Biographical and historical memoirs of western Arkansas : comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties, Part 20

Author: Southern Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : Southern Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1020

USA > Arkansas > Biographical and historical memoirs of western Arkansas : comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 20

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Dardanelle is situated on the south branch of the Arkansas River equidistant from Fort Smith and Little Rock, and about eighty miles from Hot Springs, has a population of about 2,000 people, and does a larger commercial business than any other town in the Arkansas Valley between Little Rock and Fort Smith. It has communication by rail over the Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad, and the ferry and transfer line between the two towns mentioned, and telegraphic and telephonic com- munication. A prospective improvement is a pon- toon bridge designed to provide another means of communication with the country north of the river. Dardanelle is an incorporated town with numerous improvements and conveniences. An efficient and well-equipped fire department is well sustained. Prominent among those who have been connected with Dardanelle's municipal career may be men- tioned the following who have held the office of mayor: M. A. J. Bonville, W. N. May, J. Mort Perry, D. W. Starbuck, G. R. Williams, E. G. Collier, W. J. Jacoway, H. A. Howell, M. L. Davis, H. C. Cunningham, T. L. Spencer, Joseph Evins, H. C. Gibson, R. C. Bullock, C. P. Thompson, W. A. Nolen, Robert Toomer and L. C. Hall. The first store at Dardanelle Rock was opened by the Brear- ley Brothers, David, Charles and Pearson, in 1820. Its occupation was gone when the Cherokees left the vicinity in 1830. In 1831 at the instigation of J. H. Brearley, Fred Saugrain was induced to move his store from Verdigris to Dardanelle, where be continued trading until 1839, when he was per-

suaded by his father-in-law to return to St. Louis, Mo. The remnants of his goods were left in the hands of his brother, Alfred Saugrain. In a few years more there was no store to be found at Dar- danelle. At the organization of Yell County there were many citizens in the township of Dardanelle (among whom where the Johnstons-John B., Joe, Jackey and Samuel H .- John and Samuel Balch), who had to cross the river to Norristown to do their trading; and about 1842 George Williams was in- duced to move his goods over from Norristown into a double-log cabin on the spot first occupied by the Widow Greenwood in 1831, next by C. T. Smith in 1833, who sold to F. Saugrain in 1835, and lastly by J. H. Brearley, who gave to George Will- iams the lots on which the buildings would be found to stand when the contemplated town should be staked out as an inducement for him to move his store there. Mr. Williams enlarged by adding a small frame of sufficient size for his store. This was the nucleus of the town of Dardanelle, which was laid off by J. H. Brearley in October, 1847, ' on this tract the fractional part of the northwest quarter of Section 32, in Township 7 north, Range 20 west, and extended the town plat onto the ad- joining northeast quarter of Section 31, belonging to George Williams, with the understanding that the two tracts should be consolidated into one town property, and both be equal sharers in the sales of lots. In 1850 L. D. Parish came to Dardanelle, and opened a store. He found Judge H. A. How- ell here merchandising when he came. Judge Howell came to this place in 1847. About 1850 a Mr. James Montgomery and Dudley D. Mason also opened a store, which was soon bought out by L. D. Parish. In 1851 Capt. S. D. Strayhorn and Mr. C. M. Murdock built the Kimball & Perry store-rooms, and subsequently opened a store in co-partnership.

During that year, A. S. Stephenson also opened a store. Dying in 1852, he was the first person buried with Masonic honors in Dardanelle. His remains were afterward carried by his friends to Van Buren. Dr. E. W. Adams built the old Judge Howell store in 1852. The old Parish Store, as it is called, was built by George Williams in

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1849. All the other old stores on Front Row be- tween Howell's and Kimball's, were built between the years 1852 and 1854. Among the later mer- chants who were in trade at Dardanelle previous to the war may be mentioned the following: L. D. Parish, Murdock & Kimball, Robinson & Spivey, Adams Brothers, Levi Arnold, D. J. Jacoway & Son and Hunt & Farrell. The leading merchants since the war have been Kimball & Perry, John A. Ross & Co., E. W. Cunningham, Henry C. Cun- ningham, Josiah Hawkins, Blackwell, Thompson & Co., C. M. Freed and J. D. Goldman. The present business interests of the town may be thus briefly summarized: Harkey & Meyer, John A. Ross & Co., W. R. Veazy & Co., Collier & Black, Nunnelly & Robinson, Pendergrass & Berry, J. D. Goldman & Co., John A. Croom, Gault & Co., Hart & Bro., Boyce Bros. & Co., H. C. Cunning- ham, E. W. Cunningham, Z. J. Pierce, J. Haw- kins, Sr., general merchants; W. R. Veazy & Co., N. Goodier, hardware dealers; T. Wilson, S. Hol- stein, family grocers; W. L. Alley, S. Evins & Co., Joseph Goodman, liverymen; Thomas Cox, W. E. De Long, machinery and implements; Edgar Shinn, transfer and ferry; the Dardanelle Ice Fac- tory; Edgar Shinn, coal dealer; Howell & Leming, Wiley & McCarroll, J. H. Cook, Lancaster Bros., druggists; M. A. J. Bonville, saddler; F. V. Whit- tlesey, Robert Toomer, jewelers; Mrs. Dove, Mrs. Wishard, milliners; the Dardanelle Bank; A. Mad- enwald, undertaker; A. Hudspeth, broom manu- facturer; L. C. Hall, D. N. HalliBurton, E. G. Collier, insurance agents; L. Smith, meat market; Central Hotel, Mrs. M. S. Blackwell; J. A. Ben- nett, marble yard; J. B. Crownover, abstracter and real estate dealer; United States land office; W. A. F. May, register, and T. B. Bumgarner, re- ceiver; George Peaker, photographer: Cotton & Welch, distillers; H. A. Mayer, planing-mills; L. Flater, carriage manufacturer; W. S. Waddle, George Julian, confectioners; L. E. Love, C. R. Wil- son, A. J. Harris, J. H. Wiley, J. D. Hart, J. H. Cook, E. Leming, physicians. The first child born in Dardanelle was Ruel Williams, son of George Williams, in 1844. Mrs. George Williams, who died in 1852, was the first person buried in the Dardan-

elle graveyard. Dr. B. F. Chandler, who came in 1850, and died in 1858, was the first physician in Dar- danelle. The great willow on Front Street was a riding switch, used in 1854 by Coleman Lethgo, and by him presented to Mrs. H. A. Howell, who planted it where it now stands. Danville was sur- veyed early in the history of the county, and the locality was soon chosen as the permanent seat of justice. Among the pioneers there was William Porter, who kept tavern in a log house still remem- bered by many old residents. An early merchan- dising firm was Bernard & Arnold. Another early store was opened by John Howell, with L. D. Parish in charge. Dr. Floyd was a pioneer physician. B. & J. B. Howell, and W. H. Fields & Dolly were prominent merchants during the years "before the war." Among later merchants were "Ben " Lang, Briggs, McCarrell & Heck, Briggs & Heck, and J. T. Briggs & Son, W. H. Fields, Silas Fields, Robert Featherston, Dr. Bru- ton and Kemper & Hochburn. A tannery was es- tablished nearly twenty years ago by W. L. Heck, who was succeeded by J. T. Briggs. The business of the place at this time may be summarized thus: Stores, Capshaw & Briggs, J. M. McCarrell, J. W. Briggs, Gatlin & Hill, K. Runyan; physicians, M. T. J. Capshaw, W. J. Stafford; blacksmiths and wheelwrights, T. J. Young, J. M. Kinser; hotels and boarding houses, Capt. J. B. Howell, Dr. W. J. Stafford, H. A. Carter. Danville lies in the heart of the county, on the Petit Jean, has a thrifty, progressive appearance, heightened some- what by Yell County's substantial brick court- house, and is blessed with one of the best schools in the county. The population is about 200. Its favorable location and its long established prestige as the county seat can not but give it a veritable " boom," with the advent of railway facilities. The projector and in some sense the early "pro- prietor " of Danville was John Howell, who laid out the town and gave five acres of land for county uses.

The location here of the seat of justice was the end of a memorable struggle for honors between different localities within the county limits, the details of which incomplete records do not disclose.

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Next in importance is Bellville,* the youngest as well as the second largest town and commercial center of Yell County, situated twenty miles south of Dardanelle, the railroad town, and four miles north of Danville, the seat of justice, at the head of one fork of the Petit Jean Valley, back in a recess of the mountains, which rise on its north and west. In twelve years its scenery, mineral waters, healthfulness and other natural advantages have gathered within its limits about 300 thrifty inhabitants and founded a center of trade and in- dustry. Daily mails and telephone bring the place in quick communication with other parts of the county. Surrounding the town, fine agricultural lands spread their fertility to the husbandman. The first settler on the site of this place was Mr. William H. Fergeson who established a saw-mill here in 1872, and later when he built a house and was joined by others, the place by popular consent became known as Fergeson's Mills, and for some years bore that name. Mr. Fergeson was the first postmaster, and he now again fills that office. He has from the first identified himself actively with all measures promising to advance the best inter- ests of the locality. He is a large land-owner, and still owns the ginning, saw and grist mill in- dustry of the place, and is formost in the up- building of the town he established eighteen years ago. The first merchant was Mr. John F. Choate, who came to Bellville in 1878. He is still in busi- ness, and at the head of one of the leading firms of the place. The business interests of Bellville at this time may be mentioned as follows: Gen- eral stores-Choate, Fowler & Martin, Heck & Briggs, F. C. Jones & Co., O. S. Fergeson, Bruton & Lynch; drug stores --- Dr. J. H. Harkness, Pled- ger & Briggs, Dr. G. C. Parker; blacksmiths- Nolan & May, Bunch & Welch; steam planing- mill-Nolan & May; steam, saw and grist mill and cotton-gin -- W. H. Fergeson; Bellville Hotel -Thomas McCleskey; Bellville Academy-J. G. Smyth, president. Ola, on the Petit Jean River, Gravelly Hill, Bluffton, Briggsville, Rover, Fair Hill and Jennings Falls on the Fourche La Fave

*We give credit to Prof. J. G. Smyth, in The Arkansas Val- l.) for the foundation of this sketch of Bellville.

River, and Mount Nebo, Chickalah, Walnut Tree and Centerville are all flourishing villages. Ola is practically the outgrowth of the enterprise of one man, Mr. J. M. Harkey, who came to the county in 1847 when but a small child. He erected a mill here in 1866, and began merchandis- ing in 1870. Here are the largest saw-mill, flour-mill and cotton-gin in the county, all estab- lished by Mr. Harkey. The village is sixteen miles south of Dardanelle. Some of the other points mentioned have good local trade, are pro- gressing and have more than fair prospects for the future. All are neat with evidences of thrift. Chickalah is the seat of a new and important edu- cational enterprise mentioned elsewhere.

There is no railroad in Yell County, though the Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad, which taps the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad at Russell- ville, has its terminus on the north bank of the Ar- kansas River, opposite the town of Dardanelle, but receives and delivers all freight and passengers anywhere in the town. The St. Louis & San Fran- cisco has projected and surveyed a route from Hacket City to Little Rock, which will run along the Fourche La Fave Valley across the entire southern part of the county. The St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern has projected and surveyed a route from Little Rock to Fort Smith, which is likely to run along the valley of the Petit Jean River, across the central part of the county. A road has been chartered from Little Rock to Fort Smith by way of Dardanelle. The "Thirty-fifth Parallel Road," leading west from Memphis by Dardanelle, Fort Smith and Albuquerque, to Southern California, will necessarily be constructed in the near future. The Fort Scott, Natchez & New Orleans road, by way of Dardanelle, and the road from Paris, Tex., by Dardanelle, to St. Louis, which shortens the distance between St. Louis and Texas seventy-five miles, will, in all probability, soon be put under construction. The projected Springfield & Gulf Railroad, from Springfield, Mo., via Dardanelle and Hot Springs, has lately attracted public attention to a consider- able extent. It seems safe to predict that in a comparatively short time Yell County will be trav-

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ersed by several railroads, and if this prediction come true Dardanelle can hardly stop short of becoming an important railroad city. Nothing will so surely and so rapidly push forward the de- velopment of agricultural, commercial and general business interests, in all parts of the county, as railways. In the absence of railroads the people of the county have evinced a laudable spirit in constructing and in keeping in repair the dirt roads throughout the county, and have caused to be erected two magnificent iron bridges across the Petit Jean River, with 100-feet span each-one at Danville and the other on the main road leading from Dardanelle to Hot Springs.

J. C. H. Albright, an eminently successful planter of Rover, was born in Georgia in 1840, and was the tenth of thirteen children born to Henry and Meeky (Blair) Albright, originally of North Carolina and Georgia, and whose ancestors were of German and American extraction, the grand- father, Albright, a silversmith by trade, emigrated from Germany to America, and settled in South Carolina, and later on moved to Georgia, where he died; and the maternal grandfather, an American by birth, and an Indian trader, lived and died in Georgia. The father, a farmer, which occupation he followed all his life, early taught his son, J. C. H., the principles of farming, and gave him what few educational advantages the common schools of his day afforded. In 1860 he was married, and to himself and wife were born eleven children, six of whom are living: Lucy (wife of J. P. Briggs), Annie (wife of J. H. Hunt-see sketch), Martha Gertrude (wife of W. C. Pugh), Jake and Eliza- beth (twins and deceased), Frank W. (died at the age of sixteen), Julia Maud, James Edward, John (died at the age of eight months) and Mary Dar- ling. The year succeeding his marriage he became a soldier in the Confederate Army, enlisting in a company of the Fourth Georgia Regiment, under command of Capt. Farris, and fought in the battles of the Kenesaw Mountain and the Atlanta cam- paign; later moved with Gen. Johnston, then with

President Davis, and finally surrendered at Wash- ington, Ga., going thence home and re-engaging in farming, and in 1870 settled in Yell County, subsequently coming to Rover in 1878, where he purchased some valuable farm property, putting 100 acres under a complete state of cultivation, and in 1883 built his present neat and commodious residence. Religiously he and his family are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and socially is an A. F. & A. M., belonging to Rover Lodge No. 467, where he has done duty as wor- shipful master. He has always been deeply inter- ested in the welfare of his community, doing every- thing in his power to aid its growth.

F. M. Baker, M. D., Riley Township, Yell County, Ark., and one of the leading practitioners of Marvinville, was born in Catoosa County, Ga., August 29, 1860, the son of Samuel and Sarah (Gill) Baker, natives of Georgia and South Caro- lina, respectively. The father followed farming and carpentering up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1865 while in the Confederate Army. Dr. Baker spent his early days in Georgia, farming until 1878, when he removed to Missis- sippi. After farming in that State for two years he took up the study of medicine, commencing in Banner, Calhoun County, of that State, in 1880. In 1881 he began with Dr. J. Baker, an eclectic phy- sician, continuing with him one year, when he came to Arkansas and began practicing, meeting with good success. In 1885 he went to the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, remaining there until 1887, when he graduated. Upon leav- ing college Dr. Baker returned to Marvinville, was well received, has succeeded in building up a very good practice, and by saving has managed to pur- chase a small farm of forty acres of land, besides four town lots. He was married in this village in 1887 to Miss Martha B. Parker, born in 1867, a daughter of Wesley and Elizabeth Parker, all na- tives of Tennessee. Both the Doctor and his wife are members of the Christian Church. Socially he is a member of the Christen Lodge 394, A. F. & A. M., and in politics is a Democrat.

George B. Biggers, a prosperous planter of Dardanelle Township, first saw the light of day in

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Mississippi, on May 25, 1850, and is the eldest child of six born to James H. and Catherine A. (Callens) Biggers, who were natives of the Old North State and Alabama, respectively, the father having been born in the former State in 1827, but was married in Mississippi. He was a farmer by occupation, and came to Arkansas when his son, George B., was two years old, entering 120 acres of land, which he broke and improved for a home. He and his wife (who died in 1862) were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject, who was early trained in the duties of the farm, followed farming on his arriving to manhood as a means of livelihood, and is now the possessor of 153 acres of valuable land, forty-five of which are highly improved and cultivated. On Decem- ber 24, 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss Wellie A. Huff, a resident of this county, who bore him a family of eight children-four sons and three daughters living: Maggie (born March 16, 1874), Levietie (born November 28, 1876), Lordia A. (born June 26, 1885), George C. (born July 12, 1878), Johnnie H. (born November 14, 1880), Cassa B. (born May 11, 1883), an infant (born 1SSS, and deceased), and Denver (born September 14, 1889). He and wife are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically he votes the Democratic ticket.

John W. Blevins, Dardanelle P. O., Yell County, one of the prominent lumber merchants of this county, was born in Meigs County, Tenn., Oc- tober 13, 1845, and is the son of Thomas and El- vina (Gourley) Blevins, natives of the same State. The father, who died in 1865, was born in 1815, carried on farming through his entire life in his native State. The mother is still living in the old homestead in Tennessee. Our subject was reared to manhood in his native State, receiving a good com- mon-school education. There he followed farming until the year 1874, when he came to Yell County, bought eighty acres of raw land, and started to improve it, but wishing more room, he sold this and bought ninety-seven acres on the river below Dardanelle. In the fall of 1881 Mr. Blevins en- gaged in the lumber business, and opened mills valued at $10,000 near Chickalah Village, and in

this undertaking he was assisted by Mr. George H. Cravins and H. S. Cline. Shortly after they erected another mill a mile and a half in the valley from the first, these mills being connected by a railway on which they haul their logs and lumber. This is one of the first of the kind ever introduced in this section of the country, and shows the enter- prising spirit manifested by the firm. The first mill consists of a grist, cotton-gin and lumber- dressing department, while the latter has two dressers and shingle machinery. They are capa- ble of turning out 20,000 feet daily, but average about only 12,000 daily. The firm also owns about 500 acres of pine timberland and has pur- chased the timber of a large number of acres of dead land. Mr. J. W. Blevins owns about 300 acres in Delaware Township, of which 150 acres are in a good state of cultivation, and the rest covered with lumber, which he has deadened with a view of making it good for cultivation. In 1889 our subject married Miss Ella Sills, daughter of Will- iam Sills, native of Kentucky. He is a member of Bright Star Lodge No. 213, A. F. & A. M., and is a Democrat, politically, supporting all enterprises of public nature of benefit to his country. At the opening of the war he enlisted in Company I, Fifth Tennessee Cavalry under Capt. W. W. Lillard and Col. G. W. Mckenzie. Although but fifteen years of age he kept with his company, and took part in the battles of Chickamauga, Atlanta and a large number of skirmishes. He was wounded in the limb, but did not leave his regiment, remaining in the army in all about three years, being paroled in May, 1865. After the war Mr. Blevins returned home and began his farming pursuits, which he has carried on so successfully. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are esteemed by all who know them.

William D. Briggs, after whom the township of Briggsville was named, was born in South Carolina, June 26, 1818, and was the eldest son of James and Rebecca (George) Briggs, and grandson of Thomas George, of South Carolina. Of the eleven children born to this union five are now living. William D. Briggs came to this State in 1835, settled first in Johnson County, near Clarksville, where he lived

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with his father, cultivating the soil, for two years. He then began clerking in a grocery store in Clarksville for William J. Parks and Samuel Hayes, and was thus employed for one year. He then came with his father to Yell County, settled in Fouche Valley, and there remained working on a farm with his father, and taking charge of his father's business for some time. When about twenty-five years of age he bought a farm near his present residence, remained on the same for five years, and during that time he cleared about forty acres, erected buildings and improved the place. Then he engaged in general merchandising with his brother at Bluffton, this county, and was very successful in this venture, but his father, being well along in years, wished him to return home and assume charge of the farm. This he did, and he and his father were engaged extensively in the raising of hogs, cattle and horses. Here he re- mained seven years, but at the end of five years his father died, after which our subject remained to take care of his mother and look after the farm. Previous to this, in 1845, Mr. Briggs, with his father, erected a cotton-gin on the latter's place. This was the first of the kind in the county, and William drove hogs to Red River, a distance of 110 miles, to exchange them for the gin head which he then hauled in a wagon over the mount- ains and through an almost trackless forest to his home. This took him several weeks, as he was obliged to find market for his hogs, consisting of 300 head, selling to the farmers as they might want for their immediate use. The other parts of his gin he made on his place. This he worked for several years, when he sold it and it was moved to Bluffton. Mr. Briggs then erected a large steam mill, grist, saw and cotton mill, all costing about $7,000, and this was destroyed by fire in 1875. Being uninsured it was a total loss. Soon after this he erected another mill, which he operated about four years, when it took fire and was burned to the ground. At the end of a year he erected still another steam-mill which he operated for four years, and then sold it to his sons, who still con- tinue to operate it. Mr. Briggs was married, September 24, 1857, to Miss Celissa A. Coleman,

who bore him nine children-six sons and three daughters-seven of whom are still living: James C. (born December 25, 1858, and married Miss Amanda Albright October 29, 1880), Anna (wife of James Bogle), William (married Miss Docia Scroggins), Louisa (married. J. B. Stevenson), Edna (married Eli Gladden), Levi L. and Wallace, the last two being single. When the war broke out Mr. Briggs was obliged to leave his home to save himself from the bushwhackers who were concealed in the mountain districts, and he was from home about three years. Returning at the close of hostilities he found his property laid waste and great damage done to the same. He did what he could at farming with the stock he brought with him, and the first year's work was not very successful. However, the next year he made $3,600 on his farm and with his gin, the latter being the only one in the county. In con- nection with his brother he then opened a store at Bluffton, which they conducted for about five years, at which time our subject sold out and returned to the farm. Since then he has devoted his time and attention to tilling the soil. He was county surveyor of his county for twenty-two years, and is a Democrat in politics. He and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been steward for many years and a member of the board of trustees. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. lodge at Bluff- ton, and gives liberally of his means to support all worthy movements. Soon after his marriage Mr. Briggs purchased 440 acres of excellent valley land as productive as any in the county, and this he has improved until he has 120 acres under cul- tivation. He has a good comfortable farm-house, good barns, etc. He added to his land from time to time until he was the owner of 1,300 acres, but has divided with his children, until he now has but about 500 acres.

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Author: Southern Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago : Southern Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1020

Author: Southern Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : Southern Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1020