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 25
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was State Senator for four years, and since the expiration of this office has again taken up his practice. He is a most estimable citizen, vigorous Democrat in politics and recognized by that party as a leader, and has a most enviable reputation as an office-holder, and is the citizens' friend. He married Miss Mary C. Hill, of Perry County, in February, 1866, she being the daughter of Dr. L. D. Hill, one of the early settlers. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison were born six children, four living: Mattie G., Mary A., Cora L. and John Hill.
W. L. Heck, planter and senior member of the well-known firm of Heck & Briggs, general mer- chants of Bellville, was born two and one half miles south of that village. His parents, A. S. and Sarah (Brown) Heck, were originally from Penn- sylvania and Alabama, but the father, whose an- cestors were from old Pennsylvania stock of the same family with prominent people still residents of that State, came to Arkansas in 1828, locating at Morrison's Bluff, now in Logan County, which was at that time the only trading post and settle- ment for miles around. The following year mov- ing his family and effects to the site which he made his permanent home, he started a tan-yard, the only one within a radius of fifty miles, which at- tracted a good trade from the surrounding country, until Heck's tan-yard was one of the best known localities in all Western Arkansas. He died Janu- ary 4, 1861, having been married three times, his first wife having been a Miss Saddler, who bore him three children, one of whom is dead, those liv- ing being S. S. Heck (who married Simeon Pledger about 1854 or 1856), and Nancy M. Heck (who married N. J. Buckman about 1850 or 1851, and now lives on her father's old homestead); his sec- ond wife having been our subject's mother, who died in 1845, leaving two children to his care; and Mrs. Saddler, nee Balch, became his third wife. He was an upright, honest, sturdy pioneer, and just such a character as was necessary to lay the foundation of a future community. Our subject, W. L. Heck, was brought up on a farm and edu- cated in the common schools, and early taught the trade of his father. In July, 1861, he enlisted in
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Capt. Lawrence's company and was sent to South- western Missouri, where he fought in the battle of Oak Hill, and on August 10. 1861, returned home. Re enlisting in February, 1862, he was sent east of the Mississippi River, participating in the battles of Inka and Corinth, being wounded and captured at the latter place. He was conveyed to the hos- pital at Iuka and, upon recovery, was taken to the military prison at Columbus, Ky., where he re- mained until he was exchanged at Vicksburg in December, where he was given a furlough and re- turned home. Joining a cavalry company the fol- lowing June, went to the Indian Territory, taking part in the Back Bone fight in August, 1864. Re- turning home he went to Little Rock, where he remained until the close of the war, when he re- sumed his farming duties once more, and May 17, 1868, established a general store on his farm, remov- ing his stock, however, the next year to Danville, taking J. T. Briggs into the business as partner, under the firm name of Briggs & Heck. At the expiration of a year J. T. Briggs withdrew and Mr. Heck continued the business alone till 1872, when he sold out and retired to his farm, where he busied himself improving and clearing large tracts of land for seven years when, in 1879, he again went to Danville and entered into business, which he moved to Bellville, in January, 1884, uniting with the firm of J. B. Heck & Martin, not chang- ing the name of the firm, which was dissolved in 1586. In September of the same year Mr. Heck opened a general store, and in 1890 the present firm of Heck & Briggs was organized, our subject and L. L. Briggs being the members. They carry a stock of about $5,000 value, and do a business of $15,000 annually. His individual property is some 1,300 acres of good, fertile, seeding and fair timberland, 350 of which are cultivated, and also a fine residence in Bellville. Miss Lydia Little- john, daughter of Marcellus Littlejohn, became his wife January 3, 1867, and they have become the parents of two children: Laura (widow of Dr. William H. Fergeson, Jr.), and Ladonia. Mr. Heck and family are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, he filling the office of steward of the same; he belongs to. Dan-
ville Lodge No. 41, of the Masonic fraternity. He is courteous and affable, and in his dealings with his fellow-men, has always proved worthy any trust reposed in him.
Dr. John B. Heck, a merchant of wide experi- ence, and the trustworthy and honored physician of Bellville, was born and reared in Yell County, his birth occurring in 1850, within three miles of his present home, and is the only child of Abra- ham S. and Alfleda (Balch) Heck, of Pennsylvania and Tennessee, respectively, and deceased, the mother in 1860 and the father in 1861. The sen- ior Heck came to Arkansas in its pioneer day, and as a means of livelihood busied himself with tan- ning, having the only tanyard in the county. The Doctor's early educational advantages were ex- ceedingly few, but being possessed with a strong spirit of determination and the desire to become a physician, in 1871 he began the study of medicine at home, and the succeeding year went to Nashville and entered the medical college, and later thence attended lectures at a Louisville institute, from which he graduated in 1873-74. Returning to Arkansas, he opened an office at Danville, practic- ing here for some nine years, and in 1877 the firm of Heck & Briggs was formed, and was so known till February, 1881, when the Doctor withdrew and came to Bellville, where he and Isaac N. Martin opened a general store, which they con- ducted till 1885, when he sold out his interest, and October of 1886 became one of the firm of F. C. Jones & Co., general merchants, carrying a well- selected stock, invoicing some $5,000, and doing an annual business of $15,000. In 1886 he erect- ed his present handsome residence, costing him $3,000. Besides this property he owns several farms, comprising 500 acres, with 150 cultivated. He was one of the founders of the town's beautiful institution of learning-a most excellent place of its character. The Doctor has been twice married: First to Miss Alice T. Logan, daughter of Jona- than Logan, one of the earliest settlers of this county, who died in April, 1881, leaving him the father of one child, Alice. In 1883 Miss Fannie L., daughter of Dr. D. F. Huckaby, also a pioneer of Yell County, became his second wife, and she
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bore him the following family: Eula Maze, John and Barbara Wave. Dr. Heck and his wife and family are communicants of the Methodist Episco- pal Church South, and he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Christian Lodge No. 394, of Bellville, and of the Chapter and Council of Dardanelle. He is a most exemplary citizen, aiding and supporting all of his town's interests.
James W. Hogan, a wide-awake citizen and successful planter of Rover, was born in Yell County August 13, 1863, and is the son of James W. and Elizabeth (Rounsaville) Hogan. The senior Hogan was a planter owning 160 acres of land, on which he made his home and died in 1863, leaving a widow and two children: (our subject and Martha A., who married Albert F. Humphrey in 1877 and moved to Indian Territory, where they now live). After his mother's death, which occurred some time in 1877, having survived her husband some fourteen years, our subject made his home with his uncle, Woodson R. Hogan, remain- ing with him till attaining his majority, when he began the world for himself on a farm lying in the Fourche Valley, and has followed this calling ever since, living a quiet, uneventful life. He was married, October 1, 1885, to Mrs. Margaret A. Purcelly, widow of James S. Purcelly, and they have become the parents of two children: Bertha A. (aged four years) and Anna L. (an interesting child of eighteen months). They are members in good standing of the Missionary Baptist Church. Not having had other than the advantages the common schools afforded for an education, and realizing the importance of having good institutions of learning, he is a liberal contributor to schools and churches and everything that will promote the growth of his community. Politically he is a Demo- crat, voting always with that party.
George H. Holder, a farmer of Dutch Creek Township, was born May 12, 1839, and is the fifth child in a family of eleven born to H. H. and Malicia A. (Carr) Holder, also of Alabamian na- tivity, and now deceased, the mother in 1855 and the father in 1870, both worshiping with the Bap- tist Church. Our subject received a good business education in Mississippi, and being left to his own
resources, at twenty-three, commenced life for him- self as a farmer on his own land. He was mar- ried, in 1861, to Miss Mary Flott, who was born in Mississippi in 1842, and this marriage has been blessed with nine children: William.J., Caladonia (deceased), Bennett L., Walter L. (deceased), Sa. rah L., Clementine B., Archie C., Minnie J., Georgia H. and one unnamed (deceased). On the alarm of war sounding our subject severed all business connection and home ties to become a defender of his country, and was one of Company B, Twenty-sixth Mississippi Regiment of cavalry (Confederate Army) to participate in the following battles: Harrisburg (Miss.), Cross Roads fight, Athens, Pulaski, and a number of minor skir- mishes, and while in a skirmish on the battle- ground of Shiloh received a wound in his left hand. After his muster out he returned to his farm in Tennessee, which he conducted till 1878, when he came to this county, and erected for bim- self and family a comfortable and homelike cot- tage in the little village of Walnut Tree. His farm lying in Dutch Creek Township comprises seventy five acres of fertile land, fifty-five of which are highly cultivated and sown to cotton, corn and wheat, which yield a very good harvest. He and wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and he is an A. F. & A. M., belong- ing to Dutch Creek Lodge No. 269.
Richard Hood, a prosperous merchant of Yell County, Ark., came to Richland Township in 1872 from Monroe County, this State, where he has re- sided since 1856. He was engaged in farming up to his removal to Yell County, when he opened a general merchandise store, keeping a good line of all kinds of produce and dry goods, and has met with very good success, having laid up a comforta- ble fortune to keep him in his older days. He was born in Marengo County, Ala., April 27, 1829, the son of Robert and Rebecca (Bates) Hood, natives of Virginia. The father followed farming all his life, dying in 1860 at the age of fifty-eight years, the mother passing to her final home in 1870 at the age of fifty-seven years. Richard Hood spent the early part of his life in De Kalb County, Ala., receiving but a very limited education, his first oc-
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cupation being farming, as above stated. He en listed in the army in 1861 under Gen. Price, fol - lowing him in his raid, also taking part in the bat- tles of Helena (Ark.), Pilot Knob (Mo.), Prairie Grove (Ark. ), and a great many skirmishes, remain- ing in the army until the close of the war, when he returned home. He was married in 1858 to Miss Martha C. Williams, daughter of J. Williams, a native of Tennessee, and although they have no children of their own they have raised and taken care of a number of orphans: James Hood (a nephew) and Emma Hood (of Monroe County), also Urice James Beckit. Our subject and his wife are both members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Hood is also a member of Baker Creek Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and in politics sup- ports the Democratic party. He is ever ready to assist in matters of a public nature that would be of benefit to his county or party, and is one of the successful and representative citizens of this town- ship.
Joseph H. Howard. Among the official repre- sentatives of Yell County is Joseph H. Howard, whowas elected to the office of sheriff September 1, 1890, and although a resident of Magazine Township was a native of Van Buren County, Tenn., born January 31, 1849. His father, Will- iam Howard, a gunsmith by trade, was also born in this State April 15, 1816, and married about 1842 Melinda Haston, a native Tennesseean, being born December 26, 1815, and they were the par- ents of nine children. Here the father died July 25, 1859, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and his widow, seventy-four years of age and in full fellowship with the Christian Church, lives in this county with her youngest son, Thomas F. Our subject began supporting himself at the early age of fourteen, remaining under the parental roof till his marriage, December 18, 1873, to Miss Sa- mantha J. Campbell. She was born in Tennessee December 2, 1853, a daughter of Willis N. and Louellyn E. Campbell, who were born and married in this State. Her father participated in the late war, and departed this life April 15, 1875, a mem- ber of, and an elder in, the Presbyterian Church; his widow, also of like faith, lives with her daugh-
ter, Mrs. Miller, of this county. To our subject and wife were born five sons and three daughters, four of whom are living: Johnnie E., Joseph H., James W. and William J., and they have had under their care for many years an orplran to whom they are giving a parents' loving watchcare, and a good home. He owns 100 acres of very valuable land, with forty under cultivation, and has a most mag- nificent orchard of many of the sterling varieties of - fruit, and altogether enjoys the fruits of his hard labor in a prolific farm and comfortable home. For four years he served as deputy sheriff, and was elected constable of his township for a like period of years. Mrs. Howard is a member in good standing in the Presbyterian Church.
John B. Howell, Sr., owner of the large and ex- tensive mill plant of Danville, was born on a farm in Logan County, Ky., May 12, 1815; here his early youth was spent assisting his father in the duties of the farm, and in 1836 came with his par- ents, John and Mary (Jones) Howell, to Johnson County, this State, and settled on land which they farmed, and in connection with this ran a store of general merchandise, which they had opened at Pittsburgh. In 1838 our subject severed his con- nection with this business to go to Van Buren and take charge of the mail route between Old Dwight, Mo., and Fort Smith, I. T., carrying the semi- weekly mail for four years, when he changed to the tri-weekly stage running between Little Rock and Hot Springs, in it, passing over a stretch of country for thirty miles without a post-office, and while acting as mail carrier was associated with Lewis Snap in the inland service, known as the pack routes, the mail being carried on horseback. In 1846-47 he ran the steamer on the White River, from Napoleon to Rock Craw Creek, where it met the stage line. His health failing, he sold his boat at the expiration of two years and came to Danville, and settled on a farm, and when that terrible scourge of the sixties visited the land, was well fixed financially, owning 3,000 acres of land, 500 of which were in a thorough state of cultivation, the labor of this immense plantation being per- formed by seventy-five servants. Soon this was laid waste by the devastating armies of the war,
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stock confiscated, houses and other buildings de- stroyed, and soon nothing remained of this once beautiful and vast estate but the land. At the close of this long and bloody struggle, he returned to Danville, and engaged in farming and milling, erecting, in 1869, his large mills, comprising a flouring-mill, ginning and wool-carding machinery, and a saw-mill attached, all costing in the neigh- borhood of $10,000, and in 1886 this entire plant with all its contents, was destroyed by fire, it be- ing a total loss to him, as it was not insured. In 1872 he opened the popular Danville, famed throughout the county for its genial proprietor, its good cheer, and its first-class accommodations. He was wedded to Miss Eliza Hurd, of Crawford County, who lived to bless his home with her presence but a short time. She departed this life in 1842, leaving an infant son to the care of her husband, who lived to be but two years of age. He is not connected with any church, and, although voting the Democratic ticket, has never held any political office. Our subject has one brother, who resides at Clarksville, at the advanced age of eighty-one years, and three sisters, all deceased.
Dr. Daniel F. Huckaby. Among the self-made men of Arkansas and Yell County, is the subject of this interesting sketch. Although not a native Arkansan, he is one whom Yell County has every reason to be proud of, for coming to this State in the early days of 1839, he has done much to ad- vance its growth, and is recognized by the old pioneers as one of the founders of the county. He was born in Union District, S. C., October 4, 1813, and is a son of Robert and Susan (Fitch) Huckaby, also of South Carolina. He was raised on a farm and given but a few weeks' schooling, and when twenty years old his father gave him his freedom, when he went to Reedstown. on Broad River, and apprenticed himself for two years to a cabinet-maker; working for him a year and a half he bought his time and went to Pinckneyville, and accepted a position at his trade at $40 per month. At the expiration of fourteen months left this posi- tion to accept one at Packilett River, where he re- mained three years, and during this time (October 25, 1838) he married Cynthia E., daughter of John
Haney, of South Carolina, and she became the mother of four children: Helen, Dolphus, Rebecca and Myrtle. About a year after his marriage, he and nine families from his neighborhood made up a train of nine wagons and started overland to Ar- kansas. They were seven weeks on the way, the weather being all they could wish and everything in their favor they arrived safely at Danville, this State, thence journeyed to Spring Creek, near the present site of Bellville; here the colony settled, and our subject went to Pittsburgh, Johnson County, and worked one year at his trade; subsequently returning to his 160 acres of land, which he had pre-empted, he began improving it, alternating this with work at his trade or at carpentering. About this time the settlement petitioned the Legislature to divide Pope County, and form a new one; this being granted, Yell County was organized; meeting with such success, they also prayed the United States Government to bring their land into market. Then came the momentous question of deciding the loca- tion of the county seat, which was finally settled at Monroe and afterward moved to Danville. The Doctor soon received an appointment from the Government as commissioner of public building, and let the contract for the erection of a court- house, he himself being one of the workmen. By this time the farms of the colony were yielding good crops of cotton, which were conveyed to the nearest gin (six miles away), and ginned and baled, one-tenth of the cotton being paid as toll for gin- ning, and $1 per bale for baling. This was hauled twenty-two miles to the river, and shipped on the "Governor Moorhead " to New Orleans, and ex- changed for the necessary commodities of pioneer life. On September 22, 1857, the Doctor was called upon to part with his loving and faithful wife, and remaining a widower till October 4, 1858, married Miss Sarah Meers, who bore him the fol- lowing children: Fannie, Anna, Minerva and Effie, all living near their parents. He began his medical studies in Pickneyville, S. C., while a resi- dent in the home of Dr. McGovern, devoting all his spare time to his studies, and in 1861 attended lectures at McDowells' Medical College at St. Louis, but being taken ill was obliged to abandon
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his studies and leave for home, and while going down the river to Memphis was captured and com- pelled to take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government, after which he was permitted to return home, where he . fully recovered his health, and began his practice; but war having been declared, and the country in a fearful state of agitation, he, a sworn defender of the United States Government, was obliged to flee to the Red River country, where he practiced till the cessation of hostilities, and in May, 1865, returned to Yell County, where his family had been during the en- tire struggle. On the succeeding year he entered the Medical University of Louisiana at New Or- leans, where he took a regular course, then re- turned to his farm, which he worked in connection with his practice, attending lectures from time to time till 1882, when he left his farm (286 acres of land, with 100 under improvement and with good buildings, it being to a great extent the work of his own hands), and moved to the village of Bell- ville and opened an office. In 1853 he was elected to the Legislature by a large majority, and was an efficient and active worker for the good of his State, and in 1873 was again sent to represent it in the Legislative body. He is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church in religion, and a Dem- ocrat, politically; is a public-spirited citizen, and a hospitable entertainer of his many friends.
A. G. Hughes, of the Dardanelle Transfer Com- pany, and a well-known citizen of the town, was born in Nashville, Tenn., in 1848, and is the youngest member of the family born to J. L. and Nancy (Little) Hughes, originally of Tennessee and Virginia. The maternal grandfather was an extensive Virginia planter, and died in that State. The paternal grandfather, David Hughes, was one of the pioneer farmers of Tennessee, and was the proprietor of the livery and transfer business at Nashville, to which his son, J. L., succeeded, and continned in it for ten years, then took up steam- boating, and for five years was captain and owner of the " Kate May," which ran from Louisville to Nashville. Disposing of this he again established himself in the transfer business, carrying this on till 1555, when death called him to his final home.
A. G. Hughes was reared in Nashville, receiving a good common-school education, and when but fif- teen assumed the management of a ferry-boat for the Government; later on was pilot on a boat on the Cumberland River. Being a victim of the Ar- kansas fever, in 1868 he came to this State and accepted a position on the Arkansas River, subse- quently going to Gainesville, Tex., he started a business of merchandise, which he closed out in about eighteen months' time, and again coming to Dardanelle occupied himself with well-digging, farming, and a business which was burned out, then farmed for three years, at the expiration of which time he engaged as traveler and collector for C. M. Freed, in 1888, leaving him to form a partnership with S. N. Evins (see sketch). In 1889 Edward Shinn was admitted to the firm. He is the owner of two large stables, a lot, and a cot- tage on Mount Nebo. Politically he is a Democrat, and as a citizen is active and energetic, and thor- oughly awake to the interests of his townsmen.
John H. Hunt, a wide-awake merchant and the genial postmaster of Rover, claims this village as his native heath, he having been born here in 1860, to Richard and Elizabeth (Green) Hunt. His grandfather, Hunt, a farmer, who came to Arkansas as early as 1857, settled in the little vil- lage of Rover, and is thought to have given the place its name, was the first postmaster here. His father, a native Georgian, being born, educated and married there, was a resident farmer of Ar- kansas till the call for troops in the early sixties, when he enlisted in the Federal Army and died in Little Rock in 1864; his widow still survives him, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Our subject was reared and educated here. Beginning the life of a farmer at the early age of twelve, he continued in this till twenty-two, when he became proprietor of a mercantile business, handling hardware, queensware and groceries, etc., doing a good trade, and is the owner of some valuable land and a fine dwelling in the village. In January, 1883, he received the appointment of postmaster, and the year following witnessed his marriage to Miss Annie Albright, daughter of John Albright, at one time a resident of the State
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of Georgia, but now a citizen of Rover. To this union were born three children: Ruby (living), and John Richard and Tommie (deceased). Mrs. Hunt fellowships with the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and Mr. Hunt is a member of the Rover Masonic Lodge No. 467.
J. M. Hutchins claims the little State of Georgia as the home of his nativity, being born in 1827, to Redmon and Cassey (Pierson), who also claim Georgia as the land of their birth and mar- riage. Redmon Hutchins, a farmer, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and in 1852 emigrated to Mis- sissippi, where he died the following year, his wife having departed this life previous to his removal to this State. Both were earnest and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1844 the marriage nuptials of our subject and Miss Mary E. Hearn, of Georgia, were celebrated, and to them one child has been born, Mary (wife of L. M. Ladd). Being a farmer he followed this calling till 1862, when he offered his services and life, if need be, to Company D, Third Missis- sippi Regiment of cavalry, and being accepted did duty as a private till the close of the war, when he returned to Mississippi and farmed till 1867, then moved to Arkansas, locating in Dutch Creek Township, where he has 120 acres of land with sixty under cultivation, and in 1868, being ap- pointed postmaster of Walnut Tree, which appoint- ment he filled for twenty years, moved to this vil- lage and built him a neat residence, where he now lives, and in 1872 met with a severe loss in the death of his wife, who was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and subsequently Miss M. W. White, born in Alabama in 1850, and daugh- ter of J. H. and L. A. (Hern) White, who were natives of Georgia, became his second wife, and they are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is a man respected and honored in political and social circles, having been elected justice of the peace of his township in 1875, and is now acting as worshipful master of Dutch Creek Lodge No. 269, of the Masonic fra- ternity.
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