

That part of the county lying west of Departee Creek, embracing about one and a half Congres- sional townships, is hilly, while the balance is com- paratively low and level; the farming lands bor- dering on White River being elevated some six to eight feet above the Cache flats. The best farming lands embrace that portion of country lying between Village Creek and White River, occupying a low ridge rising several feet above the adjacent flats, and elevated about ten feet above high water of White River, and that portion of the Oil Trough Bottom extending into the County of Independence. This latter tract is situated in the bend of White River, south of Jacksonport and west of Newport. The low ridge dividing the waters of Village Creek and White River has a siliceous soil and subsoil of seven feet, under which is a stratum of tough yellow clay, eighteen feet in thickness. These are underlaid by a light colored sand, the thickness of which has not been ascer- tained; this sand forms the sub-stratum, affording unfailing supplies of excellent pure water, and is reached by sinking wells from fifteen to thirty feet. The soil of the "first bottoms," or the lowest

valley lands, is composed of alluvial deposits and vegetable mould, and that of the higher lands is made up of sand, clay and vegetable mould, and all, excepting some portions of the hilly and ridge lands, are exceedingly rich and fertile. The low lands along the streams and bayous support a growth of large timber, gum, cypress, ash, pin oak, hackberry, sycamore, cottonwood, elm, etc., while the higher lands abound in black, white and post oak, black walnut and some hickory. The growth on the hilly lands consists of several varieties of oak and some hickory, while the summits are cov- ered principally with blackjack oak. There is yet an unlimited supply of good timber. No mineral is claimed to exist here. Aside from the malaria caused by stagnant surface water in the extensive forests, the county is comparatively healthy. The malaria disappears in proportion as the country is cleared of its forests and the lands are drained.

At present the lumber industry is a leading source of income to individuals, and as the supply of timber seems almost inexhaustible it will so con- tinue for many years. One stave factory, thirteen saw-mills and a planing-mill are in operation. The lumber is extensively shipped to the manufacturing cities of this country and also of Europe. Cotton, corn, oats, wheat, millet and potatoes are the prin- cipal products of the soil, and with proper culti- vation the lands will produce per acre from 800 to 1,500 pounds of seed cotton, thirty to sixty bushels of corn or oats, and fifteen to twenty-five bushels of wheat. Clover and the seed grasses succeed well, but they are not as yet extensively cultivated. All varieties of fruit common to this latitude can also be raised in great excellence and abundance, but horticulture has not received much attention. In 1880 there were 1,282 farms within the county and 48,497 acres of improved lands, from which the yield of products for the previous year were as follows: Cotton, 13,895 bales; Indian corn, 384,398 bushels; oats, 6,399: wheat, 7,415; hay, 150 tons; Irish potatoes, 4,640 bushels: sweet potatoes, 7,239 bushels: tobacco. 4, 790 pounds. The United States census of 1890 will undoubtedly show the products of the present year (1889) to be more than double these amounts.

+،

is மூரிது . ப.

ilet as bustade abrent soulutil

63131

Home to பீர்ற்th elity Tnot

dhou 01

soled 19vist

(nde இறந்தவீர வரி School 1

١٣٥٤٢٠

aLabenifi glidw . mifid al acirkawod ladois I bna wol vlevithing at'W do gniveb.

galil/ קנייהlad

esxi mos lf dguosT liO edd

all drawsandta a lagst inatel itely' Dus Jroqnomilosti lo dinoa protil did // T) bned odd wol adT - wowwell to Jeewy

10 douw Tobarr Jant nowens To Duedde fi at lice andsoilie .. at ww.mondress.colns welley ifgbot to ardarde s at herelos talgifta vd Dintrebon ora

polit su W amottod stº odd Jo fios odT

wenn mp h fabricou 000,1 . i

SEC rettoli Fewoffol 88-91977 (1899

HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

838

The climate being so mild and the water supply so abundant, this locality is well adapted to the raising of live stock, but little winter feed- ing being necessary. According to the census re- ferred to there were within the county 2.192 horses, 1,118 mules and asses, 11,246 neat cattle, 1,343 sheep and 18,006 hogs. The assessment rolls of 1888 show that the county then had 3,036 horses, 1,506 mules and asses, 15,171 neat cattle, 1,202 sheep and 13,429 hogs-a noticeable increase from 1880 to 1888 in horses, mules and asses and cattle, a small decrease in the number of sheep, and a large apparent but not real decrease in the number of hogs. A liberal income can be derived by de- veloping the horticultural advantages hereabouts.

In 1880 the real estate of Jackson County was assessed for taxation at $1,029,404 and the per- sonal property reaching $366,091, making a total of $1,935,495, and the aggregate amount of taxes charged thereon was $27,389. In 1888 the real estate assessment was $2,146,781 and personal property, $753,179, making a total of $2,899,960, upon which the aggregate amount of taxes charged was $49,320.55. These figures indicate that since the year 1880 the taxable wealth of the county has more than doubled in value. This increase is due mainly to the building of the railroads and the consequent rapid development of resources in the community, the railroad property itself adding to the assessment the sum of $615, 856.

The main line of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway enters the county about three miles west of its northeast corner and runs thence in a south westerly direction by way of Newport and other points-its length within the county being thirty-six miles. The Batesville branch of this railroad departs from the main line at Diaz, two miles north of Newport, its length within this territory being five miles. The Batesville & Brink- ley Railroad enters eleven miles west of the south- east corner and runs mostly in a northern direction to Newport, thence northwesterly to its present terminus at Jacksonport, a distance of twenty-two miles. The total number of miles of main line of railroads within the county is sixty-three.

The aggregate population of Jackson County

since its organization, as shown by various United States census reports, has been as follows: 1830. 333; 1840, 1,540; 1850, 3,086; 1860, 10,403: 1870, 7,268; 1880, 10,877. During the first de- cade the population nearly trebled, during the second it doubled, and during the third, it more than trebled. Then, in 1862, nearly half of the territory was set off in the formation of Woodruff County, which accounts for the reduction of popu- lation from 1860 to 1870. On account of the rapid immigration since 1880 the population at this writ- ing undoubtedly equals 15,000 or more. The colored population of the county in 1870 was 1,612, and in 1880, 2,763. It is now estimated at 3,000.

Auvergne, on the Batesville & Brinkley Rail- road, fourteen miles southeast of Jacksonport, con- tains a postoffice, two general stores, a drug store, grist-mill and cotton-gin, a blacksmith and wood shop, public school-house, railroad depot, and some other establishments. The population is es- timated at 200, and it does a large amount of trade. It is also the site of Auvergne Academy.

Campbell is a station on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway, five miles north- east of Newport.

Denmark, in Barren Township, in the extreme southwestern part of the county, has two grist mills, a general store, blacksmith shop, post-office, etc.

Grand Glaize, also on the Iron Mountain Rail- way, fifteen miles southwest of Jacksonport, com - prises a saw mill, postoffice, railroad depot, and a general store.

Irwin, a station on the Batesville & Brinkley Railroad, five miles southeast of Newport, has a small collection of houses.

Jacksonport, on the north bank of White River just below the mouth of Jack's or Jacque's Creek. the present county seat, was established about the year 1839, by Thomas T. Tunstall, who in com- pany with Samuel Reid, opened the first store in the place. It contains the county buildings. three general stores, a drug store, a family grocery, a steam, saw and grist-mill, three church edifices- one for the white people and two for the colored;

Heltallyson, Fratele

grigoler

a lwar ous 088f tT

B ypianer

s. at To årvous olegarsas will be

didw Hoqu

.028,89€ aow

01 id eront and

Amasde bruy bot menos stedetou ali to trewe walter

33quel att-vidiog Medto ysied vtando di fiddly enfint złanyhidd ows asid da yutf nusa ndt mort atingeb bsorlist Jogwell to dison eolica eslim wval grind prodimed,

to Rlosh 3o didonne . wofort

mate gab 6

Grazie viste et Jennos add midtiw absouliers

sandy di una JMG tre Fontaneit

cont in de bif no nodale's at Hodann

172467. 1. 46 3

Nissancon gniød yai

839

JACKSON COUNTY.

two public school houses, a livery stable, a cabinet- maker and undertaker's shop, two restaurants, and a number of mechanics' shops. The population is estimated at 500, and is about equally divided be- tween the whites and blacks. Before the day of railroads-or before they were constructed through this part of the country-Jacksonport did a flour- ishing business, but the building up of Newport at the crossing of two railroad lines, has interfered somewhat with its business. This is a desirable and excellent site for a town.

Newport, the largest town in Jackson County, is situated on White River, at the junetion of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern and the Batesville & Brinkley Railroads, eighty-three miles northeast of Little Rock, and three and a half miles southeast of Jacksonport. It has within it two banks, eight general stores, ten family grocery stores, five drug stores, two hardware stores, an undertaking store, a harness store, a merchant tailor store, two millinery and dressmaking estab- lishments, a music store, two jewelry stores, two book and stationery stores, a photograph gallery, a livery stable, five restaurants, four hotels, two bakeries, marble works, three saw-mills, with lumber yards attached, three planing-mills, a car- riage factory, an extensive stave factory, foundry and machine shops, a complete system of water- works, a capacious ice factory, a large cotton com- press, commodious railroad depots and ware- houses, an important cotton seed warehouse (form- erly the oil mills,) opera house, three church edifices, public school houses, a telephone system forming communication between various points, a ferry across White River, many mechanics' shops, a full supply of doctors, lawyers, notaries public, insurance agents, etc. Two weekly newspapers, both Democratic in politics, are also here; the Jackson County Herald, successor to the Jackson- port Herald, which was established at Jacksonport in 1858, is a seven-column folio, published every Saturday by T. T. Ward, editor and proprietor. The Newport Weekly News is an eight-column folio, published every Friday by J. J. Flahiff, edi- tor and proprietor. It was established in 1873, and was the first paper published in Newport.

Both of these journals ably advocate the interests of the community. In addition to the foregoing, Newport contains many other industries worthy of mention. The town was established and named soon after the settlement began, but remained only a small village until 1872, when the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway was completed. Its growth then commenced and it has been almost entirely built since that date. It has lodges of several secret and benevolent societies, is incorporated and has its complement of corporate officers. It is a flourishing town, very advantageously located for manufacturing purposes, having two good railroads and a river navigable for large vessels. The lumber and timber traffic on the river has reached extensive proportions. The population of the place is esti- mated at 2,500.

Olyphant is a station on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway, eight miles south- west of Newport. It has a railroad depot, post- office, two general stores and a saw mill and cot- ton-gin.

Swifton, also on the Iron Mountain Railway, twenty miles northeast of Jacksonport, contains a postoffice, a steam grist-mill and cotton gin, two general stores, one dry goods and grocery store, two groceries, two hotels, a school house, mechan- ics' shops, etc., and a population of about 150.

Tuckerman, on the Iron Mountain Railway, ninety-one miles northeast of Little Rock and eight miles north of Newport, is comprised of a post-office, three general stores, two groceries, two drug stores, two blacksmith and wood shops, one hotel, two boarding-houses, a school-house, a church, two saw-mills and cotton-gins combined. and has a population of 150.

Tupelo is a station on the Batesville & Brink- ley Railroad, twenty-two miles south of Jackson- port.

Weldon, on the Batesville & Brinkley Rail- road. eighteen miles south of Jacksonport. con- tains two general stores, two groceries, one hotel. postoffice, etc.

Centerville (postoffice Kenyon) lies in the northern part of Bird Township, fourteen miles

decidido ovaldate temel a darged fender citing owd

ל-

Lo daog ardis

to yumemory ons

01 ٥٨٢٤٠٠

Jensdi Pros

006.2 29

zebrm

MA yrahimi owa , goda volled peigel bending a man Al

Hanoidata Bas dood

milostin ebriay

16329 4ต .. กรกชั่วไว้

st e pode valulones ban

Cellina lio edt glo rufne oilding esitibe

zelundou aveviobl atotoob lo viqqua lful s

the enwe dinidw ,blassH 'ioq

ralso WE' SforwsWi Soul in't vipro badfaildne vorfol

rolling instinct of writwebsite ting andiba

上川APHARRYER

(1 nithinole o mit adt no

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 67

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