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 36
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ated in Holly Bend Township, Pope County, and near Holly Bend post-office, and has sixty-five acres under cultivation. He and Mrs. Collins are mem- bers of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Col- lins was one of twelve children, eight now living, two besides our subject residing in Arkansas, born to the union of John D. and Nancy (Perry) Collins, both natives of Virginia. The paternal grandpar- ents were of Irish and the maternal of German descent.
William L. Crow, farmer, Caglesville, Ark. Mr. Crow is a man of decided intellectual ability, and his progressive ideas and energetic, wide- awake manner of taking advantage of all new meth- ods have had not a little to do with his success in life. He was born in Jackson County, Ark., in 1865, and is one of twelve children, five of whom are living, born to Stephen and Tempy A. (Boyd) Crow, the father a native of South Carolina, and the mother of Georgia. The children besides our subject now living are Mrs. Sarah L. Benton, Mrs. Mary A. Sherrell, Mrs. Miley D. Pearson and Mrs. Dulcina Howard. The parents moved to Arkan- sas in 1860, settled in Jackson County, where they purchased 120 acres of land, of which they cleared about seventy acres, and then sold out and came to Pope County in 1872. There they purchased 120 acres of land, homesteaded eighty acres more, and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1887, the father had cleared about sixty acres. The mother is still living. At the age of nineteen years William L. Crow removed to Russellville, re- mained there for nearly two years, and then went to Center Township, where in connection with farming he taught school, engaging in the latter occupation about six months each year. He is sole heir to his father's estate, in which his mother holds a life interest, and he has made many improve- ments, erecting barns, cribs, and clearing land. His principal crops are corn, cotton and oats, and he is also engaged in stock-raising. Mr. Crow is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, is vice-president of Pope County Sunday- school Association for Center Township, and is also vice-president of the Singing School Associa- tion for said township. He has been secretary of
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the Sunday-school Association three terms, secre- tary of the home Sunday-school for seven or eight years, and superintendent of the same for a year. At a special election he was made justice of the peace in 1888, and was re-elected to that position in 1890. He has been chairman of the township con- vention, and is a member of the Democratic central committee of Pope County. Mr. Crow has been on the staff of the Russellville Democrat for ten years as correspondent and reporter, and by a system of short-hand of his own, is able to report speeches, etc. This he has frequently done for the Demo- crat, and also writes for the Pope County Mail, and for the City and Country, an Ohio publication, devoted to farming interests. He has also reported for other papers on special occasions. At the pres- ent time Mr. Crow is turning his attention to fruit- raising, having planted 1,200 apple and some peach trees, and now has an orchard of about 300 trees. His land is nicely adapted to fruit-raising, all varieties thriving in this section.
John C. Darr, merchant, Athens, Ark. Prom- inent among the successful business concerns of Athens stands the mercantile establishment con- ducted by Mr. Darr, who is one of the city's most enterprising and popular business men. He was born in the Tar Heel State, Lincoln County, in 1833, and of the six children born to his parents, Henry R. and Ann (Blackburn) Darr, he was second in order of birth. He attained his growth on the farm, was educated in the country schools, and at the age of eighteen years he left his home to learn the trade of plasterer and bricklayer. After finishing his apprenticeship, in 1858, he came with his family to Arkansas and settled in Pope County. In 1859 he went to Mississippi, remained there for one year, and then returned to Pope County, where he was residing at the break- ing out of the war. He enlisted in Dodson's com- pany, and was in a number of skirmishes in Arkansas, but was soon taken sick and discharged. After a time he joined Company E, Gordon's regiment, Cabell's brigade (cavalry) and served in the Trans-Mississippi Department, and on outpost duty. He was in several skirmishes in Louisiana. was in the battles of Poison Spring and Marks-
ville, was at Jenkins' Ferry, but not in battle, and was in nearly all the engagements of Price's raid through Missouri. He was captured near Pisgah Church in Pope County in the winter of 1864, was sent to the military prison at Little Rock, and was released at Gen. Lee's surrender. He then came home and for a year was in bad health, and on this account went to Texas where he remained until 1871. He went to Hot Springs in 1871, and was engaged in mercantile business there until spring of 1874. While residing in Texas he was engaged in contracting and building and erected many of the first buildings in Waco and Jefferson. In 1874 he came to Atkins, and at once engaged in business with his brother, J. F. Darr, the partnership continuing until 1881, when they sep- arated, and Mr. Darr has been in business alone ever since. Mr. Darr now occupies a large build- ing, 25x100 feet, with warehouse, and owns another building which he erected, 26x120 feet, for a store- room. He carries a full line of general merchan- dise of about $11,000, and does an annual business of about $35,000, buying cotton and doing a plan- tation supply trade. In 1880 he erected a neat residence in town and owns considerable other town property besides a farm of 260 acres which he rents. He was married in 1871 to Miss S. D. Wilson, of this county, a daughter of James Wil- son, who is one of the old settlers of this section. It was in honor of the latter's grandfather, who came here at an early day, that Wilson Township was named. To this union were born six chil- dren, four of whom are living and two dead: Emmett L., Claude W., John E., Lizzie and Annie (twins). Annie died at the age of six months, and the first born child died unnamed. Mrs. Darr, who died in 1883, was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Darr was married the second time in 1885 to Miss M. E. Scarlett, who was born and raised in this town- ship (Wilson).
E. A. Darr, merchant, Atkins, La. This pop- ular and very successful business man was origi- nally from North Carolina, his birth occurring in 1835, and was the third in a family of six children orn to Henry R. and Ann (Blackburn) Darr, both
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of whom were natives also of North Carolina. The father was a farmer, was quite a prominent citizen, and held several county offices of trust. He died in his native State in 1845. The mother is also deceased. The paternal grandfather, Henry Darr, was of German descent, and was a farmer by pursuit. He was a soldier in the Revolution- ary War. His wife lived to be ninety-nine years of age, and often told her grandson, E. A. Darr, many interesting events of the Revolution. She had a number of relics of that eventful period. The maternal grandfather, David Blackburn, was of English descent, and was also a soldier in the Revolutionary War. E. A. Darr was taught the rudiments of farm labor, but at an early age he learned the trade of bricklayer and mason. He was married in 1870 to Miss L. C. Plott, a native of the Old Tar State, and to them were born eight children, five now living: Guy, Ida (died at the age of sixteen years), Roy (died in infancy), Fay, Ora, Ira, Ree and Ott (who died in infancy). Af- ter learning his trade Mr. Darr worked at that until 1860. He came to Arkansas in 1858, settled near Atkins with mother and family, and at the breaking out of the war in 1861 enlisted in the Confederate Army, Company B, Second Arkan- sas Mounted Riflemen. He was in the battles of Oak Hill (Mo.), Pea Ridge (Ark.), and the command then crossed the Mississippi, where Mr. Darr was in the battles of Farmington and Richmond, Ky. He was wounded at the last-named place on Au- gust 30, 1862, and reached home in 1863. After the war he worked at his trade for a year, and then engaged as clerk for R. A. Dowdle, at Galla Rock. The next year he became a member of the firm, and has since been an active merchant. In 1873 he came to Atkins, cleared the land, and was the first to make a settlement. He was among the first merchants. In 1880 he erected his fine brick store, 25x140 feet, and carries a full line of gen- eral merchandise and plantation supplies. He car- ries a stock of goods valued at $12,000, and does an annual business of from $50,000 to $75,000. He is an energetic business man, abundantly worthy of the large measure of success achieved. Aside from this he is the owner of about 2,000 acres in
different tracts, with considerable under cultiva- tion and all of which he rents. He was made post- master at Atkins in 1873, and was also the first railroad agent at that place. He owns one of the best residences in the town, and a number of other residences. Mr. Darr is a self-made man in the fullest sense of that much-abused term, and is en- terprising, progressive and public spirited. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Galla Rock Lodge No. 172, is a K. of P., of Arcadia Lodge No. 24, and is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 38. He is an active supporter of the principles of De- mocracy.
James F. Darr, merchant, Atkins, Ark., is another prominent business man of Atkins, and as such he has the confidence and respect of all. His birth occurred in North Carolina in 1841, and of the six children born to his parents, Henry and Ann (Blackburn) Darr (see sketch of J. C. Darr), he was fifth in order of birth. He attended the schools of his native State, and there remained until 1858, when he came to Arkansas, and there followed farming until 1874. . At the opening of the war in 1861, he enlisted in Company I, King's regiment, and was in the battles of Prairie Grove, Helena and Little Rock, after which he went to Louisiana. Later he returned to Arkansas, and was in the battle of Jenkins' Ferry, and numerous skirmishes. He surrendered at Marshall, Tex. Returning to Arkansas he first engaged in farming, and in 1874 he came to Atkins, where he has since been engaged in merchandising. He first was in partnership with J. C. Darr, but they dissolved partnership in 1881, and our subject has since been in business alone. In 1881 he erected his fine two-story brick business house, 25x140 feet, and has a large warehouse. He carries a stock of goods valued at $14,000, and does an annual busi- ness of about $30,000. He buys cotton, and does a general furnishing business. Aside from his mercantile interest he is the owner of 100 acres of land, and has sixty-five acres under cultivation. In 1884 he erected a neat two-story residence, and has a pleasant, comfortable home. He is also the owner of fifteen acres in town, and two tenant houses. He was married in 1868 to Miss Mary J.
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Hearin, a native of Pope County, and the daughter of J. A. Hearin, who is a pioneer of this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Darr were born nine children, six of whom are living: John E. (book-keeper in Mr. Darr's store), William E., James L., Roy W., Alva C. and Earl. Eugene, Carl and an infant are deceased. Mr. Darr was the first mayor of Atkins. He is a member of the K. of P., Arcadia Lodge No. 44, and has been chancellor com- mander. Mrs. Darr is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
John W. Daniel. farmer, Atkins, Ark. Mr. Daniel was born in Cherokee County, Ala., on February 9, 1859, and is the son of Thomas Y. and Elizabeth (Clifton) Daniel, the father a native of South Carolina, and the mother of Georgia. The parents were married in Chero- kee County, Ala., and resided there until 1860, when they removed to Pope County, Ark. They bought large tracts of land, 265 acres in Lee Township, Pope County, lying on Arkansas River, and 440 acres partly in Conway and partly in Pope Counties. They reared a family of four children, William M., Mary D., Thomas Y. and John W., all of whom are living in Pope County, and engaged in tilling the soil. William married Miss Ada Tobey, and is the father of three chil- dren. Mary D., married John White, a stanch Democrat, who is deputy sheriff and has served in that capacity for ten years. Thomas Y. is not married, and is also an agriculturist. John W. Daniel was married in November, 1887, to Miss Lucy H. Talkington, whose parents died several years ago. To this marriage have been born two children, a son and daughter, Connie and Thom- as Y., the former about two years old and the latter two months. Mr. Daniel has 200 acres of land in Lee Township, lying on the river, all rich bottom land and worth at least $40 per acre. On this he raises corn and cotton, producing easily a bale of cotton to the acre. Mr. Daniel farms some himself, but rents the most of his land. He is one of the most prosperous farmers in Pope Coun- ty, and one of its most liberal contributors to all laudable enterprises. In politics he is strictly Democratic.
Caleb Davis, planter, Gum Log, Ark. The par- ents of Mr. Davis, Caleb and Catherine (Henderson) Davis, were natives of Maryland and South Caro- lina, respectively. The father was a farmer, and left Tennessee for Missouri in 1809, settled near New Madrid, where he experienced the earthquake shock two years later, his house being destroyed by the same. He followed farming, and died in 1816. The mother died at the same place in 1865. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and reared their son Caleb to that belief. The lat- ter was born in Tennessee in 1808, moved with his parents to Missouri in 1809, and there resided un- til 1831, when he came to Arkansas, settling in Pope County, on the same farm where he now re- sides, the following year. At that time the country was a wilderness, and in that year Mr. Davis built the first house in Gum Log Valley. He entered 900 acres of land, cleared 300 acres, and as his children grew up he gave them farms, so that at the present time he owns but a small portion of the original tract. He organized the first Sunday- school in this section in 1839, and has been super- intendent of that school ever since, being elected annually since the first school. On the fiftieth anniversary of this school an entertainment was given, at which many Sunday-school workers from all parts of the State were present. He has also been an earnest advocate of public schools, and has been director for years. Mr. Davis was a sol- dier in the Mexican War, was on frontier duty, and was also a Confederate soldier in the Civil War. He raised a company and was in the battle of Pea Ridge, Corinth, Grand Gulf, Baker Creek, Black River, Iuka, and was through the siege of Vicks- burg. He had been promoted to colonel, but dur- ing the siege he commanded a brigade. He was captured, paroled, and came home, after which he did not return to the army. He was married in Mis- souri, in 1827, to Miss Elizabeth Tackett, who bore him ten children, three now living: William P. (died at the age of thirty-five years), James Lewis (has been farming in California for fifty years), Andrew Jackson (died at the age of eleven years), John Alvin (died in Texas when forty years of age). George W. (a minister of the Methodist Episcopal
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Church South), Caleb Marion (killed on his way home after the war), Narcissus P. (died in 1884), Sarah E. (died at eleven years of age), one died in infancy, and Albert Q. (the youngest, a success- ful farmer on the old homestead). Mr. Davis has been a steward in the Methodist Episcopal Church South for forty years, class leader for thirty years, and has always been a liberal contributor to church and Sunday-school. He was county judge for six years, first in 1847, serving two years, again in 1860, for two years, and still again in 1866, for two more years. He has been an extensive stock- raiser, a prosperous farmer, and ran a cotton-mill and gin for years. He had a horse-mill at first, and served the whole country. In 1874 he se- cured a special post route to Gum Log, once a week, and was the first postmaster at that place. They now have mail three times a week, and Mr. Davis has been postmaster all the time. He is one of the oldest and most eminently respected citizens of the county. Although considerably over three-score years and ten, the allotted age of man, time has dealt very leniently with him, and he is in compar- atively good health, bidding fair to live many years longer.
Samuel B. Dickey, farmer, Potts Station, Ark. The subject of this sketch is one of the honored pioneers of Pope County. He has been located here for thirty-four years, and has not only become well- known, but the respect and esteem shown him is as wide as his acquaintance. His finely improved farm of 240 acres is adorned with a commodious residence, and everything about the place indicates to the beholder a prosperous owner. Mr. Dickey was born in Lincoln County, N. C., in 1810, and is the son of Alexander and Margaret (Blackwood) Dickey, natives of Ireland and North Carolina, re- spectively. They both received their final sum- mons in the last named State. Samuel B. Dickey was married in his native State to Miss Mary Oates, daughter of John Oates, and the fruits of this union were six children: Margaret Ann, Eliza- beth J., John O., Alexander B., Nancy and Will- iam, all of whom died in North Carolina except William. Mr. Dickey removed with his family to Pope County, Ark., in 1856, and here his daughter
Katie was born. She married William Ferguson and died in 1887 leaving her husband and three children. Mr. Dickey is now one of the oldest and most respected citizens of the county. His chil- dren are all deceased, but he has one grandson liv- ing with him. This child is named John C. Falls, and is the son of their daughter, Elizabeth J. Honored and esteemed by all, this worthy couple will pass the sunset of their days in Pope County, where so many years of their lives have been passed.
Thomas H. Elgin has been a resident of Pope County, Ark., since the year 1878, having come hither from Quincy, Ill. He first settled at Potts Station, and was engaged as a commercial traveler until 1882, when he took up his abode at Russell- ville, and opened a marble shop. From that time until the present he has had a constantly increas- ing trade which extends the entire length of the Little Rock Railroad, and his annual sales amount to about $10,000. His work has a wide reputation, and the demand is constantly increasing, a fact which speaks for itself as to the merit of the work done in his shop. His latest work of merit is the monument erected at Galla Rock for Col. Taylor, which is fifteen feet in height, and is of the finest Italian marble. A fine monument was also erected in memory of D. C. Williams and wife of Van Buren, this monument being of Rutland marble, and compares favorably with any work in the cemetery. Mr. Elgin also uses in his business the Georgia marble, Rutland Blue and White. He is now under contract to furnish stone trimmings for the Peoples' Exchange Bank of this county. He was born in Palmyra, Mo., November 18, 1840, and his early opportunities for acquiring an edu- cation were rather limited, being obtained in the common schools. He was taking a collegiate course when the war broke out, but left school to enlist in the State Guards under Price, but later was in the commissary department of detached service. He next became a member of Company E, Marma- duke's division of cavalry, and before the close of the war was promoted to first lieutenant, taking part in the battles of Pea Ridge, Corinth, Iuka, Grand Gulf, Vicksburg and many others of less
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importance. He was taken prisoner at Vicksburg, but was paroled immediately. Although he re- ceived several flesh wounds, he was never serious- ly injured, and was always soon able to resume his duties. At the close of the war he returned to Quincy, Ill., where his father resided, and after- ward began traveling in the interests of a marble firm, and has been connected with that work ever since. He is a member of the Christian Church of Russellville, and socially belongs to the Russell- ville Lodge No. 76 of the A. F. & A. M. and Rus- sellville Lodge No. 47 of the K. of P., in each of which he holds prominent offices. In politics he is a Democrat, and as a business man has not his superior in this section of the country, for besides being perfectly honorable in every particular he is wide-awake and enterprising, and at all times strives to meet the wants of his patrons. He is unmarried.
J. B. Evants is the senior member of the gen- eral mercantile firm of Evants & Co., of Russell- ville, Ark., and was born in Pope County, March 17, 1839, to William Evants and wife, who moved to this county from Middle Tennessee, in 1830, the father's death occurring here in January, 1884, at. the age of seventy-one years. Of a family of ten children born to him and his wife, three sons and five daughters are still living, all but one son and one daughter, who live in Texas, being residents of this county. J. B. Evants was given the ad- vantages of the common schools for a short period each year, the rest of the time being devoted to farm labor. He began earning his own living at the age of seventeen years, and in 1857 started across the plains to California, where he was en- gaged in mining and stock-raising for ten years. In 1867 he returned to Russellville, Ark., and pur- chased a farm of eighty acres, on which he settled and began to improve. After attending to its cul- tivation for one year he opened a store at Dover, but at the end of one year's residence was married there and moved with his family to California and engaged in the raising of sheep. He started for Nevada with 3,000 head of sheep, but while in one of the passes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains be was overtaken by a snowstorm and every sheep
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perished. He immediately returned to Arkansas, and here followed merchandising until State troubles in 1872, when his whole stock of goods was taken from him, leaving him involved to the extent of $2,000. He then turned to the soil for a way out of his difficulties, and during the ten years that he devoted to farming he paid off all his indebtedness, and at the end of that time (in 1884) resumed merchandising, and has since received an abundant share of fortune's favors. He now does an annual business of $20,000, and is the owner of 500 acres of land in this county, 400 of which are under cultivation. In addition to this he has a good home in the west part of Russellville, and a number of tenement houses and store buildings which he rents. He has $1,000 stock in the cotton factory of this place, besides being interested in some other prosperous investments. In January, 1869, he was married to Miss Louisa, a daughter of John Petty, of Dover, and by her he has two sons and two daughters. The eldest, Franklin Q., is at- tending school in Tennessee, but the other mem- bers of the family are attending school in Russell- ville. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Evants belongs to the K. of P., and in his political views is a Democrat. Although he has met with many business reverses he has never despaired, but has devoted all his energies to bending circumstances to his will, and the handsome fortune of which he is now the possessor is the result of unswerving fidelity to every detail of his work.
Loyd D. Ford, merchant and planter, Atkins, Ark. This prominent business man and planter first saw the light of day in Tennessee, May 21, 1832, and of the ten children born to his parents he was the youngest in order of birth. The father, Thomas Ford, was born in 1787, in Maryland, and was married in Tennessee to Miss Margaret Chap- man, a native of Tennessee, her birth occurring in 1792. In 1834 they moved to Kentucky, and the father followed farming and blacksmithing until 1844, when he moved to Arkansas, settling in Poin- sett County, where he had eight children living. He was killed in 1854 by a fall from a horse. The mother died in Kentucky in March, 1843. Loyd
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D. Ford resided with his brother until twenty- six years of age, and was then married to Miss Catherine McClode, a native of Pope County. He then entered a farm of eighty acres in the western part of Pope County and there resided for five years when his wife died, leaving two children, both of whom are also deceased. In 1862 he enlisted in Hill's battalion and served in Arkansas. He was in very poor health, and on this account was in service only about a year. He was married the second time in July, 1863, to Mrs. Elizabeth Grif- fin, daughter of Charles Carrell, and a native of Tennessee. In 1865 Mr. Ford bought a farm of 200 acres on Point Remove Creek, and to this has since added until at the present time he is the owner of 360 acres in one tract and has 120 acres under cultivation. The remainder is in timber. He also owns eighty-one acres in the bottom lands, has sixty-five acres of this under cultivation, and is the owner of land in Faulkner and Conway Counties. He resided on his farm until 1876 and then moved to Atkins, where he erected a residence and has since made his home. In 1884 he engaged in gen- eral merchandising with J. A. Bost, with whom he continued for fifteen months. Mr. Ford's time is now mostly occupied in renting and overseeing his land, but he has retired from active business. When Mr. Ford first came to Pope County he was sick and did not own a dollar. All he has made is the result of his own enterprise and industry. In 1876 he, with Mr. Bost, built the first steam-mill and cotton-gin in Atkins, which was well patro- nized, and this they conducted for nine years. To the second marriage of Mr. Ford were born ten children, seven of whom died in infancy. Those living are: Lizzie Ford (wife of Hugh C. Bledsoe, a druggist of Atkins), Kittie Brown and Loyd D. Jr. Mary Arkansas, a daughter of his first wife, died at the age of nine years. Besides his own children Mr. Ford has reared several orphan chil- dren. In politics he is a Democrat, and he and family are members of the Cumberland Presbyte- rian Church. He has been a strong advocate of schools and is a public-spirited citizen. He is a Mason, a member of Galla Rock Lodge 172, chap- ter at Atkins, and is a charter member. He is also
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