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 29
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City, where he received $800 for ten months. He remained here two years and then resigned his po- sition. Later he entered the school at Cochran, Scott County, where he was employed as principal of their graded schools, and three years later his leaving was a source of universal regret. He then came to Gravelly Hill to take charge of the Pied- mont Academy, at a salary of $1,000 per year, un- der contract for five years, two of which have al- ready expired. He has a wide reputation as an instructor, and his services are always in demand. He is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. In Oc- tober, 1880, he was married to Miss Sally Rudell, daughter of Edward Rudell, of Excelsior, where the Professor was teaching at the time. They have had five children, four of whom are living at the present time-a son and three daughters: Mary E., Edward A., Myrtle A. and Laura Fay. So- cially the Professor is a member of the I. O. O. F. He is an educator in the fullest sense of the term. He sees the need of a higher grade of education in the county, and is doing all that he can to build up the school interests. He cordially invites all who want to engage in the profession of teaching to come to Arkansas, where their services will be appreciated.
Americus Vespucius Rieff, postmaster of Wave- land, Ark., received his appointment as such in 1881 during Garfield's administration. He came to this township in 1874, where he erected the present large mill, comprising saw-mill, grist-mill and cotton-gin, with a planing-mill added, valued at $7,000. This business was established in the early days, and in connection with his mill he had a general stock of merchandise. In looking around for a location for his Franklin County mills, he selected his present farm on account of lumber, land and water, the timber consisting principally of pine and oak. He was born in Nash- ville, Tenn., July 1, 1830, being the son of Joseph and Lydia (Burton) Rieff. His father was born in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., and in 1820 moved to Nashville and was a noted builder and con- tractor, having constructed with others " Andy Jackson Hermitage" in Wilson County (this build-
ing being still in a good condition). He remained in this county until 1836, when he moved to Washington County and settled in Fayetteville, where he engaged in farming, his farm being worked by slaves. Here he built a beautiful resi- dence, a number of business blocks and the State Bank building. In 1832 he lost his wife in Nash- ville. He died in Fayetteville in 1856, when he was seventy-five years old, as the result of being kicked by a horse and having both legs broken, living but a short time afterward. Americus V. Rieff was educated in Fayetteville, Ark., and at the age of seventeen years joined a company un- der Capt. S. B. Enyart, serving in the Mexican War one year and was in several skirmishes, but not any battles of importance. At the close of this war the company was discharged, when our subject returned home and entered the Ozark In- stitute, where he finished his education. After leaving school he went into the contracting and building business with his brother, Fenelon (who was afterward killed in the Confederate service at Pine Bluff, being a captain in Col. Jordan's regi- ment), and continued in this business for ten years. In 1855 he erected Cane Hill College, a very large brick building costing $10,000. In the spring of 1861 he raised a cavalry company, which were the first State troops that entered Missouri,- and he assisted in erecting a pole ninety feet high at Fayetteville upon which was raised the Confederate flag. He took part in a great many important battles, being in Gen. McCul- loch's command, and was with Gen. Price in his famous raid; was elected captain of a cavalry company, joining Col. J. F. Fagan's regiment and participated in seventeen engagements. He as- sumed command at Pilot Knob, fought in the bat- tles of Dug Spring, Oak Hill, Cane Hill, Back Bone, Prairie de Ann, Poison Springs, Mark's Mills, Little Missouri, Franklin, Jefferson City, Prairie Grove and other engagements and skirmishes. In .1862 A. V. Rieff was appointed master me- chanic in the Government workshops, which posi- tion he held until the retreat of Gen. Price in Missouri, when he re-entered the army. At the approaching evacuation of Fayetteville he re-
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turned home and moved his family to Washing- ton, Hempstead County, later was paroled there and returned to his home in 1866. It can safely be said that there are few in this county who have done better or more faithful work in the defense of his country's rights than Mr. Rieff, or one who has taken part in more engagements. In the fall of 1866 he moved to Little Rock and took a brief contract for the Government, and one year later west to Van Winkle's Mill. In 1870 he went to Franklin County, opened a mill there, remaining until 1874, and then moved to his present home. In 1854 he was married to Miss Mary J., daugh- ter of Isaac and P. H. (Mobley) Spencer, natives of Tennessee and Kentucky, respectively. To them have been born ten children. Those living are: Ollie S., William L., Maurice B., Joe Meck, Hiram F., Nellie P. and Katie S. Those deceased are: Fannie B. (wife of T. A. Pettigrew), Mary K. and Hiram. Mr. Rieff is a member of Revilee Lodge No. 69, I. O. O. F., Washington Lodge No. 1, A. F. & A. M., and in politics is a Demo- crat. He has a fine residence of plantation style, elegant flowers, trees and a beautiful home, lying at the foot of the Magazine Mountains, which are 2,800 feet high, and named so from the Spanish, owing to the rumbling noises. They are quite steep, and at the top are situated the Meda Springs, a summer resort. It can be safely said that the postmaster of Waveland, Ark., has had an inter- esting and eventful life.
David E. Roberts, a successful tiller of the soil living in Magazine Township, and an adopted son of Arkansas, claims Madison County, Tenn., as the land of his nativity, being born in that section of country May 28, 1838, and here received his train- ing as a farmer, which has been his life's occupa- tion, and in 1861, while still a resident of Madison County, was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Andrews, also of Tennessee, a worthy Christian woman, and member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. By this union they became the parents of seven children: Wilson, John, James, Tolly, Rollie H. (deceased), Lenora (deceased) and Ida (deceased). Soon after his marriage he enlisted in Company D (Infantry) of the Confederate Army,
which consolidated with the Fifty-second Regiment, and while in service took part in some of the famous battles and skirmishes, and in April, 1864, receiving his discharge from army life, returned to his farm in Tennessee, which he worked till 1879, when he moved to Arkansas, selecting a tract of 180 acres in Yell County, ninety of which he cul- tivates, and in January of the following year met with a sore bereavement in the loss of his estimable wife. He remained a widower for two years, then wedded Miss Almira Andrews, who was born in Tennessee in 1848, and by this marriage became the mother of six children, four of whom are still living (two having died in infancy): Fenner, Flem- ings, Fletcher and Flora. Himself and wife are members in regular standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and as a planter he is known throughout the county as a man of broad intellect, and well versed in all that relates to the practical side of farming, and politically is a Democrat. Our subject's parents, Jacob and Mary (Freeman) Roberts, were born and married in the Old North State, the former born in 1801, and the latter in 1802, and were the parents of twelve children. The father a Methodist minister by profession, left his native home and settled in Madison County, Tenn., where he died in 1842, his widow surviving him till 1876, when she too passed to her final home, dying as she lived a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
John J. Robertson, one of the prominent resi- dents of Yell County, was born in York County, S. C., September 20, 1835, and is the son of James and Nancy Robertson, also natives of South Caro- lina. His father followed farming up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1849 at the age of fifty years, his mother passing from life in 1853. The early part of John J. Robertson's life was spent in Alabama, but in 1859 he went to Florida, and in 1862 when the call for troops came he en- listed in Company D, under Capt. J. L. Hayes and Col. J. J. Finley, serving in the Sixth Florida Regiment, and taking part in the battles of Chick- amauga, three days in Bragg's Army, and was one of the number who opposed Gen. Sherman on his famous march to the sea, and also served under
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Johnston, Beauregard and Hood. He was wounded at Calhoun, Ga., May 16, 1864, being shot in the right arm, losing that member at Montgomery, Ala., three days later. He was placed in the con- valescing company, and upon his recovery he re- turned to his home place and went to farming. Remaining in Calhoun County, Ala., until the fall of 1871, he moved with his family to Yell County, locating in Riley Township, where he continued farming, and he now owns 320 acres of land, 100 acres pine land, 200 acres bottom and 20 acres upland, upon which he raises corn, grasses and cotton. In 1876 he was elected county treasurer. He was again elected in 1886, and has been re- elected at each election since. He was married in 1856, in Alabama, to Sarah J. Sharp, by whom he has two children living: Sarah E. (wife of James Slay) and John S. His first wife died in 1874, and in 1876 he married Miss Susan Gatling, daughter of Phillip Gatling, a native of Arkansas. They have had six children, four of whom are living: Jay, Essa, Thomas O. and Julia, and those deceased were Minnie and an infant un- named. The family are members of the Mission- ary Baptist Church, and in his political views Mr. Robertson is a Democrat. He takes an active part in all enterprises of a public nature promising to benefit his town or county.
Joseph J. Rogers. The above mentioned gen- tleman is a member of the firm of Rogers & Son, consisting of J. J. Rogers and C. C. Rogers, own- ers of Marvinville saw and grist mills and cotton- gin. They have rebuilt the mill, making it one of the best in the county, the plant being valued at $3,000, and, being in a very good location, they do the majority of the business in their line. The boiler has a capacity of 25-horse power, and is capable of turning out 10,000 feet of lumber daily, but the average run is about 5,000 feet, mostly pine lumber. The capacity of the cotton gin is 600 bales per season, and they grind corn and wheat two days of each week. Joseph J. Rogers is an old resident of this State, having moved here when quite young, living until last year in Logan County, where he moved with his parents in 1858, when he then came to this county. He was born
in Carroll County, Ga., February 4, 1845, the son of Henry and Maria Rogers, natives of Virginia. The father followed farming all his life, and died in Springfield, Mo., after a great deal of suffering, while in the United States Army. Our subject enlisted in 1863, in Company I, First Arkansas Infantry, under Col. Johnson, Lient. - Col. Searles and Capt. " Wild " Bill Heavington. He took part in the battle of Fayetteville and quite a number of skirmishes, and while at Prairie de Ann, was taken with the mumps, but still remained with his company, and was in the raid at Saline. After the war he-returned home, and was married Feb- ruary 18, 1866, to Miss Mary Hodges, a native of Tennessee, and to them have been born five chil- dren: Jeremiah R., Calvin C., Flora M., Cassandra E. and Mary J. Mr. Rogers and wife and three daughters are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. After living happily together for twenty- five years, his wife died June 22, 1890. In poli- tics Mr. Rogers is a Republican, and is one of the representative citizens of this county.
Walter W. Scott, one of the successful planters of Yell County, and a resident of Herring Town- ship, is native-born, his parents, James and Ari- minta (Bell) Scott, of Tennessee and North Caro- lina, respectively, and who were married in Tennes- see, came to Arkansas as early as 1838, buying and settling upon land in this county, where in 1847 their son, Walter, was born. Here the father farmed, and in 1857 the family was called to mourn the loss of wife and mother, a worthy communicant of the Presbyterian Church, and in 1887 the fa- ther died. Our subject, being taught the principles of farming in his boyhood days, on reaching man- hood still followed it, and now owns 120 acres of land, fifty of which are under cultivation; corn. cot- ton and oats are the principal commodities raised. His marriage to Miss Martha Shepherd, who was born in Georgia, March 8, 1851, was celebrated during the year 1872. She is a daughter of Jo- seph and Rachel (Wilson) Shepherd, of North Car- olina, who were the parents of ten children, seven of whom are living. Her mother died in Georgia, in June, 1864, and her father is still living, and is a resident of Missouri. To the union of Mr. and
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Mrs. Scott have been born two children: William W. and Olgia A. Himself and wife are members in good standing of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which he serves as clerk. Having the welfare of his county at heart, he takes an active part in all publie improvements, and gives liberally of his means to the needy and distressed, and all char- itable institutions find in him a ready and willing helper. In politics votes the Republican ticket.
G. M. Shepherd, a planter living in Magazine Township, was born in North Carolina in 1847. His father, John Shepherd, was born in the Old Dominion May 10, 1810, and his mother, Temper- ance (Epps) Shepherd, was born in the Old North State May 23, 1814, and was married April 16, 1832, and became the parent of eleven children. In 1879 the family settled in this county, and here the father, a member of the Baptist Church, was laid to rest in 1SS0. His mother was the fifth child born to her parents, who were married in Virginia, and died in North Carolina about 1831 and October 12, 1857, respectively. Our subject followed farming as a business, and on January 17, 1869, his marriage to Miss Margaret Haston was celebrated. She was born in Tennessee December 5, 1850, and a daughter of W. C. and Jane (Denny) Haston, who were born and married in the above State, and were the parents of ten children. Her father was a planter, and for many years was offi- cially identified with the public interests of Van Buren County, Tenn., filling the office of sheriff four years, also that of county judge and magis- trate. He and deceased wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. To the union of Mr. and MIrs. Shepherd were born the following family: Martha J. (wife of J. A. Blakenship), Temperance, Dalton, Fannie M., John C. and William C. He is the owner of a fine eighty-acre farm with forty- seven under cultivation, and about an acre planted to orchard, and cotton and corn are the principal commodities raised on his place. He is a faithful church worker, is superintendent of the Sabbath- school and trustee of the church property, and gives liberally to all public enterprises. Socially he and wife are connected with the Farmers' Alli- ance.
Rev. J. C. Shipp, living in Dutch Creek Town- ship, and a licensed minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South denomination, was born in Holmes County, Miss., January 15, 1835. His par- ents, Josiah and Susan (Smith) Shipp, were origi- nally of Tenn., the senior Shipp born April 5, 1804, and his wife August 13, 1812, but were married in Mississippi about 1834, and followed farming as an occupation, and in 1845 left Mississippi for Hardin County, Tenn., where the family remained till the death of the father, in 1868, the widow dy- ing in this county October 29, 1880. They were members of long standing in the Methodist Epis- copal Church, he having united with it some thir- ty-two years, before his death and she walking in its doctrines for fifty years. When twenty-one the principal of this sketch accepted as his starting point in this world's warfare, a position in the dry- goods house of A. C. Winingham & Co., at Ham- burg, Tenn. Here he remained clerking till the outbreak of the Rebellion, when he joined the Confederate Army, enlisting in Company E, Fourth Regiment of Infantry, Capt. J. O. Tarkington, commander; he took part in many of the battles in Mississippi, at Memphis, and particularly with Hood in his raid to Nashville; was wounded at the battle of Okalona (Miss.), and taken prisoner twice, but managed to escape each time, and while at Gainesville, May 10, 1865, was paroled. On receiv- ing his final discharge from army life, he returned to his home and engaged in farming, and Decem. ber 10, 1865, witnessed his marriage to Mrs. Saluda J. Leeth, widow of Harrison L. Leeth, who was ac- cidentally killed. She was born in the Old Domin- ion, October 11, 1838, and is the daughter of Peter and Mary Ashworth, and who were born in Vir- ginia, in 1804 and 1805, respectively. Emigrating to Tennessee the year of their daughter's birth, they died June 3, and October 17, 1855. Our sub- ject and wife have these children, among others: Sarah (wife of Jacob Sweeney), John B., Emily (wife of M. B. Brooks), Martha (wife of F. Beech), Mollie (wife of P. Alley), living; and James, Alden and Susan (deceased). He received his license to preach while a resident of Tennessee, and followed this calling till 1878, when he located in Yell
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County, where he now lives and owns 180 acres of rich land, forty of which are thoroughly cultivated and improved with good barns, outhouses, and the most essential of all things, good wells of water, and a fine orchard of some 400 fruit-bearing trees. Mrs. Shipp is an earnest Methodist, belonging to the same church as her husband, and he socially affiliates with the Dutch Creek Masonic Lodge No. 269.
William Sills, one of the prominent citizens of this county, is the owner of the Sills' saw and grist mills and cotton-gin. He was born near Milford, Ohio, January 2, 1836, the son of William and Elmira (Davis) Sills, natives of Ohio. His father's occupation was that of ship-carpentering up to the time of his death, in 1835, when the rest of the family came to Arkansas with our subject's grand- father, Mr. William Davis, and settled in Craw- ford County. In this county William Sills was reared to manhood. He received a very limited education, and at an early age learned the printer's trade, but his health failing, he was compelled to give that up, and took to farming. At the break- ing out of the war Mr. Sills enlisted in Company B, First Arkansas Cavalry, under Capt. Powhatan Perkins and Col. De Rosta Carroll, and went with the regiment to Oak Hill, where he was taken sick, and was discharged. He then returned to Van Buren, Crawford County, and continued farming until 1882, when he sold out, coming to Yell County. Here he invested in 200 acres of land, in company with his son-in-law, J. W. Blevins, who owned 500 acres at the time, well cultivated, and on which he had built a comfortable frame residence, good barns and sheds necessary for his stock. Owing to the fact that Mr. William Sills is the proprietor of the largest mills in his county, he does a large share of the work, and has the contract for furnishing the lumber for the new pontoon bridge to be built across the Arkansas River. His mills are patronized by the farmers from Logan and other counties in the neighbor- hood, the ginning-mills producing from 325 to 500 bales of cotton. Of his farm land, Mr. Sills has 100 acres under cultivation, forty acres of corn and sixty acres of cotton. The subject of this sketch
was married in 1863, to Miss Elenora Bushong, a native of Kentucky, but of French descent. Of a family of nine children born to them, six are now living, viz .: Willie A., Mary E. (wife of J. W. Blevins), James E., Ollie, Renna and Harry. Those deceased are Eugene, Le Roy and Emma. Both he and wife are members of the Christian Church. In politics Mr. William Sills is a Democrat, hav- ing been elected sheriff of Crawford County in 1866 on that ticket. He is the supporter of all enterprises of a public nature that would be of benefit to his county, and being a very charitable man is ever ready to help the needy.
John N. Smith, miller, Briggsville, Ark. This prominent business man was born in Chattooga County, Ga., on June 10, 1840, and became famil- iar with the duties of farm life at an early age. His father, John Smith, was born in North Caro- lina in 1817, and his mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Jane Eddington, was the daughter of Daniel Eddington, of North Carolina. John N. Smith came to Arkansas in 1871, settled in Scott County, and there purchased 160 acres of land, which he improved, clearing 140 acres and erect- ing good buildings, etc. This he sold and in 1883 moved to this county, located in this town- ship, and here engaged in milling. The mill con- sists of a saw-mill, cotton-gin and grist-mill, and with all the late improvements for carrying on the work. This property is worth $3,000. Mr. Smith was married in 1862 to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Jackson Green, of Spartanburg, S. C., and the fruits of this union were three children. Mrs. Smith died in 1881, and Mr. Smith has since mar- ried Mrs. Emma David, who has borne him two 'children. The children to both marriges are named as follows: J. B. (who married Miss Eliza- beth Allen), J. E., E. C. (who married Eptha Sul- livan), Rebecca Jane and Joseph Michael. Mr. Smith and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is steward. In March, 1862, Mr. Smith enlisted in Company F, Thirty-ninth Georgia Regiment Infantry, and was in service until the close of the war. He was at the siege of Vicksburg, battles of Franklin, Mis- sionary Ridge and Chickamauga. He was never
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wounded, but was taken prisoner at Vicksburg. In politics he is a stanch Democrat. He is sharp and shrewd in making a trade yet strictly honest, and never goes back on a contract.
James G. Smyth, president of the Belleville Academy, or Dardanelle High School, under the supervision of Arkansas Conference South, was born in East Tennessee in the year 1859, and is the eldest in a family of three born to J. T. and Eliz- abeth J. (Morrison) Smyth, who were of North Carolina and Virginia origin. The father was an itinerant preacher of the Methodist Episcopal de- nomination, in charge of the Holston Conference of Tennessee. He died in North Carolina, in 1888, his widow still surviving him and residing with her son James. Mr. Smyth received his early training and schooling in Tennessee, finishing his educa- tion at the Hiwassee College. In 1878 he was licensed as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and in 1879 graduated, taking the degree of M. A. For a short time he was engaged in teaching, and the following year witnessed his location in Bradley, Ark., whence he went to El- dorado, and there organized the Independent High School. Subsequently he came to Warren and founded the Warren Graded High School, and in 1885 assisted in the establishment of the noted Belleville Academy, with a department for train- ing and graduating pupils, which will admit them to college. This school opened its first session with eighteen students enrolled, and in 1889, 200 names were found upon the attendance list, forty of which were those of boarders. In 1888 Mr. Smyth was chosen county examiner, doing much while in office to raise the grade of teachers and materially benefit them. On November 27, 1880, he led to the altar Miss Amanda Neal, of Bradley County, daughter of Orilla Neal, formerly of Georgia, but later an Arkansan pioneer. This mar- riage has been blessed with four children: Victor Summerfield (who died in infancy), Vasco (who died at the age of four), Lano and Lud Bolford. Mr. and Mrs. Smyth are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The former is a Democrat politically, and has served as chairman of the Democratic Executive Central Committee. He is
a whole-souled gentleman, and has the reputation of being one of the best educators in the State.
Benjamin F. Start, merchant, Gravelly Hill, Ark. Mr. Start was born in Hempstead County, Ark., November 30, 1850, and was reared to man- hood on the farm. At the age of twenty years he began for himself, as a farmer, on rented land, and three years later purchased eighty acres of un- improved land, which he settled upon and improved by clearing thirty acres, erecting a comfortable house, barns, etc. There he remained for fourteen years, and in the meantime bought an adjoining tract of 160 acres, which he also improved. At the end of the time mentioned (1886) he entered the mercantile business at Gravelly Hill, where he has continued successfully ever since, his annual sales equaling $3,000. In connection with this he still continues agricultural pursuits, and has been connected with the steam-mill (saw, grist and cotton-mill) at this place. He started out for him- self with limited means, and by his industry, per- severance and strict attention to business, he has been unusually successful. He was married, Sep- tember 3, 1876, to Miss Hannah Garner, daughter of Elijah Garner of this township. Mrs. Start died August 17, 1888, leaving two children, one of whom has since died. In August, 1890, Mr. Start was married to Mrs. L. M. Garner, widow of Will- iam Garner. Mr. Start and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is steward, and socially he is a member of the A. F. & A. M. lodge of this place. In pol- ities he affiliates with the Democratic party. He is liberal in his support of all worthy enterprises.
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