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 34
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than local celebrity. In the period "before the war " it grew to be a town of considerable import- ance. The principal business men since the war until a few years ago were W. C. McKune, Petty & Hollinger, Scott & Howell, West & Brown, Young & Hale and Bayliss & Young. The leading business men of the present time are T. M. Neal & Co., Dan C. Brown, I. L. Hicks, general mer- chants; John R. Homer Scott, steam saw-mill, grist-mill, planing-mill and cotton-gin; W. A. Baird, druggist; H. Kirchhof, hotel keeper. The town has three church organizations: Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist. Brown's and Davis' ad- ditions and West Dover were platted some years ago.
There were towns and villages in this county which do not now exist or do not exist under their former names. The chief of these old towns was Norristown, once the county seat, which came with- in a vote or two of being chosen as the capital of Arkansas. It was nearly opposite the present site of Dardanelle. At the time, F. Saugrain set up his store at Dardanelle, Samuel Norris opened an- other on the north bank of the river. It survived the Sangrain store and had a monopoly of trade on both sides of the river for a few years subsequent- ly. Norristown was founded in 1837, and was for a time the county seat of Pope. This influenced a number to locate there, among whom was a young man, from a store in Little Rock, by the name of George Williams, who purchased several lots in Norristown, opened a store, boarded for a few years, then married a woman of the Haney family. Sub- sequently, in the days of Norristown's decadence, he was a pioneer merchant at Dardanelle. Noth- ing remains to mark the site of this once ambitious settlement. Other once promising places have also disappeared before that irresistible march of civili- zation, which destroys that it may build up, making the interests of the few contribute to the welfare of the many, and compelling the present to yield tribute to the future.
From an early day religion has had a strong hold on the people of Pope County. Churches of nearly all popular denominations are to be found within the county limits, and Sunday-schools are
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almost as plentiful as day schools. The principal church organizations are mentioned elsewhere.
Some of the most celebrated lawyers of Arkan- sas have practiced at the bar of Pope County, and the resident attorneys have long taken rank with the best in the Fifth Judicial District. The cir- cuit judge and prosecuting attorney elect are both Russellville lawyers-Hon. J. G. Wallace and Jeff Davis. The oldest member of the local bar is Judge L. W. Davis. Col. Dan B. Granger has practiced here nearly twenty years, and he and Judge R. B. Wilson are partners. W. S. Moore was a later partner of Mr. Granger's. Hon. Law- rence Russell, recently elected to represent Pope County in the State Legislature, is the only mem ber of the bar who is both a native of the State and a graduate of an Arkansas educational institution. Other members of the bar are Horace Bradley, J. E. Joyner, John D. Cleveland, J. J. Lester and E. C. Bradley.
In the Civil War, Pope County did its part promptly and nobly, at first espousing the cause of the State, and later the cause the State espoused. The following companies organized in this county did brave service: Capt. John R. Homer Scott's, Capt. Thomas J. Linton's, Capt. B. T. Embry's, Capt. Caleb Davis', Capt. James A. Stout's, Capt. John Randall's, Capt. E. B. Harrell's, Capt. J. L. Adams', Capt. David Rye's (afterward Capt. A. H. Scott's), and Capt. Dan C. Brown's. The only incident of importance in connection with the war, other than the organization and equipment of the above mentioned companies, which took place in this county, was the skirmish at Williamson's Camp Ground, three miles north of Russellville. In the latter part of the war, after the Federals were in possession of Little Rock, some of the citi- zens of this county did service for the Union cause in Capt. E. W. Dodson's, Capt. James Clair's, and other companies. The period for the close of the Civil War to the adoption of the present State Con- «titution was a dark one in the history of Arkansas. Political interests were practically in a state of an- archy, and all business interests were consequently seriously affected. In all of the ills of this period, Pope County suffered more or less, and all classes
of her people gladly hailed the brighter and more prosperous era that has come since. Now they know no South, no North. The development of the country and the upbuilding of its interests are the dearest objects of their solicitude.
The first newspaper published in Pope County was established at Dover, in 1869, by Capt. H. P. Barry. It was called the Dover Transcript, and lived but a few weeks. The next venture was at Russellville, where, in 1870, B. W. Cleaver and J. K. Perriman started the Russellville Herald, a four column folio. In about a year the Herald was suspended, and in 1871 the National Tribune was established by J. H. Battenfield. In 1872 the office of the National Tribune was totally destroyed by incendiaries. A new outfit was immediately purchased, and the publication of the paper was resumed, but a few issues having been missed. In 1873 the Tribune was edited by Judge L. W. Da- vis, and in 1874 by David P. Cloyd, after which it suspended. In 1875 a stock company was organ- ized, which purchased the National Tribune mate- rial, and established the Russellville Democrat, with J. E. Battenfield as editor and B. F. Jobe as business manager. In 1881 Mr. Battenfield re- signed the editorship of the Democrat, and was succeeded by B. F. Jobe and John R. Homer Scott. They edited the paper until 1882, when W. L. Morris succeeded them. In January, 1883, Mr. Morris resigned, and Rev. H. B. Milner mounted the tripod. Mr. Milner retired in about twelve months, and was succeeded by Mr. J. F. Munday. He continued as editor until 1887, when he re- signed, and was succeeded by B. F. Jobe, who has had editorial charge of the paper ever since. In 1877 D. O. Bell established the Atkins News. It passed through several hands, Ernest Jennings, J. E. Joyner, O. C. Ludwig, John A. Woolen and W. W. Gill having at different times been its editors. Some time in 1883 its name was changed to the Pope County Reflector, and its publication was con- tinued by Gus and W. W. Gill. In 1886 the pa- per was moved to Dardanelle. In November, 1881, the Biblical View, a paper published in the inter- est of the Christian denomination, was issued at Russellville by J. Tolbert Garland. It died in three
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months. The Arkansas Evangel, edited by Rev. B. R. Womack, was moved from Dardanelle to Russellville in March, 1882, and was issued from the office of the Democrat. It was taken to Mor- rilton in 1883. Our Paper, a bi-monthly in the interest of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, was launched January 1, 1884, at Russellville. It lived but a few months. January 15, 1884, Prof. J. H. Shinn, of Russellville, recently elected super- intendent of public instruction of the State of Ar- kansas, commenced the publication of the Arkan- sas Teacher, a monthly devoted to education. The paper was issued regularly for a year, and removed from Russellville to Little Rock. The Revivalist, a religious monthly, was established at Russellville by Revs. H. B. Milner and W. M. Robison, in June, 1885. It suspended January 1, 1886. In August, 1887, Eugene Moore established the Mail at Atkins, which he published until May, 1889, when the paper passed into the hands of a stock company, known as the Atkins Printing Company. Messrs. Ben G. Sevier and George L. Stiffler managed the paper for a few months, it finally passing under the control of Mr. Robert W. Leigh, manager of the Morrilton Printing Com- pany, who leased the office. It is still under his management. The Methodist Herald, a journal whose title sufficiently indicates its character, is issued at Russellville, weekly. Now in its second volume, it is well printed and well conducted un- der charge of W. J. McAnally, editor and pub- lisher.
Ben H. Allen. In sketching the life of this gentleman it is but just to say that his good name is above reproach, and that he has won the confi- dence and esteem of all who know him. As a tiller of the soil he has been quite successful, and is still following that calling. He was born in North Carolina, February 19, 1838, to William and Nancy (Crump) Allen, both of whom were born in North Carolina, the father being an agriculturist by occupation. Their marriage took place in their native State in 1835, and resulted in the birth of ten children, nine of whom are now living, the sub-
ject of this sketch being the eldest. The other members of the family living are Frank, Bettie (wife of J. J. Micenhimer), Lucy (wife of John Thompson), Sallie (wife of J. Burns), Cara (wife of Phil Randel), Fannie (wife of G. Lanier), and Maggie (wife of Mr. Bennett); George is deceased. About 1856 the father of these children was judge of Stanly County, and was magistrate for a num- ber of years. He died in 1885, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, also a Mason. His wife died in 1870, a member of the same church as himself. Ben H. Allen was married in 1869, to Miss Bettie Howell of Pope County, and to this marriage two children have been born: Minnie and Bettie. He was called upon to mourn the death of his wife in 1874, she being a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and in Stan- ly County, N. C., he was married, in 1877, to Miss Eugenia Randel, by whom he has four chil- dren: Bennie, Randel, Samuel and Loy. Mr. Allen is a well-to-do farmer, and is the owner of 320 acres of land, of which 155 acres are under cultivation. He emigrated from North Carolina to Arkansas in 1859, and has since been a resident of Pope County. In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, Second Arkansas Cavalry, and served as a private soldier on the Confederate side until 1865, taking part in the battles of Murfreesboro, Chick- amauga, Jonesboro and Nashville. Since the war he has devoted his time to farming, and not only is his land valuable for farming, but it is also heavily underlaid with coal. Mr. Allen and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of Russellville Lodge No. 254, of the A. F. & A. M.
M. H. Baird, a prominent educator of Pope County, was originally from Georgia, his birth oc- curring in 1845, and was the second of eight chil- dren born to William and Christian (Campbell) Baird, natives of Tennessee and Georgia, respect- ively. The father was a farmer and lived in Ala- bama nearly his entire life. He came to Arkansas in 1868, settled near Russellville in Pope County, and there resided until his death in 1888. The mother is still living and makes her home with a daughter in Russellville. M. H. Baird was
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reared in Alabama, where he had fair advanta- ges for an education, and when seventeen years of age he enlisted in the Confederate Army, Com- pany G, Nineteenth Alabama Infantry, in the Western Department. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Missionary Ridge, Chick- amanga and all the engagements of the Georgia campaign with Johnston. After this he was with Hood and surrendered at Greensborough, N. C. Returning to Alabama, he was engaged in the boot and shoe manufacturing business until 1868, when he came to Arkansas with his parents. He then followed farming for a year or two, attended school a year in Russellville, and in 1870 taught his first term of school in Conway County. Since then he has been almost constantly engaged in teaching, principally in Pope County, and is one of the most popular and successful educators in that county. He is now teaching his fourth year as first assistant of the Russellville public school, and has been connected with the public schools of Pope County since 1870. The first county teachers' association was organized in Pope County in 1872, and our subject was elected secretary, serving in that office in every institute or association since. He has been a most earnest advocate of the free- school system since its adoption. Mr. Baird was married in 1875 to Miss Mary Quinn, a native of Arkansas and the daughter of Robert Quinn, one of the early pioneers from South Carolina. Mr. Baird owns a fine farm of 120 acres one, mile and a half east of town, and has seventy-five acres of this under cultivation. He also owns a comfortable residence in town. To his marriage have been born three children-a son and two daughters: Della, Daisy and Max. The family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Baird has been an earnest worker in the Sunday-school, having organized many schools in various parts of the county. He is now a teacher in the school. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Russellville Lodge No. 247, is an Odd Fellow, Chosen Friends No. 36, and is a member of the K. & L. of H., No. 535. The Professor is a stanch Democrat, and is a consistent worker for that party.
William A. Baird is one of the self-made and
influential men of Dover, Ark. He was born in Cherokee County, Ala., December 2, 1863, and in 1869 moved with his father to Arkansas, his early education being completed in the high school of Russellville, under the instruction of Prof. J. H. Shinn, now State superintendent of public instruc- tion. His father, William Baird, was a farmer of Cherokee County, Ala., but was born in East Ten- nessee. . William A. was reared on his father's farm, and at the age of nineteen, having obtained a sufficient education, he began teaching in the common schools, and carried on this calling in con- nection with farming for two years, when he was elected to the honorable and trustworthy position of county treasurer, a position he filled with marked ability for two years. He was then chosen one of the county examiners of schools, but at the expira- tion of two years he embarked in the drug business, at Dover, which he has successfully continued up to the present day. Starting on a small capital, he has steadily increased his business, until now his annual sales amount to $6,000, and he has acquired the reputation and title in his town of being a "hustler." Outside of his business, he is the owner of considerable property, in the north part of the town, besides other property, and, as he has, at all times been strictly honorable and endeav- ors to please his patrons, his success is fully merited. On January 14, 1886, he was united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss Maggie West, a daughter of D. P. and Katie West, of Dover. To Mr. and Mrs. Baird two children have been born: Porter L. (born October 19, 1886), and George H. (born December 12, 1888). Mr. Baird is a mem- ber of the Christian Church, and his wife is con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is a member of the Union Labor party, and has always shown himself to be public spirited and. liberal in the support of worthy enterprises.
E. A. Bell, merchant, Potts Station, Ark. This prominent and most successful business man owes his nativity to Lincoln County, N. C., his birth occurring in 1847, and is the son of Alex- ander and Mary (Oates) Bell, natives also of the Tar Heel State. The father was one of the early set- tlers of North Carolina, and was a farmer by occu-
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pation. He removed with his family to Pope County, Ark., in the year 1851, purchased land and continued agricultural pursuits. His wife re- ceived her final summons in 1881, and he followed her to the grave in 1884. The paternal grand- parents were natives of the Emerald Isle, and the maternal grandparents were pioneers of North Carolina. E. A. Bell was reared principally in Arkansas, received his education in that State, and in the fall of 1863 he enlisted in Company F, Stermon's battalion under Gen. Joe Shelby, and was principally in State service. He was dis- charged at Louisburg in June, 1865, after which he returned to his home in Pope County, and was engaged in farming. In the fall of 1865 Miss Rebecca Dickey, daughter of Alexander Dickey of Pope County, became his wife, and the fruits of this union were four children: William S., Martha C., one deceased, and Macy H. He was en- gaged in farming until the year 1882, when he moved to Potts Station on the Fort Smith & Lit- tle Rock Railroad, and there he has been engaged in merchandising ever since in partnership with his brother, Calvin Bell, under the firm name of Bell & Bro. They have a lucrative trade and are pushing, enterprising business men. Our subject still carries on his farm by hired help, and is one of the county's best citizens. In politics he affili- ates with the Democratic party. He and Mrs. Bell are members of the Associate Reformed Pres- byterian Church, and is a liberal contributor to all worthy movements.
William T. Blackford has had an active career as a merchant, and by his advanced and progressive ideas has done not a little for the mercantile inter- ests of this section. He first saw the light of day in White County, Ill., January 2, 1858, being born to A. J. and F. E. (Honn) Blackford, who were also born and reared in that county. In 1872 William T. Blackford moved from Illinois- to Jackson County, Ark., with his parents, and here began the battle of life for himself at the age of twenty-two years. Although he was not given much of a chance for acquiring an education, he has since remedied this defect in a great measure by contact with the world, by business life of act-
ivity, and by thoroughly reading up the general topics of the day. In 1884 he opened a general mercantile establishment at Scottsville, Ark., and this together with farming, which is his principal occupation, has received his attention up to the present time. He owns and controls about 266 acres of fine land in Pope County, the proceeds of which, together with his $3,000 stock of general merchandise, amounts to a handsome annual in- come. He was married in 1881 to Miss F. E. Sherrell, a daughter of Sam and Ellen Sherrell, and in time the following family of children gathered about their board: A. J., Harry, Oscar C. and Minnie A., the first two named being de- ceased. Mr. Blackford has always been a faithful and zealous Democrat, and at all times strives to promote the interests of his party.
James C. Bonds is one among the substantial farmers of Pope County, and is a man of recognized worth and progressive spirit. He was born on the farm on which he now lives, two and a half miles west of Dover, January 24, 1837, to Robert and Mary E. (Dickson) Bonds, who were born in Dick- son County, Tenn., in 1811 and 1814, respectively. In 1834 they came to Arkansas, and settled on the farm on which James C. is now living, where they reared their family consisting of three sons, James C., Robert C. and Hugh D., and one daughter, Sarah A. A., of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest, and the only one now living. Although his early opportunities were very limited, he ob- tained such an education as to enable him to carry on the business of the farm successfully, and be- ing reared from his earliest youth to a knowledge of the business he has been successful. The year following his father's death, which occurred in 1852, he went to California, and was engaged in farming and mining for nine years, but with no very favorable financial result, and in 1866 he re- turned home and once more began following the plow on the old homestead, where he has remained up to the present time. In his early days he walked three miles to school, the same being held in a log building erected for the purpose of holding meetings and schools, and his first teacher was Andrew J. Bayliss. This building was about one
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mile north of Dover at the grave yard. Logs split in halves formed the seats, and the cabin was without windows. The books used were mostly the old blue- backed speller or elementary spelling book of Web- ster. The year of his return from California, Mr. Bonds married and settled down to life on his moth- er's farm. At the end of three years she divided the land among her three sons for farming purposes, although she was still the owner, and each paid rent for the use of the same. She afterward deeded her place, which consisted of 240 acres to her four children, and until her death, which oc- curred in 1877, made her home with her son, James C. The latter has since purchased 160 acres ad- joining his land, and on this farm he raises cot- ton, corn, oats, bay, potatoes, etc., diversifying the crops as much as possible. His marriage, which took place on November 21, 1866, was to Miss La- vina Elizabeth Rye, a daughter of Tristram and Peggy G. Rye, who were among the earliest settlers of this county. To Mr. Bonds' union the follow- ing children have been born: Jessie Viola and Jeania Leola (twins, born September 4, 1867, the former being married to Samuel W. Winingham of this county, and the latter to Prof. J. A. Evans also residing here), Maggie A. (was born June 27, 1869, and was married to P. F. Winingham, a dealer in general merchandise at Morrilton), and Mary E. (born February 24, 1873, still residing with her parents, and is president of the Young People's Christian Endeavor.) The family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Bonds holds the office of ruling elder. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the K. of H. and the Farmers' Alliance; in the former he has filled every station in the lodge. He is Sunday-school superintendent, a Democrat, and as he and his wife are hospitable and kindly, they are highly respected in this community. Mr. Bonds' grandfather, Drury Bonds, and wife Sarah came to this country in 1834. The family consisted of the following children: Dobert, James G., Drury K., Sarah E., Mary and George J. The latter and Drury K. became ministers of the gospel. The grandfather built the first water-mill in Pope County, it being two and one-half miles west of
the town of Dover, and consisted of a cotton gin and grist-mill. He died in 1855, and his widow in 1863. Robert Bonds, the father of the immediate . subject of this sketch, became associated in the general mercantile business with John Wilson and T. J. Paxton immediately after coming here, and continued thus associated a number of years.
Rev. J. J. Bowden, farmer, Moreland, Ark. Mr. Bowden, who is familiarly known as "Uncle Jacky Bowden," was born in Georgia, January 22, 1814, and is the son of John and Anna (Blackburn) Bowden, both natives also of Georgia, and of En- glish and German descent, respectively. The fa- ther was born in 1751, and was married about 1796. He and wife emigrated from Georgia to Tennessee, and here they received their final sum- mons, the father dying at the age of ninety-five, and she at the age of sixty-five years. Their fam- ily consisted of fifteen children, eight sons and five daughters of whom grew to mature years. Two died in infancy. Those living are named as follows: Polly, William, Feriba, James, Anna, Jane, John S., Jackson J., Charles, Newton, Wiley, Lucinda and Allen. The paternal grandfather of these children emigrated from England to America at an early day, and fought for independence in the Revolution. When about six years of age Rev. J. J. Bowden emigrated with his parents to Ten- nessee, and there remained until 1844, when he moved to Arkansas. While a resident of Tennes- see he met and married Miss Salina Lay, a native of Georgia, who bore him six children, two of whom are now living, one in Texas, and the other in Conway County, Ark. After coming to Arkan- sas Mr. Bowden settled in Gum Log Valley, but afterward purchased eighty acres of land on Crow Mountain, where he resided six years. He after- ward purchased 300 acres at Gravel Hill, and gave eleven acres of this to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, the land, at the present time, being valued at $100 per acre, upon which he has ex- pended on his own account, and out of his own pocket, at least $500. Later he sold this farm, and retired to his farm at Gravel Hill, where he now resides, and where, despite his increasing years, he still carries on his occupation of farming,
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though in a limited way, having rented most of his land to tenants. When Mr. Bowden first lo- cated on his present farm, the country was thinly settled, and in all the country from Cross Plains to Dover there were but two families. On Crow Mountain, where there are now about 200 families, there were at that time just two families. Mr. Bowden joined the church in 1828, and has always taken a deep interest in church work. When leav- ing Tennessee he brought letters from his church, which he deposited in Gum Log Valley, in what is now known as David Chapel, where he assisted in erecting the first church edifice in Valley Town- ship, and probably the first in Pope County. Mr. Bowden was licensed to preach in 1848, by Dr. A. Hunter; ordained a deacon by Bishop Paine in 1852, and ordained an elder by Bishop Early in 1857. His first ministerial work was on Crow Mountain, where he organized and erected the first church. In 1865, after the close of the war, owing to the unsettled condition of affairs, Mr. Bowden was called upon to take in hand the organization of the churches of Dover circuit, on which there were twenty-four appointments, and to which it was difficult or impossible to send a regular itin- erant. Mr. Bowden found the churches in a de- moralized condition, but undertook the work, which he successfully accomplished in about a month, presiding over that circuit only a year. He organ- ized the Sunday-school at Gravel Hill, or Bowden Chapel, directly after the war, and also assisted in the organization of several others. He went to Little Red River in 1849, where Methodism had never penetrated, and established a church, which has grown from the seed thus sown to a flourish- ing circuit. His first wife dying in 1852, Mr. Bowden was married, in August of the same year, to Miss Narcissa E. Bewley, daughter of R. S. Bewley, of Pope County. The fruits of this union were ten children, three of whom died in infancy. The remainder are all married, with the exception of one son and a daughter. They are named as follows: Robert S., Benjamin B., Charles D., George A., Anhana C., Miles E. and Sallie F., all but one of whom are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. From 1845 up to the
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