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 35
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beginning of the Civil War, in which he took no part, Mr. Bowden was militia captain. He was appointed postmaster at Moreland post-office in 1866, which position he held for three or four years. He joined a temperance organization at Dover in 1867, and as this is a subject 'in which he takes a great interest, temperance organizations have been established all over Pope County. Al- though in his seventy-seventh year and somewhat deaf, Mr. Bowden can read ordinary print without the aid of glasses. He lost his wife in 1SS5. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church also, and was an active worker in the same. Despite his old age, he raised, the present year, with his own hands, two and one-half bales of cotton, thirty bushels of corn and forty bushels of sweet potatoes, besides he preached nearly every Sunday.
C. L. Bowden, farmer, Allegan, Ark. Among the successful agriculturists of Pope County, whose merits are such as to entitle him to repre- sentation in the present work, is Mr. Bowden, the subject of this sketch. He is a native-born resi- dent of Arkansas, his birth occurring in 1850, and is a son of Hon. John S. and Elizabeth (Reynolds) Bowden, both natives of the Big Bend State, where they were united in marriage. They emigrated to Arkansas about 1840, settled in Marion County, where they remained for about two years, and in 1842 came to Pope County, settling in Gum Log Township. From there they afterward removed to Valley Township, where they entered and bought 200 acres of land, and the father had about ninety acres of this cleared at the time of his death, which occurred in 1865. He was a prominent man and was a member of the Legislature three terms. Both he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of the twelve children born to their marriage, eight are now living: Mrs. Ann Mullens, Mrs. Caroline Brashear, James H., Allen, Charles L., W. Franklin, Mrs. Bell Doughit and Margaret. Charles L. Bowden, subject of this sketch, was reared and educated in Pope County, and in 1869 began working for himself as a tiller of the soil. On Christmas of that year he was mar- ried to Miss Margaret L. Ashmore, daughter of
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James and Denia (Mathews) Ashmore, both natives of Tennessee. Mr. Bowden purchased eighty acres of land in 1872, and of these he soon cleared twen- ty-five acres, and erected an excellent frame house, outbuildings, etc. Later he bought ninety acres more, improved about fifteen acres of this, and now altogether has about eighty-five acres under culti- vation. He is one of the thoroughgoing. enter- prising citizens, and a man of good, sound judg- ment. To his marriage were born nine children: Denia (wife of R. J. Barrett), Minnie May (de- ceased), John S., William J., Frank O., Clifton H., George R., Virgil R. and Emory. Mr. and Mrs. Bowden are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee, and he is also a member of the Sunday-school board. Dur- ing an average season Mr. Bowden's farm will yield twenty-five bushels of corn, or one-half a bale of cotton to the acre.
Hon. Walter W. Brashear, postmaster at Rus- sellville, and a prominent citizen and planter of Pope County, Ark., was born in Marion County, Ark., in 1839, and was the eldest of eleven chil- dren born to M. M. and Sallie L. (Vaughan) Brash- ear, the father a native of the Blue Grass State, and the mother of Tennessee. The father was a farmer by occupation, and came to Arkansas in 1838, locating in Marion County, where he re- mained until 1847. He then came to Pope County, settled in the northern part on 120 acres, and be- ing something of a speculator became the owner of several tracts of land. In 1862 he entered the Federal Army as a recruiting officer of the Second Arkansas Cavalry, continuing in that duty and ranking as major until August, 1864, when he was killed in an engagement in Searcy County. The mother is still living in this county with her daughter. She is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, of which the father was also a mem- ber. The father was a very progressive and active citizen, and was something of a lawyer as well as a tiller of the soil. Walter W. Brashear was early initiated into the duties of farm life, and his educational advantages were limited to the common schools of Pope County. At the age of twenty-one years he started out for himself as a
farmer, but just previous to his twenty-first birth- day he was married to Miss Mary Rackley, a na- tive of Tennessee, who lived but three years, leav- ing two children, both of whom are grown and mar- ried. The eldest one, Sallie, became the wife of Wiley Duvall and resides in this county, and the second, Melvina, is the wife of Henderson H. Pigg, a farmer of this county. During the Civil War Mr. Brashear entered the First Arkansas Cavalry, Com- pany L, Federal Army, under Col. M. La Rue Har- rison. He was captured near Prairie Grove, Ark., December 9, 1862, and was kept a prisoner three months, and upon his return to his command he was commissioned quartermaster-sergeant, filling that position until peace was declared, and operat- ing principally in Arkansas. He was wounded near Prairie Grove. He was mustered out at Fayetteville, Ark., on August 23, 1865, after which he returned home and resumed farming. He was married, the second time, in July, 1865, to Miss Nancy W. Brewer of Arkansas. On his re- turn to Arkansas Mr. Brashear purchased 200 acres of land in the geographical center of the county and made many improvements adding about sixty acres. He has 125 acres under cultivation and has erected two tenant houses. Mr. Brash- ear has always been active in the county's im- provements, and has always been a vigorous and conscientious Republican. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1868, and was a mem- ber of the Lower House of the General Assembly in that year. He has been justice of the peace of Moreland Township for eighteen years, and was appointed postmaster at Russellville under Presi- dent Arthur. Upon the election of Grover Cleve- land he resigned, but was again appointed on March 27, 1889, by President Harrison. This is a distributing office for fifteen offices, is an office of the third grade and is being elevated in business. To Mr. Brashear's second marriage were born thirteen children, nine of whom are living: Mary E. (married A. C. Bowden and died in 1888, leaving one daughter), Mortimore (died at the age of three years), Maggie (became the wife of C. H. Dunn), Victoria (became the wife of Cinclair Perry, and resides with our subject),
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Lincoln (died at the age of two years), Martha Lue, Adam C., Ford, Ursly, Warren, Lillian, Thomas and Mama are the others. Mr. Brashear was baptized in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in February, 1840, and has been an active mem- ber since. He was a delegate to the general con- ference in Cincinnati in 1880, and to many local conferences. Mrs. Brashear and the children are members of the same church. Mr. Brashear is a Mason, a member of Blue Lodge No. 274, Chapter No. 76, and Palestine Commandery No. 7, all of Russellville. He has been master of the Blue Lodge and secretary of the chapter. He assisted in the organization of Cross Plains Lodge and was its first master.
D. C. Brown, merchant of Dover, Ark. In the preparation of this brief outline of the life history of one of the most worthy residents of Pope County, appear facts which are greatly to his credit. His intelligence, enterprise, integrity as well as many other worthy qualities, have acquired for him a popularity not derived from any factitious cir- cumstances, but a permanent and spontaneous tribute to his merit. He was born in Randolph County, N. C., April 12, 1837, and with his father, Samuel Brown, a mechanic, came to Arkansas, when five years of age, and as he was compelled to labor on a farm in his youth, he received only the advantages of the common schools near his home. At the age of twenty-one years he began doing business for himself, entering the general mercantile store of D. James as a clerk, and after remaining there two years, he severed his connec- tion with this establishment and went to Clarks- ville, where he entered the store of B. F. Hershey, two years also being spent here, at the end of which time he had been elected sheriff of Pope County, and in August, 1860, gave up his clerk- ship and entered upon his duties as a public offi- cial, which position he filled in a highly satisfactory manner for two years. He then resigned his office to enter the Confederate Army as first lieu- tenant of Company A, Williamson's battalion of Arkansas Volunteers, and was sent to Mississippi, where in the fall of 1862 he was discharged on ac- count of disability resulting from sickness. In
December of the same year he had recovered suffi- ciently to re-enlist, and was elected first lieutenant of Company A, Hill's regiment, Arkansas Cavalry, and was immediately placed on active service, and was in the battles of Pine Bluff, Poison Springs, Mark's Mills, and was with Price on his raid in Missouri in 1864. While on that raid near Dover he was promoted to the rank of captain, after which he took part in the battles of Pilot Knob, Boonville, Jefferson City, Independence, Fayette- ville, afterward going to Camp Monroe, where they remained for some time. They were dis- mounted near Spring Hill, Ark., and were assigned to duty in Gen. Roan's infantry regiment, and were marched to Camp Magruder, La., thence to Shreveport and afterward to Marshall, Tex., where they were discharged. Mr. Brown then returned home to find his property scattered and every- thing laid waste. After teaching a three months' term of school on Big Piney Creek he returned to Dover and entered into partnership with D. P. West in the mercantile business, but this partner- ship was dissolved by mutual consent after a few years. Since that time Mr. Brown has been in business alone. Although he began with a very small capital at the close of the war he has accumu- lated a good property, and is the owner of a tract of land comprising eighty acres, lying near the town. He was married on January 10, 1858, to Miss R. E. Hagins, of Dover, but she and their infant child died while Mr. Brown was in the army. He was remarried on February 7, 1866, to Mrs. A. J. Rankin, of Dover, and one child, a daughter named Marie, blessed their union, she being now the wife of J. A. Miller, of Russellville. Mr. Brown and his wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in which he holds the office of Sunday-school superintendent. He is chaplain in the A. F. & A. M. lodge of Dover, is a Democrat politically, and at all times gives liberally of his means in the support of worthy enterprises.
J. J. Brown (deceased) was one of the most successful and progressive farmers of Pope County, Ark. His father and mother were born in Ala- bama and came to this county, and at a very early
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day settled in Martin Township with their parents. The early educational opportunities of the subject of this sketch were very limited, yet he improved his opportunities to the best of his ability, so that he was enabled to transact all necessary busi- ness connected with his farm. He entered the army when but sixteen years of age as a private, and served three years, but during this time was promoted to first lieutenant. Upon his return home, at the close of the war, he rented and worked his father's farm, which had been laid waste during the war. During this time he was married to Miss Sallie L. Rushing of Dover Town- ship, who proved to him a helpmate indeed. They lived together for twenty-one years in perfect harmony, and it was as much by the help of his wife as by his own perseverance and energy, that he made so great a success of his life. He pur- chased lands at different times until he at one time was the owner of 1,000 acres, which land was in his possession at the time of his death, on which he still owed $1,000, which sum of money Mrs. Brown has since paid, so that she is the owner of the place, free from all incumbrance. She has about 350 acres under cultivation, which she rents out, but as she is an intelligent and shrewd business woman, she has personal super- vision of her property. Mr. Brown was reared in the Baptist faith, and although not a member of any church, was a moral, upright man in every worthy particular and had the thorough good-will and respect of his fellow-men. He was born on March 9, 1844, and died in 1888, his marriage having taken place in 1867. He and his wife became the parents of four children: Joseph O., Maggie B., Willie G. and I. J. The eldest son, Joseph, is attending school at Dover, and is now twenty-two years of age. Maggie is married to Edward Truitt, and is living in Newton County, Ark., and all the children have received good educational advantages. Mrs. Brown was born in this county August 15, 1848, but on account of the war she attended school but little in her girl- hood. She has been a member of the Presbyter- ian Church since before her marriage, and is in every respect a worthy, Christian lady, being con-
scientious, charitable and kindly in disposition. The buildings on her farm are among the best in the county, and it is also improved by a fine peach and apple orchard, and, in fact, everything about the place bespeaks thrift and intelligent industry.
Dr. J. W. Bruton. As a man of business Mr. Bruton's name and fame is co-extensive with Pope County and the surrounding country. He has been closely identified with every interest of this sec- tion, and as a merchant has built up a large and paying business by his ability and foresight. He was born in Pope County, Ark., on January 15, 1837, to James. and Sallie (Angel) Bruton, who were born in Kentucky and Tennessee in 1796 and 1806, respectively, the former passing to his long home in 1862, and the latter in 1854. James Bru- ton was a minister of the Baptist Church, and rep- resented Pope County in the State Legislature for three terms, being one of the leading citizens of this section during his day. J. W. Bruton bas spent the most of his life in Pope County, and, notwithstanding the fact that his early advantages were poor, he has by self application become a well-posted and intelligent man. Upon attaining his majority he began making his own way in the world, and after devoting considerable time to the study of medicine he, in 1865, began practicing that profession, but in 1886 was compelled to give up this calling on account of failing health. He then threw open to the public a general mercan- tile store at Appleton with a stock of goods worth about $2,000, and this calling he has continued with flattering success up to the present time. Dr. Bruton is also a minister of the gospel, and first began preaching the doctrines of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1878. He was married in October, 1858, to Miss Jennie Montgomery, a daughter of John C. and Matilda (Grayson) Mont- gomery, by whom he became the father of these children: Elliot R., James H., Elnora V. (de- ceased), Viola E., Theora A., Nettie L. and Mit- tie M. Dr. Bruton volunteered in the Confederate Army in 1862, but was discharged at the end of three months on account of ill health.
James Bruton, father of Dr. J. W. Bruton, as a minister was elected chaplain of the State Senate
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of Arkansas in 1854, and filled the position with credit to himself, giving satisfaction to all inter- ested. He organized very nearly all of the Baptist Churches that existed in Pope, Conway and John- son Counties before the war. He moderated the convention that constituted the first Baptist asso- ciation in that part of Arkansas. Politically he was ever a firm Democrat, and as a legislator he was always earnest, working for the interest of the people. His name will be long remembered by the older citizens of Arkansas. John C. Montgomery, father of Mrs. Jennie Bruton, held the office of clerk of Monroe County, Ark., for eight successive years, and until his death. He was a prominent man in said county. Dr. J. W. Bruton's children are as follows: Elliot R. Bruton (was married to Mr. J. J. Williams, who is in the mercantile busi- ness at Appleton, Ark.), James Homer Bruton (is a young man with good business qualifications, who has written much for different newspapers; he is a merchant of Appleton, Ark.), Viola E. Bruton (married John A. Lewis, Esq., a prominent lawyer of Appleton).
A. P. Bryan. Pope County, Ark., is one of the most fertile counties of the State, and in this highly productive region Mr. Bryan has resided from his birth and has become well known to the inhabitants of this section. His birth occurred November 8, 1845, to Darius and Susan (Hamilton) Bryan, the former being a native and farmer of North Caro- lina, but was married in this county, his union re- sulting in the birth of seven sons and three daugh- ters, the following members of the family being now alive: Miranda R., (wife of L. D. Cannon), L. D., A. P., James, Algianun, Robert, Belle Z. (wife of James Grantham), and William E. Nora is dead. Mr. Bryan came to this State at a very early day and for several years was constable of the township in which he settled. He became well known and highly honored throughout this section. He and his wife both died of small pox in February, 1876. A. P. Bryan has always been a resident of Pope County, and for the conscientious discharge of every duty in every relation in life no man is more worthy of respect and esteem than he. In 1868 he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy A. Mul-
lins, a native of the State of Georgia, born in 1845, and in due course of time a family of six children gathered about their fireside, their names being as follows: Eliza E., Charles D., Elizabeth, Finis, William F. and George W. By hard work and good management Mr. Bryan has become the owner of 252 acres of land, 90 of which he has suc- ceeded in putting under cultivation, and on which he has erected a substantial frame residence and good barns. He also has an excellent orchard of apple, peach and plum trees and a good vineyard. He is a member of Russellville Lodge No. 1353 of the K. of H.
Amos Bullock has given his attention to farming throughout life, and as a result of his years of hard labor he now has a good home and is well fixed financially. He was born in Weakley County, Tenn., in 1842, to W. J. and Mary A. (Wallace) Bullock, who were born in Tennessee and Ken- tucky, respectively, their removal to Arkansas tak- ing place about 1857. They "pitched their tent " in Pope County, Ark., and here the father resided until his death in 1883, of typhoid fever. He and his wife reared a large family to honored manhood and womanhood, their sons numbering nine and their daughters two. Owing to their large family, and the rather hard time they had to properly feed and clothe their children, the latter did not receive much of an education. In 1869 Amos be- gan doing business for himself, and as above stated has devoted his life to farming. He was first married in 1868 to Miss Lydia F. Rowland, a daughter of G. W. and Lavina (Candle) Rowland, and to their union these children were born: Mary L. (who died at the age of seven), and Sarah E. (who passed from life at the age of eight). Mr. Bullock's second marriage took place November 23, 1871, Mary E. Ross, a daughter of Melton H. and Rachel (Brown) Ross, becoming his wife. In 1862 Mr. Bullock enlisted in the Confederate Army, and served until the war was over. He has been justice of the peace for six years, and on September 1, 1890, was elected for another term by the Demo- cratic party, of which he has always been a mem- ber, as are his eight brothers.
Jackson T. Bullock, clerk of the circuit court,
d vidgid
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Russellville, Ark. Mr. Bullock, the present effi- cient incumbent of the office of clerk of the circuit court, is a man of sober, sound judgment, progres- sive ideas, and one who attracts the regard of all who approach him. He was originally from Weak- ley County, Tenn., his birth occurring on Sep- tember 22, 1855, and was the sixth of eleven chil- dren born to William J. and Mary Ann (Wallace) Bullock, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Ten- nessee. The parents were married in the last named State, and the father followed agricultural pursuits until 1856, when he came to Marion County, Ark., and from there to Pope County in the following year. His death occurred in this county in 1883. The mother is still living on the old homestead, three miles north of Dover. The paternal great-grandfather of our subject, William Bullock, was an Englishman, and came to the United States about the time of the Revolutionary War. He settled in Virginia, and followed farm- ing there until his death which occurred when our subject's father, William Jefferson Bullock, was an infant. Amos Bullock, grandfather of our subject, was born in the Old Dominion, emigrated to Ten- nessee at an early day, followed farming, and there his death occurred about 1858. Jackson T. Bul- lock's educational advantages were limited, for he attended only the common three months' schools. He began teaching at the age of seventeen years and followed that as his principal occupation until the age of thirty-one when he was elected county judge. He taught many years in one school and was a popular and very successful educator. He held the office of county judge for two terms (four years), and on September 1, 1890, he was elected circuit clerk of the county. He has ever been an active worker for the Democratic party. He was married on October 1, 1882, to Miss Win- nie Price, a native of this county and daugh- ter of Allen A. Price, one of the early settlers of Tennessee. The fruits of this union were four children: Zola May (who died at the age of seven months), Allen Jefferson, Tillie and Mary Frances. Mr. Bullock is a Mason, of Scottville Lodge No. 112, and was master of that lodge for five years. He has taken the chapter degrees. Mrs. Bullock
is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Bullock is the owner of a small farm, has forty acres under cultivation, and has a pleasant home in Russellville.
George Byerly, farmer, Atkins, Ark., was born in Germany in July, 1819, and has all the promi- nent characteristics of those of German birth, be- ing thrifty, industrious and enterprising. He is the son of Conrad and Elizabeth (Schmidt) Byerly, natives of the old country, who emigrated to America in 1836. The parents located in Clarke, Ind., bought land and there tilled the soil until their deaths in 1848. Of the six children born to their marriage, five were sons and one a daughter. The daughter, Mary, married a man by the name of Caufman, and is now deceased. The sons were named Michael, David, George, Paul and John. The last named died in Louisville, Ky., several years ago. David went to Boston, Mass., on a visit and died while there, and Michael died in Indiana about 1878. George Byerly removed from Indi- ana to Louisville, Ky., about 1848, but prior to this, in 1843, he was married to Miss Margaret Edlin. He became disgusted with farming in In- diana, being obliged to sell corn at 123 cents and wheat for 373 cents per bushel, after going a dis tance of eight miles to market, and after moving to Kentucky he engaged in hack driving in Louis- ville, accumulated some money, and then moved to Arkansas in 1854, pausing for about two years in Conway County before permanently locating in Pope County. He here bought land and has been engaged in tilling the soil ever since. He now owns 320 acres of land and has 210 acres under culti- vation. He has also 112 acres in Conway County. When the war broke out he had seventy-five head of cattle, twenty-four horses and mules and 2,000 bushels of corn, all of which were appropriated by the Union troops, Mr. Byerly never receiving a cent of money for his property. To his marriage were born ten children, five of whom are now living: John, Michael, America, Mary and Georgia. John is married and resides in Logan County, where he is engaged in the drug business at National Springs; Michael is clerk in a dry-goods store in Morrillton; America resides in Morrillton and is the wife of
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Richard Brooks who is the owner of a large amount of real estate; Mary married Calhoun Strong, a pros- perous merchant of Morrillton, and Georgia married James Collins, a farmer of Pope County. Mr. Byer- ly has retired from active business, and is living in Atkins where he is honored and esteemed. He is now seventy-one and his wife seventy years of age. Both are church members, he of the Methodist and she of the Regular Baptist Church. They are liberal contributors to all laudable enterprises, and are among the leading citizens of the com- munity.
A. J. Collins, farmer, Holly Bend, Ark. Pope County, Ark., is acknowledged by all to be one of the best agricultural portions of the State, and as such its citizens are men of advanced ideas and considerable prominence. A worthy man among this class is found in the person of Mr. Collins who was born in the Old Dominion, Botetourt County, in March, 1840. He removed from Vir- ginia to Alabama in 1861, and there he was oc- cupied in repairing telegraph line and was engaged in the same business in Mississippi and Tennessee until 1871. After that he had charge of a gang of section hands on the M. & C. R. R. for two years. He then returned to Mississippi, bought land and was engaged in farming until 1880. In 1865 he was married to Miss Matilda Feagin, daughter of Thomas Feagin, of Mississippi, and to them were born ten children, viz. : William F., A. J., J. D., Minnie J., Fanny Ann, George S., Lily D., Lulu May, Luther J. and Ann Elizabeth. Three of these children are deceased: Lulu May, Luther J. and Ann E. William F. and A. J. are residing in Texas, but the other children are at home with their parents. Mr. Collins lost his first wife in September, 1885, and was left with eight children to care for. In January, 1886, he was married to Miss Mary J. McMasters, daughter of Jonathan McMasters of Mississippi. Our sub- ject returned to the last named State on purpose to marry Miss McMasters, having formed her ac- quaintance some years before while in that State. To the last union were born two children: Anna Eliza and Luther Franklin, the latter deceased. Mr. Collins now owns 120 acres of good land situ-
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