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 21
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John W. Brown, owner of a fine seventy acre farm, lying in Gallarock Township, four and one- half miles south of Dardanelle, and which is nearly all improved, was born in Mississippi, May 7, 1846. His father, William Brown, was born in Alabama, in 1806, and his mother, Mary F. Hul-
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lam, was born in Tennessee, in 1811, and married in Hardeman County, June 25, 1829, and by this marriage became the mother of four sons and five daughters. In 1852, when Arkansas was nothing but a wilderness, the family located in Yell County, where the father purchased land, and by bis untir- ing efforts accumulated considerable property, which was confiscated during the Civil War. This mother, who was a faithful and earnest member of the Baptist Church, was called to her final home in 1855, her husband surviving her till March 12, 1866. Our subject, a patriotic and enthusiastic defender of his country, in 1863, enlisted in an organization of cavalry known as Company D, under command of Col. Hill, and fought the battles of Pilot Knob, Jefferson City and Independence, also took part in a number of skirmishes, and in 1865 laid down his arms of warfare, at Marshall, Tex. He was twice married, in 1868, Miss Annie Olliver, who was born in Mississippi, in 1846, be- came his first wife, and in 1880 she died, leaving the following family to his care: Neva O., Elsie M., Alvin E. (since deceased), William T. (de- ceased), Angie (deceased), Anna (deceased); and in 1885 for his second wife he wedded Miss Mary Andrews, of Alabamian birth, being born in 1852, to Peter and Isabella (Price) Andrews. Two chil- dren have blessed this marriage: Anna L. and Hom- er. Mrs. Brown is a conscientious Christian woman, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is an enterprising and respected farmer of his township.
Dr. H. P. Bruton, the well-known eclectic phy- sieian, and a member of the popular firm of Bru- ton & Lynch, general merchants of Bellville, was born in Pope County, in 1840, his parents, James and Sarah (Angel) Bruton, of Kentucky and Ten- nessee, respectively, but were married in the latter State, came to Arkansas in 1836, bought, entered and improved the land on which they made their home till their deaths, his wife's occurring in 1856, and he following her demise in 1862. He was an active politician, being in the Lower House of the General Assembly for a number of years, and was one of the commissioners to locate the seat of jus- tice of Pope County at Dover, and for many years
officiated as a Baptist preacher, and was famil. iarly known throughout all Western Arkansas. The Doctor's early boyhood was spent on a farm, attending the private schools, and when sixteen years old began teaching, and for several years taught and attended school. When nineteen he engaged as clerk in a drug store, and there laid the foundation of his medical profession, by reading medicine in connection with his duties at the store. In 1860-61 he enrolled himself as a student of the Eclectic Medical Institute, afterward graduating, and at once beginning to practice. Locating in Danville, in 1867, he opened an office, and in 1872 started the first drug store in town, withdrawing from this to enter into the general merchandise business. Going to Russellville in 1878, he en- gaged in his profession and in merchandising, and remained till 1881, when he came to Bellville, where he has established his present lucrative busi- ness and built up a good practice. In 1889 he was president of the State Eclectic Medical Society, held at Hot Springs, and in January, 1890, took into partnership T. C. Lynch. His individual property consists of a good dwelling and 160 acres of land, partially cultivated. He was three times married, the first time to Miss Ella Fowler, in 1873, who died in a few years, leaving him one child, Lee; and again in 1878, Miss Stafford, daughter of Dr. Stafford, became his wife. She died, leaving him one child, Arthur, and in 1885 he celebrated his third marriage, Miss Jones being the contracting party, and who bore him two chil- dren: Bertha and Myrtle. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
B. D. Bryson. John P. Bryson was born in North Carolina in 1826 and reared as a farmer, and on arriving to manhood married Miss Ollie Jones, and later on emigrated to Georgia, where B. D., our subject, was born June 25, 1840, and in 1857 came to Izard County, this State, remain- ing here till 1863, when he changed to Yell County, which he made his home till the death of himself and wife, which occurred in 1874, they being at the time of their demise earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. When twenty years of age the subject of this sketch
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learned the boot and shoe trade, and soon after became proficient as a harness-maker, working at this till the war cry sounded, when he laid down his tools to take up arms iu defense of his coun- try. In 1862 he enlisted in the cavalry, joining Company F, known as an independent organiza- tion of Confederate soldiers under command of J. H. Jones. Being granted a leave of absence in 1864 he went to Marion County, Tex., where he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Warer, and on his return to army life remained in service till the surrender, when he returned to his home and engaged in farming, and now owns 287 acres of fine, fertile land in Gallarock Township. 180 of which are thoroughly worked and improved, and he is known as a practical farmer possessed with broad and progressive ideas, and for two years of- ficiated as constable of his township. In 1885 death robbed him of his worthy consort, who was & member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the following year he wedded Miss Sallie A. Law- rence, a native of Tennessee, born in 1856, and they have become the parents of two children: Cora and Jhobery. Mr. and Mrs. Bryson are faithful and errnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, where he has been steward for eighteen years.
Thomas D. Bumgarner, the genial receiver of the land office of Dardanelle, was born in Lumpkin County, Ga., the second in a family of five born to Woodford and Rebecca C. (Heffnert) Bumgarner, of Kentucky and Georgia, respectively, and now deceased, the father December 24, 1883. and the mother in 1854. The senior Bumgarner, like all early settlers of the pioneer States, followed farm- ing as a means of livelihood. In 1849, thinking to better his fortune, he joined the gold-mining party en route for California, where he was quite success- ful, and at the end of two years returned to Arkansas and purchased an immense tract of land, 500 acres in extent, near Danville, which he cleared and made for himself a comfortable home, residing here till his death. The paternal grandparents were early settlers of Kentucky, which was their home till their deaths, which occurred in Russell County, of that State. The maternal grandfather, David, of Ger-
man ancestry, on his arrival to this country, settled in North Carolina, and later moved to Georgia, thence to Arkansas in 1870, and in a short while returned to Georgia, where he died in 1886, at the advanced age of one hundred and eighteen years. He was always noted for his intense interest in his adopted country's welfare. Our subject was reared in Yell County, being educated in the country schools, and left school in 1863 to enter the United States Army, joining Company F, Third Arkansas Cavalry, as scout in advance of Gen. Steele's army; was captured at Arkadelphia, and soon after paroled. On receiving his muster out, June 30, 1865, he re- sumed his school duties and farmed, and in 1868 was elected sheriff, his term of office expiring in September, 1869; he went to Normal, Ill., and en- tered the State Normal University, and after the completion of his studies here, became clerk in the county clerk's office and officiated in that capacity in a store in Danville for a short time, when he purchased eighty acres of land, increasing this to 1,000 of fine valley and timberland, 350 of which are under cultivation, and makes a specialty of some fine grades of stock. He has always voted the Republican ticket and has held several minor offices: Census enumerator in 1880, justice of the peace and notary public, and received his present appointment in the spring of 1889, assuming charge of the office June 1, 1890. Miss Rachel Virginia Pound (daughter of Thomas W. Pound, one of the pioneer settlers of Arkansas, who died December 24, 1884, his wife dying in 1880), be- came his wife January 29, 1871, and they are the parents of the following family: Virginia (died when two years old), Julia May (wife of Walter Chambers), Lelia (died at the age of two), Ruth- erford Burchard Hayes, Roscoe Conkling, Thomas Edgar, and Minneola, and all are consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
William D. Callan, an eminently successful planter, prominently identified with the leading interests of Dardanelle Township, was born in Eastern Tennessee, December 11, 1836, where his parents, George and Matilda (Davis) Callan, native Carolinians, settled at an early day, subsequently going to Alabama, thence to Mississippi, and in
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1850 to Yell County, where the father died in 1862, and the mother, still living, makes her home with her children. They were conscientious members of the church. Our subject was raised a farmer, and when Hallowell's company was forming at Dardanelle in 1861, he enlisted and went with it to Missouri, where he fought in the battles of Oak Hill and Elk Horn, or Pea Ridge, Farmington, Gibson, Champion Hill and Big Black River. He was dispatched to Corinth, Tupelo and Iuka, and took part in the second battle of Corinth, also fighting at Jackson and Vicksburg, and on July 4, 1863, was taken prisoner. Paroled and returning to Arkansas, he was recaptured near Dardanelle, and compelled to join a company of Federal troops, commanded by Capt. Bennett, and here he was practically discharged from service, but not being armed, was consequently seized by the Confeder- ates, and sent to Red River, La., subsequently joining a company of cavalry, with which he re- mained until the surrender. Returning to his home, he engaged in farming, purchasing and im- proving eighty acres of land, which he has in- creased to 210 acres, part timber and seventy-five cultivated, and also raises some fine stock. In 1867 he wedded Miss Nancy J. Huff, daughter of William L. and Frances Huff, formerly of Tennes- see, but who came to this county in 1848, where their daughter was born March 30 of the same year. Mr. and Mrs. Callan are the parents of eleven children, all living: George Monroe (born January 25, 1868), Amanda Allie (born May 6, 1870), Caroline D. (born December 4, 1871), Audie Matilda (born December 1, 1873), William Ander- son (born November 15, 1875), Francis Narcis (born April 10, 1877), Clemmie Price (born April 5, 1879), Harrison Alexander (born January 11, 1881), James Burton (born March 10, 1883), Dor- cas Orleane (born June 24, 1886) and Gus (born August 2, 1888). Mr. Callan is a wide-awake and energetic citizen, and takes an interest in every- thing relating to educational matters, and has served as school director. He and wife come from a long-lived race, his grandfather living to the ripe old age of one hundred and ten years, and Mrs. Callan's grandfather dying at the age of one
hundred years, and her grandmother at ninety- seven years.
James M. Caviness, farmer, Gravelly Hill, Ark. Thoroughgoing and enterprising Mr. Caviness has made a complete success of his chosen calling, farming, and is to-day one of the substantial agri- culturists of Yell County. He was born in Ten- nessee, and came to Arkansas with his parents when an infant. The parents settled in Scott County, and there the father purchased a large tract of land, which he improved and cultivated. There James M. grew to manhood, received his ed- ucation, and at the breaking out of the war, when but seventeen years of age, he enlisted in Company H, De Rosa Carroll's regiment and served through the war. Among the important engagements in which he took part, were Oak Hill, Elk Horn and several other smaller engagements. After this he was transferred to Gen. Pike's division, and went with him to Indian Territory, where he served for about a year. He then returned to Arkansas, and the post of Arkansas and Little Rock, and after the war he went to Texas, where he ran a ferry across Trinity River, also carried on a farm for one year. He then returned to Arkansas and settled in this township. Soon after, in the fall of 1866, he was married to Miss Louisa, daughter of Col. Parks, one of the earliest settlers of Yell County. In 1867 he bought a tract of wild land, which he improved and which is still his home. He erected good buildings on the same, and from time to time, as his means allowed, he has added to his estate until he now owns 900 acres of as good land as the average in this valley. He raises a great many horses, cattle, hogs and sheep, and has been un- usually successful. His principal crops are corn, cotton and oats. He has on his farm this year about 150 acres of cotton, which promises a good crop, about 300 acres of corn, and about fifty acres of oats. To Mr. Caviness' marriage were born nine children, six of whom are still living: Willie T., John C., James R., Walter G., Allie L. and Chester. Willie T. married Miss Lizzie Camp- bell. Mr. Caviness and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he is steward in the same. He is a Democrat in his
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politics, and is a member of the A. F. & A. M. lodge of Gravelly Hill, being treasurer in the same.
Simeon R. Chambers, farmer, Briggsville, Ark. All his life Mr. Chambers has followed, with sub- stantial success, the occupation to which he was reared, and in which he is now engaged-farming. A very extensive land owner of Briggsville Town- ship, he is also one of its recognized leading agri- culturists, and as a man, no less than as a citizen, he is highly esteemed. He is a native of this State born near Little Rock, on January 28, 1842, and his earliest recollections were of working on the farm. In 1863 he came to this county with his mother and her other children, she being the widow of Edward M. Chambers, of Georgia. Mrs. Cham- bers settled near Briggsville, and her sons worked a farm for the support of the family. About a year after their arrival the mother died, and soon after Simeon bought 160 acres of land, one of the finest tracts in the valley. This he paid for in about five years, and during that time he saved sufficient money to buy eighty acres more, paying $700 for it. Later yet he bought forty acres for $175, and in 1889 he purchased eighty acres of well-improved land, paying $1,000 for this. All his land has been paid off the profits of the farm, for Mr. Chambers has been engaged in no other business. He has good buildings on each farm, and besides the cultivated portion of his land, he has many acres of valuable timber lying in the valley near Briggsville. He keeps a good breed of cattle (Durham), and in the management of every- thing connected with his farm he displays excel- lent judgment and thoroughness. On April 20, 1871, he married Miss Laura Hamilton, a native of Texas, born November 9, 1852, and who came with her father, John Hamilton, of Red River County, Tex., to this county in 1867. Eight chil- dren were born to this marriage: Martha C., John E., Simeon L., Amanda C., Rebecca, Thomas, Warren and Winnie. Mr. Chambers has never been active in politics, but takes a decided interest in educational matters, having been director for several terms. In 1862 he volunteered in the army, and was in Capt. Conley's company of Gen. Price's
army. Six months later he was discharged for dis- ability, but one year from that time he re-enlisted and remained in service until the close of the war. Pleasant and charitable to all, Mr. Chambers is respected and esteemed by the many with whom he comes in contact.
John F. Choate, an extensive planter and the genial senior member of the firm of Choate, Fow- ler & Martin, dealers in general merchandise, was born in Robertson County, Tenn., in 1841, his parents being Gabriel Choate and .Jane Brewer, natives of Tennessee, where the father was born in 1820 and married in 1840, and followed farming till 1850, when he with his wife and family of six children, John F., being the eldest, came to Ar- kansas, settling near Chickalah. Here he and his aged wife still live, enjoying their old age in com- fort, affording proof of the healthfulness of Arkan- sas climate from having lived in this State for over forty years, always keeping in the best of health. For many years they have been counted among the worthy members of the Christian Church. Mr. Choate' s grandfather, on both sides, were natives Vir- ginians. They came to Tennessee when very young men, where Grandfather Choate died. Grandfather Brewer emigrated to Arkansas in 1850 and died here. Our subject was but nine years old when his parents moved to this State, and being placed in school he received a very fair education, and on arriving at maturity held some of the county's most respon- sible official positions. In 1865 he was elected circuit clerk, serving over eight years, and in 1876 he was elected county judge, filling this office four years with great credit to himself and the county. While acting in this capacity he was the means of having two iron bridges constructed, which are permanent and lasting structures, and a great credit to the county. In 1878 he located in Bell- ville and established a mercantile business, which was in 1876 merged into that of the firm of Choate, Fowler & Martin, which carries a stock principally of general merchandise, plantation supplies, etc., valued at about $7,000, and does a trade of some $20,000 annually. The Judge's personal property consists of the building known as "the store house," and other town property. His extensive
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farms, comprise 1,000 acres of very fair upland, 300 cultivated and improved with a good dwelling- house, and substantial outbuildings. The mar- riage of Judge Choate and Miss Alice Stafford was celebrated in May, 1869, she being a daughter of Dr. Stafford, of Danville, and they are the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living: Edith, Cecil S., John B., Roscoe, Garland, Eunice and Carl; Lillie J. died in infancy. Mr. Choate and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he has been steward for many years. He affiliates with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Christian Lodge No. - , and the Chapter at Dardanelle. Intellectually, the Judge is one of the soundest men in the county, thoroughly posted in regard to its political and educational affairs. His public spirit has been demonstrated by the fact that he was one of the four to contribute funds for the erection of the Bellville Academy. He is recognized in the com- munity in which he lives as a genial and courte- ous gentleman, and is respected by all who know him.
T. J. Choate, an eminent and esteemed citizen of Magazine Township, and the owner of the saw- mill plant two and a half miles north of Chickalah, was born in Tennessee, in 1843, and is the son of Gabriel and Jane (Brewer) Choate, also of Ten- nessee origin, and born about 1820 and 1816, re- spectively, and were married in Robinson County. The father, a farmer by occupation, emigrated from his native State to Missouri, thence to Arkan- sas in 1850. Locating in this county he bought and entered land, which he improved and he and wife, worthy members of the Christian Church, make their home in Magazine Township. Our subject enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1862, joining Company B of Infantry, Hawthorne's Reg- iment, and at the expiration of eleven months joined the Federal Army as a private, and partici- pated in the battle of Jenkins' Ferry and a number of skirmishes, and discharged May, 1865. The year following his return from . army life wit- nessed his marriage (July S) to Miss Salina Wil- son, an Arkansan by birth, born in 1844, and a daughter of William and Minerva (Cole) Wilson.
The fruits of this union are nine children -six sons and three daughters-Rufus, Mattie, Gabriel, Mary, John, Charles, Seth, Rual and Blanche, who in 1887 were called upon to mourn the loss of their mother. In connection with his milling business, which has a capacity for sawing nearly 10,000 feet per day, he owns 380 acres of land, with some fine timber on it, and cultivates 100, his principal crops being cotton and corn. He is a member of Chickalah Lodge No. 304 of the Masonic order.
Jerry Cockrell, Jr., a rising planter of Darda- nelle Township, was born in South Carolina in 1855, and was the sixth in a family of eight chil- dren born to Jerry, Sr., and Eliza (Millmore) Cock- rell, who were natives of the Palmetto State, where his father was a very prominent man and planter, owning three plantations, 100 slaves, and was also the popular sheriff of Fairfield County. Both he and wife died in their native State, he in 1860 and she in 1867, members of the Presbyterian Church. The great-grandfather, a very extensive planter, was one of the early pioneer settlers of South Caro- lina. Our subject, who passed his youthful days on a farm and attending school at Louisville and other places, came to Arkansas in 1870 and located in Dardanelle, and in 1883 purchased a tract of land eighty-two and one-half acres in extent, situ- ated in the woods two miles west of town. He immediately began cutting the timber on this land, and now has a clearance of over sixty acres, twenty- two sown to grass, and the rest cultivated. In connection with his farm duties he gives consider- able attention to stock-raising, making a specialty of some of the finer grades of cattle, hogs and sheep, including many of the choice varieties of poultry. Our subject began his worldly career with comparatively nothing, but being possessed with a determined will and undaunted courage combined with hard labor, has accumulated his fine, valuable property. He is an earnest and worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a Good Templar.
Robert T. Compton. Among the native resi- dents of the State of Georgia was one John Comp- ton, who married Elizabeth Allen, also of Georgia, and who became the mother of six children, of
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whom Robert T. (subject of our sketch) was the youngest, being born in Hall County, Ga., Septem- ber 13, 1853, and being left an orphan at the age of nine, made his home with his brother-in-law, L. J. Pugh, and came with him, in 1868, to Yell County, remaining with them till he was nineteen years old, when he hired to a farmer, and followed this occupation till 1874, when, on October 4, of this same year, he married Frances H. Buford, who was born September 13, 1855, and is the daughter of Rev. W. L. Buford, of South Carolinian na- tivity, being born in that State September 5, 1808, and died in Yell County, September 16, 1884, her mother having died in 1864. To the marriage of Robert Compton and wife were born four boys and four girls: Nancy E. (born October 3, 1875, and died December 13, 1876), Lucy L. (born March 16, 1877, died March 28, 1879), Mary Bell (born January 18, 1879), Robert S. (born April 15, 1881), William G. (born July 8, 1883, died November 15, 1889), Lucinda R. (born April 20, 1885, died Sep- tember 7, 1889), Reuben Anderson (born May 2, 1887), and Buford (born September 10, 1889). At the time of this worthy couple's marriage they did not possess a dollar's worth of this world's goods, but by determination, industry and economy, they have accumulated a farm of 3373 acres in Fourche La Fave Valley, 175 of which he has thoroughly improved, and are now residents of Rover Township. In politics he is an enthusiastic Democrat, and has served as justice of the peace for eight years on the local ticket. Himself and wife are consistent members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church South, and is a citizen deeply in- terested in the upbuilding of schools and churches, always liberally contributing to these and all things for the benefit of his community's good.
William Cowger, a thrifty farmer of Yell County, emigrated with his parents, Ira and Eliza (Proctor) Cowger, father of Tennessee, and mother of Alabama, from Mississippi to Arkansas in 1855, locating in Yell County. They were united in marriage in Alabama, and were the parents of twelve children, he whose name heads this sketch being the second child, and was born in the latter State, March 8, 1839. The father, a farmer, was
killed by the Federals in 1863, his widow surviving him till 1887. Both were members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, South. Our subject was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in Company D, Fifteenth Arkansas Regiment, and being wounded was discharged from service in 1863. In 1868 he was joined in marriage to Miss Nancy Jones, also of this county, and who was born August 22, 1842, and they were the parents of four children: Rob- ert P., Eliza E., and a son and daughter deceased. Himself and wife are worthy communicants of the Baptist Church. He has eighty-four acres of good land, all well improved, and is a high-minded and public-spirited man, upholding the building of churches and schools, and donates liberally to the support of the same.
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