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 26
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Judge William D. Jacoway. Prominently identified among the legal profession of Yell
County is Judge Jacoway, the well-known lawyer of Dardanelle. He was the fourth child in a family of ten born to B. J. and Margaret (Wilkin- son) Jacoway, respectively of North Carolina and Tennessee, his birth occurring in the latter State in 1835. The paternal grandfather, Archibald Jacoway, of Scottish descent, emigrated to North- Carolina from bonnie Scotland, thence to Alabama, where he died. He was a captain in the Indian War in Florida. The maternal ancestors were among the early settlers of Tennessee. The father was a planter, early going from Tennessee to Mississippi, subsequently coming to Arkansas, and settling near Dardanelle, where he purchased a large tract of river-bottom land, which he put un- der improvement. He filled many official positions, being marshal of the Western District of Arkansas during President Buchanan's term; was twice a member of the Legislature, and departed this life in 1861, while en route to his son, Henderson M., a sold- ier in the Confederate Army, encamped at Rich- mond with his brothers, John A. and B. J., Jr., and a brother-in-law, J. L. Hollowell. John A. because of his bravery and faithfulness, was commissioned lieutenant-colonel under Gen. Kirby Smith, and B. J. was killed while crossing the Arkansas River six miles below Dardanelle. Our subject received his schooling at Tennessee's institutions of learn- ing, graduating from Irving College in 1855, and two years later from Lebanon Law School, here being admitted to the bar, and on his arrival in Dardanelle formed a partnership with his brother- in-law, and were known as the firm of Hollowell & Jacoway. During the troublous times of 1863 he removed his family and effects to Texas, and when peace was declared he returned to Arkansas. and from 1878 to 1882 filled the office of circuit judge of his district, and has built one of the finest dwelling houses in town. In 1858 he was wedded to Miss Elizabeth D. Parks, daughter of Walter D. Parks. To this couple have been born eleven children: Walter D. (lawyer), Mary E. (deceased in Texas), Bennie (deceased in 1SSI), Martha J. (deceased in 1881), Lillie D., Earl C. (deceased in 1872), William D., Jr., H. M., Jr., Irene (attending school at Winchester, Tenn.),
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Ethel and Nina S. The Judge religiously wor- ships with the Methodist Episcopal Church, being a member in good standing in that organization.
William D. Jennings is one of the early settlers in Yell County, his parents, Nathaniel and Mary (Craig) Jennings, natives of the Old North State and Tennessee, respectively, coming to Dardanelle in 1850, from Memphis, Tenn., where he was born May 14, 1836, in Marion County. His father was a carpenter, builder and mechanic by occupation, and died in 1858, his widow surviving him some fifteen years. Our subject's early life was spent in his native State, where he received the advan- tages of the common schools, and on his coming to Arkansas finished his schooling and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed till the out- break of hostilities, when he enlisted in Company H, Capt. Daniels and Col. Reynolds commanding, and fought in many of the famous battles; particu- larly was with Gen. Johnston on his renowned march to the Atlanta, thence to Tennessee, fight- ing in the battles of Franklin and Murfreesboro, and in the fight at Georgetown (Ky.), skirmishing around Cincinnati, and took part in a few minor engagements, and while in the service was pro- moted to the rank of corporal and sergeant. He remained with Gen. Johnston's command till the surrender at Jonesboro. On his return to Arkan- sas he purchased sixty acres of good tillable land, and breaking and cultivating thirty acres began farming, his principal product being cotton. He was married in 1867 to Miss Jennie E. Hall, who was born in Shelby County, Tenn., in 1846, and they have become the parents of six children: William H., Lizzie, Wallace, Edgar, Maud and Orella. In religion his wife worships with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, while he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and politically is a Democrat, being elected on the local ticket of his party in 1888, as justice of the peace. As a citizen, having the growth of his county at heart, he supports all public enterprises, and withholds not his aid from the distressed and needy, and all find in him a friend and comforter in time of trouble.
James Y. Jones. Among the early settlers of
Arkansas were William and Isabella (Kerley ) Jones, originally of Tennessee, but came to Yell County in 1852, bringing with them a family of ten chil- dren, James Y., who was born in Hardeman Coun- ty, Tenn., in February, 1840, being about twelve years old. Here the father bought land and im- mediately began farming, his son (our subject) remaining with him till he was twenty years old, when he was married to Miss Inez Adcock, daughter of W. R. Adcock, also of Yell County, and to them were born eight children: Cynthia Ann Isabella, James R., William A., Edward A. (deceased), Mar- tha F., Irene Elizabeth, Levi (deceased), and Thomas Henry. In December, 1879, he was be- reaved of this wife, and some time after married the widow of John Simmons, one child, Anderson, being the result of this marriage, and for his third and present wife he married the widow of John Hogan. Our subject has always been a farmer, following this from his boyhood days up to man- hood, receiving but very little schooling, and he now owns 120 acres in the Fourche River bottoms, fifty of which are highly improved. During the Rebellion he became a soldier in the Confederate Army, enlisting in Company E, of the Twenty-first Arkansas Regiment, and was captured at Vicks- burg and sent to Indianapolis, from there to Fort Delaware, thence to Point Lookout, and kept in confinement nine months, at the expiration of which time he was paroled and returned home, never going into service again, but after twelve months at home was again taken prisoner, and detained for two weeks, when he escaped and served as a scout till the close of the war, then came home and took up his farm duties again. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Baptist Church in religion.
W. B. Lemoyne. In 1852 there came to Dar- danelle, George W. and Penelope P. (Walton) Le- moyne (natives of Virginia and Tennessee, respect- ively) and family. George W. was educated in Vir- ginia, but on coming to Arkansas secured a school in Johnson County, which he taught for some time. Studying law and being admitted to the bar in Johnson (now Yell) County, he soon became known as one of the leading lawyers of his section and
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time; being very prominent and pronounced in his political views he was returned to both branches of the General Assembly of the State again and again. He at one time recruited a company from Dardanelle he being chosen as colonel, which was dispatched east of the Mississippi River; subsequently resign- ing, he returned home. He was a faithful and con- sistent worshiper of the church, and an efficient member of the Masonic order. His wife died in 1863. W. B. Lemoyne, the genial agent for the Pacific Express and Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad, was born in 1847, in Conway County, Ark., and was the eldest son in his father's family, being reared in this and attending the private schools of the same till his majority, when he entered into the mercantile business, which he conducted for three years, then settled on a farm, which he now rents, devoting his entire time to the railroad and express business, to which he was appointed agent in 1883. During President Cleveland's administration he was made postmaster of Dardanelle. In 1876 he wedded Mrs. Johnnie B. Gordon, daughter of Rob- ert Cunningham, an old and highly respected citi- zen of Yell County. To Mr. and Mrs. Lemoyne were born the following family: Stacy, Anita, Jane Penelope, Basil, Morand and Lavanche, all living, Mattie being a child by her former husband. In religion the family worship with the Old School Presbyterian Church. Our subject is a conscien- tious voter of the Democratic party, being one of its most active workers, and socially is connected with the K. of P. and K. of H.
Joseph S. Lofland, farmer, Gravelly Hill, Ark. Mr. Lofland is possessed of those advanced ideas and progressive principles regarding agricultural life, which seem to be among the chief character- istics of those of Arkansas nativity. He was born in Yell County, Bluffton Township, February 6, 1854, and here he was reared to mature years. He received but a limited education in the common schools, and at the age of twenty-three years he began working for himself as a tiller of the soil. He first bought eighty acres of land which he im- proved and cultivated, but later he moved to Grav- elly Hill Township, settling where he now resides. He has in his homestead 170 acres of land, all im-
proved, and has a good residence, substantial barns and other buildings. He is progressive in his ideas, and is possessed of those sterling quali- ties which make a true man and a valuable citizen. In 1887 he bought 420 acres of good bottom land, lying in Bluffton Township, has about eighty-five acres of this under cultivation, and rents it out. While an agriculturist of advanced ideas, he does not lose sight of the stock-raising industry, and raises horses, mules, cattle, sheep and hogs. He has a good orchard and plenty of fruit for family use. His principal crops are corn, cotton and oats. This year he has forty acres in cotton and thirty acres in corn, all promising a good crop. In February, 1878, Mr. Lofland was married to Miss T. J. Crawley, of Gravelly Hill Township, and they have three children: Wilburn, Walker and Battis. In politics Mr. Lofland is a Democrat. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is liberal in his support of all public enterprises.
W. S. Lofland, senior member of the firm of W. S. Lofland & Co., general merchants at Bluff- ton, established the business in this town in 1867, and here he has since continued. He began with a capital of about $1,200, but business has in- creased until the firm now sells $15,000 worth of goods per annum. They have a well assorted stock consisting of dry goods, groceries, hats, caps. boots, shoes, harness, saddles, etc. Mr. Lofland is also interested in two other stores, one at Dar- danelle and another at Mineral Springs, ten miles from Bluffton. When Mr. Lofland commenced business in this county his entire worldly goods would not exceed $1,200. To-day he values his property at $75,000, which shows what can be ac- complished on the sea of life when a determined hand is at the helm. He is also a stockholder and one of the directors of the Dardanelle Bank, the largest banking establishment in the county. He is the owner of about 3,000 acres of land, 600 of which are under a good state of cultivation and which he rents out. Mr. Lofland was born in Western Tennessee on April 24, 1831, and was reared to manhood on the farm. He received a limited education, and when about thirteen years of age moved to this county with his mother. He
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was obliged to walk five miles to a poor country school to get his education. He began working for himself in 1853, and the same year went to California where he was engaged in mining for four years. He met with moderate success and then returned home where he was married in 1858 to Miss Emily Gault, daughter of Judge Gault. He lived with her twenty-six years, when she died, leaving five children-four daughters and a son: Mary B. (wife of A. Edwards), Dora C. (married), Sarah A. (wife of L. Kelley), Lilly May and Seth W. After his marriage Mr. Lofland worked a farm until the breaking out of the war, and in August, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Hill's regiment, serving during the war. Some of the leading battles in which he engaged were Oak Hill, Prairie Grove, Jenkins' Ferry, Marks Mill and oth- ers of lesser note. He remained in service until the close of the war and then returned to his home where he entered the business as above mentioned. On January 13, 1888, he took for his second wife Miss Louie E. Kelly. Mr. Lofland is in no way connected with politics, but votes the Democratic ticket. He is a Mason, Bluffton Lodge, and is liberal in his support of all churches and other enterprises of a public nature.
Thomas W. Lucas, of the well-known firm of Funk, Sewell, Lucas & Hays, proprietors of the Howard Mill, came to the State of Arkansas in December, 1878, settling first in Franklin County, where he remained until 1882, when he removed to Yell County, and followed farming until August of that year, when he bought an interest in the above firm, remaining with it ever since. He was born in Carroll County, Tenn., in December, 1847, the son of John Lucas, a native of South Carolina, but who was born and reared in Tennessee, and in 1857 removed to Mississippi, and remained there twenty-one years, when he came to this county. Our subject was married in November, 1878, in Mar- shall County, Miss., to Miss Sallie Quinn, daugh- tor of James O. Quinn, born in December, 1856. To them have been born three children: Ida, John B. and Thomas E. They are all members of the Advent Church, of Waveland. Mr. Lucas is a Democrat. He is always ready to assist and sup-
port any enterprise of a public nature of interest of his town or county. The firm of which he is a member owns the Howard saw, planing and grist mills and cotton-gin, which embrace a plant cost- ing $5,000. They have capacity to turn out 10,000 feet of lumber daily, and sell to the trade in their own and adjoining counties.
James P. Lyingo, one of the most prominent farmers of the Fourche Valley, came to this county from Georgia in 1851, and settled on the farm where he now lives. He bought forty acres of land, and to this he has added from time to time, until he is now the owner of 430 acres, all good valley land. He has erected good, substantial buildings, keeps a good breed of stock, and in the manage- ment of everything connected with his farm he displays excellent judgment and thoroughness, qualities which can not fail of success. He was born April 5, 1830, and from an early age he has been familiar with the duties of the farm, it being quite natural, perhaps, that he should select this as his chosen calling. In the year 1854 his marriage with Miss Alvira Molder was consummated. They have no children. Mr. Lyingo's advantages for an education were very limited during his youth, but this he has improved very materially in later years. He is a Democrat, but does not take a very active part in politics. He held the office of con- stable for some time, and filled that position in a very satisfactory manner. Although not a mem- ber of any church, he is a liberal contributor to all, and is honored and respected far and near for his hospitality and kindness to the needy and dis- tressed. As a tiller of the soil he has been un- usually successful, and has 150 acres of his fine farm under cultivation. His principal crops are corn and cotton.
T. C. Lynch, the popular member of the firm of Brunton & Lynch of Bellville, was born in Yell County in 1858, his father being James H. Lynch, of Tennessee, who married Martha Evans of North Carolina, she bearing him a family of ten children, T. C. being the seventh child. Coming to Arkan- sas in 1852, and locating in Yell County, they bought and broke land for a homestead, where the father died in 1875, and the mother is still living.
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They were communicants of the Methodist Episco- pal Church South. Our subject was early reared as a farmer, and on attaining his majority still fol- lowed this calling, buying a farm in 1887, which he sold in 1889, and purchased a place in town, where he established his present business. In 1882 he married Miss Julia Bird of Georgia, who bore him five children: Oscar Wallace, Martha Emma, Malinda Altha, Alice Laura and an infant son unnamed.
Judge J. E. McCall, an agriculturist of Herring Township, was born in Alabama, March 11, 1826, and is a son of John and Sarah (McCall) McCall, who were born in Richmond County, N. C., in 1800 and March 4, 1804, respectively, but were wedded in Alabama. The father, on his arrival in Alaba- ma, was elected county commissioner of Lowndes County, and was justice of the peace of Lowndes- boro Township for many years, and died in this State in 1849; his widow, still surviving and living in Alabama, is eighty-six years old, and of the Presbyterian faith, having been connected with that church for over seventy years. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, in Dallas County, Mo., December 29, 1860, to Miss Fannie Wood, born in Johnson County, this State, Janu- ary 4, 1839, daughter of Isaac and Anna (Denton) Wood, and they became the parents of four chil- dren: Sarah (born in August, 1886, and deceased), Paul (born December 16, 1867), John C. (born Oc- tober 1, 1872), and William P. (born in 1874). In 1861 he enlisted in the Missouri State Guards, serving six months, when he entered the Confed- erate Army, and joined Company G, Eleventh Mis- souri Regiment of Infantry, and took part in the following battles: Elk Horn, Prairie Grove, Hel- ena, Pleasant Hill, Jenkins' Ferry, and was paroled at Shreveport, June, 1865. When peace was once more restored to the land he came to Arkansas and engaged in farming, which has been his occupation ever since, and owns 235 acres of land, cultivat- ing sixty. In 1884, as an appreciation of the esteem in which he was held by his fellow-citizens, he was elected county judge, served two terms, and thus earned his present title of Judge. He has been a local preacher of the Methodist Episco-
pal denomination for twenty two years, and him- self, wife and sons are members of a church of the same faith, and he socially belongs to the Masonic fraternity.
Dr. William H. McCall, physician, Briggs- ville, Ark. Dr. McCall, an energetic practitioner, is recognized throughout this county as a friend and laborer in the cause and advancement of the medical profession, and has acquired a flattering reputation as a physician. He came with his father's family to this State from South Carolina in 1860, settled at Mount Holly, Union County, was reared on a farm, and remained with his father until his majority. His educational ad- vantages in youth were good and when he came to Arkansas, when seventeen years of age, he was fully prepared to enter college. But he was deprived of this privilege for several years on ac- count of the breaking out of the war. In 1861 he engaged to teach a country school for $40 per month and continued this employment for about three years. About this time (October, 1864) his father died leaving a large family to support, and as he was the eldest child the care of the family devolved upon his shoulders. He gave up teaching and returned to the farm, where he re- mained for three years, being very successful in this pursuit. During this time he had taken up the study of medicine. In 1867 he became a clerk in the general mercantile store of C. L. Me- Rae & Co. at Mount Holly, Union County, and there he continued for six months, but being in- terested in the study of medicine, he left the firm in the fall of that year, to attend a course of lect- ures at Memphis, Tenn. The following spring he came to Briggsville Township, Yell County, and commenced the practice of medicine, which busi- ness he has continued up to the present time, meeting with excellent success. About two years after his arrival he bought a tract of land contain- ing 160 acres, and in connection with his practice carried on agricultural pursuits. In 1875 he had sixty-five acres under cultivation, but in this year he sold his place and bought in the same neigh- borhood 360 acres, 50 acres of which were im- proved. He has added to that improvement until
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he now has about 90 acres cleared, with good house, barns and outbuildings. He has, from time to time, made other purchases until he now owns about 1,800 acres of land, lying in this and adjoining townships. His principal crops are cot- ton and corn and he has about 600 acres under cultivation this year. He is also engaged in gen- eral merchandising at Briggsville, where he now resides, and is selling about $10,000 worth of goods per year. In 1882 he with J. H. Waldron started a grist mill and cotton-gin, the first in the neighborhood, but Dr. McCall has since sold out his interest. Dr. McCall was born on May 28, 1843, and was the son of Malcomb and Lydia (John) McCall, the latter a daughter of Daniel John. On July 27, 1876, our subject was married to Miss Mary C. McRae, formerly of North Caro- lina. His political preferences are Democratic, and he was chairman of the central committee. He is an Old School Presbyterian and gives lib- erally of his means to churches and schools, as well as all other enterprises for the advancement of social and public interests.
J. H. McCargo, the efficient and popular cir- cuit clerk of Yell County, was born in Charlotte County, Va., the seventh in a family of eight born to John M. and Mary Ann (Ellis) McCargo, of Virginia. His parents were planters by occupa- tion. The father died in 1865, just before the sur- render of Gen. Lee, at Appomattox, and the mother in 1852, a worthy and consistent member of the Baptist Church. His paternal grandfather, Heze- kiah McCargo, an extensive and very prominent planter, died in Virginia, and his maternal grand- father, also a planter, and a descendant of a Scotch-Irish family. Mr. McCargo spent his youth in attendance upon the common schools of his native town, and at the Rockingham High School of North Carolina, where he was a student three years, thus gaining a most excellent education, which fitted him for teaching, which he soon took up. Being prevented through lameness from tak- ing a very active part, yet very anxious to serve in defense of his country, he entered the Confederate Army in 1864, and was assigned to some of the lighter duties of army life. When peace once more
reigned, he took up the study of dentistry, and, upon receiving his diploma, established an office and practiced for eight years. On coming to Grav- elly Hill, this State, he at once began negotiations for the erection of a building, to be used for school purposes and known as the Piedmont High School, in which he opened one of the best schools in the county, and which he taught for five years. The building is not only an ornament to the county, but reflects great credit on the founder of the in- stitution. In the fall of 1882 he changed his resi- dence to Danville, where for six years he served as circuit clerk, Maj. Gee's deputy, and at the expi- ration of Mr. Gee's term of office, was elected cir- cuit clerk, which office he filled for two years, and again in 1890 he was the successful nominee, being elected without an opposing vote. He was mar- ried in July, 1885, to Miss Ellen E. Pound, daughter of the Hon. T. W. Pound, formerly of North Caro- lina, but since 1841 a resident of Arkansas, and a lawyer of excellent repute, who before the war was circuit clerk for many years, and after its close was circuit judge, and in 1866 was the first Democrat elected to the General Assembly. Prior to his death in 1884, he was a resident and practitioner of Danville. His wife having preceded him to their final home in 1876, after having borne him a family of seven children, three of whom live in Yell County. Mr. and Mrs. McCargo are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and be- longing to the Masonic fraternity, he affiliates with the Danville Lodge No. 41. As a public official, he is most exemplary, discharging his duties in a manner befitting the office to which he is called, and he is everywhere recognized as a pleasant, ed- ucated and refined gentleman, an acquisition to the community in which he lives.
Hugh B. McCarrell, the faithful and able sheriff of Yell County, was born in West Tennessee in 1846, his parents, Greene L. and Eliza (Duckworth) Mc- Carrell, were of Alabamaian and North Carolinian nativity, but were married in Tennessee, where the father followed farming till 1848, when he emi- grated to White County, thence in 1856 to Yell County, locating three miles west of Danville, where he bought land and worked it till 1862,
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when in response to his country's call he enlisted in Col. Lemoyne's First Mississippi Company, and while stationed at Little Rock was taken sick and died. His widow joined him in death in 1882. Our subject's school-days were somewhat of a very limited character, spending scarcely more than twelve months in the school-room, but by self-ex- ertion and close observation has obtained a very fair education. In 1863 entering the Federal Army, remained till the close of hostilities, when he returned home and again took up farm duties, and in 1867 married Miss Louisa J. Briggs, daugh- of J. T. Briggs, also of Yell County, and who bore him the following family: Mary Lee (who died at the age of four), John M., William Sydney and Ada Elizabeth. The wife and two young- est children are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church South. In 1870 he moved to Danville and purchased the E. Haney farm of 280 acres with fifty cultivated, and a tract of 215 acres, with sixty acres under cultivation, two and one-half miles from town, and his residence. His land produces some of the finest timber in the county, and yields from one-half to one bale of cotton per year. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and since his residence in town has been a most active State and local politician, in 1884 being elected county treasurer on his ticket, serving for two years, and then elected county sheriff, which office he filled for two terms, ably performing the duties which fell upon him while in this office. As a man he is possessed of good sound judgment, and well worthy the honors which have been conferred upon him by his fellow-citizens.
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