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 23
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North Alabama. While under command of Col. C. R. Barton, who had charge of the Second Tennes- see Regiment, he was again captured at Tuscumbia, by the Fifth Ohio boys, remaining with this com- pany till the death of the captain, when he was paroled. Returning home he reopened his tan- yard, which he operated for ten months, subse- quently joining the army again and doing duty in Desha County till peace once more reigned over the land, when he accepted a position with Col. Joe Branch. Serving him for ten months he went back to Tennessee and farmed, making two crops, and learning of the healthful climate and product- ive soil and the many other advantages to be gained on becoming a resident of Arkansas, emigrated to Dardanelle Township, December 27, 1867, where he purchased 120 acres of fine land, which he im- proved and cultivated, and commodious barns and buildings for stock, a good, comfortable dwelling and a prolific orchard, planted to some of the finest and best known varieties of plums, peaches, etc., and several kinds of the smaller fruits, are positive proofs of his determination to make his home one of the finest in the State. He was married Decem- ber 27, 1857, to Miss Ellen P. Harrison, who was born in Wilson County, Tenn., December 20, 1835, and daughter of E. R. Harrison, and to them were born Martha R. (wife of M. A. Banks), E. H., Joel, Mary (wife of Thomas Alley), Jackson W., Gibbs W. and Grace. After a lingering illness of many years Mrs. Dyer passed to her final home October 1, 1888, and was laid to rest in New Hope Cemetery, her resting place being marked by an elegant monument as a lasting tribute to the memory of one who though gone, is still loved and cherished by a mourning husband and family. He is a man honored and respected in religious, social and political circles, being connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and is stew- ard, class-leader and trustee of the same; and as an A. F. & A. M. affiliates with Centerville Lodge No. 462, and was its efficient secretary for a num- ber of years; is a stanch Democrat, always voting with that party; is also a trusted member of the building committee, and a liberal supporter of all religious, charitable and educational enterprises.
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John W. Eidson, one of the pioneers and pros- perous cotton-growers of Yell County, and a citizen of Centerville Township, was born in Alabama on November 15, 1843, and son of Edward and Mary (Mame) Eidson, natives of the Palmetto State. In 1851 his father, thinking to better his fortunes, moved his family to Texas, settling on a farm which proved to be a profitable investment, and operated it till his death in 1865. The principal of this biography spent his youth in his native and adopted States, where he obtained but a limited education, and on reaching manhood engaged in farming till April, 1861, when he enlisted in Com- pany A, First Texas Infantry, Commandants Col. Wakefield and Capt. Bobo, doing duty in some of the departments under Gen. Hood, and partici- pated in many of the principal engagements, namely Seven Pines, West Point, the seven days' fight around Richmond and others, being in the noted battles of Bull Run and Gettysburg, and here was discharged from service. In 1862 he re- enlisted in the cavalry service in the Department of Mississippi, whose movements were controlled by Col. Hodges and Gens. West and Adams, and did duty as a scout till the surrender in July, 1865. Remaining in Mississippi till the next year, he went to Northeast Texas, thence came to this State and purchased eighty acres of land, to which he has since added forty acres more, 100 of it being fine, productive land, yielding good crops of cotton, corn, wheat and oats, and he has an orchard of peaches, apples and plums, and altogether a very valuable farm and comfortable home. He was married in 1868 to Lurilla Huckaby, born in 1848 in Mississippi, and they have been the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are living: Suvanal (wife of Frank Sloan), Phoebe E., John A., Will- iam A., Walter E., Roy, Ira and Ora. In religion be and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and politically he is a Democrat, and in 1884 served his party as justice of the peace, and has been elected to the second term of office. So cially he is connected with the Grange and Wheel, and gives liberally to the support of all charitable, educational and religious institutions.
Stephen Nathaniel Evans. Nathaniel Evans,
Sr., grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came to North Alabama when the Tennessee River was the dividing line between the whites and the In- dians, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and fought with Jackson at the battle of New Orleans, and was known as one of the substantial planters of his day. In 1856 he immigrated to Mississippi, and busied himself with planting in De Soto Coun- ty, remaining there until his death, which occurred in 1873, when nearly one hundred years old. Stephen M. Richards, maternal grandfather of S. N. Evans, was born in Southern Alabama, his par- ents coming to this territory when it was a vast wilderness, and have witnessed it rise and grow to its present magnitude. Stephen M. Richards on gaining his majority went to North Alabama, where he, in company with his son-in-law, established a mercantile business, which netted them a handsome income. He was highly esteemed and honored as a citizen, and noted for his integrity and piety, being a faithful member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church until his death. In 1860 he came to Arkansas settling in St. Francis County, where he died in 1871, when nearly eighty years old. Stephen Nathaniel Evans, named in honor of his illustrious ancestors (a short sketch of whom ap- pears above), was born in Morgan County, Ala., în 1848, the eldest child of his parents, Nathaniel Evans and Sarah (Richards, also of Alabama). The senior Evans was a farmer by occupation, and came to Arkansas in 1862, locating in St. Francis County, where he died in 1863, a member of the Old School Presbyterian Church. The care of his widowed mother and an infant sister falling on our subject, then a youth of but fourteen, he took up farming which he carried on till 1876, when he re- moved the family to Russellville to engage in the livery business, which he conducted for ten years, having a well-equipped stable and doing a good trade. Closing out the livery establishment he again commenced farming in 1886, this time set- tling in the Arkansas Valley opposite the town of Dardanelle, and not being able to obtain good reliable help on which the success of his farm de- pended, he decided to re-enter the livery business and in 1888 ran the first hack to Mount Nebo, a
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watering place seven miles west of Dardanelle, and the next year found him a partner in the establishment of Mr. Shinn and Col. Hughes. They built a large barn for the purpose of carry- ing on a general livery and hack business, bandling during the year some 400,000 pounds of freight for the Summit Park Hotel. On December 1, 1889, the firm bought out the Transfer Company, now known as the Dardanelle Transfer Company, of which our subject is recognized as one of its most efficient members. This company has under its management one of the largest and best equipped livery stables in all Arkansas, owning some seven- ty head of horses and mules and a number of buggies and hacks, buses and transfer wagons, also doing general freighting and expressing, carrying mail, passengers, running hacks to and from the mountain, and handle on an average of 700,000 pounds of freight per month, transporting some 12,000 to 15,000 bales of cotton to the trains. He has ever been an active supporter of the Demo- cratic party, and in local politics served as mayor of Russellville from 1878 to 1881, and was justice of the peace for four years; socially is in affiliation with the K. of H. He is counted among his fel- lowmen as a man of good practical sense and busi- ness ability. He was married in June, 1870, to Miss Susie B. Gray, of Germantown, Tenn., and the daughter of Dr. J. M. Gray, a physician of thirty years' standing in Tennessee, but now residing in Texas. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Evans have been born the following interesting family: Bessie, Clara, Sallie, Lewis, Nathaniel, Charles and Stephen. Himself, wife and three daughters are worthy members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
Capt. Joseph Evins was born in Kentucky in 1834, the seventh in a family of twelve children born to Lewis and Bethena (Smith) Evins. The parents were of East Tennessee origin. The father, a planter by occupation, came to Arkansas in 1860, locating at Dardanelle, where he made his home with Capt. Evins for several years, then go- ing to the home of his son, William S., in Missouri, where he died in 1882, at eighty-two years of age, his wife having preceded him to their final home
in 1853. He was sheriff of one of the counties in Kentucky, which office he filled for many years. Capt. Evins, who was known far and wide as a prominent citizen, a government contractor, capi- talist, speculator, and the original and at present principal owner of the romantic and popular sum- mer resort known as Mount Nebo, was reared on a farm, attending school but a short time, when, at the age of sixteen, he sought and found a position as clerk, and at the expiration of seven years re- signed to accept the clerkship on a steamboat on the Cumberland River, filling this position three years, when he was placed in charge of a vessel, and up to 1866 served as captain on steamers ply- ing on the Arkansas, Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, and during the late war was appointed by the Confederate Government to take charge of transportation on the Arkansas River. Subsequently opening a stock of merchandise in Dardanelle, he was engaged in trade from 1866 to 1873, then took charge of a steamer, and at the expiration of three years was again under Govern- ment employ, contracting and assisting in the work of the Mississippi River improvement in the Lake Provident reach and other points. The Captain is the owner of some fine real estate in and about Dardanelle, having a handsome residence in town and a most productive farm near the place. In 1878 the Captain was the sole owner of the entire site of Mount Nebo, 720 acres in extent. He erected a house, cleared and planted forty acres in an orchard of over 2,000 apple, peach and plum trees, which are highly prolific; and he has also many varieties of the choicest small fruits, which yield an abundance in their season. The scene which greets the eye from the summit of this love- ly mountain is grand and picturesque. Below, the outstretching valley, the plains and undulating hills, clothed in verdure, and where
Before me rose an avenue Of tall and sombrous pines; Abroad their fan-like branches grew, And, where the sunshine darted through, Spread a vapor soft and blue, In long and sloping lines.
Much of this property has been disposed of to
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YELL COUNTY.
people who have improved it with fine summer residences and well laid-out drives. Here also is the summer Normal School, and a large and com- modious hotel always filled to overflowing. In 1855 Miss Beulah Foley, a native of Kentucky, became the Captain's wife, who died eleven months after, leaving one child, Davidella Virginia (wife of S. H. Howell, of Dardanelle). He was again married, in 1857, to Miss Mary E. Hart, also of Kentucky. She has borne him ten children: Charles F., Ida A., Robert L. (deceased in 1884), Eugene L., Cora B., Samuel Hart, Joseph Arthur, Henry David, Mary B. and William Barnard. In religion the family worship with the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of which they are con- sistent members. The Captain is in affiliation with the Odd Fellows socially, and at one time was Dar- danelle's most honored mayor.
Rev. Nathan E. Fair, local minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, was born in Sullivan County, Tenn., December 16, 1849, and came with his parents, Ellis and Nancy H. (Eas- ley) Fair, of South Carolina and Tennessee, re- spectively, to Benton County, Ark., in 1859. Owing to the Civil War, which began in 1861 and con- tinued four years, causing the death of his father and the breaking up of his mother, his educational advantages were very limited. His father was a farmer by occupation, which he followed up to 1864, when he was killed by the Pin Indians, a branch of the Cherokees, who raided the country, robbing houses and killing all the old men and boys, they could find at home. Being concealed in a thicket of small bushes, Mr. Fair counted the gunshots, eight in all, that brought his father to a most cruel death. He barely escaped discovery as one Indian passed within twenty steps of him. This was the 7th day of May, and in the fall, when he could remain at home no longer, he joined bis four brothers in the Confederate Army, where he remained till the close of the war, then went to Texas, and after an absence of sixteen months returned to his mother's in Benton County, Ark. In the spring of 1868 he was licensed to preach, and in the fall of the same year was admitted on trial by the Arkansas annual conference at Jack-
sonport, and, although not yet eighteen years of age, he was at once placed in charge of the Bluff- ton Mission in Yell County. His labors were so blessed that the mission was raised to a circuit, and he was returned the next year. During these two years he applied himself very closely to his school books, as well as to the study of divinity, stopping frequently under the shade of a tree to get up his lessons. The marriage ceremony of our subject and Amada Hamilton, who was born in Red River County, Tex., August 21, 1854, took place December 15, 1870, and to them have been born eight children: Laura A., John E. (deceased), Mary L., Minnie M., Gracie V., Carrie H., Katie E. (deceased), and the baby, Edwin L. In 1885 he moved to Bellville to send his children to school, and taught for some time with Prof. J. G. Smyth, M. A., in the Bellville Academy. In
connection with his ministerial duties and school teaching he has bought and improved a small farm adjacent to the town of Bellville, where he and his family are now living very contentedly. While he is a Prohibitionist by faith and practice, he is also a Democrat, and for some years has op- posed, both on the rostrum and through the news- papers, the organization of a Prohibition political party, claiming that the Democratic party can, and will do more for the temperance cause in this State than a third party could do. He is also an A. F. & A. M., belonging to Christian Lodge No. 394. He is a man of sterling integrity, and fully qualified to discharge the duties which devolve upon him as a minister of the gospel. While he is fearless in proclaiming what he be- lieves to be right, yet he is always respectful in dealing with the opinions of others, believing that men may differ widely and still both be honest.
W. H. Fergeson, a successful planter and the owner of the cotton-gin, saw and shingle mill and flour-mill of Bellville, all being thoroughly equipped to carry on a good business, was born in Virginia in 1830 to Joseph R. and Jane (Ayres) Fergeson, also native Virginians. His paternal ancestors (were of Scotch descent and his maternal of Irish lineage) early came to America. His father, a farmer and merchant of Virginia, emi-
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grated to Kentucky in 1848, residing here till 1860, whence he moved his family to Arkansas, locating in Yell County, remaining till his death in 1841, his wife having died the year previous. Our sub- " ject having early been reared as a farmer, on arriv- ing to manhood still followed this occupation, buy- ing a farm in Riley Township, which he operated till his first wife's death in 1864 (Miss Euphema Watkins, of Kentucky), to whom he was married in 1852, and who bore him seven children, but one living, Mollie, wife of James Thompson, a resi- dent of this county. Her son, Benjamin Lee, became a Methodist preacher of some prominence and popularity, and died in 1880 while stationed at Ozark. In 1865 he moved to Danville, and this same year was elected sheriff, serving four years, when he resigned. This year also witnessed his second marriage to Miss Sarah E. Stout, a daugh- ter of old pioneer settlers of Pope County, and are the parents of the following children: William H. (deceased), Addie (wife of N. J. Buckman), James C. and Sallie (twins and deceased), Charley, Fan- nie Pearl and Lillie Irene. In religion the family are members of the Baptist and Methodist Epis- copal Churches. In 1872 our subject erected the plant known as Fergeson's Mills, about five miles west of Danville, and the year following estab- lished the first mercantile business in the place and built a residence to which he moved his family, and was appointed postmaster of the Mills, which has had a rapid and astonishing growth, and is now known as Bellville. In connection with his milling interests he owns some 2,500 acres of val- uable land in different portions of Yell County, 1,200 near Bellville, with 1,000 in a single tract, 300 of which are highly cultivated, and the re- mainder fine timber land. He with many others was instrumental in securing the fine academy of this place, which makes Bellville the thriving town it is. Socially, he fellowships with the Masonic fraternity, and as a citizen is deserving of the good wishes and worthy of any attention he may receive at the hands of his townspeople.
O. S. Fergeson, one of the most successful and prosperous dealers in general merchandise, was born in Virginia in 1849, and was the youngest in
his parents' family. Joseph and Jane (Ayres) Fergeson [see sketch of W. H. Fergeson] soon after their son's (O. S.) birth moved to Kentucky, where he was given a very fair start in education, and when twelve years old they came to Arkansas, and here he resumed his studies, taking a term at Russellville and Danville, and at the age of twenty began teaching, following this and farming for nearly ten years. Buying a tract of land of 160 acres five miles west of Bellville, he cleared sixty acres and otherwise improved it and made a very comfortable home, where he lived till called upon to mourn his wife's death, on December 30, 18SS, he having married, in 1879, Miss Mollie Smith, a daughter of James Smith, formerly of Tennessee, but now of Yell County. To Mr. and Mrs. Fer- geson were born a family of three children: Edgar Lee, Johnnie May and Olive James. On the first of the present year (1890) he opened his present flourishing business in Bellville, carrying a full line of goods pertaining to general merchandise, such as groceries, crockery, dry goods and general plantation supplies, etc. In connection with his farm on the outskirts of Bellville he owns 240 acres in one tract, 160 in another, having 240 cultivated, and a residence and forty acres in Bellville. As a citizen he fully realizes the benefits to be derived from the free-school system, and is an active sup- porter of this and all other interests of his town.
Benjamin L. Ford, prominently identified with the farming interests of Dardanelle Township, was born in Pope County, in 1850, the eighth child in a family of twelve born to Malachi and Sarah Frances (Dawson) Ford, originally of Tennessee, but who came to Arkansas in 1840, settling in Yell County, subsequently moving to Pope County, coming back to Arkansas, settling on a clearance of 150 acres, where they remained till their deaths, the mother dying in 1879, and the father in 1881, being members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he an officer in the church, and politically voting the Republican ticket. The principal of this sketch was reared in his adopted county, having acquired but three months' schooling, and what knowledge he now possesses has been gained by his own ef- forts. In 1877 he settled on 124 acres of land
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four and one-half miles northwest of Dardanelle, and soon put thirty acres under a good state of cultivation, and in 1887 built for himself a neat cottage; he raises such stock as cattle, horses and hogs, also owns 200 acres on the La Fave, and twenty-seven in Delaware Township. When nine- teen years old he wedded Amanda Ellen Brewer, born in Yell County, and a daughter of John and Nancy Brewer, formerly of Tennessee, but after- ward residents of Yell County, where they lived until their deaths. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ford were born nine children-three sons and six daughters-three of whom are living: Rebecca Jane, Nancy (who died at the age of fifteen), Hor- ace, Harvey (died in infancy), Eliza (died in infancy), Alice, Ethel, Amy and Genie. The entire family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the father filling the office of steward. Socially he belongs to the Masonic fraternity.
Z. P. Ford, a prosperous planter of Lamar Township, was born in Lincoln County, N. C., June 22, 1831, and received a limited education in the common schools, and came to Yell County in the fall of 1857, having been married in North Carolina, and to whom a family of nine children has been born: Catharine J., Eli Martin, Jonas Laban, Joseph E., Mary Ann, Susan E., Sarah Lavina and Barbara M. (twins), and William Lee. Catharine, Eli, Susan and Lavina are deceased. Our subject has a very fine tract of land of 320 acres, of which he farms and cultivates 100. Him- self and wife are most exemplary members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and being a public-spirited man, aids and contributes to schools churches and all worthy enterprises of his town- ship. The Democratic party claim him as one of its stanchest voters, politically. His parents, Isom and Erixna (Beard) Ford, lived in North Carolina for a number of years, and the father was known as a quiet and unostentatious farmer and mechanic, taking no part in the war, and died soon after its close. The maternal grandfather was also of North Carolina, and married a young lady by the name of Martin.
C. C. Frisbee, an energetic and progressive farmer of Centerville, first saw the light of day in
Buncombe County, N. C., in 1843, and is a son of Josiah and Mary (Herron) Frisbee, who were born and married in North Carolina, and were the par- ents of seven children, three of whom are now liv- ing. The father, a carpenter and farmer by occu- pation, and the efficient sheriff of Bureau County for many pears, emigrated from his native State to Georgia in 1850, thence to Arkansas in 1867, where he resided till his death, in 1882, his wife having passed to her final home in 1859, and they dying in full membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church. At the outbreak of the late war our sub- ject joined Company B, of the Sixty-fifth Georgia Regiment, participating in all the principal en- gagements, and while in service was wounded in his right hand by a gunshot, and in 1865 he re- ceived his discharge, and in 1867, going to Hamil- ton County, Tenn., met and married Miss Emily Carson, of Georgia, and who died in 1873, having been the mother of three children: Mary J., Martha E. and one who died in infancy. He was again united in marriage, to Miss Sarah J. Carson, a sister of his deceased wife, and himself and wife are trusted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He operates a farm of 660 acres, 240 acres being planted principally in corn and cotton, and a few acres sown to wheat and oats. His farm is well supplied with good outbuildings and a large and commodious barn for the convenience of his stock. He is a man, who, having the welfare of his county at heart, donates liberally to all public enterprises which so materially add to its growth. Mrs. Frisbee's parents were natives of South Caro- lina and North Carolina, respectively, but were married in Georgia, where she was born in 1847, one of ten children, and came with her parents to Arkansas in 1867, locating in Yell County, where her father died in 1889, her mother dying in 1884. They were members of the Baptist and Methodist Episcopal Churches, respectively.
Judge Joseph Gault, one of the pioneer citi- zens of Yell County, as well as one of the leading merchants of Dardanelle, was born in South Car- olina to William and Winnie (Cooper) Gault, of that State, in 1812, and when old enough was placed in the common schools and received what
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schooling these afforded, and when twenty years old started out in the world for himself. In 1834 he married his first wife, Miss Bird, of South Car- olina, and three weeks after the ceremony was performed embarked overland for Arkansas, being nine weeks on the way. Locating in Johnson County he broke ground for a farm, which he worked for three years, then came to Yell County and entered and made the necessary improvements on 160 acres of land, and soon established a gen- eral merchandise store on his plantation. In 1841 he was called upon to part with his wife, who had borne him a family of four children, and soon after he was united in marriage the second time to Miss Mary Briggs, daughter of James Briggs, who passed to her final home in 1870. In 1852 he was elected sheriff and filled this office till the bursting of the war cloud, when he joined the Confederate Army, serving but a short time, when he returned home and resumed his mercantile duties. In De- cember, 1870, Mrs. Boles (daughter of Thomas May, an old settler of Johnson County as far back as 1834, and a well known stock-owner, planter and merchant, and member of the Cumberland "Presbyterian Church) became his third wife. In 1878 he established the business known as the firm of J. L. Gault & Co. His individual property is a fine tract of bottom land, and several hundred acres of upland and a lovely home on Mount Nebo, and a fine residence in Dardanelle, where he lives with his wife and several children. In 1SS2 he was elected county and probate judge, and served with great credit to himself and the county. The Judge has been the father of many children, eight of whom live in Yell County, the sons being mer- chants and farmers. His descendants and those of the present Mrs. Gault (she having had a large family by a former marriage) number nearly 100, and are all worthy and respected citizens in their respected communities, and their children give promise of inheriting the intellect and capabilities of their honored ancestors. The family are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and Mr. Gault enjoys the social pleasures found within the mysteries of the Masonic fraternity. The Judge, full of years and honors, is enjoying the
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