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 28
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Dr. H. L. Montgomery, the popular physician of Herring Township, was born in Mississippi on September 29, 1865, and is a son of John M. and Martha (Strickland) Montgomery, who were natives of McNairy County, Tenn., and Marshall County, Miss., respectively, and were married in the latter State, and to them were born a family of thirteen children. His father a Methodist minister for many years, and a member of the Masonic frater- nity, emigrated to Arkansas in 1879, locating in Faulkner County, and himself and wife worship as members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The Doctor received the greater part of his education at Oxford, Miss., and began his med- ical stadies in 1880 and commenced practice in 1881 on the Arkansas bottoms, thence South Bush in 1883-84, and attended lectures at Little Rock in 1885-86, and on August 12, of the next year, was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Hessing, who was born in this county December 28, 1867. Her parents, Bright W. and Sarah (Ivey) Hessing, were
natives of Haywood County, Tenn., and were born January 8, 1832, and May 9, 1836, and were the parents of ten children. Her father was captain of Company F, of Third Arkansas Regiment of Cav- alry, and belonged to the Masonic order. The Doctor and wife are the happy parents of two chil- dren: Lawrence E. and Ohma. In religion he and wife worship with the same denomination as did their deceased parents-Methodist EpiscopalChurch South. As a medical adviser the Doctor is held in high esteem by his many patients, and is hon- ored throughout his community for his courteous and gentlemanly dealing with his fellow-men. Mrs. Montgomery is the owner of a fourth interest in a 213 acre tract of land in this county.
William E. Murdock, farmer, Gravelly Hill, Ark. Among all classes and in every condition of life where the struggle for a livelihood is going on, where can we find independence more forcibly il- lustrated than in the life of the industrious, enter- prising farmer. Mr. Murdock, one of the foremost tillers of the soil in this locality, was born in Walker County, Ga., July 18, 1855, and he was early trained to the duties of the farm. His edu- cational advantages during youth were not of the best, but this he has improved very materially since growing up, and is to-day a well-informed man. His father, Daniel Murdock, died about 1861, and left a widow and four small children-two sons and two daughters-of whom our subject was the eldest. The father was killed in the battle of Chickamauga. About six years later the mother removed from there, and four years later removed with her fam- ily to this county. At that time William E. was about seventeen years of age and he started out to fight the battle of life for himself, as a hired hand. While serving in that capacity he made arrange- ments to attend school during the winter, and worked on the farm during the summer season. This he continued for four years. From there he went to work for H. C. Haney, with whom he remained one year. August 25, 1878, he married Miss Martha C. Haney, daughter of J. J. Haney, who was killed while in the army. Mrs. Murdock was born near Danville, this county, January 9, 1862. After his marriage Mr. Murdock bought
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the place where he now lives, and now has eighty tren under cultivation. He erected a good house, Farns and other outbuildings, and is prosperous and successful. His farm consisted of 160 acres, and in 1957 he bought another tract of forty acres, which is valuable for its timber. His principal rtopr are corn and cotton. To his marriage have Iwen born five children, all sons: Jordan E., Luther N., Grover C., Herbert O. and Chester S. Mr. Murdock is a Democrat. He has been elected jus- tive of the peace for five successive terms, giving the best of satisfaction. He has also been elected school director for two successive terms, and takes a derp interest in educational matters. He is guardian of the estate of Albert S. Haney, son of H. C. Haney (deceased). Though he has lived in the county most of his life, he has never been sick, and has never found it necessary to have a physi- cian in his house.
John R. Neelly is counted as one of the most prosperous merchants and successful planters of Nelly Post-office, a station six miles below Darda- nelle. He was born at Oxford, Miss., in 1847, and was the youngest child and second son in a family of nine born to Eli and Ellen (Craig) Neelly, of Tennessee nativity, and now deceased, the father in 1888 at the age of eighty-two, and the mother in 1857. The senior Neelly was born in Maury County, Tenn., where he grew to manhood, and in 1850 left Mississippi to go to Arkansas, loenting near Dardanelle, this State, subsequently taking up his residence on the farm now owned by his son. He was a member in good standing and an older in the Presbyterian Church, and was one of the number who assisted in the organization of the church of this faith at Dardanelle. Our sub- jovt received his early training and schooling in Dardanielle. During this period of his life the threatenings of war became a reality, and his »tudies were suspended till the close of the great conflict, when he again took them up, becoming a student in the school at Clarksville and other insti. tutens of learning in Arkansas. On the completion ,f his school days our subject began farming on the place purchased conjointly by himself and father, and is now the possessor of 400 acres of
land cleared and thoroughly improved with a fine residence and good substantial outbuildings. In 1882 he opened a store on his farm, here doing a business of $10,000 annually. The post office at Neelly (named in honor of him), of which he is the efficient postmaster, was established in 1886. In 1877 he, in company with several others, bought a tract of forty acres on the bench of Mount Nebo, and he was the second to settle on the mountain, building the first frame house there and doing much to enhance the value and popularity of the locality. From his cottage is commanded a most magnificent view of the surrounding country. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party. He has been twice married, first in 1876 to Mrs. Nannie (Gibson) Stone, daughter of Joseph Gib- son, one of Yell County's eminent pioneers. After a marriage of three short years this wife died, leaving him childless, and in 1882 he led to the altar Miss Hallie Talbert, of Mississippi, whose father afterward removed to Arkansas, where he died. To this union have been given four chil- dren: John Eli, Bessie Grace, Mary Hellen and Lila Irma. Himself and family are members of the Presbyterian Church.
William T. Nolan, a blacksmith and wagon- maker by trade, being attracted by the rich forests of oak and hickory, which grew in and about Yell County, came to Bellville in 1882 for the purpose of engaging in business. After prospecting and looking around he connected himself with Mr. May, and is now known as the senior member of the firm of Noland & May, wagon-makers, cabinet- makers and blacksmiths, and also owners of the extensive planing-mill plant, which was added to their immense business in 1888, and is fully sup- plied with machinery for cutting out spokes and felloes, and making a greater part of the wood- work of the wagons manufactured in his shops. the material being supplied from the native timber. He was born in 1855, in the State of Mississippi, to Javid and Emma P. (Reese) Nolan, also of Mis- sissippi, and who followed farming as an occupa- tion. After the father's death, January 15, 1870. our subject left school with a very limited educa- tion, and assumed the care of his widowed mother
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and an infant sister, who, having grown to maturity, has since married and resides in this county, his mother remaining with him till her death, August 3, 1890, being fifty-two years old. He was mar- ried November 10, 1878, to Tennessee Payne, who was born December 21, 1860, and was a daughter of Marcus and Nancy Payne, of Arkansas and Mis- sissippi nativity. To this union were born seven children: Idella Vincent. Jessie, Cleveland and Mary Annie (living); Buffing, Ada and Javid (de- ceased). He and family are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and so- cially he has been initiated into the Christian Lodge No. 394, of the A. F. & A. M., and politically votes with the Democratic party. As a citizen he is active and enterprising, doing everything in his power to aid and promote the interests of his county.
Henry J. Page, one of the pioneer farmers of this county, emigrated to this State in 1858, when it was very sparsely settled, and pre-empted 320 acres of Government land in what is now Prairie Township, paying 50 cents an acre. He came with his family and household goods in a prairie schooner, and unloaded them within fifty feet of where his house now stands, in the fall of the above-mentioned year, since which time he has im- proved and cultivated ninety acres of as good land as there is in the township, on which are a com- fortable house, barn and other buildings. He was born in the Palmetto State, February 26, 1823, and is the great-grandson of Nathaniel Page, who was born in England in 1730; when twelve years old he was brought to this country and raised to manhood in Virginia. His eldest son, Richard Page, was father of John Page, the father of our subject, the father born in Virginia, December 17, 1779, and was married to Elizabeth Vaughn, in 1822, and were the parents of nine children, seven of whom came to this county, three having since died. H. J. Page, the eldest son of John Page, was united in marriage to Miss Susan, daughter of Robert Page, of South Carolina, she having borne him ten children, all of whom are living: John J. (born October 21, 1857, and married Ann Hanks), Martha E. (born October 1, 1859, and married James Towel), Robert N. (born November 2, 1861,
and married Mollie Lynn), Mary A. (born Febru- ary 12, 1864, and married E. B. Harris), Henry R. (born July 16, living at home, and a partner in the store with his father), Susan A. E. (born Feb- ruary 21, 1869, and married to William Evans), Nathaniel E. (born September 5, 1871), Lydia I. (born April 18, 1874), Amos T. (born August 22, 1877), and Arthur A. (born April 13, 1880). Our subject did not take any part in the late Rebellion on account of ill health, yet was a victim to the depredations of both armies, and saw his last horse taken from him. He is a quiet and peaceful citizen and belongs to the Masonic lodge of Chick- alah.
John Murfree Parker, a well-known member of the bar of Dardanelle, was born near Danville, Ark., November 24, 1849, to George W. T. and Matilda C. Parker. His paternal grandfather, King Par- ker, and grandmother, Martha, removed from Hertford County, N. C., in the year 1817, and set- tled near Gallatin, Tenn., and raised a family of five sons and three daughters. The youngest son, the said George W. T., studied medicine, gradu- ated at the Louisville Medical College; came to the State of Arkansas, and in 1844 married Miss Matilda C. Simpson, in what was then known as Jefferson County; moved to and settled on the farm where his son, John M., was born, and, being strictly temperate and quite energetic, he soon became very popular, acquiring an extensive practice in his profession, and became the owner of a large body of land, on which he established a comfort- able home, and with slave labor opened up and cultivated a good farm. During the late war the dwelling-house and afterward much of the fenc- ing around the farm was destroyed. To them, the said George W. T. Parker and wife, were born eight children: Mary J., Alcinda E., John M., Adelia F., Cherry Wilna, George C. and two other sons who died in infancy. The said John M. Par- ker's maternal grandfather, Thompson Simpson, and grandmother, Frances, removed from Fairfax County, Va., and settled on the Arkansas River. below the present site of Pine Bluff, at an early day, and the said Thompson Simpson engaged in selling goods and planting. He raised a family of
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two sons and five daughters. The subject of our sketch attended school prior to 1861, but during the period of more than four years, while the war was going on, he had the misfortune to be entirely deprived of educational facilities, and to sustain the loss of his mother, whose death occurred in August, 1863; and his father, whose death oc- curred in March, 1864. After the war he was placed under a guardian, and attended school at Dardanelle about nine months. In March, 1868, he began the study of medicine, and in the winter of 1868-69 attended a course of lectures at Nash- ville, Tenn., but, not liking this profession, he abandoned it in the spring of 1869, and at once commenced the study of law, borrowing books for the pursuit of this study. He had his disabil- ities, as minor, removed for the purpose, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1870, and at once be- gan practice in Danville. In the fall of 1871 he entered into partnership with Hon. Thomas W. Pound, which proved both pleasant and profitable, and continued for several years. In the latter part of 1889 he removed to and opened an office in Dar- danelle. He is the owner of much valuable real estate, consisting of about 1,200 acres, also has a block with residence in Danville, and property in other towns. He was county attorney for a short time soon after his admission to the bar. In 1880 he was an independent candidate for State senator, but was defeated. In 1888 was a candidate for presidential elector on the Prohibition ticket. With the exception of the active race made for senator, he has taken little interest in politics; has ever been strictly temperate, an active temperance worker, and is now an ardent Prohibitionist. He married a daughter of R. J. and Mary J. Wood- ard, who are old pioneer residents of the county. His marriage to Miss Malinda I. Woodard was cel- ebrated July 1, 1875, and to this union have been born six children: J. Hobart, Harley M., Cordelia J., Herbert W., Olan and one unnamed (deceased). He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Dr. George C. Parker takes his place in the history of Yell County as one of its rising and most promising young doctors. He was born and
raised in this county, his birth taking place in 1858 near Bellville, his present home, and was the sixth child in a family of eight born to G. W. T. and Cordelia (Simpson) Parker. [See sketch of Jobn Murfree Parker. ] The Doctor's educational ad- vantages were better than the average boy's of his time, early attending , the State University at Fayetteville, and in 1882 commencing the study of medicine with Dr. J. M. Rose, and later on taking a course of lectures at the Louisville Medical Col- lege, began the practice of his profession at Dan- ville in 1884, and on August 5 of the same year changed his location to Bellville, where he opened up a large practice, established an eclectic drug store, and built a business, which has grown to such magnitude that he contemplates enlarging his store in the near future. In 1SS7 he erected his pleasant and commodious residence in town. In 1884 Emily C. Clark became his wife, and dy- ing in 1887 left him one child, Clark, who sur- vived his mother but a short time. On October 6, 1887, he was again married, this time to Ellen M. White, of Yell County, and daughter of J. B. White, an old settler here, becoming his wife, one son being the result of this marriage, John Claud Earl Scudder, named for Dr. Scudder, of Cincin- nati, Ohio. The Doctor though still young is rapidly acquiring a vast practice, and sustains an excellent reputation throughout the county. Much of his leisure is spent in study and improvement of self, and he is also a member of the State Eclectic Medical Association.
Henry M. Pugh, a citizen of Rover, was born in Hall County, Ga., in 1837, his father, E. W. Pugh being born near Greenville, S. C., removed with his parents when a mere boy to Hall County, Ga., and when grown to maturity followed farming, and at the age of twenty-one married Cynthia Wilson, the daughter of Newman Wilson, and after living in Georgia for fifty years, emigrated to Yell Coun- ty, and homesteaded eighty acres of land and im- proved the same. He died in 1870; his widow still survives, having passed her three-score years and ten. Our subject, on coming to Arkansas, bought a small tract of land in Montgomery County, which he disposed of and came to Yell County in 1865,
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and settled on the 160 acres which is now his home. During the troublous times of the sixties, he enlisted in Company I, of the Confederate Army, commanded by Col. Grinstead, taking part in the battles of Helena, Prairie Grove, and marched to Little Rock, and immediately after the fight he took the oath of allegiance to the United States Army, and joined Company E, of the Third Arkansas Cavalry, under command of Col. Rines, doing duty as a scout until the Camden raid, when the Federal forces, commanded by Gen. Steele, circumvented and repulsed Gen. Price on his raid through Missouri, and on June 30; 1865, received his discharge at Lewisburg, Ark. He was thrice married, his first marriage being to Sarah E. Kirkes, November 13, 1859, and died, having borne him two children: W. T. and Henrietta (de- ceased). In 1866 Miss Ellen Simons became his wife, and in February, 1870, died, leaving three children to his care: James M., Ida and George W., and his third marriage to Savannah E. Payne, resulted in the birth of the following family: John S., Andrew J., Sarah Ellen, Edward Newton, Wesley C., Grover C., Arthur Lee and Emma El- dora. His principal occupation is farming a tract of land of 155 acres in Rover Township, seventy- five of which are fenced and under cultivation. He has been a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, for thirty years, and is a liberal contributor to schools and churches, and aids in all things conducive to the welfare of his community.
Rev. Jonathan C. Ragon is one of the promi- nent farmers and cotton-growers of Yell County. Coming to this State in 1850, he settled in John- son County, where he remained thirty-seven years, owning at that time 140 acres of good land, which he sold, then removed to Riley Township, this county, and bought 167 acres. Of the land pur- chased he has about forty acres under cultivation, upon twenty-five of which he raises corn and fif- teen cotton, besides renting out quite a number of acres. Mr. Ragon was born in Tennessee, July 24, 1825, the son of Eli Ragon, and was there reared to manhood, receiving a common-school education. He later learned the carpenter's trade,
in that line his work being principally gin and and press building. He was married in Hamilton County, Tenn., in 1847, to Miss Elizabeth Rogers, also a native Tennesseean, her birth occurring in 1830, a daughter of Elisha Rogers, of Virginia. She died in 1884, leaving three children to mourn their loss, two having preceded her. Those living are: Martha O. (widow of T. B. Smith), Cordelia (wife of J. G. Stevens), and Penelope (wife of William Moseley). Later (in the year 1884) Mr. Ragon took for his second wife Miss Annie E. Elliott, and by her has three children: Mary M., Lottie E. and W. S. During the late unpleasant- ness between the States, our subject enlisted in First Arkansas Infantry on the Federal side, un- der Col. J. M. Johnson and Capt. Parker, his regimental commander being Gen. Thayer. He participated in the engagements at Fayetteville, Hogewood Prairie and a great many skirmishes. On account of ill health he was discharged in 1865, just before the surrender. Socially he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and is also a mem- ber of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which he has been a minister for over twenty-five years in different parts of the State. In politics he af- filiates with the Republican party. When Mr. Ragon came to this State it was comparatively new, and there was little preaching and schools were few. He has lived through its wonderful period of development to see schools on every hand and churches in every hamlet and to witness a pros- perous people living under just laws.
James P. Ramer, a well-to-do planter of Cen- terville Township, was born in Morgan County, Tenn., October 7, 1818, and was the eldest son of John and Mary Ramer, who were married in Ala- bama, and the parents of five sons and five daugh- ters, eight of whom are living. The father was a farmer by occupation, and he and wife departed this life in Tennessee, being faithful worshipers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Our subject was first married while a resident of Me- Nairy County, Tenn., to Miss Martha Walker, also of this State, and to this marriage were born the following children: Andrew, Elizabeth (deceased). Myra, Ellen, Martha, Clarissa, and one unnamed 1
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(deceased). The mother of this family died about 1885, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Ten years after his first wife's death Mrs. Eliza- beth White became his second wife, and bore him eight children: George, Retter, James, Sydney, Reuben, Aueritta (deceased), Samuel (deceased), and one unnamed (deceased), and he was called to mourn his loss in 1882, she being also a communi- cant of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and subse- quently was married the third time to a Mrs. Vicey Kidd, who died a year after marriage, leaving one child, Maggie, to his care. He and deceased wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was the efficient assistant class leader of the same. He owns some 200 acres of valuable land, with about fifty of it in cut timber.
James G. Ray, one of the most successful mer- chants of Riley Township, but a resident of Mar- vinsville, Yell County, this State, came to this county in 1859 from Gibson County, Tenn., and settled on the tract of land he now owns. After taking up his residence here he followed farming until three years ago, when he entered the mer- chandising business, opening with a stock at Mar- vinsville; he conducted business there until May, when he sold out. Upon leaving there he went to Bentley and, in July, 1890, opened with a good stock and has been doing a very successful busi- ness since. He was born in Wake County, N. C., October 3, 1832, the son of David and Eda (Joplin) Ray, who were also natives of that State. His father followed farming in North Carolina, where he remained until 1849, when he moved to Tennes- see, and came to Arkansas in 1859, where he spent the remainder of his life and died in October, 1865; his widow survived him only four years. James G. received his limited education in Ten- nessee, but was married in Logan County, Ark., in 1863,'to Catherine, daughter of James Lattie, born December 15, 1833. To them have been born six children, five of whom are living: Eliza (wife of Arch MaGorgen), James, Joseph, Priscilla, and John, and Ella (deceased). He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist and Meth- xlist Episcopal Churches, respectively. Our sub- ject enlisted at Danville, July 17, 1862, in Company
H, under Capt. Harrod and Col. Rings, and took part in the battle of Prairie Grove; was also in a number of skirmishes, and surrendered at Fort Smith at the close of the war, when he returned home. He is a member of the Baker Creek Lodge 388, A. F. & A. M., and was elected magistrate and constable for several years in which offices he has always performed the duties incumbent upon him to the best of his ability.
Prof. L. B. Reynolds, Gravelly Hill, Ark. It has been truly said that "a good education is the best inheritance that parents can leave to their chil- dren." Riches may take to themselves wings and fly away, but a good education will last through life. Prof. L. B. Reynolds, one of the most prominent and successful educators of the county, is a native of Cole County, Mo., and came to Ar- kansas in the fall of 1872, since which time he has given his entire attention to school work. He was born on May 25, 1850, and his father was a farmer. When fifteen years of age our subject was sent to Lansing, Mich., to complete his education, and there he remained a student for six years in the Michigan University, graduating with the class of 1860. During his time in school he had taught several terms, and was thus enabled to continue his studies. He then returned to his home in Mis- souri, where he made a short visit and then started for Arkansas, being stimulated to this move by learning that there was a good opening in that State for teachers, which profession he had decided to take up. He settled at Excelsior, Sebastian County, and there engaged in teaching a country school. As he could not prevail on the directors to employ him, a young boy as it were, he was thrown on his own resources and opened a sub- scription school. The first month he had eleven pupils, the second month eighteen, and the third month fifty-four. He then was engaged for one year by the board, and the fourth month he found himself teaching 160 scholars, and was obliged to hire an assistant. There he remained with excel- lent results for ten years. Then having an offer of an increased salary from Hacket City, and find- ing himself hampered on account of lack of room, he resigned his position and located at Hacket
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