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 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82
illustrious persons: His grandfather, Williams, al- though born in South Carolina, was an offspring of an old Irish family, his father coming to this country at an early day, and locating in the latter State, where his family is known as one of the oldest in the State, and as one of renowned musical talent. The grandfather on the mother's side, Jonathan Springer, also of South Carolina, and a planter by occupation, came as early as 1820 to Alabama, his father being from Virginia, and his grandfather from Delaware, whose father, Carroll or Lorentz, is supposed to have founded Wilming- ton, this State; in 1770. The Springer family is said to be direct descendants of Charles Christo- pher Springer, a Swedish baron, and who is said to trace his ancestry as far back as 410 A. D., to Louis, the Pius, of France. The name of Springer, says tradition, is derived from this Louis, who, be- ing guilty of some misdemeanor, as a punishment, was imprisoned, from which he escaped by spring- ing or jumping from the third-story window of his prison into the lake, and his cousin, the emperor of Germany, hearing of this wonderful feat, par- doned him, and conferred upon him the name of Springer. Our subject's father, soon after his marriage, which took place in Alabama, moved to South Carolina, where they remained for two years, thence returning to Alabama, where his son was reared and given a very limited education. Here the family continued to make their home till the death of the parents, the father departing this life August 7, 1869, and his widow surviving him till 1889. In 1861 he enlisted in Company I, of the famous old Ninth Alabama Regiment, and par- ticipated in the battles of Forts Henry and Donel- son, and was captured at the latter place, and sent to the military prison at Chicago, from which, after three months' confinement, he was the first man to make his escape, which was largely com- mented upon by the press. Going by the way of Wheeling, Va., and crossing the mountains to Rich- mond, he returned home; subsequently returning to Virginia, joined his original company, and took part in many of the famous battles and skirmishes. Being again taken prisoner at Spottsylvania, he was held for two months, and finally sent to El-
190
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
mira, N. Y., where he escaped by way of a tunnel, which he assisted in digging. On regaining his home, after the close of the Rebellion, he engaged in trading, earning enough to enable him to take a course of two terms in the West Point High School, of Lawrence County, Tenn., and to enter Shoal Creek Academy, of Giles County, same State, and on completion of his studies, engaged in teach- ing, after which he farmed in Alabama for a few years, and in 1873 started the store of general merchandise at Lexington, and known as the firm of Dobbins, Black & Co. In 1875 the firm dis- solved, and he again taught school, and for eight- een months served as clerk of public works, on Mussel Shoals canal, and it was while here em- ployed that he saw the notorious outlaws, Jesse and Frank James, who robbed the canal company. In 1882 he came to Prairie Township, where he purchased 2023 acres, on which he has made good improvements. On September 21, 1869, he led Miss Emma S. Skipworth (daughter of John W. Skipworth, a prominent planter, trader and cap- italist, of Russellville, Ky.) to the altar, and to them have been born five sons and three daughters: John Henry, James Turner, Lona, Bennie Taylor, Thomas Jefferson, Robert A., Cora Lee and Lula Madora, and on February 20, 1890, were called to mourn the loss of this most excellent mother, who was an exemplary member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Her husband was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, and since his residence in this county has been an ag- gressive politician of the Democratic party, and in 1890, being the candidate on the Democratic ticket to the Lower House of the General Assembly, re- ceived the nomination by 600 or 800 majority.
R. R. Williams. In 1836 Philemon Williams, a farmer by occupation, emigrated from Tennessee (the State of his nativity) to Arkansas, and entered 320 acres of land in Johnson County, and in 1838 was united in marriage to Eleanor Ward, a native of the Old Dominion, and he and wife conducted this farm till about 1840, when they changed their location to Yell County, settling on 300 acres of land, built a log cabin, and made many improve- ments, and here were born their two children, our
subject (who was born December 10, 1841), and his brother, Henry (now deceased). Mr. Williams died about 1844 or 1845, and his widow, who be- came the wife of James M. Beard, survived him till 1888, when she too passed to her final home. Our subject adopted the calling of his father as a means of livelihood, and continued in it till 1861, when he joined the Confederate Army, and his war record is as follows: Enlisting in Com- pany H, First Arkansas Riflemen, as a private, he took part in the battle of Oak Hill, and several others and a number of skirmishes, and received his final muster out in 1865. After his return to his farm was married to Miss Sarah J. Harring- ton born in Tennessee in 1834, and five children were born to bless this union: Ella J. (wife of A. J. Withers), Louis, Ida M., Eugene and James O. His wife died in 1874, a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. Remaining a widower till June 27, 1876, he wedded Mrs. Amanda C. Orre, who bore him five children: Stella, David S., Sallie G. John P. (deceased) and Henry O. On July 9' 1885, he was again called to mourn the loss of his wife, she dying in communion with the Presby- terian Church, and on July 9, 1889, he married his third and present wife, born in Tennessee, Sep- tember 15, 1872, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and they are the parents of a son and daughter: Amanda C. and Redmond H. His home is situated two and one-half miles east of Chickalah, and his farm comprises 190 acres of land, with some 100 under cultivation.
George L. Wirt, merchant, Briggsville, Ark. Among the business men of Yell County, Ark., who have won distinction as successful merchants, and who have, by personal industry and genuine business ability, succeeded in establishing a desir- able trade, may be mentioned Mr. Wirt, whose name heads this brief biography. He was born in Alabama on November 25, 1844, and was the son of Samuel and Martha (Wood) Wirt, the latter a daughter of Joseph Wood, of Alabama. Our subject was married in Alabama on November 23, 1867, to Miss Ann E. Sanford, daughter of T. J. Sanford, of Alabama, and to them were born one living child, Benjamin F. In 1878 Mr. Wirt left his
6
.
YELL COUNTY.
191
native State and came to Yell County, where for two or three years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1880 he was elected justice of the peace, serving in that capacity for six years, and discharging the duties incumbent upon that office in a highly satisfactory manner. His strong good sense, his knowledge of human nature, his calm conservatism, and in fact his genuine ability were soon perceived, and in 1888 he was elected county judge and re-elected in 1890. He is an equal partner in the general merchandise business with Dr. W. H. McCall and D. L. Castleberry, trans- acting a business of about $10,000 or $12,000 per year, and is a representative and successful business man. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity of Briggsville, known as Concordia Lodge, and he is a liberal supporter of all worthy movements, es- pecially educational and religious enterprises.
Dr. Ripley E. Woodard, the young and rising practitioner of Chickalah, and graduate from Van- derbilt College, at Nashville, Tenn., was born in this county March 4, 1863. His parents, Ripley J. and Mary (Robinson) Woodard, were born in Mississippi and North Carolina, respectively, but were united in marriage in Yell County, where were born their family of six children. The senior Woodard is a merchant of Danville, and for the past twenty years has successfully conducted a general merchandise business, and for fifteen years has been Danville's popular postmaster. He en- listed in 1862, and served until 1865, as a soldier in the late Rebellion; is an enthusiast in politics, . always voting for the best man in his party. Him- self and wife worship with the Methodist Epis- copal Church South, and he belongs to the society of Masons. Dr. Woodard (our subject) began his medical studies in 1886, under the direction of Drs. Stafford and Capshaw, of Danville, subse- quently matriculating at Vanderbilt College, and taking two courses of lectures, received his diploma in 1889, and in 1890 opened an office and began his practice, which bids fair to become a most ex. tensive and lucrative profession in the near future. The Doctor is full of energy, and by his courteous manner and kindness of heart is bound to rise to the topmost round in the ladder of medcial fame.
Commodore Perry Woodard, merchant, Gravel- ly Hill, Ark. This successful and popular busi- ness man was born at Danville, Ark., on March 21, 1866. His father was a merchant, and, having a large stock of general merchandise, sold out a few years ago, and later was appointed postmaster at Gravelly Hill, which position he holds at the pres- ent time. He allowed his children to have all they could make in legitimate work, and, as a conse- quence, Commodore P., at the early age of ten years, hired himself out to a mail contractor, carry ing the mail from Danville to Ola. For his services he received 50 cents a day, and since that time he has clothed and taken care of himself, being no expense to his father. When not employed in this way he worked for farmers in the vicinity. He continued in the mail service until fourteen years of age and then entered the schools at Danville, where he continued his studies until eighteen years of age, working during vacations to pay his way. In 1884 he hired to J. C. Carter to clerk in his store at Bragg, then a country place, but about eighteen months afterward a post-office was estab- lished, and the place given its present name. There he remained eighteen months, after which he returned to Danville, and hired as a clerk to the firm of Runyan & Briggs of that place. Six months later he went to Dardanelle to attend the high school, but after being there a few months he was recalled home by the sickness of his father. He then again entered the employ of Runyan & Briggs, with whom he remained six months, after which he went to Bellville, and clerked for W. L. Heck six months longer. From there he went to Rover, clerked for J. W. Gladden six months, and then returned to Danville, where he entered the employ of Briggs & Capshaw, continuing with this firm for fourteen months. During that time he was married to Miss Minnie Elms, daughter of Eliza- beth Elms, of Danville. Later he moved to Grav- elly Hill, formed a co-partnership with L. L. Briggs, and has since made this place his home. The firm carries a well-assorted stock of goods, consisting of dry-goods, groceries, hats, caps, boots, shoes, har- ness, saddles and assorted hardware and queens- ware. During the past nine months their sales
192 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
have amounted to about $4,000. To Mr. and Mrs. Woodard have been born one child, a son named Olga M., whose birth occurred on July 25, 1889. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, and in polities he is a Democrat. He has held the position of assistant postmaster at two different times, and at two different offices, and is now notary public.
1
F
193
POPE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XVI.
POPE COUNTY, ITS SITUATION, BOUNDARIES, RESOURCES AND PROSPECTS-ITS TIMBER AND ITS STREAMS-ITS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND MINERALS-ITS POLITICAL TOWNSHIPS AND THEIR AREA-COUNTY ORGANIZATION-THE SEVERAL SEATS OF JUSTICE-COUNTY BUILDINGS-POPE COUNTY'S CIVIL LIST- JUDGES, CLERKS, SHERIFFS, CORONERS, SURVEYORS-THE POPE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT, ITS OFFICERS AND LAWYERS-REPRESENTATIVES IN SENATE AND LOWER HOUSE AND IN CONSTI- TUTIONAL CONVENTIONS-COUNTY POLITICS-THE DWIGHT MISSION AND THE CHEROKEE SETTLEMENT-BEGINNING AND PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT-LAND ENTRIES IN POPE COUNTY PRIOR TO 1845-EDUCATIONAL HISTORY AND SCHOOL STATISTICS-RAIL- WAYS-INCORPORATED TOWNS, VILLAGES AND POST-OFFICES-OLD NORRIS- TOWN AND OTHER ONCE IMPORTANT POINTS-CHURCHES-THE WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD-THE PRESS.
Bounteous nature loves all lands. Beauty wanders everywhere, Footprints leaves on many strands, But her home is surely there .- Falconer.
M
OPE COUNTY is situated north of the Arkansas Riv- er, which is its southern boundary. It is bounded on the north by the coun- ties of Newton and Searcy ; on the east by Van Buren and Conway Counties, and on the west by Johnson County and the Arkansas River. It has an area of about 512,000 acres. The sur- face of the county is considerably broken, one-third of the area be- ing mountainous and hilly, one- third level and one-third alluvial. The entire southern portion of the county is underlaid with a bed of coal, and the "black diamonds" have been dug out in liberal quantities in many localities; but thus far coal has been developed only for local con- sumption. Of timber there is an abundance in the
county, of all the valuable varieties, including white oak, pine, cypress, together with red, black and post-oak, while the river and railroad transpor- tation afford the best of shipping facilities. There are about twenty saw-mills in Pope County. They cut about 15,000,000 feet of lumber per year, which is worth $8 per 1,000 feet or $120,000 for the aggregate amount. From the production of cotton and lumber this county realizes $680,000, which equals $37.44 for each inhabitant. The money derived from these sources ought of itself to enrich the country. Iron is also known to exist here, but no effort has been made to ascertain if it is in any considerable quantity. Large quantities of very fine building stone are found at a depth of from one to two feet. This stone is used for the construction of chimneys and for laying the founda- tions of buildings, but, as the supply seems to be inexhaustible, the day is not far distant when it will be used for building purposes.
The northern portion of Pope County, about
13
194
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
sixteen miles in width, is mountainous, the eleva- tion pushing down from the north on the eastern border, in the shape of a foot, eighteen or twenty . miles. The mountainous portions of the county include all of Allen, Freeman, North Fork and Independence Townships and portions of Liberty and Martin Townships. The only valley lands in the townships named are those of Indian Creek and the Big Piney, in Allen Township, and the valleys of the North Fork, in North Fork Town- ship, and the Middle and East Forks of the Illi- nois Bayou, in Independence Township. The val- leys of these creeks are generally narrow, but rich and productive. The creeks wind from one side to the other, cutting the valleys into tracts of land of from eighty to 120 acres, occupied by small but thrifty farmers. The Crow Mountain is formed by the land at the headwaters of Gum Log Creek, rising to an altitude of 200 to 250 feet. It is from three to four miles wide and about ten miles long. It sets on a line from the northwest to the southeast. It breaks abruptly off a mile northwest of the town of Atkins, its rugged bluffs and cliffs presenting a majestic view from that point. This mountain is flat on top, and the plateau is pretty densely popu- lated. The county court long ago established a po- litical township, embracing and running with this mountain, called Gum Log Township.
Perhaps there is not a county in the State that has a better supply of running water than Pope County, affording the greatest abundance for stock in the dryest seasons. Besides the Arkansas River, which belts the entire southern boundary, the prin- cipal water-courses of the county are Big Piney, Illinois Bayou, Point Remove, Galla Creek and their tributaries. Big Piney is a water-course of considerable magnitude. It is 100 miles in length or longer. It rises far back in the Boston Mount- ains, in the counties of Newton and Madison, and empties into the Arkansas River, about two miles west of the Pope County line. It courses from the northwest to the southeast, entering Pope County on the west about eight miles south of the north- west corner. It then turns north, running a little west of south, along the entire western border of the county, to a point within about six miles of the
Arkansas River, when it turns abruptly to the west, running due west, or nearly so, for about four miles. Crossing the county line, it continues its westerly course in Johnson County for about three miles, when it makes another abrupt turn to the south, and empties into the Arkansas River, in Johnson County, about two miles west of the line dividing the counties of Pope and Johnson. In- dian Creek, a tributary of Piney, is a stream about eleven miles in length. It heads at the north boundary of the county, about two miles east of the western border, and runs due south eight miles, then flows to the west three miles, emptying into Piney near the county line. The next principal water-course in the county is the Illinois Bayou, which is formed at the base of the mountain, near the center of the county, east and west, and about five miles north of the center, north and south, by the confluence of the waters of the North Fork, Middle Fork and East Fork. The North Fork, which is really the parent stem of Illinois Bayou, heads in the mountains, at the extreme northern boundary of the county, and about the center east and west, coursing due south through the mount- ains, dividing the center of the county for sixteen miles to the base of the mountains, where it is in- tersected by the waters of the Middle and East Forks. The Middle Fork has its source in Searcy County, near the northeast corner of Pope County, and the East Fork in Pope County, at the eastern border, about four miles south of the northeast corner. These streams run convergent from the northeast to the southwest, coming together in the mountains, about fourteen miles south of the north- ern boundary. Continuing their southwesterly course for four miles, they abruptly turn north- west, hugging the base of the mountain for about three miles, to where they intersect the waters of the North Fork, which has its course due south, at which point it may be said the Illinois Bayou proper begins. Then, as if to compromise between the directions of these streams, the Illinois Bayou adopts a southwesterly course, running almost on a parallel with Piney, from six to eight miles east. emptying into the Arkansas River five miles south- west of Russellville.
195
POPE COUNTY.
Big Piney and the Illinois Bayou supply the entire western half of the country with pure spark- ling water for stock. Besides, these streams have numerous tributaries which, throughout the year, afford plenty of water for stock, convenient and accessible to all that portion of the county west of the center north and south. Point Remove, a tributary of the Arkansas River, rises in the Bos- ton Mountains at the headlands of Little Red River in Van Buren County, and empties into the Arkansas River in Conway County below the Pope County line. This stream is noted for its slight fall, its slow running waters, its meanderings and its fertile, wide and extended valleys. It enters Pope County on the east, about six miles south of the base of the mountains, and opens up a wide and productive valley onto the valley of the Ar- kansas River in this county. Hecker's Fork, a tributary of Point Remove, rises in this county, near the eastern border, in the Oak Mountain, and runs due south from the base of the mountain about six miles, emptying into Point Remove. Gum Log, a tributary of Point Remove, rises about the center of the county, runs a little south of east about twelve miles, emptying into Point Remove, near the line dividing Pope and Conway Counties.
The Crow Mountain constitutes the headlands of Galla Creek, which drains the country south of the mountain to the Arkansas River. It is a short stream and runs through a flat but densely popu- lated country, and affords stock water in good sup- ply. From this view of the principal water-courses and their windings, it will be seen that there are few counties that have so many clear running streams as Pope County, or whose waters are more equally distributed. While the western half of the county is better watered than the eastern, it can not be truly said that there is any place in Pope County where there is any very great scarcity of water or inconvenience to it, even in the dryest seasons. Wells are relied on chiefly for drinking water. The average well is from twenty to thirty feet in depth and it is very rare to find a well forty feet deep. The greatest abundance of pure water is obtained at these depths; the cost of sinking a well is from $1.50 to $2 per foot. In the mount-
ainous portion of the county springs are quite common.
There are about 512,000 acres of land in Pope County, only about half of which is occupied. There are about 75,000 acres of railroad land, 20,000 acres of State land, 5,000 acres of school land, and 169,000 acres of Government land, ag- gregating 269,000 acres, which leaves 243,000 owned and occupied by the people. The Govern- ment land, which in a technical sense constitutes the public domain, is subject to homestead; but in the broader sense the railroad, school and State land might be said to constitute part of the public domain, for it is all unoccupied and for sale. The railroad lands sell at from $2 to $7 per acre, the State land at $1.25 per acre, and the school land, to the highest bidder, at not less than $1.25 per acre. Land belonging to individuals can be bought, bottom lands from $15 to $30 per acre, river bottom lands from $25 to $50 per acre, and uplands from $5 to $10 per acre. The mountain lands are all subject to homestead, except such as belong to individuals, which can be bought re- markably cheap.
This county is a " sand formation." This term is here used in contradistinction to calcareous formation. The soil in the valleys, and especially the river valleys, is alluvial, and has a sandy sub- soils. In the hills or uplands the soil is a sandy loam, and in the mountains it is a clay loam, with clay subsoils. Silica and alumina enter into the composition of the soil in about equal proportions, silica slightly predominating in the valleys, and alumina in the mountains and uplands. The mount- ains and uplands are more retentive of moisture than the bottoms, but this is partially due to the difference in the character of their subsoils. The soil of this country possesses all the chemical in- gredients necessary to the wants and growth of plants, but each particular character of soil excels in the growth of certain species. The valley lands excel in the growth of corn and cotton. The clay loams are unequal for the production of wheat, beans, peas, cabbage, turnips, etc., and fruits of all kinds; the sandy loams in the production of pea- nuts, rye, oats, sweet and Irish potatoes, strawber-
-
196
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
ries, peaches, melons and perennial pastures. The river bottoms, the richest soil of the country, are owned usually by large landholders, who live in the uplands, their farms being worked by tenants and " share-croppers." All the colored people of the county engaged in agriculture are found on the river. Land rents from $5 to $6 per acre. The production of cotton and corn constitutes the exclusive industry. No thought is given to the production of fruit or any other luxuries of life. Though Pope County is naturally a fine stock country little thought is given to stock-raising. Cotton holds sway and shuts out all other enter- prises. The planters produce a bale of cotton to the acre for which they realize on an average $40. They usually plant what they deem a sufficient acreage of corn to supply their farms. If the sea- son is favorable they have an abundance of corn, and if unfavorable they have a scarcity. With favorable seasons they can raise from sixty to seventy-five bushels of corn per acre.
The people in the uplands are generally thrifty and prosperous. Their farms are small, consisting, usually, of from forty to 160 acres. The occu- pants are the owners. There are few renters in the uplands in any portion of the county. They are in the valleys, especially on the large river farms. The general comforts of life are more equally distributed among the people residing in the uplands than among any other class. Owning their homes, they produce their own consumptions, have their little orchards and variety of luxuries so essential to the comfort and happiness of a people. They have good society, church and edu- cational facilities. The uplands are exceedingly healthy. Improved uplands sell from $5 to $10 per acre. There are a great deal of these uplands subject to homestead. The finest openings for in- dustrious people of small means are the mountains. The lands are rich and fertile and can be home- steaded or bought at low prices. Stock can be raised with but little attention. There is no country that nature has done more for. It is as fine an apple, peach and grape country as can be found anywhere. Grapes grow almost spontaneously. The peach and the apple in size, beauty and flavor
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.